This application is a U.S. National Phase application of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2018/062762, filed May 16, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an air purifier. The present invention also relates to a filter cleaner for an air purifier.

BACKGROUND

Air purifiers are used to clean air from undesired particles such as pollen, germs, virus, allergens, micro particles, dust etc. Typically, the air purification is performed by letting air flow through an air-filter.

Different types of air-purifiers exist. For example, so-called tower air purifiers can be used. In a tower air purifier, air can be passed from the sides of the tower air purifier, made to pass a filter and let out in the top of the tower air purifier. Other types of air purifiers exist.

The filter in the air purifier needs to be changed or cleaned from time to time to be efficient. Different methods for and devices for cleaning the filter of an air purifier are used. For tower air-purifiers, the filter is typically exchanged when the filter is no longer efficient.

There is a constant desire to improve air purifier. Hence, there exists a need for an improved air purifier.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved air purifier. In particular, it is an object to improve the filtering and the filter cleaning in an air purifier.

These objects and or others are obtained by an air purifier, and a filter cleaner as set out in the appended claims.

As has been realized by the inventor, existing air-purifiers are associated with problems relating to keeping the filter of the air-purifier clean. As a result, filters typically need to be exchanged or at least be removed for cleaning the filter. Also, automatic cleaning mechanisms are not very efficient.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, an air purifier and filter cleaner are provided that can provide a cleaning of the filter without a need to remove the filter. The filter cleaning can be made automatic and cleaned particles can be collected in a safe manner.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention a filter cleaner is provided. The filter cleaner is configured to be mounted in an air purifier. The filter cleaner comprises a motor, a cleaning member and a gear mechanism. The motor is configured to via the gear mechanism drive a radially outwards facing surface of a cylindrical air filter or a filter holding case past the cleaning member. Hereby it is achieved that the filter of the air-purifier can be cleaned without having to remove the filter for cleaning or replacement and at the same time an efficient cleaning of the filter is achieved. In particular the entire surface of the filter can be cleaned.

In accordance with some embodiments the cleaning member is located in a cleaning module. Hereby all parts used for cleaning the filter can be located in a single module that is easy to assemble or replace.

In accordance with one embodiment, the filter cleaner further comprises at least one UV light source such as a UV lamp. Hereby the cleaning can be improved by the use of UV light that can eliminate microorganisms and the like. The at least one UV light source can in some embodiments be located in the cleaning module.

In accordance with one embodiment, the cleaning member is configured to, when in use, extend in a vertical direction. Hereby it is achieved that any material scraped off the filter will fall downwards to a single collection location. In accordance with one embodiment, the filter cleaner is provided with a dust collection box that can be located beneath the cleaning member for holding any dust or material scraped off the filter for easy removal from the filter cleaner.

In accordance with one embodiment, the filter cleaner further comprises an indicator configured to signal when it is time to empty the dust collection box. Hereby, the collection of dust and material from the dust collection box is facilitated in that a user can be made aware when it is time to empty the dust collection box.

In accordance with one embodiment, the gear mechanism is located at a bottom section of the filter cleaner when the filter cleaner is in use. Hereby a stable and compact implementation of a tower air purifier can be achieved.

In accordance with one embodiment the cleaning member comprises a brush, a lamella or a protruding member. Hereby an efficient cleaning member can be implemented.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention an air purifier comprising a polygonal casing and a cylindrical air filter with a radially outwards facing surface is provided. The cylindrical air filter can be located inside the polygonal casing so that a space is formed between the radially outwards facing surface of the cylindrical air filter and the inside corners of the polygonal casing. Hereby an air purifier that has a compact design can be implemented the space formed between the cylindrical filter and the polygonal casing can be used to house additional components of the air purifier.

In accordance with one embodiment, a filter cleaner is, at least partly, located in the space between the radially outwards facing surface of the cylindrical air filter and the inside corners of the polygonal casing. Hereby a filter cleaner can be provided without adding to the space requirements and at the same time provide an efficient cleaning mechanism for the air-purifier. The filter cleaner can in accordance with some embodiments be a filter cleaner as set out above.

