JP2022191768A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air cleaner capable of suppressing floating of unpleasant odor and releasing necessary scent such as aroma.SOLUTION: An air cleaner 1a includes: a filter unit 20a having a filter part 21a purifying passing air; a first ventilation passage 51a passing through the filter part 21a; a second ventilation passage 52a that does not pass through the filter part 21a; and switching means 30a switching opening/closing of the first ventilation passage 51a and the second ventilation passage 52a. The switching means 30a enables switching between a state where the first ventilation passage 51a is opened and the second ventilation passage 52a is closed and a state where the second ventilation passage 52a is opened and the first ventilation passage 51a is closed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to air cleaners.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various air purifiers are known that remove dust, pollen, house dust, etc. floating in the air to clean indoor air. An air purifier equipped with a function of emitting an aroma that exerts a healing effect on the human mind and body has been developed (for example, Patent Document 1). The air purifier of Patent Document 1 includes an aroma diffuser downstream of the deodorizing filter, and emits deodorized air containing aroma.

JP 2017-56160 A

However, the air diffused by an air purifier such as that of Patent Document 1 often contains misted essential oils that are the source of aroma. Therefore, if the air purifier continues to operate, the air purifier will suck in air containing misted essential oil. In an air purifier such as that of Patent Document 1, the misted essential oil passes through the deodorizing filter, so the odorous components captured by the deodorizing filter are mixed with the essential oil, resulting in the generation of unpleasant odors. was occurring. In addition, there has been a problem that the aroma component is deodorized by the deodorizing filter and the aroma is reduced by passing through the deodorizing filter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an air cleaner that suppresses unpleasant odors and emits a necessary fragrance such as aroma.

According to the present invention, an air purifier includes a filter unit having a filter portion that purifies passing air, a first ventilation passage that passes through the filter portion, a second ventilation passage that does not pass through the filter portion, and a first ventilation passage. switching means for switching opening and closing of the passage and the second ventilation passage. The switching means can switch between a state in which the first ventilation passage is opened and the second ventilation passage is closed, and a state in which the second ventilation passage is opened and the first ventilation passage is closed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the release of an unpleasant odor and release a necessary fragrance such as aroma.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an air purifier according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the II-II cross section of FIG. 1 and showing a state in which the first ventilation passage is open; FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the II-II cross section of FIG. 1 and showing a state in which the second ventilation passage is open; FIG. 10 is a view schematically showing a vertical cross section of the air cleaner according to Embodiment 2, and showing a state in which the first ventilation passage is opened. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a longitudinal section of the air cleaner according to Embodiment 2, and showing a state in which the second ventilation passage is opened. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a vertical cross-sectional view of an air cleaner according to Embodiment 3, showing a state in which a first ventilation passage is opened; FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a vertical cross-sectional view of an air cleaner according to Embodiment 3, showing a state in which a second ventilation passage is opened. FIG. 7 is a front view of a damper and switching means of the air cleaner of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a front view of a damper and switching means of the air cleaner of FIG. 7; FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a vertical cross-sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 4, showing a state in which the first ventilation passage is opened. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a vertical cross-sectional view of an air purifier according to Embodiment 4, showing a state in which the second ventilation passage is opened. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an air cleaner according to Embodiment 5; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an air cleaner according to Embodiment 6;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated. Since the general operation of the air purifier is the same as that of known air purifiers, a detailed description of the internal structure and operation of the air purifier will be omitted.

[Embodiment 1]
First, an air cleaner 1a according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an air cleaner 1a according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 and 3 are diagrams schematically showing the II-II cross section of FIG. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the first ventilation path 51a is opened, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the second ventilation path 52a is opened. In the following description, the vertical direction when the air purifier 1a is placed in a state of general use is defined as the up-down direction. Further, with respect to the air purifier 1a in the state shown in FIG. 1, the front side of the paper surface is defined as the front side, and the back side of the paper surface is defined as the rear side. A direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as the left-right direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the air cleaner 1a includes a housing 10a, a filter unit 20a, a switching means 30a, an aromatic portion 40a, a fan 50a, an operation portion 60a, and a controller (not shown). and The housing 10a accommodates the filter unit 20a, the switching means 30a, the fragrance portion 40a, and the fan 50a.

The controller is housed in the housing 10a. The controller generates a control signal based on the instruction received by the operation unit 60a, and controls the operation of the air cleaner 1a according to the control signal.

The housing 10a is composed of a cylindrical outer cylinder 11a and a cylindrical inner cylinder 12a. The outer cylinder 11a has a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of suction ports 13a formed along the circumferential direction are provided in the lower portion of the side surface of the outer cylinder 11a. A substantially circular outlet 14a is provided at the center of the top surface of the outer cylinder 11a. The inner cylinder 12a has a smaller diameter and a shorter axial length than the outer cylinder 11a, and is open at both ends. The upper edge of the inner cylinder 12a is attached to the outer peripheral edge of the outlet 14a, and the inner cylinder 12a is suspended from the top surface inside the outer cylinder 11a.

A holding portion 15a for holding the aromatic portion 40a is provided in the center of the outlet 14a. The holding portion 15a has a recessed central portion and a bottom surface having a plurality of openings 151a through which air can pass.

The filter unit 20a is composed of a filter portion 21a and a filter holding portion 22a. The filter unit 20a is arranged between the outer cylinder 11a and the inner cylinder 12a. When the filter unit 20a is placed in contact with the bottom surface of the outer cylinder 11a, the upper end of the filter unit 20a is located above the lower end of the inner cylinder 12a.

The filter holding portion 22a includes a cylindrical barrel portion 221a and a flange portion 222a protruding radially outward from the upper end of the barrel portion 221a. The barrel portion 221a can accommodate the inner barrel 12a inside. Further, the barrel portion 221a is vertically shorter than the filter portion 21a.

The filter portion 21a is formed in a cylindrical shape by bending a filter material in a bellows shape. Moreover, the filter part 21a is provided with a disc flat plate in contact with the upper surface and the bottom surface of the filter material. The filter portion 21a is arranged outside the barrel portion 221a, and the upper surface of the filter portion 21a is attached to the flange portion 222a. The filter unit 21a purifies the passing air by adsorbing odor components in the passing air and collecting fine dust in the passing air. Particulate Air Filter).

The switching means 30a switches opening and closing of the first ventilation passage 51a passing through the filter portion 21a and the second ventilation passage 52a not passing through the filter portion 21a. The switching means 30a can switch between a state in which the first ventilation passage 51a is opened and the second ventilation passage 52a is closed, and a state in which the second ventilation passage 52a is opened and the first ventilation passage 51a is closed.

The fragrance part 40a emits fragrance. In Embodiment 1, the aromatic portion 40a is a cartridge impregnated with an aromatic component. The aromatic component includes an aroma having a relaxing effect, a component derived from eucalyptus or mint that repels insects, and the like. The fragrance part 40a is placed in the recess of the holding part 15a on the top surface of the housing 10a.

The fan 50a is driven by a motor (not shown) to suck in air from the plurality of inlets 13a and to blow out the air from the outlets 14a. The fan 50a is arranged inside the inner cylinder 12a so as to face the outlet 14a. The air sucked from the suction port 13a passes through the inner cylinder 12a and is blown out from the blowout port 14a.

The operation unit 60a is used by the user to turn on/off the power supply, operate the air purifier 1a, and the like. The operation unit 60a is provided on the upper side peripheral surface of the housing 10a. In addition, the position of the operation part 60a should just be provided in the arbitrary places of the outer surface of the housing|casing 10a.

Next, the configuration of the switching means 30a and switching between opening and closing of the first ventilation path 51a and the second ventilation path 52a using the switching means 30a will be specifically described.

The switching means 30a includes a rack 31a, a pinion 32a, and a motor 33a. A part of the inner cylinder 12a recedes radially inward in a U-shape when viewed from above, and the rack 31a is one outer surface (rear surface in FIG. 2) of the U-shaped inner cylinder 12a. , extending in the vertical direction. The motor 33a is attached and fixed to the upper portion of the flange portion 222a of the filter holding portion 22a. The motor 33a has a rotating shaft extending toward the inner cylinder 12a, and the pinion 32a is provided at the tip of the rotating shaft extending from the motor 33a. At this time, the pinion 32a is positioned radially inward of the barrel portion 221a and meshes with the rack 31a provided on the inner barrel 12a.

When the motor 33a is driven, the pinion 32a rotates. The pinion 32a moves vertically on the rack 31a as the motor 33a rotates. As the pinion 32a moves up and down, the filter unit 20a also moves up and down.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the filter unit 20a is at the lowest end, the air sucked from the suction port 13a passes through the filter portion 21a. That is, the first ventilation passage 51a passing through the filter portion 21a is opened. At the same time, there is no second ventilation passage 52a that does not pass through the filter portion 21a, and the second ventilation passage 52a is closed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the filter unit 20a is in the upper part, the air sucked from the suction port 13a does not pass through the filter portion 21a. That is, the second ventilation passage 52a that does not pass through the filter portion 21a is opened. At the same time, there is no first ventilation passage 51a passing through the filter portion 21a, and the first ventilation passage 51a is closed.

Thus, in the air cleaner 1a, the suction port 13a of the first ventilation passage 51a and the suction port 13a of the second ventilation passage 52a are common, and the outlet 14a of the first ventilation passage 51a and the second ventilation passage 52a is common with the outlet 14a. Also, the first ventilation path 51a and the second ventilation path 52a are a common ventilation path. Then, the switching means 30a moves the filter unit 20a to a state in which the filter portion 21a is arranged inside the common ventilation passage or a state in which the filter portion 21a is arranged outside the common ventilation passage. , to switch between opening and closing of the first ventilation path 51a and the second ventilation path 52a.

Next, how to use the air purifier 1a will be described. The air purifier 1a sucks air from the outside of the air purifier 1a into the inside through the suction port 13a by the operation of the fan 50a. The air sucked into the air cleaner 1a passes through the inside of the air cleaner 1a and is blown out of the air cleaner 1a from the outlet 14a.

First, the case of performing an air-cleaning operation for purifying passing air will be described. When the air-cleaning operation is to be performed, when the operation section 60a is operated to select the air-cleaning operation mode, the switching means 30a operates to move the filter unit 20a to the lowest position as shown in FIG. At this time, the aromatic portion 40a is not attached. The air sucked from the suction port 13a passes through the filter portion 21a, odor components and collected dust are removed, and is blown out of the air cleaner 1a from the blowout port 14a.

Next, a description will be given of a case where fragrance operation is performed in which fragrance is released. When the fragrance operation is performed, the operation section 60a is operated to select the fragrance operation mode, and the switching means 30a operates to move the filter unit 20a upward as shown in FIG. Also, the aromatic portion 40a is placed on the holding portion 15a. The air sucked from the suction port 13a flows toward the blowout port 14a without passing through the filter portion 21a. When the air is blown out of the air purifier 1a from the outlet 14a, the air passes through the opening 151a, passes through the aromatic portion 40a, and is blown out containing the aromatic component from the aromatic portion 40a. This releases the fragrance.

Note that the switching means 30a is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the inner cylinder 12a may not have a portion that recedes radially inward in a U-shape, and the rack 31a may be attached to the outer surface of the inner cylinder 12a. Further, the switching means may be configured such that the rack 31a is provided in the filter holding portion 22a, and the pinion 32a and the motor 33a are provided in the housing 10a. In this case, since the pinion 32a and the motor 33a are fixed to the housing 10a and do not move, the cable of the motor 33a can be fixed.

In addition, slits may be formed in the outer surface of the inner cylinder 12a and the inner surface of the outer cylinder 11a at positions that form a cross when viewed from above. Further, elongated ribs may be formed on the flange portion 222a at positions that form a cross when viewed from above. At this time, the slits and ribs are provided at positions where they are fitted to each other. The slits and ribs form guides for stably moving the filter unit 20a up and down. Note that the guide is not limited to the configuration described above, and can be modified as appropriate, for example, by providing a slit in the flange portion 222a and providing ribs in the inner cylinder 12a and the outer cylinder 11a.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, an air cleaner 1b according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 and 5 are diagrams schematically showing the air purifier according to Embodiment 2 in vertical cross sections from the same viewpoint as the air purifier 1a according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the first ventilation path 51b is opened, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the second ventilation path 52b is opened. In the following, regarding the second embodiment, matters different from the first embodiment will be described. In Embodiment 2, the housing 10a, the fragrance portion 40a, and the fan 50a are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and thus description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, the appearance is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the diameter of the inner cylinder 12a is smaller than that of the first embodiment.

The filter unit 20b is composed of a filter portion 21a and a filter holding portion 22b. The filter unit 20b is arranged between the outer cylinder 11a and the inner cylinder 12a. When the filter unit 20b is placed in contact with the bottom surface of the outer cylinder 11a, the upper end of the filter unit 20b is located above the lower end of the inner cylinder 12a.

The filter holding portion 22b is composed of a cylindrical barrel portion 221b and a flange portion 222b protruding radially outward from the upper end of the barrel portion 221b. The barrel portion 221b can accommodate the inner barrel 12a inside. Further, the barrel portion 221b is vertically shorter than the filter portion 21a.

The switching means 30b switches opening and closing of the first ventilation path 51b passing through the filter portion 21a and the second ventilation path 52b not passing through the filter portion 21a. The switching means 30b can switch between a state in which the first ventilation passage 51b is opened and the second ventilation passage 52b is closed, and a state in which the second ventilation passage 52b is opened and the first ventilation passage 51b is closed.

Specifically, the switching means 30b includes a first cylindrical portion 31b, a second cylindrical portion 32b, a gear 33b, and a motor 34b. On the inner surface of the outer cylinder 11a, a switching means guide 111b extending over the entire circumferential direction is integrally provided at the center in the vertical direction. The switching means guide 111b protrudes inward from the inner surface of the outer cylinder 11a.

The first cylindrical portion 31b has an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 11a. A rotation groove 311b extending along the entire circumference is formed on the outer surface of the first cylindrical portion 31b. The first cylindrical portion 31b is horizontally rotatably attached to the outer cylinder 11a by fitting the rotation groove 311b into the switching means guide 111b. A bevel gear 312b is provided on the upper surface of the first cylindrical portion 31b so as to extend along the entire circumference. A spiral lifting groove 313b is provided on the inner surface of the first cylindrical portion 31b.

The second cylindrical portion 32b is provided integrally with the filter unit 20b. In this embodiment, the second cylindrical portion 32b is the flange portion 222b of the filter unit 20b. The second cylindrical portion 32b is arranged between the inner cylinder 12a and the first cylindrical portion 31b. The second cylindrical portion 32b has a predetermined thickness in the vertical direction. A spiral lifting projection 321b is provided on the outer surface of the second cylindrical portion 32b. The lifting projection 321b fits into the lifting groove 313b of the first cylindrical portion 31b.

The motor 34b is arranged between the outer cylinder 11a and the inner cylinder 12a in the upper part of the housing 10a. The gear 33b is provided at the tip of the rotating shaft extending from the motor 34b. At this time, the bevel gear-shaped gear 33b meshes with the bevel gear 312b on the upper surface of the first cylindrical portion 31b.

When the motor 34b is driven, the gear 33b rotates. As the gear 33b rotates, the first cylindrical portion 31b rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. When the first cylindrical portion 31b rotates, the lifting protrusion 321b of the second cylindrical portion 32b spirally moves along the lifting groove 313b of the first cylindrical portion 31b. When the lifting projection 321b spirally moves, the second cylindrical portion 32b, that is, the filter unit 20b moves vertically.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the filter unit 20b is at the lowest end, the air sucked from the suction port 13a passes through the filter portion 21a. That is, the first ventilation passage 51b passing through the filter portion 21a is opened. At the same time, there is no second ventilation passage 52b that does not pass through the filter portion 21a, and the second ventilation passage 52b is closed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the filter unit 20b is in the upper part, the air sucked from the suction port 13a does not pass through the filter portion 21a. That is, the second ventilation passage 52b that does not pass through the filter portion 21a is open. At the same time, there is no first ventilation passage 51b passing through the filter portion 21a, and the first ventilation passage 51b is closed.

Thus, in the air cleaner 1b, the suction port 13a of the first ventilation passage 51b and the suction port 13a of the second ventilation passage 52b are common, and the outlet 14a of the first ventilation passage 51b and the second ventilation passage 52b is common with the outlet 14a. Also, the first ventilation path 51b and the second ventilation path 52b are a common ventilation path. Then, the switching means 30b moves the filter unit 20b to a state in which the filter portion 21a is arranged inside the common ventilation passage or a state in which the filter portion 21a is arranged outside the common ventilation passage. , opening and closing of the first ventilation path 51b and the second ventilation path 52b.

Note that the switching means 30b is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the switching means 30b may be configured such that the first cylindrical portion 31b is provided near the outer surface of the inner cylinder 12a so as to be rotatable with respect to the inner cylinder 12a. At this time, the second cylindrical portion 32b is arranged between the first cylindrical portion 31b and the outer cylinder 11a. Further, the switching means 30b may have a configuration in which a spiral lifting projection is provided on the inner surface of the first cylindrical portion 31b and a spiral lifting groove is provided on the outer surface of the second cylindrical portion 32b.

Also, slits may be formed in the outer surface of the inner cylinder 12a at positions that form a cross when viewed from above. Further, elongated ribs may be formed in the second cylindrical portion 32b at positions that form a cross when viewed from above. At this time, the slits and ribs are provided at positions where they are fitted to each other. The slits and ribs form guides for stably moving the filter unit 20b up and down. In addition, the guide is not limited to the above configuration, and can be modified as appropriate, for example, by providing a slit in the second cylindrical portion 32b and providing a rib in the inner cylinder 12a. Also, the guide may have any configuration as long as it can prevent the second cylindrical portion 32b from rotating in the lateral direction.

[Embodiment 3]
Next, an air cleaner 1c according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. FIG. 6 and 7 are schematic longitudinal sectional views of an air purifier 1c according to Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the first ventilation path 51c is opened, and FIG. 7 shows a state in which the second ventilation path 52c is opened. FIG. 8 is a front view of the damper 25c and switching means 30c of the air cleaner 1c of FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view of the damper 25c and switching means 30c of the air cleaner 1c of FIG. In the following description, the vertical direction when the air purifier 1c is placed in a state of general use is defined as the vertical direction. Further, with respect to the air purifier 1c in the state shown in FIG. 6, the front-rear direction is defined with the left side of the paper being the front side and the right side of the paper being the rear side. A direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as the left-right direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the air cleaner 1c includes a housing 10c, a filter unit 20c, a damper 25c, a switching means 30c, an aromatic section 40c, a fan 50c, and an operation section (not shown). and a controller (not shown). The housing 10c accommodates the filter unit 20c, the damper 25c, the switching means 30c, the aromatic portion 40c, and the fan 50c.

The operation unit is provided on the outer surface of the housing 10c. The operation unit is used by the user to turn on/off the power and to operate the operation mode of the air purifier 1c.

The controller is housed in the housing 10c. The controller generates a control signal based on the instruction received by the operation unit, and controls the operation of the air purifier 1c according to the control signal.

The housing 10c is composed of a rectangular outer cylinder 11c and a rectangular inner cylinder 12c. The outer cylinder 11c has a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of suction ports 13c are provided on the rear surface (rear surface) of the outer cylinder 11c. A substantially rectangular outlet 14c is provided on the top surface of the outer cylinder 11c. The inner cylinder 12c has a shorter axial length than the outer cylinder 11c and is open at both ends. The upper edge of the inner cylinder 12c is attached to the outer peripheral edge of the outlet 14c, and the inner cylinder 12c is suspended from the top inside the outer cylinder 11c.

A pedestal 16c for mounting the filter unit 20c is provided inside the housing 10c. The pedestal 16c is arranged below the lower end of the inner cylinder 12c in the vertical direction and between the rear surface of the outer cylinder 11c and the inner cylinder 12c.

The filter unit 20c is composed of a filter portion 21c. The filter unit 21c is composed of a deodorizing filter 211c that absorbs odorous components in the passing air and a HEPA filter 212c that collects fine dust in the passing air. The deodorizing filter 211c and the HEPA filter 212c are formed in a flat plate shape. The deodorizing filter 211c is arranged on the pedestal 16c facing the suction port 13c between the rear surface of the outer cylinder 11c and the inner cylinder 12c. Further, the HEPA filter 212c is arranged on the pedestal 16c facing the deodorizing filter 211c between the rear surface of the outer cylinder 11c and the inner cylinder 12c.

The damper 25c opens and closes the first ventilation path 51c and the second ventilation path 52c. The damper 25c is provided facing the suction port 13c between the rear surface of the outer cylinder 11c and the filter unit 20c.

The switching means 30c switches opening and closing of the first ventilation passage 51c passing through the filter portion 21c and the second ventilation passage 52c not passing through the filter portion 21c. The switching means 30c can switch between a state in which the first ventilation passage 51c is opened and the second ventilation passage 52c is closed, and a state in which the second ventilation passage 52c is opened and the first ventilation passage 51c is closed.

The fragrance part 40c emits fragrance. The aromatic part 40c is obtained by storing the aromatic component in the tray 41c. Specifically, water is stored in the tray 41c, and several drops of essential oil or peppermint oil, which is an aromatic component, are dropped. The fragrance part 40c is placed on the bottom surface of the housing 10c.

The fan 50c is driven by a motor (not shown) to suck in air from the plurality of inlets 13c and to blow out air from the outlet 14c. The fan 50c is arranged inside the inner cylinder 12c so as to face the suction port 13c. The fan 50c draws in air from the central portion and blows out the air in the centrifugal direction. The air sucked from the suction port 13c passes through the inner cylinder 12c and is blown out from the blowout port 14c.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, the configuration of the damper 25c and the switching means 30c and the switching between the opening and closing of the first ventilation path 51c and the second ventilation path 52c using the switching means 30c will be specifically described. .

The switching means 30c includes a pair of winding tools 31c, and a motor and spiral spring (not shown) for driving the winding tools 31c. The switching means 30c is provided above and below the damper 25c between the rear surface of the outer cylinder 11c and the filter unit 20c.

The winding tool 31c is a rod-like member having a length capable of winding the damper 25c. A spiral spring is attached to one side of the take-up tool 31c, and a motor is attached to the other side. The winding tool 31c is rotatably attached above and below the suction port 13c.

The damper 25c is a bendable and shieldable sheet. The length of the damper 25c in the left-right direction is equal to or longer than the length of the suction port 13c in the left-right direction. The upper and lower ends of the damper 25c are fixed to a winding tool 31c, and the damper 25c is wound by the upper winding tool 31c or the lower winding tool 31c by the operation of the winding tool 31c.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the damper 25c is provided with an opening 251c. The opening 251c has an area substantially equal to the area of the rear surface of the filter portion 21c.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, when the damper 25c is wound up by the winding tool 31c on the upper side and moves upward so that the opening 251c faces the filter portion 21c, the air sucked from the suction port 13c moves toward the filter portion. 21c. That is, the first ventilation passage 51c passing through the filter portion 21c is opened. At this time, the air sucked from the suction port 13c is blocked by the damper 25c, so it does not flow into the space below the pedestal 16c. That is, the second ventilation passage 52c that does not pass through the filter portion 21c is closed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the damper 25c is taken up by the winding tool 31c on the lower side and lowered, and when the opening 251c faces the space below the pedestal 16c, the air is sucked from the suction port 13c. The air passes through the space below the pedestal 16c. That is, the second ventilation passage 52c that does not pass through the filter portion 21c is opened. At this time, the air sucked from the suction port 13c is blocked by the damper 25c and therefore does not flow to the filter portion 21c. That is, the first ventilation passage 51c passing through the filter portion 21c is closed.

Thus, in the air cleaner 1c, the suction port 13c of the first ventilation passage 51c and the suction port 13c of the second ventilation passage 52c are common, and the outlet 14c of the first ventilation passage 51c and the second ventilation passage 53c is common with the outlet 14c. The switching means 30c causes the damper 25c to open the first ventilation passage 51c and close the second ventilation passage 52c, or open the second ventilation passage 52c and close the first ventilation passage 51c. , the opening and closing of the first ventilation path 51c and the second ventilation path 52c are switched.

Next, how to use the air purifier 1c will be described. The air purifier 1c sucks air from the outside of the air purifier 1c into the inside through the suction port 13c by the operation of the fan 50c. The air sucked into the air cleaner 1c passes through the inside of the air cleaner 1c and is blown out of the air cleaner 1c from the outlet 14c.

First, the case of performing an air-cleaning operation for purifying passing air will be described. When the air-cleaning operation is performed, when the operation unit is operated to select the air-cleaning operation mode, the switching means 30c operates, and as shown in FIGS. move to The air sucked from the suction port 13c passes through the filter portion 21c, odor components and collected dust are removed, and is blown out of the air cleaner 1c from the blowout port 14c.

Next, a description will be given of a case where fragrance operation is performed in which fragrance is released. In the case of fragrance operation, when the operation section is operated to select the fragrance operation mode, the switching means 30c is operated, and as shown in FIGS. Move to position when facing. In addition, the aromatic component 40c stores an aromatic component. The air sucked from the suction port 13c does not pass through the filter portion 21c and flows toward the blowout port 14c via the front portion of the air cleaner 1c. In the process, the air contains aromatic components when passing around the aromatic portion 40c, and is blown out from the outlet 14c in a state containing the aromatic components.

Note that the switching unit 30c is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the switching means 30c may have a configuration in which motors that operate synchronously are provided for both of the pair of winders 31c.

The damper 25c has a first opening having an area substantially equal to that of the filter portion 21c and a second opening having a length substantially equal to the vertical length between the base 16c and the bottom surface of the suction port 13c. may be configured. At this time, when the first opening faces the filter portion 21c, the second opening does not face the space below the pedestal 16c. Also, when the second opening faces the space below the pedestal 16c, the first opening does not face the filter portion 21c. In this damper 25c, when opening the first ventilation path 51c, the first opening moves to a position facing the filter part 21c, and when opening the second ventilation path 52c, the second opening moves to the space below the pedestal 16c. move to a position opposite to

Further, a horizontal guide that supports both ends in the vertical direction of the damper 25c and a position facing the pedestal 16c, and a vertical guide that supports both ends in the horizontal direction of the damper 25c may be provided. As a result, it is possible to prevent the damper 25c from laterally slipping, wrinkling, and floating. Also, rollers may be arranged at various locations on the horizontal guide and the vertical guide. As a result, the air shielding efficiency and the vertical movement of the damper 25c can be further improved.

[Embodiment 4]
Next, an air cleaner 1d according to Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 and 11 are diagrams schematically showing the air purifier 1d according to the fourth embodiment from the same vertical cross section as the air purifier 1c according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the first ventilation passage 51d is opened, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the second ventilation passage 52d is opened. Hereinafter, regarding the fourth embodiment, matters different from the third embodiment will be described. In Embodiment 4, the housing 10c, the filter unit 20c, the aromatic portion 40c, and the fan 50c are the same as those in Embodiment 3, and thus description thereof is omitted.

The damper 25d opens and closes the first ventilation path 51d and the second ventilation path 52d. The damper 25d is provided facing the suction port 13c between the rear surface of the outer cylinder 11c and the filter unit 20c. The damper 25d includes a plurality of shielding plates 251d.

The shield plate 251d is plate-shaped. The length of the shielding plate 251d in the left-right direction is equal to or longer than the length of the suction port 13c in the left-right direction. Also, the vertical length of the shielding plate 251d is approximately equal to the vertical length between the base 16c and the bottom surface of the suction port 13c.

A vertically extending slit is formed in the shielding plate 251d. Moreover, a protrusion that engages with the slit is provided on the top of the shielding plate 251d. The protrusion protrudes in the thickness direction of the shielding plate 251d (the front-rear direction in FIGS. 10 and 11). The plurality of shielding plates 251d are connected to each other by engaging the projections with the slits of the adjacent shielding plates 251d so as to be able to move up and down.

The switching means 30d includes a lifting gear 31d, a toothed belt 32d, and a motor 33d. The switching means 30c is provided along the damper 25d between the outer cylinder 11c and the filter unit 20c.

The lifting gear 31d is a gear that meshes with the toothed belt 32d. The lifting gear 31d is rotatably attached to the protrusion of the shield plate 251d located on the suction port 13c side when installed inside the housing 10c. The shielding plate 251d located on the side of the suction port 13c is referred to as "the rearmost shielding plate 251d".

The toothed belt 32d is provided to extend vertically between the outer cylinder 11c on the surface having the suction port 13c and the filter unit 20c. A motor 33d is attached to the upper gear of the toothed belt 32d.

When the toothed belt 32d is operated by driving the motor 33d, the lifting gear 31d meshing with the toothed belt 32d moves up and down. As the lifting gear 31d moves vertically, the rearmost shielding plate 251d connected to the lifting gear 31d moves vertically, and the other shielding plate 251d also moves vertically.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the lifting gear 31d descends, the plurality of shielding plates 251d move to a position covering the space between the pedestal 16c and the bottom surface of the suction port 13c while overlapping each other. At this time, the air sucked from the suction port 13c passes through the filter portion 21c. That is, the first ventilation passage 51d passing through the filter portion 21c is opened. On the other hand, the air sucked from the suction port 13c is blocked by the damper 25d and therefore does not flow into the space below the base 16c on which the filter portion 21c is placed. That is, the second ventilation passage 52d that does not pass through the filter portion 21c is closed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, when the lifting gear 31d rises, the rearmost shield plate 251d moves upward. When the protrusion moves to the lower end of the slit of the rearmost shielding plate 251d, the adjacent shielding plate 251d moves upward as the rearmost shielding plate 251d rises. In this manner, the plurality of shielding plates 251d spread while moving upward. When the lifting gear 31d reaches the top, the spread shield plate 251d covers the entire rear surface of the filter portion 21c. At this time, the air sucked from the suction port 13c passes through the space below the pedestal 16c. That is, the second ventilation passage 52d that does not pass through the filter portion 21c is opened. On the other hand, the air sucked from the suction port 13c is blocked by the damper 25d and therefore does not flow to the filter portion 21c. That is, the first ventilation passage 51d passing through the filter portion 21c is closed.

Thus, in the air cleaner 1d, the suction port 13c of the first ventilation passage 51d and the suction port 13c of the second ventilation passage 52d are common, and the outlet 14c of the first ventilation passage 51d and the second ventilation passage 53d is common with the outlet 14c. The switching means 30d causes the damper 25d to open the first air passage 51d and close the second air passage 52d, or open the second air passage 52d and close the first air passage 51d. , the opening and closing of the first ventilation path 51d and the second ventilation path 52d are switched.

Note that the switching means 30d is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, the switching means 30d may be composed of a ball screw and a nut. At this time, shafts of ball screws are provided on both left and right sides of the damper 25d, and nuts are connected to the damper 25d. The nut fits onto the shaft of the ball screw. When the nut moves up and down as the ball screw rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the damper 25d also moves up and down.

Moreover, the switching means 30d may be configured to include a first damper that closes the first ventilation path 51d and a second damper that closes the second ventilation path 52d. The first damper and the second damper move to open and close the air passages 51d and 52d. The switching means 30d moves the first damper when opening the first ventilation path 51d. Further, the switching means 30d moves the second damper when opening the second ventilation path 52d.

Further, guide rails may be provided to support both left and right ends of each shielding plate 251d of the damper 25d. Each shielding plate 251d moves up and down according to the guide rail, so that the shielding plate 251d can slide up and down stably.

[Embodiment 5]
Next, an air cleaner 1e according to Embodiment 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an air cleaner 1e according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the aromatic portion 40a is removed from the air cleaner 1e. In the following, the fifth embodiment will be described with respect to matters different from those of the first embodiment. In Embodiment 5, the housing 10a, the fragrance portion 40a, and the operation portion 60a are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and thus description thereof is omitted. Further, the filter unit, the switching means, and the fan arranged inside the housing 10a are also the same as those in the first embodiment, so the description thereof will be omitted.

A detection sensor 152e for detecting the fragrance portion 40a is provided in the holding portion 15a that holds the fragrance portion 40a. The detection sensor 152e may be any sensor that can detect the presence of an object, such as a toggle switch.

Next, how to use the air cleaner 1e will be described. The air purifier 1e sucks air from the outside of the air purifier 1e into the inside through the suction port 13a by the operation of the fan. The air sucked into the air cleaner 1e passes through the inside of the air cleaner 1e and is blown out of the air cleaner 1e from the outlet 14a.

When the air purifier 1e is used with the aromatic part 40a removed, the air purifier 1e performs an air cleaning operation to purify the passing air. When the air-cleaning operation is performed, the filter unit is positioned at the lowest end, as shown in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment. The air sucked from the suction port 13a passes through the filter portion, odor components and collected dust are removed, and is blown out of the air cleaner 1e from the blower port 14a.

Next, when the fragrant portion 40a is attached to the holding portion 15a, the detection sensor 152e detects the fragrant portion 40a. The detection sensor 152e that has detected the fragrance portion 40a notifies the controller that the fragrance portion 40a has been detected. Upon receiving the notification, the controller operates the switching means to automatically switch to fragrance operation. Specifically, the filter unit is moved upward in the same manner as shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. Thereby, the switching means switches to a state in which the second ventilation passage is opened and the first ventilation passage is closed. The air sucked from the suction port 13a flows toward the blowout port 14a without passing through the filter portion. When the air is blown out of the air purifier 1e from the outlet 14a, the air passes through the aromatic portion 40a and is blown out containing the aromatic component from the aromatic portion 40a.

After that, when the fragrant portion 40a is removed from the holding portion 15a, the detection sensor 152e detects that the fragrant portion 40a has been removed from the holding portion 15a. The detection sensor 152e that detects the absence of the fragrance portion 40a notifies the controller that the fragrance portion 40a has been removed. Upon receiving the notification, the controller operates the switching means to automatically switch to the air cleaning operation. Specifically, the filter unit is moved to the lowest end as shown in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment. As a result, the switching means switches to a state in which the first ventilation passage is opened and the second ventilation passage is closed. The air sucked from the suction port 13a passes through the filter portion, odor components and collected dust are removed, and is blown out of the air cleaner 1e from the blower port 14a.

[Embodiment 6]
Next, an air cleaner 1f according to Embodiment 6 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an air cleaner 1f according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the opening/closing window 41f is removed from the air cleaner 1f. Hereinafter, regarding Embodiment 6, matters different from Embodiment 1 will be described. In Embodiment 6, the housing 10a, the fragrance portion 40a, and the operation portion 60a are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and thus description thereof is omitted. Further, the filter unit, the switching means, and the fan arranged inside the housing 10a are also the same as those in the first embodiment, so the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 13, the air cleaner 1f further includes an opening/closing window 41f that covers the aromatic portion 40a in the holding portion 15a that holds the aromatic portion 40a.

The opening/closing window 41f includes a main body 411f and a shutter 412f. The main body 411f has a cylindrical shape with a top surface and an open lower end. A plurality of openings 413f are provided in the top surface of the main body 411f at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. The shutter 412f is composed of a plurality of shutter members. The shutter member has a size that can cover the opening 413f. The plurality of shutter members are circumferentially arranged at the same intervals as the openings 413f of the main body 411f. At this time, the interval in the circumferential direction of the shutter 412f is equal to or larger than the opening 413f. The shutter 412f is rotatably attached inside the top surface of the main body 411f.

Next, how to use the air cleaner 1f will be described. The air purifier 1f sucks air from the outside of the air purifier 1f into the inside through the suction port 13a by the operation of the fan. The air sucked into the air cleaner 1f passes through the inside of the air cleaner 1f and is blown out of the air cleaner 1f from the outlet 14a.

An operation mode is selected by the operation unit 60a. The operation mode is selected from air cleaning operation for purifying passing air and fragrance operation for releasing fragrance from the fragrance portion 40a. It should be noted that other operation modes such as a humidification operation for humidifying passing air, for example, may be used as appropriate. Details of other operation modes will be described later.

When the air cleaning operation is selected, the controller rotates the shutter 412f of the opening/closing window 41f to move the shutter 412f to a position covering the plurality of openings 413f, thereby closing the opening/closing window 41f. In addition, the filter unit is positioned at the lowest end in the same manner as shown in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment. The air sucked from the suction port 13a passes through the filter portion, odor components and collected dust are removed, and is blown out of the air cleaner 1f from the blower port 14a.

On the other hand, when the fragrance operation is selected, the controller rotates the shutter 412f of the opening/closing window 41f to move the shutter 412f to a position where the openings 413f are opened, thereby opening the opening/closing window 41f. Also, the filter unit is moved upward in the same manner as shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. The air sucked from the suction port 13a flows toward the blowout port 14a without passing through the filter portion. When the air is blown out of the air purifier 1f from the outlet 14a, the air passes through the aromatic portion 40a and is blown out containing the aromatic component from the aromatic portion 40a.

This eliminates the need to attach and detach the fragrance portion 40a every time the air cleaning operation and the fragrance operation are switched.

In the sixth embodiment, in addition to selecting the operation mode with the operation unit 60a, it is also possible to automatically switch between the air-cleaning operation and the fragrance operation. For example, the air cleaning operation may be performed for a certain period of time, and when it is determined that the air around the air purifier 1f is cleaned, the operation may be automatically switched to the aroma operation.

As described above, the air purifiers 1a to 1f (hereinafter referred to as "air purifier 1") of the present invention include first ventilation paths 51a to 51d (hereinafter referred to as "first ventilation paths 51"), second ventilation It has passages 52a to 52d (hereinafter referred to as “second ventilation passages 52”) and switching means 30a to 30d (hereinafter referred to as “switching means 30”). In the air cleaning operation mode in which the switching means 30 switches between opening and closing of the first ventilation path 51 and the second ventilation path 52 to purify the passing air, the filter portions 21a and 21c (hereinafter referred to as " filter unit 21''). On the other hand, in the fragrance operation mode in which fragrance is released into the air, the air does not pass through the filter portion 21 that adsorbs odor components and dust. As a result, it is possible to prevent the fragrant component from being adsorbed to the filter portion 21 to be deodorized, and the necessary fragrant such as aroma can be released sufficiently. In addition, since the aromatic component does not come into contact with the odorous component and dust adsorbed by the filter portion 21, it is possible to suppress the unpleasant odor caused by the mixture of the aromatic component and the odorous component.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. In order to facilitate understanding, the drawings mainly schematically show each component, and the thickness, length, size, number, etc. of each component shown may be changed as appropriate. Further, the shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiment are examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible without substantially departing from the effects of the present invention. For example, some components may be omitted from all components shown in the embodiments.

In Embodiments 1, 2, 5 and 6 described above, the filter units 20a and 20b are vertically moved by the motors 33a and 34b and the gears (the pinions 32a and 33b), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, hooks or magnets may be provided on the flange portions 222a and 222b of the filter units 20a and 20b so that they can be attached detachably from an elevator provided inside the housing 10a. Also, the bottoms of the air cleaners 1a and 1b may be configured to be openable. In this configuration, it is easy to replace the filter portions 21a and 21b of the filter units 20a and 20b.

In addition, the configuration for moving the filter units 20a and 20b up and down can switch between the first ventilation passages 51a and 51b that pass through the filter portion 21a and the second ventilation passages 52a and 52b that do not pass through the filter portion 21a. Well, it is not limited to the configuration shown in the embodiment.

In Embodiments 3 and 4 described above, a pre-filter that adsorbs small dust may be provided between the suction port 13c and the dampers 25c and 25d.

Although the fifth and sixth embodiments have been described as modifications of the first embodiment, the same configuration can be applied to the second embodiment.

In Embodiments 1, 2, 5 and 6 above, cartridges impregnated with aromatic components are used, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a tray may be arranged on the bottom surface of the housing 10a on the windward side of the fan 50a, and the aromatic component may be stored in the tray. Further, in the third and fourth embodiments described above, the tray 41c is configured to store the aromatic component, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the outlet 14c may be configured to include a cartridge impregnated with an aromatic component.

In Embodiments 1, 2, 5 and 6 described above, the air purifier is cylindrical, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, in the above-described third and fourth embodiments, the air purifier is of the rear suction type, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the air purifier 1 can have an arbitrary appearance such as a cylindrical shape or a rectangular tubular shape, and can be provided with a suction port and a blowout port at arbitrary positions such as a front suction type.

In the above embodiment, the air purifier 1 is provided with the aromatic portions 40a and 40c, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an aroma diffuser such as an aroma diffuser may be provided around the air cleaner 1, and the air cleaner 1 may be operated in an aromatic manner to make the air scented.

In the above-described embodiment, the air-purifying operation and the fragrance operation are switched, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to the air-cleaning operation and the fragrance operation, a humidification operation for humidifying passing air or a humidification/air-cleaning operation for simultaneously performing the humidification operation and the air-cleaning operation may be performed.

In Embodiments 1, 2, 5, and 6, a humidification tray is installed on the bottom surface of the housing 10a, and the filter units 20a and 20b are arranged so that the first ventilation paths 51a and 51b are open, whereby the humidified air cleaning operation is performed. can be done. Further, when a humidifying tray is installed on the bottom surface of the housing 10a and the filter units 20a and 20b are arranged so that the second air passages 52a and 52b are open, the humidifying operation can be performed. At this time, the humidifying tray is preferably covered with a sponge or the like. As a result, even if the air cleaner 1 is overturned, the water stored in the humidifying tray does not spill out all at once, and the filter portion 21a is less likely to be splashed with water.

In the third embodiment, the opening provided in the damper 25c is changed when only the first ventilation path 51c is opened, when only the second ventilation path 52c is opened, and when the first ventilation path 51c and the second ventilation path 52c are opened. Prepare 3 for the case of opening. Then, when performing the humidification air cleaning operation, water is stored in the tray 41c, and the damper 25c is moved to a position where the first ventilation passage 51c and the second ventilation passage 52c are opened.

Further, in general air purifiers, the number of rotations of a fan is controlled according to the amount of dust or odor detected by a dust sensor or an odor sensor to control the air volume. In the present invention, the air volume control may be stopped when the fragrance operation is performed. As a result, the air volume is always constant in the fragrance operation mode, and the appropriate fragrance can be felt continuously.

Moreover, in the air cleaner 1 of the present invention, a plasma cluster ion generator, which is provided in general air cleaners, may be arranged in the air passage.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention provides an air cleaner and has industrial applicability.

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f Air purifier 13a, 13c Suction port 14a, 14c Blow-out port 152e Detection sensor 20a, 20b, 20c Filter unit 21a, 21c Filter part 25c, 25d Damper 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d Switching Means 40a, 40c Fragrance Part 41f Opening/Closing Windows 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d First Ventilation Path 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d Second Ventilation Path 60a Operation Part

Claims (8)

a filter unit having a filter portion that purifies passing air;
a first ventilation passage passing through the filter section;
a second ventilation passage that does not pass through the filter section;
A switching means for switching opening and closing of the first ventilation path and the second ventilation path,
The switching means is capable of switching between a state in which the first ventilation channel is opened and the second ventilation channel is closed, and a state in which the second ventilation channel is opened and the first ventilation channel is closed. Air cleaner. 2. The air cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising an aroma part that emits an aroma in the second air passage. 3. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of said first air passage and the outlet of said second air passage are common. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the suction port of the first ventilation passage and the suction port of the second ventilation passage are common. The first ventilation path and the second ventilation path are common ventilation paths,
The switching means moves the filter unit to a state in which the filter section is arranged inside the common air passage or a state in which the filter section is arranged outside the common air passage. Item 5. The air cleaner according to any one of Items 1 to 4. Further comprising a damper for opening and closing the first ventilation path and the second ventilation path,
The switching means moves the damper to a state in which the first ventilation passage is opened and the second ventilation passage is closed, or a state in which the second ventilation passage is opened and the first ventilation passage is closed. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Further comprising a detection sensor that detects the aromatic portion,
3. The air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said switching means opens said second air passage and closes said first air passage when said detection sensor detects said aromatic portion. It further comprises an operation unit that can select an operation mode and an opening and closing window that covers the aromatic unit,
In the operation unit, when the fragrance operation for releasing fragrance from the fragrance unit is selected, the opening and closing window is opened, and when the air cleaning operation for purifying the passing air is selected, the opening and closing window is closed. The air cleaner according to claim 2.

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