JP5194349B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

  In this type of conventional air conditioner, an air filter for preventing dust from entering the inside of the air conditioner main body is provided on the front surface of the heat exchanger. It is configured to be detachable so that it can be manually cleaned. In such an air conditioner, not only does the air filter require frequent maintenance, but the air filter gradually clogs until the maintenance is performed, and as a result, the air filter passes through the heat exchanger. There is a problem that the air volume to be reduced decreases, the air conditioning capacity decreases, and the power consumption increases.

  Therefore, in order to solve this problem and reduce maintenance work of the air filter, an automatic cleaning device having a suction nozzle that sucks dust accumulated on the air filter while running on the air filter is provided. When the normal operation of the air conditioner is stopped or when the normal operation is started, the suction nozzle of the automatic cleaning device is self-propelled on the air filter to clean the dust adhering thereto (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Next, an operation algorithm for cleaning the air filter of the conventional air conditioner will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When a stop signal for stopping the air conditioner is transmitted from the remote controller in a state where the air conditioner is normally operated (step 601), the operation of the indoor fan and the compressor (Comp) is stopped (step 602). ). At that time, the mode is shifted to the air filter cleaning mode and the air filter is automatically cleaned while the suction nozzle is moved (step 603). When the cleaning is completed, all the operations of the air conditioner are stopped (step 603). 604).
JP 2004360995 A

  However, in the configuration of the conventional air conditioner, the air filter is automatically cleaned when the normal operation of the air conditioner is stopped or when the normal operation is started. Therefore, the air conditioner is stopped when the normal operation of the air conditioner is stopped or when the normal operation is started. For users who do not want automatic cleaning of the filter, there is a problem that the convenience is impaired.

  In addition, in the above prior art, it was possible to select not to clean the air filter when the normal operation of the air conditioner was stopped or when the normal operation was started. If it is necessary to clean the air filter and you forget to clean it, regular maintenance will not be performed and the air filter will gradually become clogged, which reduces the air volume passing through the heat exchanger and reduces the air conditioning capacity. There is a problem that power consumption is increased due to a decrease in power consumption.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner capable of automatically cleaning an air filter at a time desired by a user.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes an air filter that collects dust in the air, an air filter cleaning mechanism that cleans the air filter, and the air filter cleaning mechanism. a time setting unit for the time for automatically cleaning the filter can be arbitrarily set user, with the elapsed time detecting means for detecting the elapsed time from the automatic cleaning of the previous air filter, is the time set by the time setting means If the time for automatically cleaning the air filter is set by the time setting means, the air filter is automatically cleaned at the same time and the normal operation of the air conditioner is stopped or The time for automatically cleaning the air filter is set by the time setting means so that the air filter is not automatically cleaned at the start of normal operation. If not, in which the time detected by the elapsed time detecting means to perform the automatic cleaning of the air filter when it is judged it exceeds the predetermined time, wished cleaning the air filter user It can be automatically performed at the time, and user convenience can be improved.

  The air conditioner of the present invention can automatically perform regular maintenance and improve user convenience.

This invention provides an air filter for collecting dust in the air, and the air filter cleaning mechanism for cleaning the air filter, the time for automatic cleaning of the air filter in the air filter cleaning mechanism user can arbitrarily set A time setting means and an elapsed time detecting means for detecting an elapsed time since the previous automatic cleaning of the air filter, wherein it is determined whether or not the time setting means is set, and the time setting means When the time for performing automatic cleaning is set, the air filter is automatically cleaned at the same time, and the air filter is not automatically cleaned when the normal operation of the air conditioner is stopped or when the normal operation is started. If the time for automatically cleaning the air filter is not set by the time setting means, the elapsed time detecting means Those detected time is to perform the automatic cleaning of the air filter when it is judged it exceeds the predetermined time, it is possible to automatically perform the cleaning work of the air filter to the user wished time It is possible to improve user convenience.

In addition, when the time for automatically cleaning the air filter is set by the time setting means, the air filter is not automatically cleaned when the normal operation of the air conditioner is stopped or when the normal operation is started. Can do. In addition, since the regular maintenance is automatically performed by setting the time, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the air conditioning capacity due to the clogging of the air filter.

Furthermore, without setting the time the user performs automatic cleaning of the air filter, and when the time detected by the elapsed time detecting means is determined to have exceeded a predetermined time, the automatic cleaning of the air filter Therefore, even if the user forgets to set the time for automatic cleaning of the air filter, the maintenance is automatically performed every predetermined time, which reduces the air conditioning capacity due to clogging of the air filter. It can be surely prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
Below, the air conditioner in the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. 1 thru | or 5. FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the air conditioner in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, an air conditioner 401 includes an outdoor unit 402 and an indoor unit 403. The outdoor unit 402 is provided with a compressor 404, a four-way valve 405, an expansion valve 406, an outdoor heat exchanger 407, an outdoor fan 408, a discharge temperature sensor 409, an outdoor pipe temperature sensor 410, and an outdoor temperature sensor 411. The indoor unit 403 includes an indoor heat exchanger 412, an indoor fan 413, an air filter cleaning mechanism 414, an indoor piping temperature sensor 417, a suction sensor 418, a humidity sensor 419, and a suction unit, a blow-out unit, upper and lower blades, left and right blades (not shown) The outdoor unit 402 and the indoor unit 403 are connected so as to form a refrigeration cycle, and cooling and heating are performed by switching the four-way valve 405.

The indoor heat exchanger 412 is divided into a front heat exchanger 412a and a rear heat exchanger 412b, and the front heat exchanger 412a and the rear heat exchanger 412b are constituted by a dry two-way valve 415 and a capillary tube 416. It is connected via a diaphragm mechanism. By fully opening the dry two-way valve 415, cooling operation or heating operation is performed, and the closed state and the expansion valve 406 is fully opened or substantially fully opened, so that the front heat exchanger 412a is a condenser and rear heat exchange. A so-called dehumidifying operation can be performed by causing the device 412b to function as an evaporator. The outdoor unit 402 and the indoor unit 403 are each provided with an outdoor control unit 420 and an indoor control unit 421, and both the control units 420 and 421 are connected by a connection line (not shown).

  The indoor control unit 421 is provided with an elapsed time detecting means 421a for detecting the elapsed time so as to start counting the elapsed time each time the air filter 100 is automatically cleaned (see later). Every time cleaning starts, the elapsed time is reset.

  The indoor control unit 421 includes a receiving unit 422 that receives an infrared signal transmitted from a remote controller 423 provided outside the indoor unit 403. Various operations can be performed by the remote controller 423 and the indoor control unit 421. And detection can be performed.

  The remote control 423 is provided with time setting means 423a for setting a time for automatically cleaning the air filter 100. Once the time is set, the air filter 100 is automatically cleaned at the same time every day. It has become so. Of course, the cleaning time once set can be reset or the setting of the cleaning time can be canceled.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the air filter cleaning mechanism 414.

  In FIG. 2, an air filter cleaning mechanism 414 includes an air filter 100 configured by a filter frame 101 and a filter net 102 to remove dust contained in air passing through the indoor heat exchanger 412, and along the surface of the air filter 100. A suction nozzle 103 movable at one end, a suction duct 105 having one end connected to the suction nozzle 103 and the other end connected to the suction device 106, and one end connected to the exhaust side of the suction device 106 and the other end routed outside the room. The exhaust duct 107 is made up of.

  The suction nozzle 103 can smoothly move to the left and right with a certain distance from the air filter 100 by guide rails 104 installed at the upper and lower ends of the filter frame 101. The suction duct 105 can be bent so as not to interfere with the movement of the suction nozzle 103 and is formed in a duct shape.

  With the above configuration, when the suction device 106 is operated while moving the suction nozzle 103 on the air filter 100, dust adhering to the air filter 100 is sucked from the suction nozzle 103, and further, the suction duct 105, the suction device 106, The air is discharged to the outside through the exhaust duct 107.

  In this configuration, when the air filter cleaning mechanism 414 is built in a small air conditioner for general household use, it is necessary to reduce the size and increase the output of the suction device 106, so that a strong suction force can be exhibited with a small air volume. The suction nozzle 103 is designed to clean the entire surface of the air filter 100 by increasing the suction force by narrowing the suction to a part and switching the position.

  Details of the configuration of the suction nozzle 10 will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded back perspective view and a sectional view showing the structure of the suction nozzle 103. In the drawing, a suction nozzle 103 is provided with a long slit-like opening 103a corresponding to the entire height of the air filter 100, a belt 203 that can be driven along the opening 103a, and the belt 203 and the opening. A suction hole 204 is provided at a position facing 103a. The length of the suction hole 204 provided in the belt 203 is set shorter than the length of the opening 103a. When the suction device 106 connected to the suction nozzle 103 via the suction duct 105 is operated, the belt 203 Dust on the air filter 100 is sucked from the provided suction hole 204, that is, dust is sucked from only a part of the opening 103 a of the suction nozzle 103. Therefore, by driving the belt 203, the air filter 100 is driven. The place where dust is sucked up can be changed.

  In order to keep the belt 203 along the surface of the suction nozzle 103, the belt 203 is covered with a belt guide 205 formed integrally with the suction nozzle 103 by welding, bonding, or the like.

  With the above configuration, even with a small amount of air, the air is narrowed down to the small suction hole 204, so that the wind speed at the suction hole 204 is increased, and a small suction device 106 can also exert a strong suction force.

  For cleaning the entire surface of the air filter 100, as shown in FIG. 4, the belt 203 of the suction nozzle 103 is driven in the vertical direction to change the position of the suction hole 204, and the suction nozzle 103 is driven left and right along the air filter 100. Thus, the entire surface of the air filter 100 can be cleaned by sweeping the suction hole 204 as shown by the arrow in the drawing. In FIG. 4, the length of the suction hole 204 is set to approximately ¼ of the total length of the air filter 200, and the air filter 100 is moved by two reciprocating sweep operations as indicated by arrows in the drawing. The entire surface can be cleaned.

  Next, the control method of the air conditioner in this Embodiment is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, in step 501, it is determined whether or not the time for automatically cleaning the air filter 100 is set by the time setting means 423a. If it is set, the process proceeds to step 502, and so on. If not, go to Step 503. In step 502, it is determined whether or not the current time is a set time for automatically cleaning the air filter 100. If so, the process proceeds to step 504, otherwise the process returns to step 502.

  In step 503, it is determined whether or not a time detected by the elapsed time detecting means 421a, that is, whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) has elapsed since the previous air filter 100 was automatically cleaned. If yes, go to 504, otherwise return to 503. In step 504, the suction nozzle 103 and the belt 203 provided on the suction nozzle 103 are moved while operating the suction device 106 to automatically clean the air filter 100. When the cleaning of the entire surface of the air filter 100 is completed, step 505 is performed. Proceed to, and return to the state at the start of cleaning.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it becomes possible to automatically perform the cleaning operation of the air filter 100 at the time desired by the user, so that the convenience for the user can be greatly improved. Moreover, since the regular maintenance is automatically and reliably performed by setting the cleaning time, it is possible to reliably prevent the air conditioning capability from being lowered due to the clogging of the air filter 100.

Even if the user does not set the time for cleaning the air filter 100, the air filter 100 is automatically cleaned when it is determined that a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) has elapsed. However, even if the air conditioner is continuously operated, periodic maintenance is automatically performed, and it is possible to reliably prevent a decrease in air conditioning capability due to clogging of the air filter 100.

  Although not included in the flowchart of FIG. 5, when the time for automatically cleaning the air filter 100 is set, the air filter is automatically cleaned when the operation of the air conditioner 401 is stopped or started. If it is not performed, the convenience of the user who likes it can be improved.

  As described above, the air conditioner according to the present invention can automatically perform periodic maintenance and improve user convenience, and thus can be applied to various air conditioners.

The block diagram which shows the whole structure of the air conditioner in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Perspective view of air filter cleaning mechanism of the same air conditioner (A) Partially exploded rear perspective view of the suction nozzle of the air conditioner (b) AA sectional view of FIG. 3 (a) Front view of the air filter cleaning mechanism Flow chart showing the operation operation method of the air conditioner Cross section of a conventional air conditioner

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Air filter 103 Suction nozzle 105 Suction duct 106 Suction apparatus 107 Exhaust duct 204 Suction hole 401 Air conditioner 414 Air filter cleaning mechanism 420 Outdoor control part 421 Indoor control part 423 Remote control 423a Time setting means

Claims (1)

An air conditioner capable of automatically cleaning an air filter when normal operation of the air conditioner is stopped or started, and an air filter that collects dust in the air, and an air filter that cleans the air filter A cleaning mechanism, a time setting means by which a user can arbitrarily set a time at which the air filter is automatically cleaned by the air filter cleaning mechanism, and an elapsed time detection means for detecting an elapsed time since the previous automatic air filter cleaning. It is determined whether or not the time setting means has set the time, and when the time for automatically cleaning the air filter is set by the time setting means, the air filter is automatically cleaned at the same time. In addition, when the normal operation of the air conditioner is stopped or when normal operation is started, the air filter is not automatically cleaned, and the time setting is performed. If the time for automatic cleaning of the air filter is not set by the means, to perform the automatic cleaning of the air filter when the time detected by the elapsed time detecting means is determined to have exceeded a constant time Tokoro Air conditioner.

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