JP2005058136A - Agent-diffusing system, agent-diffusing device and agent cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an agent-diffusing system by which kinds of agents can simply be exchanged. <P>SOLUTION: The agent-diffusing system 1 has an agent-diffusing device 2 and an agent cartridge 4 exchangeably attached to the device 2. An agent tank 12, an agent diffusing part 13 and an agent feed tube 14 are mounted on the agent cartridge 4. As a result, since there is no part which comes in contact with the agent on the side of the agent-diffusing device 2, an agent can be exchanged with a different agent by only exchanging the agent cartridge and exchange and washing operation of parts are made unnecessary. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a drug diffusion system for releasing drugs such as insect disruption agents and attractants made of insect pheromones, and a drug diffusion apparatus and drug cartridge used in the system.

  In farms, instead of using pesticides, pesticides such as insect pheromones are released into the air, causing pest contact disruption and reducing the number of eggs produced, thereby reducing the occurrence of pests. Disinfection methods are known. For example, it is known to install a large number of insect pheromone dispensers at predetermined intervals in a field facility to naturally dissipate insect pheromones. The sex pheromone is enclosed in a plastic tube and is used as a branch of a growing plant. The sex pheromone is naturally diffused into the air through a tube by hanging it on the framework of a plastic house (Patent Document 1). However, in this method, the attractant is continuously released even during the day when the insects do not mate, and the amount of emission is higher during the daytime when the temperature is high. Further, sex pheromones having double bonds are prone to UV deterioration and oxidation, so that stabilizers are mixed therein, which increases the cost. Furthermore, when there are pests that are not expected due to the effects of nearby orchards, it is impossible to immediately respond to such unexpected pests.

  In view of this, it is conceivable to use a drug diffusion device that forcibly releases a volatile drug by heating the evaporating dish with a heater during the diffusion time zone (Patent Documents 2 and 3). Alternatively, it is conceivable to drive the spray-type drug diffusion device by remote control to disperse the drug only during the diffusion time zone (Patent Document 4).

  However, such a drug diffusion device has the following problems. First, drugs such as insect pheromones are generally sensitive to heat, and thus the evaporating dish cannot often be heated using a heater. In this case, in order to efficiently diffuse or evaporate the drug efficiently, a porous material or a fibrous material having a large surface area may be used as the diffusing means, and a necessary amount of the drug may be dropped here to diffuse the drug. However, porous or fibrous materials are likely to become clogged by trapping dust and dirt. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean or replace so that the emission efficiency does not decrease.

  In addition, when different types of drugs are diffused using the same drug-dispersing device, the evaporating dish, porous material, or fibrous material, which is the radiating means, can be washed or replaced, and the diffusing means from the drug supply source. It is also necessary to clean parts such as a medicine supply path for supplying medicine to the body. Therefore, drug exchange cannot be easily performed.

On the other hand, in the case of a spray type drug diffusion device, it is difficult to reuse (refill) a used spray can. That is, the refilling of the spray can requires cleaning the inside, and such cleaning is not easy and is difficult to reuse. In addition, when releasing drugs such as insect pheromones, it is necessary to check the mixing affinity with pressurized gas for spraying such as LPG and butane. There are not many types. Therefore, the conventional spray-type drug diffusion device lacks versatility.
JP-A-8-322447 Japanese Utility Model Publication No.58-110288 Utility Model Registration No. 30211119 US Pat. No. 6,182,904

  The subject of this invention is providing the chemical | medical agent diffusion system which can perform the washing | cleaning and replacement | exchange operation | work of a diffusion means easily.

  Moreover, the subject of this invention is providing the chemical | medical agent diffusion system which can perform the operation | work when changing the kind of chemical | medical agent easily.

  Furthermore, the subject of this invention is proposing the spray-type chemical | medical agent dispersion | distribution system which can reuse the spray can easily and can use various chemical | medical agents.

  On the other hand, an object of the present invention is to propose a drug diffusion device and a drug cartridge used in such a new drug diffusion system.

  The drug diffusion system of the present invention includes: a drug cartridge including a drug reservoir that stores a drug such as an insect pheromone; and a drug diffusion device using the drug cartridge as a drug supply source; Dispersing means for diffusing the medicine into the atmosphere and / or a medicine supply tube communicating the medicine reservoir and the diffusing means are mounted.

  In the present invention, a drug cartridge that is replaceably attached to the apparatus is used as a drug supply source of the drug diffusion apparatus. Further, a diffusion means is mounted on the medicine cartridge. Therefore, when the used medicine cartridge is replaced, the diffusion means is also replaced at the same time. Therefore, when a porous material or a fibrous material is used for the diffusing means, the diffusing means is exchanged together with the exchange of the medicine cartridge, so that maintenance thereof is basically unnecessary.

  Further, when the medicine supply tube is mounted on the medicine cartridge, when the kind of medicine is exchanged, there is no medicine supply path on the side of the medicine diffusing apparatus, so that it is not necessary to clean the medicine diffusing apparatus.

  Furthermore, when the diffusion means and the drug supply tube are mounted on the drug cartridge, the drug does not contact the parts of the drug diffusion device. Therefore, when the type of medicine is changed, it can be dealt with by simply replacing it with a necessary medicine cartridge.

  When a drug supply tube is provided, the drug supply tube as a drug supply pump that supplies the drug in the drug reservoir to the release means, and the drug in the drug tube while crushing the drug supply tube It is desirable to use a tube pump provided with a drive unit for feeding out. In this case, the drive unit may be mounted on the medicine diffusion device.

  In addition, when a drug supply tube is provided, as a mechanism for supplying the drug in the drug reservoir to the diffusion means, the drug is stored in the drug reservoir in a pressurized state, and the drug supply is supplied to the drug diffusion device. A configuration equipped with a valve mechanism for opening and closing the tube can be adopted. By controlling the valve mechanism, if the medicine supply tube is opened when necessary, the medicine in a pressurized state is pushed out from the medicine reservoir and supplied to the diffusion means.

  In the present invention, a member made of a porous material or a fibrous material can be used as the diffusion means. Since such a member is mounted on the medicine cartridge, as described above, it is replaced every time the medicine cartridge is exchanged, so that maintenance thereof is basically unnecessary.

  Next, a spraying type can be adopted as the diffusion means. In this case, in the present invention, a pressurized gas reservoir and a pressurized gas outlet are provided, and the drug is diffused into the atmosphere by the pressurized gas. That is, the medicine and the pressurized gas are not filled in the spray can as in the prior art, but the medicine is stored in the medicine cartridge and the pressurized gas is stored in the pressurized gas storage section. If the two are separated and stored in this way, there is no need to wash the inside and wash away the medicine when refilling a spray reservoir filled with pressurized gas, for example, a spray can. Moreover, it is not necessary to confirm the affinity when mixing and storing the medicine and the pressurized gas. Therefore, it is possible to use a spray-type diffusing means for diffusing various drugs.

  In this case, an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the pressurized gas outlet may be mounted on the medicine diffusion device.

  Next, if the medicine storage portion mounted on the medicine cartridge or the dissipating means can be exchanged, that is, a cartridge type, these can be individually exchanged.

  On the other hand, this invention relates to the chemical | medical agent diffusion apparatus used for the chemical | medical agent diffusion system of the said structure, It is characterized by having the said structure. The present invention also relates to a drug cartridge used in the drug diffusion system having the above-described configuration, and is characterized by having the above-described configuration.

  As described above, in the present invention, a medicine cartridge is used as a medicine supply source, and the medicine cartridge is equipped with a diffusion means together with the medicine reservoir. Therefore, even when a diffusing means that is easily contaminated is used, it is exchanged together with the medicine cartridge, so that maintenance such as cleaning of the diffusing means is basically unnecessary.

  In the present invention, the medicine cartridge is also equipped with a medicine supply tube for supplying medicine from the medicine reservoir to the diffusion means. Therefore, when changing the kind of medicine, it is only necessary to replace the medicine cartridge, and it is not necessary to clean the side of the medicine diffusion device. Therefore, it is possible to easily change the type of medicine.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, when a spray-type dissipating means is provided, the drug reservoir and the pressurized gas reservoir are separately mounted on the drug cartridge. Therefore, unlike the case where the medicine and the pressurized gas are filled in the same spray can, there is no need to confirm the compatibility of whether or not the medicine and the pressurized gas can be mixed and stored. On the other hand, spray-type radiation means can be used. Further, since the used pressurized gas reservoir can be reused by simply refilling the pressurized gas without cleaning, the spray can used as the pressurized gas reservoir can be easily reused.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a drug diffusion system to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a drug diffusion system for releasing a drug such as insect pheromone according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the drug cartridge, and FIG. 3 is the drug diffusion device. It is explanatory drawing which shows. As shown in these drawings, the drug diffusing system 1 includes a drug diffusing device 2 and a drug cartridge 4 that is replaceably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion 3 formed on the drug diffusing device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (a), the medicine cartridge 4 communicates with the cartridge case 11, the medicine tank 12 and the medicine diffusing section 13 mounted on the cartridge case 11, and the medicine tank 12 and the medicine diffusing section 13. The medicine supply tube 14 is provided. The drug diffusion part 13 is formed of a porous material or a fibrous material, and an opening (not shown) for drug diffusion is formed in a part of the cartridge case 11 that houses the drug diffusion part 13. Yes. The medicine supply tube 14 is made of a flexible material that is not swollen by the medicine, and for example, a material made of a material such as Viton (trade name) manufactured by DuPont can be used.

  The drug cartridge 4 is in a state of being vacuum-packed by an enclosing bag 5 indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. A clip 16 is inserted into the portion of the medicine supply tube 14 drawn out from the medicine tank 12. As shown in FIG. 2B, the drug supply tube 14 is crushed and sealed by the clip 16. When the clip 16 is removed, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the medicine supply tube 14 returns to a cylindrical shape, and the medicine can be supplied from the medicine tank 12 toward the medicine diffusion portion 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the drug diffusing device 2 includes a fixed side case 21 and a movable side case 22, and the movable side case 22 is centered on a vertical support shaft 23 attached to the fixed side case 21. It is possible to turn in a predetermined angle range, for example, 90 degrees in the horizontal direction. The movable case 22 is formed with a cartridge mounting portion 3 for mounting the medicine cartridge 4 in a replaceable state. In addition, a protrusion 25 is formed for pushing up and removing the clip 16 that seals the drug supply tube 14 when the drug cartridge 4 is mounted. Furthermore, the rotor 27 which is a component part of the tube pump 26 is supported in a rotatable state.

  The stationary case 21 of the medicine diffusing apparatus 2 has a control unit 33 on which a control circuit 31 and a motor driver 32 are mounted, a motor 34, and a power transmission mechanism 35 for transmitting the motor rotational force to the tube pump 26. A stator 36 that is a component of the tube pump 26 is mounted.

  Here, the tube pump 26 includes a stator 36 mounted on the fixed case 21, a rotor 27 mounted on the movable case 22, and a drug supply tube 14 mounted on the drug cartridge 4. . The stator 36 has an arcuate inner peripheral surface 36a. When the movable case 22 is fixed at the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the circular outer peripheral surface 27a of the rotor 27 extends over an angle range of approximately 180 degrees. Thus, a state in which the stator is opposed to the inner peripheral surface 36a of the stator with a certain gap A is formed. In this gap A, the medicine supply tube 14 of the medicine cartridge 4 is attached. Roller bearings 27b are rotatably arranged on the outer peripheral surface 27a of the rotor 27 at a constant angular interval, in the illustrated example, at an angular interval of 90 degrees. These roller bearings 27b are arranged so that the rotor 27 is connected to the rotary shaft 27c. When rotating in the direction of the arrow B, the medicine supply tube 14 rotates with the rotor 27 while being crushed. When the movable case 22 is fixed in the closed position, the rotating shaft 27 c of the rotor 27 is connected to the power transmission mechanism 35 and is rotationally driven by the motor 34 via the power transmission mechanism 35. Since the tube pump 26 configured in this manner is known, further explanation is omitted, but the feature of this example is that the movable side case 22 to which the medicine cartridge 4 is mounted is not shown in the closed position. The tube pump 26 is configured when fixed by the lock mechanism.

  Next, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an operation when the drug cartridge 4 is mounted on the drug diffusion device 2. When the medicine cartridge 4 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 4A, the movable side case 22 of the medicine diffusion device 2 in the closed position (see FIG. 3) is moved in the direction of the arrow C around the vertical support shaft 23. Open to. As a result, the rotor outer peripheral surface 27a is separated from the stator inner peripheral surface 36a of the tube pump 26, and the medicine supply tube 14 can be easily mounted between them. Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the medicine cartridge 4 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 3 of the opened movable case 22. As a result, a state in which the medicine supply tube 14 is arranged along the outer peripheral surface 27a of the rotor 27 is formed. Further, at the time of mounting, the clip 16 is detached from the medicine supply tube 14 by the projection 25, and the medicine tank 12 and the medicine diffusing portion 13 are brought into communication with each other, so that the medicine can be supplied.

  Thereafter, the movable case 22 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 4B, and is fixed at the closed position as shown in FIG. As a result, a state in which the medicine cartridge 4 is attached to the medicine diffusion device 2 and the tube pump 26 is configured is formed. After the medicine cartridge 4 is mounted in this way, the motor 34 is driven under the control of the control unit 31 for a predetermined time zone after sunset, for example, in one day. When the motor 34 is driven, the drug in the drug tank 12 is discharged to the drug diffusing unit 13 through the drug supply tube 14 by the tube pump 26. The drug discharged to the drug diffusion unit 13 is naturally diffused into the atmosphere. If the drug diffusion system 1 is arranged at a predetermined place in a field such as an orchard, pests and the like can be controlled. The medicine discharge amount is counted in the control unit 31 based on, for example, the rotor rotational speed of the tube pump 26. Or it is counted in the control unit 31 based on the integrated value of the driving time of the tube pump.

  When the medicine in the medicine tank 12 approaches the end, the control unit 31 notifies that fact via an indicator (not shown). The replacement operation of the medicine cartridge 4 is performed in the same manner as the mounting operation described above. Since the medicine diffusing section 13 and the medicine supply tube 14 are also mounted on the medicine cartridge 4, these parts are also replaced when the medicine cartridge 4 is replaced. Therefore, for example, even when different types of drugs are diffused, it is only necessary to replace the drug cartridge, and the cleaning operation of the drug diffusing part and the drug supply tube is unnecessary.

  In this example, as the medicine supply tube 14 of the tube pump 26, a metal tube such as stainless steel can be used instead of the resin tube. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), a flexible metal tube 14A configured by welding both ends of two stainless steel foils can be used. Instead of welding two metal foils, a metal cylindrical pipe may be rolled into a shape shown in FIG. In this case, if the thickness E is set to a dimension corresponding to the gap A of the tube pump 26 shown in FIG. 5B, the roller E is compressed by the roller bearing 27b and released from the compression. Since the volume can be stabilized, the medicine discharge amount can be stabilized.

  Further, the medicine diffusion unit 13 and the medicine tank 12 mounted on the medicine cartridge 4 may be individually replaceable. If the contamination of the drug diffusing unit 13 becomes severe before the drug disappears, only the drug diffusing unit 13 needs to be replaced. Conversely, if the drug diffusing unit 13 can be used, the drug radiating unit 13 can be used. Since only the tank 12 needs to be replaced, it becomes extremely economical.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a medicine diffusion system including a medicine cartridge having a structure different from that of the medicine cartridge 4 described above. Since the drug diffusing device of the drug diffusing system 1A shown in this figure has the same configuration as the above-described drug diffusing device 2, the corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The drug cartridge 4A of the drug diffusion system 1A includes a spray type diffusion means as a drug diffusion means. That is, in the cartridge case 11A of the medicine cartridge 4A, there is a medicine tank 12A, a receiving tray 13A, and a pressurized gas for spraying for releasing the medicine discharged from the medicine tank 12A through the medicine supply tube 14 to the receiving tray 13A. A filled spray can 15 is mounted. The spray can 15 includes a can body 15a, a blowout port 15b attached to the upper end, and an operation rod 15c. When the operation rod 15c is pushed in, the blowout port 15b is opened and pressurized gas is blown out. It is configured.

  In this example, the operation rod 15c is pushed down by the roller bearing 27b of the tube pump 26. When the rotor 27 rotates in the direction of arrow B, the roller bearing 27b rotates together with the rotor 27 in a state of protruding outward. Since the upper end portion of the operating rod 15c is located at a position that interferes with the rotation locus of the roller bearing 27b, when the rotor 27 rotates in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. 6B, each roller bearing 27b The operating rod 15c is pushed in intermittently. As a result, the outlet 15b of the spray can 15 is intermittently opened, and the pressurized gas is intermittently blown to diffuse the medicine discharged to the tray 13A into the atmosphere. The release time of the pressurized gas can be adjusted by the rotational speed of the rotor 27.

  Also with the drug diffusion system 1A having this configuration, similar to the drug diffusion system 1, the type of drug can be changed by simply replacing the drug cartridge 4A. Further, if the spray can 15 is mounted so as to be replaceable with respect to the medicine cartridge 4A, it is convenient that only the spray can 15 needs to be replaced when the pressurized gas is exhausted. Furthermore, if the medicine tank 12A can be exchanged for the medicine cartridge 4A, both the medicine and the pressurized gas can be exchanged individually, which is very convenient. Further, compared to the case where the medicine cartridge 4A has to be replaced with one of the medicine and the pressurized gas remaining, both can be used up, so that it becomes extremely economical. Further, unlike the case where the medicine and the pressurized gas are filled in the same spray can 15, it is not necessary to confirm whether the medicine and the pressurized gas can be mixed and stored. Spray-type radiation means can be used for the drug. Further, since the used spray can 15 can be reused by simply refilling the pressurized gas without washing, the reuse of the spray can 15 used as the pressurized gas storage unit is facilitated.

(Other embodiments)
7 to 9 are conceptual diagrams showing various embodiments of the present invention. First, FIG. 7 (c) is a conceptual diagram of the drug diffusion system 1 according to the first embodiment described above. The drug diffusion unit 13 and the drug supply tube 14 are mounted on the drug cartridge 4 side together with the drug tank 12. It is the composition which is.

  Instead, as shown in FIG. 7A, a configuration in which only the drug tank 12 and the drug supply tube 14 are mounted on the drug cartridge 4C and the drug diffusion unit 13 is mounted on the drug diffusion device 2C side is adopted. It is also possible.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the medicine tank 12 and the medicine diffusing portion 13 are mounted on the medicine cartridge 4D, and the tube pump 26 is mounted on the side of the medicine diffusing apparatus 2D. is there. In this case, it is necessary to connect both ends of the medicine supply tube 14 on the side of the medicine diffusing apparatus 2D to the medicine tank 12 and the medicine diffusing section 13 of the medicine cartridge 4D via the connecting means 20, respectively. The connecting means 20 may be mounted on either side of the drug diffusion device 2D and the drug cartridge 4D.

  Next, FIG. 8A is a conceptual diagram showing a tube pump used as a medicine diffusing means in the first and second embodiments. As the medicine diffusing means, a pump other than the tube pump, such as a cylinder pump, can be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the medicine tank 12 is filled with a medicine in a pressurized state, or a flexible bag filled with the medicine is held in a pressurized state from the outside, and the medicine supply tube A configuration in which the middle position of 14 is opened and closed by the valve mechanism 17 may be adopted. In this case, the valve mechanism 17 may be disposed on the drug diffusing device side.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9A is a conceptual diagram of the drug diffusion system 1A of the second embodiment. As a diffusion means, in addition to natural diffusion by a drug diffusion portion made of a porous material or a fibrous material, and emission by blowing out pressurized gas from a spray can, as shown in FIG. A configuration in which the mechanism 18 is driven by a drive mechanism 18a such as a cam can be used. Instead, a blower fan 19 may be used as shown in FIG.

It is explanatory drawing of the chemical | medical agent diffusion system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the chemical | medical agent cartridge of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the chemical | medical agent diffusion apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of mounting | wearing operation | movement of the chemical | medical agent cartridge of the chemical | medical agent dispersion system of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows another example of the chemical | medical agent supply tube of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the chemical | medical agent dispersion system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the various forms of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the form for discharging the chemical | medical agent of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the various forms of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A drug diffusion system, 2, 2A, 2C, 2D drug diffusion device, 3 cartridge mounting part, 4, 4A, 4C, 4D drug cartridge, 11 cartridge case, 12 drug tank, 13 drug release part, 13A saucer, 14 , 14A medicine supply tube, 21 fixed side case, 22 movable side case, 23 vertical support shaft, 26 tube pump, 27 rotor, 27a rotor outer peripheral surface, 27b roller bearing, 27c rotating shaft, 31 control unit, 32 control circuit, 33 Motor driver, 34 motor, 35 power transmission mechanism, 15 spray can, 15a can body, 15b outlet, 15c operation rod

Claims (9)

A drug cartridge having a drug reservoir storing a drug such as an insect pheromone;
A drug diffusion device using the drug cartridge as a drug supply source,
A medicine diffusion system in which the medicine cartridge is equipped with a dispersion means for diffusing the medicine into the atmosphere and / or a medicine supply tube communicating the medicine reservoir and the dispersion means. In claim 1,
A drug supply pump for supplying the drug in the drug reservoir to the diffusion means;
The drug supply pump is a tube pump including the drug supply tube and a drive unit that sends out the drug in the drug tube while crushing the drug supply tube,
A drug diffusion system in which the drug supply tube is mounted on the drug cartridge, and the drive unit is mounted on the drug diffusion device. In claim 1,
In the drug reservoir, a drug is stored in a pressurized state,
A drug diffusion system in which a valve mechanism for opening and closing the drug supply tube is mounted on the drug diffusion device. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The said diffusion means is a chemical | medical agent diffusion system which is a member consisting of a porous material or a fibrous material. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The said radiation | emission means is a chemical | medical agent diffusion system which is a spray-type radiation | emission means provided with a pressurized gas storage part and a pressurized gas blower outlet, and diffuses a chemical | medical agent in the atmosphere with pressurized gas. In claim 5,
The drug diffusing system is equipped with an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the pressurized gas outlet. In any one of claims 1 to 6,
A drug diffusion system in which at least one of the drug storage unit, the diffusion means, the drug supply tube, and the pressurized gas storage unit is mounted on the drug cartridge in a replaceable state.   The medicine cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The said medicine dispersion | distribution apparatus in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7.

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