JP2012212519A - Ion generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion generator which can detect an ion amount while reducing the influence of electro static charge on a wall surface of a flow passage.SOLUTION: An ion generator includes an ion detector 8 in which an electric circuit 82 is arranged on one side of a board 81 and a rod-shaped electrode 83 is erected on the other side thereof, provided at a lower part of a front wall portion of a duct upper portion 51 and at a position closer to the center. The rod-shaped electrode 83 projected into a flow passage allows an ion amount in the flow passage composed of a duct and a wind direction body 7 to be detected while reducing the influence of electro static charge on a wall surface.

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ion generator for discharging ions released from an ion generator into a room together with air sent out by a blower to sterilize and deodorize indoor air.

  An ion generator releases ions into an installation space such as a living room to increase the air ion concentration, decomposes and disinfects bacteria floating in the space, or adheres to odors attached to curtains and clothing. Is to be removed. The main configuration of the ion generator includes a blower, a flow passage that allows the air sent by the blower to flow and discharges it to the outside, an ion generator that generates ions, an ion detector that detects the amount of ions, and the like It consists of.

  It is generally known that an ion generator has a needle-like discharge electrode and an induction electrode, and generates a corona discharge by applying a high voltage between these electrodes to generate ions. Yes. The ion generator mixes ions generated by the ion generator with the air sent out by the blower in the flow path, and discharges the ions to the outside.

  In Patent Document 1, when an ion amount is detected by an ion detector using a substrate having a copper pattern on one side as a collector, and the detected ion amount is determined to be below a certain threshold value, the ion generator is replaced. In order to urge the maintenance such as, it is notified by display.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, an ion generation cartridge including a plurality of ion generators, a planar ion detector, and a control board is configured so that the ion generation cartridge can be attached to and detached from the ion generation apparatus, thereby facilitating replacement during maintenance. Is increasing.

JP 2010-287322 A JP 2010-118351 A

  Ions generated by the ion generator are mixed with the air sent out by the blower in the flow path and carried to the discharge port. Immediately after ion generation, ions collide with each other and other air in the flow path. In addition to being reduced by collision with the molecules inside, it is also gradually reduced by collision with the flow path wall forming the flow path or friction.

  Generally, in order to spread ions to every corner of an installation space such as a living room, there is a demand for a flow velocity of air discharged from the discharge port to be a certain level or more. On the other hand, in order to reduce power consumption, it is desirable to suppress the blowing power of the blower. For this reason, the flow channel is often formed as a narrower space, the ion concentration in the flow channel is very high, collision between the above-mentioned ions and other molecules, The amount of ions is significantly reduced by collision and friction.

  In particular, when the flow path wall of the flow path is formed of a resin material, the flow path wall is charged by contact and friction between the air flowing in the flow path and the wall surface of the flow path. The ions flowing along the wall surface near the flow path wall are consumed and attenuated due to the influence of the charging of the flow path wall, and there is a problem that the ion concentration becomes lower as it is closer to the flow path wall of the flow path. .

  The ion detectors in the ion generators described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a planar collection body by a substrate provided with a copper pattern, and the collection body is arranged on the flow path wall surface of the flow path. Therefore, the amount of ions is detected in a region where the ion concentration decreases due to the influence of the charging of the flow path wall as described above. In addition, when the charging of the channel wall fluctuates unstablely, the ion concentration in the vicinity of the channel wall becomes unstable, so that the detection value of the ion amount by the ion detector also becomes unstable.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ion generator capable of detecting the amount of ions by reducing the influence of charging on the wall surface of the flow path. It is in.

  An ion generator according to the present invention includes a blower that sends out air, a flow path that allows the air sent from the blower to flow toward the discharge port, and an ion generator that generates ions released into the flow path. An ion generator configured to discharge the ions generated by the ion generator from the discharge port together with the air sent out by the blower, from the flow passage wall of the flow passage. It has a rod-like electrode protruding into the passage, and is provided with an ion detector that detects the amount of ions contained in the air flowing through the passage through the rod-like electrode.

  In the present invention, the amount of ions is detected by an ion detector having a rod-shaped electrode that projects air and ions sent from the blower through the flow path, discharges from the discharge port, and protrudes into the flow path. Therefore, the amount of ions contained in the air flowing through the flow path can be detected while reducing the influence of the flow path wall.

  The ion generator according to the present invention is characterized in that the rod-shaped electrode is arranged so that an axial direction intersects a direction of air flow flowing through the passage.

  In the present invention, since the rod-shaped electrode is arranged so that the axial direction intersects the direction of the air flow flowing through the flow path, the ion amount in the flow path is averaged in a certain region. Can be detected automatically.

  The ion generator according to the present invention is characterized in that the rod-like electrode is arranged on the downstream side of the flow path from the ion generator.

  In the present invention, since the rod-shaped electrode is arranged on the downstream side of the flow path from the ion generator, it is possible to reliably detect the ions released from the ion generator.

  The ion generator according to the present invention is characterized in that the rod-shaped electrode is arranged so as to protrude into the flow path through a through hole provided in a flow path wall of the flow path.

  In the present invention, since the rod-shaped electrode is arranged so as to protrude into the flow channel through the through hole provided in the flow channel wall of the flow channel, when the rod-shaped electrode is projected into the flow channel. Is easy to assemble.

  In the ion generator according to the present invention, the ion detector includes an electric circuit disposed on one side of the substrate, and the rod-shaped electrode is erected on the other side of the substrate. It is arranged outside.

  In the present invention, the ion detector has an electric circuit arranged on one side of the substrate and a rod-like electrode standing on the other side, and the electric circuit is arranged outside the flow path. It can suppress that the electric circuit of a detector influences the air which flows through the inside of a flow path.

  The ion generator according to the present invention is characterized in that the flow passage has a flow passage wall formed of a resin material on the downstream side of the flow passage from the ion generator.

  In the present invention, since the flow path wall of the flow path is formed of the resin material on the downstream side of the ion generator, the weight can be reduced. Even if a charging phenomenon occurs because the channel wall is formed of a resin material, the influence of the charging can be reduced and the amount of ions in the flow channel can be detected by the rod-like electrode.

  The ion generator according to the present invention is characterized in that the rod-shaped electrode is provided with an electrode portion on the distal end side from a position away from the flow path wall of the flow path.

  In the present invention, since the rod-shaped electrode has the electrode portion disposed on the tip side from a position separated from the flow path wall of the flow path, the influence of the flow path wall is reduced to reduce the influence of the flow path wall. The amount of ions can be detected.

  The ion generator according to the present invention is characterized in that the rod-shaped electrode has a circular or polygonal cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction.

  In the present invention, the rod-shaped electrode has a circular or polygonal cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction, thereby reducing air turbulence in the flow path or increasing the ion detection area. .

  The ion generator according to the present invention notifies a control unit that compares the amount of ions detected by the ion detector with a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value, and a result of comparison by the control unit. And a notification unit.

  In the present invention, the ion amount detected by the ion detector is compared with the first threshold value and the second threshold value, and the comparison result is notified, so that the maintainability of the ion generator can be improved.

  According to the present invention, the ion detection has a rod-like electrode that causes air and ions sent from the blower to flow through the flow path and is discharged from the discharge port and protrudes from the flow path wall of the flow path into the flow path. Since the ion amount is detected by the vessel, it is possible to detect the ion amount contained in the air flowing through the flow path while reducing the influence of the flow path wall.

It is a front external view which shows the external appearance of the ion generator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side appearance figure showing the appearance of the ion generating device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a vertical front view which shows the structure of the ion generator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical side view which shows the structure of the ion generator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a typical front view which shows the state in which the ion generator was attached to the front wall. It is a schematic diagram which expands the vertical side surface of a flow path, and typically demonstrates the detection of ion amount. It is a side view which shows the external appearance of an ion detector. It is an arrow line view from the DD line of FIG. 7 which shows the external appearance of an ion detector. It is an arrow line view from the DD line of FIG. 7 which shows the external appearance of the ion detector which concerns on another example. It is a side view which shows the external appearance of the ion detector which concerns on another example. It is the schematic diagram which represented typically the vertical side surface of the ion generator which concerns on another example. It is a block diagram which shows the functional block of the ion generator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which monitors an ion generation state.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a front external view showing an external appearance of an ion generator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side external view showing an external appearance of the ion generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a longitudinal front view showing the configuration of the ion generator according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a vertical side view showing the configuration of the ion generator according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d are attached to the front wall 5a.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing. The housing 1 has discharge ports 11 and 11 at the top portion of the canopy, and suction ports 14 and 14 at the lower portions of the left and right side surfaces. Moreover, the front part of the housing 1 is provided with an operation button 12 for controlling the operation of the ion generator and one or a plurality of operation lamps 13 for displaying the operation status of the ion generator.

  The housing 1 includes both side walls 1a and 1b which are spaced apart from each other and a top wall 1c having two fitting holes 15 and 15 at the center. A motor 2 having output shafts 21 and 21 on both sides in the direction of the rotation axis is disposed at the lower part in the housing 1, and each of the output shafts 21 and 21 of the motor 2 is rotatable in two casings 4 and 4. The two impellers 3 and 3 accommodated in the are mounted.

  Above the impellers 3 and 3, two ducts 5 and 5 are arranged as cylinders for individually flowing upward the air sent by the respective rotations. Each of the ducts 5, 5 has ion generators 6 a, 6 c, 6 b, 6 d each having two ion generation parts 61, 62, and the wind direction arranged so as to be removable in the fitting holes 15, 15. Body 7 is provided. Ion detectors 8 and 8 for detecting the generated ions are arranged above the ion generators 6a and 6b. The motor 2, the impellers 3 and 3, and the casings 4 and 4 constitute a blower.

  The housing 1 further includes a bottom wall 1d that has a rectangular shape in plan view, and a front wall 1e and a rear wall 1f that are connected to two front and rear sides of the bottom wall 1d, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Filters 9, 9 that allow the air that the impellers 3, 3 pass through the suction ports 14, 14 to pass through the suction ports 14, 14 below the side walls 1 a, 1 b to remove foreign substances in the air and make clean air. Is attached. The fitting holes 15 and 15 of the top wall 1c have a rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction is front and rear, the front inner surface is inclined forward with respect to the vertical, and the rear inner surface is inclined backward with respect to the vertical. . Further, the housing 1 is divided into an upper body and a lower body in the middle of the vertical direction, and the casings 4 and 4 are mounted on the lower body, and the ducts 5 and 5 are mounted on the upper body.

  The impellers 3 and 3 are multi-blade impellers having a plurality of blades 3a whose rotation center side is displaced in the rotation direction with respect to the outer edge, in other words, a sirocco fan having a cylindrical shape, having a bearing plate at one end, The output shafts 21 and 21 of the motor 2 are attached to a shaft hole opened at the center of the plate, and the air sucked into the cavity at the center portion from the opening at the other end is discharged from between the blades 3a on the outer peripheral portion. ing.

  The casings 4 and 4 guide the airflow generated by the rotation of the impellers 3 and 3 in the rotation direction of the impellers 3 and 3, and arc-shaped guide walls 41 and 41 for increasing the speed of the airflow, and the arcs Air outlets 42 and 42 opened upward from a part of the shape guide walls 41 and 41 to one of the tangential directions of the arc-shaped guide walls 41 and 41 are provided. The air outlets 42, 42 have a rectangular tube shape protruding from a part of the arc-shaped guide walls 41, 41 to one of the tangential directions of the arc-shaped guide walls 41, 41 and obliquely with respect to the vertical. .

  Further, the casings 4 and 4 have a deep dish shape, and the casing main bodies 4a and 4a having arc-shaped guide walls 41 and 41 and opening portions for the air outlets 42 and 42, and the openings of the impellers 3 and 3, respectively. Corresponding portions are opened, and cover plates 4b and 4b for closing the open sides of the casing bodies 4a and 4a are provided. The opposing sides of the casing bodies 4a and 4a are integrally connected by a connecting wall 43 for partitioning. ing. Further, ventilation plates 91 and 91 having a plurality of ventilation holes are provided between the open portions of the cover plates 4b and 4b and the filters 9 and 9, respectively.

  A portion of the connecting wall 43 corresponding to the motor 2 has a recess that is recessed toward the one casing body 4a, and a deep plate-like support plate 44 is attached to the edge of the recess. The motor 2 is clamped and held between the central portions of the output shafts 21 and 21, and the output shafts 21 and 21 are inserted into the recesses and the shaft holes formed in the central portion of the support plate 44. , 21 have impellers 3 and 3 attached thereto. The upper end of the connecting wall 43 extends upward from the casings 4 and 4.

The ducts 5 and 5 are each formed of a rectangular cylindrical tube portion whose lower end is connected to the air outlets 42 and 42, whose upper end is connected to the fitting holes 15 and 15, and which is narrowed in the vertical direction. Further, the ducts 5 and 5 are arranged substantially vertically from the front walls 5a and 5a arranged along one of the tangential directions of the arc-shaped guide walls 41 and 41 from the outlets 42 and 42 and the outlets 42 and 42, respectively. Rear walls 5b, 5b. The front walls 5a, 5a and the rear walls 5b, 5b are connected to two side walls 5c, 5c, 5d, 5d arranged substantially vertically, and the air blown from the outlets 42, 42 is supplied to the front wall 5a. , 5a and the side walls 5c, 5c, 5d, 5d, and a laminar flow along the vertical side.

  The front walls 5a, 5a have through holes corresponding to the ion generating portions 61, 62, and the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are fitted into the through holes, and the rear walls 5b, 5b are attached. A circuit board 10 connected to the motor 2, ion generators 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d, ion detectors 8, 8 and a power supply line, and a cover 20 covering the circuit board 10 are attached. .

  The ducts 5 and 5 are divided into a duct upper part 51 and a duct lower part 52 in the middle of the vertical direction. The duct lower body 52 has a rectangular tube shape, and the center in the horizontal direction is partitioned by the connecting wall 43. In the upper duct 51, the lower portions of the rectangular tube parts 51 a and 51 a that are arranged side by side in the lateral direction are integrally connected by a connecting part 51 b and are partitioned by a connecting part 51 b and a connecting wall 43. Further, protective nets 30 and 30 for preventing foreign objects such as fingers from being inserted from the outside are arranged at the upper end of the duct upper body 51.

  The wind direction bodies 7 and 7 are disposed in parallel with the corner frame portions 71 and 71 whose cross-sectional shape in the front-and-rear direction forms an inverted trapezoid, and spaced apart in the front-and-rear direction in the corner frame portions 71 and 71, respectively. It has a plurality of wind direction plates 72, 72 that are inclined to each other, and is formed in an equal shape. The front and rear walls of the corner frame portions 71, 71 are inclined in the front-rear direction with respect to the vertical.

  The internal space surrounded by the ducts 5 and 5 and the wind direction bodies 7 and 7 forms a flow path through which the air sent from the blower flows, and the discharge port is formed by the opening at the upper end of the wind direction bodies 7 and 7. 11 and 11 are formed. The inner walls of the ducts 5 and 5 and the wind direction bodies 7 and 7 form a flow path wall of a flow path through which air sent from the blower flows.

  Each of the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d includes two ion generators 61 and 62 that are separated from each other in a direction substantially orthogonal to the flow direction of air generated by the rotation of the impellers 3 and 3. Each of the ion generators 61 and 62 has discharge electrodes 61a and 62a having a sharp shape on the inner back side, and induction electrodes 61b and 62b surrounding the discharge electrodes 61a and 62a, and a discharge to which a high voltage is applied. The electrodes 61a and 62a generate corona discharge. Thus, one ion generation unit 61 is configured to generate positive ions, and the other ion generation unit 62 is configured to generate negative ions.

  The ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d are held by the holding body 63 and attached to the front walls 5a and 5a of the ducts 5 and 5, respectively. Each of the ion generators 6a and 6b and the ion generators 6c and 6d is set so that the negative ion generators 62 face each other and are adjacent to each other in a direction substantially orthogonal to the flow direction. The respective groups are juxtaposed apart from each other in the flow direction. The ion generators 61 and 62 of the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d face the ducts 5 and 5 from the through holes. In addition, the attachment side of the holding body 63 to the ducts 5 and 5 has four openings corresponding to the ion generation portions 61 and 62, and the ion generation portions 61 and 62 are provided in the openings 63a,. It is arranged.

  The ion detectors 8 and 8 detect the amount of ions in the flow path including the ducts 5 and 5 and the wind direction bodies 7 and 7. In the ion detectors 8, 8, electric circuits 82, 82 are arranged on one side of the substrates 81, 81, and rod-like electrodes 83, 83 are erected on the other side. In this case, the rod-like electrodes 83 and 83 are disposed in the position closer to the center and project into the flow path. Through holes 53 are formed in the lower part of the front wall portion of the upper duct 51. The ion detectors 8 and 8 are attached by inserting rod-like electrodes 83 and 83 into the through holes 53 and 53.

  The ion generator configured as described above is installed in an installation space such as a living room. By driving the motor 2 of the blower, the impellers 3 and 3 are rotated, and indoor air is sucked into the two casings 4 and 4 from the suction ports 14 and 14 on both sides, and foreign matter such as dust in the sucked air. Are removed by filters 9,9. At this time, the air sucked into the casings 4 and 4 becomes a laminar flow by the arc-shaped guide walls 41 and 41 around the impellers 3 and 3, and the laminar air flows into the arc-shaped guide walls 41 and 41. Then, the air flows through the outlets 42 and 42 and is blown out from the outlets 42 and 42 into the ducts 5 and 5.

  The ions discharged from the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d into the ducts 5, 5 are mixed with the air blown out from the outlets 42, 42 into the ducts 5, 5, and the ducts 5, 5 and the wind direction are mixed. The flow path composed of the bodies 7 and 7 is caused to flow downstream and is discharged from the discharge ports 11 and 11 to the outside.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating the detection of the amount of ions by enlarging the longitudinal side surface of the flow path. The arrows in FIG. 6 represent the flow of air, and ions are released from the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d into a region A surrounded by a solid line, and are hatched surrounded by a dotted line C along the air flow. In the attached region B, a state in which ions are mixed is shown.

  In the region outside the dotted line C and up to the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 that are flow paths, the amount of ions is decreasing. This reduction in the amount of ions may be caused by a phenomenon in which friction occurs between the air flowing along the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 and the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 and the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 are charged.

  For the material of the ducts 5 and 5, for example, a PS (polystyrene) material which is a resin material is used for weight reduction. In addition, a PP (polypropylene) material, a PE (polyethylene) material, an ABS resin (acrylonitrile) is used. , Butadiene, styrene copolymer synthetic resin) materials and the like are also used.

  Air containing ions collides with the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 made of such a resin material, and friction is generated. Due to this friction, the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 are negatively charged, and the air (including ions) rubbed with the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 is positively charged. Ions affected by the negatively charged inner wall surface of the duct 5 are consumed and the ion concentration decreases. As a result, the ion concentration in the region B is different from the ion concentration in the region outside the dotted line C and up to the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5. In the region B, the distance from the inner wall surface of the ducts 5 and 5 is large, and the region B is hardly affected by the charging of the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5, and the ion concentration is kept high.

  When positive ions come into contact with the inner wall surfaces of the negatively charged ducts 5 and 5 and the charging of the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 gradually disappears, the influence of the charging of the inner wall surfaces disappears. The concentration is substantially equal to the ion concentration in the region outside the dotted line C and up to the inner wall surface of the ducts 5 and 5. Furthermore, the air flowing through the ducts 5 and 5 collides with the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 and rubs, whereby charging of the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 occurs again. When such a charging phenomenon occurs aperiodically or periodically, the ion concentration in a region outside the dotted line C and up to the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 changes.

  According to the method of arranging the planar detection electrodes shown in the prior art along the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 and detecting the amount of ions, it is outside the dotted line C to the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5. Therefore, the detection of the ion amount is not stable, and the ion amount different from the ion amount in the region B is also detected. On the other hand, the ion detectors 8 and 8 according to the present invention are provided with rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83, thereby reducing the influence of the charging phenomenon on the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5, and detecting the amount of ions in the passage. It becomes possible to do.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83 of the ion detectors 8 and 8 protrude from the flow path wall formed by the ducts 5 and 5 into the flow path in the ducts 5 and 5. The amount of ions is detected. That is, the rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83 are arranged so as to enter the region B not affected by the charging of the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 and intersect the direction of the air flow flowing through the passage. Thus, it is possible to stably detect the amount of ions in the region B containing the ions released into the region A at a high concentration. In addition, since the rod-shaped electrodes 82 and 82 are arranged so as to intersect with the air flow direction, the ion amount is detected on average in a certain region from the inner wall surface of the ducts 5 and 5 to the center of the flow path. can do. The ion amount may be detected by, for example, detecting the decrease in the potential of the rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83 generated when the negative ions are collected by the rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83 using the electric circuits 82 and 82.

  The ion detectors 8 and 8 are attached by inserting rod-like electrodes 83 and 83 into through holes 53 and 53 formed in the ducts 5 and 5. Since the substrates 81 and 81 and the electric circuits 82 and 82 other than the rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83 of the ion detectors 8 and 8 are arranged outside the ducts 5 and 5, the influence of the substrates 81 and 81 is affected by the ducts. It is possible to suppress the influence of ions flowing through the flow passages 5 and 5 and the disturbance of the air flow in the flow passages by the ducts 5 and 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ion detectors 8 and 8 are respectively located above the negative ion generators 62 and 62 facing each other at the center of the lower part of the front wall of the duct upper body 51. However, the position is not limited to this position. For example, other positions of the front wall portion of the upper duct 51 and the negative ion generator 62, It may be arranged at a position on the duct upper body 51 other than the upper part of 62 and further on the wind direction bodies 7 and 7. Thus, by arranging the ion detectors 8 and 8 on the downstream side of the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, the amount of ions can be reliably detected. Further, the number of ion detectors 8 and 8 is not limited to two, and three or more ion detectors may be provided.

  Further, if the ion detectors 8 and 8 are attached in such a way that the rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83 protrude into the flow passages in the ducts 5 and 5, the rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83 are inserted into the through holes 53 and 53, respectively. It is not limited to the mounting method. However, according to the method in which the rod-shaped electrodes 83 and 83 are inserted into the through holes 53 and 53 and the ion detectors 8 and 8 are attached to the ducts 5 and 5, the attaching operation can be performed outside the ducts 5 and 5. Good assembly.

  FIG. 7 is a side view showing the external appearance of the ion detector 8, FIG. 8 is an arrow view from the DD line of FIG. 7 showing the external appearance of the ion detector 8, and FIG. 9 shows ion detection according to another example. FIG. 8 is an arrow view from the DD line of FIG. The rod-shaped electrode 83 is a detection electrode 84 having at least a surface as an electrode portion, and the detection electrode 84 collects ions. By assembling the rod-shaped electrode 83 on the substrate 81 and constituting an integrated unit of the ion detector together with the electric circuit 82, the assemblability of the ion detector 8 to the duct 5 can be improved.

The cross section of the rod-shaped electrode 83 may be circular as shown in FIG. 8 or rectangular as shown in FIG. For example, in the case of the ion detector 8 mounted in an ion generator having a height of about 35 cm and a horizontal section of about 15 cm square used in a living room, the diameter of the rod-shaped electrode 83 is 1.5 mm and the length is shown in FIG. If a is about 18 mm, the surface area of the rod-shaped electrode 83 (that is, the detection electrode 84) can be about 85 mm ² . In the case shown in FIG. 9, if the cross-section of the rod-shaped electrode 83 is 0.5 mm × 2 mm and the length a is about 18 mm, the surface area of the rod-shaped electrode 83 (that is, the detection electrode 84) may be about 90 mm ^2. it can. Various improvements can be made to the length of the rod-shaped electrode 83 and the shape and size of the cross section based on the influence on the ion detection accuracy and the air flow in the flow path. If the cross-sectional shape of the rod-shaped electrode 83 is circular, the air flow is less disturbed, and the ion detection accuracy can be increased by increasing the surface area with an arbitrary polygonal shape.

  FIG. 10 is a side view showing an appearance of an ion detector 8 according to still another example. In this example of the ion detector 8, the detection electrode 84 that is an electrode portion is arranged from the position of the length b 1 that is separated from the base portion of the rod-shaped electrode 83 to the length b 2 to the tip portion. The range affected by the charging phenomenon of the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 as the flow path wall is obtained by numerical calculation or experiment as the distance from the wall surface, and the range affected by the charging phenomenon of the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 is determined. By determining the dimension b1 to be excluded, the detection electrode 84 as an electrode portion is provided from the position separated from the flow path wall to the tip side of the rod-shaped electrode 83. For example, with respect to 18 mm which is the length a of the rod-shaped electrode 83, the length b1 is set to 6 mm, and the detection electrode 84 is arranged at a portion of 12 mm which is the length b2. The detection electrode 84 may be provided up to the middle of the rod-shaped electrode 83 and does not need to be provided up to the tip. However, in order to increase the surface area of the detection electrode 84, the detection is performed up to the tip of the rod-shaped electrode 83. An electrode 84 is preferably provided.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic view schematically showing a longitudinal side surface of an ion generator according to another example. In the ion generator shown in FIG. 4 described above, the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 are formed so as to incline from the front to the rear from the upstream side to the downstream side of the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d. . On the other hand, in the ion generator shown in FIG. 11, the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 are substantially vertically oriented without being inclined forward or backward from the upstream side to the downstream side of the ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d. Is formed. Even in such a case, the friction between the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5 and the air in the flow path is generated, and a charging phenomenon may occur on the inner wall surfaces of the ducts 5 and 5. , 83 using the ion detectors 8 and 8 can stably detect the amount of ions in the region B containing ions emitted to the region A at a high concentration.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of the ion generator according to the embodiment of the present invention. The ion generator is supplied with electric power from an external power source 32, and includes a motor 2, an ion generator 6 (refers to the above-described ion generators 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d), and an ion detector. 8 etc. internal devices are operated. The control unit 31 performs on / off control of the operation of each internal device, displays an operation lamp, and changes its display.

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU, a ROM that stores a control processing program, a RAM that stores temporarily generated information, and the like in order to perform control processing. The input to the control unit 31 is an input signal of the operation button 12 and a detection signal of the ion amount from the ion detector 8, and the output of the control unit 31 is a control output to the drive circuit 2 a that drives the motor 2. , An on / off signal to the ion generator 6, a display control signal to the operation lamp 13, and the like.

  Next, a processing flow in which the control unit 31 monitors the generation state of ions will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for monitoring the ion generation state. When the controller 31 receives the pressing of the operation button 12 (step S11), the controller 31 starts the operation of the ion generator, sequentially starts the operation of the blower (motor 2) (step S12), and starts the operation of the ion generator 6 ( Step S13), the operation of the ion detector 8 is started (step S14). The control unit 31 performs control such as starting the operation of each internal device by shifting the time (for example, 0.5 seconds) by the control signal.

  Through the processing from step S11 to step S14, the ion generator discharges air into the room by driving the blower (motor 2), and mixes it with the air from which ions generated by the ion generator 6 are released. As a result, the amount of ions in the flow path in the apparatus is detected.

  When the operation is started, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the operation button 12 is pressed again to stop the operation (step S15). As long as the operation continues without the operation button 12 being pressed again (step S15: NO), the control unit 31 compares the ion amount detected by the ion detector 8 with the first threshold value (step S16). For example, the first threshold value is set to a predetermined value of the ion amount that can be determined to satisfy the rated output ion amount and sufficiently discharge ions into the room due to the performance of the ion generator 8. At this time, the control unit 31 causes the ion detector 8 to detect the ion amount for a predetermined time of, for example, about 0.5 seconds, and integrates or averages the detection signal of the ion amount to set the first threshold value. Judgment is made.

  If the detected ion amount is equal to or greater than the first threshold (step S16: YES), the control unit 31 sends a display control signal for illuminating the operation lamp 13 in green, and the operation lamp 13 is illuminated in green ( Step S17).

  If the detected ion amount is less than the first threshold (step S16: NO), the control unit 31 compares and determines the detected ion amount and the second threshold (step S18). For example, the second threshold value is lower than the rated output ion amount due to the performance of the ion generator 8, but the ion output deterioration has not progressed, and a predetermined ion amount that can be used for ion emission into the room is predetermined. Set to value. If the detected ion amount is equal to or larger than the second threshold (step S18: YES), the control unit 31 sends a display control signal for illuminating the operation lamp 13 in yellow, and the operation lamp 13 is illuminated in yellow (step). S19).

  If the detected ion amount is less than the second threshold (step S18: NO), the control unit 31 illuminates the operation lamp 13 in red and sends a display control signal for blinking, and the operation lamp 13 illuminates in red. And blinks (step S20).

  After the operation lamp 13 is illuminated or blinked in steps S17, S19, and S20, the control unit 31 returns to step S15 again and continues the process. When it is determined that the operation button 12 is pressed again and the operation is stopped (step S15: YES), the control unit 31 stops the operation of each internal device in the ion generator, and the external power source 32. The power supply from is also stopped (step S21).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of operation lamps 13 are arranged on the front panel of the ion generator, and information on the operation of the device is notified to the user according to the lighting state of each lamp. Based on the processing procedure of FIG. 13, the control unit 31 monitors the ion generation state of the ion generator 6 by comparing the detected ion amount with the first and second threshold values, and the comparison result Is informed to the user using the operation lamp 13. When the operation lamp 13 is illuminated in green, the ion generation state is normal, and when the operation lamp 13 is illuminated in yellow, the ion generation state starts to deteriorate, and the ion generator 6 If the operation lamp 13 is illuminated in red and blinks, the user is informed that maintenance such as cleaning or replacement of the ion generator 6 is necessary. Therefore, the maintainability and convenience of the ion generator can be improved.

  The control unit 31 notifies the ion generation state by the color and blinking state of the operation lamp 13. However, the notification means is not limited to these, and a buzzer or a speaker may be provided to notify by sound or voice. In addition, a liquid crystal panel can be provided for notification by display.

  The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, but covers the technical scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Release port 13 Operation lamp 2 Motor 3 Impeller 31 Control part 4 Casing 5 Duct 53 Through-hole 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d Ion generator 7 Wind direction body 8 Ion detector 81 Substrate 82 Electric circuit 83 Rod electrode 84 Detection electrode ( Electrode part)

Claims (9)

A blower that sends out air, a flow path that allows air sent from the blower to flow toward the discharge port, and an ion generator that generates ions discharged into the flow path, the ion generator In the ion generator configured to discharge the generated ions from the discharge port together with the air sent out by the blower,
It has a rod-shaped electrode that protrudes from the flow channel wall of the flow channel into the flow channel, and includes an ion detector that detects the amount of ions contained in the air flowing through the flow channel by the rod electrode. An ion generator characterized by the above.   2. The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped electrode is arranged so that an axial direction intersects a direction of air flow through the flow path.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped electrode is arranged on the downstream side of the flow path from the ion generator.   The rod-shaped electrode is arranged so as to protrude into the flow path through a through hole provided in a flow path wall of the flow path. The ion generator described in 1.   The ion detector has an electric circuit arranged on one side of the substrate, the rod-like electrode is erected on the other side of the substrate, and the electric circuit is arranged outside the flow path. The ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:   6. The flow path according to claim 1, wherein a flow path wall is formed of a resin material at a downstream side of the flow path from the ion generator. The ion generator as described.   The ion according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rod-shaped electrode has an electrode portion disposed on a distal end side from a position separated from a flow path wall of the flow path. Generator.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped electrode has a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the axial direction as a circle or a polygon.   The apparatus further includes a control unit that compares the amount of ions detected by the ion detector with a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value, and a notification unit that notifies the result of comparison by the control unit. The ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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