Hand dryer and method for operating a hand dryer

Abstract

A hand dryer intended to avoid potential health risks particularly effectively includes a shroud like housing with an interior space having an opening for parts of the body to be dried; a first filter element for filtering air taken in; at least one nozzle, by which the filtered air is conducted out into the interior space of the housing; a second filter element, by which the air conducted into the interior space of the housing by the nozzle is filtered; and an outlet, by which the air filtered by the second filter element is conducted out of the housing. A method for operating a hand dryer is also related.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand dryer, comprising:
 a pot housing  41  with an interior space with an opening for body parts to be dried;   a first filter element for filtering drawn in air,   at least one nozzle for discharging the filtered air into the interior space of the housing,   a second filter element for filtering the air fed by the nozzle into the interior space  44  of the housing, and   an outlet for discharging the air filtered by the second filter element from the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The hand dryer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the first filter element and/or the second filter element is a HEPA filter.   
     
     
         3 . The hand dryer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the at least one nozzle for discharging the filtered air into the interior space is arranged in the region of the opening and directed towards the interior space.   
     
     
         4 . The hand dryer according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising   a first conveying element for drawing in air from the environment and for conveying the air into the interior space of the housing, and/or a second conveying element for extracting the air located in the interior space and for discharging on the housing.   
     
     
         5 . The hand dryer according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein   the first conveying element and the second conveying element can be operated independently of each other.   
     
     
         6 . The hand dryer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the first filter element and/or the second filter element are replaceable.   
     
     
         7 . The hand dryer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   a collection device for liquid is arranged or formed in the interior space of the housing.   
     
     
         8 . The hand dryer according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a filter for cleaning the collected liquid.   
     
     
         9 . The hand dryer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the collection device is connected to a collection container.   
     
     
         10 . The hand dryer according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the housing has, at least partially, an antibacterial and/or antiviral coating.   
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a hand dryer having a pot housing with an interior space with an opening for body parts to be dried, a first filter element for filtering drawn in air, at least one nozzle for discharging the filtered air into the interior space of the housing, a second filter element for filtering the air fed by the nozzle into the interior space of the housing, an outlet for discharging the air filtered by the second filter element from the housing, wherein the hand dryer has a first conveying element and a second conveying element that can be operated independently of each other, and wherein the first conveying element and the second conveying element are switched on in case of a detection of hands in the interior space, and wherein the first conveying element and/or the second conveying element are switched on for a defined time interval during a period in which no hands are disposed in the interior space.