AIR CONDITIONER

Abstract

 An air conditioner (100) is equipped with a single outdoor unit (3), multiple indoor unit bodies (18a, 18b) to which humidified air is supplied from the outdoor unit (3), a communication unit (67) that can receive a supply instruction from a user to supply humidified air to the indoor unit bodies (18a, 18b), and a humidifying operation control unit (62) that controls the outdoor unit (3) such that humidified air is supplied only to any one of the indoor unit bodies (18a, 18b). The humidifying operation control unit (62) performs first prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the outdoor unit (3) such that humidified air is supplied to a first supply unit that is an indoor unit body for which the communication unit (67) has first received the supply instruction, non-prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the outdoor unit (3) such that, in a case where the communication unit (67) receives the supply instruction with respect to a second supply unit that is the indoor unit body other than the first supply unit and a first condition is being met, humidified air is supplied to the second supply unit, and second prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the outdoor unit (3) such that, in a case where a second condition is being met, humidified air is supplied to the first supply unit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-type air conditioner that can supply humidified air.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, there have been multi-room ventilators and multi-room ventilation systems that can use a single ventilator to ventilate multiple rooms.

[0003] For example, the multi-room ventilator disclosed in patent literature 1 (JP-A No. 11-311435) is equipped with a body (which corresponds to a ventilator), which has a blower, and a chamber that is connected to the body. In the chamber, air inlets for sucking in air in rooms are disposed in a number corresponding to the number of rooms that are to be ventilated. Further, the chamber has dampers that can independently open and close the multiple air inlets. This multi-room ventilator can independently ventilate the rooms by independently operating the dampers. In this way, this multi-room ventilator ventilates multiple rooms using a single body.

[0004] Further, the multi-room ventilation system disclosed in patent literature 2 (JP-A No. 5-223298) is equipped with a ventilator, a main duct that is connected to the ventilator, and multiple branching ducts that are placed branching from the main duct into multiple rooms. Further, each branching duct has a damper that opens and closes an air intake port for taking in air from each room. In this multi-room ventilation system, the needed ventilation air volume is decided on the basis of the operating number of each damper, and the ventilator is operated in accordance with this decided ventilation air volume. In this way, this multi-room ventilation system ventilates multiple rooms using a single ventilator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

<Technical Problem>

[0005] Incidentally, in the case of an air conditioner where multiple indoor units are connected to a humidifier having a humidifying function of supplying humidified air to the indoor units, it is conceivable to utilize the aforementioned multi-room ventilator or multi-room ventilation system to supply humidified air to multiple rooms.

[0006] However, in a case where the aforementioned multi-room ventilator or multi-room ventilation system is made to correspond to a humidifier that has the humidifying capacity needed to humidify a single room but does not have the humidifying capacity needed to humidify multiple rooms, humidified air becomes dispersed and supplied to each room when supply of humidified air is requested at the same time from users in the multiple rooms. For this reason, there is the fear a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to the users because humidified air is not sufficiently supplied to each room.

[0007] Therefore, it is a problem of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that is less likely to impart a feeling of discomfort with respect to users.

<Solution to the Problem>

[0008] An air conditioner pertaining to a first aspect of the invention comprises a single humidifier, multiple separate-area indoor units, a receiving unit, and a control unit. Humidified air is supplied to the multiple separate-area indoor units from the humidifier. The receiving unit can receive a supply instruction from a user to supply humidified air to each of the separate-area indoor units. The control unit controls the humidifier such that humidified air is supplied only to any one of the multiple separate-area indoor units.
Further, the control unit performs first control, second control, and third control. In the first control, the control unit controls the humidifier such that humidified air is supplied to a first supply unit that is the separate-area indoor unit for which the receiving unit has first received the supply instruction. The second control is performed in a case where after the first control has been performed the receiving unit receives the supply instruction with respect to a second supply unit that is the separate-area indoor unit other than the first supply unit and at least a humidified environment of a first area humidified by the first supply unit is meeting a first condition. Further, in the second control, the control unit controls the humidifier such that humidified air is supplied to the second supply unit. In the third control, the control unit controls the humidifier such that humidified air is supplied to the separate-area indoor unit other than the second supply unit. Further, the third control is performed in a case where after the second control has been performed at least the humidified environment of the first area is meeting a second condition.

[0009] In the air conditioner pertaining to the first aspect of the invention, the first control, the second control, or the third control is performed by the control unit, whereby humidified air is supplied only to any one of the multiple separate-area indoor units. For this reason, even in a case made to correspond to a humidifier that has the humidifying capacity needed to humidify a single room but does not have the humidifying capacity needed to humidify multiple rooms, sufficient humidified air can be supplied to each of the separate-area indoor units.

[0010] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to users can be reduced.

[0011] An air conditioner pertaining to a second aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the control unit has a calculating component. The calculating component can calculate a first humidified environment value corresponding to the humidified environment in the first area on the basis of a measurement value of a first area humidity sensor. The first area humidity sensor is a sensor for measuring the humidity of the first area. Further, in the first condition is included a first switching condition where the first humidified environment value is less than a first predetermined value. Moreover, in the second condition is included a second switching condition where the first humidified environment value is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value.

[0012] In the air conditioner pertaining to the second aspect of the invention, the first switching condition is included as the first condition and the second switching condition is included as the second condition. For this reason, the second control and the third control are performed on the basis of the humidified environment value in the first area to which humidified air is supplied by the first supply unit.

[0013] Thus, the fear that humidification of the first area will become insufficient can be reduced.

[0014] An air conditioner pertaining to a third aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the calculating component further calculates, on the basis of a measurement value of a second area humidity sensor, a second humidified environment value corresponding to a humidified environment in a second area. The second area humidity sensor is a sensor for measuring the humidity of a second area humidified by the second supply unit. Further, in the first condition is included, in addition to the first switching condition, at least any one condition of a third switching condition or a fourth switching condition. The third switching condition is a condition where the second humidified environment value is equal to or greater than a third predetermined value. Further, the fourth switching condition is a condition where a predetermined first amount of time has elapsed since humidification of the first area has been started by the first supply unit.

[0015] In the air conditioner pertaining to the third aspect of the invention, in the first condition is included, in addition to the first switching condition, at least any one condition of the third switching condition or the fourth switching condition. For this reason, for example, in a case where the first switching condition and the third switching condition are included in the first condition, the second control is performed on the basis of the first humidified environment value and the second humidified environment value. Further, for example, in a case where the first switching condition and the fourth switching condition are included in the first condition, the second control is performed on the basis of the first humidified environment value and the amount of time in which the first area has been humidified. Moreover, in a case where the first switching condition, the third switching condition, and the fourth switching condition are included in the first condition, the second control is performed on the basis of the first humidified environment value, the second humidified environment value, and the amount of time in which the first area has been humidified. Consequently, in this air conditioner, humidified air can be supplied to each area.

[0016] An air conditioner pertaining to a fourth aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to the third aspect of the invention, wherein in the second condition is included, in addition to the second switching condition, a fifth switching condition. The fifth switching condition is a condition where a predetermined second amount of time has elapsed since humidification of the second area has been started by the second supply unit. For this reason, for example, humidified air can be supplied to the second supply unit as compared to a case where the third control is performed only in a case where the second switching condition is being met.

[0017] An air conditioner pertaining to a fifth aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to any of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, wherein the second supply unit has an informing component for informing the user that humidified air is being supplied to the first supply unit. For this reason, it can be made easier to make a user who has given a supply instruction to supply humidified air with respect to the separate-area indoor unit other than the first supply unit aware that humidified air is being supplied to the first supply unit.

[0018] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced.

[0019] An air conditioner pertaining to a sixth aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to any of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, wherein the humidifier has a switching component. The switching component can switch between a first state where humidified air is supplied to only the first supply unit and a second state where humidified air is supplied only to the second supply unit. Further, the control unit performs the first control, the second control, or the third control by performing switching control that switches the state of the switching component. For this reason, in this air conditioner, humidified air is supplied only to a single separate-area indoor unit, so the fear that humidification will become insufficient per area can be reduced.

[0020] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to users can be reduced.

[0021] An air conditioner pertaining to a seventh aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to the sixth aspect of the invention, further comprising a reception component that receives a switching instruction from the user such that the state of the switching component switches. For this reason, for example, in a case where the switching instruction from the user has been received in the reception component such that humidified air is supplied only to the first supply unit, the state of the switching component is switched such that humidified air is supplied only to the first supply unit. Consequently, the state of the switching component according to the circumstance of the user can be set.

[0022] An air conditioner pertaining to an eighth aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to the seventh aspect of the invention, wherein in a case where the reception component is receiving the switching instruction, in the switching component, the state of the switching component based on the switching instruction is prioritized over the state of the switching component according to the switching control by the control unit. For this reason, for example, in a case where the reception component is receiving the switching instruction, the state of the switching component based on the switching instruction is maintained even if the first condition or the second condition has been met. Consequently, the state of the switching component according to the circumstance of the user can be maintained.

[0023] An air conditioner pertaining to a ninth aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to any of the first to eighth aspects of the invention, wherein the control unit has a deciding component that decides the second supply unit on the basis of the timing when the receiving unit has received the supply instruction. For this reason, in this air conditioner, the second supply unit can be decided.

[0024] An air conditioner pertaining to a tenth aspect of the invention comprises a single humidifier, multiple separate-area indoor units, a switching component, and a setting unit. Humidified air is supplied to the separate-area indoor units from the humidifier. The switching component can switch between a first state and a second state. The first state is a state where humidified air is supplied only to a first indoor unit that is one indoor unit of the separate-area indoor units. The second state is a state where humidified air is supplied only to a second indoor unit that is the separate-area indoor unit other than the first indoor unit. The setting unit has a first reception component and a second reception component. The first reception component receives a setting instruction from a user such that the state of the switching component becomes the first state. The second reception component receives a setting instruction from the user such that the state of the switching component becomes the second state.

[0025] In the air conditioner pertaining to the tenth aspect of the invention, in a case where the setting unit is receiving the setting instruction from the user, the state of the switching component is switched in accordance with the setting instruction. For this reason, the state of the switching component can be switched in accordance with the circumstance of the user.

[0026] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to users can be reduced.

[0027] An air conditioner pertaining to an eleventh aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to the tenth aspect of the invention, further comprising a receiving unit. The receiving unit can receive a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air to each of the separate-area indoor units. Further, in a case where the first reception component has received the setting instruction and the second reception component has not received the setting instruction and where the receiving unit has received the supply instruction to supply humidified air to the first indoor unit, the state of the switching component is switched such that the state of the switching component becomes the first state. Further, in a case where the first reception component has not received the setting instruction and the second reception component has received the setting instruction and where the receiving component has received the supply instruction to supply humidified air to the second indoor unit, the state of the switching component is switched such that the state of the switching component becomes the second state. For this reason, in this air conditioner, the state of the switching component is switched in accordance with the circumstance of the user.

[0028] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced.

[0029] An air conditioner pertaining to a twelfth aspect of the invention is the air conditioner pertaining to the tenth or eleventh aspect of the invention, wherein in a case where the first reception component and the second reception component have received the setting instruction, the switching component is switched between the first state and the second state every predetermined amount of time. For this reason, in this air conditioner, humidified air can be supplied with respect to the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit.

[0030] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced.

<Advantageous Effects of the Invention>

[0031] In the air conditioner pertaining to the first aspect of the invention, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced.

[0032] In the air conditioner pertaining to the second aspect of the invention, the fear that humidification of the first area will become insufficient can be reduced.

[0033] In the air conditioner pertaining to the third aspect of the invention, humidified air can be supplied to each area.

[0034] In the air conditioner pertaining to the fourth aspect of the invention, humidified air can be supplied to the second supply unit.

[0035] In the air conditioner pertaining to the fifth aspect of the invention, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced.

[0036] In the air conditioner pertaining to the sixth aspect of the invention, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to users can be reduced.

[0037] In the air conditioner pertaining to the seventh aspect of the invention, the state of the switching component according to the circumstance of the user can be set.

[0038] In the air conditioner pertaining to the eighth aspect of the invention, the state of the switching component according to the circumstance of the user can be maintained.

[0039] In the air conditioner pertaining to the ninth aspect of the invention, the second supply unit can be decided.

[0040] In the air conditioner pertaining to the tenth aspect of the invention, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to users can be reduced.

[0041] In the air conditioner pertaining to the eleventh aspect of the invention, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to users can be reduced.

[0042] In the air conditioner pertaining to the twelfth aspect of the invention, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to users can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] 

FIG. 1 is a general refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioner equipped with indoor units pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the air conditioner equipped with the indoor units pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an indoor unit pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an outdoor unit.

FIG. 5(a) is a plan view of an air flow path switching component in a first switched state, and FIG. 5(b) is a sectional view (corresponding to the V-V section in FIG. 5(a)) showing a flow of air during air supply.

FIG. 6(a) is a plan view of the air flow path switching component in a second switched state, and FIG. 6(b) is a sectional view (corresponding to the VI-VI section in FIG. 6(a)) showing a flow of air during air supply.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of a control device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of a switching operation of the air flow path switching component by a switching control component.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the switching operation of the air flow path switching component by the switching control component.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the switching operation of the air flow path switching component by the switching control component.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of an air conditioner equipped with indoor units pertaining to modification (B) of the present invention.

FIG. 12(a) is a plan view of an air flow path switching component in a second switched state in modification (B) of the present invention, and FIG. 12(b) is a sectional view (corresponding to the XII-XII section in FIG. 12(a)) showing a flow of air during air supply.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of a switching operation of the air flow path switching component by the switching control component in modification (B) of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the switching operation of the air flow path switching component by the switching control component in modification (B) of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the switching operation of the air flow path switching component by the switching control component in modification (B) of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of the switching operation of the air flow path switching component by the switching control component in modification (B) of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of the switching operation of the air flow path switching component by the switching control component in modification (B) of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of the switching operation of the air flow path switching component by the switching control component in modification (B) of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a control block diagram of a control device in modification (C) of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a control block diagram of a control device in modification (C) of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

<General Configuration of Air Conditioner>

[0044] An air conditioner 100 pertaining to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. This air conditioner 100 is, as shown in FIG. 1, a multi-type air conditioner where a single outdoor unit 3 and two indoor units (which correspond to separate-area indoor units) 2a and 2b are connected in parallel by refrigerant pipes. Further, this air conditioner 100 can perform operations such as a humidifying operation in addition to normal operations including a cooling operation and a heating operation. The outdoor unit 3 is equipped with an outdoor air conditioning unit 5, which internally houses an outdoor heat exchanger 24 and an outdoor fan 29, and a humidifying unit 4. Indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b are housed inside the indoor units 2a and 2b. Further, air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b are disposed between the humidifying unit 4 and the indoor units 2a and 2b. One end of each of the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b is connected to the humidifying unit 4, and the other ends of the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b are connected to the indoor units 2a and 2b, whereby the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b can communicatively connect the inside space of the humidifying unit 4 and the inside spaces of the indoor units 2a and 2b.

<Configuration of Indoor Units>

[0045] The first indoor unit 2a is, as shown in FIG. 2, equipped with a first indoor unit body 18a and a first remote controller 80a. The first indoor unit body 18a is placed in a first room 1a and is a wall-mounted indoor unit installed on a wall surface or the like of the first room 1a. Further, the second indoor unit 2b is equipped with a second indoor unit body 18b and a second remote controller 80b. The second indoor unit body 18b is placed in a second room 1b and, like the first indoor unit body 18a, is a wall-mounted indoor unit installed on a wall surface or the like of the second room 1b. Further, the first indoor unit body 18a and the second indoor unit body 18b are, as shown in FIG. 1, connected to the outdoor unit 3 via refrigerant pipes.

[0046] Next, the configuration of the first indoor unit 2a will be described. The first indoor unit 2a and the second indoor unit 2b have the same configuration, so only the configuration of the first indoor unit 2a will be described here.

[0047] The first indoor unit body 18a is, as shown in FIG. 3, equipped with a first indoor unit casing 10a. Further, a first indoor fan 12a and the aforementioned first indoor heat exchanger 11a, etc., are housed in the first indoor unit casing 10a (see FIG. 1).

[0048] The first indoor heat exchanger 11a comprises a heat transfer tube that is bent multiple times at both lengthwise direction ends and plural fins that are inserted from the heat transfer tube, and the first indoor heat exchanger 11a performs heat exchange with the air coming into contact therewith.

[0049] The first indoor fan 12a is configured in a circular cylinder shape, and blades are disposed in its axis-of-rotation direction on its peripheral surface. The first indoor fan 12a generates an air flow in a direction intersecting its axis of rotation as a result of being driven to rotate. The first indoor fan 12a causes the air in the first room 1a to be sucked into the first indoor unit body 18a and causes the air on which heat exchange has been performed with the first indoor heat exchanger 11a to be blown out into the first room 1a.

[0050] Further, one end of the first air suction and discharge hose 6a that extends from the humidifying unit 4 is, as mentioned above, placed in the first indoor unit body 18a. Further, an opening is disposed in the first air suction and discharge hose 6a, and this opening is placed in a position opposing the surface of the first indoor heat exchanger 11a. The specific position of the opening is on the downstream side of an air intake port 10b disposed in the upper portion of the first indoor unit body 18a and on the upstream side of the first indoor heat exchanger 11a in a state where the first indoor fan 12a is rotating and an air flow is being generated.

[0051] Moreover, the first indoor unit body 18a is, as shown in FIG. 3, equipped with a first indicating component 17a for informing the user of the operating status and so forth of the air conditioner 100. The first indicating component 17a has first window portions 14a, 15a, and 16a and plural LED light emitting elements. The first window portions 14a, 15a, and 16a are disposed on the lower portion of the front surface of the first indoor unit casing 10a such that the user can see them. Further, the first window portions 14a, 15a, and 16a are configured by a transparent material so that they can transmit the light of the LED light emitting elements placed inside the first indoor unit casing 10a to the outside of the first indoor unit casing 10a. The LED light emitting elements are housed inside the first indoor unit casing 10a and are placed near the first window portions 14a, 15a, and 16a. Further, a first other-room humidifying operation notifying LED light emitting element 13a (see FIG. 7) is included in the LED light emitting elements. In FIG. 3, reference sign 16a denotes the window portion that can transmit the light of the first other-room humidifying operation notifying LED light emitting element 13a to the outside of the first indoor unit casing 10a.

[0052] Further, the first remote controller 80a is a device for remotely operating the air conditioner 100 and has plural switches. When these switches are pressed by the user, the first remote controller 80a can transmit instruction content from the user with respect to the air conditioner 100 as control signals to a communication unit 67 of a later-described control device 60. For example, when, of the plural switches included in the first remote controller 80a, a first operate/stop switch that is a switch for starting or stopping the operations such as the cooling operation performed in the first indoor unit body 18a is pressed by the user, an instruction to start or stop the operations such as the cooling operation in the first indoor unit body 18a is transmitted as a control signal from the first remote controller 80a to the communication unit 67 of the control device 60.

<Configuration of Outdoor Unit>

[0053] The outdoor unit 3 is, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, configured from the outdoor air conditioning unit 5 in the lower portion and the humidifying unit 4 in the upper portion.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22 that is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 21, an accumulator 23 that is connected to the suction side of the compressor 21, the outdoor heat exchanger 24 that is connected to the four-way switching valve 22, and outdoor expansion valves 25a and 25b that are connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 24 are housed in the outdoor air conditioning unit 5. The outdoor expansion valves 25a and 25b are connected to a liquid refrigerant pipe via filters 26a and 26b and liquid stop valves 27a and 27b and are connected to one end of each of the indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b via this liquid refrigerant pipe. Further, the four-way switching valve 22 is connected to a gas refrigerant pipe via gas stop valves 28a and 28b and is connected to the other ends of the indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b via this gas refrigerant pipe.

[0055] The humidifying unit 4 is, as shown in FIG. 1, placed in the upper portion of the outdoor unit 3. Further, the humidifying unit 4 can discharge the air that has been taken in from the rooms 1a and 1b to the outside and supply the air that has been taken in from the outside to the rooms 1a and 1b. Further, the humidifying unit 4 can also humidify the air that has been taken in from the outside and supply it to the rooms 1a and 1b. The humidifying unit 4 in the present embodiment is a compact humidifying unit that has the humidifying capacity needed to humidify a single room but does not have the humidifying capacity needed to humidify multiple rooms.

[0056] The configuration of the humidifying unit 4 will be described below.

<Configuration of Humidifying Unit>

[0057] The humidifying unit 4 is, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, equipped with a humidifying unit casing 7 and a humidifying unit body 6.

[0058] The humidifying unit casing 7 houses, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a humidifying rotor 51, a heating device 52, a humidifying fan 54, an air suction and discharge switching damper 53, and an adsorption-use blowing device 55, etc.

[0059] An adsorption-use air blowout port 7a comprising plural slit-like openings is disposed in the front surface of the humidifying unit casing 7. Further, an adsorption-use air intake port 7b and an air suction and discharge port 7c are disposed in the rear surface of the humidifying unit casing 7. The adsorption-use air intake port 7b is an opening through which air taken in from the outdoors travels to allow the humidifying rotor 51 to adsorb moisture. The air suction and discharge port 7c is an opening through which air taken into the humidifying unit 4 from the outdoors and sent to the indoor units 2a and 2b travels during an air sucking operation and a humidifying operation. Further, the air suction and discharge port 7c is an opening through which air taken in from the indoor units 2a and 2b and discharged from the humidifying unit 4 to the outdoors travels during an air discharging operation.

[0060] The humidifying unit body 6 is, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, equipped with the humidifying rotor 51, the heating device 52, the air suction and discharge switching damper 53, the humidifying fan 54, the adsorption-use blowing device 55, etc.

[0061] The humidifying rotor 51 is a ceramic rotor with a honeycomb structure and has a generally disc-shaped outer shape. Further, the humidifying rotor 51 is rotatably disposed and is driven to rotate by a rotor drive-use motor. Moreover, the main portion of the humidifying rotor 51 is fired from an adsorbent such as zeolite. The adsorbent such as zeolite has the property of adsorbing moisture in the air coming into contact therewith and desorbing the adsorbed moisture as a result of being heated. In the present embodiment, zeolite is used as the adsorbent, but it is also possible to use silica gel or alumina as the adsorbent.

[0062] The heating device 52 is positioned above the humidifying rotor 51 and is placed opposing the humidifying rotor 51. Further, the heating device 52 can heat the humidifying rotor 51 by heating the air sent to the humidifying rotor 51.

[0063] The humidifying fan 54 is placed to the side of the humidifying rotor 51 and is a radial fan assembly that generates a flow of air taken in from the outdoors and sent to the indoor units 2a and 2b. The humidifying fan 54 generates a flow of air leading from the air suction and discharge port 7c via the humidifying rotor 51 and the air suction and discharge switching damper 53 to the rooms 1a and 1b and sends the air it has taken in from the outdoors to the indoor units 2a and 2b. Further, the humidifying fan 54 can also discharge the air in the rooms 1a and 1b it has taken in from the indoor units 2a and 2b to the outdoors. The humidifying fan 54 switches these operations as a result of the air suction and discharge switching damper 53 switching. As shown in FIG. 1, in a case where the humidifying fan 54 sends the air it has taken in from the outdoors to the indoor units 2a and 2b, it delivers the air that has passed through the portion of the humidifying rotor 51 opposing the heating device 52 to an air suction and discharge duct 58 via the air suction and discharge switching damper 53. The air suction and discharge duct 58 is connected to the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b via a later-described air flow path switching component 30, and the humidifying fan 54 supplies outdoor air to the indoor units 2a and 2b via the air suction and discharge duct 58, the air flow path switching component 30, and the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b. The air sent to the indoor units 2a and 2b through the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b is, as mentioned above, blown out onto the surfaces of the indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b inside the indoor units 2a and 2b.

[0064] Further, in a case where the humidifying fan 54 discharges the air in the rooms 1 a and 1b it has taken in from the indoor units 2a and 2b to the outdoors, it discharges the air in the rooms 1a and 1b that has traveled through the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b, the air flow path switching component 30, and the air suction and discharge duct 58 to the outdoors from the air suction and discharge port 7c.

[0065] The adsorption-use blowing device 55 has an adsorption-use fan motor 59 and an adsorption fan 56 that is driven to rotate by the adsorption-use fan motor 59, and the adsorption-use blowing device 55 generates a flow of air that passes through the portion of the humidifying rotor 51 not opposing the heating device 52. That is, the adsorption-use blowing device 55 generates a flow of air that is sucked in from the adsorption-use air intake port 7b, passes through the portion of the humidifying rotor 51 not opposing the heating device 52, travels through an opening in a bellmouth 57, and is discharged to the outdoors from the adsorption-use air blowout port 7a.

[0066] The air suction and discharge switching damper 53 is a rotary air flow path switching mechanism that includes an air suction and discharge damper and a first drive motor 53a (see FIG. 7) for causing the air suction and discharge damper to rotate. Further, the air suction and discharge switching damper 53 is placed below the humidifying fan 54. Moreover, the air suction and discharge switching damper 53 is switched between an air supplying state and an air discharging state as a result of the first drive motor 53a causing the air suction and discharge damper to rotate. In the air supplying state, an air flow leading from the humidifying unit 4 side toward the indoor unit bodies 18a and 18b side is generated by the humidifying fan 54. Further, in the air discharging state, an air flow leading from the indoor unit bodies 18a and 18b side toward the humidifying unit 4 side is generated by the humidifying fan 54.

[0067] Further, the humidifying unit 4 is equipped with the air flow path switching component 30, which is placed between the air suction and discharge duct 58 and the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b. The air flow path switching component 30 will be described below.

<Configuration of Air Flow Path Switching Component>

[0068] The air flow path switching component 30 is, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, rotary air flow path switching means connected to the air suction and discharge duct 58 and the air suction and discharge hoses 6a and 6b. Further, the air flow path switching component 30 is placed inside the humidifying unit casing 7.

[0069] The air flow path switching component 30 has, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a switching component casing 31 and a damper 32. The switching component casing 31 is configured from a first switching component casing 33 and a second switching component casing 34. As shown in FIG. 5(b) and FIG. 6(b), the first switching component casing 33 has a substantially circular cylinder shape, and its upper side and lower side are open. "Upper" and "lower" in the present embodiment mean upper and lower in FIG. 5(b) and FIG. 6(b). Further, the second switching component casing 34 is a member with a substantially circular shape, and its area is substantially identical to the area of the opening on the lower side of the first switching component casing 33. Further, a first opening 35a and a second opening 35b are disposed in the second switching component casing 34. The area of the first opening 35a and the area of the second opening 35b are identical. Further, the areas of the first opening 35a and the second opening 35b are smaller than the area of the opening on the upper side of the first switching component casing 33. Moreover, a first connecting portion extends downward from the peripheral portion of the first opening 35a, and a second connecting portion extends downward from the peripheral portion of the second opening 35b. Further, the air flow path switching component 30 is connected to the air suction and discharge duct 58 via the opening disposed on the upper side of the switching component casing 31. Moreover, the air flow path switching component 30 is connected to the first air suction and discharge hose 6a via the first opening 35a in the second switching component casing 34 and is connected to the second air suction and discharge hose 6b via the second opening 35b in the second switching component casing 34.

[0070] The damper 32 is a plate-like member with a substantially semicircular shape and is rotatably attached to the second switching component casing 34. The damper 32 rotates as a result of being driven by a second drive motor 30a (see FIG. 7). Further, the air flow path switching component 30 can switch between a first switched state and a second switched state as a result of the damper 32 rotating. The first switched state and the second switched state will be described below using FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

[0071] The first switched state is, as shown in FIG. 5(a), a state where the damper 32 is placed so as to cover the second opening 35b disposed in the second switching component casing 34. Further, the first opening 35a becomes opened. For this reason, the switching component casing 31 becomes connected to the air suction and discharge duct 58 at its upper side and becomes connected to the first air suction and discharge hose 6a at its lower side as a result of the first opening 35a being opened. Consequently, the air suction and discharge duct 58 and the first air suction and discharge hose 6a become communicatively connected.

[0072] Thus, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper 53 is in the air supplying state and the air flow path switching component 30 is in the first switched state, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5(b), the air traveling through the air suction and discharge duct 58 flows via the inside of the switching component casing 31 from the first opening 35a into the first air suction and discharge hose 6a. Further, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper 53 is in the air discharging state and the air flow path switching component 30 is in the first switched state, the air in the first room 1a that has been sucked into the first indoor unit body 18a travels through the first air suction and discharge hose 6a, travels through the inside of the switching component casing 31, and is discharged via the air suction and discharge duct 58 from the air suction and discharge port 7c to the outdoors.

[0073] The second switched state is, as shown in FIG. 6(a), a state where the damper 32 is placed so as to cover the first opening 35a disposed in the second switching component casing 34. Further, the second opening 35b becomes opened. For this reason, the switching component casing 31 becomes connected to the air suction and discharge duct 58 at its upper side and becomes connected to the second air suction and discharge hose 6b at its lower side as a result of the second opening 35b being opened. Consequently, the air suction and discharge duct 58 and the second air suction and discharge hose 6b become communicatively connected.

[0074] Thus, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper 53 is in the air supplying state and the air flow path switching component 30 is in the second switched state, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6(b), the air traveling through the air suction and discharge duct 58 flows via the inside of the switching component casing 31 from the second opening 35b into the second air suction and discharge hose 6b. Further, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper 53 is in the air discharging state and the air flow path switching component 30 is in the second switched state, the air in the second room 2a that has been sucked into the second indoor unit body 18b travels through the second air suction and discharge hose 6b, travels through the inside of the switching component casing 31, and is discharged via the air suction and discharge duct 58 from the air suction and discharge port 7c to the outdoors.

[0075] Further, the driving of the second drive motor 30a is controlled by a switching control component 66. The control device 60 equipped with the switching control component 66 will be described below.

<Control Device>

[0076] The control device 60 is, as shown in FIG. 7, connected to various devices such as the indoor fans 12a and 12b, the indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b, the LED light emitting elements including the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements 13a and 13b, the compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 22, the outdoor fan 29, the outdoor heat exchanger 24, the outdoor expansion valves 25a and 25b, the humidifying rotor 51, the first drive motor 53a, the adsorption-use blowing device 55, the heating device 52, and the second drive motor 30a. Further, the control device 60 is equipped with the communication unit 67. The communication unit 67 receives control signals of various operating modes—such as the normal operations, like the cooling operation and the heating operation, and the humidifying operation—transmitted from the remote controllers 80a and 80b.

[0077] Further, the control device 60 is equipped with a normal operation control unit 61 and a humidifying operation control unit 62. The normal operation control unit 61 performs operation control of the various devices of the air conditioner 100 such that the normal operations including the cooling operation and the heating operation are performed in the air conditioner 100 on the basis of the control signals transmitted from the remote controllers 80a and 80b. Further, the humidifying operation control unit 62 performs operation control of the various devices of the air conditioner 100 such that the humidifying operation is performed in the air conditioner 100 on the basis of the control signals transmitted from the remote controllers 80a and 80b.

[0078] Moreover, the humidifying operation control unit 62 is equipped with a prioritized supply unit deciding component 65. The prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides priority in accordance with the order in which the control signal of a first humidification instruction, which is a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the first room 1a that is transmitted when a first humidified air supply switch 81a included in the first remote controller 80a is pressed by the user, and the control signal of a second humidification instruction, which is a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the second room 1b that is transmitted when a second humidified air supply switch 81b included in the second remote controller 80b is pressed by the user, have been received in the communication unit 67. Further, the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides one prioritized supply unit (which corresponds to a first supply unit) that is an indoor unit body to which humidified air is supplied preferentially on the basis of the priority. Further, the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides the indoor unit body other than the prioritized supply unit to be a non-prioritized supply unit (which corresponds to a second supply unit). For this reason, any one of the first indoor unit body 18a or the second indoor unit body 18b is decided to be the prioritized supply unit and the other is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0079] For example, in a case where the second humidification instruction has been received after the first humidification instruction has been received in the communication unit 67, the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides the first humidification instruction to be priority "high" and decides the second humidification instruction to be priority "low". Additionally, the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides the first indoor unit body 18a whose priority is "`high" to be the prioritized supply unit and decides the second indoor unit body 18b whose priority is "low" to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0080] Further, for example, in a case where the first humidification instruction has been received after the second humidification instruction has been received in the communication unit 67, the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides the second humidification instruction to be priority "high" and decides the first humidification instruction to be priority "low". Additionally, the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides the second indoor unit body 18b whose priority is "high" to be the prioritized supply unit and decides the first indoor unit body 18a whose priority is "low" to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0081] Moreover, the humidifying operation control unit 62 is equipped with the switching control component 66. The switching control component 66 has a calculating component 68. The calculating component 68 calculates a first humidified environment value that is a value obtained by subtracting a first measurement value, which is a measurement value of a first humidity sensor 70a for measuring the humidity in the first room 1a, from a set humidity value set beforehand by the user in the first indoor unit 2a. Further, the calculating component 68 calculates a second humidified environment value that is a value obtained by subtracting a second measurement value, which is a measurement value of a second humidity sensor 70b for measuring the humidity in the second room 1b, from a set humidity value set beforehand by the user in the second indoor unit 2b.

[0082] Further, the switching control component 66 has a determining component 69. The determining component 69 determines whether or not a first condition and a second condition are being met. In the first condition are included a first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a first switching condition), a second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a third switching condition), and a third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a fourth switching condition). Further, in the second condition are included a first prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a second switching condition) and a second prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a fifth switching condition). The first condition and the second condition are stored in a storage unit 63 with which the control device 60 is equipped.

[0083] The first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition is a condition where a humidified environment value ΔHa in the room in which the prioritized supply unit is installed (which corresponds to a first area; called "the prioritized supply room" below) is less than a first determination value DHs (which corresponds to a first predetermined value).

[0084] The second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition is a condition where a humidified environment value AHb in the room in which the non-prioritized supply unit is installed (which corresponds to a second area; called "the non-prioritized supply room" below) is equal to or greater than a second determination value (which corresponds to a third predetermined value) that is a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value dDH from the first determination value DHs.

[0085] The third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition is a condition where a predetermined first amount of time (e.g., 10 minutes) has elapsed since supply of humidified air to the prioritized supply room has been started, that is, since humidification of the prioritized supply room has been started by the prioritized supply unit.

[0086] The first prioritized supply unit switching condition is a condition where the humidified environment value ΔHa in the prioritized supply room is equal to or greater than the second determination value (which corresponds to a second predetermined value).

[0087] The second prioritized supply unit switching condition is a condition where a predetermined second amount of time (e.g., 1 minute) has elapsed since supply of humidified air to the non-prioritized supply room has been started, that is, since humidification of the non-prioritized supply room has been started by the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0088] Further, the determining component 69 determines that the first condition is being met in a case where all conditions of the first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, the second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, and the third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition have been met. Further, as the timing when the determining component 69 determines the first condition, a first determination is performed when the predetermined first amount of time has elapsed since supply of humidified air to the prioritized supply room has been started, and a determination is performed every predetermined third amount of time (e.g., 1 minute) since it has been determined that the third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition is being met.

[0089] Moreover, the determining component 69 determines that the second condition is being met in a case where it has been determined that both the first prioritized supply unit switching condition and the second prioritized supply unit switching condition are being met. Further, as the timing when the determining component 69 determines the second condition, a first determination is performed when the predetermined second amount of time has elapsed since supply of humidified air to the non-prioritized supply room has been started, and then a determination is performed every predetermined fourth amount of time (e.g., 30 seconds) since it has been determined that the second prioritized supply unit switching condition is being met.

[0090] The predetermined first amount of time and the predetermined second amount of time may differ or may be the same. Further, the more the predetermined second amount of time is shortened, the more humidified air can be supplied preferentially to the prioritized supply unit. Moreover, the predetermined third amount of time and the predetermined fourth amount of time may differ or may be the same. Further, the more the predetermined fourth amount of time is shortened, the more humidified air can be supplied preferentially to the prioritized supply unit.

[0091] Moreover, the switching control component 66 performs first prioritized supply unit switching control (which corresponds to first control), non-prioritized supply unit switching control (which corresponds to second control), and second prioritized supply unit switching control (which corresponds to third control).

[0092] The first prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the state of the air flow path switching component 30 such that humidified air is supplied to only the prioritized supply unit, that is, the indoor unit to which has been given the humidification instruction that the communication unit 67 has first received of the first humidification instruction or the second humidification instruction from the user.

[0093] The non-prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the air flow path switching component 30 such that humidified air is supplied only to the non-prioritized supply unit in a case where, after the first prioritized supply unit switching control has been performed, it has been determined in the determining component 69 that the first condition is being met.

[0094] The second prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the state of the air flow path switching component 30 such that humidified air is supplied only to the prioritized supply unit in a case where, after the non-prioritized supply unit switching control has been performed, it has been determined in the determining component 69 that the second condition is being met.

[0095] Further, an indication control component 64 controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements 13a and 13b such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13a or 13b of the non-prioritized supply unit always lights up when humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit. Further, the indication control component 64 controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements 13a and 13b such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13a or 13b of the non-prioritized supply unit goes out when humidified air is being supplied to the non-prioritized supply unit.

<Control Operation by Humidifying Operation Control Unit>

[0096] Next, the control operation by the humidifying operation control unit 62 will be described using FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10. In the description below, it will be assumed that the humidified air supply switches 8 1 a and 81 b are not being pressed by the user and that humidified air is not being supplied from the humidifying unit 4 to the first indoor unit body 18a or the second indoor unit body 18b.

[0097] When the first humidified air supply switch 81a is pressed by the user, the communication unit 67 receives a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the first indoor unit body 18a, that is, the control signal of the first humidification instruction. When the control signal of the first humidification instruction is received in the communication unit 67, the various devices of the first indoor unit body 18a, the outdoor air conditioning unit 5, and the humidifying unit 4 are controlled by the humidifying operation control unit 62, and the first prioritized supply unit switching control in which the air flow path switching component 30 is controlled by the switching control component 66 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 30 becomes the first switched state is performed. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the first indoor unit body 18a.

[0098] Thereafter, when the second humidified air supply switch 81b is pressed by the user, the communication unit 67 receives a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the second indoor unit body 18b, that is, the control signal of the second humidification instruction. When the control signal of the second humidification instruction is received in the communication unit 67, the first indoor unit body 18a is decided to be the prioritized supply unit and the second indoor unit body 18b is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 (step S1). Further, when the second indoor unit body 18b is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65, the operation of the second other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13b is controlled by the indication control component 64 such that the second other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13b included in the second indoor unit body 18b lights up.

[0099] Moreover, when the prioritized supply unit and the non-prioritized supply unit are decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65, whether or not the first condition is being met is determined by the determining component 69 included in the switching control component 66 (step S2 to step S5). The determination by the determining component 69 of whether or not the first condition is being met is repeated until all conditions of the first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, the second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, and the third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition are met. Further, in a case where it has been determined by the determining component 69 that the first condition is not being met, the first switched state is maintained in the air flow path switching component 30 until it is determined by the determining component 69 that the first condition is being met. In this case, the first humidified environment value in the first room 1a corresponds to the humidified environment value ΔHa in the prioritized supply room because the prioritized supply unit is the first indoor unit body 18a. Further, the second humidified environment value in the second room 1b corresponds to the humidified environment value ΔHb in the non-prioritized supply room because the non-prioritized supply unit is the second indoor unit body 18b.

[0100] In a case where it has been determined by the determining component 69 that the first condition is being met, the switching control component 66 performs the non-prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 30 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 30 switches from the first switched state to the second switched state (step S6). Further, when the non-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the operation of the second other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13b is controlled by the indication control component 64 such that the second other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13b included in the second indoor unit body 18b goes out.

[0101] Moreover, when the non-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, whether or not the second condition is being met is determined by the determining component 69 (step S7 to step S9). The determination by the determining component 69 of whether or not the second condition is being met is repeated until the first prioritized supply unit switching condition and the second prioritized supply unit switching condition are met. Further, in a case where it has been determined by the determining component 69 that the second condition is not being met, the second switched state is maintained in the air flow path switching component 30 until it is determined by the determining component 69 that the second condition is being met.

[0102] In a case where it has been determined by the determining component 69 that the second condition is being met, the switching control component 66 performs the second prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 30 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 30 switches from the second switched state to the first switched state (step S10). Further, when the second prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the operation of the second other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13b is controlled by the indication control component 64 such that the second other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13b included in the second indoor unit body 18b lights up.

[0103] Moreover, when the second prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the humidifying operation control unit 62 repeatedly performs the control of step S2 to step S10. Further, the control of the air flow path switching component 30 by the switching control component 66 is continued until a control command to stop the humidifying operation is transmitted via the remote controllers 80a and 80b or the like from the user.

[0104] Further, when the second humidified air supply switch 81b is pressed by the user, the communication unit 67 receives a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the second indoor unit body 18b, that is, the control signal of the second humidification operation. When the control signal of the second humidification instruction is received in the communication unit 67, the various devices of the second indoor unit body 18b, the outdoor air conditioning unit 5, and the humidifying unit 4 are controlled by the humidifying operation control unit 62, and the first prioritized supply unit switching control in which the air flow path switching component 30 is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component 30 becomes the second switched state is performed by the switching control component 66. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the second indoor unit body 18b.

[0105] Thereafter, when the first humidified air supply switch 81a is pressed by the user, the communication unit 67 receives a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the first indoor unit body 18a, that is, the control signal of the first humidification instruction. When the control signal of the first humidification instruction is received in the communication unit 67, the second indoor unit body 18b is decided to be the prioritized supply unit and the first indoor unit body 18a is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 (step S1). Further, when the first indoor unit body 18a is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65, the operation of the first other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13a is controlled by the indication control component 64 such that the first other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13a included in the first indoor unit body 18a lights up.

[0106] Moreover, when the prioritized supply unit and the non-prioritized supply unit are decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65, whether or not the first condition is being met is determined by the determining component 69 included in the switching control component 66 (step S2 to step S5). The determination by the determining component 69 of whether or not the first condition is being met is repeated until all conditions of the first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, the second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, and the third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition are met. Further, in a case where it has been determined by the determining component 69 that the first condition is not being met, the second switched state is maintained in the air flow path switching component 30 until it is determined by the determining component 69 that the first condition is being met. In this case, the second humidified environment value in the second room 1b corresponds to the humidified environment value ΔHa in the prioritized supply room because the prioritized supply unit is the second indoor unit body 18b. Further, the first humidified environment value in the first room 1a corresponds to the humidified environment value ΔHb in the non-prioritized supply room because the non-prioritized supply unit is the first indoor unit body 18a.

[0107] In a case where it has been determined by the determining component 69 that the first condition is being met, the switching control component 66 performs the non-prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 30 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 30 switches from the second switched state to the first switched state (step S6). Further, when the non-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the operation of the first other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13a is controlled by the indication control component 64 such that the first other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13a included in the first indoor unit body 18a goes out.

[0108] Moreover, when the non-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, whether or not the second condition is being met is determined by the determining component 69 (step S7 to step S9). The determination by the determining component 69 of whether or not the second condition is being met is repeated until the first prioritized supply unit switching condition and the second prioritized supply unit switching condition are met. Further, in a case where it has been determined by the determining component 69 that the second condition is not being met, the first switched state is maintained in the air flow path switching component 30 until it is determined by the determining component 69 that the second condition is being met.

[0109] In a case where it has been determined by the determining component 69 that the second condition is being met, the switching control component 66 performs the second prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 30 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 30 switches from the first switched state to the second switched state (step S10). Further, when the second prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the operation of the first other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13a is controlled by the indication control component 64 such that the first other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element 13a included in the first indoor unit body 18a lights up.

[0110] Moreover, when the second prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the humidifying operation control unit 62 repeatedly performs the control of step S2 to step S10. Further, the control of the air flow path switching component 30 by the switching control component 66 is continued until a control command to stop the humidifying operation is transmitted via the remote controllers 80a and 80b or the like from the user.

<Characteristics>

(1)

[0111] Conventionally, there have been multi-room ventilators and multi-room ventilation systems that can use a single ventilator to ventilate multiple rooms. For example, the multi-room ventilator disclosed in JP-ANo. 11-311435 is equipped with a body (which corresponds to a ventilator), which has a blower, and a chamber that is connected to the body. In the chamber, air inlets for sucking in air in rooms are disposed in a number corresponding to the number of rooms that are to be ventilated. Further, the chamber has dampers that can independently open and close the multiple air inlets. This multi-room ventilator can independently ventilate the rooms by independently operating the dampers. In this way, this multi-room ventilator ventilates multiple rooms using a single body. Further, the multi-room ventilation system disclosed in JP-ANo. 5-223298 is equipped with a ventilator, a main duct that is connected to the ventilator, and multiple branching ducts that are placed branching from the main duct into multiple rooms. Further, each branching duct has a damper that opens and closes an air intake port for taking in air from each room. In this multi-room ventilation system, the needed ventilation air volume is decided on the basis of the operating number of each damper, and the ventilator is operated in accordance with this decided ventilation air volume. In this way, this multi-room ventilation system ventilates multiple rooms using a single ventilator.

[0112] Incidentally, in the case of an air conditioner where multiple indoor units are connected to a humidifier having a humidifying function of supplying humidified air to the indoor units, it is conceivable to utilize the aforementioned multi-room ventilator or multi-room ventilation system to supply humidified air to multiple rooms.

[0113] However, in a case where the aforementioned multi-room ventilator or multi-room ventilation system is made to correspond to a humidifier that has the humidifying capacity needed to humidify a single room but does not have humidifying capacity needed to humidify multiple rooms, humidified air becomes dispersed and supplied to each room when supply of humidified air is requested at the same time from users in the multiple rooms. For this reason, there is the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to the users because humidified air is not sufficiently supplied to each room.

[0114] Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, the first prioritized supply unit switching control, the non-prioritized supply unit switching control, and the second prioritized supply unit switching control are performed by the switching control component 66. Further, as a result of the first prioritized supply unit switching control, the non-prioritized supply unit switching control, and the second prioritized supply unit switching control being performed, the state of the air flow path switching component 30 is switched such that humidified air is supplied from the humidifying unit 4 to the prioritized supply unit or the non-prioritized supply unit, that is, any one indoor unit body of the first indoor unit body 18a or the second indoor unit body 18b. For this reason, even in a case made to correspond to the compact humidifying unit 4 that has the humidifying capacity needed to humidify a single room but does not have humidifying capacity needed to humidify multiple rooms, sufficient humidified air can be supplied to each of the indoor unit bodies 18a and 18b. Consequently, each of the rooms 1a and 1b can be humidified.

[0115] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced.

[0116] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the first prioritized supply unit switching control, the non-prioritized supply unit switching control, and the second prioritized supply unit switching control are performed by the switching control component 66. For this reason, humidified air is supplied on a priority basis with respect to the indoor unit to which a supply instruction to supply humidified air has been given first. Consequently, humidified air is supplied on a priority basis with respect to the prioritized supply unit, whereby the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced, so an air conditioner that is amenable to users can be provided.

[0117] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the compact humidifying unit 4 that has the humidifying capacity needed to humidify a single room but does not have humidifying capacity needed to humidify multiple rooms is applied, so an increase in the size of the humidifying unit 4 can be controlled. For this reason, an increase in the size of the outdoor unit 3 can be controlled.

(2)

[0118] In the above-described embodiment, the first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition that is judged on the basis of the humidified environment value in the prioritized supply room is included as the first condition, and the first prioritized supply unit switching condition that is judged on the basis of the humidified environment value in the prioritized supply room is included as the second condition. For this reason, the state of the air flow path switching component 30 is switched on the basis of the humidified environment value in the prioritized supply room. Consequently, the fear that humidification of the prioritized supply room will become insufficient can be reduced.

[0119] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced.

(3)

[0120] In the above-described embodiment, the second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition that is judged on the basis of the humidified environment value in the non-prioritized supply room and the third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition that is judged on the basis of the amount of time in which humidified air is supplied to the prioritized supply room are, in addition to the first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, included as the first condition. For this reason, the state of the air flow path switching component 30 is switched on the basis of the humidified environment values in the prioritized supply room and in the non-prioritized supply room and the humidification time in the prioritized supply room.

[0121] Thus, humidified air can be supplied sufficiently with respect to the prioritized supply room and the non-prioritized supply room.

(4)

[0122] In the above-described embodiment, the second prioritized supply unit switching condition that is judged on the basis of the amount of time in which humidified air is supplied to the non-prioritized supply room is, in addition to the first prioritized supply unit switching condition, included as the second condition. For this reason, humidified air can be supplied with respect to the non-prioritized supply room as compared to a case where only the first prioritized supply unit switching condition is included as the second condition.

(5)

[0123] In the above-described embodiment, the indication control component 64 controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the non-prioritized supply unit always lights up when humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit. For this reason, it can be made easier to make a user who has given a humidification instruction to supply humidified air to the non-prioritized supply room aware that humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply room. Consequently, even in a case where humidified air is not supplied to the non-prioritized supply room because humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply room, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted with respect to the user who has given the humidification instruction can be lessened.

(6)

[0124] In the above-described embodiment, the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides priority in accordance with the order in which the control signal of the first humidification instruction and the control signal of the second humidification instruction have been received in the communication unit 67. Moreover, the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65 decides one prioritized supply unit that is an indoor unit to which humidified air is to be supplied preferentially on the basis of the priority. For this reason, this air conditioner 100 can decide any one of the first indoor unit body 18a or the second indoor unit body 18b to be the prioritized supply unit and can decide the other to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

<Modifications>

(A)

[0125] In the above-described embodiment, when humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit, the indication control component 64 controls the operation of the LED light emitting elements such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the non-prioritized supply unit always goes out. In this way, in this air conditioner 100, while humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit, the user is informed by the indicating component 17a or 17b of the non-prioritized supply unit that humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit.

[0126] Instead of this, the user may also be informed, by a liquid crystal display component included in the remote controller or the indoor unit body with which the non-prioritized supply unit is equipped, that humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit.

[0127] For example, an air conditioner equipped with a remote controller having a liquid crystal display component that can display messages and contents of information transmitted from the communication unit of the control device will be described. The display of the messages and so forth displayed on the liquid crystal display component is controlled by a display control unit included in the control device.

[0128] The display control unit controls the display operation of the liquid crystal display component of the non-prioritized supply unit such that a message saying "other-room humidifying operation in progress" is displayed on the liquid crystal display component of the non-prioritized supply unit in a case where humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit. Further, the display control unit controls the display operation of the liquid crystal display component of the non-prioritized supply unit such that a message saying "other-room humidifying operation in progress" is not displayed on the liquid crystal display component of the non-prioritized supply unit when humidified air is being supplied to the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0129] In this way, by displaying, as a message on the liquid crystal display component of the remote controller, the fact that humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit, it can be made easier to make the user aware of this as compared to a case where the user is informed by the displaying component of the indoor unit body.

(B)

[0130] In the above-described embodiment, the single outdoor unit 3 and the two indoor units 2a and 2b are connected in parallel by refrigerant pipes.

[0131] Instead of this, multiple indoor units may also be connected in parallel to a single outdoor unit by refrigerant pipes.

[0132] For example, an air conditioner 200 where a single outdoor unit 103 and three indoor units 102a, 102b, and 102c are connected in parallel by refrigerant pipes will be taken as an example and described. In this air conditioner 200, the configurations of the indoor units 102a, 102b, and 102c, a humidifying unit body (not shown), and an outdoor air conditioning unit 105 are the same configurations as those in the above-described embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

[0133] In this air conditioner 200, as shown in FIG. 11, air suction and discharge hoses 106a, 106b, and 106c that can communicatively connect the inside spaces of indoor unit bodies 118a, 118b, and 118c and the inside space of a humidifying unit 104 are disposed between the indoor unit bodies 118a, 118b, and 118c and the humidifying unit 104. Further, the air suction and discharge hoses 106a, 105b, and 106c are connected to an air suction and discharge duct 158 via an air flow path switching component 130.

[0134] Further, the air flow path switching component 130 is, as shown in FIG. 11, rotary air flow path switching means connected to the air suction and discharge duct 158 and the air suction and discharge hoses 106a, 106b, and 106c. Further, the air flow path switching component 130 is placed inside the humidifying unit casing.

[0135] The air flow path switching component 130 has, as shown in FIG. 12, a switching component casing 131 and a damper 132. The switching component casing 131 is configured from a first switching component casing 133 and a second switching component casing 134. As shown in FIG. 12(b), the first switching component casing 133 has a substantially circular cylinder shape, and its upper side and lower side are open. "Upper" and "lower" in the modification mean upper and lower in FIG. 12(b). Further, the second switching component casing 134 is a member with a substantially circular shape, and its area is substantially identical to the area of the opening on the lower side of the first switching component casing 133. Further, a first opening 135a, a second opening 135b, and a third opening 135c are disposed in the second switching component casing 134. The area of the first opening 135a, the area of the second opening 135b, and the area of the third opening 135c are identical. Further, the areas of the first opening 135a, the second opening 135b, and the third opening 135c are smaller than the area of the opening on the upper side of the first switching component casing 133. Moreover, a first connecting portion extends downward from the peripheral portion of the first opening 135a, a second connecting portion extends downward from the peripheral portion of the second opening 135b, and a third connecting portion extends downward from the peripheral portion of the third opening 135c. Further, the switching component casing 131 is connected to the air suction and discharge duct 158 via the opening disposed on its upper side, is connected to the first air suction and discharge hose 106a via the first opening 135a on the lower side, is connected to the second air suction and discharge hose 106b via the second opening 135b, and is connected to the third air suction and discharge hose 106c via the third opening 135c.

[0136] The damper 132 is a plate-like member and is rotatably attached to the second switching component casing 134. The damper 132 rotates as a result of being driven by a second drive motor (not shown). Further, the air flow path switching component 130 can switch between a first switched state, a second switched state, and a third switched state as a result of the damper 132 rotating. The first switched state, the second switched state, and the third switched state will be described below.

[0137] The first switched state is a state where the damper 132 is placed so as to cover the second opening 135b and the third opening 135c disposed in the second switching component casing 134. Further, the first opening 135a becomes opened. For this reason, the switching component casing 131 becomes connected to the air suction and discharge duct 158 at its upper side and becomes connected to the first air suction and discharge hose 106a at its lower side as a result of the first opening 135a being opened. Consequently, the air suction and discharge duct 158 and the first air suction and discharge hose 106a become communicatively connected.

[0138] Thus, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper is in the air supplying state and the air flow path switching component 130 is in the first switched state, the air traveling through the air suction and discharge duct 158 flows via the inside of the switching component casing 131 from the first opening 135a into the first air suction and discharge hose 106a. Further, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper is in the air discharging state and the air flow path switching component 130 is in the first switched state, the air in a first room 101a that has been sucked into the first indoor unit body 118a travels through the first air suction and discharge hose 106a, travels through the inside of the switching component casing 131, and is discharged via the air suction and discharge duct 158 from an air suction and discharge port 107c to the outdoors.

[0139] The second switched state is, as shown in FIG. 12(a), a state where the damper 132 is placed so as to cover the first opening 135a and the third opening 135c disposed in the second switching component casing 134. Further, the second opening 135b becomes opened. For this reason, the switching component casing 131 becomes connected to the air suction and discharge duct 158 at its upper side and becomes connected to the second air suction and discharge hose 106b at its lower side as a result of the second opening 135b being opened. Consequently, the air suction and discharge duct 158 and the second air suction and discharge hose 106b become communicatively connected.

[0140] Thus, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper is in the air supplying state and the air flow path switching component 130 is in the second switched state, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 12(b), the air traveling through the air suction and discharge duct 158 flows via the inside of the switching component casing 131 from the second opening 135b into the second air suction and discharge hose 106b. Further, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper is in the air discharging state and the air flow path switching component 130 is in the second switched state, the air in a second room 101b that has been sucked into the second indoor unit body 118b travels through the second air suction and discharge hose 106b, travels through the inside of the switching component casing 131, and is discharged via the air suction and discharge duct 158 from the air suction and discharge port 107c to the outdoors.

[0141] The third switched state is a state where the damper 132 is placed so as to cover the first opening 135a and the second opening 135b disposed in the second switching component casing 134. Further, the third opening 135c becomes opened. For this reason, the switching component casing 131 becomes connected to the air suction and discharge duct 158 at its upper side and becomes connected to the third air suction and discharge hose 106c at its lower side as a result of the third opening 135c being opened. Consequently, the air suction and discharge duct 158 and the third air suction and discharge hose 106c become communicatively connected.

[0142] Thus, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper is in the air supplying state and the air flow path switching component 130 is in the third switched state, the air traveling through the air suction and discharge duct 158 flows via the inside of the switching component casing 131 from the third opening 135c into the third air suction and discharge hose 106c. Further, in a case where the air suction and discharge switching damper is in the air discharging state and the air flow path switching component 130 is in the third switched state, the air in a third room 101 c that has been sucked into the third indoor unit body 118c travels through the third air suction and discharge hose 106c, travels through the inside of the switching component casing 131, and is discharged via the air suction and discharge duct 158 from the air suction and discharge port 107c to the outdoors.

[0143] Further, the driving of the second drive motor is controlled by a switching control component. A control device equipped with the switching control component will be described below.

<Control Device>

[0144] The control device is connected to various devices such as the indoor fans, the indoor heat exchangers, the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements, the compressor, the four-way switching valve, the outdoor fan, the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor expansion valves, the humidifying rotor, the first drive motor, the adsorption-use blowing device, the heating device, and the second drive motor. Further, the control device is equipped with a communication unit. The communication unit receives control signals of various operating modes—such as the normal operations, like the cooling operation and the heating operation, and the humidifying operation—transmitted from remote controllers 180a, 180b, and 180c.

[0145] Further, the control device is equipped with a normal operation control unit and a humidifying operation control unit. The normal operation control unit performs operation control of the various devices of the air conditioner 200 such that the normal operations including the cooling operation and the heating operation are performed in the air conditioner 200 on the basis of the control signals transmitted from the remote controllers 180a, 180b, and 180c. Further, the humidifying operation control unit performs operation control of the various devices of the air conditioner 200 such that the humidifying operation is performed in the air conditioner 200 on the basis of the control signals transmitted from the remote controllers 180a, 180b, and 180c.

[0146] Moreover, the humidifying operation control unit is equipped with a prioritized supply unit deciding component. The prioritized supply unit deciding component decides priority in accordance with the order in which the control signal of a first humidification instruction, which is a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the first room 101a that is transmitted when a first humidified air supply switch included in the first remote controller 180a is pressed by the user, the control signal of a second humidification instruction, which is a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the second room 101b that is transmitted when a second humidified air supply switch included in the second remote controller 180b is pressed by the user, and the control signal of a third humidification instruction, which is a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the third room 101c that is transmitted when a third humidified air supply switch included in the third remote controller 180c is pressed by the user, have been received in the communication unit.

[0147] Further, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides one most-prioritized supply unit (which corresponds to a first supply unit) that is an indoor unit body to which humidified air is supplied most preferentially on the basis of the priority. Further, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides a prioritized supply unit (which corresponds to a second supply unit) and a non-prioritized supply unit from the indoor unit bodies other than the most-prioritized supply unit on the basis of the priority. For this reason, any one of the first indoor unit body 118a, the second indoor unit body 118b, and the third indoor unit body 118c is decided to be the most-prioritized supply unit, an indoor unit body other than the most-prioritized supply unit is decided to be the prioritized supply unit, and the indoor unit body other than the most-prioritized supply unit and the prioritized supply unit is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0148] For example, in a case where the first humidification instruction, the second humidification instruction, and the third humidification instruction have been received in this order in the communication unit, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the first humidification instruction to be priority "high", decides the second humidification instruction to be priority "medium", and decides the third humidification instruction to be priority "low". Additionally, on the basis of the priority it has decided, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the first indoor unit body 118a whose priority is "high" to be the most-prioritized supply unit, decides the second indoor unit body 118b whose priority is "medium" to be the prioritized supply unit, and decides the third indoor unit body 118c whose priority is "low" to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0149] Further, for example, in a case where the first humidification instruction, the third humidification instruction, and the second humidification instruction have been received in this order in the communication unit, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the first humidification instruction to be priority "high", decides the third humidification instruction to be priority "medium", and decides the second humidification instruction to be priority "low". Additionally, on the basis of the priority it has decided, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the first indoor unit body 118a whose priority is "high" to be the most-prioritized supply unit, decides the third indoor unit body 118c whose priority is "medium" to be the prioritized supply unit, and decides the second indoor unit body 118b whose priority is "low" to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0150] Further, for example, in a case where the second humidification instruction, the first humidification instruction, and the third humidification instruction have been received in this order in the communication unit, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the second humidification instruction to be priority "high", decides the first humidification instruction to be priority "medium", and decides the third humidification instruction to be priority "low". Additionally, on the basis of the priority it has decided, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the second indoor unit body 118b whose priority is "high" to be the most-prioritized supply unit, decides the first indoor unit body 118a whose priority is "medium" to be the prioritized supply unit, and decides the third indoor unit body 118c whose priority is "low" to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0151] Further, for example, in a case where the second humidification instruction, the third humidification instruction, and the first humidification instruction have been received in this order in the communication unit, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the second humidification instruction to be priority "high", decides the third humidification instruction to be priority "medium", and decides the first humidification instruction to be priority "low". Additionally, on the basis of the priority it has decided, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the second indoor unit body 118b whose priority is "high" to be the most-prioritized supply unit, decides the third indoor unit body 118c whose priority is "medium" to be the prioritized supply unit, and decides the first indoor unit body 118a whose priority is "low" to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0152] Further, for example, in a case where the third humidification instruction, the first humidification instruction, and the second humidification instruction have been received in this order in the communication unit, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the third humidification instruction to be priority "high", decides the first humidification instruction to be priority "medium", and decides the second humidification instruction to be priority "low". Additionally, on the basis of the priority it has decided, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the third indoor unit body 118c whose priority is "high" to be the most-prioritized supply unit, decides the first indoor unit body 118a whose priority is "medium" to be the prioritized supply unit, and decides the second indoor unit body 118b whose priority is "low" to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0153] Further, for example, in a case where the third humidification instruction, the second humidification instruction, and the first humidification instruction have been received in this order in the communication unit, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the third humidification instruction to be priority "high", decides the second humidification instruction to be priority "medium", and decides the first humidification instruction to be priority "low". Additionally, on the basis of the priority it has decided, the prioritized supply unit deciding component decides the third indoor unit body 118c whose priority is "high" to be the most-prioritized supply unit, decides the second indoor unit body 118b whose priority is "medium" to be the prioritized supply unit, and decides the first indoor unit body 118a whose priority is "low" to be the non-prioritized supply unit.

[0154] Moreover, the humidifying operation control unit is equipped with the switching control component. The switching control component has a calculating component. The calculating component calculates a first humidified environment value that is a value obtained by subtracting a first measurement value, which is a measurement value of a first humidity sensor for measuring the humidity in the first room 101a, from a set humidity value set beforehand by the user in the first indoor unit 102a. Further, the calculating component calculates a second humidified environment value that is a value obtained by subtracting a second measurement value, which is a measurement value of a second humidity sensor for measuring the humidity in the second room 101b, from a set humidity value set beforehand by the user in the second indoor unit 102b. Moreover, the calculating component calculates a third humidified environment value that is a value obtained by subtracting a third measurement value, which is a measurement value of a third humidity sensor for measuring the humidity in the third room 101c, from a set humidity value set beforehand by the user in the third indoor unit 102c.

[0155] Further, the switching control component has a determining component. The determining component determines whether or not a first condition, a second condition, a third condition, a fourth condition, and a fifth condition are being met. In the first condition are included a first prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a first switching condition), a second prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a third switching condition), and a third prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a fourth switching condition). Further, in the second condition is included a first most-prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a second switching condition). In the third condition are included a first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, a second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition (which corresponds to a fifth switching condition), and a third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition. In the fourth condition is included a second most-prioritized supply unit switching condition. In the fifth condition is included a fourth prioritized supply unit switching condition. The first condition, the second condition, the third condition, the fourth condition, and the fifth condition are stored in a storage unit with which the control device is equipped.

[0156] The first prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the first condition is a condition where a humidified environment value ΔHa in the room in which the most-prioritized supply unit is installed (which corresponds to a first area; called "the most-prioritized supply room" below) is less than a first determination value DHs (which corresponds to a first predetermined value).

[0157] Further, the second prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the first condition is a condition where a humidified environment value ΔHb in the room in which the prioritized supply unit is installed (which corresponds to a second area; called "the prioritized supply room" below) is equal to or greater than a second determination value (which corresponds to a third predetermined value) that is a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value dDH from the first determination value DHs.

[0158] Moreover, the third prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the first condition is a condition where a predetermined fifth amount of time (e.g., 10 minutes) has elapsed since supply of humidified air to the most-prioritized supply room has been started, that is, since humidification of the most-prioritized supply room has been started by the most-prioritized supply unit.

[0159] The determining component determines that the first condition is being met in a case where all conditions of the first prioritized supply unit switching condition, the second prioritized supply unit switching condition, and the third prioritized supply unit switching condition have been met. Further, as the timing when the determining component determines the first condition, a first determination is performed when the predetermined fifth amount of time has elapsed since supply of humidified air to the most-prioritized supply room has been started, and a determination is performed every predetermined sixth amount of time (e.g., 1 minute) since it has been determined that the third prioritized supply unit switching condition is being met.

[0160] Further, the first most-prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the second condition is a condition where the humidified environment value ΔHa in the most-prioritized supply room is equal to or greater than the second determination value (which corresponds to a second predetermined value).

[0161] The determining component determines that the second condition is being met in a case where it has been determined that the first most-prioritized supply unit switching condition is being met. Further, the determining component determines the second condition every predetermined seventh amount of time (e.g., 30 seconds).

[0162] The first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the third condition is a condition where the humidified environment value ΔHb in the prioritized supply room is less than the first determination value DHs.

[0163] Further, the second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the third condition is a condition where a predetermined eighth amount of time (e.g., 5 minutes) has elapsed since supply of humidified air to the prioritized supply room has been started, that is, since humidification of the prioritized supply room has been started by the prioritized supply unit.

[0164] Moreover, the third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the third condition is a condition where a humidified environment value ΔHc in the room in which the non-prioritized supply unit is installed (called "the non-prioritized supply room" below) is equal to or greater than the second determination value.

[0165] The determining component determines that the third condition is being met in a case where all conditions of the first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, the second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, and the third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition have been met. Further, as the timing when the determining component determines the third condition, a first determination is performed when the predetermined eighth amount of time has elapsed since supply of humidified air to the prioritized supply room has been started, and a determination is performed every predetermined ninth amount of time (e.g., 1 minute) since it has been determined that the second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition is being met.

[0166] The second most-prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the fourth condition is a condition where the humidified environment value ΔHa in the most-prioritized supply room is equal to or greater than the second determination value.

[0167] The determining component determines that the fourth condition is being met in a case where it has been determined that the second most-prioritized supply unit switching condition is being met. Further, the determining component determines the fourth condition every predetermined tenth amount of time (e.g., 30 seconds) in a case where humidified air is being supplied to the non-prioritized supply room.

[0168] The fourth prioritized supply unit switching condition included in the fifth condition is a condition where the humidified environment value ΔHb in the prioritized supply room is equal to or greater than the second determination value.

[0169] The determining component determines that the fifth condition is being met in a case where it has been determined that the fourth prioritized supply unit switching condition is being met. Further, the determining component determines the fifth condition every predetermined eleventh amount of time (e.g., 30 seconds) in a case where humidified air is being supplied to the non-prioritized supply room.

[0170] Moreover, the switching control component performs first most-prioritized supply unit switching control (which corresponds to first control), first prioritized supply unit switching control (which corresponds to second control), non-prioritized supply unit switching control (which corresponds to third control), second most-prioritized supply unit switching control (which corresponds to third control), third most-prioritized supply unit switching control, and second prioritized supply unit switching control.

[0171] The first most-prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the state of the air flow path switching component 130 such that humidified air is supplied to only the most-prioritized supply unit, that is, the indoor unit to which has been given the humidification instruction that the communication unit has first received of the first humidification instruction, the second humidification instruction, and the third humidification instruction from the user.

[0172] The first prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the state of the air flow path switching component 130 such that humidified air is supplied only to the prioritized supply unit in a case where, after the first most-prioritized supply unit switching control has been performed, it has been determined in the determining component that the first condition is being met.

[0173] The non-prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the state of the air flow path switching component 130 such that humidified air is supplied only to the non-prioritized supply unit in a case where, after the first prioritized supply unit switching control has been performed, it has been determined in the determining component that the second condition is not being met and that the third condition is being met.

[0174] The second most-prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the state of the air flow path switching component 130 such that humidified air is supplied only to the most-prioritized supply unit in a case where, after the first prioritized supply unit switching control has been performed, it has been determined in the determining component that the second condition is being met.

[0175] The third most-prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the state of the air flow path switching component 130 such that humidified air is supplied only to the most-prioritized supply unit in a case where, after the non-prioritized supply unit switching control has been performed, it has been determined in the determining component that the fourth condition is being met.

[0176] The second prioritized supply unit switching control is control that switches the state of the air flow path switching component 103 such that humidified air is supplied only to the prioritized supply unit in a case where, after the non-prioritized supply unit switching control has been performed, it has been determined in the determining component that the fifth condition is being met.

[0177] Further, an indication control component controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the prioritized supply unit such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the prioritized supply unit always lights up when humidified air is being supplied to the most-prioritized supply unit. Further, the indication control component controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the prioritized supply unit such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the prioritized supply unit goes out when humidified air is being supplied to the prioritized supply unit.

[0178] Moreover, the indication control component controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the non-prioritized supply unit such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the non-prioritized supply unit always lights up when humidified air is being supplied to the most-prioritized supply unit or the prioritized supply unit. Further, the indication control component controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the non-prioritized supply unit such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the non-prioritized supply unit goes out when humidified air is being supplied to the non-prioritized supply unit.

<Control Operation by Humidifying Operation Control Unit>

[0179] Next, one example of the control operation by the humidifying operation control unit will be described using FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, and FIG. 18. In the description below, it will be assumed that the humidified air supply switches are not being pressed by the user and that humidified air is not being supplied to the first indoor unit body 118a, the second indoor unit body 118b, and the third indoor unit body 118c.

[0180] When the first humidified air supply switch is pressed by the user, the communication unit receives a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the first indoor unit body 118a, that is, the first humidification instruction. When the first humidification instruction is received in the communication unit, the various devices of the first indoor unit body 118a, the outdoor air conditioning unit 105, and the humidifying unit 104 are controlled by the humidifying operation control unit, and the first most-prioritized supply unit switching control in which the air flow path switching component 130 is controlled by the switching control component such that the state of the air flow path switching component 130 becomes the first switched state is performed. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the first indoor unit body 118a.

[0181] Thereafter, when the second humidified air supply switch is pressed by the user, the communication unit receives a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the second indoor unit body 118b, that is, the second humidification instruction. When the supply instruction to supply humidified air to the second indoor unit body 118b is received in the communication unit, the first indoor unit body 118a is decided to be the most-prioritized supply unit and the second indoor unit body 118b is decided to be the prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component. Further, when the second indoor unit body 118b is decided to be the prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component, the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements is controlled by the indication control component such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element included in the second indoor unit body 118b lights up.

[0182] Moreover, when the most-prioritized supply unit and the prioritized supply unit are decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component, whether or not the first condition is being met is determined by the determining component included in the switching control component (step S21 to step S24). The determination by the determining component of whether or not the first condition is being met is repeated until all conditions of the first prioritized supply unit switching condition, the second prioritized supply unit switching condition, and the third prioritized supply unit switching condition are met. Further, in a case where it has been determined by the determining component that the first condition is not being met, the first switched state is maintained in the air flow path switching component 130 until it is determined by the determining component that the first condition is being met. In this case, the first humidified environment value in the first room 101 a corresponds to the humidified environment value ΔHa in the most-prioritized supply room because the most-prioritized supply unit is the first indoor unit body 118a. Further, the second humidified environment value in the second room 101b corresponds to the humidified environment value ΔHb in the prioritized supply room because the prioritized supply unit is the second indoor unit body 118b.

[0183] In a case where it has been determined by the determining component that the first condition is being met, the switching control component performs the first prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 130 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 130 switches from the first switched state to the second switched state (step S25). Further, when the first prioritized supply unit switching control is performed by the switching control component, the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements is controlled by the indication control component such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element included in the second indoor unit body 118b goes out.

[0184] Additionally, when the first prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, whether or not the second condition is being met is determined by the determining component (step S26 and step S27). In a case where it has been determined by the determining component that the first most-prioritized supply unit switching condition that is the second condition is being met, the switching control component performs the second most-prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 130 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 130 switches from the second switched state to the first switched state (step S28). Further, when the second most-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed by the switching control component, the operation of the LED light emitting elements is controlled by the indication control component such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element included in the second indoor unit body 118b lights up. Additionally, when the second most-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the control from step S21 to later-described step S40 is repeatedly performed by the humidifying operation control unit. Further, the control of the air flow path switching component 130 by the switching control component is continued until a control command to stop the humidifying operation is transmitted via the remote controllers 180a, 180b, and 180c or the like from the user.

[0185] Further, in a case where it has been determined by the determining component that the second condition is not being met, the switching control component judges whether or not the non-prioritized supply unit has been decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component (step S29). In a case where the switching control component has judged that the non-prioritized supply unit has not been decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component, whether or not the second condition is being met is further determined by the determining component (step 26). In this way, the control from step S26 is continued by the humidifying operation control unit.

[0186] Further, when the third humidified air supply switch is pressed by the user, the communication unit receives a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the third indoor unit body 118c, that is, the third humidification instruction. When a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the third indoor unit body 118c is received in the communication unit in a case where the most-prioritized supply unit and the prioritized supply unit have been decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component, the third indoor unit body 118c is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component. Here, the third indoor unit body 118c is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component because the first indoor unit body 118a has been decided as the most-prioritized supply unit and the second indoor unit body 118b has been decided as the prioritized supply unit. Further, when the third indoor unit body 118c is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component, in a case where humidified air is being supplied to the most-prioritized supply unit or the prioritized supply unit, the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements is controlled by the indication control component such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element included in the third indoor unit body 118c lights up.

[0187] Additionally, in step S29, in a case where the switching control component has judged that the non-prioritized supply unit has been decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component, whether or not the third condition is being met is determined by the determining component (step S30 to step S33). In this case, the third humidified environment value in the third room 101c corresponds to the humidified environment value ΔHc in the non-prioritized supply room because the non-prioritized supply unit is the third indoor unit body 118c.

[0188] In a case where it has been determine by the determining component that the first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, the second non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, and the third non-prioritized supply unit switching condition that are the third condition are being met, the switching control component performs the non-prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 130 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 130 switches from the second switched state to the third switched state (step S34). Further, when the non-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed by the switching control component, the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements is controlled by the indication control component such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element included in the third indoor unit body 118c goes out.

[0189] Further, when the non-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed by the switching control component, whether or not the fourth condition is being met is determined by the determining component (step S35 and step S36). In a case where it has been determined by the determining component that the fourth condition is being met, the switching control component performs the third most-prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 130 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 130 switches from the third switched state to the first switched state (step S37).

[0190] Further, when the third most-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed by the switching control component, the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements is controlled by the indication control component such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements included in the second indoor unit body 118b and the third indoor unit body 118c light up. Additionally, when the third most-prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the control from step S21 continues to be performed by the humidifying operation control component. Further, the control of the air flow path switching component 130 by the switching control component is continued until a control command to stop the humidifying operation is transmitted via the remote controllers 180a, 180b, and 180c or the like from the user.

[0191] Further, in a case where it has been determined by the determining component that the fourth condition is not being met, the determining component further determines the fifth condition (step S38 and step S39).

[0192] In a case where it has been determined by the determining component that the fifth condition is being met, the switching control component performs the second prioritized supply unit switching control that controls the air flow path switching component 130 such that the state of the air flow path switching component 130 switches from the third switched state to the second switched state (step S40). Further, when the second prioritized supply unit switching control is performed by the switching control component, the operation of the LED light emitting elements is controlled by the indication control component such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element included in the third indoor unit body 118c lights up. Additionally, when the second prioritized supply unit switching control is performed, the humidifying operation control unit continues to perform the control from step S26. Further, the control of the air flow path switching component 130 by the switching control component is continued until a control command to stop the humidifying operation is transmitted via the remote controllers 180a, 180b, and 180c or the like from the user.

[0193] Further, in a case where it has been determined by the determining component that the fifth condition is not being met, the fourth condition is further determined by the determining component (step S35). Additionally, the humidifying operation control unit continues to perform the control from step S35 to step S40. Further, the control of the air flow path switching component 130 by the switching control component is continued until a control command to stop the humidifying operation is transmitted via the remote controllers 180a, 180b, and 180c or the like from the user.

[0194] In the above description, an example has been given where the first indoor unit body 118a is decided to be the most-prioritized supply unit, the second indoor unit body 118b is decided to be the prioritized supply unit, and the third indoor unit body 118c is decided to be the non-prioritized supply unit by the prioritized supply unit deciding component, but as mentioned above, the most-prioritized supply unit, the prioritized supply unit, and the non-prioritized supply unit are decided on the basis of the order in which the first humidification instruction, the second humidification instruction, and the third humidification instruction have been given. For this reason, the switching of the state of the air flow path switching component 130 by the switching control component is appropriately performed in regard to the most-prioritized supply unit, the prioritized supply unit, and the non-prioritized supply unit decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component.

(C)

[0195] In the above-described embodiment, the prioritized supply unit that is the indoor unit body to which humidified air is supplied preferentially is decided by the prioritized supply unit deciding component 65. Additionally, the state of the air flow path switching component 30 is switched by the switching control component 66 such that humidified air is supplied on a priority basis with respect to the prioritized supply unit that has been decided.

[0196] Instead of this, a setting unit for the user to set whether or not control in which the state of the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component such that humidified air is supplied on a priority basis with respect to the prioritized supply unit (the first prioritized supply unit switching control, the non-prioritized supply unit switching control, and the second prioritized supply unit switching control; called "the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control" below) is to be performed like in the above-described embodiment may also be disposed.

[0197] For example, in a case where, in the setting unit, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control is set to be performed, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control is performed by the switching control component. Further, in a case where, in the setting unit, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control is set to not be performed, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control is not performed by the switching control component. Further, switches such as jumper switches or DIP switches, for example, which are switches by which various settings are performed by the user, are included in the setting unit. By operating these switches, the user can set whether or not the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control is to be performed by the switching control component.

[0198] For example, an air conditioner in which DIP switches 290 and 291 are employed as a setting unit 292 will be described. In this air conditioner, whether or not the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by a switching control component 266 is to be performed is set as a result of the DIP switches 290 and 291 being switched ON or OFF by the user. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, a first DIP switch 290 and a second DIP switch 291 are included in the DIP switches 290 and 291.

[0199] In a case where the first DIP switch 290 and the second DIP switch 291 are switched ON by the user, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by the switching control component 266 is performed. Specifically, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 and the second DIP switch 291 are switched ON, the indoor unit to which has first been given a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air is decided to be the prioritized supply unit by a prioritized supply unit deciding component 265, and the state of the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 266 such that humidified air is supplied with respect to the prioritized supply unit. Thereafter, only in a case where a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air has been given with respect to the indoor unit other than the prioritized supply unit and where the first condition has been met, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 266 such that humidified air is supplied with respect to the indoor unit other than the prioritized supply unit to which has been given a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air. Further, in a case where the second condition has been met in a state where humidified air is being supplied with respect to the indoor unit other than the prioritized supply unit, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 266 such that humidified air is supplied with respect to the prioritized supply unit.

[0200] Further, in a case where at least any one of the first DIP switch 290 or the second DIP switch 291 is switched OFF by the user, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by the switching control component 266 is not performed, and control other than the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by the switching control component 266 is performed.

[0201] For example, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 is switched ON and the second DIP switch 291 is switched OFF by the user, the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 266 such that humidified air is supplied preferentially to the second indoor unit. Specifically, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 is switched ON and the second DIP switch 291 is switched OFF, in a case where a second humidified air supply switch 281b has been pressed by the user before a first humidified air supply switch 281 a is pressed, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the second switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the second indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 281a has been pressed by the user, the second switched state is maintained without the state of the air flow path switching component switching to the first switched state.

[0202] Further, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 281a has been pressed by the user before the second humidified air supply switch 281b is pressed in a state where the first DIP switch 290 is switched ON and the second DIP switch 291 is switched OFF, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the first switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the first indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the second humidified air supply switch 281b has been pressed by the user, the state of the air flow path switching component switches from the first switched state to the second switched state.

[0203] In this way, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 is switched ON and the second DIP switch 291 is switched OFF, humidified air is supplied on a priority basis to the second indoor unit.

[0204] Further, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 is switched OFF and the second DIP switch 291 is switched ON by the user, the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 266 such that humidified air is supplied preferentially to the first indoor unit. Specifically, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 is switched OFF and the second DIP switch 291 is switched ON, in a case where the second humidified air supply switch 281b has been pressed by the user before the first humidified air supply switch 281a is pressed, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the second switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the second indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 281a has been pressed by the user, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component switches from the second switched state to the first switched state.

[0205] Further, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 281a has been pressed by the user before the second humidified air supply switch 281b is pressed in a state where the first DIP switch 290 is switched OFF and the second DIP switch 291 is switched ON, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the first switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the first indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the second humidified air supply switch 281b has been pressed by the user, the first switched state is maintained without the state of the air flow path switching component switching to the second switched state.

[0206] In this way, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 is switched OFF and the second DIP switch 291 is switched ON, humidified air is supplied on a priority basis to the first indoor unit.

[0207] Moreover, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 and the second DIP switch 291 are switched OFF, that is, in a case where they are set by the user such that humidified air is supplied preferentially with respect to both indoor units of the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit, the switching control component 266 appropriately switches the state of the air flow path switching component on the basis of a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air. For this reason, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 and the second DIP switch 291 are switched OFF, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched each time there is a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air.

[0208] Further, in the present modification, in a case where the first DIP switch 290 and the second DIP switch 291 are switched OFF, the state of the air flow path switching component is appropriately switched on the basis of a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air, but the present modification is not limited to this. For example, in a case where there is a supply instruction to supply humidified air from both of the indoor units in a case where the first DIP switch 290 and the second DIP switch 291 are switched OFF, the state of the air flow path switching component may be automatically switched by the switching control component 266 every predetermined amount of time (e.g., 10 minutes) or may be automatically switched by the switching control component 266 on the basis of the humidified environment values of each room.

[0209] Further, for example, an air conditioner in which jumper switches 390 and 391 are employed as a setting unit 392 will be described. In this air conditioner, whether or not the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by the switching control component is to be performed is set as a result of the jumper switches 390 and 391 being switched ON or OFF by the user. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, a first jumper switch 390 and a second jumper switch 391 are included in the jumper switches 390 and 391.

[0210] In a case where the first jumper switch 390 and the second jumper switch 391 are switched OFF by the user, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by a switching control component 366 is performed. Specifically, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 and the second jumper switch 391 are switched OFF, the indoor unit to which has first been given a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air is decided to be the prioritized supply unit by a prioritized supply unit deciding component 365, and the state of the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 366 such that humidified air is supplied with respect to the prioritized supply unit. Thereafter, only in a case where a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air has been given with respect to the indoor unit other than the prioritized supply unit and where the first condition has been met, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 366 such that humidified air is supplied with respect to the indoor unit other than the prioritized supply unit to which has been given a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air. Further, in a case where the second condition has been met in a state where humidified air is being supplied with respect to the indoor unit other than the prioritized supply unit, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 366 such that humidified air is supplied with respect to the prioritized supply unit.

[0211] Further, in a case where at least any one of the first jumper switch 390 or the second jumper switch 391 is switched ON by the user, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by the switching control component 366 is not performed, and control other than the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by the switching control component 366 is performed. Further, as a result of the first jumper switch 390 being switched ON by the user, the prioritized indoor unit that is the indoor unit to which humidified air is supplied on a priority basis is decided to be the first indoor unit such that Humidified air is supplied on a priority basis to the first indoor unit. Moreover, as a result of the second jumper switch 391 being switched ON by the user, the prioritized indoor unit is decided to be the second indoor unit such that humidified air is supplied on a priority basis to the second indoor unit. For this reason, by switching the first jumper switch 390 and the second jumper switch 391 ON and OFF, the user can set the indoor unit to which humidified air is supplied preferentially. Consequently, in case where the first jumper switch 390 or the second jumper switch 391 is switched ON by the user, even if a first humidified air supply switch 381a and a second humidified air supply switch 381b are pressed by the user, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by the switching control component 366 is not performed. In other words, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 and the second jumper switch 391 are switched OFF, that is, in a case where the prioritized indoor unit is not set by the user, the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control by the switching control component 366 is performed as a result of a supply instruction to supply humidified air to the first indoor unit body and the second indoor unit body being given by the user.

[0212] Specifically, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 is switched ON and the second jumper switch 391 is switched OFF, that is, in a case where the first indoor unit is set to become the prioritized indoor unit by the user, the air flow path switching component is switched such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the first switched state. For this reason, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 is switched ON and the second jumper switch 391 is switched OFF, humidified air is supplied on a priority basis to the first indoor unit.

[0213] For example, in a case where the second humidified air supply switch 381b has been pressed by the user before the first humidified air supply switch 381a is pressed in a state where the first jumper switch 390 is switched ON and the second jumper switch 391 is switched OFF, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched by the switching control component 366 such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the second switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the second indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 381a has been pressed by the user, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched from the second switched state to the first switched state.

[0214] Further, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 381a has been pressed by the user before the second humidified air supply switch 381b is pressed in a state where the first jumper switch 390 is switched ON and the second jumper switch 391 is switched OFF, the state of the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the first switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the first indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the second humidified air supply switch 381b has been pressed by the user, the first switched state is maintained without the state of the air flow path switching component switching to the second switched state.

[0215] In this way, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 is switched ON and the second jumper switch 391 is switched OFF, humidified air is supplied on a priority basis to the first indoor unit.

[0216] Further, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 is switched OFF and the second jumper switch 391 is switched ON, that is, in a case where the second indoor unit is set to become the prioritized indoor unit by the user, the air flow path switching component is switched such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the second switched state. For this reason, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 is switched OFF and the second jumper switch 391 is switched ON, humidified air is supplied on a priority basis to the second indoor unit.

[0217] For example, in a case where the second humidified air supply switch 381b has been pressed by the user before the first humidified air supply switch 381a is pressed in a state where the first jumper switch 390 is switched OFF and the second jumper switch 391 is switched ON, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the second switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the second indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 381a has been pressed by the user, the second switched state is maintained without the state of the air flow path switching component switching to the first switched state.

[0218] Further, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 381a has been pressed by the user before the second humidified air supply switch 381 is pressed in a state where the first jumper switch 390 is switched OFF and the second jumper switch 391 is switched ON, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the first switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the first indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the second humidified air supply switch 381b has been pressed by the user, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component switches from the first switched state to the second switched state.

[0219] In this way, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 is switched OFF and the second jumper switch 391 is switched ON, humidified air is supplied on a priority basis to the second indoor unit.

[0220] Moreover, in a case where the first jumper switch 390 and the second jumper switch 391 are switched OFF, that is, in a case where both indoor units of the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit are set to become the prioritized indoor unit by the user, indoor unit automatic switching control in which the state of the switching component is automatically switched every predetermined amount of time is performed by the switching control component 366 such that humidified air is supplied with respect to the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit.

[0221] For example, in a case where the second humidified air supply switch 381 b has been pressed by the user before the first humidified air supply switch 381a is pressed in a state where the first jumper switch 390 and the second jumper switch 391 are switched ON, the air flow path switching component is controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component becomes the second switched state. Additionally, humidified air is supplied to the second indoor unit body. Thereafter, in a case where the first humidified air supply switch 381a has been pressed by the user, the state of the air flow path switching component is such that the second switched state is maintained by the switching control component 366 until a predetermined amount of time elapses from the time when the first humidified air supply switch 381a was pressed. Additionally, in a case where the predetermine amount of time has elapsed from the time when the first humidified air supply switch 381a was pressed, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched from the second switched state to the first switched state by the switching control component 366. Further, in a case where the predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the air flow path switching component was controlled such that the state of the air flow path switching component switched from the second switched state to the first switched state, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched from the first switched state to the second switched state by the switching control component 366. In this way, the state of the air flow path switching component is switched every predetermined amount of time by the switching control component 366.

[0222] In a case where the indoor unit automatic switching control is being performed, an indication control component 364 controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the indoor unit to which humidified air is not being supplied lights up. Further, the indication control component 364 controls the operation of the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting elements such that the other-room humidifying operation informing LED light emitting element of the indoor unit to which humidified air is being supplied goes out.

[0223] In this way, by disposing a setting unit with which the user can set whether or not the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control is to be performed by the switching control component, the state of the air flow path switching component according to the circumstance of the user can be set. Further, the state of the air flow path switching component that the user has set by a switch is prioritized over the state of the air flow path switching component according to the control of the switching control component, so the state of the air flow path switching component according to the circumstance of the user can be maintained.

[0224] Thus, the feeling of discomfort on the part of the user resulting from the switching component automatically switching can be reduced.

[0225] Further, in a case where the first non-prioritized supply unit switching condition, where the humidified environment value in the prioritized supply room in which the prioritized supply unit is installed is less than the first determination value, is not met in a case where the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control is performed, the non-prioritized supply unit switching control is not performed by the switching control component. For example, in a case where the humidity in the prioritized supply room does not rise even if humidified air is supplied to the prioritized supply unit, there is the fear that the first condition will not be met and the non-prioritized supply unit switching control will not be performed. For this reason, the inconvenience that humidified air is not supplied with respect to the non-prioritized supply unit arises.

[0226] Therefore, by disposing a setting unit with which the user can set whether or not the prioritized supply unit automatic switching control is to be performed by the switching control component, the control content of the switching control of the air flow path switching component can be set in accordance with the convenience of the user.

[0227] In the above-described modification, in the indoor unit automatic switching control, the state of the switching component is switched in a case where a condition where a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the state of the switching component has switched (called "the sixth condition" below) has been met, but the modification is not limited to this, and another condition may also be included as a condition for the state of the switching component to be switched in the indoor unit automatic switching control. Further, in the indoor unit automatic switching control,the state of the switching component may also be switched in a case where any one condition of the sixth condition and the other condition has been met. Further, included in the other condition is a condition where a humidified environment value, which is a value obtained by subtracting a measurement value of a humidity sensor in the room in which supply of humidified air is being performed from a set humidity value set beforehand by the user, is equal to or less than a third determination value (called "the seventh condition" below). Specifically, in a case where the set humidity value is 40 and the measurement value is 45, for example, in a case where the third determination value is "-5", the above-described condition becomes met. Consequently, in the indoor unit automatic switching control, the state of the switching component is switched in a case where any one condition of the sixth condition and the seventh condition has been met. For this reason, in a case where, for example, even if the predetermined amount of time has not elapsed since the state of the switching component has switched, the condition where the humidified environment value in the room to which humidified air is being supplied is equal to or less than the third determination value has been met, the state of the switching component is switched.

[0228] In this way, in the indoor unit automatic switching control also, the fear that the humidity in the room to which humidified air is being supplied will become too high can be reduced as a result of the state of the switching component being switched in accordance with the humidified environment value in the room to which humidified air is being supplied.

[0229] Thus, the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users can be reduced.

(D)

[0230] In the above-described embodiment, the air conditioner is given a configuration where a single indoor unit is installed in a single room, but instead of this, multiple indoor units may also be installed in a single room.

<Reference Example>

[0231] In the present invention, humidified air is supplied only to any one room of the first room 1a or the second room 1b as a result of the air flow path switching component 30 switching to the first switched state or the second switched state.

[0232] Instead of this, for example, humidified air may also be distributively supplied to multiple rooms on the basis of their humidified environment values. In this way, humidified air is simultaneously supplied to more than one room, whereby the fear that a feeling of discomfort will be imparted to users in the rooms can be lessened.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0233] The present invention can provide a humidifying unit that is less likely to impart a feeling of discomfort to users, so application of the present invention to an air conditioner is effective.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0234] 

1a

First Room (First Area / Second Area)

1b

Second Room (First Area / Second Area)

13a (Informing

First Other-room Humidifying Operation Informing LED Light Emitting Element Component)

13b

Second Other-room Humidifying Operation Informing LED Light Emitting Element (Informing Component)

62

Humidifying Operation Control Unit (Control Unit)

65

Prioritized Supply Unit Deciding Component (Deciding Component)

67

Communication Unit (Receiving Unit)

68

Calculating Component

70a

First Humidity Sensor (First Area Humidity Sensor / Second Area Humidity Sensor)

70b

Second Humidity Sensor (First Area Humidity Sensor / Second Area Humidity Sensor)

101a

First Room (First Area / Second Area)

101b

Second Room (First Area / Second Area)

101c c

Third Room (First Area / Second Area)

118c

Third Indoor Unit Body (Separate-area Indoor Unit)

290

First Dip Switch (Reception Component)

291

Second Dip Switch (Reception Component)

390

First Jumper Switch (Reception Component)

391

Second Jumper Switch (Reception Component)

3, 103

Outdoor Unit (Humidifier)

18a, 118a

First Indoor Unit Body (Separate-area Indoor Unit)

18b, 118b

Second Indoor Unit Body (Separate-area Indoor Unit)

30, 130

Air Flow Path Switching Component (Switching Component)

66, 266, 366

Switching Control Component

100,200

Air Conditioner

292, 392

Setting Unit

CITATION LIST

<patent Literature>

[0235] 

Patent Literature 1: JP-A No. 11-311435

Patent Literature 2: JP-A No. 5-223298

Claims

1. An air conditioner (100, 200) comprising:

a single humidifier (3, 103);

multiple separate-area indoor units (18a, 18b, 118a, 118b, 118c) to which humidified air is supplied from the humidifier;

a receiving unit (67) that can receive a supply instruction from a user to supply humidified air to each of the separate-area indoor units; and

a control unit (62) that controls the humidifier such that humidified air is supplied only to any one of the multiple separate-area indoor units,

wherein the control unit performs
first control that controls the humidifier such that humidified air is supplied to a first supply unit that is the separate-area indoor unit for which the receiving unit has first received the supply instruction,
second control that controls the humidifier such that, in a case where after the first control has been performed the receiving unit receives the supply instruction with respect to a second supply unit that is the separate-area indoor unit other than the first supply unit and at least a humidified environment of a first area (1a, 1b, 101a, 101 b, 101c) humidified by the first supply unit is meeting a first condition, humidified air is supplied to the second supply unit, and
third control that controls the humidifier such that, in a case where after the second control has been performed at least the humidified environment of the first area is meeting a second condition, humidified air is supplied to the separate-area indoor unit other than the second supply unit.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein
the control unit has a calculating component (68) that can calculate a first humidified environment value corresponding to the humidified environment in the first area on the basis of a measurement value of a first area humidity sensor (70a, 70b) for measuring the humidity of the first area,
in the first condition is included a first switching condition where the first humidified environment value is less than a first predetermined value, and
in the second condition is included a second switching condition where the first humidified environment value is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein
the calculating component further calculates, on the basis of a measurement value of a second area humidity sensor (70a, 70b) for measuring the humidity of a second area (1a, 1b, 101a, 101b, 101c) humidified by the second supply unit, a second humidified environment value corresponding to a humidified environment in the second area, and
in the first condition is included, in addition to the first switching condition, at least any one condition of a third switching condition where the second humidified environment value is equal to or greater than a third predetermined value or a fourth switching condition where a predetermined first amount of time has elapsed since humidification of the first area has been started by the first supply unit.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein in the second condition is included, in addition to the second switching condition, a fifth switching condition where a predetermined second amount of time has elapsed since humidification of the second area has been started by the second supply unit.

5. The air conditioner according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second supply unit has an informing component (13a, 13b) for informing the user that humidified air is being supplied to the first supply unit.

6. The air conditioner according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the humidifier has a switching component (30, 130) that can switch between a first state where humidified air is supplied only to the first supply unit and a second state where humidified air is supplied only to the second supply unit, and
the control unit performs the first control, the second control, or the third control by performing switching control that switches a state of the switching component.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, further comprising a reception component (290, 291) that receives a switching instruction from the user such that the state of the switching component switches.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein in a case where the reception component is receiving the switching instruction, in the switching component, the state of the switching component based on the switching instruction is prioritized over the state of the switching component according to the switching control by the control unit.

9. The air conditioner according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control unit has a deciding component (65) that decides the second supply unit on the basis of the timing when the receiving unit has received the supply instruction.

10. An air conditioner comprising:

a single humidifier;

multiple separate-area indoor units to which humidified air is supplied from the humidifier;

a switching component that can switch between a first state where humidified air is supplied only to a first indoor unit that is one indoor unit of the separate-area indoor units and a second state where humidified air is supplied only to a second indoor unit that is the separate-area indoor unit other than the first indoor unit; and

a setting unit (292, 392) that has a first reception component (290, 390) that receives a setting instruction from a user such that the state of the switching component becomes the first state and a second reception component (291, 391) that receives a setting instruction from the user such that the state of the switching component becomes the second state.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, further comprising a receiving unit that can receive a supply instruction from the user to supply humidified air to each of the separate-area indoor units, wherein in a case where the first reception component has received the setting instruction and the second reception component has not received the setting instruction and where the receiving unit has received the supply instruction to supply humidified air to the first indoor unit, the state of the switching component is switched such that the state of the switching component becomes the first state, and in a case where the first reception component has not received the setting instruction and the second reception component has received the setting instruction and where the receiving component has received the supply instruction to supply humidified air to the second indoor unit, the state of the switching component is switched such that the state of the switching component becomes the second state.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 10 or 11, wherein in a case where the first reception component and the second reception component have received the setting instruction, the switching component is switched between the first state and the second state every predetermined amount of time.

Drawing