JPH11237102A - Electric machinery having air cleaning function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute a dust removing mode at an appropriate timing by almost correctly judging the amount of dust attached to a dust collecting electrode. SOLUTION: An air cleaning function comprises a capacity memory 79 for storing a capacity per unit time beforehand depending on each of rotational modes of a fan 30, a timer unit 77 for measuring the operation times of the respective rotation modes of the fan 30 from the operation starting time, a sum total capacity calculating unit 78 for calculating the sum total of the capacity from the operation starting time on the basis of the capacity stored in the capacity memory 79 and the operation time of the individual rotation modes measured by the timer unit 77, and a dust amount judging unit 80 for judging the amount of dust at a dust collector 40 on the basis of the sum total capacity calculated by the sum total capacity calculating unit 78.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method in which external air is sucked by the rotation of a fan having a plurality of rotation modes, and dust and dirt contained in the sucked air are collected by a dust collecting device provided inside. The present invention relates to an electric device having an air purifying function for discharging purified air to the outside, and is used, for example, as an air purifier alone or as an air conditioner having an air purifying function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing need to maintain a comfortable living space by keeping indoor air clean, and in order to respond to the need, an air purifier or an air conditioner having an air purifying function (a so-called air conditioner). , Air conditioners) are provided. As a device for realizing such an air purifying function, an electronic dust collecting device including a discharge electrode and a dust collecting electrode has been conventionally provided. This dust collector applies a high voltage between the discharge electrode and the dust collection electrode, ionizes dust existing in the surrounding air by the discharge electrode, and adsorbs (adheres) the dust to the dust collection electrode.

[0003] In an electric device having such a dust collecting device, when dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode exceeds a certain amount, the dust collecting effect is rapidly reduced. In some cases, corona discharge is generated from the tip of the dust collection electrode, which may cause smoke and odor. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically remove dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode. However, an air conditioner having an air purifying function has a structure in which a user cannot clean the dust collecting device because the dust collecting device is mounted behind the heat exchanger. Therefore, such an air conditioner requires a system (maintenance-free) for automatically cleaning the built-in dust collector.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for automatically cleaning such a dust collecting apparatus, in which a heating section (such as a sheath heater) is provided on the dust collecting electrode, and the heating section is heated to adhere to the dust collecting electrode. The present invention provides an air conditioner that removes dust (decomposes into carbon dioxide and water by a reaction with a ceramic catalyst deposited on the surface of a dust collecting electrode).

[0005] In this air conditioner, there is a problem of when to perform a process of removing dust adhering to the dust collection electrode (dust removal mode). For example, a conventional air conditioner provided with an air filter (for example, In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-257332), the time from the start of operation is simply measured, and when the operation time reaches a preset time (for example, 8 hours), a certain amount of dust adheres to the air filter. It is determined that the air filter has clogged (clogging has occurred) and the clogging of the air filter is cleaned (this is referred to as conventional technology 1).

In addition to the method of determining the cleaning time based on the operation time, a method of detecting the degree of contamination of the air filter from the number of revolutions of a fan (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-1984).
No. 153015: This is referred to as prior art 2), or a device which detects the wind speed of an ion blast portion composed of an ionization electrode and a counter electrode to determine a cleaning time (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-1)
No. 49260, which is referred to as prior art 3).

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned prior art 2 and prior art 3 are premised on the fact that dust adheres to the air filter and the counter electrode, thereby changing the internal wind speed. . In other words, it is a major premise that the internal structure is such that when the dust adheres, the dust is prevented by the adhered dust and the internal wind speed gradually decreases. Therefore, a structure that does not have such a structure (that is, a structure in which the wind speed of air flowing through the inside does not change much or hardly changes even if dust adheres)
Has a problem that it cannot be applied at all.

In the above-mentioned prior art 1, the cleaning time of the air filter (that is, the execution timing of the dust removal mode in the present invention) is determined only by the operation time. However, the operation time does not always coincide with the amount of dust adhering to the dust collection electrode. For example, when the air conditioner fan (cross-flow type fan) has a plurality of rotation modes (for example, three types of strong, medium, and weak), a case where the operation is continued for 8 hours in a weak state and a case where a strong The amount of dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode after 8 hours differs naturally when the operation is continued for 8 hours in this state. Further, in the case of the automatic operation mode, the rotation mode of the fan is automatically switched according to the indoor state, so that it is difficult to predict the amount of dust attached after 8 hours.

Therefore, when the execution timing of the dust removal mode is determined only by the operation time, the dust removal mode is executed even though the dust is not adhered to the dust collection electrode, or the dust is kept constant on the dust collection electrode. There has been a problem that the dust removal mode is not executed even though the amount is more than the amount. By the way, if the air in the room is constant, the amount of dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode is considered to be substantially proportional to the amount of air sucked into the air conditioner. In a completely closed still space (space where no people or objects move inside), if the air conditioner is operated and the dust collector is operated, the dust in the air will surely decrease over time. In this case, the amount of dust adhering to the dust collection electrode is not necessarily proportional to the amount of air sucked into the air conditioner.

However, considering the actual use condition, wind is generated by circulation of air by rotating the fan, and this wind may cause dust adhering to the tatami or carpet. In addition, dust comes in and out even when people enter and exits, and dust comes in even when people walk or children are talking indoors. In addition, if you smoke, you will also emit a large amount of smoke. As described above, in an actual living space, dust is considered to be constantly generated.Therefore, if the amount of dust adhering to the dust collection electrode is approximately proportional to the amount of air sucked into the air conditioner. As a matter of course, the amount of dust can be predicted much more accurately than the amount of dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode is estimated only by the operation time.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point. It is an object of the present invention to determine the amount of dust adhering to a dust collecting electrode almost accurately and to set a dust removal mode at an appropriate timing. To provide an electric device having an air purifying function capable of performing the following.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric device having an air purifying function, wherein external air is sucked by rotation of a fan having a plurality of rotation modes, and an internal air is supplied to the electric device. An electric device having an air purifying function of discharging purified air to the outside by collecting dust and dirt contained in the intake air by a dust collecting device provided in the fan, according to each rotation mode of the fan The air volume storage unit that stores the air volume per unit time in advance, the operation time measurement unit that measures the operation time of the fan in each rotation mode from the start of operation, and the air volume storage unit. On the basis of the air flow and the operation time in each rotation mode from the start of operation measured by the operation time measuring unit, the total of the air flow obtained by calculating the sum of the air flow from the start of operation is calculated. A calculation unit, a configuration in which a determining dust amount determination unit dust collecting amount of the dust collector on the basis of the total air amount calculated by the flow rate summation section.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric device having an air purifying function according to the first aspect of the invention.
The dust collection amount determination unit is configured to output an instruction signal indicating a cleaning start condition of the dust collection device when the total air volume calculated by the air volume total calculation unit reaches a preset air volume.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric device having an air purifying function, wherein external air is sucked by rotation of a fan having a plurality of rotation modes, and the suction air is provided by a dust collecting device provided inside. By collecting dust and dirt contained in, in an electric device having an air cleaning function of discharging purified air to the outside, the air volume per unit time according to each rotation mode of the fan is stored in advance. An air volume storage unit, and a capture efficiency storage unit that stores dust capture efficiency in advance according to each rotation mode of the fan,
An operation time measurement unit that measures the operation time in each rotation mode of the fan from the start of operation, and each of the air amount stored in the air amount storage unit and the operation time measured by the operation time measurement unit from the start of operation. Based on the operation time in the rotation mode, the airflow sum for each rotation mode is obtained, and the obtained airflow sum is added to the acquisition efficiency stored in the acquisition efficiency storage unit to obtain the airflow sum for each rotation mode. By calculating the sum of pseudo airflows and adding these pseudo airflow sums,
A pseudo air volume sum calculation unit for calculating the sum of the pseudo air volume from the start of operation, and a dust collection amount determination unit for determining a dust collection amount in the dust collecting device based on the pseudo total air volume calculated by the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit And a part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric apparatus having an air purifying function according to the third aspect of the present invention.
The dust collection amount determination unit is configured to output an instruction signal indicating a cleaning start condition of the dust collection device when the pseudo total air amount calculated by the pseudo air amount total calculation unit reaches a preset air amount. I do. Further, the electric device having an air cleaning function according to claim 5 of the present invention is the electric device according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the dust collecting device includes a discharge electrode and a dust collecting electrode having a heating unit, Based on an instruction signal from the dust collection amount determination unit, the heating unit is heated to remove dust attached to the dust collection electrode.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an electric device having an air cleaning function according to the present invention, as viewed from a side.
This embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an air conditioner. This air conditioner has a front surface opened as a suction port 2, a case body 1 provided with a discharge port 3 below the suction port 2 (below the front face), and a suction port 2 of the case body 1.
Openable front panel 10 attached to the case and case body 1
A heat exchanger 20 provided in the case main body 1 facing the suction port 2 of the first embodiment, and a rear side of the discharge port 3 for flowing air from the suction port 2 to the discharge port 3 through the heat exchanger 20. The apparatus includes a cross-flow fan 30 provided in the vicinity and an electronic dust collector 40 arranged in an air passage on the back side of the heat exchanger 20.

The top plate 4 and the front panel 1 of the case body 1
An upper surface grill 5 and a front surface grill 11 for sucking air are respectively formed on the front surface of the front grille 0. An angle-adjustable louver 6 is provided at the discharge port 3 of the case body 1, and an air filter 50 is provided between the front panel 10 and the heat exchanger 20. A heat shield plate 48 is attached to the surface of the vertical back plate 7 of the case main body 1, and a dust collector 40 is attached to the front of the heat shield plate 48.

That is, the dust collecting device 40 is provided with the structure shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, a cylindrical dust collecting electrode 41 provided horizontally.
A discharge electrode 42 extending horizontally at a position slightly above the dust collecting electrode 41 and a rod-shaped heater (such as a sheathed heater) 43 for removing dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode 41. Have. The dust collecting electrode 41 includes a heater 43.
Is provided in a shape inward, and the heater 4
3 supports the heat shield plate 48 horizontally. The dust collecting electrode 41 has both ends bent in a direction away from the discharge electrode 42, and springs 44, 44 attached to both ends of the dust collection electrode 41 to stretch the discharge electrode 42 on the heat shielding plate 48. Is maintained so as to maintain a constant distance at which no discharge occurs. A ceramic catalyst such as alumina or zeolite is deposited on the surface of the dust collecting electrode 41. With such a structure, both the dust collector 40 and the heat shield plate 48 follow the air flow from the top to the bottom in the air passage on the back side of the heat exchanger 20.

Next, the operation of the air conditioner having the above configuration will be described. During the automatic operation of the air conditioner, the indoor air
As shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 3, when the fan 30 is operated, it flows into the case body 1 from the front grill 11 of the front panel 10 and the upper grill 5 of the case body 1 and passes through the heat exchanger 20. After that, the air moves on the back side from the top to the bottom, and is discharged from the discharge port 3 into the room via the fan 30.

At this time, a dust collector 40 is provided in the air passage on the back side of the heat exchanger 20 and its discharge electrode 4
A high voltage is applied between 2 and the dust collection electrode 41.
Therefore, lines of electric force are generated between the discharge electrode 42 and the dust collection electrode 41 as shown by a broken line in FIG. 5, whereby the dust 60 existing in the air around the discharge electrode 42 is ionized, It is attracted to and adheres to the dust collecting electrode 41. As a result, the air that has passed through the heat exchanger 20 is purified in the process of passing through the air passage on the back side thereof, and is discharged again into the room.

FIG. 1 shows an electrical configuration of the air conditioner including a circuit configuration for executing a dust removal mode for removing dust 60 attached to the dust collecting electrode 41 by such automatic operation. FIG. 1 corresponds to claims 1, 2 and 5. That is, the operation key 72a and the operation stop key 7
A key input unit 72 to which various keys required to operate the air conditioner such as 2b are connected is connected to a microcomputer control unit 71 that controls the operation of the entire air conditioner. The microcomputer control unit 71 controls the cooling / heating driving system 73 including a well-known refrigeration cycle (not shown), and controls the fan driving unit 74 to rotate the fan 30 in an arbitrary rotation mode. In this example, it is assumed that three types of rotation modes “strong”, “medium”, and “weak” are set as the rotation modes of the fan 30.

Further, the microcomputer control section 71 controls the dust collection drive section 75 to apply a high voltage between the discharge electrode 42 and the dust collection electrode 41 of the dust collection device 40. Dust collection drive unit 75
Although not shown, a rectifier circuit for rectifying the AC power and a high-voltage unit are provided. The microcomputer control unit 7
1 controls the heater driving unit 76 to energize the heater 43 to heat the heater 43 to remove dust adhering to the surface of the dust collecting electrode 41 (decompose into carbon dioxide and water by reaction with the catalyst). .

Each output of the microcomputer control unit 71 is supplied to a timer unit (operating time measuring unit) 77 and a total air volume calculating unit 78.
The output of the timer unit 77 is guided to the air volume sum calculation unit 78. Further, the air volume sum calculation unit 78
, The output of the air volume storage unit 79 is guided, and the output of the air volume sum calculation unit 78 is guided to the dust collection amount determination unit 80 in which the reference air volume R is set. The output of the dust collection amount determination unit 80 is guided to the microcomputer control unit 71.

The timer section 77 measures the operation time of the fan 30 in each rotation mode from the start of the operation, and outputs the measured value to the air volume sum calculation section 78. That is, the timer unit 77 starts the measurement of the operation time by the start signal from the microcomputer control unit 71, clears the measurement value by the mode switching signal, clears the measurement value by the operation stop signal, and stops the measurement operation. It has become. The air volume storage unit 79 stores the air volume per unit time according to each rotation mode of the fan 30 in advance.

The total air volume calculation unit 78 calculates the total air volume from the start of operation based on the air volume stored in the air volume storage unit 79 and the operation time in each rotation mode from the start of operation measured by the timer unit 77. Is calculated by calculation. When the total air volume calculated by the total air volume calculation unit 78 reaches a preset reference air volume R, the dust collection volume determination unit 80 sends an instruction signal indicating a cleaning start condition of the dust collection device 40 to the microcomputer control unit. 71. Here, the reference air amount R
Is determined in advance by experiments or the like. As described in connection with the problem to be solved by the invention, the amount of dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode 41 is considered to be substantially proportional to the amount of air sucked into the air conditioner. An experiment is performed in a state close to the living space, and the total air volume when the amount of dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode 41 reaches an amount requiring cleaning may be obtained, and this may be set as the reference air amount R.

The microcomputer control unit 71 includes a dust collection amount determination unit 80
The dust removal mode is executed at a predetermined timing based on the instruction signal from the CPU. That is, the heater driving unit 75 is controlled to energize the heater 43 to heat the heater 43 and remove dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode 41.

Here, the calculation processing operation in the air volume total calculation section 78 and the determination processing operation in the dust collection amount determination section 80 will be described. As described above, in the present example, three types of rotation modes “strong”, “medium”, and “weak” are set as the rotation modes of the fan 30, and the fan 3 in each rotation mode is set.
The rotation speed of 0 is a1 (strong), b1 (medium), c1 (weak), and the air flow per unit time at that time is a2 (strong), b
2 (medium) and c2 (weak). That is, the air volume storage unit 7
9 stores these air volume data (a2, b2, c2). In this state, when the operation key 72a is pressed, the microcomputer control unit 71 executes the automatic operation mode.
That is, the cooling / heating driving system 73 is controlled so that the room temperature becomes a preset room temperature, and the rotation speed of the fan 30 is increased,
Control while switching to any of the weak. At this time, when the operation key 72a is pressed, the microcomputer control unit 71 outputs an activation signal to the timer unit 77 and causes the timer unit 77 to start measurement. Further, the microcomputer control unit 71 outputs a mode signal indicating the rotation mode of the fan 30 at the start of operation to the total air volume calculation unit 78.

The air volume sum calculation unit 78 determines the rotation speed of the fan 30 based on the mode signal, reads out the air volume per unit time corresponding to the rotation speed from the air volume storage unit 79, and reads the read air volume and the timer. From the operation time in the rotation mode measured by the unit 77, the total air volume in the rotation mode is calculated. Here, as a specific example of the calculation of the total air volume by the total air volume calculation unit 78, the fan 30 starts rotating in the rotation mode “strong” at the start of operation, and after the A30 hour operation in the rotation mode “strong”, Next, a specific description will be given of a case where the rotation mode is switched to “medium” and the operation is performed for B1 hours, and then the rotation mode is switched to “weak” and the operation is performed for C1 hours.

In this case, since the rotation mode of the fan 30 indicated by the mode signal immediately after the start of operation is “strong” (that is, the rotation speed a1), the air volume sum calculation unit 78
The air volume a2 per unit time corresponding to the rotation speed a1 is read from the air volume storage unit 79. Thereafter, the microcomputer control unit 71 automatically switches the operation mode after the elapse of the time A1, and when the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched from “high” to “medium”, the microcomputer control unit 71 sends a reset signal to the timer unit 77. And outputs a mode signal (a signal indicating the rotation mode “medium”) to the air volume sum calculation unit 78. When receiving the reset signal, the timer unit 77 outputs the measurement value A1 up to that time to the airflow sum calculation unit 78, resets the measurement value, and starts measurement again. On the other hand, the air volume sum calculation unit 78 determines the rotation mode “strong” based on the air volume a2 per unit time read from the air volume storage unit 79 and the measurement value (operating time) A1 input from the timer unit 77. The total air volume (a2 × A1) is calculated, and this is temporarily stored in the internal memory.

Next, the air volume sum calculation unit 78 outputs the rotation mode “medium” (rotation speed b) input from the microcomputer control unit 71.
Based on the mode signal indicating 1), the air volume b2 per unit time corresponding to the rotation speed b1 is read from the air volume storage unit 79. Thereafter, the microcomputer control unit 71 automatically switches the operation mode after the elapse of the B1 time, and when the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched from “medium” to “weak”, the microcomputer control unit 71 sends a reset signal to the timer unit 77. And outputs a mode signal (a signal indicating the rotation mode “weak”) to the total air volume calculation unit 78. When receiving the reset signal, the timer unit 77 outputs the measured value B1 up to that time to the airflow sum calculating unit 78, resets the measured value, and starts the measurement again.

On the other hand, the air volume sum calculation unit 78 determines the rotation mode “medium” based on the air volume b2 per unit time read from the air volume storage unit 79 and the measured value (operating time) B1 input from the timer unit 77. ”(B2 × B
1) to calculate the total air volume (a) stored in the internal memory.
2 × A1) and add this to the new total air volume (a2 ×
A1 + b2 × B1) is updated and stored in the internal memory.

Next, the air volume sum calculation unit 78 outputs the rotation mode “weak” (rotation speed c) input from the microcomputer control unit 71.
Based on the mode signal indicating 1), the air volume c2 per unit time corresponding to the rotation speed c1 is read from the air volume storage unit 79. Thereafter, after the time C1 has elapsed, the microcomputer control unit 71 automatically switches the operation mode, and when the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched from “weak” to “strong” again, for example, the microcomputer control unit 71 A reset signal is output, and a mode signal (a signal indicating the rotation mode “strong”) is output to the air volume sum calculation unit 78. Timer section 7
7, upon receiving the reset signal, the measured value C
After outputting 1 to the airflow sum calculation unit 78, the measured value is reset and the measurement is started again.

On the other hand, the air volume total calculation unit 78 determines the rotation mode “weak” based on the air volume c2 per unit time read from the air volume storage unit 79 and the measurement value (operating time) C1 input from the timer unit 77. ”(C2 × C
1) to calculate the total air volume (a) stored in the internal memory.
2 × A1 + b2 × B1), and this is updated and stored in the internal memory as a new total air volume (a2 × A1 + b2 × B1 + c2 × C1). Each time the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched, the air volume sum calculation unit 78 executes the above-described calculations, adds the calculation result to the total air volume up to that time stored in the internal memory, and updates and stores the sum. .

As a result, until the operation stop key 72b is pressed and the automatic operation is stopped, the total time during which the fan 30 has been operated in the rotation mode "strong" is represented by A (A1 + A2 +
…), The total time of operation in the rotation mode “medium” is B (B1 + B2 +...), And the total time of operation in the rotation mode “weak” is C (C1 + C2 +.
The internal memory of the air volume sum calculation unit 78 includes (a2 × A + b
That is, the total air volume of (2 × B + c2 × C) is stored.

In the air volume sum calculation section 78, the operation stop key 7
When 2b is pressed and the automatic operation is stopped, the total air volume data (a2 × A + b2 × B + c) stored in the internal memory
2 × C) is output to the dust collection amount determination unit 80. The dust collection amount determination unit 80 compares the total air volume (a2 × A + b2 × B + c2 × C) input from the total air volume calculation unit 78 with the reference air volume R set inside, and calculates (a2 × A + b2 × B
When + c2 × C)> R, an instruction signal indicating the cleaning start condition of the dust collecting device 40 is output to the microcomputer control unit 71.

Based on the instruction signal, the microcomputer control section 71 stops the cooling operation (or the heating operation) by pressing the operation stop key 72b, for example, and then stops the cooling operation (or the heating operation) for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds).
The dust removal mode is executed after elapse of 0 minute or the like. That is, the heater driving unit 75 is controlled to energize the heater 43, and the heater 43 is heated to remove dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode 41 (decompose into carbon dioxide and water by reaction with the catalyst). This dust removal mode is, for example, 18 minutes to 2 minutes.
This is performed for about 0 minutes, and the dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode 41 is gradually decomposed, so that odor, smoke and the like at the time of decomposition are not generated.

In the above-described embodiment, each time the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched, the total air volume calculation unit 78 performs the calculation processing of the total air volume based on the measurement value input from the timer unit 77. But the timer part 7
From 7, the measured value is input to the air volume total calculation unit 78 in real time or at regular intervals, and the air volume total calculation unit 78 calculates the air volume total each time a measured value is input from the timer unit 77, and sequentially adds the values. You may comprise so that it may be. In the above-described embodiment, when the operation stop key 72b is pressed to stop the automatic operation, the data of the total air volume stored in the internal memory of the total air volume calculation unit 78 is stored in the dust collection amount determination unit 80.
Is output to the dust collection amount determination unit 80, for example, at regular intervals or every time the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched, to the dust collection amount determination unit 80, and the dust collection amount determination unit 80 Each time, the total air volume and the reference air volume R may be compared.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, after the operation stop key 72b is pressed to stop the cooling operation (or the heating operation) based on the instruction signal from the dust collection amount determination section 80, a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) Etc.) The configuration is such that the dust removal mode is executed after a lapse of time, but when an instruction signal is input, the automatic operation of cooling or heating is stopped, and the dust removal mode is executed at that time. May be. That is, the timing at which the dust removal mode is executed based on the instruction signal may be arbitrarily set. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an air conditioner is taken as an example of the electric device of the present invention. However, the present invention can also be applied to an air purifier itself, a stationary oil, electric or gas fan heater, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the air conditioner having an air purifying function of the present invention, and corresponds to claims 3, 4 and 5. The air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes a trapping efficiency storage unit 91 in which the dust trapping efficiency according to each rotation mode of the fan 30 is stored in advance, an air volume stored in the air volume storage unit 79, and a timer unit 77. Based on the measured operation time in each rotation mode from the start of the operation, the sum of the airflow for each rotation mode is obtained, and the capture efficiency stored in the capture efficiency storage unit 91 is calculated for the obtained sum of airflow. In addition, the pseudo air volume sum for each rotation mode is determined, and the pseudo air volume sum is calculated by adding the pseudo air volume sums to obtain the sum of the pseudo air volumes from the start of operation.
2 is provided. Other configurations are shown in FIG.
Since these are the same as those shown in (1), the same reference numerals are given here, and detailed description is omitted.

That is, in the present embodiment, the concept of capture efficiency is newly introduced. As shown in FIG. 5, the dust floating in the air is mainly ionized when passing between the discharge electrode 42 and the dust collection electrode 41, and the dust collection electrode 4
It is attracted to 1 and adhered (captured). At this time, the dust 60 passing between the discharge electrode 42 and the dust collection electrode 41
As shown in FIG. 6, within the effective electric field range, the fan 3
Moves in the Z direction, which is the vector sum of the X direction (wind speed), which is the direction (air flow direction) forcibly circulated by the rotation of 0, and the Y direction, which is the direction attracted by the lines of electric force between the electrodes. Will do.

In this case, since the magnitude of the force in the Y direction attracted by the lines of electric force is constant, the moving direction of the dust 60 within the effective electric field range is X forcibly circulated by the rotation of the fan 30. Will depend on the speed in the direction. That is, when the speed in the X direction is high (when the rotation mode of the fan 30 is, for example, “strong”: X ′), FIG.
As shown by a broken line (Z ′) in FIG.
It will move in the direction deviating from. In this case, the direction of the lines of electric force changes as the object moves within the effective electric field range (always toward the dust collecting electrode 41), so that the dust 60 is also in FIG.
Rather than proceeding in a straight line in the direction of the arrow Z or Z ′, the vehicle travels strictly in an arc so as to be drawn to the dust collecting electrode 41.

However, if the speed in the X direction circulated forcibly by the rotation of the fan 30 is high, the dust 60 may pass through the effective electric field range before reaching the dust collecting electrode 41. Whether or not the dust 60 is captured by the dust collecting electrode 41 depends on the speed of the dust 60 in the X direction when passing through the effective electric field range. Even when the dust 60 passes at the same speed, the inertia in the X direction is small when the weight of the dust 60 is light, and the inertia in the X direction is large when the weight is heavy. This is a factor as to whether or not the dust is collected by the dust collecting electrode 41.

That is, the moving direction of the dust 60 within the effective electric field range depends exclusively on the speed in the X direction forcibly circulated by the rotation of the fan 30 and the weight (ie, inertia force) of the dust 60 itself. Will do. This means that the efficiency of capturing the dust 60 captured by the dust collecting electrode 41 changes depending on the speed and weight of the dust 60 within the effective electric field range, and the higher the speed, or the heavier the weight, This means that the capture efficiency is reduced.

That is, the amount of dust collected by the dust collecting electrode 41 per unit time increases almost in proportion to the amount of air (suction speed) sucked into the air conditioner, but the suction speed increases. , The contradictory result is that the trapping efficiency is reduced by the amount corresponding to the decrease in the trapping efficiency. FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating this conflicting result. In the figure, the broken line shows the change in the trapping efficiency with respect to the suction speed, and the two-dot chain line shows the change in the amount of dust collected per unit time (dust collection capacity) calculated based only on the suction speed. The solid line shows the change in the actual amount of collected dust (dust collection capacity) per unit time at the dust collection electrode 41 in consideration of the trapping efficiency.

Here, the trapping efficiencies in the rotation modes of the fan 30 "weak", "medium" and "strong" are respectively "1", "0.917" and "0.857", and are based on only the suction speed. When the amount of dust collected by the dust collecting electrode 41 is calculated by “1”, the amount of dust collected at “weak” is “1”, and the amount of dust collected at “medium” is “1.
Assuming that the dust collection amount at “2” and “strong” is “1.4”, the dust collection amount at “weak” when the dust collection amount of the dust collection electrode 41 is calculated based on the suction speed and the trapping efficiency Is “1”, the amount of dust collection in “medium” is about “1.1”, and the amount of dust collection in “strong” is about “1.2”. However, since the value of the trapping efficiency greatly varies depending on the distance between the electrodes, the shape and size of the dust collecting electrode 41, and the like, it cannot be determined uniformly. Therefore, the value of the capture efficiency is preferably obtained in advance by experiments or the like.

In this embodiment, the value of the trapping efficiency in each rotation mode of the fan 30 is stored in the trapping efficiency storage unit 91 in advance. In the above example, when the rotation mode of the fan 30 is “weak”, the capture efficiency L1 is “1”,
Capture efficiency L2 when the rotation mode of fan 30 is "medium"
, And each value of “0.857” is stored in the capture efficiency storage unit 91 as the capture efficiency L3 when the rotation mode of the fan 30 is “strong”.

The pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92 includes the air volume storage unit 7
Based on the air volume stored in the storage unit 9 and the operation time in each rotation mode from the start of operation measured by the timer unit 77, the air volume sum for each rotation mode is obtained, and the obtained air volume sum is captured. By multiplying the capture efficiency stored in the efficiency storage unit 91 to obtain a pseudo air volume sum for each rotation mode and adding these pseudo air volume sums,
Obtain the sum of the pseudo airflows from the start of operation. Here, as a specific example of the calculation of the pseudo air volume total in the pseudo air volume total calculation unit 92, the fan 30 is set to the rotation mode “strong” at the start of operation.
, The motor was operated in the rotation mode "strong" for A1 hour, then the rotation mode was switched to "medium" and operated for B1 hour, and then the rotation mode was switched to "weak" for C1 hour. The case will be described specifically.

In this case, since the rotation mode of the fan 30 indicated by the mode signal immediately after the start of operation is “strong” (that is, the rotation speed a1), the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92
Reads the air volume a2 per unit time corresponding to the rotation speed a1 from the air volume storage unit 79. Thereafter, the microcomputer control unit 71 automatically switches the operation mode after the elapse of the time A1, and when the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched from “high” to “medium”, the microcomputer control unit 71 sends a reset signal to the timer unit 77. And outputs a mode signal (a signal indicating the rotation mode “medium”) to the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92. When receiving the reset signal, the timer unit 77 outputs the measurement value A1 up to that time to the pseudo air volume total calculation unit 92, resets the measurement value, and starts measurement again.

On the other hand, the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92 calculates the air volume a2 per unit time read from the air volume storage unit 79,
Measurement value (operating time) A1 input from the timer unit 77
And the sum of the air volumes in the rotation mode “strong” (a2 × A
1) is calculated and multiplied by the capture efficiency L3 in the rotation mode “strong” read from the capture efficiency storage unit 91 to obtain a pseudo air volume sum (a2 × A × L3), which is temporarily stored in the internal memory. Remember.

Next, based on the mode signal indicating the rotation mode “medium” (rotation speed b1) input from the microcomputer control unit 71, the pseudo airflow summation unit 92 corresponds to the rotation speed b1 from the airflow storage unit 79. The air volume b2 per unit time is read. Thereafter, the microcomputer control unit 71 automatically switches the operation mode after the elapse of the B1 time, and when the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched from “medium” to “weak”, the microcomputer control unit 71 sends a reset signal to the timer unit 77. And outputs a mode signal (a signal indicating the rotation mode “weak”) to the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92. Timer section 77
Receives the reset signal, the measured value B1
Is output to the pseudo-airflow sum calculation unit 92, the measured value is reset, and the measurement is started again.

On the other hand, the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92 calculates the air volume b2 per unit time read from the air volume storage unit 79,
Measurement value (operating time) B1 input from timer section 77
And the sum of the air volumes in the rotation mode “medium” (b2 × B
1) is calculated, and this is multiplied by the capture efficiency L2 in the rotation mode “medium” read from the capture efficiency storage unit 91 to obtain a pseudo air volume sum (b2 × B × L2), which is stored in the internal memory. To the total pseudo air volume (a2 x A1 x L3)
This is calculated as a new pseudo air volume sum (a2 × A1 × L3 + b2 ×
(B1 × L2) is updated and stored in the internal memory.

Next, based on the mode signal indicating the rotation mode “weak” (rotation speed c1) input from the microcomputer control unit 71, the pseudo airflow summation unit 92 corresponds to the rotation speed c1 from the airflow storage unit 79. The air volume c2 per unit time is read. Thereafter, when the microcomputer control unit 71 automatically switches the operation mode after the elapse of the C1 time and the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched from “weak” to “strong” again, for example,
The microcomputer control section 71 outputs a reset signal to the timer section 77 and outputs a mode signal (a signal indicating the rotation mode “strong”) to the pseudo air volume total calculation section 92. Upon receiving the reset signal, the timer unit 77 outputs the measurement value C1 up to that time to the pseudo air volume total calculation unit 92, resets the measurement value, and starts measurement again.

On the other hand, the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92 calculates the air volume c2 per unit time read from the air volume storage unit 79,
Measurement value (operating time) C1 input from the timer unit 77
And the sum of the air volumes in the rotation mode “weak” (c2 × C
1) is calculated and multiplied by the capture efficiency L1 in the rotation mode “weak” read from the capture efficiency storage unit 91 to obtain a pseudo air volume sum (c2 × C1 × L1), which is stored in the internal memory. Pseudo air volume sum (a2 x A1 x L1 + b2 x B1
× L2), and this is added to the new pseudo air volume total (a2
× A1 × L1 + b2 × B1 × L2 + c2 × C1 × L1)
And updates and stores it in the internal memory.

In the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92, the fan 30
Each time the rotation mode is switched, the above calculation is executed, and the calculation result is added to the total sum of the pseudo airflows stored in the internal memory and updated and stored. as a result,
Until the operation stop key 72b is pressed and the automatic operation is stopped, the total time during which the fan 30 is operated in the rotation mode “strong” is A (A1 + A2 +...), And the fan 30 is operated in the rotation mode “medium”. The sum of the time taken is B (B1 + B2 +
・), The total time of operation in the rotation mode “weak” is C
(C1 + C2 +...), The internal memory of the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92 stores (a2 × A × L3 + b2 × B ×
L2 + c2 × C × L1) is stored.

When the operation stop key 72b is depressed to stop the automatic operation, the pseudo air volume sum calculating section 92 calculates the pseudo air volume total data (a2.times.A.times.L3) stored in the internal memory.
+ B2 × B × L2 + c2 × C × L1) to the dust collection amount determination unit 8
Output to 0. In the dust collection amount determination unit 80, the pseudo air volume total (a2 × A ×
L3 + b2 × B × L2 + c2 × C × L1) is compared with the reference air amount R set inside, and (a2 × A × L3 +
b2 × B × L2 + c2 × C × L1)> R,
An instruction signal indicating a cleaning start condition of the dust collector 40 is output to the microcomputer control unit 71.

Based on this instruction signal, the microcomputer control unit 71 stops the cooling operation (or the heating operation) by pressing the operation stop key 72b, for example, and then stops for a predetermined time (for example, 3
The dust removal mode is executed after elapse of 0 minute or the like. That is, the heater driving unit 75 is controlled to energize the heater 43, and the heater 43 is heated to remove dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode 41 (decompose into carbon dioxide and water by reaction with the catalyst). This dust removal mode is, for example, 18 minutes to 2 minutes.
This is performed for about 0 minutes, and the dust adhering to the dust collecting electrode 41 is gradually decomposed, so that odor, smoke and the like at the time of decomposition are not generated.

In the above embodiment, each time the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched, the pseudo air volume sum calculation unit 92 performs the calculation process of the pseudo air volume sum based on the measurement value input from the timer unit 77. Although it is configured, the measurement value is input from the timer unit 77 to the pseudo air volume total calculation unit 92 in real time or at regular intervals, and in the pseudo air volume total calculation unit 92, each time the measurement value is input from the timer unit 77, The pseudo air volume sum may be calculated and sequentially added.

In the above embodiment, the operation stop key 7
When the automatic operation is stopped by pressing 2b, the data of the total air volume stored in the internal memory of the pseudo total air volume calculation unit 92 is output to the dust collection amount determination unit 80.
For example, at regular time intervals or each time the rotation mode of the fan 30 is switched, the data of the pseudo air volume total is determined by the dust collection amount determination unit 8.
0, and the dust collection amount determination unit 80 may be configured to compare the total pseudo air volume and the reference air volume R each time.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, after the operation stop key 72b is pressed to stop the cooling operation (or the heating operation) based on the instruction signal from the dust collection amount determination section 80, a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) Etc.) The configuration is such that the dust removal mode is executed after a lapse of time, but when an instruction signal is input, the automatic operation of cooling or heating is stopped, and the dust removal mode is executed at that time. May be. That is, the timing at which the dust removal mode is executed based on the instruction signal may be arbitrarily set. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an air conditioner is taken as an example of the electric device of the present invention. However, the present invention can also be applied to an air purifier itself, a stationary oil, electric or gas fan heater, and the like.

Finally, in the present invention, as an embodiment, the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 and the air conditioner shown in FIG. 2 are respectively illustrated, and the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 does not consider the trapping efficiency. It has a shape. Regarding this point, as described in the description of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 2, the trapping efficiency is greatly affected by the distance between the electrodes, the shape and size of the dust collecting electrode 41, and further, the use environment. By properly setting the conditions, it is possible to create a dust collector 40 that does not need to consider the trapping efficiency. In such a dust collector 40, the one shown in FIG. 1 is effectively applied. You can do it. That is, in the air conditioner shown in FIG. 2, the "strong", "medium",
The embodiment in which the capture efficiency is “1” in all the “weak” rotation modes is the air conditioner shown in FIG.

[0061]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric appliance having an air purifying function, comprising: an air volume storage unit for storing in advance a volume of air per unit time according to each rotation mode of the fan; An operation time measurement unit that measures the operation time in the mode from the start of operation, and an operation time in each rotation mode from the start of operation measured by the operation time measurement unit and the air volume stored in the air volume storage unit. And an air flow sum calculating section for calculating the sum of the air flows from the start of operation based on the above, and a dust collector for determining the amount of dust collected by the dust collecting device based on the total air flow calculated by the air flow sum calculating section It is configured to include an amount determination unit. That is, since the amount of dust collection is determined based on the total air volume, the amount of dust adhering to the dust collection electrode can be almost accurately determined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric apparatus having an air purifying function, comprising: an air volume storage unit which stores in advance a volume of air per unit time according to each rotation mode of the fan; A capture efficiency storage unit that stores dust capture efficiency according to the mode in advance, an operation time measurement unit that measures the operation time of each fan in each rotation mode from the start of operation, and an air volume storage unit. Based on the current air volume and the operation time in each rotation mode from the start of operation measured by the operation time measurement unit, the air volume sum for each rotation mode is obtained, and the obtained air volume sum is stored in the capture efficiency storage unit. Pseudo air volume summation, in which the pseudo air volume sum for each rotation mode is calculated taking into account the stored trapping efficiency, and the pseudo air volume sum is calculated by adding these pseudo air volume sums from the start of operation. And parts, has a configuration that includes a determining dust amount determination unit dust collecting amount of the dust collector based on the quasi total air amount calculated by the pseudo air volume sum computation block. That is, the amount of dust adhering to the dust collection electrode can be more accurately determined by taking into account the capture efficiency in addition to the total air volume.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electric device having an air cleaning function, when the total air volume calculated by the total air volume calculating section reaches a preset air volume, cleaning of the dust collector is started. An electric signal having an air purifying function according to claim 4 of the present invention is configured such that an instruction signal indicating a condition is output from the dust collection amount determination unit, and the pseudo total air volume calculated by the pseudo air volume total calculation unit is determined in advance. When the set air volume is reached,
Since the instruction signal indicating the cleaning start condition of the dust collection device is configured to be output from the dust collection amount determination unit, the dust removal mode can be executed at an appropriate timing based on the instruction signal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric device having an air purifying function, wherein the dust collecting device comprises a discharging electrode and a dust collecting electrode having a heating section. Based on the configuration, the heating unit is heated to remove the dust adhering to the dust collection electrode, so that the maintenance-free dust removal mode can be executed at an appropriate timing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of an embodiment of an electric device having an air cleaning function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of another embodiment of the electric device having an air cleaning function of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view (end view) of the electric device having an air cleaning function of the present invention when viewed from the side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dust collecting device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a dust collection principle of the dust collection device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a force acting on dust passing through an effective electric field range.

FIG. 7 shows a change in the trapping efficiency with respect to the suction speed, a change in the amount of dust collection per unit time calculated based on only the suction speed, and an actual dust collection per unit time at the dust collection electrode in consideration of the trapping efficiency. It is a graph which shows the relationship with the change of quantity.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case main body 20 Heat exchanger 30 Fan 40 Dust collector 41 Dust collection electrode 42 Discharge electrode 43 Heater 71 Microcomputer control part 72 Key input part 73 Cooling / heating drive system 74 Fan drive part 75 Dust collection drive part 76 Heater drive part 77 Timer part 78 Airflow total calculation unit 79 Airflow storage unit 80 Dust collection amount determination unit 91 Capture efficiency storage unit 92 Pseudo airflow total calculation unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cleaner air is drawn by sucking external air by the rotation of a fan having a plurality of rotation modes, and collecting dust and dirt contained in the sucked air by a dust collector provided inside. In an electric device having an air purifying function of discharging air to the outside, an air volume storage unit that stores in advance an air volume per unit time according to each rotation mode of the fan, and an operation time in each rotation mode of the fan. An operation time measurement unit that measures each time from the start of operation, based on the airflow stored in the airflow storage unit and the operation time in each rotation mode from the start of operation measured by the operation time measurement unit, An air volume sum calculating unit for calculating the total air volume from the start of the operation, and determining the amount of dust collected by the dust collector based on the total air volume calculated by the air volume total calculating unit. Electrical device having an air cleaning function is characterized in that a dust collection amount determination unit. 2. The dust collection amount determination unit outputs an instruction signal indicating a cleaning start condition of the dust collection device when a total air volume calculated by the air volume total calculation unit reaches a preset air volume. The electric device having an air purifying function according to claim 1, wherein 3. Clean air is drawn by sucking external air by rotation of a fan having a plurality of rotation modes, and collecting dust and dirt contained in the sucked air by a dust collecting device provided inside. An electric device having an air purifying function of discharging air to the outside, comprising: an air volume storage unit that stores in advance an air volume per unit time according to each rotation mode of the fan; and a dust volume according to each rotation mode of the fan. A capture efficiency storage unit that stores the capture efficiency in advance, an operation time measurement unit that measures the operation time of each of the fans in each rotation mode from the start of operation, an air volume stored in the air volume storage unit, Based on the operation time in each rotation mode from the start of operation measured by the operation time measurement unit, the airflow sum for each rotation mode is obtained, and the obtained airflow sum is calculated. In consideration of the capture efficiency stored in the capture efficiency storage unit, a pseudo air volume sum for each rotation mode is obtained, and the pseudo air volume sum is calculated by adding these pseudo air volume sums. An air purifier comprising: an air volume sum calculation unit; and a dust collection amount determination unit that determines a dust collection amount in the dust collection device based on the pseudo total air volume calculated by the pseudo air volume total calculation unit. Electrical equipment with functions. 4. An instruction signal indicating a cleaning start condition of the dust collecting device when the pseudo total air amount calculated by the pseudo air total amount calculating unit reaches a preset air amount. The electric device having an air purifying function according to claim 3, wherein 5. The dust collecting device includes a discharge electrode and a dust collecting electrode having a heating unit. The dust collecting device heats the heating unit based on an instruction signal from the dust collection amount determining unit and causes the dust collecting electrode to heat the heating unit. The electric device having an air cleaning function according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the attached dust is removed.