JP2024108470A - Air conditioners - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner capable of suitably performing a dehumidifying operation in which an air conditioning unit and a blower unit are interlocked.SOLUTION: A dehumidifying unit 2 and a circulator 3 are operated in conjunction with each other to perform dehumidifying operation for dehumidifying an object space, and a dehumidifying unit side control part 70 performs either one of a dehumidifying strengthening mode and a circulation strengthening mode on the basis of a humidity of the object space detected during the dehumidifying operation. Since the dehumidification unit and the circulator 3 can be operated in conjunction with each other in an appropriate operation mode according to the humidity state in the target space, an optimum operation according to the humidity of the target space in which the dehumidification operation is performed can be performed, the comfort of the user in the target space can be improved, and the product quality is improved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner equipped with a blower unit that operates in conjunction with an air conditioning unit.

Patent document 1 discloses an air conditioner that can perform a dehumidification operation to dehumidify a target space by linking an air conditioning unit and a blower unit.

Patent No. 7174986

However, this conventional system does not allow for optimal operation of the air conditioning unit and the fan unit in conjunction with each other in response to humidity changes in the target space where the dehumidification operation is performed, so there is room for improvement.

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides an air conditioning unit,
An air conditioner comprising: a blower unit that operates in conjunction with the air conditioning unit;
The air conditioning unit comprises:
an air conditioning control unit that controls a dehumidification operation for dehumidifying a target space by operating the air conditioning unit and the air blowing unit in conjunction with each other;
a transmission unit that transmits a control signal to the air blower unit during the dehumidification operation for controlling the interlocking operation of the air conditioning unit and the air blower unit during the dehumidification operation,
The blower unit includes:
a receiving unit that receives the control signal transmitted from the transmitting unit;
a blowing-side control unit that controls the blowing unit based on the received control signal,
The dehumidification operation has a dehumidification enhancement mode and a circulation enhancement mode,
The air conditioning control unit is characterized in that it executes either the enhanced dehumidification mode or the enhanced circulation mode based on the humidity in the target space detected during the dehumidification operation.

In addition, in claim 2, the air conditioning control unit is characterized in that if the humidity of the target space detected during the dehumidification operation is higher than a predetermined value, it implements the enhanced dehumidification mode, and if the humidity is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, it implements the enhanced circulation mode.

In addition, the air conditioning unit has a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator are connected in sequence by piping, and a refrigerant flows through the refrigeration cycle.
The air blowing unit has an air blowing section supported to be pivotable around a pivot axis along a predetermined direction,
The air conditioning side control unit is
The compressor is driven in the dehumidification enhancement mode, and the control signal including an instruction to reduce the range of the oscillation to the blower unit compared to the circulation enhancement mode is transmitted to the blower unit.
The compressor is stopped in the enhanced circulation mode, and the control signal including an instruction to increase the range of the oscillation to the blower unit compared to the enhanced dehumidification mode is transmitted to the blower unit.

In addition, in claim 4, the air conditioning side control unit is
transmitting the control signal including an instruction to increase the airflow rate of the air conditioning unit in the enhanced dehumidification mode compared to the enhanced circulation mode and to decrease the airflow rate of the air blowing unit compared to the enhanced circulation mode to the air blowing unit;
The control signal includes an instruction to make the airflow rate of the air conditioning unit smaller in the enhanced circulation mode than in the enhanced dehumidification mode, and to the blower unit, an instruction to make the airflow rate of the blower unit larger than in the enhanced dehumidification mode.

In addition, the air conditioning unit may have a heater that heats the air to be blown and can switch the driving state,
The air conditioning control unit is characterized in that it drives the heater when the temperature of the target space detected during the dehumidifying operation is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

According to this invention, either the enhanced dehumidification mode or the enhanced circulation mode is implemented based on the humidity of the target space detected during dehumidification operation, so that an optimal operation can be implemented in conjunction with the air conditioning unit and the blower unit in response to the humidity change of the target space in which the dehumidification operation is performed, increasing user comfort in the target space and improving product quality.

FIG. 2 is a front external perspective view of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment in an assembled state. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment in an assembled state; FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a dehumidifier with a circulator when assembled. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of a dehumidifier with a circulator. FIG. 6 is a schematic functional block diagram for particularly explaining each power supply unit among the functional blocks in FIG. 5 . FIG. 4 is a front external perspective view of the circulator when separated. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the circulator when separated, as seen from the rear. FIG. 13 is an external perspective view showing an example of a dehumidifier in use during separation. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation during a dehumidification operation.

One embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In this embodiment, the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described as a dehumidifier with a circulator that uses a vapor compression refrigeration cycle to condense moisture contained in the air, dehumidify it, and blow air.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a dehumidifier with a circulator 1 according to the present embodiment in an integrated state.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the exterior of the dehumidifier with circulator 1 according to this embodiment in an integrated state.
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the circulator-equipped dehumidifier 1 when assembled.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the circulator-equipped dehumidifier 1 when assembled.
FIG. 5 is a schematic functional block diagram showing the functional configuration of the circulator-equipped dehumidifier 1. As shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic functional block diagram for particularly explaining the power supply units 83 and 183 among the functional blocks in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the circulator 3 when separated, as viewed from the front.
FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the external appearance of the circulator 3 when separated.
FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing an example of a usage state of the dehumidifier 1 during separation.

In the following explanation, the definitions of front, back, up, down, left and right shown in each drawing will be used. The surface facing forward where the dehumidification unit side operation unit 74 is located may be referred to as the front, and the surface opposite the front facing rear may be referred to as the back. The direction along the front, back, left and right directions is referred to as the horizontal direction. The definitions of front, back, up, down, left and right of the circulator 3 may differ when the circulator 3 is attached to the dehumidification unit 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as "integrated") and when it is separated from the dehumidification unit 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as "separated"). When integrated, the definitions may follow those of Figures 1 to 4, and when separated, the definitions may follow those of Figures 7 and 8.

The dehumidifier with circulator 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "dehumidifier 1") has a dehumidification unit 2 (air conditioning unit) that blows out dehumidified (conditioned) air, and a circulator 3 (air blower unit) that is disposed above the dehumidification unit 2 and sucks in surrounding air and blows it out. As shown in FIG. 4, the circulator 3 is detachable from the dehumidification unit 2 (housing 10), and can blow air in conjunction with or independently of the dehumidification unit 2. The circulator 3 can also be operated integrally with or separately from the dehumidification unit 2.

The dehumidifying unit 2 has a housing 10 that defines the exterior of the dehumidifying unit 2. The housing 10 has a front frame 11, a rear frame 12, a top panel 14, and a base 15.

The front frame 11 and rear frame 12 are combined via a connecting line 13 extending vertically at approximately the center position in the front-to-rear direction of the housing 10, forming a substantially rectangular column-shaped side surface 23 having four sides that connects the top surface 21 and bottom surface 22 of the housing 10. The front frame 11 and rear frame 12 each have an upper frame portion 24 that is formed by bending horizontally inward from the upper end. In addition, the front frame 11 and rear frame 12, which serve as the right side surface 23c and the left side surface 23d, have a handle notch 25 for positioning a handle 43. The handle notch 25 is formed at the upper end of the right side surface 23c and the left side surface 23d, approximately in the center position in the front-to-rear direction. The surface of the front frame 11 facing forward is the front surface 23a of the side surface 23.

2 and 3, the rear frame 12 (rear face 23b) has an intake port 31, a tank insertion port 32, and a power cord port 34. The intake port 31 has a number of slits 36, and has a filter 37 and a filter case 38 on its outer surface. The filter 37 is made of a resin net or nonwoven fabric, and removes dust and odorous components from the intake air. The filter case 38 fixes the filter 37 to the intake port 31. The tank insertion port 32 is located below the intake port 31, and the drain tank 69 is inserted and removed from here. The power cord port 34 is located at the lower right of the rear frame 12, and the power cord 4 connected to the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 is routed from the power cord port 34 to the outside of the housing 10.

The top plate 14 has a base 14a facing upward and a peripheral wall 14b extending downward from the periphery of the base 14a. The top plate 14 is arranged so as to cover an opening 24a (Fig. 3) formed by the inner edge of the top frame 24. The base 14a, together with the above-mentioned top frame 24, forms the top surface 21, which is the surface facing upward of the housing 10. On the top surface 21, the peripheral wall 14b forms a step with respect to the top frame 24, so that the base 14a functions as a top surface convex portion 90 (Fig. 4) that is convex upward with respect to the top frame 24.

The top panel 14 also has an air outlet 41, an air guide wall 42, a handle 43, and left and right air inlet recesses 45.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the air outlet 41 is formed in a rectangular shape at approximately the center of the base 14a. The air outlet 41 is provided with a louver 48 that can control the blowing direction of the dry air, and a louver motor 49 (Figure 5) that drives the louver 48.

The air guide wall 42 is a wall that rises a predetermined distance above the base 14a so as to surround the air outlet 41 on the outside of the air outlet 41 when viewed from above. The air guide wall 42 guides the air blown out from the air outlet 41 upward toward the circulator 3. The air guide wall 42 forms a space that is connected to the inside of the housing 10 and serves as a passageway for the air blown out from the air outlet 41.

The handles 43 are formed on the left and right sides of the top panel 14 at positions corresponding to the handle notches 25 in the front frame 11 and rear frame 12, above the right side surface 23c and left side surface 23d. The handles 43 have handle recesses 51 recessed inward in the left-right direction from the right side surface 23c and left side surface 23d, and finger hooks 52, and are used when the user carries the dehumidifier 1.

The left and right suction port recesses 45 are recesses for forming the left and right suction ports 121 described later. The left and right suction port recesses 45 are formed at positions where the finger hook portion 52 overlaps with the handle recesses 51 (handle 43) in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base 15 is positioned so as to cover the opening 22a formed downward by the combined front frame 11 and rear frame 12. The base 15 serves as the foundation of the dehumidifier 1, and serves as the bottom surface 22 that is placed directly on the installation surface such as a floor, or facing a gap if the dehumidifier has legs or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main internal components of the dehumidification unit 2 housed in the housing 10 include a fan case 61, a sirocco fan 62, a blower motor 63, a compressor 65, a heat exchanger 66, a heater 67, a drain pan 68, and a drain tank 69.

The fan case 61 is placed on the base 15 and mainly supports and positions the sirocco fan 62, the blower motor 63, and the drain tank 69.

The sirocco fan 62 rotates as the blower motor 63 rotates, drawing air in through the suction port 31 and creating a flow of air that is blown out through the air outlet 41. The sirocco fan 62 and the blower motor 63 are attached to the fan case 61 so that their rotation axes are aligned in the front-to-rear direction.

The compressor 65 is fixed onto the base 15 and is connected to the heat exchanger 66 via piping 65a and a pressure reducing device.

The heat exchanger 66 exchanges heat with the air sucked in through the suction port 31. The heat exchanger 66 has an evaporator 66a located near the suction port 31, and a condenser 66b located forward of the evaporator 66a. The evaporator 66a and the condenser 66b are fin-tube type heat exchangers in which fins 66d are attached to a U-shaped refrigerant tube 66c. The refrigerant tube 66c has multiple straight sections extending horizontally (left-right) and a bent section that bends in a U-shape in the vertical direction to connect the two straight sections, and these straight sections and bent sections appear continuously along the length of the refrigerant tube 66c.

The compressor 65, piping 65a, pressure reducing device, and heat exchanger 66 form a refrigeration cycle through which the refrigerant flows. The refrigeration cycle includes, in the order in which the refrigerant flows, the compressor 65, the condenser 66b, the pressure reducing device, and the evaporator 66a. As the refrigerant flows through the evaporator 66a, it absorbs heat from the air passing through the evaporator 66a and evaporates. As the refrigerant flows through the condenser 66b, it reheats and condenses the air passing through the condenser 66b. As a result, the air sucked in from the suction port 31 is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 66a after dust and odor components are removed by the filter 37, and then heated by the condenser 66b to become low-humidity air.

The heater 67 heats the low humidity air that has passed through the condenser 66b before the air outlet 41.

The drain pan 68 has a drain outlet, receives the drain water that is generated and falls from the evaporator 66a, and discharges it from this outlet. The drain pan 68 supports and fixes the heat exchanger 66 from below.

The drain tank 69 stores drain water discharged from the drain outlet of the drain pan 68. The drain tank 69 is attached to and detached from the housing 10 by sliding it in the front-rear direction from the tank insertion opening 32. The drain tank 69 inserted into the housing 10 is placed in a tank chamber formed by the fan case 61.

The drain tank 69 has a tank lid 69a and a float housing 69b. The tank lid 69a allows drain water from the drain outlet of the drain pan 68 to fall into the drain tank 69. The float housing 69b houses a float having, for example, a magnet, for detecting the water level in the drain tank 69. The magnetic field of the magnet corresponding to the water level is detected by a water level sensor 69c such as an AMR sensor (Anisotropic Magneto-Resistance) mounted on the dehumidification unit side control unit 70, etc., and notifies the user that the drain tank 69 is full.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dehumidification unit 2 further includes a dehumidification unit control unit 70, a temperature sensor 71, a humidity sensor 72, an alarm unit 73, a dehumidification unit operation unit 74, and a display unit 75.

The dehumidification unit side control unit 70 (air conditioning side control unit) is a control board that is supported by a required case and placed in front of the fan case 61.

The dehumidification unit control unit 70 electrically controls each part, such as the louver motor 49, the blower motor 63, the compressor 65, the heater 67, and the display unit 75, based on instructions from the dehumidification unit operation unit 74 or a pre-stored program, thereby controlling the overall operation of the dehumidifier 1. The dehumidification unit control unit 70 also controls each part, such as the oscillating motor 138 of the circulator 3, by sending infrared signals when the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 are integrated and separated. As a result, in this embodiment, the dehumidification unit control unit 70 controls the operation of the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 in conjunction with each other.

The dehumidification unit control section 70 has a memory section 77 and a timer 78. The memory section 77 stores the operation programs of each section. The timer 78 measures time for timer operation of the dehumidifier 1, etc.

The temperature sensor 71 and humidity sensor 72 are provided at predetermined positions on the dehumidifier 1 body and measure the ambient temperature and humidity of the dehumidifier 1. The dehumidifier unit side control section 70 uses the temperature and humidity as necessary to control each section. The notification section 73 outputs an alarm sound or the like to notify the user of the situation based on instructions from the dehumidifier unit side control section 70.

The dehumidifier unit side operation section 74 and the display section 75 are disposed above the front surface 23a (side surface 23, front frame 11) of the housing 10, at approximately the center in the left-right direction. The dehumidifier unit side operation section 74 and the display section 75 are disposed on a control board 70a disposed approximately parallel to the front surface 23a for the dehumidifier unit side operation section 74, the display section 75 and the dehumidifier unit side communication section 82. The dehumidifier unit side operation section 74 has a number of input buttons which realize, for example, an operation switch, a timer switch, an operation mode selection switch, a switch for setting the operation of the circulator 3, and the like. The display section 75 displays the operation state of the dehumidifier 1, etc., by the lighting state of an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

The dehumidification unit 2 further includes a circulator detection sensor 81, a dehumidification unit side communication unit 82, a dehumidification unit side power supply unit 83, and a power supply switching unit 84.

The circulator detection sensor 81 is disposed in the dehumidifier unit 2 (either the dehumidifier unit 2 or the circulator 3) and detects the attachment/detachment state indicating whether the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 are integrated or separate. The circulator detection sensor 81 is, for example, a reed switch (proximity sensor) that detects whether the circulator 3 is approaching by detecting the magnetic field of a magnet disposed at a predetermined position on the circulator 3.

The circulator detection sensor 81 outputs whether or not a magnetic field is detected to the dehumidification unit side control unit 70. Based on the acquired detection result, the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 acquires the attachment/detachment state by determining that the circulator 3 is integrated if a magnetic field is detected, and that the circulator 3 is separated if no magnetic field is detected.

The dehumidification unit side communication section 82 is an infrared antenna that transmits the required infrared signal (wireless signal) to the circulator side communication section 182 of the circulator 3 based on the control of the dehumidification unit side control section 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the dehumidification unit side communication section 82 transmits infrared rays from a dehumidification unit side transmission window 86 that transmits infrared rays and is provided in the panel 76 on which the dehumidification unit side operation section 74 is formed.

The dehumidification unit side control unit 70 transmits required information to the circulator 3 via the dehumidification unit side communication unit 82. Specifically, the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 transmits to the dehumidification unit side communication unit 82 information on the attachment/detachment state obtained from the detection result of the circulator detection sensor 81 and information on the operation control required to link the operation of the circulator 3 with the operation of the dehumidification unit 2. For this reason, in this embodiment, the dehumidification unit side communication unit 82 functions as a transmission unit that transmits a control signal to the circulator 3 to operate the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 in linkage.

As shown in FIG. 6, the dehumidification unit power supply unit 83 converts the AC current supplied from the power cord 4 connected to a commercial power source into DC power and supplies it to each part of the dehumidification unit 2.

The power supply switching unit 84 switches whether or not the AC current supplied from the commercial power supply is supplied to the power supply output terminal 87. As shown in FIG. 4, the power supply output terminal 87 is exposed upward from the top surface 21, which is the mounting location of the circulator 3. When the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 is integrated, it closes the power supply switching unit 84 and supplies power from the power supply output terminal 87 to the power supply input terminal 187 of the circulator 3. On the other hand, when the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 is separated, it opens the power supply switching unit 84 and does not supply power to the power supply output terminal 87.

When the circulator 3 is connected, it mainly draws in the dehumidified air blown out from the dehumidification unit 2, and when it is separated, it draws in the surrounding air and blows out the air while circulating and stirring the surrounding air.

The circulator 3 has a base 110 and a blower 130. The blower 130 is supported on the base 110 so as to be pivotable around an axis that extends in the left-right direction when the circulator 3 is integral with the base 110.

As shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8, the base 110 is a cylindrical casing that forms a space (a through hole that penetrates in the vertical direction when integrated) inside the base 110 that can accommodate the blower 130. The base 110 has a base bottom surface 111, a base side surface 112, and a base top surface 113. The base side surface 112 consists of an outer surface and an inner surface, and the internal space 115 formed by the base bottom surface 111, the base side surface 112, and the base top surface 113 is partially or entirely hollow as shown in Figure 3.

The base bottom surface 111 is a frame-like surface having approximately the same shape as the top surface 21 formed by the top frame portion 24. When integrated, the base bottom surface 111 is installed on the top frame portion 24 and becomes the surface that contacts the top frame portion 24.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the base bottom surface 111 has a circulator-side recess 190 on the inside of the inner peripheral edge 111a of the base bottom surface 111. The circulator-side recess 190 is a recessed space recessed upward corresponding to the vertical length of the peripheral wall portion 14b of the upper plate 14 and corresponding to the shape of the upper surface side protrusion 90. Since the circulator-side recess 190 corresponds to the shape of the upper surface side protrusion 90, it engages with the upper surface side protrusion 90 when integrated. As a result, the base 110 is restricted in its horizontal movement parallel to the installation surface, i.e., its movement on the upper surface 21, by the upper surface side protrusion 90. Furthermore, since the circulator 3 is supported by the housing 10 by a simple engagement of protrusions and recesses, it can be easily removed by lifting it upward.

The shape of the outer peripheral surface of the base side surface 112 is substantially the same as the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the side surface 23 of the housing 10. In other words, when integrated, the base side surface 112 of the circulator 3 is flush with the side surface 23 of the dehumidifier unit 2, and has the appearance of being integrated with the housing 10. The base side surface 112 has left and right suction ports 121 and a rear suction port 122.

The left and right suction ports 121 are located at approximately the center of the left and right side surfaces 112c of the base in the front-rear direction, and are formed by cutting out a predetermined amount upward from the boundary between the left and right side surfaces 112c of the base and the base bottom surface 111. As shown in FIG. 2 and other figures, the left and right suction ports 121 have a shape that is approximately vertically symmetrical with respect to the handle 43 on the side surface 23 of the housing 10, the finger hook portion 52, or the boundary line 5 between the upper frame portion 24 and the base bottom surface 111. As described above, the left and right suction port recesses 45 are formed in the upper panel 14, and the spaces formed in the left and right suction port recesses 45 and the left and right suction ports 121 act to connect the periphery of the dehumidifier 1 to the inside of the base 110 (base side surface 112) via the left and right suction ports 121.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base side surface 112 has a base front surface 112a that faces forward in the same direction as the front surface 23a when assembled, and that forms the front surface of the base 110. It also has a base back surface 112b that faces backward when assembled, and that forms the back surface of the base 110.

The rear suction port 122 is located at approximately the center of the base back surface 112b in the left-right direction, and is formed by cutting a predetermined amount upward from the boundary between the base back surface 112b and the base bottom surface 111. The rear suction port 122 interacts with the shape of the top surface 21 of the housing 10 to connect the surroundings to the inside of the base 110 via the rear suction port 122.

The base top surface 113 consists of a surface 113a that is horizontally parallel from the rear to approximately the center position in the front-to-rear direction, and a surface 113b that curves downward from approximately the center position to the front. With this configuration, the base top surface 113 is located above the base bottom surface 111 when integrated, and is a surface that faces upward (approximately upward). The base top surface 113 has a curved recess 113c at the rear. The recess 113c is formed to form an air passage without the base 110 interfering with the air sent from the circulator 3 when integrated.

The blower 130 has a cover 131, a fan motor 135, and a fan 136.

The cover 131 is a bone-shaped member for protecting the user's fingers and the like from the fan 136. The cover 131 has, for example, a nearly hemispherical suction side cover 131a that covers the suction side (upstream side) of the fan 136 and serves as the suction surface, and a flat blowing side cover 131b that covers the blowing side (downstream side) of the fan 136 and serves as the blowing surface. The suction side cover 131a and the blowing side cover 131b are combined and integrated. When integrated, the blowing side cover 131b is in the position of the blowing section 130 along the nearly horizontal direction, and the rotation axis of the fan 136 is in the position along the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 3 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "stop position"), and the suction side cover 131a has a motor support part 131c formed in a downward-facing central position with a concave upward shape.

When in a stopped position, the fan motor 135 and the fan 136 are housed inside the cover 131 so that the rotation axis of the fan motor 135 (fan 136) is aligned in the vertical direction and passes through the center of the sphere that constitutes the cover 131. The fan motor 135 rotates the fan 136 around the rotation axis. The fan 136 blows air from the blow-out port 41 that is sucked in from the suction side cover 131a and blown into the suction side cover 131a from outside the dehumidifier 1 through the blow-out side cover 131b.

The blower 130 is supported on the base 110 in a stopped position in which the blowing direction from the fan 136 is almost the same as the blowing direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 41, which is almost upward. The blower 130 is supported on the base 110 so that it can be swung around a swiveling axis along the left-right direction (predetermined direction) by the swiveling motor 138 from the stopped position when the blower 130 is united to the base 110 at an angle within a predetermined range. The swiveling motor 138 is disposed in the internal space 115 of the base 110. The swiveling motor 138 disposes the swiveling axis at approximately the center position in the front-rear direction of the circulator 3. The swiveling axis passes through the center of the sphere that constitutes the hemispherical suction side cover 131a. The swiveling axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the fan 136.

The circulator 3 further includes a circulator-side control unit 170, a circulator-side operation unit 174, a circulator-side communication unit 182, and a circulator-side power supply unit 183.

The circulator-side control unit 170 is a control board (FIG. 3) that is placed in the internal space 115 of the base unit 110. The circulator-side control unit 170 electrically controls the fan motor 135 and the oscillating motor 138 based on instructions from the dehumidifier-side control unit 70 or the circulator-side operation unit 174. In this embodiment, the circulator-side control unit 170 functions as an air-blowing control unit that controls the circulator 3 based on a control signal received from the dehumidifier-side control unit 70 (dehumidifier-side communication unit 82).

The circulator side operation unit 174 is disposed at approximately the center position in the left-right direction of the base front surface 112a. The circulator side operation unit 174 is disposed on the control board 170a disposed approximately parallel to the base front surface 112a, similar to the dehumidification unit side operation unit 74. The control board 170a is a control board for the circulator side operation unit 174 and the circulator side communication unit 182. The control board 170a of the circulator side operation unit 174 is disposed in a position that approximately overlaps or is as close as possible to the control board 70a of the dehumidification unit side operation unit 74 when viewed from above. The circulator side operation unit 174 has, for example, a plurality of input buttons that realize an operation switch and a swing switch. In particular, in this embodiment, the circulator side operation unit 174 functions as an air blowing side operation unit that inputs a user instruction to stop or start the operation of the circulator 3 to the circulator side control unit 170.

The circulator side control unit 170 has a memory unit 177 and a timer 178. The memory unit 177 stores programs and information necessary to control each unit. The timer 78 measures time for timer operation of the circulator 3, etc.

The circulator-side communication unit 182 is an infrared antenna that receives the required infrared signal (wireless signal) transmitted from the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82 based on the control of the circulator-side control unit 170. In this embodiment, the circulator-side communication unit 182 functions as a receiver that receives a control signal transmitted from the dehumidification unit-side communication unit 82 as a transmitter. The circulator-side communication unit 182 receives infrared rays from a circulator-side transmission window 186 that transmits infrared rays and is provided on the base upper surface 113 of the base 110, for example. The circulator-side transmission window 186 and the dehumidification unit-side transmission window 86 are realized, for example, by thinning the area where the circulator-side transmission window 186 and the dehumidification unit-side transmission window 86 of the base upper surface 113 and the front frame 11 are formed, or by forming them from a material with high infrared transmittance.

As shown in FIG. 6, the circulator side power supply unit 183 converts the AC current supplied from the power supply input terminal 187 into DC current and supplies it to each part of the circulator 3. As shown in FIG. 8, the power supply input terminal 187 is positioned so that it can be directly connected to the power supply output terminal 87 exposed from the top surface 21 of the dehumidification unit 2 when the unit is assembled.

When the circulator side power supply unit 183 is integrated, it supplies each unit with power supplied from a power supply input terminal 187 that is directly connected to the power supply output terminal 87 of the dehumidification unit 2. When separated, it supplies each unit with power supplied from a power supply input terminal 187 that is connected to a power cord 8 (FIG. 9) that is connected to a commercial power source. The power supply output terminal 87 and the terminals of the power cord 8 can be connected to the power supply input terminal 187 by, for example, using magnetic force to attract each other, making it easy for the user to connect the terminals.

When the circulator 3 is in operation, it mainly sucks in the dehumidified air blown out from the dehumidification unit 2 and blows this air upwards while circulating and stirring the surrounding air. The circulator 3 also operates by oscillating around a swing axis that runs in the left-right direction so that the blowing surface faces alternately in the front-rear direction.

When separated, the circulator 3 is placed at a predetermined distance from the dehumidification unit 2 (Figure 9). At that time, the circulator 3 is placed and used at 90 degrees from the time of being united, so that the base back surface 112b faces (is placed on) the installation surface such as the floor, the base front surface 112a faces upward, and the base top surface 113 faces the dehumidification unit 2. The circulator 3 placed in this way draws in surrounding air from the base bottom surface 111 side, which is the back surface, and blows this air to the base top surface 113 side, which is the front surface, while circulating and stirring the surrounding air. The circulator 3 also operates while swinging up and down around a swing axis along the left-right direction.

By operating the dehumidifier 1 together with the circulator 3, the circulator 3 can suck in most of the air dehumidified by the dehumidification unit 2 and optimally blow out the dehumidified air, improving the dehumidification efficiency. In addition, by operating the circulator 3 separately, the dehumidifier 1 can be used effectively in the following applications, for example:

When the dehumidifier 1 is used to dry laundry hung indoors, the laundry can be dried efficiently by placing the dehumidifier 1 directly under the laundry. In this case, it is preferable to place the dehumidifier 1 so that it does not overlap with the laundry. However, depending on the height of the clothesline and the type of laundry, it may be difficult to place the dehumidifier 1 directly under the laundry, and the dehumidifier 1 must be placed away from the laundry so as not to overlap with the laundry. In contrast, the dehumidifier 1 in this embodiment can be removed from the circulator 3 placed above the dehumidifier 1 and placed separately on the installation surface. Therefore, when the dehumidifier 1 overlaps with the laundry, the circulator 3 can be separated and the height of the dehumidifier 1 can be lowered, and a dehumidifier 1 that is easy to use depending on the situation can be realized.

As described above, in the dehumidifier 1 of this embodiment, even when the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 are physically separated, the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 can transmit a control signal to the circulator side control unit 170 via the dehumidifier unit side communication unit 82 and the circulator side communication unit 182, thereby allowing the dehumidifier 1 to operate in a manner suitable for the surrounding environment.

Specifically, based on the ambient temperature and humidity obtained by the temperature sensor 71 and humidity sensor 72 acquired by the dehumidification unit side control unit 70, the amount of dehumidified air sent from the dehumidification unit 2 (the number of revolutions of the blower motor 63) and temperature, the amount of air sent from the circulator 3, the operating time of the dehumidifier 1, etc. can be determined, and the appropriate control can be executed by linking the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3.

The dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 and the circulator side control unit 170 can individually acquire the temperature and humidity and determine the appropriate control content according to the surrounding environment, but this may require the use of high-performance control boards for both the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 and the circulator side control unit 170, and may lead to complicated processing in order to coordinate with each other. Therefore, the dehumidifier 1 in this embodiment addresses the above problem by having the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 control the circulator 3 as well, so that the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 controls the dehumidifier 1 as a whole.

Next, we will explain the dehumidification operation that dehumidifies the target space in this invention.

When adjusting the humidity of a target space, the dehumidifier unit 2 and circulator 3 are installed separately in the target space, and the user sets the dehumidifier operation by operating the operation mode selection switch on the dehumidifier unit side operation section 74. When the dehumidifier operation is set, the humidity and temperature of the target space are confirmed, and the optimum operation mode is selected and the operation of the heater 67 is set. The dehumidifier operation has an enhanced dehumidification mode and an enhanced circulation mode, and each mode is implemented depending on the humidity of the target space.

The enhanced dehumidification mode is performed when the humidity in the target space is higher than a predetermined value.
In the enhanced dehumidification mode, the dehumidification unit 2 drives the compressor 65 via the dehumidification unit side control section 70, and drives the blower motor 63 so that the sirocco fan 62 blows a strong wind.
In addition, during enhanced dehumidification mode, the circulator 3 receives a control signal transmitted from the dehumidification unit side control unit 70, and the circulator side control unit 170 drives the oscillating motor 138 so that the blower section 130 oscillates in an upward swing to blow air into a narrow range above the circulator 3, and drives the fan motor 135 so that the fan 136 blows a weak breeze.

As described above, by operating the dehumidifier unit 2 and circulator 3 in conjunction in the enhanced dehumidification mode, the dehumidifier unit 2 can quickly reduce the humidity in the target space, and the circulator 3 can push the moisture that has accumulated near the floor of the target space up to a narrow area on the ceiling surface, thereby quickly reducing the humidity near the user in the target space and increasing the comfort of the user in the target space.

In addition, if the temperature of the target space detected during enhanced dehumidification mode is below a predetermined value, the heater 67 is driven. If the temperature of the air sucked in through the suction port 31 drops, the dehumidification capacity of the evaporator 66a drops, and the dehumidification efficiency in the target space drops. By driving the heater 67, the temperature of the air sucked in through the suction port 31 rises, so the drop in dehumidification efficiency in the target space can be suppressed and the user's comfort can be increased.

The enhanced circulation mode is performed when the humidity in the target space is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.
In the enhanced circulation mode, the dehumidification unit 2 stops the compressor 65 via the dehumidification unit side control section 70, and drives the blower motor 63 so that the amount of air blown by the sirocco fan 62 is weak compared to a strong wind.
In addition, in the enhanced circulation mode, the circulator 3 receives a control signal sent from the dehumidification unit side control unit 70, and the circulator side control unit 170 drives the oscillating motor 138 so that the blower section 130 oscillates in a wide swing that is wider than the upper swing, and drives the fan motor 135 so that the air volume of the fan 136 is a strong wind that is greater than a weak wind.

As described above, by operating the dehumidifier unit 2 and circulator 3 in conjunction in the enhanced circulation mode, it is possible to prevent excessive dehumidification by the dehumidifier unit 2, which would cause the humidity in the target space to drop drastically, and to circulate air throughout the target space using the circulator 3, thereby achieving a uniform humidity level within the target space and thereby increasing the comfort of users in the target space.

In addition, if the temperature of the target space detected during enhanced circulation mode is below a predetermined value, the heater 67 is driven. Generally, as the temperature drops, the amount of moisture that can be contained in the air decreases, so the user feels dry and comfort decreases due to the drop in temperature in the target space. Driving the heater 67 can prevent a drop in the temperature of the target space, and therefore it is possible to prevent a decrease in user comfort due to the dryness of the air in the target space.

Next, the specific operation of the dehumidification operation in the present invention will be explained based on the flowchart in Figure 10.

When the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines from the detection result of the circulator detection sensor 81 that the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 are separated and that dehumidification operation has been set by the operation mode selection switch on the dehumidification unit operation unit 74, it checks the temperature h and humidity H of the target space using the temperature sensor 71 and humidity sensor 72 (step S101).

When the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines that the processing of step S101 is completed, it determines whether the humidity H of the target space detected by the humidity sensor 72 is higher than the predetermined value of 60% RH (step S102). When the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines that the detected humidity is higher than 60% RH, it operates each drive unit of the dehumidification unit 2 to operate in the enhanced dehumidification mode, and transmits information on the implementation of the enhanced dehumidification mode from the dehumidification unit 2 to the circulator 3 by a control signal. Upon receiving the control signal, the circulator control unit 170 operates each drive unit of the circulator 3 to operate in the enhanced dehumidification mode (step S103).

If the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines in step S102 that the humidity H of the target space detected by the humidity sensor 72 is 60% RH or less, it operates each drive unit of the dehumidification unit 2 to operate in enhanced circulation mode, and transmits information on the implementation of enhanced circulation mode from the dehumidification unit 2 to the circulator 3 as a control signal. Upon receiving the control signal, the circulator control unit 170 operates each drive unit of the circulator 3 to operate in enhanced circulation mode (step S104).

When the processing of step S103 or step S104 is completed, the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 determines whether the temperature h of the target space detected by the temperature sensor 71 is equal to or lower than the predetermined value of 10°C (step S105). If the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 determines that the detected temperature h is equal to or lower than 10°C, it turns the heater 67 ON and operates it (step S106), and if it determines that the detected temperature h is higher than 10°C, it turns the heater 67 OFF and stops operating it (step S107).

When the processing of step S106 or step S107 is completed, the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 determines whether an operation stop command has been issued by operating a switch on the dehumidification unit side operation unit 74 or the like (step S108). If the dehumidification unit side control unit 70 determines that an operation stop command has been issued, it stops the operation of the drive units in the dehumidification unit 2 and transmits operation stop information from the dehumidification unit 2 to the circulator 3 by a control signal. When the circulator side control unit 170 receives the control signal, it stops the drive of each drive unit, thereby terminating the dehumidification operation.

If the dehumidification unit control unit 70 determines in step S108 that an instruction to stop operation has not been issued, it repeats the process in step S101.

In addition, dehumidification operation mode setting information based on the humidity of the target space detected by the humidity sensor 72, and information on whether to operate the heating heater 67 based on the temperature of the target space detected by the temperature sensor 71 are periodically transmitted as control signals from the dehumidification unit side communication unit 82 to the circulator side communication unit 182.
After the dehumidification operation starts, the control signal transmitted from the dehumidification unit side communication unit 82 may not be received by the circulator side communication unit 182 due to the presence of a person or object between the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3. If the circulator side communication unit 182 cannot receive the control signal, it is unable to perform the operation according to the control signal transmitted from the dehumidification unit 2, and the comfort of the user in the target space is impaired.
By transmitting the control signal periodically, the likelihood that the circulator side communication unit 182 will receive the control signal transmitted from the dehumidifier unit side communication unit 82 at some timing increases, so that the dehumidifier unit 2 and circulator 3 can be operated in conjunction with each other in the optimal operating mode based on the humidity of the target space during dehumidification operation, thereby preventing user comfort in the target space from being compromised and improving product quality.

Next, we will explain the effects of the present invention.

The dehumidification operation is performed by operating the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 in conjunction with each other to dehumidify the target space, and the dehumidifier unit side control unit 70 operates either the enhanced dehumidification mode or the enhanced circulation mode based on the humidity of the target space detected during the dehumidification operation. Since the dehumidifier unit 2 and the circulator 3 can be operated in conjunction with each other in an appropriate operation mode depending on the humidity state in the target space, the optimal operation is performed according to the humidity of the target space in which the dehumidification operation is performed, which increases the comfort of users in the target space and improves the product quality.

The dehumidification unit side control unit 70 also implements enhanced dehumidification mode if the humidity in the target space detected during dehumidification operation is higher than a predetermined value, and implements enhanced circulation mode if the humidity is below the predetermined value. When the humidity in the target space is high, active dehumidification is performed to reduce the humidity in the target space, and when the humidity in the target space is low, active air circulation is performed to make the humidity uniform, thereby increasing the comfort of users in the target space and improving product quality.

Furthermore, the dehumidification unit control section 70 drives the compressor 65 in the enhanced dehumidification mode, and transmits a control signal to the circulator 3 including an instruction to narrow the range of oscillation compared to the enhanced circulation mode. While actively dehumidifying the target space, it is possible to push up moisture accumulated near the bottom of the target space to a narrow range on the ceiling surface, thereby reducing humidity around the user in the target space and increasing comfort.
In addition, in the enhanced circulation mode, the compressor 65 is stopped, and a control signal including an instruction to increase the range of oscillation compared to the enhanced dehumidification mode is sent to the circulator 3. This prevents excessive dehumidification of the target space and blows air so that it circulates throughout the target space, making the humidity in the target space uniform, thereby improving user comfort and product quality.

Furthermore, the dehumidification unit side control section 70 increases the airflow rate of the dehumidification unit 2 in the enhanced dehumidification mode compared to the enhanced circulation mode, and transmits a control signal to the circulator 3 including an instruction to decrease the airflow rate of the circulator 3 compared to the enhanced circulation mode. While actively dehumidifying the target space, moisture near the bottom of the target space can be pushed up only to a part of the ceiling surface without being dispersed throughout the target space, thereby improving the dehumidification efficiency and increasing the comfort of users in the target space.
In addition, in the enhanced circulation mode, the airflow rate of the dehumidification unit 2 is made smaller than in the enhanced dehumidification mode, and a control signal including an instruction to the circulator 3 to make the airflow rate of the circulator 3 larger than in the enhanced dehumidification mode is sent to the circulator 3. Since air can be circulated throughout the target space to make the humidity uniform, the comfort of users in the target space can be increased, improving product quality.

The dehumidification unit control unit 70 also drives the heater 67 if the temperature of the target space detected during dehumidification operation is below a predetermined value. In enhanced dehumidification mode, the heater 67 is driven at low temperatures to improve dehumidification efficiency, and in enhanced circulation mode, the heater 67 is driven at low temperatures to reduce humidity changes in the target space experienced by the user, thereby increasing the comfort of the user in the target space and improving product quality.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

For example, the air conditioner according to the present invention has been described using an example in which the air conditioning unit is a dehumidifier 1, but it can also be applied to other air conditioning devices such as humidifiers, dryers, air conditioners, and air purifiers that can adjust the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, etc. of the air.

An example has been described in which the dehumidifying unit 2 has a circulator detection sensor 81 for detecting the attached/detached state. However, the dehumidifying unit 2 and the circulator 3 may each detect the attached/detached state, or the attached/detached state detected by the circulator 3 may be shared with the dehumidifying unit 2. For example, the attached/detached state may be detected by having a posture sensor for detecting whether the circulator 3 is in an integrated position (a position in which the base bottom surface 111 faces downward) or a separated position (a position in which the base back surface 112b faces downward (placed on the installation surface)).

In addition, in this embodiment, the airflow rate of the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 is changed between the enhanced dehumidification mode and the enhanced circulation mode, but changing the airflow rate is not essential. Even if the airflow rate is the same in the enhanced dehumidification mode and the enhanced circulation mode, changing the operation of each drive unit in the enhanced dehumidification mode and the enhanced circulation mode can optimize the humidity in the target space and increase the comfort of the user, thereby achieving the advantageous effects of the present invention.

In addition, in this embodiment, if the temperature of the target space detected by the temperature sensor 71 during dehumidification operation is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the heater 67 is driven, but driving the heater 67 is not essential. Even if the heater 67 is not driven during dehumidification operation, by changing the operation of each drive unit between the enhanced dehumidification mode and the enhanced circulation mode, the humidity in the target space can be made optimal and the comfort of the user can be improved, thereby achieving the effects of the present invention.

In addition, in this embodiment, a control signal is sent from the dehumidifier unit 2 to the circulator 3, but this is not limited to this. For example, if the circulator 3 is capable of detecting the humidity in the target space, the circulator 3 may be configured to send a control signal to the dehumidifier unit 2, and the sending and receiving of the control signal is not limited to the content of this embodiment.

In addition, in this embodiment, the dehumidification operation is described as an operation in which the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 are linked in a separated state, but this is not limited to this. For example, when the dehumidification operation is performed when the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 are in an integrated state, either the enhanced dehumidification mode or the enhanced circulation mode may be performed depending on the detected humidity. Even in the integrated state, the air volume of the dehumidification unit 2 and the driving contents of the heater 67 can be changed, and the air volume and swing range of the circulator 3 can be changed. Therefore, during dehumidification operation in the integrated state, the dehumidification unit 2 and the circulator 3 are operated in an integrated state in an integrated manner, and either the enhanced dehumidification mode or the enhanced circulation mode is performed depending on the detected humidity. This is within the scope of the present invention.

1. Dehumidifier with circulator (dehumidifier)
Reference Signs List 2 Dehumidification unit 3 Circulator 65 Compressor 65a Pipe 66 Heat exchanger 66a Evaporator 66b Condenser 66c Refrigerant pipe 67 Heater 70 Dehumidification unit side control section 72 Humidity sensor 82 Dehumidification unit side communication section 130 Blower section 170 Circulator side control section 182 Circulator side communication section

Claims (5)

An air conditioning unit;
An air conditioner comprising: a blower unit that operates in conjunction with the air conditioning unit;
The air conditioning unit comprises:
an air conditioning control unit that controls a dehumidification operation for dehumidifying a target space by operating the air conditioning unit and the air blowing unit in conjunction with each other;
a transmission unit that transmits a control signal to the air blower unit during the dehumidification operation for controlling the interlocking operation of the air conditioning unit and the air blower unit during the dehumidification operation,
The blower unit includes:
a receiving unit that receives the control signal transmitted from the transmitting unit;
a blowing-side control unit that controls the blowing unit based on the received control signal,
The dehumidification operation has a dehumidification enhancement mode and a circulation enhancement mode,
The air conditioning control unit implements either the enhanced dehumidification mode or the enhanced circulation mode based on the humidity of the target space detected during the dehumidification operation. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the air conditioning control unit implements the enhanced dehumidification mode if the humidity of the target space detected during the dehumidification operation is higher than a predetermined value, and implements the enhanced circulation mode if the humidity is equal to or lower than the predetermined value. The air conditioning unit has a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator are connected in sequence by piping, and a refrigerant flows through the refrigeration cycle,
The air blowing unit has an air blowing section supported to be pivotable around a pivot axis along a predetermined direction,
The air conditioning side control unit is
The compressor is driven in the dehumidification enhancement mode, and the control signal including an instruction to reduce the range of the oscillation to the blower unit compared to the circulation enhancement mode is transmitted to the blower unit.
3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the compressor is stopped during the enhanced circulation mode, and the control signal is sent to the blower unit including an instruction to increase the range of the oscillation compared to during the enhanced dehumidification mode. The air conditioning side control unit is
transmitting the control signal including an instruction to increase the airflow rate of the air conditioning unit in the enhanced dehumidification mode compared to the enhanced circulation mode and to decrease the airflow rate of the air blowing unit compared to the enhanced circulation mode to the air blowing unit;
4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that in the enhanced circulation mode, the airflow rate of the air conditioning unit is made smaller than in the enhanced dehumidification mode, and the control signal is sent to the blower unit including an instruction to make the airflow rate of the blower unit larger than in the enhanced dehumidification mode. The air conditioning unit has a heater that heats the air to be blown and is capable of switching an operating state,
5. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the air conditioning control section drives the heater when the temperature of the target space detected during the dehumidifying operation is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

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