JP7730081B2 - hand dryer - Google Patents

Description

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to hand dryers.

Hand dryers that dry wet hands by blowing air are known. For example, there is a hand dryer integrated into a washbasin that has a water outlet that sprays water toward the bowl, a soap outlet that sprays soap, and an air outlet that blows air toward the bowl (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-304926

The washbasin-integrated hand dryer described in Patent Document 1 has a functional unit located at the top back of the hand-washing space. Because the air outlet is located on the front of the functional unit, the front of the functional unit must be tilted toward the bowl, which may create a feeling of oppression for the user using the washbasin. Furthermore, in the washbasin-integrated hand dryer described in Patent Document 1, the air outlet is located in the same functional unit as the water outlet and soap outlet. Therefore, when such a unit is installed in a washbasin, the air outlet and functional unit are combined into a single unit, making it large and voluminous in the hand-washing space, which may create a feeling of oppression for the user. Furthermore, when a user places their hand close to the air outlet, their hand may come into contact with the rear of the hand-washing space, causing discomfort to the user.

The present invention was developed in recognition of these issues, and aims to provide a hand dryer that is compact, attractive, and easy to use.

The first invention is a hand dryer comprising a drying spout having an air outlet that blows a wide shaped air stream toward a bowl portion, a drying function unit having a blower that supplies air toward the drying spout, and an air supply duct that connects the drying function unit and the drying spout, wherein the drying spout is attached to a wall portion located above the bowl portion, and the front end of the drying spout is located rearward of the center of the bowl portion in the front-to-rear direction.

This hand dryer allows for a compact drying spout that protrudes minimally from the wall. As a result, it gives the user a clean, attractive appearance. Furthermore, the drying spout blows out a wide stream of air, allowing for efficient drying of hands.

The second invention is a hand dryer according to the first invention, characterized in that the drying spout has a connection portion extending in the front-to-rear direction and to which the air supply duct is connected, and a diffusion chamber provided between the connection portion and the air outlet for diffusing the air supplied from the connection portion, the diffusion chamber being larger in the left-to-right direction than the connection portion, and a barrier portion being provided in front of the connection portion.

With this hand dryer, the wind (air) supplied from the air supply duct to the diffusion chamber can be made to collide with the barrier, effectively diffusing the wind within the diffusion chamber. As a result, when the drying spout blows out a wide-shaped wind from the air outlet, it can suppress variations in the volume of the wide-shaped wind between the center and sides in the width direction (left and right direction). Therefore, compared to when there is no barrier, the volume of the wide-shaped wind in the width direction can be made closer to uniform.

A third invention is a hand dryer according to the second invention, characterized in that the diffusion chamber has a first air passageway provided on the left side of the barrier portion and communicating with the air outlet, and a second air passageway provided on the right side of the barrier portion and communicating with the air outlet.

With this hand dryer, the air supplied from the air supply duct to the diffusion chamber collides with the barrier and diffuses, then travels from the first and second air supply passages located on the left and right sides of the barrier toward the air outlet. This makes it possible to more effectively distribute the wide-shaped airflow blown out of the air outlet to a more uniform volume.

The fourth invention is a hand dryer according to the third invention, characterized in that the diffusion chamber has a third air passage that communicates with the air outlet on one side of the barrier section in the vertical direction.

With this hand dryer, in addition to the first and second air passages that direct air from the left and right of the barrier toward the air outlet, the third air passage also allows air to flow from above the barrier toward the air outlet. This makes it possible to more effectively distribute the wide-shaped airflow blown out of the air outlet to a more uniform volume.

The fifth invention is a hand dryer according to the fourth invention, characterized in that the total cross-sectional area of the first air passage and the second air passage at the position of the barrier portion is greater than the total cross-sectional area of the third air passage at the position of the barrier portion.

This hand dryer can efficiently distribute air to both the left and right sides of the diffusion chamber, more effectively making the wide-shaped air blown out of the air outlet more uniform in volume.

The sixth invention is a hand dryer according to any one of the second to fifth inventions, further comprising a human body detection sensor that detects a human body, the bottom plate of the diffusion chamber having a recess that recesses upward toward the interior of the diffusion chamber, the barrier portion forming the rear surface of the recess, and the human body detection sensor housed in the recess.

This hand dryer allows for effective use of the space within the drying spout and makes the drying spout more compact.

The seventh invention is a hand dryer according to any one of the second to sixth inventions, characterized in that the barrier portion is located rearward of the center of the diffusion chamber in the front-to-rear direction.

With this hand dryer, the air supplied from the connection section collides with the barrier section early on and is diffused into the diffusion chamber. As a result, the diffusion chamber can be filled evenly with air (gas), allowing the air blown out from the air outlet to have a more uniform volume.

The eighth invention is a hand dryer according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, characterized in that the drying function unit has a heater that increases the temperature of the air supplied toward the drying spout.

This hand dryer can increase the temperature of the air blown out from the air outlet of the drying spout, allowing for efficient drying of hands. Furthermore, since there is no need to install a heater in the drying spout, the drying spout can be made more compact.

This aspect of the present invention provides a hand dryer that is compact, attractive, and easy to use.

1 is a perspective view showing a washbasin unit equipped with a hand drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a front view of the washbasin unit with the front door of the washbasin open. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical system and an airflow path system of the hand dryer. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bowl portion, the water spout, the liquid soap spout, and the drying spout in FIG. 1, viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drying spout seen from diagonally below. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the drying spout viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a front view of the drying spout. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the drying spout seen from below. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the drying spout in FIG. 4 as viewed from the direction of arrows AA. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the drying spout as viewed from the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 9. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the state in which the cover, the seal member, and the nozzle cover have been removed from the nozzle of the drying spout. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the nozzle of the drying spout with the cover and spacer removed. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which the drying spout is assembled. Fig. 14(a) is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 9 showing a barrier portion provided in a nozzle of a drying spout according to a first modified example of the present invention. Fig. 14(b) is a perspective view showing the barrier portion provided in the nozzle. Fig. 15(a) is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 9 showing a barrier portion provided in a nozzle of a drying spout according to a second modified example of the present invention. Fig. 15(b) is a perspective view showing the barrier portion provided in the nozzle. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9 showing a barrier portion of a drying spout according to a third modified example of the present invention.

This embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that in each drawing, similar components will be assigned the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions will be omitted where appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a washbasin unit equipped with a hand drying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the washbasin unit with the front door of the washbasin unit open.
1, the washbasin unit 200 includes a hand dryer 100, a water discharger 130, and a liquid soap dispenser 150. The hand dryer 100, the water discharger 130, and the liquid soap dispenser 150 are installed on a washbasin 160, for example.

The hand dryer 100 has a drying function unit 10, an air supply duct 20, and a drying spout 30. The water discharger 130 has a water discharge spout 132 and a water function unit 134. The liquid soap discharger 150 has a liquid soap spout 152 and a liquid soap function unit 154.

The drying spout 30, the water spout 132, and the liquid soap spout 152 are attached to the mounting structure 90. In this example, the mounting structure 90 is a washbasin 165. The washbasin 165 is, for example, a wall-mounted type made of ceramic and attached to the wall W1. Alternatively, the washbasin 165 may be provided on the counter 162 of the sink 160.

The washbasin 165 has a bowl portion 166 (washbowl) and a wall portion 168. The bowl portion 166 has a downwardly curved, concave bowl surface 166c between the front end 166a and the rear end 166b. The bowl surface 166c receives water discharged from the spout 132. A drain hole 166d is provided at the bottom of the bowl surface 166c, and water discharged onto the bowl surface 166c is drained through the drain hole 166d.

In this embodiment, the wall portion 168 extends upward from the rear end 166b of the bowl portion 166. The wall portion 168 has a wall surface 168a (surface) facing toward the bowl portion 166. Note that a portion of the counter 162 may be provided between the wall portion 168 and the rear end 166b of the bowl portion 166.

The drying spout 30, the water spout 132, and the liquid soap spout 152 are each attached to a wall portion 168 located above the bowl portion 166. The drying spout 30, the water spout 132, and the liquid soap spout 152 are located above the bowl surface 166c and are aligned apart from each other in the left-right direction.

Each spout (drying spout 30, water spout 132, liquid soap spout 152) has a cylindrical or box-like appearance and is provided with a discharge port for discharging liquid or gas and an internal flow path for guiding the supplied liquid or gas to the discharge port. Each spout 30, 132, 152 extends forward from wall surface 168a.

In the description of this embodiment, the direction in which the drying spout 30 attached to the wall portion 168 protrudes from the wall surface 168a is referred to as "forward." In other words, "forward" is the direction in which the wall surface to which the drying spout 30 is attached faces. "Rear," "left side," and "right side" are directions seen from a user facing "forward." Furthermore, "upper" and "lower" are directions seen from a user standing in front of the drying spout 30.

Note that the mounting structure 90 to which the drying spout 30 of the hand dryer 100 according to this embodiment is attached does not necessarily have to be the washbasin 165. The mounting structure 90 may be, for example, an appropriately provided panel or cabinet. That is, the portion to which the drying spout 30 is attached may be the wall portion of a panel or cabinet located above the bowl portion 166. Note that in this embodiment, the space in front of the wall W1 and above the counter 162 in the washbasin unit 200 is the hand-washing space.

Furthermore, the wall portion to which the drying spout 30 is attached has a wall surface that extends vertically, for example. However, this wall surface is not limited to a surface that extends vertically, and may be inclined. For example, the angle between the direction in which the wall surface extends and the vertical direction is ±50° or less. In other words, the wall surface may be inclined within a range of ±50° with respect to the vertical direction.

The drying function unit 10, water function unit 134, and liquid soap function unit 154 are each located below the bowl portion 166 of the washbasin 165. In other words, the drying function unit 10, water function unit 134, and liquid soap function unit 154 are stored inside the washbasin 160. Maintenance of the drying function unit 10, water function unit 134, and liquid soap function unit 154 can be performed by opening the front door 164 of the washbasin 160. The drying function unit 10, water function unit 134, and liquid soap function unit 154 may also be located, for example, on the back side of the wall W1.

The water function unit 134 is, for example, an electric water heater and is connected to the water spout 132 via a water supply line 136. The liquid soap function unit 154 has, for example, a soapy water tank and a pump and is connected to the liquid soap spout 152 via an air supply line 156 and a liquid soap supply line 158.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical system and airflow path system of the hand dryer.
As shown in FIG. 3 , the hand dryer 100 includes a drying function unit 10 , an air duct 20 , and a drying spout 30 .

The drying function unit 10 is connected to the drying spout 30 via the air supply duct 20. The drying function unit 10 has a blower 12, a heater 14, and a control unit 16. The blower 12 is activated by detection by a human body detection sensor 60 provided in the drying spout 30. The blower 12 has, for example, a fan motor, and when activated, draws in air from outside and supplies it to the air supply duct 20. The blower 12 is connected to the control unit 16, and its operation is controlled by the control unit 16.

The heater 14 raises the temperature of the air (gas) supplied toward the drying spout 30. In other words, the heater 14 raises the temperature of the air (gas) supplied from the blower 12. The heater 14 is activated by detection by a human body detection sensor 60 provided in the drying spout 30. The heater 14 is provided as needed and can be omitted. The hand dryer 100 may blow unheated air supplied from the blower 12 from the drying spout 30. For example, a fin heater is used as the heater 14. The heater 14 may be any heater capable of heating the gas flowing from the blower 12 toward the drying spout 30. The heater 14 is connected to the control unit 16, and its operation is controlled by the control unit 16.

The control unit 16 controls the operation of the hand dryer 100. The control unit 16 is connected to a human body detection sensor 60 provided in the drying spout 30 via a signal line 18 and receives a detection signal from the human body detection sensor 60. The control unit 16 operates the blower 12 and heater 14 based on the detection by the human body detection sensor 60.

The air duct 20 connects the drying function unit 10 and the drying spout 30. The air duct 20 is a flexible duct made of, for example, resin. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the air duct 20 extends vertically below the bowl portion 166. In other words, the air duct 20 extends vertically inside the washbasin 160. The lower end of the air duct 20 is connected to the drying function unit 10, and the upper end of the air duct 20 passes between the wall W1 and the wall portion 168 and is connected to the drying spout 30 (see Figure 9).

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bowl portion, the water spout, the liquid soap spout, and the drying spout in FIG. 1 as viewed from above.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drying spout as seen obliquely from below.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the drying spout as seen from above.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the drying spout.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the drying spout as seen from below.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the drying spout in FIG. 4 as viewed from the direction of arrows AA.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the drying spout as viewed from the direction of arrows BB in FIG.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the cover, the seal member, and the nozzle cover are removed from the nozzle of the drying spout.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the drying spout nozzle with the cover and spacer removed.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the drying spout in an assembled state.
5 to 8 and 11, the wall portion 168 is omitted.

The drying spout 30 has an air outlet 52 that blows out a wide shaped stream of air in the left-right direction toward the bowl portion 166. The wide shaped stream of air is intended to dry hands inserted below the drying spout 30. The air outlet 52 that blows out the wide shaped stream of air will be described later.

The drying spout 30 is attached to a wall portion 168 located above the bowl portion 166. Specifically, the drying spout 30 is attached to the wall portion 168 via a base 70 inserted through the wall portion 168 and a nut 72 attached to the base 70.

The drying spout 30 has a cover 32 that forms its outer shell. The cover 32 protrudes forward from the wall 168 of the bowl portion 166. That is, the cover 32 has a length in the front-to-rear direction of dimension L1. As shown in FIG. 4, the front end 32a of the cover 32 of the drying spout 30 is located rearward of the center of the bowl portion 166 in the front-to-rear direction. That is, the dimension L1 from the rear end 166b of the bowl portion 166 to the front end 32a of the cover 32 is shorter than half the dimension L2 from the rear end 166b to the front end 166a of the bowl portion 166 (L1 < L2/2). This reduces the feeling of oppression felt by the user even when the drying spout 30 protrudes from the wall 168.

In addition, in this embodiment, the front end 32a of the drying spout 30 is located at the same position as the front end of the water spout 132 and the front end of the liquid soap spout 152. This allows the washing unit 200 to have an improved appearance, as the drying spout 30, water spout 132, and liquid soap spout 152 are aligned in a straight line in the left-right direction.

In addition, the front end 32a of the drying spout 30, the front end of the water spout 132, and the front end of the liquid soap spout 152 are located behind the center of the bowl portion 166 in the front-to-rear direction (towards the wall portion 168). This prevents the hands from coming into contact with the drying spout 30, the water spout 132, and the liquid soap spout 152, for example, when shaking off the hands and letting the water fall into the bowl portion 166. This gives the user a compact and neat impression, and makes the hand dryer 100 easy to use.

The cover 32 is a box-shaped body having an upper surface 33, a front surface 34 extending downward from the front end of the upper surface 33, a left side surface 35 extending downward from the left end of the upper surface 33, a right side surface 36 extending downward from the right end of the upper surface 33, a lower surface 37 extending rearward from the lower end of the front surface 34, and an opening 38 provided at the rear opposite the front surface 34 in the front-to-rear direction.

As shown in Figure 2, the height of the upper surface 33 of the cover 32 is approximately the same as the height of the water spout 132 and the liquid soap spout 152. This gives the washbasin unit 200 a clean impression, improving its appearance.

The left side surface 35 and the right side surface 36 are convexly curved. The bottom surface 37 has a first extending portion 37a, a first inclined portion 37b, a second extending portion 37c, a second inclined portion 37d, and a third inclined portion 37e.

The first extending portion 37a extends rearward from the lower end of the front surface portion 34. The first inclined portion 37b inclines diagonally downward and rearward from the rear end of the first extending portion 37a. The second extending portion 37c extends rearward from the rear end of the first inclined portion 37b.

The second inclined portion 37d is located rearward of the first inclined portion 37b and inclines from the lower end of the left side surface 35 toward the second extending portion 37c. The second inclined portion 37d is inclined diagonally downward and to the right from the lower end of the left side surface 35. The third inclined portion 37e is located rearward of the first inclined portion 37b and inclines from the lower end of the right side surface 36 toward the second extending portion 37c. The third inclined portion 37e is inclined diagonally downward and to the left from the lower end of the right side surface 36. In other words, the second inclined portion 37d and the third inclined portion 37e are inclined so as to approach each other in the left-right direction from the top to the bottom. A through hole 37f is formed between the first extending portion 37a and the first inclined portion 37b. The through hole 37f penetrates the interior and exterior of the cover 32.

As shown in Figure 7, the cover 32 has a flat, box-like shape in which the horizontal dimension L4 from the left side surface 35 to the right side surface 36 is longer than the vertical dimension L3 from the top surface 33 to the second extension 37c (L3 < L4). This gives the drying spout 30 a thin, compact appearance, improving its appearance.

As shown in Figures 8, 9, and 12, the second extension portion 37c has an internal thread portion 37c1 that penetrates in the vertical direction. A setscrew 74 is threaded into this internal thread portion 37c1 to secure the drying spout 30 to the nut 72 and base 70.

As shown in FIG. 12, the second inclined portion 37d has an internal thread 37d1 extending in the front-to-rear direction on its inner surface. Meanwhile, the third inclined portion 37e has an internal thread 37e1 extending in the front-to-rear direction on its inner surface. The internal threads 37d1 and 37e1 are positioned symmetrically in the left-to-right direction. Screws 68 for securing the spacer 66 (described below) are threadedly engaged with the internal threads 37d1 and 37e1, respectively.

The drying spout 30 has a cover 32, a nozzle 40 provided inside the cover 32, a human body detection sensor 60 that detects a hand inserted below the drying spout 30, and a spacer 66 that closes the opening 38 of the cover 32.

The nozzle 40 is stored inside the cover 32. The nozzle 40 has a connection portion 42 and a main body portion 44. The connection portion 42 is located at the rear of the nozzle 40, in the center in the left-right direction. In other words, the connection portion 42 is located on the upstream side of the nozzle 40 in the direction of airflow through the nozzle 40.

The connection part 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the front-to-rear direction. The outer diameter of the connection part 42 corresponds to the inner diameter of the air duct 20. The connection part 42 is connected to the air duct 20 inside the cover 32. As shown in Figures 9 and 11, the air duct 20 is fitted into the connection part 42 and fixed with a clamp 43. The inside of the connection part 42 allows the air supplied from the air duct 20 to flow toward the diffusion chamber 45.

The main body 44 is located in front of the connection part 42. The main body 44 is formed in a box shape with an open top. The main body 44 has a diffusion chamber 45, a barrier part 47, an air outlet 52, and a groove part 55.

The diffusion chamber 45 is connected to the connection part 42. The left-right dimension of the diffusion chamber 45 is larger than the inner diameter of the connection part 42. As a result, the air supplied from the connection part 42 to the diffusion chamber 45 is diffused in the diffusion chamber 45. In other words, the diffusion chamber 45 is located between the connection part 42 and the air outlet 52, and diffuses the air supplied from the connection part 42.

The bottom plate 44a of the main body 44 corresponds to the first inclined portion 37b of the cover 32 and extends diagonally upward from the connection portion 42. In other words, the bottom plate 44a serves as the bottom plate of the diffusion chamber 45. A recess 46 is formed in the bottom plate 44a, recessing upward toward the interior of the diffusion chamber 45.

As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the recess 46 is formed in the center of the diffusion chamber 45 in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions. In other words, the diffusion chamber 45 has the center of the bottom plate 44a in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions protruding upward. The recess 46 houses the human body detection sensor 60, which will be described later.

The recess 46 has a front surface 46a, a rear surface (barrier portion 47), a left side surface 46b, a right side surface 46c, and a top surface 46d. The front surface 46a is located rearward of the air outlet 52 (described below). The left side surface 46b faces the left wall surface 45a of the diffusion chamber 45. The right side surface 46c faces the right wall surface 45b of the diffusion chamber 45. The top surface 46d faces the nozzle cover 58.

The diffusion chamber 45 has a barrier portion 47 provided in front of the connection portion 42. This barrier portion 47 forms the rear surface of the recess 46. The barrier portion 47 is the surface of the recess 46 that faces the connection portion 42 in the front-to-rear direction. The barrier portion 47 is located at a position where the wind supplied from the connection portion 42 to the diffusion chamber 45 collides.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the barrier portion 47 has a protrusion 47a on its right end that protrudes rearward. That is, the barrier portion 47 is formed with a step in the left-right direction. The protrusion 47a is formed to allow the signal line 18 extending from the human body detection sensor 60 housed in the recess 46 to pass through. The barrier portion 47 does not have to have the protrusion 47a. That is, the barrier portion 47 may have a flat surface.

The barrier portion 47 is located rearward (toward the connection portion 42) from the center of the diffusion chamber 45 in the front-to-rear direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the dimension L5 in the front-to-rear direction from the connection portion 42 to the barrier portion 47 is shorter than half the dimension L6 from the connection portion 42 to the front end of the diffusion chamber 45 (L5 < L6/2).

In this way, the barrier portion 47 is located upstream in the direction of the wind flowing through the diffusion chamber 45. This allows the wind supplied from the connection portion 42 to collide with the barrier portion 47 early on and be efficiently diffused within the diffusion chamber 45. As a result, the diffusion chamber 45 can be filled evenly with wind (gas), allowing the wind blown out from the air outlet 52 to have a nearly uniform volume.

As shown in FIG. 10, the left-right dimension L7 of the barrier portion 47 is larger than the inner diameter L8 of the connection portion 42 (L7 > L8). The upper end of the barrier portion 47 is located higher than the upper end of the inner diameter of the connection portion 42. This allows all of the air supplied from the connection portion 42 to the diffusion chamber 45 to collide with the barrier portion 47. As a result, the diffusion chamber 45 can be efficiently filled with air (gas).

The diffusion chamber 45 has a first air passage 48 located on the left side of the barrier portion 47 and communicating with the air outlet 52, and a second air passage 49 located on the right side of the barrier portion 47 and communicating with the air outlet 52. The first air passage 48 is located between the left side surface 46b of the recess 46 and the left wall portion 45a of the diffusion chamber 45 and extends in the front-to-rear direction. On the other hand, the second air passage 49 is located between the right side surface 46c of the recess 46 and the right wall portion 45b of the diffusion chamber 45 and extends in the front-to-rear direction.

The diffusion chamber 45 also has a third air passage 50 that communicates with the air outlet 52 on one vertical side of the barrier portion 47. In this embodiment, the third air passage 50 is provided above the barrier portion 47. The third air passage 50 is located between the upper surface portion 46d of the recess 46 and the nozzle cover 58 and extends in the front-to-rear direction.

After the air supplied from the connection part 42 to the diffusion chamber 45 hits the barrier part 47, it flows into the first air passage 48, the second air passage 49, and the third air passage 50. In other words, the air supplied from the connection part 42 to the diffusion chamber 45 flows toward the front (air outlet 52) from three directions: both the left and right sides and the upper center. This allows the air blown out from the air outlet 52 to have a nearly uniform volume.

As shown in FIG. 10, the total cross-sectional area of the first air passage 48 and the second air passage 49 at the position of the barrier portion 47 (the sum of areas S1 and S2 surrounded by the two-dot chain line) is larger than the total cross-sectional area of the third air passage 50 at the position of the barrier portion 47 (area S3 surrounded by the one-dot chain line). This allows air to flow efficiently into the left and right first air passages 48 and second air passages 49 located away from the connection portion 42, thereby making it possible to achieve a more uniform air volume blown out from the air outlet 52.

The air outlet 52 is located on the front end side of the main body 44, at a position corresponding to the first extension 37a of the cover 32. The air outlet 52 is connected to the diffusion chamber 45. As shown in FIG. 9, the air outlet 52 is inclined diagonally downward and forward from the diffusion chamber 45. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the air outlet 52 blows out air F diagonally downward and forward. This allows the user to dry their hands in the center of the bowl portion 166 in the front-to-rear direction, without having to insert their hands all the way to the back (towards the wall portion 168).

As shown in Figures 8 and 11, the air outlet 52 has a horizontally elongated shape that extends in the left-right direction. The left-right length dimension L9 of the air outlet 52 is greater than the inner diameter L8 of the connection portion 42 (L9 > L8). If the barrier portion 47 were not present in the diffusion chamber 45, the amount of air supplied from the connection portion 42 to the diffusion chamber 45 would be greater in a straight line forward, which could result in the air blowing out from the center of the air outlet 52 being stronger than the air blowing out from either side.

In such cases, it may be possible to make the air blown out from the air outlet 52 uniform by increasing the length of the diffusion chamber 45 in the front-to-rear direction. However, in such cases, there is a risk that the force of the air blown out from the air outlet 52 will be weakened. In addition, the drying spout 30 would have to protrude significantly forward from the wall portion 168 (mounting structure 90), which could result in an unsightly appearance.

For this reason, the diffusion chamber 45 is provided with a barrier portion 47. This allows the air to come into contact with the barrier portion 47 and be effectively diffused throughout the diffusion chamber 45, even if the length of the diffusion chamber 45 in the front-to-rear direction is reduced. As a result, the air outlet 52 blows out a wide-shaped airflow with a nearly uniform volume toward the bowl portion 166. By blowing out a wide-shaped airflow, the drying spout 30 can efficiently dry both hands, for example.

The air outlet 52 is divided by multiple partition plates 53. These partition plates 53 straighten the air flowing through the air outlet 52. For example, if the partition plates 53 were not provided, there was a risk of abnormal noise being generated due to turbulence generated around the air outlet 52. On the other hand, if there were too many partition plates 53, there was a risk of the force and volume of the air blowing out of the air outlet 52 becoming weaker. The number of partition plates 53 was determined through experiments and simulations, taking into consideration the generation of abnormal noise and the force and volume of the air.

A groove 55 is formed at the top end of the main body 44, surrounding the periphery of the diffusion chamber 45. A seal member 57 is fitted into this groove 55. The seal member 57 prevents air (gas) from escaping from the diffusion chamber 45 to the outside. The top of the main body 44 is closed off by screwing in a nozzle cover 58.

The human body detection sensor 60 detects a human body (hand) inserted below the drying spout 30. This human body detection sensor 60 is housed in the recess 46 of the nozzle 40. For example, a reflective optical sensor is used as the human body detection sensor 60. However, the human body detection sensor 60 is not limited to this and may be any sensor that can detect a user's hand. The human body detection sensor 60 may also be, for example, a distance sensor, pyroelectric sensor, capacitance sensor, ultrasonic sensor, or microwave sensor.

As shown in Figure 3, the detection range D of the human body detection sensor 60 faces, for example, diagonally downward and forward. When a human body (hand) is inserted into the detection range D, the human body detection sensor 60 transmits a detection signal to the control unit 16.

The first sensor cover 62 is located below the human body detection sensor 60 and engages with the recess 46. The first sensor cover 62 is formed, for example, from a material that is transparent to the radio waves of the human body detection sensor 60, and closes off the lower part of the recess 46.

The second sensor cover 64 is located below the first sensor cover 62 and is screwed to the nozzle 40. The second sensor cover 64 closes the through-hole 37f of the first inclined portion 37b, leaving the underside of the first sensor cover 62 exposed to the outside. An air outlet 52 is provided in front of the second sensor cover 64. The first sensor cover 62 and second sensor cover 64 may also be provided as a single unit.

The spacer 66 closes the opening 38 of the cover 32. As shown in Figure 12, the outer shape of the spacer 66 corresponds to the opening 38 of the cover 32, and an insertion hole 66a is formed in the center through which the air duct 20 passes.

The spacer 66 is attached to the cover 32 by threading the screw 68 into the female thread portion 37d1 and the female thread portion 37e1, respectively. This prevents the nozzle 40 from falling out of the opening 38. Furthermore, the spacer 66 prevents deformation of the cover 32 by contacting the cover 32, for example, when an external force is applied to the cover 32.

Thus, the hand dryer 100 according to this embodiment comprises a drying spout 30 having an air outlet 52 that blows out a wide shaped air stream toward the bowl portion 166, a drying function unit 10 having a blower 12 that supplies air toward the drying spout 30, and an air supply duct 20 that connects the drying function unit 10 and the drying spout 30. The drying spout 30 is attached to a wall portion 168 (mounting structure 90) located above the bowl portion 166, and the front end 32a of the drying spout 30 is located rearward of the center of the bowl portion 166 in the fore-and-aft direction.

This allows for a compact drying spout 30 with minimal protrusion from the wall portion 168. As a result, the hand dryer 100 gives the user a clean, sleek impression and looks good. Furthermore, the drying spout 30 blows out a wide stream of air, allowing for efficient drying of hands.

The drying spout 30 also has a connection section 42 that extends in the front-to-rear direction and is connected to the air supply duct 20, and a diffusion chamber 45 that is provided between the connection section 42 and the air outlet 52 and diffuses the air supplied from the connection section 42. The diffusion chamber 45 is larger in the left-to-right direction than the connection section 42, and a barrier section 47 is provided in front of the connection section 42.

If a barrier were not provided in the diffusion chamber, and the protrusion of the drying spout from the wall was small, the air supplied from the air supply duct would travel straight to the air outlet. This could result in variations in the volume of air blown out from the air outlet in the left-right direction, even if the air outlet is wide and elongated in the left-right direction.

However, with the hand dryer 100 according to this embodiment, the wind (air) supplied from the air supply duct 20 to the diffusion chamber 45 can be made to collide with the barrier portion 47, effectively diffusing the wind within the diffusion chamber 45. As a result, the drying spout 30 can make the wind blown out in a wide shape from the air outlet 52 more uniform in volume.

The diffusion chamber 45 also has a first air passage 48 located on the left side of the barrier portion 47 and communicating with the air outlet 52, and a second air passage 49 located on the right side of the barrier portion 47 and communicating with the air outlet 52.

As a result, the air supplied from the air supply duct 20 to the diffusion chamber 45 collides with the barrier section 47, diffuses, and then travels toward the air outlet from the first air supply passage 48 and the second air supply passage 49 located on the left and right sides of the barrier section 47. This makes it possible to more effectively achieve a uniform air volume by blowing out the air in a wide shape from the air outlet 52.

The diffusion chamber 45 also has a third air passage 50 that communicates with the air outlet 52 on one side of the barrier portion 47 in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the diffusion chamber 45 has the third air passage 50 above the barrier portion 47.

As a result, in addition to the first air passage 48 and second air passage 49, which direct air from the left and right of the barrier portion 47 toward the air outlet 52, the third air passage 50 also allows air to flow from above the barrier portion 47 toward the air outlet 52. This makes it possible to more effectively distribute the air blown out in a wide shape from the air outlet 52 to a more uniform volume.

Furthermore, the total cross-sectional area (S1 + S2) of the first air passage 48 and the second air passage 49 at the position of the barrier portion 47 is larger than the total cross-sectional area S3 of the third air passage 50 at the position of the barrier portion 47.

This allows the air to be distributed efficiently to both the left and right sides of the diffusion chamber 45, more effectively ensuring that the air blown out of the air outlet 52 is closer to a uniform volume.

It also includes a human body detection sensor 60 that detects a human body. The bottom plate 44a of the diffusion chamber 45 has a recess 46 that is recessed upward toward the inside of the diffusion chamber 45, and the barrier portion 47 forms the rear surface of the recess 46. The human body detection sensor 60 is housed in the recess 46.

This allows for effective use of the space within the drying spout 30 and makes the drying spout 30 more compact.

In addition, the barrier portion 47 is located behind the center of the diffusion chamber 45 in the front-to-rear direction. This allows the wind supplied from the connection portion 42 to collide with the barrier portion 47 early and be diffused within the diffusion chamber 45. As a result, the diffusion chamber 45 can be filled evenly with wind (gas), allowing the wind blown out from the air outlet 52 to have a more uniform volume.

The drying function unit 10 also has a heater 14 that raises the temperature of the air supplied toward the drying spout 30. This allows the temperature of the air blown out from the air outlet 52 of the drying spout 30 to be raised, allowing hands to be dried efficiently. Furthermore, since there is no need to install a heater in the drying spout 30, the drying spout 30 can be made more compact.

Fig. 14(a) is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 9 showing a barrier portion provided in a nozzle of a drying spout according to a first modified example of the present invention. Fig. 14(b) is a perspective view showing the barrier portion provided in the nozzle.
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the rear surface of the recess 46 serves as the barrier 47. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as in a first modified example shown in FIG. 14 , a barrier 80 may be provided in front of the connection 42 and above the air outlet 52. The air supplied from the connection 42 to the diffusion chamber 45 flows forward along the bottom plate 44a and collides with the barrier 80, whereby it is diffused. This allows the air blown out from the air outlet 52 to have a nearly uniform volume.

Fig. 15(a) is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 9 showing a barrier portion provided in a nozzle of a drying spout according to a second modified example of the present invention. Fig. 15(b) is a perspective view showing the barrier portion provided in the nozzle.
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the rear surface of the recess 46 serves as the barrier portion 47. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, as in a second modified example shown in FIG. 15 , a porous material 82 that allows air to flow may be provided within the diffusion chamber 45. In this case, the rear surface of the porous material 82 serves as the barrier portion 82a. Air supplied from the connection portion 42 to the diffusion chamber 45 is diffused upon impact with the rear surface (barrier portion 82a) of the porous material 82, flows through the interior of the porous material 82, and flows toward the air outlet 52. This allows the air blown out from the air outlet 52 to have a nearly uniform volume.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, showing a barrier portion of a drying spout according to a third modification of the present invention.
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the third air passage 50 communicating with the air outlet 52 is provided above the barrier portion 47. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and for example, as in a third modified example shown in Fig. 16, a third air passage 86 may be provided below the barrier portion 84. In this case, the barrier portion 84 protrudes from the nozzle cover 58 toward the inside of the diffusion chamber 45.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which the human body detection sensor 60 was stored in the recess 46. However, this aspect of the present invention is not limited to this, and the human body detection sensor 60 may be provided, for example, in front of the air outlet 52 or on the wall portion 168. In other words, the human body detection sensor can be provided in any position as long as it can detect a hand inserted below the drying spout 30.

The above describes embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. Design modifications made by a person skilled in the art to the above-described embodiments are also within the scope of the present invention as long as they incorporate the features of the present invention. For example, the shape, dimensions, materials, and placement of each element of a hand dryer are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the elements of each of the above-described embodiments can be combined to the extent technically possible, and such combinations are also within the scope of the present invention as long as they incorporate the features of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Drying function section 12 Fan 14 Heater 16 Control section 18 Signal line 20 Air supply duct 30 Drying spout 32 Cover 32a Front end 33 Upper surface section 34 Front surface section 35 Left side surface section 36 Right side surface section 37 Lower surface section 37a First extension section 37b First inclined section 37c Second extension section 37c1 Female thread section 37d Second inclined section 37d1 Female thread section 37e Third inclined section 37e1 Female thread section 37f Through hole 38 Opening section 40 Nozzle 42 Connection section 43 Clamp 44 Main body section 44a Bottom plate 45 Diffusion chamber 45a Left wall section 45b Right wall section 46 Recess 46a Front surface section 46b Left side surface section 46c Right side surface portion 46d Top surface portion 47 Barrier portion 47a Projection portion 48 First air passage 49 Second air passage 50 Third air passage 52 Air outlet 53 Partition plate 55 Groove portion 57 Sealing member 58 Nozzle cover 60 Human body detection sensor 62 First sensor cover 64 Second sensor cover 66 Spacer 66a Insertion hole 68 Screw 70 Base 72 Nut 74 Set screw 80 Barrier portion 82 Porous material 82a Barrier portion 84 Barrier portion 86 Third air passage 90 Mounting structure 100 Hand dryer 130 Water discharge device 132 Water discharge spout 134 Water function portion 136 Water supply pipe 150 Liquid soap discharge device 152 Liquid soap spout 154 Liquid soap function section 156 Air supply pipe 158 Liquid soap supply pipe 160 Washstand 162 Counter 164 Front door 165 Washbasin 166 Bowl section 166a Front end 166b Rear end 166c Bowl surface 166d Drain hole 168 Wall section 168a Wall surface 200 Washbasin unit W1 Wall

Claims (6)

a drying spout having a wide air outlet that blows air toward the bowl portion;
A drying function unit having a blower that supplies air toward the drying spout;
an air supply duct connecting the drying function unit and the drying spout;
Equipped with
the drying spout is attached to a wall portion located above the bowl portion;
The front end of the drying spout is located rearward of the center of the bowl portion in the front-rear direction and forward of the wall portion,
A hand dryer characterized in that, when viewed from above, the length dimension of the drying spout from the wall portion to the front end is shorter than the distance from the front end of the drying spout to the front end of the inner surface of the bowl portion . a drying spout having a wide air outlet that blows air toward the bowl portion;
A drying function unit having a blower that supplies air toward the drying spout;
an air supply duct connecting the drying function unit and the drying spout;
Equipped with
the drying spout is attached to a wall portion located above the bowl portion;
The front end of the drying spout is located rearward of the center of the bowl portion in the front-to-rear direction,
The drying spout is
a connection portion extending in the front-rear direction and to which the air duct is connected;
a diffusion chamber provided between the connection portion and the air outlet, which diffuses the air supplied from the connection portion;
and
the diffusion chamber is formed to have a dimension larger in the left-right direction than the connection portion, and a barrier portion is provided in front of the connection portion,
The hand dryer is characterized in that the diffusion chamber has a first air passage provided on the left side of the barrier portion and communicating with the air outlet, a second air passage provided on the right side of the barrier portion and communicating with the air outlet, and a third air passage provided on one vertical side of the barrier portion and communicating with the air outlet. a drying spout having a wide air outlet that blows air toward the bowl portion;
A drying function unit having a blower that supplies air toward the drying spout;
an air supply duct connecting the drying function unit and the drying spout;
Equipped with
the drying spout is attached to a wall portion located above the bowl portion;
The front end of the drying spout is located rearward of the center of the bowl portion in the front-to-rear direction,
The drying spout is
a connection portion extending in the front-rear direction and to which the air duct is connected;
a diffusion chamber provided between the connection portion and the air outlet, which diffuses the air supplied from the connection portion;
and
the diffusion chamber is formed to have a dimension larger in the left-right direction than the connection portion, and a barrier portion is provided in front of the connection portion,
Further provided with a human body detection sensor for detecting a human body,
the bottom plate of the diffusion chamber has a recess recessed upward toward the inside of the diffusion chamber,
the barrier portion is a rear surface portion of the recess,
The hand dryer is characterized in that the human body detection sensor is housed in the recess. 3. The hand dryer according to claim 2, wherein a total cross-sectional area of the first air passage and the second air passage at the position of the barrier portion is larger than a total cross-sectional area of the third air passage at the position of the barrier portion. The hand dryer according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein the barrier portion is located rearward of the center of the diffusion chamber in the front-rear direction. The hand dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the drying function unit has a heater that increases the temperature of the air supplied to the drying spout.