Hand dryer apparatus
First Claim
1. A hand dryer apparatus that comprises:
- a housing that includes a hand insertion portion in which a user is allowed to insert a hand and a nozzle communicating with the hand insertion portion;
a high-pressure air stream generation device placed inside the housing;
a hand detection sensor that detects a hand of a user inserted into the hand insertion portion;
a control unit that, when the hand detection sensor detects a hand of a user, allows the high-pressure air stream generation device to operate to cause an air stream to jet out from the nozzle to the hand insertion portion; and
a drain tank that collects droplets blown off a hand of a user inserted into the hand insertion portion by an air stream jetting out from the nozzle and scattered in the hand insertion portion,the hand dryer apparatus comprising;
a drain conductive plate placed such that the drain conductive plate faces a surface that is one of surfaces forming a contour of the drain tank and has a largest area of all the surfaces; and
a water detection unit that detects a water level of the drain tank on a basis of capacitance generated in the drain conductive plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hand dryer includes a housing including a hand insertion portion and nozzles communicating with the hand insertion portion, a high-pressure air stream generation device placed inside the housing, hand detection sensors detecting a user'"'"'s hand inserted into the hand insertion portion, a control unit that, when the hand detection sensors detect the user'"'"'s hand, operates the high-pressure air stream generation device to cause an air stream to jet out from the nozzles, and a drain tank collecting droplets blown off the user'"'"'s hand and scattered in the hand insertion portion. The hand dryer includes a drain conductive plate placed to face the top surface of the drain tank and a control circuit detecting the water level of the drain tank based on capacitance generated in the drain conductive plate.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A hand dryer apparatus that comprises:
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a housing that includes a hand insertion portion in which a user is allowed to insert a hand and a nozzle communicating with the hand insertion portion; a high-pressure air stream generation device placed inside the housing; a hand detection sensor that detects a hand of a user inserted into the hand insertion portion; a control unit that, when the hand detection sensor detects a hand of a user, allows the high-pressure air stream generation device to operate to cause an air stream to jet out from the nozzle to the hand insertion portion; and a drain tank that collects droplets blown off a hand of a user inserted into the hand insertion portion by an air stream jetting out from the nozzle and scattered in the hand insertion portion, the hand dryer apparatus comprising; a drain conductive plate placed such that the drain conductive plate faces a surface that is one of surfaces forming a contour of the drain tank and has a largest area of all the surfaces; and a water detection unit that detects a water level of the drain tank on a basis of capacitance generated in the drain conductive plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8)
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7. A hand dryer apparatus that comprises:
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a housing that includes a hand insertion portion in which a user is allowed to insert a hand and a nozzle communicating with the hand insertion portion; a high-pressure air stream generation device placed inside the housing; a hand detection sensor that detects a hand of a user inserted into the hand insertion portion; a control unit that, when the hand detection sensor detects a hand of a user, allows the high-pressure air stream generation device to operate to cause an air stream to jet out from the nozzle to the hand insertion portion; and a drain tank that collects droplets blown off a hand of a user inserted into the hand insertion portion by an air stream jetting out from the nozzle and scattered in the hand insertion portion, the hand dryer apparatus comprising; a drain conductive plate placed above a middle of the drain tank in a vertical direction and along a vertical surface of the drain tank; and a water detection unit that detects a water level of the drain tank on a basis of capacitance generated in the drain conductive plate.
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Specification