TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to an air cleaner that includes a deodorizing unit
5 whose deodorizing power is regenerated through heating.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
Typically, an air cleaner, for example, causes air suctioned to an inside of a
10 main body casing by driving a blower, which is disposed inside the main body casing, to
pass through a deodorizing filter to cause the deodorizing filter to absorb odoriferous
components contained in the air. Heating the deodorizing filter regenerates a
deodorizing power of the deodorizing filter. As such air cleaner, there is provided an
air cleaner that includes a deodorizing filter rotatably provided and a heating unit that
15 covers a part of the deodorizing filter without contacting the deodorizing filter (for
example, see JP-A-10-277365).
[0003]
The air cleaner disclosed in JP-A-10-277365 includes an air flow passage to
guide air suctioned from an air suction opening to an inside of a main body casing to an
20 air outlet. A pre-filter, a catalyst structure, and a blowing fan are disposed in this order
along a direction from the air suction opening to the air outlet. The catalyst structure
includes a circular plate-shaped absorbing plate (equivalent to a deodorizing filter),
which absorbs odoriferous components in air, a motor (a driving unit), which rotatably
drives the absorbing plate, and a cover. The motor is supported to an upper wall of the
25 air flow passage by a bracket. The absorbing plate is joined to an output shaft of the
2
motor by the center. The cover is secured to the upper wall of the air flow passage and
covers a part of the absorbing plate. This cover covers a part of a front surface and a
part of a back surface of the absorbing plate. A catalyst plate and a heat element
(equivalent to a heating unit) are provided at respective inner wall surfaces on the front
surface side and the b 5 ack surface side of the cover. The catalyst plate decomposes
odoriferous components. The heat element heats the absorbing plate and the catalyst
plate.
[0004]
Driving the blowing fan by this air cleaner suctions air from the air suction
10 opening to the air flow passage. The pre-filter removes dust contained in the air.
Afterwards, the air reaches the absorbing plate. When the air passes through a part of
the absorbing plate exposed from the cover, the odoriferous components in the air are
absorbed. The air thus cleaned is blown out again from the air outlet to an inside of a
room. Meanwhile, the heat element heats a part of the absorbing plate covered with
15 the cover. This separates the odoriferous components absorbed into this site from the
absorbing plate. The catalyst plate similarly heated by the heat element decomposes
the separated odoriferous components. The motor rotates the absorbing plate by a
predetermined angle (for example, 90 degrees) at regular time intervals.
[0005]
20 The above-described air cleaner heats a part of the absorbing plate covered
with the cover by the heat element to regenerate a deodorizing power of the absorbing
plate. Furthermore, the air is deodorized at the part of the absorbing plate exposed
from the cover. Accordingly, a power consumption of this air washer is smaller
compared with a power consumption of an air washer that heats the entire absorbing
25 plate by the heat element, which is formed corresponding to a shape of the absorbing
3
plate, at once. The above-described air cleaner covers only a part of the absorbing
plate with the cover. In view of this, an air resistance of the deodorizing filter in this
air washer is smaller compared with an air resistance of the deodorizing filter in the air
washer, which includes the heat element formed corresponding to the shape of the
5 absorbing plate.
CITATION LIST
PATENT LITERATURE
[0006]
10 PATENT LITERATURE 1: JP-A-10-277365
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0007]
15 However, the air cleaner disclosed in JP-A-10-277365 needs to provide a
clearance between the absorbing plate and the cover for rotation of the absorbing plate.
This causes a problem that a heat generated from the heat element diffuses from this
clearance into outside the cover.
[0008]
20 One object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an air cleaner
that solves the above-described problems and can restrain a diffusion of heat to outside
a cover.
SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS
25 [0009]
4
An air cleaner according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an air
suction opening, an air outlet, a ventilation passage, a blower, and a deodorizing unit.
The air suction opening takes in air to an inside of a casing. The air outlet discharges
air from the inside of the casing to outside. The ventilation passage communicates the
5 air suction opening with the air outlet. The blower is provided in the ventilation
passage. The deodorizing unit is provided in the ventilation passage. The
deodorizing unit is configured to deodorize air taken in the ventilation passage by
driving the blower. The deodorizing unit includes a deodorizing filter, a heating unit, a
cover member, and a driving unit. The heating unit is configured to heat the
10 deodorizing filter. The cover member includes a heating unit housing and a heat
diffusion restraining portion. The heating unit housing houses the heating unit. The
heat diffusion restraining portion is configured to restrain a diffusion of heat from the
heating unit housing. The cover member is disposed to cover a part of the deodorizing
filter. The driving unit is configured to relatively rotate the deodorizing filter and the
15 cover member.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0010]
With the air cleaner according to the first aspect, the cover member includes
20 the heat diffusion restraining portion. This ensures restraining the diffusion of heat
generated by the heater to outside the cover member.
An air cleaner according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an
air suction opening, an air outlet, a ventilation passage, a blower, and a deodorizing unit.
The air suction opening takes in air to an inside of a casing. The air outlet discharges
25 air from the inside of the casing to outside. The ventilation passage communicates the
5
air suction opening with the air outlet. The blower is provided in the ventilation
passage. The deodorizing unit is provided in the ventilation passage. The
deodorizing unit is configured to deodorize air taken in the ventilation passage by
driving the blower. The deodorizing unit includes a deodorizing filter and a heating
unit. The deodorizing filter includes a catalyst la 5 yer. The catalyst layer is configured
to absorb odoriferous components contained in air to decompose the odoriferous
components. The heating unit is disposed to cover a part of the deodorizing filter.
The heating unit is configured to heat the part of the deodorizing filter. The heating
unit includes a front surface side heatsink, a back surface side heatsink, and a heater.
10 The heater is mounted to at least one of the front surface side heatsink and the back
surface side heatsink. The front surface side heatsink is disposed on a front surface
side of the deodorizing filter. The back surface side heatsink is disposed on a back
surface side of the deodorizing filter. The front surface side heatsink contacts the back
surface side heatsink.
15 With the air cleaner according to the second aspect, the front surface side
heatsink contacts the back surface side heatsink such that heat transmits between the
front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink. This ensures heating
both surfaces of the deodorizing filter by heat generated by the heater.
20 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
25 present invention.
6
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along X-X in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along 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 deodorizing unit.
5 Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the deodorizing unit according to the embodiment
of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a heating unit according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 8 are state views of assembly of a deodorizing filter and a heating unit, Fig.
10 8(A) is a drawing viewed from a front surface side, and Fig. 8(B) is a drawing viewed
from a back surface side.
Fig. 9 are drawings illustrating a positional relationship between the
deodorizing filter and the heating unit, Fig. 9(A) is a drawing viewed from an arrow C
in Fig. 8(A), and Fig. 9(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along Z-Z in Fig. 8(A).
15 Fig. 10 are schematic diagrams illustrating a positional relationship between
the deodorizing filter and the heating unit, Fig. 10(A) is a schematic diagram viewing a
main part N in Fig. 6 from just beside the main part N, and Fig. 10(B) is a schematic
diagram viewing a main part M from just beside the main part M.
20 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
following embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from
25 the spirit of the present invention.
7
Embodiments
[0013]
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, an air cleaner 1 according to one embodiment of
the present invention has a main body 11, a front surface panel 12, and a rear panel 14.
The main body 11 5 includes a top surface panel 11a, a right side surface panel 11b, a left
side surface panel 11c, and a bottom 11d, which are formed with synthetic resin
materials. The main body 11 is formed into an approximately rectangular
parallelepiped shape. The front surface panel 12, which is a formed body of the
synthetic resin material, is disposed on one surface of the main body 11. The rear
10 panel 14, which is a formed body of the synthetic resin material, is disposed on the other
surface of the main body 11. The following refers to a side where the front surface
panel 12 is disposed on the main body 11 as a main body front surface side as necessary.
A side where the rear panel 14 is disposed on the main body 11 is referred to as a main
body back surface side as necessary.
15 [0014]
A front panel 13, which is the formed body of the synthetic resin material, is
disposed on the front of the front surface panel 12. A top surface suction opening 13a,
a right side surface suction opening 13b, and a left side surface suction opening 13c,
which are air suction openings of the air cleaner 1 according to the embodiment, are
20 formed between the front panel 13 and the front surface panel 12. A top surface outlet
14a, a right side surface outlet 14b, and a left side surface outlet 14c, which are air
outlets of the air cleaner 1 according to the embodiment, are formed between the main
body 11 and the rear panel 14. With the air cleaner 1, air suctioned from the top
surface suction opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, and the left side
25 surface suction opening 13c to the main body 11 is blown out from the top surface
8
outlet 14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and the left side surface outlet 14c to the
inside of a room. During this step, dirt removal, humidification, and deodorization
processes of air are performed.
As illustrated in Figs. 3 Fig. 4, a space inside the main body 11 that
communicates the top 5 surface suction opening 13a, the right side surface suction
opening 13b, and the left side surface suction opening 13c with the top surface outlet
14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and the left side surface outlet 14c serves as a
ventilation passage 10 of the air cleaner 1 of the embodiment. The following
description describes a suction opening side in the ventilation passage 10 as an upstream
10 side and an outlet side as a downstream side as necessary.
[0015]
An operating unit 15 is disposed on the top surface of the air 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
15 the air cleaner 1. Furthermore, the operating unit 15 includes a display. The display
displays an operating state of the air cleaner 1 and a detection result by a detector such
as a dust sensor (not illustrated).
[0016]
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the ventilation passage 10, which is inside the main
20 body 11 of the air cleaner 1, includes a pre-filter 21, a dust collector 22, a deodorizing
unit 23, a humidifying unit 24, and a blower 25 in this order from the upstream side to
the downstream side.
[0017]
The pre-filter 21, for example, is formed by weaving a thread PET material and
25 has a mesh structure. The pre-filter 21 traps dust contained in the air suctioned to the
9
inside of the main body 11. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the pre-filter 21 has an arch shape
convex toward the main body front surface side. 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
5 surface suction opening 13b, and the left side surface suction opening 13c to the inside
of the main body 11 passes. This allows the pre-filter 21 to trap much dust.
[0018]
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the dust collector 22 includes a first electric dust
collector 22a and a second electric dust collector 22b. The first electric dust collector
10 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b are disposed on the front surface side of
the main body 11 and are disposed in an up-down direction on a partition plate 16,
which constitutes a part of the main body 11. The first electric dust collector 22a and
the second electric dust collector 22b include discharge electrodes and dust-collecting
electrodes (not illustrated). The first electric dust collector 22a and the second electric
15 dust collector 22b charge fine dust, pollens, and the like that cannot be trapped by the
pre-filter 21, by a corona discharge from the discharge electrodes and trap the charged
dust, pollens, and the like by the dust-collecting electrodes. The first electric dust
collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b are mainly constituted of the
above-described discharge electrode, the dust-collecting electrode, and a casing, which
20 holds these discharge electrode and dust-collecting electrode. Therefore, an air
resistance of the dust collector 22 is smaller than an air resistance of, for example, a dust
collecting filter made of a nonwoven fabric formed into a pleat pattern.
[0019]
As illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, the deodorizing unit 23 includes a deodorizing
25 filter 23a, a filter regenerator 23f, and a holder 23g. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the
10
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.
The waveform structure, for example, has flat plate materials and flexed materials
formed into a waveform pattern laminated in alternation. The base materials 23aa
5 include catalyst layers 23ab, which adsorb and decompose odoriferous components.
As illustrated in Fig. 5, the filter regenerator 23f is formed into an approximately
triangular prism shape and covers only a part of the deodorizing filter 23a. As
illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the filter regenerator 23f includes a PTC heater 23b as a heat
element, a heatsink 23c, two sheets of heat insulating materials 23d, and a case 23e.
10 The heatsink 23c includes a front surface side heatsink 23ca and a back surface side
heatsink 23cb. The case 23e is a cover member including a front surface side case
23ea and a back surface side case 23eb. The heating unit of the air cleaner 1 according
to the embodiment includes the PTC heater 23b and the heatsink 23c. The holder 23g
holds the deodorizing filter 23a and the filter regenerator 23f. The holder 23g is
15 secured to the back surface side of the dust collector 22 in the ventilation passage 10.
Thus, the deodorizing filter 23a has the porous structure and the filter regenerator 23f
covers only a part of the deodorizing filter 23a. That is, a site of the deodorizing filter
23a other than a site covered with the filter regenerator 23f is exposed to the ventilation
passage 10. Accordingly, the air resistance of the deodorizing filter 23a is small.
20 A structure of the deodorizing unit 23 will be described later in detail with
reference to Figs. 6 to 9.
[0020]
As illustrated in Figs. 3 to5, the humidifying unit 24 includes a humidifying
filter 24a and a water storage tank 24b, which accumulates water. The humidifying
25 filter 24a is formed into a circular plate shape. With a part of the humidifying filter
11
24a immersed into the water accumulated in the water storage tank 24b, the humidifying
filter 24a is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft. The humidifying filter 24a is
rotated by a motor (not illustrated) to pump up water vapor. The humidifying unit 24
may not have the above-described configuration. Instead of the humidifying filter 24a,
5 the humidifying unit 24 may include a humidifying filter that absorbs the water vapor
by capillarity. To clearly illustrate the deodorizing unit 23 and the humidifying unit 24,
Fig. 5 appropriately omits the illustrations of the front panel 13, members constituting
the main body 11 other than the bottom 11d, the dust collector 22, and the like.
[0021]
10 As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, 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. A rotation of the fan motor 25b also rotates the turbofan 25a. Rotation of the
turbofan 25a flows air to the inside of the air cleaner 1. In accordance with this, the air
15 flows out from the inside of the air cleaner 1.
[0022]
The following describes a detailed structure of the deodorizing unit 23
according to the embodiment with reference to Figs. 6 to 10. As illustrated in Fig. 6,
in addition to the above-described deodorizing filter 23a, filter regenerator 23f, and
20 holder 23g, the deodorizing unit 23 includes a driving unit 23h, a driving gear 23j, a
second gear 23k, two pieces of rollers 23m, four pieces of pressing members 23z, and a
rotation detector 23r.
As illustrated in Fig. 7, in addition to the above-described PTC heater 23b, two
sheets of the heat insulating materials 23d, heatsink 23c, and case 23e, the filter
25 regenerator 23f includes a heater case 23p and three pieces of rollers 23n, which are
12
positioning members. As described above, the heatsink 23c includes the front surface
side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb. As described above, the
case 23e includes the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb.
In addition to the above-described base materials 23aa and the catalyst layers
23ab, the deodorizing 5 filter 23a includes a first gear 23ac and a covering portion 23ae.
The first gear 23ac also serves as an outer peripheral portion filter cover disposed at an
outer peripheral portion of the deodorizing filter 23a and protects the outer peripheral
portion. The covering portion 23ae is an inner peripheral portion filter cover that
covers a center hole 23ad, which is a through-hole provided at the center of the
10 deodorizing filter 23a. As illustrated in Fig. 10(B), a thickness dimension T1 of the
first gear 23ac is larger than a thickness dimension T2 of a filter body. A difference
between T1 and T2 is a step difference dimension L. This step difference dimension L
will be described later with reference to Fig. 9. Although the illustration is omitted, a
thickness dimension of the covering portion 23ae is also T1, with is identical to that of
15 the first gear 23ac. As described above, the filter regenerator 23f is mounted so as to
cover only a part of the deodorizing filter 23a.
[0023]
First, with reference to Fig. 7, the following describes members constituting the
filter regenerator 23f and a method of assembling the filter regenerator 23f. The front
20 surface side heatsink 23ca is formed using an aluminum material or an aluminum
alloyed material with good thermal conductivity. The front surface side heatsink 23ca
is disposed on the front surface side of the deodorizing filter 23a. The front surface
side heatsink 23ca is formed into an approximately triangular shape such that the width
dimension in a right-left direction (a circumferential direction of the deodorizing filter
25 23a) increases as the front surface side heatsink 23ca approaches from the center hole
13
(the through-hole) 23ad on the deodorizing filter 23a toward the outer peripheral side of
the deodorizing filter 23a. One surface of the front surface side heatsink 23ca is a
filter-opposing surface 23caa, which is opposed to the deodorizing filter 23a. The
other surface of the front surface side heatsink 23ca is a heater-disposed surface 23cab.
On 5 this heater-disposed surface 23cab, the PTC heater 23b and the heater case 23p,
which will be described later, are disposed.
[0024]
The back surface side heatsink 23cb is formed using an aluminum material or
an aluminum alloyed material with good thermal conductivity. Similar to the front
10 surface side heatsink 23ca, the back surface side heatsink 23cb is disposed on the back
surface side of the deodorizing filter 23a. The back surface side heatsink 23cb is
formed into an approximately triangular shape such that the width dimension in the
right-left direction (the circumferential direction of the deodorizing filter 23a) increases
as the back surface side heatsink 23cb approaches from the center hole (the
15 through-hole) 23ad of the deodorizing filter 23a toward the outer peripheral side of the
deodorizing filter 23a.
The back surface side heatsink 23cb includes a main body 23cc, a first joint
23cd, and a second joint 23ce. The first joint 23cd and the second joint 23ce contact
the front surface side heatsink 23ca to transmit heat generated by the PTC heater 23b
20 and transmitted to the front surface side heatsink 23ca to the main body 23cc.
The main body 23cc is formed into an approximately triangular shape. One
surface of the main body 23cc is a filter-opposing surface 23cca, which is opposed to
the deodorizing filter 23a. The other surface of the main body 23cc is a
heat-insulating-material-disposed surface 23ccb on which the heat insulating material
25 23d is to be disposed.
14
The first joint 23cd is formed by bending a side edge portion of the main body
23cc corresponding the outer peripheral side of the deodorizing filter 23a into an
approximately L shape. A surface of the first joint 23cd to be joined to the front
surface side heatsink 23ca is a first joining surface 23cda. That is, the first joint 23cd
5 is disposed outside the outer peripheral portion of the deodorizing filter 23a and to be
joined to the front surface side heatsink 23ca.
The second joint 23ce is formed by bending a side edge portion of the main
body 23cc corresponding the inner peripheral side of the deodorizing filter 23a into an
approximately L shape. A surface of the second joint 23ce to be joined to the front
10 surface side heatsink 23ca is a second joining surface 23cea. That is, the second joint
23ce is disposed at a site different from the installation site of the first joint 23cd on the
back surface side heatsink 23cb. The second joint 23ce is joined to the front surface
side heatsink 23ca via the center hole 23ad on the deodorizing filter 23a.
A height dimension (a distance) H between the filter-opposing surface 23cca on
15 the main body 23cc and the first joining surface 23cda of the first joint 23cd, and
between the filter-opposing surface 23cca and the second joining surface 23cea of the
second joint 23ce is larger than the thickness dimension T1 of the first gear 23ac of the
deodorizing filter 23a.
[0025]
20 Two sheets of the heat insulating materials 23d, which are made of an urethane
foam material, are formed into an approximately triangular shape each corresponding to
a shape of the front surface side heatsink 23ca and a shape of the back surface side
heatsink 23cb. The heater case 23p is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape
with bottom made of sheet metal. The heater case 23p has a shape with which the PTC
25 heater 23b can be housed. The heater case 23p is fixable to the heater-disposed surface
15
23cab.
[0026]
Three pieces of the rollers 23n are each made of a synthetic resin material and
have pipes 23nb, upper flanges 23nc, and lower flanges 23nd. The pipe 23nb is
5 formed into a cylindrical shape. The pipe 23nb includes a hole 23na. The shape of
the hole 23na corresponds to a shape of third shafts 23q, which are disposed on the front
surface side case 23ea, which will be described later. The upper flange 23nc and the
lower flange 23nd are provided on both ends of the pipe 23nb. The upper flange 23nc
and the lower flange 23nd are each formed into a circular plate shape with a diameter
10 larger than a diameter of the pipe 23nb. A dimension S between the upper flange 23nc
and the lower flange 23nd is larger than the thickness dimension T of the deodorizing
filter 23a. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the roller 23n includes one piece of inner roller 23ni,
which is a first positioning member, and two pieces of outer rollers 23no, which are
second positioning members. These inner roller 23ni and outer rollers 23no have a
15 shape identical to one another. The inner roller 23ni supports the inner peripheral
portion of the deodorizing filter 23a. The outer rollers 23no support the outer
peripheral portion of the deodorizing filter 23a.
[0027]
The front surface side case 23ea is made of synthetic resin material and is
20 formed into an approximately triangular shape slightly larger than the front surface side
heatsink 23ca and the heat insulating material 23d. The front surface side case 23ea
includes a heating unit housing 23ec, a front surface side covering portion 23s, which is
a through-hole covering portion, a pair of front surface side first flanges 23t, and a pair
of front surface side second flanges 23u. The front surface side case 23ea covers a part
25 of the front surface side of the deodorizing filter 23a.
16
The heating unit housing 23ec includes a bottom surface 23eca with an
approximately triangular shape, a first side surface 23ecb, a second side surface 23ecc, a
third side surface 23ecd, and a fourth side surface 23ece, which are disposed upright
from the outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface 23eca. The heating unit
housing 23ec has a box 5 body formed of these bottom surface and side surfaces. The
heating unit housing 23ec is formed into a shape with which the front surface side
heatsink 23ca and the heat insulating material 23d can be housed. The heat insulating
material 23d is disposed between the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the heating
unit housing 23ec.
10 Here, the first side surface 23ecb is disposed upright from an outer peripheral
portion of the bottom surface 23eca on the inner peripheral side of the deodorizing filter
23a. The fourth side surface 23ece is disposed upright from an outer peripheral
portion of the bottom surface 23eca on the outer peripheral side of the deodorizing filter
23a. The second side surface 23ecc and the third side surface 23ecd are each disposed
15 upright from the outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface 23eca other than the
above-described sites.
The front surface side covering portion 23s is formed by extending a side end
of the first side surface 23ecb toward outside the heating unit housing 23ec. That is,
the front surface side covering portion 23s is provided at the first side surface 23ecb.
20 The front surface side covering portion 23s has a circular plate shape identical to the
center hole (the through-hole) 23ad or slightly larger than the center hole 23ad.
A pair of the front surface side first flanges 23t are formed by extending
inner-peripheral-side side ends of the second side surface 23ecc and the third side
surface 23ecd toward outside the heating unit housing 23ec. That is, the front surface
25 side first flanges 23t are provided at the second side surface 23ecc and the third side
17
surface 23ecd. A pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u are formed by
extending outer-peripheral-side side ends of the second side surface 23ecc and the third
side surface 23ecd toward outside the heating unit housing 23ec. That is, the front
surface side first flanges 23t are provided at the second side surface 23ecc and the third
side surface 23ecd. The front 5 surface side first flange 23t and the front surface side
second flange 23u have a predetermined width dimension (for example, 20 mm).
The third shafts 23q are supports for the air cleaner 1 according to the
embodiment. The third shafts 23q are provided at the front surface side covering
portion 23s and a pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u. The third shafts
10 23q are inserted into the holes 23na on the rollers 23n to rotatably hold the rollers 23n.
That is, the third shafts 23q are the supports to support the rollers 23n to the front
surface side covering portion 23s and a pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u.
Furthermore, wind-shielding plates 23y are provided at the front surface side
covering portion 23s and a pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u. The
15 wind-shielding plates 23y are disposed upright toward the deodorizing filter 23a.
When the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb are joined,
the wind-shielding plates 23y partition a space formed by the front surface side case
23ea and the back surface side case 23eb with an outer space. Thus, the
wind-shielding plates 23y prevent or restrain that the air flows in the filter regenerator
20 23f and the flown-in air cools the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface
side heatsink 23cb.
[0028]
Similar to the front surface side case 23ea, the back surface side case 23eb is
made of synthetic resin material and is formed into an approximately triangular shape
25 slightly larger than the back surface side heatsink 23cb and the heat insulating material
18
23d. The back surface side case 23eb includes a heating unit housing 23ed, a back
surface side covering portion 23v, which is a through-hole covering portion, a pair of
back surface side first flanges 23w, and a pair of back surface side second flanges 23x.
The back surface side case 23eb covers a part of the back surface side of the
5 deodorizing filter 23a.
The heating unit housing 23ed includes an approximately triangular-shaped
bottom surface 23eda, a first side surface 23edb, a second side surface 23edc, a third
side surface 23edd, and a fourth side surface 23ede, which are disposed upright from the
outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface 23eda. The heating unit housing 23ed
10 has a box body with bottom formed of these bottom surface and side surfaces. The
heating unit housing 23ed is formed into a shape with which the back surface side
heatsink 23cb and the heat insulating material 23d can be housed. The heat insulating
material 23d is disposed between the back surface side heatsink 23cb and the heating
unit housing 23ed.
15 The back surface side covering portion 23v is formed integrally with a side
surface of the heating unit housing 23ed opposed to the second joint 23ce of the back
surface side heatsink 23cb. That is, the back surface side covering portion 23v is
provided at the side surface of the heating unit housing 23ed. The back surface side
covering portion 23v is formed into a circular plate shape corresponding to the center
20 hole (the through-hole) 23ad. For example, the back surface side covering portion 23v
may have a circular plate shape identical to the center hole 23ad or slightly larger than
the center hole 23ad.
A pair of the back surface side first flanges 23w and a pair of the back surface
side second flanges 23x are formed integrally with a pair of side surfaces of the heating
25 unit housing 23ed, which are each opposed to a pair of oblique sides connecting the
19
second joint 23ce and the first joint 23cd of the back surface side heatsink 23cb. That
is, a pair of the back surface side first flanges 23w and a pair of the back surface side
second flanges 23x are disposed at the second side surface 23edc and the third side
surface 23edd of the heating unit housing 23ed.
5 [0029]
As illustrated in Fig. 9, a height of a pair of the front surface side first flanges
23t (a distance from the front surface of the deodorizing filter 23a) differs from heights
of the front surface side covering portion 23s and a pair of the front surface side second
flanges 23u by the step difference dimension L. The height of a pair of the back
10 surface side first flanges 23w differs from heights of the back surface side covering
portion 23v and a pair of the back surface side second flanges 23x by the step difference
dimension L. A pair of the front surface side first flanges 23t, a pair of the front
surface side second flanges 23u, the front surface side covering portion 23s, a pair of the
back surface side first flanges 23w, a pair of the back surface side second flanges 23x,
15 and the back surface side covering portion 23v are flanges of the air cleaner 1 according
to the embodiment. These flanges, namely, a pair of the front surface side first flanges
23t, a pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u, the front surface side covering
portion 23s, a pair of the back surface side first flanges 23w, a pair of the back surface
side second flanges 23x, and the back surface side covering portion 23v are heat
20 diffusion restraining portions that restrain a diffusion of heat from the heating unit
housing 23ec and the heating unit housing 23ed. For example, this heat diffusion
restraining portion restrains the diffusion of the heat generated by the heating unit from
the heating unit housing by air flowing the ventilation passage and passing through the
deodorizing filter.
25 [0030]
20
The following describes an assembly of the filter regenerator 23f with the
above-described members. First, the PTC heater 23b is housed in the heater case 23p.
The heater case 23p is secured to the heater-disposed surface 23cab on the front surface
side heatsink 23ca with screws and the like. Next, the second joint 23ce on the back
5 surface side heatsink 23cb is disposed at the center hole 23ad on the deodorizing filter
23a. Afterwards, to the filter-opposing surface 23caa on the front surface side heatsink
23ca, the first joining surface 23cda and the second joining surface 23cea on the back
surface side heatsink 23cb are joined. This joins the front surface side heatsink 23ca
with the back surface side heatsink 23cb.
10 [0031]
Next, the heat insulating material 23d is housed in the heating unit housing
23ec on the front surface side case 23ea. Furthermore, the holes 23na on the outer
rollers 23no are fitted to two pieces of the respective third shafts 23q, which are
disposed on a pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u of the front surface side
15 case 23ea. This mounts two pieces of the outer rollers 23no to the front surface side
case 23ea. Furthermore, the third shaft 23q, which is disposed on the front surface side
covering portion 23s of the front surface side case 23ea, is fitted to the hole 23na on the
inner roller 23ni. This mounts the inner roller 23ni to the front surface side case 23ea.
Next, the already-assembled front surface side heatsink 23ca, back surface side
20 heatsink 23cb, and deodorizing filter 23a are mounted to the front surface side case 23ea.
At this time, the front surface side heatsink 23ca is housed in the heating unit housing
23ec on the front surface side case 23ea.
Next, the deodorizing filter 23a is mounted such that the outer peripheral
portion (the first gear 23ac) of the deodorizing filter 23a fits between the upper flanges
25 23nc and the lower flanges 23nd of two pieces of the outer rollers 23no, which are
21
disposed on two pieces of the front surface side second flanges 23u of the front surface
side case 23ea, and such that the covering portion 23ae of the deodorizing filter 23a fits
between the upper flange 23nc and the lower flange 23nd of the inner roller 23ni, which
is disposed on the front surface side covering portion 23s of the front surface side case
5 23ea.
[0032]
Next, the heat insulating material 23d is disposed on the
heat-insulating-material-disposed surface 23ccb of the back surface side heatsink 23cb.
Furthermore, the back surface side case 23eb is covered over the back surface side
10 heatsink 23cb and the heat insulating material 23d such that the back surface side
heatsink 23cb and the heat insulating material 23d are housed in the heating unit
housing 23ed of the back surface side case 23eb. Finally, the front surface side case
23ea and the back surface side case 23eb are joined with screws and the like. This
completes the assembly of the filter regenerator 23f.
15 [0033]
Figs. 8 to 10 illustrate the deodorizing filter 23a and the filter regenerator 23f
assembled by the above-described procedure. Here, Fig. 8(A) is a front view viewing
the deodorizing filter 23a and the filter regenerator 23f from a front surface side (the
front surface side case 23ea side). Fig. 8(B) is a back view viewing the deodorizing
20 filter 23a and the filter regenerator 23f from a back surface side (the back surface side
case 23eb side).
Fig. 9(A) is a drawing viewed from the arrow C in Fig. 8(A). Fig. 9(B) is a
cross-sectional view taken along Z-Z in Fig. 8(A). Fig. 10(A) is a schematic diagram
viewing a main part N in Fig. 6 from just beside the main part N. Fig. 10(B) is a
25 schematic diagram viewing a main part M in Fig. 6 from just beside the main part M.
22
As illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10, as details are described later, when the deodorizing filter
23a and the filter regenerator 23f are assembled, the deodorizing filter 23a is positioned
to the filter regenerator 23f such that clearances between the deodorizing filter 23a and
the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb, and
clearances between the 5 deodorizing filter 23a and the front surface side case 23ea and
the back surface side case 23eb become predetermined dimensions.
[0034]
First, the following describes positioning between the deodorizing filter 23a
and the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb with
10 reference to Figs. 7 and 10. As described above, on the back surface side heatsink
23cb, the height dimension H, which is between the filter-opposing surface 23cca of the
main body 23cc and the first joining surface 23cda and the second joining surface 23cea,
is larger than the thickness dimension T1 of the first gear 23ac on the deodorizing filter
23a. As illustrated in Fig. 10(B), when the outer rollers 23no are fitted to the third
15 shafts 23q, a dimension between the front surface side second flange 23u of the front
surface side case 23ea and the upper flange 23nc, and a dimension between the back
surface side second flange 23x of the back surface side case 23eb and the lower flange
23nd are each set to P1. Further, when the first gear 23ac of the deodorizing filter 23a
is mounted between the upper flange 23nc and the lower flange 23nd on the outer
20 rollers 23no, dimensions between the first gear 23ac and the upper flange 23nc and the
lower flange 23nd are each configured to be P2 (= (S 􀀐 T1)/2). At this time, a movable
range of the outer rollers 23no in a front-rear direction is a range determined by a
dimension P1 by the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb.
A movable range of the deodorizing filter 23a in the front-rear direction is a range
25 determined by a dimension P2 by the upper flanges 23nc and the lower flanges 23nd.
23
Although the illustration is omitted, a positional relationship between the inner
roller 23ni and the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb, and
a positional relationship between the inner roller 23ni and the deodorizing filter 23a are
similar to the above-described outer rollers 23no.
5 [0035]
Meanwhile, as illustrated in Fig. 10(A), a dimension P3, which is between a
filter body front surface of the deodorizing filter 23a and the filter-opposing surface
23caa on the front surface side heatsink 23ca, and the dimension P3, which is between
the filter body front surface on the deodorizing filter 23a and the filter-opposing surface
10 23cca on the main body 23cc of the back surface side heatsink 23cb, are configured to
meet P3 (= (H 􀀐 T2)/2). Here, as illustrated in Fig. 10(A), the dimension S, the
thickness dimension T1, the thickness dimension T2, the height dimension H, and a
space dimension between the front surface side second flanges 23u on the front surface
side case 23ea and the back surface side second flanges 23x on the back surface side
15 case 23eb are determined such that a relationship between the dimensions P1, P2, and
P3 meets P1 + P2 < P3. When the driving unit 23h rotates the deodorizing filter 23a,
this ensures the stable rotation of the deodorizing filter 23a without in contact with the
front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb.
[0036]
20 Next, the following describes a positioning between the deodorizing filter 23a
and the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb with reference
to Figs. 9 and 10. As illustrated in Fig. 9, a step difference dimension between the first
gear 23ac, which is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the deodorizing filter 23a,
and the filter surfaces (the front surface and the back surface), and a step difference
25 dimension between the covering portion 23ae, which is disposed on the inner peripheral
24
portion of the deodorizing filter 23a, and the filter surfaces (the front surface and the
back surface) are configured to be identical step difference dimension L (= (T1 􀀐 T2)/2,
for example, 1.5 mm). In accordance with these, a step difference dimension between
front surface side first flange 23t and the front surface side covering portion 23s and the
front surface side s 5 econd flange 23u, and a step difference dimension between the back
surface side first flange 23w and the back surface side covering portion 23v and the
back surface side second flange 23x are each configured to be L as well.
[0037]
As described above, a dimension between the front surface side second flange
10 23u on the front surface side case 23ea and the upper flange 23nc on the outer roller
23no, and a dimension between the back surface side second flange 23x on the back
surface side case 23eb and the lower flange 23nd on the outer roller 23no are configured
to be P1. Furthermore, dimensions between the first gear 23ac and the upper flange
23nc and the lower flange 23nd are configured to be P2. A movable range of the outer
15 rollers 23no in the front-rear direction is a range determined by the dimension P1 by the
front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb. Furthermore, a
movable range of the deodorizing filter 23a in the front-rear direction is a range
determined by a dimension P2 by the upper flanges 23nc and the lower flanges 23nd.
[0038]
20 Meanwhile, the shapes of the inner roller 23ni and the outer roller 23no and the
shape and the disposition of the three third shafts 23q are decided such that a space
dimension between the front surface side surface of the deodorizing filter 23a and the
front surface side first flange 23t on the front surface side case 23ea, a space dimension
between the back surface side surface of the deodorizing filter 23a and the back surface
25 side first flange 23w on the back surface side case 23eb, a space dimension between the
25
covering portion 23ae and the front surface side covering portion 23s on the front
surface side case 23ea and the back surface side covering portion 23v on the back
surface side case 23eb, and a space dimension between the first gear 23ac and the front
surface side second flange 23u on the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface
side second flange 23x on the 5 back surface side case 23eb fall within a predetermined
space dimension D (for example, 1.0 mm) from the inner diameter to the outer diameter
of the deodorizing filter 23a. This predetermined space dimension D is a dimension at
which the deodorizing filter 23a in rotation is less likely to contact the filter regenerator
23f (the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb).
10 Additionally, this predetermined space dimension D is a dimension at which the
diffusion of heat generated by the PTC heater 23b into the outside of the case 23e is
restrained and an entrance of the air passing through the deodorizing filter 23a to the
inside of the filter regenerator 23f can be restrained.
[0039]
15 Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 10(B), the dimension S, the thickness
dimension T1, the thickness dimension T2, the height dimension H, and the space
dimension between the front surface side second flange 23u on the front surface side
case 23ea and the back surface side second flange 23x on the back surface side case
23eb are determined such that the relationship between the dimensions P1, P2, and D
20 meets P1 + P2 < D. This ensures the dimension between the deodorizing filter 23a and
the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side case 23eb within the
predetermined space dimension D.
[0040]
As described above, a pair of the front surface side first flanges 23t and a pair
25 of the front surface side second flanges 23u are formed by extending respective side
26
ends of the second side surface 23ecc and the third side surface 23ecd toward outside
the heating unit housing 23ec. Furthermore, a pair of the back surface side first
flanges 23w and a pair of the back surface side second flanges 23x are formed by
extending respective side ends of the second side surface 23edc and the third side
surface 23edd 5 toward outside the heating unit housing 23ed. In view of this, the heat
generated by the PTC heater 23b is less likely to diffuse from the front surface side case
23ea and the back surface side case 23eb to outside. At this time, forming the
respective flanges at a width dimension (for example, 20 mm) larger than the
predetermined space dimension D further effectively restrains the diffusion of the heat
10 generated by the PTC heater 23b from the front surface side case 23ea and the back
surface side case 23eb to outside.
[0041]
The above-described embodiment configures the space dimension between the
deodorizing filter 23a and the front surface side heatsink 23ca to the dimension P3,
15 which is identical to the space dimension between the deodorizing filter 23a and the
back surface side heatsink 23cb. However, the space dimensions between the
deodorizing filter 23a and the respective heatsinks may differ from one another. The
space dimension between the deodorizing filter 23a and the front surface side case 23ea
and the space dimension between the deodorizing filter 23a and the back surface side
20 case 23eb are configured to be identical, the space dimension D. However, the space
dimensions between the deodorizing filter 23a and the respective covers may differ
from one another.
[0042]
The following describes members used to mount the assembled filter
25 regenerator 23f and deodorizing filter 23a to the holder 23g and a method for mounting
27
the filter regenerator 23f and the deodorizing filter 23a with reference to Fig. 6. The
holder 23g, which is made of a synthetic resin material, is formed into an approximately
square shape. At the center of the holder 23g, an opening 23gd corresponding to the
shape of the deodorizing filter 23a is disposed. Above the opening 23gd (means above
5 the opening 23gd when the holder 23g is disposed at the ventilation passage 10,
hereinafter referred to as “above”), a regenerator housing 23ge is provided. The
regenerator housing 23ge is formed into a concave shape according to the shape of the
filter regenerator 23f.
Two first shafts 23ga are disposed both corners below the holder 23g (below
10 the holder 23g when the holder 23g is disposed at the ventilation passage 10, hereinafter
referred to as “below”). Holes 23ma on the rollers 23m are inserted into the respective
first shafts 23ga. Accordingly, the first shafts 23ga rotatably hold the rollers 23m. A
second shaft 23gb is disposed at a left side of the regenerator housing 23ge (a left side
when the deodorizing filter 23a is viewed from the front surface side). The second
15 gear 23k is inserted into the second shaft 23gb. Accordingly, the second shaft 23gb
turnably holds the second gear 23k. A driving unit securing portion 23gc is disposed at
a right side of the regenerator housing 23ge (a right side when the deodorizing filter 23a
is viewed from the front surface side) to hold the driving unit 23h.
[0043]
20 The driving unit 23h is, for example, a stepping motor. The driving gear 23j,
which is made of a synthetic resin material, is mounted to an output shaft of the driving
unit 23h. The driving gear 23j is a gear that meshes with the first gear 23ac of the
deodorizing filter 23a.
[0044]
25 The second gear 23k, which is made of a synthetic resin material, is a gear that
28
meshes with the first gear 23ac of the deodorizing filter 23a similar to the driving gear
23j. The rotation detector 23r is, for example, a photointerrupter. The
photointerrupter is a sensor that includes a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving
portion opposed to one another. The photointerrupter detects a cutoff of light from the
5 light-emitting portion by an object by the light-receiving portion to determine
presence/absence and/or a position of the object. The rotation detector 23r is disposed
to detect whether the deodorizing filter 23a rotates or not through the detection of the
rotation of the second gear 23k.
[0045]
10 The four pressing members 23z, which are made of the synthetic resin material,
are formed into approximately pentagonally-shaped plate materials. The respective
pressing members 23z have a shape fittable to the holder 23g. The pressing members
23z press the rollers 23m, the driving gear 23j, and the second gear 23k, which are
mounted to the holder 23g, such that the rollers 23m, the driving gear 23j, and the
15 second gear 23k are less likely to disengage from the holder 23g.
[0046]
Two pieces of the rollers 23m, which are made of the synthetic resin material,
include pipes 23mb, upper flanges 23mc, and lower flanges 23md. The pipes 23mb
include the holes 23ma. In this embodiment, the rollers 23m have a shape identical to
20 the rollers 23n, which are described in Fig. 7. A dimension between the upper flange
23mc and the lower flange 23md of the roller 23m is the dimension S, which is identical
to the dimension S between the upper flange 23nc and the lower flange 23nd of the
roller 23n. Accordingly, the following omits the detailed description of the rollers
23m.
25 [0047]
29
The following describes a procedure of mounting the filter regenerator 23f and
the deodorizing filter 23a to the holder 23g using the above-described members. First,
the holes 23ma on the rollers 23m are fitted to the respective two first shafts 23ga of the
holder 23g. This mounts two pieces of the rollers 23m to the holder 23g. Next, the
5 rotation detector 23r and the second gear 23k are mounted to the second shaft 23gb of
the holder 23g in this order. Next, by mounting the driving gear 23j to the output shaft
of the driving unit 23h, the driving unit 23h is secured to the driving unit securing
portion 23gc on the holder 23g.
[0048]
10 Next, the filter regenerator 23f and the deodorizing filter 23a are mounted to
the holder 23g. Specifically, the filter regenerator 23f is inserted into and secured to
the regenerator housing 23ge of the holder 23g. Furthermore, the deodorizing filter
23a is mounted to the holder 23g such that the first gear 23ac fits to between the upper
flanges 23mc and the lower flanges 23md of two pieces of the rollers 23m and the
15 driving gear 23j and the second gear 23k meshes with the first gear 23ac of the
deodorizing filter 23a. Thus, the rotation of the driving gear 23j by the driving unit
23h stably rotates the deodorizing filter 23a guided by the second gear 23k and two
pieces of the rollers 23m.
[0049]
20 Finally, four pieces of the respective pressing members 23z are each fitted to
above two pieces of the rollers 23m and above the driving gear 23j and the second gear
23k. This completes the assembly of the deodorizing unit 23. As described above,
securing the holder 23g to the back surface side of the dust collector 22 on the partition
plate 16 disposes the assembled deodorizing unit 23 at the ventilation passage 10 of the
25 air cleaner 1.
30
[0050]
Disposing the deodorizing unit 23 to the ventilation passage 10 causes the air
flown from the respective air suction openings into the ventilation passage 10 to pass
through the deodorizing filter 23a. At this time, the air that attempts to flow a site
other 5 than the opening 23gd, which is formed corresponding to the shape of the
deodorizing filter 23a at the center of the holder 23g, is cut off by the holder 23g and is
guided to a ventilation surface of the deodorizing filter 23a (a part of the deodorizing
filter 23a not covered with the filter regenerator 23f). As illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 8,
and 9, the center hole 23ad on the deodorizing filter 23a is covered with the front
10 surface side covering portion 23s on the front surface side case 23ea and the back
surface side covering portion 23v on the back surface side case 23eb. In view of this,
the air flowing the center hole 23ad on the deodorizing filter 23a is cut off by the front
surface side covering portion 23s and the back surface side covering portion 23v and is
guided to the ventilation surface of the deodorizing filter 23a. That is, the front surface
15 side covering portion 23s and the back surface side covering portion 23v are disposed to
restrain the air passing through the center hole 23ad on the deodorizing filter 23a. That
is, with the deodorizing unit 23 having the above-described constitution, the air flown
into the ventilation passage 10 and passing through the deodorizing unit 23 is efficiently
guided to the deodorizing filter 23a. Consequently, the deodorizing unit 23 can
20 deodorize the air more effectively.
[0051]
With the air cleaner 1 having the above-described configuration, the operation
of the operating unit 15 by the user starts operating the air cleaner 1, driving the blower
25. In accordance with this, energization to the first electric dust collector 22a and the
25 second electric dust collector 22b in the dust collector 22 starts. Furthermore, the
31
humidifying filter 24a in the humidifying unit 24 starts rotating. The driving of the
blower 25 suctions air from the top surface suction opening 13a, the right side surface
suction opening 13b, and the left side surface suction opening 13c to inside the main
body 11.
5 [0052]
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
flows in the order from the pre-filter 21, the dust collector 22, the deodorizing unit 23,
10 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 collector 22, and then the deodorizing unit 23 or in the order from
the pre-filter 21, the dust collector 22, and then the humidifying unit 24.
15 Further, the air 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 at which
the air cleaner 1 is installed.
[0053]
As described above, when the air passes through the ventilation passage 10
20 inside the air cleaner 1, the pre-filter 21 and the energized dust collector 22 remove dust
and pollens. Then, the air passes through the ventilation surface on the deodorizing
filter 23a via the opening 23gd on the holder 23g. The ventilation surface on the
deodorizing filter 23a is a surface exposed from the filter regenerator 23f of the
deodorizing unit 23 to the ventilation passage 10. When the air passes through the
25 ventilation surface on the deodorizing filter 23a, odoriferous component in the air is
32
removed. Additionally, the air is humidified when passing through the humidifying
unit 24. As described above, the dust collector 22 is disposed on the 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 5 a clogging of the deodorizing filter 23a in the deodorizing unit 23 due to the
dust, the pollens, and the like.
[0054]
When the air cleaner 1 is in operation, the PTC heater 23b is continuously
energized. Furthermore, driving the driving unit 23h rotates the deodorizing filter 23a
10 by a predetermined angle (for example, 30 degrees) at each predetermined time. This
regenerates the deodorizing power of the site of the deodorizing filter 23a covered with
the filter regenerator 23f. That is, with the air cleaner 1 in operation, while the
deodorizing power at the site of the deodorizing filter 23a covered with the filter
regenerator 23f is regenerated, the air is deodorized at site of the deodorizing filter 23a
15 other than this site. The above-described predetermined time is time required to
regenerate the deodorizing power of the deodorizing filter 23a, for example, two hours.
[0055]
As described above, the PTC heater 23b is mounted to the front surface side
heatsink 23ca. The first joining surface 23cda on the first joint 23cd and the second
20 joining surface 23cea on the second joint 23ce of the back surface side heatsink 23cb
contact the filter-opposing surface 23caa on the front surface side heatsink 23ca. In
view of this, the heat generated by the PTC heater 23b is efficiently transmitted from
both ends of the front surface side heatsink 23ca to the back surface side heatsink 23cb
via the first joint 23cd and the second joint 23ce. This allows the PTC heater 23b as
25 the heat element in the filter regenerator 23f to heat both surfaces of the front surface
33
side and the back surface side of the deodorizing filter 23a. This allows the PTC
heater 23b to regenerate the deodorizing power of both surfaces of the deodorizing filter
23a.
[0056]
5 The respective heat insulating materials 23d are disposed between the front
surface side heatsink 23ca and the front surface side case 23ea and between the back
surface side heatsink 23cb and the back surface side case 23eb. Accordingly, the heat
is less likely to escape from the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface
side heatsink 23cb, which have been heated by the PTC heater 23b, to outside the filter
10 regenerator 23f. This ensures efficiently adding the heat generated by the PTC heater
23b to the deodorizing filter 23a.
[0057]
As described above, the space dimension between the front surface side surface
of the deodorizing filter 23a and the front surface side first flange 23t on the front
15 surface side case 23ea, the space dimension between the back surface side surface of the
deodorizing filter 23a and the back surface side first flange 23w on the back surface side
case 23eb, the space dimension between the covering portion 23ae and the front surface
side covering portion 23s on the front surface side case 23ea and the back surface side
covering portion 23v on the back surface side case 23eb, and the space dimension
20 between the first gear 23ac and the front surface side second flange 23u on the front
surface side case 23ea and the back surface side second flange 23x on the back surface
side case 23eb are configured to be the space dimension D at which the deodorizing
filter 23a in rotation is less likely to contact the filter regenerator 23f. Furthermore,
this space dimension D is a dimension at which the diffusion of the heat generated by
25 the PTC heater 23b to outside the case 23e is restrained and the entrance of the air
34
passing through the deodorizing filter 23a to inside the filter regenerator 23f can be
restrained. This ensures restraining the air flowing into the filter regenerator 23f and
the flown-in air cooling the inside of the filter regenerator 23f. Consequently, this
ensures restraining a deterioration of a regeneration efficiency of the deodorizing filter
5 23a by the filter regenerator 23f.
[0058]
The filter regenerator 23f has a structure of covering only a part of the
deodorizing filter 23a. Accordingly, the air resistance of the deodorizing filter 23a is
small. As described above, the air resistance of the dust collector 22 is also small.
10 Accordingly, the turbofan 25a, which generates a static pressure lower than the sirocco
fan, is applicable to the blower 25.
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
15 achieving the air cleaner 1 that can restrain a noise while securing required dust
collecting capability and deodorizing power.
As described above, the third shafts 23q, which support the inner roller 23ni
and a pair of the outer rollers 23no, are disposed at the front surface side covering
portion 23s and a pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u. This ensures
20 downsizing the front surface side case 23ea compared with the case where the third
shafts 23q are disposed in the heating unit housing 23ec. Accordingly, the air
resistance of the deodorizing filter 23a can be smaller.
[0059]
The air cleaner 1 features the small air resistances of the dust collector 22 and
25 the deodorizing unit 23. In view of this, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, even if the dust
35
collector 22, the deodorizing unit 23, the humidifying unit 24, and the blower 25 are
disposed in this order from the upstream to the downstream in the ventilation passage 10,
the air resistance in the air cleaner 1 does increase so much. Accordingly, driving the
blower 25 does not reduce an amount of air flowing through the ventilation passage 10
inside the main body 5 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 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 a step difference (a distance) R between
10 the respective air suction openings and the 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 to the inside of the air cleaner 1, a so-called
short circuit between the air suction opening and the air outlet.
[0060]
15 The air cleaner 1 can achieve the above-described distance R by which the
short circuit is less likely to occur. Thus, the air cleaner 1 can include the top surface
suction opening 13a, the right side surface suction opening 13b, and the left side surface
suction opening 13c, which suction the air from the three directions, the upper end
portion, the right-side end portion, and the left-side end portion, on the front of the main
20 body 11 to the inside of the air cleaner 1. Furthermore, the air cleaner 1 can include
the top surface outlet 14a, the right side surface outlet 14b, and the left side surface
outlet 14c, which blow out the air from the upper end portion, the right-side end portion,
and the left-side end portion at the rear of the main body 11 to the three directions.
This ensures increasing the areas of the air suction openings and the air outlets.
25 Accordingly, the air cleaner 1 can sufficiently secure an amount of suction air and an
36
amount of blown air. Furthermore, suctioning and blowing out the air from the three
directions by the air cleaner 1 allows evenly suctioning the air inside the room at which
the air cleaner 1 is installed and performing dust collection, humidification, and
deodorization. Additionally, this ensures blowing out the purified air and causing the
5 air to run through the inside of the room.
[0061]
As indicated by a line segment P in Fig. 3, it is preferable to dispose the dust
collector 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 collector 22a and the second electric
10 dust collector 22b in the dust collector 22. The flow of air caused by the rotation of
the turbofan 25a is less near the center of the fan motor 25b. Accordingly, 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 collector 22a and the second
electric dust collector 22b in the dust collector 22, dust collecting capability with respect
15 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
collector 22a and the second electric dust collector 22b at the space where vanes of the
turbofan 25a are present and therefore much airflow is generated. Accordingly, the
dust collector 22 can effectively remove the dust.
20 [0062]
As described above, with the air cleaner 1 according to the embodiment, the
cover member includes the heat diffusion restraining portion. This ensures restraining
the diffusion of heat generated by the heater to outside the cover member.
With the air cleaner 1 of the embodiment, the heating unit housing of the cover
25 member houses the heating unit. Furthermore, the positioning member rotatably
37
supports the deodorizing filter or the heating unit and the cover member and decides the
relative position between the cover member and the deodorizing filter. This ensures
restraining the diffusion of heat generated by the heater to outside the cover member.
With the air cleaner disclosed in JP-A-10-277365, the motor that rotates the
absorbing plate is supported to the upper wall 5 of the air flow passage by the bracket.
Furthermore, separate from this, the cover is secured to the upper wall of the air flow
passage. This makes is difficult to achieve both of avoiding the absorbing plate to
strike the cover during rotation and approaching the absorbing plate and the cover.
This causes a problem that the heat generated by the heat element diffuses from a
10 clearance between the absorbing plate and the cover to outside the cover.
The air cleaner 1 according to the embodiment ensures easily deciding the
relative position between the deodorizing filter and the cover covering the heat element.
Furthermore, the air cleaner 1 ensures restraining the diffusion of heat to outside the
cover.
15 With the air cleaner 1 according to the embodiment, the front surface side
heatsink and the back surface side heatsink are in contact such that the heat transmits
between the front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink. This
ensures heating both surfaces of the deodorizing filter by the heat generated by the
heater.
20 With the air cleaner disclosed in JP-A-10-277365, to heat the front surface and
the back surface of the absorbing plate, independent heat elements are disposed at
respective inner wall surfaces of a front surface side and a back surface side of the cover.
That is, the heat element disposed on the front surface side of the cover heats only the
front surface side of the absorbing plate. Meanwhile, the heat element disposed on the
25 back surface side of the cover heats only the back surface side of the absorbing plate.
38
This causes a problem of making it difficult for one heat element to heat both surfaces
of the absorbing plate. Therefore, for example, this causes a possibility of failing to
heat both surfaces of the absorbing plate in the case where one heat element is damaged.
This embodiment provides the air cleaner that heats both surfaces of the
deodorizing filter by the heat element 5 to ensure regenerating the deodorizing power of
the deodorizing filter.
[0063]
The embodiment described above describes the case where the front surface
side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb are formed into the
10 approximately triangular shape. However, the shape of the front surface side heatsink
23ca and the back surface side heatsink 23cb is not limited to this. It is only
necessarily that the front surface side heatsink 23ca and the back surface side heatsink
23cb have the shape with which a part of the deodorizing filter 23a can be covered, such
as a fan shape and a rectangular shape. This embodiment describes the case where the
15 PTC heater 23b is mounted to the front surface side heatsink 23ca. However, the PTC
heater 23b may be mounted to the back surface side heatsink 23cb.
[0064]
In this embodiment, the front surface side covering portion 23s, the front
surface side first flanges 23t, and the front surface side second flanges 23u are integrally
20 formed to the front surface side case 23ea. Furthermore, the back surface side
covering portion 23v, the back surface side first flanges 23w, and the back surface side
second flanges 23x are integrally formed to the back surface side case 23eb. Instead of
these, the shielding portions (the covering portions) and the flanges may be formed
separately from the respective cases. In this case, the shielding portions (the covering
25 portions) and the flanges may be joined to the respective cases.
39
[0065]
With the above-described embodiments, the filter regenerator 23f is secured to
the holder 23g. Furthermore, the driving unit 23h rotates the deodorizing filter 23a.
Instead of these, the deodorizing filter 23a may be secured to the holder 23g and the like.
Furthermore, the drivin 5 g unit 23h may rotate the filter regenerator 23f along the
circumference of the deodorizing filter 23a. That is, it is only necessary that the
driving unit 23h be configured to relatively rotate the filter regenerator 23f and the
deodorizing filter 23a.
The heating unit of the air cleaner 1 according to the embodiment is also the
10 filter regenerator 23f.
With this embodiment, the wind-shielding plates 23y are provided on the front
surface side covering portion 23s and a pair of the front surface side second flanges 23u
of the front surface side case 23ea. This should not be constructed in a limiting sense.
The air cleaner 1 according to the embodiment may include (a) wind-shielding plate(s)
15 on the covering portion and/or the flange on at least one of the front surface side case
23ea and the back surface side case 23eb.
With this embodiment, the back surface side heatsink 23cb includes the first
joint 23cd and the second joint 23ce. This, however, should not be construed in a
limiting sense. At least one of the back surface side heatsink 23cb and the front
20 surface side heatsink 23ca may include the first joint 23cd and the second joint 23ce.
The air cleaner according to the embodiment of the present invention may be
the following first to eighteenth air cleaners.
A first air cleaner includes an air suction opening, an air outlet, and a
ventilation passage. The air suction opening takes in air to an inside of a casing. The
25 air outlet discharges air from the inside of the casing to outside. The ventilation
40
passage communicates the air suction opening with the air outlet. The ventilation
passage internally includes a blower and a deodorizing unit. The deodorizing unit is
configured to deodorize air taken in the ventilation passage by driving the blower. The
deodorizing unit includes a deodorizing filter, a heating unit, a cover member, and a
driving unit. The heating 5 unit is configured to heat a part of the deodorizing filter.
The cover member is disposed to cover the part of the deodorizing filter together with
the heating unit. The driving unit is configured to rotate the deodorizing filter or rotate
the cover member along an outer peripheral portion of the deodorizing filter to heat the
entire deodorizing filter by the heating unit. The cover member includes a heating unit
10 housing and a heat diffusion preventing portion. The heating unit housing houses the
heating unit. The heat diffusion preventing portion is configured to restrain a diffusion
of heat generated by the heating unit from the heating unit housing by air flowing the
ventilation passage and passing through the deodorizing filter.
A second air cleaner according to the first air cleaner is configured as follows.
15 The heating unit housing is formed of a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces
disposed upright from an outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface. The heat
diffusion preventing portions are disposed on the side surfaces.
A third air cleaner according to the first or the second air cleaner is configured
as follows. The heat diffusion preventing portions are formed by extending side ends
20 of the side surfaces toward outside the heating unit housing.
A fourth air cleaner according to any one of the first to the third air cleaners is
configured as follows. The heat diffusion preventing portion further includes a
wind-shielding plate. The wind-shielding plate is configured to prevent air passing
through the deodorizing filter from flowing into the heating unit housing.
25 A fifth air cleaner according to any one of the first to the fourth air cleaners is
41
configured as follows. A heat insulating material is disposed between the heating unit
and the heating unit housing.
A sixth air cleaner according to any one of the first to the fifth air cleaners is
configured as follows. The cover member is constituted by a front surface side case
and a 5 back surface side case. The front surface side case is disposed to cover a part of
a front surface side of the deodorizing filter. The back surface side case is disposed to
cover a part of a back surface side of the deodorizing filter. The heat diffusion
preventing portions are provided at the respective front surface side case and back
surface side case.
10 A seventh air cleaner according to any one of the first to the sixth air cleaners is
configured as follows. The wind-shielding plates are disposed at the heat diffusion
preventing portion on the front surface side case and the heat diffusion preventing
portion on the back surface side case.
An eighth air cleaner according to any one of the first to the seventh air
15 cleaners is configured as follows. The heating unit includes a front surface side
heatsink, a back surface side heatsink, and a heater. The heater is mounted to at least
any one of the front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink. The front
surface side heatsink is disposed on the front surface side of the deodorizing filter. The
back surface side heatsink is disposed on the back surface side of the deodorizing filter.
20 The front surface side heatsink contacts the back surface side heatsink such that heat
transmits from the front surface side heatsink to the back surface side heatsink or heat
transmits from the back surface side heatsink to the front surface side heatsink.
A ninth air cleaner includes an air suction opening, an air outlet, and a
ventilation passage. The air suction opening takes in air to an inside of a casing. The
25 air outlet discharges air from the inside of the casing to outside. The ventilation
42
passage communicates the air suction opening with the air outlet. The ventilation
passage internally includes a blower and a deodorizing unit. The deodorizing unit is
configured to deodorize air taken in the ventilation passage by driving the blower. The
deodorizing unit includes a deodorizing filter, a heating unit, a cover member, and a
driving unit. The 5 heating unit is configured to heat a part of the deodorizing filter.
The cover member is disposed to cover the part of the deodorizing filter together with
the heating unit. The driving unit is configured to rotate the deodorizing filter or rotate
the cover member along an outer peripheral portion of the deodorizing filter to heat the
entire deodorizing filter by the heating unit. The cover member includes a heating unit
10 housing and a positioning member. The heating unit housing houses the heating unit.
The positioning member positions the cover member and the deodorizing filter. The
positioning member rotatably supports the deodorizing filter or the cover member.
A tenth air cleaner according to the ninth air cleaner is configured as follows.
A plurality of the positioning members at least include a first positioning member and a
15 second positioning member. The first positioning member supports an inner peripheral
portion of the deodorizing filter. The second positioning member supports an outer
peripheral portion of the deodorizing filter.
An eleventh air cleaner according to the ninth air cleaner is configured as
follows. A heat insulating material is disposed between the heating unit and the
20 heating unit housing.
A twelfth air cleaner according to the ninth air cleaner is configured as follows.
The heating unit housing is formed of a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces
disposed upright from an outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface. The cover
member includes flanges. The flanges extend from side ends on a plurality of the side
25 surfaces of the heating unit housing toward outside the heating unit housing.
43
A thirteenth air cleaner according to the ninth or the twelfth air cleaner is
configured as follows. The cover member includes supports to support the positioning
members to the flanges.
A fourteenth air cleaner according to any one of the ninth, the twelfth, or the
5 thirteenth air cleaners is configured as follows. The deodorizing filter includes a
through-hole at a center. One of the flanges is a through-hole covering portion that has
a circular plate shape identical to a size of the through-hole or larger than the
through-hole. The through-hole covering portion is disposed to prevent air from
passing through the through-hole. The support is disposed at the through-hole
10 covering portions.
A fifteenth air cleaner according to any one of the ninth and the twelfth to the
fourteenth air cleaners is configured as follows. The cover member further includes a
plurality of the wind-shielding plates. A plurality of the wind-shielding plates are
disposed at the flanges to prevent air from flowing into the heating unit housing.
15 A sixteenth air cleaner includes an air suction opening, an air outlet, and a
ventilation passage. The air suction opening takes in air to an inside of a casing. The
air outlet discharges air from the inside of the casing to outside. The ventilation
passage communicates the air suction opening with the air outlet. The ventilation
passage internally includes a blower and a deodorizing unit. The deodorizing unit is
20 configured to deodorize air taken in the ventilation passage by driving the blower. The
deodorizing unit includes a deodorizing filter and a heating unit. The deodorizing
filter includes a catalyst layer. The catalyst layer is configured to absorb odoriferous
components contained in air to decompose the odoriferous components. The heating
unit is disposed to cover a part of the deodorizing filter. The heating unit is configured
25 to heat the part of the deodorizing filter. The heating unit includes a first heatsink, a
44
second heatsink, and a heater. The heater is mounted to at least any one of the first
heatsink and the second heatsink. The first heatsink is disposed opposed to one
surface of the deodorizing filter. The second heatsink is disposed opposed to the other
surface of the deodorizing filter. The first heatsink contacts the second heatsink such
5 that heat transmits from the first heatsink to the second heatsink or heat transmits from
the second heatsink to the first heatsink.
A seventeenth air cleaner according to the sixteenth air cleaner is configured as
follows. At least any one of the first heatsink and the second heatsink includes a first
joint to be joined to the other heatsink. The first joint is disposed outside an outer
10 peripheral portion of the deodorizing unit. The first joint is joined to the other
heatsink.
An eighteenth air cleaner according to the sixteenth or the seventeenth air
cleaner is configured as follows. At least any one of the first heatsink and the second
heatsink includes a second joint at a site different from the first joint. The deodorizing
15 filter includes a through-hole at a center. The second joint is joined to the other
heatsink via the through-hole on the deodorizing unit.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0066]
20 1: Air cleaner
23: Deodorizing unit
23a: Deodorizing filter
23ac: First gear
23ad: Center hole
25 23ae: Covering portion
45
23b: PTC heater
23c: Heatsink
23ca: Front surface side heatsink
23caa: Filter-opposing surface
5 23cab: Heater-disposed surface
23cb: Back surface side heatsink
23cc: Main body
23cca: Filter-opposing surface
23ccb: Heat-insulating-material-disposed surface
10 23cd: First joint
23cda: First joining surface
23ce: Second joint
23cea: Second joining surface
23e: Case
15 23ea: Front surface side case
23eb: Back surface side case
23ec: Heating unit housing
23eca: Bottom surface
23ecb: First side surface
20 23ecc: Second side surface
23ecd: Third side surface
23ece: Fourth side surface
23ed: Heating unit housing
23eda: Bottom surface
25 23edb: First side surface
46
23edc: Second side surface
23edd: Third side surface
23ede: Fourth side surface
23f: Filter regenerator
5 23g: Holder
23ga: First shaft
23gb: Second shaft
23gc: Driving unit securing portion
23gd: Opening
10 23ge: Regenerator housing
23h: Driving unit
23j: Driving gear
23k: Second gear
23m: Roller
15 23ma: Hole
23mb: Pipe
23mc: Upper flange
23md: Lower flange
23n: Roller
20 23na: Hole
23nb: Pipe
23nc: Upper flange
23nd: Lower flange
23ni: Inner roller
25 23no: Outer roller
47
23p: Heater case
23q: Third shaft
23r: Rotation detector
23s: Front surface side covering portion
5 23t: Front surface side first flange
23u: Front surface side second flange
23v: Back surface side covering portion

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 air from the inside of the casing to outside;
5 a ventilation passage that communicates the air suction opening with the air
outlet;
a blower provided in the ventilation passage; and
a deodorizing unit provided in the ventilation passage, the deodorizing unit
being configured to deodorize air taken in the ventilation passage by driving the blower,
10 wherein
the deodorizing unit includes:
a deodorizing filter;
a heating unit configured to heat the deodorizing filter;
a cover member that includes a heating unit housing and a heat diffusion
15 restraining portion, the heating unit housing housing the heating unit, the heat diffusion
restraining portion being configured to restrain a diffusion of heat from the heating unit
housing, the cover member being disposed to cover a part of the deodorizing filter; and
a driving unit configured to relatively rotate the deodorizing filter and the cover
member.
20
2. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein
the heating unit housing has a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces
disposed upright from an outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface, and
the heat diffusion restraining portions are disposed on the side surfaces.
25
49
3. The air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein
the heat diffusion restraining portions are formed by extending side ends of the
side surfaces of the heating unit housing toward outside the heating unit housing.
5 4. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the heat diffusion restraining portion includes a wind-shielding plate, the
wind-shielding plate being configured to restrain air passing through the deodorizing
filter flowing into the heating unit housing.
10 5. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising
a heat insulating material disposed between the heating unit and the heating
unit housing.
6. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
15 the cover member includes a front surface side case and a back surface side
case, the front surface side case being disposed to cover a part of a front surface side of
the deodorizing filter, the back surface side case being disposed to cover a part of a back
surface side of the deodorizing filter, and
the heat diffusion restraining portions are provided at the respective front
20 surface side case and back surface side case.
7. The air cleaner according to claim 4, wherein
the cover member includes a front surface side case and a back surface side
case, the front surface side case being disposed to cover a part of a front surface side of
25 the deodorizing filter, the back surface side case being disposed to cover a part of a back
50
surface side of the deodorizing filter,
the heat diffusion restraining portions are provided at the respective front
surface side case and back surface side case, and
the wind-shielding plate is disposed at at least one of the heat diffusion
5 restraining portion on the front surface side case and the heat diffusion restraining
portion on the back surface side case.
8. The air cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the heating unit includes a front surface side heatsink, a back surface side
10 heatsink, and a heater, the heater being mounted to at least one of the front surface side
heatsink and the back surface side heatsink,
the front surface side heatsink is disposed on the front surface side of the
deodorizing filter,
the back surface side heatsink is disposed on the back surface side of the
15 deodorizing filter, and
the front surface side heatsink contacts the back surface side heatsink.
9. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein
the deodorizing unit includes a positioning member, the positioning member
20 deciding a relative position between the cover member and the deodorizing filter, the
positioning member rotatably supporting the deodorizing filter or the cover member.
10. The air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein
the positioning member includes:
25 a first positioning member that supports an inner peripheral portion of the
51
deodorizing filter; and
a second positioning member that supports an outer peripheral portion of the
deodorizing filter.
5 11. The air cleaner according to claim 9 or 10, wherein
the heating unit housing has a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces
disposed upright from an outer peripheral portion of the bottom surface, and
the cover member includes flanges, the flanges extending from side ends on a
plurality of the side surfaces of the heating unit housing toward outside the heating unit
10 housing.
12. The air cleaner according to claim 11, wherein
the cover member includes supports to support the positioning members to the
flanges.
15
13. The air cleaner according to claim 12, wherein
the deodorizing filter includes a through-hole at a center,
the flanges have a circular plate shape identical to the through-hole or larger
than the through-hole, the flanges include through-hole covering portions, the
20 through-hole covering portion being disposed to restrain air passing through the
through-hole, and
the supports are disposed at the through-hole covering portions.
14. The air cleaner according to claim 8, wherein
25 at least one of the front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink
52
includes a first joint, the first joint being disposed outside an outer peripheral portion of
the deodorizing filter, the first joint being joined to the other heatsink.
15. The air cleaner according to claim 14, wherein
5 the one heatsink includes a second joint at a site different from the installation
site of the first joint,
the deodorizing filter includes a through-hole at a center, and
the second joint is joined to the other heatsink via the through-hole on the
deodorizing filter.
10
16. An air cleaner comprising:
an air suction opening that takes in air to an inside of a casing;
an air outlet that discharges air from the inside of the casing to outside;
a ventilation passage that communicates the air suction opening with the air
15 outlet;
a blower provided in the ventilation passage; and
a deodorizing unit provided in the ventilation passage, the deodorizing unit
being configured to deodorize air taken in the ventilation passage by driving the blower,
wherein
20 the deodorizing unit includes:
a deodorizing filter that includes a catalyst layer, the catalyst layer being
configured to absorb odoriferous components contained in air to decompose the
odoriferous components; and
a heating unit disposed to cover a part of the deodorizing filter, the heating unit
25 being configured to heat the part of the deodorizing filter,
53
the heating unit includes a front surface side heatsink, a back surface side
heatsink, and a heater, the heater being mounted to at least one of the front surface side
heatsink and the back surface side heatsink,
the front surface side heatsink is disposed on a front surface side of the
5 deodorizing filter,
the back surface side heatsink is disposed on a back surface side of the
deodorizing filter, and
the front surface side heatsink contacts the back surface side heatsink.
10 17. The air cleaner according to claim 16, wherein
at least one of the front surface side heatsink and the back surface side heatsink
includes a first joint, the first joint being disposed outside an outer peripheral portion of
the deodorizing filter, the first joint being joined to the other heatsink.
15 18. The air cleaner according to claim 17, wherein
the one heatsink includes a second joint at a site different from the installation
site of the first joint,
the deodorizing filter includes a through-hole at a center, and
the second joint is joined to the other heatsink via the through-hole on the
20 deodorizing filter.