JP6696515B2 - Dehumidifier - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dehumidifier.

  Patent Literature 1 describes a clothes dryer having a light-emitting body as an example of a dehumidifier that blows dry air. In Patent Document 1, the light emitter irradiates light in a direction in which dry air is blown out. Thereby, the user can recognize the direction in which the dry air is blown.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-188188

  In Patent Document 1, the user cannot arbitrarily change the direction in which the dry air is blown. In Patent Document 1, the user needs to move the object to which the dry air is sent according to the direction in which the dry air is blown from the clothes dryer.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to obtain a dehumidifier that allows a user to more easily recognize the direction in which dry air is blown, and can more easily change the direction in which dry air is blown to any direction. is there.

The dehumidifier according to the present invention has a housing having a blowout port, a dehumidifying means provided inside the housing to remove moisture in the air, and a dry air outlet from which moisture has been removed by the dehumidifying means. From the air outlet, the wind direction determining means that determines the direction in which the dry air is blown from the air outlet, the operating means that sends the operation instruction, and the operation direction when the operation instruction is received from the operating means A control means for changing the direction in which the dry air is blown from the air outlet and an irradiation means for irradiating the visible light in the direction in which the dry air is blown from the air outlet are provided.
The irradiating means has a light source for irradiating visible light, and a dividing means for dividing the visible light emitted by the light source into first visible light and second visible light. The illuminated area has a higher illuminance than the area illuminated by the second visible light, and is located inside the area illuminated by the second visible light .

  The dehumidifier according to the present invention, when receiving an operation instruction from the operation means, moves the wind direction determination means to change the direction in which the dry air is blown out from the air outlet, and the direction in which the dry air is blown out from the air outlet. An irradiating means for irradiating visible light to the. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a dehumidifier that allows the user to more easily recognize the direction in which the dry air is blown out and can easily change the direction in which the dry air is blown out to an arbitrary direction.

It is a perspective view showing the appearance of the dehumidifier of the first embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the structure of the dehumidifier of the first embodiment. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the wind direction changing unit according to the first embodiment. 3 is a diagram of the sensor unit according to the first embodiment as viewed from the front. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the sensor unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control device according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the dehumidifier of Embodiment 1. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the dehumidifier of Embodiment 2. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the dehumidifier of Embodiment 3. It is a figure which shows the modification of the dehumidifier of Embodiment 3.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or corresponding portions in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be simplified or omitted.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the dehumidifier 100 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the structure of the dehumidifier 100 of the first embodiment. Here, the left-right direction on the paper surface in FIG. 2 is the front-back direction of the dehumidifier 100. The vertical direction on the paper surface in FIG. 2 is the vertical direction of the dehumidifier 100. That is, in FIG. 2, the front side of the paper surface is the left side of the dehumidifier 100. In FIG. 2, the depth direction of the paper surface is the right direction of the dehumidifier 100.

  The dehumidifier 100 includes a housing 1. The housing 1 is a portion that serves as an outer shell of the dehumidifier 100. The housing 1 is formed, for example, in a vertically long box-like shape that can stand by itself. Further, the dehumidifier 100 may include the wheels 2, for example. The wheel 2 is provided on the bottom of the housing 1 as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The wheels 2 allow the dehumidifier 100 to move.

  A suction port 3 is formed in the housing 1. The suction port 3 is an opening for taking in air into the housing 1. The suction port 3 is formed on the rear surface of the housing 1, for example. Further, an outlet 4 is formed in the housing 1. The air outlet 4 is an opening for blowing air from the inside of the housing 1 to the outside. The air outlet 4 is formed, for example, in the upper part of the front surface of the housing 1. The shape of the air outlet 4 is, for example, a rectangular shape extending in the left-right direction of the housing 1.

  An air passage 5 is formed inside the housing 1. The air passage 5 is a space that extends from the suction port 3 to the air outlet 4. Further, the dehumidifier 100 includes a blower fan 6a and a fan motor 6 as an example of blowing means. The blower fan 6a is a fan that generates an air flow in the air passage 5 from the suction port 3 to the air outlet 4. The fan motor 6 is connected to the blower fan 6a. The fan motor 6 is a motor that rotates the blower fan 6a.

  The blower fan 6a and the fan motor 6 are provided inside the housing 1, for example, as shown in FIG. The blower fan 6a is arranged in the air passage 5. In the air passage 5 of the present embodiment, air flows from the suction port 3 toward the air outlet 4 by the blower fan 6a. Air is blown out from the air outlet 4 by the blower fan 6a. Here, in the air passage 5, the side having the suction port 3 is the upstream side, and the side having the air outlet 4 is the downstream side. That is, in this embodiment, the air flows in the air passage 5 from the upstream side to the downstream side.

  The dehumidifier 100 includes a dehumidifying unit 7 as an example of a dehumidifying unit that removes water contained in the air. The dehumidifying unit 7 is, for example, a device that condenses moisture in the air. The dehumidifying section 7 discharges condensed water. As an example, the dehumidifying unit 7 drops condensed water as liquid water downward. The dehumidifying section 7 removes moisture in the air, that is, dehumidifies the air. The air dehumidified by the dehumidifying section 7 becomes dry air.

  The dehumidifying unit 7 is a device that uses, for example, a heat pump circuit. The dehumidifying unit 7 condenses water in the air by, for example, an evaporator in a heat pump circuit. Further, the dehumidifying unit 7 may be, for example, a desiccant type device. The desiccant type device has an adsorbent that adsorbs moisture in the air and a heat exchanger. The water adsorbed on the adsorbent is condensed by the heat exchanger.

  The dehumidifying unit 7 is provided inside the housing 1, for example. The dehumidifying section 7 is arranged in the air passage 5. As an example, the dehumidifying section 7 is arranged between the suction port 3 and the blower fan 6a. That is, the dehumidifying section 7 of this embodiment is arranged on the upstream side of the blower fan 6a. In the present embodiment, the suction port 3, the dehumidifying section 7, the blower fan 6a, and the blowout port 4 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side.

  The dehumidifier 100 includes a water storage section 8. The water storage section 8 is a section for storing the water discharged by the dehumidification section 7. The water storage unit 8 is a container having an open top, as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The water storage section 8 is provided inside the housing 1 and below the dehumidification section 7. Further, the water storage unit 8 is provided, for example, detachably from the housing 1. The water storage unit 8 receives the water dropped from the dehumidification unit 7 from the opening on the upper side and stores it.

  The dehumidifier 100 may also include the filter 9. The filter 9 is provided inside the housing 1, for example. The filter 9 is provided so as to cover the suction port 3 from the inside of the housing 1. The filter 9 prevents dust from entering the housing 1.

  The dehumidifier 100 includes a wind direction changing unit 10. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the wind direction changing unit 10 according to the first embodiment. The up, down, left, and right directions on the paper surface of FIG. 3 correspond to the up, down, left, and right directions of the dehumidifier 100 of the present embodiment.

  The wind direction changing unit 10 is a part that determines the direction in which air is blown out from the air outlet 4. The direction in which the air is blown out from the blowout port 4 is hereinafter referred to as the blowout direction. The blowing direction is changed by the movement of the wind direction changing unit 10. The wind direction changing unit 10 is arranged, for example, near the air outlet 4. The wind direction changing unit 10 is an example of a wind direction determining unit.

  The wind direction changing unit 10 has a vertical louver 11 as an example of a first changing unit, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, for example. The vertical louver 11 is formed in a shape that matches the shape of the outlet 4, for example. The vertical louver 11 of the present embodiment is a rectangular frame-shaped portion that extends in the left-right direction of the housing 1. As shown in FIG. 3 as an example, the vertical louver 11 has three plate-shaped portions extending in the horizontal direction. The vertical louver 11 has, for example, a rectangular opening extending in the horizontal direction. The vertical louver 11 is formed so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis.

  The wind direction changing unit 10 has a first motor 12 for moving the vertical louver 11. The first motor 12 is provided inside the housing 1, for example. The first motor 12 rotates the vertical louver 11 via, for example, the gear 12a, the gear 12b, and the gear 12c. When the vertical louver 11 rotates, the orientation of the opening of the vertical louver 11 is changed within a plane perpendicular to the horizontal axis. As a result, the blowing direction is changed to the vertical direction.

  Further, the wind direction changing unit 10 has a left-right louver 13 as an example of a second changing unit, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, for example. The left-right louver 13 has a plate-shaped portion extending in the up-down direction. The left-right direction louver 13 has, for example, six plate-shaped portions extending in the vertical direction. The six plate-shaped portions extending in the vertical direction are arranged at equal intervals, for example. The left-right louver 13 is formed so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. The left-right louver 13 is arranged inside the up-down louver 11, for example. The up-down louver 11 and the left-right louver 13 are arranged such that the central positions in the left-right direction coincide with each other.

  The wind direction changing unit 10 has a second motor 14 for moving the left and right louvers 13. The second motor 14 is provided inside the housing 1, for example. The wind direction changing unit 10 also has a link 15. The link 15 is connected to, for example, the rear part of the left-right louver 13. The link 15 is connected to the second motor 14. That is, the left-right louver 13 and the second motor 14 are connected via the link 15. When the second motor 14 is driven, the left-right louver 13 is rotated via the link 15. The blowing direction is changed to the left-right direction by rotating the left-right louver 13 about the vertical axis.

  The left-right louver 13 is formed so as to be rotatable about a left-right axis. The link 15 is connected to the vertical louver 11. When the vertical louver 11 moves, the link 15 moves together with the vertical louver 11. When the link 15 moves, the left-right louver 13 moves together with the link 15. That is, the horizontal louver 13 moves together with the vertical louver 11 when the vertical louver 11 moves. The horizontal louver 13 moves in the same direction as the vertical louver 11 moves.

  The dehumidifier 100 includes a sensor unit 16. The sensor unit 16 is arranged, for example, inside the vertical louver 11. The sensor unit 16 is arranged, for example, at a central position in the horizontal direction of the vertical louver 11.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the sensor unit 16 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of the sensor unit 16 according to the first embodiment. The front direction of the paper surface of FIG. 4 is defined as the front direction of the sensor unit 16. The vertical direction on the paper surface of FIG. 4 is the vertical direction of the sensor unit 16. In FIG. 5, the right direction on the paper surface is the front direction of the sensor unit 16, and the left direction on the paper surface is the back direction of the sensor unit 16. The vertical direction on the paper surface of FIG. 5 is the vertical direction of the sensor unit 16.

  The sensor unit 16 has a sensor case 17 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, for example. The sensor case 17 is a portion that serves as an outer frame of the sensor unit 16. The shape of the sensor case 17 is, for example, a tubular shape. The sensor case 17 is formed to be rotatable around a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.

  The sensor case 17 is connected to the link 15 at, for example, a central position in the horizontal direction of the vertical louver 11. The sensor case 17 is connected to the left-right louver 13 via a link 15. The sensor case 17 may be directly provided on the left-right louver 13 without the link 15, for example.

  The sensor case 17 is provided so that the front direction faces the blowing direction. When the left-right louver 13 moves, the sensor case 17 moves together with the left-right louver 13. The sensor case 17 moves in the same direction as the left-right louver 13 moves. The front direction of the sensor case 17 faces the changed blowing direction even when the blowing direction is changed.

  The sensor case 17 may have a sensor window 17a on the front side, for example. The sensor window 17a is made of a material having a high infrared transmittance. The material having a high infrared transmittance is, for example, a silicon wafer. The sensor window 17a is formed so that infrared rays radiated from a region where the air blown out from the air outlet 4 hits pass through. The area where the air blown out from the air outlet 4 hits is hereinafter referred to as the blowout area.

  The sensor unit 16 may include a surface temperature detecting unit 18 as an example of the surface temperature detecting unit. The surface temperature detection unit 18 is a unit that detects the surface temperature of the target area in a non-contact state. The surface temperature detection unit 18 is formed such that the target area for detecting the surface temperature is the same as or close to the blowout area.

  The surface temperature detector 18 is provided inside the sensor case 17. The surface temperature detector 18 is arranged on the back side of the sensor window 17a. As the surface temperature detection unit 18, for example, one using thermoelectromotive force is used. The surface temperature detection unit 18 has, for example, an infrared absorption film and a thermistor. The infrared absorbing film of the surface temperature detecting unit 18 absorbs infrared rays that pass through the sensor window 17a.

  The infrared absorbing film has a heat sensitive portion. The heat-sensitive portion of the infrared absorbing film heats up by absorbing the infrared rays that have passed through the sensor window 17a. The heat-sensitive part of the infrared absorbing film serves as a hot junction. Further, the thermistor detects the temperature of a portion that is not a heat-sensitive portion of the infrared absorption film, which is an example of a cold junction. The surface temperature detecting unit 18 detects the surface temperature of the region emitting the infrared rays absorbed by the infrared absorbing film, that is, the blowing region, from the temperature difference between the hot junction and the cold junction.

  The blowing area is changed along with the blowing direction. The surface temperature detection unit 18 provided inside the sensor case 17 moves together with the sensor case 17. That is, the surface temperature detector 18 moves together with the left-right louver 13. The surface temperature detection unit 18 can detect the surface temperature of the changed blowing region even when the blowing region is changed, for example.

  Further, the sensor unit 16 has an irradiation unit 19 as an example of an irradiation unit that irradiates visible light. The irradiation unit 19 has, for example, a light source 19a and a lens 19b. The lens 19b is provided on the front portion of the sensor case 17. The lens 19b is arranged below the sensor window 17a, for example. The light source 19a is provided inside the sensor case 17, for example, on the back surface of the lens 19b.

  The light source 19a emits visible light. The light source 19a is, for example, an LED. The light source 19a may be, for example, a laser diode. As the light source 19a, for example, one having a luminous intensity of 1000 mcd or more is used. The light source 19a emits green visible light, for example. The visible light emitted by the light source 19a may be, for example, orange or the like other than green.

  The lens 19b collects visible light emitted from the light source 19a. The lens 19b is, for example, a biconvex lens made of acrylic resin. The material of the lens 19b may be, for example, polycarbonate resin or glass. The lens 19b may be a Fresnel lens.

  A portion of the sensor case 17 between the light source 19a and the lens 19b is formed of, for example, a member through which visible light emitted by the light source 19a is transmitted. Further, in the sensor case 17, a portion between the light source 19a and the lens 19b may be opened, for example. The visible light emitted by the light source 19a is emitted to the lens 19b.

  The lens 19b collects visible light emitted by the light source 19a. The visible light condensed by the lens 19b is in a state where it can be easily visually recognized in a room, for example. The light source 19a and the lens 19b are provided so that the visible light condensed by the lens 19b is emitted in the front direction of the sensor case 17. That is, the visible light condensed by the lens 19b is emitted in the blowing direction.

  The visible light condensed by the lens 19b is emitted to the outside of the housing 1. Here, the area irradiated with the visible light condensed by the lens 19b is referred to as an irradiation area 30. The light source 19a and the lens 19b are provided so that the irradiation region 30 at a position 1 m away from the housing 1 is a circle having a diameter of 60 mm, for example. The size and shape of the irradiation region 30 are not limited to this example.

  The light source 19a and the lens 19b are provided in the sensor case 17. The light source 19 a and the lens 19 b move together with the sensor case 17. That is, the visible light condensed by the lens 19b is emitted in the changed blowing direction even when the blowing direction is changed.

  The dehumidifier 100 also includes a control device 20 and an operation unit 21. The control device 20 is provided inside the housing 1, as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The operation unit 21 is provided on the rear surface side of the upper surface of the housing 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. The control device 20 and the operation unit 21 are connected.

  The control device 20 is connected to each device included in the dehumidifier 100. The control device 20 controls each device provided in the dehumidifier 100. The control device 20 is connected to, for example, the fan motor 6, the dehumidifying unit 7, the first motor 12, the second motor 14, and the irradiation unit 19. The control device 20 controls, for example, the fan motor 6, the dehumidifying unit 7, the first motor 12, the second motor 14, and the irradiation unit 19.

  The control device 20 is also connected to the surface temperature detection unit 18, for example. The surface temperature detection unit 18 converts the detected surface temperature information into an electric signal such as a voltage. The surface temperature detection unit 18 outputs the converted electric signal to the control device 20. The control device 20 operates, for example, based on an electric signal from the surface temperature detection unit 18.

  The operation part 21 is a part for a user to operate the dehumidifier 100. The operation unit 21 has, for example, a drive button 21a, a mode selection button 21b, a setting button 21c, and an operation key 21d. The operation button 21a is for starting and stopping the operation of the dehumidifier 100.

  The mode selection button 21b is for selecting the operation mode of the dehumidifier 100. The mode selection button 21b transmits, for example, a signal according to an operation by the user to the control device 20. The setting button 21c is for setting the dehumidifier 100. The setting button 21c transmits a signal to the control device 20, for example, in response to a user's operation.

  The operation key 21d is an example of operation means for transmitting an operation instruction. The operation key 21d is for moving the wind direction changing unit 10. The operation key 21d is, for example, a cross key. The operation key 21d transmits an operation instruction according to an operation from the user to the control device 20. Upon receiving the operation instruction, the control device 20 operates based on the received operation instruction. The operation keys 21d may be keys other than the cross key.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the control device 20 of the first embodiment. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 20. As an example, the control device 20 includes an operation control unit 20a, a storage unit 20b, a temperature determination unit 20c, and a setting unit 20d. The operation control unit 20a is an example of a control unit that controls each device included in the dehumidifier 100. The operation control unit 20a controls the first motor 12 and the second motor 14 based on, for example, an operation instruction from the operation key 21d.

  The storage unit 20b is an example of a storage unit. In the storage unit 20b, for example, a plurality of operation modes are set in advance. The operation control unit 20a selects one operation mode from a plurality of operation modes set in the storage unit 20b based on, for example, a signal from the mode selection button 21b. The operation control unit 20a controls the fan motor 6, the dehumidifying unit 7, the first motor 12, the second motor 14, and the irradiation unit 19 based on the selected operation mode, for example.

  The fixed concentration mode is stored in the storage unit 20b of the present embodiment as one of the plurality of operation modes. The fixed concentration mode is an operation mode used when, for example, the dehumidifier 100 concentrates and dries shoes or a small amount of clothes 31 and the like.

  The temperature determination unit 20c is a unit that determines the surface temperature based on the electric signal output by the surface temperature detection unit 18. Information of the reference value of the surface temperature, for example, is stored in the storage unit 20b. The temperature determination unit 20c determines the surface temperature, for example, based on the electric signal from the surface temperature detection unit 18 and the reference value information stored in the storage unit 20b.

  The setting unit 20d is a unit that sets a setting direction in the storage unit 20b according to a signal from the setting button 21c. The setting button 21c sends a signal to the setting unit 20d when pressed, for example, when the irradiation unit 19 is emitting visible light. When the setting unit 20d receives the signal from the setting button 21c, the setting unit 20d sets the direction in which the visible light is irradiated by the irradiation unit 19 in the storage unit 20b as the setting direction. The setting button 21c and the setting unit 20d are an example of setting means for setting the setting direction.

  Further, FIG. 6B is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 20. Each function of the operation control unit 20a, the storage unit 20b, the temperature determination unit 20c, and the setting unit 20d of the control device 20 is realized by, for example, a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be the dedicated hardware 200. The processing circuit may include a processor 201 and a memory 202. The processing circuit may be partly formed as dedicated hardware 200, and may further include a processor 201 and a memory 202. FIG. 6B shows an example in which a part of the processing circuit is formed as dedicated hardware 200 and includes a processor 201 and a memory 202.

  A processing circuit, some of which is at least one dedicated hardware 200, may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. .

  When the processing circuit includes at least one processor 201 and at least one memory 202, each function of the operation control unit 20a, the storage unit 20b, the temperature determination unit 20c, and the setting unit 20d of the control device 20 is software, firmware, or software. It is realized by the combination of and firmware.

  The software and firmware are described as programs and stored in the memory 202. The processor 201 realizes the function of each unit by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 202. The processor 201 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 202 corresponds to, for example, a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as an EPROM and an EEPROM, or a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a DVD, or the like.

  As described above, the processing circuit can realize each function of the operation control unit 20a, the storage unit 20b, the temperature determination unit 20c, and the setting unit 20d of the control device 20 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. it can. The configuration of the dehumidifier 100 is not limited to the configuration in which the operation is controlled by the single controller 20. The dehumidifier 100 may have a configuration in which its operation is controlled by cooperation of a plurality of devices.

  Next, an example of the operation of the dehumidifier 100 will be described. The dehumidifier 100 is used indoors, for example. The dehumidifier 100 starts operation, for example, when the operation button 21a is pressed. For example, the driving button 21a pressed by the user transmits a signal to the operation control unit 20a. When the operation control unit 20a receives the signal from the operation button 21a, the operation control unit 20a drives the fan motor 6 and the dehumidifying unit 7.

  When the fan motor 6 is driven, the blower fan 6a rotates. The blower fan 6a generates an air flow. By the airflow generated by the blower fan 6a, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the indoor air P is taken into the housing 1 from the suction port 3. The indoor air P is dehumidified by the dehumidifying section 7 to become dry air Q. The dry air Q is blown into the room from the air outlet 4 by the airflow generated by the blower fan 6a. The blowing direction of the dry air Q is determined by the wind direction changing unit 10. As described above, the dehumidifier 100 starts operating.

  The user operates the mode selection button 21b, for example, after starting the operation of the dehumidifier 100 with the operation button 21a. Hereinafter, as an example of the operation of the dehumidifier 100, an operation when the fixed concentrated mode is selected by the user will be described.

  The operation control unit 20a selects the fixed concentrated mode based on the signal from the mode selection button 21b. When the fixed concentration mode is selected, the operation control unit 20a causes the light source 19a of the irradiation unit 19 to emit visible light. The visible light is condensed on the lens 19b. The visible light focused on the lens 19b is emitted in the blowing direction of the dry air Q.

  FIG. 7: is a figure which shows operation | movement of the dehumidifier 100 of Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the visible light emitted in the blowing direction of the dry air Q illuminates the irradiation area 30. The user operates the operation key 21d while looking at the irradiation area 30, for example. The operation key 21d transmits an operation instruction based on an operation from the user to the operation control unit 20a. The operation control unit 20a controls the first motor 12 and the second motor 14 based on the received operation instruction. As a result, the vertical louver 11 and the horizontal louver 13 move. The blowing direction is changed by moving the vertical louver 11 and the horizontal louver 13.

  When the vertical louver 11 and the horizontal louver 13 move, the sensor case 17 also moves. Further, the irradiation unit 19 provided on the sensor case 17 also moves. The irradiation unit 19 moves so as to emit light in the changed blowing direction. The irradiation area 30 moves according to the change in the blowing direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the user operates the operation key 21d so as to illuminate the clothing 31 that has been installed in advance while looking at the irradiation region 30. As a result, the dry air Q is concentrated on the clothes 31.

  Here, the user may press, for example, the setting button 21c while the clothes 31 are illuminated with visible light. The setting button 21c pressed by the user sends a signal to the setting unit 20d. When the setting unit 20d receives the signal from the setting button 21c, the setting unit 20d sets the direction in which the visible light is irradiated by the irradiation unit 19 in the storage unit 20b as the setting direction. When the set direction is set in the storage unit 20b, the operation control unit 20a controls the first motor 12 and the second motor 14 so that the blowing direction is fixed to the set direction.

  When the blowing direction is fixed in the set direction, the dry air Q continues to be blown in the set direction for a certain period of time. When the dry air Q is blown out, the surface temperature detection unit 18 detects the surface temperature of the blowout area. The surface temperature detector 18 converts the detected surface temperature information into an electric signal. The surface temperature detection unit 18 transmits the converted electric signal to the temperature determination unit 20c.

  The temperature determination unit 20c determines the surface temperature based on the received electric signal and the reference value information stored in advance in the storage unit 20b. When the temperature determination unit 20c determines that the surface temperature of the blowout region exceeds the reference value, the operation control unit 20a stops the fan motor 6 and the dehumidifying unit 7. As a result, the operation of the dehumidifier 100 ends.

  In the above embodiment, the light source 19a of the irradiation unit 19 emits visible light when the fixed concentration mode is selected. The light source 19a may start irradiation of visible light at the same time when the operation of the dehumidifier 100 starts, for example. Further, the light source 19a may stop the irradiation of visible light at the same time as the setting button 21c is pressed, or after a certain time has elapsed after the setting button 21c was pressed.

  In the above embodiment, the user can easily recognize the blowing direction of the dry air Q by looking at the irradiation area 30. Further, the user can easily change the blowing direction of the dry air Q to any direction by using the operation key 21d. By looking at the irradiation area 30, the user can change the blowing direction of the dry air Q in an easy-to-understand state. The user can concentrate and dry the clothes 31 previously dried without moving the clothes 31 to be dried according to the dehumidifier 100.

  In the above embodiment, the user can concentrate the dry air Q in any direction by operating the setting button 21c. The dry air Q is reliably sent to the clothes 31 without waste. In the case of this example, for example, wasteful electricity bills due to blowing air to an object that does not need to be dried can be reduced. The operation controller 20a also stops the fan motor 6 based on the detection result of the surface temperature detector 18. This further reduces wasteful electricity bills.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the dehumidifier 100 can be obtained in which the blowing direction of the dry air Q can be more easily recognized and the blowing direction of the dry air Q can be easily changed to an arbitrary direction. In the above embodiment, the operation of drying the clothes 31 is shown as an example, but the target to which the dry air Q is blown is not limited to the clothes 31. For example, the dehumidifier 100 can be used to dry indoor wet areas such as bathroom walls and floors.

  The wind direction changing unit 10, which is an example of the wind direction determining means, may not include the vertical louvers 11 and the horizontal louvers 13. The structure of the wind direction changing unit 10 may be, for example, a nozzle-like structure that can move vertically and horizontally other than the above-described embodiment.

  The irradiation unit 19 may not be provided in the sensor case 17, for example. Alternatively, the sensor case 17 may not be connected to the link 15. For example, the dehumidifier 100 may have a configuration in which the irradiation unit 19 and the wind direction changing unit 10 can operate independently. The irradiation unit 19 may be moved by the control device 20 in accordance with the movement of the wind direction changing unit 10, for example.

  In the above embodiment, the operation keys 21d of the operation unit 21 are provided on the housing 1. The user can change the blowing direction of the dry air Q by a simple operation of operating the operation key 21d on the housing 1. The dehumidifier 100 may include a remote controller having operation keys 21d instead of the operation unit 21, for example. In this example, the user can operate the dehumidifier 100 at a position away from the housing 1. In addition, the dehumidifier 100 may include both the operation unit 21 and the remote controller, for example.

Embodiment 2.
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The configuration of the dehumidifier 100 of the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 as in the first embodiment. Descriptions of the same configurations and operations as those in the first embodiment will be omitted. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of the dehumidifier 100 of the second embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the lens 19b is a lens that splits visible light from the light source 19a into first visible light and second visible light. As a result, the irradiation area 30 is divided into the first area 30a and the second area 30b. The first region 30a is a region irradiated with the first visible light. The second region 30b is a region irradiated with the second visible light. The first visible light has a higher luminous intensity than the second visible light, for example. That is, the first region 30a has a higher illuminance than the second region 30b. The lens 19b in the present embodiment is an example of a dividing unit.

  The first region 30a and the second region 30b are circular regions as shown in FIG. 8, for example. The light source 19a and the lens 19b are formed and arranged so that, for example, the first region 30a is a circle having a diameter of 60 mm. Further, the light source 19a and the lens 19b are formed and arranged such that the second region 30b is a circle having a diameter of 800 mm, for example.

  In the present embodiment, the light source 19a and the lens 19b are formed and arranged so that the first region 30a is located inside the second region 30b. The 1st field 30a is located in the center of the 2nd field 30b, for example. The first area 30a, which is brighter than the second area 30b, represents the blowing direction of the dry air Q. By looking at the first area 30a, the user can easily recognize the blowing direction of the dry air Q.

  Further, the light source 19a and the lens 19b are formed and arranged so that the blowout area of the dry air Q and the second area 30b are coincident with or close to each other. That is, the dry air Q blown out from the outlet 4 hits the second region 30b. The second region 30b represents a blowout region of the dry air Q. The user can recognize the blowout region of the dry air Q by looking at the second region 30b.

  The user of the dehumidifier 100 of the present embodiment can move the irradiation area 30 by operating the operation key 21d as in the first embodiment. The user can move the first area 30a and the second area 30b while visually recognizing them. That is, the user can change the blowing direction and the blowing region of the dry air Q while recognizing the blowing direction and the blowing region of the dry air Q. The user operates the operation key 21d so that the clothes 31 are located inside the second area, for example. As a result, the clothes 31 are evenly dried.

  The shapes and sizes of the first region 30a and the second region 30b are not limited to this example. For example, the shape of the second region 30b may be a rectangle. Further, the dehumidifier 100 of the present embodiment may be operated in the fixed concentrated mode shown in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3.
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The configuration of the dehumidifier 100 of the third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 as in the first and second embodiments. Descriptions of the configurations and operations similar to those in the first and second embodiments are omitted. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of the dehumidifier 100 of the third embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the irradiation unit 19 has a plurality of light sources 19a. The plurality of light sources 19a emit, for example, visible lights of different colors. The irradiation unit 19 includes, for example, a light source 19a that emits blue visible light and a light source 19a that emits orange visible light. The colors of visible light emitted by the plurality of light sources 19a are not limited to those in this embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the irradiation area 30 is divided into a first area 30a and a second area 30b, as in the second embodiment. The first area 30a is located inside the second area 30b. The 1st field 30a is located in the center of the 2nd field 30b, for example. For example, blue visible light is emitted from the light source 19a to the first region 30a. The second region 30b is irradiated with, for example, orange visible light from the light source 19a.

  The first area 30a is, for example, a circular area as shown in FIG. The second area 30b is, for example, a rectangular area as shown in FIG. The light source 19a and the lens 19b are formed and arranged so that, for example, the first region 30a is a circle having a diameter of 60 mm. Further, the light source 19a and the lens 19b are formed and arranged so that, for example, the second region 30b is a rectangle having a vertical width of 100 mm and a horizontal width of 800 mm. The shapes and sizes of the first region 30a and the second region 30b are not limited to this example. For example, the shape of the second region 30b may be a circle.

  In the present embodiment, the first region 30a represents the blowing direction of the dry air Q, as in the second embodiment. Further, the second region 30b represents the blowing region of the dry air Q, as in the second embodiment. The first area 30a and the second area 30b are illuminated with visible light of different colors. According to the present embodiment, the user can more reliably recognize the blowing direction and the blowing region of the dry air Q while distinguishing them.

  The dehumidifier 100 of this embodiment includes a plurality of light sources 19a. The light source 19a that emits visible light may be selected by the user. For example, the user may operate the operation unit 21 to select the light source 19a that emits visible light. For example, when the user wants to recognize only the blowing direction of the dry air Q, the user may operate the operation unit 21 so that only the first region 30a is illuminated. In this example, it is possible to illuminate only one of the first region 30a that represents the blowing direction of the dry air Q and the second region 30b that represents the blowing region of the dry air Q.

  10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the dehumidifier 100 of the third embodiment. The dehumidifier 100 may include, for example, a plurality of irradiation units 19 each having a light source 19a. The plurality of irradiation units 19 emit visible light of different colors. One of the plurality of irradiation units 19 is provided in the sensor case 17 as in the first and second embodiments.

  One of the plurality of irradiation units 19 is provided, for example, at the left end of the vertical louver 11 and the horizontal louver 13, or near the left end. One of the plurality of irradiation units 19 is provided, for example, at the right end of the vertical louver 11 and the horizontal louver 13, or near the right end. Also in this modification shown in FIG. 10, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  The dehumidifier according to the present invention is used to dry any object.

  1 case, 2 wheels, 3 inlet, 4 outlet, 5 air passage, 6 fan motor, 6a blower fan, 7 dehumidifying part, 8 water storage part, 9 filter, 10 wind direction changing part, 11 vertical louver, 12th 1 motor, 12a gear, 12b gear, 12c gear, 13 left-right louver, 14 2nd motor, 15 link, 16 sensor part, 17 sensor case, 17a sensor window, 18 surface temperature detection part, 19 irradiation part, 19a light source, 19b lens, 20 control device, 20a operation control section, 20b storage section, 20c temperature determination section, 20d setting section, 21 operation section, 21a operation button, 21b mode selection button, 21c setting button, 21d operation key, 30 irradiation area, 30a 1st area | region, 30b 2nd area | region, 31 clothes, 100 dehumidifier, 200 special hardware, 201 processor, 202 memory

Claims (4)

A casing with an outlet formed,
Dehumidifying means provided inside the housing to remove moisture in the air,
Blow-out means for blowing dry air from which moisture has been removed by the dehumidifying means from the blow-out port,
Wind direction determining means for determining the direction in which the dry air is blown out from the outlet,
Operation means for transmitting operation instructions,
When receiving an operation instruction from the operation means, the control means that moves the wind direction determination means to change the direction in which dry air is blown out from the air outlet.
Irradiation means for irradiating visible light in a direction in which dry air is blown out from the outlet,
Equipped with
The irradiation means is
A light source that emits visible light,
Dividing means for dividing visible light emitted by the light source into first visible light and second visible light;
Have
The dehumidifier in which the area irradiated with the first visible light has a higher illuminance than the area irradiated with the second visible light and is located inside the area irradiated with the second visible light. The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the irradiation unit is provided in the wind direction determination unit, and moves together with the wind direction determination unit when the wind direction determination unit moves. The wind direction determining means,
A first changing unit that changes the direction in which the dry air is blown out from the air outlet by moving to a vertical direction;
A second changing unit that changes the direction in which the dry air is blown out from the blowout port to the left-right direction by moving.
Have
The second changing unit moves in the same direction as the first changing unit moves together with the first changing unit when the first changing unit moves,
The dehumidifier according to claim 2 , wherein the irradiation unit moves in the same direction as the direction in which the second changing unit moves together with the second changing unit when the second changing unit moves. A surface temperature detecting means for detecting a surface temperature of a place where the dry air blown out from the outlet hits,
The dehumidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the control means stops the blowing means when the surface temperature detected by the surface temperature detecting means exceeds a reference value.

Images