DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
5 The present invention relates to an air cleaner that purifies air taken in an inside
of a casing and discharges the air to a room.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
10 An air cleaner, for example, typically causes air suctioned inside a main body
casing by driving a blower, which is disposed inside the main body casing, to
sequentially pass through a dust collecting filter, a humidifying unit, and a deodorizing
unit (for example, see JP-A-2014-52084).
[0003]
15 The air cleaner disclosed in JP-A-2014-52084 has blast passages to guide air
suctioned from an air suction opening to the inside of the main body casing to an air
outlet. The blast passage includes a pre-filter, a dust collecting filter, a deodorizing
unit, a humidifying unit, and a blower in the order along a direction from the air suction
opening to the air outlet.
20 [0004]
The pre-filter, for example, is formed by weaving a thread PET material and
has a mesh structure. The dust collecting filter is, for example, made of a nonwoven
fabric formed into a pleat pattern. The humidifying unit includes a humidifying filter,
which has a pleat pattern, and a water storage tank, which supplies the humidifying
25 filter with water. The deodorizing unit includes a catalyst filter, which adsorbs and
2
decomposes odoriferous components, and a heater, which covers the entire catalyst filter.
In the deodorizing unit, the heater heats the catalyst filter to regenerate deodorizing
performance of the catalyst filter. The blower includes a fan motor with variable
rotation speed and a sirocco fan coupled to an output shaft of the fan motor.
5 [0005]
The air suctioned from the air suction opening to the blast passage by driving
the blower passes through the pre-filter and the dust collecting filter. Dust contained in
the air is removed then. Furthermore, the air that has passed through the dust
collecting filter is humidified when passing through the humidifying unit. The air that
10 has passed through the humidifying unit then passes through the deodorizing unit. The
odoriferous components contained in the air are removed then. The driving of the
blower blows out the air thus purified from the air outlet to an inside of a room.
CITATION LIST
15 PATENT LITERATURE
[0006]
PATENT LITERATURE 1: JP-A-2014-52084
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
20 PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0007]
The air cleaner disclosed in JP-A-2014-52084 employs the sirocco fan
featuring high static pressure. Accordingly, even with a dust collecting filter and a
deodorizing unit with a large air resistance, an air volume required for air purification
25 can be secured. However, as described above, the static pressure of the sirocco fan is
3
high. Accordingly, enhancing quietness of the air cleaner is limited. Meanwhile, it is
difficult for a fan featuring low static pressure to secure an air volume required for air
purification due to the air resistances of the dust collecting filter and the deodorizing
unit. This possibly fails to obtain sufficient dust collecting performance and
5 deodorizing performance.
[0008]
One object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an air cleaner
that solves the above-described problems, obtains sufficient dust collecting performance
and deodorizing performance, and ensures restraining a noise.
10
SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS
[0009]
The present invention is to solve the above-described problems. An air
cleaner according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: an air suction
15 opening that takes in air to an inside of a casing; an air outlet that discharges the air
from the inside of the casing to outside; a ventilation passage that communicates the air
suction opening with the air outlet; a dust collecting unit provided in the ventilation
passage, the dust collecting unit being configured to remove dust from the taken-in air;
a deodorizing unit provided in the ventilation passage, the deodorizing unit being
20 configured to deodorize the taken-in air; and a blower provided in the ventilation
passage. The dust collecting unit includes an electric dust collector. The deodorizing
unit includes a deodorizing filter, the deodorizing filter including a base material having
a porous structure and a deodorizing layer disposed in the base material, the deodorizing
layer being configured to decompose and/or adsorb an odoriferous component. The
25 deodorizing filter is disposed such that a part of the deodorizing filter is exposed to the
4
ventilation passage. The blower includes a turbofan and a fan motor that rotates the
turbofan.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
5 [0010]
The air cleaner according to the first aspect includes the dust collecting unit,
which includes the electric dust collector having a small air resistance, the deodorizing
unit, which has a small air resistance brought by the porous structure, and the blower,
which includes the turbofan. The small air resistances of the dust collecting unit and
10 the deodorizing unit ensure the use of the turbofan featuring static pressure lower than a
sirocco fan. That is, supposing that the air resistances are identical, an air volume of
the turbofan is smaller than an air volume of the sirocco fan. However, because of the
small air resistances of the dust collecting unit and the deodorizing unit, even if the
turbofan is used, the flow rate of air inside the air cleaner can be sufficiently secured.
15 This allows the air cleaner to obtain the sufficient dust collecting performance and
deodorizing performance. The use of the turbofan ensures restraining a noise
compared with the use of the sirocco fan. Accordingly, this air cleaner can improve
the quietness.
An air cleaner according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an
20 air suction opening that takes in air to an inside of a casing; an air outlet that discharges
the air from the inside of the casing to outside; a ventilation passage that communicates
the air suction opening with the air outlet; a dust collecting unit provided in the
ventilation passage, the dust collecting unit being configured to remove dust from the
taken-in air; and a blower provided in the ventilation passage. The casing has a front
25 surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side surface, and a right
5
side surface. The air suction opening is disposed on at least one of the top surface, the
left side surface, and the right side surface on a front surface side of the casing. The
air outlet is disposed on the top surface, the left side surface, and the right side surface
on a back surface side of the casing.
5 This air cleaner includes the three air outlets. Accordingly, an amount of air
discharged from the casing can be sufficiently secured. The air suction opening and
the air outlet are disposed away, on the front surface side and the back surface side of
the main body. This ensures restraining the short circuit with more certainty.
10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011]
Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of an air cleaner according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a top view of the air cleaner according to the embodiment of the
15 present invention.
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of main parts according to the embodiment of the
present invention and is an explanatory view of an arrangement of a dust collecting unit.
20 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of main parts according to the embodiment of the
present invention and is an explanatory view of arrangements of a deodorizing unit and
a humidifying unit.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of main parts according to the embodiment of the
present invention and is an explanatory view of an arrangement of a blower.
25 Fig. 8 is a drawing describing flows of suction air and blown air according to
6
the embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8(A) illustrates a flow of air suctioned
from air suction openings of the air cleaner and a flow of air blown out from air outlets,
and Fig. 8(B) illustrates a circulation of air in a room at which the air cleaner is
installed.
5
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0012]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail
based on the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the
10 following embodiment. Various modifications are possible without departing from the
spirit of the present invention.
Embodiment
[0013]
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a casing of an air cleaner 1 according to one
15 embodiment of the present invention has a main body 11, a front surface panel 12, and a
rear panel 14. The main body 11 includes a top surface panel 11a, a right side surface
panel 11b, a left side surface panel 11c, and a bottom 11d each of which are made of
synthetic resin materials and is formed into an approximately rectangular parallelepiped
shape. The front surface panel 12, which is formed by molding the synthetic resin
20 material, is disposed on one surface of the main body 11. The rear panel 14, which is
formed by molding the synthetic resin material, is disposed on the other surface of the
main body 11.
A surface including the top surface panel 11a, an upper end of the front surface
panel 12, and an upper end of the rear panel 14 is a top surface of the casing. A
25 surface including the right side surface panel 11b, a right side end of the front surface
7
panel 12, and a right side end of the rear panel 14 is a right side surface of the casing.
A surface including the left side surface panel 11c, a left side end of the front surface
panel 12, and a left side end of the rear panel 14 is a left side surface of the casing. A
surface including the bottom 11d, a lower end of the front surface panel 12, and a lower
5 end of the rear panel 14 is a bottom surface of the casing.
The following refers to a side where the front surface panel 12 is disposed as a
front surface side with respect to the main body 11 and a side where the rear panel 14 is
disposed as a back surface side with respect to the main body 11 as necessary.
[0014]
10 A front panel 13, which is made of the synthetic resin material, is disposed on
the front of the front surface panel 12. Clearances are formed at four sites, the top,
bottom, left, and right sides between the front panel 13 and the front surface panel 12.
These four clearances are formed on front surface sides of the respective top surface,
bottom surface, left side surface, and right side surface of the casing. A clearance
15 formed at the top surface on the front surface side of the casing is a top surface suction
opening 13a. A clearance formed at the right side surface on the front surface side of
the casing is a right side surface suction opening 13b. A clearance formed at the left
side surface on the front surface side of the casing is a left side surface suction opening
13c. A clearance formed at the bottom surface on the front surface side of the casing is
20 a bottom surface suction opening 13d. These top surface suction opening 13a, right
side surface suction opening 13b, left side surface suction opening 13c, and bottom
surface suction opening 13d are the air suction openings that take in the air inside the
casing of the air cleaner 1 according to this embodiment. That is, the air suction
openings of the air cleaner 1 include the top surface suction opening 13a, the right side
25 surface suction opening 13b, the left side surface suction opening 13c, and the bottom
8
surface suction opening 13d, which are disposed on the front surface side of the casing.
The air cleaner 1 may not include the bottom surface suction opening 13d.
That is, the air suction openings of the air cleaner 1 may include the top surface suction
opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, and the left side surface suction
5 opening 13c, which are disposed on the front surface side of the casing. The air
suction openings of the air cleaner 1 may be at least one of the top surface suction
opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, and the left side surface suction
opening 13c. That is, the air suction openings of the air cleaner 1 may be disposed on
at least one of the top surface, the left side surface, and the right side surface on the
10 front surface side of the casing.
The top surface suction opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b,
the left side surface suction opening 13c, and the bottom surface suction opening 13d,
which are the air suction openings of the air cleaner 1, are a part of the clearances (gaps)
between the front panel 13 and the front surface panel 12.
15 [0015]
The clearances are formed at three sites, the top, left, and right sides between
the main body 11 and the rear panel 14. These clearances at the three sites are formed
at the respective top surface, left side surface, and right side surface on the back surface
side of the casing. A clearance formed at the top surface on the back surface side of
20 the casing is a top surface outlet 14a. A clearance formed at the right side surface on
the back surface side of the casing is a right side surface outlet 14b. A clearance
formed at a left side surface on the back surface side of the casing is a left side surface
outlet 14c. These top surface outlet 14a, right side surface outlet 14b, and left side
surface outlet 14c are the air outlets, which discharge air from the inside of the casing to
25 outside, of the air cleaner 1 according to this embodiment. That is, the air outlets of
9
the air cleaner 1 include the top surface outlet 14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and
the left side surface outlet 14c, which are disposed on the back surface side of the casing.
That is, the air outlets of the air cleaner 1 are disposed at the top surface, the left side
surface, and the right side surface on the back surface side of the casing.
5 The top surface outlet 14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and the left side
surface outlet 14c, which are the air outlets of the air cleaner 1, are a part of the
clearances (the gaps) between the main body 11 and the rear panel 14.
[0016]
With the air cleaner 1, the air suctioned (taken in) from the top surface suction
10 opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, the left side surface suction
opening 13c, and the bottom surface suction opening 13d to the main body 11 is blown
out from the top surface outlet 14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and the left side
surface outlet 14c to the inside of the room. During this time, dust removal,
humidification, and deodorization are performed on the air.
15 [0017]
As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a space inside the main body 11, which
communicates the top surface suction opening 13a, the right side surface suction
opening 13b, the left side surface suction opening 13c, and the bottom surface suction
opening 13d with the top surface outlet 14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and the
20 left side surface outlet 14c, serves as a ventilation passage 10 in the air cleaner 1 of this
embodiment. The following description describes each suction opening side in the
ventilation passage 10 as an upstream side and each outlet side as a downstream side as
necessary.
[0018]
25 An operating unit 15 is disposed on the top surface of the casing of the air
10
cleaner 1 so as to cover a part of the top surface suction opening 13a. The operating
unit 15 includes buttons such as a power supply button and an operation mode switch
button to operate the air cleaner 1. Furthermore, the operating unit 15 includes a
display unit. The display unit displays an operating state of the air cleaner 1 and a
5 detection result by a detector such as a dust sensor (not illustrated).
[0019]
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the ventilation passage 10, which is inside the main
body 11 of the air cleaner 1, includes a pre-filter 21, a dust collecting unit 22, a
deodorizing unit 23, a humidifying unit 24, and a blower 25 in this order from the
10 upstream side to the downstream side.
[0020]
The pre-filter 21, for example, is formed by weaving a thread PET material and
has a mesh structure. The pre-filter 21 removes (or traps) dust contained in the air
suctioned to the inside of the main body 11. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the pre-filter 21
15 has an arch shape convex toward the front surface side of the main body. Compared
with the pre-filter 21 with a flat shape, the pre-filter 21 with the arch shape increases an
area of the pre-filter 21 through which the air suctioned from the top surface suction
opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, the left side surface suction
opening 13c, and the bottom surface suction opening 13d to the inside of the main body
20 11 passes. This allows the pre-filter 21 to remove much dust.
[0021]
As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the dust collecting unit 22 includes a first
electric dust collecting unit 22a and a second electric dust collecting unit 22b. The
first electric dust collecting unit 22a and the second electric dust collecting unit 22b are
25 disposed up and down. The first electric dust collecting unit 22a and the second
11
electric dust collecting unit 22b include discharge electrodes and a dust-collecting
electrodes (not illustrated). The first electric dust collecting unit 22a and the second
electric dust collecting unit 22b charge fine dust, pollens, and the like, which have not
been removed by the pre-filter 21, by a corona discharge from the discharge electrodes
5 and remove the charged dust, pollens, and the like by the dust-collecting electrodes.
The first electric dust collecting unit 22a and the second electric dust collecting unit 22b
are mainly constituted of the above-described discharge electrode, the dust-collecting
electrode, and a casing, which holds these discharge electrode and dust-collecting
electrode. Therefore, an air resistance of the dust collecting unit 22 is smaller than an
10 air resistance of the dust collecting filter made of a nonwoven fabric formed into the
pleat pattern.
To clearly illustrate the dust collecting unit 22 (the first electric dust collecting
unit 22a and the second electric dust collecting unit 22b), Fig. 5 omits the illustration of
the front panel 13.
15 [0022]
As illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, the deodorizing unit 23 includes a
deodorizing filter 23a and a heater (heating unit) 23f. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the
deodorizing filter 23a, for example, includes circular plate-shaped base materials 23aa,
which have a porous structure like a waveform structure or a honeycomb structure.
20 The waveform structure, for example, has flat plate materials and flexed materials
continuously flexed in a waveform pattern laminated in alternation. The base
materials 23aa include catalyst layers (deodorizing layers) 23ab, which adsorb and
decompose odoriferous components.
The catalyst layers (the deodorizing layers) 23ab may be deodorizing layers
25 that decompose and/or adsorb the odoriferous components. The deodorizing filter 23a
12
has the circular plate shape and is rotatably configured. For example, the deodorizing
filter 23a is rotatably supported to the main body 11 (or the casing).
As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the heater 23f includes a PTC heater 23b, two
sheets of heatsinks 23c, two pieces of heat insulating materials 23d, and two pieces of
5 cases 23e. Among the two sheets of the heatsinks 23c, the PTC heater 23b is mounted
to the heatsink 23c disposed on the front surface side of the main body to heat the two
sheets of the heatsinks 23c. The two sheets of the heatsinks 23c are metal plates each
have an approximately triangular shape. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, the heatsinks
23c are disposed so as to cover only a part of the deodorizing filter 23a. The two
10 sheets of the heatsinks 23c are in contact with one another at a site close to a center of
the deodorizing filter 23a or an outside diameter side of the deodorizing filter 23a. In
view of this, the PTC heater 23b heats not only the heatsink 23c disposed on the front
surface side of the main body but also the heatsink 23c on the back surface side of the
main body. The heat insulating materials 23d are disposed to cover the PTC heater
15 23b and the heatsinks 23c. The heat insulating material 23d restrains an escape of heat
from the PTC heater 23b and the heatsinks 23c to outside. The case 23e has a shape
with which the PTC heater 23b, the heatsinks 23c, and the heat insulating materials 23d
can be held.
Thus, the deodorizing filter 23a has the porous structure and further the heater
20 23f has a structure of covering only a part of the deodorizing filter 23a. That is, the
deodorizing filter 23a is disposed such that a part of the deodorizing filter 23a is
exposed to the ventilation passage 10. Accordingly, the air resistance of the
deodorizing filter 23a is small.
[0023]
25 To regenerate the deodorizing performance of the deodorizing filter 23a, the
13
PTC heater 23b heats the two sheets of the heatsinks 23c to heat a part of the
deodorizing filter 23a, which is covered with the two sheets of the heatsinks 23c.
Heating the deodorizing filter 23a while the deodorizing filter 23a is rotated by a motor
(not illustrated) promotes a decomposition of the odoriferous components adsorbed by
5 the catalyst layers 23ab in the deodorizing filter 23a. This regenerates the deodorizing
performance of the deodorizing filter 23a. Instead of the rotation of the deodorizing
filter 23a, moving the heatsinks 23c may heat the deodorizing filter 23a.
The deodorizing unit 23 may not have the above-described configuration.
The deodorizing unit 23 may not include the heating unit (the PTC heater 23b and the
10 heatsinks 23c). In this case, the deodorizing filter of the deodorizing unit 23 includes
an adsorbing material for odoriferous components like activated charcoal and a base
material to which this adsorbent is added, which are substitutions of the catalyst layers.
In this case, when the deodorizing unit 23 degrades adsorption performance, replacing
the deodorizing filter with new one ensures recovering the deodorizing performance of
15 the deodorizing unit 23.
[0024]
As illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, the humidifying unit 24 includes a
humidifying filter 24a and a water storage tank 24b, which accumulates water. The
humidifying filter 24a is formed into a circular plate shape. With a part of the
20 humidifying filter 24a immersed into the water accumulated in the water storage tank
24b, the humidifying filter 24a is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft. Through the
rotation of the motor (not illustrated), the humidifying filter 24a absorbs water.
The humidifying unit 24 may not have the above-described configuration.
Instead of the humidifying filter 24a, the humidifying unit 24 may include a
25 humidifying filter that absorbs the water by capillarity. To clearly illustrate the
14
deodorizing unit 23 and the humidifying unit 24, Fig. 6 appropriately omits the
illustrations of the front panel 13, members constituting the main body 11 other than the
bottom 11d, the dust collecting unit 22, and the like.
[0025]
5 As illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 7, the blower 25 includes a turbofan 25a and a
fan motor 25b. The turbofan 25a is made of a synthetic resin material and is coupled
to an output shaft of the fan motor 25b. The fan motor 25b is a variable rotation speed
motor. The fan motor 25b is disposed on the air suction opening side (the upstream
side) with respect to the turbofan 25a. A rotation of the fan motor 25b also rotates the
10 turbofan 25a. The rotation of the turbofan 25a flows air to the inside of the air cleaner
1 and flows the air from the inside of the air cleaner 1. To clearly illustrate the blower
25, Fig. 7 appropriately omits the illustrations of the front panel 13, the members
constituting the main body 11 other than the bottom 11d, the dust collecting unit 22, the
deodorizing unit 23, the humidifying unit 24, and the like.
15 [0026]
The following describes operations of the air cleaner 1 and the flow of the air
in a room where the air cleaner 1 is installed while the air cleaner 1 having the
above-described configuration is operating with reference to Fig. 8. With the example
illustrated in the drawing, as illustrated in Fig. 8(B), the air cleaner 1 is installed in a
20 room 300. The room 300 has a ceiling surface 300a, a floor surface 300b, and four
sidewall surfaces 300c. The rear panel 14 of the air cleaner 1 is disposed close to and
opposed to one surface of the sidewall surfaces 300c. The operation of the operating
unit 15 by the user starts operating the air cleaner 1. This drives the blower 25 and
also starts energizing the first electric dust collecting unit 22a and the second electric
25 dust collecting unit 22b in the dust collecting unit 22. Furthermore, the humidifying
15
filter 24a in the humidifying unit 24 starts rotating. As indicated by dashed arrows 100
illustrated in Fig. 8(A), when the blower 25 drives, air is suctioned from the suction
openings at the four directions, the top surface suction opening 13a, the right side
surface suction opening 13b, the left side surface suction opening 13c, and the bottom
5 surface suction opening 13d, to the inside of the main body 11.
[0027]
The air suctioned to the inside of the main body 11 flows as follows. (1) At a
site in the ventilation passage 10 where the lower portion of the deodorizing unit 23
overlaps the upper portion of the humidifying unit 24 in the front-back direction, the air
10 flows in the order from the pre-filter 21, the dust collecting unit 22, the deodorizing unit
23, and then the humidifying unit 24. (2) At a site in the ventilation passage 10 where
the lower portion of the deodorizing unit 23 does not overlap the upper portion of the
humidifying unit 24 in the front-back direction, the air flows in the order from the
pre-filter 21, the dust collecting unit 22, and then the deodorizing unit 23 or in the order
15 from the pre-filter 21, the dust collecting unit 22, and then the humidifying unit 24.
At this time, the pre-filter 21 and the energized dust collecting unit 22 remove
the dust and pollens contained in the suctioned air. The deodorizing unit 23 removes
the odoriferous components contained in the suctioned air. Furthermore, the
humidifying unit 24 humidifies the suctioned air.
20 [0028]
As indicated by solid arrows 200 illustrated in Fig. 8(A), the air on which the
dust removal, the deodorization, and the humidification are have been performed in the
ventilation passage 10 is blown out from the outlets at three directions, the top surface
outlet 14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and the left side surface outlet 14c, to the
25 inside of the room where the air cleaner 1 is installed. At this time, the air blown out
16
from the respective air outlets, as similarly indicated by the solid arrows 200 in Fig.
8(B), flows to the sidewall surface 300c side opposite from the sidewall surface 300c
side where the air cleaner 1 is disposed, that is, a far-side in the room 300 viewed from
the air cleaner 1, along the ceiling surface 300a or the sidewall surfaces 300c of the
5 room 300. Specifically, the air blown out from the top surface outlet 14a goes along
the ceiling surface 300a and flows to the far-side of the room 300. The air blown out
from the right side surface outlet 14b goes along the right sidewall surface 300c and
flows to the far-side of the room 300. The air blown out from the left side surface
outlet 14c goes along the left sidewall surface 300c and flows to the far-side of the room
10 300.
[0029]
As described above, the purified and humidified air is blown out so as to wrap
the room 300 where the air cleaner 1 is installed. Furthermore, the air cleaner 1 whose
rear panel 14 disposed opposed to and close to the sidewall surface 300c suctions the air
15 in the room 300 from the suction openings at the four directions, the top surface suction
opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, the left side surface suction
opening 13c, and the bottom surface suction opening 13d. This allows the air cleaner
1 to improve the flow of air in the room 300. Consequently, the air cleaner 1 can
uniformly suction the air in the room 300, ensuring the dust removal, humidification,
20 and deodorization. The air cleaner 1 can suction the dust, the pollens, the odoriferous
components, and the like attached to or scatter on the floor surface 300b together with
the air suctioned from the bottom surface suction opening 13d. Thus, the air cleaner 1
also can improve the circulation of the air in the room 300 including above the floor
surface 300b. Consequently, the air cleaner 1 can purify the entire air in the room 300
25 more efficiently.
17
[0030]
For example, JP-A-2000-167326 discloses a typical air cleaner (a dust removal
device). The dust removal device described in this patent publication suctions air from
a through hole on a front wall to an inside of a casing via a front filter unit. In view of
5 this, in addition to a back surface of the front filter unit, meshes are also disposed on the
front surface of the front filter unit. Accordingly, it is difficult to enhance designability
of the dust removal device.
Related to this, the air cleaner 1 of this embodiment includes the top surface
suction opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, the left side surface
10 suction opening 13c, and the bottom surface suction opening 13d at the peripheral areas
of the space formed on front surface side of the casing. Therefore, since an air suction
opening is not disposed on the front panel 13, which is located on the front surface of
the casing, this improves designability of the air cleaner 1.
That is, this embodiment ensures a good circulation of air in a room and also
15 ensures providing the air cleaner 1 featuring comparatively high designability.
[0031]
The air resistance of the dust collecting unit 22 is smaller than the air resistance
of the dust collecting filter made of a nonwoven fabric formed into the pleat pattern.
The heater 23f has a structure of covering only a part of the deodorizing filter 23a.
20 That is, the deodorizing filter 23 is disposed such that a part of the deodorizing filter 23a
is exposed to the ventilation passage 10. Accordingly, the air resistance of the
deodorizing unit 23 is also smaller than an air resistance of a typical deodorizing unit
that includes a plate-shaped heater formed to have an area almost identical to a catalyst
filter. Accordingly, the turbofan 25a featuring static pressure lower than the sirocco
25 fan, is applicable to the blower 25.
18
As long as the air resistance is identical, the use of the turbofan 25a decreases
the air volume compared with the use of the sirocco fan. However, compared with the
sirocco fan, the turbofan 25a features high efficiency and high quietness. This ensures
achieving the air cleaner 1 that can restrain a noise while securing required dust
5 collecting performance and deodorizing performance.
The turbofan 25a may not include a scroll housing provided with the sirocco
fan; therefore, this achieves downsizing and thinning compared with the sirocco fan.
This ensures restraining excessively large casing dimensions of the air cleaner 1 while
securing a distance L, which will be described later.
10 [0032]
The air cleaner 1 features the small air resistances of the dust collecting unit 22
and the deodorizing unit 23. In view of this, as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7, even if the
dust collecting unit 22, the deodorizing unit 23, the humidifying unit 24, and the blower
25 are disposed in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the
15 ventilation passage 10, the air resistance in the air cleaner 1 does not increase so much.
Accordingly, the driving of the blower 25 does not reduce an amount of air flowing
through the ventilation passage 10 inside the main body 11. The arrangement of the
respective members as described above lengthens the dimension of the main body 11 in
the front-back (depth) direction. Furthermore, while the respective air suction
20 openings are disposed on the front surface side of the main body 11, the respective air
outlets are disposed on the back surface side of the main body 11. This ensures
increasing the distance L between the respective air suction openings and the respective
air outlets indicated in Fig. 4. This restrains an immediate suction of the air, which is
blown out from each air outlet to the inside of the room, from each air suction opening
25 to the inside of the air cleaner 1, a so-called short circuit between the air suction
19
opening and the air outlet. As described above, the dust collecting unit 22 is disposed
upstream with respect to the deodorizing unit 23. In view of this, the air flown into the
deodorizing unit 23 is air from which the dust, the pollens, and the like have been
removed. This restrains a clogging of the deodorizing filter 23a in the deodorizing unit
5 23 due to the dust, the pollens, and the like.
[0033]
Additionally, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the blower 25 includes the fan
motor 25b and the turbofan 25a in this order from the respective air suction openings to
the respective air outlets. That is, the turbofan 25a is disposed at a location farthest
10 from the respective air suction openings. The respective air outlets are disposed
corresponding to the arrangement of the turbofan 25a. Accordingly, the distance L,
which is a distance between the respective air suction openings and the respective air
outlets, can be further increased. Consequently, a higher restraining effect of short
circuit can be obtained. The order of arranging the turbofan 25a and the fan motor 25b
15 may be inversed from the above-described arrangement.
[0034]
For example, JP-A-2009-22882 discloses a typical air cleaner. The air cleaner
described in this patent publication includes air suction openings in top and bottom
spaces formed between a partition plate and a front panel. Furthermore, air outlets are
20 disposed at both right and left side surfaces of a main body casing. Accordingly, to
restrain the short circuit, the air outlets can be disposed only at two locations at
maximum, both right and left side surfaces of the casing. There may be a possibility
that an amount of air discharged from the casing of the air cleaner fails to be fully
secured and therefore air cleaning capability cannot be sufficiently provided.
25 The air cleaner disclosed in JP-A-2009-22882 includes both ends (the upper
20
and lower ends) of the air outlets, which are disposed at both right and left side surfaces
of the casing, near the air suction openings, which are disposed both top and bottom
side surfaces of the casing. This causes a possibility that the air, which is discharged
from both ends of the air outlets, is immediately suctioned from the air suction openings
5 to the inside of the casing. Therefore, it is difficult for this known technique to
sufficiently restrain the short circuit.
Related to this, the air cleaner 1 can achieve the above-described distance L by
which the short circuit is less likely to occur. The four clearances at the top, bottom,
left, and right formed on the front surface side of the casing can be configured as the top
10 surface suction opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, the left side
surface suction opening 13c, and the bottom surface suction opening 13d, which suction
the air to the inside of the air cleaner 1. Furthermore, the three spaces at the top, left,
and right formed on the back surface side of the casing can be configured as the top
surface outlet 14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and the left side surface outlet 14c,
15 which blow out the air from the inside of the air cleaner 1. This ensures increasing the
areas of the air suction openings and the air outlets, allowing sufficiently securing an
amount of suction air and an amount of blown air.
That is, as described above, this embodiment can provide the air cleaner 1 that
can restrain the short circuit with more certainty while sufficiently securing the dust
20 collecting performance and the deodorizing performance.
[0035]
As indicated by a line segment P in Fig. 3, it is preferable to dispose the dust
collecting unit 22 and the blower 25 so as to match a center height of the fan motor 25b
with a height of a space between the first electric dust collecting unit 22a and the second
25 electric dust collecting unit 22b in the dust collecting unit 22. The flow of air caused
21
by the rotation of the turbofan 25a is less near the center of the fan motor 25b.
Accordingly, it is considered that the flow of air is less at the space near the center of
the fan motor 25b inside the main body 11. Meanwhile, at the space between the first
electric dust collecting unit 22a and the second electric dust collecting unit 22b in the
5 dust collecting unit 22, dust collecting performance with respect to the passing-through
air is small. In view of this, matching the height of this space with the center height of
the fan motor 25b ensures disposing the first electric dust collecting unit 22a and the
second electric dust collecting unit 22b at the space where vanes of the turbofan 25a are
present and therefore is thought to generate much airflow. Accordingly, the dust
10 collecting unit 22 can effective remove the dust.
[0036]
The above-described embodiments are described with the example of the air
cleaner 1 that includes the casing with the approximately rectangular parallelepiped
shape. However, the shape of the casing of the air cleaner 1 is not limited to this shape.
15 It is only necessary that the casing have a polyhedral shape that includes the top surface,
the bottom surface, the left side surface, and the right side surface, and the air suction
openings or the air outlets are disposed on these respective surfaces.
In this embodiment, the air cleaner 1 includes both the deodorizing unit 23 and
the humidifying unit 24. However, this should not be construed in a limiting sense.
20 The air cleaner 1 may include any one of the deodorizing unit 23 or the humidifying
unit 24. An air cleaner according to the embodiments of the present invention may be
the following first to eleventh air cleaners.
A first air cleaner includes an air suction opening, an air outlet, and a main
body. The air suction opening takes in air to an inside of a casing. The air outlet
25 blows out the air from the inside of the casing to outside. The main body includes a
22
ventilation passage. The ventilation passage communicates the air suction opening
with the air outlet. The main body internally includes a dust collecting unit, a
deodorizing unit, and a blower. The dust collecting unit is configured to remove dust
from the taken-in air. The deodorizing unit is configured to deodorize the taken-in air.
5 The dust collecting unit is constituted of an electric dust collector. The deodorizing
unit includes a deodorizing filter that includes a deodorizing layer. The deodorizing
layer is disposed in a base material having a porous structure. The deodorizing layer is
configured to decompose and/or adsorb an odoriferous component. The deodorizing
filter is disposed so as to be exposed to the inside of the main body. The blower
10 includes a turbofan and a fan motor that rotates the turbofan.
A second air cleaner according to the first air cleaner is configured as follows.
In the main body, the dust collecting unit, the deodorizing unit, and the blower are
disposed in this order in a direction from the air suction opening to the air outlet.
A third air cleaner according to the first or the second air cleaner is configured
15 as follows. The deodorizing layer is a catalyst layer configured to promote a
decomposition of an odoriferous component through heating. The deodorizing unit
includes a heating unit. The heating unit is formed to cover a part of the deodorizing
filter. The heating unit is configured to heat the deodorizing filter.
A fourth air cleaner according to any one of the first to the third air cleaners is
20 configured as follows. The deodorizing filter forms a circular plate shape and is
rotatably supported to the inside of the main body.
A fifth air cleaner according to any one of the first to the fourth air cleaners is
configured as follows. The air suction openings are constituted of a top surface
suction opening, a right side surface suction opening, and a left side surface suction
25 opening disposed on a front surface side of the main body. The air outlets are
23
constituted of a top surface outlet, a right side surface outlet, and a left side surface
outlet disposed on a back surface side of the main body.
A sixth air cleaner includes an air suction opening, an air outlet, and a main
body. The air suction opening takes in air to an inside of a casing. The air outlet
5 discharges the air from the inside of the casing to outside. The main body includes a
ventilation passage. The ventilation passage communicates the air suction opening
with the air outlet. The main body internally includes a dust collecting unit, a
deodorizing unit and/or a humidifying unit, and a blower. The dust collecting unit is
configured to remove dust from the taken-in air. The deodorizing unit is configured to
10 deodorize the taken-in air. The humidifying unit is configured to humidify the taken-in
air. The air cleaner includes a front surface panel, a front panel, and a rear panel.
The front surface panel is disposed on a front surface side of the main body. The front
panel is disposed on the front surface side of the front surface panel. The rear panel is
disposed on a back surface side of the main body. Among clearances formed between
15 the front surface panel and the front panel, at least one of clearances between an upper
end and left and right side ends are formed as the air suction openings. Among
clearances formed between the back surface of the main body and the rear panel,
clearances between the upper end and left and right side ends are formed as the air
outlets.
20 A seventh air cleaner according to the sixth air cleaner is configured as follows.
In the main body, the dust collecting unit, the deodorizing unit, and the blower are
disposed in this order in a direction from the air suction opening to the air outlet. An
eighth air cleaner according to the sixth or the seventh air cleaner is configured as
follows. The blower includes a turbofan and a fan motor that rotates the turbofan.
25 The fan motor is disposed on the air suction opening side with respect to the turbofan.
24
A ninth air cleaner includes an air suction opening and air outlets. The air
suction opening takes in air to an inside of a casing. The air outlets discharge the air
from the inside of the casing to outside. The casing internally includes a ventilation
passage. The ventilation passage communicates the air suction opening with the air
5 outlet. The ventilation passage includes a dust collecting unit and a blower. The dust
collecting unit is configured to remove dust from the taken-in air. The casing at least
has a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side surface,
and a right side surface. The air suction openings are disposed on the top surface, the
bottom surface, the left side surface, and the right side surface on the front surface side
10 of the casing. The air outlets are disposed on the top surface, the left side surface, and
the right side surface on the back surface side of the casing.
A tenth air cleaner according to the ninth air cleaner includes at least one of the
deodorizing unit and the humidifying unit in the ventilation passage. The deodorizing
unit is configured to deodorize the taken-in air. The humidifying unit is configured to
15 humidify the taken-in air. The deodorizing unit and/or the humidifying unit is
disposed at a downstream side of the dust collecting unit.
An eleventh air cleaner according to the ninth or the tenth air cleaner is
configured as follows. A back surface side of the casing is disposed and used so as to
be opposed to a sidewall surface on a room.
20
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0037]
1: Air cleaner
10: Ventilation passage
25 11: Main body
25
5
10
15
20
25
12:
13:
13a:
13b:
13c:
13d:
14:
14a:
14b:
14c:
15:
21:
22:
22a:
22b:
23:
23aa:
23ab:
23a:
23b:
23c:
23f:
24:
24a:
24b:
Front surface panel
Front panel
Top surface suction opening
Right side surface suction opening
Left side surface suction opening
Bottom surface suction opening
Rear panel
Top surface outlet
Right side surface outlet
Left side surface outlet
Operating unit
Pre-filter
Dust collecting unit
First electric dust collector
Second electric dust collector
Deodorizing unit
Base material
Catalyst layer
Deodorizing filter
PTC heater
Heatsink
Heater
Humidifying unit
Humidifying filter
Water storage tank
26
25: Blower
25a: Turbofan
25b: Fan motor
300: Room
5 300c: Sidewall surface
27
I/We Claim:
1. An air cleaner comprising:
an air suction opening that takes in air to an inside of a casing;
an air outlet that discharges the air from the inside of the casing to outside;
a ventilation passage that communicates the air suction opening with the air
outlet;
a dust collecting unit provided in the ventilation passage, the dust collecting
unit being configured to remove dust from the taken-in air;
a deodorizing unit provided in the ventilation passage, the deodorizing unit
being configured to deodorize the taken-in air; and
a blower provided in the ventilation passage, wherein
the dust collecting unit includes an electric dust collector,
the deodorizing unit includes a deodorizing filter, the deodorizing filter
including a base material having a porous structure and a deodorizing layer disposed in
the base material, the deodorizing layer being configured to decompose and/or adsorb
an odoriferous component,
the deodorizing filter is disposed such that a part of the deodorizing filter is
exposed to the ventilation passage, and
the blower includes a turbofan and a fan motor that rotates the turbofan.
2. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein
the ventilation passage includes the dust collecting unit, the deodorizing unit,
and the blower in an order along a direction from the air suction opening to the air
outlet.
3. The air cleaner according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein
the deodorizing layer is a catalyst layer configured to promote decomposition
of the odoriferous component adsorbed to the deodorizing layer through heating, and
the deodorizing unit includes a heating unit, the heating unit being configured
to heat the deodorizing filter, the heating unit having a structure of covering a part of the
deodorizing filter.
4. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the deodorizing filter has a circular plate shape and is rotatable.
5. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
the air suction opening includes a top surface suction opening, a right side
surface suction opening, and a left side surface suction opening disposed on a front
surface side of the casing, and
the air outlet includes a top surface outlet, a right side surface outlet, and a left
side surface outlet disposed on a back surface side of the casing.
6. An air cleaner comprising:
an air suction opening that takes in air to an inside of a casing;
an air outlet that discharges the air from the inside of the casing to outside;
a ventilation passage that communicates the air suction opening with the air
outlet;
a dust collecting unit provided in the ventilation passage, the dust collecting
unit being configured to remove dust from the taken-in air; and
a blower provided in the ventilation passage, wherein
the casing has a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a
left side surface, and a right side surface,
the air suction opening is disposed on at least one of the top surface, the left
side surface, and the right side surface on a front surface side of the casing, and
the air outlet is disposed on the top surface, the left side surface, and the right
side surface on a back surface side of the casing.
7. The air cleaner according to claim 6, further comprising
a deodorizing unit provided in the ventilation passage, the deodorizing unit
being configured to deodorize the taken-in air.
8. The air cleaner according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising
a humidifying unit provided in the ventilation passage, the humidifying unit
being configured to humidify the taken-in air.
9. The air cleaner according to claim 7, wherein
the ventilation passage includes the dust collecting unit, the deodorizing unit,
and the blower in an order along a direction from the air suction opening to the air
outlet.
10. The air cleaner according to claim 8, wherein
the ventilation passage includes the dust collecting unit, the humidifying unit,
and the blower in an order along a direction from the air suction opening to the air
outlet.
11. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein
the blower includes a turbofan and a fan motor that rotates the turbofan, and
the fan motor is disposed on a side of the air suction opening with respect to
the turbofan.
12. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein
the air suction opening is disposed on the top surface, the bottom surface, the
left side surface, and the right side surface on the front surface side of the casing.
13. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein
the air cleaner is used with the back surface side of the casing opposed to a
sidewall surface on a room.