JPH10324A - Air cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to adequately control the operation of a fan without requiring a user's manual operation by variably controlling the operating state of the fan in correspondence to the result of the discrimination made by a dirt kind discriminating means. SOLUTION: A characteristic memory means 45 stores the change characteristic of the output level of a dirt detecting sensor 30 determined according to the kinds of the dirt. The dirt kind discriminating means 44 discriminate the kinds of the dirt by comparing the output level of the dirt kind detecting sensor 30 with the change characteristic of the output level stored in the characteristic memory means 45. The operating state of the fan is variably controlled in correspondence to the result of the discrimination made by the dirt kind discriminating means 44. Then, the operation control mode of the fan adequate according to the kinds of various kinds of the dirt is embodied without providing the air cleaner with the many manually operating keys corresponding to the kinds of the dirt. The effective utilization of the functions of the automatic operation control system using the dirt sensor is thus made possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air purifier capable of controlling the operation of a fan according to the type of dirt in the air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recent air purifier is provided with a dirt detection sensor (a gas sensor or the like) for detecting dirt in the air, and an air purifying means is automatically provided according to the degree of dirt of the air detected by the dirt detection sensor. There is a configuration in which the air volume of a fan that passes through (such as a deodorizing filter) is controlled at a predetermined stage (for example, low, medium, or high).

[0003]

However, the present dirt detection sensor cannot itself determine the type of dirt (eg, tobacco, pollen, alcohol, etc.). Therefore, even if only the output level of the dirt detection sensor is monitored, whether the current air dirt is caused by, for example, tobacco, pollen or alcohol, or a person sprayed on the sensor unit It is not possible to determine whether the air is contaminated or not, and it is only possible to determine that the air is dirty to a predetermined level.

[0004] However, in order to purify air in a truly efficient manner, it is necessary to employ an operation control mode of a fan which is originally appropriate for the type of dirt.

For this reason, for example, in addition to the above-described configuration, a manual operation key such as a cigarette operation mode selection key or a pollen operation mode selection key is provided, and the user can respond to the situation of air contamination at that time. There has also been proposed an arrangement in which, when any one of these is operated, the operation of the fan is controlled in an operation mode corresponding to the operation.

[0006]

However, in the case of the latter configuration, it is possible to realize the fan operation mode corresponding to the type of dirt. However, there are the following problems.

(1) Manual operation is required each time, which is inconvenient.

(2) Since there are a plurality of types of dirt, a lot of operation keys are required to deal with them individually.

(3) The feature of the automatic driving function provided with the dirt detection sensor at the corner cannot be utilized.

The inventions according to claims 1 to 3 of the present application have been made to solve the above problems, and the change characteristic of the output level of the dirt detection sensor is determined according to the type of dirt. Focusing on the difference, the type of dirt can be determined from the change in the output level of the sensor, and appropriate fan operation control can be performed according to the determination result without requiring any manual operation by the user such as operation of operation keys. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an air purifier.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems Each of the inventions according to claims 1 to 3 of the present application is provided with the following means for solving the problems, which is effective for achieving the object.

(1) The first aspect of the present invention is an air purifier comprising: a dirt detection sensor for generating an output corresponding to dirt of air; an air purifying means; and a fan for passing air through the air purifying means. An air purifier configured to purify air through the air purifying means by controlling an operation state of the fan in accordance with an output level of the dirt detection sensor, in accordance with a type of dirt. A characteristic storage unit that stores a change characteristic of an output level of the dirt detection sensor, and compares an output level of the dirt detection sensor with a change characteristic of an output level stored in the characteristic storage unit to determine a type of dirt. And a dirt type determining means for variably controlling the operating state of the fan in accordance with the determination result of the dirt type determining means.

Therefore, an appropriate fan operation control mode corresponding to various types of dirt can be realized without providing many manual operation keys or the like corresponding to types of dirt. The functions of the automatic driving control system can be effectively used.

(2) In the air purifier of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the type of dirt by the dirt type determining means is determined by a change in the output level of a dirt detection sensor. Is performed within a predetermined time after the start of operation of the fan until a difference is recognized.

Therefore, not only the operation of the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained, but also the type of dirt using the dirt detection sensor can be determined promptly in the early stage of the operation of the air purifier, and the dirt can be detected early. Since the proper operation control of the fan according to the type and the level of the fan is started, the air purification accuracy is improved.

(3) The air purifier according to the present invention, in the air cleaner according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, variably controls a fan operating state corresponding to a determination result of each of the dirt type determination means. Is performed using a fan operation control sequence that is set in advance according to the assumed type of dirt.

Therefore, when the type of dirt is determined by the dirt type determining means as described above, an appropriate fan operation control sequence corresponding to the type is automatically selected, and the fan operation is controlled accordingly. The air is efficiently purified.

[0018]

As a result, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the following beneficial effects can be obtained.

(1) Effects common to the first to third aspects of the invention No manual operation is required, which is convenient.

There is no need to install operation keys according to the type of dirt, so that the structure is simple and the cost is low.

[0021] The features of the automatic driving function having the dirt detection sensor can be utilized to the utmost, and fully automatic operation can be realized.

(2) Unique effect of the second aspect of the invention Since the type of dirt can be discriminated at the beginning of operation and appropriate fan operation control can be promptly performed, an efficient air purifying action according to the type of dirt can be achieved. Can be realized.

(3) Unique effect of the third aspect Since an appropriate fan operation control sequence is set for each type of dirt, it is easy to realize an optimal fan operation state according to the type of dirt. it can.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show the configuration of an air purifier main body according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows the configuration of an operation control system in the air purifier.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a main body of the air purifier is provided with a blower (fan) 2 in a substantially rectangular box-shaped casing 1 and an air blower located on the suction side of the blower 2. And a filter unit (air purification means) 3 that adsorbs and collects dust, off-odor substances and the like.

The casing 1 comprises a synthetic resin bowl-shaped front plate 4 located on the suction side of the blower 2, and a synthetic resin bowl-shaped back plate 5 opposed to the front plate 4. Yes,
The front plate 4 is detachably attached to the back plate 5.

The front plate 4 of the casing is provided with the front plate 4
A concave portion 6 is formed in which the central portion of the front side in the vertical direction is horizontally elongated, the upper portion 6a is a horizontal surface, and the lower portion 6b reaches both side portions which are inclined surfaces having an upward slope in the concave direction. A single horizontally long strip-shaped air suction port 7 for sucking room air W is formed in the inner depth of the recess 6 (see FIG. 2). As a result, the air inlet 7 has a horizontally long band shape with a limited opening area, which facilitates the cleaning of the air inlet 7 and also reduces the efficiency of air generated from a limited source such as cigarette smoke. You will be able to suck well. Further, since the air suction port 7 is formed in the inner part of the concave portion 6 where the upper part 6a is a horizontal surface and the lower part 6b is an inclined surface having an upward slope in the concave direction, the air suction port 7 is formed.
And the adhesion of dust and the like to the rim of the air inlet is reduced, and the air suction port 7 is hardly seen from the outside. The air inlet 7
Has no suction grille. Reference numeral 13 denotes a pre-filter provided in the air inlet 7.

On the other hand, an air outlet 8 for blowing clean air Wf is formed obliquely rearward on one side of the upper surface of the casing back plate 5 (the left rear portion in FIG. 2).

The blower 2 includes a fan motor 9 as a driving source, a multi-blade impeller 10 rotationally driven by the fan motor 9, and a scroll-type fan housing 11 enclosing the multi-blade impeller 10. A multi-blade centrifugal blower is provided in the casing 1 with the suction port 11a of the fan housing 11 facing the front side and the discharge port 11b of the fan housing 11 facing the air outlet 8. ing.

The filter unit 3 includes a filter cartridge 3a located on the leeward side and an activated carbon cartridge 3b located on the leeward side. The filter unit 3 is located on the suction side of the blower 2 and is integrally formed with the fan housing 11. The filter support frame 12 is detachably supported.

Further, on the upper part of the front surface of the casing 1,
Various operation keys (for example, automatic operation mode setting key 15,
Cigarette operation mode setting key 16 operated during cigarette mode operation, pollen operation mode setting key 17 operated during pollen mode operation, timer key 18, air volume setting key 19 for setting air volume, operation switching key 20, filter reset key 21 ), A remote control light-receiving unit 22 and various display lamps (first to first contamination degree display for displaying the degree of contamination of the indoor air W).
Dirt LED lamps 23a, 23 as third display means
b, 23c, an LED lamp 24 that lights up when operating in the cigarette mode, an LED lamp 2 that lights up when operating in the pollen mode
5. Timer LED lamps 26a, 26b, 26c for displaying the timer set time, air volume LE for displaying the set air volume
D lamps 27a (weak), 27b (medium), 27c (strong),
Filter change LED to display filter change sign
A lamp 28, a filter life LED lamp 29 serving as a filter life display means for displaying the life of the filter.
a, 29b, 29c), etc., is provided in a space 31 on the inner surface side of the operation panel 14 for detecting the degree of contamination of indoor air (in other words, suction air) W. A sensor (for example, a gas sensor) 30 is provided. Reference numeral 30a denotes a suction port formed on the operation panel 14 for suctioning indoor air,
Is communicated with the suction passage in the casing 11 through the communication port 32.

The first, second, and third L for displaying the degree of dirt
ED lamps 23a (green), 23b (red), 23c
(Red) is lit sequentially according to the degree of contamination (low, medium, high) of the suction air W. In other words, the degree of contamination of the indoor air W can be displayed in a stepwise manner. This allows a dirt display corresponding to the degree of contamination of the indoor air W to be performed. You can know the degree clearly. In addition, the first to third LED lamps 23a, 23b,
The lighting control of 23c can be switched at predetermined time intervals when switching from low to high or from high to low in accordance with a change in the output level of the dirt detection sensor 30 (described later). ).

Further, the filter life LED lamp 2
9a, 29b, and 29c are sequentially turned on according to the degree of contamination of the filter unit 3. That is,
The life of the filter unit 3 is displayed step by step, so that the user can predict in advance the replacement time of the filter unit 3.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, at the position facing the side end of the filter unit 3 in the casing 1, the various operation keys 15 to 21, the remote control light receiving section 22, and the dirt detecting sensor 30 are provided. And a control unit for outputting various control signals to the fan motor 9 and the various display LED lamps 23 to 29 based on the results, and a control circuit formed around the control unit. The microcomputer board 33 provided with the above is provided. On the other hand, a projection 35 protruding toward the microcomputer board 33 is provided at a side end of the filter unit 3, and a photo interrupter 36 is provided on the microcomputer board 33 at a position facing the projection 35. Is provided. The photo interrupter 36 inputs a signal to the microcomputer board 33 when the protrusion 35 approaches. Reference numeral 37 denotes a through hole formed in the filter support frame 12.

The microcomputer board 33 has a built-in operation control circuit having various control functions as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the configuration and operation of the circuit will be described next.

That is, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 denotes an operation mode setting unit. The operation mode setting unit 41 includes the automatic operation mode setting key 15, the cigarette operation mode setting key 16, and the pollen operation mode setting key 17. The operation state (ON or OFF state) of each setting key is input. Then, the control function of the control unit is set to the blower operation control mode designated by the setting key in the ON state corresponding to the input state.

In this case, each operation control mode set as described above is, for example, as follows.

(1) Automatic operation mode This is a mode that automatically operates according to the output level of the dirt detection sensor 30 described above, in which the power plug of the main body is plugged into a household power outlet (for example, three minutes). As described above, when the above-described automatic operation mode setting key is pressed, the automatic operation starts immediately according to the degree of contamination of the surrounding air.

At this time, if the first to third LED lamps for displaying the degree of contamination of the air are all lit up to, for example, 23a to 23c, it indicates that the air in the room is highly contaminated.

(2) Cigarette driving mode This is a mode in which the smoke and the smell of cigarettes are quickly eliminated in response to smoking. When the cigarette driving mode setting key 16 is depressed in a state where the power to the main body is the same as above. ,
The air volume lamp turns off and the cigarette lamp turns on.

Then, after starting the operation, for example, about 30
Driving stops in minutes. During that time, the first 15 minutes were strong winds,
The remaining 15 minutes are operated at medium airflow.

(3) Pollen operation mode This is a mode in which pollen is quickly absorbed and purified in response to a large amount of pollen. By pressing, the air volume lamp turns off and the pollen lamp turns on.

Then, the operation was started and the air flow was strong for 10 minutes.
After driving for 10 minutes in the air flow, stop for 20 minutes at low and stop for 10 minutes.
The pollen is efficiently absorbed by driving repeatedly. To stop driving, set the operation key to “OFF”.

On the other hand, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 42 denotes an automatic operation mode judging section, which judges whether or not the operation mode set by the operation mode setting section 41 is the automatic operation mode (1). When the automatic operation mode is set, the output level change characteristic detecting section 43 of the dirt detecting sensor 30 described below is used.
To control the output level change characteristic detecting section 43.

The output level change characteristic detecting section 43 determines the level change pattern of the dirt detection output signal of the dirt detection sensor 30 by, for example, a predetermined time t after the start of the automatic operation mode.
(For example, about 3 minutes) and output. The detected output level change pattern is supplied to the next dirt type determination unit 44 as data indicating the type of dirt in the air in the current environment.

The stain type discriminating section 44 detects the input output level change pattern in advance in accordance with, for example, the type of stain such as tobacco, pollen, alcohol, and the like, and detects the change by the stain detection sensor 30 as shown in FIG. By sequentially comparing the change characteristic of the signal output level with the storage characteristic of the output level change characteristic storage section 45 which stores the characteristic, the type of dirt currently detected by the dirt detection sensor 30 is determined (pattern comparison).

Then, the determination result is supplied to the next blower operation control unit 46. The blower operation control unit 46 stores a blower operation control sequence optimal for removing the dirt corresponding to any of the determined types of dirt, for example, tobacco, pollen, alcohol, etc., in the blower operation control storage unit 47. And drives and controls the fan motor 9 of the blower 2 based on the read blower operation control sequence.

As a result, in the case of the automatic operation mode of the present embodiment, an appropriate blower (fan) 2 corresponding to various types of dirt is provided without providing many manual operation keys or the like corresponding to types of dirt. The operation control mode can be realized, and the function of the automatic operation control system using the dirt detection sensor 30 can be more effectively utilized.

On the other hand, reference numeral 48 denotes the dirt detection sensor 30.
A detection unit for detecting the degree of contamination of the air, for example, in three levels of low, medium and high based on the output level of the detection signal of the above. There are three first, second, and third determination thresholds according to the determination.

Then, the dirt degree detecting section 48 detects the level of the detection signal of the dirt detection sensor 30 which continuously changes.
Exceeding the first, second and third judgment threshold levels,
Or a corresponding step each time it falls below (low, medium,
A dirt degree display signal of (high) is formed, and the dirt degree display signal is supplied to a dirt degree display LED lamp lighting control unit 51 via a delay control unit 49 described later. The first to third LED lamps 23 for displaying three levels of low, medium and high dirt levels based on the dirt level display signal.
The lighting control of each of a, 23b, and 23c is performed, and displayed in the following manner according to the actual degree of contamination.

(1) At low level, only the first LED lamp 23a is turned on. (2) At medium level, two of the first and second LED lamps 23a, 23b are turned on. (3) At high level, first, second, and second. Third LED lamps 23a, 23b, 23
At the time when all of c are lit, the detection signal output level of the dirt detection sensor 30 changes in an analog manner, and the change is changed from low to high and from high to low, as is apparent from the characteristic of FIG. Shows a rapid change. Therefore, if this is displayed as it is as it is, the state (3) is immediately obtained after the start of operation, and when the operation is suddenly performed with a high air flow, the state (1) is reversed at the next moment. That can happen. In this case, it is difficult for the user to understand the actual change in the degree of dirt, and the user feels uneasy.

The delay control section 49 provided between the dirt degree detection section 48 and the LED lamp lighting control section 51.
Is to solve the problem, and the contamination degree detected by the contamination degree detecting section 48 by the delay time varying section 50 is changed from a low level to a high level as shown in FIGS. The magnitudes of the delay times are ta (ta = 3 seconds) and tb (tb) when changing in the level direction and when changing from the high level to the low level as shown in FIGS.
= 60 seconds).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, even when the degree of dirt detected by the dirt detection sensor 30 changes high in the directions (A) to (C), (A) to (C) suddenly. The lighting state is not switched to the state of ()), but the lighting state of (B) is surely kept for the same ta time after always leaving for ta seconds (3 seconds), and then the state shifts to the next lighting state of (C). As a result, the change of the degree of contamination in the increasing direction can be easily recognized, and the user does not have to feel uneasy.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7, when the degree of contamination changes to a low level in the directions (C) to (A), the lighting state is suddenly switched from the state (C) to the state (A). Instead of switching, be sure to set tb seconds (60 seconds) (B)
After the lighting state is kept for the time tb, the state shifts to the lighting state of (A), so that the change in the dirt reduction direction can be easily recognized, and the user does not have to feel uneasy.

In particular, when the delay time tb when the degree of contamination decreases as in the latter case is set to be longer than the time ta when the degree of contamination increases (tb> ta), the effect of reducing the degree of contamination is psychologically observed. Thus, the user can be given a sense of security and can be expressed in an easily understandable state.

Further, when the air is purified as described above and the degree of contamination detected by the degree of contamination detecting section 48 becomes lower than the low level determination threshold value, the fan of the blower 2 is normally operated. A control system for stopping the operation of the motor 9 is employed.

However, in practice, since the dirt environment around the air purifier is complicated, in such a case, the blower 2 is operated again after stopping, and is stopped again after a short time. This can lead to phenomena.

In the present embodiment, a timer control unit 52 is provided in the circuit of the blower stop control system based on the detection signal of the dirt detection sensor 30 as shown in FIG. As shown in the characteristics, even if the level of the detection signal output of the dirt detection sensor 30 detected by the dirt degree detection unit 48 becomes lower than the set low level, the blower stop control is continued for a predetermined time tc thereafter. Without outputting a signal to the fan motor 9, the blower 2 is forcibly continued to operate at a low air flow, thereby making the dirt environment around the air cleaner more stable and minimizing the possibility of hunting. And change the blower operation state (air volume change) from the start of operation to the stoppage of operation from strong → medium → weak →
A clear and smooth pattern of stops is used.

Of course, if the degree of contamination of a predetermined level or more is detected within the time of the timer ta, the air flow is controlled to correspond to the level.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main body structure of an air purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the air purifier.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the air purifier.

FIG. 4 is a control system diagram of the air purifier.

FIG. 5 is a change characteristic diagram of an output level according to a type of dirt detected by a dirt detection sensor of the air purifier.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in a first display mode of a dirt degree display section of the air purifier.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in a second display mode of a dirt degree display section of the air purifier.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing characteristics of the air purifier during blower operation stop control.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 is a dirt detection sensor. 41 is an operation mode setting unit, 42
Denotes an automatic operation mode determination unit, 43 denotes a dirt detection signal output level change characteristic detection unit, 44 denotes a dirt type determination unit, and 46 denotes a blower operation control unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An air purifying device, comprising: a dirt detection sensor for generating an output corresponding to the dirt of air; an air purifying means; and a fan for passing air through the air purifying means. In the air purifier configured to purify the air through the air purifying means by controlling the operation state of the air purifier, the characteristic storing the change characteristic of the output level of the dirt detection sensor determined according to the type of dirt is stored. Storage means, and a dirt type determination means for comparing the output level of the dirt detection sensor with a change characteristic of the output level stored in the characteristic storage means to determine the type of dirt; An air purifier characterized in that the operating state of the fan is variably controlled in accordance with a result of the determination. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the type of dirt by the dirt type determination means is performed for a predetermined time after the start of operation of the fan until a change in the output level of the dirt detection sensor is recognized. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The variable control of the fan operation state corresponding to the determination result of the dirt type determination means is performed using a fan operation control sequence set in advance according to the type of dirt. 3. The air purifier according to 1 or 2, wherein