JP2005000013A - Apparatus for washing pet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for washing a pet designed to uniformly wash the whole body of the animal and perform a series of washing from the washing to drying without handling the animal and without providing an unpleasant feeling to the animal. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus 10 for washing the pet is equipped with a pedestal 12 on which the animal is loaded, a cylindrical shower member 11 rotating around the pedestal 12 with the horizontal shaft as the center, nozzles 14 installed in the inner surface of the shower member 11 and a feeding means 15 for feeding a liquid for washing the animal and a gas for drying the animal in the nozzles 14. As a result thereof, the whole body of the animal can uniformly be washed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pet cleaning device, and more particularly to a pet cleaning device for cleaning and drying small animals such as pets.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various inventions have been made to clean pets and animals kept in zoos. For example, a pet washing apparatus that houses an animal in a washing container and performs washing is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). This pet washing apparatus has an accommodating part that can be freely opened and closed, and a pedestal for fixing an animal in the accommodating part. A mesh-like base plate is provided on the upper surface of the pedestal, and a lower side of the mesh-like base plate is provided with a shower device for supplying an animal cleaning liquid upward, that is, toward the animal. Yes. From the shower device, shower water is ejected toward the animal through a mesh (through hole).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-47357
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the pet washing apparatus is provided with a shower ejection position below the animal. For this reason, the sprayed wash water is sprayed toward the lower part of the animal. There is no shower above the animal that spouts towards the animal. Therefore, there has been a problem that washing cannot be performed by directly applying washing water over the animal. Moreover, this shower rotates around a vertical axis, and the shower water is ejected so as to blow up from below. However, the spraying up of the cleaning liquid gives a strong local stimulation to the lower part of the animal, which in turn makes the animal uncomfortable.
[0005]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pet cleaning apparatus that can clean the entire body of an animal evenly. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pet cleaning device that does not give an animal an unpleasant feeling without touching the animal. Furthermore, it aims at providing the pet washing apparatus which can perform a series of washing processes from washing to drying.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a pedestal on which an animal is placed, a shower member that rotates around the pedestal about a horizontal axis, and a liquid for washing animals and / or drying that is provided on the shower member and faces the pedestal. A pet cleaning apparatus comprising a nozzle for ejecting a gas for use and a supply means for supplying a liquid for animal cleaning and / or a gas for drying to the nozzle.
[0007]
The pedestal on which the animal is mounted may be provided in a storage box provided with a storage box. Or the horizontal axis | shaft of a base may be connected with fixing members, such as a part of structure, for example, and the circumference | surroundings of a base may be made into open space.
The shape of the pedestal is not limited. The size of the pedestal can be changed according to the size of the animal. For example, the pedestal is composed of two horizontal and parallel long plates. Place the left and right feet on the left side of the animal on one long plate. Place the front and rear legs on the right side on the other long plate. Depending on the size of the animal to be placed, the distance between the two long plates is changed.
The animal's feet can be fixed with a belt provided on the long plate of the pedestal or a stretchable rubber so that the animal mounted on the pedestal is stationary. Alternatively, the pedestal and the animal collar may be connected and fixed with a string. For example, a plurality of through holes can be formed in the long plate of the pedestal so that the soles of animals can be washed.
A shower member made of, for example, a hollow box is provided that rotates around the pedestal about a horizontal axis and ejects a cleaning liquid and a drying gas toward an animal mounted on the pedestal. The shape of this shower member is not limited. For example, a hollow rectangular parallelepiped or a cylindrical body may be used. Alternatively, in order to give an open space to the animal, it may be formed in a frame shape or a U-shape by a rod-like material instead of a box. The material of the shower member is not limited. Any material having water resistance and salt water resistance, light weight and rigidity may be used. The shower member is rotatably supported by, for example, a horizontal shaft fixed to the side wall of the storage box.
In order to rotate this shower member, a rotation means is provided in the shower member. The rotating means may be an automatic rotating means using a motor or a manual type provided with a rotatable lever. A motor having forward / reverse rotation and rotation speed adjustment functions is used. For example, a DC motor or a stepping motor is used. In the case of a DC motor, the polarity of the current input to the motor is switched using a switch circuit to control forward / reverse rotation. Also in the case of a stepping motor, forward / reverse rotation is controlled by controlling a pulse signal applied to the motor electrode.
On the inner surface of the shower member, a nozzle for ejecting an animal washing liquid and / or a drying gas toward the animal fixed to the pedestal is formed. This nozzle is a pore. A plurality of finer holes than the fine holes may be provided, and the nozzles may be sprayed in a spraying manner. Alternatively, these may be provided.
An animal cleaning liquid or the like for cleaning an animal is supplied to the shower member from a supply means including its supply source.
[0008]
A second aspect of the present invention is the pet cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the supply means can adjust the temperature of the liquid and / or the temperature of the gas.
The animal cleaning liquid or the like ejected to the animal is supplied from the supply means to the shower member. The supply means for supplying the animal cleaning liquid to the shower member can be configured, for example, by providing a heater in a pump or a tank. In addition, the supply means for supplying the drying gas to the shower member includes, for example, a heater or a built-in compressor or fan. The temperature of the animal cleaning liquid and the drying gas is controlled by these heaters. Further, for example, the tank and the fan are each provided with an opening / closing valve, and the supply of the animal cleaning liquid and the drying gas is switched by switching these opening / closing valves.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 3 is the pet cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shower member reciprocates in the axial direction of the horizontal axis while rotating.
The shower member reciprocates in the axial direction of the horizontal axis while rotating with respect to the animal. In order to reciprocate the shower member, for example, a mechanism including a worm gear that converts rotation of the motor into rotation / reciprocation is interposed between the output shaft of the motor and the shower member.
[0010]
[Action]
In the pet washing apparatus according to the first aspect, the animal is placed on the pedestal, and the animal body or foot is fixed to the pedestal with, for example, a belt or rubber band of the pedestal. Next, for example, the motor is turned on, and the shower member surrounding the pedestal is rotated at a predetermined speed around the horizontal axis.
The rotating shower member is provided with a nozzle having a fine hole for injecting an animal cleaning liquid or the like inward in the radial direction of the rotation. Therefore, simultaneously with this rotation, the shower member is supplied from the supply means with a predetermined pressure such as a liquid for washing animals. Then, due to the pressure, an animal washing liquid or the like is ejected from the nozzle toward the animal.
Further, the shower member rotates around the animal placed on the pedestal for a predetermined time around the horizontal axis at a predetermined rotation speed while ejecting liquid. Thereby, the whole animal can be washed evenly. After the washing is finished, the drying gas is supplied to the rotating shower member to dry the animal. Therefore, a series of processes from washing to drying can be performed without human hands directly on the animal.
The shower member can have, for example, a frame shape, and in this case, the shower member can be washed in a space that is open to the animal. In addition, by rotating the shower member, the whole body of the animal including the abdomen can be washed evenly, and the animal washing liquid is not locally ejected to cause discomfort to the animal. Naturally, the ejection speed and ejection amount of the liquid / gas are appropriately adjusted.
[0011]
In the pet washing apparatus according to the second aspect, the temperature of the liquid and the temperature of the gas are adjusted in the supply means. Thereby, even when it is cold in winter, it is possible to wash and dry the animal using a warm liquid for washing the animal and a warm gas for drying. The liquid temperature and gas temperature can be changed according to the washing time and drying time.
[0012]
In the pet cleaning apparatus according to the third aspect, the shower member ejects an animal cleaning liquid or the like from the nozzle toward the animal while rotating and reciprocating in the axial direction. Thereby, when the shower member does not reciprocate, the animal washing liquid or the like can be ejected to a portion that has not been applied to the animal. Thereby, the whole body of the animal can be washed and dried evenly. Therefore, there is no need to provide a large number of nozzles around the animal.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pet cleaning apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped storage box 40 for storing an animal, a pedestal 12 provided in the storage box 40 for placing the animal, and the animal And a shower member 11 for injecting a liquid for washing animals.
The storage box 40 is configured in a box shape by the upper lid 21, the four side walls 22, and the bottom plate 23. The upper lid 21 is connected to the upper end of the side wall 22 by a hinge 25, and is provided so that the upper surface of the storage box 40 can be opened and closed. A handle 26 is provided on the upper surface of the upper lid 21, and the upper lid 21 can be opened upward by grasping the handle 26. The bottom plate 23 of the storage box 40 is generally rectangular, and is inclined downward at a predetermined angle so as to gradually become lower from the peripheral edge toward the center. A discharge port 24 that discharges animal cleaning liquid and the like to the outside of the storage box 40 is provided at the center (lowest part) of the bottom plate 23.
Inside the storage box 40, the pedestal 12 is suspended and supported at both ends thereof via a pair of support shafts that project horizontally from both side walls 22, respectively.
A shower member 11, which is a rectangular frame made of a plate material having a predetermined width, is rotatably supported on both horizontal support shafts of the pedestal 12. The shower member 11 has a structure that rotates around the pedestal 12 around a pair of horizontal shafts 16.
Further, a plurality of nozzles (spout ports) 14 are formed at predetermined intervals along the length direction of the frame constituent material (portion extending in the axial direction) of the shower member 11. That is, a fluid passage is formed along the extending direction of the frame constituent material, and this passage constitutes a square circulation passage by the frame constituent material, and the plurality of nozzles rotate at predetermined intervals in the circulation passage. It arrange | positions so that a fluid can be ejected toward an axial direction. Each nozzle 14 is configured to be supplied with fluid (liquid or gas) through an internal passage of the frame constituent material.
A motor 13 for rotationally driving the shower member 11 is fixed on an extended portion of the bottom plate 23 outside the storage box 40. A spline shaft 32 for rotating the shower member 11 is connected to the tip of the output shaft of the motor 13. That is, the spline shaft 32 constitutes one of the horizontal axes. The shower member 11, which is a rectangular frame, is rotatably supported by the coaxial horizontal shaft 16 and the spline shaft 32.
Further, on the extended portion of the bottom plate 23, supply means (tank or the like) 15 for switching and supplying the animal cleaning liquid or the drying gas to the nozzles 14 of the shower member 11 is disposed. The tank of the supply means 15 and the internal passage of the shower member 11 are connected by a hose 19.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially horizontal horizontal shaft 16 projects from the central portion of one side wall 22 of the storage box 40. Support members 17a and 17b are suspended from the horizontal shaft 16 and a spline shaft 32 that is coaxially and horizontally supported on the opposite side wall in a substantially triangular shape (opened at a predetermined angle). At both lower ends (separated by a predetermined distance) of the support members 17a and 17b, both ends of two long plates 61 and 62 extending in parallel with each other are fixed. A first long plate fixing member 63 and a second long plate fixing member 64 are connected to both ends of the two long plates 61 and 62, respectively. The long plate 61, 62, the first long plate fixing member 63, and the second long plate fixing member 64 form a rectangular frame-shaped base 12 in plan view.
Further, both ends of the first long plate fixing member 63 and the second long plate fixing member 64 are rotatably supported by pins 65 at the lower ends of the pair of support members 17a and 17b. The upper ends of the support members 17 a and 17 b are inserted through the horizontal shaft 16 and the spline shaft 32.
Here, the distal end portion of the second long plate fixing member 64 is accommodated in a hollow portion of the first long plate fixing member 63 so as to be freely inserted and removed. Thereby, the long plates 61 and 62 are held substantially horizontally.
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of locking holes 66 are provided in the upper plate portion of the first long plate fixing member 63. A concave portion is formed on the top surface of the distal end portion of the second long plate fixing member 64, and a plate spring 67 is provided in the concave portion. The leaf spring 67 is inserted into the retaining hole 66 of the first long plate fixing member 63, and the second long plate fixing member 64 is hooked on the first long plate fixing member 63. The position of the leaf spring 67 and the positions of the plurality of locking holes 66 can be adjusted, whereby the length of the base of the triangle can be adjusted. That is, the first long plate fixing member 63 reciprocates substantially horizontally with the second long plate fixing member 64, and the support members 17 a and 17 b rotate about the horizontal shaft 16 and the spline shaft 32. . In this way, by changing the distance between the long plate 61 and the long plate 62, the base 12 having a size corresponding to the size of the animal to be mounted can be obtained.
The long plates 61 and 62 are provided with a belt 36 for fixing the animal. Further, the long plates 61 and 62 are provided with a plurality of through holes 38 so that the animal washing liquid can be directly applied to the soles of the animals for washing.
[0015]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the shower member 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape. The frame constituent material of the shower member 11 is formed of a water resistant and salt water resistant material. A hole 35 is provided at the center of one short side member of the shower member 11, and a horizontal shaft 16 that is laterally provided from the side wall 22 of the storage box 40 is inserted into the hole 35. A radial bearing 31 is disposed in the hole 35, and the shower member 11 is rotatably supported by a fixed horizontal shaft 16 via the bearing 31. The bearing 31 may be a bearing that supports the rotation and axial movement of the shower member, and may be a gas bearing, for example.
On the other hand, a spline shaft 32 is splined to the center of the other short side member of the shower member 11. The spline shaft 32 is inserted into the holes 39 of the support rods 17 a and 17 b erected from the base 12. A bearing 37a is fixed to the hole 39 of the support rods 17a and 17b, and the support rods 17a and 17b are rotatably supported by the spline shaft 32 through the bearing 37a. As a result, the spline shaft 32 always supports the base 12 in a substantially horizontal state while rotating. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the shower member 11 can rotate around the pedestal 12 on which the animal is placed, with the horizontal axis 16 and the spline shaft 32 as the center.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the output shaft of the motor 13 that rotates the shower member 11 is connected to the protruding end of the spline shaft 32 that is the rotation shaft of the shower member 11. The motor 13 is erected on the bottom plate 23 outside the storage box 40. The motor 13 is configured to be able to rotate forward and backward and to adjust the rotational speed. Since the shower member 11 according to this embodiment does not particularly require high-speed rotation, an inexpensive commercially available motor may be used.
As shown in FIG. 6A, a cylindrical worm 30 is provided at the tip of the shaft 27 of the motor 13. A spiral groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical worm 30. In addition, a cylindrical gear receiving member 28 that converts the rotation of the cylindrical worm 30 into the rotation of the spline shaft 32 of the shower member 11 is provided around the cylindrical worm 30. The spline shaft 32 is directly connected to the gear receiving member 28. In the vicinity of the opening of the inner peripheral portion of the gear receiving member 28, an engaging projection 29 is provided so as to protrude inward. The engaging protrusion 29 is engaged with the groove of the cylindrical worm 30.
The side wall 22 is provided with a bearing 37b that rotatably supports the spline shaft 32. The bearing 37b supports the movement and rotation of the spline shaft 32 in the axial direction. For example, a known journal bearing or gas bearing may be used.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 4, each frame component of the shower member 11 is formed of a hollow material as described above. The hollow portion (passage) is supplied with an animal cleaning liquid, a drying gas, or the like from a tank of the supply means 15 disposed outside the storage box 40. In order to supply the animal cleaning liquid or the like, an annular injection port 33 is provided in a boss shape so as to protrude from the short side member on the motor 13 side of the shower member 11. The injection port 33 communicates with the passage of the shower member 11.
On the other hand, a ring-shaped ring tube member 34 is fixed to the side wall 22 of the storage box. The ring tube member 34 is fitted to a boss portion that is a portion where the injection port 33 of the shower member 11 is formed. These seals need not be provided with a seal member, but may be sealed with a known seal structure. The ring pipe member 34 is connected to the tank of the supply means 15 via a hose 19. As a result, it is possible to always supply the animal cleaning liquid or the like from the supply means 15 to the shower member 11 even when the shower member 11 rotates.
A number of nozzles 14 for ejecting animal cleaning liquid and / or drying gas are provided on the surface of the shower member 11 facing the center of rotation of the frame component. The nozzle 14 is formed with fine pores.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 7, the supply means 15 includes a tank 51 that supplies a liquid for washing animals and a fan 52 that supplies a gas for drying. On-off valves 54 a and 54 b are connected to the tank 51 and the fan 52, respectively. In accordance with a control signal from the control unit 55, the on-off valves 54a and 54b are switched to supply the shower member 11 with a liquid or dry gas for animal cleaning. Each of the tank 51 and the fan 52 is provided with a heater 53 that adjusts the temperature of the animal cleaning liquid or the like. The temperature of the animal cleaning liquid is adjusted by adjusting the temperature of each heater 53 by a control signal from the control unit 55.
[0019]
Next, the usage method of this pet washing apparatus 10 is demonstrated.
First, the animal is inserted by opening and closing with the handle 26 of the upper lid 21 of the storage box 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the inserted animal is placed on the pedestal 12. Place the left and right paws on the left side of the animal on the long plate 62. Place the front and rear legs on the right side on the long plate 61. The animal's foot is fixed with a belt 36 or a rubber band provided on the base 12 so that the animal stops.
[0020]
Then, as shown in FIG. 6A, the motor 13 is turned on to rotate the motor 13. The motor 13 is normally rotated and driven at a rotational speed that does not give the animal an unpleasant feeling. When the motor 13 is driven, the cylindrical worm 30 connected to the tip of the shaft 27 rotates. Since the engagement protrusion 29 provided on the gear receiving member 28 is engaged with the spiral groove of the cylindrical worm 30, the engagement protrusion 29 is rotated by the rotation of the cylindrical worm 30. Slide in the groove. Along with this, the gear receiving member 28 is pushed out in the X direction while rotating in the direction opposite to the shaft rotation of the motor 13. As the gear receiving member 28 rotates, the spline shaft 32 and the shower member 11 directly connected to the gear receiving member 28 are pushed out in the arrow X direction while rotating.
Next, the shaft of the motor 13 is reversed. As shown in FIG. 6B, the engaging protrusion 29 is returned to the initial position where it is engaged with the spiral groove of the cylindrical worm 30. The gear receiving member 28 is pulled in the Y direction while rotating. By pulling in the gear receiving member 28, the shower member 11 is also returned to the initial position.
In this way, by rotating the shaft of the motor 13 forward and backward, the shower member 11 can reciprocate in the axial direction of the rotation shaft while rotating.
[0021]
Simultaneously with the driving of the motor, the animal cleaning liquid or the like is supplied to the shower member 11 through the hose 19 from the tank 15 or the like outside the storage box 40. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the shower member 11 reciprocates in the axial direction of the rotation shaft while rotating. Even when the shower member 11 is reciprocated, the ring tube member 34 is still fitted to the inlet 33. Accordingly, it is possible to supply animal cleaning liquid or the like to the shower member 11 that reciprocates in the axial direction of the rotation shaft even while rotating.
The shower member 11 is a hollow passage, and animal washing liquid is supplied to the passage. On the inner surface of the shower member 11, a fine nozzle 14 is provided. For this reason, when the animal cleaning liquid or the like is supplied to the shower member 11, the animal cleaning liquid or the like is ejected vigorously from the nozzle 14 to the animal by the pressure of the supply means 15.
[0022]
Since the shower member 11 moves in the axial direction while rotating, it is possible to spray an animal washing liquid or the like evenly around the entire body of the animal. At this time, a space is formed between the long plates 61 and 62 of the base 12. Through this space, the animal cleaning liquid is ejected from the nozzle 14 of the shower member 11 toward the abdomen of the animal. Further, the long plates 61 and 62 are provided with a plurality of through holes 38. Through this through-hole 38, the liquid can be directly applied to the sole of the animal for washing. Thereby, the liquid for animal washing | cleaning can be ejected also to the sole and abdominal part of the animal where dirt is conspicuous.
Further, the shower member 11 can move in the axial direction of the rotation shaft while rotating. As a result, when the shower member 11 does not reciprocate, the animal cleaning liquid or the like can be ejected to a portion that has not been applied to the animal.
[0023]
In addition, the pet cleaning apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can perform a series of animal cleaning processes.
First, a liquid containing no detergent is supplied from the supply means 15 to the shower member 11, and the animal is washed with water using this liquid.
Next, the animal cleaning liquid containing the detergent is supplied from the supply means 15 to the shower member 11. This liquid cleans the animal's whole body.
Wash again with a liquid that does not contain detergent, and remove the detergent attached to the animals.
Finally, a drying gas is blown out from the fan 52 to the animal to dry the whole body of the animal. As a result, a series of processes from washing to drying can be performed automatically. In addition, it is possible for a human to perform cleaning without directly handling the animal.
At this time, by adjusting the temperature of the heater 51 built in the tank 51 and the fan 52 of the supply means corresponding to the room temperature or the like, a warm liquid for washing animals or a warm gas for drying is ejected to the animals. As a result, when the winter is cold, the animal can be washed with a warm liquid for washing the animal. Also, when the animal is dried, it can be dried with a warm gas for drying. There is no need to prepare many bath towels to dry the animals.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the shower member rotates around the animal placed on the pedestal while jetting the liquid for washing the animal. As a result, the whole animal can be washed evenly. After washing, a shower member that rotates a drying gas is ejected to dry the animal. Therefore, a series of processes from washing to drying can be performed without human hands directly on the animal. In addition, the animal does not feel uncomfortable by locally ejecting a cleaning solution or the like.
Furthermore, the temperature of the animal washing liquid and / or the drying gas can be adjusted. Thereby, even when it is cold, washing can be performed by ejecting a warm liquid for washing animals or a warm gas for drying to the animals.
Further, the shower member rotates, and the animal cleaning liquid or the like is ejected to the whole body of the animal while reciprocating. As a result, when the shower member does not reciprocate, the animal cleaning liquid or the like can be ejected to a portion that has not been applied to the animal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a pet cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pedestal of the pet cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a part of a pedestal of the pet cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where a dog is mounted in the pet washing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state where a dog is mounted in the pet washing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
6 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 4, where (a) is a cross-sectional view of the shower member being pushed out in the axial direction, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the shower member being pulled back in the axial direction. It is.
FIG. 7 is a system block diagram illustrating a configuration of a supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Pet cleaning equipment,
11 Shower material,
12 pedestals,
13 Motor (rotating means),
14 nozzles,
15 Supply means.

Claims (3)

A pedestal on which animals are placed;
A shower member that rotates around this pedestal about a horizontal axis;
A nozzle that is provided in the shower member and ejects a liquid for washing animals and / or a gas for drying toward the pedestal;
A pet cleaning apparatus comprising a supply means for supplying a liquid for animal cleaning and / or a gas for drying to the nozzle. The pet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit is capable of adjusting a temperature of the liquid and / or a temperature of the gas. The pet cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shower member reciprocates in the axial direction of a horizontal axis while rotating.

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