JP2023111326A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner which enables easy attachment/detachment of an air filter without impairing the appearance of the product and is excellent in convenience and sanitation.SOLUTION: An air conditioner includes: an air purification part 22 which purifies air; and a prefilter 21 which collects relatively large dust. Further, a filter case 3 which houses an air filter 4 is detachably provided at the upstream of a suction port 18. The air filter 4 collects dust in air before the air flows into a body interior, and thus the maintenance frequency of the body interior can be reduced. When the air filter 4 is replaced, a user can take out the filter case 3 including the air filter 4 without touching the dirty air filter 4 directly. Hence, the air conditioner achieves excellent maintainability and can be used in a sanitary manner. Furthermore, since the filter case 3 forms a surface continuous with a front panel 12, the filter case 3 forms a part of the appearance to avoid impairment of the design.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner having an air purifying function of purifying air and discharging it indoors.

In general, an air conditioner with an air cleaning function has a fan that generates an air flow and a dust filter that collects substances contained in the air taken into the main body, and the air that has been purified by the dust filter is configured to emit Furthermore, a pre-filter is provided upstream of the dust collection filter, and relatively large dust is collected by this pre-filter. Such air conditioners require regular maintenance to maintain the air purification performance. Collected dust must be removed (for example, Patent Document 1).

There has also been proposed a filter that is attached to the intake port of an air conditioner and used to remove dust and the like from the air that flows into the main body (Patent Document 2). Such filters are provided with a fixing portion provided with an adhesive or double-sided tape, and this fixing portion is attached to the outside of the intake port, and the filter is replaced with a new one when it becomes dirty.

JP 2020-99858 A WO2018/062344

However, such a replaceable filter as described above requires the labor of peeling off the release paper of the adhesive and attaching it. In addition, since it is attached to the main body with an adhesive, it is difficult to remove it once it is attached, and when removing the filter, there is also the problem of touching the surface with dirt and dust, which is a hygiene concern. . Furthermore, since the attached filter is visible from the outside, the appearance of the product is spoiled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide an air conditioner that can be easily attached and detached without impairing the appearance of the product, and that is excellent in terms of convenience and hygiene. do.

The present invention includes a fan that blows air into a ventilation passage from an air inlet to an air outlet,
an air purifier that collects and purifies substances contained in the air taken in through the air inlet;
a pre-filter that is provided upstream of the air cleaning unit and collects relatively large dust;
a main body including the fan, the air purifier, and the pre-filter;
a front panel covering at least the front of the main body;
The air conditioner includes a filter case that accommodates an air filter and is detachably provided upstream of the intake port and forms a continuous surface with the front panel.

By configuring as described above, the air filter is housed in the filter case and attached to the main body, so that the air conditioner is excellent in terms of convenience and hygiene. In addition, since the filter case forms part of the appearance, the design of the product is not spoiled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is an external view of the air cleaner which is an example of the air conditioner of this embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a cross-sectional block diagram of the air cleaner which is an example of the air conditioner of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the air purification part of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the filter case of this embodiment. It is the figure which attached the air filter to the filter case of this execution form. It is a figure which shows an example of filter case attachment of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows another example of filter case attachment of this embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 7;

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be briefly described to illustrate the operation of the present invention.

The present invention comprises an air purifier that collects and purifies substances contained in the air taken in from an air intake, and a pre-filter that is provided upstream of the air purifier and collects relatively large dust, Further, a filter case housing an air filter is detachably provided upstream of the intake port. Since the air filter collects dust in the air before it flows into the main body, the frequency of maintenance inside the main body can be reduced. When replacing the air filter, the entire filter case can be taken out from the front without directly touching the dirty air filter, so maintenance is excellent and hygienic. Furthermore, since the filter case forms a surface that is continuous with the front panel, the filter case does not constitute a part of the appearance and impair the design.

The filter case has a pressing portion only on one side, and the air filter is held by the filter case with one side sandwiched between the pressing portion and the mounting portion. As a result, the air filter can be taken out simply by turning the filter case upside down, and it is hygienic because it can be easily disposed of without touching the surface to which dust or the like adheres.

In addition, since the holding part is provided on the back side of the main body in the filter case, that is, on the side located on the tip side in the insertion direction, it prevents the air filter from getting caught when the filter case is attached to the main body. The filter case can be attached and detached smoothly.

In addition, since the pressing portions are provided at both ends of the side, even if the air filter is deformed, it is possible to prevent the corners of the air filter from being caught in the main body when the filter case is attached or detached. , can be put on and taken off more smoothly.

In addition, by not arranging the placement section under the pressing section, it becomes easy to clean even when the filter case becomes dirty.

In addition, by providing a wall on the filter case, the position of the air filter can be prevented from shifting to the left or right. can be installed.

Further, the filter case has an exterior portion that is continuous with the front panel when attached to the main body, and an extension portion that connects the exterior portion and the mounting portion. When replacing the air filter, the filter case can be removed from the main body without touching the air filter by holding the exterior part and the extension part.

In addition, first projections are provided near the back and front of the guide rail on which the filter case slides, and the filter case is provided with second projections that abut on the first projections when attachment to the main body is completed. established. A clearance is provided between the filter case and the main body to prevent friction during sliding. The clearance is absorbed by the filter case being lifted by As a result, the inflow of air from between the filter case and the main body without passing through the air filter is suppressed without impairing the operability during attachment and detachment. Also, in terms of appearance, the border between the filter case and the front panel becomes inconspicuous, and the design is improved.

In addition, a support portion is provided on the back side of the main body portion, and an engaging portion that can be attached to and detached from the support portion is provided in the filter case so that the filter case can rotate around the support portion. The filter case is attached to the main body by fitting the locking portion into the supporting portion and rotating the supporting portion around the axis. As a result, the gap between the filter case and the main body is reduced, and the inflow of air without passing through the air filter is suppressed. Also, in terms of appearance, the boundary between the filter case and the front panel is inconspicuous, and the design is improved.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an air purifier will be described as an example of an air conditioner, but the air conditioner is not limited to an air purifier and may be any device that has an air purification function. machine, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an air purifier that is an example of the air conditioner of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the air purifier that is an example of the air conditioner of this embodiment. The air cleaner 1 includes a top panel 11 , a front panel 12 , left and right side panels 13 , a back panel (not shown), and a bottom frame 14 . The top panel 11 is provided with an operation unit 15 having various buttons for instructing the operation of the air purifier 1, and an air outlet 17 having a grid-like grill 16. As shown in FIG.

A main body 2 of the air cleaner 1 is supported by a bottom frame 14 . A front opening 12a is formed between the bottom frame 14 and the front panel 12 on the front side of the main body 2, and a rear opening is similarly formed on the rear side. A side opening 13a is formed in the side panel 13 by an opening provided below. An intake port 18 for introducing air into the main body 2 is formed at the bottom of the air purifier 1, and the air that has flowed in through the front opening 12a, the rear opening, and the side opening 13a is taken into the intake port 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the air purifier 1, a mesh-shaped pre-filter 21 for collecting relatively large dust particles from the air taken in from the air intake 18, a pre-filter An air purifier 22 that collects substances that have passed through 21 and a fan 26 that blows air into an air passage from the intake port 18 to the blowout port 17 are provided. The body portion 2 includes a pre-filter 21, an air purification portion 22, and a fan 26, and the front panel 12 is attached so as to cover the front surface of the body portion 2. As shown in FIG.

Further, a filter case 3 containing an air filter 4 is detachably provided below the intake port 18, that is, upstream in the direction of air flow. Since the air filter 4 is accommodated in the filter case 3, it cannot be seen from the outside. The filter case 3 is attached to the main body 2 from the front panel 12 side, and constitutes a part of the exterior together with the front panel 12 .

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the air purifier of this embodiment. The air purifier 22 of this embodiment includes an electric dust collector 23 , a dust filter 24 and a deodorizing filter 25 . The electrostatic precipitator 23 provided on the most upstream side of the air purifier 22 charges and collects substances contained in the air. A dust collection filter 24 provided downstream collects fine substances such as particles and viruses that could not be collected by the electrostatic precipitator 23 . Furthermore, a deodorizing filter 25 provided downstream absorbs odors and purifies the air.

The configuration described above is an example of the air purifier 22 . Therefore, a part of the electric dust collecting part 23, the dust collecting filter 24, and the deodorizing filter 25 may be provided. Moreover, it may be configured to include means other than this.

The air purifier 22 and pre-filter 21 require regular maintenance. Although the frequency of maintenance varies depending on the conditions of use, it is necessary to remove substances trapped in the air purifier 22 and the pre-filter 21 or to replace them with new ones about once a year. During maintenance, it is possible to remove the rear panel and take out the air purifier 22 and the pre-filter 21 .

The air filter 4 also requires periodic maintenance. Since the air filter 4 is provided most upstream and large dust adheres to it, maintenance frequency is higher than that of the pre-filter 21 and the air purifier 22 (for example, once every two months). However, since the air filter 4 is housed in the filter case 3 and can be accessed from the front of the air cleaner 1, it can be easily removed. Furthermore, since the air filter 4 is provided, the amount of dust collected by the pre-filter 21 and the air purifier 22 is reduced, so the maintenance frequency of the pre-filter 21 and the air purifier 22 can be reduced. , and convenient.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the filter case of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an air filter attached to the filter case. The air filter 4 has a rectangular shape, and has a filter material 41 made of non-woven fabric for collecting dust and the like, and a frame part 42 provided in a cross at the outer peripheral part and the central part of the filter material 41 . The frame portion 42 is made of a fibrous material such as cardboard and has higher rigidity than the filter medium 41 . Thus, by configuring the air filter 4 with the filter medium 41 and the frame portion 42 made of a fiber material, it is possible to save the trouble of sorting when disposing of the used air filter 4 .

Moreover, the frame portion 42 does not need to cover the entire outer periphery of the filter medium 41 as long as it can hold its shape when the air filter 4 is held in the hand. Moreover, as in this embodiment, the frame portion 42 can be extended not only to the outer circumference but also to the central portion as necessary.

Like the air filter 4, the filter case 3 also has a rectangular shape in plan view, and is provided with mounting portions 31 on which the air filter 4 is mounted on four sides 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d. Furthermore, one side of the four sides forming the outer frame of the filter case 3 has a pressing portion 32 for pressing the frame portion 42 of the air filter 4 from above. The air filter 4 is held in the filter case 3 by sandwiching the frame portion 42 . Therefore, when attaching the air filter 4 , it is only necessary to insert the frame portion 42 of the air filter 4 between the mounting portion 31 and the pressing portion 32 . As a result, one side of the air filter 4 is sandwiched from above and below, and the other side can be placed on the placement portion 31 and held by the filter case 3 . On the other hand, when removing the air filter 4, hold the side of the filter case 3 and turn it upside down. Since the air filter 4 drops by its own weight, it can be removed without touching the surface on which dust or the like adheres, which is hygienic.

The shape of the air filter 4 may be square. In this case, the air filter 4 can be attached without worrying about the attachment direction.

The side 3a of the filter case 3 has an exterior portion 33 that is continuous with the front panel 12 when attached to the body portion 2, and an extension portion 34 that connects the exterior portion 33 and the mounting portion 31. The exterior portion 33 and the extended portion 34 form a grip portion 35 that serves as a handle for attaching and detaching the filter case 3 . By holding the grip portion 35, the filter case 3 can be removed from the main body without touching the air filter 4. - 特許庁

The holding portion 32 may be provided only on one of the four sides, and may be provided on any side. In addition, in this embodiment, the pressing portion 32 is formed on the side 3c. The side 3c is the side located on the back side of the air cleaner 1 when the filter case 3 is attached to the main body 2, in other words, the side on the tip side in the attachment direction. By providing the pressing portion 32 on the side 3c, it is possible to prevent the air filter 4 from being caught when the filter case 3 is attached to the main body portion 2, so that the attachment can be performed smoothly.

Also, the pressing portions 32 are provided at least at both ends of the sides. Specifically, as shown in the figure, it may be provided only at two locations on both ends, may be provided on both ends and a plurality of locations therebetween, or may be provided on the entire side. Since the pressing portions 32 are provided at both ends, it is possible to prevent the corners of the air filter 4 from being caught when attaching and detaching the filter case 3 to and from the main body portion 2, so that attachment and detachment can be performed more smoothly. .

The holding portion 32 and the mounting portion 31 can be provided at positions that do not face each other with the air filter 4 interposed therebetween. In other words, the mounting portion 31 is not provided at the position where the pressing portion 32 is provided. As a result, it is possible to prevent dust or the like from adhering to the gap between the pressing portion 32 and the mounting portion 31, and the filter case 3 itself can be cleaned easily.

Wall portions 36 are provided on the sides 3 b and 3 d of the outer frame of the filter case 3 . The wall portion 36 is formed by extending upward from the mounting portion 31, and the tip of the wall portion 36 is positioned higher than the upper surface of the pressing portion 32 provided on the side 3c. Since the mounting position of the air filter 4 is prevented from shifting to the left and right by the wall portion 36, the frame portion 42 of the air filter 4 can be easily attached to the correct position simply by hooking it under the pressing portion 32 and dropping it. can be done.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of filter case attachment according to the present embodiment. The filter case 3 is attached and detached by sliding it from the front panel 12 side. The guide rail 27 has a gently raised convex portion (first convex portion 28) on the surface on which the filter case 3 slides. The first projections 28 are provided at two locations near the back surface and the front surface of the main body 2, but only the first projections 28 near the front surface are shown in the drawing. On the other hand, the filter case 3 is also provided with a projection (second projection 37 ) on the surface facing the guide rail 27 .

A clearance is provided between the filter case 3 and the main body 2 to prevent friction during sliding. FIG. 6(a) shows a state in which the filter case 3 is slid to attach it, and the white arrow in the figure indicates the direction in which the filter case 3 slides. The second protrusion 37 is not in contact with the first protrusion 28 and there is a clearance X between the second protrusion 37 and the main body 2 . On the other hand, FIG. 6B shows a state in which the filter case 3 is completely attached, and the second protrusion 37 is in contact with the top of the first protrusion 28 . The filter case 3 is lifted by the height of the second protrusion 37 to absorb the clearance. As a result, the inflow of air from between the filter case 3 and the main body 2 without passing through the air filter 4 is suppressed. In addition, since the first protrusions 28 are gently raised, there is almost no resistance when the second protrusions 37 contact the first protrusions 28, and the operability during attachment/detachment is not impaired. Furthermore, in terms of appearance, the boundary between the filter case 3 and the front panel 12 is not conspicuous, and the design is improved.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of mounting the filter case according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the main body 2 and the filter case 3 are connected by a hinge mechanism so that the filter case 3 can be rotated. Note that the filter case 3 is attached and detached from the front panel 12 side.

8 is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 7. FIG. A support portion 29 that is a shaft for supporting the filter case 3 is provided on the rear side of the main body portion 2 . The filter case 3 has an engaging portion 38 that can be fitted into and removed from the support portion 29, and is rotatable about the support portion 29 as an axis. Therefore, when the filter case 3 is attached, the locking portion 38 is fitted into the support portion 29 and rotated upward. When removing the filter case 3 , it is rotated downward to disengage the locking portion 38 from the support portion 29 . With this structure, the gap between the filter case 3 and the main body 2 can be made small, so that the inflow of air without passing through the air filter 4 is suppressed. Also, in terms of appearance, the boundary between the filter case 3 and the front panel 12 is inconspicuous, and the design is improved.

2 Body Part 3 Filter Case 4 Air Filter 12 Front Panel 17 Blow Out Port 18 Air Intake Port 21 Prefilter 22 Air Cleaner 26 Fan 27 Guide Rail 28 First Projection 29 Support Part 31 Mounting Part 32 Pressing Part 33 Exterior Part 34 Extension Installation portion 36 Wall portion 37 Second convex portion 38 Locking portion 41 Filter medium 42 Frame portion

Claims (9)

a fan that blows air into a ventilation passage from an intake port to an air outlet;
an air purifier that collects and purifies substances contained in the air taken in through the air inlet;
a pre-filter that is provided upstream of the air cleaning unit and collects relatively large dust;
a main body including the fan, the air purifier, and the pre-filter;
a front panel covering at least the front of the main body;
An air conditioner comprising: a filter case housing an air filter, detachably provided upstream of the air inlet, and forming a continuous surface with the front panel. The air filter and the filter case are rectangular or square in plan view,
The air filter has a filter material and a frame portion made of a fibrous material provided on the outer periphery of the filter material,
The filter case has a mounting portion on which the air filter is mounted and a pressing portion provided on one side of four sides,
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said frame portion is sandwiched between said mounting portion and said pressing portion on said one side. The filter case is attached to and detached from the main body from the front panel side,
3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein said pressing portion is provided on a side located on the back side of said body portion. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein said holding portions are provided at least at both ends of a side. 5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein said holding portion and said placement portion are provided at positions not facing each other. The filter case has a wall portion extending upward from the mounting portion on a side located on the side surface side of the main body portion,
The air conditioner according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein an upper end of said wall portion is higher than said pressing portion. According to claim 2, the filter case has an exterior portion that is continuous with the front panel when attached to the main body portion, and an extension portion that connects the exterior portion and the mounting portion. 7. The air conditioner according to any one of 6. The main body includes a guide rail on which the filter case slides,
The guide rail has at least two gently protruding first projections in the vicinity of the back surface and the vicinity of the front surface of the main body,
8. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said filter case has a second protrusion that abuts on a vertex of said first protrusion when attachment to said main body is completed. A support portion for supporting the filter case is provided on the back side of the main body portion,
The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said filter case has an engaging portion that can be fitted into and removed from said support portion, and is rotatable around said support portion.

Images