JP4269932B2 - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaner.

  Conventionally, an air purifier has been used in which air is sucked from a suction port, and dust, dust, odorous components, etc. in the air are captured by a filter made of activated carbon or the like to be purified and discharged from a discharge port ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  In such an air cleaner, since dirty air is always collected and deodorized by the filter, dirt accumulates on the filter after long-term use. There was a risk that it would be re-released from the plant and bacteria would propagate on the filter.

By the way, there is known an electrostatic atomization device that generates electrostatic mist that generates mist by applying a high voltage to a liquid such as water, and performs deodorization (removal of odorous components) and sterilization by the generated mist. (For example, see Patent Document 2), it was considered to apply this to an air purifier, but the deodorized and sterilized air was discharged, but the filter was not deodorized and sterilized. Was the current situation.
JP 2003-79714 A Japanese Patent No. 3260150

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, The place made into the objective makes it a subject to provide the air cleaner which can deodorize and disinfect a filter by mist. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention according to claim 1, in the air cleaner that purifies the air sucked from the suction port 11 with the filter 2 and discharges it from the discharge port 12, the water to be atomized is supplied. comprises a water reservoir 3 for accommodating, the application electrode 8 for applying a voltage to the water, and a water absorbing member 4 has a needle-like atomizing member 41 at one end with contacts to the water, the water-absorbent structure 4 is electrostatically atomizing the water is held in the needle-shaped atomization unit 41 sucks up from the water reservoir 3 to the electrostatic atomizing device 7 that generates the mist of the nano-sized provided, the atomization unit 41 Is provided on the upstream side of the filter 2. With such a configuration, the mist generated in the atomizing unit 41 can remove dust, bacteria, odorous components, and the like attached to the filter 2, and as a result, dust, bacteria, odorous components, etc. are filtered out. 2 can be prevented from being detached again, and the life of the filter 2 can be extended.

  In addition, the invention of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1, wherein a reflux path 17 for refluxing from the downstream of the filter 2 to the upstream of the filter 2 is provided, and an atomizing portion 41 is provided in the reflux path 17. It is characterized by. By setting it as such a structure, the air which passes the electrostatic atomizer 7 turns into the air cleaned with the filter 2, the electrostatic atomizer 7 is not contaminated and the performance of electrostatic atomization falls. Is prevented.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting means for detecting the performance deterioration of the filter 2 downstream of the filter 2, and the electrostatic atomizer according to the output of the detecting means. 7 is provided with a control unit for driving 7. By adopting such a configuration, a detecting means for detecting the performance degradation of the filter 2 is provided downstream of the filter 2, and dust, bacteria, and odor components adhering to the filter 2 are removed after the performance degradation of the filter 2 is detected. It becomes possible to do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, a detection means for detecting air contamination is provided on the upstream side of the filter 2 and an atomizing section is provided on the upstream side of the detection means. 41, and a control unit for driving the air purifier in accordance with the output of the detection means is provided. By adopting such a configuration, in the case where the detection unit that detects air contamination detects the air contamination, the air purifier is driven, and dust, bacteria, and odor components adhering to the detection unit are removed. It becomes possible.
Further, the invention of claim 5 is characterized in that in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 4, the counter electrode 5 facing the atomizing portion 41 of the water absorbent 4 is provided. It is.

  In the present invention, the mist generated in the atomizing section can remove dust, bacteria, odorous components, etc. adhering to the filter. As a result, the dust, bacteria, odorous components, etc. are removed again from the filter. It can be suppressed, and the life of the filter can be extended.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 show an example of the air cleaner of the present invention. The air cleaner is configured such that the main body case C includes the air purifier 1 and the electrostatic atomizer 7 as main components.

  The air purifying unit 1 includes a suction port 11 for sucking room air, a discharge port 12 for discharging filtered air into the room, and the suction port 11 to the discharge port 12 in the same manner as a conventional air cleaner. The main body is composed of a filter 2 made of nonwoven fabric, activated carbon or the like provided in the leading air passage 10 and a blower section 13 provided with a fan 14, and the room air is sucked into the air purifying section 1 from the suction port 11, and the filter The air is purified by filtering through 2 and the cleaned air is again discharged into the room from the discharge port 12 and is floated in the room by a so-called filter 2 (filtering system). It is designed to remove dust, bacteria, odorous components, etc.

  In the main body case C, the electrostatic atomizer 7 is provided in addition to the air purifier 1 as described above. The electrostatic atomizer 7 is filled with water W as shown in FIG. A water reservoir 3, a rod-shaped water absorbent 4 as a transport unit for transporting water W from the water reservoir 3, and a counter electrode disposed so as to face the water W transport direction by the water absorbent 4 of the transport unit 5 and a voltage application unit 6 that applies a high voltage between the water absorber 4 and the counter electrode 5 of the transport unit.

  Here, in the air cleaner of the present invention, at least the water absorbing body 4 and the counter electrode 5 of the transport unit of the electrostatic atomizer 7 are provided in the air passage 10 a on the upstream side of the filter 2. In the figure, reference numeral 10 a indicates an air path on the upstream side of the filter 2, and 10 b indicates an air path on the downstream side of the filter 2. By applying a high voltage between the water absorbent 4 and the counter electrode 5 of the transport unit, the water W held in the atomizing unit 41 (described later) at the tip of the water absorbent 4 is charged and atomized. Nano-sized mist M is generated. And in this invention, since the water absorption body 4 and counter electrode 5 of a conveyance part are provided in the upstream of the filter 2, by applying a high voltage to the water absorption body 4 and counter electrode 5 of a conveyance part as mentioned above, The generated nano-sized mist M can effectively remove dust, bacteria, and odor components attached to the filter 2 by long-term use. As a result, re-detachment of dust, bacteria, and odor components can be suppressed, and the life of the filter 2 can be extended.

  The electrostatic atomizer 7 is provided with a water tank 30 constituting the water reservoir 3 in the lower part, and is arranged in a cylindrical shape and a holder 71 having a ventilation hole 72 opened in the peripheral surface, and an upper part of the holder 71. The counter electrode 5, an application electrode 8 that is fitted in the lower portion of the holder 71 and applies a voltage to the water W, and a plurality of water absorbing bodies 4 that constitute a transport unit held by the application electrode 8. The water tank 30 formed in a cup shape is engaged with an outer peripheral flange portion 81 of the application electrode 8 in which the protrusion 31 on the outer surface of the upper end opening edge is attached to the lower portion of the holder 71. The recess 82 is attached by bayonet engagement.

  The counter electrode 5 and the application electrode 8 are both made of a synthetic resin mixed with a conductive material such as carbon or a metal such as SUS and have conductivity. The electrode 5 is grounded through a grounding contact plate that contacts the outer surface of the connecting projection 51 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The application electrode 8 that is fitted and fixed to the lower part of the holder 71 and pressed and fixed by the rib 73 on the inner surface of the holder 71 also applies a high voltage via a contact plate that contacts the outer surface of the connecting projection 83 formed on the outer peripheral surface. Connected to the voltage application unit 6.

  The rod-shaped water-absorbing body 4 is formed of, for example, porous ceramic and has a needle-shaped atomizing portion 41 whose upper end is pointed like a needle, and a plurality of (six in the illustrated example) water-absorbing bodies 41 are formed. A body 4 is attached to the application electrode 8. These water absorbing bodies 4 are arranged at equal intervals on the same circumference, the upper part projects upward from the application electrode 8, and the lower part projects downward to contact the water W placed in the water tank 30.

  9 in the figure is a cylindrical skirt projecting downward from the application electrode 8 and surrounds the outside of the plurality of water absorbent bodies 4, and the lower ends thereof are located below the lower ends of the water absorbent bodies 4. A lattice-shaped protective cover 91 is put on the lower end opening. The skirt 9 in the application electrode 8 applies a high voltage to the water W by coming into contact with the water W placed in the water tank 30, and at the same time, the water absorbing body 4 formed of ceramic together with the lattice-shaped protective cover 91. Protection.

  Here, when the water tank 30 is connected, the application electrode 8 substantially seals the upper surface opening of the water tank 30 so that the water in the water tank 30 does not leak even when tilted. Therefore, a slit 92 is provided in a part of the circumferential direction of the skirt 9 so as to cover the entire length of the skirt 9 in the vertical direction, and the skirt 9 is surrounded by the slit 92 when the water tank 30 filled with water is mounted. The air in the space is evacuated to allow the inflow of water into the skirt 9.

  The counter electrode 5 mounted so as to close the upper surface opening of the holder 71 has an opening 52 in the center as shown in FIG. 4, and the edge of the opening 52 when viewed from above is the plurality of water absorptions. A plurality of arcs R having the same diameter centered on the atomizing portion 41 at the upper end of the body 4 are smoothly connected by other arcs r. When the counter electrode 5 is grounded and a high voltage generating source is connected to the application electrode 8 and the water absorber 4 sucks up the water W by capillary action, the atomizing portion 41 at the upper end of the water absorber 4 is connected to the application electrode 8 side. At the same time, the arc R of the counter electrode 5 functions as a substantial electrode. Note that the opening 52 is covered with a lattice-shaped protective cover 53, thereby preventing fingers and the like from coming into contact with the water absorbent 4 through the opening 52.

  Now, the water tank 30 containing the water W is mounted, and the water W is brought into contact with the skirt 9 of the application electrode 8. At the same time, the water absorbent 4 is sucked up by capillary action, and the counter electrode 5 is grounded. In addition, when a high voltage generating source is connected to the application electrode 8 and a negative voltage is applied to the application electrode 8, a high voltage is applied between the tip of the water absorbent 4 constituting the transport unit and the counter electrode 5. It becomes. If this voltage is a high voltage that can cause water to undergo Rayleigh splitting, the water W that has reached the atomizing portion 41 at the upper end of the water absorbent 4 will cause Rayleigh splitting and a mist M having a particle size of nanometer size. The electrostatic atomization which produces is performed. The nano-sized mist generated in this way has active species (hydroxy radicals, superoxide, etc.). By releasing this into the room, it not only deodorizes the indoor air but also on the wall of the room. The attached odor can be removed.

  In the present invention, as already described, the water absorbing body 4 and the counter electrode 5 of the transport section of the electrostatic atomizer 7 are provided on the upstream side of the filter 2, and in the embodiment shown in FIGS. An electrostatic atomizer 7 including a water absorbing body 4 and a counter electrode 5 of a transport unit having a simple structure is provided in an air passage 10 extending from the suction port 11 to the filter 2. That is, the air blowing unit 13 includes a fan 14 driven by a motor 15 and a wind tunnel 16. After driving the fan 14, indoor air sucked from the air blowing unit 13 is filtered by the filter 2, and then the purified air is discharged. The liquid is discharged again from the outlet 12 into the room, and the electrostatic atomizer 7 is disposed in the air passage 10 extending from the suction port 11 to the filter 2.

  FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, at least the water absorbing body 4 and the counter electrode 5 of the transport unit are provided in a reflux path 17 that circulates from the downstream of the filter 2 to the upstream of the filter 2. The air passing through the vicinity of the electrostatic atomizer 7 is clean air filtered by the filter 2, and therefore the electrostatic atomizer 7 is not contaminated, and electrostatic atomization hardly occurs due to the dirt. There is almost nothing.

  In addition to this, a detection means for detecting dirt on the air is provided on the upstream side of the filter 2, and a control unit (not shown) for driving the air purifier according to the output of the detection means is provided. is there. One or a plurality of sensors S1 are provided as detection means for detecting dirt on the air, and the atomizing section 41 is provided on the upstream side of the sensors S1.

  That is, since dirty air passes through the sensor S1 arranged upstream of the filter 2, odors are attached and bacteria are propagated. Therefore, by disposing the electrostatic atomizer 7 on the upstream side of the air passing through the sensor S1, the odor attached to the sensor S1 can be deodorized and bacteria can be sterilized.

  FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a control unit (not shown) is provided with a sensor S2 as a detecting means for detecting the performance degradation of the filter 2 on the downstream side of the filter 2 and drives the electrostatic atomizer 7 in accordance with the output. )). As described above, when the filter 2 is continuously used for a long period of time, the deodorizing ability is reduced, or the attached odor is detached and re-released. Moreover, since bacteria in the air are also collected, there is a possibility that the bacteria propagate on the filter 2. Therefore, the odor adhering to the filter 2 is deodorized by detecting the performance deterioration of the filter 2 and operating the electrostatic atomizer 7. The sensor may be any sensor that detects air dirt, such as a gas sensor or a dust sensor.

It is a sectional side view of one embodiment of the present invention. It is front sectional drawing same as the above. It is a sectional side view of the electrostatic atomizer in the same as the above. It is a top view of an electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is principal part side sectional drawing of an electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is explanatory drawing explaining the principle and operation | movement of an electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of other embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Suction port 12 Discharge port 2 Filter 3 Water reservoir 4 Water-absorbing body 41 Atomizer 5 Counter electrode 7 Electrostatic atomizer 8 Application electrode

Claims (5)

In an air cleaner that purifies air sucked from the suction port with a filter and discharges it from the discharge port, a water reservoir for storing water for atomization, an application electrode for applying a voltage to the water, and contact with the water and a water absorber which has a needle-like atomizing portion at one end with being, with the water absorbent core is held in the needle-like atomizing portion siphoned from water reservoir is electrostatically atomized the electrostatic atomizer that generates the mist of the nano-sized provided an air purifier, characterized by comprising providing the atomization unit on the upstream side of the filter.   2. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a reflux path for refluxing from the downstream of the filter to the upstream of the filter is provided, and an atomizing section is provided in the reflux path.   3. A detection unit for detecting a decrease in the performance of the filter downstream of the filter, and a control unit for driving the electrostatic atomizer in accordance with the output of the detection unit. Air purifier. Detection means for detecting air contamination is provided on the upstream side of the filter, an atomization unit is provided on the upstream side of the detection means, and a control unit for driving the air purifier according to the output of the detection means is provided. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein   The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a counter electrode facing the atomizing portion of the water absorbing body.

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