JP2005349134A - Oral cavity washing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oral cavity washing equipment capable of mixing a small amount of air into a washing liquid at a stable amount of mixing. <P>SOLUTION: A washing liquid outlet 3 and a washing liquid storage 2 are connected to communicate with each other through a washing liquid flow passage 4, the middle of which is equipped with a reciprocating liquid pump 5 that sucks up the washing liquid stored in the washing liquid storage 2 and discharges the sucked up washing liquid out of the washing liquid outlet to an oral cavity. Downstream from the liquid pump 5 on the washing liquid flow passage 4, an air pump 6 is provided so that it can send air via an air supply passage 7 to mix the air into the washing liquid. Downstream from the juncture between the liquid flow passage 4 and the air supply passage 7, a choke part with a smaller diameter is formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an oral cleaning device that removes food residue in the oral cavity and massages gums, which is difficult to remove with a toothbrush or the like, and more particularly to an oral cleaning device that discharges cleaning liquid mixed with air toward the oral cavity.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, oral irrigators have been used to remove food residue that is difficult to remove with a toothbrush or the like and to massage gums. In this type of mouth washer, the cleaning liquid outlet and the cleaning liquid reservoir are connected in communication with the cleaning liquid channel, a liquid pump is provided in the middle of the cleaning liquid channel, and the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid reservoir is sucked in by the liquid pump. Along with this, the suctioned cleaning liquid is sent to the cleaning liquid discharge port side and discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge port toward the oral cavity.

  In addition, some oral cleaners discharge air-cleaning liquid from the discharge port toward the oral cavity in order to soften the touch of the cleaning liquid on the gums and to obtain a pleasant feeling that cannot be obtained with the cleaning liquid alone. . In this case, the other end of the air supply path whose one end is open to the atmosphere is connected to the upstream side of the liquid pump, and when the liquid pump is driven, an ejector effect is produced by the flow of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid flow path. Then, outside air is taken in from one end of the air flow path, and this air is mixed into the cleaning liquid sucked into the liquid pump (for example, Patent Document 1).

By the way, in the mouth washer that discharges only the cleaning liquid, the pressure of the discharged cleaning liquid is several kgf / cm ² , but when a large amount of air is mixed in this cleaning liquid, the pressure of the cleaning liquid suddenly decreases. Therefore, there is a problem in that the original function of the mouth washer, which removes the meal and massages the gums, is impaired.

  For this reason, in the mouth washer shown in the above-mentioned patent document 1, a small amount of air (a small amount of air that allows the user to sufficiently obtain a pleasant sensation with the cleaning liquid mixed with air) is mixed. A throttle with a reduced flow path diameter and a filter that substantially plays the role of a throttle are provided at the upstream end of the air supply path.

However, in the mouth washer shown in Patent Document 1, the squeezing size variation, filter eye variation, and the substantial squeezing effect caused by dust clogging the filter over time, The amount of air mixing is not stable, and the pressure of the cleaning solution mixed with air is not stable. As a result, the effect of removing the meal and massaging the gums with the cleaning solution mixed with air may be impaired. On the other hand, there is a case where it is impossible to obtain a pleasant sensation that cannot be obtained only with the cleaning liquid.
Special Table 2002-503137

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a small amount of air can be mixed into the cleaning liquid with a stable mixing amount, so that when oral cleaning is performed with the cleaning liquid mixed with air, It is an object of the present invention to provide an oral irrigator that can remove a meal and massage a gum, and can surely obtain a pleasant sensation that cannot be obtained only with a cleaning solution.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the oral cleaning device according to the present invention connects the cleaning liquid discharge port 3 and the cleaning liquid storage unit 2 in communication with each other through the cleaning liquid channel 4, and in the middle of the cleaning liquid channel 4, the cleaning liquid storage unit 2. A positive and reciprocating liquid pump 5 is provided for sucking the cleaning liquid stored in the tank and discharging the suctioned cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid discharge port 3 toward the oral cavity, and the liquid in the cleaning liquid flow path 4 via the air supply path 7. An air pump 6 that feeds air downstream of the pump 5 and mixes the air into the cleaning liquid is provided, and a narrowed portion having a smaller flow path diameter is formed downstream of the junction with the air supply path 7 in the cleaning liquid flow path 4. It is characterized by comprising.

  As described above, the liquid pump 5 is a positive displacement type and a reciprocating type, and the flow path resistance is larger on the downstream side of the cleaning liquid flow path 4 than on the upstream side of the liquid pump 5 by providing the throttle portion. In the mouth washer 1, the pressure of the cleaning liquid upstream of the liquid pump 5 in the cleaning liquid channel 4 becomes higher by sending air to the downstream side of the liquid pump 5 in the cleaning liquid channel 4. Since air can be mixed in the downstream cleaning liquid having a lower pressure than the liquid pump 5, a small amount of air can be mixed in the cleaning liquid, and the air is mixed into the cleaning liquid by the air pump 6. The amount of air sent out to the cleaning liquid flow path 4 is substantially the same as in the conventional example due to variation in the size of the diaphragm, variation in the eyes of the filter, and dust trapped in the filter. The air can be discharged according to the capability of the air pump 6 without being affected by the fluctuation factors such as the time-dependent change of the fruit, etc., so that a small amount of air can be mixed into the cleaning liquid in a stable mixing amount. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a large amount of air from being mixed in and the pressure of the cleaning liquid from abruptly decreasing or the original function of the oral cleaning device to remove food residue from being lost.

  A second aspect is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the air pump 6 is a positive displacement air pump. The positive displacement air pump 6 has a characteristic that the change in the amount of air mixed with the pressure change of the cleaning liquid mixed with air is smaller than the turbo air pump in terms of characteristics, and such a positive displacement air pump is used as the air pump 6. Thus, a small amount of air can be mixed into the cleaning liquid with a more stable mixing amount.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the positive displacement air pump is a diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump is small and inexpensive. By using such a diaphragm pump as the air pump 6, the cost of the oral cleaning device can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, a valve 47 for switching whether to supply air from the air supply path 7 to the cleaning liquid flow path 4 is provided. By simply controlling the opening / closing operation of the valve 47, it is possible to easily switch whether or not air is mixed into the cleaning liquid, thereby adjusting the amount of air mixed into the cleaning liquid.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the fourth aspect, the valve 47 is a check valve in which a predetermined spring force is biased in a direction in which the valve 47 is closed. The driving force of the valve 47 is not required, and the amount of air mixed into the cleaning liquid can be adjusted only by changing the setting of the spring force of the spring 48, thereby reducing the cost of the oral cleaning device 1.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in the fourth or fifth aspect, the operation of the air pump 6 and the operation of the liquid pump 5 can be controlled separately. Since the operation of the air pump 6 can be controlled independently of the operation of the liquid pump 5, both the air pump 6 and the liquid pump 5 can be controlled only by controlling the opening / closing of the valve 47 and switching the air pump 6 ON / OFF. It is possible to switch between the discharge of cleaning liquid mixed with air performed by operation and the discharge of cleaning liquid not mixed with air performed only by the liquid pump, and the user can use the cleaning liquid not mixed with air. Of the oral cleaning and the oral cleaning with the cleaning liquid mixed with air, the oral cavity can be cleaned by desired oral cleaning.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention provides the air pump motor 21 as a driving source for the air pump 6 in the body case 8 which is waterproofed so that the cleaning liquid and water do not enter. And the air pump 6 is disposed outside the main body case 8. It is possible to prevent the air pump motor 21 from being damaged by being immersed in the cleaning liquid or water, and the structure for supplying air to the air pump 6 can be simplified.

  In the present invention, a small amount of air can be mixed into the cleaning solution in a stable amount, and when the mouth is cleaned with a cleaning solution mixed with air, the meal can be reliably removed and the gums can be massaged. A pleasant sensation that cannot be obtained with only one washing solution can be obtained with certainty.

  The oral cleaning device 1 of the present invention includes a cleaning liquid storage unit 2 that stores a cleaning liquid made of water or a chemical, a cleaning liquid discharge port 3 that discharges the cleaning liquid, and a cleaning liquid that connects the cleaning liquid storage unit 2 and the cleaning liquid discharge port 3 in communication. One end of the flow path 4, the liquid pump 5 provided in the middle of the cleaning liquid flow path 4, and the air pump 6 are connected to the downstream side of the liquid pump 5 of the cleaning liquid flow path 4, and the other end is connected to the air pump 6. The air supply path 7 that is connected in communication, the liquid pump motor 20 that drives the liquid pump 5, and the air pump motor 21 that drives the air pump 6, and the air supply path 7 in the cleaning liquid flow path 4. A constricted portion having a smaller flow path diameter is formed on the downstream side of the joining point.

  Specifically, the mouth washer 1 of the present embodiment is a portable mouth washer 1, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a washer body 9 having an outer shell formed by a body case 8 that is vertically long, , And a nozzle 27 that is detachably attached to the upper end of the cleaner body 9.

  The nozzle 27 has a base end (lower end) connected to the cleaner main body 9, and can be detached from the main body case 8 by operating the nozzle attaching / detaching button 11 provided on the outer surface of the main body case 8. . The tip (upper end) side of the nozzle 27 is bent in a square shape, and the tip opening of the nozzle 27 is the cleaning liquid discharge port 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the flow path diameter of the nozzle 27 gradually decreases from the proximal end to the distal end side of the nozzle 27, so that the cleaning liquid can be ejected vigorously. That is, in the present embodiment, the above-mentioned throttle portion is configured by the nozzle 27 provided at the downstream end portion of the cleaning liquid channel 4.

  The main body case 8 includes a case main body 12 having a long cylindrical portion 12a that opens up and down and a short cylindrical portion 12b that opens downward, an upper cover 13 that closes the upper opening of the long cylindrical portion 12a, and a long cylinder. The lower cover 14 closes the lower opening of the shaped portion 12a. The short cylindrical portion 12b is disposed on the side of the central portion in the vertical direction of the long cylindrical portion 12a so as to be adjacent to the long cylindrical portion 12a.

  On the side of the short cylindrical portion 12b on the lower side of the long cylindrical portion 12a, there is an upper portion constituted by a cylindrical tank main body 15a opened up and down and a tank bottom lid 15b closing the lower opening of the tank main body 15a. A bottomed cylindrical liquid supply tank 15 is provided. The liquid supply tank 15 is detachably attached to the main body case 8, and is attached to the main body case 8 with its upper end inserted into the lower end of the short cylindrical portion 12b. The inside of the short cylindrical part 12b and the inside of the liquid supply tank 15 communicate with each other, and the short cylindrical part 12b and the liquid supply tank 15 constitute the cleaning liquid storage part 2. As described above, since the cleaning liquid reservoir 2 of the present embodiment uses the internal space of the main body case 8 as the cleaning liquid reservoir 2, it is possible to store more cleaning liquid. A cleaning liquid supply port 15c communicating with the outside of the mouth washer 1 is provided on the side wall of the tank body 15a, and a liquid supply lid 18 for closing the cleaning liquid supply port 15c is detachably attached to the side wall. By removing the liquid supply lid 18 from the liquid supply tank 15, the cleaning liquid can be replenished to the cleaning liquid reservoir 2 from the outside of the oral cleaner 1 through the cleaning liquid supply port 15 c.

  The chassis block 19 is housed in a space 85 surrounded by the long cylindrical portion 12a, the upper cover 13, and the lower cover 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the chassis block 19 includes a liquid pump 5, a liquid pump motor 20, an air pump motor 21, a storage battery as a power source for the liquid pump motor 20 and the air pump motor 21. 22, a control circuit 23 as a control unit that controls the operation of the liquid pump motor 20 and the air pump motor 21, and a chassis 24 to which all of these are attached.

  The liquid pump 5 of the chassis block 19 housed in the main body case 8 is a positive displacement and reciprocating liquid pump, and the illustrated liquid pump 5 is a piston pump. As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid pump 5 includes a cylinder 25 and a piston 26.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the cylinder 25 includes a cylinder body 28 that opens up and down with a piston housing portion 28 a on the lower side, and a tube body 29 provided on a side wall portion of the piston housing portion 28 a of the cylinder body 28. Thus, the piston 26 is housed in the piston housing portion 28 a of the cylinder body 28.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the base end of the tube body 29 is connected to a tube connection port portion 28b that protrudes integrally from the side wall portion of the cylinder body 28. The tube body 29 has a front end opening as a cleaning liquid suction port 30, and the front end of the tube body 29 communicates with the cleaning liquid reservoir 2 via a cleaning liquid supply tube made of a silicon tube (not shown). The tube body 29 includes a proximal end portion 29a protruding laterally from the cylinder body 28, a distal end portion 29b having a smaller channel diameter than the proximal end portion 29a, and an intermediate portion 29c connecting them. A tapered valve seat 31 is formed on the inner surface of the intermediate portion 29c. The tapered valve seat 31 gradually decreases in diameter toward the proximal end of the tube body 29.

  A valve support portion 32 located closer to the cylinder body 28 than the valve seat 31 is provided at a position corresponding to the valve seat 31 inside the tube connection port portion 28 b of the cylinder body 28. The valve support 32 supports a valve 33 that opens and closes the valve seat 31 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the proximal portion 29a of the tube body 29. The valve 33 is moved from the liquid pump 5 to the cleaning liquid reservoir 2 side. It functions as a check valve that prevents the back flow of the cleaning liquid. The valve 33 is biased by a spring force in a direction of moving toward the valve seat 31 by a spring 34 having one end fixed to the valve support 32. The valve 33 is formed with a conical portion 33a. When the valve 33 moves to the valve seat 31 side and the conical portion 33a contacts the valve seat 31, the valve seat 31 is closed and the tube body The flow path in 29 is closed, thereby preventing the backflow of the cleaning liquid from the liquid pump 5 to the cleaning liquid reservoir 2 side. When the valve 33 moves toward the cylinder body 28 against the spring 34 and a gap is formed between the conical portion 33a and the valve seat 31, the valve seat 31 is opened and the tube 29 The flow path is opened so that the cleaning liquid can be supplied from the cleaning liquid reservoir 2 to the liquid pump 5.

  A portion of the cylinder body 28 positioned above the piston housing portion 28a is a cylindrical body connection port portion 28c. On the inner surface of the boundary between the piston housing portion 28a and the cylinder connecting port portion 28c, a cleaning liquid delivery port 35 having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the piston housing portion 28a where the piston 26 reciprocates is formed. A tapered valve seat 36 is formed on the inner surface of the lower end portion of the cylindrical connection port portion 28c so that the inner diameter gradually decreases toward the cleaning liquid delivery port 35.

  The cylinder connecting port 28c of the cylinder body 28 and the base end of the nozzle 27 are connected by a cylinder 37 that opens up and down. That is, in the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid flow path 4 that connects the cleaning liquid discharge port 3 and the cleaning liquid storage unit 2 to each other includes the cleaning liquid supply tube upstream of the liquid pump 5 and the cylindrical body downstream of the liquid pump 5. 37 and the nozzle 27.

  A valve support portion 38 located above the valve seat 36 is provided inside the lower portion of the cylindrical body 37. The valve support portion 38 supports a valve 39 that opens and closes the valve seat 36 so as to be movable in the vertical direction that is the axial direction of the cylindrical body 37. The valve 39 is supported by a spring 40 having one end fixed to the valve support portion 38. The spring force is biased in the direction in which 39 moves downward. The valve 39 is formed with a conical portion 39a. When the valve 39 moves downward and the conical portion 39 comes into contact with the valve seat, the cleaning liquid delivery port 35 is closed by the valve 39. Thus, the backflow of the cleaning liquid to the liquid pump 5 is prevented. When the valve 39 moves upward and a gap is formed between the conical portion 39 a and the valve seat 36, the cleaning liquid delivery port 35 is opened, whereby the liquid pump 5 is connected via the cleaning liquid delivery port 35. The cleaning liquid can be sent to the downstream side.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the base end of the tubular body 41 is connected to the portion of the side surface portion of the cylindrical body 37 located above the valve 39. The distal end of the tubular body 41 communicates with the air pump 6 through an internal air tube 42, a connecting pipe portion 43, and an external air tube 44, which will be described later. That is, in the present embodiment, the air supply path 7 is configured by the tubular body 41, the internal air tube 42, the connecting pipe portion 43, and the external air tube 44.

  The base portion of the tubular body 41 protrudes laterally from the tubular body 37, and a taper-like shape in which the flow path diameter gradually increases toward the proximal end side of the tubular body 41 on a part of the inner surface in the axial direction of the base portion. A valve seat 45 is formed.

  A valve support 46 is provided at a position corresponding to the valve seat 45 inside the cylindrical body 37. The valve support 46 supports a valve 47 that opens and closes the valve seat 45 to switch whether to supply air from the air supply path 7 to the cleaning liquid flow path 4 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the base of the tubular body 41. The valve 47 functions as a check valve for preventing the cleaning liquid from flowing into the air supply path 7. As an opening / closing control means for controlling the opening / closing of the valve 47, a spring 48 having one end fixed to the valve support 46 is used, and the spring 48 applies a spring force in the direction in which the valve 48 moves toward the valve seat 45. It is energized. The valve 47 has a conical portion 47a formed on the valve seat 45 side. When the valve 47 moves to the valve seat 45 side and the conical portion 47a contacts the valve seat 45, the valve 47 The seat 45 is closed, whereby the supply of air from the air supply path 7 to the cleaning liquid flow path 4 is stopped. Further, when the valve 47 moves to the cylindrical body 37 side and a gap is formed between the conical portion 47a and the valve seat 45, the valve seat 45 is opened, whereby the cleaning liquid flow path from the air supply path 7 is opened. 4 can be supplied with air.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the driving force of the liquid pump motor 20 is transmitted to the piston 26 of the liquid pump 5 through a transmission mechanism 49 provided in the chassis 24. The transmission mechanism 49 is formed integrally with the pinion 50 fixed to the output shaft 20 a of the liquid pump motor 20, the face gear 51 that meshes with the pinion 50 that is rotatably attached to the chassis 24, and the face gear 51. And an eccentric shaft portion 51a whose center is eccentric with respect to the center of rotation of the face gear 51, a lower portion is rotatably engaged with the eccentric shaft portion 51a so as to surround an outer peripheral surface of the eccentric shaft portion 51a, and an upper portion is a piston. 26 and a connecting rod 52 connected to H.26. Accordingly, when the liquid pump motor 20 is operated to rotate the output shaft 20a, the pinion 50 and the face gear 51 rotate and the eccentric shaft portion 51a rotates, and the connecting rod 52 moves up and down by the eccentric rotation of the eccentric shaft portion 51a. The piston 26 reciprocates up and down in the piston housing portion 28a of the cylinder body 28 as the connecting rod 52 reciprocates.

  The air pump motor 21 is disposed above the short cylindrical portion 12b. The air pump 6 driven by the air pump motor 21 is provided on the outer surface of the upper portion of the main body case 8 as shown in FIG. It is located above the pump motor 21. The air pump 6 is covered with an air pump cover 53 attached to the outer surface of the main body case 8, that is, the air pump 6 is a space for storing an air pump formed between the air pump cover 53 and the main body case 8. 54. The air pump cover 53 is formed with a vent hole 55 that allows the air pump housing space 54 to communicate with the outside of the mouth washer 1.

  The air pump 6 is a positive displacement air pump, and the air pump 6 of this embodiment is a diaphragm pump. As shown in FIG. 9, the air pump 6 is configured such that a diaphragm 56, an intermediate plate 57, a rubber valve component 58 and a lid 59 are sequentially stacked, and these are fixed to a holder 61 with screws 60. The diaphragm 56 is formed by forming a driving portion 63 at the center of the surface opposite to the middle plate 57 of the movable wall 62, and air space is formed between the movable wall 62 and the middle plate 57. A chamber 64 is provided. The lid 59 is formed with an air suction hole 65 and an air delivery hole 66, and the air suction hole 65 is provided with suction side holes 67 and 68 formed in the valve component member 58 and the intermediate plate 57, respectively. The air delivery hole 66 communicates with the air chamber 64, and the air delivery hole 66 communicates with the air chamber 64 via delivery side holes 69 and 70 formed in the valve component 58 and the intermediate plate 57, respectively. The valve component 58 is formed with an openable / closable intake valve 71 that closes the air intake hole 65 of the lid 59 and an openable / closable discharge valve 72 that closes the delivery side hole 70 of the intermediate plate 57. .

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper cover 13 is provided with a connecting pipe portion 43 having one end positioned in the air pump storage space 54 and the other end positioned inside the upper cover 13. 6 is communicated with one end of the connecting pipe portion 43 through an external air tube 44 disposed in the air pump housing space 54. The other end of the connecting pipe 43 communicates with the tip of the tubular body 41 via an internal air tube 42 disposed inside the upper cover 13.

  The driving force of the air pump motor 21 is transmitted to the air pump 6 via the transmission mechanism 74. The transmission mechanism 74 is disposed in the air pump housing space 54 and, as shown in FIG. 8, a cam 75 fixed to the output shaft 21a protruding from the inside of the upper cover 13 of the air pump motor 21 to the outside. A shaft 76 having one end fixed to the eccentric position of the cam 75, a bearing 77 in which the other end of the shaft 76 is rotatably inserted into the central shaft hole, and is fixed to the drive portion 63 of the diaphragm 56; Consists of. When the air pump motor 21 is operated and the output shaft 21a is rotated, the cam 75 and the shaft 76 are rotated. As a result, the bearing 77 and the driving portion 63 of the diaphragm 56 are moved in the direction indicated by the arrows A in FIG. As shown in the figure, the reciprocating motion in the lateral direction causes the movable wall 62 of the diaphragm 56 to contract and expand the air chamber 64 by the reciprocating motion of the driving portion 63.

  In the operation of contraction / expansion of the air chamber 64, when the air chamber 64 shown in FIG. 9 is contracted, the pressure of the air chamber 64 increases, and the suction valve 71 is closed from the open state to the air in the lid 59. The suction hole 65 is closed, and at the same time, the discharge valve 72 is opened from the closed state to open the delivery side hole 70 of the intermediate plate 57, so that the air in the air chamber 64 is supplied to the delivery side hole 70 of the intermediate plate 57 and the valve configuration. After passing through the delivery side hole 69 of the member 58 in order, it is sent out from the air delivery hole 66 to the external air tube 44 side, and then passes through the connecting pipe part 43, the internal air tube 42, and the tubular body 41 in order. Sent to the 37th side. When the air chamber 64 expands, the pressure of the air chamber 64 decreases, the suction valve 71 opens from the closed state to open the air suction hole 65 of the lid 59, and the discharge valve 72 simultaneously opens from the closed state. Thus, the delivery side hole 70 of the intermediate plate 57 is closed, whereby the air outside the mouth washer 1 flows into the air pump 6 from the air suction hole 65 through the vent hole 55 described above. The air flows into the air chamber 64 through the suction side hole 67 of the component member 58 and the suction side hole 68 of the intermediate plate 57 in this order. The number of cycles of contraction / expansion of the air chamber 64 per predetermined time of the air pump 6 is set to a value larger than the number of cycles of reciprocation of the piston 26 of the liquid pump 5, and the operation of the liquid pump 5 is also performed. It is assumed that the operation of the air pump 6 is not synchronized.

  The main body case 8 has a waterproof structure so that cleaning liquid and water do not enter the space 85 in which the chassis block 19 is housed. Specifically, the upper cover 13 and the long cylindrical portion 12a shown in FIG. 1, the lower cover 14 and the long cylindrical portion 12a, and the nozzle 27 and the cylindrical body 37 are connected to each other. Cleaning liquid is contained in the main body case 8 by O-rings 78, 79, 80, a seal member 81 for sealing a gap formed between the output shaft 21a of the air pump motor 21 and the upper cover 13 shown in FIG. And water is prevented from entering.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a power switch 82 for switching on / off the power and a mode switch 83 for switching between a cleaning liquid discharge mode and a pneumatic cleaning liquid discharge mode, which will be described later, are provided on the side surface of the main body case 8. ing. The power switch 82 and the mode changeover switch 83 are integrally formed of an elastomer, thereby preventing water and cleaning liquid from entering the inside of the main body case 8 even where the power supply switch 82 and the mode changeover switch 83 are provided. Has been.

  The user presses the power switch 82 to turn on the oral cleaning device 1, and presses the mode switch 83 while the power is turned on to switch to the pneumatic cleaning liquid discharge mode. The oral cavity can be cleaned by discharging the cleaning liquid mixed with the liquid from the cleaning liquid discharge port 3.

  Specifically, when the operation in the pneumatic cleaning liquid discharge mode is selected, the control circuit 23 operates both the liquid pump motor 20 and the air pump motor 21 simultaneously with the electric power of the storage battery 22.

  When the liquid pump motor 20 is thus operated, the piston 26 shown in FIG. 5 reciprocates in the piston housing portion 28a of the cylinder 25 as described above. In the reciprocating motion of the piston 26, when the piston 26 is descending from the top dead center in the piston housing portion 28a, the piston 26 is formed between the piston 26 in the piston housing portion 28a of the cylinder body 28 and the cleaning liquid delivery port 35. The volume of the pressure chamber 84 is increased and the pressure of the pressure chamber 84 is decreased. Due to the decrease in pressure of the pressure chamber 84 and the spring force of the spring 40, the valve 39 moves downward to close the cleaning liquid delivery port 35. At the same time, when the pressure in the pressure chamber 84 decreases, the valve 33 moves against the spring 34 toward the cylinder body 28 to open the flow path of the tube body 29, whereby the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid reservoir 2 is washed with the cleaning liquid supply tube. And flows into the liquid pump 5 from the cleaning liquid suction port 30.

  Further, when the piston 26 is lowered from the top dead center as described above, the pressure of the cleaning liquid in the cylindrical body 37 decreases as shown in FIG. As a result of the ejector effect, the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 37 has a negative pressure (shaded area in FIG. 10). When the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 37 has a negative pressure, the air pressure of the air flow path 7 has a predetermined value. In the case of the above, the valve 47 shown in FIG. 5 is moved to the cylinder 37 side by the negative pressure of the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 37 and the air pressure of the air supply passage 7, and the valve seat 45 is opened. The Thereby, the air in the air supply path 7 sent from the air pump 6 to the tubular body 41 flows into the cylindrical body 37 and is mixed into the cleaning liquid in the cylindrical body 37.

  Further, when the piston 26 is rising from the bottom dead center in the piston housing portion 28 a, the volume of the pressure chamber 84 is reduced and the pressure in the pressure chamber 84 is increased, whereby the valve 39 resists the spring 40. Then, the cleaning liquid delivery port 35 is opened by moving upward, and at the same time, the valve 33 is moved to the valve seat 31 side by the pressure increase in the pressure chamber 84 and the spring force of the spring 34 to block the flow path of the tube body 29. As a result, the cleaning liquid is sent from the liquid pump 5 to the cylindrical body 37 side through the cleaning liquid delivery port 35, and the cleaning liquid mixed with the air by sending out the cleaning liquid from the cylindrical body 37 through the nozzle 27 to the oral cavity from the cleaning liquid discharge port 3. It is discharged toward.

  Further, when the piston 26 ascends from the bottom dead center in the piston housing portion 28a as described above, the valve 47 is moved toward the valve seat 45 by the pressure increase of the cleaning liquid in the cylindrical body 37 and the spring force of the spring 48 at the same time. And the valve seat 45 is closed. That is, the spring force of the spring 48 of the present embodiment is such that the valve 47 does not open only when the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 37 is negative pressure, and the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 37 is in the air supply path 7 in addition to the negative pressure. It is set to open only when the air pressure rises to a predetermined value.

  Then, the reciprocating motion of the piston 26 is repeatedly performed, so that the cleaning liquid mixed with air is discharged toward the oral cavity, so that the user can clean the oral cavity with the cleaning liquid mixed with air.

  Further, in the present embodiment, while the oral cleaner 1 is turned on, the mode changeover switch 83 is pressed to switch to the cleaning liquid discharge mode, thereby discharging the cleaning liquid not mixed with air from the cleaning liquid discharge port 3. The mouth can be cleaned.

  When the mode changeover switch 83 is operated and the cleaning liquid discharge mode is selected, the control circuit 23 operates only the liquid pump motor 20 of the liquid pump motor 20 and the air pump motor 21 by the power of the storage battery 22.

  As a result, the piston 26 reciprocates within the piston housing portion 28a of the cylinder 25 as described above. In this reciprocating motion of the piston, when the piston 26 descends from the top dead center in the piston accommodating portion 28a, the pressure in the pressure chamber 84 is lowered, and due to the decrease in the pressure in the pressure chamber 84 and the spring force of the spring 40, The valve 39 moves upward to close the cleaning liquid outlet 35, and at the same time, the pressure in the pressure chamber 84 decreases, so that the valve 33 moves against the spring 34 toward the cylinder body 28 to open the flow path of the tube 29. As a result, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid reservoir 2 flows into the liquid pump 5 from the cleaning liquid suction port 30 via the cleaning liquid supply tube.

  Further, when the piston 26 rises from the bottom dead center in the piston housing portion 28a, the pressure in the pressure chamber 84 rises, whereby the valve 39 moves upward against the spring 40 to open the cleaning liquid delivery port 35. At the same time, due to the pressure increase in the pressure chamber 84 and the spring force of the spring 34, the valve 33 moves to the valve seat 31 side and closes the flow path of the tube body 29, whereby the cleaning liquid is supplied from the liquid pump 5 to the cleaning liquid outlet 35. The liquid is discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge port 3 toward the oral cavity through the cylindrical body 37 and the nozzle 27. Here, while only the liquid pump 5 is driven as described above, the valve 47 always closes the valve seat 45 by the spring force of the spring 48, and the cleaning liquid flows backward from the cylinder 37 to the air supply path 7 side. To prevent it. Then, the reciprocating motion of the piston 26 is repeatedly performed, so that the cleaning liquid not mixed with air is discharged toward the oral cavity, so that the user can clean the oral cavity with the cleaning liquid not mixed with air. .

In the mouth washer 1, the liquid pump 5 is a positive displacement type and a reciprocating type, and the nozzle 27 is provided, so that the cleaning liquid flow path 4 is more downstream than the upstream side of the liquid pump 5. Therefore, the flow resistance is large, and therefore the pressure of the cleaning liquid downstream of the liquid pump 5 in the cleaning liquid flow path 4 is higher than the pressure of the cleaning liquid upstream of the liquid pump 5. Then, since air is mixed downstream from the liquid pump 5 in which the pressure of the cleaning liquid becomes high in this way, a smaller amount of air can be mixed as the pressure of the cleaning liquid mixed with air is higher ( 11), a small amount of air can be mixed into the cleaning liquid. Furthermore, in the above oral cleaning device, air is mixed into the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid flow path 4 using the air pump 6. Send to road 4 The amount of air released is affected by variable factors such as variations in aperture dimensions, filter eyes, and substantial changes over time caused by dust clogging, as in the conventional example. In this way, a small amount of air can be mixed into the cleaning liquid with a stable mixing amount. In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, the valve 47 is not opened when the cleaning liquid is at a high pressure and it is difficult to mix air. Since the air is mixed into the cleaning liquid when the cleaning liquid in the cylinder 37 is at a negative pressure, the air can be easily mixed into the cleaning liquid.

  In the present embodiment, the air pump 6 is a positive displacement air whose change in the air mixing amount with respect to the pressure change of the cleaning liquid into which the air is mixed is small in characteristic compared to the turbo type air pump and the air mixing amount can be easily controlled. By using the pump, a small amount of air can be mixed into the cleaning liquid with a more stable mixing amount. In particular, by using a small and inexpensive diaphragm pump as the air pump 6, the cost of the oral cleaning device can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the valve 47 for switching whether or not air is supplied from the air supply path 7 to the cleaning liquid flow path 4 is provided. The amount of air mixed into the cleaning liquid can be adjusted accordingly, and only the liquid pump 5 is operated to discharge the cleaning liquid not mixed with air from the cleaning liquid discharge port 3. In this case, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid flow path 4 can be prevented from flowing backward to the air supply path 7 by the valve 47. In particular, since the valve 47 is a check valve in which a predetermined spring force is urged in the direction in which the valve 47 is closed, the driving force of the valve 47 is not required and only the setting of the spring force of the spring 48 is changed. Thus, the amount of air mixed into the cleaning liquid can be adjusted, and these can further reduce the cost of the oral cleaning device 1.

  In this embodiment, since the operation of the air pump 6 and the operation of the liquid pump 5 can be controlled separately, both the air pump 6 and the liquid pump 5 can be controlled only by switching the air pump 6 on and off. It is possible to switch between the discharge of cleaning liquid mixed with air performed by the operation and the discharge of cleaning liquid not mixed with air performed only by the liquid pump, so that the user does not mix air The oral cavity can be cleaned by selecting a desired oral cleaning between the oral cleaning with the cleaning liquid and the oral cleaning with the cleaning liquid mixed with air.

  In this embodiment, the air pump motor 21 is disposed inside the body case 8 having a waterproof structure, and the air pump 6 is disposed outside the body case 8. It is possible to prevent 21 from being damaged by being immersed in a cleaning liquid or water, and the structure for supplying air to the air pump 6 can be simplified.

  The liquid pump 5 may be a positive displacement and reciprocating liquid pump. For example, in addition to the piston pump as in this embodiment, a diaphragm pump or a plunger pump may be used. And

It shows an example of embodiment of this invention and is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an oral cleaner. It is a whole perspective view of the same mouth washer. It is a chassis block same as the above, (a) is a side view, (b) is a rear view. The liquid pump same as the above and the member located in the vicinity thereof are shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a plan view, and (c) is a side view. (A) is AA sectional drawing of FIG.4 (c), (b) is BB sectional drawing of FIG.4 (b). The air pump same as the above and the member located in the vicinity are shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a perspective view. It is CC sectional drawing of Fig.6 (a). It is DD sectional drawing of Fig.6 (a). It is EE sectional drawing of FIG. It is a graph which shows the pressure fluctuation of the washing | cleaning liquid downstream from the liquid pump in the washing | cleaning liquid flow path same as the above. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the pressure of the washing | cleaning liquid with which air same as the above is mixed, and the air mixing amount from an air pump to a washing | cleaning liquid.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Oral washer 2 Cleaning liquid storage part 3 Cleaning liquid discharge port 4 Cleaning liquid flow path 5 Liquid pump 6 Air pump 7 Air supply path 47 Valve

Claims (7)

  The cleaning liquid outlet and the cleaning liquid reservoir are connected in communication with the cleaning liquid passage, and the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid reservoir is sucked into the cleaning liquid passage and the sucked cleaning liquid is discharged from the cleaning liquid outlet toward the oral cavity. A volumetric and reciprocating liquid pump is provided, an air pump is provided through the air supply path to feed air downstream of the liquid pump of the cleaning liquid flow path and mix the air into the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid flow path An oral washer characterized by forming a constricted portion with a small flow path diameter downstream of the confluence with the air supply path.   2. The oral irrigator according to claim 1, wherein the air pump is a positive displacement air pump.   3. The oral cavity cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the positive displacement air pump is a diaphragm pump.   The oral cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a valve for switching whether to supply air from the air supply path to the cleaning liquid flow path.   5. The oral irrigator according to claim 4, wherein the valve is a check valve in which a predetermined spring force is biased in a direction in which the valve is closed.   The oral cleaner according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the operation of the air pump and the operation of the liquid pump can be controlled separately.   An air pump motor serving as a driving source for the air pump is disposed inside the main body case that is waterproof so that cleaning liquid and water do not enter, and the air pump is disposed outside the main body case. The oral cavity cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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