JP3750317B2 - Hand dryer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hand drying device that can dry a hand without using a towel or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a hand drying device that can dry a wet hand without using a towel or the like, for example, a device described in JP-A-6-154125 is known.
[0003]
This is to insert a wet hand into the hand insertion part and dry the hand with warm air blown out from the blower outlet, and it is blown under the blower outlet during drying of warm air and hands A saucer for receiving water droplets is provided.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional configuration, water droplets or the like are attached to the tray part, and organic contaminants such as dirt and soap residue contained in the water droplets or the like in the process of drying the adhered water droplets or the like are received by the tray part. Will remain as dirt.
[0005]
And if this dirt accumulates step by step, it becomes difficult to remove the dirt and the cleanability becomes worse. In addition, there is a problem that the appearance is not good and bacteria are easily generated, which is not preferable for hygiene.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to easily remove dirt and to improve the appearance and cleanability, and to provide a sanitary hand dryer.
[0007]
[Means for solving the problems and their functions and effects]
The present invention comprises a hand insertion portion, a blowout nozzle that blows out air to remove water or the like attached to the hand, and air supply means for supplying air to the blowout nozzle, and forms at least the hand insertion portion. It is characterized in that a photocatalyst layer is coated on one wall surface.
[0008]
According to this configuration, the photocatalyst is photoexcited by ultraviolet rays from a light source such as a fluorescent lamp installed in a room and the like, and the photocatalyst is activated and the surface of the photocatalyst layer is highly hydrophilized, and this superhydrophilicity is achieved. The surface is much more compatible with water than with hydrophobic contaminants, so when the surface gets wet, water enters between the surface and the contaminants, causing the contaminants to surface. Acts to pull away from.
[0009]
Therefore, even if water removed from the hands adheres to the wall coated with the photocatalyst layer, the organic pollutants having hydrophobicity such as dirt and soap residue contained in the water that is the basis of the dirt are only sprayed with water. The bacteria and microorganisms adhering to the surface of the photocatalyst layer are killed or suppressed by the sterilization action of the photocatalyst, and are hygienic.
[0010]
Further, if a light source for photoexciting the photocatalyst layer is provided, it can be used alone even in a place where no light source is installed, and the above-described effects can be obtained.
[0011]
In addition, since the photocatalyst layer is coated on the bottom wall surface that receives water removed from the hand, it is possible to easily clean the portion that is most easily contaminated and to maintain cleanliness.
[0012]
Furthermore, if the bottom wall surface is inclined, dirt will collect in one place, which makes cleaning easier.
[0013]
Also, if heating means is installed upstream of the blowing nozzle to blow hot air or blow high-speed air, the water attached to the surface of the photocatalyst layer is dried quickly, so it is included in the water. This reduces the amount of dirt caused by organic pollutants such as hand dust and soap scum, and makes cleaning easier.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the hand dryer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a central sectional view of FIG.
[0015]
The hand dryer A includes an air supply means 2 provided in the main body 1, a blowout nozzle 4 that blows out air supplied from the air supply means 2, a water receiving portion 7 provided below the main body 1, It is comprised from the manual insertion part 6 formed between the water receiving parts 7. FIG.
[0016]
In the above configuration, when a wet hand is inserted into the hand insertion portion 6 and a hand is detected by a hand detection sensor (not shown), the air supply means 2 operates to draw air taken in from the air intake 8 provided in the lower part of the main body 1. The air is sucked in from the air suction port 9 and supplied to the blowing nozzle 4.
[0017]
Accordingly, water or the like adhering to the hand is removed by the air blown from the blowing nozzle 4, and the hand is dried.
[0018]
Water removed from the hand adheres to the bottom wall surface 7a, the front wall surface 7b, the side wall surfaces 7c and 7d, and the front wall surface 7e of the water receiving portion 7, but these wall surfaces 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d and 7e Since the photocatalyst layer 12 is coated and the photocatalyst is photoexcited by the ultraviolet light of the fluorescent lamp 5 which is a light source provided at the lower part of the main body 1, the photocatalyst is activated and the surface of the photocatalyst layer 12 is highly hydrophilized. Organic contaminants such as dirt and soap residue contained in the water that becomes the basis of dirt can be easily removed just by applying water, and bacteria and microorganisms attached to the surface of the photocatalyst layer 12 are photocatalysts. It is hygienic because killing or growth is suppressed by the bactericidal action.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of another embodiment, in which the bottom wall surface 7a of the water receiving portion 7 is inclined downward in the right side in the drawing. In addition, 10 is a drain hole for discharging water and the like, and 11 is a water receiving tray for receiving water and the like discharged from the drain hole 10.
[0020]
If comprised in this way, when water will be applied to the organic pollutant adhering to the photocatalyst layer 12, dirt will gather in one place, and cleaning will become very easy.
[0021]
The film thickness of the photocatalyst layer 12 is preferably 0.2 μm or less. When the film thickness is 0.2 μm or less, the photocatalyst layer 12 can be made sufficiently transparent and color development due to light interference can be prevented. it can.
[0022]
The photocatalyst is most preferably titania (TiO2), and when the photocatalyst layer 12 of titania (TiO2) is photoexcited, the surface of the photocatalyst layer 12 is converted to a contact angle with water of 10 ° or less, more preferably 5 ° or less. In particular, it is superhydrophilic to the extent of 0 °.
[0023]
The contents described above relate to each embodiment of the present invention, and do not mean that the present invention is limited to the above contents. For example, a heater unit 3 is disposed between the air supply means 2 and the blow nozzle 4 so that hot air is blown from the blow nozzle 4, or a means for generating high-speed air such as a turbo fan as the air supply means 2. The high-speed air flow may be blown out from the blow-out nozzle 4 and the water attached to the surface of the photocatalyst layer can be quickly dried. Cleaning by organic pollutants is reduced and cleaning becomes easier.
[0024]
In addition to fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, metal halide lamps, mercury lamps, fluorescent mercury lamps and other lamps can be used as the light source for photoexcitation of the photocatalyst.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a hand dryer according to the present invention.
2 is a central sectional view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hand dryer 2 ... Air supply means 3 ... Heater unit (heat generation means)
4 ... Blowout nozzle 5 ... Fluorescent lamp (light source)
6 ... Hand insertion portion 7 ... Water receiving portion 7a ... Bottom wall surface 7b ... Front wall surface 7c, 7d ... Side wall surface 7e ... Front wall surface 8 ... Air intake port 9 ... Air intake port 10 ... Drain hole 11 ... Water receiving tray 12 ... Photocatalyst layer

Claims (3)

Includes a hand insertion portion, and a blow nozzle for blowing air to remove adhering to該手water, and air supply means for supplying air to the該吹out nozzle, at least toward the drain outlet to form said hand insertion unit A hand-drying apparatus comprising a light source that coats a photocatalyst layer on a bottom wall surface that is inclined, and photoexcites the photocatalyst layer .   The hand-drying device according to claim 1, wherein heat generating means is disposed upstream of the blowing nozzle. 3. The hand dryer according to claim 1, wherein the air supply means supplies high-speed air.

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