Field
[0001] An embodiment according to the present invention relates to an adsorption unit and an air purifier. Background 5 [0002] Conventionally, there are known air purifiers
that adsorbs, by passing air in a room through a deodorant filter, odor components contained in the air onto the deodorant filter and that regenerates, by heating the deodorant filter, the deodorization performance of the
10 deodorant filter. Among such air purifiers, there are air purifiers each having a deodorant filter that is provided in a rotatable manner and a heating unit that heats a part of the deodorant filter (see Patent Literatures 1 and 2). Citation List
15 Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2016-43105
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-277365
2 0 Summary
Technical Problem
[0004] However, with these air purifiers, there is a problem in that the heating unit is cooled by air passing through the deodorant filter, the heating efficiency of the
25 deodorant filter is decreased, and thus the regenerating efficiency of the deodorant filter is decreased. [0005] Accordingly, the present invention has been conceived in light of the circumstances described above and an object thereof is to provide an adsorption unit and an
30 air purifier that heats a filter with high efficiency. Solution to Problem
[0006] According to an aspect of an embodiment, an adsorption unit includes a filter that is formed in a plate
2

shape, a heatsink that is arranged so as to cover a front surface of a part of the filter, a heater that heats the part of the filter by heating the heatsink, and a driving unit that moves the filter with respect to the heatsink, 5 wherein the heater is arranged such that a diagram of the heater orthographically projected onto a virtual plane that is parallel to the filter does not overlap with a diagram of the filter orthographically projected onto the virtual plane. 10 Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0007] The disclosed adsorption unit and the air purifier can heat a filter with high efficiency. Brief Description of Drawings
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an 15 external appearance of an air purifier according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating the air purifier according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-20 X in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line Y-Y in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an adsorption unit according to the embodiment. 25 FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the adsorption unit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a deodorant filter portion.
FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional perspective view taken 30 along line D-D in FIG. 7.
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an inner
3

circumferential portion filter cover.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a filter regenerating portion.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the filter 5 regenerating portion.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an adsorption unit according to a comparative example.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a deodorant filter portion of the adsorption unit according 10 to the comparative example.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the deodorant filter portion of the adsorption unit according to the comparative example.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a filter 15 regenerating portion in an adsorption unit according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a filter regenerating portion in an adsorption unit according to a third embodiment. 20 FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a filter
regenerating portion in an adsorption unit according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a back surface side heatsink in the adsorption unit according to the fourth 2 5 embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a filter regenerating portion in the adsorption unit according to the fourth embodiment.
Description of Embodiments 30 [0009] Preferred embodiments of an adsorption unit and an air purifier disclosed in the present invention will be explained with reference to accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the
4

descriptions below. Furthermore, in the descriptions below, the same components are assigned the same reference numerals and overlapped description will be omitted. First Embodiment 5 [0010] [Air purifier]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of an air purifier according to an embodiment. An air purifier 1 according to an embodiment includes, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a main body casing 11, a front
10 surface panel 12, a front panel 13, and a rear panel 14. The main body casing 11 is made of a synthetic resin material and is formed in a substantially rectangular block shape. The main body casing 11 includes a top panel 11a, a right side surface panel lib, a left side surface panel lie,
15 and a bottom portion lid. The bottom portion lid forms the lower part of the main body casing 11 and is mounted on the installation surface on which the air purifier 1 is placed. The right side surface panel lib and the left side surface panel lie are arranged so as to be opposite each other,
20 thereby forming the side surfaces of the main body casing 11. Furthermore, each of the lower ends of the right side surface panel lib and the left side surface panel lie is joined to the bottom portion lid. The top panel 11a forms the upper part of the main body casing 11 and is joined to
25 both the upper end of the right side surface panel lib and the upper end of the left side surface panel lie. The front surface panel 12 is arranged in front of the main body casing 11. The front panel 13 is arranged forward of the front surface panel 12.
30 [0011] Between the front panel 13 and the front surface panel 12, an upper surface inlet port 13a, a right side surface inlet port 13b, a left side surface inlet port 13c, and a lower side inlet port 13d are formed. The upper
5

surface inlet port 13a is arranged on the upper side of the front panel 13. The right side surface inlet port 13b is arranged on the side of the right side surface panel lib of the front panel 13. The left side surface inlet port 13c 5 is arranged on the side of the left side surface panel lie of the front panel 13. The lower side inlet port 13d is arranged on the side of the bottom portion lid of the front panel 13. [0012] The air purifier 1 further includes an operating
10 unit 15. The operating unit 15 is arranged on the upper
surface of the air purifier 1 so as to cover a part of the upper surface inlet port 13a. The operating unit 15 includes buttons and a display unit. The buttons includes a power button, a driving mode switch button, and the like
15 and are used to operate the air purifier 1. On the display unit, an operation state of the air purifier 1 or a detection result obtained by a detector, such as a dust sensor, which is not illustrated, is displayed. [0013] FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating the air
20 purifier according to the embodiment. The rear panel 14 is made of a synthetic resin material and is arranged, as illustrated in FIG. 2, on the back surface on the opposite side of the front surface on which the front surface panel 12 is arranged. Between the main body casing 11 and the
25 rear panel 14, an upper surface outlet port 14a, a right side surface outlet port 14b, and a left side surface outlet port 14c are formed. The upper surface outlet port 14a is arranged on the side of the top panel 11a of the rear panel 14. The right side surface outlet port 14b is
30 arranged on the side of the right side surface panel lib of the rear panel 14. The left side surface outlet port 14c is arranged on the side of the left side surface panel lie of the rear panel 14.
6

[0014] The air purifier 1 performs a dust removal process, a humidification process, and a deodorization process of air while air taken in the main body casing 11 from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side 5 surface inlet port 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet port 13d is blown out from the upper surface outlet port 14a, the right side surface outlet port 14b, and the left side surface outlet port 14c. Furthermore, in this application, in the description
10 below, the side in which the front surface panel 12 of the main body casing 11 is arranged is referred to as a "front surface side" and the side in which the rear panel 14 of the main body casing 11 is arranged is referred to as a "back surface side".
15 [0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-X in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a ventilation duct 10 is formed inside the main body casing 11. the ventilation duct 10 communicates the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side surface inlet port 13b, the
20 left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet port 13d with the upper surface outlet port 14a, the right side surface outlet port 14b, the left side surface outlet port 14c. [0016] The air purifier 1 further includes a prefilter
25 21, a dust collecting unit 22, a deodorant unit 23, a
humidification unit 24, and a blower 25. The prefilter 21, the dust collecting unit 22, the deodorant unit 23, the humidification unit 24, and the blower 25 are arranged in the ventilation duct 10 that is arranged inside the main
30 body casing 11.
[0017] The prefilter 21 is formed of a mesh structure in which, for example, string shaped PET materials are interweaved. The prefilter 21 is arranged on the front
7

surface side of the ventilation duct 10. The prefilter 21 collects, from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side surface inlet port 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet port 13d, dust included 5 in air taken in the ventilation duct 10 that is inside the main body casing 11.
[0018] The dust collecting unit 22 is arranged on the back surface side of the prefilter 21 of the ventilation duct 10. The main body casing 11 further includes a
10 partition plate 16. The partition plate 16 is arranged on the back surface side of the front panel 13 and forms a part of the main body casing 11. The dust collecting unit 22 includes a first electric dust collector 22a and a second electric dust collector 22b. The first electric
15 dust collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b are vertically arranged and are supported by the partition plate 16. Each of the first electric dust collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b includes a casing, an ignition electrode, and a dust
20 collecting electrode that are not illustrated. The casing supports the ignition electrode and the dust collecting electrode inside the casing. The ignition electrode electrically charges small dust, pollen, and the like that have not collected by the prefilter 21 by a corona
25 discharge. The dust collecting electrode collects the dust, the pollen, and the like charged by the ignition electrode. Because both the first electric dust collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b are formed by the an ignition electrode, the dust collecting electrode, and the
30 casing, the air resistance of the dust collecting unit 22 is lower than that of another dust collecting filter that is made of, for example, non-woven fabric formed in a pleat shape.
8

[0019] The deodorant unit 23 is arranged on the back surface side of the prefilter 21 of the ventilation duct 10. The humidification unit 24 is arranged on the back surface side of the deodorant unit 23 of the ventilation duct 10. 5 The humidification unit 24 includes a humidification filter 24a and a water storage tank 24b. The water storage tank 24b retains water. The humidification filter 24a is formed in a circular disk shape and is arranged such that a part of the humidification filter 24a is soaked in the water
10 retained in the water storage tank 24b. The humidification filter 24a is supported so as to be capable of rotating about the rotation axis such that the portion soaked in the water retained in the water storage tank 24b is moved and is rotated by a motor that is not illustrated. The
15 humidification unit 24 humidifies the air flowing through the ventilation duct 10 by ventilating the humidification filter 24a moistened by the water retained in the water storage tank 24b.
Furthermore, the humidification unit 24 is not limited
20 to the one described above. The humidification filter 24a that sucks up the water retained in the water storage tank 24b may also be replaced with another humidification filter that sucks the water retained in the water storage tank 24b by capillary action.
25 [0020] The blower 25 is arranged on the back surface
side of the humidification unit 24 of the ventilation duct 10. The blower 25 includes a turbofan 25a and a fan motor 25b. The fan motor 25b can vary its rotational speed and rotates the turbofan 25a. The turbofan 25a is made of a
30 synthetic resin material and is connected to an output axis of the fan motor 25b. With the rotation of the turbofan 25a, the turbofan 25a flows air, into the ventilation duct 10, from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side
9

surface inlet port 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet port 13d toward the upper surface outlet port 14a, the right side surface outlet port 14b, the left side surface outlet port 14c. Namely, the 5 blower 25 takes in air from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side surface inlet port 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet port 13d into the interior of the air purifier 1 and allows the air to pass through the ventilation duct 10. The blower 25
10 further emits the air passing through the ventilation duct 10, via the upper surface outlet port 14a, the right side surface outlet port 14b, and the left side surface outlet port 14c, outside the air purifier 1. [0021] The blower 25 is arranged such that a height P of
15 the center of the fan motor 25b matches the height of the
space between the first electric dust collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b of the dust collecting unit 22. An amount of air flowing through the space in the vicinity of the center of the fan motor 25b of the
20 ventilation duct 10 is small because an amount of air
flowing in the vicinity of the center of the fan motor 25b due to the rotation of the turbofan 25a is small. The dust collecting unit 22 has a large capacity of collecting air passing through the first electric dust collector 22a and
25 the second electric dust collector 22b, when compared with the air passing through the space between the first electric dust collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b. Thus, by arranging the first electric dust collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b in
30 the space through which a large amount of air flows, the dust collecting unit 22 can remove dust with high efficiency. [0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a
10

line Y-Y in FIG. 1. The prefilter 21 is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in an arch shape in which the center thereof has a convex shape toward the front surface side. Thus, when compared with a case in which the prefilter 21 5 is formed in a flat shape, the prefilter 21 has the large area in which the air taken from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side surface inlet port 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet port 13d into the interior of the main body casing 11 passes
10 through the prefilter 21. Consequently, the prefilter 21
can collect a larger amount of dust from the air taken into the interior of the main body casing 11 from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side surface inlet port 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower
15 side inlet port 13d.
[0023] [Adsorption unit]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an adsorption unit according to the embodiment. The deodorant unit 23 that is an adsorption unit according to the
20 embodiment includes, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a deodorant filter portion 23a, a filter regenerating portion 23f, and a holding unit 23g. The deodorant filter portion 23a is formed in a disk shape. The filter regenerating portion 23f is formed in a substantially triangular prism shape and
25 covers the both surfaces of a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a. The holding unit 23g is fixed to the main body casing 11 and supports the deodorant filter portion 23a and the filter regenerating portion 23f. [0024] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view
30 illustrating the adsorption unit according to the
embodiment. The holding unit 23g is made of a synthetic resin material; is formed, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in a substantially square shape; and is provided with, at the
11

center, an opening portion 23gd having a shape corresponding to the deodorant filter portion 23a. In the holding unit 23g, a regenerating portion accommodating unit 23ge formed in a concave shape associated with the shape of 5 the filter regenerating portion 23f is formed above the opening portion 23gd (the position corresponding to the upper side when the holding unit 23g is arranged in the ventilation duct 10. Hereinafter, referred to as "above"). [0025] The deodorant unit 23 further includes two
10 rollers 23m, a rotation detection gear 23k, a rotation
detection unit 23r, a driving unit 23h, a driving gear 23j, and four pressure members 23z. Each of the two rollers 23m is made of a synthetic resin material and includes a tube portion 23mb, an upper flange 23mc, and a lower flange 23md.
15 The tube portion 23mb is formed in a cylindrical shape and in which a hole 23ma is formed. Each of the upper flange 23mc and the lower flange 23md is formed in a circular disk shape having a diameter that is larger than that of each of the tube portions 23mb and outwardly protrudes from both
20 ends of the tube portion 23mb. Two first axes 23ga are
formed in the holding unit 23g. The two first axes 23ga is arranged at the both corners below the holding unit 23g (the position corresponding to the lower side when the holding unit 23g is arranged in the ventilation duct 10.
25 Hereinafter, referred to as "below"). Each of the two
first axes 23ga rotatably supports the two rollers 23m by being inserted in the holes 23ma in the two rollers 23m. [0026] The rotation detection gear 23k is made of a synthetic resin material. A second axis 23gb is further
30 formed in the holding unit 23g. The second axis 23gb is arranged on the left side of the regenerating portion accommodating unit 23ge (the left side when the deodorant filter portion 23a is viewed from the front surface side).
12

The second axis 23gb rotatably supports the rotation detection gear 23k because the rotation detection gear 23k is inserted. The rotation detection unit 23r detects rotation of the rotation detection gear 23k. An example of 5 the rotation detection unit 23r includes, for example, a
photo interrupter. The photo interrupter includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit that are opposite each other with an object interposed therebetween and that determines whether an object is present or determines the
10 position of the object by detecting light emitted from the light-emitting unit by the light-receiving unit. [0027] The driving gear 23j is made of a synthetic resin material. The driving unit 23h is formed by, for example, a stepping motor, and the driving gear 23j is attached to
15 an output axis thereof. A driving unit fixing portion 23gc is further formed in the holding unit 23g. The driving unit fixing portion 23gc is arranged on the right side of the regenerating portion accommodating unit 23ge (the right side when the deodorant filter portion 23a is viewed from
20 the front surface side) and supports the driving unit 23h. The driving unit 23h rotates the driving gear 23j. [0028] The four pressure members 23z are made of a synthetic resin material, are formed to plate member in a substantially pentagonal shape, and are formed in a shape
25 so as to be fitted in the holding unit 23g. The pressure members 23z are fitted in the holding unit 23g after the two rollers 23m, the rotation detection gear 23k, the driving unit 23h, and the driving gear 23j are installed in the holding unit 23g. Because the pressure members 23z are
30 fitted in the holding unit 23g, the pressure members 23z
press the two rollers 23m, the rotation detection gear 23k, the driving unit 23h, and the driving gear 23j and support these members so as not to be detached from the holding
13

unit 23g.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a deodorant filter portion. The deodorant filter portion 23a includes, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a deodorant filter 23aa, 5 an outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac, and an inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae. [0030] The deodorant filter 23aa is formed in a circular disk shape and in which a through-hole 23ad is formed at the center. The deodorant filter 23aa is formed such that
10 air passes through the thickness direction of the deodorant filter 23aa. The deodorant filter 23aa adsorbs an odor component from the air passing through the deodorant filter 23aa and decomposes, by being heated, the odor component adsorbed. For example, the deodorant filter 23aa includes
15 a base material and a catalyst layer. The base material is made of a plate member, such as aluminum, and has the porous structure exemplified by the honeycomb structure. The catalyst layer is made of a catalyst and covers the surface of the base material. The catalyst adsorbs an odor
20 component from the air flowing in the vicinity of the catalyst layer and decomposes, by being heated, the adsorbed odor component. The deodorant filter 23aa is formed in the porous structure, and furthermore, the filter regenerating portion 23f covers a part of the deodorant
25 filter 23aa and does not cover the greater part of the
deodorant filter 23aa; therefore, the air resistance of the deodorant filter 23aa is small.
[0031] The outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is formed in a substantially ring shape, is arranged
30 on the outer circumferential portion of the deodorant filter 23aa, and protects the end surface of the outer circumferential portion of the deodorant filter 23aa (see a filter end surface 43 illustrated in FIG. 8B). The inner
14

circumferential portion filter cover 23ae is formed in a substantially ring shape, is arranged inside the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant filter 23aa, and protects the end surface that forms the through-hole 23ad in the 5 deodorant filter 23aa (see a through-hole end surface 44 illustrated in FIG. 9).
[0032] FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line D-D in FIG. 7. The outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac includes, as illustrated in FIG.
10 8A, a first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 31 and a second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 32. The first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 31 includes a first tube portion 33, a gear portion 34, and a first gear flange
15 portion 35. The first tube portion 33 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The gear portion 34 is formed by a plurality of gear teeth 341 and is joined to an outer circumferential surface 331 of the first tube portion 33. The first gear flange portion 35 is formed to be extended
20 out from one end of the first tube portion 33. The first gear flange portion 35 extends out from one end of the first tube portion 33 and a gear portion side surface 351 of the first gear flange portion 35 is joined to the gear portion 34.
25 [0033] The second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 32 includes a second tube portion 36 and a second gear flange portion 37. The second tube portion 36 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The second gear flange portion 37 is formed so as to be extended out from one end
30 of the second tube portion 36. In the second tube portion 36, a plurality of holes 38 is further formed. [0034] FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 7. In the first tube portion 33 of the
15

first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 31, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, a plurality of claws 39 protruding from an inner circumferential surface 332 of the first tube portion 33 is formed. In the second outer 5 circumferential portion filter cover portion 32, when the second tube portion 36 is inserted in the inner side of the first tube portion 33, the claws 39 of the first tube portion 33 is fitted in a plurality of corresponding holes 38. By fitting the second tube portion 36 in the inner
10 side of the first tube portion 33, the second outer
circumferential portion filter cover portion 32 is fixed to the first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 31. Namely, the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is formed by attaching the second outer
15 circumferential portion filter cover portion 32 to the
first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 31 such that an outer circumferential surface 361 of the second tube portion 36 is opposite the inner circumferential surface 332 of the first tube portion 33 of
20 the first outer circumferential portion filter cover
portion 31. By attaching the second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 32 to the first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 31, the second gear flange portion 37 covers the side surface that is on
25 the opposite side of the side surface covered by the first gear flange portion 35 of the gear portion 34. [0035] In the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac, a back surface side heatsink opposing surface 45, a front surface side heatsink opposing surface 46, and a
30 filter end surface opposing surface 47 are formed. The
back surface side heatsink opposing surface 45 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover is formed, in a flat shape, on the opposite side of the gear portion side
16

surface 351 that is located on the side of the gear portion 34 of the first gear flange portion 35. The front surface side heatsink opposing surface 46 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover is formed, in a flat 5 shape, on the opposite side of a gear portion side surface 371 that is located on the side of the gear portion 34 of the second gear flange portion 37. The filter end surface opposing surface 47 is formed on the inner circumferential side of the second tube portion 36.
10 [0036] On the deodorant filter 23aa, a back surface side heatsink opposing surface 41, a front surface side heatsink opposing surface 42, and the filter end surface 43 are formed. The back surface side heatsink opposing surface 41 of the deodorant filter is formed, in a flat shape, on one
15 side of the deodorant filter 23aa. The front surface side heatsink opposing surface 42 of the deodorant filter is formed, in a flat shape, on the other side of the deodorant filter 23aa. The filter end surface 43 is formed on the outer circumference of the deodorant filter 23aa and is
20 formed between the back surface side heatsink opposing
surface 41 of the deodorant filter and the front surface side heatsink opposing surface 42 of the deodorant filter. [0037] The outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is formed to have the thickness equal to the thickness
25 of the deodorant filter 23aa. Namely, the outer
circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is formed such that the distance between the back surface side heatsink opposing surface 45 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover and the front surface side heatsink opposing
30 surface 46 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover is equal to the distance between the back surface side heatsink opposing surface 41 of the deodorant filter and the front surface side heatsink opposing surface 42 of
17

the deodorant filter.
[0038] The outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is attached to the deodorant filter 23aa such that the filter end surface 43 of the deodorant filter 23aa faces 5 the filter end surface opposing surface 47 and is in close contact with the filter end surface opposing surface 47. the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is fixed to the deodorant filter 23aa by fitting the filter end surface 43 and the filter end surface opposing surface
10 47 when the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is attached to the deodorant filter 23aa. Furthermore, the back surface side heatsink opposing surface 45 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover is arranged so as to be on substantially the same flat surface as the back
15 surface side heatsink opposing surface 41 of the deodorant filter when the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is attached to the deodorant filter 23aa. The front surface side heatsink opposing surface 46 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover is arranged so as to
20 be located on substantially the same flat surface as the front surface side heatsink opposing surface 42 of the deodorant filter when the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is attached to the deodorant filter 23aa. [0039] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an inner
25 circumferential portion filter cover and indicates a cross section taken along line D-D in FIG. 7. The inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae is also formed such that the length of the thickness direction of the inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae is equal to
30 the thickness of the deodorant filter 23aa. Namely, in the inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae, a back surface side heatsink opposing surface 48, a front surface side heatsink opposing surface 49, and a through-hole end
18

surface opposing surface 50 are formed. The back surface side heatsink opposing surface 48 of the inner circumferential portion filter cover is formed, in a flat shape, on one side of the inner circumferential portion 5 filter cover 23ae. The front surface side heatsink
opposing surface 49 of the inner circumferential portion filter cover is formed, in a flat shape, on the other side of the inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae. The through-hole end surface opposing surface 50 is the
10 outer circumferential surface of the inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae. The inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae is attached to the deodorant filter 23aa such that the through-hole end surface 44 of the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant filter 23aa faces
15 and is in close contact with the through-hole end surface opposing surface 50. The inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae is fixed to the deodorant filter 23aa by fitting, when the inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae is attached to the deodorant filter 23aa, the
20 end surface of the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant
filter 23aa into the outer circumferential surface of the inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae. At this time, the back surface side heatsink opposing surface 48 of the inner circumferential portion filter cover is arranged
25 so as to be located on substantially the same flat surface as the back surface side heatsink opposing surface 41 of the deodorant filter and the front surface side heatsink opposing surface 49 of the inner circumferential portion filter cover is arranged so as to be located on
30 substantially the same flat surface as the front surface
side heatsink opposing surface 42 of the deodorant filter. [0040] The deodorant filter portion 23a is supported by the holding unit 23g in a rotatable manner because the
19

outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is sandwiched between the upper flange 23mc and the lower flange 23md of each of the two rollers 23m. The deodorant filter portion 23a is arranged such that, when the 5 deodorant filter portion 23a is supported by the holding unit 23g in a rotatable manner, the gear portion 34 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac is engaged with the rotation detection gear 23k and the driving gear 23j. Consequently, the driving unit 23h rotates the
10 deodorant filter portion 23a by rotating the driving gear 23j. The rotation detection unit 23r detects rotation of the deodorant filter portion 23a by detecting the rotation of the rotation detection gear 23k. [0041] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a filter
15 regenerating portion and indicates a cross section taken
along line E-E in FIG. 6. The filter regenerating portion 23f includes, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a case 23e, a heatsink 23c, and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater 23b. The case 23e is formed in a shape of box
20 having a substantially triangular prism shape and stores therein a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a. The case 23e includes a front surface side case 23ea and a back surface side case 23eb. The front surface side case 23ea forms the front surface side portion of the case 23e. The
25 back surface side case 23eb forms the back surface side portion of the case 23e.
[0042] The heatsink 23c includes a front surface side heatsink 23ca and a back surface side heatsink 23cb. The front surface side heatsink 23ca is stored inside the case
30 23e and covers, from the front surface side, a part stored in the case 23e included in the deodorant filter portion 23a. The back surface side heatsink 23cb covers, from the back surface side, a part stored in the case 23e included
20

in the deodorant filter portion 23a.
[0043] The PTC heater 23b generates heat by electrical power being distributed and automatically controls an amount of heat by using the property in which a resistance 5 value is increased due to a temperature rise. The PTC heater 23b is stored inside the case 23e, is arranged on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a, and is placed between the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb. The
10 PTC heater 23b is arranged so as to overlap with a virtual plane 30 that is parallel to the deodorant filter portion 23a when the plate shaped deodorant filter portion 23a is arranged along the virtual plane 30 so as to overlap with each other. In FIG. 10, because the deodorant filter
15 portion 23a is arranged so as to overlap with the virtual plane 30, the PTC heater 23b is arranged on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a. Namely, the PTC heater 23b is arranged such that the diagram of the PTC heater 23b orthographically projected
20 onto the virtual plane 30 does not overlap with the diagram of the deodorant filter portion 23a orthographically projected onto the virtual plane 30.
[0044] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the filter regenerating portion. The front surface side
25 heatsink 23ca is made of a material having high thermal conductivity. An example of the material includes an aluminum material or an aluminum alloy material. The front surface side heatsink 23ca is arranged, as illustrated in FIG. 11, on the front surface side of the deodorant filter
30 portion 23a. The front surface side heatsink 23ca is
formed in a substantially triangular shape in which the width size in the longitudinal direction (the circumferential direction of the deodorant filter portion
21

23a) is gradually increased from the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant filter portion 23a toward the outer circumferential side. On the front surface side heatsink 23ca, a filter opposing surface 23caa and a cover opposing 5 surface 23cab are formed. The filter opposing surface 23caa is one surface of the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the cover opposing surface 23cab is the other surface of the front surface side heatsink 23ca. [0045] The back surface side heatsink 23cb is arrange on
10 the back surface side of the deodorant filter portion 23a and is formed in a substantially triangular shape in which the width size in the longitudinal direction (the circumferential direction of the deodorant filter portion 23a) is gradually increased from the through-hole 23ad of
15 the deodorant filter portion 23a toward the outer
circumferential side. The back surface side heatsink 23cb includes a main body portion 23cc and a joint portion 23ce. The main body portion 23cc is formed in a substantially triangular shape. In the main body portion 23cc, a filter
20 opposing surface 23cca and a cover opposing surface 23ccb are formed. The filter opposing surface 23cca corresponds to one surface of the back surface side heatsink 23cb and the cover opposing surface 23ccb corresponds to the other surface of the filter opposing surface 23cca. The joint
25 portion 23ce is formed by bending the edge portion on the inner circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a of the main body portion 23cc in a substantially L shape, protrudes to the filter opposing surface 23cca side, and in which a joining surface 23cea is formed.
30 [0046] The PTC heater 23b is fixed to the edge portion on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a on the filter opposing surface 23caa of the front surface side heatsink 23ca by using, for example, a
22

screw that is not illustrated. The front surface side heatsink 23ca is arranged such that the filter opposing surface 23caa is opposite the deodorant filter portion 23a. The back surface side heatsink 23cb is arranged such that 5 the filter opposing surface 23cca is opposite the deodorant filter portion 23a and the joint portion 23ce is inserted in the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant filter portion 23a. The back surface side heatsink 23cb is fixed to the front surface side heatsink 23ca by joining, by using a
10 screw that is not illustrated, the joining surface 23cea of the joint portion 23ce to the edge portion on the inner circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a of the front surface side heatsink 23ca. [0047] The front surface side case 23ea is made of a
15 synthetic resin material and is formed in a substantially triangular shape having a size larger than the front surface side heatsink 23ca. The front surface side case 23ea includes a heating portion accommodating unit 23ec, a through-hole coated portion 23s, a pair of front surface
20 side first flanges 23t, and a pair of front surface side
second flanges 23u. The heating portion accommodating unit 23ec is formed in a box shape so as to store therein the front surface side heatsink 23ca and is provided with a bottom portion 23eca, a first side portion 23ecb, a second
25 side portion 23ecc, a third side portion 23ecd, and a
fourth side portion 23ece. The bottom portion 23eca is formed in a substantially triangular plate shape. The first side portion 23ecb, the second side portion 23ecc, the third side portion 23ecd, and the fourth side portion
30 23ece are formed to be opposite the end surface of the front surface side heatsink 23ca so as to be mounted upright from the outer circumferential portion of the bottom portion 23eca. Namely, the first side portion 23ecb
23

is provided upright from the portion that is arranged on the through-hole 23ad side of the deodorant filter portion 23a included in the outer circumferential portion of the bottom portion 23eca. The fourth side portion 23ece is 5 provided upright from the portion that is arranged on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a included in the outer circumferential portion of the bottom portion 23eca. Each of the second side portion 23ecc and the third side portion 23ecd is provided upright
10 from the outer circumferential portion of the bottom
portion 23eca that is other than those described above. [0048] The through-hole coated portion 23s is formed in a circular disk shape with the same size as or a size larger than the through-hole 23ad by extending the side end
15 portion of the first side portion 23ecb toward the outer side of the heating portion accommodating unit 23ec. The pair of the front surface side first flanges 23t and the pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u are formed by extending the side end portion of each of the
20 second side portion 23ecc and the third side portion 23ecd toward the outer side of the heating portion accommodating unit 23ec and have a predetermined width size (for example, 20 mm). [0049] The filter regenerating portion 23f further
25 includes three rollers 23n. Each of the three rollers 23n is formed in a similar manner as the two rollers 23m, i.e., is made of a synthetic resin material, and is provided with a tube portion, an upper flange, and a lower flange. The three rollers 23n include one inner-side roller 23ni and
30 two outer-side rollers 23no.
[0050] Furthermore, in the front surface side case 23ea, three third axes 23q and three wind shielding plates 23y are formed. The three third axes 23q are provided upright
24

with the through-hole coated portion 23s and the pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u. The third axis protrudes upright from the through-hole coated portion 23s among the three third axes 23q is fitted in the hole of the 5 inner-side roller 23ni and supports the inner-side roller 23ni in a rotatable manner. The two pieces of the third axes protruding upright from the pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u from among the three third axes 23q are fitted in the holes of the two corresponding outer-side
10 rollers 23no and supports the two outer-side rollers 23no in a freely rotatable manner.
[0051] Each of the three wind shielding plates 23y is mounted upright on the through-hole coated portion 23s and the pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u so as
15 to protrude toward the deodorant filter portion 23a. The three wind shielding plates 23y separate, when the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb are joined, the space formed by the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb from the external
20 space. By separating the space formed by the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb from the external space, the three wind shielding plate 23y prevents the flow of air into the filter regenerating portion 23f and the front surface side heatsink 23ca or the back
25 surface side heatsink 23cb from being cooled.
[0052] Similarly to the front surface side case 23ea, the back surface side case 23eb is made of a synthetic resin material and formed in a substantially triangular shape with a size that is one size larger than the back
30 surface side heatsink 23cb. The back surface side case
23eb includes a heating portion accommodating unit 23ed, a through-hole coated portion 23v, a pair of back surface side first flanges 23w, and a pair of back surface side
25

second flanges 23x. The heating portion accommodating unit 23ed is formed in a box shape having the bottom so as to store therein the back surface side heatsink 23cb and includes a bottom portion 23eda, a first side portion 23edb, 5 a second side portion 23edc, a third side portion 23edd, and a fourth side portion 23ede. The bottom portion 23eda is formed in a substantially triangular plate shape. Each of the first side portion 23edb, the second side portion 23edc, the third side portion 23edd, and the fourth side
10 portion 23ede protrudes upright from the outer
circumferential portion of the bottom portion 23eda so as to be opposite the end surface of the main body portion 23cc of the back surface side heatsink 23cb. [0053] The through-hole coated portion 23v is formed so
15 as to be opposite the joint portion 23ce of the back
surface side heatsink 23cb and is formed in a circular disk shape associated with the through-hole 23ad. The pair of the back surface side first flanges 23w and the pair of the back surface side second flanges 23x are formed integrally
20 with the second side portion 23edc and the third side portion 23edd.
[0054] The front surface side case 23ea is mounted to the back surface side case 23eb, thus resulting in forming the case 23e that stores therein a part of the PTC heater
25 23b, the front surface side heatsink 23ca, the back surface side heatsink 23cb, and the deodorant filter portion 23a. At this time, the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac of the deodorant filter portion 23a is fitted between the upper flange and the lower flange of the two
30 outer-side rollers 23no. Furthermore, the inner
circumferential portion filter cover 23ae of the deodorant filter portion 23a is fitted between the upper flange and the lower flange of the inner-side roller 23ni. By fitting
26

the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac in the two outer-side rollers 23no and by fitting the inner circumferential portion filter cover 23ae in the inner-side roller 23ni, the deodorant filter portion 23a is supported 5 by the filter regenerating portion 23f in a rotatable manner.
[0055] The deodorant unit 23 is formed by storing the filter regenerating portion 23f in the regenerating portion accommodating unit 23ge of the holding unit 23g. At this
10 time, the deodorant filter portion 23a is supported by the holding unit 23g in a rotatable manner by fitting the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac between the upper flange 23mc and the lower flange 23md of the two rollers 23m. The deodorant filter portion 23a is rotated by the
15 driving unit 23h by further fitting the gear portion 34 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac in the driving gear 23j. The rotation of the deodorant filter portion 23a is detected by the rotation detection unit 23r by further fitting the gear portion 34 of the outer
20 circumferential portion filter cover 23ac in the rotation detection gear 23k. [0056] [Operation of an air purifier]
An operation of the air purifier 1 is started by a user operating the operating unit 15. When the operation
25 of the air purifier 1 is started, the blower 25 is driven, power of the first electric dust collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b in the dust collecting unit 22 is turned on and the humidification filter 24a of the humidification unit 24 start rotating. When the blower
30 25 is driven, in the air purifier 1, air is taken into the interior of the main body casing 11 from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side surface inlet port 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet
27

port 13d.
[0057] The air taken into the interior of the main body casing 11 flows in the ventilation duct 10 from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side surface inlet port 5 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet port 13d toward the upper surface outlet port 14a, the right side surface outlet port 14b, and the left side surface outlet port 14c. First, dust is collected by the prefilter 21 from the air flowing in the ventilation
10 duct 10. Regarding the air from which dust is collected by the prefilter 21, small dust, pollen, and the like that have not collected by the prefilter 21 are collected by the dust collecting unit 22. A part of the air from which dust has been collected by the dust collecting unit 22 is
15 supplied to the deodorant unit 23 and the rest of the air is supplied to the humidification unit 24. [0058] The air supplied to the deodorant unit 23 is supplied, via the opening portion 23gd of the holding unit 23g, to the ventilation surface that is not covered by the
20 filter regenerating portion 23f of the deodorant filter 23aa. By passing the air supplied to the ventilation surface of the deodorant filter 23aa through the deodorant filter 23aa, an odor component is removed and deodorized. At this time, because dust, pollen, and the like included
25 in the air supplied to the deodorant unit 23 have been
removed by the prefilter 21 and the dust collecting unit 22, clogging of the deodorant filter 23aa in the deodorant unit 23 due to dust, pollen, and the like is prevented. [0059] A part of the air that has been subject to
30 deodorization by the deodorant unit 23 is supplied to the humidification unit 24 and the rest of the air is supplied to the blower 25. The air supplied to the humidification unit 24 is humidified by the humidification unit 24. The
28

air humidified by the humidification unit 24 is supplied to the blower 25. The air supplied to the blower 25 is blown out from the upper surface outlet port 14a, the right side surface outlet port 14b, and the left side surface outlet 5 port 14c.
[0060] When the air purifier 1 is being operated, the air purifier 1 continuously distributes electrical power to the PTC heater 23b and drives the driving unit 23h, thereby rotating the deodorant filter portion 23a by a
10 predetermined angle in a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time is the time needed to regenerate the deodorization performance of the deodorant filter portion 23a and is, for example, two hours. The predetermined angle thereof is, for example, 30 degrees. By rotating the
15 deodorant filter portion 23a, the air purifier 1
regenerates the deodorization performance of the portion covered by the filter regenerating portion 23f in the deodorant filter 23aa. Namely, while regenerating the deodorization performance of the location covered by the
20 filter regenerating portion 23f in the deodorant filter
23aa, the air purifier 1 deodorizes air at the portion that is not covered by the filter regenerating portion 23f in the deodorant filter 23aa. [0061] [Adsorption unit according to comparative
25 example]
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an adsorption unit according to a comparative example. A deodorant unit 101 that is an adsorption unit according to a comparative example includes, as illustrated in FIG. 12, a deodorant
30 filter portion 102 and a filter regenerating portion 103. The deodorant filter portion 102 is formed in a disk shape and has a through-hole 108 at the center. The filter regenerating portion 103 includes a case 104, a front
29

surface side heatsink 105, a back surface side heatsink 106, and a PTC heater 107. The case 104 is formed in a shape of box having a substantially triangular prism shape and stores therein a part of the deodorant filter portion 102. 5 [0062] The front surface side heatsink 105 is stored
inside the case 104 and covers the front surface of a part of the front surface side stored in the case 104 of the deodorant filter portion 102. The back surface side heatsink 106 is stored inside the case 104 and covers the
10 front surface of a part of the back surface side stored in the case 104 of the deodorant filter portion 102. One end of the back surface side heatsink 106 passes on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 102 and is joined to the front surface side heatsink 105. The
15 other end of the back surface side heatsink 106 is inserted in the through-hole 108 of the deodorant filter portion 102 and is further joined to the front surface side heatsink 105. [0063] The PTC heater 107 is stored inside the case 104
20 and is arranged on the front surface side of the front
surface side heatsink 105 such that the front surface side heatsink 105 is arranged between the PTC heater 107 and the deodorant filter portion 102. Namely, the PTC heater 107 is arranged such that, when the deodorant filter portion
25 102 is arranged along a virtual plane 109 so as to overlap each other, the diagram of the PTC heater 107 orthographically projected onto the virtual plane 109 overlap the diagram of the deodorant filter portion 102 orthographically projected onto the virtual plane 109.
30 [0064] By heating the front surface side heatsink 105, the PTC heater 107 also heats the back surface side heatsink 106. By heating the front surface side heatsink 105 and the back surface side heatsink 106, the PTC heater
30

107 heats the portion covered by the front surface side heatsink 105 and the back surface side heatsink 106 in the deodorant filter portion 102.
[0065] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of 5 a deodorant filter portion of the adsorption unit according to the comparative example. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the deodorant filter portion of the adsorption unit according to the comparative example. The deodorant filter portion 102 includes, as illustrated in FIG. 13, a
10 deodorant filter 111 and an outer circumferential portion filter cover 112. The deodorant filter 111 is formed similarly to the deodorant filter 23aa described above. The outer circumferential portion filter cover 112 is formed in a substantially ring shape, is arranged on the
15 outer circumferential portion of the deodorant filter 111, and protects the end surface of the outer circumferential portion of the deodorant filter 111. The outer circumferential portion filter cover 112 includes a first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 131 and
20 a second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion
132. The first outer circumferential portion filter cover
portion 131 includes a first tube portion 133, a gear
portion 134, a first gear flange portion 135, and a first
filter flange portion 147. The first tube portion 133 is
25 formed in a cylindrical shape. The gear portion 134 is
formed by a plurality of gear teeth 1341 and is joined to the outer circumferential surface of the first tube portion
133. The first gear flange portion 135 is formed to be
extended out from one end of the first tube portion 133.
30 By extending out from one end of the first tube portion 133, the first gear flange portion 135 covers one side surface of the gear portion 134. The first filter flange portion 147 is formed so as to be inwardly extended from one end of
31

the first tube portion 133.
[0066] The second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 132 includes a second tube portion 136, a second gear flange portion 137, and a second filter flange 5 portion 148. The second tube portion 136 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The second gear flange portion 137 is formed so as to be outwardly extended from one end of the second tube portion 136. In the second tube portion 136, a plurality of holes 138 is further formed. The second
10 filter flange portion 148 is formed so as to be inwardly extended from one end of the second tube portion 136. [0067] At the first tube portion 133 of a first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 131, as illustrated in FIG. 14, a plurality of claws 139 protruding
15 from the inner circumferential surface of the first tube portion 133 is formed. At a second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 132, when the second tube portion 136 is inserted inside the first tube portion 133, the claws 139 of the first tube portion 133 is fit in the
20 corresponding holes 138. By fitting the second tube portion 136 to inside the first tube portion 133, the second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 132 is fixed to the first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 131. Namely, the outer
25 circumferential portion filter cover 112 is formed by
attaching the second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 132 to the first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 131 such that the outer circumferential surface of the second tube portion 136 is
30 opposite the inner circumferential surface of the first tube portion 133. By attaching the second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 132 to the first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion
32

131, the second gear flange portion 137 covers the side surface on the opposite side of the side surface that is covered by the first gear flange portion 135 of the gear portion 134. 5 [0068] In the deodorant filter 111, a back surface side heatsink opposing surface 141, a front surface side heatsink opposing surface 142, and a filter end surface 143 are formed. The back surface side heatsink opposing surface 141 of the deodorant filter is formed, in a flat
10 shape, on one side of the deodorant filter 111. The front surface side heatsink opposing surface 142 of the deodorant filter is formed, in a flat shape, on the opposite side of the position in which the back surface side heatsink opposing surface 141 of the deodorant filter is formed.
15 The filter end surface 143 is formed on the outer
circumference of the deodorant filter 111 and is formed between the back surface side heatsink opposing surface 141 of the deodorant filter and the front surface side heatsink opposing surface 142 of the deodorant filter.
20 [0069] The outer circumferential portion filter cover 112 is attached to the deodorant filter 111 such that the inner circumferential surface of the second tube portion 136 of the second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 132 is opposite the filter end surface 143 of
25 the deodorant filter 111. The outer circumferential
portion filter cover 112 is fixed to the deodorant filter 111 by sandwiching the outer circumference of the outer circumferential portion filter cover 112 between the first filter flange portion 147 and the second filter flange
30 portion 148 when the outer circumferential portion filter cover 112 is fixed to the deodorant filter 111. [0070] In the deodorant unit 101 according to the comparative example, by arranging the PTC heater 107 on the
33

front surface side of the front surface side heatsink 105, the PTC heater 107 is cooled by the air passing through the deodorant filter 111. In the deodorant unit 101, by cooling the PTC heater 107 due to the air flowing in the 5 ventilation duct 10, the efficiency of the PTC heater 107 heating the front surface side heatsink 105 and the back surface side heatsink 106 is decreased.
[0071] In contrast, in the deodorant unit 23 according to the embodiment, by arranging the PTC heater 23b on the
10 outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a, the PTC heater 23b is arranged at the position away from the air passing through the deodorant filter 23aa. In the deodorant unit 23, by arranging the PTC heater 23b at the position away from the air passing through the
15 deodorant filter 23aa, when compared with the deodorant unit 101 according to the comparative example, the PTC heater 23b is less likely to be cooled due to the air passing through the deodorant filter 23aa. Because the PTC heater 23b is less likely to be cooled due to the air
20 flowing in the ventilation duct 10, when compared with the deodorant unit 101 according to the comparative example, the deodorant unit 23 can improve the efficiency of the PTC heater 23b heating the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb. Furthermore, because
25 the PTC heater 23b is in direct contact with the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb, the deodorant unit 23 performs heating with high efficiency. Accordingly, the deodorant unit 23 can improve the heating efficiency of the deodorant filter 23aa
30 via the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb. By heating the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency, the deodorant unit 23 can decompose an odor component from the deodorant filter 23aa
34

with high efficiency and can regenerate the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency.
[0072] In the deodorant unit 101 according to the comparative example, furthermore, by sandwiching the outer 5 circumference of the deodorant filter 111 between the first filter flange portion 147 and the second filter flange portion 148, the deodorant filter 111 is fixed to the outer circumferential portion filter cover 112. Consequently, the front surface side heatsink 105 is arranged at the
10 position away from the deodorant filter 111 by the distance greater than the thickness of the first filter flange portion 147. The back surface side heatsink 106 is arranged at the position away from the deodorant filter 111 by the distance greater than the thickness of the second
15 filter flange portion 148.
[0073] In the deodorant unit 23 according to the embodiment, the back surface side heatsink opposing surface 45 of the outer circumferential portion filter cover is arranged so as to be flush with the back surface side
20 heatsink opposing surface 41 of the deodorant filter,
thereby reducing the clearance between the deodorant filter 23aa and the back surface side heatsink 23cb. In the deodorant unit 23, the front surface side heatsink opposing surface 46 of the outer circumferential portion filter
25 cover is arranged so as to be flush with the front surface side heatsink opposing surface 42 of the deodorant filter, thereby reducing the clearance between the deodorant filter 23aa and the front surface side heatsink 23ca. By reducing the clearance between the deodorant filter 23aa and the
30 back surface side heatsink 23cb and by reducing the
clearance between the deodorant filter 23aa and the front surface side heatsink 23ca, the deodorant unit 23 can reduce the width of the thickness direction of the
35

deodorant filter 23aa. By reducing the width of the deodorant unit 23, the size of the air purifier 1 can be reduced.
[0074] Furthermore, by reducing the clearance between 5 the deodorant filter 23aa and the back surface side
heatsink 23cb, the deodorant unit 23 can further improve, when compared with the deodorant unit 101 according to the comparative example, the heating efficiency of the deodorant filter 23aa via the back surface side heatsink
10 23cb. By reducing the clearance between the deodorant
filter 23aa and the front surface side heatsink 23ca, the deodorant unit 23 can further improve, when compared with the deodorant unit 101 according to the comparative example, the heating efficiency of the deodorant filter 23aa via the
15 front surface side heatsink 23ca. By heating the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency, the deodorant unit 23 can decompose an odor component from the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency and can regenerate the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency.
20 [0075] The outer circumferential portion filter cover
112 of the deodorant unit 101 according to the comparative example is formed by the two members of the first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion 131 and the second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion
25 132 in order to further sandwich the outer circumference of the deodorant filter 111.
The outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac according to the embodiment is formed by the two members of the first outer circumferential portion filter cover
30 portion 31 and the second outer circumferential portion
filter cover portion 32; however, the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac may also be formed by a single member that does not sandwich the outer circumference of
36

the deodorant filter 23aa. By forming the outer circumferential portion filter cover 23ac using a single member, the deodorant unit 23 can be easily produced when compared with the deodorant unit 101 according to the 5 comparative example.
[0076] [Effects of the adsorption unit]
The deodorant unit 23 used as the adsorption unit according to the first embodiment includes the deodorant filter 23aa, the front surface side heatsink 23ca, the PTC
10 heater 23b, and the driving unit 23h. The deodorant filter 23aa is arranged so as to overlap with the virtual plane 30. The front surface side heatsink 23ca is arranged so as to cover a part of the deodorant filter 23aa from the front surface side. The PTC heater 23b heats a part of the
15 deodorant filter 23aa by heating the front surface side heatsink 23ca. The driving unit 23h moves the deodorant filter 23aa with respect to the front surface side heatsink 23ca such that the portion covered by the front surface side heatsink 23ca in the deodorant filter 23aa is moved.
20 At this time, the PTC heater 23b is arranged such that the diagram of the PTC heater 23b orthographically projected onto the virtual plane 30 that is parallel to the deodorant filter 23aa does not overlap with the diagram of the deodorant filter 23aa onto the virtual plane 30.
25 [0077] In the deodorant unit 23 described above, by
arranging the PTC heater 23b on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a, the PTC heater 23b is less likely to be cooled by the air passing through the deodorant filter 23aa and thus it is possible to
30 transfer heat from the PTC heater 23b to a heatsink with
high efficiency. In the deodorant unit 23 described above, by transfer the heat from the PTC heater 23b to the front surface side heatsink 23ca with high efficiency, it is
37

possible to heat the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency. In the deodorant unit 23 described above, by heating the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency, it is possible to regenerate the deodorant filter 23aa with 5 high efficiency.
[0078] The air purifier 1 according to the first embodiment includes the deodorant unit 23 described. At this time, by passing the air taken in from the upper surface inlet port 13a, the right side surface inlet port
10 13b, the left side surface inlet port 13c, and the lower side inlet port 13d in the air purifier 1 through the deodorant filter 23aa, the deodorant filter 23aa adsorbs an odor component contained in the air; decomposes, by being heated, the odor component; and is regenerated. In the air
15 purifier 1 described above, because the deodorant unit 23
can heat the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency, it is possible to decompose the odor component with high efficiency and regenerate the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency.
20 [0079] Furthermore, the PTC heater 23b and the deodorant filter 23aa are arranged so as to overlap with the virtual plane 30. In the deodorant unit 23 described above, by arranging the PTC heater 23b and the deodorant filter 23aa so as to overlap with the same virtual plane, the thickness
25 of the ventilation direction can be reduced.
[0080] Furthermore, the deodorant unit 23 functioning as the adsorption unit according to the first embodiment further includes the back surface side heatsink 23cb that is arranged so as to be opposite the front surface side
30 heatsink 23ca with the deodorant filter 23aa interposed therebetween. At this time, by further heating the back surface side heatsink 23cb, the PTC heater 23b heats a part of the deodorant filter 23aa from both sides, i.e., the
38

front surface side and the back surface side. [0081] In the deodorant unit 23 described above, by heating a part of the deodorant filter 23aa, via the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side 5 heatsink 23cb, from both sides of the front surface side and the back surface side, the PTC heater 23b can heat a part of the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency. Because both surfaces of the deodorant filter 23aa are heated, the deodorant unit 23 described above can further
10 reduce temperature variation on the front surface side and the back surface side of the deodorant filter 23aa and appropriately heat the deodorant filter 23aa. [0082] Furthermore, the through-hole 23ad is formed in the deodorant filter 23aa. At this time, the front surface
15 side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb are in contact with each other via the through-hole 23ad. Because the front surface side heatsink 23ca is in contact with the back surface side heatsink 23cb, the deodorant unit 23 described above can reduce a temperature difference
20 between the temperature of the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the temperature of the back surface side heatsink 23cb. By reducing the temperature difference between the temperature of the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the temperature of the back surface side heatsink 23cb, the
25 deodorant unit 23 described above can appropriately heat
the deodorant filter 23aa from both sides, i.e., the front surface side and the back surface side, and can appropriately regenerate the deodorant filter 23aa. [0083] Incidentally, both the front surface side
30 heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb
according to the first embodiment are in contact with the through-hole 23ad; however, they do not need to be in contact with each other. even in a case where both the
39

front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb are not in contact with each other via the through-hole 23ad, by arranging the PTC heater 23b on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 5 23a and by allowing both the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb to be placed in contact with the PTC heater 23b on the outer circumferential side, the deodorant unit 23 can heat the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency.
10 Second Embodiment
[0084] Incidentally, the PTC heater 23b described above is arranged so as to overlap with the virtual plane 30; however, the PTC heater 23b does not need to overlap with the virtual plane 30. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of
15 a filter regenerating portion in an adsorption unit
according to a second embodiment. A filter regenerating portion 51 according to the second embodiment includes, as illustrated in FIG. 15, a front surface side heatsink 52, a back surface side heatsink 53, and a PTC heater 54. The
20 front surface side heatsink 52 covers a part of the
deodorant filter portion 23a from the front surface side. The back surface side heatsink 53 covers a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a from the back surface side. One end of the back surface side heatsink 53 passes on the
25 outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a and is joined to the front surface side heatsink 52. The other end of the back surface side heatsink 53 is inserted in the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant filter portion 23a and is further joined to the front surface side
30 heatsink 52.
[0085] The PTC heater 54 is arranged on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a. Namely, the PTC heater 54 is arranged such that, when the
40

plate shaped deodorant filter portion 23a is arranged, the diagram of the PTC heater 54 orthographically projected onto a virtual plane 55 that is parallel to the deodorant filter portion 23a does not overlap with the diagram of the 5 deodorant filter portion 23a orthographically projected onto the virtual plane 55. The PTC heater 54 is further arranged on the front surface side of the front surface side heatsink 52. Namely, when the deodorant filter portion 23a is arranged so as to overlap with the virtual
10 plane 55, the PTC heater 54 is arranged so as not to overlap with the virtual plane 55.
[0086] In also the deodorant unit according to the second embodiment, by arranging the PTC heater 54 on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion
15 23a, the PTC heater 54 is less likely to be cooled due to the air passing through the deodorant filter 23aa. Consequently, the deodorant unit provided with the filter regenerating portion 51 according to the second embodiment can heat the heatsink with high efficiency and can heat the
20 deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency. Third Embodiment
[0087] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a filter regenerating portion in an adsorption unit according to a third embodiment. A filter regenerating portion 61
25 according to the third embodiment includes, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a front surface side heatsink 62, a back surface side heatsink 63, and a PTC heater 64. Both the front surface side heatsink 62 and the back surface side heatsink 63 are formed in the same shape and one end
30 thereof is bent. The front surface side heatsink 62 covers a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a from the front surface side. The back surface side heatsink 63 covers a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a from the back
41

surface side. One bent end of the front surface side heatsink 62 and one bent end of the back surface side heatsink 63 are inserted in the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant filter portion 23a and are joined with each other. 5 [0088] The PTC heater 64 is arranged on the outer
circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a and is arranged between the front surface side heatsink 62 and the back surface side heatsink 63. Namely, the PTC heater 64 is arranged such that, when the deodorant filter
10 portion 23a is arranged so as to overlap with a virtual
plane 65, the diagram of the PTC heater 64 orthographically projected onto the virtual plane 65 does not overlap with the diagram of the deodorant filter portion 23a orthographically projected onto the virtual plane 65. The
15 PTC heater 64 is further arranged so as to overlap with the virtual plane 65 when the deodorant filter portion 23a is arranged so as to overlap with the virtual plane 65. [0089] In also the deodorant unit provided with the filter regenerating portion 61 according to the third
20 embodiment, by arranging the PTC heater 64 on the outer
circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a, the PTC heater 64 is less likely to be cooled due to the air passing through the deodorant filter 23aa. Thus, the deodorant unit provided with the filter regenerating
25 portion 61 according to the third embodiment can heat the heatsink with high efficiency and can heat the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency.
[0090] In the deodorant unit according to the third embodiment, the shape of the back surface side heatsink 63
30 is the same as the shape of the front surface side heatsink 62. In such a deodorant unit, because the shapes of the back surface side heatsink 63 and the front surface side heatsink 62 are the same, it is possible to produce both
42

the back surface side heatsink 63 and the front surface side heatsink 62 in the same production process and thus easily produce them. Fourth Embodiment 5 [0091] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a filter regenerating portion in an adsorption unit according to a fourth embodiment. A filter regenerating portion 71 in an adsorption unit according to the fourth embodiment includes, as illustrated in FIG. 17, a front surface side heatsink 72,
10 a back surface side heatsink 73, and a PTC heater 74. The front surface side heatsink 72 covers a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a from the front surface side. The back surface side heatsink 73 covers a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a from the back surface side.
15 One end of the back surface side heatsink 73 passes on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a and is joined to the front surface side heatsink 72. The other end of the back surface side heatsink 73 is inserted in the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant filter
20 portion 23a and is further joined to the front surface side heatsink 72. The PTC heater 74 is arranged on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a and is arranged between the front surface side heatsink 72 and the back surface side heatsink 73.
25 [0092] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a back surface side heatsink in the adsorption unit according to the fourth embodiment. In the back surface side heatsink 73, as illustrated in FIG. 18, a plurality of protrusions 76 is formed on the surface that is opposite the front surface
30 side heatsink 72. The PTC heater 74 includes a front
surface side abutting surface 7411, a back surface side abutting surface 7412, and four side surfaces 7421 to 7424. The back surface side abutting surface 7412 is located on
43

the opposite side of the front surface side abutting surface 7411. Each of the four side surfaces 7421 to 7424 is arranged between the front surface side abutting surface 7411 and the back surface side abutting surface 7412 and is 5 adjacent to the front surface side abutting surface 7411 and the back surface side abutting surface 7412. The protrusions 76 is provided so as to enclose the PTC heater 74 when the back surface side abutting surface 7412 abuts against the back surface side heatsink 73 and is provided
10 so as to abut against the corresponding four side surfaces 7421 to 7424.
[0093] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a filter regenerating portion in the adsorption unit according to the fourth embodiment. The protrusions 76 encloses, as
15 illustrated in FIG. 19, the PTC heater 74 when the back surface side abutting surface 7412 of the PTC heater 74 abuts against the back surface side heatsink 73 and abuts the corresponding four side surfaces 7421 to 7424. [0094] When the filter regenerating portion of the
20 adsorption unit according to the fourth embodiment is
assembled, first, The PTC heater 74 is attached to the back surface side heatsink 73 such that the back surface side abutting surface 7412 abuts against the back surface side heatsink 73. The back surface side heatsink 73 to which
25 the PTC heater 74 has been attached is assembled in the filter regenerating portion of the adsorption unit according to the fourth embodiment by being joined to the front surface side heatsink 72 such that a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a is arranged between the front
30 surface side heatsink 72 and the back surface side heatsink 73 in an interposed manner. In the PTC heater 74, by joining the back surface side heatsink 73 to the front surface side heatsink 72, the front surface side abutting
44

surface 7411 abuts against the front surface side heatsink 72. At this time, when the PTC heater 74 is attached to the back surface side heatsink 73, by attaching the four side surfaces 7421 to 7424 to the back surface side 5 heatsink 73 so as to abut the protrusions 76, it is possible to easily position the PTC heater 74 at an appropriate position.
[0095] In also the deodorant unit according to the fourth embodiment, by arranging the PTC heater 74 on the
10 outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion 23a, the PTC heater 74 is less likely to be cooled due to the air passing through the deodorant filter 23aa. Consequently, the deodorant unit provided with the filter regenerating portion 71 according to the fourth embodiment
15 can heat the heatsink with high accuracy and can heat the deodorant filter 23aa with high accuracy. [0096] In the deodorant unit according to the fourth embodiment, the protrusions 76 that is in contact with the PTC heater 74 is formed on the back surface side heatsink
20 73. Because the protrusions 76 is provided so as to
enclose the PTC heater 74, by attaching the PTC heater 74 to the back surface side heatsink 73 so as to abut against the protrusions 76, thereby it is possible to easily position the back surface side heatsink 73 at an
25 appropriate position. Because it is possible to easily
position the PTC heater 74 at a predetermined position of the back surface side heatsink 73, such a deodorant unit can be easily produced. [0097] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above,
30 the front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink are in contact with each other via the through-hole 23ad of the deodorant filter 23aa; however, the do not need to be in contact with each other via the through-hole
45

23ad. even in a case where both the front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink are not in contact with the through-hole 23ad, by arranging the PTC heater 23b on the outer circumferential side of the 5 deodorant filter 23aa, the deodorant unit can heat the heatsink with high efficiency and can heat the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency. Furthermore, in a case where the front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink are formed in a substantially triangular
10 shape has been described; however, the shape is not limited to this and any shape, such as a fan shape or a rectangular shape, may also be used as long as a part of the deodorant filter portion 23a can be covered. [0098] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above,
15 the deodorant unit includes both the front surface side
heatsink and the back surface side heatsink; however, the embodiment is not limited to this and one of the heatsinks may also be omitted. In the deodorant unit, furthermore, if one of the front surface side heatsink and the back
20 surface side heatsink is omitted, a reflecting plate may
also be alternatively provided. On the reflecting plate, a reflecting surface is formed on the surface that is opposite the PTC heater and the reflecting plate heats the deodorant filter by reflecting a heat ray such that the
25 heat ray emitted from the PTC heater radiates the deodorant filter. Even if one of the front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink is omitted, by arranging the PTC heater on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion, the deodorant unit can heat the
30 deodorant filter with high efficiency. In this case, the PTC heater 23b may also be arranged at the position that does not overlap with the virtual plane 30 (for example, at the position abuts against the cover opposing surface 23cab
46

of the front surface side heatsink 23ca or the cover opposing surface 23ccb of the back surface side heatsink 23cb).
[0099] Furthermore, the PTC heater provided with the 5 adsorption unit according to the embodiment may also be replaced with another heater that does not perform heat release control. In also such a deodorant unit, by arranging the PTC heater on the outer circumferential side of the deodorant filter portion, it is possible to heat the
10 deodorant filter with high efficiency.
[0100] Incidentally, the adsorption unit according to the embodiment is provided as the deodorant unit 23 in the air purifier 1 and is used to deodorize the air; however, the adsorption unit may also be used for other than
15 deodorization. An example of its use includes
dehumidification. When the adsorption unit according to the embodiment is used for dehumidification, the catalyst provided in the deodorant filter 23aa in the deodorant unit 23 is replaced with a drying agent. The drying agent
20 adsorbs water from air that passes through the deodorant
filter 23aa; desorbs, by being heated, the adsorbed water; and is regenerated. An example of such a drying agent includes zeolite. Even when the adsorption unit according to the embodiment is used for dehumidification, the
25 adsorption unit can regenerate the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency by heating the deodorant filter 23aa with high efficiency. Reference Signs List [0101] 1: air purifier
30 10: ventilation duct
22: dust collecting unit
23: deodorant unit
23a: deodorant filter portion
47

23aa: deodorant filter
23ac: outer circumferential portion filter cover
23ad: through-hole
23ae: inner circumferential portion filter cover 5 23b: PTC heater
23c: heatsink
23ca: front surface side heatsink
23cb: back surface side heatsink
23f: filter regenerating portion 10 23g: holding unit
23h: driving unit
24: humidification unit
25: blower
30: virtual plane 15 31: the first outer circumferential portion filter cover portion
32: the second outer circumferential portion filter cover portion
33: the first tube portion 20 34: gear portion
35: the first gear flange portion
36: the second tube portion
37: the second gear flange portion
38: plurality of holes 25 39: plurality of claws
41: back surface side heatsink opposing surface of the deodorant filter
42: front surface side heatsink opposing surface of the deodorant filter 30 43: filter end surface
45: back surface side heatsink opposing surface of the outer circumferential portion filter cover
46: front surface side heatsink opposing surface of
48

the outer circumferential portion filter cover 47: filter end surface opposing surface 51: filter regenerating portion according to a second
52 53 54 55 61
embodiment
front surface side heatsink
back surface side heatsink
PTC heater
virtual plane
filter regenerating portion according to a third

10

embodiment

15

62 63 64 65 71 72 73 74 76

front surface side heatsink
back surface side heatsink
PTC heater
virtual plane
filter regenerating portion
front surface side heatsink
back surface side heatsink
PTC heater
plurality of protrusions

20

49

I/We Claim:
1. An adsorption unit comprising:
a filter that is formed in a plate shape; a heatsink that is arranged so as to cover a front 5 surface of a part of the filter;
a heater that heats the part of the filter by heating the heatsink; and
a driving unit that moves the filter with respect to the heatsink, wherein 10 the heater is arranged such that a diagram of the
heater orthographically projected onto a virtual plane that is parallel to the filter does not overlap with a diagram of the filter orthographically projected onto the virtual plane. 15
2. The adsorption unit according to claim 1, wherein the
heater and the filter are arranged so as to overlap with
the virtual plane.
20 3. The adsorption unit according to claim 2, further
comprising an other heatsink that is arranged so as to be opposite the heatsink, with the filter interposed therebetween, wherein
the heater heats the part of the filter by further
25 heating the other heatsink.
4. The adsorption unit according to claim 3, wherein
a through-hole is formed in the filter, and
the heatsink is in contact with the other heatsink via 30 the through-hole.
5. The adsorption unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein
a shape of the other heatsink is equal to a shape of the
50

heatsink.
6. The adsorption unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed in the 5 heatsink such that the protrusions are in contact with the heater and enclose the heater.
7. An air purifier comprising an adsorption unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein 10 the filter adsorbs an odor component contained in air passing through the filter and decomposes the odor component by being heated.