JP2012144283A - Automatic liquid ejection device - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic liquid ejection device capable of stabilizing the time from the start of a push-down operation of a push-down head of a container with a pump to the start of liquid ejection is provided.
If the lifting unit 50 having the head fitting frame 4 in which the press-down head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 is fitted is moved up and down, and only the liquid is discharged from the discharge nozzle of the pump-equipped container 30 by pushing down the press-down head 37. In addition, the automatic liquid ejection device 1 having the head pressing mechanism 80 that also raises and returns the pressing head 37 that has been pressed down to the upper and lower upper limit positions.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention stores a container with a pump in which a pump for supplying liquid in the container to a discharge nozzle by a push-down operation of a pressing head in a container for storing liquid such as disinfecting liquid or cleaning liquid is detachably stored in the housing. The present invention relates to an automatic liquid discharge apparatus that automatically performs a discharge operation of discharging the liquid from a discharge nozzle when a finger of a user (user) inserted into a detection region is detected by a sensor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic liquid discharge device that automatically discharges liquid such as disinfectant liquid and cleaning liquid from a discharge nozzle by detecting a user's (user's) finger with a sensor for disinfection and cleaning of fingers has been provided. ing. As this automatic liquid discharge device, a container with a pump (see FIG. 14) in which a pump having a push-down head projecting above a bottle-shaped container containing a liquid such as a disinfecting liquid or a cleaning liquid is stored in a housing. There is something. This automatic liquid discharge device uses the discharge nozzle itself that protrudes from the side of the press head of the container with the pump as the discharge nozzle of the device, and the press mechanism in the housing is driven by the sensor detecting the user's finger. Then, the pressing head of the container with the pump is automatically pushed down, and the liquid in the container is discharged from the discharge nozzle (for example, Patent Document 1).

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the pump 110 of the pump-equipped container 100 used in the above-described automatic liquid discharging apparatus and the pressing member 120 of the pressing mechanism of the automatic liquid discharging apparatus. In FIG. 14, description will be made with the upper side as the upper side and the lower side as the lower side.
The pump 110 of the container 100 with the pump is integrated with an upper end protruding on the cap 111 of the stem 112 that can be moved up and down through the cap 111 screwed into the upper opening 102 of the bottle-shaped container 101. A pressing lever with nozzle 110A provided with a pressing head 114 and a discharge nozzle 113 projecting laterally from the pressing head 114.

  The pressing lever with nozzle 110A is elastically biased upward by a return spring (not shown) provided in the pump 110, and the automatic liquid discharge device has a pressing mechanism with a pump when the sensor detects the user's finger. The pressing member 120 provided on the pressing head 114 of the pump 110 of the container 100 is lowered, and the pressing lever with nozzle 110A is pressed down against the elastic biasing force of the return spring. The pump-equipped container 100 has a liquid outlet 119b at one end of the discharge liquid channel 119 that opens at the tip of the discharge nozzle 113 of the discharge liquid channel 119 penetrating the press-down lever 110A with nozzle when the press-down lever 110A with nozzle is pressed down. To discharge liquid.

  The lowering (pressing down) of the pressing member 120 by the pressing mechanism is completed when the pressing member 120 reaches a preset lower limit position. The push-down lever 110A with nozzle and the push-down member 120 are pushed up by the elastic biasing force of the return spring of the container 100 with pump after the push-down member 120 is pushed down by the push-down mechanism, and return to the position before the push-down (initial position). In addition, the pressing member 120 after the completion of the pressing down is returned to the upper limit position of the vertical movement stroke by a spring provided in the pressing mechanism, and the rising limit position of the pressing lever with nozzle of the container 100 with pump (by the return spring). A configuration has also been proposed in which the return to the push-up limit position) is performed by a pump return spring.

The automatic liquid discharge device is in a state where the pressing member 120 is in an initial position (position before pressing) set in correspondence with the rising limit position (initial position before pressing) of the pressing lever with nozzle of the pump 110. When the finger detection sensor that has not detected the finger detects the finger, a liquid discharge operation is performed by pressing the pressing member 120 (here, the pressing lever 110A with the nozzle and the pressing member 120 are returned to the initial positions from the start of pressing). Are executed a predetermined number of times (one or more times).
The automatic liquid ejection device performs a liquid ejection operation when a finger detection sensor that has not detected a user's finger detects the finger in a state where the liquid ejection operation is not performed. When the finger detection sensor continues to detect the finger from the liquid operation to the completion of the operation, the finger detection sensor is not detecting the finger after the set number of ejection operations are completed, and then the finger is detected. When the detection sensor detects the finger, the next discharge operation is executed.

JP 2001-153036 A

The conventional automatic liquid ejecting apparatus illustrated in FIG. 14 has been dissatisfied with variations in the time from when the pressing member 120 starts to press down the pressing head 114 until the liquid discharge starts.
As a result of verification by the present inventor, when the pressing member 120 pushes down the pressing head 114, the stem 112 may be in an obliquely pressed state, and the presence or absence of this oblique pressing causes the dispersion of the liquid discharge start time. It has become.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic liquid ejecting apparatus that can stabilize the time from the start of the pressing operation of the pressing head of the head pressing mechanism to the start of liquid discharge.

As a result of verification by the inventor of the conventional automatic liquid ejection device illustrated in FIG. 14, as a result of the verification by the present inventor, when the pressing member 120 pushes the pressing head 114 down from the upper limit position, the pressing head 114 presses the pressing member 114. It is generated by slipping with respect to 120 and causing positional deviation.
The constituent members of the pump-equipped container 100 are generally made of plastic. On the other hand, the pressing member 120 of the automatic liquid discharge device is a plate-like shape extending perpendicularly to the axis of the stem 112 in order to enable pressing down in accordance with various pressing head 114 shapes of the pump 110 of the pump-equipped container 100. Generally, it is formed. The displacement due to the sliding of the pressing head 114 with respect to the pressing member 120 is caused by a slight elastic deformation (deflection deformation) in the plastic stem 112 when the pressing member 120 presses the pressing head 114 from the upper limit position. . When the pressing head 114 is displaced with respect to the pressing member 120, the bending deformation of the stem 112 is increased, and as a result, the stem 112 is in an obliquely pressed state.

  When the stem 112 is in the diagonally pressed state, the time from the start of the pressing-down operation of the pressing head of the pressing mechanism to the start of liquid discharge becomes longer than when the stem 112 is not diagonally pressed. This induces inconvenience that the user withdraws the hand that has been put out near the tip of the discharge nozzle 113 before the liquid is discharged from the discharge nozzle 113, and the liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle 113 is wasted after that. To do. When the finger detection sensor detects a user's finger, the setting is such that two or more discharge operations are continuously performed. However, it may be misunderstood that the set number of discharge operations have been completed, and the user may withdraw his hand that has been put out near the tip of the discharge nozzle 113 before the set number of discharge operations are completed.

  Further, when the stem 112 is greatly deformed due to the sliding with respect to the pressing member 114, the stem 112 is not immediately restored to the straight state even after the downward pressing force is released by the completion of the pressing, and the stem 112 is slightly bent. As a result, the sliding resistance against the cap 111 when the stem 112 is raised after the push-down increases, and the rise of the stem 112 to the original position before the push-down may be delayed. This causes a delay in the next discharge operation. Further, the bending wrinkles of the stem 112 cause the pressing head 114 to slide with respect to the pressing member 120 during the next discharge operation, and thereby cause oblique pressing.

  As the pressing head 114, in addition to a disk-shaped one having a flat upper surface (see FIG. 14), a plate-shaped one having a dome-shaped upper surface, or a plate shape such as a spherical one having a whole pressing head 114 is used. Some of the contact portions with the pressing member 120 are small. Such a pressing head having a small contact portion is likely to be displaced due to slipping with respect to the pressing member 120 when pressed by the pressing member 120, and the frequency of occurrence of the above-described oblique pressing due to the positional shift is increased.

Based on the above knowledge, the present invention provides the following configuration in order to stabilize the time from the start of the pressing operation of the pressing head of the head pressing mechanism to the start of liquid ejection.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing for detachably storing a pump-equipped container equipped with a pump for supplying and discharging the liquid to the discharge nozzle by a push-down operation of a pressing head to a container for storing the liquid. A sensor for detecting a finger of a user inserted in a detection area set including or near a discharge area where liquid is discharged, and a head pressing mechanism for pressing down a pressing head of the pump when the sensor detects the finger The head pressing mechanism is inserted into the pump case of the pump so as to be movable up and down, and the pressing head formed in a plate shape perpendicular to the axis of the stem is detachable at the upper end of the stem protruding above A rectangular frame-shaped head fitting frame that sandwiches the pressing head from above and below by being fitted into the housing is a vertically extending arrangement arranged on the casing. An automatic liquid discharge comprising an elevating unit integrated with an elevating base guided by a guide member and moving up and down, and an elevating drive mechanism for moving the elevating unit up and down with a preset elevating stroke Providing equipment.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the upper / lower upper limit position of the press-down head of the pump of the pump-equipped container due to the up-and-down stroke of the head fitting frame is positioned below the upper limit position of the press-down head on the pump structure of the pump-equipped container. An automatic liquid discharge apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention is provided.
A third invention provides the automatic liquid ejection device according to the first or second invention, wherein the elevating drive mechanism is a gear unit using a motor as a drive source.

  According to the present invention, the head fitting frame that pushes down the pressing head of the pump-equipped container has a square frame shape, and the pressing head is sandwiched from above and below. It does not occur. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the stem from being pushed obliquely due to the positional deviation of the pressing head, and it is possible to stabilize the time from the start of the pressing operation of the pressing head of the head pressing mechanism to the start of liquid ejection.

In addition, the head pressing mechanism of the automatic liquid ejection device according to the present invention has a lifting drive mechanism that moves the lifting unit provided with the head fitting frame up and down. The lifting / lowering unit that has been completed is also returned to the lifting / lowering upper limit position. Therefore, this automatic liquid discharge apparatus can reliably return the pressing head together with the lifting unit to the position before the pressing by raising the lifting unit after completion of the pressing by driving the head pressing mechanism. In addition, the configuration in which the push-down head fitted in the head fitting frame of the lift unit is returned to the position before being pushed down together with the lift unit by raising the lift unit after the push-down is completed by driving the head push-down mechanism is pushed down. The time required for the pressing head after completion to return to the position before the pressing down is stabilized. This also contributes to stabilization of the time from the start of the pressing operation of the pressing head of the head pressing mechanism to the start of liquid ejection.
Furthermore, with this configuration, for example, even when a liquid having a relatively high viscosity is discharged from a container with a pump, the pressing head is reliably returned to the position before being pushed down together with the lifting unit by the lifting of the lifting unit that has been pushed down. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of inconvenience that the waiting time until the next discharge operation becomes longer due to the delay of the raising of the pressing head.

1 is an overall perspective view showing an automatic liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which a liquid receiving tray of the automatic liquid discharging apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the front cover of the housing | casing in the automatic liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. It is a front view which shows the raising / lowering unit vicinity in the automatic liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. It is a partially broken side view which shows the raising / lowering unit vicinity in the automatic liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a partially broken plan view showing the vicinity of an elevating unit in the automatic liquid ejection device of FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows the state which the raising / lowering unit in the automatic liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. 1 and the pressing head fitted in the head fitting frame of this raising / lowering unit exist in the raising / lowering upper limit position of the raising / lowering stroke by the raising / lowering drive mechanism. It is a front view which shows the state which the raising / lowering unit and the pressing-down head were lowered | hung from the raising / lowering upper limit position of FIG. 7 to the intermediate position between this raising / lowering upper limit position and raising / lowering lower limit position. It is a front view which shows the state which has a raising / lowering unit and a pressing head in a raising / lowering lower limit position. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state where the lifting unit and the pressing head are raised from the lower limit position of FIG. 9 to an intermediate position between the lower limit position and the upper limit position. It is a side view which shows an example of the container with a pump used for the automatic liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. It is a side view which shows the other example of the container with a pump used for the automatic liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows another aspect of the pressing-down head of the container with a pump used for the automatic liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. It is a side view which shows the relationship between the pressing member of the conventional automatic liquid discharge apparatus, and the pressing head of the container with a pump.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. 1 to 11 show an automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view, FIG. 2 is a perspective view in use, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inside.
In FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 to FIG. 13A to FIG. Also, in FIGS. 4, 6 to 10, 12, and 13 (a) to 13 (c), left and right are described as left and right (left is left and right is right).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 stores a pump-equipped container 30 that contains liquid such as disinfectant liquid and cleaning liquid in a substantially rectangular box-shaped housing 2 so that it can be taken in and out. Yes. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the automatic liquid discharge device 1 pushes down the pressing head 37 at the upper end of the stem 34 protruding upward from the container 31 of the pump-equipped container 30 into the casing 2 so that the pump A head pressing mechanism 80 is provided for discharging the liquid in the attached container 30 from the tip of the discharge nozzle 35 protruding from the pressing head 37 to the side thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the discharge nozzle 35 of the pump-equipped container 30 protrudes to the outside of the housing 2 through a nozzle protruding elongated hole 15 formed in the housing 2.

In addition, the automatic liquid ejection apparatus 1 is configured such that a user inserted into a discharge area (area located on the extension of the front end of the discharge nozzle 35) where the liquid is discharged from the discharge nozzle 35 or a detection area set in the vicinity thereof. The sensor 7 (refer FIG. 3, FIG. 5) which detects the finger 10 of this is included. In the automatic liquid ejection device 1, the sensor 7 detects the user's finger 10, so that the head pressing mechanism 80 that is driven and controlled by the control unit 21 (a control board described later) is provided in the container 30 with the pump. The pressing head 37 is pushed down, and liquid such as disinfectant liquid and cleaning liquid in the pump-equipped container 30 is discharged from the tip of the discharge nozzle 35.
As will be described later, the head pressing mechanism 80 of the automatic liquid ejecting apparatus 1 not only depresses the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 but also prepares for the next pressing operation after the pressing head 37 is pressed down. The pressing head 37 is raised to return to the initial position (up / down upper limit position) before being pressed down.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 2 has a container-like housing body 11 having a U-shaped side wall portion 23 standing on a bottom plate 22 and having a top plate portion 24 on the side wall portion 23. And a front cover 12 that is detachably provided in the opening 11a on the front side of the housing body 11 and that can open and close the opening 11a. The housing body 11 and the front cover 12 are plastic members.
The top plate portion 24 of the housing body 11 is provided with a key hole 13, and the front cover 12 is locked and unlocked by inserting the key 14 (see FIG. 3) into the key hole 13 and rotating it. And can be switched. When the front cover 12 is removed from the housing body 11 and the opening 11a on the front surface side of the housing body 11 is opened, the replacement work of the container 30 with the pump can be performed.

The long hole 15 for protruding the nozzle of the front cover 12 is formed in the front cover 12 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The discharge nozzle 35 is integrated with the pressing head 37 while passing through the nozzle protruding elongated hole 15 as the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 is moved up and down by the head pressing mechanism 80 of the automatic liquid discharging apparatus 1. Go up and down.
The long hole 15 for protruding the nozzle has a vertical formation range in the front cover 12 in order to allow the discharge nozzle 35 to move up and down integrally with the pressing head 37 when the pressing head 37 is moved up and down by the head pressing mechanism 80. Further, it is ensured that it is slightly larger than the movable range in the vertical direction of the discharge nozzle 35 as the pressing head 37 is moved up and down by the head pressing mechanism 80.

As shown in FIG. 2, a transparent panel portion 16 is provided at the lower part of the front surface portion of the front cover 12 of the housing 2, and the inside of the housing 2 can be seen through the transparent panel portion 16. Therefore, the remaining amount of liquid in the pump-equipped container 30 can be confirmed through the transparent panel portion 16.
In the case 2 shown in the drawing, the portion other than the transparent panel portion 16 and the sensor cover portion 12a described later of the front cover 12 and the case main body 11 have light shielding properties.

  A dish-shaped liquid receiving tray 17 is rotatably attached to the front cover 12. The liquid receiving tray 17 has a part of its outer periphery that extends to the bottom plate 22 of the housing body 11 along the boundary between the front surface of the bottom plate 22 and the top surface of the bottom plate 22 via the hinge portion 25 on the front surface side. It is pivotally attached to an axis and is extended from the hinge portion 25. The liquid receiving tray 17 is pivoted around the hinge portion 25 to close the front cover 12 mounted on the housing body 11 from the outer surface side (see FIG. 1), and from the housing 2. The open state (see FIG. 2) protruding forward can be freely switched. When the liquid receiving tray 17 is in the open state illustrated in FIG. 2, the liquid receiving tray 17 is disposed below the discharge nozzle 35 protruding to the front side of the housing 2 from the nozzle protruding long hole 15 of the front cover 12. Since it becomes a position which receives the liquid discharged from 35, it can prevent that a liquid falls on a table surface or a floor surface.

  In this embodiment, the liquid receiving tray 17 is a light shielding member. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid receiving tray 17 in the closed state covers the transparent panel portion 16 of the front cover 12, and external light such as sunlight and ultraviolet light to the container 30 with a pump in the housing 2. Irradiation can be prevented. However, the liquid receiving tray 17 only needs to have a function of receiving at least the liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle 35, and is not necessarily a light shielding member.

  The sensor 7 illustrated in FIG. 3 is an infrared sensor that detects infrared rays from the user's fingers. This infrared sensor (sensor 7) is provided inside the housing 2, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the infrared sensor (12) provided on the front cover 12 is connected to the user through the infrared transparent sensor cover portion 12a. Detect infrared rays from fingers. The sensor cover portion 12 a is formed in a cap shape that protrudes to the front side of the light-shielding front cover 12, and houses the sensor 7 inside the front cover 12 in a state where the front cover 12 is attached to the housing body 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the infrared sensor (sensor 7) is specifically mounted on the control board 21 that is attached to the housing body 11 and provided on the inside upper portion of the housing 2. However, the sensor 7 is not limited to the infrared sensor, and can detect the user's finger 10 inserted into the detection region set including or near the discharge region where the liquid is discharged from the discharge nozzle 35. The installation position is not limited. Further, the sensor 7 is not limited to a mode in which infrared rays from the user's fingers are detected via the sensor cover portion 12a, and the infrared rays from the user's fingers are directly received and detected without passing through the sensor cover portion 12a. It is good also as a form.

  The sensor cover 12a in the illustrated example has an infrared transmissive cap-like member inserted in an opening 12c (see FIGS. 1 and 2) formed in the front cover 12, and the front cover 12 has a front side thereof. Although attached to the protruding state, it is not limited to this. For example, a cap-shaped sensor cover portion 12 a that is previously fixed to the control board 21 and accommodates the sensor 7 is inserted into and removed from the opening portion 12 c that is opened in the front cover 12 when the front cover 12 is attached to or detached from the housing body 11. It is also possible to adopt a configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 3, power is supplied to the inside of the casing body 11 of the casing 2 to a head pressing mechanism 80 (specifically, a motor 61 of an elevating drive mechanism 60 described later shown in FIG. 4). The battery unit 20 is stored. The control unit 21 (control board) is arranged on the upper side of the battery unit 20.

  The head pressing mechanism 80 is a lifting unit 50 having a head fitting frame 4 into which the pressing head 37 of the container 30 with a pump can be fitted by driving the lifting drive mechanism 60 using a motor 61 (electric motor) as a drive source. Is moved up and down to raise and lower the pressing head 37 fitted in the head fitting frame 4 together with the lifting unit 50. The control unit 21 controls the driving of the motor 61 of the lifting drive mechanism 60, so that the lifting operation of the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 by the head pressing mechanism 80, that is, the lifting unit 50 by the lifting drive mechanism 60 is performed. The raising / lowering operation of the head fitting frame 4 is controlled.

As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic liquid ejection apparatus 1 is a power monitor for displaying whether or not the circuit voltage of a control circuit (electric circuit) provided on the control board 21 is equal to or higher than a preset threshold value. A lamp 8 is provided. For example, the power monitor lamp 8 is turned on when the circuit voltage of the control board 21 is equal to or higher than a preset threshold, and is turned off when the circuit voltage is lower than the threshold, or the circuit voltage is higher than the threshold. In this state, it is possible to use one whose emission color changes when it becomes lower than the threshold value.
In the automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 shown in the drawing, the power monitor lamp 8 is mounted on the control board 21 and is provided at a position facing the emission window 12b provided in the front cover 12, and the emitted light at the time of lighting is provided. Can be emitted to the front side of the housing 2 from the emission window 12b. However, the installation position of the power monitor lamp 8 is not limited to the illustrated example, and can be changed as appropriate.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the side wall portion 23 of the housing body 11 is formed in a U shape in plan view by a back plate portion 23 a and side plate portions 23 b and 23 c on both sides thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the battery unit 20 is attached to one of the pair of side plate portions 23 b and 23 c of the side wall portion 23 (the side plate portion 23 b of reference numeral 23 b in FIG. 3). A space (container storage space) for storing the container 31 of the pump-equipped container 30 is secured between the battery unit 20 and the side plate part 23c opposite to the side plate part 23b to which the battery unit 20 is attached. Yes. In the container 30 with a pump, the container 31 stored in the container storage space is placed on the bottom plate 22, and the pressing head 37 above the container 31 is detachable from the head fitting frame 4 of the lifting unit 50 of the head pressing mechanism 80. It is fitted and stored in the housing body 11.

FIG. 11 shows a container 30 with a pump of the automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 of this embodiment. The pump-equipped container 30 includes a container 31 for storing a liquid such as a disinfecting liquid or a cleaning liquid, and a pump 32 attached to the container 31.
The pump 32 has a cylindrical pump case 36 and a stem 34 that moves along the central axis thereof through a cap 33 that is detachably attached to the outer periphery of the mouth 31 a at the upper end of the container 31. This is a cap-integrated pump provided with the like.
In the container 30 with a pump shown in FIG. 11, the pump 32 includes a cap 33 that is screwed onto the outer periphery of the mouth 31a at the upper end of the container 31, and a stem that is vertically movable through the cap 33. 34, a press-down lever 32A with a nozzle integrally provided with a press-down head 37 and a discharge nozzle 35 is provided. The pump 32 includes a cylindrical pump case 36 that is connected to the cap 33 and inserted into the container 31, and a suction pipe 40 that hangs down from the lower end of the pump case 36 that extends downward from the cap 33. And have. The suction pipe 40 is inserted into the container 31 together with the pump case 36, and the lower end of the suction pipe 40 reaches the bottom of the container 31.

The cap 33 has a stem storage cylinder portion 33b that is integrated with the inner periphery of the ring-shaped upper wall portion 33a at the upper end and protrudes downward from the ring-shaped upper wall portion 33a. The stem 34 is inserted in the stem storage cylinder part 33b. The pump case 36 is connected to the cap 33 with its upper end fixed to the outer periphery of the stem storage tube portion 33b, and extends downward from the stem storage tube portion 33b.
The push-down lever 32A with a nozzle has a piston 38 that is integrated with the lower end portion of the stem 34 and disposed below the cap 33 (below the stem storage cylinder portion 33b) and is housed in the pump case 36 so as to be movable up and down. Yes. The pump 32 elastically biases the pressing lever 32A with a nozzle upward by a return spring 39 housed in a pump case 36 and disposed below the piston 38.

The push-down lever 32A with the nozzle is in a removed state in which the pump-equipped container 30 is disposed outside the housing 2 of the automatic liquid ejection device 1 of the present embodiment, and the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle is placed on the cap 33 in addition to its own weight. Thus, when the downward pressing force is not applied relatively, the piston 38 is arranged at the upper limit position where the piston 38 comes into contact with the stem storage cylinder portion 33b by the elastic biasing force of the return spring 39. The position where the piston 38 abuts on the stem housing cylinder portion 33b is the rising limit position of the push-down lever 32A with nozzle on the structure of the pump 32 of the container 30 with pump. The pressing head 37 and the discharge nozzle 35 are arranged at a position spaced apart from the cap 33 when the nozzled pressing lever 32A is at the rising limit position. Further, in the push-down lever 32A with nozzle, the position where the push-down head 37 abuts on the cap 33 (specifically, the ring-shaped upper wall portion 33a) is the lowering limit of the push-down lever 32A with nozzle on the structure of the pump-equipped container 30. Is in position.
Further, the stem storage cylinder part 33 b functions as a ceiling wall of a cylinder part 32 </ b> B composed of the stem storage cylinder part 33 b and the pump case 36. Hereinafter, the stem storage tube portion 33b is also referred to as a ceiling wall.

At the lower end of the pump case 36, liquid is allowed to flow into the cylinder part 32B from the liquid flow channel inside the suction pipe 40 that hangs downward from the pump case 36, and the liquid from the cylinder part 32B to the suction pipe 40 is allowed to flow. Is provided with a check valve 41 (ball check valve in the illustrated example). The check valve 41 is interposed between the liquid filling chamber 36a, which is a region between the check valve 41 and the piston 38 in the cylinder portion 32B, and the liquid flow path inside the suction pipe 40.
The return spring 39 is disposed between the spring receiving portion 36b at the lower end of the pump case 36 and the piston 38 above it, and is housed in the liquid filling chamber 36a. The spring receiving portion 36b regulates the displacement of the return spring 39 downward from the spring receiving portion 36b and the downward drop from the pump case 36.

The container 30 with the pump pushes down the pressing head 37 located above the cap 33 against the elastic urging force of the return spring 39 to lower the entire pressing lever 32A with nozzle, and then presses the pressing lever with nozzle. As 32A rises, the liquid is sucked from the suction pipe 40 into the liquid filling chamber 36a via the check valve 41. At this time, the liquid in the container 31 is sucked into the flow path inside the suction pipe 40 from the lower end opening of the suction pipe 40.
The liquid discharge from the discharge nozzle 35 of the pump-equipped container 30 is performed by pressing the pressing head 37 located above and away from the cap 33 while the liquid filling chamber 36a is filled with the elastic force of the return spring 39. It is realized by pushing down against this. In the container 30 with a pump, when the push-down head 37 located at a position spaced apart from the cap 33 is pushed down while the liquid filling chamber 36a is filled with the liquid, the piston 38 is moved as the push-down lever 32A with nozzle is lowered. The liquid in the liquid filling chamber 36a is pushed out to the discharge liquid passage 42 penetrating the push-down lever 32A with nozzle. As a result, it is possible to discharge the liquid from the liquid outlet 42b at one end of the discharge liquid channel 42 opened at the tip of the discharge nozzle 35. The discharge liquid flow path 42 extends from the liquid inlet 42a opened at a portion facing the liquid filling chamber 36a at the lower end of the push-down lever 32A with nozzle to the liquid outlet 42b opened at the tip of the discharge nozzle 35. Extending inside the component.

  In the illustrated example, the push-down lever 32A with a nozzle permits the liquid to move from the liquid inlet 42a toward the liquid outlet 42b at the end of the discharge liquid flow path 42 on the liquid inlet 42a side, thereby discharging the liquid flow path for discharge. There is a check valve 42c (in the illustrated example, a ball check valve; hereinafter also referred to as a lever lower end check valve) for preventing a backflow of the liquid in the liquid filling chamber 36a. For this reason, the pump 32 is operated from the lever lower end check valve 42c in the discharge liquid flow path 42 even if the press-down lever 32A with the nozzle rises after the discharge of the liquid from the tip of the discharge nozzle 35 due to the pressing down of the pressing head 37. The state where the liquid is filled in the region on the liquid outlet 42b side is maintained.

In the container 30 with a pump stored in the housing 2 of the automatic liquid ejection device 1, the pressing head 37 fitted into the head fitting frame 4 of the elevating unit 50 is sandwiched from above and below by the head fitting frame 4. The head pressing mechanism 80 moves the lifting unit 50 up and down to raise and lower the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 and the entire pressing lever 32A with nozzle.
The raising / lowering range of the pressing lever 32A with the nozzle by the head pressing mechanism 80 coincides with the raising / lowering range of the pressing lever 32A with the nozzle on the structure of the pump-equipped container 30 (range determined by the above-described rising limit position and falling limit position). Alternatively, the range is slightly narrower than the elevation range.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 shown in the drawing, the upper limit position G1 (up / down upper limit position) of the lifting range (lifting stroke) of the nozzle pressing lever 32A by the head pressing mechanism 80 is The position is slightly lower than the upper limit position G2 of the push-down lever 32A with the structure. That is, the separation distance in the height direction (vertical direction) of the upper end of the pressing head 37 of the pressing lever 32A with the nozzle at the upper limit position G1 of the lifting stroke by the head pressing mechanism 80 from the upper surface of the bottom plate 22 of the casing main body 11 is 2 is slightly smaller than the total height (distance from the bottom surface of the container 31 to the upper end of the pressing head 37) when the pressing lever 32A with the nozzle in the pump-equipped container 30 is in the rising limit position G2. Further, in the automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 shown in the drawing, the lower limit position G3 (elevation lower limit position) of the raising / lowering range (elevating stroke) of the pressing lever 32A with the nozzle by the head pressing mechanism 80 is the structure with the nozzle of the container 30 with the pump. Although the position is slightly above the lower limit position of the push lever 32A, the lower limit position G3 may coincide with the lower limit position of the push lever 32A with the nozzle on the structure of the pump-equipped container 30.

The pressing down of the pressing head 37 is performed by lowering the lifting unit 50 by driving the head pressing mechanism 80 of the automatic ejection device 1. The pressing head 37 is lowered to the lower limit position by driving the head pressing mechanism 80.
Further, the pressing head 37 lowered by the head pressing mechanism 80 is lifted from the lifting lower limit position when the lifting unit 50 is lifted by the elastic biasing force of the return spring 39 and the driving of the head pressing mechanism 80, and the lifting upper limit position. Return to.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the head pressing mechanism 80 includes an elevating unit 50 and an elevating drive mechanism 60 that moves the elevating unit 50 up and down.
The elevating unit 50 is provided on an elevating base 51 that is guided by the elevating guide member 26 fixedly provided inside the housing main body 11 of the housing 2 and moved up and down by driving of the elevating drive mechanism 60. The head fitting frame 4 into which the pressing head 37 of the pump 32 of the container 30 with a pump is detachably fitted is integrated.
The elevating base 51, the head fitting frame 4 and the elevating guide member 26 are made of plastic. However, these materials are not particularly limited, and those made of metal can also be adopted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the elevating base 51 is formed in a plate shape that is formed in a U shape in plan view and extends in the up-down direction, and is vertically oriented by the elevating guide member 26 in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus (up-down direction in FIG. 6). Ascending / descending is guided while being held in place. The elevating base 51 includes a main plate portion 52 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the apparatus and rib-shaped projecting wall portions 53 that protrude from both ends of the main plate portion 52 in the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 6). It is formed in a letter shape. The protruding wall portion 53 protrudes from the main plate portion 52 toward the back side of the housing body 11 (the back plate portion 23b side, the rear side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus). It is in contact with a plate portion 26a described later.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lifting base 51 of the illustrated example has an upper end rib 52 a that protrudes toward the back side (back plate portion 23 b side) of the housing body 11 at the upper end of the main plate portion 52. Yes. The upper end rib 52a bridges the protruding wall portions 53 on both sides in the left-right direction of the apparatus. The projecting dimension of the upper end rib 52a from the main plate part 52 to the rear side in the apparatus front-rear direction is aligned with the projecting dimension of the projecting wall part 53 from the main plate part 52 to the rear side in the apparatus front-rear direction.
However, in the elevating base 51, the protruding dimension of the upper end rib 52a from the main plate part 52 to the rear side in the front-rear direction of the apparatus may be smaller than the protruding dimension of the protruding wall part 53 from the main plate part 52. 52a may be omitted.

The head fitting frame 4 protrudes and extends toward the front side of the apparatus front-rear direction on the front side of the lifting base 51.
The head fitting frame 4 is integrated with the lifting base 51. The lifting unit 50 in the illustrated example is an integrally molded product made of plastic in which the head fitting frame 4 and the lifting base 51 are integrally molded with resin. However, the lifting unit 50 is not limited to an integrally molded product made of plastic. For example, even if the head fitting frame 4, which is a separate member from the lifting base 51, is fixed to and integrated with the lifting base 51. good.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the head fitting frame 4 has a flat plate-like upper plate portion 4 a and a lower plate portion 4 b that are spaced apart in the vertical direction and connected in parallel to each other by left and right side plate portions 4 c. It is formed in a square frame shape.
As shown in FIGS. 3-7, the slit 4d extended toward the raising / lowering base 51 from the front end of this lower board part 4b is formed in the intermediate part of the width direction (left-right direction) of the lower board part 4b.

The pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 has a portion (head body) formed in a plate shape perpendicular to the axis of the stem 34. As the container 30 with a pump stored in the housing 2 of the automatic ejection device 1, the height of the head body of the pressing head 37 (the dimension of the pressing head 37 in the axial direction of the stem 34) is the same as that of the head fitting frame 4. The substantially same distance (separation distance) between the upper plate portion 4a and the lower plate portion 4b is used.
The head fitting frame 4 inserts the head body of the pressing head 37 between the upper plate portion 4a and the lower plate portion 4b by inserting the stem 34 of the pump-equipped container 30 into the slit 4d of the lower plate portion 4b. And can be inserted.

  In addition, the pump-equipped container 30 stored in the housing 2 of the automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 removes the front cover 12 of the housing 2 from the housing body 11 to open the front side of the housing body 11 and fit the head. The push-down head 37 fitted inside the frame 4 and the stem 34 inserted into the slit 4d of the lower plate portion 4b are pulled out from the head fitting frame 4 to the front side of the apparatus, so that it can be easily removed from the housing body 11. It can be taken out. Thereby, replacement | exchange of the container 30 with a pump can be performed easily.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 11, etc., the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 is formed in a flat plate shape (disc shape in the illustrated example) perpendicular to the axis of the stem 34. The upper surface 37a and the lower surface 37b are planar and perpendicular to the axis. The entire pressing head 37 functions as a head body. In the pressing head 37, the height dimension is the distance from the lower surface 37b to the upper surface 37a, that is, the thickness dimension of the plate-shaped pressing head 37.

  However, the pressing head 37 of the container 30 with the pump is extrapolated to the upper end of the stem 34 below the plate-like head body 37c perpendicular to the axis of the stem 34, as in the pressing head 37A shown in FIG. It is also possible to employ a projecting cylindrical neck portion 37d. In the pressing head 37A, the thickness of the head main body 37c is substantially the same as the distance between the upper plate portion 4a and the lower plate portion 4b of the head fitting frame 4. The pressing head 37A inserts the cylindrical neck portion 37d into the slit 4d of the lower plate portion 4b of the head fitting frame 4 so that the head main body 37c is inserted into the upper plate portion 4a and the lower plate portion of the head fitting frame 4. 4b can be inserted and fitted.

Moreover, as a head main body of the pressing head 37 of the container 30 with a pump, the height dimension is substantially the same as the space | interval of the upper board part 4a and the lower board part 4b of the head fitting frame 4, and a head fitting frame There is no particular limitation on the shape of the head body as long as it can be fitted between the upper plate portion 4a and the lower plate portion 4b. As the head body of the pressing head 37, for example, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), a plate-like one (head body 37e) having an upwardly convex upper dome shape, as shown in FIG. 13 (b). Also, a plate-like one (head main body 37f) whose upper surface forms a concave curved surface portion can be employed. Further, as shown in FIG. 13C, a head body (head body 37g) formed in a spherical or hemispherical shape (in the illustrated example, a hemispherical shape) can also be used.
13A to 13C can be inserted into the slit 4d of the lower plate portion 4b of the head fitting frame 4 on the lower side of the head body. Although the cylindrical neck portion 37d having a thickness is projected, a pressing head that does not have the cylindrical neck portion 37d and is configured only by the head main body can be employed.

A plurality of ribs 4 e extending in the front-rear direction of the apparatus are provided on the lower portion of the upper plate portion 4 a of the head fitting frame 4. The upper plate portion 4a of the head fitting frame 4 includes the rib 4e.
The plurality of ribs 4e are provided to protrude at a plurality of locations at intervals in the left-right direction of the apparatus. The rib 4e increases the bending strength of the head fitting frame 4 protruding in a cantilever manner from the lifting base 51 with respect to the lifting base 51. As a result, the head fitting frame 4 can push down the pressing head 37 without bending.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the elevating guide member 26 is attached to a support plate 55 fixed inside the housing body 11 of the housing 2. The support plate 55 is fixed to the housing main body 11 in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the apparatus by screwing a plurality of support protrusions 11b provided on the inner surface of the housing main body 11 with screws 56. The support protrusion 11 b in the illustrated example protrudes from the back plate portion 23 b of the housing body 11. The support plate 55 is provided at a position spaced forward from a plate-like portion other than the support protrusion 11 b of the back plate portion 23 b of the housing body 11.

  The elevating guide member 26 is fixed to the front surface side (front side in the apparatus front-rear direction) of the support plate 55 and is arranged to extend in the up-down direction. The elevating guide member 26 includes a plate portion 26b that is in contact with the support plate 55, and a flange portion 26a that is L-shaped in plan view and protrudes toward the front side of the apparatus at both left and right ends of the plate portion 26b. ing. The flange portions 26a on both the left and right sides of the elevating guide member 26 are formed in an L shape in a plan view in which protruding tips from the plate portion 26b face each other in the apparatus left-right direction.

The head fitting frame 4 of the elevating unit 50 protrudes from the central portion of the elevating base 51 in the left-right direction of the apparatus to the front side (front side in the apparatus front-rear direction). The elevation unit 50 is a plan view in which the overhanging portions projecting to the left and right sides via the head fitting frame 4 of the elevation base 51 are respectively constituted by the flange portions 26 a and the plate portions 26 b of the elevation guide member 26. In a state of being housed inside the U-shaped guide part, the elevator is moved up and down while sliding with respect to the lifting guide member 26. Further, the lifting unit 50 has the protruding portions on the left and right sides of the lifting base 51 pressed against the plate portion 26b by the flange portion 26a, and slides between the plate portion 26b and the flange portion 26a. Ascends and descends without shaking against 26.
The head fitting frame 4 of the elevating unit 50 moves up and down between the flange portions 26 a on the left and right sides of the elevating guide member 26 as the elevating unit 50 moves up and down.

Next, the elevating drive mechanism 60 of the head pressing mechanism 80 of the automatic ejection device 1 of this embodiment will be described.
The elevating drive mechanism 60 is attached to a support plate 55 fixed inside the housing body 11 of the housing 2. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the elevating drive mechanism 60 includes a motor 61 attached to the front side of the support plate 55 and a back surface (back of the housing body 11) that is pivotally supported by the support plate 55. A gear unit 62 that constitutes a speed reduction mechanism is provided by a plurality of gears 63, 64, 65 arranged on the side facing the plate portion 23 a.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the gear unit 62 includes an input gear 63 that meshes with the drive gear 61 a of the motor 61, one or a plurality of transmission gears 65 (one in the illustrated example), and the transmission gear. And an output gear 64 that is rotationally driven by the rotational driving force from the input gear 63 transmitted through 65.
Further, the gear shaft 64a of the output gear 64 passes from the support plate 55 through the window hole 26c (see FIG. 5) opened at the center of the plate portion 26b of the elevating guide member 26 to the front side of the plate portion 26b. It has a protruding portion (front protruding portion). The elevating drive mechanism 60 elevates and lowers the elevating unit 50 with an engaging pin 66 protruding from the front side of a pin plate 67 that is integrally fixed to the front protruding portion of the gear shaft 64a. The main plate portion 52 of the base 51 is inserted into a long hole-shaped engagement slit 54 that extends in the left-right direction.

The input gear 63 is formed by integrating a sub-gear 63b having a smaller diameter than the main gear 63a coaxially with a main gear 63a that meshes with the drive gear 61a of the motor 61.
The transmission gear 65 is a main gear 65a meshing with the sub gear 63b of the input gear 63, and a sub gear 65b having a diameter smaller than that of the main gear 65a is coaxially fixed and integrated, and the sub gear 65b is integrated with the output gear. The rotational driving force of the motor 61 transmitted through the input gear 63 is transmitted to the output gear 64.
The main gear 63 a of the input gear 63, the main gear 65 a of the transmission gear 65, and the output gear 64 are formed larger in diameter than the sub gear 63 b of the input gear 63 and the sub gear 65 b of the transmission gear 65. Further, between the gears meshed with each other, the driving side gear has a smaller diameter and a smaller number of teeth than the driven side gear, and a reduction ratio for reducing and transmitting the rotational driving force from the motor 61 is ensured.

The gear unit 62 only needs to constitute a reduction mechanism that decelerates the rotational driving force of the motor 61 and transmits it to the output gear 64 to rotate the output gear 64 and the pin plate 67, and is not limited to the configuration of the illustrated example. .
As the gear unit 62, for example, a configuration in which a plurality of transmission gears 65 are provided between the input gear 63 and the output gear 64 can be employed. In this case, the plurality of transmission gears 65 mesh with the main gear 65a of the driven-side transmission gear 65 of the driving-side transmission gear 65, and the transmission gear 65 located closest to the driving side in the rotational driving force transmission direction. The main gear 65 a is meshed with the sub gear 63 b of the input gear 63, and the sub gear 65 b of the transmission gear 65 located closest to the driven side is meshed with the output gear 64.
As the gear unit 62, a configuration in which the transmission gear 65 is omitted and the output gear 64 is directly meshed with the sub gear 63b of the input gear 63 can be employed.

  In the elevating drive mechanism 60, when the output gear 64 is rotated by the rotation drive of the motor 61, the pin plate 67 rotates integrally with the gear shaft 64 a of the output gear 64. The protruding position of the engagement pin 66 on the pin plate 67 is eccentric with respect to the gear shaft 64 a of the output gear 64. Therefore, when the pin plate 67 is rotated by driving the motor 61, the engagement pin 66 performs a circular motion that moves (rotates) on the circumference around the gear shaft 64a. As described above, since the engaging pin 66 is inserted into the engaging slit 54 formed in the main plate portion 52 of the elevating base 51, when the engaging pin 66 performs a circular motion, the elevating base 51 is moved up and down. The moving force in the direction acts, and the lifting unit 50 moves in the vertical direction while being guided by the lifting guide member 26 as the engaging pin 66 rotates. Thereby, the pressing head 37 can be pushed down and pulled up by the head fitting frame 4.

The rotation of the engagement pin 66 accompanying the rotation of the pin plate 67 proceeds with the movement of the insertion position in the longitudinal direction of the engagement slit 54. The longitudinal dimension of the engagement slit 54 is longer than the displacement amount (movement amount) of the engagement pin 66 rotated by the rotation of the pin plate 67 in the lateral direction of the apparatus. The formation range of the engagement slit 54 in the left-right direction of the device is wider than the movable range of the engagement pin 66 in the left-right direction of the device when the pin plate 67 rotates once, and the engagement pin 66 is engaged by the rotation of the pin plate 67. While maintaining the state of being inserted into the slit 54, the output gear 64 rotates around the axis of the gear shaft 64a.
In addition, the dimension in the width direction (vertical direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the engagement slit 66 is substantially the same (equal or slightly larger) than the outer diameter of the engagement pin 66.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the automatic liquid ejection device 1 is engaged when the liquid ejection operation is not performed, that is, when the motor 61 of the elevating drive mechanism 60 of the head pressing mechanism 80 is not driven. The pin 66 is disposed at a standby position that is the uppermost part in the movement route by the rotation of the pin plate 67.
The raising / lowering strokes of the raising / lowering base 51 and the press-down head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 are determined by the turning radius of the engaging pin 66 by the rotation of the pin plate 67. The raising / lowering stroke of the raising / lowering base 51 and the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 is an upper limit position (elevation upper / lower position) when the engagement pin 66 is in the standby position, and the engagement pin 66 passes through the center of rotation. When the position is opposite to the standby position, that is, when the engaging pin 66 is located at the lowest position (position shown in FIG. It is the position (lowering lower limit position).

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, when the push-down head 37 is pushed down by the drive of the elevating drive mechanism 60, the engaging pin 66 draws a semicircle from the standby position by the rotation of the pin plate 67 and reaches the rotation lower end position. Between. By depressing the pressing head 37, the liquid is discharged from the discharge nozzle 35 of the pump-equipped container 30. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 10, the pressing head 37 is configured so that after the pressing is completed, the engaging pin 66 draws a semicircle from the rotating lower end position by the rotation of the pin plate 67 and reaches the standby position, thereby raising and lowering the upper limit. Return to position.

  In the pump-equipped container 30, the entire push-down lever 32 </ b> A with a nozzle moves up and down with respect to the container 31 as the pressing head 37 moves up and down relative to the container 31. Therefore, the pump-equipped container 30 can discharge the liquid from the discharge nozzle 35 by the pressing head 37 being pushed down from the up / down upper limit position by driving of the up / down drive mechanism 60. Moreover, the container 30 with a pump returns the liquid in the suction pipe 40 (refer FIG. 11) to the liquid filling chamber 36a of the cylinder part 32B, when the pressing head 37 which has been pushed down returns from the lower limit position to the upper limit position. Suck it up.

  The driving of the motor 61 is controlled by the control unit 21. The control unit 21 drives the motor 61 when a detection signal output when the sensor 7 detects the user's finger is input. When the motor 61 is driven, the engagement pin 66 starts circular movement from the standby position, and returns to the standby position via the rotation lower end position. The rotation direction of the pin plate 67 and the rotation direction of the engagement pin 66 by the drive of the elevating drive mechanism 60 are constant, and are clockwise in the illustrated example.

When the sensor 7 detects the user's finger while the engagement pin 66 is in the standby position, the elevating drive mechanism 60 rotates the engagement pin 66 from the standby position to the lower end position under the control of the control unit 21. The pin rotation operation for returning to the standby position via is performed a predetermined number of times (one or more times). With one pin rotation operation, a one-cycle discharge operation (elevating operation) is performed from when the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle of the pump-equipped container 30 is pushed down from the elevating upper limit position to the elevating lower limit position and returning to the elevating upper limit position. Is called.
Further, the elevating drive mechanism 60 stops the rotation of the engagement pin 66 from the start of the rotation operation (pin rotation operation) of the engagement pin 66 until the set number of pin rotation operations is completed. Without engaging, the engaging pin 66 is rotated at a constant speed.

  The lift drive mechanism 60 performs the pin rotation operation when the sensor 7 not detecting the user's finger detects the finger in a state where the pin rotation operation is not performed. When the sensor 7 continues to detect the finger from during the pin rotation operation to after the operation is completed, after the set number of times of the pin rotation operation is completed, the sensor 7 does not detect the finger and then the sensor 7 When 7 detects a finger, the next pin rotation operation is executed.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the automatic liquid ejecting apparatus 1 has a limit sensor 27 that detects an elevating unit 50 present at an elevating upper limit position in the housing body 11. When the limit sensor 27 detects the lifting unit 50, a detection signal output from the limit sensor 27 is input to the control unit 21. The control unit 21 receives a detection signal from the sensor 7 that detects the user's finger while the motor 61 of the lifting drive mechanism 60 is stopped and the limit sensor 27 detects the lifting unit 50. Only when the motor 61 is driven, the pin rotating operation by the elevating drive mechanism 60 is started. In a state where the limit sensor 27 does not detect the lifting unit 50, even if a detection signal is input from the sensor 7 that detects the user's finger to the control unit 21, the motor 61 based on the detection signal from the sensor 7 in the control unit 21. This control is canceled, and the pin rotation operation of the elevating drive mechanism 60 is not started.

When the set number of times of the pin rotation operation of the ascending / descending drive mechanism 60 when the sensor 7 detects the user's finger is one, based on the detection signal from the sensor 7 that has detected the user's finger, the controller 21 The driving of the motor 61 started by the control is stopped when a detection signal from the limit sensor 27 that detects the elevating unit 50 is input to the control unit 21.
When the number of times of setting the pin rotation operation of the lifting drive mechanism 60 when the sensor 7 detects the user's finger is a plurality of times, the control unit 21 detects the detection signal from the limit sensor 27 that has detected the lifting unit 50. The number of pin rotation operations completed is counted by input. Then, the control unit 21 detects the lifting unit 50 that has been lowered by the final pin rotation operation and returned to the lifting upper limit position, and the limit sensor 27 detects the lift unit 50, and the detection signal from the limit sensor 27 is input, so that the motor The drive of 61 is stopped.

The limit sensor 27 illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10 is an optical sensor that includes a light emitting portion 27a and a light receiving portion 27b that are attached to the lifting guide member 26 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The light emitting part 27a and the light receiving part 27b of the limit sensor 27 are provided opposite to each other at both side positions via the arrangement position of the upper plate part 4a of the head fitting frame 4 when the elevating unit 50 is at the elevating upper limit position. The upper / lower unit 50 at the upper / lower position is detected by detecting the upper plate portion 4a.
The limit sensor 27 is not limited to the above-described optical sensor and the like as long as it detects the lifting unit 50 at the lifting upper limit position. The limit sensor 27 may be a contact sensor that detects the lifting unit 50 at the lifting upper limit position by contact with the lifting unit 50 in addition to the above-described non-contact type sensor such as an optical sensor.

  Since the automatic liquid discharge device 1 holds the pressing head 37 of the container 30 with a pump from above and below by the square frame-shaped head fitting frame 4, the pressing head 37 is displaced from the head fitting frame 4. There is no. Therefore, the stem 34 is not pushed obliquely due to the displacement of the pressing head 37, and the pressing operation of the pressing head 37 of the head pressing mechanism 80 is performed (in the automatic liquid ejecting apparatus 1 of this embodiment, a pin rotating operation). The time from the start to the start of liquid discharge from the discharge nozzle 35 can be stabilized.

  Further, the automatic liquid ejection device 1 can prevent the bending deformation of the stem caused by the sliding of the pressing head 114 with respect to the plate-shaped pressing member 120, which has occurred in the prior art illustrated in FIG. 14. For this reason, this automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 has the advantage that there is no fear of damaging the stem due to bending deformation caused by the sliding of the pressing head 114 with respect to the plate-shaped pressing member 120, and as a result, the life of the container with the pump can be extended. is there.

Further, the head pressing mechanism 80 of the automatic liquid ejection apparatus 1 not only depresses the lifting unit 50 but also returns the lifting unit 50 that has been pressed down to the upper limit position. For this reason, the automatic liquid discharge apparatus 1 raises the lifting unit 50 after the completion of the pressing operation by driving the head pressing mechanism 80, so that the pressing head 37 fitted to the head fitting frame 4 of the lifting unit 50 is also connected. It can be lifted together with the lift unit 50 and reliably returned to the position before the push-down, that is, the lift upper limit position.
For this reason, even if the movement resistance of the stem 34 with respect to the container 31 is slightly increased for some reason, the automatic liquid ejection device 1 moves from the lower limit position of the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle after the completion of pressing down to the upper limit position. It is possible to prevent the time required for returning to the time from becoming long and to stabilize the time.

  In the automatic liquid ejecting apparatus 1, as described above, the stem can be prevented from being bent and deformed due to the sliding of the pressing head 114 with respect to the plate-shaped pressing member 120 in the prior art. There is no fear of causing an increase in sliding resistance against the cap of the stem due to bending deformation, thereby causing a delay in raising of the stem and the pressing head after completion of the pressing down.

  Further, the automatic liquid ejecting apparatus 1 elevates the elevating unit 50 after the depressing is completed by driving the head depressing mechanism 80 even when, for example, a liquid having a relatively high viscosity is ejected from the container 30 with the pump. The pressing head 37 fitted to the head fitting frame 4 of the unit 50 can also be raised together with the lifting unit 50 and reliably returned to the lifting upper limit position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of inconvenience that the waiting time until the next discharge operation becomes longer due to the delay of the raising of the pressing head.

The raising / lowering drive mechanism 60 of the head pressing mechanism 80 of the above-described embodiment is based on the action of the elastic biasing force of the return spring 39 in the cylinder portion 32B of the pump-equipped container 30 according to the reduction ratio of the gear unit 62 constituting the reduction mechanism. The depression of the push-down head 37 of the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle of the pump-equipped container 30 is the same as the rise and return to the upper and lower lift upper limit position without being affected by the viscosity of the liquid discharged from the pump-equipped container 30. It can be done smoothly at speed.
That is, in the lifting drive mechanism 60, even if the lifting resistance of the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle of the pump-equipped container 30 is somewhat increased, the lifting speed of the lifting unit 50 may be completely or depending on the reduction ratio of the gear unit 62 that constitutes the speed reduction mechanism. The pressing head 37 can be raised and lowered smoothly by following the raising and lowering of the lifting unit 50 with almost no influence.

  The configuration in which the head pressing mechanism 80 not only depresses the elevating unit 50 but also returns the elevating unit 50 that has been depressed to the elevating upper limit position, for example, increases the sliding resistance of the stem 34 relative to the cap 33. When the ascending resistance of the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle after being pushed down increases due to the viscosity of the liquid in the container 31 of the pump-equipped vessel 30, the push-down lever 37 of the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle is pulled up by the raising / lowering unit 50. Thus, a pulling force can be applied to the stem 34. As a result, the bending deformation of the stem 34 can be eliminated or reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the upper and lower upper limit position of the press-down head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 driven by the elevating drive mechanism 60 is positioned below the upper limit position of the push-down head 37 in the structure of the pump-equipped container 30. The configuration effectively contributes to prevention of pump mistakes due to the intrusion of air into the liquid filling chamber 36a of the cylinder portion 32B in the pump-equipped container 30.

  The inventor temporarily applies the pump-equipped container 30 shown in FIG. 11 to the conventional automatic liquid discharge apparatus illustrated in FIG. 14, and the push-down lever 32 </ b> A of the pump-equipped container 30 is moved by the plate-shaped pressing member 120. The case where the structure is configured such that it is pushed down from the ascending limit position and returned to the ascending limit position only by the elastic biasing force of the return spring 39 after discharging the liquid was verified. In this case, it has been found that when the liquid is discharged from the discharge nozzle 35 by depressing the pressing head 37, a pump error may occur in which the liquid cannot be discharged smoothly. This pump error is caused by air intrusion into the liquid filling chamber 36 a in the pump case 36. The intrusion of air into the liquid filling chamber 36a is caused by the stem 34 being in an obliquely pushed state when the pressing member 120 pushes down the pressing head 37 from the rising limit position.

  The components of the pump-equipped container 30 are generally made of plastic. The pump-equipped container 30 illustrated in FIG. 11 has all members except the balls of the ball check valves 41 and 42c and the return spring 39. Made of plastic. When the stem 34 is in an obliquely pressed state, the piston 38 in the cylinder portion 32B presses the inner peripheral surface of the pump case 36, so that the pump case 36 may be slightly inclined with respect to the axis of the stem housing cylinder portion 33b. . At this time, the pump case 36 is inclined with respect to the stem storage cylinder portion 33b due to deformation of the upper end of a portion (hereinafter referred to as a lower extension portion) extending downward from a portion fixed to the cap 33. For this reason, when the pressing lever 32A with the nozzle is at the ascent limit position, the deformation of the upper end of the lower extension of the pump case 36 affects the sealing performance between the piston 38 and the inner peripheral surface of the pump case 36, This causes air intrusion into the liquid filling chamber 36a.

An air passage between the stem 34 and the stem storage cylinder portion 33b communicates with a space formed between the piston 38 and the ceiling wall 33b when the push-down lever 32A with a nozzle is positioned below the rising limit position. However, it is ensured by a groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the stem storage cylinder portion 33b, for example. When the upper end of the lower extension of the pump case 36 is deformed, the air intrusion into the liquid filling chamber 36a and the suction pipe from the check valve 41 when the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle is at the upper limit position. The amount of liquid in the liquid filling chamber 36a may decrease due to the liquid leakage to 40, and a pump error occurs due to the decrease in the liquid amount.
The discharge flow path 42 of the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle of the pump-equipped container 30 after the liquid discharge is in a state of being blocked by the liquid filled from the lever lower end check valve 42c to the liquid outlet 42b side. Therefore, it is difficult for air to enter the liquid filling chamber 36a from the discharge flow path 42.

The automatic liquid ejection device 1 of the present embodiment does not cause the stem 34 to be obliquely pushed when the push-down head 37 of the container 30 with a pump stored in the housing 2 is pushed down. However, a slight tilting of the lower extension portion of the plastic pump case 36 with respect to the cap 33 repeatedly acts due to slight deformation of the stem 34 when the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 is pushed down. There is a possibility that a minute deformation may occur at the upper end of the lower extension portion of the.
As shown in FIG. 11, the upper and lower upper limit position of the press-down head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 driven by the elevating drive mechanism 60 is positioned below the upper limit position of the push-down head 37 in the structure of the pump-equipped container 30. If it is a structure, the piston 38 of the pressing lever 32A with a nozzle which stops at the raising / lowering upper limit position at the time of the standby state which the raising / lowering drive mechanism 60 is not driving is arrange | positioned slightly downward from the ceiling wall 33b of the cylinder part 32B. That is, the piston 38 of the push-down lever 32A with the nozzle at the upper and lower limit position can be disposed at a position shifted downward below the upper end of the lower extension portion of the pump case 36. As a result, the minute deformation at the upper end of the lower extension of the pump case 36 affects the sealing performance between the piston 38 and the inner peripheral surface of the pump case 36, thereby preventing air from entering the liquid filling chamber 36a. Can be prevented.

  In addition, if the raising / lowering upper limit position of the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 driven by the raising / lowering driving mechanism 60 is configured to be located below the ascending limit position of the structural pressing head 37 in the pump-equipped container 30, The pump-equipped container 30 is held between the bottom plate 22 and the head fitting frame 4 by the elastic force of the return spring 39 of the pump 32. For this reason, the position of the container 30 with the pump 30 in the housing 2 due to repeated lifting and lowering operation of the pressing head 37, vibration during movement of the apparatus, impact from the outside, etc., and the pressing head 37 with respect to the head fitting frame 4 Misalignment can be suppressed. This is advantageous in suppressing or preventing the bending deformation of the stem 34 caused by the depression of the pressing head 37, and the stem 34 is less likely to be damaged, and thus contributes effectively to extending the life of the container 30 with the pump.

  In addition, if the raising / lowering upper limit position of the pressing head 37 of the pump-equipped container 30 driven by the raising / lowering driving mechanism 60 is configured to be located below the ascending limit position of the structural pressing head 37 in the pump-equipped container 30, Since the raising / lowering stroke of the pressing head 37 is shortened, the time required for one cycle of the discharge operation (elevating operation) from when the pressing head 37 is lowered from the raising / lowering upper limit position to the raising / lowering lower limit position to returning to the raising / lowering upper limit position can be shortened. . Thereby, the waiting time until the next discharge can be shortened.

  In the above-described embodiment, the elevating drive mechanism that elevates the elevating unit 50 includes the gear unit 62 that constitutes a decelerating mechanism that decelerates and transmits the rotational driving force of the motor 61 and rotates the pin plate 67. Although the elevating drive mechanism 60 has been exemplified, the elevating drive mechanism may be any mechanism as long as the elevating unit is pushed down and the elevating unit that has been pushed down is returned to the elevating upper limit position. The configuration having the unit 62 is not limited. As the elevating drive mechanism, for example, a configuration in which a pair of eccentric cams sandwiching a projecting piece projecting from the elevating unit is rotated synchronously by the rotational driving force of a motor and the like can be adopted. In addition, as an elevating drive mechanism, for example, one end of a bar member whose axial center is supported by a pin is rotatably coupled to the outer periphery of the motor drive shaft with an axis parallel to the drive shaft. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which an elevating unit connected to the other end of the bar is moved up and down by rotating the drive shaft.

In addition, as a container with a pump to be applied to the automatic liquid discharge device, any container may be used as long as it is equipped with a pump that supplies and discharges the liquid to a discharge nozzle by a pressing-down operation of a pressing head on a container that stores the liquid. It is not necessarily limited to the thing of the structure which employ | adopted the pressing lever with a nozzle which has the lever lower end check valve 42c. As a pump for a container with a pump, a configuration in which a push-down lever with a nozzle that does not have the lever lower end check valve 42c is employed can be employed.
Further, as this pump, the liquid is sucked into the liquid filling chamber 36a of the cylinder portion 32B by the rising of the pressed head in the pushed down state, and the liquid discharge chamber 36a filled with the liquid filling chamber 36a is pushed down by the pushed down head. The structure is not limited to extruding and discharging. For example, air is sent into the container by pushing down the pressing head at the upper end of the stem that can be moved up and down through the cap. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which the discharge is pushed out from the flow channel tube inserted into the flow channel to the discharge nozzle communicating with the flow channel tube.

  Specific configurations and shapes of the elevating guide member 26, the elevating unit 50, and the like are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the design can be changed as appropriate.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic liquid discharge apparatus, 2 ... Housing | casing, 4 ... Head fitting frame, 7 ... Sensor, 10 ... Finger, 26 ... Lifting guide member, 30 ... Container with pump, 31 ... Container, 32 ... Pump, 33 ... Cap 34 ... Stem, 35 ... Discharge nozzle, 36 ... Pump case, 37 ... Push head, 50 ... Lifting unit, 51 ... Lifting base, 60 ... Lifting drive mechanism, 61 ... Motor, 62 ... Gear unit, 80 ... Head pressing mechanism.

Claims (3)

A discharge unit that discharges liquid from the discharge nozzle to a housing that detachably stores a pump-equipped container equipped with a pump that supplies and discharges the liquid to the discharge nozzle by a push-down operation of a pressing head to a container that stores the liquid. A sensor for detecting a user's finger inserted in a detection region set including the region or the vicinity thereof, and a head pressing mechanism for pressing down the pressing head of the pump when the sensor detects the finger,
The head pressing mechanism is inserted into the pump case of the pump so as to be able to move up and down, and the pressing head formed in a plate shape perpendicular to the axis of the stem is detachably fitted to the upper end of the stem protruding upward. A rectangular frame-shaped head fitting frame that clamps the pressing head from above and below is integrated with an elevating base that is guided by an elevating guide member that extends in the vertical direction on the housing and moves up and down. An automatic liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a unit; and an elevating drive mechanism that moves the elevating unit up and down with a predetermined elevating stroke.   The raising / lowering upper limit position of the pressing head of the pump of the container with a pump by the raising / lowering stroke of the head fitting frame is located below the rising limit position of the pressing head on the structure of the pump of the container with pump. The automatic liquid ejection device according to claim 1.   3. The automatic liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elevating drive mechanism is a gear unit using a motor as a drive source.

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