JP2011505232A - Dual spray type automatic dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

  The automatic dispenser according to the present invention periodically aerosolizes and discharges some liquid contained in two liquid containers (A, B). A plurality of types of liquids having different properties, for example, different fragrances and active substances, can be sprayed alternately in separate liquid containers (A, B) provided in the same automatic dispenser.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic dispenser that includes at least two liquid containers and periodically aerosolizes and discharges some liquid contained in the liquid containers.

  In the present invention, a plurality of types of liquids having different properties such as different fragrances and active substances can be placed in separate liquid containers provided in the same automatic dispenser, and these liquids can be alternately sprayed.

  As is well known, a spray type automatic dispenser is a device capable of periodically spraying a liquid. Typically, this type of device comprises a single aerosol nozzle that can spray one type of liquid, a cam or level element for operating the nozzle, and a DC motor for operating the element.

  The electric motor is provided with an electronic timer that operates the spray valve at a predetermined time.

  Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 describe some examples of conventional dispensers that can eject aerosol.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,466 US Pat. No. 3,739,944 US Pat. No. 5,249,718

  An object of the present invention is to realize an excellent apparatus that allows a user to perfume and adjust the environment in various forms with a configuration that can be manufactured at a very low cost.

  Refer to the independent claims in the appended claims for the composition of the invention. As an example, a spray type automatic dispenser according to the present invention includes a first spray valve for spraying a certain kind of liquid, a pivoting support in the dispenser, and a resting state and a first operating state. A possible cam element. The first spray valve does not operate while the cam element is in the resting state. However, when the cam element changes from the resting state to the first operating state, the first spray valve is actuated by being pressed by the cam element.

  The operation of the spray valve is well known to those skilled in the art (so-called persons skilled in the art), so that it will not be difficult to understand the present invention without explaining this point in detail.

  The cam element is actuated by an electric motor. An electronic timer is connected to the electric motor, and an operation instruction is given to the electric motor from the electronic timer.

  The dispenser is characterized in that a second spray valve is provided and that the cam element is configured so that the first and second spray valves are selectively operated in response to the operation of the electric motor.

  In order to realize this, for example, an electronic circuit that changes the rotation direction of the output shaft of the electric motor may be provided. If the output shaft rotation direction is the first direction, the first spray valve is activated by the action of the cam element, and if the output direction is the second direction, the second spray valve is similarly activated.

  Therefore, according to the spray type automatic dispenser concerning the present invention, a plurality of kinds of liquids can be sprayed alternately and at a specified cycle. Moreover, since only one electric motor is used, the manufacturing cost can be kept low.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the dispenser with its cam element in a resting position; however, a portion of its housing is omitted. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1; however, all housing parts are omitted for the sake of simplicity. 1 is a front view of the dispenser; however, all of the housing parts are omitted. It is a perspective view which shows the dispenser shown in FIG. 3, and its internal structural member. It is a perspective view which shows this dispenser and the housing components which cover it.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are in an integral relationship with the present specification, in order to supplement the description and to better understand the features of the invention. However, the intention is merely an example and does not include the intention of limiting the gist.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the spray-type dispenser of this embodiment, first and second spray valves (not shown) and corresponding first and second pressurized containers (A, B) are mounted in the housing (1).

  As illustrated, the first and second pressurized containers (A, B) are fixedly held by dome-shaped members (15, 16) in the housing (1). Inside the individual dome-shaped members (15, 16), corresponding ones of the first and second level elements (11, 12) are pivotally supported. The individual spray valves are activated by the action of the corresponding one of the first and second level elements (11, 12) to spray some liquid from the corresponding aerosol nozzle (13, 14).

  A cylinder (23) with fingers protrudes from one inner surface of the parts constituting the housing (1), and a cam element (2) is pivotally supported on the cylinder (23). The cam element (2) is T-shaped and has a right arm (3), a left arm (4) and a central arm (5).

  On the long axis of the central arm (5) is located a pivot point, i.e. the point at which the cam element (2) is pivotally gripped by the fingers of the tube (23).

  The shape and dimensions of the cam element (2) are set so that the spray valve according to the first container (A) and the spray valve according to the second container (B) can be operated.

  The DC motor (6) is means for operating the cam element (2), and its output shaft (7) is linked to the cam element (2). As seen in FIG. 1, when the shaft (7) rotates in the clockwise direction, the cam element (2) pivots to the right and the second level element (12) is actuated. When rotating clockwise, the cam element (2) pivots in the upward left direction and the first level element (11) is activated.

  The spray valve is activated by this operation because the free end of the corresponding one of the arms (3, 4) contacts the corresponding level element (11, 12), and the spray valve is operated by the level element (11, 12). This is because is pressed. Since the level element (11, 12) converts the rotational motion of the corresponding arm (3, 4) into a linear motion and transmits it to the spray valve, damage to the spray valve during operation can be prevented.

  The dimension of this level element (11, 12) is determined to reach the spray valve in the corresponding dome-shaped member (15, 16).

  Further, as a means for linking the output shaft (7) of the electric motor (6) to the central arm (5) of the cam element (2), the known reduction gears (8, 9, 10) are used. For the same purpose, the free end (17) of the central arm (5) is provided with a toothed portion, which meshes with one of these reduction gears as shown in FIG.

  The dispenser also includes an electronic circuit (19). A part of the circuit (19) is an electronic timer formed by a programmable electronic circuit or the like, and is used for an operation instruction to the electric motor (6) to which the circuit is connected. In the dispenser, an electronic circuit for changing the rotation direction of the output shaft is further connected to the motor side terminal.

  In this dispenser, the motor is operated at a predetermined cycle defined in the program, and the motor output shaft is rotated in the required direction according to the sequence defined in the program so that the spray valve is selectively operated. Automatic operation using electronic circuits.

  Therefore, it is possible to operate two spray valves alternately to spray two kinds of fragrances in the room.

  Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of programs can be stored on the electronic circuit so that the user can specify the program to be used. A manual instruction from the user may be received and the instructed spray valve may be operated.

  Furthermore, since the cam element is T-shaped, a reduction gear and an electric motor can be arranged in the space between the containers in the dispenser. That is, a compact dispenser can be realized by effectively using the space in the housing.

  Similarly, since the cam element is T-shaped, the torque that can be applied by the reduction gear can be increased without increasing the stress on the teeth of the reduction gear.

  The metering valve can be used as a spray valve so that a predetermined amount of volatile material is released regardless of the duration of action of the cam element on the spray valve.

Claims (9)

A first spray valve for spraying one kind of liquid;
A cam element that is pivotally supported in the dispenser and that activates the first spray valve when its position is changed from a resting position to a first operating position;
An electric motor whose output shaft is linked to the cam element so that the cam element can be operated;
An electronic timer connected to the motor to give operation instructions to the motor;
A dual spray type automatic dispenser capable of periodically spraying a plurality of types of liquids,
An automatic dispenser further comprising a second spray valve, wherein the cam element is configured to selectively operate the first and second spray valves in response to the operation of the electric motor.   2. The automatic dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic circuit that is connected to a terminal of the electric motor and alternately changes an output shaft rotation direction of the electric motor.   3. The automatic dispenser according to claim 1, wherein when the electric motor operates in a first direction, the cam element is in a first operating position and the first spray valve operates, and the electric motor moves in the second direction. An automatic dispenser in which when activated, the cam element is in a second operating position and the second spray valve is activated.   The automatic dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cam element is a T-shaped member having a left arm, a right arm and a central arm, and a pivot point of the cam element with respect to the dispenser is provided. Automatic dispenser on the long axis of its central arm.   5. The automatic dispenser according to claim 4, wherein an output shaft of the electric motor cooperates with a central arm of the cam element via a reduction gear.   6. The automatic dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the central arm has a tooth-like free end that meshes with one of the reduction gears.   The automatic dispenser according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the electric motor, the central arm of the cam element, and the reduction gear are located in a space between containers in the dispenser.   8. The automatic dispenser according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of liquid storage containers corresponding to the spray valves.   The automatic dispenser according to claim 8, wherein liquids having different properties are stored in the containers.

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