# US 11,310,897 B2 · Method and apparatus for an ionized air blower

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- Number: US 11,310,897 B2
- Document ID: US11310897B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/591,846
- Filed: 2019-10-03
- Published: 2020-04-09
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-08
- Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Inventors: John A. Gorczyca; Steven J. Mandrachia; Manuel C. Blanco; Richard D. Rodrigo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310897B2

## CPC

- F24F 11/32: Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
- H05F 3/06: by means of ionising radiation
- B08B 1/12: Brushes
- F24F 8/30: by ionisation
- F24F 11/52: Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
- F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode
- F24F 11/74: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
- G05B 19/054: {Input/output}
- H01T 23/00: Apparatus for generating ions to be introduced into non-enclosed gases, e.g. into the atmosphere
- F24F 2221/22: Cleaning ducts or apparatus
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- H05F: STATIC ELECTRICITY; NATURALLY-OCCURRING ELECTRICITY
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- H01T: SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES (overvoltage protection circuits H02H)

## Abstract

Various aspects of the disclosure provides for an ionized air blower that can be used to neutralize static charge on a target surface or provide a charge on the target surface. The ionized air blower may comprise a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface, an ionizer configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to control one or both of a speed of the airflow from the blower and ionization of the airflow. The ionization is performed by a selected one of ion imbalanced mode or ion balanced mode of the blower.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ionized air blower comprising:
a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface;
an ionizer configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow;
control circuitry configured to control one or both of:
a speed of the airflow from the blower;
ionization of the airflow, wherein the control circuitry is configured to perform ionization in:
an ion imbalanced mode, or
an ion balanced mode;
a human-machine interface (HMI) operably coupled with the control circuitry; and
a blower motor configured to drive the fan, wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide information to the human-machine interface regarding whether power is available at the blower motor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ionized air blower of claim 1, further comprising a first sensor configured to detect a surface charge of the target surface, wherein, when the ion imbalanced mode is selected, the control circuitry is configured to control the ionizer based on the detected surface charge from the first sensor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The ionized air blower of claim 2, further comprising a second sensor configured to detect a charge of the airflow generated by the ionized air blower.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The ionized air blower of claim 3, wherein the second sensor is a part of a sensor assembly where the airflow exits the ionized air blower.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The ionized air blower of claim 3, wherein the second sensor has a wider sensing range than the first sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The ionized air blower of claim 2, wherein:
when the surface charge is greater than a first threshold, the control circuitry is configured to control the ionizer to increase a ratio of the negative ions to the positive ions,
when the surface charge is smaller than a second threshold, the control circuitry is configured to control the ionizer to decrease the ratio of the negative ions to the positive ions, and
when the surface charge is substantially neutral, the control circuitry is configured to control the ionizer to maintain a last set ratio of negative ions to positive ions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ionized air blower of claim 1, wherein the ionized air blower is configured to be controlled by one or both of a human-machine interface for the ionized air blower and a programmable logic controller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ionized air blower of claim 1, wherein the ionized air blower is configured to be controlled by a human-machine interface for the ionized air blower via instructions from a programmable logic controller to the human-machine interface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ionized air blower of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry comprises an input device for balance adjustment of the ionization of the air, wherein a range of the input device is variable using software mapping.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The ionized air blower of claim 1, wherein, upon information of no power to the blower motor, the HMI provides an alert.

### Claim 11

An ionized air blower comprising:
a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface;
an ionizer configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow; and
control circuitry configured to control one or both of:
a speed of the airflow from the blower;
ionization of the airflow, wherein the ionization is performed by a selected one of:
ion imbalanced mode, or
ion balanced mode; and
a control station configured to receive the detected surface charge via one of a wireless connection or a wired connection.

### Claim 12

An ionized air blower comprising:
a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface;
an ionizer configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow; and
control circuitry configured to control one or both of:
a speed of the airflow from the blower;
ionization of the airflow, wherein the ionization is performed by a selected one of:
ion imbalanced mode, or
ion balanced mode; and
an ionization assembly comprising a grille, a sensor assembly, and an ionizer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The ionized air blower of claim 12, further comprising an ionizer cleaning brush configured to clean the ionizer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The ionized air blower of claim 13, wherein the ionizer cleaning brush is configured to be actuated manually via a human-machine interface for the ionized air blower, via a programmable logic controller, or upon startup of the ionized air blower.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The ionized air blower of claim 13, wherein the ionizer cleaning brush is configured to be actuated when an ion current for the ionizer is below an ion current threshold.

### Claim 16

An ionized air blower comprising:
a human-machine interface (HMI);
a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface;
an ionizer configured to produce a ratio of positive ions to negative ions within the airflow where the ratio can be adjusted via the HMI;
a sensor configured to determine a surface charge present on the target surface;
control circuitry configured to:
control a speed of the airflow from the blower; and
control the ionizer to adjust the ratio of the positive ions to the negative ions based on the surface charge detected by the sensor; and
a control station configured to receive the detected surface charge via one of a wireless connection or a wired connection.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The ionized air blower of claim 16, wherein:
when the surface charge is positive, the control circuitry is configured to control the ionizer to decrease the ratio of the positive ions to the negative ions,
when the surface charge is negative, the control circuitry is configured to control the ionizer to increase the ratio of the positive ions to the negative ions, and
when the surface charge is substantially neutral, the control circuitry is configured to control the ionizer to maintain a last set ratio of the positive ions to the negative ions.

### Claim 18

An ionized air blower comprising:
a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface;
an ionizer configured to produce a ratio of positive ions to negative ions within the airflow where the ratio can be adjusted;
a sensor configured to determine a surface charge present on the target surface;
a display for displaying the surface charge; and
a user interface configured to receive user input.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The ionized air blower of claim 18, wherein the user interface is configured to accept input to:
control a speed of the airflow from the fan; and
control the ionizer to adjust the ratio of the positive ions to the negative ions.