HAND DRYING DEVICE

• US 20130055588A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Jun, Kobayashi, Takaki, Sakane, Tsukasa
• Granted Patent: US 8,850,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/565
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/48 Drying by means of hot air hair-drying devices A45D20/00; curative hot-air baths A61H33/06; electric heating elements H05B

Abstract

A hand drying device includes: a drying chamber; a nozzle; a supply unit; a hand detection sensor; a control unit; and an illuminating unit. The drying chamber includes: an opening; a first inner wall surface; and a second inner wall surface facing the first inner wall surface. A hand is inserted from the opening into a space between the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface. The nozzle is arranged on the first inner wall surface and is configured to blow an air stream toward the second inner wall surface. A center axis of the nozzle and an optical axis of the illuminating unit intersect with each other at a proper position in the drying chamber where a hand is supposed to be inserted.

Claims

1. A hand drying device comprising:

a drying chamber that includes an opening, a first inner wall surface, and a second inner wall surface facing the first inner wall surface, where a hand is inserted from the opening into a space between the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface;

a nozzle that is arranged on the first inner wall surface and is configured to blow an air stream toward the second inner wall surface;

a supply unit that supplies an air stream to the nozzle;

a hand detection sensor that detects insertion of a hand into the drying chamber;

a control unit that operates the supply unit when insertion of a hand is detected by the hand detection sensor and stops operating the supply unit when insertion of a hand is not detected by the hand detection sensor; and

an illuminating unit that is arranged at a position on the first inner wall surface shifted from the nozzle in a direction along the first inner wall surface and is configured to emit light toward the second inner wall surface, wherein

a center axis of the nozzle and an optical axis of the illuminating unit intersect with each other at a proper position in the drying chamber where a hand is supposed to be inserted, wherein on the hand inserted to the drying chamber, the hand drying device is configured to notify the user that the hand is at the proper position when a position of an optical image formed by a light emitted from the illuminating unit and a position where the high-pressure air stream hits on a surface of the hand mach.

2. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein the center axis of the nozzle and the optical axis of the illuminating unit intersect with each other at a position separated from the first inner wall surface by 10 millimeters or more.

3. The hand drying device according to claim 2, further comprising a second nozzle that is arranged on the second inner wall surface and is configured to blow an air stream toward the first inner wall surface, wherein

the center axis of the nozzle and the optical axis of the illuminating unit intersect with each other at a position on a side closer to the nozzle than a middle position between the nozzle and the second nozzle.

4. The hand drying device according to claim 2, further comprising a second nozzle that is arranged on the second inner wall surface and is configured to blow an air stream toward the first inner wall surface, wherein

the center axis of the nozzle and the optical axis of the illuminating unit intersect with each other at a position on a side closer to the second nozzle from a middle position between the nozzle and the second nozzle.

5. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating unit includes

a light source, and

a light shielding unit that includes an aperture for guiding light from the light source to the proper position and shields an area around the aperture.

6. The hand drying device according to claim 5, wherein an opening shape of the aperture of the light shielding unit is a shape corresponding to an opening shape of the nozzle.

7. The hand drying device according to claim 5, wherein an opening shape of the aperture of the light shielding unit is a rod shape.

8. The hand drying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main unit that forms a part of the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface and includes a recessed portion that is recessed from the first inner wall surface on a side of the first inner wall surface; and

a transparent cover that covers the recessed portion to form a rest part of the first inner wall surface on the recessed portion, wherein

the hand detection sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light emitting unit and is configured to detect insertion of a hand into the drying chamber according to an amount of light received by the light receiving unit, and

the illuminating unit and at least the light emitting unit of the hand detection sensor are accommodated together in the recessed portion covered by the transparent cover.

9. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating unit constantly emits light toward the second inner wall surface.

10. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the illuminating unit when insertion of a hand is detected by the hand detection sensor and stops operating the illuminating unit when insertion of a hand is not detected by the hand detection sensor.

11. The hand drying device according to claim 1, further comprising a second hand detection sensor that detects insertion of a hand at a position closer to the opening than a detection position of the hand detection sensor in the drying chamber, wherein

the control unit operates the illuminating unit when insertion of a hand is detected by the second hand detection sensor and operates the supply unit when insertion of a hand is detected by the hand detection sensor.

12. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating unit emits continuous light during a period from a timing when the illuminating unit starts illuminating light to a timing when a threshold time elapses, and emits blinking light during a period from the timing when the threshold time elapses to a timing when the illuminating unit stops illuminating the light.

13. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating unit emits blinking light during a period from a timing when the illuminating unit starts illuminating light to a timing when the illuminating unit stops illuminating the light while gradually decreasing a blinking cycle.

14. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the illuminating unit intersects with the second inner wall surface such that light emitted from the illuminating unit is shielded by the second inner wall surface.

15. The hand drying device according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting unit that lights up the drying chamber.

16. A hand drying device comprising:

a drying chamber that includes an opening, a first inner wall surface, and a second inner wall surface facing the first inner wall surface, where a hand is inserted from the opening into a space between the first inner wall surface and the second inner wall surface;

a nozzle that is arranged on the first inner wall surface and is configured to blow an air stream toward the second inner wall surface;

a supply unit that supplies an air stream to the nozzle;

a hand detection sensor that detects insertion of a hand into the drying chamber;

a control unit that operates the supply unit when insertion of a hand is detected by the hand detection sensor and stops operating the supply unit when insertion of a hand is not detected by the hand detection sensor;

a first illuminating unit arranged at a position on the first inner wall surface shifted from the nozzle in a direction along the first inner wall surface and configured to output light toward the second inner wall surface, and

a second illuminating unit that is arranged at a position on the first inner wall surface shifted from the nozzle and the first illuminating unit in a direction along the first inner wall surface and is configured to emit light toward the second inner wall surface, wherein

an optical axis of the first illuminating unit and an optical axis of the second illuminating unit intersect with each other at a proper position in the drying chamber where a hand is supposed to be inserted.