AIR CLEANER AND ITS IONIZING UNIT

Abstract: In an air cleaner, there are some problems. For example, when an ionization section is taken out of a main body housing in order to wash the ionization section, an ionization line is cut by being erroneously touched. A pre-filter 7 is mounted on a front surface of an ionization and dust collection unit (an ionization section) 6 so as to be detachable. The pre-filter 7 is guided by a guide furring 23 in a sub-frame 12 and slid, and is mounted on a front surface of the sub-frame 12. When the pre-filter 7 is mounted, the ionization line 15 is not exposed, so that the pre-filter 7 protect the ionization line 15. When the ionization and dust collection unit 6 is detached form the main body housing, therefore, there is no problem that the ionization line 15 is cut by being erroneously touched with worker's hands, for example.

Description: The present invention relates to an air cleaner, and more particularly, to an air cleaner so adapted as to charge dust particles included in air using an ion shower by discharge and capture the charged dust particles using the principle of electrostatic adsorption. Further, it relates to an ionizing unit for such an air cleaner. Air cleaners of an electric dust collection type for charging dust particles included in air and capturing the charged dust particles by electrostatic adsorption have been known. Such an air cleaner comprises an ionization section (a discharge section) for charging the dust particles. The ionization section comprises an ionization line and an opposite electrode which serve as discharge electrodes, and the dust particles included in air passing between the ionization line and the opposite electrode are charged using an ion shower produced by discharging the ionization line. The charged dust particles are captured by being electrostatically adsorbed in the dust collection section. In the air cleaner of an electric dust collection type, the ionization section and the dust collection section must be periodically cleaned, and a filter in the dust collection section must be replaced in order to keep the dust collection performance good. The ionization section and the dust collection section are generally formed as an ionizing unit for convenience of washing or the like so that they are detachable from a main body housing. When the ionizing unit is taken out by opening the main body housing, the ionization line in the ionizing unit is exposed so that it may be erroneously cut. The reason for this is that the ionisation line is difficult to see because it is a very thin metal line, so that it is easily touched erroneously with worker's hands or by other parts. From WO-A-9919072 there is known a dust-collecting element which is detachably attached to an air-cleaning apparatus body and provided with an ionizing unit for electrically charging dust in the air and a filter serving as a dust-collecting unit. A cassette unit for supporting the filter is formed integrally with the casing of the ionizing unit. On one surface of the casing of the ionizing unit are arranged a plurality of ionizing lines and a plurality of pairs of opposing electrodes oppositely arranged and sandwiching the ionizing lines. On the other surface of the casing is provided a cassette unit for supporting the filter. From US-A-4007 024 there is known a portable electrostatic air cleaning device having a small depthwise air-flow dimension, and adapted to be substituted in an air conduit for a typical furnace or air conditioner filter. Ionizer wires and narrow collector plates are alternately spaced widthwise of the air-cleaner, between a pre-filter screen and an after-filter screen. The narrow collector plates are mounted within the device at an angle to the air flow direction to effectively lengthen the air flow through the air cleaning device. The pre-filter screen and the after-filter screen contain electrically conductive materials which are charged to the same potential as the collector plates in order to maximize the electrostatic field strengths. The present invention has been made with a view to solving the above described problems and has for its one object to provide an ionizing unit for an air cleaner having a protective structure for protecting an ionization line provided in an ionization section. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an air cleaner and an ionizing unit which are so improved that an ionization line is not erroneously cut when an ionization section (an ionizing unit) is taken out. In accordance with the present invention there is provided an ionizing unit for an air cleaner for charging dust particles included in air, comprising a frame; an ionization line which is stretched over the frame; an opposite electrode provided in the frame so as to be opposite to the ionization line in a predetermined state; and a pre-filter, wherein the frame includes a main frame and a sub-frame, the sub-frame being made attachable and detachable to and from the main frame on the side of a front surface of the main frame, the main frame is provided with the opposite electrode the ionisation line is stretched over the sub-frame, and the pre-filter is detachably mounted on the sub-frame by being slid relatively to said front surface of the sub-frame. In the construction as set forth in the claim 1, the pre-filter is mounted on the ionization section so as to be detachable. Even in situations such as a case where the main body housing is opened to take out the ionization section, the pre-filter is mounted on the ionization section so that the ionization line is protected by the pre-filter. That is, the ionization line is not exposed, so that a worker cannot uselessly touch the ionization line. When the ionization section is washed, the pre-filter may be detached from the ionization section which has been detached from the main body housing. The ionization line is exposed by detaching the pre-filter. In this case, however, the worker performs work while paying attention to the ionization line, so that the ionization line may not be erroneously cut. Preferably, a dust collection section for capturing the charged dust particles is adapted to be mounted on the main frame, and the dust collection section comprises a filter arranged such that the periphery thereof is supported on a rear surface of the main frame for capturing charged dust particles in air by electrostatic adsorption. Advantageously, the main frame has an accommodation section which can accommodate a roll filter which is a film-shaped filter having such a length that it can be used a plurality of times wound in a roll shape provided at its one end. The invention also provides an air cleaner having an ionizing unit as defined above wherein the ionization section and the dust collection section are integrated as an ionization and dust collection unit by attaching the dust collection section to the ionization section. Accordingly, the unit can be simply detached and mounted. Moreover, when the unit is taken out or mounted, the ionization line in the unit is protected by the pre-filter. Accordingly, the ionization line is not directly touched with worker's hands, for example, and is not erroneously cut. When in the construction as described above the ionization and dust collection unit is so constructed as to have the main frame and the sub-frame, and the sub-frame is made detachable from the main frame, the effect of making the washing of the unit easy is produced. That is, the integrated unit may be taken out of the main body housing, and is also easy to mount. On the other hand, the unit obtained by the integration which has been detached from the main body housing can be broken down into the main frame and the sub-frame. The ionization line which is protected by the pre-filter is stretched over the sub-frame, and the opposite electrode is provided in the main frame. Accordingly, it is possible to detach the pre-filter from the sub-frame and carefully wash the ionization line. The opposite electrode in the main frame is, in many cases, very dirty, but it is possible to elaborately be washed without paying attention to the ionization line. In the aforegoing construction the pre-filter is mounted on the front surface of the ionizing unit so as to be detachable. In a state where the pre-filter is mounted, the ionization line in the ionizing unit is protected by the pre-filter. That is, the ionization line is covered with the pre-filter, and is not exposed. Accordingly, the ionization line is not uselessly touched with worker's hands, for example, and may not be erroneously cut. At the time of washing, it is possible to pay careful attention to the ionization line by detaching the pre-filter to expose the ionization line. Further, the pre-filter can independently be washed when detached. As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ionizing unit for an air cleaner having a superior structure in which the ionization line is protected by the pre-filter so that it may not be cut. The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall construction of an air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an ionization and dust collection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a locking structure in which a sub-frame is fitted in a main frame, to attain a fitted state; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view taken along a line A - A in Fig. 2 and a cross-sectional end elevation in a state where an ionization and dust collection unit according to one embodiment of the present invention is assembled. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall construction of an air cleaner 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The air cleaner 1 has a main body housing 2 and a front panel 3 which is fitted on a front surface of the main body housing 2. A motor (not shown) and a blast fan which is rotated by the motor are provided in the main body housing 2. Air is drawn from the front panel 3 by the blast fan, is cleaned, and is then blown off from a blow-off grill 4 on an upper surface of the main body housing 2. A display and operation section 5 is provided in a lower part of the front surface of the main body housing 2. The display and operation section 5 comprises an operation section for turning a power supply in the air cleaner 1 on/off and switching an operation mode and a display section for displaying an operating state. The main body housing 2 accommodates an ionization and dust collection unit 6. The ionization and dust collection unit 6 has a pre-filter 7 attached to its front surface. The pre-filter 7 is for capturing relatively large dirt and dust. In the ionization and dust collection unit 6, an ionization line and an opposite electrode for charging dust particles included in air passing through the unit, described later, are incorporated. A film-shaped filter 16 for capturing the charged dust particles is mounted on a rear surface of the ionization and dust collection unit 6. The film-shaped filter 16 is pulled out of a roll filter 8. The main body housing 2 further comprises two layers of photocatalyst elements 9 arranged on the front and rear sides and an inverter lamp 10 arranged therebetween in an inner part of the ionization and dust collection unit 6. The photocatalyst element 9 is a thin plate-shaped member having a honey-comb structure which passes air drawn from its front surface backward, and supports a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide. The inverter lamp 10 directs light to the photocatalyst element 9, to activate the photocatalyst carried in the element. An odorous constituent in air can be removed by activating the photocatalyst element. Further, the inverter lamp 10 has antibacterial and antiviral effects. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the ionization and dust collection unit 6. The ionization and dust collection unit 6 has a main frame 11 and a sub-frame 12. The main frame 11 is formed of an insulating material such as resin, and an opening enclosed by the frame comprises an opposite electrode 13. The opposite electrode 13 has nine opposite electrodes 13, arranged parallel to one another, extending in the vertical direction in the present embodiment. Each of the opposite electrodes 13 has a U shape in cross section, and the adjacent opposite electrodes 13 connect with one another by a plurality of thin connecting pieces 14 curved in a concave shape. That is, the nine opposite electrodes 13 are formed by sheet metal forming from one metal plate. The adjacent opposite electrodes 13 connect with each other by the thin connecting pieces 14 in order that air passes therebetween. The sub-frame 12 is also formed of an insulating material such as resin. Eight ionization lines 15 extending in the vertical direction are stretched parallel to one another in an opening enclosed by the frame. The sub-frame 12 is constructed so as to be attachable and detachable to and from the main frame 11. When the sub-frame 12 is fitted in the main frame 11, the ionization line 15 is arranged between the opposite electrodes 13 to be extended parallel to the opposite electrodes 13. That is, the eight ionization lines 15 and the nine opposite electrodes 13 are parallel and alternately opposite to one another. Furthermore, the ionization line 15 can be separated from the opposite electrode 13 by detaching the sub-frame 12 from the main frame 11. When the ionization line 15 and the opposite electrode 13 are made separable, the ionization line 15 and the opposite electrode 13 are easily maintained and specifically, are easy to wash. That is, dirt adheres to the ionization line 15 and the opposite electrode 13 as the air cleaner is used. Accordingly, the ionization line 15 and the opposite electrode 13 must be periodically washed. In such integrated construction that the ionization line 15 and the opposite electrode 13 cannot be separated from each other, there are some problems. For example, the thin ionization line 15 may be cut at the time of washing unless it is paid attention to. Further, the opposite electrode 13 and the connecting piece 14 are difficult to wash upon being interfered with by the ionization line 15. In the present embodiment, the ionization line 15 and the opposite electrode 13 can be separately washed or cleaned by separating them. Consequently, the ionization line 15 may not be cut at the time of washing the opposite electrode 13. Further, the opposite electrode 13 can be elaborately washed without paying attention to the ionization line 15. A roll filter accommodation section 17 is integrally formed at a lower end of the main frame 11. The roll filter accommodation section 17 accommodates the roll filter 8 having a film-shaped filter having such a length that it can be used a plurality of times wound in a roll shape, as shown in Fig. 1. The film-shaped filter 16 corresponding to one time of use which is pulled out of the roll filter 8 is supported on a rear surface of the main frame 11. The film-shaped filter 16 is a filter for electrostatic adsorption, which captures charged dust particles by electrostatic adsorption using an ion shower produced by the ionization line 15. When the opposite electrode 13 is washed, the roll filter 8 and the film-shaped filter 16 which has been pulled out are detached from the main frame 11. The sub-frame 12 is fitted in the main frame 11 in the following manner. Two engagement holes 18 are formed on the right and left sides in a lower frame 11D of the main frame 11 (an upper surface of the roll filter accommodation section 17). Two projections 19 which are respectively engaged with the engagement holes 18 are provided in a lower frame 12D of the sub-frame 12. The projection 19 is fitted in the engagement hole 18, and an upper frame 12U of the sub-frame 12 is rotated toward the far side (backward), centered around the lower frame 12D, thereby making it possible to fit the sub-frame 12 in the main frame 11. Two locking members 20 are provided in a protruding manner upward on the right and left sides in the upper frame 12U of the sub-frame 12. On the other hand, two locking members 21 are also provided in a protruding manner forward in an upper frame 11U of the main frame 11. In a state where the sub-frame 12 is fitted in the main frame 11, as shown in Fig. 3A, the two locking members 20 provided in the upper frame 12U of the sub-frame 12 and the two locking members 21 provided in the upper frame 11U of the main frame 11 are in a state where they are adjacent to each other in an orthogonal direction. The locking members 20 and 21 are respectively provided with small steps 20s and 21s, as shown in Fig. 3B. The steps 20s and 21s respectively lock the upper frame 11U of the main frame 11 and the upper frame 12U of the sub-frame 12. Accordingly, a state where the sub-frame 12 is fitted in the main frame 11 is held. When the sub-frame 12 is detached from the main frame 11, a force may be applied such that the locking members 20 and 21 are respectively pressed in opposite directions to the steps 20s and 21s to rotate the upper frame 12U of the sub-frame 12 toward this side (forward), as shown in Fig. 3A. In the present embodiment, the pre-filter 7 is mounted on the front surface of the sub-frame 12. Specifically, referring to Fig. 2, each of a right frame 12R and a left frame 12L of the sub-frame 12 has a guide furring 23 for sliding the pre-filter 7 upward and downward formed on its front surface. The guide furring 23 comprises a hook 24 having an L shape in cross section. Both the sides of pre-filter 7 which are slid along the guide furrings 23 are respectively prevented from coming off the guide furrings 23 by the hooks 24. Consequently, the pre-filter 7 can be mounted on the front surface of the sub-frame 12 by sliding the pre-filter 7 downward from the top of the sub-frame 12. Fig. 4 is a perspective view taken along a line A - A and is a cross-sectional end elevation in a state where the ionization and dust collection unit 6 is assembled. A hollow arrow in Fig. 4 indicates the flow of air. When the pre-filter 7 is mounted on the front surface of the sub-frame 12, the pre-filter 7 protects the ionization line 15. The ionization line 15 is difficult to see because it is a significantly thin line. Accordingly, the ionization line 15 may be touched with worker's hands in cases such as a case where the ionization and dust collection unit 6 is detached from the main body housing 2 which is not preferable because a worker may hurt his hands or cut the ionization line 15. Conventionally, the pre-filter 7 is attached to a rear surface of the front panel 3 (see Fig. 1). When the front panel 3 is detached, therefore, the front surface of the ionization and dust collection unit 6 appears so that the ionization line 15 is exposed. In cases such as a case where the ionization and dust collection unit 6 is detached, therefore, there are some problems. For example, the ionization line 15 may be cut without being noticed. In the present embodiment, the pre-filter 7 is mounted on the sub-frame 12 and the pre-filter 7 protects the ionization line 15, as shown in Fig. 4. When the ionization and dust collection unit 6 is detached from the main body housing 2, therefore, the ionization line 15 which is protected by the pre-filter 7 may not be erroneously cut, for example. In the above-mentioned embodiment, description was made of an example in which the ionization and dust collection unit 6 is integrated, and the frame is constituted by the main frame 11 and the sub-frame 12. However, the present invention may be directed to an air cleaner in which an ionization section and a dust collection section are separately provided, in which a pre-filter is mounted on a front surface of the ionization section so as to be detachable. In short, the present invention is directed to an air cleaner comprising an ionization section so constructed that an ionization line is protected by mounting a pre-filter, and an ionizing unit for the air cleaner.

Claims: An ionising unit for an air cleaner for charging dust particles included in air, comprising a frame (11, 12); an ionization line (15) which is stretched over the frame; an opposite electrode (13) provided in the frame so as to be opposite to the ionization line (15) in a predetermined state; and a pre-filter (7), characterized in that the frame includes a main frame (11) and a sub-frame (12), the sub-frame (12) being made attachable and detachable to and from the main frame (11) on the side of a front surface of the main frame (11), the main frame (11) is provided with the opposite electrode (13), the ionisation line (15) is stretched over the sub-frame (12), and the pre-filter (7) is detachably mounted on the sub-frame (12) by being slid relatively to said front surface of the sub-frame (12). An ionizing unit for an air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a dust collection section for capturing charged dust particles is adapted to be mounted on said main frame (11), and wherein the dust collection section comprises a filter (16) arranged such that the periphery thereof is supported on a rear surface of the main frame (11) for capturing charged dust particles in air by electrostatic adsorption. An ionizing unit for an air cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main frame (11) has an accommodation section (17) which can accommodate a roll filter (8) comprising a film-shaped filter having such a length that it can be used a plurality of times wound therein in a roll shape provided at its one end. An air cleaner having an ionizing unit according to claim 2, wherein said ionization section and the dust collection section are integrated as an ionization and dust collection unit (6) by attaching the dust collection section (16) to the ionization section.

Inventors: ODA YASUHIRO KANAOKA-KOJO, ODA, YASUHIRO KANAOKA-KOJO, Oda, Yasuhiro Kanaoka-kojo, Daikin Industries Ltd.
Applicants: DAIKIN IND LTD, DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61L9
IPC codes: B03C3, A61L9