JP3841126B2 - Air purifier and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air cleaner and a control method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement in the control of an ultraviolet lamp of a deodorizing device built in an air purifier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-19647 discloses an air cleaner equipped with a deodorizing device configured to activate a photocatalyst using ultraviolet rays to decompose and remove odor components.
This publication does not particularly describe control of the ultraviolet lamp of the deodorizing apparatus.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As a result of intensive studies to improve such an air cleaner, the present inventors have faced the following problems.
[0004]
Since the ultraviolet lamp is a consumable item, it is desired to extend its life as much as possible. For that purpose, it is preferable to reduce the number of times of turning on (turning on) and turning off (extinguishing) the ultraviolet lamp as much as possible.
[0005]
Depending on the operation mode of the air cleaner, it may be desirable to save power by turning off the ultraviolet lamp. For example, when the indoor air dirt and odor are small, there is no problem even if the amount of air blown is suppressed (the air blowing is set to the low wind mode) and the UV lamp is turned off to stop the deodorizing device.
[0006]
When the ultraviolet lamp is controlled so that the ultraviolet lamp is turned off when the blowing is in the low wind mode, the other blowing modes (medium wind mode, strong wind mode, and the ultraviolet lamp is turned on in these modes). When switching from low to moderate wind mode, the UV lamp is turned off, and vice versa.
[0007]
Since the user of the air cleaner does not select the air blowing mode in consideration of on / off of the ultraviolet lamp, the air blowing mode may be frequently switched. If it does so, the frequency | count of on / off of an ultraviolet lamp will increase, and the lifetime may be reduced remarkably.
[0008]
In particular, when the number of operation buttons is reduced as shown in FIG. 2 in consideration of the user's convenience, each of the airflow mode buttons, such as strong wind mode → weak wind mode → medium wind mode → strong wind mode (repeated below) The mode is switched continuously and cyclically. In this case, when switching from the strong wind mode to the medium wind mode, the low wind mode must be passed. Therefore, considering the ultraviolet lamp, the ultraviolet lamp is once turned off when switching from the strong wind mode to the weak wind mode, and the ultraviolet lamp is turned on again when switching from the weak wind mode to the medium wind mode. Therefore, when switching from the strong wind mode to the medium wind mode, the ultraviolet lamp is turned off and on unnecessarily.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems found by the present inventors. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a deodorizing device having an ultraviolet lamp and a turn-off signal or a lighting signal are input to the ultraviolet lamp, the current state of the ultraviolet lamp is maintained for a predetermined time, An air purifier is proposed that includes a control device that turns off or turns on the ultraviolet lamp according to a signal input after the elapse of time.
[0010]
According to the air purifier thus configured, for example, when a turn-off signal is input to the ultraviolet lamp to turn off the ultraviolet lamp, the current state of the ultraviolet lamp is not immediately turned off according to the signal. That is, the ON state is maintained for a predetermined time. If the input signal has not been changed and is still an extinguished signal, the ultraviolet lamp is turned off after the predetermined time has elapsed. On the other hand, when the signal input after the elapse of a predetermined time has been changed from the turn-off signal to the turn-on signal, the on state is maintained without turning off the ultraviolet lamp.
Similarly, when a lighting signal is input to the ultraviolet lamp to turn on the ultraviolet lamp, the current state of the ultraviolet lamp, that is, the off state is maintained for a predetermined time without immediately turning on the ultraviolet lamp according to the signal. . If the input signal is not changed and is still a lighting signal, the ultraviolet lamp is turned on after the predetermined time has elapsed. On the other hand, when the signal input after the elapse of a predetermined time has been changed from the lighting signal to the extinguishing signal, the off state is maintained without turning on the ultraviolet lamp.
[0011]
In the above, the predetermined time is preferably 2 to 20 seconds. In the example, it was 10 seconds. In view of the example of switching from the strong wind mode to the medium wind mode described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention, according to the air cleaner of the present invention, even if the low wind mode is used, the predetermined case is usually used. The switching is proceeding to the medium wind mode during the elapse of the time. Therefore, after the predetermined time has elapsed, a lighting signal is input to the ultraviolet lamp. Therefore, the ultraviolet lamp is kept on and is not turned off and on unnecessarily.
[0012]
Even if such a predetermined waiting time is provided, the on / off state of the ultraviolet lamp is not visible to the user, and the performance of the air purifier is not affected in consideration of the subsequent operation time.
[0013]
The air cleaner of the present invention will be described more specifically from another aspect as follows. That is, a dust collector,
Fans operating in low, medium or strong wind modes;
A blowing mode selection means for selecting a low wind mode, a medium wind mode and a strong wind mode continuously and in a circulating manner;
A deodorizing device having an ultraviolet lamp that is turned off when the fan is in the low wind mode and turned on when in the medium wind mode or the strong wind mode;
Lamp control means for turning off the lamp when the fan is switched from the medium wind mode or the strong wind mode to the low wind mode and the low wind mode is maintained even after a predetermined first waiting time has elapsed. It is an air purifier.
[0014]
In the above, the first waiting time can be 2 to 20 seconds.
Considering the example of switching the air cleaner configured in this way from the strong wind mode to the medium wind mode described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention, after switching from the strong wind mode to the weak wind mode, the first If the low wind mode is switched to the middle wind mode before the waiting time elapses, the ultraviolet lamp is kept on. Therefore, unnecessary on / off of the ultraviolet lamp can be prevented.
[0015]
In the above example, the UV lamp on / off is linked to the fan mode of the air cleaner. Of course, the type and number of modes, and the mode of the on / off link of the ultraviolet lamp for these modes are not limited to the above.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an air cleaner 1 according to an embodiment. The air purifier 1 is generally composed of a ventilation unit 10 and a cleaning unit 20. The ventilation unit 10 and the cleaning unit 20 are built in the casing 2. The casing 2 includes a casing portion 3 embedded in a wall and a front panel 4 exposed to the room. A room air intake 5 is opened on the lower edge side of the front panel 4, and a cleaned air outlet 6 is opened on the upper edge side thereof. An intake port 7 for indoor air is also opened on the lower surface of the housing unit 3 on the side of the ventilation unit 10, and the air taken in from this is discharged to the outside by the ventilation unit 10. An exhaust port 8 for indoor air and an intake port 9 for outdoor air are opened on the rear surface of the housing unit 3 on the ventilation unit 10 side, and communicate with the outside through ducts (not shown).
[0017]
The ventilation unit 10 includes an exhaust fan 11, an air supply fan 12, and a heat exchanger 13. General-purpose ones can be used as the exhaust fan 11 and the air-supply fan 12, and each is rotated by a general-purpose motor (not shown). The exhaust fan 11 and the air supply fan 12 are partitioned by a partition 15. Indoor air passes through the intake port 7 and the heat exchanger 13 and is exhausted from the exhaust port 8 to the outside by the exhaust fan 11. The outdoor air is taken in from the intake port 9 by the air supply fan 12 and is sent to the cleaning unit 20 through the heat exchanger 13.
[0018]
The heat exchanger 13 communicates the first layer 13a of the corrugate that connects the indoor air intake 7 and the exhaust fan 11 and the outdoor air sent from the air supply fan 12 to the clean section 20 side. Two layers 13b are alternately stacked. The heat exchanger 13 is formed of a material having high thermal conductivity.
Such a heat exchanger is well known as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-269323.
[0019]
Since the exhaust fan 11 and the air supply fan 12 are partitioned by the partition 15, the indoor air to be discharged and the outdoor air to be sucked are not mixed. Also in the heat exchanger 13, the indoor air and the outdoor air pass through the dedicated corrugated layers 13a and 13b, respectively, so that they are not mixed here. The heat exchanger 13 is warmed by the indoor air that discharges the sucked outdoor air, thereby preventing the indoor temperature from changing suddenly.
[0020]
The air cleaning unit 20 includes a lower dust collecting device 21, an upper deodorizing device 27, and a cross flow fan 33.
The dust collector 21 includes an ionization electrode 23 and a dust collection electrode 25. When a high voltage is applied between the two, corona discharge starts at the ionization electrode 23. When ions generated by this discharge come into contact with dust in the air, the dust is positively charged. Then, the positively charged dust is sucked into the dust collecting electrode 25.
Also, ion wind is generated by corona discharge. Accordingly, when the indoor air is less contaminated, the cross flow fan can be stopped and the indoor air can be circulated only by this ion wind.
[0021]
In the example, three discharge lines were used as the ionization electrode 23. As the dust collecting electrode 25, a negative conductive film and a film obtained by winding a positive conductive wire film with an insulating resin such as polypropylene were used. The dust sucked by the dust collecting electrode 25 adheres to the electrode film and does not leave. The voltages applied to the ionization electrode 23 and the dust collection electrode 25 were 5.65 kV and 2.4 kV, respectively.
This dust collector 21 has a well-known configuration. For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-19647.
[0022]
The deodorizing device 27 includes three ultraviolet lamps 29 and a pair of photocatalytic filters 30 and 31 sandwiching the ultraviolet lamp 29 vertically. The photocatalytic filter has a structure in which activated carbon, activated carbon fiber, silica gel or the like as an adsorbent for an odor component and a photocatalyst made of titanium dioxide or the like are supported on a breathable substrate, or these are kneaded.
The material and structure of the substrate are not particularly limited as long as it allows air to pass through and stably holds the photocatalyst, and honeycomb paper or metal can be used. Alternatively, the activated carbon and the photocatalyst may be solidified with a binder to form a honeycomb.
[0023]
The photocatalyst is not particularly limited as long as it can oxidatively decompose odor components. In addition to Ti, each of Cu, Zn, La, Mo, V, Sr, Ba, Ce, Sn, Fe, W, Mg and Al At least one selected from the group consisting of oxides and noble metals can be used.
[0024]
When such photocatalytic filters 30 and 31 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the photocatalyst is activated and the odor components adsorbed on the activated carbon are oxidatively decomposed. For details, refer to JP-A-9-19647.
[0025]
In this embodiment, an ultraviolet filter 30 is interposed between the dust collection electrode 25 and the ultraviolet lamp 29 so that the amount of ultraviolet rays directly irradiating the dust collection electrode 25 is reduced. Thereby, deterioration of the dust collection electrode 25 can be decreased more.
[0026]
The crossflow fan 33 of this embodiment can adjust the air volume in three stages.
[0027]
In the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes an odor sensor, reference numeral 36 denotes a dust sensor, reference numeral 37 denotes an indoor light intensity sensor, and reference numeral 39 denotes an infrared receiver that receives an infrared operation signal from the operation device 40. Reference numeral 60 denotes a control unit.
[0028]
The operating device 40 is shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, a button 41 is used to turn on / off the automatic operation of the air cleaner 1, and the LED lamp 42 in the button 41 is lit during the automatic operation.
The button 43 is used to turn on / off the clean operation, and the LED lamp 44 in the button 43 is lit during the clean operation.
The button 45 is used to turn on / off the ventilation operation, and the LED lamp 46 in the button 45 is lit during the ventilation operation.
[0029]
The button 47 is used to select the air volume at times other than automatic operation. When this button 47 is pressed, the strong wind mode → the weak wind mode → the medium wind mode → the strong wind mode (hereinafter this repetition) and the air volume mode are continuously performed. And can be switched cyclically.
Any one of the LED lamps 48 to 50 corresponding to the selected air volume mode is turned on.
[0030]
The dirt monitor is turned on according to the outputs of the odor sensor 35 and the dust sensor 36. For example, when the indoor air is moderately soiled, that is, when the concentration of the odor component exceeds a predetermined first threshold and the concentration of the dust exceeds a predetermined second threshold, one lower LED lamp 53 lights up. Further, when the indoor air becomes very dirty, that is, when the concentration of the odor component exceeds the predetermined third threshold and the concentration of the dust exceeds the predetermined fourth threshold, the upper and lower two LED lamps 52 and 53 are both Light. The comparison and the control of the LED lamps 52 and 53 are performed by the control unit 60.
The operating device 40 includes a known infrared signal generator (not shown).
[0031]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the air cleaner 1 of the embodiment. The main controller 61 and the memory 63 are housed in the control unit 60.
In FIG. 3, the infrared receiver 39 may be omitted and the operating device 40 may be directly connected to the main control device 61 by wire.
[0032]
Next, the operation of the air cleaner 1 of the embodiment will be described. Each operation is executed by the main controller 61 controlling each element based on a control program stored in the memory 63 in advance.
[0033]
When the button 41 is pressed and the automatic operation mode is selected, the odor components and dust concentrations detected by the odor sensor 35 and the dust sensor 36 are compared with the respective reference values stored in the table format in the memory 63 in advance. Is done. Depending on the result of this comparison, the airflow of the cross flow fan 33 is selected to be either strong, medium or weak. In this automatic operation mode, the ultraviolet lamp is always on. A voltage is always applied to the dust collector 21 as well. In the automatic operation mode of the embodiment, the ventilation unit 10 is not operated, but the ventilation unit 10 can be automatically operated together.
[0034]
In this automatic operation mode, ventilation is performed when the indoor temperature measured by the indoor temperature sensor (not shown) exceeds a predetermined temperature and the outdoor temperature measured by the outdoor temperature sensor (not shown) is lower than the indoor temperature. Only the air supply fan 12 of the unit 10 is driven and the exhaust fan 11 is stopped, that is, the outside air cooled without heat exchange can be taken into the room and the room temperature can be lowered.
[0035]
When the air purification mode is selected by pressing the button 43, the air volume of the cross flow fan 33 can be manually selected by the button 45. At this time, the ventilation part 10 does not operate. In order to reduce the number of buttons of the operating device 40 as much as possible, the air volume is selected by only one button 45. Therefore, the air volume is switched as follows: strong wind mode → weak wind mode → middle wind mode → strong wind mode (hereinafter, this is repeated). When the ultraviolet lamp 29 is turned off in the low wind mode, the low wind mode is always passed when switching from the strong wind mode to the medium wind mode, so the ultraviolet lamp 29 is turned on and off unnecessarily.
[0036]
Therefore, in this embodiment, the unnecessary UV lamp 29 is prevented from being turned on and off by the control shown in FIG.
[0037]
When the button 45 is pressed to select the ventilation mode, the ventilation unit 10 is activated in addition to the operation of the air cleaning mode described above. That is, the exhaust fan 11 and the air supply fan 12 are operated to ventilate the air inside and outside the room together with the air cleaning operation. At this time, the air taken from the outside passes through the cleaning unit 20 and is supplied to the room.
In the ventilation mode, the ultraviolet lamp may be always turned on.
[0038]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control of the ultraviolet lamp.
In step 1, the currently selected air volume mode is detected, and whether or not the air volume mode detected in step 3 is changed from the air volume mode before the unit time is compared.
[0039]
When the air volume mode has not been changed (step 3: N), the process returns to step 1. When the air volume mode has been changed (step 3: Y), the process proceeds to step 5 to determine whether the elapsed time after the change is within 10 seconds.
[0040]
When the elapsed time is within 10 seconds (step 5: Y), the recognition that “the air volume has been changed” in step 3 is canceled (step 6), and the state corresponding to the air volume mode before the change is made The ultraviolet lamp 29 is maintained (step 7). On the other hand, when the elapsed time exceeds 10 seconds (step 5: N), it is assumed that the state of the ultraviolet lamp corresponds to the changed air volume mode (step 9).
[0041]
Taking the case of switching from the strong wind mode to the medium wind mode as an example, the control of FIG. 4 will be described more specifically as follows. It is assumed that the residence time in the low wind mode is extremely short and is 10 seconds or less.
First, since the air volume is switched from the strong wind mode to the weak wind mode, this change is recognized in step 3. However, since the residence time in the weak wind mode is extremely short, the process does not proceed from step 5 to step 9, and the state of the ultraviolet lamp in the strong wind mode, that is, the on state is maintained as in step 6 and step 7. .
[0042]
Over time, the air volume is switched from the low wind mode to the medium wind mode. For the control until 10 seconds elapse after this change, the loop of Step 1 → Step 3 → Step 5 → Step 6 → Step 7 → Step 1 is repeated. Here, since the recognition of the change of strong wind mode → weak wind mode → middle wind mode is canceled in step 6, the immediately preceding air volume mode becomes the strong wind mode, and the ultraviolet lamp is kept on.
[0043]
When the waiting time of 10 seconds elapses, the process proceeds to step 9 and the state of the ultraviolet lamp corresponding to the middle wind mode, that is, the on state is maintained. Therefore, even if the strong wind mode is switched to the medium wind mode, the ultraviolet lamp remains on and is not turned off in the middle.
[0044]
Also, consider a case where the mode is switched from the weak wind mode to the middle wind mode due to an erroneous operation. At this time, if the medium wind mode is returned to the low wind mode via the strong wind mode within 10 seconds, the process does not proceed from step 5 to step 9. Accordingly, the ultraviolet lamp 29 is kept off and does not light up.
[0045]
5 and 6 show the operation of the air cleaner of another embodiment. In this embodiment, the configuration of the air purifier apparatus, that is, the hardware, is the same as that of the previous embodiment. The description of the operation of this embodiment assumes a case where an erroneous operation is performed when switching from the low wind mode to the medium wind mode.
[0046]
FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the air volume and the state of the ultraviolet lamp 29. The operation of the apparatus at the time points (1) to (10) in FIG. 5 is clarified by attaching the same numbers (1) to (10) to the flowchart of FIG.
[0047]
For example, at a time point (1), a timer (not shown) built in the main controller 61 is stopped, and the process proceeds from step 101 to step 103. Here, although the air flow mode is recognized, since the air flow mode is not changed at the time point (1) (step 105; N), the state of the ultraviolet lamp 29 is maintained, that is, in the case of FIG. Is maintained off (step 119), and the process returns to step 101.
[0048]
Similarly, at time (2), the timer does not operate, so the routine proceeds from step 101 to step 103. Here, the change in the air flow mode is recognized (step 105; Y), and the timer is started in step 107. The state of the ultraviolet lamp 29 is maintained (step 119).
[0049]
Since the timer is operating at time points (3) to (9) (the timer is started at time point (2)), the routine proceeds to step 109 where the air volume mode is recognized. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not 10 seconds have passed since the timer start (step 111). Since 10 seconds have not elapsed at time points (3) to (8), the process proceeds to step 113. In step 113, the air volume mode recognized in step 109 is canceled. Therefore, the state of the ultraviolet lamp 29 is not changed at all (step 119). In the case of FIG. 5, the ultraviolet lamp 29 is kept off.
[0050]
At time (9), since 10 seconds have elapsed since the timer start, the routine proceeds to step 115. In step 115, the timer is temporarily stopped. In step 117, the state of the ultraviolet lamp 29 corresponds to the air volume mode recognized in step 109. In the example of FIG. 5, since the air volume mode is the medium air mode, the ultraviolet lamp 29 is turned on.
[0051]
Since the timer is not operating at the time (10) (the timer is stopped in step 115), the process proceeds from step 101 to step 103. Here, the air volume mode is recognized, but since the air volume mode has not been changed at time (10) (step 105; N), the state of the ultraviolet lamp 29 is maintained, that is, in the case of FIG. The on state is maintained (step 119), and the process returns to step 101.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the air cleaner of the present invention, when a turn-off signal is input to the ultraviolet lamp in order to turn off the ultraviolet lamp, the current state of the ultraviolet lamp is not immediately turned off according to the signal. , Ie, the ON state is maintained for a predetermined time. If the input signal has not been changed and is still an extinguished signal, the ultraviolet lamp is turned off after the predetermined time has elapsed. On the other hand, when the signal input after the elapse of a predetermined time has been changed from the turn-off signal to the turn-on signal, the on state is maintained without turning off the ultraviolet lamp.
Similarly, when a lighting signal is input to the ultraviolet lamp in order to turn on the ultraviolet lamp, the current state of the ultraviolet lamp, that is, the off state is maintained for a predetermined time without immediately turning on the ultraviolet lamp according to the signal. . If the input signal is not changed and is still a lighting signal, the ultraviolet lamp is turned on after the predetermined time has elapsed. On the other hand, when the signal input after the elapse of a predetermined time has been changed from the lighting signal to the extinguishing signal, the off state is maintained without turning on the ultraviolet lamp.
[0053]
Therefore, unnecessary on / off of the ultraviolet lamp can be avoided in advance, and the life of the ultraviolet lamp can be extended.
[0054]
The present invention is not limited to the description of the embodiments and examples of the invention described above. Various modifications may be included in the present invention as long as those skilled in the art can easily conceive without departing from the description of the scope of claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway and partially transparent perspective view showing an air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operating device.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing components of the air cleaner.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control of the ultraviolet lamp.
FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an air volume mode and an ultraviolet lamp state of an air cleaner according to another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control of the ultraviolet lamp.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air cleaner 10 Ventilation part 11 Exhaust fan 12 Air supply fan 13 Heat exchanger 20 Clean part 21 Dust collector 27 Deodorizer 29 Ultraviolet lamp 30, 31 Photocatalyst filter 40 Actuator

Claims (4)

A deodorizing device having an ultraviolet lamp;
When a turn-off signal or turn-on signal is input to the lamp, the current state of the lamp is maintained for a predetermined time, the signal recognized within the time is canceled, and the signal that is input after the lapse of time And a control device that turns off or turns on the lamp according to the air cleaner. A dust collector;
Fans operating in low, medium or strong wind modes;
A blowing mode selection means for continuously and circulatingly selecting the low wind mode, the medium wind mode and the strong wind mode;
A deodorizing device having an ultraviolet lamp that is turned off when the fan is in the low wind mode and turned on when in the medium wind mode or the strong wind mode;
When the current mode is changed by the blowing mode selection means, the lamp state is maintained for a predetermined time, and the mode recognized within the time is canceled, and the mode selected after the lapse of time is reached. And a control device that turns off or turns on the lamp accordingly . In a deodorizing apparatus that decomposes odor components in the air by irradiating a photocatalyst with ultraviolet rays, the method controls an ultraviolet lamp that emits the ultraviolet rays,
When a turn-off signal or turn-on signal is input to the lamp, the current state of the lamp is maintained for a predetermined time, the signal recognized within the time is canceled, and the signal that is input after the lapse of time A method for controlling an ultraviolet lamp, characterized in that the lamp is turned off or turned on according to the above. A dust collector;
Fans operating in low, medium or strong wind modes;
A blowing mode selection means for continuously and circulatingly selecting the low wind mode, the medium wind mode and the strong wind mode;
A deodorizing device having an ultraviolet lamp that is turned off when the fan is in the low wind mode and turned on when in the medium wind mode or the strong wind mode.
When the current mode is changed by the blowing mode selection means, the lamp state is maintained for a predetermined time, and the mode recognized within the time is canceled, and the mode selected after the lapse of time is reached. A method for controlling the air purifier, wherein the lamp is turned off or turned on accordingly .

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