WO2007123019A1

WO2007123019A1 - Deodorizing unit

Info

Publication number: WO2007123019A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/057870
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tooru Kai; Hiromu Iwahasi
Original assignee: Panasonic Corporation
Priority date: 2006-04-11
Filing date: 2007-04-10
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Also published as: JP2007275837A

Abstract

A deodorizing unit (7) has a deodorizing filter (20) provided with photocatalysis, light sources (4), and a light transmissive light path member (6). The light path member (6) has a first end into which the light emitted from a light source (4) enters and a first side that faces the deodorizing filter (20) and from which the light having entered from the first end is outputted. The light path member guides the light having entered from the light source (4) to the deodorizing filter (20). The first side has a semi-circular or trapezoidal cross-section. The construction allows efficient use of the photocatalysis, providing the deodorizing unit(7) with high deodorizing efficiency.

Description

Specification

Deodorizing unit

Technical field

The present invention relates to a deodorizing unit that is provided in an air flow path of an air conditioner and removes odor components and the like contained in air to be air conditioned.

Background art

Conventionally, as a deodorizing apparatus using a photocatalyst, a deodorizing apparatus that exhibits a catalytic action using an LED (light emitting diode) as a light source is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-290664 (Patent Document 1). Has been.

As shown in FIG. 10, the conventional photocatalyst deodorization apparatus 100 uses a plurality of UV LEDs 103 provided as a light source, and irradiates light to the light introducing portion 102 a of the light guide plate 102. Light emitted from the ultraviolet LED 103 is applied to the photocatalyst film 101 via the light guide plate 102. Photocatalytic activity is obtained in the photocatalytic film 101 irradiated with light. As a result, the organic matter that contacts the photocatalytic film 101 is effectively decomposed.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-290664

Disclosure of the invention

[0004] The deodorizing unit of the present invention includes a deodorizing filter having a photocatalytic function, a light source, and an optical path member having optical transparency, and the optical path member has a first end on which light emitted from the light source is incident. And a first side surface facing the deodorizing filter and from which light incident from the first end is emitted, the light emitted from the light source is guided to the deodorizing filter, and the first side surface is semicircular or trapezoidal Having a cross-sectional shape. With this configuration, the photocatalytic function is efficiently used, and a deodorizing unit with high deodorizing efficiency is provided.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a deodorizing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a sectional view of the deodorizing unit shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing an optical path member used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical path member used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG. FIG.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical path member used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical path member used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an optical path member used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG.

5A is a cross-sectional view of the optical path member shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 5A-5A.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical path member used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the optical path member used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view showing a light source cover used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the light source cover used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an optical path member and a light source cover used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an optical path member used in the deodorizing unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional deodorizing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Front panel

3 Storage frame

4 Light source

6 Optical path member

7 Deodorizing unit

8, 12 Semicircular part

9 Trapezoidal shape

11 Optical path member cover 11a, 17a Inner surface

13 recess

15 Light emitter

17 Light source cover

18 End face

19 Outer end face

20 Deodorizing filter

25 Power supply

61 First end

62 1st side

63 2nd end

64 Second side

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the deodorizing unit 7 includes a front panel 1, a deodorizing filter 20, a storage frame 3, a light source 4, a power supply unit 25, and an optical path member 6. The deodorizing unit 7 is provided, for example, in an air flow path (not shown) such as an air conditioner (not shown). The front panel 1 is installed on the upstream side and the deodorizing filter 20 is installed on the downstream side with respect to the direction of air moving in the air flow path (the direction of arrow 21). The front panel 1 is formed in a lattice shape. The deodorizing filter 20 has a deodorizing function by supporting a deodorizing material such as powdered titanium oxide on a substrate. The storage frame 3 stores the deodorizing filter 20. For example, an LED (light emitting diode) is used as the light source 4. The power supply unit 25 supplies power to the light source 4. In the optical path member 6, the light emitted from the light source 4 is incident on the first end portion 61, and the incident light is emitted from the first side surface 62. The light emitted from the first side surface 62 of the optical path member 6 is applied to the deodorizing filter 20. That is, the optical path member 6 guides the light from the light source 4 to the deodorizing filter 20. The optical path member 6 is light transmissive so that light from the light source 4 can be easily transmitted. The optical path member 6 is installed on the front panel 1 side.

[0009] The optical path member 6 is, for example, a transparent acrylic or transparent glass which is a transparent material. Is used and is formed into a pillar shape. The optical path member 6 has a first end portion 61, a first side surface 62, a second end portion 63, and a second side surface 64. The first end 61 is disposed to face the light source 4, and light emitted from the light source 4 enters the optical path member 6 from the first end 61. The first side surface 62 is disposed so as to face the deodorizing filter 20, and the light incident from the first end portion 61 is also emitted from the first side surface 62. The light emitted from the first side face 62 is applied to the deodorizing filter 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B, the first side surface 62 may have a semicircular portion 8 having a semicircular shape in cross section or a trapezoidal shape portion 9 having a trapezoidal shape in cross section. As a result, the light emitted from the light source 4 is efficiently applied to the deodorizing filter 20. The first side surface 62 preferably has a semicircular or trapezoidal cross section. However, the shape is not limited to a semicircular shape or a trapezoidal shape, and may be a convex shape facing the deodorizing filter 20. The second end 63 is provided on the opposite side of the first end 61 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the columnar optical path member 6. Further, the second side surface 64 is provided on the back side of the first side surface 62. The optical path member 6 having a columnar shape has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction, and the projected shape on the first end 61 side is a cross-sectional shape at the positions of the first side surface 62 and the second side surface 64. And almost the same shape. The first end 61 and the second end 63 are ends of the optical path member 6, and the first side face 62 and the second side face 64 are side faces of the optical path member 6.

[0010] The operation of the deodorizing unit 7 having the above configuration will be described below. The deodorizing unit 7 is installed in a suction port (not shown) of an air conditioner or the like, and indoor contaminated air is sucked in the direction of arrow 21 from the front panel 1 side. As the inhaled contaminated air passes through the deodorizing filter 20, odor components are adsorbed and purified.

On the other hand, the light source 4 is supplied with electric power from the power supply unit 25 and emits light. The emitted light is incident on the first end 61 of the optical path member 6. The light that has entered the optical path member 6 from the first end 61 passes through the optical path member 6 and is emitted from the first side surface 62 to the outside of the optical path member 6.

[0012] The second side face 64 is covered with an optical path member cover 11 using an opaque material having a light shielding property. This prevents light leakage to the outside of the deodorizing unit 7. For this reason, the deodorizing filter 20 is efficiently irradiated with light. Furthermore, the second side face 64 is preferably a semicircular portion 12 having a semicircular shape in cross section. That is, even if the shape of the optical path member cover 11 is a simple shape, the second side face 64 is easily covered. By this, the second side The light leakage from the surface 64 can be prevented more easily, and the optical path member cover 11 with good light reflection efficiency can be easily obtained. For this reason, the deodorizing filter 20 is more efficiently irradiated with light.

[0013] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3C, a reflective material 22a that reflects light may be attached to the inner surface 11a of the optical path member cover 11 or applied. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3D, the second side surface 64 may be provided with a reflecting material 22b that reflects light or by application. As a result, the deodorizing filter 20 is more efficiently irradiated with light.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5A, and 6, the first end 61 is provided with the hemispherical recess 13 so that the light emitted from the light source 4 can be efficiently emitted. Incident on the optical path member 6. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitting portion 15 of the light source 4 may be inserted into the recess 13. As a result, the light emitted from the light source 4 is efficiently collected, and the amount of light incident on the optical path member 6 increases. As a result, the deodorizing filter 20 is more efficiently irradiated with light.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A, the second end 63 has a convex hemispherical shape, so that the light incident from the first end 61 is changed to the first side surface 62. To efficiently emit light from Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5B, a reflective material 22c that reflects light may be provided on the surface of the second end 63 by being attached or applied. As a result, the light transmitted through the optical path member 6 is efficiently reflected at the second end 63. As a result, the deodorizing filter 20 is more efficiently irradiated with light.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, a light source cover 17 provided on the opposite side of the optical path member 6 with respect to the light source 4 and covering the light emitting portion 15 of the light source 4 may be provided. The light source cover 17 is provided to prevent light leakage from the light source 4, and has a concave hemispherical shape on the inner surface 17a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7B, a reflecting material 22d that reflects light may be attached to the inner surface 17a of the light source cover 17 or applied. As a result, the light leaking without being incident on the optical path member 6 is reflected and incident on the optical path member 6. As a result, the deodorizing filter 20 is more efficiently irradiated with light.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the end surface 18 of the first end portion 61 and the outer end surface 19 of the light source cover 17 may be joined. As a result, the optical path member 6 and the light source cover 17 Since there is no gap in between, light does not leak from the gap. As a result, the amount of light incident on the optical path member 6 increases, and the deodorizing filter 20 is more efficiently irradiated with light.

[0018] As described above, in the deodorizing unit 7 of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source 4 is incident on the first end 61 of the optical path member 6, and the light passing through the optical path member 6 is the first side surface 62. It is emitted from. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the light 66 emitted from the first side surface 62 in the longitudinal direction is irradiated to the deodorizing filter 20 over a wide range. In the deodorizing filter 20 irradiated with light 66, the photocatalytic activity of the deodorizing material contained in the deodorizing filter 20 is enhanced, and the deodorizing function is enhanced. Therefore, the contaminated air sucked from the front panel 1 is efficiently adsorbed by the deodorizing filter 20 and the odor components and the like are blown out as clean air.

Note that the optical path member 6 is arranged on the upstream side of the deodorizing filter 20 with respect to the wind direction of the air sucked into the deodorizing unit 7. As a result, the photocatalytic activity of the deodorizing filter 20 on the higher contamination side can be effectively increased. As a result, a high deodorizing effect is maintained continuously.

[0020] Further, as the reflecting materials 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d, for example, an aluminum vapor deposition film may be used. Alternatively, the reflective sheet 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d may be used by applying a reflective sheet with a vapor deposition of a material having high light reflection efficiency such as aluminum.

Industrial applicability

[0021] The deodorizing unit according to the present invention is widely applied to devices for purifying air such as an air purifier or a negative ion generator.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] a deodorizing filter having a photocatalytic function;

A light source that emits light applied to the deodorizing filter;

A first end on which light emitted from the light source is incident;

A first side surface facing the deodorizing filter and emitting the light incident from the first end;

An optical path member having a light transmission property for guiding light emitted from the light source to the deodorizing filter,

The first side surface has a semicircular or trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.

Deodorizing unit.

[2] An optical path member cover having light shielding properties is further provided,

The optical path member has a second side surface provided on the back side of the first side surface,

The optical path member cover covers the second side surface.

The deodorizing unit according to claim 1.

[3] The optical path member has a second side surface provided on the back side of the first side surface,

The second side surface has a semicircular cross-sectional shape.

The deodorizing unit according to claim 1.

[4] The optical path member is

A second end that is provided on the opposite side of the first end and reflects light incident from the first end and transmitted through the inner portion of the optical path member;

The second end has a convex hemispherical shape and is provided with a reflector.

The deodorizing unit according to claim 1.

[5] A light source cover provided on the opposite side of the optical path member with respect to the light source and covering the light source, further comprising:

The deodorizing unit according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the light source cover has a concave hemispherical shape and is provided with a reflective material.

[6] The first end has a recess.

The deodorizing unit according to claim 1.

[7] A part of the light source is inserted into the recess.

The deodorizing unit according to claim 6.

[8] The first end is joined to the light source cover.

The deodorizing unit according to claim 5.

[9] The first end has a recess,

A portion of the light source is inserted into the recess,

The first end is joined to the light source cover so that the first end covers the light source.

The deodorizing unit according to claim 5.