JP2009190005A - Electrostatic atomization apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrostatic atomization apparatus which can smoothly carry out a recovery work in generating of electric leakage. <P>SOLUTION: The electrostatic atomization apparatus is structured so as to be connected to spraying of a drop from a nozzle 8 to automatically control a power supply to an electrode 14 for electrifying the drop, and has a compulsory switch 23 which compulsorily carries out the power supply to the electrode 14 at the time of non spraying of the drop. Then, the apparatus has a timer means for automatically stopping the compulsory power supply after passing of a determined time and an alarm part 26 for outputting an alarm by sound while compulsorily power supplying. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic spraying apparatus that efficiently attaches liquid droplets such as chemicals to agricultural products using static electricity.

  As background art, the electrostatic application type spreader of patent document 1 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 4, the spreader applies the electric charge from the electrostatic application electrode 69 to the spray from the spray nozzle 55 and sprays the chemical liquid 51, and controls the spray from the spray nozzle 55. An interlock switch 66 that automatically controls power supply to the electrostatic application electrode 69 in conjunction with the operation of the spray control member 56 is provided.

JP 2002-159877 A

  By the way, since the chemical solution 51 contains a spreading agent and is charged, the chemical solution 51 easily adheres to the spray nozzle 55, and a continuous film of the chemical solution 51 is formed on the surface of the spray nozzle 55 by continuous spraying. May occur. In addition, foreign matter such as leaves, dust, and insects may enter the spray nozzle 55, causing electric leakage. When an electric leakage occurs in this way, normally, after removing the chemical liquid 51 and foreign matter adhering to the spray nozzle 55, after confirming the restoration of the electrostatic application (elimination of electric leakage), the spraying operation is resumed.

  However, in the conventional spreader, the power supply to the electrostatic application electrode 69 is automatically controlled in conjunction with the spraying, so that the electrostatic application is recovered unless the spraying is actually started. There is a problem that it is difficult to check whether or not it takes time. In particular, when a plurality of spray nozzles 55 are provided, it is necessary to specify the spray nozzle 55 in which a leakage occurs, and it takes time to recover.

In order to solve the above problems, the electrostatic spraying device of the present invention comprises:
An electrostatic spraying device configured to automatically control power supply to an electrode for charging the droplet in conjunction with ejection of the droplet from the nozzle,
A forcible switch for forcibly supplying power to the electrode when the droplet is not ejected is provided.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to smoothly perform a recovery operation when an electric leakage occurs by forcibly supplying power to the electrodes in a state where the ejection is stopped.

In the electrostatic spraying device,
The aspect provided with the timer means to stop the said forced power supply automatically after progress for a fixed time is illustrated.

  According to this configuration, an electric shock accident due to forgetting to stop the power supply can be prevented.

In the electrostatic spraying device,
The aspect provided with the alarm part which outputs the alarm by an auditory display, a visual display, a tactile display, or these combination during the said forced electric power supply is illustrated.

  The auditory display is exemplified by an alarm sound. The visual display is exemplified by an alarm display. The tactile display is exemplified by vibration.

  According to this configuration, the operator can be alerted that the forced power supply is being performed.

In the electrostatic spraying device,
The alarm unit exemplifies a mode in which the output mode is changed with the passage of time.

  According to this configuration, the worker can be made aware of the passage of time. In particular, when the timer means is provided, it is possible to make the operator recognize that the end of the predetermined time is approaching.

In the electrostatic spraying device,
A plurality of the nozzles each equipped with the electrode;
An example in which protective resistors for limiting a leakage current are respectively inserted in wirings branched in parallel so as to supply a high voltage to each or a plurality of the electrodes.

  According to this configuration, even when leakage occurs in each or a plurality of electrodes, the leakage current is suppressed by the protective resistance, and the influence on the electrode where leakage does not occur can be reduced. For this reason, if the forcible switch forcibly supplies power to the electrode during non-ejection of the droplet when leakage occurs, the electrode where the leakage occurs is more likely than the electrode where no leakage occurs. In addition, since the potential is low, it is possible to easily identify the electrode in which leakage occurs.

In the electrostatic spraying device,
An example in which a leakage sensor that detects the occurrence of leakage is connected to the wiring before branching is illustrated.

  According to this configuration, the leakage sensor is not provided for each electrode, but is provided on the wiring before branching, so that the cost can be reduced.

  According to the electrostatic spraying device of the present invention, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to smoothly perform a recovery operation when electric leakage occurs.

  1 to 3 show an electrostatic spray device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this apparatus includes a fluid system and an electrical system. As will be described later, power is supplied to the electrode 14 that charges the droplets in conjunction with the ejection of the droplets from the nozzle 8. It is configured to automatically control.

  The fluid system of the electrostatic spraying device 1 pressurizes the storage tank 3 as a chemical supply section for storing and supplying the chemical 2 for controlling diseases and insects of crops, and the chemical 2 supplied from the storage tank 3. A pump 4 serving as a chemical liquid pressure generating unit, and a hand-held nozzle unit 6 connected to a discharge port of the pump 4 via a hose 5 with a valve 5a are provided. The hand-held nozzle unit 6 includes a jet tube 7 as a support, and a plurality (five in this example) of nozzles 8 arranged at intervals in the length direction of the jet tube 7.

  The electric system of the electrostatic spraying apparatus 1 includes a high voltage system and a control system.

  The high voltage system includes a storage battery 11 as a power source, a power relay 12 for turning on and off the power source, a high voltage generator 13 that boosts the power source voltage to generate a high voltage, and each nozzle 8. In addition, an electrode 14 connected to the high voltage generator 13 via protective resistors Ra and Rb is provided. The protective resistors Ra and Rb are for limiting the leakage current. The protective resistors Ra and Rb are connected to the output side bus of the high voltage generator 13 and the wires branched in parallel to supply a high voltage to the electrodes 14. Each is inserted.

  The control system includes a control unit 21 including a microcomputer. The control unit 21 includes a flow meter 22 for measuring the flow rate of the chemical solution 2 supplied to the hand-held nozzle unit 6 and an electrode when the liquid droplet is not ejected. 14 forcibly supplying power to 14, a leakage sensor 24 for detecting leakage on the high voltage output side of the high voltage generator 13, and a display unit for displaying information on the electrostatic spraying device 1. 25 and an alarm unit 26 that outputs an alarm sound are connected.

  The high voltage system control process in the control unit 21 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. This high voltage system control process controls the output of a high voltage in the high voltage system. When the power supply relay 12 is in an OFF state (high voltage is stopped) (step S31), steps S32 to S39 are executed. When the power relay 12 is in an ON state (during high voltage output) (step S40), steps S41 to S42 are executed.

  When the flowmeter 22 detects that the flow rate of the chemical solution 2 exceeds a predetermined amount while the high voltage is stopped (step S32), the power relay 12 is turned on as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The generator 13 is made to output a high voltage and the high voltage is being output (step S33). Further, when the forcible switch 23 is turned on during high voltage output (step S34), the alarm unit 26 outputs an alarm (step S35), the power supply relay 12 is turned on and a high voltage is supplied to the high voltage generation unit 13. Output (step S36), wait for a certain time (for example, about 60 seconds) to elapse (step S37), turn off the power relay 12 and stop the high voltage generator 13 from outputting high voltage (step S38), The alarm unit 26 stops the alarm (step S39).

  When the flowmeter 22 detects that the flow rate of the chemical solution 2 is not greater than the predetermined amount during the high voltage stop (step S41), the power relay 12 is turned off to cause the high voltage generator 13 to stop the high voltage output, The high voltage is stopped (step S42).

  The alarm sound output mode by the alarm unit 26 is not particularly limited, but it is exemplified that the alarm sound output interval is shortened or the pitch of the alarm sound is increased as the elapsed time approaches a predetermined time. To do. As an alarm mode, an alarm display may be output to the display unit 25 instead of the alarm sound or together with the alarm sound. The alarm display at this time is not particularly limited, but exemplified is that the blinking interval of the alarm display is shortened or the content of the alarm display is changed as the elapsed time approaches a predetermined time.

In addition to the high voltage system control process, the control unit 21 appropriately executes the following process, for example.
(1) A signal output from the flow meter 22 is input, and the operating state of the flow meter 22 is displayed on the display unit 25, or the flow rate and integrated amount of the chemical solution 2 are displayed.
(2) A signal output from the leakage sensor 24 is input, and the presence or absence of occurrence of leakage is displayed on the display unit 25. In this example, one leakage sensor 24 is provided on the output side of the high voltage generator 13 for cost reduction. Therefore, in the configuration of this example, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of a leakage, or to detect the number of electrodes 14 that have a leakage current from the magnitude of the leakage current. It is not possible to detect whether or not an error has occurred.

  Next, the usage method of this electrostatic spraying apparatus 1 is demonstrated. When the operator stops the supply of the chemical liquid 2 to the hand-held nozzle unit 6 in response to the display unit 25 indicating that a leakage has occurred while using the electrostatic spraying device 1, the high voltage system The control process stops the high voltage output. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operator turns on the forcible switch 23, the high voltage system control process outputs a high voltage for a predetermined time. The potential of each electrode 14 is checked. At this time, since the electrode 14 in which leakage has occurred is at a relatively lower potential than the electrode 14 in which leakage has not occurred, the electrode 14 in which leakage has occurred can be identified. The operator can recognize that the high voltage output has stopped due to the elapse of a predetermined time due to the stop of the alarm sound, check the electrode 14 in which the occurrence of leakage is specified, and eliminate the cause of the leakage. Thereby, the spraying operation can be resumed promptly.

  Although it does not specifically limit as the electric detector 27, In this example, the metal lead 27a as a contact means is attached to one end side, and the test lead to which the mouth clip 27b as a connection means is attached to the other end side is used. Is illustrated. As shown by a two-dotted line in FIG. 3, when the mouth clip 27 b of the voltage detector 27 is connected to the ground side of the high voltage generator 13 and the tip of the metal pin 27 a is brought close to each electrode 14, an electric leakage occurs. Since no electrode 14 is at a high potential, a discharge occurs between the electrode 14 and the metal pin 27a, resulting in discharge light or discharge sound, and discharge light or discharge sound is generated in the electrode 14 where leakage occurs. Absent. As a result, it is possible to identify the electrode 14 in which leakage occurs.

  According to the electrostatic spraying apparatus 1 of the present example configured as described above, since the forced switch 23 is provided, the power supply to the electrode 14 is forcibly performed in a state where the ejection is stopped. Thus, it is possible to inspect for the occurrence of leakage in the electrode 14.

  In addition, since there is provided a timer means (steps S36 to S38) for automatically stopping the forced power supply after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an electric shock accident due to forgetting to stop the power supply. it can.

  In addition, since the alarm unit 26 that outputs an alarm by an audible display during the forced power supply is provided, it is possible to alert the operator that the forced power is being supplied. .

  Moreover, since the alarm part 26 is comprised so that an output mode may change with progress of time, it can make an operator recognize the progress of the said time. In particular, in this example, since the timer means is provided, it is possible to make the operator recognize that the end of the predetermined time is approaching due to a change in the output mode.

  Moreover, the electrostatic spraying apparatus 1 of this example is provided with a plurality of nozzles 8 each equipped with an electrode 14, and limits the leakage current to the wiring branched in parallel so as to supply a high voltage to each electrode 14. Therefore, even if leakage occurs in each electrode 14, the leakage current is suppressed by the protection resistor Rb and the influence on the electrode 14 where leakage does not occur is affected. Can be reduced. For this reason, when the forcible switch 23 forcibly supplies power to the electrode 14 when the liquid droplet is not ejected at the time of occurrence of the leakage, the electrode 14 where the leakage is generated is the electrode where the leakage is not generated. Since the potential is lower than 14, the electrode 14 in which leakage occurs can be easily identified.

  In addition, the leakage sensor 24 is not provided for each electrode 14, but is provided on the bus that is the wiring before branching, so that the cost can be reduced.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, it can also be suitably changed and embodied as follows, for example in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention.
(1) Providing means for canceling forced high voltage output. For example, when the forced switch 23 is turned on again during forced high voltage output due to the forced switch 23 being turned on, the high voltage is stopped.
(2) The nozzles 8 and the electrodes 14 are grouped into a plurality of groups, and a protection resistor Rb for limiting the leakage current is inserted into the wiring branched in parallel for each group.
(3) The protective resistor Ra in the high voltage generator 13 is omitted.
(4) The electrostatic spraying device 1 is configured for application of liquid fertilizer, for example.
(5) The nozzle unit 6 should be configured to be supported by the airframe, not handheld.

It is a systematic diagram of the electrostatic spraying device concerning one embodiment which materialized the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the high voltage type | system | group control process of the electrostatic spraying apparatus. It is a systematic diagram which shows the state which is forcibly supplying electric power with respect to an electrode in the electrostatic spraying apparatus. It is a systematic diagram showing a conventional electrostatic application type spreader.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrostatic spray apparatus 2 Chemical | medical solution 3 Storage tank 4 Pump 5 Hose 6 Nozzle part 7 Jet pipe 8 Nozzle 11 Storage battery 12 Power supply relay 13 High voltage generation part 14 Electrode 21 Control part 22 Flow meter 23 Forced switch 23 Forced switch 24 Earth leakage sensor 25 Display part 26 Alarm part 27 Test lead 27a Metal pin 27b Tear clip Ra, Rb Protection resistance

Claims (6)

An electrostatic spraying device configured to automatically control power supply to an electrode for charging the droplet in conjunction with ejection of the droplet from the nozzle,
An electrostatic spraying device comprising a forcible switch that forcibly supplies power to the electrode when the droplet is not ejected.   The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 1, further comprising timer means for automatically stopping the forced power supply after a predetermined time has elapsed.   The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit that outputs an alarm based on an audible display, a visual display, a tactile display, or a combination thereof during the forced power supply.   The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 3, wherein the alarm unit is configured such that an output mode changes with time. A plurality of the nozzles each equipped with the electrode;
The protective resistance for restricting a leakage current is inserted in the wiring branched in parallel so as to supply a high voltage to each or each of the electrodes, respectively. Electrostatic spray device.   The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 5, wherein a leakage sensor that detects occurrence of leakage is connected to the wiring before branching.

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