JP4696014B2 - Hand dryer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hand drying device that hygienically dries hands wet by hand washing or the like.

  For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, the hand drying device has a hand insertion portion into which a hand after hand washing can be inserted, and detects whether or not the hand is inserted into the hand insertion portion by an infrared sensor or the like. When the detection is performed by a circuit and the insertion of a hand is detected, a high-speed wind is blown out from a nozzle disposed in the hand insertion portion, and water droplets attached to the hand are blown off by the high-speed wind.

  A DC brushless blower motor is used as a means for generating the high-speed wind. A circuit for rotating the DC brushless blower motor at a high speed includes, for example, a “DC bus having a smoothed AC power source” disclosed in Patent Document 2 or the like. A circuit that drives a motor by inverter control that switches voltage to AC power is used. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, a specific description will be given with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional control circuit that drives a DC brushless blower motor in a hand dryer to rotate at high speed. The conventional control circuit shown in FIG. 8 drives a DC bus power supply 11 for smoothing an AC power supply 10 to generate a DC bus voltage, and a DC brushless blower motor 13 for generating high-speed wind by switching the smoothed DC bus voltage. An inverter 12 that generates alternating current power, a small signal DC power supply 14 that steps down the smoothed DC bus voltage generated by the DC bus power supply 11 by switching or the like, and a small signal DC circuit that operates using the small signal DC power supply 14 as a supply source. 15. The small signal DC circuit 15 includes a control circuit 15a for the inverter 12, a hand detection circuit 15b for detecting the presence / absence of the hand 16 in the hand insertion section, a microcomputer circuit 15c for controlling them, and the like.

  By the way, although a hand dryer is normally installed in a toilet, in recent years, a toilet is often provided with facilities that are energized only during use, such as turning on the light only when a person is detected. In addition, the hand dryer is often installed at the entrance and exit of a clean room in a factory, and there is a usage method that is hardly used except for a specific time zone. As described above, there are many requests from users who want to reduce power consumption when not in use, managers of installation environments, and the like to energize the hand dryer only when desired.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-116076 JP 59-035568

  However, since the control circuit provided in the conventional hand dryer is configured as shown in FIG. 8, in order to meet the above demand, the switchgear is inserted between the AC power supply 10 and the DC bus power supply 11. However, there is no choice but to cut off the supply of the AC power supply 10.

  Then, since an inrush current for charging the DC bus power supply 11 flows at the start of energization, if the energization / shutdown by the switchgear is repeated, there is a possibility that the switchgear may break down, and the user and installation environment are managed. Can not meet the demands of the people.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a hand-drying device having a mechanism capable of controlling energization at a timing desired by a user without providing a switching device that is affected by an inrush current to a DC bus power supply. The purpose is to obtain.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention switches the DC bus voltage generated by smoothing the AC power source to AC power when the hand detection circuit detects that a hand has been inserted into the hand insertion portion. In a hand dryer that drives a DC brushless blower motor by inverter control to convert and blows high-speed air to the manual insertion part, an operating power source for a small signal DC circuit including at least the hand detection circuit and the control circuit for inverter control Further, there is provided ON / OFF means for turning on / off the supply of the DC bus voltage to the small signal DC power source generated by stepping down the DC bus voltage in accordance with an operation permission / inhibition command from the outside.

  According to the present invention, the ON / OFF means smoothes the AC power supply and generates the DC bus voltage until the operation permission command from the outside is permitted even when the power of the hand dryer is turned on. Although power is supplied up to the DC bus power supply, the generated DC bus voltage is not supplied to at least the small signal DC power supply. Therefore, the power supply can be controlled at a timing desired by the user, and the energy saving desired by the user is achieved. Can be realized.

  According to the present invention, since energization can be controlled at a timing desired by the user, there is an effect that a hand dryer capable of saving energy requested by the user can be obtained.

  Exemplary embodiments of a hand dryer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an external configuration of a hand dryer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and a schematic arrangement of a control system. As shown in FIG. 1, the hand drying device according to this embodiment has a hand insertion portion 1 into which a hand after hand washing can be inserted. The hand insertion portion 1 is provided on the side wall surface of the hand insertion portion 1. A high-speed wind outlet 2 that blows high-speed wind toward the inserted hand, a hand detection sensor that detects the hand inserted into the hand insertion unit 1, and an illumination unit 3 that illuminates the hand insertion unit 1 are provided. A DC brushless blower motor BM serving as means for generating high-speed wind and a circuit BOX4 that houses a control circuit for driving the DC brushless blower motor BM are disposed inside the body.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 1) of the control circuit housed in the circuit BOX 4 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, components that are the same as or equivalent to the components shown in FIG. 8 (conventional example) are assigned the same reference numerals. Here, the description will focus on the parts related to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit according to the first embodiment is provided with ON / OFF means 17a in the configuration shown in FIG. 8 (conventional example). The ON / OFF means 17a includes a Darlington transistor 20, a photocoupler 21, and a terminal 22 to which an operation permission / rejection signal (referred to as “external ON signal” in FIG. 2) is input from the outside of the apparatus.

  The Darlington transistor 20 includes a normal transistor and a phototransistor on the light receiving side of the photocoupler 21, and the normal transistor is located between the positive output side of the DC bus power supply 11 and the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14. Has been inserted. The light emitting element on the light receiving side of the photocoupler 21 is connected to the terminal 22. The negative output side of the DC bus power supply 11 is directly connected to the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14.

  According to this configuration, when an ON signal (that is, an operation permission signal) for turning on the photocoupler 21 from the outside of the device is input to the terminal 22, the Darlington transistor 20 is turned on, and the positive output terminal of the DC bus power supply 11 and the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14 are connected, the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14 are energized, and the small signal DC power supply 14 supplies operating power to the small signal DC circuit 15. That is, when the hand 16 is inserted into the hand insertion unit 1, the hand drying device enters a standby state in which it can immediately operate.

  On the other hand, when the ON signal for turning on the photocoupler 21 from the outside of the apparatus is not input to the terminal 22 (that is, when the operation permission / prohibition signal is input), the Darlington transistor 20 is turned off and the positive output terminal of the DC bus power supply 11 is turned on. Between the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14, the DC bus power supply 11 is energized, but the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14 are not energized. That is, no operating power is supplied from the small signal DC power supply 14 to the small signal DC circuit 15, and the hand dryer is in an operation stop state in which it does not operate even when the hand 16 is inserted into the hand insertion unit 1.

  As described above, until the operation permission signal is input from the outside, the DC bus power supply 11 is energized, but the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14 are not energized. It can be controlled, and energy saving requested by the user can be realized.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 2) of the control circuit housed in the circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1 as Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are given to components that are the same as or equivalent to those shown in FIG. 8 (conventional example). Here, the description will be focused on the portion related to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit according to the second embodiment is provided with ON / OFF means 17b in the configuration shown in FIG. 8 (conventional example). The ON / OFF means 17b includes a relay 23 and a terminal 22 to which an operation permission / rejection signal (referred to as “external ON signal” in FIG. 3) is input from the outside of the apparatus.

  The relay 23 has a relay contact 24 inserted between the positive output side of the DC bus power supply 11 and the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14, and the relay coil 25 is connected to the terminal 22. The relay 23 may be of any type, but a normal open type is assumed here. The negative output side of the DC bus power supply 11 is directly connected to the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14.

  According to this configuration, when an ON signal (that is, an operation permission signal) for energizing the relay coil 25 is input to the terminal 22 from the outside of the device, the relay contact 24 is closed and the positive output side of the DC bus power supply 11 and the inverter 12 and Since the small signal DC power supply 14 is connected, the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14 are energized, and operating power is supplied from the small signal DC power supply 14 to the small signal DC circuit 15. That is, when the hand 16 is inserted into the hand insertion unit 1, the hand drying device enters a standby state in which it can immediately operate.

  On the other hand, when an ON signal for energizing the relay coil 25 is not input to the terminal 22 from the outside of the device (that is, when an operation permission signal for deactivating the relay coil 25 is input), the relay contact 24 is opened, and the DC bus Since the space between the positive output terminal of the power source 11 and the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power source 14 is opened, the DC bus power source 11 is energized, but the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power source 14 are not energized. That is, no operating power is supplied from the small signal DC power supply 14 to the small signal DC circuit 15, and the hand dryer is in an operation stop state in which it does not operate even when the hand 16 is inserted into the hand insertion unit 1.

  As described above, the smooth DC bus power supply 11 is energized until the operation permission signal is input from the outside, but the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14 are not energized. Can be controlled, and energy saving requested by the user can be realized.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 3) of the control circuit housed in the circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1 as Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the same or similar components as those shown in FIG. 2 (Embodiment 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals. Here, the description will be focused on the portion related to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the control circuit according to the third embodiment, the normal transistor of the Darlington transistor 20 in the ON / OFF means 17a is the DC bus power supply 11 in the configuration shown in FIG. Is inserted between the positive output side of the DC bus power supply 11 and the small signal DC power supply 14, not between the positive output terminal of the DC power supply and the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14. The positive output side of the DC bus power supply 11 and the inverter 12 are directly connected. The negative output side of the DC bus power supply 11 is directly connected to the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14.

  According to this configuration, when an ON signal (that is, an operation permission signal) for turning on the photocoupler 21 from the outside of the apparatus is input to the terminal 22, the Darlington transistor 20 is turned on, and the DC bus power supply 11 has a small output terminal. Since the signal DC power supply 14 is connected, the small signal DC power supply 14 is energized. As a result, the operating power is supplied from the small signal DC power source 14 to the small signal DC circuit 15, and the hand drying device enters a standby state where the hand 16 can be immediately operated when the hand 16 is inserted into the hand insertion unit 1.

  On the other hand, when the ON signal for turning on the photocoupler 21 from the outside of the apparatus is not input to the terminal 22 (that is, when the operation permission / prohibition signal is input), the Darlington transistor 20 is turned off and the positive output terminal of the DC bus power supply 11 is turned on. And the small signal DC power supply 14 are opened, the DC bus power supply 11 is energized and the bus voltage is supplied to the inverter 12, but the small signal DC power supply 14 is not energized. That is, no operating power is supplied from the small signal DC power supply 14 to the small signal DC circuit 15, and the hand dryer is in an operation stop state in which it does not operate even when the hand 16 is inserted into the hand insertion unit 1.

  As described above, until the operation permission signal is input from the outside, the smooth DC bus power supply 11 is energized and the bus voltage is supplied to the inverter 12, but the small signal DC power supply 14 is not energized. The inverter 12 can be brought into a stopped state, and in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the energization can be controlled at a timing desired by the user, and the energy saving desired by the user can be realized.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (part 4) of the control circuit housed in the circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1, as Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same or similar components as those shown in FIG. 3 (Embodiment 2) are denoted by the same reference numerals. Here, the description will be focused on the portion related to the fourth embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the control circuit according to the fourth embodiment, in the configuration shown in FIG. 3 (second embodiment), the relay contact 24 in the ON / OFF means 17b is connected to the positive output of the DC bus power supply 11. It is inserted not between the terminal and the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14 but between the positive output terminal of the DC bus power supply 11 and the small signal DC power supply 14, and the positive output terminal of the DC bus power supply 11 and the inverter 12. And are connected directly. The negative output side of the DC bus power supply 11 is directly connected to the inverter 12 and the small signal DC power supply 14.

  According to this configuration, when an ON signal (that is, an operation permission signal) for energizing the relay coil 25 is input to the terminal 22 from the outside of the device, the relay contact 24 is closed and the positive output side of the DC bus power supply 11 and the small signal DC are closed. Since the power supply 14 is connected, the small signal DC power supply 14 is energized. As a result, the operating power is supplied from the small signal DC power source 14 to the small signal DC circuit 15, and the hand drying device enters a standby state where the hand 16 can be immediately operated when the hand 16 is inserted into the hand insertion unit 1.

  On the other hand, when an ON signal for energizing the relay coil 25 is not input to the terminal 22 from the outside of the device (that is, when an operation permission signal for deactivating the relay coil 25 is input), the relay contact 24 is opened, and the DC bus Since the space between the positive output terminal of the power supply 11 and the small signal DC power supply 14 is opened, the DC bus power supply 11 is energized and the bus voltage is supplied to the inverter 12, but the small signal DC power supply 14 is energized. Not done. That is, no operating power is supplied from the small signal DC power supply 14 to the small signal DC circuit 15, and the hand dryer is in an operation stop state in which it does not operate even when the hand 16 is inserted into the hand insertion unit 1.

  Thus, until the operation permission signal is input from the outside, the smooth DC bus power supply 11 is energized and the bus voltage is supplied to the inverter 12, but the small signal DC power supply 14 is not energized. Until the operation permission signal is input, the inverter 12 can be stopped, and, as in the second embodiment, the energization can be controlled at a timing desired by the user, and the energy saving desired by the user can be controlled. Can be realized.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 5) of the control circuit housed in the circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1, as Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same or similar components as those shown in FIG. 2 (Embodiment 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals. Here, the description will be focused on the portion related to the fifth embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control circuit according to the fifth embodiment has the same structure as that shown in FIG. 2 (first embodiment), the positive output side of the DC bus power supply 11, the inverter 12, and the small signal DC power supply 14. A switching circuit 27 is provided in parallel with the normal transistor of the Darlington transistor 20 in the ON / OFF means 17a inserted between the two.

  The switching circuit 27 opens the gap between the collector electrode and the emitter electrode of the normal transistor of the Darlington transistor 20 to enable the operation performed by the ON / OFF means 17a in response to an operation permission signal from the outside. In addition, it is possible to select and set the case where the ON / OFF means 17a disables the operation performed in response to an external operation permission / rejection signal in a short circuit state.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to select and set the case where the energization control is performed by the operation permission signal from the outside and the case where the energization control is not performed. In the fifth embodiment, the application example to the first embodiment (FIG. 2) is shown. However, the fifth embodiment can be similarly applied to the second embodiment (FIG. 3).

Embodiment 6 FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 6) of the control circuit housed in the circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1, as Embodiment 6 of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to components that are the same as or equivalent to those shown in FIG. 4 (Embodiment 3). Here, the description will be focused on the portion related to the sixth embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the control circuit according to the sixth embodiment is arranged between the positive output terminal of the DC bus power supply 11 and the small signal DC power supply 14 in the configuration shown in FIG. 4 (Embodiment 3). A switching circuit 27 is provided in parallel with the normal transistor of the Darlington transistor 20 in the inserted ON / OFF means 17a.

  The switching circuit 27 opens the gap between the collector electrode and the emitter electrode of the normal transistor of the Darlington transistor 20 to enable the operation performed by the ON / OFF means 17a in response to an operation permission signal from the outside. In addition, it is possible to select and set the case where the ON / OFF means 17a disables the operation performed in response to an external operation permission / rejection signal in a short circuit state.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to select and set the case where the energization control is performed by the operation permission signal from the outside and the case where the energization control is not performed. In the sixth embodiment, the application example to the third embodiment (FIG. 4) is shown. However, the sixth embodiment can be similarly applied to the fourth embodiment (FIG. 5).

  As described above, the hand dryer according to the present invention is useful for realizing energy saving requested by the user.

It is a perspective view explaining the schematic arrangement | positioning aspect of the external appearance structure and control system of the hand dryer by Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example (No. 1) of a control circuit housed in a circuit BOX illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 2) of the control circuit housed in the circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1 as Embodiment 2 of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 3) of a control circuit housed in a circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1 as Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 4) of a control circuit housed in a circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1 as Embodiment 4 of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 5) of a control circuit housed in a circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1 as Embodiment 5 of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example (No. 6) of a control circuit housed in a circuit BOX shown in FIG. 1 as Embodiment 6 of the present invention; It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the conventional control circuit which rotationally drives the DC brushless blower motor in a hand dryer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hand insertion part 2 High-speed wind outlet 3 Hand detection sensor and illumination part 4 Circuit BOX which accommodates a control circuit
10 AC Power Supply 11 DC Bus Power Supply 12 Inverter 13 DC Brushless Blower Motor (BM)
14 small signal DC power supply 15 small signal DC circuit 15a inverter control circuit 15b hand detection circuit 15c microcomputer 16 hand 17a, 17b DC bus ON / OFF circuit 20 Darlington transistor 21 photocoupler 22 terminal 23 relay 24 relay contact 25 relay coil 27 switching circuit

Claims (5)

When the hand detection circuit detects that a hand has been inserted into the hand insertion section, the DC brushless blower motor is driven by inverter control that converts the DC bus voltage generated by smoothing the AC power source into AC power and converts it In the hand dryer that blows high-speed air to the manual insertion portion, a small signal DC that generates an operation power source of a small signal DC circuit including at least the hand detection circuit and the control circuit for inverter control by stepping down the DC bus voltage An on / off means for turning on / off the supply of the DC bus voltage to the power source in accordance with an external operation permission / inhibition command.   The hand-drying device according to claim 1, further comprising switching means that can selectively set whether the operation of the ON / OFF means is valid or invalid.   The ON / OFF means is configured to electrically insulate a switch that opens / closes the bus voltage supply line and a drive unit that closes the switch when the external operation permission / inhibition command is an operation permission. The hand dryer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The ON / OFF means includes a Darlington transistor and a photocoupler, and the Darlington transistor includes a normal transistor inserted in the bus voltage supply line and a phototransistor on the light receiving side of the photocoupler. The hand dryer according to claim 3, wherein an external operation permission / inhibition command is input to the light emitting element on the light emitting side.   4. The ON / OFF means is constituted by a relay, the relay contact is inserted into the bus voltage supply line, and the external operation permission / inhibition command is input to the relay coil. The hand dryer described.

Images