JP7242479B2 - humidifier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a humidifier for humidifying indoor air.

A vaporization type humidifier has been proposed in which a humidifying filter is installed in a water tank storing water, and air is blown to the humidified humidifying filter to generate humidified air. A vaporization type humidifier equipped with a heater for heating air is called a hybrid humidifier. The hybrid humidifier operates in a vaporization method that does not energize the heater, and in a warm air vaporization method that increases the vaporization efficiency and increases the amount of humidification by increasing the temperature of the air that passes through the humidification filter by energizing the heater. It is possible to drive efficiently by switching between

JP 2019-35566 A

In a hybrid humidifier equipped with a heater for air heating, the internal temperature of the main body of the humidifier varies greatly depending on the operating state, and the temperature around the heater and the downstream side of the heater become high especially in the operation of the hot air vaporization method in which the heater is energized. tends to be easy. Therefore, it is necessary to perform so-called after-run, in which the main body is cooled by driving the blower after the humidification operation is finished, and the amount of cooling in the after-run can be controlled by the rotation speed of the blower.

In the after-run, if the blower is driven at a high rotation speed in order to reliably release the residual heat of the main body, the humidification operation is terminated when the amount of humidification before the end of the humidification operation is small and the rotation speed of the blower is low. Since the number of revolutions of the fan suddenly increases against the will of the user, the user feels uncomfortable. On the other hand, if the blower is driven at a low rotation speed in order to suppress discomfort given to the user in the after-run, residual heat in the main body may cause deformation of internal parts of the main body.

As described above, in the after-run, it is necessary to perform cooling with an appropriate amount of air without giving discomfort to the user, but no proposal has been made for an effective after-run in the hybrid humidifier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a humidifying apparatus capable of suppressing insufficient cooling and performing an after-run operation without causing discomfort to the user.

The present invention comprises a main body,
a water tank portion for storing water supplied to the main body;
a blower that blows air into a ventilation passage extending from a suction port to a blow-out port; a heater that heats the air taken in from the suction port; and a humidifying filter that is immersed in the water stored in the water tank and installed in the ventilation passage. ,
a control unit;
The control unit is capable of executing after-run in which the main body is cooled by driving the blower after the humidification operation is completed,
executing rotation speed setting control for setting the rotation speed of the blower during after-run based on the heater output in a first predetermined period before the end of the humidification operation when the humidification operation ends,
In the rotational speed setting control, when the output of the heater fluctuates during the first predetermined period, output determination for determining whether the heater output at the end of the humidification operation is the maximum value of the output during the first predetermined period. It is a humidifier that executes control .

With the above configuration, the after-run cooling amount is set based on the humidification capacity before the humidification operation ends, so the after-run can be executed with an appropriate air volume. As a result, it is possible to suppress the lack of cooling in the after-run and the feeling of discomfort given to the user.

It is a perspective view of the humidification device of this embodiment. It is an exploded view showing composition of a humidifying device of this embodiment. It is a perspective view of the water tank part in the humidification apparatus of this embodiment. It is a perpendicular direction sectional view of the humidifying device of this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the control part in the humidifier of this embodiment. 4 is a flow chart of rotation speed setting control and output determination control in the humidifying device of the present embodiment. 4 is a flowchart of rotational speed correction control in the humidifying device of the present embodiment;

Embodiments of the present invention which are considered to be suitable will be briefly described by showing the effects of the present invention.

The present invention includes a humidifying filter installed in a water tank portion that stores water supplied to a main body, a fan that blows air to the humidifying filter, a heater that heats the air that is blown, and a control unit. After the humidification operation is completed, the control unit can execute an after-run for cooling the main body by driving the blower, and sets the amount of cooling in the after-run based on the humidification capacity before the humidification operation is completed. As a result, the after-run can be executed with an appropriate amount of air. As a result, it is possible to suppress the lack of cooling in the after-run and the feeling of discomfort given to the user.

Further, focusing on the output of the heater as the humidifying capability, rotation speed setting control is executed to set the rotation speed of the blower during after-run based on the heater output during the first predetermined period before the end of the humidifying operation when the humidifying operation ends. As a result, the rotation speed can be set according to the amount of heat generated by the heater, and insufficient cooling can be suppressed.

Further, in the rotation speed setting control, if the output of the heater fluctuates during the first predetermined period, output determination control is performed to determine whether the heater output at the end of the humidification operation is the maximum value of the output during the first predetermined period. Execute. As a result, it is possible to more appropriately estimate the amount of cooling required for after-running, and in turn to suppress insufficient cooling.

Further, in the output determination control, if the heater output at the end of the humidifying operation is the maximum value of the output in the first predetermined period, the after-run is executed at the rotational speed of the blower at the end of the humidifying operation. As a result, the rotational speed of the blower does not fluctuate during the humidification operation and during the after-run, so that the main body can be cooled without causing discomfort to the user.

Further, the required number of rotations of the blower in the after-run is set according to the output of the heater. Rotational speed correction control capable of correcting the rotational speed of the fan during after-run is executed based on the rotational speed comparison result between the rotational speed of the fan at the end and the required rotational speed. As a result, it is possible to minimize the correction of the rotation speed while ensuring the cooling amount necessary for the after-run, so that it is possible to suppress the uncomfortable feeling given to the user.

Further, in rotation speed correction control, if the rotation speed of the fan at the end of humidification operation is less than the required rotation speed, the rotation speed of the fan during after-run is corrected to the required rotation speed. Thereby, insufficient cooling can be suppressed.

Further, in rotation speed correction control, if the rotation speed of the blower at the end of the humidification operation is equal to or higher than the required rotation speed, the after-run is executed at the rotation speed of the blower at the end of the humidification operation without correcting the rotation speed. . As a result, the rotational speed of the blower does not fluctuate during the humidification operation and during the after-run, so that the main body can be cooled without causing discomfort to the user.

Further, in rotation speed setting control, if the heater is energized at a constant output during the first predetermined period, the after-run is performed at the rotation speed of the blower at the end of the humidification operation. As a result, the rotational speed of the blower does not fluctuate during the humidification operation and during the after-run, so that the main body can be cooled without causing discomfort to the user.

Further, in the rotation speed setting control, if the heater is not energized for the first predetermined period, the after-run is not executed. As a result, the air blower stops at the same time as the humidification operation ends, so that the user does not feel uncomfortable.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the humidifying device of this embodiment. The humidifying device 100 is provided with an operation unit 2 for instructing the operation of the humidifying device 100, a display unit 3 for displaying the operating state, and an outlet 4 for blowing out humidified air on the upper surface of the main body 1.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the configuration of the humidifying device of this embodiment. The bottom of the main body 1 is provided with a water tank section 6 for storing a certain amount of water supplied from a water tank 5. - 特許庁A humidifying filter 7 having water absorption is arranged in the water tank part 6, and part of the humidifying filter 7 is immersed in the water in the water tank part 6, and is moistened by sucking up the water. . The water tank portion 6 is slidably provided in the main body 1 so as to be pulled out from the insertion port 1a. The water tank 5 is detachably attached to the water tank section 6. The water tank 5 has a first handle 5a on the top surface and a second handle 5b on the bottom surface. A partition plate 8 detachably attached to the water tank section 6 divides the water tank section 6 into a first housing section 6a for housing the water tank 5 and a second housing section 6b for housing the humidification filter 7. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the water tank part in this embodiment. The partition plate 8 is attached to the water tank portion 6 by fitting mounting pieces 9 formed on both left and right ends thereof and extending to the outside of the partition plate 8 into holding portions 10 provided in the water tank portion 6 . The water level detection unit 11 includes a float 12 that rotates up and down according to the water level in the water tank unit 6 and a frame 13 on which the float 12 is mounted. The partition plate 8 is detachable from the water tank portion 6 , and the water level detection portion 11 is detachable from the water tank portion 6 via the partition plate 8 . A communicating portion (not shown) that communicates between the first accommodating portion 6a and the second accommodating portion 6b is provided below the partition plate 8. Water flows into the portion 6b.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the humidifying device of this embodiment. An air blower 16 consisting of a motor 14 and a sirocco fan 15 is provided above the humidification filter 7, and when the air blower 16 is driven, air flows from an inlet 17 on the back of the main body 1 through the humidification filter 7 to the outlet 4. Air is blown into the passage 18 . Due to this blowing, indoor air taken in through the suction port 17 becomes humidified air when passing through the humidifying filter 7, and is released into the room through the blowout port 4 to humidify the room.

In addition, a heater 19 that heats the air blown to the humidification filter 7 is arranged in the air passage 18 upstream of the humidification filter 7, and the temperature of the air passing through the humidification filter 7 rises by energizing the heater 19. Therefore, the amount of humidification can be increased. The output of the heater 19 can be switched based on the operating state, and energization is stopped when the room is sufficiently humidified. Thus, the hybrid humidifier provided with the heater 19 appropriately humidifies the room by appropriately switching between the warm air vaporization operation in which humidification is performed by energizing the heater 19 and the cool air vaporization operation in which humidification is performed without energizing the heater 19. can do.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the controller in the humidifier of this embodiment. An instruction regarding driving is input to the control unit 20 from the operation unit 2 . The operation unit 2 is provided with various switches operated by the user. In this embodiment, an operation switch 21 for instructing the start and stop of the operation of the humidifier 100, and a humidity setting switch 22 for setting the indoor target humidity. , a cold air/hot air changeover switch 23 capable of switching between cold air vaporization operation and hot air vaporization operation. Also, indoor humidity information is input from the humidity sensor 24 to the control unit 20 . When hot air is selected by the cold air/hot air changeover switch 23, cold air vaporization operation and warm air vaporization operation can be executed. On the other hand, when cold air is selected, only cold air vaporization operation can be executed.

A blower 16 and a heater 19 are connected to the output side of the controller 20 . The control unit 20 adjusts the rotation speed of the fan 16 and the heater 19 based on the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 24, the target humidity set by the humidity setting switch 22, and the operation instruction by the cool air/hot air changeover switch 23. Humidification operation is performed by setting the output of In this embodiment, the output of the heater 19 can be switched between four levels of "strong", "medium", "weak" and "zero", and the rotation speed of the blower 16 can be changed to "high", "medium", "low" and "minimum". can be switched to 4 levels. When the output of the heater 19 is "strong," "medium," or "weak," the hot air vaporization operation is performed, and when the output of the heater 19 is "zero," the cold air vaporization operation is performed. The input and output of the control unit 20 and the number of control stages of the blower 16 and the heater 19 are not limited to those of this embodiment, and can be appropriately set according to the function of the humidifier.

Next, the flow from the start of the humidification operation of the humidifier 100 to the end of the humidification operation will be described. In order to facilitate switching between cold air vaporization operation and hot air vaporization operation, a case where hot air is selected by the cold air/hot air changeover switch 23 will be described here.

When the user presses the operation switch 21 to instruct the start of operation, the humidifying operation of the humidifying device 100 is started. When the operation starts, the control unit 20 acquires the target humidity set by the humidity setting switch 22 and acquires the indoor humidity detected by the humidity sensor 24 . Further, based on the difference between the target humidity and the indoor humidity, the number of revolutions of the blower 16 and the output of the heater 19 are determined, and driving is started. For example, if the difference between the target humidity and the indoor humidity is large, it is necessary to quickly humidify the room to the target humidity. Raise the humidity to the target humidity.

The control unit 20 determines that the indoor humidity is suitable when the indoor humidity changes within a predetermined range of the target humidity. For example, the predetermined range is within ±3% of the target humidity. However, when the indoor humidity exceeds 3% of the target humidity, the control unit 20 determines that the indoor humidity is high, and reduces the rotational speed of the fan 16 and the output of the heater 19 in order to reduce the amount of humidification. , to suppress over-humidification in the room. On the other hand, if the indoor humidity is less than -3% of the target humidity, the controller 20 determines that the indoor humidity is low, and increases the rotation speed of the fan 16 and the output of the heater 19 to increase the amount of humidification. to reduce the dryness in the room.

When increasing or decreasing the amount of humidification, the controller 20 may adjust both the blower 16 and the heater 19, or may adjust only one of them. Further, the rotational speed of the blower 16 and the output of the heater 19 may be increased or decreased step by step, or may be increased or decreased in multiple steps. However, the number of rotations of the blower 16 required for the output of the heater 19 is set so that the internal temperature of the main body 1 does not become high.

When the control unit 20 determines that the indoor humidity is high even if the output of the heater 19 is reduced, the output of the heater 19 can be set to "zero" to switch from warm air vaporization operation to cool air vaporization operation. As a result, the amount of humidification can be reduced compared to when the heater 19 is energized. In this way, the control unit 20 adjusts the rotation speed of the fan 16 and the output of the heater 19 based on the difference between the indoor humidity and the target humidity, and furthermore switches between the hot air vaporization operation and the cold air vaporization operation, thereby efficiently Proper humidity can be maintained.

Here, the humidifying operation of the humidifying device 100 ends when the user presses the operation switch 21 again to instruct to stop the operation. If the heater 19 is energized during the humidification operation, in order to cool the main body 1, the heater 19 is deenergized and only the blower 16 is driven. Therefore, when the control unit 20 receives an instruction to stop operation, it determines whether after-running is to be performed.

The after-run executed by the control unit 20 at the end of the humidification operation will be described below.

In the after-run execution determination, the humidification capacity before the end of the humidification operation is checked, and the cooling amount in the after-run is set based on the humidification capacity. Here, before the end of the humidification operation refers to a predetermined period from the end of the humidification operation to the end of the humidification operation.

By considering the humidifying capacity not only at the end of the humidification operation but also for a predetermined period before the end of the humidification operation, it is possible to accurately calculate the amount of heat to be discharged from the main body 1 of the humidifier 100 at the end of the humidification operation. An appropriate amount of cooling can be set. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of rotations of the blower 16 that accompanies an excessive cooling amount setting, so that the user does not feel uncomfortable due to a sudden increase in the number of rotations of the blower 16 against the user's will to terminate the humidification operation. can be suppressed. Moreover, since insufficient cooling can be suppressed, deformation of internal parts of the main body 1 can be suppressed.

Further, the control unit 20 executes rotation speed setting control for setting the rotation speed of the blower 16 during after-run based on the output of the heater 19 during the first predetermined period before the end of the humidification operation. Since the cooling amount is set based on the output of the heater 19, that is, the amount of heat generated by the heater 19, it is possible to sufficiently cool the periphery of the heater 19 and the downstream side of the heater 19, which tend to become hot inside the main body 1. It is possible to suppress deformation of the internal parts of the main body 1 due to shortage. The first predetermined period in the present embodiment is set to a period starting 30 seconds before the end of the humidification operation, for example.

Further, in the rotation speed setting control, the control unit 20 checks the rotation speed of the blower 16 and the output of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation, and further determines whether or not the output of the heater 19 fluctuates during the first predetermined period. . When the heater 19 is energized at a constant output during the first predetermined period, the after-run is executed at the rotational speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation. That is, since the number of rotations of the blower 16 is set so that the internal temperature of the main body 1 does not become high during the humidification operation, if the output of the heater 19 is constant during the first predetermined period, the blower 16 will not rotate during the after-run. Appropriate cooling can be performed at the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation without increasing the rotation speed. Therefore, since there is no fluctuation in the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation and at the execution of the after-run, the user does not feel uncomfortable due to the fluctuation in the rotation speed of the blower 16 .

Further, when the heater 19 is not energized during the first predetermined period, that is, when the cooling air vaporization operation continues during the first predetermined period, the control unit 20 stops the blower 16 without executing the after-run at the end of the humidification operation. Let Since the output of the heater 19 is "zero" during cold air vaporization, there is no need to cool the inside of the main body 1 by after-run, and the blower 16 can be stopped when the operation is stopped. Therefore, since the blower 16 is stopped according to the user's intention to end the humidification operation, the user does not feel uncomfortable due to the fluctuation of the rotation speed of the blower 16. - 特許庁

On the other hand, if the output of the heater 19 fluctuates during the first predetermined period, the control unit 20 executes output determination control to determine whether the output of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is the maximum value during the first predetermined period. determine whether or not Insufficient cooling can be suppressed by calculating the amount of heat to be discharged from the inside of the main body 1 of the humidifier 100 during after-run based on the maximum value of the output of the heater 19 .

When the output of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is the maximum value in the first predetermined period, after-run is performed at the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation. Since the rotation speed of the blower 16 is set so that the internal temperature of the main body 1 does not become high during the humidification operation, when the output of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is the maximum value in the first predetermined period, after-run Even if the number of rotations of the blower 16 is not increased, it is possible to perform appropriate cooling at the number of rotations of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation. Therefore, since there is no fluctuation in the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation and at the execution of the after-run, the user does not feel uncomfortable due to the fluctuation in the rotation speed of the blower 16 .

On the other hand, if the output of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is not the maximum value in the first predetermined period, there is a possibility that cooling will be insufficient if the after-run is performed at the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation. Therefore, the control unit 20 corrects the rotation speed based on a comparison result of the required rotation speed of the blower 16 in the after-run and the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation, which is preset according to the output of the heater 19. Rotation speed correction control is executed to determine whether or not to

In rotation speed correction control, when the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation is less than the required rotation speed, the rotation speed of the blower 16 during after-run is corrected to the required rotation speed, and the after-run is executed. This required number of rotations can be set, for example, based on the maximum value of the output of the heater 19 in the first predetermined period. On the other hand, if the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation is equal to or higher than the required rotation speed, the after-run is performed at the rotation speed of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation without correcting the rotation speed. As a result, while ensuring the cooling amount necessary for the after-run, when the number of rotations of the blower 16 needs to be increased, fluctuations in the number of rotations can be minimized. Accompanying discomfort can be suppressed.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the after-run, the control unit 20 stops driving the blower 16 to end the after-run. Note that in the present embodiment, the duration of after-run is set to 30 seconds.

In the present embodiment, the after-run execution when the operation switch 21 instructs to end the humidification operation has been described. It can be carried out. For example, an off timer can be set, and the humidification operation is terminated when a predetermined time set by the off timer has elapsed.

The after-run execution determination of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of rotation speed setting control and output determination control in the humidifier of this embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of rotation speed correction control in the humidifier of this embodiment. In the flowchart, "step" is abbreviated as "S", and "positive" in the judgment control in the flowchart is indicated by "YES", and "not" is indicated by "NO". Note that "start" in this flow chart means that the humidification operation has ended. Further, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, [S1] to [S6] correspond to rotation speed setting control, and [S7] and [S8] correspond to output determination control.

When the humidification operation ends, in [S1], the rotation speed R1 of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation is acquired. Next, in [S2], the output W1 of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is acquired.

Subsequently, in [S3], it is determined whether or not the output of the heater 19 fluctuates during the first predetermined period before the end of the humidification operation. If there is no change in the output of the heater 19 during the first predetermined period [YES], the process proceeds to [S4].

Subsequently, in [S4], it is determined whether or not the output W1 of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is zero. If the output W1 of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is zero [YES], the after-run is not executed and the control ends in [S5]. On the other hand, if the output W1 of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is not zero [NO], in [S6], after-run is performed at the rotational speed R1 of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation, and the control ends.

In [S3], if the output of the heater 19 fluctuates during the first predetermined period [NO], in [S7], the maximum output W2 of the heater 19 during the first predetermined period is obtained, and the process proceeds to [S8].

Subsequently, in [S8], it is determined whether or not the output W1 of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is equal to the maximum output W2 of the heater 19 during the first predetermined period. If the output W1 of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is the maximum output W2 of the heater 19 during the first predetermined period [YES], in [S6], after-run is executed at the rotational speed R1 of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation. to end control.

In [S8], if the output W1 of the heater 19 at the end of the humidification operation is not the maximum output W2 of the heater 19 during the first predetermined period [NO], in order to execute the rotational speed correction control shown in FIG. move on.

In [S11], the necessary after-run rotation speed R2 set according to the output of the heater 19 is obtained, and the process proceeds to [S12]. Here, the required rotation speed R2 is the rotation speed of the blower 16 based on the maximum output W2 of the heater 19 during the first predetermined period.

Subsequently, in [S12], it is determined whether or not the rotational speed R1 of the blower 16 at the end of the humidifying operation is equal to or higher than the required rotational speed R2. If the rotation speed R1 of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation is equal to or higher than the required rotation speed R2 [YES], in [S13], after-run is executed at the rotation speed R1 of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation, and the control ends. do. On the other hand, if the number of rotations R1 of the blower 16 at the end of the humidification operation is less than the required number of rotations R2 [NO], in [S14] after-run is executed at the required number of rotations R2 and the control ends.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 main body 4 outlet 6 water tank section 7 humidification filter 16 blower 17 suction port 18 ventilation path 19 heater 20 control section

Claims (7)

the main body;
a water tank portion for storing water supplied to the main body;
a blower that blows air into a ventilation passage extending from a suction port to a blow-out port; a heater that heats the air taken in from the suction port; and a humidifying filter that is immersed in the water stored in the water tank and installed in the ventilation passage. ,
a control unit;
The control unit is capable of executing after-run in which the main body is cooled by driving the blower after the humidification operation is completed,
executing rotation speed setting control for setting the rotation speed of the blower during after-run based on the heater output in a first predetermined period before the end of the humidification operation when the humidification operation ends,
In the rotational speed setting control, when the output of the heater fluctuates during the first predetermined period, output determination for determining whether the heater output at the end of the humidification operation is the maximum value of the output during the first predetermined period. Humidifier that performs control . The control unit, in the output determination control,
2. The humidifying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the heater output at the end of the humidifying operation is the maximum value of the output in the first predetermined period, the after-run is performed at the rotation speed of the blower at the end of the humidifying operation. A required rotation speed of the blower in after-run is set according to the output of the heater,
The control unit, in the output determination control,
If the heater output at the end of the humidifying operation is not the maximum value of the output in the first predetermined period, after-running is performed based on the rotational speed comparison result between the rotational speed of the blower at the end of the humidifying operation and the required rotational speed. The humidifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein rotation speed correction control capable of correcting the rotation speed of said blower is executed. In the rotation speed correction control, the control unit includes:
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein if the number of rotations of the blower at the end of the humidification operation is less than the required number of rotations, the number of rotations of the blower during after-run is corrected to the required number of rotations and after-run is executed. humidifier. In the rotation speed correction control, the control unit includes:
5. When the rotational speed of said blower at the end of humidifying operation is equal to or higher than said required rotational speed, after-run is executed at the rotational speed of said blower at the end of humidifying operation without correcting the rotational speed. The humidifying device according to . In the rotation speed setting control, the control unit includes:
6. The humidifying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein when the heater is energized at a constant output during the first predetermined period, the after-run is performed at the rotational speed of the blower at the end of the humidifying operation. In the rotation speed setting control, the control unit includes:
The humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein after-run is not executed when the heater is not energized during the first predetermined period.

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