JP6682918B2 - Hand drying equipment - Google Patents

Description

  Aspects of the invention generally relate to hand dryers.

  There is a hand dryer that is attached to the wall surface of a toilet room and used for drying the hands of users after washing their hands. The hand dryer has a hand detection unit (sensor) for detecting the hand of the user, a blowout port for blowing air toward the hand of the user, and a fan motor unit for supplying wind to the blowout port. . The hand dryer drives the fan motor unit according to the detection of the user's hand to blow the wind on the user's hand. In this way, the hand dryer dries the user's hand by blowing the air toward the user's hand and blowing off the water droplets adhering to the hand.

  Compared with the case where paper towels are prepared, such a hand dryer does not require cleaning up or refilling paper towels after use, and is easy to manage, so it can be installed in public facilities such as toilet rooms and washrooms. It is preferably used.

  The fan motor unit has a fan and a brush motor (commutator motor) that rotationally drives the fan. In the brush motor, for example, when the contact between the brush and the commutator becomes unstable, larger sparks than usual (hereinafter referred to as abnormal sparks) may occur at the sliding part between the brush and the commutator. There is a nature. The occurrence of such abnormal sparks causes an offensive odor, black powder, etc., and becomes a factor that gives the user a feeling of anxiety.

  For example, it has been proposed to detect an abnormal spark in a device using a brush motor, such as an electric vacuum cleaner (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). Due to the structure of the brush motor, sparks may occur in the sliding portion between the brush and the commutator even in a normal state. Therefore, to detect only abnormal sparks without erroneous detection, the physical quantity that correlates with the occurrence of sparks during motor operation is measured, the necessary arithmetic processing is performed, and abnormal sparks are generated when the specified criteria are met. It is necessary to judge that

  In the hand dryer, for example, the usage time for one drying of the hand of the user may be extremely short. In such a case, although the abnormal spark is generated, the predetermined standard may not be satisfied, and the abnormal spark may not be properly detected. Further, for example, in a hand dryer having a plurality of operation modes with different air volumes (rotational speeds of motors), when an operation mode with a small air volume is set, similarly, abnormal sparks may not be properly detected. There is. It is also possible to lower the criterion for determining abnormal sparks, but in this case, the risk of false detection increases.

  Therefore, in the hand dryer, it is desired to appropriately detect abnormal sparks and suppress erroneous detections regardless of operating conditions such as one-time use and operating mode.

JP, 2002-025452, A JP, 2006-204470, A Japanese Patent No. 4726758 Japanese Patent No. 4563427

  The present invention has been made based on the recognition of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hand dryer that can appropriately detect abnormal sparks regardless of operating conditions and that suppresses erroneous detection.

A first aspect of the present invention includes a hand detection unit that detects the hand of the user, a fan, and a brush motor that rotationally drives the fan, and blows wind on the hand of the user by the rotation of the fan. A fan motor unit that supplies air to the outlet of the brush, and a control unit that controls the operation of the brush motor according to the detection result of the hand detection unit, and the control unit includes the brush under predetermined operating conditions. when operating a motor, said executable der abnormal spark detection operation abnormal spark from the brush motor to detect whether or not occur is, the when the hand detecting portion has detected the user's hand It has a normal mode for operating the brush motor, the abnormal spark detection mode for executing the abnormality spark detection operation, and wherein the the normal mode is separately capable of executing the abnormality spark detection mode Teinui It is a device.

According to this hand dryer, by executing the abnormal spark detection operation, it is possible to appropriately detect an abnormal spark without being affected by operating conditions such as one-time use and operating mode. Further, it is possible to set an appropriate reference value according to a predetermined operating condition, and it is possible to suppress erroneous detection of abnormal spark occurrence. Further, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed without being affected by the driving conditions associated with the normal use of the user. For example, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed under the optimum operating condition, and the accuracy of detecting the abnormal spark can be improved. Immediately after starting the operation of the brush motor, the contact state between the brush and the commutator tends to be unstable. Therefore, for example, the abnormal spark detection mode is executed after the normal mode is executed, and the abnormal spark is detected after the brush motor operates for a while. Thereby, the risk of false detection can be further reduced.

In a second aspect based on the first aspect , the control section allows the operating conditions of the brush motor to be changed in the normal mode according to a user's setting, and the abnormal spark detection mode in the abnormal spark detection mode. The hand dryer is characterized in that the brush motor is operated under an operating condition in which an abnormal spark is likely to occur.

  According to this hand dryer, an abnormal spark can be accurately detected in the abnormal spark detection mode by using an operating condition in which an abnormal spark is likely to occur.

A third invention is Oite the first or second invention, the control unit integrates the number of times of energization to the brush motor, when the current count reaches a predetermined number of integrations, the abnormality spark detection The hand dryer is characterized in that the frequency of performing the operation is changed.

  According to this hand dryer, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed at an appropriate frequency. Generally, when the brush or commutator wears due to a large number of energizations, the pressing force that presses the brush against the commutator decreases, and the contact state between the brush and commutator becomes unstable. It is easy to become. For example, immediately after the start of use of the brush motor, the frequency of the abnormal spark detection operation is reduced, and the frequency of the abnormal spark detection operation is increased as the number of energization increases and the wear of the brush and the commutator progresses. This makes it possible to detect abnormal sparks at a more appropriate frequency. Further, when the abnormal spark detection operation is performed and air is blown from the air outlet regardless of the user's intention, the user may be kept waiting until the abnormal spark detection operation ends. By detecting abnormal sparks at an appropriate frequency as described above, it is possible to secure the accuracy of abnormal spark detection while suppressing restrictions on the user due to, for example, the occurrence of waiting time.

In a fourth aspect based on the third aspect , the control section is capable of changing the operating condition of the brush motor, and, when integrating the energization number, increments the integrated number in accordance with the operating condition. It is a hand drying device characterized by performing weighting.

  According to this hand dryer, it is possible to detect abnormal sparks at a more appropriate frequency. For example, in an operating condition in which the rotation speed of the brush motor or the current value input to the brush motor is high (for example, a strong operation mode), compared to an operating condition in which the rotation speed or the current value is low (for example, a weak operation mode), The commutator wears easily. Therefore, for example, one hand drying is counted as one in the strong operation mode operation, and one hand drying is counted as 0.5 in the weak operation mode operation. This makes it possible to integrate the number of energizations that better reflects the degree of wear of the brush and commutator.

A fifth invention is Oite the first or second invention, the control unit integrates the energizing time to the brush motor, when the energizing time reaches a predetermined integration time, the abnormality spark detection The hand dryer is characterized in that the frequency of performing the operation is changed.

  According to this hand dryer, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed at an appropriate frequency. For example, immediately after the start of use of the brush motor, the frequency of the abnormal spark detection operation is reduced, and the frequency of the abnormal spark detection operation is increased as the energization time increases and wear of the brush and the commutator progresses. This makes it possible to detect abnormal sparks at a more appropriate frequency. Further, it is possible to secure the accuracy of detecting an abnormal spark while suppressing restrictions on the user due to the occurrence of waiting time.

In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect , the control section is capable of changing an operating condition of the brush motor, and when integrating the energization time, an increment of the integrated time is set in accordance with the operating condition. It is a hand drying device characterized by performing weighting.

  According to this hand dryer, it is possible to detect abnormal sparks at a more appropriate frequency. For example, 1 second of hand drying is counted as 1 second in the strong operation mode operation, and 1 second of hand drying is counted as 0.5 second in the weak operation mode operation. This makes it possible to integrate the energization time that better reflects the degree of wear of the brush and commutator.

In a seventh aspect based on any one of the first to sixth aspects, the control unit measures a predetermined physical quantity that correlates with the occurrence of sparks in the abnormal spark detection operation, and a measured value of the physical quantity. The occurrence of the abnormal spark is detected by comparison with a predetermined reference value, and the operating condition of the brush motor can be changed in the abnormal spark detection operation, and the different reference value is applied according to the operating condition. It is a hand dryer characterized in that.

  With this hand dryer, it is possible to more appropriately detect the occurrence of abnormal sparks. When the operating conditions of the brush motor (for example, the air volume) can be changed, if a single reference value is used for detection, there is a high possibility that an abnormal spark will be erroneously detected or missed. Therefore, when the operating condition of the brush motor can be changed, the reference value is changed according to the operating condition. This can prevent erroneous detection and oversight of abnormal sparks.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is the hand drying apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further including a mode informing unit for informing execution of the abnormal spark detection operation.

  According to the hand dryer, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable even when the operation is different from the user's intention with the execution of the abnormal spark detection operation.

A ninth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to eighth aspects of the invention, a detection / notification unit is further provided for notifying that the occurrence of the abnormal spark is detected in the abnormal spark detection operation. It is a hand dryer.

  According to this hand dryer, for example, the user or the like can be made aware that the brush motor needs to be repaired.

  According to the aspects of the present invention, there is provided a hand dryer that can appropriately detect abnormal sparks regardless of operating conditions and that suppresses erroneous detection.

It is a perspective view showing the hand dryer according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the hand dryer according to the first embodiment. It is an explanatory view showing a fan motor unit concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram showing an electric constitution of a part of hand drying device concerning a 1st embodiment. FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are graphs showing an example of the operation of the abnormal spark detection unit. It is a flow chart showing an example of operation of a hand dryer concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a flow chart showing an example of operation in abnormal spark detection mode of the hand dryer according to the first embodiment. It is a flow chart showing an example of another operation of abnormal spark detection mode of a hand dryer concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart showing an example of another operation of the hand dryer according to the first embodiment. It is a graph figure showing an example of another operation of the control part concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the modification of the hand dryer concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view showing the hand dryer concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a longitudinal section showing the hand dryer concerning a 2nd embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be appropriately omitted.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hand dryer according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the hand dryer 10 includes a main body 12. The main body portion 12 has a concave hand insertion portion 14 into which a user's hand can be inserted. The hand dryer 10 is used by being attached to, for example, the wall surface of a toilet room. The hand dryer 10 detects the hand inserted into the hand insertion unit 14 and blows air on the hand inside the hand insertion unit 14. Thereby, the hand dryer 10 dries a wet hand by, for example, washing the hand after using the toilet.

  The hand insertion portion 14 opens, for example, upward. The main body 12 has, for example, an opening box shape that opens upward. Therefore, the user inserts his / her hand into the hand insertion portion 14 from above to below. The opening direction of the hand insertion portion 14 is not limited to the upper direction, and may be, for example, the front or the diagonally upper front side. The opening direction of the hand insertion portion 14 may be any direction in which the user can easily insert his / her hand.

  Further, the opening shape of the hand insertion portion 14 is horizontally long. The lateral length of the opening of the hand insertion portion 14 is longer than the length of the opening of the hand insertion portion 14 in the front-rear direction. As a result, in the hand dryer 10, the left and right hands can be inserted laterally in the hand insertion portion 14 from above. That is, the user only has to hang both hands downward and insert them into the hand insertion portion 14, and can dry the hand in a natural posture.

  The body portion 12 has a front surface portion 12a, a back surface portion 12b, and a pair of side surface portions 12c and 12d. In this example, the main body 12 has a substantially rectangular box shape. The hand insertion portion 14 is, for example, a substantially rectangular recess surrounded by the front surface portion 12a, the back surface portion 12b, and the side surface portions 12c and 12d in the front, rear, and both sides.

  The hand insertion portion 14 has an inner surface on the front surface side formed by the front surface portion 12a, an inner surface on the rear surface side formed by the back surface portion 12b, and a bottom surface continuous to the lower ends of the inner surface surfaces. Further, both side ends of each inner side surface and bottom surface are closed by each side surface portion 12c, 12d. The hand insertion portion 14 receives water droplets blown off from a wet hand on each surface.

  The shapes of the main body portion 12 and the hand insertion portion 14 are not limited to this, and may be any shape into which the hand can be inserted. For example, the side surface portions 12c and 12d may be omitted. That is, the hand insertion portion 14 may have a groove shape in which the upper side and both sides are open. As described above, the shape of the hand insertion portion 14 may be a shape in which a part other than the opening for inserting the hand is opened.

  The main body portion 12 has a plurality of outlets 15 for blowing out air into the manual insertion portion 14. Each outlet 15 is, for example, a substantially circular opening. Each of the outlets 15 is provided on the inner surface on the front surface side of the front surface portion 12a and on the inner surface on the rear surface side of the rear surface portion 12b. The outlets 15 are arranged, for example, in a substantially straight line in the lateral direction (horizontal direction) on each inner surface.

  Each of the blowout ports 15 is provided, for example, near the upper end (opening end) of each inner side face, and blows the air obliquely downward. That is, each of the outlets 15 blows water droplets toward the bottom surface side of the hand insertion portion 14. As a result, it is possible to prevent the blown water droplets from splashing on the user.

  The shape of the outlet 15 may be any shape. The number of outlets 15 may be any number. For example, one slit-shaped blowout port extending in the lateral direction may be provided in the main body 12. The air outlet may be of any shape and number that can appropriately blow air to the hand inserted into the hand insertion portion 14.

  The main body portion 12 has, for example, a pair of ventilation holes 18 provided in the side surface portions 12c and 12d. Each ventilation hole 18 allows the wind blown from each blowing hole 15 to escape to the outside of the manual insertion section 14. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent the wind containing water droplets from being folded back in the hand insertion portion 14 and heading toward the user side. In other words, it is possible to prevent the blown water droplets from heading toward the user.

  The hand dryer 10 further includes a water receiving tray 20. The water receiving tray 20 is detachably attached to, for example, the bottom of the main body 12. The main body 12 has a drain groove (not shown), and sends water drops received on each surface of the hand insertion portion 14 to the water receiving tray 20 via the drain groove. As a result, the water receiving tray 20 collects the water droplets blown off in the manual insertion section 14.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hand dryer according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the hand dryer 10 includes a suction port 22, an air passage 24, a fan motor unit 26, a heating unit 28, a hand detecting unit 30, a lighting unit 32, and an operating unit 34. , And a control unit 36.

  The suction port 22 is provided, for example, at the bottom of the main body 12. The suction port 22 is an opening for taking gas (air) into the main body 12 from the outside. The air passage 24 connects the suction port 22 and each blowing port 15. The air passage 24 is composed of, for example, a plurality of ducts, and sends the gas taken in from the suction port 22 to each blowing port 15.

  The fan motor unit 26 is provided on the path of the air passage 24. The fan motor unit 26 supplies gas to each of the outlets 15 and blows out air from each of the outlets 15. By operating the fan motor unit 26, gas is sucked from the suction port 22 and is supplied to each blowout port 15 via the air passage 24. As a result, the wind blows out from each outlet 15 according to the operation of the fan motor unit 26. The operation of the fan motor unit 26 is controlled by the control unit 36.

  The heating unit 28 is provided on the air passage 24 between the fan motor unit 26 and each outlet 15. The heating unit 28 heats the gas flowing from the fan motor unit 26 to each of the blowout ports 15 to warm the gas blown from each of the blowout ports 15. As a result, in the hand dryer 10, the warm air warmed by the heating unit 28 can be blown out from each air outlet 15. Thereby, for example, the drying performance of the user's hand can be improved. For example, it is possible to dry the user's hand in a shorter time than in the case of blowing out unheated air.

  The operation of the heating unit 28 is controlled by the control unit 36. The heating unit 28 is provided as necessary and can be omitted. The hand dryer 10 may blow out unheated air supplied from the fan motor unit 26 from the blowout ports 15. For the heating unit 28, for example, a fin heater is used. The heating unit 28 may be an arbitrary heater or the like capable of heating the gas flowing from the fan motor unit 26 to each outlet 15.

  The hand detection unit 30 detects the hand inserted in the hand insertion unit 14. The hand detection unit 30 is connected to the control unit 36. The hand detection unit 30 inputs the detection result of the hand to the control unit 36. For the hand detection unit 30, for example, a transmissive optical sensor (photo interrupter) is used. The hand detection unit 30 is not limited to this, and may be any sensor capable of detecting the hand of the user. The hand detection unit 30 may be, for example, a reflection type optical sensor, a distance measuring sensor, a pyroelectric sensor, a capacitance sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a microwave sensor, or the like.

  The illumination unit 32 illuminates the inside of the hand insertion unit 14. The illumination unit 32 illuminates the inside of the hand insertion unit 14 by irradiating light into the hand insertion unit 14 when a hand is inserted into the hand insertion unit 14, for example. The illumination unit 32 can also function as a notification unit that notifies the operating state of the hand dryer 10 by blinking in a predetermined pattern, for example. In this way, the illumination unit 32 also has a function as a notification unit. As a result, for example, the number of parts of the hand dryer 10 can be reduced, and the design of the hand dryer 10 can be prevented from being deteriorated due to the addition of the notification unit.

  The operation unit 34 is connected to the control unit 36. The operation unit 34 receives the operation of the user and inputs the operation instruction of the user to the control unit 36. The control unit 36 controls the operation of each unit of the hand dryer 10 according to the input operation instruction. The operation unit 34 is arranged at a position where it can be operated by the user and is inconspicuous, such as the bottom of the main body unit 12.

  The operation unit 34 is used, for example, to switch the operation mode of the hand dryer 10. The hand dryer 10 has, for example, a strong operation mode and a weak operation mode. The weak operation mode is an operation mode in which the amount of air blown from each outlet 15 is smaller than that in the strong operation mode.

  The operation unit 34 inputs an operation instruction for switching between the strong operation mode and the weak operation mode to the control unit 36. The control unit 36 controls the operation of the fan motor unit 26 in accordance with an operation instruction from the operation unit 34, for example, to adjust the air volume of the air blown from each blowout port 15. As a result, the hand dryer 10 switches between the strong operation mode and the weak operation mode. In other words, the operation unit 34 is a setting switch for setting each operation mode.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the fan motor unit according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 3, the fan motor unit 26 includes a fan 50, a brush motor 52, and a diffuser 54.

  The brush motor 52 rotationally drives the fan 50. The fan 50 has, for example, a plurality of blades. The fan 50 is rotatably supported by the brush motor 52 and rotates according to the operation of the brush motor 52 to generate wind. The fan 50 produces wind toward the brush motor 52 side. The fan 50 produces wind toward the upper side of the paper surface of FIG. The diffuser 54 is provided on the exhaust side of the fan 50. The diffuser 54 rectifies the flow of the gas accelerated by the fan 50 so that the gas is smoothly discharged through the brush motor 52. The gas passing through the brush motor 52 also has a function of cooling the Joule heat generated in the brush motor 52.

  The brush motor 52 has a case 60, a rotor 61, a stator 62, a commutator 63, and a brush 64. The rotor 61 has a rotating shaft 61a and a main body 61b attached to the rotating shaft 61a. A pair of bearings 65 arranged so as to sandwich the main body 61b are attached to the rotary shaft 61a. The rotor 61 is rotatably supported by the case 60 via a rotating shaft 61 a and bearings 65. As a result, the rotor 61 rotates about the rotation shaft 61a. The main body portion 61b has an iron core portion and a plurality of coil portions wound around the iron core portion.

  A plurality of stators 62 are provided. In this example, the brush motor 52 has two stators 62. The number of stators 62 may be three or more. The number of stators 62 is set according to the number of coil portions of the rotor 61, for example. Each stator 62 has, for example, an iron core portion and a coil portion wound around the iron core portion. Each stator 62 applies a magnetic field to the rotor 61 by passing a current through the coil portion.

  The commutator 63 is provided on the rotor 61. The commutator 63 has, for example, a plurality of conductive parts connected to the coil part of the rotor 61, and a plurality of insulating parts that insulate the conductive parts from each other. The number of each conductive part and each insulating part of the commutator 63 is set, for example, according to the number of coil parts of the rotor 61.

  The brush motor 52 has two brushes 64. Each brush 64 is provided in a brush holder 60a provided in the case 60, and is pressed against the commutator 63 by a spring 66. Each brush 64 contacts one of the conductive parts of the commutator 63 according to the rotation of the rotor 61. In addition, each brush 64 is connected to a power source via a wire (not shown). As a result, a current flows through the coil portion of the rotor 61 via the brushes 64 and the commutator 63, and the direction of the current flowing through the coil portion of the rotor 61 is switched according to the rotation angle of the rotor 61.

  Further, in the brush motor 52, each brush 64 is electrically connected to the coil portion of each stator 62. The coil part of the rotor 61 is connected in series with the coil part of each stator 62 via the commutator 63 and each brush 64, and is connected to the power supply via a wire (not shown).

  In the brush motor 52, an AC voltage is applied to the coil portion of the rotor 61 via the coil portion of each stator 62 and each brush 64 connected in series with these. As a result, each stator 62 is excited, a magnetic field is applied to the rotor 61, and a current flows through the coil portion of the rotor 61, depending on the direction of the magnetic field and the direction of the current of the coil portion of the rotor 61. , The rotor 61 rotates. In other words, the brush motor 52 is an AC commutator motor.

  The fan 50 is attached to one end of the rotating shaft 61 a of the rotor 61. As a result, the fan 50 also rotates according to the rotation of the rotor 61. That is, by operating the brush motor 52, gas is supplied from the fan motor unit 26 to each of the outlets 15, and the air is blown from each of the outlets 15.

  The voltage applied to the brush motor 52 is not limited to the AC voltage and may be the DC voltage. In this case, each stator 62 may be a permanent magnet. The brush motor 52 is not limited to the above-described configuration, has a commutator and a brush, and is an arbitrary motor in which the rotor rotates by passing a current through the commutator and the brush to the coil portion of the rotor. Good.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a part of the hand dryer according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, the hand dryer 10 further includes a power supply circuit 40 and a current detection unit 42. The power supply circuit 40 is connected to the controller 36 and the brush motor 52 of the fan motor unit 26, and is also connected to the external power supply 2. In this example, the power supply 2 is an AC power supply. The power supply 2 is, for example, an AC commercial power supply. The AC power of the power supply 2 is, for example, single-phase AC power. The AC power of the power supply 2 may be, for example, three-phase AC power. The power supply circuit 40 (hand dryer 10) is detachably connected to the power supply 2 via, for example, an outlet.

  The power supply circuit 40 supplies the AC power input from the power supply 2 to the brush motor 52. The operation of the power supply circuit 40 is controlled by the control unit 36. The power supply circuit 40 switches supply and stop of power to the brush motor 52 based on the control of the control unit 36. The brush motor 52 rotates the rotor 61 according to the supply of electric power from the power supply circuit 40, and stops the rotation of the rotor 61 according to the stop of the electric power supply from the power supply circuit 40. The control unit 36 controls the rotation of the brush motor 52 by controlling the operation of the power supply circuit 40.

  The power supply circuit 40 is, for example, a phase control circuit using a bidirectional thyristor (triac). The control unit 36 controls the amount of AC power supplied to the brush motor 52 by controlling the on-timing of the thyristor. The rotation speed of the brush motor 52 can be controlled by the magnitude of the AC power supplied to the brush motor 52. In other words, the volume of the air blown from each outlet 15 can be controlled by the magnitude of the AC power supplied to the brush motor 52.

  The control unit 36 switches between the strong operation mode and the weak operation mode by controlling the magnitude of the AC power supplied to the brush motor 52. For example, the on-timing of the thyristor is set to 80% in the strong operation mode, and the on-timing of the thyristor is set to 40% in the weak operation mode. As a result, the air volume in the weak operation mode can be reduced to about half that in the strong operation mode.

  The current detector 42 is connected to the controller 36. The current detection unit 42 measures the alternating current supplied from the power supply circuit 40 to the brush motor 52, and inputs the measured value to the control unit 36.

  When the brush motor 52 is a DC drive motor, the power supply circuit 40 supplies DC power to the brush motor 52, and the current detector 42 measures the DC current supplied to the brush motor 52. In this case, the power supply 2 may be a DC power supply. The AC power supplied from the power supply 2 may be converted into DC power in the power supply circuit 40.

  The control unit 36 has an abnormal spark detection unit 44. The abnormal spark detection unit 44 detects whether or not an abnormal spark has occurred from the brush motor 52 based on the measured value of the alternating current input from the current detection unit 42. More specifically, the abnormal spark detection unit 44 detects a spark generated at a sliding portion (contact portion) between the commutator 63 of the brush motor 52 and the brush 64.

  The abnormal spark is, for example, a spark that is larger than a spark that normally occurs. In other words, the abnormal spark is a spark whose emission brightness is higher than that of a normal spark. Further, the normal spark is, for example, a spark that shines at the contact boundary between the commutator and the brush. The abnormal spark is, for example, a spark that appears to continuously and greatly jump out from the contact boundary portion between the commutator and the brush. Here, “continuously” is a state in which the object is observed as if it is continuously emitting light when observed with the naked eye, and also includes the case where it blinks at a high speed so that it cannot be recognized by the naked eye. An abnormal spark is, for example, a state in which at least one of the brightness of the emitted light and the emitted time exceeds that of a normal spark.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are graphs showing an example of the operation of the abnormal spark detection unit.
FIG. 5A shows an example of the measured value of the alternating current under normal conditions (when no abnormal sparks have occurred).
FIG. 5B shows an example of the measured value of the alternating current at the time of abnormality (when an abnormal spark is generated).
FIG. 5C shows an example of the calculation result of the difference between the measured value of the AC current in the normal state and the reference waveform.
FIG. 5D shows an example of the calculation result of the difference between the measured value of the alternating current and the reference waveform at the time of abnormality.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the abnormal spark detection unit 44 calculates a difference ΔI between the measured value of the alternating current detected by the current detection unit 42 and the reference waveform of the alternating current. calculate. The abnormal spark detection unit 44 calculates the difference ΔI in a predetermined cycle, for example.

  The abnormal spark detection unit 44 stores, for example, information on the reference waveform. Alternatively, the reference waveform information stored in another storage unit or the like is read to obtain the reference waveform information from the storage unit or the like. For example, when the output is set to 100% in the phase control of the power supply circuit 40, the reference waveform corresponds to the frequency and amplitude of the AC power of the power supply 2 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. It is a sine wave.

The abnormal spark detection unit 44 sets a threshold Th _ΔI (reference value) for the difference ΔI. When a spark is generated in the brush motor 52, the alternating current flowing through the brush motor 52 changes. The fluctuation of the alternating current correlates with the size and time of the generated spark, and the larger the large spark or the spark having a longer emission time, the larger the fluctuation of the alternating current. Accordingly, the abnormality spark detection unit 44, the difference [Delta] I is determined whether the threshold Th _{[Delta] I} or more, when the difference [Delta] I is the threshold value Th _{[Delta] I} or more, for detecting the occurrence of an abnormal sparks.

  The control unit 36 executes an abnormal spark detection operation of detecting whether or not an abnormal spark is generated from the brush motor 52 when the brush motor 52 is operated under a predetermined operating condition. The control unit 36 operates the brush motor 52 under a predetermined operating condition and operates the abnormal spark detection unit 44 to detect the occurrence of an abnormal spark.

  The control unit 36 detects an abnormal spark when, for example, the output of the power supply circuit 40 (on-timing of the thyristor) is set to 100% and the brush motor 52 is operated for 1 second or longer. In this example, the predetermined operating condition is that the output of the power supply circuit 40 is 100% and the operating time of the brush motor 52 is 1 second or more, for example.

  In this way, in the abnormal spark detection operation, the voltage applied to the brush motor 52 is made higher than in the normal operation mode (strong operation mode). As a result, the rotation speed of the brush motor 52 can be increased, and the change in current between the commutator 63 and the brush 64 becomes large. Thereby, for example, an abnormal spark is likely to occur, and the detection accuracy of the abnormal spark can be improved. For example, it is possible to deal with a sign of abnormal spark generation before the adverse effect on the user such as generation of an offensive odor or black powder becomes apparent.

  Immediately after starting the operation of the brush motor 52, the contact between the commutator 63 and the brush 64 is likely to be unstable. Further, as described above, a normal spark is subdued in less than 1 second, and an abnormal spark is continued for 1 second or more. Therefore, an abnormal spark is detected after operating the brush motor 52 for a while. This can reduce the risk of false detection.

  In this example, the abnormal spark detection unit 44 is provided in the control unit 36. In other words, in this example, the abnormal spark detection unit 44 is one control block provided in the control unit 36. The abnormal spark detection unit 44 may be provided separately from the control unit 36. For example, the abnormal spark detection unit 44 provided separately from the control unit 36 may be connected to the control unit 36 and the detection result of the abnormal spark may be input to the control unit 36.

  The predetermined operating condition in the abnormal spark detection operation is not limited to the above, and may be, for example, any operating condition in which an abnormal spark is likely to occur. The method for detecting abnormal sparks is not limited to the above. For example, an integrated value of the difference ΔI per unit time may be calculated, and when the integrated value becomes equal to or larger than the reference value, the occurrence of an abnormal spark may be detected.

  In this example, the occurrence of an abnormal spark is detected based on the measured value of the alternating current. Without being limited to this, for example, the brightness of the light emitted from the brush motor 52 may be measured, and when the brightness becomes equal to or higher than a reference value, the occurrence of an abnormal spark may be detected. It is also possible to measure the ambient temperature and detect the occurrence of an abnormal spark when the temperature exceeds the reference value.

  In this way, the control unit 36 may measure a predetermined physical quantity that correlates with the occurrence of sparks in the abnormal spark detection operation, and detect the occurrence of abnormal sparks by comparing the measured value of the physical quantity with a predetermined reference value. . The physical quantity may be any physical quantity that correlates with the occurrence of a spark, such as an alternating current value, brightness, or temperature.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the hand dryer according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, when the control unit 36 of the hand dryer 10 starts its operation when the power is turned on, it first executes the abnormal spark detection mode (step S01 in FIG. 6). The abnormal spark detection mode is a mode for executing the abnormal spark detection operation. In the abnormal spark detection mode, the control unit 36 operates the brush motor 52 under the predetermined operating condition and causes the abnormal spark detection unit 44 to detect the occurrence of an abnormal spark, as described above.

  After executing the abnormal spark detection operation, the control unit 36 operates the illumination unit 32 to notify the user or the like of the execution of the abnormal spark detection operation (step S02 in FIG. 6). The control unit 36 notifies the execution of the abnormal spark detection operation by turning on the illumination unit 32 in a predetermined lighting pattern, for example. That is, in this example, the illumination unit 32 functions as a mode notification unit. The lighting pattern of the lighting unit 32 is, for example, the timing of switching between lighting and extinguishing. The lighting pattern of the lighting unit 32 may be blinking or blinking.

  Even when the abnormal spark detection operation is executed, the wind is blown out from each of the air outlets 15 along with the operation of the brush motor 52. That is, the air is blown from each of the air outlets 15 regardless of the intention of the user. Therefore, by performing the notification as described above, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable even when the operation is different from the user's intention with the execution of the abnormal spark detection operation, for example. be able to.

  The notification of the execution of the abnormal spark detection operation is not limited to the control of the lighting pattern of the illumination unit 32. For example, the notification may be performed by irradiating the illumination unit 32 with light of a color different from that in normal times. Further, the notification of the execution of the abnormal spark detection operation is not limited to the lighting of the light, and may be performed by, for example, outputting voice or displaying characters. The mode notifying unit may be, for example, a display that displays characters or patterns, a speaker that outputs voice, or the like. Further, the notification may be started immediately before the abnormal spark detection operation is executed. As a result, for example, it is possible to prevent the user from being surprised by the sudden blowing of the wind from each of the outlets 15.

  After executing the abnormal spark detection operation, the control unit 36 determines whether the abnormal spark detection unit 44 has detected the occurrence of an abnormal spark (step S03 in FIG. 6).

  When no abnormal spark is detected in the abnormal spark detection operation, the control unit 36 shifts from the abnormal spark detection mode to the normal mode (step S04 in FIG. 6). The normal mode is a mode in which the brush motor 52 is operated when the hand detector 30 detects the hand of the user. That is, the normal mode is a mode in which the user's hand is dried by blowing out air from each outlet 15 in response to the detection of the user's hand.

  When the operation in the normal mode is started, the control unit 36 determines whether or not the hand detecting unit 30 has detected the hand of the user (step S05 in FIG. 6). For example, if the user's hand is not detected for a predetermined period, the process may return to step S01 and the abnormal spark detection mode may be periodically executed.

  When the hand detector 30 detects the hand of the user, the controller 36 operates the brush motor 52 to rotate the fan 50 (“fan ON” in step S06 of FIG. 6). As a result, the control unit 36 blows air from each of the outlets 15 toward the user's hand to dry the user's hand. At this time, the control unit 36 operates the heating unit 28 as necessary to blow out warm air from each of the air outlets 15.

  Further, the control unit 36 switches the strong operation mode and the weak operation mode by controlling the operation of the power supply circuit 40 according to the operation instruction input from the operation unit 34. In other words, the control unit 36 switches the air volume of the air blown from each outlet 15 according to the operation mode set by the operation unit 34.

  As described above, the control unit 36 can change the operating condition of the brush motor 52 in the normal mode in accordance with the user's setting, and in the abnormal spark detection mode, the brush can be operated under the operating condition in which an abnormal spark is likely to occur. The motor 52 is operated. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately detect an abnormal spark in the abnormal spark detection mode.

  The control unit 36 repeats the operation of step S06 until the detection of the hand of the user by the hand detection unit 30 is stopped (step S07 of FIG. 6). That is, the control unit 36 keeps blowing air from each of the blowing ports 15 until the user's hand is not detected.

  Then, the control unit 36 stops the operation of the brush motor 52 and stops the rotation of the fan 50 in response to the stop of the detection state of the user's hand by the hand detection unit 30 (“fan of step S08 of FIG. 6”. OFF ").

  On the other hand, when the abnormal spark generation is detected in the abnormal spark detection operation, the control unit 36 notifies the user or the like that the abnormal spark generation has been detected (step S09 in FIG. 6). The control unit 36, for example, controls the operation of the illumination unit 32 and lights the illumination unit 32 in a lighting pattern different from the notification of the execution of the abnormal spark detection operation to notify the detection of the abnormal spark. That is, in this example, the illumination unit 32 also functions as a detection notification unit. In this way, by notifying the detection of the abnormal spark, for example, the user or the like can be made aware that the brush motor 52 needs to be repaired. The notification of the abnormal spark detection is not limited to the above, and may be performed by outputting voice or displaying characters.

  Further, when detecting the occurrence of an abnormal spark, the control unit 36 stops the operation and prevents the user from performing a hand drying action (step S10 in FIG. 6). In other words, the control unit 36 does not shift to the normal mode when an abnormal spark is detected.

  When an abnormal spark is generated between the commutator 63 and the brush 64, the temperature of the air blown from each air outlet 15 becomes higher than necessary, or the powder (black powder) of the brush 64 blows out with the air. , It starts to smell burnt. Since such an event makes the user feel uneasy, it is preferable to stop the operation of the apparatus and notify the user so as to prompt the replacement or repair of the brush motor 52.

  On the other hand, if an abnormal spark is detected and the operation is completely stopped, the user may feel inconvenient. Therefore, when the occurrence of an abnormal spark is detected, for example, the brush motor 52 may be operated under an operating condition such as a weak operating mode in which the rotation speed is lower than in the normal time. As a result, for example, it is possible to reduce the inconvenience during the replacement and repair of the brush motor 52 while suppressing the adverse effect caused by the abnormal spark generation.

  In this way, the hand dryer 10 according to the present embodiment executes the abnormal spark detection operation. As a result, an abnormal spark can be appropriately detected without being affected by operating conditions such as one-time use time and operating mode. Further, it is possible to set an appropriate reference value according to a predetermined operating condition, and it is possible to suppress erroneous detection of abnormal spark occurrence.

  In the hand dryer 10, the abnormal spark detection mode for executing the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed separately from the normal mode. As a result, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed without being affected by the driving conditions associated with the normal use of the user. For example, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed under the optimum operating condition, and the accuracy of detecting the abnormal spark can be improved. In addition, the risk of erroneous detection can be further reduced by detecting abnormal sparks after the brush motor 52 has been operating for a while.

  The abnormal spark detection operation may be executed in the normal mode operation without dividing the normal mode and the abnormal spark detection mode. For example, the abnormal spark detection operation may be executed when a predetermined driving condition is met, such as when the strong driving mode is set and the user is drying the hand for 1 second or longer. For example, when the usage time for one time is less than the predetermined time, the operation of the brush motor 52 is extended to the predetermined time even after the hand is not detected, so that the hand is dried every time. The abnormal spark detection operation may be executed.

FIG. 7: is a flowchart showing an example of operation | movement of the abnormal spark detection mode of the hand dryer which concerns on 1st Embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 36 of the hand dryer 10 integrates and stores the number of energizations to the brush motor 52 (step S21 in FIG. 7). At this time, the control unit 36 weights the increment of the number of integrations according to the operating conditions of the brush motor 52. For example, the control unit 36 counts one hand drying as one in the strong driving mode operation, and counts one hand drying as 0.5 in the weak driving mode driving.

  For example, in the strong operation mode, the commutator 63 and the brush 64 are more likely to be worn than in the weak operation mode. That is, under operating conditions in which the rotation speed of the brush motor 52 and the current value input to the brush motor 52 are high, the commutator 63 and the brush 64 are more likely to wear than in operating conditions in which the rotation speed and the current value are low. Therefore, by weighting as described above, it becomes possible to integrate the number of energizations that better reflects the degree of wear of the commutator 63 and the brush 64. The process of integrating the number of energizations of the brush motor 52 and the process of weighting may be performed as the process of the abnormal spark detection mode as shown in FIG. 7, or may be performed every time the brush motor 52 is energized in the normal mode. May be.

  In the abnormal spark detection mode, the control unit 36 determines, for example, whether or not the cumulative number of energizations to the brush motor 52 has reached a predetermined cumulative number. For example, the control unit 36 determines whether or not the number of times of integration has reached 420,000 counts (step S22 in FIG. 7).

  When the control unit 36 determines that the count has not reached 420,000, the control unit 36 shifts to the normal mode operation (step 04 in FIG. 6) without performing the abnormal spark detection operation (step S23 in FIG. 7).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 36 determines that the count has reached 420,000 counts, it subsequently determines whether or not the number of integrations has reached 700,000 counts (step S24 in FIG. 7). When the control unit 36 determines that the count has not reached 700,000, it performs the abnormal spark detection operation once a week (step S25 in FIG. 7). That is, the control unit 36 performs the abnormal spark detection operation once a week when the number of times of integration is 420,000 or more and less than 700,000.

  On the other hand, if the control unit 36 determines that the count has reached 700,000, then it determines whether or not the number of integrations has reached 900,000 (step S26 in FIG. 7). When the control unit 36 determines that the count has not reached 900,000, it performs the abnormal spark detection operation once a day (step S27 in FIG. 7). That is, the control unit 36 performs the abnormal spark detection operation once a day when the number of times of integration is 700,000 or more and less than 900,000.

  When the control unit 36 determines that the count has reached 900,000, the same process is repeated, and the frequency of the abnormal spark detection operation increases as the number of times of energization increases. Further, for example, when the life is set to the number of energizations of the brush motor 52, the operation may be stopped at the end of the life, and a notification may be given to replace the brush motor 52.

  In this way, the control unit 36 integrates the number of energizations to the brush motor 52, and changes the frequency of executing the abnormal spark detection operation when the number of energizations reaches a predetermined number of integrations. For example, the control unit 36 increases the frequency of execution of the abnormal spark detection operation according to the increase in the number of times of energization. Thereby, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed at an appropriate frequency. For example, immediately after the brush motor 52 is started to be used, the frequency of the abnormal spark detection operation is decreased, and the frequency of the abnormal spark detection operation is increased as the number of energizations increases and the commutator 63 and the brush 64 wear. This makes it possible to detect abnormal sparks at a more appropriate frequency.

  Further, at this time, the abnormal spark can be detected at a more appropriate frequency by weighting the increment of the number of times of integration according to the operating condition. It is not always necessary to weight the increment of the number of times of integration. The control unit 36 may integrate the number of times of energization each time the brush motor 52 is energized regardless of the operating conditions. The control unit 36 resets the cumulative number of times of energization, for example, when the brush motor 52 is replaced or repaired. Further, for example, when a storage unit for storing the number of times of integration is provided separately from the control unit 36, and the number of times of integration is not reset even when the control unit 36 is replaced, the operation of the control unit 36 after replacement is performed. It is preferable that they be handed over.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of another operation in the abnormal spark detection mode of the hand dryer according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 8, in this example, the control unit 36 integrates and stores the energization time to the brush motor 52 (step S41 in FIG. 8). At this time, the control unit 36 weights the increment of the integration time according to the operating conditions of the brush motor 52. For example, the control unit 36 counts one second of hand drying in the strong driving mode operation as one second, and counts one second of the hand drying as 0.5 seconds in the weak driving mode driving. This makes it possible to integrate the number of energizations that better reflects the degree of wear of the commutator 63 and the brush 64. The energization time of the brush motor 52 and the weighting process may be performed each time the brush motor 52 is energized in the normal mode.

  In this example, the control unit 36 determines whether the cumulative time of energization of the brush motor 52 has reached a predetermined cumulative time. The control unit 36 determines, for example, whether the accumulated time has reached 4.2 million seconds (step S42 in FIG. 8).

  When the control unit 36 determines that it has not reached 4.2 million seconds, it shifts to the normal mode operation (step 04 in FIG. 6) without performing the abnormal spark detection operation (step S43 in FIG. 8).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 36 determines that it has reached 4.2 million seconds, it subsequently determines whether or not the integrated time has reached 7 million seconds (step S44 in FIG. 8). When the control unit 36 determines that it has not reached 7 million seconds, the control unit 36 performs the abnormal spark detection operation once a week (step S45 in FIG. 8). That is, the control unit 36 performs the abnormal spark detection operation once a week when the accumulated time is 4.2 million seconds or more and less than 7 million seconds.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 36 determines that it has reached 7 million seconds, it subsequently determines whether or not the integrated time has reached 900,000 seconds (step S46 in FIG. 8). When the control unit 36 determines that it has not reached 9 million seconds, it performs the abnormal spark detection operation once a day (step S47 in FIG. 8). That is, the control unit 36 performs the abnormal spark detection operation once a day when the integrated time is 7 million seconds or more and less than 9 million seconds.

  When the control unit 36 determines that it has reached 9 million seconds, the same process is repeated, and the frequency of the abnormal spark detection operation increases as the energization time increases. Further, for example, when the life is set to the energization time of the brush motor 52, the operation may be stopped at the end of the life, and a notification may be given to replace the brush motor 52.

  In this way, the control unit 36 integrates the energization time to the brush motor 52, and changes the frequency of executing the abnormal spark detection operation when the energization time reaches a predetermined integration time. The control unit 36 increases the frequency of execution of the abnormal spark detection operation, for example, according to the increase of the energization time. Thereby, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed at an appropriate frequency.

  Further, at this time, by weighting the increment of the integration time according to the operating conditions, it is possible to detect abnormal sparks at a more appropriate frequency. It is not always necessary to weight the increment of the integration time. The control unit 36 may integrate the energization time each time the brush motor 52 is energized regardless of the operating conditions. The control unit 36 resets the cumulative time of the energization time when, for example, the brush motor 52 is replaced or repaired. Further, for example, if a storage unit that stores the accumulated time is provided separately from the control unit 36 and the control unit 36 is replaced, the accumulated time is not reset and the operation of the control unit 36 after the replacement is performed. It is preferable that they be handed over.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of another operation of the hand dryer according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a graph showing an example of another operation of the control unit according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 9, in this example, the control unit 36 determines whether the hand detection unit 30 has detected the hand of the user (step S61 of FIG. 9). When determining that the hand is detected, the control unit 36 subsequently determines whether or not the strong operation mode is set (step S62 in FIG. 9).

  When determining that the strong operation mode is set, the control unit 36 controls the operation of the power supply circuit 40 and operates the brush motor 52 to rotate the fan 50 at the rotation speed in the strong operation mode (FIG. 9). Step S63).

When the operation of the brush motor 52 is started, the control unit 36 operates the abnormal spark detection unit 44 to execute the abnormal spark detection operation (step S64 in FIG. 9). As illustrated in FIG. 10, the abnormal spark detection unit 44 sets the first threshold Th _ΔI 1 (first reference value) for the difference ΔI when the strong operation mode is set. Abnormal spark detection unit 44, the difference [Delta] I is determined whether or not the first threshold value Th _{[Delta] I 1} or more, when the difference [Delta] I is the first threshold value Th _{[Delta] I 1} or more, for detecting the occurrence of an abnormal sparks.

  The control unit 36 stops the operation of the brush motor 52 and stops the rotation of the fan 50 in response to the stop of the detection state of the user's hand by the hand detection unit 30 (steps S65 and S66 in FIG. 9). When the occurrence of an abnormal spark is detected in the abnormal spark detection operation, the control unit 36 notifies the user and stops the operation, as in the above embodiment. In this case, the operation may be stopped immediately in response to the detection of an abnormal spark, or the operation may be stopped after the hand of the user in use has finished drying (after non-detection of the hand). May be.

  When determining that the weak operation mode is set in step S62, the control unit 36 controls the operation of the power supply circuit 40 and operates the brush motor 52 to rotate the fan 50 at the rotation speed in the weak operation mode. (Step S67 of FIG. 9).

When the operation of the brush motor 52 is started, the control unit 36 operates the abnormal spark detection unit 44 to execute the abnormal spark detection operation (step S68 in FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 10, the abnormal spark detection unit 44 sets a second threshold Th _ΔI 2 (second reference value) for the difference ΔI when the weak operation mode is set. The second threshold Th _ΔI 2 is lower than the first threshold Th _ΔI 1. The first threshold Th _ΔI 1 is a threshold corresponding to the rotation speed in the strong driving mode, and the second threshold Th _ΔI 2 is a threshold corresponding to the rotation speed in the weak driving mode. Abnormal spark detection unit 44, the difference [Delta] I is determined whether the second threshold value Th _{[Delta] I 2} or more, when the difference [Delta] I is the second threshold value Th _{[Delta] I 2} or more, for detecting the occurrence of an abnormal sparks.

  The control unit 36 stops the operation of the brush motor 52 and stops the rotation of the fan 50 in response to the stop of the detection state of the user's hand by the hand detection unit 30 (steps S69 and S70 in FIG. 9). When the occurrence of an abnormal spark is detected in the abnormal spark detection operation, the control unit 36 notifies the user and stops the operation, as in the above embodiment.

  As described above, in this example, the control unit 36 measures a predetermined physical quantity (for example, a current value) that correlates with the occurrence of a spark in the abnormal spark detection operation, and compares the measured value of the physical quantity with a predetermined reference value to determine the abnormality. In addition to detecting the occurrence of various sparks, the operating conditions of the brush motor can be changed in the abnormal spark detection operation, and different reference values are applied according to the operating conditions.

  Thereby, for example, the occurrence of an abnormal spark can be detected more appropriately. For example, when it is possible to change the operating conditions (for example, the air volume) of the brush motor 52 such as the strong operation mode and the weak operation mode in the normal mode, if an attempt is made to detect with a single reference value, an abnormal spark error will occur. The probability of detection and overlooking increases. Therefore, when the operating condition of the brush motor 52 can be changed, the reference value is changed according to the operating condition. This can prevent erroneous detection and oversight of abnormal sparks.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a modified example of the hand dryer according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 11, the hand dryer 100 further includes a rotation speed detection unit 102 and a damper 104.

  The rotation speed detection unit 102 detects the rotation speed of the brush motor 52. The rotation speed detection unit 102 is connected to the control unit 36. The rotation speed detection unit 102 inputs the detection result of the rotation speed to the control unit 36. The rotation speed detection unit 102 is, for example, an encoder. The control unit 36 controls the rotation of the brush motor 52 based on the detection result of the rotation speed detection unit 102 so that the rotation speed becomes substantially constant. The method of detecting the rotation speed is not limited to the above, and any method may be used. For example, the rotation speed of the brush motor 52 may be detected based on a signal input to the brush motor 52 (power supply circuit 40). In this case, the rotation speed detection unit 102 may be provided as a functional block in the control unit 36, for example.

  The damper 104 is provided on the path of the air passage 24 between each outlet 15 and the inlet 22. The damper 104 opens and closes at least a part of the air passage 24 to change the flow rate of the gas flowing through the air passage 24. In other words, the damper 104 changes the pressure loss of the air passage 24. The damper 104 is connected to the control unit 36. The opening and closing of the damper 104 is controlled by the control unit 36.

  For example, in the normal mode, the control unit 36 closes the damper 104 to increase the pressure loss of the air passage 24, and in the abnormal spark detection mode, opens the damper 104 to widen the air passage 24 to reduce the pressure loss. Let When the pressure loss in the air passage 24 is reduced, the air volume increases, but since the rotation speed is kept constant, a high voltage is applied to the brush motor 52 as a result. Thereby, for example, in the abnormal spark detection operation, an abnormal spark can be more easily generated. In the abnormal spark detection operation, it is possible to easily set the operating condition in which abnormal spark is likely to occur.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a hand dryer according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the hand dryer according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the hand dryer 200 includes a main body 202. The main body 202 has a function part 204, a water receiving part 206 provided below the function part 204, and a hand insertion part 208 provided between the function part 204 and the water receiving part 206. The hand dryer 200 is installed in a toilet room or the like, for example, with its back surface abutting against a wall surface of the toilet room or the like.

  The hand insertion portion 208 has a concave shape that allows the user's hand to be inserted. In this example, the hand insertion portion 208 has a groove shape that is open in the front and left and right directions. Therefore, in the hand dryer 200, the hand is inserted into the hand insertion portion 208 from the front to the rear (wall side).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the functional unit 204 includes a first case 210 that forms a space therein, an inner case 212 provided in the first case 210, and a fan motor unit provided in the inner case 212. 214 and a heater 216.

  Further, inside the first case 210, a hand detector 220 and a controller 222 are provided below the inner case 212, and a nozzle member 224 is provided below the inner case 212. Further, a temperature sensor 226 is arranged so as to be inserted inside the nozzle member 224.

  The fan motor unit 214 has a brush motor 230 arranged inside and a fan (not shown) connected to the output shaft of the brush motor 230. The brush motor 230 is an electric motor driven by being supplied with electric power, and the supply of this electric power is controlled by the control unit 222. Further, the brush motor 230 sucks air from the blower inlet 232 and takes in the air by rotating the fan via the output shaft thereof. The taken-in air flows to the brush motor 230 side and is blown to the outside from a blower outlet 234 provided outside thereof.

  The hand detection unit 220 is a sensor for detecting that the user's hand has been inserted into the hand insertion unit 208. The hand detection unit 220, for example, irradiates the hand insertion unit 208 with infrared rays and, when the user's hand is inserted into the hand insertion unit 208, receives the infrared rays reflected by the user's hand. Then, the hand of the user is detected. The hand detection unit 220 is, for example, a distance measuring sensor that detects the hand of the user according to the distance of the reflection target that reflects infrared rays. When detecting the insertion of the user's hand, the hand detection unit transmits a hand detection signal to the control unit 222.

  The nozzle member 224 is connected to the inner case outlet 212a at the lower end of the inner case 212 so that the insides thereof communicate with each other. A slit-shaped outlet 224a is provided at the lower end of the nozzle member 224, and is exposed from the lower surface of the first case 210 into the manual insertion portion 208. Further, the nozzle member 224 is formed such that the inner cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases from the upper end to the lower end. A temperature sensor 226 is inserted into the nozzle member 224 from the outside so that the temperature of the air can be detected.

  The heater 216 is provided in the vicinity of the inner case outlet 212a and is configured so that the air flowing from the inner case outlet 212a into the nozzle member 224 can pass through the inside. Further, the heater 216 is supplied with electric power to generate heat, and can heat the air passing through the inside by heat transfer. The supply of this electric power is controlled by the control unit 222. The larger the electric power supplied, the larger the output of the heater 216 and the higher the temperature of the passing air.

  The water receiving portion 206 includes a second case 240 integrally formed of a resin material, and a water receiving tray 250 arranged below the second case 240. The second case 240 has a back plate 241 extending along the wall surface and a bottom plate 242 extending forward from the lower end of the back plate 241. Further, side plates 243 are provided on both sides and front ends of the back plate 241 and the bottom plate 242 so as to be continuous and project forward or upward. The second case 240 configured in this way and the lower surface of the first case 210 define a hand insertion portion 208 whose front surface and left and right side surfaces are open. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the bottom plate 242 is provided with a drain hole 260 penetrating in the vertical direction. The water discharged downward from the drain holes 260 is configured to be stored in the water receiving tray 250 arranged below the bottom plate 242.

  When power is supplied to the hand dryer 200, the hand detection unit 220 irradiates the inside of the hand insertion unit 208 with infrared rays and waits for insertion of the user's hand. Then, when the wet hand of the user is inserted into the hand insertion unit 208 and the hand detection unit 220 detects it, the hand detection unit 220 transmits a hand detection signal to the control unit 222. Upon receiving the hand detection signal, the control unit 222 starts supplying power to the brush motor 230 and the heater 216, and starts driving and outputting them.

  When the brush motor 230 starts driving, a fan (not shown) connected to its output shaft starts rotating. By the rotation of the fan, air is sucked in as indicated by an arrow Fa from the first suction port 261 and the second suction port 262 respectively provided on the side surfaces of the functional unit 204 and the water receiving unit 206 near the rear surface.

  The air sucked from the first suction port 261 and the second suction port 262 is formed by the first rear air passage 271 formed by the back surface and the wall surface of the functional portion 204 and the back surface and the wall surface of the water receiving portion 206, respectively. The second rear air passage 272 flows toward the filter member 280 provided on the lower portion of the rear surface of the functional unit 204. The filter member 280 is a mesh-shaped member through which air can pass, and is configured to be able to remove foreign matter contained in the air when passing through.

  The air passing through the filter member 280 from the wall surface side to the front side changes its flow direction to the upward direction as shown by an arrow Fb, and flows into the intake duct 281 provided downstream. Then, the air flows in the intake duct 281, changes the direction of the flow from the inner case inlet 212b opened toward the wall surface W side to the front as shown by the arrow Fc, and flows into the inner case 212.

  A fan motor unit 214 is housed in the inner case 212 with its blower inlet 232 facing the inner case inlet 212b. The air that has passed through the inner case inlet 212b and has flowed into the fan motor unit 214 from the blower inlet 232 reaches the vicinity of the brush motor 230. Since the brush motor 230 that is driven by being supplied with electric power generates Joule heat in its winding or the like, the air flowing near the brush motor 230 is heated and the temperature thereof rises. The heated air is blown out from the blower outlet 234 as shown by the arrow Fd.

  The air blown from the blower outlet 234 flows between the fan motor unit 214 and the inner case 212 and reaches the lower inner case outlet 212a. As described above, the heater 216 is disposed near the inner case outlet 212a, and the air passes through the inside of the heater 216 and further flows to the upper end of the nozzle member 224 below. Since the heater 216 is supplied with electric power and generates heat, the passing air is heated by heat transfer, further rises in temperature, and flows into the nozzle member 224. At this time, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 226 is the temperature of the air heated by the brush motor 230 and the heater 216 and flowing into the nozzle member 224.

  As described above, the nozzle member 224 is formed so that the internal cross-sectional area thereof gradually decreases from the upper end to the lower end. Therefore, the air that has flown in from the upper end of the nozzle member 224 accelerates toward the lower end while accelerating, and blows out from the outlet 224a into the manual insertion portion 208 as indicated by the arrow Fe. The water droplets attached to the wet hand (not shown) of the user inserted into the hand insertion portion 208 are blown off by the air blown out from the outlet 224a. As a result, the wet hand of the user inserted into the hand insertion portion 208 is dried.

  In the hand dryer 200 configured as described above, the abnormal spark detection operation can be executed. Accordingly, similar to each of the above-described embodiments, an abnormal spark can be appropriately detected without being affected by operating conditions such as one-time use time and operating mode. Further, it is possible to set an appropriate reference value according to a predetermined operating condition, and it is possible to suppress erroneous detection of abnormal spark occurrence.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. With respect to the above-described embodiments, those to which a person skilled in the art has appropriately changed the design are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the features of the present invention. For example, the shape, size, material, arrangement, etc. of each element included in the hand dryer 10, 100, 200, etc. are not limited to those illustrated and can be appropriately changed.
In addition, each element included in each of the embodiments described above can be combined as far as technically possible, and a combination of these elements is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the features of the present invention.

  10, 100, 200 hand dryer, 12 main body part, 14 hand insertion part, 15 outlet, 18 vent, 20 water tray, 22 suction port, 24 air passage, 26 fan motor unit, 28 heating part, 30 hand Detection unit, 32 illumination unit, 34 operation unit, 36 control unit, 40 power supply circuit, 42 current detection unit, 44 abnormal spark detection unit, 50 fan, 52 brush motor, 54 diffuser, 60 case, 61 rotor, 62 stator , 63 commutator, 64 brush, 65 bearing, 66 spring, 102 rotation speed detecting section, 104 damper, 202 main body section, 204 functional section, 206 water receiving section, 208 hand insertion section, 210 first case, 212 inner case, 214 fan motor unit, 216 heater, 220 hand detector, 222 Control unit, 224 nozzle member, 226 temperature sensor, 230 brush motor, 232 blower inlet, 234 blower outlet, 240 second case, 241 back plate, 242 bottom plate, 243 side plate, 250 water receiving tray, 260 drain hole, 261 1st Suction port, 262 Second suction port, 271 First rear air passage, 272 Second rear air passage, 280 filter member, 281 Air intake duct

Claims (9)

A hand detector that detects the user's hand,
A fan motor unit that includes a fan and a brush motor that rotationally drives the fan, and that rotates the fan to supply air to an outlet for blowing air to a user's hand;
A control unit that controls the operation of the brush motor according to the detection result of the hand detection unit;
Equipped with
Wherein, when operating the brush motor at a predetermined operating condition, said executable der abnormal spark detection operation abnormal spark from the brush motor to detect whether or not occur is, the hand detecting portion Has a normal mode for operating the brush motor when detecting the hand of the user, and an abnormal spark detection mode for performing the abnormal spark detection operation, and the abnormal spark detection mode separate from the normal mode A hand dryer which is capable of performing . In the normal mode, the control unit can change the operating condition of the brush motor according to the setting of the user, and in the abnormal spark detection mode, the brush is operated under an operating condition in which the abnormal spark is likely to occur. The hand dryer according to claim 1 , wherein a motor is operated. The control unit integrates the number of times of energization to the brush motor, wherein when the current count reaches a predetermined number of integrations, claim 1, characterized in that to change the frequency of executing the abnormality spark detection operation or 2. The hand dryer according to 2 . Wherein the control unit, the can vary the operating conditions of the brush motor, when integrating the number of times of energization, according to claim 3, characterized in that for weighting the increment of the number of integrations in accordance with the operating conditions Hand dryer. The control unit integrates the energizing time to the brush motor, wherein when the current time reaches a predetermined integration time, according to claim 1, characterized in that to change the frequency of executing the abnormality spark detection operation or 2. The hand dryer according to 2 . Wherein the control unit, the can vary the operating conditions of the brush motor, when integrating the energization time, according to claim 5, characterized in that for weighting the increment of the integration time depending on the operating conditions Hand dryer. The control unit measures a predetermined physical quantity that correlates with the occurrence of sparks in the abnormal spark detection operation, and detects the occurrence of the abnormal spark by comparing the measured value of the physical quantity with a predetermined reference value, and 7. The hand drying according to claim 1 , wherein an operating condition of the brush motor can be changed in the abnormal spark detection operation, and the different reference value is applied according to the operating condition. apparatus. The hand dryer according to claim 1 , further comprising a mode notification unit that notifies execution of the abnormal spark detection operation. 9. The hand dryer according to claim 1 , further comprising a detection notification unit that notifies that the abnormal spark has been detected in the abnormal spark detection operation.

Images