JPH04236030A - Odor generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve not only the quality of dwelling space, but also comfortable feeling by a method wherein a fluctuation period of an air blowing fan and an odor injection pitch are operated at the same period. CONSTITUTION:When an air conditioner 1 is started, circulation air passes through a filter 2 and its temperature and humidity are adjusted by a coil 3, thereafter the air is sent into an office space by a blower fan 4. The blower fan 4 repeats a variation of fluctuation of 1/f at a specified period through an inverter panel 5 according to a program in a control device 12. In turn, as a specified point of the fluctuation air blowing of 1/f of the blower fan 4, for example, a time when the amount of blown air becomes maximum is detected by a sensing means, the control device 12 opens an injection control valve 11 for a specified period of time and atomizes odor in a liquid odor bomb 8 into an air flow passage through an injection nozzle 10.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aroma generator that can be used to control the aroma environment of a residential space such as an office building.

0002

[Background Art] In recent years, with the spread of office buildings, especially intelligent buildings, many office automation equipment such as computers have been introduced into the workplaces of such buildings in order to cope with informationization and internationalization. Workers working in these offices are required to process a flood of information accurately and quickly, and the so-called technostress caused by extreme tension has become a social problem.

On the other hand, natural essential oils, which are often used as materials for fragrances, have been widely used as therapeutic agents with efficacy and effectiveness in traditional therapies since ancient times, and in recent years, they have also been used in treatments such as ``forest bathing.'' By bathing in the forest spirit called phytoncide,
Terpene compounds such as pinene contained in forest spirits are known to refresh your mood.
Introducing aromatic substances into the body is thought to be one method for relieving stress such as the above-mentioned technostress, and psychological and physiological utilization of active control of scents called aromachology has been proposed.

[0004] Furthermore, as the need for improving the living environment increases, there is a need for playfulness, and scents are being used to enhance corporate image and to create performances that match programs at shows and convention centers. It's starting to get attention. Therefore, in the past, as a means of dispersing scents in offices and the like, a small fragrance generator was installed and a fan was used to forcefully dissipate the scent. However, with this method, the scent diffusion effect is small, and the effect can only be obtained in the vicinity, and the installation space for the scent generating device must be secured independently.Furthermore, it requires unique control and maintenance. It was a hassle and required a lot of work.

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve this inconvenience, the applicant has developed a system that can be combined with an air conditioner installed in an office building, etc., to forcibly diffuse fragrance using the blower of the air conditioner, thereby creating a large diffusion effect. We have previously proposed an aroma generating device that can be incorporated into an air conditioner and does not require a separate installation space. (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-127
Publication No. 828)

[0006] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-127828 discloses a liquid fragrance in which a fragrance spray nozzle is provided in an air flow path of an air conditioner equipped with a heat exchanger and a blower fan, and a liquid fragrance is supplied to the fragrance spray nozzle. It is equipped with a cylinder, piping, and a spray amount control valve installed in the same piping and controlled via a control unit.By controlling the opening/closing and opening degree of the spray amount control valve via the control unit The liquid fragrance from the liquid fragrance cylinder is sprayed into the air flow path of the air conditioner through the piping and the spray nozzle, and the sprayed fragrance is mixed with the conditioned air of the air conditioner and blown into the air conditioned space by the blower, thereby spraying the entire space. It is made to be evenly distributed.

[0007]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, this Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1
-127828 discloses the time at which the fragrance is sprayed;
The time, amount, and type of fragrance are automatically controlled according to a preset program. For example, in an office space, scents are released at the start of the workday, at lunch time, and at the end of the workday, and the scent is released at each time. However, there was no change in the air flow from the air conditioner.

On the other hand, regarding air conditioners, one
There are some attempts to improve human comfort by adding /f fluctuation changes. When incorporating both a 1/f fluctuation air blower and an aroma generator into an air conditioner in this way, in a conventional air conditioner, each function operates independently, and although the effects of each can be expected, This will cause a difference in the timing of the effects, and in some cases they may cancel each other's effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an aroma generating device which can eliminate the disadvantages of the conventional example and can not only improve the quality of living space but also further improve comfort.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fragrance spray nozzle in the air flow path of an air conditioner, and connects a fragrance cylinder for supplying fragrance to the fragrance spray nozzle through piping. However, in the aroma generator equipped with a spray amount control valve controlled via the control unit in the piping, the blower fan of the air conditioner is controlled to fluctuate the air flow, and a specific point of the air blower of the air conditioner is controlled. The gist of the present invention is to provide a detection means for detecting and a control means for controlling a spray amount control valve based on the output of the detection means.

[0011]

[Operation] According to the present invention, the detection means detects a specific point in the change cycle of the fluctuation of the blower fan, and the control means controls the spray amount control valve according to the output of the detection means to spray the scent. By operating the fluctuation cycle of the blower fan and the scent spray pitch at the same cycle, a synergistic effect of the two functions can be expected.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the aroma generating device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same as the above. In the figure, 1 indicates an air conditioner installed in an office space of an office building.

This air conditioner 1 has a filter 2 installed as a fan coil unit behind a return air outlet in a case, and a coil 3 serving as a heat exchanger and a blower fan 4 are installed in sequence behind the filter 2. It is arranged. In addition,
This blower fan 4 is controlled by an inverter, and an inverter panel 5 is connected thereto. Furthermore, a control unit 12 using a microcomputer or the like is connected to the inverter panel 5 in order to carry out so-called fuzzy control and 1/f fluctuation changes at a constant cycle as the content of this inverter control.

The fragrance generating device of the present invention is provided with a fragrance control unit 6 in the air conditioner 1 having such a structure. In the example, three pipes were installed, and the pipe 9 from the liquid fragrance cylinder 8 was led to the air conditioner 1, and its tip was used as a spray nozzle 10 facing the leeward side of the blower fan 4 in the air conditioner 1. .

Further, a spray control valve 11 made of a solenoid valve is provided in the middle of the pipe 9, and a control unit 12 is connected to the spray control valve 11 to control opening/closing and spray amount. Note that the three liquid fragrance cylinders 8 contain different types of fragrances, for example, citrus (citrus fragrance), since the effects on the human body differ depending on the type of fragrance.
, floral (flower scent), and woody (wood scent) are filled separately.

This spray control valve 11 is also connected to and controlled by a control unit 12, and the control unit 12 is equipped with a timer means, and the timer means controls the spray of the aroma generating system which is set and stored in advance according to the time. It is configured to control on/off of the switch.

The present invention provides a detection means for detecting a specific point of the 1/f fluctuation air flow of the blower fan 4 of the air conditioner 1. This detection means includes: (1) making a determination at a predetermined time from the start of the 1/f fluctuation air blowing cycle using a timer means provided in the control unit 12; (2) providing an anemometer and measuring the wind speed of the blower fan 4; , ■Measure the input voltage (current) to the fan motor of the blower fan 4 using a voltage (current) meter.

Further, a control means is provided which controls the spray amount control valve 11 of the fragrance control unit 6 in response to the output from the detection means. As this control means, there are cases in which the control unit 12 has that function, and cases in which the control unit 12 is not used and signals are sent by relays or mechanical contacts.

Next, usage and operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the air conditioner 1 starts operating according to the schedule, the return air taken in from the air outlet passes through the filter 2 and has its temperature and humidity adjusted by the coil 3, and then is sent through the air outlet into the office space by the blower fan 4. The air is blown out to condition the air in the office space, but as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 1
The blower fan 4 is connected to the inverter panel 5 according to the program in step 2.
The 1/f fluctuation change is repeated at a constant cycle.

On the other hand, when the set time for supplying the fragrance into the office space comes, the fragrance control unit 6 starts fragrance control by the action of the timer means of the control unit 12. Then, on the condition that the air conditioner 1 is being driven, that is, the power of the air conditioner 1 is turned on, the detection means detects a specific point of the 1/f fluctuation blowing air of the blower fan 4. This specific point is, for example, the point in time when the amount of air blown by the ventilation fan 4 reaches the maximum, and at this specific point in one cycle, the spray amount control valve 11 is opened and the flavor in the liquid flavor cylinder 8 is sprayed through the spray nozzle 10. It is ejected into the air flow path of the air conditioner 1 and blown out into the office space to air-condition the office space and at the same time provide a scented environment to relieve the stress of office workers.

In the illustrated example, three liquid fragrance cylinders 8 are housed in the unit box 7, but the number of liquid fragrance cylinders 8 is not limited to a plurality. Further, the control unit 6 can also be provided inside the air conditioner 1, in addition to the case where the unit box 7 is separate from the air conditioner 1.

[0022]

Effects of the Invention As described above, the fragrance generating device of the present invention can be expected to have a synergistic effect of the two functions by operating the fluctuation cycle of the blower fan and the scent spray pitch at the same cycle, and the This not only improves the quality of the space, but also further improves comfort.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the aroma generating device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the aroma generating device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operational waveform diagram showing the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Air conditioner
2... Filter 3... Coil
4...Blower fan 5...Inverter panel 6...Fragrance control unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A fragrance spray nozzle is provided in an air flow path of an air conditioner, a fragrance cylinder for supplying fragrance is connected to the fragrance spray nozzle via piping, and spraying is controlled via a control unit in the piping. In an aroma generator equipped with a volume control valve, the blower fan of the air conditioner is controlled to blow air in a fluctuating manner. and a control means for controlling a spray amount control valve.