JP2012042139A - Air cleaner, and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner and a control method for the air cleaner capable of always satisfying both functions in the case of simultaneously controlling a deodorizing operation and a humidifying operation by one blower.SOLUTION: The air cleaner includes: in an air passage 17, the blower 20 ejecting air sucked from a suction port 11, from a blowoff port 12; a deodorizing unit 40 having a catalyst filter 41 for deodorizing air led in from the suction port 11; a humidifying unit 30 humidifying deodorized air; an odor sensor; a humidity sensor; and a control section. The control section selects the first required wind flow rate of the blower 20 in the deodorizing operation based on the level of odor detected by the odor sensor, selects the second required wind flow rate of the blower in the humidifying operation based on a humidity difference between present target humidity and detected humidity detected by the humidity sensor, and sets the larger one of the first required wind flow rate and second required wind flow rate as the required wind flow rate of the blower to control the operation of the blower in the case of simultaneously performing the deodorizing operation and humidifying operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air purifier capable of simultaneously performing both deodorizing operation and humidifying operation and a control method thereof.

  Conventionally, an air purifier that realizes both a deodorizing function and a humidifying function with a single device is known. This type of air purifier has a deodorizing filter and a vaporizing filter disposed in an air passage provided in the casing together with a blower. The air introduced into the casing by the blower is deodorized by the deodorizing filter and humidified by the vaporizing filter. The air is purified by returning the air to the closed space again.

  For example, in the air cleaner according to Patent Document 1, the control unit controls the amount of air blown to the dehumidifying unit or the humidifying unit of the blower based on the values of the dust sensor, the odor sensor, and the humidity sensor. When the dust sensor and the odor sensor detect the degree of contamination that requires an increase in the amount of air flow to the air cleaning unit, the control unit detects whether the humidity has reached the set humidity or not. By prioritizing the air flow rate and increasing the air flow rate, air purification can be prioritized even during humidity control.

  Further, in the humidifier according to Patent Document 2, the water level fluctuates when the water tank is set or the humidifier main body is moved, and the float of the water level detecting means is instantaneously lowered, and the reed switch contact is switched. For the chattering phenomenon in which the contact repeats ON / OFF, when the contact open time exceeds the contact open determination time, the hot air heater is de-energized, and when the contact open time exceeds the water supply determination time, water supply is required. By notifying, the chattering of the relay of the heater drive circuit is prevented and unnecessary water supply notification is prevented.

JP 2010-112705 A JP 2006-170460 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, control of the amount of air blown to the dehumidifying unit or humidifying unit of the blower is performed based on the values of the dust sensor, the odor sensor, and the humidity sensor. However, when the dust sensor and the odor sensor detect the degree of contamination that requires an increase in the amount of air flow to the air cleaning unit, the control unit returns to the air cleaning unit regardless of whether the humidity has reached the set humidity. However, there is a problem that the humidity cannot be adjusted because priority is given to the amount of air flow.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the contact of the reed switch of the water level detection means is switched due to the fluctuation of the water surface when the water tank is set or the humidifier body is moved, and even if the chattering phenomenon occurs, By comparing the contact open determination time and the water supply determination time, chattering of the relay of the heater drive circuit and unnecessary water supply notification can be prevented. However, it does not assume the case where the water surface fluctuates due to the pressure difference due to the operation of the blower, not the temporary water surface fluctuation during the movement of the main body, and there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with such a case. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in the case of simultaneously controlling the deodorizing operation and the humidifying operation using one air blower, the air that can be controlled so that both functions can always be satisfied. The first object is to provide a cleaner.

  Further, the present invention prevents repeated ON / OFF of the water supply determination by the water level detection means even when a pressure difference occurs inside and outside the housing due to the operation of the blower and the water level of the water supply tank fluctuates. The second object is to provide an air purifier capable of performing proper water supply detection.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the air purifier of the present invention has a deodorizing function and a humidifying function, and is an air purifier capable of simultaneously performing a deodorizing operation and a humidifying operation. A housing having an air passage connecting the air inlet and the air outlet inside, a blower provided in the air passage and discharging air sucked from the air inlet from the air outlet, and the air passage And a deodorizing unit having a deodorizing filter for deodorizing air introduced from the suction port, a humidifying unit disposed in the air passage and providing humidity to the deodorized air, and an odor in the air outside the housing The odor sensor for detecting the level of the air, the humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the air outside the housing, and the first necessity of the blower during the deodorizing operation based on the odor level detected by the odor sensor A second target air volume of the blower during the humidifying operation is selected based on a humidity difference between a preset target humidity and a current humidity detected by the humidity sensor, and the deodorizing operation and the humidifying are selected. A controller that controls the operation of the blower using the larger one of the first required air volume and the second required air volume as the required air volume of the blower when the operation is performed simultaneously; And

  Further, in the air purifier of the present invention, the humidification unit includes a vaporization filter that absorbs water and gives humidity to the air passing in a wet state, and water that can selectively supply water to the vaporization filter. It is preferable that the control unit is capable of switching whether or not to supply water to the vaporization filter by controlling the water supply unit.

  In the air purifier of the present invention, the water supply means drives a water supply tray for storing water to be supplied to the vaporization filter, water pumping means for pumping water from the water supply tray, and the water pumping means. It is preferable that a driving means for moistening the pumped water on the vaporizing filter is provided.

  In the air purifier of the present invention, the water supply means includes a water supply tray water supply means for supplying water stored in the water supply tray, and a remaining amount of water supplied by the water supply tray water supply means is below a certain level. A water replenishment detecting means for detecting that the water supply tray is disposed in the air passage where the air pressure changes when the blower blows air, and the water supply tray water supply means is disposed outside the air passage. After the water replenishment detecting means detects that the remaining amount of water is below a certain level, the control unit detects the air volume of the blower and detects that the remaining amount of water is below a certain level. It is preferable to control so as to maintain the air volume at the time.

  Moreover, in the air cleaner of the present invention, when the water replenishment is detected by the water replenishment detecting means while the deodorizing operation and the humidifying operation are being performed at the same time, the control unit performs the first required air volume. It is preferable to control the operation of the blower with the required air volume of the blower.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the air purifier of the present invention has a deodorizing function and a humidifying function, and is an air purifier capable of simultaneously performing a deodorizing operation and a humidifying operation. A housing having an air passage connecting the air inlet and the air outlet inside, a blower provided in the air passage and discharging air sucked from the air inlet from the air outlet, and the air passage And a deodorizing unit having a catalyst filter for deodorizing the air introduced from the suction port, a humidifying unit disposed in the air passage and providing humidity to the deodorized air, and heating the catalyst filter to A heater unit that heats and regenerates the deodorizing catalyst in the deodorizing filter, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the air outside the casing, a humidity sensor that detects the humidity in the air outside the casing, and the passage of time. The humidifying means by the blower according to a humidity difference between a time measuring means for timing, a target humidity value based on a temperature value in the air detected by the temperature sensor, and a current humidity value detected in the air by the humidity sensor The deodorizing catalyst is controlled so as to be close to the target humidity value by controlling the passing air amount of the unit, and until a predetermined time elapses after the heating regeneration process of the deodorizing catalyst by the heater unit is completed. And a control unit for controlling the temperature sensor to approach a target humidity value based on values of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor detected after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of heating.

  Further, in the air cleaner of the present invention, the control unit includes a humidity difference between a target humidity value based on a temperature value in the air detected by the temperature sensor and a current humidity value detected in the air by the humidity sensor. Accordingly, the flow rate of the humidifying unit by the blower is controlled so as to be close to the target humidity value, and a predetermined time elapses after the heating regeneration process of the deodorizing catalyst by the heater unit is completed. In the meantime, correction is performed for the temperature increased from the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor immediately before the heating regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst by the heater unit, and the target humidity value based on the corrected temperature value, Depending on the humidity difference from the current humidity value in the air detected by the humidity sensor, the flow rate of the humidifying unit by the blower is controlled to approach the target humidity value. It is preferably controlled to so that.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the control method of the air cleaner of the present invention is a control method executed by an air cleaner, and the air cleaner includes a blower, a deodorizing unit, A humidifying unit, a heater unit, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a time measuring means, and a control unit, wherein the temperature sensor detects a temperature in the air, and the humidity sensor is air The humidity detection step for detecting the humidity in the medium, and the control unit obtains a target humidity value based on the temperature value in the air, and according to the humidity difference between the current humidity value in the air and the target humidity value, A normal humidity control step for controlling the amount of air passing through the humidifying unit by a blower to approach the target humidity value, and the control unit measures the time after the heating and regeneration processing of the deodorizing catalyst of the deodorizing unit by the heater unit is completed. Until a predetermined time elapses depending on the stage, the blower is configured to approach the target humidity value based on the values of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor detected immediately before the heating regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst by the heater unit. And a humidity control step after the heat regeneration treatment of the deodorizing catalyst for controlling the passing air amount of the humidifying unit.

  In the control method of the air cleaner of the present invention, the humidity control step after the heat regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst is fixed by the control means after the heat regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst by the heater unit. Until the time elapses, the temperature increased from the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor immediately before the heating regeneration process of the deodorizing catalyst by the heater unit is corrected, and the target humidity value based on the corrected temperature value is corrected. It is preferable to control the flow rate of air passing through the humidifying unit by the blower so as to approach the target humidity value according to the humidity difference from the current humidity value in the air detected by the humidity sensor.

  According to the present invention, when the deodorizing operation and the humidifying operation are simultaneously controlled using one air blower, there is an effect that an air cleaner that can be controlled so that both functions can always be satisfied is obtained. .

  In addition, according to the present invention, even when a pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the housing due to the operation of the blower and the water level of the water supply tray fluctuates, the water supply detection that informs the water supply tray water supply means that water supply is required It is possible to prevent the means from repeating ON / OFF and to obtain an air purifier capable of performing appropriate water supply detection.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when a deodorizing filter using a deodorizing catalyst is heated and regenerated with a heater, even if the room temperature rises, an air cleaner that is unlikely to malfunction when controlled based on the room temperature, and The control method can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the air cleaner according to the present invention in the forward direction. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the air cleaner according to the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line WW in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the deodorizing unit in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the humidifying unit shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from above. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing a state where a water supply tank is set in the humidifying unit of FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ in FIG. FIG. 9 is a control block configuration diagram of the air cleaner according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing table data of the automatic humidity setting operation in the humidifying operation mode. FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX when the operation is stopped in FIGS. 1 and 3. 11-2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX when the blower of FIGS. 1 and 3 is rotating. FIG. 11C is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX when the blower of FIGS. 1 and 3 is stopped. FIG. 11-4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX when water replenishment is detected during rotation of the blower of FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. 11-5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX at the time of air rotation due to the decrease in the air volume of FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the air volume control of the blower. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for air volume selection during the deodorization and sterilization operation of FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for performing air volume selection between the humidifying operation and the deodorizing / sterilizing operation of FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for air volume selection during the humidifying operation of FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for performing control by masking for a predetermined time when the catalyst filter is heated and regenerated by the heater. FIG. 17 is a flowchart for performing control by correcting the detected temperature for a predetermined time when the catalyst filter is heated and regenerated by the heater.

  Embodiments of an air cleaner and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following description. In addition, constituent elements according to the following description include elements that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, or substantially the same elements, so-called equivalent ranges. In addition, a plurality of modifications described in this embodiment can be arbitrarily combined within a range obvious to those skilled in the art.

  First, the external configuration of the air cleaner will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the air cleaner according to the present invention in the front direction, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the air cleaner according to the present invention in the rear direction.

  The air purifier 100 has both a humidifying function for humidifying air using a vaporization filter and a deodorizing function for performing a deodorizing process on air using a catalyst filter. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air purifier 100 has a rectangular parallelepiped casing 10 formed of a synthetic resin panel, and one side surface having the largest area is a front panel 13 (see FIG. 1). ), The other side surface facing the front panel 13 is used as the back panel 14 (see FIG. 2), and an air suction port 11 provided with a large number of openings is formed. On the side surfaces other than the front panel 13 and the back panel 14, a recess that also serves as a handle for carrying the air purifier 100 is formed. In addition, on the upper surface of the air cleaner 100, an operation panel 16 on which various buttons and lamps for operating the air cleaner 100 by a user are arranged, and manually opened and closed at a position adjacent to the operation panel 16. A possible rectangular louver 15 is arranged. When the louver 15 is opened to the upper position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the louver 15 becomes an air outlet 12 that discharges air introduced from the air inlet 11 into deodorized and humidified air in the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, a sensor unit in which an odor sensor 50, a temperature sensor 52, and a humidity sensor 54, which will be described later, are arranged at the corner of one side where the upper surface portion of the air cleaner 100 and the front panel 13 are in contact with each other is disposed. Has been.

  Next, a specific internal configuration of the air cleaner will be described with reference to the drawings. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line WW in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the deodorizing unit in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the humidifying unit in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where a water supply tank is set in the humidifying unit of FIG. 6, and FIG. It is Z line sectional drawing. FIG. 9 is a control block configuration diagram of the air purifier according to the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing table data of the automatic humidity setting operation in the humidifying operation mode. 11-1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX when the operation is stopped in FIGS. 1 and 3, and FIG. 11-2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX when the blower is rotated in FIGS. 1 and 3. 11-3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX when the blower is stopped in FIGS. 1 and 3, and FIG. 11-4 is a line taken along line XX when water supply is detected when the blower is rotated in FIGS. FIG. 11-5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X at the time of air rotation due to the decrease in the air volume of FIGS. 1 and 3.

[Air cleaner]
As shown in FIG. 3, the configuration of the air purifier 100 according to the first embodiment includes an air passage 17 that connects the suction port 11 to the outlet 12 inside the housing 10. The blower 20 provided in the middle of the air passage 17 includes a fan motor 20a and a fan 20b such as a sirocco fan. When the fan motor 20a rotates the fan 20b, external air is sucked from the suction port 11 into the apparatus. (Open arrow A). The introduced air is dedusted while passing through the pre-filter 70 and the dust collection filter 71 used in the existing deodorizer. A deodorizing unit 40 is disposed on the leeward side of the dust collection filter 71. The deodorizing unit 40 performs a deodorizing process using the catalyst filter 41 and periodically heats the catalyst filter 41 by the heater unit 46, thereby promoting the decomposition of odorous components adhering to the catalyst, It can be played repeatedly. On the further leeward side of the deodorizing unit 40 (upward side of the blower 20), a humidifying unit 30 including a vaporizing filter 31 that gives humidity to the air passing in a wet state by absorbing water is disposed. The air humidified by the humidifying unit 30 is sent through the air passage 17 in the direction of the white arrow B by the fan 20b of the blower 20, and is discharged from the outlet 12 as shown by the white arrow E.

[Deodorization unit]
The deodorizing unit 40 is arrange | positioned between the dust collection filter 71 and the vaporization filter 31, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the deodorizing unit 40 includes a catalyst filter 41 that adsorbs and decomposes odor components, a heater unit 46 that heats the catalyst filter 41 to promote decomposition of the adsorbed odor components, and these catalyst filters. 41 and a pair of breathable plate-like heat insulating materials 42 arranged on both sides so as to sandwich the heater unit 46, and an annular shape surrounding the outer periphery of the catalyst filter 41, the heater unit 46, and the plate-like heat insulating material 42 It is comprised by the heat insulating material 43 and a pair of heat insulation board 44 arrange | positioned so that the ventilation direction both sides of the plate-shaped heat insulating material 42 and the cyclic | annular heat insulating material 43 may be covered. The heat shield plate 44 is formed of a metal punching plate whose air permeability is ensured by a large number of through holes.

  Therefore, when the air that has passed through the dust collection filter 71 shown in FIG. 3 is introduced into the deodorizing unit 40, the air passes through the deodorizing unit 40 from the right side to the left side in the drawing. 4 in which the deodorizing unit 40 is enlarged is shown opposite to the left and right with respect to the attachment state of FIG. 3, and the air introduced into the deodorizing unit 40 passes from the left side to the right side in FIG. It will be. That is, the air passes through the left heat shield plate 44, the left plate heat insulator 42, the catalyst filter 41, the heater unit 46, the right plate heat insulator 42, and the right heat shield plate 44 in this order in FIG. Will be.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the heater unit 46 is generally configured by holding a sheathed heater 46b on a holding plate 46a. As is generally known, the sheathed heater 46b is configured by arranging a spiral heating element in the center of a metal pipe and filling a space between the heating element and the metal pipe with high-insulating powder having good heat conduction. Is.

  The holding plate 46a is formed of a metal punching plate in which air permeability is ensured by a large number of through holes, like the heat shield plate 44. As shown in FIG. 4, the holding plate 46 a has a side wall 46 c whose peripheral edge is bent in the back side direction (left side in the figure) by pressing or the like, and is formed in a rectangular container shape as a whole. In the first embodiment, the side of the holding plate 46a where the catalyst filter 41 is disposed is described as the back side, and the opposite side is described as the front side.

  The holding plate 46a is configured such that the sheathed heater 46b is held on the back side (inward side) surrounded by the side wall 46c. As shown in FIG. 4, the catalyst filter is placed on the inner side surrounded by the side wall 46c. 41 is stored. At this time, the catalyst filter 41 is disposed to face the back side surface (one side surface) of the holding plate 46a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, on the four surrounding side walls 46c (only two on the upper and lower sides are shown in FIG. 4), a channel-like bracket 45 is provided at the substantially central portion in the direction along each side of the holding plate 46a. Stopped. At this time, the bent pieces at both ends of each bracket 45 are arranged outward with respect to the holding plate 46a, and the heat shield plate 44 is screwed to the bent pieces at both ends as shown in FIG. It has become. The deodorizing unit 40 configured by being assembled in this way is configured as a flat rectangular parallelepiped as a whole.

  In addition, the deodorizing unit 40 allows the air flowing through the air passage 17 to pass through because the heat shield plates 44, the plate-like heat insulating material 42, and the holding plate 46 a at both ends have air permeability.

  The catalyst filter 41 is formed by coating a surface of a honeycomb core board made of an aluminum alloy and having air permeability with a metal oxide such as manganese oxide or a noble metal catalyst such as platinum in a predetermined thickness. In addition, it is preferable to add activated carbon, various ceramic powders, etc. as an adsorbent. Furthermore, it is also preferable to add an antibacterial agent or a fungicide. And the catalyst filter 41 should just be a structure (heating regeneration type) which can reproduce | regenerate the odor adsorption | suction function fundamentally by heating, and may be a catalyst filter which has another heating regeneration structure.

  As described above, the deodorizing unit 40 is covered with the plate-like heat insulating material 42 and the annular heat insulating material 43 around the catalyst filter 41 and the heater unit 46, and further, air permeability is ensured by a large number of through holes. Since the heat shielding plate 44 covers the heat, the heat of the heater unit 46 can be prevented from affecting other members as much as possible, and the entire catalyst filter 41 can be efficiently heated. Playback time can be shortened.

[Heater unit]
In the heater unit 46, a sheathed heater 46b is formed in a W shape on the holding plate 46a and fixedly arranged. That is, the sheathed heater 46b bent in a W shape is formed in a W shape by forming two U-turn bent portions on the lower side and one on the upper side. Thus, by setting the number of bent portions to be lower than the upper side, the weight of the amount of heat generated by the sheathed heater 46b is placed on the lower side, and the heat in the entire heater unit 46 where the heat tends to collect upwards. Can be equalized.

  Further, the arrangement of the sheathed heater 46b for placing the weight of the heat amount on the lower side is not necessarily formed in a W shape. The number of the bent portions is an odd number, and the bent portions on the lower side than the upper side are arranged. What is necessary is just to form so that a number may increase by one. That is, if the number of bent portions is n (n: natural number), the number of lower bent portions may be n + 1 and the number of upper bent portions may be n. Of course, the total number of bent portions is (n + 1) + n = 2n + 1, which is an odd number.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 4, one side of the sheathed heater 46b is in direct contact with the catalyst filter 41, and the other side of the sheathed heater 46b is in direct contact with the holding plate 46a. The heat is directly transferred from 46b, and is also indirectly transferred (radiant heat) from the holding plate 46a. In this case, the holding plate 46a functions as a heat sink. At this time, in order to decompose the odorous component adhering to the catalyst by catalytic action, the catalyst filter 41 is heated to about 125 degrees by the sheathed heater 46b once a day to decompose the odorous component and recover to the initial state. The heating temperature and the recovery frequency of the sheathed heater 46b can be appropriately changed according to the use situation. For example, when the heating temperature of the sheathed heater 46 b is increased to about 140 to 150 degrees, the plate-like heat insulating material 42 having a heat resistance of 160 degrees or more is used.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a thermostat 47 for controlling the temperature of the sheathed heater 46b is provided on the front side surface (the surface opposite to the retaining surface of the sheathed heater 46b) of the central portion of the retaining plate 46a. A main body 47a is provided on the back side surface. The sheathed heater 46 is connected to a temperature fuse (not shown) and a thermostat 47 in series, so that an abnormal temperature rise by the heater unit 46 can be prevented more reliably.

  As described above, in the deodorizing unit 40, the air cleaner 100 according to the first embodiment directly contacts one side of the sheathed heater 46b with the leeward side of the catalyst filter 41, and the other side of the sheathed heater 46b with the holding plate 46a. Since the heater unit 46 is configured by direct contact, the odorous component can be efficiently adsorbed by the catalyst filter 41 without the air introduced from the suction port 11 being blocked by the holding plate 46a.

[Humidification unit]
Next, the humidification unit 30 is arrange | positioned between the deodorizing unit 40 and the air blower 20, as shown in FIG. That is, the humidification unit 30 is located on the leeward side with respect to the deodorizing unit 40, but is located on the upwind side with respect to the blower 12. The humidifying unit 30 is configured to vaporize water and humidify the air while the water is stored in a water supply tray 34a described later by the vaporizing filter 31 and the air passes in a wet state. As a filter material used for the vaporization filter 31, here, polyester and rayon are blended in a ratio of 50:50 and formed into a pleated structure, which has both air permeability and water absorption. It is not limited to a mixture ratio.

  The humidifying unit 30 shown in FIG. 5 is a plan view of the humidifying unit 30 shown in FIG. 3 with the humidifying unit 30 removed from above, and the humidifying unit 30 shown in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the humidifying unit 30 shown in FIG. It is. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the humidifying unit 30 can selectively supply water to the vaporizing filter 31 that absorbs water and gives humidity to the air passing in a wet state, and the vaporizing filter 31. Water turbine-type water supply means. The water supply means includes a water supply tray 34a for storing water to be supplied to the vaporization filter 31, a water pumping pocket 31a as water pumping means for pumping water from the water supply tray 34a, and water pumped by driving the water pumping means. And driving means for moistening the vaporizing filter 31. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the drive means includes a driven gear 31b for rotating the vaporization filter 31, a drive gear 31c that meshes with the driven gear 31b and rotates, a filter rotation motor 31d that rotates the drive gear 31c, A rotation shaft 32 provided at the rotation center of the vaporization filter 31 and a bearing support portion 33 that rotatably supports the rotation shaft 32 are configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the vaporization filter 31 has a rotating shaft 32 in the air passage direction (white arrow A), and can rotate along a plane orthogonal to the rotating shaft 32. It is comprised with a water-absorbing filter. The vaporization filter 31 is integrated with the water supply tray 34a and can be freely attached to and detached from the main body of the air cleaner 100.

  The water supply tank holding part 34b communicating with the water supply tray 34a is a holding part for holding the water supply tank 36 shown in FIGS. The water supply tank 36 is water supply tray water supply means for supplying water stored in the water supply tray 34a when the water in the water supply tray 34a falls below a certain water level.

  In addition, the water supply tank holding unit 34b notifies the water supply tank 36 that water needs to be supplied when the remaining amount of water supplied from the water supply tank 36 to the water supply tray 34a is below a certain level. It has. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the water replenishment detection unit is provided with a float 35 a having buoyancy at one end portion of the water supply tank holding portion 34 b so as to be able to float and sink. A magnet 35b is attached to a part of the float 35a, and a water level sensor 35 that detects a change in the water level in the water supply tank holding portion 34b by detecting the strength of the magnetic force of the magnet 35b It is provided on the main body side of the cleaner 100. Here, as the water level sensor 35, a magnetic sensor that detects the strength of the magnetic force of the magnet 35b is used. When water remains in the water supply tank 36, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the water level of the water supply tray 34a drops, water is supplied from the water supply port 37 of the water supply tank 36, and the water level L1 is always maintained. . However, when the remaining amount of water in the water supply tank 36 is below a certain level, water is no longer supplied from the water supply tank 36, the water level in the water supply tank holding part 34b drops, the float 35a sinks, the magnet 35b and the water level sensor 35 It is possible to detect that the water supply tank 36 needs to be replenished because the detected magnetic force is weakened. In the first embodiment, the magnet and the magnetic force sensor are used as the water replenishment detecting means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various configurations can be adopted as long as the water level change can be detected.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the water supply tank holding part 34b is provided with a stopper 34d that protrudes a part of the inner wall and restricts the float 35a from rising above a fixed position. This stopper 34d is provided for the purpose of preventing this because a false detection is made when the float 35a rises as the water level in the water supply tank holding part 34b rises and the distance between the magnet 35b and the water level sensor 35 increases. .

  The partition plate 34 c of the humidifying unit 30 separates the inside and the outside of the air passage 17 of the air cleaner 100. The vaporization filter 31, the water supply tray 34a, etc. are arrange | positioned inside this partition plate 34c, and if the air blower 20 shown in FIG. 3 is rotated, the inner side which comprises the air path 17 will become a negative pressure. Further, the outside of the partition plate 34c is affected by atmospheric pressure, but is not directly affected by negative pressure by the blower 20. For this reason, in the present Example 1, if the inner side of the partition plate 34c becomes a negative pressure when the blower 20 rotates and the water level of the water supply tray 34a changes, the inside of the water supply tank holding portion 34b is changed via the communication port 34e described later. The water level also changes. For this reason, the problem that proper water replenishment detection cannot be performed is solved by the control method of the air cleaner according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the vaporization filter 31 has a bearing support portion 33 erected at both ends in the short direction of a water supply tray 34 a for storing water, and a disk-shaped vaporization filter 31 at the bearing portion. The rotation shaft 32 is rotatably supported.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the humidifying unit 30 has the same water pumping pockets 31 a as the water wheel arranged in the same direction at regular intervals on the outer periphery of the vaporizing filter 31, and rotates at a constant speed in the arrow direction G during the humidifying operation. As a result, the water in the water supply tray 34a is pumped up by the water pocket 31a, and the water inside is sequentially applied to the vaporization filter 31 in the vicinity of the apex, so that the wet state can always be maintained. A driven gear 31b for rotating the vaporization filter 31 is formed on the outer side of the vaporization filter 31 opposite to the water drawing pocket 31a. The driven gear 31b can mesh with a drive gear 31c rotated by, for example, a filter rotation motor 31d shown in FIG. 11A and can be rotated at a constant speed in a constant direction. As the filter rotation motor 31d, for example, a synchronous motor with a stopper attached for one-way rotation, or a stepping motor capable of rotating in both the forward and reverse directions can be preferably used. However, it is not limited to this.

  The vaporization filter 31 is maintained at a position where it does not directly contact the water in the water supply tray 34a when the operation is stopped as shown in FIG. 11A (the water surface position is L1). In the state where the vaporization filter 31 is rotated, since water is always supplied from the water pump pocket 31a to the filter, the humidification operation (humidification / deodorization / sterilization operation) is performed, but the rotation of the vaporization filter 31 is stopped. This is to prevent the water from being supplied to the filter and to switch to the deodorizing and disinfecting operation without humidification.

[Blower guide]
As shown in FIG. 3, a blowing guide 72 is provided in the gap between the humidifying unit 30 and the blower 20. If there is a gap between the humidifying unit 30 and the blower 20, the air guide 72 is introduced from the suction port 11, and the air that has passed through the deodorizing unit 40 does not pass through the vaporization filter 31 and passes through the gap. To prevent discharge into the water. The air blowing guide 72 can be easily implemented by projecting a part of the inner wall surface in a band shape or attaching a band-shaped guide plate to the inner wall surface. The blower guide 72 covers a portion that is not covered with the water supply tray 34 a and is disposed along the outer peripheral portion so as to close the gap between the blower 20 and the vaporization filter 31.

[Ozone generation unit]
Moreover, the air cleaner 100 of Example 1 is provided with the ozone generation unit 73 as shown in FIG. The air flowing through the air passage 17 by the blower 20 branches from the white arrow B to the white arrow C and flows into the ozone generation unit 73. When the air taken into the ozone generating unit 73 is irradiated with a UV (ultraviolet) lamp 74 such as a mercury lamp, ozone having a specific gravity about 1.6 times that of air is generated. The ozone generation unit 73 is provided with a hollow ozone duct 75 that guides the generated ozone between the deodorization unit 40 and the humidification unit 30, and a spray port 76 that blows ozone directly onto the surface of the vaporization filter 31 is formed at the tip thereof. Has been. A positive pressure is applied to the ozone generation unit 73 provided on the leeward side of the blower 20, and a negative pressure is generated in the vicinity of the vaporization filter 31 provided on the windward side of the blower 20 when air is introduced from the suction port 11. Arise. For this reason, the ozone generated in the ozone generation unit 73 is blown to the wind surface of the vaporization filter 31 from the blowing port 76 through the ozone duct 75 due to the pressure difference (arrow D), so that the vaporization filter 31 is sterilized and deodorized. It can be carried out. Residual ozone generated in the ozone generation unit 73 is decomposed by an ozone decomposition catalyst 77 such as titanium oxide disposed immediately above the ozone duct 75 and discharged outside from the low-concentration ozone outlet 78 (open arrow F). .

[Ionizer]
In the air cleaner 100 according to the first embodiment, an ionizer 79 that generates negative ions is disposed in the air passage 17. The ionizer 79 includes a needle-like electrode. When a high voltage of, for example, several kV is applied to the electrode, corona discharge is generated at the tip of the electrode, and negative ions and ozone are generated. Negative ions generated from the ionizer 79 react with ozone generated from the ionizer 79 and the ozone generation unit 73 to generate OH radicals having a strong oxidizing power.

[Main board]
As shown in FIG. 3, a main board 60 for controlling the air cleaner 100 is disposed on the upper portion of the rear panel 14 of the air cleaner 100. As shown in FIG. 9, the main board 60 includes a control unit 62 that controls the entire operation of the air purifier 100. The control unit 62 performs operation control based on an instruction from the operation panel 16. For example, the control unit 62 performs control to regenerate the catalyst by periodically heating the catalyst filter 41 of the deodorizing unit 40 with the heater unit 46 in addition to the deodorizing / sterilizing operation mode and the humidification / deodorizing operation mode. Is going. Individually, the fan motor 20 a of the blower 20, the control of the filter rotation motor 31 d that rotates the rotary type vaporization filter 31, the lighting control of the UV lamp 74 that generates ozone in the ozone generation unit 73, or the ON / OFF of the ionizer 79 OFF control is performed.

  Moreover, in the control part 62 of Example 1, switching control of the air volume of the air blower 20 is performed according to the odor detection level of the odor sensor 50 using a metal oxide semiconductor sensor etc. in the deodorizing and sterilization operation mode. Further, when the user selects the humidification automatic operation in which the target humidity is set according to the room temperature in the humidification / deodorization / sterilization operation mode, the control unit 62 according to the first embodiment is based on the room temperature information from the temperature sensor 52 such as the thermistor. The target humidity is set, and ON / OFF control of the filter rotation motor 31d and rotation speed control of the fan motor 20a are performed so that the current detected humidity obtained by the humidity sensor 54 approaches the target humidity. In the humidification automatic operation, the target humidity corresponding to the room temperature as shown in FIG. 10 is preset and stored in the table memory 66 shown in FIG. Moreover, the air cleaner 100 in Example 1 may be provided with the last memory function which starts from the operation mode before the last operation stop at the time of power activation. That is, when the operation stop operation is performed during the operation of the air purifier 100, the control unit 62 stores the operation mode before the operation stop in a non-illustrated non-volatile memory and stores it in the non-volatile memory when the power is turned on. The operation mode being read is read out and the operation mode is started. Further, when the control unit 62 controls each unit, if it is necessary to measure the elapse of a certain period of time, it is performed using the timer 64 shown in FIG.

  The air cleaner 100 according to the first embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described based on a flowchart.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the air volume control of the blower, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an air volume selection subroutine during the deodorization and sterilization operation of FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is a humidification operation and deodorization and sterilization of FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for air volume selection during the humidifying operation shown in FIG. 14.

[Deodorization and sterilization operation mode and humidification / deodorization and sterilization operation mode]
The air cleaner 100 according to the first embodiment simultaneously performs a deodorizing and sterilization operation mode in which, for example, deodorizing air in a closed space such as a room and performing sterilization to purify and a dehumidification and sterilization operation mode at the same time. The humidification / deodorization / sterilization operation mode to be performed can be selectively designated.

  First, when the user starts operation for the first time using the operation / stop switch of the operation panel 16 after the air cleaner 100 is turned on, the control unit 62 sets the operation mode to the deodorization / sterilization operation mode. In step S200, an air volume selection process at the time of deodorizing and sterilizing operation is performed. In addition, when the previous operation mode (last memory function) is set in the non-volatile memory (not shown) at the start of operation after the power is turned on, the control unit 62 performs control so that the operation is performed in the previous operation mode. . If the previous last memory is in the humidification / deodorization / sterilization operation mode, the control unit 62 performs an air volume selection process between the humidification operation and the deodorization / sterilization operation in step S300. Then, regardless of which operation mode is set, the control unit 62 controls the operation of the blower 20 with the air volume selected in each mode (step S400).

  The air volume selection process at the time of the deodorization and sterilization operation in step S200 of FIG. 12 shows whether the user selects the automatic operation using the operation panel 16 (Yes in step S202), as shown in FIG. Depending on whether the designated operation for individually designating is selected (No in step S202). When the user selects the designated operation, the control unit 62 determines the type of operation designated by the user in step S204. When the user designates “strong operation”, the control unit 62 selects “strong” as the air volume of the blower 20 (step S206), and when “weak operation” is designated, selects “weak” (step S206). S208) When “rapid operation” is designated, “rapid” is selected (step S210). When the user selects automatic operation in step S202, the control unit 62 determines which level the indoor air odor detection level detected by the odor sensor 50 is. Here, it is determined whether the detection level corresponds to a low level, a medium level, or a high level by using two types of threshold values having different levels. If the odor detection level is “low”, “medium L (low)” is selected as the air volume of the blower 20 (step S214). If the odor detection level is “medium”, “medium H (high)” is selected as the air volume of the blower 20 (step S216). If the odor detection level is “high”, “strong” is selected as the air volume of the blower 20 (step S206). In the case of the deodorization and sterilization operation mode, since the air volume selected in the flowchart of FIG. 13 becomes the air volume of the blower 20 as it is, the control unit 62 controls the operation of the blower 20 with the selected air volume (step S400). Note that the air volume of the automatic operation described above has three stages of “medium L (low)”, “medium H (high)”, and “strong”. “Rapid” means more airflow than “strong”, and “medium L (low)” and “medium H (high)” mean two-stage airflow between “strong” and “weak”. .

  In the process of selecting the air volume between the humidifying operation and the deodorizing / sterilizing operation in step S300 of FIG. 12, the air volume is selected during the humidifying operation as shown in FIG. 14 (step S302). In the air volume selection process during the humidifying operation, as shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 62 determines whether the user has selected the humidifying automatic operation using the operation panel 16 (step S3020). In the case of humidification designation that specifically designates the degree of humidification (No in step S3020 → step S3022), the control unit 62 determines whether the humidification designation is “high humidification” or “weak humidification”. When “humidification strength” is designated, the control unit 62 performs a humidification strength operation in which the target humidity is set to 60% (step S3024). When “humidification weak” is designated, the control unit 62 performs a humidification weak operation for setting the target humidity to 45% (step S3026).

  In FIG. 15, when the user selects the humidification automatic operation using the operation panel 16 (Yes in step S3020), the control unit 62 determines the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 52 (step S3028). The control unit 62 reads the relationship between the room temperature shown in FIG. 10 and the target humidity to be set from the table memory 66 in FIG. 9, and sets the target humidity according to the detected room temperature. For example, when the room temperature is 24 ° C. or higher, the target humidity is set to 40% (step S3030), and when the room temperature is 18 ° C. to less than 24 ° C., the target humidity is set to 50% (step S3032). In this case, the target humidity is set to 60% (step S3024). Thus, the setting of the target humidity differs between when the humidification is specified and when the humidification automatic operation is performed.

  Subsequently, the control unit 62 uses the humidity sensor 54 to detect the current humidity of the indoor air, and determines whether the detected humidity is lower than the set target humidity (step S3034). First, when the detected humidity is lower than the target humidity (Yes in step S3034), the control unit 62 controls the rotation of the filter rotation motor 31d to start the rotation of the vaporization filter 31 if the humidity difference is 5% or more. (Step S3036). Then, the control unit 62 looks at the humidity difference between the detected humidity and the target humidity, and if it is 5% or less, selects “medium L” as the air volume of the blower 20 (step S3040). If the humidity difference between the detected humidity and the target humidity is more than 5% to 10% or less, the control unit 62 uses the timer 64 to increase the humidity difference from 5% to 10% or less. It is determined whether or not minutes have passed (step S3042). If 10 minutes has not elapsed (No in step S3042), the current air volume is maintained (step S3043), the process returns, and the air volume selection process in the humidifying operation from step S3020 is repeated. When 10 minutes have elapsed after the humidity difference has exceeded 5% and has become 10% or less (Yes in step S3042), the control unit 62 determines whether the humidity difference has become 5% or less (step S3044). . When the humidity difference becomes 5% or less (Yes in step S3044), the control unit 62 determines that the humidification effect is exhibited, and continuously operates the air volume of the blower 20 at “medium L” (step S3046). . However, if the humidity difference does not become 5% or less even after 10 minutes have passed (No in step S3044), the control unit 62 determines that the humidifying effect does not appear and sets the selected air volume of the blower 20 to “medium L”. → Control is performed so as to increase the value by one, such as “medium H” (step S3048). In Step S3038, when the humidity difference between the detected humidity and the target humidity exceeds 10%, the control unit 62 selects “strong” as the air volume of the blower 20 (Step S3050). Furthermore, in step S3034, when the detected humidity is equal to or higher than the target humidity (No in step S3034), the control unit 62 increases the difference from the target humidity when the humidification operation is further performed. The rotation of the vaporization filter 31 is stopped (step S3052), and “0 (zero)” is selected as the air volume.

  As described above, in step S302 in FIG. 14, the control unit 62 selects the air volume during the humidifying operation, and when there is a water supply detection that informs that the water in the water supply tank has run out (Yes in step S304). Regardless of the air volume selection result in FIG. 15, “0 (zero)” is selected as the air volume (step S306). If no water supply is detected during step S302 (No in step S304), the control unit 62 selects the air volume during the deodorizing and sterilization operation of FIG. 13 described above (step S200). Here, the description is duplicated and will be omitted.

  Then, in step S310 in FIG. 14, the control unit 62 compares the selected air volume during the humidifying operation in FIG. 15 with the selected air volume during the deodorizing / sterilizing operation in FIG. 13, and determines the larger air volume as the air volume of the blower. (Step S312). The air volume determined in this way is used as the air volume of the blower 20, and the control unit 62 controls the operation of the blower 20 (step S400 in FIG. 12).

  Thus, in the air cleaner 100 of Example 1, when performing the humidification operation and the deodorization and sterilization operation at the same time, if the deodorization and sterilization operation requires a larger air volume than the humidification operation, the deodorization and sterilization operation is performed. Since priority is given to this, when it sees from humidification driving | operation, it becomes larger than the selection air volume. However, since the controller 62 can stop the rotation of the vaporization filter 31 (step S3052), water is not supplied to the vaporization filter 31, and even if the air volume is increased, no further humidification is performed. It is possible to make the air volume appropriate for both sterilization operations.

  Moreover, in the air cleaner 100 of Example 1, when the required air volume of the humidification operation is larger than the deodorization and sterilization operation, it becomes larger than the selected air volume when viewed from the deodorization operation. However, even if the deodorization and sterilization is performed more than necessary, there is no disadvantage due to the increase in the degree of air purification.Therefore, by adjusting to the air volume of the humidification operation, an appropriate air volume for both the humidification and deodorization and sterilization operations can do.

  In the first embodiment, when the detected humidity is lower than the target humidity, the selected air volume is changed according to the humidity difference, and the selected air volume is controlled to be smaller as the humidity difference becomes smaller. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate. That is, for example, the selected air volume based on the humidity difference detected when the operation mode is selected as the humidification / deodorization / sterilization operation mode may be controlled so as to be maintained until the detected humidity becomes higher than the target humidity.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the air purifier 100 according to the second embodiment detects the water level in the water supply tank holding part 34b by the water level sensor 35, and when the water level falls below the reference water level L1 shown in FIG. 8, the float 35a Sinks and the water level sensor 35 detects the fluctuation of the water level. As shown in FIG. 11A, this water supply detection indicates that the water in the water supply tank 36 has been exhausted if it is detected when the operation is stopped. However, when the blower 20 of the air purifier 100 is rotated to perform the deodorization and sterilization operation or the humidification / deodorization and sterilization operation, the inside of the air passage 17 inside the partition plate 34c is negative as shown in FIG. Because of the pressure, the water in the water supply tank holding part 34b flows into the water supply tray 34a via the communication port 34e and rises like the water level L2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the water level in the water supply tank holding part 34b is sequentially supplied from the water supply port 37 to maintain the water level L1.

  However, as shown in FIG. 11-3, when the blower 20 is stopped from FIG. 11-2, the water in the water supply tray 34a flows into the water supply tank holding part 34b through the communication port 34e and is higher than the reference water level L1. Balanced at L3 water level. Furthermore, when the blower 20 is rotated from FIG. 11-3 to reach the state of FIG. 11-4, the water level in the water supply tray 34a becomes L5. If the water in the water supply tank 36 runs out at this time, the reference water level L1 cannot be maintained, and the water level L4 is lower than the reference water level L1. In this case, since the float 35a shown in FIG. 6 sinks, the water supply detection is turned on. Although this water supply detection itself is correct, when the control is performed to reduce the air volume from the state of FIG. 11-4, the water at the water level L5 in the water supply tray 34a passes through the communication port 34e as shown in FIG. 11-5. Since it flows into the water supply tank holding part 34b, the reference water level L1 is recovered and the water supply detection is turned off. Thus, since the water level in the water supply tray 34a fluctuates between when the blower 20 rotates and when it does not rotate, the water level in the water supply tank holding portion 34b fluctuates accordingly, and therefore ON / OFF of the water supply detection is repeated. It is possible.

  Therefore, in the control method of the air cleaner according to the first embodiment described above, the control unit 62 selects the air volume of the blower 20 and controls the air volume accordingly, but the ON / OFF of the water supply detection is turned on by the change in the air volume. May be repeated. For this reason, in the control method of the air purifier according to the second embodiment, even if the selection is made to change the air volume after the water supply is detected, the control unit 62 maintains the air volume at the time of water supply detection without accepting the selection. To control. Specifically, in the case where the blower 20 is operated and controlled with the determined air volume in step S400 of FIG. 12, after the water supply detection is turned ON, even if a selection result for changing the air volume is output, the control unit 62 ignores this and controls to maintain the current air volume.

  However, more strictly, the case where ON / OFF of the water supply detection is repeated is limited to the case where the air volume is reduced after the water supply detection is turned ON. For this reason, in the control of the control unit 62 in step S400, after the water supply detection is turned ON, if a selection result for lowering the air volume appears, this is ignored and the current air volume is maintained or the air volume is increased. As for the air volume selection result, the blower 20 is controlled by the air volume.

  As described above, in the air cleaner 100 according to the second embodiment, even if a selection result that lowers the air volume of the blower 20 is detected after the water supply is detected, this is ignored and the current air volume is maintained or the air volume is increased. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent ON / OFF of the water supply detection based on the air volume.

  Further, in the air cleaner 100 according to the second embodiment, the step of FIG. 14 described in the first embodiment is performed in order to contribute to energy saving and reduce noise by preventing the air volume from being increased unnecessarily when water supply is detected. A more preferable effect can be obtained by performing the process together with the processes of S304 and S306. In other words, when the water supply detection is turned on, the amount of water supplied remains small, and even if the air volume is increased, the desired humidification effect cannot be obtained. Therefore, the air volume selection by the humidifying operation is not performed (the selected air volume is set to “0”). ”).

  The air cleaner 100 according to the third embodiment uses the catalyst filter 41 in the deodorizing unit 40 and can be regenerated repeatedly by heating the odorous component adhering to the catalyst filter 41 with the heater unit 46. In this type of deodorizing unit 40, the catalyst unit 41 is heated and regenerated by the heater unit 46 using a time other than the above-described deodorizing / sterilizing operation mode and heating / deodorizing / sterilizing operation mode.

  However, when the heat regeneration process of the catalyst filter 41 is performed, the deodorization unit 40 itself has heat. Therefore, if the humidification / deodorization operation is performed immediately after the heat regeneration process, the atmosphere around the temperature sensor 52 in the housing The temperature may rise. Further, in the air volume selection in the humidification / deodorization / sterilization operation, as shown in step S3028 of FIG. 15, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 52 is used as a reference for determining the target humidity in the humidification automatic operation. For this reason, if the humidification / deodorization and sterilization operation is performed immediately after the heat regeneration process of the catalyst filter 41, the target humidity is set based on the ambient temperature around the raised temperature sensor 52. Cannot be set. As described above, when the target humidity set in step S3030, step S3032, and step S3024 in FIG. 15 is set to a different target humidity due to an increase in the ambient temperature around the temperature sensor 52, the difference between the detected humidity and the target humidity. Changes in units of 10%, so that the air volume selection results are significantly different.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, the values of the temperature sensor 52 and the humidity sensor 54 that have already been detected until a predetermined time elapses after the deodorization catalyst included in the catalyst filter 41 is heated and regenerated by the heater unit 46. This is a control method for an air purifier that uses a simple target humidity setting and corrects it so that it is not affected as much as possible by the heat regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst. is there.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart for performing control by masking for a predetermined time when the catalyst filter is heated and regenerated by the heater, and FIG. It is a flowchart to perform.

  First, as shown in FIG. 16, in the normal operation control in which the humidification / deodorization and sterilization operation is performed, the control unit 62 uses the reading values of the temperature sensor 52, the humidity sensor 54, and the odor sensor 50 as they are, and performs the humidification operation and the deodorization. The sterilization operation is controlled (step S600).

  The catalyst filter 41 used in the deodorizing unit 40 includes a deodorizing catalyst that adsorbs odorous components. The heater unit 46 is in contact with the catalyst filter 41, and can regenerate the deodorized catalyst by performing a heat regeneration process at a regular time or at an arbitrary timing for a predetermined time using a time other than the normal operation control. (Step S602). When the deodorizing catalyst is not heated and regenerated by the heater (No in step S602), the process returns to step S600 and normal operation control is performed.

  When the deodorization catalyst is heated and regenerated by the heater (Yes in Step S602), the control unit 62 performs operation control using the values of the temperature sensor 52 and the humidity sensor 54 detected immediately before performing the heat regeneration by the heater (Step S604). ). Note that the ambient temperature around the temperature sensor 52 and the humidity sensor 54 does not immediately increase due to heating even if the heating of the catalyst filter is started (because the distance from the heater is large). Therefore, the values of the temperature sensor 52 and the humidity sensor 54 may be a temperature value or a humidity value detected before being affected by the heating, even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heating of the catalyst filter. By doing in this way, operation control can be performed using the latest temperature sensor value and humidity sensor value. The control unit 62 performs operation control using the value in step S604 until a predetermined time (in this case, 20 minutes) elapses after the heater heating regeneration process ends (No in step S606) (step S604).

  If a predetermined time (20 minutes) has elapsed after the heater heating regeneration process has ended (Yes in step S606), it is determined whether or not to continue normal operation control. When continuing, it returns to step S600 and controls the humidification operation and the deodorization sterilization operation using the reading values of the temperature sensor 52, the humidity sensor 54, and the odor sensor 50 as they are (step S600). When not continuing (No in step S608), the normal operation control is terminated.

  As shown in FIG. 17, in the normal operation control in which the humidification / deodorization and sterilization operation is performed, the control unit 62 uses the reading values of the temperature sensor 52, the humidity sensor 54, and the odor sensor 50 as they are, and performs the humidification operation and the deodorization. The sterilization operation is controlled (step S700).

  The catalyst filter 41 used in the deodorization unit 40 is heated and regenerated by the heater unit 46, so that the deodorization catalyst can be regenerated (step S702). When the deodorization catalyst is not heated and regenerated by the heater (No in step S702), the process returns to step S700 and normal operation control is performed.

  When the deodorization catalyst is heated and regenerated by the heater (Yes in step S702), the control unit 62 performs operation control using a value obtained by correcting the reading value of the temperature sensor 52 and the humidity sensor 54 by an amount increased by the atmosphere ( Step S704). The control unit 62 performs operation control using the correction value in step S704 until a predetermined time (20 minutes in this case) has elapsed (No in step S706) after the heater heating regeneration process ends (step S704). .

  If the predetermined time (20 minutes) has elapsed after the heater heating regeneration process has ended (Yes in step S706), it is determined whether or not to continue normal operation control (step S708). When continuing, it returns to step S700 and controls the humidification operation and the deodorizing / sterilization operation using the reading values of the temperature sensor 52, the humidity sensor 54, and the odor sensor 50 as they are (step S700). When not continuing (No in step S708), the normal operation control is terminated.

  Thus, in the air cleaner 100 according to the third embodiment, when the deodorization catalyst is heated and regenerated by the heater unit 46, the influence of the heat regenerating process continues for a predetermined time. Therefore, the controller 62 detects the room detected before the heat regenerating process. Using the temperature and humidity values, the operation control is performed until a predetermined time elapses after the completion of the heater heating regeneration, and after the predetermined time elapses, the operation is returned to the normal operation control. For this reason, it is possible to perform appropriate normal operation control immediately after the deodorization catalyst is heated and regenerated.

  Further, in another air purifier 100 of Example 3, a value obtained by correcting an increase in the ambient temperature and humidity readings until the predetermined time has elapsed after the deodorization catalyst is heated and regenerated. Operation control is performed using. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the normal operation control is restored. For this reason, even if it is immediately after carrying out the heat | fever regeneration process of a deodorizing catalyst, appropriate normal operation control can be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a sirocco fan is preferably used as the fan 20b of the blower 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may have a function of circulating air. Alternatively, it is possible to carry out using other blower fans.

  As described above, the air purifier and the control method thereof according to the present invention have a deodorizing function and a humidifying function, and are useful for an air purifier capable of performing a deodorizing operation and a humidifying operation at the same time, and a control method thereof. It is suitable for an air purifier capable of determining the air volume of a blower suitable for both the deodorizing function and the humidifying function and its control method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Air cleaner 10 Housing | casing 11 Inlet 12 Outlet 13 Front panel 14 Back panel 15 Louver 16 Operation panel 20 Blower 22a Fan motor 22b Fan 30 Humidification unit 31 Evaporation filter 31a Water fetch pocket 31b Drive gear 31c Drive gear 31d Filter rotation Motor 32 Rotating shaft 33 Bearing support portion 34a Water supply tray 34b Water supply tank holding portion 34c Partition plate 34d Stopper 34e Communication port 35 Water level sensor 35a Float 35b Magnet 36 Water supply tank 37 Water supply port 40 Deodorizing unit 41 Catalyst filter 42 Plate-shaped heat insulating material 43 Heat insulating material 44 Heat shield plate 45 Bracket 46 Heater unit 46a Holding plate 46b Sheathed heater 46c Side wall 47 Thermostat 47a Main body 50 Odor sensor 52 Temperature Sensor 54 Humidity sensor 60 Main board 62 Control unit 64 Timer 66 Table memory 70 Prefilter 71 Dust collection filter 74 UV lamp 77 Ozone decomposition catalyst 78 Low concentration ozone outlet 79 Ionizer

Claims (9)

An air purifier having a deodorizing function and a humidifying function and capable of simultaneously performing a deodorizing operation and a humidifying operation,
A housing having an air passage connecting the air suction port and the air outlet;
A blower that is provided in the air passage and discharges air sucked from the inlet through the outlet;
A deodorizing unit disposed in the air passage and having a deodorizing filter for deodorizing air introduced from the suction port;
A humidifying unit disposed in the air passage and imparting humidity to the deodorized air;
An odor sensor for detecting the level of odor in the air outside the housing;
A humidity sensor that detects humidity in the air outside the housing;
Based on the odor level detected by the odor sensor, a first required air volume of the blower during the deodorizing operation is selected, and based on a humidity difference between a preset target humidity and the current humidity detected by the humidity sensor When the second required air volume of the blower during the humidifying operation is selected and the deodorizing operation and the humidifying operation are performed simultaneously, the larger one of the first required air volume and the second required air volume is selected. As a necessary air volume of the blower, a control unit that controls the operation of the blower;
An air purifier characterized by comprising: The humidifying unit is
A vaporization filter that absorbs water and gives humidity to air passing in a wet state;
Water supply means capable of selectively supplying water to the vaporization filter;
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control unit can control whether to supply water to the vaporization filter by controlling the water supply unit. The water supply means
A water supply tray for storing water to be supplied to the vaporization filter;
Water pumping means for pumping water from the water supply tray;
Driving means for driving the water pumping means, and wetting the pumped water by applying to the vaporization filter;
The air cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: The water supply means
A water supply tray water supply means for supplying water stored in the water supply tray;
Water replenishment detection means for detecting that the remaining amount of water supplied by the water supply tray water supply means is below a certain level;
The water supply tray is disposed in the air passage where the air pressure changes when the blower blows air, the water supply tray water supply means is disposed in a space outside the air passage, and the control unit After the water replenishment detecting means detects that the remaining amount of water is below a certain level, the air volume of the blower is controlled so as to maintain the air volume when it is detected that the remaining amount of water is below a certain level. The air cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the air cleaner is characterized in that:   When the water replenishment detection is performed by the water replenishment detection means while the deodorizing operation and the humidifying operation are performed simultaneously, the control unit sets the first necessary air volume as the necessary air volume of the blower. The air cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the operation of the air cleaner is controlled. An air purifier having a deodorizing function and a humidifying function and capable of simultaneously performing a deodorizing operation and a humidifying operation,
A housing having an air passage connecting the air suction port and the air outlet;
A blower that is provided in the air passage and discharges air sucked from the inlet through the outlet;
A deodorizing unit that is disposed in the air passage and has a catalyst filter that deodorizes air introduced from the suction port;
A humidifying unit disposed in the air passage and imparting humidity to the deodorized air;
A heater unit for heating and regenerating the deodorizing catalyst in the deodorizing filter by heating the catalyst filter;
A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the air outside the housing;
A humidity sensor that detects humidity in the air outside the housing;
A timing means for timing the passage of time;
The amount of air passing through the humidifying unit by the blower is controlled according to the humidity difference between the target humidity value based on the temperature value in the air detected by the temperature sensor and the current humidity value detected in the air by the humidity sensor. The dehumidification catalyst is controlled so as to approach the target humidity value, and after a predetermined time elapses after the heating regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst by the heater unit until a predetermined time elapses, a predetermined time from the start of heating of the deodorization catalyst. A control unit for controlling the temperature to be close to a target humidity value based on the values of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor detected after elapse;
An air purifier characterized by comprising:   The said control part is the said humidification unit by the said air blower according to the humidity difference of the target humidity value based on the temperature value in the air detected with the said temperature sensor, and the present humidity value in the air detected with the said humidity sensor. Is controlled so as to be close to the target humidity value by the heater unit and after the heating and regeneration process of the deodorizing catalyst by the heater unit until a predetermined time elapses by the time measuring means. Correction of the temperature increased from the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor immediately before the heat regeneration process of the deodorizing catalyst is performed, and the target humidity value based on the corrected temperature value and the current air in the air detected by the humidity sensor are corrected. According to the humidity difference with the humidity value, the passing air amount of the humidifying unit by the blower is controlled so as to be close to the target humidity value. Air cleaner according to Motomeko 6. A control method executed in an air cleaner,
The air cleaner includes a blower, a deodorizing unit, a humidifying unit, a heater unit, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a time measuring means, and a control unit,
A temperature detecting step in which the temperature sensor detects a temperature in the air; and
A humidity detection step in which the humidity sensor detects humidity in the air; and
The control unit obtains a target humidity value based on a temperature value in the air, and controls a passing air amount of the humidifying unit by the blower according to a humidity difference between the current humidity value in the air and the target humidity value. A normal humidity control step to bring the target humidity value closer to the target humidity value;
The control unit detects immediately before the heating unit regenerates the deodorization catalyst by the heater unit until a predetermined time elapses after the heat regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst of the deodorization unit by the heater unit has ended. A humidity control step after the heat regeneration process of the deodorizing catalyst for controlling the amount of air passing through the humidifying unit by the blower so as to approach the target humidity value based on the values of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor;
A control method for an air cleaner, comprising:   The humidity control step after the heat regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst is performed by the heater unit until a predetermined time elapses after the control unit finishes the heat regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst by the heater unit. Correct the temperature rise from the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor immediately before the heat regeneration process of the deodorization catalyst, the target humidity value based on the corrected temperature value, and the current humidity in the air detected by the humidity sensor 9. The method of controlling an air cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the air flow rate of the humidifying unit by the blower is controlled so as to approach the target humidity value according to a humidity difference from the value.

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