Patent Description:
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.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus for purifying and humidifying air which enables separate supply of purified air and humidified air and controls the amount of humidified air discharged. The apparatus includes dual flow paths to increase the efficiency of air transfer. The apparatus includes a case having a suction port through which external air is introduced thereinto and a discharge port through which the introduced air is discharged, a circulation fan for causing the introduced air to flow toward the discharge port, a filter unit disposed in the case to filter the introduced air, a humidification unit disposed at a low position in the case to supply the air passed through the filter unit with moisture, and a flow path control unit disposed between the suction port and the humidification unit to control flow of the air passed through the filter unit.

One object of the present invention 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.

In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide an air humidification and purification device which may supply water to a water tank unit only in a humidification mode.

It is also desirable 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).

It is also desirable 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.

It is also desirable to provide an air humidification and purification device which may easily implement a humidification mode and a purification mode.

It is also desirable to provide an air humidification and purification device which may improve humidification efficiency and air purification efficiency.

To this end, the present invention provides an air humidification and purification device in accordance with claim <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the present invention, 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 invention, 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.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, 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 invention, 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 invention, 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 invention, 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 invention, 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 invention, 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.

Hereinafter, preferable embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Also, the embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely describe the present invention 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 invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an air humidification and purification device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<FIG> is a perspective diagram illustrating an air humidification and purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a perspective diagram illustrating a state in which a water container <NUM> is separated from a water tank unit <NUM> in the air humidification and purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective diagram illustrating the water tank unit <NUM> and the humidification member <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating the water tank unit <NUM> and the humidification member <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> further illustrates the water tank unit <NUM> for ease of description. <FIG> is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the air humidification and purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> from which a water container body <NUM> is removed, taken along line A-A' in <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective diagram illustrating a flow path regulating member <NUM> provided in an air humidification and purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a perspective diagram illustrating a water supply regulating member <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> is diagrams illustrating the air humidification and purification device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, 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 container <NUM> is removed, taken along line A-A' in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the air humidification and purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing <NUM> forming the exterior of the product, an air purification filter <NUM> for filtering and purifying air, a water container <NUM> accommodating water for humidification and having a water supply valve member <NUM>, a water tank unit <NUM> receiving water from the water container <NUM>, a humidification member <NUM> performing humidification, a blowing part <NUM> providing blowing power, air flow path part F1, F2, and F3 formed between the suction port <NUM> and the discharge port <NUM>, a flow path regulating member <NUM> for regulating the air flow, and a driving part M for providing a rotational force. Also, the air humidification and purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a control part C for controlling the driving of the air humidification and purification device <NUM> and a water supply regulating member <NUM> operating to open and close the water supply valve member <NUM>.

First, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the air humidification and purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a housing body <NUM> forming the exterior, a suction port <NUM> through which external air is suctioned into the housing body <NUM>, and an discharge port <NUM> through which air passing through the housing body <NUM> is discharged externally of the housing body <NUM>.

Also, the discharge port <NUM> may be divided into a humidified air discharge port <NUM> through which air flowing in from the suction port <NUM> is discharged through the air purification filter <NUM> and the humidification member <NUM> described later, and a purified air discharge port <NUM> through which air is discharged without passing through the humidification member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the suction port <NUM> may be formed in the lower front portion of the housing <NUM>, the humidified air discharge port <NUM> may be formed in the upper front portion of the housing <NUM>, and the purified air discharge port <NUM> may be formed on the upper surface of the housing <NUM>. However, the installation positions of the suction port <NUM> and the discharge port <NUM> (<NUM>, and <NUM>) and the number of the suction port <NUM> and the discharge port <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be varied. For example, the suction port <NUM> may be installed on a plurality of surfaces among the front, rear, left, and right surfaces of the housing <NUM> so as to suction air in various directions, and the installation positions of the humidified air discharge port <NUM> and the purified air discharge port <NUM> and the number of the humidified air discharge port <NUM> and the purified air discharge port <NUM> may also be varied.

Referring to <FIG>, the air purification filter <NUM> is provided within the housing <NUM> and is configured to filter (purify) air flowing in from the suction port <NUM>, and may be disposed on the rear end of the suction port <NUM>. Also, the air purification filter <NUM> may be installed on the front end of the blowing part <NUM> such that air flowing in from the suction port <NUM> may be filtered by the air purification filter <NUM> and may flow into the blowing part <NUM>.

The air purification filter <NUM> may 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 port <NUM>, and accordingly, the entire air flowing in through the suction port <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may pass through the air purification filter <NUM>. However, the shape of the air purification filter <NUM> is not limited to the above-described rectangular shape, and various types of known filters may be used. For example, the air purification filter <NUM> may 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 filter <NUM> may be selected from among filters having various shapes and functions, and the type of the air purification filter <NUM>, the number of the air purification filter <NUM>, the shape of the air purification filter <NUM> are not limited to the example illustrated in <FIG>, and may be varied.

The water container <NUM> may include a water container body <NUM> for accommodating water for humidification therein, and includes a water supply valve member <NUM> opening and closing to allow water accommodated in the water container body <NUM> to be discharged.

The water container <NUM> may be configured to be separated from the air humidification and purification device <NUM> so as to easily fill the water container body <NUM> with water. For example, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the water container body <NUM> of the water container <NUM> may be configured to form a portion of the exterior of the housing <NUM> and may be separated from the housing <NUM>, but an example embodiment thereof is not limited thereto.

The water supply valve member <NUM> may be installed in a cap structure screwed to an inlet (an inlet port) of the water container body <NUM>. The water supply valve member <NUM> may include an opening/closing part <NUM> elastically 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 part <NUM> is not pressed, and an open state is maintained while the opening/closing part <NUM> is pressed. The water supply valve member <NUM> may be generally used for the water container <NUM> of a general humidifier, and thus, a detailed description thereof will not be provided.

Also, the water tank unit <NUM> may be installed within the housing <NUM> and may accommodate water supplied from the water container <NUM> by opening the water supply valve member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the water tank unit <NUM> may include a water tank body <NUM> for accommodating water, and a water tank cover <NUM> for covering at least a portion of the upper portion of the water tank body <NUM>. Also, an opening cover <NUM> for blocking the through-hole 112b (in <FIG>) when the water tank unit <NUM> is mounted on the opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may be installed on the upper side of the water tank cover <NUM>.

The water tank cover <NUM> may include a humidification member mounting opening <NUM> for mounting the humidification member <NUM>, a water tank seating part <NUM> on which the water container <NUM> is seated, and an installation groove <NUM> in which the water supply regulating member <NUM> described later is installed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the water tank unit <NUM> may be installed to be separated from the housing <NUM> by sliding while the water container <NUM> is separated from the housing <NUM>.

Also, the humidification member (humidification filter) <NUM> may perform humidification by vaporization (by blowing) using water supplied to the water tank body <NUM> of the water tank unit <NUM>, and may be installed adjacent to the humidified air discharge port <NUM> and disposed side by side with the front of the housing <NUM>.

The humidification member <NUM> may be disposed on the rear end of the blowing part <NUM> on the air flow path, and accordingly, air flowing by operation of the blowing part <NUM> may be humidified while passing through the humidification member <NUM>, and may be discharged through the humidified air discharge port <NUM>.

As described above, since the air purification filter <NUM> is disposed on the front end of the blowing part <NUM> and the humidification member <NUM> is disposed on the rear end of the blowing part <NUM>, when only an air purifying function is performed, the flowing of air filtered in the air purification filter <NUM> to the humidification member <NUM> may be limited, and accordingly, air purifying efficiency may increase. Also, even when the blowing fan provided in the blowing part <NUM> is 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 part <NUM> the flow path switching of the flow path regulating member <NUM> described later, as the entire discharged air flows toward the humidification member <NUM>, the humidification efficiency may increase.

The humidification member <NUM> may be configured to have a material having excellent hygroscopicity or a shape so as to sufficiently absorb water contained in the water tank unit <NUM>. As an example, the humidification member <NUM> may be configured to be immersed in water accommodated in the water tank body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. However, the humidification member <NUM> is 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 in <FIG> and <FIG>, the humidification member <NUM> may be mounted on and separated from the water tank unit <NUM> through the humidification member mounting opening <NUM> formed in the water tank cover <NUM>. Also, the humidification member <NUM> may be separated from the housing <NUM> by sliding while the water container <NUM> is separated from the housing <NUM> and is mounted on the water tank unit <NUM>.

Thereafter, the blowing part <NUM> is configured to provide blowing force to allow air flowing in from the suction port <NUM> to flow to the discharge port <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM>) via the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3 formed between the suction port <NUM> and the discharge port <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM>).

Referring to <FIG>, the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3 may include a blowing flow path F1 disposed on the discharge port side of the blowing part <NUM>, a purification flow path F2 through which air from the blowing flow path F1 flows to the purified air discharge port <NUM>, and a humidification flow path F3 which air from the blowing flow path F1 flows to the humidified air discharge port <NUM>.

The specific air flow path of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3 may be varied depending on the positions of the suction port <NUM> and the discharge port <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM>), and the suction/discharge position and direction of the blowing part <NUM>.

Also, the blowing part <NUM> may 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. In <FIG>, the blowing part <NUM> may be disposed on the rear of the air purification filter <NUM> with respect to the air flow path and may have a structure in which air is suctioned from one side of the blowing part <NUM>, but the installation position and the suctioning structure of the blowing part <NUM> is not limited to the examples illustrated in <FIG> and may be varied. For example, the blowing fan provided in the blowing part <NUM> may have a double suction structure in which air is suctioned from both sides of the blowing part.

The flow path regulating member <NUM> is 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 port <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM>).

Referring to <FIG>, the flow path regulating member <NUM> may switch the flow path such that air flowing through the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3 to pass through at least one of the humidified air discharge port <NUM> and the purified air discharge port <NUM>.

For example, the flow path regulating member <NUM> may be configured to rotate between the purification mode position (see <FIG>) in which air filtered by the air purification filter <NUM> and discharged from the blowing part <NUM> may flow to the purified air discharge port <NUM> via the purification flow path F2, and a humidification mode position (see <FIG>) in which air from the blowing part <NUM> may flow to the humidified air discharge port <NUM> via the humidification flow path F3. That is, air purified through the air purification filter <NUM> may pass through the humidification member <NUM> and may be discharged through the humidified air discharge port <NUM> in a humidified state when the flow path regulating member <NUM> is in the humidification mode position illustrated in <FIG>, and when the flow path regulating member <NUM> is in the purification mode position illustrated in <FIG>, air may be discharged through the purified air discharge port <NUM> without passing through the humidification member <NUM>.

The flow path regulating member <NUM> may be disposed in a third position (a drying mode position) disposed between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position (see <FIG>), and in the case, air from the blowing part <NUM> may be branched into the purification flow path F2 and the humidification flow path F3 and may flow to both the purified air discharge port <NUM> and the humidified air discharge port <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the flow path regulating member <NUM> includes a body part <NUM> configured to cross the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3 to open and close at least a portion of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3, and a pressing part <NUM> configured to pressurize the water supply regulating member <NUM> described later as the body part <NUM> rotates around the rotary shaft part <NUM>.

Also, the flow path regulating member <NUM> is configured to be rotated 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 member <NUM> may rotate between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position.

The opening and closing of the water supply valve member <NUM> provided in the water container <NUM> is configured to be performed by rotation of the flow path regulating member <NUM>.

For example, when humidification is performed through the humidification member <NUM>, that is, when the flow path regulating member <NUM> is in the humidification mode position, the flow path regulating member <NUM> may be configured to open the water supply valve member <NUM> provided in the water container <NUM> such that water may be supplied from the water container <NUM> to the water tank unit <NUM>.

As such, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the opening and closing of the water supply valve member <NUM> provided in the water container <NUM> is performed by rotation of the flow path regulating member <NUM>, the water supply from the water container <NUM> to the water tank unit <NUM> may be efficiently blocked, and a driving means for supplying water to the water tank unit <NUM> may not be necessary.

The air humidification and purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a water supply regulating member <NUM> installed in the water tank unit <NUM> and operating to open and close the water supply valve member <NUM> provided in the water container <NUM>.

In the case, the flow path regulating member <NUM> may be configured to pressurize the water supply regulating member <NUM> to open the water supply valve member <NUM> provided in the water container <NUM>.

The water supply regulating member <NUM> may be installed in the water tank cover <NUM> of the water tank unit <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the water supply regulating member <NUM> may include a body part <NUM>, a contact part <NUM> disposed on one side of the body part <NUM> and able to be pressed by the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM>, a pushing part <NUM> formed on the other side of the body part <NUM> and able to pressurize the water supply valve member <NUM> of the water container <NUM>, and a rotary shaft part <NUM> disposed between the contact part <NUM> and the pushing part <NUM> and coupled to the installation groove <NUM> formed in the water tank cover <NUM>.

Accordingly, the water supply regulating member <NUM> may be configured to be perform seesaw movement with respect to the rotary shaft part <NUM> (see the arrow in <FIG>). Also, referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, when the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> pressurizes the contact part <NUM> downwardly, the pushing part <NUM> may move upwardly with respect to the rotary shaft part <NUM>, such that the water supply valve member <NUM> may be opened. That is, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the pushing part <NUM> moves upwardly, the opening/closing part <NUM> provided in the water supply valve member <NUM> may move upwardly, such that the space into which water may flow may be formed around the opening/closing part <NUM>, and accordingly, water may be supplied from the water container <NUM> to the water tank unit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the installation groove <NUM> of the water tank cover <NUM> in which the water supply regulating member <NUM> is installed may be configured as a groove in which, while the water supply regulating member <NUM> is installed in the water tank cover <NUM>, the contact part <NUM> side (upper side) may be opened and the pushing part <NUM> side (lower side) may be closed. Accordingly, the water supply regulating member <NUM> may maintain a stable position without being separated from the installation groove <NUM> even when the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> pressurizes the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> may include an opening <NUM> in which the water container <NUM> is installed, and a partition <NUM> for partitioning the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3.

In the case, the water supply regulating member <NUM> may be disposed in the opening <NUM> which may be the outer side of the partition <NUM>, and the flow regulating member <NUM> may be disposed in the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3 which may be the inner side of the partition <NUM>. However, the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> may be exposed to the opening <NUM> through the through-hole 112a formed in the partition <NUM> to pressurize the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM> disposed in the opening <NUM>.

Also, since the humidification member <NUM> is also disposed in the humidification flow path F3 of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3 which may be the inner side of the partition <NUM>, another through-hole 112b may be formed in the partition <NUM> to allow the water tank unit <NUM> on which the humidification member <NUM> is mounted may be disposed in the humidification path F3, and an opening cover <NUM> may be provided on the water tank unit <NUM> to close the through-hole 112b.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the water tank unit <NUM> is installed in the housing <NUM>, when the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM> is lifted upwardly, the contact part <NUM> may be in contact with and may interfere with the side surface of the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM>. In the case, the water tank unit <NUM> may not be properly installed, such that water may not be supplied from the water container <NUM>, which may be problematic.

To address the above problem, in the air humidification and purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention, the contact part <NUM> side may be inclined in a downward direction with respect to the rotary shaft part <NUM> while the water supply regulating member <NUM> is installed on the water tank cover <NUM>. To the end, the water supply regulating member <NUM> may be configured to include a weight part <NUM> for adding weight to one side of the body part <NUM>, that is, the contact part <NUM> side. Accordingly, when the water tank unit <NUM> is separated from the housing <NUM>, the contact part <NUM> may be inclined downwardly by the weight of the weight part <NUM>. Therefore, even when the water tank unit <NUM> is mounted on the housing <NUM>, the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM> may not be interfered with the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM>, such that the water tank unit <NUM> may be stably installed.

The air humidification and purification device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a control part C (in <FIG>) for controlling operation of the flow path regulating member <NUM> and the blowing part <NUM>. The control part C may regulate the rotational position of the flow path regulating member <NUM> in response to the purification mode and the humidification mode and may drive the blowing part <NUM>. Also, the controller C may move the flow path regulating member <NUM> to the drying mode position (the third position) disposed between the humidification mode position and the purification mode position, such that the humidification member <NUM> is dried after the humidification ends. In this state, the blowing part <NUM> may be driven to dry water absorbed in the humidification member <NUM> and/or water contained in the water tank unit <NUM>.

The drying mode may be performed for a predetermined period of time required for drying the humidification member <NUM> and/or the water tank unit <NUM> through 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 to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the purification mode, the flow path regulating member <NUM> may be disposed in the vertical direction to open the purification flow path F2 of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3. As such, when the body part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> is installed in parallel to the purification flow path F2, the air blown from the blowing part <NUM> may be discharged through the purified air discharge port <NUM> via the open purification flow path F2 due to flow resistance of the humidification member <NUM> installed in the humidification flow path F3.

In the case, the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> may be spaced apart from the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM>, such that the pushing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> may not pressurize the water supply valve member <NUM>. Accordingly, the opening/closing part <NUM> provided in the water supply valve member <NUM> may maintain a closed state by the elastic force of the elastic means (the spring), and water may not be supplied from the water container <NUM> to the water tank unit <NUM>.

Thereafter, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the humidification mode, the flow path regulating member <NUM> may 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 F2 of the air flow path part F1, F2, and F3. That is, the flow path regulating member <NUM> may be disposed such that the upper end of the body part <NUM> may be inclined toward the humidified air discharge port <NUM>. In the case, the upper end of the body part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> may 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 F2 may be blocked and air flowing through the air flow path part may flow into the humidification path F3 through the through-hole WH formed in the partition wall W. Accordingly, the air blown from the blowing part <NUM> may be humidified through the humidification member <NUM> and discharged externally of the housing <NUM> through the humidified air discharge port <NUM>.

In the case, since the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> may be in contact with the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM> and may pressurize the contact part <NUM>, the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM> may move in a downward direction with respect to the rotary shaft part <NUM>, and the pushing part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM> may move in the upward direction with respect to the rotary shaft part <NUM>. Accordingly, the pushing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> may pressurize the opening/closing part <NUM> of the water supply valve member <NUM> upwardly, such that the opening/closing part <NUM> may move upwardly. Accordingly, the opening/closing part <NUM> may be opened, such that water may be supplied from the water container <NUM> to the water tank unit <NUM>.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in <FIG>, the flow path regulating member <NUM> may have the third position (the drying mode position) disposed between the purification mode position and the humidification mode position. When the flow path regulating member <NUM> is disposed in the third position, the humidification member <NUM> and/or the water tank unit <NUM> may be dried.

Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, the inclination angle of the flow path regulating member <NUM> in the vertical direction may be smaller than the inclination angle in the vertical direction in the humidification mode position in <FIG>. In the case, the upper end of the flow path regulating member <NUM> may 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 F2 and some air may flow into the humidification path F3 through the through-hole WH formed in the partition wall W. As such, as some air passes through the humidification member <NUM>, the humidification member <NUM> may be dried. Also, the humidification member <NUM> may be configured to absorb moisture of the water contained in the water tank unit <NUM>, and in the case, water contained in the water tank unit <NUM> may be dried according to the drying of the humidification member <NUM>.

Also, when the flow path regulating member <NUM> rotates from the humidification mode position to the third position, the contact between the pressing part <NUM> of the flow path regulating member <NUM> and the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM> may be released Accordingly, the opening/closing part <NUM> provided in the water supply valve member <NUM> may be closed by the elastic force of the elastic means (spring), and the water supply from the water container <NUM> to the water tank unit <NUM> may be blocked.

In the case, to increase drying efficiency, the position of the flow path regulating member <NUM> in 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 member <NUM> in the drying mode may slightly rotate from the humidification mode position such that the contact between the pressing part <NUM> and the contact part <NUM> of the water supply regulating member <NUM> may be released and the opening/closing part <NUM> may be closed.

To perform the drying mode, the controller C may move the flow path regulating member <NUM> from 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 member <NUM> may be dried. In this state, the blowing part <NUM> may be driven to dry the water absorbed in the humidification member <NUM> and/or the water contained in the water tank unit <NUM>.

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 member <NUM> and/or the water tank unit <NUM> through time control, but an example embodiment thereof is not limited thereto.

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

Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, water may be supplied to the water tank unit <NUM> only when the flow path regulating member <NUM> is in the humidification mode position, and water supply to the water tank unit <NUM> may be blocked in the purification mode and the drying mode position, such that, by performing the drying mode, moisture present in the water tank unit <NUM> and/or the humidification member <NUM> may be removed. Accordingly, contamination and bacterial generation in the water tank unit <NUM> and/or the humidification member <NUM> may be significantly reduced.

Claim 1:
An air humidification and purification device (<NUM>), comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) having a suction port (<NUM>) through which air is suctioned, and a discharge port (<NUM>) through which air is discharged;
a blowing part (<NUM>) provided in the housing (<NUM>), and providing blowing force to allow air flowing in from the suction port (<NUM>) to flow to the discharge port (<NUM>);
an air purification filter (<NUM>) disposed in the housing (<NUM>) and filtering air flowing in from the suction port (<NUM>);
a water container (<NUM>) provided in the housing (<NUM>);
a water tank unit (<NUM>) for receiving water from the water container (<NUM>);
a humidification member (<NUM>) for performing humidification using water supplied to the water tank unit (<NUM>);
an air flow path part (F1, F2, F3) formed between the suction port (<NUM>) and the discharge port (<NUM>), and in which air flowing from the suction port (<NUM>) flows;
a flow path regulating member (<NUM>) rotatably disposed in the air flow path part (F1, F2, F3); and
a driving part (M) for providing rotational force to the flow path regulating member (<NUM>),
wherein the water container (<NUM>) includes a water supply valve member (<NUM>) opening and
closing to allow water contained therein to be discharged,
wherein the flow path regulating member (<NUM>) includes:
a rotary shaft part (<NUM>) formed as a center of rotation; and
a body part (<NUM>) rotating integrally with the rotary shaft part (<NUM>), and configured to cross the air flow path part (F1, F2, F3) to open and close at least a portion of the air flow path part (F1, F2, F3);
characterized in that
the flow path regulating member (<NUM>) further includes a pressing part (<NUM>) rotating integrally with the rotary shaft part (<NUM>), and providing pressing force to open water supply valve member (<NUM>), and
in that, when the flow path regulating member (<NUM>) rotates, a direction of air flow in the air flow path part (F1, F2, F3) changes by the body part (<NUM>), and the water supply valve member (<NUM>) opens and closes by the pressing part (<NUM>).