NZ560399A - Deodorizing method and apparatus for clothes or the like buy control of temperature and humidity - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for deodorizing clothes or the like is disclosed. The method comprises two steps A) a moisture- absorbing process followed by B) a deodorizing and drying process. The moisture- absorbing process includes the steps of inhaling air from ambient via a suction inlet (7a) into a housing (7) by an air blower (19) provided in the housing (7), generating cold air by cooling the air by a cooling apparatus (15) provided in the housing (7) and causing a to-be-conditioned article placed in a vicinity of a blowing outlet (7b) of the housing (7) to absorb moisture by blowing out the cold air from the blowing outlet (7b) for a predetermined time by the air blower (19). The deodorizing and drying process includes the steps of inhaling the air inside from the suction inlet (7a) of the housing (7) by the air blower (19) provided in the housing, generating heated air by heating the air by a heating apparatus (16) provided in the housing (7) and vaporizing the moisture containing an odour component by drying the to-be-conditioned article placed in the vicinity of the blowing outlet (7b) of the housing (7) by blowing out the heated air from the blowing outlet (7b) for a predetermined time by the air blower (19).

Description

560399 DESCRIPTION DEODORIZING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOTHES OR THE LIKE Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a deodorizing method and apparatus for clothes or the like that is configured to deodorize an odor of tobacco, broiled meat, or the like, which often adheres to the clothes in a daily life, from the clothes.

Background Art

[0002] A hitherto known clothes drier capable of removing wrinkles of clothes or removing an odor of the same, for drying to-be-conditioned clothes while supplying heated air into a drying chamber where the to-be-conditioned clothes are held, includes a humidifying apparatus that humidifies by steam generated by heating water, and is provided with a control device that selects and performs a course for performing an operation to apply humidity to the clothes with the humidifying apparatus, separately from a course for performing a drying operation.

Further, as to the odor of tobacco, broiled meat, various types of medical supplies, or the like, which intellectual property office of n.2. 2 6 SEP 2008 received t 7 560399 adheres to the clothes, a causative substance thereof is a volatile substance, and gradually vaporizes. Therefore, the volatile substance is removed by entirely vaporizing the same. So as to vaporize all the volatile substance, it is necessary to efficiently apply heat. As for that, as a medium for conducting heat energy, the steam generated by heating water works more efficiently compared with conducting the heat energy by heating air. This can efficiently conduct the heat energy to the causative substance of the odor, and can accelerate a volatilizing operation, and therefore removing operation for the odor can efficiently be performed.

Accordingly, by applying the steam to the clothes by means of the humidifying apparatus, the wrinkle-removing operation can effectively be performed, and the heat energy can efficiently be conducted to the causative substance of the odor. Thereby, the volatilizing operation can be accelerated and therefore the odor-removing operation can also be efficiently performed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-233898 (page 1, Fig. 1) Disclosure of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention 560399

[0003] In the hitherto known clothes drier as described above, a wrinkle-removing operation can effectively be performed by applying steam to clothes by means of a humidifying apparatus, and heat energy can efficiently be conducted to a causative substance of an odor, and a volatilizing operation can be accelerated, and therefore an odor-removing operation can also be efficiently performed. However, there are problems that a humidifying apparatus composed of a water storage portion and a heating apparatus is necessary, and a space to be occupied by the humidifying apparatus is required to be specifically provided in a cabinet.

An embodiment of the present invention seeks to address one or more of these problems, and to obtain a deodorizing method and apparatus for the clothes or the like, capable of deodorizing the odor of tobacco, broiled meat, or the like, which often adheres to the clothes in a daily life, from the clothes, which has a simple construction without requiring a specific apparatus for humidifying.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] A method for deodorizing clothes or the like according to the present invention includes a moisture-absorbing intellectual property office of n.z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 (followed by page 4a) process, in which air is inhaled from ambient via a suction inlet into a housing by an air blower provided in the housing, cold air is generated by cooling the air by a cooling apparatus provided in the housing, and a to-be-conditioned article placed in the vicinity of a blowing outlet of the housing is caused to absorb moisture by blowing out the cold air from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time by the air blower, and a deodorizing and drying process, in which the air is inhaled inside from the suction inlet of the housing by the first air blower provided in the housing, heated air is generated by heating the air by a heating apparatus provided in the housing, and the moisture containing an odor component is vaporized by drying the to-be-conditioned article placed in the vicinity of the blowing outlet of the housing by blowing out the heated air from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time by the first air blower.

A deodorizing apparatus for clothes or the like according to the present invention includes a housing including a suction inlet for ambient air and a blowing outlet; a cooling apparatus provided in the housing; a heating apparatus provided in the housing; and a control means for controlling to drive the cooling apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the air blower, wherein the control means first controls the cooling apparatus and the air blower to be driven, to inhale air from the suction inlet and cool the air, and to blow out the cooled air from the intellectual property office of n.z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 - 4a -(followed by page 4b) blowing outlet for a predetermined time, and wherein the control means next controls the air blower to be continuously driven and the heating apparatus to be driven, so as to blow out the heated air, which is inhaled from the suction inlet and heated, from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time.

A deodorizing apparatus for clothes or the like according to the present invention includes a refrigerating cycle means provided in a housing, and composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expanding valve, and an evaporator, each connected sequentially by cooling medium piping; a first air path provided in the housing, and including the evaporator and a first air blowing means; a second air path provided in the housing, and including the condenser and a second air blowing means; a suction inlet provided in the housing, for inhaling ambient air; a blowing outlet of the first air path and a blowing outlet of the second air path provided in the housing; an air path changeover means capable of selecting whether to blow out cold air from the blowing outlet of the first air path, or to blow out warm air from the blowing outlet of the second air path; and a control means for controlling the drive the refrigerating cycle means, the first air blower, the second air blower, and the air path changeover means, wherein the control means drives the refrigerating cycle means, and controls to firstly select the air path changeover means to blow out cold air from the blowing outlet of the first air path, to drive the first air blower, so as to inhale air from the suction inlet and blow out the cold air cooled by the evaporator from the blowing outlet of the first air path for a predetermined time, to subsequently select the air path changeover means to blow out warm air from the blowing outlet of the second air path, and to drive the second air blower so as to inhale the air from the suction inlet 1633710_1.DOC intellectual property office of n.z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 - 4b -(followed by page 5) and blow out the warm air heated by the condenser from the blowing outlet of the second air path for a predetermined time.

Advantages [0005] The present invention is constructed such that in a moisture-absorbing process, air is inhaled from ambient via a suction inlet into a housing by a first air blower provided in the housing, cold air is generated by cooling the air by a cooling apparatus provided in the housing, and a to-be-conditioned article placed in the 163371CL_1.DOC intellectual property office of n.z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 vicinity of a blowing outlet of the housing is caused to absorb moisture by blowing out the cold air from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time by the first air blower, and in a deodorizing and drying process performed thereafter, the air is inhaled inside from the suction inlet of the housing by the first air blower provided in the housing, heated air is generated by heating the air by a heating apparatus provided in the housing, and the moisture containing an odor component is vaporized by drying the to-be-conditioned article placed in the vicinity of the blowing outlet of the housing by blowing out the heated air from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time by the first air blower, so as to separate the moisture from the to-be-conditioned article. Thereby, the deodorizing operation can be performed by means of a simple construction including only the cooling apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the air blower. Namely, a conventional humidifying apparatus, a specific deodorizing apparatus or a specific discharging apparatus for bacteria-elimination substance is not required, and a miniaturization can be aimed. Consequently, it is an advantage that the odor component adhering to a surface of the clothes or the like, and further, the odder component intruding into the gap of the fiber or the like can effectively be deodorized. intellectual property office of n.2. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 1 I 560399 Brief Description of the Drawings [0006] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic construction and an operation mode of a deodorizing apparatus for clothes or the like according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a control circuit of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an equilibrium diagram of moisture absorption of articles; Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from a front surface, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from a back surface, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an open condition of a louver of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or 560399 the like, looking from the front face, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the open condition of the louver of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the back face, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view explaining a dehumidifying air operation, in which a front face side of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like is longitudinally cut, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view along an A-A line of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view along a B-B line of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view explaining a cold air operation, in which the front face side of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like is longitudinally cut, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view along an A-A line of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view along a B-B line of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view explaining a warm air operation, in which the front face side of the deodorizing 560399 apparatus for the clothes or the like is longitudinally cut, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view along an A-A line of Fig. 14; Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view along a B-B line of Fig. 14; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the front face with a part broken away, explaining the dehumidifying air operation, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the front face with a part broken away, explaining the cold air operation, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the front face with a part broken away, explaining the warm air operation, according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like looking from the front face with a part broken away, explaining a back face air operation, according to the second embodiment of the present 560399 invention; Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing a construction of a damper mechanism of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 23 is a cooling medium circuit diagram showing a refrigerating cycle of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 24 is a block diagram showing a construction of a control portion of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 25 is an explanatory view showing various types of configurations of operation of the damper mechanism of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing an operation of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Reference Numerals [0007] 1 deodorizing apparatus for clothes or the like 7 casing t t 560399 7a suction inlet 7b blowing outlet 8 front face blowing outlet 9 louver motor for use in a louver 11 back face blowing outlet 12 first air path suction inlet 13 second air path suction inlet 14 filter frame evaporator 16 condenser 17 compressor 18 water discharging tank 19 first air blower second air blower 22 first air path 23 first changeover blowing outlet 24 second air path second changeover blowing outlet 26 air path changeover means 31 operating portion 31a operation switch 31b deodorizing and drying operation switch 31c dehumidifying air operation switch 32 control circuit 560399 33 indoor temperature and humidity sensor 34 current temperature and humidity indicator 36 power source 37 indicating portion Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [0008] First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic construction and an operation mode of a deodorizing apparatus for clothes or the like according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a control circuit of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is an equilibrium diagram of moisture absorption of articles, and Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

A deodorizing apparatus 1, shown in Fig. 1, for the clothes or the like is constructed with a casing 7 serving as a housing including two suction inlets 7a for ambient air at a back face portion, and a blowing outlet 7b at a front side of an upper surface portion, a cooling apparatus 15, such as a peltier element for generating cold air, which is 560399 provided at a lower part of a back face side in the casing 7, a heating apparatus 16 such as a heater or a kerosene fan heater, for generating warm air, which is provided at an upper part of the back face side in the casing 7, and a first air blower 19 entirely provided in a front face side of the casing 7.

[0009] Next, the control circuit of the deodorizing apparatus 1 for the clothes or the like according to the first embodiment is, as shown in Fig. 2, composed of an operating portion 31 for performing an operation, a control portion 32 for receiving a command of the operating portion 31, an indoor temperature and humidity sensor 33 for inputting a detection signal to the control portion 32, the first air blower 19 driven by the control portion 32, a cooling apparatus 15 and the heating apparatus 16, a current temperature and humidity indicator 35 for indicating temperature and humidity detected by the indoor temperature and humidity sensor 33 by the control portion 32, and a power source 36 for supplying a direct-current power source to the control portion 32.

In the operating portion 31, an operation switch 31a for performing an ON/OFF operation of the power source, a deodorizing and drying operation switch 31b for performing an ON/OFF operation for the deodorizing and drying operation, 560399 and an indicating portion 37 for performing an indication of an ON/OFF operation of the operation switch 31a and the ON/OFF operation of the deodorizing and drying operation switch 31b are provided.

[0010] In general, as for the moisture absorption property of a cloth or the like, following matters are known.

Fig. 3 is an equilibrium diagram of moisture absorption of articles, where a relative humidity (hereinafter referred to as a relative humidity) of environmental air is indicated in a horizontal axis, and moisture content of each of the articles is indicated in a vertical axis.

Incidentally, a percent of the moisture content is calculated by a following calculation formula by measuring weight in a wet condition of the article (defined as A) and weight in an absolute dry condition of the same article (defined as B). Percent of the Moisture Content = (A-B) -i-Bxl00 [ % ] In Fig. 3, the percent of the moisture content of, for example, cotton is found as 8% in the relative humidity of 60%, and is found as 14% in the relative humidity of 90%. It is found that in a case of the cotton of 100 g in weight in the absolute dry condition, the moisture of 6 g is absorbed by the cotton by changing the relative humidity of the environmental air from 6 0% to 90%. 560399 From the above-described moisture absorption property of the cloth or the like, the percent of the moisture content of the cloth such as the cotton or the like can be changed by arbitrarily changing the relative humidity of the environmental air.

[0011] In general, as for an odor component, following matters are known.

In the odor of tobacco, broiled meat, various types of medical supplies, or the like, which adheres to the clothes, many of causative substances thereof are volatile substances. Further, many of specifically representative odor components (for example, twenty-two materials described in Malodor Prevention Law) are soluble in water.

From a property of the odor component described above, it is found that the odor components adhering to the clothes or the like are soluble in water.

[0012] A procedure of a deodorizing operation by means of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the first embodiment of the present invention utilizing the above-described knowledge will be explained on the basis of a flowchart in Fig. 4.

When the procedure of deodorizing operation by means of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like 560399 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is summarized in a concise manner, the air cooled by means of the cooling apparatus 15 is blown out from the casing 7 first, then the air heated by means of the heating apparatus 16 is blown out next, and thereafter the operation of the apparatus is stopped, so as to perform the deodorizing operation for the clothes or the like.

Next, the procedure of the deodorizing operation by means of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like will be explained in detail on the basis of the flowchart in Fig. 4.

[0013] Firstly, the operation switch 31a of the operating portion 31 is turned on (in Step SI), and the deodorizing and drying operation switch 31b is turned on (in Step Si) next. As a result, the cooling apparatus 15 and the first air blower 19 are driven by means of the control portion 32, and a cooling air blowing-out operation is started (in Step S3), and the ambient air is inhaled in from the suction inlet 7a.

Thereby, the ambient air being inhaled in is cooled by means of the cooling apparatus 15 up to a dew point or lower, and the dehumidified air is blown out from the blowing outlet 7b. Further, the air whose relative humidity is raised by being cooled, which is dehumidified, and which is 560399 blown out from the blowing outlet 7b, hits a to-be-conditioned article. Thereby, the to-be-conditioned article absorbs the moisture by means of the blowing-out air having high relative humidity, and the absorbed moisture adsorbs the odor component intruding into a gap of fiber (moisture absorbing process).

[0014] When a cold air blowing-out operation is started, an elapsing time detecting means (illustration is omitted) serving as a timer that is built in the control portion 32 is operated (in Step S4). The elapsing time detecting means is detecting whether a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes) has elapsed from a time when the cold air blowing-out operation is started (in Step S5), and when the elapsing time detecting means detects that the predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the cold air blowing-out operation is started, the control portion 32 stops the operation of the cooling apparatus 15 and operates the heating apparatus 16. A warm air blowing-out operation is started by a driving operation of the heating apparatus 16 and the first air blower 19 (in Step S6), and the ambient air is inhaled from the suction inlet 7a.

Further, the air heated by means of the heating apparatus 16 is blown out from the blowing outlet 7b, and the heated air blown out from the blowing outlet 7b hits intellectual property office of n.2. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 against the to-be-conditioned article.

[0015] When a warm air blowing-out operation is started, an elapsing time detecting means (illustration is omitted) serving as a timer that is built in the control portion 32 is operated (in Step S7). The elapsing time detecting means is detecting whether a predetermined time (for example, 40 minutes) has elapsed from a time when the warm air blowing-out operation is started (in Step S8), and when the elapsing time detecting means detects that the predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the cold air blowing-out operation is started, the control portion 32 stops the operation of the heating apparatus 16 and stops the operation of the first air blower 19 as well. The deodorizing and drying operation ends (in Step S9).

Thereby, the to-be-conditioned article is dried and the moisture containing the odor component is vaporized, separated from the to-be-conditioned article, and deodorized (deodorizing and drying process).

[0016] As described above, in the first embodiment, the cloth serving as a to-be-conditioned article is caused to absorb the moisture by blowing out the cold air having high relative humidity at a lower temperature than the environmental temperature, which is generated by the cooling apparatus 15, intellectual property office of n.z. 2 8 SEP 2008 RECEIVED 560399 from the blowing outlet 7b by means of the first air blower 19, while paying attention to the property of the cloth to absorb the moisture at the time when a relative humidity difference exists. Then, the moisture absorbed by the to- be-conditioned article absorbs the odor component adhered to the to-be-conditioned article.

Thereafter, the heated air or the dried air heated by means of the heating apparatus 16 is blown out from the blowing outlet 7b by means of the first air blower 19, and the moisture is vaporized together with the odor component adhered to the to-be-conditioned article as a whole. Thus, the odor component is configured to be separated from the to-be-conditioned article. Thereby, the deodorizing operation can be performed by means of a simple construction including only the cooling apparatus 15, the heating apparatus 16, and the air blower 19. Namely, a conventional humidifying apparatus or, a specific deodorizing apparatus or a specific discharging apparatus for bacteria-elimination substance is not required and a miniaturization can be aimed. The odor component adhering to a surface of the clothes or the like, and further, the odor component intruding into the gap of the fiber or the like can effectively be deodorized.

Incidentally, even when the moisture absorbing process for absorbing the moisture in the cloth serving as a to-be- conditioned article with the cold air and the deodorizing and intellectual property office of n.z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 drying process for performing the deodorizing and drying operation for the to-be-conditioned article with the heated air are partially overlapped, the present invention is not disturbed to be applied.

[0017] Second Embodiment Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from a front surface, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from a back surface, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an open condition of a louver of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the front face, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the open condition of the louver of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the back face, according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view explaining a dehumidifying air operation, in which a front face side of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like is longitudinally cut, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. cross-sectional view along an a-a line of Fig. 9 is a , Fig. 11 is intellectual property office of n.Z. 2 6 SEP 2008 IReceivedI 560399 a cross-sectional view along a B-B line of Fig. 9, Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view explaining a cold air operation, in which the front face side of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like is longitudinally cut, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view along an A-A line of Fig. 12, Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view along a B-B line of Fig. 12, Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view explaining a warm air operation, in which the front face side of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like is longitudinally cut, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view along an A-A line of Fig. 15, Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view along a B-B line of Fig. 15, Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the front face with a part broken away, explaining the dehumidifying air operation, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the front face with a part broken away, explaining the cold air operation, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the front face with a part broken away, explaining the warm air operation, according to 560399 the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like, looking from the front face with a part broken away, explaining a back face air operation, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing a construction of a damper mechanism of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 3 is a cooling medium circuit diagram showing a refrigerating cycle of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 24 is a block diagram showing a construction of a control portion of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 25 is an explanatory view showing various types of configurations of operation of the damper mechanism of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] In the second embodiment, the same numerals are attached to the substantially same construction as that of the aforementioned first embodiment.

In the deodorizing apparatus 1 for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment shown in Fig. 5 560399 through Fig. 8, a casing 7 is composed of a front face panel 2, a back face portion 3, a pair of side face portions 4, an upper face portion 5, and a bottom face portion 6.

A front face side blowing outlet 8 is formed from the upper face portion 5 to the front face panel 2. In the front face side blowing outlet 8, a louver 9 for blowing out air toward a predetermined direction is disposed.

The louver 9 is composed of a curved louver main body 9a, longitudinal louvers 9b attached to the louver main body 9a in plural number at intervals, and a louver base 9c for supporting the louver main body 9a and the longitudinal louver 9b, and the louver base 9c is rotatably supported at both sides of the front face side blowing outlet 8. The louver 9 is configured to rotate with the louver base 9c rotated by means of a motor 10 disposed at a side portion of the front face side blowing outlet 8, for use of the louver. [0019] Accordingly, by fixing or swinging the louver 9 in a predetermined direction, a blowing out range can be narrowed down or broaden out. Thereby, in a case that a drying operation for the clothes described later is performed, unevenness of the humidity is dissolved, or when the laundry or the like is dried, the blowing-out air can evenly hits the same, and the drying operation can rapidly be performed without unevenness. 560399 At an uppermost portion of the back face portion 3, a back face blowing outlet 11 is formed, and a first air path suction inlet 12 is formed at an upper portion thereof, and a second air path suction inlet 13 is formed at a lower portion thereof.

A filter frame 14 having a filter for air cleaning is detachably attached to the first air path suction inlet 12 and the second air path suction inlet 13.

[0020] In an inner part of the casing 7, as shown in Fig. 9 through Fig. 17, an evaporator 15 serving as a cooling apparatus for generating the cold air is disposed at the upper portion of the back face portion 3 side. Below the evaporator 15, a condenser 16 serving as a heating apparatus for generating the warm air is disposed.

A compressor 17 is provided at a lower part of the left side of the casing 7, and a water discharging tank 18 for accumulating the moisture condensed in the evaporator 15 is disposed at the lower part of the center and the right side. A float 18a is provided in the water discharging tank 18.

Further, the first air blower 19 that blows out the cold air from a first changeover blowing outlet 23 via a first air path 22 after inhaling the air from the first air path suction inlet 12 and making it to pass through the evaporator 15 is disposed between the evaporator 15 and the 560399 front face panel 2. The first air blower 19 is composed of a motor 19a and a fan 19b.

[0021] Furthermore, a second air blower 20 that blows out the warm air from a second changeover blowing outlet 25 via a second air path 24 after inhaling the air from the second air path suction inlet 13 and making it pass through the condenser 16 is disposed between the condenser 16 and the front face panel 2. The second air blower 20 is composed of a motor 20a and a fan 20b. A heating apparatus 21 composed of a Nichrome wire, a sheathed heater, a PTC heater, or the like is provided above the condenser 16, and in the vicinity of the front face side blowing outlet 8. A numeral 40 denotes a power code, and a numeral 41 denotes a caster provided at a bottom face portion 6.

[0022] Moreover, as shown in Fig. 18 through Fig. 22, an air path changeover device 26 serving as a sliding-type damper mechanism is disposed below the front face side blowing outlet 8 and the back face blowing outlet 11 in the casing 7, it is adopted to divide the aforementioned front face side blowing outlet 8 into a left and a right of the first changeover blowing outlet 23 and the second changeover blowing outlet 25, and can select that the cold air is blowing out through the first changeover blowing outlet 23 560399 from the front face side blowing outlet 8 or the back face side blowing outlet 11, and that the warm air is blown out through the second changeover blowing outlet 25, and from the front face side blowing outlet 8 or the back face side blowing outlet 11.

The air path changeover device 26 is divided into two of the left and right with a partitioning member 27a, and is composed of a rectangular shutter frame 27 slidably holding respective shutters 28 in a front and back direction, two of motors 29 for driving links provided in the partitioning member 27a, linking members 30 for connecting each of the shutters 28 and each of the motors 29 for driving links. [0023] Further, a size of each of the shutters 28 is a half of an area which is obtained by dividing the area of the shutter frame 27 into two of the left and right with the partitioning member 27a. A forward blowing-out operation where the air is blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 can be switched to a backward blowing-out operation where the air is blown out from the back face side blowing outlet 11 and vice versa by sliding each of the shutters 28 in the front and back direction. In the shutters 28, the one at the left side is the one for switching the operation to either the forward blowing-out operation or the backward blowing-out operation at the first changeover blowing outlet 560399 23, and the one at the right side is the one for switching the operation to either the forward blowing-out operation or the backward blowing-out operation at the second changeover blowing outlet 25.

Since each of the shutters 28 is slid in the front and back direction as described above, a trajectory of operation of the shutter 28 is small and therefore less space is required. This results in space saving.

[0024] A cooling medium circuit of a refrigerating cycle means of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment is, as shown in Fig. 23, the one in which the compressor 17, the condenser 16, an expanding valve 45, and the evaporator 15 are sequentially connected, and in which a hot gas bypass circuit 46 for connecting a blowing-out side of the compressor 17 and an entrance side of the evaporator 15 are connected, and an electromagnetic valve 47 is provided in the hot gas bypass circuit 46.

The reason why the hot gas bypass circuit 46 and the electromagnetic valve 47 are provided in the cooling medium circuit is that when the electromagnetic valve 47 of the hot gas bypass circuit 46 is opened, the evaporator 15 where the blowing-out gas of the compressor 17 is bypassed to the evaporator 15, is heated, so as to evaporate the moisture 560399 adhered to the evaporator 15.

[0025] Next, a control circuit of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment is, as shown in Fig. 24, provided at the upper face portion 5, and is composed of the operating portion 31 for operating the operation, a control circuit 32 for receiving the command of the operating portion 31, the indoor temperature and humidity sensor 33 to input a detection signal to the control circuit 32, the compressor 17 being driven and controlled by means of the control circuit 32, the evaporator 15, the condenser 16, the electromagnetic valve 47, the first and second air blowers 19 and 20, and the air path changeover means 26.

[0026] In the operating portion 31, the operation switch 31a, the deodorizing and drying operation switch 31b, the dehumidifying air operation switch 31c, the indicating portion 37 for performing an indication of the ON/OFF operation of the operation switch 31a, the ON/OFF operation of the deodorizing and drying operation switch 31b, and the ON/OFF operation of the dehumidifying air operation switch 31c are provided.

[0027] Next, an operation of the deodorizing apparatus for the 560399 clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be concretely explained. [Dehumidifying Air Operation] Firstly, when the operation switch 31a of the operating portion 31 is turned on, the compressor 17 is operated and the electromagnetic valve 47 is closed. Thereby, a cooling medium resulted to have high temperature and high pressure by being compressed by means of the compressor 17 is transferred to the condenser 16, and the heat of the cooling medium is radiated. The cooling medium becomes to have approximately normal temperature and high pressure. The cooling medium is decompressed by means of the expanding valve 45 and is transferred to the evaporator 15. The cooling medium resulted to have low temperature and low pressure is transferred to the compressor 17. This operation is repeated afterward.

On the other hand, by turning on of the dehumidifying air operation switch 31c, the first and second air blowers 19 and 20 are driven, and the air inhaled from the first air path suction inlet 12 at an upper part (hereinafter referred to as ambient air) is cleaned by means of a first filter (illustration is omitted), is cooled up to the dew point or lower and dehumidified by means of the evaporator 15. As indicated by an arrow, and is blown out into a room from the front face side blowing outlet 8 via the first air path 22. 560399 At this moment, the moisture adheres to and is accumulated between fins of the evaporator 15, and part of the moisture is accumulated in the water discharging tank 18.

[0028] Further, the ambient air inhaled from the second air path suction inlet 13 at a lower part is cleaned by a second filter (illustration is omitted) and becomes warm air by the radiation of the condenser 16. The warm air is then blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 into the room via the second air path 24, as indicated by an arrow. Incidentally, the heating means 21 such as a heater may be energized, when needed to further heat the warm air passing through the second air path 24. Thereby, the dehumidified and cooled air and the warm air blow out from the front face side blowing outlet 8, and dehumidify the indoor air. At this moment, a current temperature, or humidity and temperature are indicated in the indicating portion 37 of the operating portion 31.

[0029] In a case of the dehumidifying air operation, so as to respectively blow out both the cold air generated by means of the evaporator 15 and the warm air generated by means of the condenser 16, from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the first and second changeover blowing outlets 23 and 25, and so as to blow out the cold air generated by means of the 560399 evaporator 15 from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the first changeover blowing outlet 23, the left side shutter 28 in the shutter frame 26 of the air path changeover device 26 is slid backward, as shown in Fig. 25(a), by driving the linking member 30 by a rotation of the motor 29 for driving the link.

[0030] At the same time, so as to blow out the warm air generated by means of the condenser 16, from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the second changeover blowing outlet 25, the right side shutter 28 in the shutter frame 26 of the air path changeover device 26 is slid backward, as shown in Fig. 25(a), by driving the linking member 30 by the rotation of the motor 29 for driving the link.

In this way, in the dehumidifying air operation, the cold air generated by means of the evaporator 15 is blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the first changeover blowing outlet 23, and the warm air generated by means of the condenser 16 is also blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the second changeover blowing outlet 25, and flows together with the cold air, and thus, both the cold air and the warm air are blown out.

As described above, in the dehumidifying air operation, since dried air can be blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the first and second changeover blowing 560399 outlets 23 and 25 by making the dried cold air and the warm air flow together, the dehumidifying air operation is used in a case that the laundry is intended to be dried in the room in, for example, a rainy day or the like.

[0031] [Deodorizing and Drying Operation] Next, a case that the deodorizing and drying operation is performed by means of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to the second embodiment of the present invention will by explained on the basis of a flowchart in Fig. 26. Incidentally, the to-be-conditioned article is to be hung down above the deodorizing apparatus 1 for the clothes or the like.

Firstly, the operation switch 31a of the operating portion 31 is selected and turned on (in Step Sll), and the deodorizing and drying operation switch 31b is selected and turned on next (in Step S12). This is confirmed by lighting of an indication lamp or the like of the indicating portion 37.

Then, the compressor 17 in the cooling medium circuit of the refrigerating cycle is driven by means of the control portion 32, and the first air blower 19 serving as a cold air fan, and the second air blower 20 serving as a warm air fan are driven at the same time. Thereby, the ambient air is inhaled from the first and second air path suction inlets intellectual property office of n.z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 12 and 13 corresponding to each air blower.

Thereby, the air cooled up to the dew point or less and dehumidified by means of the evaporator 15 is blown out into the room from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at an upper part via the first air path 22, and the warm air heated by radiation of the condenser 16 is blown out into the room from the back face blowing outlet 11 via the second air path 24, and thus a cold air blowing-out operation is performed (in Step S13).

[0032] In a case of the cold air operation, as shown in Fig. 12 through Fig. 14, only the cold air generated by means of the evaporator 15 is blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the first changeover blowing outlet 23 (this condition is referred to as that a cold air damper is open.), and the warm air generated by means of the condenser 19 is blown out from the back face blowing outlet 11 at the second changeover blowing outlet 25 (this condition is referred to as that a warm air damper is closed.).

For that purpose, so as for the cold air generated by means of the evaporator 15 to be blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the first changeover blowing outlet 23, the shutter 28 at the left side in the shutter frame 27 of the air path changeover device 26 is slid backward, as shown in Fig. 25(b), by driving the linking 560399 member 30 by the rotation of the motor 29 for driving the link.

[0033] At the same time, so as for the warm air generated by means of the condenser 16 to be blown out from the back face blowing outlet 11 at the second changeover blowing outlet 25, the shutter 28 at the right side in the shutter frame 27 of the air path changeover means 26 is slid forward, as shown in Fig. 25(b), by driving the linking member 30 by the rotation of the motor 29 for driving the link.

In this way, in the cold air operation, the warm air generated by means of the condenser 16 is blown out from the back face side blowing outlet 11 at the second changeover blowing outlet 25 while being guided, and from the first changeover blowing outlet 8, only the cold air generated by means of the evaporator 15 is blown out.

Further, the cooled air whose relative humidity is raised and which is bloxm out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the upper part, hits the to-be-conditioned article. By the blowing-out air having high relative humidity, the to-be-conditioned article absorbs the moisture, and the absorbed moisture absorbs the odor component intruding into a gap of the fiber (moisture absorbing process).

[0034] When the cold air blowing-out operation is started, an intellectual property office of n.z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 elapsing time detecting means (illustration is omitted) serving as a timer built in the control portion 32 is operated (in Step S14), and the elapsing time detecting means is detecting whether a predetermined time (for example 20 minutes) has elapsed from a time when the cold air operation is started (in Step S15). When the elapsing time detecting means detects that the predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the cold air operation is started the control portion 32 operates the air path changeover means 26, the air cooled up to the dew point or lower and dehumidified by means of the evaporator 15 is blown out into the room from the back face blowing outlet 11 via the first air path 22 (this condition is referred to as that the cold air damper is closed.)/ the warm air heated by the radiation of the condenser 16 is blown out into the room from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the upper part via the second air path 24 (this condition is referred to as that the warm air damper is open.), and the warm air blowing-out operation is performed (in Step S16).

[0035] In a case of the warm air operation, as shown in Fig. 15 through Fig. 17, only the warm air generated by means of the condenser 19 is blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the second changeover blowing outlet 25, and the cold air generated by means of the evaporator 15 is ■ A- « 560399 blown out from the back face blowing outlet 11 at the first changeover blowing outlet 25.

For that purpose, so as for the warm air generated by means of the condenser 16 to be blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the second blowing outlet 25, the shutter 28 at the left side in the shutter frame 26 of the air path changeover means 26 is slid backward, as shown in Fig. 25(c), by driving the linking member 30 by the rotation of the motor 29 for driving the link.

At the same time, so as for the cold air generated by means of the evaporator 15 to be blown out from the back face blowing outlet 11 at the first blowing outlet 23, the shutter 28 at the left side in the shutter frame 26 of the air path changeover means 26 is slid frontward, as shown in Fig. 25(c), by driving the linking member 30 by the rotation of the motor 29 for driving the link.

[0036] In this way, in the warm air operation, the warm air generated by means of the condenser 16 is blown out only from the front face side blowing outlet 8 at the second blowing outlet 25, while guided, and from the back face blowing outlet 11 at the first changeover blowing outlet 11, the cold air generated by means of the evaporator 15 is blown out. At this time, the heating apparatus 21 may be operated so as to blow out the warm air having further low 560399 relative humidity.

When the warm air blowing-out operation is started, the elapsing time detecting means (illustration is omitted) serving as a timer built in the control portion 32 is operated (in Step S17), and the elapsing time detecting means is detecting whether a predetermined time (for example, 40 minutes) has elapsed from a time when the warm air operation is started (in Step S18). When the elapsing time detecting means detects that the predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the warm air operation is started, the control portion 32 stops the operation of the deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like and the deodorizing and drying operation ends (in Step S18).

Thereby, the to-be-conditioned article is dried and the moisture containing the odor component is vaporized and separated from the to-be-conditioned article, and is deodorized. Incidentally, although part of the odor component vaporized and separated from the to-be-conditioned article is emitted into the room, this is trapped by the first and second filters of the deodorization apparatus 1 for the clothes or the like, and therefore there is no possibility that the odor component wafts through the room.

[0037] As described above, in the second embodiment, the attention is paid to the property of the cloth to absorb the intellectual PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 26 SEP 2008 received! 560399 moisture at the time when a relative humidity difference exists. Firstly, the evaporator 15 serving as the cooling apparatus and the first air blower 19, are driven by means of the control portion 32 and the cold air blowing-out operation is started. The ambient air inhaled from the first air path suction inlet 12 is cooled by means of the evaporator 15 up to the dew point or less, and the dehumidified air is blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 by means of the air path changeover means 26. The air whose relative humidity is raised by being cooled, which is dehumidified, and which is blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8, hits against a to-be- conditioned article. Thereby, the to-be-conditioned article absorbs the moisture, and the absorbed moisture absorbs the odor component intruding into the gap of the fiber. After the predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the cold air blowing-out operation is started, the warm air blowing- out operation is started by a driving operation of the condenser 16 and the second air blower 20 by means of the control portion 32. The ambient air inhaled from the second air path suction inlet 13 is heated by means of the condenser 16, and the heated air blown out from the front face side blowing outlet 8 by means of the air path changeover means 2 6 hits against the to-be-conditioned article. Thereby, the to-be-conditioned article is dried, and the INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received 560399 moisture is vaporized together with the odor component adhered to the to-be-conditioned article as a whole, and thereby the adhered odor component is separated and deodorized. Therefore, the deodorizing operation can be performed by means of a simple construction including only the evaporator 15, the condenser 16, and the first and second air blowers 19 and 20 except that the air path changeover means 26 is provided at the front face side blowing outlet 8. Namely, a conventional humidifying apparatus, a specific deodorizing apparatus or a specific discharging apparatus for bacteria-elimination substance is not required and a miniaturization can be aimed.

In addition, the odor component adhering to the surface of the clothes or the like, and further, the odor component intruding into the gap of the fiber or the like can effectively be deodorized.

In the aforementioned first and second embodiment, although a timer built in the control portion 32 is used as the elapsing time detecting means, a timer provided outside the control portion 32 may be used.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner. intellectual property office of n.z. 2 6 SEP 2008 received

Claims (2)

560399 - 39 -CLAIMS

1. A method for deodorizing clothes or the like,

comprising the processes of:

a moisture-absorbing process including the steps of:

inhaling air from ambient via a suction inlet into a housing by an air blower provided in the housing;

generating cold air by cooling the air by a cooling apparatus provided in the housing;

causing a to-be-conditioned article placed in a vicinity of a blowing outlet of the housing to absorb moisture by blowing out the cold air from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time by the air blower; and a deodorizing and drying process including the steps of:

inhaling the air inside from the suction inlet of the housing by the air blower provided in the housing;

generating heated air by heating the air by a heating apparatus provided in the housing;

vaporizing the moisture containing an odor component by drying the to-be-conditioned article placed in the vicinity of the blowing outlet of the housing by blowing out the heated air from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time by the air blower.

2. The method for deodorizing the clothes or the like according to Claim 1, wherein the predetermined time for intellectual PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z.

2 6 SEP 2008 received

560399

- 40 -

blowing out the cold air from the blowing outlet of the housing by the air blower is at least 20 minutes or more, and the predetermined time for blowing out the heated air from the blowing outlet of the housing by the air blower is at least 40 minutes or more.

3. A deodorizing apparatus for clothes or the like comprising:

a housing including a suction inlet for ambient air and a blowing outlet;

a cooling apparatus provided in the housing;

a heating apparatus provided in the housing;

an air blower provided in the housing; and a control means for controlling to drive the cooling apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the air blower,

wherein the control means first controls the cooling apparatus and the air blower to be driven, to inhale air from the suction inlet and cool the air, and to blow out the cooled air from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time, and wherein the control means next controls the air blower to be continuously driven and the heating apparatus to be driven, so as to blow out the heated air, which is inhaled from the suction inlet and heated, from the blowing outlet for a predetermined time.

4. A deodorizing apparatus for clothes or the like comprising:

560399

- 41 -

a refrigerating cycle means provided in a housing, and composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expanding valve, and an evaporator, each connected sequentially by cooling medium piping;

a first air path provided in the housing, and including the evaporator and a first air blowing means;

a second air path provided in the housing, and including the condenser and a second air blowing means;

a suction inlet provided in the housing, for inhaling ambient air;

a blowing outlet of the first air path and a blowing outlet of the second air path provided in the housing;

an air path changeover means capable of selecting whether to blow out cold air from the blowing outlet of the first air path, or to blow out warm air from the blowing outlet of the second air path; and a control means for controlling to drive the refrigerating cycle means, the first air blower, the second air blower, and the air path changeover means,

wherein the control means drives the refrigerating cycle means, and controls to firstly select the air path changeover means to blow out cold air from the blowing outlet of the first air path, to drive the first air blower, so as to inhale air from the suction inlet and blow out the cold air cooled by the evaporator from the blowing outlet of

560399

- 42 -

the first air path for a predetermined time, to subsequently select the air path changeover means to blow out warm air from the blowing outlet of the second air path, and to drive the second air blower so as to inhale the air from the suction inlet and blow out the warm air heated by the condenser from the blowing outlet of the second air path for a predetermined time.

' 6. The method for deodorizing the clothes or the like according to Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.

7. A method for deodorizing clothes or the like, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, excluding figure 3.

8. The deodorizing apparatus for the clothes or the like according to Claim 3 or 4, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.

9. A deodorizing apparatus for clothes or the like, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, excluding figure 3.

intellectual property office of n.z.

2 6 SEP 2008

received