Air humidification and purification device

Provided is an air humidification and purification device comprising: a housing; a blowing part; an air purification filter; a water container; a water tank unit; a humidification member; an air flow path part; a flow path regulating member; and a driving part, wherein the water container has a water supply valve member, the flow path regulating member includes: a rotary shaft part; a body part rotating integrally with the rotary shaft part, and opening and closing at least a portion of the air flow path part; and a pressing part which rotates integrally with the rotary shaft part, and when the flow path regulating member rotates, the flow direction of the air in the air flow path part is changed by means of the body part, and the water supply valve member opens and closes by means of the pressing part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an air humidification and purification device having an air purification function and a humidification function, and more particularly, an air humidification and purification device which may regulate a flow path to perform an air purification function and a humidification function.

BACKGROUND ART

An air purifier is a device purifying polluted air into fresh air, and may perform a function of removing dust and germs along with odors by allowing incoming air to pass through an air purification filter.

A general air humidification and purification device may include a blowing fan (a blowing part) for suctioning air to be purified and a purification filter for purifying air.

Meanwhile, the air purifier may include a humidification member (humidification filter) to supply humidified air in addition to the air purification filter. As described above, an air humidification and purification device having a humidification function may control indoor humidity by discharging air containing moisture.

A general air humidification and purification device may use vaporization-type (blowing-type) humidification as in a method of vaporizing by blowing water absorbed by a humidification member after the humidification member is immersed in a water tank or vaporizing by blowing water on a plurality of disks by rotating the disks while a portion of the disks are immersed in a water tank.

In the case of such a general humidifying purifier, a water container may be mounted on a water tank, and water may be supplied from the water container to the water tank regardless of whether the humidification mode is performed, such that the water tank may maintain a constant water level. Accordingly, the water supply from the water container to the water tank may be stopped only when the entire water contained in the water container is emptied, and the water in the water tank may be completely removed only when the entire water contained in the water tank is evaporated.

Accordingly, in the general air humidification and purification device, since water may remain at a predetermined water level in the water tank even after humidification ends, mold, scale, scale, odor, or bacteria may proliferate in the water tank and/or the humidification member.

Meanwhile, in an air humidification and purification device, a humidification member may be installed side by side with the air purification filter on the rear end of the air purification filter, and a blowing fan for suctioning air may be installed on the rear end of the humidification member. In the case, some of the air passing through the air purification filter may flow into the blowing fan through the humidification member, but the other air may flow directly into the blowing fan without passing through the humidification member. Therefore, since the general air humidification and purification device does not have a structure in which the entirety of air passing through the air purification filter may pass through the humidification member, the humidification efficiency may be lowered when a humidifying mode is performed.

To resolve the problem, a flow path regulating member for controlling the flowing direction of air may be used to increase the flow rate of the air passing through the air purification filter is supplied to the humidification member in the humidification mode. However, even when the flow path regulating member is used, the entirety of air passing through the air purification filter is not supplied to the humidification member, such that there may be a limitation in improving the humidification efficiency.

Also, in a general air humidification and purification device, some of the air filtered through the air purification filter may be supplied to the humidification member even in a purification-only mode in which humidification is not performed, such that the air purification efficiency may degrade, which may be problematic. That is, in the purification-only mode, an unnecessary humidification member may act as a flow resistance against air passing through the air purification filter. Therefore, in a general air humidification and purification device, to achieve the same amount of air discharge as in the case in which air does not pass through a humidification member, the driving RPM of the blowing fan may need to be increased, such that power consumption and noise may increase, which may be problematic.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air humidification and purification device which may efficiently block a water supply from a water container to a water tank unit.

Also, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air humidification and purification device which may significantly reduce contamination or bacterial generation in a water tank unit and/or a humidification member (a humidification filter).

Further, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air humidification and purification device which may supply water to a water tank unit only in a humidification mode.

Also, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air humidification and purification device which may supply water to a water tank unit according to flow path regulation without using a driving means to supply water to a water tank unit.

Also, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air humidification and purification device which may easily implement a humidification mode and a purification mode.

Also, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an air humidification and purification device which may improve humidification efficiency and air purification efficiency.

Technical Solution

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an air humidification and purification device includes a housing having a suction port through which air is suctioned, and a discharge port through which air is discharged; a blowing part provided in the housing, and providing blowing force to allow air flowing in from the suction port to flow to the discharge port; an air purification filter disposed in the housing and filtering air flowing in from the suction port; a water container provided in the housing; a water tank unit for receiving water from the water container; a humidification member for performing humidification using water supplied to the water tank unit; an air flow path part formed between the suction port and the discharge port, and in which air flowing from the suction port flows; a flow path regulating member rotatably disposed in the air flow path part; and a driving part for providing rotational force to the flow path regulating member, wherein the water container includes a water supply valve member opening and closing to allow water contained therein to be discharged, wherein the flow path regulating member includes a rotary shaft part formed as a center of rotation, a body part rotating integrally with the rotary shaft part, and configured to cross the air flow path part to open and close at least a portion of the air flow path part, and a pressing part rotating integrally with the rotary shaft part, and providing pressing force to open water supply valve member, and wherein, when the flow path regulating member rotates, a direction of air flow in the air flow path part changes by the body part, and the water supply valve member opens and closes by the pressing part.

The discharge port may include a humidified air discharge port through which air flowing in from the suction port is discharged through the air purification filter and the humidification member, and a purified air discharge port through which air is discharged without passing through the humidification member.

The flow path regulating member may switch a flow path such that air flowing through the air flow path part may be discharged through at least one of the humidified air discharge port and the purified air discharge port.

The flow path regulating member may have a purification mode position in which air flowing through the air flow path part is discharged through the purified air discharge port, and a humidification mode position in which air is discharged through the humidified air discharge port. The flow path regulating member may be configured to open the water supply valve member in the humidification mode position.

The flow path regulating member may further include a third position disposed between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position such that air flowing through the air flow path part may be discharged through the purified air discharge port and the humidified air discharge port.

The air humidification and purification device may further include a control part for controlling driving of the flow path regulating member and the blowing part, and the control part may move the flow path regulating member to the third position such that the humidification member may be dried after the humidification ends.

The air humidification and purification device may further include a water supply regulating member installed in the water tank unit and operating to open and close the water supply valve member, and the flow path regulating member may open the water supply valve member by pressurizing the water supply regulating member.

The water tank unit may include a water tank body for accommodating water therein, and a water tank cover for covering at least a portion of an upper portion of the water tank body, and the water supply regulating member is installed on the water tank cover.

The water supply regulating member may include a body part, a contact part formed on one side of the body part and pressed by the flow path regulating member, a pressing part formed on the other side of the body part and pressurizing the water supply valve member, and a rotary shaft part disposed between the contact part and the pressing part and coupled to an installation groove formed in the water tank cover.

The water supply regulating member may be configured to be able to perform seesaw movement with respect to the rotating shaft, and wherein, when the flow regulating member pressurizes the contact part downwardly, the pressing part may move upwardly and may open the water supply valve member.

The water supply regulating member may include a weight part for adding weight to one side of the body part such that the contact part side may be inclined downwardly with respect to the rotary shaft part in a state in which the water supply regulating member is installed in the water tank cover.

The installation groove may be configured as a groove in which the contact part side is opened and the pressing part side is closed in a state in which the water supply regulating member is installed on the water tank cover.

The housing may include an opening in which the water container is installed and a partition for dividing the air flow path part therein, and the water supply regulating member may be disposed in the opening, and the pressing part of the flow path regulating member may be exposed to the opening through a through-hole formed in the partition so as to pressurize the contact part.

The water tank unit and the humidification member may be installed to be separated from the housing by sliding while the water container is separated from the housing.

The humidification member may be disposed on a rear end of the blowing part and may be configured to humidify air discharged from the blowing part.

The suction port may be formed in a front lower portion of the housing, the humidified air discharge port is formed on a front upper portion of the housing, the purified air discharge port is formed on an upper surface of the housing, and the humidification member is installed side by side with a front surface of the housing. In this case, the flow path regulating member may be disposed in a vertical direction when air is discharged through the purified air discharge port, and an upper end thereof may be inclined toward the humidified air discharge port when air is discharged through the humidified air discharge port.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an air humidification and purification device includes housing having a suction port through which air is suctioned, and a discharge port through which air is discharged; an air purification filter disposed in the housing and filtering air flowing in from the suction port; a humidification member for performing humidification using water supplied to the water tank unit; a blowing part providing blowing force to allow air flowing in from the suction port to flow to the discharge port via an air flow path part formed between the suction port and the discharge port; a flow path regulating member rotatably disposed in the air flow path part, and rotating between a humidification mode position in which air flowing through the air flow path part is discharged via the humidification member, and a purification mode position in which air is discharged without passing through the humidification member, wherein the flow path regulating member is configured to open the water supply valve member provided in the water container such that water is supplied from the water container to the water tank unit in the humidification mode position.

The flow path regulating member may be disposed in a third position disposed between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position, and the water supply valve member may have a closed state in the purification mode position and the third mode position.

Advantageous Effects

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the opening and closing of a water supply valve member provided in a water container is performed by rotation of the flow path regulating member, an effect of effectively blocking water supply from a water container to a water tank unit may be obtained.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, water may be supplied to the water tank unit only when a flow path regulating member is in a humidification mode position, and water supply to the water tank unit may be blocked in a drying mode position, such that an effect that moisture present in the water tank unit and/or the humidification member may be removed by the drying mode performed when the humidification mode ends and that contamination or bacterial generation in the water tank unit and/or the humidification member may thus be significantly reduced may be obtained.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an effect that a driving means for supplying water to the water tank unit may not be necessary as water supply to the water tank unit and blocking of the water supply may be possible only by rotation of the flow path regulating member rotating between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position may be obtained.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an effect that the water tank unit may be stably installed by avoiding the interference between the water supply regulating member and the flow path regulating member when the water tank unit is installed in a housing may be obtained.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an effect that the humidification mode and the purification mode may be easily implemented by a simple manipulation of rotating the flow path regulating member may be obtained.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air purification filter may be disposed on the front end of the blowing part and the humidification member may be disposed on the rear end of the blowing part, such that, when the purification mode is performed, the flow of air filtered by the air purification filter to the humidification member may be limited, which may increase air purifying efficiency, and accordingly, even when the blowing fan provided in the blowing part is driven at a relatively low RPM and low power, the sufficient amount of discharge may be secured and noise be reduced. Further, an effect that, by allowing the discharged air to flow toward the humidification member when the humidification mode is performed, humidification efficiency may increase may be obtained.

BEST MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferable embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below. Also, the embodiments of the present disclosure are provided to describe the present disclosure more completely to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The shapes and sizes of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clearer description.

Also, in the present specification, a singular term may include a plural form unless otherwise indicated, and the same reference numerals refer to the same element or a corresponding element throughout the embodiments.

In the description below, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an air humidification and purification device100will be described with reference toFIGS.1to8according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG.1is a perspective diagram illustrating an air humidification and purification device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a perspective diagram illustrating a state in which a water container130is separated from a water tank unit140in the air humidification and purification device100illustrated inFIG.1.FIG.3is a perspective diagram illustrating the water tank unit140and the humidification member160illustrated inFIG.2.FIG.4is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating the water tank unit135and the humidification member135illustrated inFIG.3.FIG.4further illustrates the water tank unit135for ease of description.FIG.5is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the air humidification and purification device100illustrated inFIG.1from which a water container body131is removed, taken along line A-A′ inFIG.1.FIG.6is a perspective diagram illustrating a flow path regulating member180provided in an air humidification and purification device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.7is a perspective diagram illustrating a water supply regulating member150illustrated inFIG.4.FIG.8is diagrams illustrating the air humidification and purification device100illustrated inFIG.1, where the lower portion is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram illustrating a central portion, and the upper portion is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram illustrating in a state in which a water container130is removed, taken along line A-A′ inFIG.1.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to8, the air humidification and purification device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing110forming the exterior of the product, an air purification filter120for filtering and purifying air, a water container130accommodating water for humidification and having a water supply valve member135, a water tank unit140receiving water from the water container130, a humidification member160performing humidification, a blowing part170providing blowing power, air flow path part F1, F2, and F3formed between the suction port115and the discharge port116, a flow path regulating member180for regulating the air flow, and a driving part M for providing a rotational force. Also, the air humidification and purification device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a control part C for controlling the driving of the air humidification and purification device100and a water supply regulating member150operating to open and close the water supply valve member135.

First, as illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the air humidification and purification device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing body111forming the exterior, a suction port115through which external air is suctioned into the housing body111, and a discharge port116through which air passing through the housing body111is discharged externally of the housing body111.

Also, the discharge port116may be divided into a humidified air discharge port118through which air flowing in from the suction port115is discharged through the air purification filter120and the humidification member160described later, and a purified air discharge port117through which air is discharged without passing through the humidification member160.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the suction port115may be formed in the lower front portion of the housing110, the humidified air discharge port118may be formed in the upper front portion of the housing110, and the purified air discharge port117may be formed on the upper surface of the housing110. However, the installation positions of the suction port115and the discharge port116(117, and118) and the number of the suction port115and the discharge port116,117, and118may be varied. For example, the suction port115may be installed on a plurality of surfaces among the front, rear, left, and right surfaces of the housing110so as to suction air in various directions, and the installation positions of the humidified air discharge port118and the purified air discharge port117and the number of the humidified air discharge port118and the purified air discharge port117may also be varied.

Referring toFIG.8, the air purification filter120may be provided within the housing110and may be configured to filter (purify) air flowing in from the suction port115, and may be disposed on the rear end of the suction port115. Also, the air purification filter120may be installed on the front end of the blowing part170such that air flowing in from the suction port115may be filtered by the air purification filter120and may flow into the blowing part170.

The air purification filter120may be configured in a rectangular shape corresponding to the shape and cross-sectional area of the air flow path on the rear end of the suction port115, and accordingly, the entire air flowing in through the suction port115of the housing110may pass through the air purification filter120. However, the shape of the air purification filter120is not limited to the above-described rectangular shape, and various types of known filters may be used. For example, the air purification filter120may be configured as a three-dimensional filter having a circular or angular cross-sectional surface and having a space (hollow) formed therein.

Also, the air purification filter120may be selected from among filters having various shapes and functions, and the type of the air purification filter120, the number of the air purification filter120, the shape of the air purification filter120are not limited to the example illustrated inFIG.8, and may be varied.

The water container130may include a water container body131for accommodating water for humidification therein, and a water supply valve member135opening and closing to allow water accommodated in the water container body131to be discharged.

The water container130may be configured to be separated from the air humidification and purification device100so as to easily fill the water container body131with water. For example, as illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the water container body131of the water container130may be configured to form a portion of the exterior of the housing110and may be separated from the housing110, but an example embodiment thereof is not limited thereto.

The water supply valve member135may be installed in a cap structure screwed to an inlet (an inlet port) of the water container body131. The water supply valve member135may include an opening/closing part136elastically supported by an elastic means (a spring), and may have a mechanical valve structure in which a closed state is maintained while the opening/closing part136is not pressed, and an open state is maintained while the opening/closing part136is pressed. The water supply valve member135may be generally used for the water container130of a general humidifier, and thus, a detailed description thereof will not be provided.

Also, the water tank unit140may be installed within the housing110and may accommodate water supplied from the water container130by opening the water supply valve member135.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, the water tank unit140may include a water tank body141for accommodating water, and a water tank cover145for covering at least a portion of the upper portion of the water tank body141. Also, an opening cover143for blocking the through-hole112b(inFIG.2) when the water tank unit140is mounted on the opening113of the housing110may be installed on the upper side of the water tank cover145.

The water tank cover145may include a humidification member mounting opening146for mounting the humidification member160, a water tank seating part148on which the water container130is seated, and an installation groove147in which the water supply regulating member150described later is installed.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the water tank unit140may be installed to be separated from the housing110by sliding while the water container130is separated from the housing110.

Also, the humidification member (humidification filter)160may perform humidification by vaporization (by blowing) using water supplied to the water tank body141of the water tank unit140, and may be installed adjacent to the humidified air discharge port118and disposed side by side with the front of the housing110

The humidification member160may be disposed on the rear end of the blowing part170on the air flow path, and accordingly, air flowing by operation of the blowing part170may be humidified while passing through the humidification member160, and may be discharged through the humidified air discharge port118.

As described above, since the air purification filter120is disposed on the front end of the blowing part170and the humidification member160is disposed on the rear end of the blowing part170, when only an air purifying function is performed, the flowing of air filtered in the air purification filter120to the humidification member160may be limited, and accordingly, air purifying efficiency may increase. Also, even when the blowing fan provided in the blowing part170is driven even at a relatively low RPM and low power, a sufficient amount of discharge may be secured and noise may be reduced. Further, when humidification is performed in the blowing part170the flow path switching of the flow path regulating member180described later, as the entire discharged air flows toward the humidification member160, the humidification efficiency may increase.

The humidification member160may be configured to have a material having excellent hygroscopicity or a shape so as to sufficiently absorb water contained in the water tank unit140. As an example, the humidification member160may be configured to be immersed in water accommodated in the water tank body141as illustrated inFIGS.2to4. However, the humidification member160is not limited to the above-described structure, and when humidification by vaporization is possible, various known vaporization-based humidification structures such as a rotating disk-shaped humidification member may be used.

As illustrated inFIGS.3and4, the humidification member160may be mounted on and separated from the water tank unit140through the humidification member mounting opening146formed in the water tank cover145. Also, the humidification member160may be separated from the housing110by sliding while the water container130is separated from the housing110and is mounted on the water tank unit140.

Thereafter, the blowing part170may provide blowing force to allow air flowing in from the suction port115to flow to the discharge port116(117and118) via the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3formed between the suction port115and the discharge port116(117and118).

Referring toFIG.8, the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3may include a blowing flow path F1disposed on the discharge port side of the blowing part170, a purification flow path F2through which air from the blowing flow path F1flows to the purified air discharge port117, and a humidification flow path F3which air from the blowing flow path F1flows to the humidified air discharge port118.

The specific air flow path of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3may be varied depending on the positions of the suction port115and the discharge port116(117and118), and the suction/discharge position and direction of the blowing part170.

Also, the blowing part170may include a blowing fan for flowing air, and a fan motor for driving the blowing fan, similarly to a general blowing device used in an air purifier. InFIG.8, the blowing part170may be disposed on the rear of the air purification filter120with respect to the air flow path and may have a structure in which air is suctioned from one side of the blowing part170, but the installation position and the suctioning structure of the blowing part170is not limited to the examples illustrated inFIG.8and may be varied. For example, the blowing fan provided in the blowing part170may have a double suction structure in which air is suctioned from both sides of the blowing part.

The flow path regulating member180may be disposed to be able to rotate in the air flow path portion F1, F2, and F3, and may regulate the air flow to the discharge port116(117and118).

Referring toFIG.8, the flow path regulating member180may switch the flow path such that air flowing through the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3to pass through at least one of the humidified air discharge port118and the purified air discharge port117.

For example, the flow path regulating member180may be configured to rotate between the purification mode position (seeFIG.9) in which air filtered by the air purification filter120and discharged from the blowing part170may flow to the purified air discharge port117via the purification flow path F2, and a humidification mode position (seeFIG.10) in which air from the blowing part170may flow to the humidified air discharge port118via the humidification flow path F3. That is, air purified through the air purification filter120may pass through the humidification member160and may be discharged through the humidified air discharge port118in a humidified state when the flow path regulating member180is in the humidification mode position illustrated inFIG.10, and when the flow path regulating member180is in the purification mode position illustrated inFIG.9, air may be discharged through the purified air discharge port117without passing through the humidification member160.

The flow path regulating member180may be disposed in a third position (a drying mode position) disposed between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position (seeFIG.11), and in the case, air from the blowing part170may be branched into the purification flow path F2and the humidification flow path F3and may flow to both the purified air discharge port117and the humidified air discharge port118.

Referring toFIGS.6and8, the flow path regulating member180may include a body part181configured to cross the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3to open and close at least a portion of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3, and a pressing part185configured to pressurize the water supply regulating member150described later as the body part181rotates around the rotary shaft part183.

Also, the flow path regulating member180may be configured to rotate by a driving part M including a motor and other components. Accordingly, by controlling the driving part M by the control part C, the flow path regulating member180may rotate between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position.

The opening and closing of the water supply valve member135provided in the water container130may be configured to be performed by rotation of the flow path regulating member180.

For example, when humidification is performed through the humidification member160, that is, when the flow path regulating member180is in the humidification mode position, the flow path regulating member180may be configured to open the water supply valve member135provided in the water container130such that water may be supplied from the water container130to the water tank unit140.

As such, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the opening and closing of the water supply valve member135provided in the water container130is performed by rotation of the flow path regulating member180, the water supply from the water container130to the water tank unit140may be efficiently blocked, and a driving means for supplying water to the water tank unit140may not be necessary.

The air humidification and purification device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a water supply regulating member150installed in the water tank unit140and operating to open and close the water supply valve member135provided in the water container130

In the case, the flow path regulating member180may be configured to pressurize the water supply regulating member150to open the water supply valve member135provided in the water container130.

The water supply regulating member150may be installed in the water tank cover145of the water tank unit140as illustrated inFIGS.3and4.

Referring toFIGS.3to5and7, the water supply regulating member150may include a body part151, a contact part155disposed on one side of the body part151and able to be pressed by the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180, a pushing part157formed on the other side of the body part151and able to pressurize the water supply valve member135of the water container130, and a rotary shaft part153disposed between the contact part155and the pushing part157and coupled to the installation groove147formed in the water tank cover145.

Accordingly, the water supply regulating member150may be configured to be perform seesaw movement with respect to the rotary shaft part153(see the arrow inFIG.3). Also, referring toFIGS.3,5,8and10, when the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180pressurizes the contact part155downwardly, the pushing part157may move upwardly with respect to the rotary shaft part153, such that the water supply valve member135may be opened. That is, as illustrated inFIG.10, when the pushing part157moves upwardly, the opening/closing part136provided in the water supply valve member135may move upwardly, such that the space into which water may flow may be formed around the opening/closing part136, and accordingly, water may be supplied from the water container130to the water tank unit140.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, the installation groove147of the water tank cover145in which the water supply regulating member150is installed may be configured as a groove in which, while the water supply regulating member150is installed in the water tank cover145, the contact part155side (upper side) may be opened and the pushing part157side (lower side) may be closed. Accordingly, the water supply regulating member150may maintain a stable position without being separated from the installation groove147even when the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180pressurizes the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150.

Referring toFIGS.2and5, the housing110may include an opening113in which the water container130is installed, and a partition112for partitioning the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3.

In the case, the water supply regulating member150may be disposed in the opening113which may be the outer side of the partition112, and the flow regulating member180may be disposed in the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3which may be the inner side of the partition112. However, the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180may be exposed to the opening113through the through-hole112aformed in the partition112to pressurize the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150disposed in the opening113.

Also, since the humidification member160is also disposed in the humidification flow path F3of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3which may be the inner side of the partition112, another through-hole112bmay be formed in the partition112to allow the water tank unit140on which the humidification member160is mounted may be disposed in the humidification path F3, and an opening cover143may be provided on the water tank unit140to close the through-hole112b.

Referring toFIGS.3and7, when the water tank unit140is installed in the housing110, when the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150is lifted upwardly, the contact part155may be in contact with and may interfere with the side surface of the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180. In the case, the water tank unit140may not be properly installed, such that water may not be supplied from the water container130, which may be problematic.

To address the above problem, in the air humidification and purification device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the contact part155side may be inclined in a downward direction with respect to the rotary shaft part153while the water supply regulating member150is installed on the water tank cover145. To the end, the water supply regulating member150may be configured to include a weight part159for adding weight to one side of the body part151, that is, the contact part155side. Accordingly, when the water tank unit140is separated from the housing110, the contact part155may be inclined downwardly by the weight of the weight part159. Therefore, even when the water tank unit140is mounted on the housing110, the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150may not be interfered with the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180, such that the water tank unit140may be stably installed.

The air humidification and purification device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a control part C (inFIG.6) for controlling operation of the flow path regulating member180and the blowing part170. The control part C may regulate the rotational position of the flow path regulating member180in response to the purification mode and the humidification mode and may drive the blowing part170. Also, the controller C may move the flow path regulating member180to the drying mode position (the third position) disposed between the humidification mode position and the purification mode position, such that the humidification member160is dried after the humidification ends. In this state, the blowing part170may be driven to dry water absorbed in the humidification member160and/or water contained in the water tank unit140.

The drying mode may be performed for a predetermined period of time required for drying the humidification member160and/or the water tank unit140through time control, but an example embodiment thereof is not limited thereto.

Next, the operations in the purification mode, the humidification mode and the drying mode will be described with reference toFIGS.9to11.

As illustrated inFIG.9, in the purification mode, the flow path regulating member180may be disposed in the vertical direction to open the purification flow path F2of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3. As such, when the body part181of the flow path regulating member180is installed in parallel to the purification flow path F2, the air blown from the blowing part170may be discharged through the purified air discharge port117via the open purification flow path F2due to flow resistance of the humidification member160installed in the humidification flow path F3.

In the case, the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180may be spaced apart from the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150, such that the pushing part157of the flow path regulating member180may not pressurize the water supply valve member135. Accordingly, the opening/closing part136provided in the water supply valve member135may maintain a closed state by the elastic force of the elastic means (the spring), and water may not be supplied from the water container130to the water tank unit140.

Thereafter, as illustrated inFIG.10, in the humidification mode, the flow path regulating member180may be disposed in a direction of crossing the transverse cross-sectional surface of the purification flow path F2, such as, for example, in an oblique direction, to close the purification flow path F2of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3. That is, the flow path regulating member180may be disposed such that the upper end of the body part181may be inclined toward the humidified air discharge port118. In the case, the upper end of the body part181of the flow path regulating member180may be adjacent to a partition wall W and the lower end may be adjacent to the opposite side of the partition wall W, such that the air flow to the purification flow path F2may be blocked and air flowing through the air flow path part may flow into the humidification path F3through the through-hole WH formed in the partition wall W. Accordingly, the air blown from the blowing part170may be humidified through the humidification member160and discharged externally of the housing110through the humidified air discharge port118.

In the case, since the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180may be in contact with the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150and may pressurize the contact part155, the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150may move in a downward direction with respect to the rotary shaft part153, and the pushing part157of the water supply regulating member150may move in the upward direction with respect to the rotary shaft part153. Accordingly, the pushing part157of the flow path regulating member180may pressurize the opening/closing part136of the water supply valve member135upwardly, such that the opening/closing part136may move upwardly. Accordingly, the opening/closing part136may be opened, such that water may be supplied from the water container130to the water tank unit140.

Meanwhile, as illustrated inFIG.11, the flow path regulating member180may have the third position (the drying mode position) disposed between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position. When the flow path regulating member180is disposed in the third position, the humidification member160and/or the water tank unit140may be dried.

Specifically, as illustrated inFIG.11, the inclination angle of the flow path regulating member180in the vertical direction may be smaller than the inclination angle in the vertical direction in the humidification mode position inFIG.10. In the case, the upper end of the flow path regulating member180may be slightly spaced apart from the partition wall W and the lower end may be slightly spaced apart from the opposite wall of the partition wall W, such that some air may flow into the purification flow path F2and some air may flow into the humidification path F3through the through-hole WH formed in the partition wall W. As such, as some air passes through the humidification member160, the humidification member160may be dried. Also, the humidification member160may be configured to absorb moisture of the water contained in the water tank unit140, and in the case, water contained in the water tank unit140may be dried according to the drying of the humidification member160.

Also, when the flow path regulating member180rotates from the humidification mode position to the third position, the contact between the pressing part185of the flow path regulating member180and the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150may be released Accordingly, the opening/closing part136provided in the water supply valve member135may be closed by the elastic force of the elastic means (spring), and the water supply from the water container130to the water tank unit140may be blocked.

In the case, to increase drying efficiency, the position of the flow path regulating member180in the drying mode may be determined to sufficiently secure the amount of air blown into the humidification flow path F3. For example, the position of the flow path regulating member180in the drying mode may slightly rotate from the humidification mode position such that the contact between the pressing part185and the contact part155of the water supply regulating member150may be released and the opening/closing part136may be closed.

To perform the drying mode, the controller C may move the flow path regulating member180from the humidification mode position to the drying mode position between the humidification mode position and the purification mode position after the humidification mode ends, such that the humidification member160may be dried. In this state, the blowing part170may be driven to dry the water absorbed in the humidification member160and/or the water contained in the water tank unit140.

However, the drying mode may be performed not only after the humidification mode ends, and the drying mode may be performed by a user selection or may be performed after the purification mode ends.

The drying mode may be performed for a predetermined period of time necessary for drying the humidification member160and/or the water tank unit140through time control, but an example embodiment thereof is not limited thereto.

As such, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the humidification mode in which water is supplied by a simple manipulation of rotating the flow path regulating member180and the purification mode in which humidification is not performed may be easily implemented, and the drying mode for drying the humidification member160may also be easily performed.

Also, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, water may be supplied to the water tank unit140only when the flow path regulating member180is in the humidification mode position, and water supply to the water tank unit140may be blocked in the purification mode and the drying mode position, such that, by performing the drying mode, moisture present in the water tank unit140and/or the humidification member160may be removed. Accordingly, contamination and bacterial generation in the water tank unit140and/or the humidification member160may be significantly reduced.

While the embodiments have been illustrated and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made without departing from the scope in the embodiment as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERAL