JPH0743005A - Humidifying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a humidifying device capable of preventing a decrease in the amount of humidification at the time of switching when changing the humidifying condition and creating an amenity space in accordance with a user's intention. A switch input means for selecting a desired humidification condition, which includes a plurality of humidification parts with water vapor having at least two levels of humidification, and control of energization and switching of the heating means of the humidifier according to the input In a humidifying device having a control means for performing the above, when switching from one humidifying condition to the next humidifying condition, both heating means are kept energized during a certain transition period. A humidifier that is controlled to do so.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifying device, and more particularly to a humidifying device suitable for preventing a decrease in the amount of humidification during transition when switching humidifying conditions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to changes in the housing structure in Japan, it has been observed that a humidifying device is used in consideration of the drying of the interior of the room, especially when heating is used in the winter season. Development of devices or new proposals have also been made. Generally, these humidifiers have a variety of specific means, but the basic idea is that, for example, water is converted to steam by some heating means, or water droplets are dispersed and atomized by means such as ultrasonic waves. In other words, water is made into ultrafine particles and released into the atmosphere, thereby humidifying.

An example of the above humidifier will be described with reference to FIG. That is, FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory cross-sectional view showing an aspect of a humidifying device having two large and small humidifying sections 2 and 3. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 2 denotes a humidifying section having a large humidifying ability (hereinafter referred to as a humidifying section (large)), which is provided with a pipe 4 and a humidifying heater 9 and has an outlet 11 at the upper end. On the other hand, 3 is a humidifying section having a small humidifying capacity (hereinafter referred to as a humidifying section (small)), which is provided with a pipe 5 and a humidifying heater 10 and has an outlet 12 at the upper end. These pipes 4 and 5 communicate with the water tank, and the water 6 from the tank set in the water tank 1 flows in by the operation of the valve 20 and is filled to a certain water level as shown in the figure. By activating the humidifying heaters 9 or 10 in such a configuration, the water 6 in the pipes 4 or 5 becomes steam, so that the water 6 is discharged from the outlet 11 or 12 for humidification.

Incidentally, in the case of FIG. 3, the humidifying section having the humidifying capacity of two levels, large and small, is exemplified, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this, and a humidifying section having a plurality of humidifying sections of two or more levels can also be used. Similar operations can be performed. next,
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of control means for controlling the humidifying device of FIG. In the figure, 13 is a switch unit, 8 is a control unit, and the control unit 8 is a humidifying unit (large).
2 and the energizing of the humidifying heaters 9 and 10 of the humidifying unit (small) 3 and other controls. As the operation of the block diagram of FIG. 4, first, the ON / OFF switch of the switch unit 13 is set to “ON”, and then, depending on the humidification strength desired by the user,
It is possible to select the humidification condition in three stages of strong / medium / weak by selecting each switch.

This selection can be made by combining the humidifying section (large) 2 or the humidifying section (small) 3. That is, depending on which of the above-mentioned strong / medium / weak switch is selected, the control unit 8 controls the humidifying heater 9 of the humidifying unit (large) 2 or the humidifying heater 10 of the humidifying unit (small) 3 or both of them. Energize by deciding whether to energize or not. Thus, if "strong" is selected, both the humidifying heaters 9 and 10 are energized, the water temperature in both the pipes 4 and 5 rises, and it boils, and the humidifying part (large) 2 and the humidifying part (small) are heated.
A large amount of water vapor is discharged into the room from both outlets 11 and 12 of No. 3 and humidification is performed. On the other hand, when "medium" is selected, only the humidifying heater 9 is energized and controlled to be energized, so that only the humidifying section (large) 2 is operated and steam is generated.

Further, when "weak" is selected, only the humidifying heater 10 is energized and energized, so that only the humidifying part (small) 3 is activated, so that the humidifying effect in this case is weak. Become. Note that such control can be implemented by a known relatively simple control means. In addition to this, as an example of known control means, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As can be seen in the technique of Japanese Patent No. 125833, two humidity set values are defined in advance, and a controller that adjusts the humidity based on the first set value and a number lower by several% RH than the first set value. It can be also seen that a device including a second humidity controller that inverts the circuit through the rectifying element when the humidity setting value of 2 is detected.

[0007]

By the way, in the method of FIG. 4 mentioned above, switching of the humidifying conditions, especially "medium"
→ In the case of "weak" or "weak" → "medium", the total amount of humidification is temporarily reduced, giving the user an impression as if the humidification had stopped, at least for the visual effect. Not desirable. That is, FIG. 5 is shown in FIG.
A sequence for energizing the humidifying heaters 9 and 10 of the humidifying section (large) 2 and the humidifying section (small) 3 shown in FIG. 4, and the corresponding humidifying section (large) 2 and humidifying section (small).
3 is a sequence diagram showing the respective humidification amount change sequences, and the transition of the total humidification amount for each of these humidification amounts, with the horizontal axis showing the humidification conditions, that is, strong / medium / weak.

As is apparent from FIG. 5, there is a time lag between the heating of the water 6 by the humidifying heaters 9 and 10 until the water temperature rises and steam is generated. Therefore, the humidifying condition is set to "medium". When switching from “weak” to “weak” or from “medium” to “medium”, the total amount of humidification is temporarily reduced, as seen in the area A of the total humidification transition in FIG. In addition to the sudden drop, the outlet 1
A phenomenon occurs in which the release of water vapor from 1 or 12 is temporarily not seen. Therefore, as described above, the user feels as if the function of the humidifier is interrupted. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a humidifying device capable of preventing a decrease in the amount of humidification at the time of switching when changing the humidifying condition and creating an amenity space that matches the user's intention.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and its gist is to provide a plurality of humidifying sections with steam having a humidifying ability of at least two levels. In a humidifying device having a switch input means for selecting a desired humidifying condition and a control means for controlling activation and switching of the heating means of the humidifying device in accordance with the input, the humidifying condition is changed from the original humidifying condition to the following. In the humidifying device, the heating device is controlled so that both heating means are kept energized during a certain transition period.

[0010]

In the present invention, when switching the humidifying conditions of the steam heating type humidifying device capable of selecting at least two levels of humidifying conditions, both the original heating means and the next heating means are operated during a certain transition period. Since it is controlled to keep the energized state, it is possible to prevent the amount of humidification from decreasing even during the transition period, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the humidifying capacity and achieve continuous changes in the humidifying conditions. Becomes Specifically, of the humidifying heaters 9 and 10, the energization stop of the humidifying heater on the side where the energization is stopped is delayed until the steam generation of the other humidifying heater on the side where the energization is started is almost started. The humidifying operation can be performed without interruption.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the humidifying device to be the subject of the present invention is the same as the one shown in FIG. 3 described above, and the description of the configuration is as described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the humidifying apparatus to which the present invention is applied includes a plurality of humidifying sections using steam having at least two levels of humidifying ability. In FIG. 3, the humidifying section (large) 2 and the humidifying section (small). 3, switch input means for selecting a desired humidifying condition as described later, and heating means of the humidifying device according to the input, the humidifying heaters 9 and 1 in FIG.
It has a control means for controlling the activation, switching, etc. of 0.

Further, as seen in the configuration of FIG. 3, the humidifying part (large) 2 and the humidifying part (small) 3 are provided with pipes 4 and 5, and outlets 11 and 12, respectively, and water 6 in the tank 7 is provided. Is flowed into the water tank 1 by the operation of the valve 20 to reach a constant water level, and the humidifying heaters 9 and 10 as heating means communicate with each other. Of course, the present invention is not limited to humidification conditions of two levels, large and small, and naturally plural humidification conditions having a plurality of humidification parts of two or more levels are also the subject of the present invention. Is. Next, FIG. 1 corresponds to FIG.
It is a block diagram showing an example of a control means for controlling the humidifying device. The block diagram of FIG. 1 is basically the same as the block diagram of FIG.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a control unit, which is a humidifying unit (large) 2 and a humidifying unit (small)
The heating means 3 is controlled.

On the other hand, in the present invention, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, the control section 8 is composed of an input circuit 15 and an output circuit 16 centering on a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 14. .
Therefore, the user of the humidifier first turns on / off the switch unit 13.
After turning off the switch, three levels of strong / medium / weak are selected according to the desired humidification conditions. In this case, from "medium" to "weak" or "weak". When the humidifying condition is changed from “to” to “medium” by switching the switch unit 13, the CPU 14 stores data for delaying the energization period of the humidifying heater 9 or 10, and the humidifying condition switching signal from the switch unit 13 is stored. Is input to the CPU 14 from the input circuit 15 and the energization period delay signal is sent to the output circuit 16, whereby power transmission for a required period and subsequent energization stop are performed by the humidification heater 9 or the humidification unit (small) of the humidification unit (large) 2. ) No. 3 humidifying heater 10.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for showing the above-mentioned solid operation, in which the horizontal axis represents humidifying conditions, that is, strong / medium /
The sequence of taking weak, respectively, and energizing the humidifying heaters 9 and 10 of the humidifying section (large) 2 and the humidifying section (small) 3 in order from the bottom, and the corresponding humidifying section (large)
2 and the humidification amount (small) 3 sequence of changes in the amount of humidification, and the uppermost diagram shows the transition of the total amount of humidification with respect to these amounts of humidification. In these figures, T ₁ is a delay time until the energization of the humidifying part (large) 2 is stopped, and T ₂ is a delay time until the energization of the humidifying part (small) 3 is stopped. These T ₁ and T ₂ are set to desired values in advance and stored in the CPU 14, and when an arbitrary humidification mode is selected by the operation of the switch unit 13, a humidification heater which is a heating unit is instructed by the CPU 14. The energization mode of 9 or 10 is as shown in FIG.

By setting the delay time T ₁ or T ₂ until the stop of energization in this way, the other energizing and energizing side humidifying heater raises the temperature of the water 6 to reach boiling. In the rising stage until the heating is started, the humidifying heater on the side that was previously energized is continuously energized and energized during a certain transition period of T _{1 or} T ₂ , whereby
Either the humidifying unit (large) 2 or the humidifying unit (small) 3 will continue to perform humidification, and both will be controlled so as to maintain the energized state, so that the state as if the humidification had been interrupted Does not occur. That is, as is clear from the diagram of the total humidification amount in FIG. 2, the humidification amount does not decrease even at the switching point of the humidification conditions as in the region B and continuously changes. It does not appear as if it was visually interrupted at first glance.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, the present invention prevents the reduction of the humidification amount at the time of transition when switching the humidification conditions by using the means of a relatively simple structure, and It is possible to provide a humidifying device capable of creating an amenity space that matches the intention of the above, and the practical effect is extremely large.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a control means for controlling a humidifying device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the control means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory cross-sectional view showing an aspect of a humidifying device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of conventional control means of the humidifier of FIG.

5 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the control means in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Water Tank 2 Humidifying Part (Large) 3 Humidifying Part (Small) 4,5 Pipe 6 Water 7 Tank 8 Control Part 9,10 Humidifying Heater 11,12 Outlet Port 13 Switch Part 14 CPU 15 Input Circuit 16 Output Circuit 20 Valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A switch input means for selecting a desired humidification condition, comprising a plurality of humidification parts using steam having at least two levels of humidification capacity, and energizing and switching of heating means of a humidifier according to the input. In a humidifier having a control means for controlling the above, when switching from one humidifying condition to the next humidifying condition when switching the humidifying conditions, both heating means are energized during a certain transition period. A humidifying device characterized by being controlled so as to hold.