JP2008289604A - Effective ingredient supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a plurality of effective ingredients without taking care of those remaining in the supplier. <P>SOLUTION: The supplier includes an air gun 12 to discharge eddy curls of a flavor ingredient A and another air gun 13 to discharge those of another flavor ingredient B. The supplier includes a single flavor ingredient supply mode to supply a single ingredient A or B by discharging either eddy curls V1 or V2, and a mixed flavor ingredient supply mode to supply mixed ingredients A and B by discharging both eddy curls V1 and V2 and mixing them together. This will make it possible to switch different kinds of flavor ingredients A and B without need to mix them together or take care of deodorizing them remaining in the air guns 12, 13, etc. Moreover by varying the suction stroke Sa, Sb of flavor ingredients A, B when air guns 12, 13 are charged with them, the arbitrary setting up of the mixture ratio of effective ingredients A, B becomes possible, providing the most comfortable atmospheric environment within a car as its driver likes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an active ingredient supply device that supplies an active ingredient to a user.

In order to keep the interior of the vehicle interior in good condition, a fragrance has been proposed in which an aroma component (efficacy component) is diffused into the vehicle interior. However, if the fragrance component is diffused in the vehicle interior, not only will the vehicle interior be filled with a large amount of the fragrance component, but it will be difficult to provide an interior environment suitable for each passenger. In view of this, a supply apparatus including an air cannon (launching means) that launches a vortex ring containing an aromatic component toward an occupant has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Thereby, since a fragrance component can be supplied locally, it becomes possible to provide the vehicle interior according to each passenger | crew's preference using a small amount of fragrance components.
JP 2006-255402 A JP 2006-280748 A

  By the way, when trying to switch and supply a plurality of fragrance components, since different fragrance components are mixed in the air cannon, there is a problem that an occupant feels uncomfortable depending on the type of the fragrance component. Therefore, after deodorizing the fragrance component remaining in the air cannon, it is conceivable to supply a new fragrance component to the air cannon. This has been a factor in increasing the complexity and cost of the device.

  An object of the present invention is to switch and use a plurality of efficacy components without worrying about the efficacy components remaining in the launching means.

  The efficacy component supply device of the present invention includes a plurality of launching means for launching air vortices containing different efficacy components, a mixture ratio setting means for setting a mixing ratio between the efficacy components, and the launching means. Filling amount adjusting means for adjusting the filling amount of the active ingredient based on the mixing ratio, causing air vortices emitted from the plurality of launching means to collide with each other in a predetermined efficacy area, and different efficacy in the efficacy area The components are mixed.

  The efficacy component supply apparatus of the present invention has mode setting means for setting a supply mode of efficacy components for a user, and the mode setting means generates an air vortex containing the efficacy component from any one of the launching means. It is characterized by setting a single supply mode that is fired and supplies a single active ingredient to the user.

  The efficacy component supply apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the efficacy component is an aroma component.

  According to the present invention, it is provided with a plurality of launching means for launching air vortices each containing a different efficacy component, and the filling amount of the efficacy component for each launching means is adjusted based on a set mixing ratio, Since the air vortex fired from the launching means collides with the predetermined efficacy region, different efficacy components in the efficacy region can be mixed at a set mixing ratio and supplied to the user. Thereby, since different active ingredients are not mixed in the launching means, different active ingredients can be switched and used without worrying about deodorization or changes of the active ingredients. In addition, since the mixing ratio of different efficacy ingredients can be arbitrarily set, it is possible to provide an environment according to the user's preference and improve the user's satisfaction.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a vehicle equipped with an efficacy component supply device 10 (hereinafter referred to as a supply device), and FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory views showing an operating state of the supply device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 11 in the passenger compartment is provided with a supply device 10 that supplies a fragrance component (efficacy component) to the passenger D on the driver seat side and the passenger P on the passenger seat side. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the supply device 10 is provided with a pair of air cannons (launching means) 12 and 13 for firing air vortex rings (air vortices) V1 and V2 containing aromatic components. The supply device 10 is rotated between a driver seat side position and a passenger seat side position. As shown in FIG. 2A, by rotating the supply device 10 to the driver seat side position, it becomes possible to supply the fragrance component to the passenger D on the driver seat side, while FIG. ), The scent component can be supplied to the passenger P on the passenger seat side by rotating the supply device 10 to the passenger seat side position.

  Further, the supply device 10 can supply two different fragrance components A and B, and the vortex ring V1 launched from the air cannon 12 contains the fragrance component A (for example, banana scent), The vortex ring V2 launched from the air cannon 13 contains an aromatic component B (for example, chocolate scent). Furthermore, the supply device 10 fires either one of the vortex rings V1 and V2, thereby supplying the fragrance component A or the fragrance component B alone to the passengers D and P, and both vortex rings V1. , V2 and a mixed supply mode for supplying fragrance components A and B (for example, chocolate banana fragrance) mixed to the passengers D and P. In this mixed supply mode, the two vortex rings V1 and V2 are fired so as to collide with each other in the effect area X set at the nose of the occupants D and P, and the fragrance components A and B are mixed in the effect area X. It becomes possible. In this way, by mixing the pair of vortex rings V1 and V2 and canceling the vortex rings V1 and V2, the mixed fragrance components A and B can be supplied without causing the passengers D and P to feel uncomfortable due to the wind pressure. It becomes possible.

  3A to 3C are cross-sectional views schematically showing the internal structure of the air cannons 12 and 13. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the air cannons 12 and 13 include bellows-shaped pump bodies 14 and 15 that are extendable and pump drive units 16 and 17 that extend and contract the pump bodies 14 and 15. , And cylindrical barrel portions 18 and 19 having launch openings 18a and 19a. In addition, rod members 16 a and 17 a that are driven forward and backward are incorporated in the pump drive units 16 and 17, and the rod members 16 a and 17 a are driven by an electric motor (not shown) in the pump drive units 16 and 17.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the capacity of the pump bodies 14 and 15 can be increased by retracting the rod members 16a and 17a and extending the pump bodies 14 and 15, and the aroma supply described later. It becomes possible to fill the barrel parts 18 and 19 with the aromatic components A and B from the parts 20 and 21. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3C, the rod members 16a and 17a are pushed out to shrink the pump main bodies 14 and 15, so that the capacity of the pump main bodies 14 and 15 can be reduced and air can be pushed out. It becomes possible to launch air containing the fragrance components A and B as the vortex rings V1 and V2 from the launch ports 18a and 19a.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the supply device 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the supply device 10 includes a fragrance supply unit 20 that supplies the fragrance component A to the air cannon 12, and a fragrance supply unit that supplies the fragrance component B to the air cannon 13. 21 is provided. Each fragrance supply unit 20, 21 is provided with a rotatable plate 22, 23 that is rotatable, and the rotary plate 22 of the fragrance supply unit 20 is provided with a porous body 22 a impregnated with the fragrance component A. The rotating plate 23 of the fragrance supply unit 21 is provided with a porous body 23a impregnated with the fragrance component B. When the porous body 22a is opposed to the pipe 24 connected to the air cannon 12 by rotating the rotating plate 22 of the aroma supplying section 20, the fragrance supplying section 20 is opposed to the air cannon 12. It becomes possible to supply the fragrance component A. Similarly, when the porous body 23 a is made to face the pipe 25 connected to the air cannon 13 by rotating the rotating plate 23 of the aroma supplying section 21, the air cannon 13 from the fragrance supplying section 21. It becomes possible to supply the fragrance component B with respect to. The rotating plates 22 and 23 are driven by an electric motor (not shown) or the like, and the electric motor is controlled by a signal from a control unit 30 described later. Further, through-holes 22b and 23b are formed in both of the rotary plates 22 and 23, and the rotary plates 22 and 23 are controlled so that the through-holes 22b and 23b and the pipes 24 and 25 face each other. Thus, it is also possible to fire the air-only vortex rings V1, V2 from the air cannons 12, 13.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to drive and control the pump drive units 16 and 17 of the air cannons 12 and 13, the supply device 10 is provided with an air gun drive circuit 31 for controlling the drive current. The gun drive circuit 31 is controlled by a signal from the control unit 30. Then, by supplying the drive current from the air gun drive circuit 31 to the pump drive units 16 and 17, the rod members 16a and 17a can be pushed out and the vortex rings V1 and V2 can be fired. Furthermore, a rotation motor 32 is assembled to the supply device 10 in order to rotate the supply device 10 to the driver seat side position and the passenger seat side position. In order to supply a driving current to the rotating motor 32, the supply device 10 is provided with a motor driving circuit 33 that controls the driving current. The motor driving circuit 33 is controlled by a signal from the control unit 30. ing.

Further, the supply device 10 is provided with a deodorizing device 34 for deodorizing and sterilizing the passenger compartment. The deodorizing device 34 is constituted by a blower fan 35 and an ozone generator 36. In order to supply a drive current to the blower fan 35 constituting the deodorizing device 34, the supply device 10 is provided with a fan drive circuit 37 for controlling the drive current. The fan drive circuit 37 is supplied from the control unit 30. It is controlled by the signal. Further, in order to supply a high voltage current to the ozone generator 36 constituting the deodorizing device 34, the supply device 10 is provided with a high voltage generation circuit 38 for controlling the high voltage current. Is controlled by a signal from the control unit 30. The ozone generator 36 is composed of a needle-like discharge electrode (not shown) and an annular counter electrode. A high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode and the counter electrode to cause silent discharge, thereby eliminating the deodorization. Ozone (O ₃ ) having an effect can be generated. By generating ozone and driving the blower fan 35 in this manner, ozone can be released from the air outlet 39 into the vehicle interior, so that deodorization and sterilization of the vehicle interior can be performed.

  Further, since the blower fan 35 is connected to the air cannons 12 and 13 through the pipes 24 and 25, the blower fan 35 is operated to suck air from the air cannons 12 and 13 toward the ozone generating unit 36. It is possible to supply ozone to the sucked air. Thereby, since the fragrance components A and B can be deodorized without leaking from the launch ports 18a and 19a of the air cannons 12 and 13, when the supply device 10 is not used, unnecessary from the air cannons 12 and 13 is unnecessary. It is possible to prevent the fragrance components A and B from flowing out.

  As described above, in order to output control signals to the air cannons 12 and 13, the fragrance supply units 20 and 21, the rotation motor 32, the blower fan 35, the ozone generation unit 36, etc. Is provided. The control unit 30 includes a microprocessor (CPU) (not shown), and a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O port are connected to the CPU via a bus line. The ROM stores control programs and various map data, and the RAM temporarily stores data calculated by the CPU. Further, the control unit 30 is connected with a mode switch 40 for setting the supply mode (single supply mode, mixed supply mode) of the fragrance components A and B, and the fragrance components A and B in the mixed supply mode are connected. A dial switch 41 is connected as a mixture ratio setting means for setting the mixture ratio. The control unit 30 controls the supply state of the fragrance component to the user, that is, the passengers D and P, based on the operation signals of the switches 40 and 41 and the like.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views showing the operating state of the air cannons 12 and 13 in the mixed supply mode, and FIG. 6 is a timing showing the operating state of the air cannons 12 and 13 in the mixed supply mode. It is a chart. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the mixed supply mode, since the filling amounts of the fragrance components A and B are adjusted based on the set mixing ratio, the suction stroke Sa of the air cannon 12 is adjusted based on the mixing ratio. The suction stroke Sb of the air cannon 13 is set. That is, when the air cannon 13 is filled more with the fragrance component B than the fragrance component A, the suction stroke Sb of the air cannon 13 is set longer than the suction stroke Sa of the air cannon 12. As described above, by appropriately setting the suction strokes Sa and Sb, the concentration of the fragrance component A contained in the vortex ring V1 and the concentration of the fragrance component B contained in the vortex ring V2 can be freely set. It becomes possible to freely control the mixing ratio of the aromatic components A and B obtained by colliding V2.

  Next, a procedure for launching the vortex rings V1 and V2 executed by the control unit 30 functioning as a filling amount adjusting unit and a mode setting unit will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for launching the vortex rings V1 and V2. As shown in FIG. 7, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the mode switch 40 is set to the mixed supply mode. In Step S1, when it is determined that the mixed supply mode is not set, that is, when it is determined that the single supply mode is set, the process proceeds to Step S2 and the single supply for supplying the fragrance component A is performed. It is determined whether or not the mode is set. If it is determined in step S2 that it is the single supply mode for supplying the fragrance component A, the process proceeds to step S3, and the air gun 12 is suctioned with a predetermined suction stroke, whereby the barrel portion of the air cannon 12 is operated. 18 is filled with aroma component A. In the following step S4, it is determined whether or not the firing condition of the vortex ring V1 is satisfied. If it is determined in this step S4 that the firing condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S5 and the air cannon 12 receives the fragrance. The vortex ring V1 containing the component A is launched toward the passengers D and P.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that it is the single supply mode for supplying the fragrance component B, the process proceeds to step S6, and the air cannon 13 is operated by suction with a predetermined suction stroke. The barrel portion 19 is filled with the fragrance component B. In subsequent step S4, when it is determined that the firing condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S5, and the vortex ring V2 including the fragrance component B is launched from the air cannon 13 toward the passengers D and P.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the mixed supply mode in which the fragrance components A and B are mixed and supplied to the occupants D and P is determined, the process proceeds to step S7 and input from the dial switch 41. Based on the mixing ratio, the suction strokes Sa and Sb of the air cannons 12 and 13 are set. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S8, and the air cannons 12 and 13 are sucked by the suction strokes Sa and Sb respectively set so that the set amount of fragrance components A and B becomes the barrel of the air cannons 12 and 13. The parts 18 and 19 are filled. In subsequent step S4, when it is determined that the firing condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S5, where the vortex ring V1 containing the fragrance component A is fired from the air cannon 12 and the fragrance component B is fired from the air cannon 13. The vortex ring V2 containing is fired. The ejected vortex rings V1 and V2 collide with each other in a predetermined effect area X, and the fragrance components A and B mixed at the set mixing ratio are supplied to the passengers D and P.

  As described above, in the mixed supply mode, the vortex ring V1 containing the fragrance component A launched from the air cannon 12 and the vortex ring V2 containing the fragrance component B launched from the air cannon 13 are mutually connected. The new fragrance (fragrance component A + fragrance component B) mixed in the efficacy region X is supplied to the passengers D and P in the collision area X. As described above, since different fragrance components A and B are not mixed in the supply device 10, the fragrance components remaining in the supply device 10 are eliminated even when the mixed supply mode is switched to the single supply mode. The single supply mode can be executed without worrying about odors. Moreover, since the mixing ratio of the fragrance component A and the fragrance component B can be set arbitrarily, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle environment according to the preference of the occupants D and P, and the satisfaction of the occupants D and P can be improved. It becomes possible to improve. In addition, since the fragrance components A and B are mixed in the efficacy region X, the fragrance can be supplied to the passengers D and P without deteriorating the fragrance. In particular, when an effective ingredient that is difficult to be mixed in advance from the viewpoint of preventing a change in the ingredients is used, the present invention can be applied very effectively.

  In the above description, when the mixing ratio of the fragrance component A and the fragrance component B is controlled, the electric motors in the pump drive units 16 and 17 are controlled to change the suction strokes Sa and Sb. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the suction strokes Sa and Sb may be changed using a cam mechanism. That is, a plurality of cams corresponding to different suction strokes may be provided, and the suction strokes Sa and Sb may be changed by switching these cams in accordance with the set mixing ratio. Further, in order to improve the accuracy when sucking the fragrance components A and B, an open / close mechanism is provided in the barrel portions 18 and 19 of the air cannons 12 and 13 so that the barrel portions 18 and 19 are closed during the suction operation. good. Further, not only the mixing ratio is controlled by changing the suction stroke, but also the filling amounts of the fragrance components A and B can be changed by other methods. For example, the diffusion amount of the fragrance components A and B may be controlled by attaching heating wires to the porous bodies 22a and 23a and controlling the temperature of the porous bodies 22a and 23a.

  Furthermore, in the above description, an aromatic component is supplied as an effective component, but the effective component is not limited to the aromatic component, and capsaicin component or isothiocyanate component as a pungent component having an arousal effect, etc. You may make it supply as an active ingredient. Further, in the illustrated fragrance supply units 20 and 21, the fragrance components A and B are supplied to the air cannons 12 and 13 by diffusing the fragrance components A and B from a porous body such as ceramic or sponge. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a pressure feed pump for pressure feeding the fragrance component to the air cannons 12 and 13 may be provided. Thus, when supplying a fragrance component with a pressure pump, it becomes possible to adjust the filling amount of fragrance components A and B by controlling the discharge amount of a pressure pump according to a mixing ratio.

  It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the illustrated case, two air cannons 12 and 13 are provided, but it goes without saying that three or more air cannons may be provided. Further, in the illustrated case, the rod members 16a and 17a are expanded and contracted to launch the vortex rings V1 and V2 from the air cannons 12 and 13, but the structure is not limited to this. On the other hand, an electromagnetic coil and a movable iron core may be incorporated, and the pump bodies 14 and 15 may be expanded and contracted using electromagnetic force. Furthermore, although the air cannons 12 and 13 are provided with bellows-shaped pump bodies 14 and 15, the capacity of the pump body may be changed using a diaphragm. Furthermore, the shape of the air vortex is not limited to an annular shape, and any shape may be used as long as it can fly a predetermined distance in a uniform shape.

  Furthermore, ozone is discharged from the air outlet 39 into the passenger compartment, but the present invention is not limited to this. By connecting the ozone generator 36 to the air duct of an air conditioner (not shown), the air duct Alternatively, ozone may be supplied. Thereby, not only the vehicle interior but also the inside of the air conditioner can be deodorized and sterilized, and a good vehicle environment can be provided.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the vehicle by which the efficacy component supply apparatus is mounted. (A) And (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the operating state of an active ingredient supply apparatus. (A)-(C) are sectional drawings which show the internal structure of an air gun roughly. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an effect ingredient supply apparatus. (A) And (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the operating state of the air gun in mixed supply mode. It is a timing chart which shows the operation state of the air cannon in mixed supply mode. It is a flowchart which shows the discharge procedure of a vortex ring.

Explanation of symbols

10 Supply device (Effective component supply device)
12,13 Air cannon (launching means)
30 control unit (filling amount adjusting means, mode setting means)
41 Dial switch (mixing ratio setting means)
V1, V2 vortex ring (air vortex)
D, P Crew (User)
X Indication area

Claims (3)

A plurality of launching means for launching air vortices each containing a different efficacy component;
A mixing ratio setting means for setting a mixing ratio between the respective efficacy ingredients;
Filling amount adjusting means for adjusting the filling amount of the active ingredient for each of the launching means based on the mixing ratio;
An efficacy component supply apparatus, wherein air vortices fired from the plurality of launching means collide with each other in a prescribed efficacy region, and different efficacy components are mixed in the efficacy region. In the active ingredient supply device according to claim 1,
Having mode setting means for setting the supply mode of the active ingredient to the user;
The mode setting means sets a single supply mode in which a single efficacious component is supplied to a user by firing an air vortex containing an efficacious component from any one of the launching means. Active ingredient supply device. In the active ingredient supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
The efficacy ingredient supply device, wherein the efficacy ingredient is a fragrance ingredient.

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