JP2970155B2 - Scent generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention makes it possible to control the discharge of a very small amount of a human threshold value by atomizing a liquid fragrance into fine particles, thereby creating a pleasant scent atmosphere close to nature in a living space. The present invention relates to a scent generator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional fragrance generating means, a fragrance having a tabletop masking effect is well known, and all of them utilize the natural evaporation of fragrance.

As a method of discharging a small amount of liquid droplets, there is a known piezo-driven ink liquid discharge device used in a drop-on-demand type ink jet head or the like. This method will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 3, in an example of a piezo drive type ink droplet discharge head 101, when electric signals 3 are input to both surfaces of a piezo plate 12 adhered to a vibration plate 11, the piezo plate 1
2 and the vibration plate 11 are displaced, and a sharp pressure rise occurs in the ink 31 in the pressure chamber 9, thereby discharging minute ink droplets from the discharge nozzle 4 provided in a part of the pressure chamber 9. In addition, as for the supply of ink to the pressure chamber of the piezo-driven ink droplet discharge device, the supply of the liquid is forcibly performed using a pump 32 or the like.

[0005]

The above-mentioned conventional fragrances merely control the intensity of the scent by opening and closing the opening for generating the scent. Odor may be generated, and the odor is generated using the natural evaporation of the fragrance, so that components with a low boiling point are vaporized, and only components with a high boiling point remain over time. It has a problem that it is different from when it started to be used. In addition, when a conventional ink droplet ejection head using a piezoelectric vibrator is used as a scent generator, a pump is used to supply the fragrance into the pressure chamber, which increases the size of the device and complicates the mechanism, resulting in cost reduction. It becomes a factor of up. Furthermore, since a sudden increase in pressure is applied to the pressure chamber to discharge droplets, if air bubbles enter the pressure chamber, the air bubbles cause pressure buffering, so that the fragrance is not discharged. In such a case, if the liquid is ink, it is possible to forcibly discharge bubbles together with the ink from the discharge nozzle to the outside, but in the case of a fragrance, the fragrance leaks from the discharged fragrance and is intended. There is a problem that it impedes the fragrance environment.

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention controls a very small amount, such as a threshold value, which a person feels faintly when a scent is needed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost, highly reliable and compact scent generator that can be generated by heating.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a fragrance generating apparatus comprising: a fragrance storage container; a pressure chamber; a supply passage for supplying fragrance of the fragrance storage container to the pressure chamber; At the bottom of the pressure chamber, a discharge nozzle having a surface coated with an oil-repellent material, and at the top of the pressure chamber facing the discharge nozzle, a sharp pressure vibration wave is generated in the fragrance supplied to the pressure chamber. Piezo-drive type pressure vibration wave generating means to be configured, and the discharge nozzle, the pressure chamber, and the pressure vibration wave generating means are arranged at a position lower than the liquid level of the flavor in the flavor storage container, The object is achieved by discharging / stopping a minute droplet of liquid fragrance from the discharge nozzle in response to an electric signal.

[0008]

The operation of the above configuration is as follows.

According to the present invention, a pressure chamber is provided at a position lower than a liquid level of a flavor in a flavor storage container, and a nozzle is further provided at a bottom surface of the pressure chamber, and a piezoelectric vibrator serving as a pressure vibration wave generating means is opposed to a discharge nozzle. The structure provided on the top surface
Since the resonance wave of the liquid fragrance that has received the pressure vibration wave from the piezo vibrator is linearly transmitted to the discharge nozzle, the fragrance can be sprayed from the nozzle tip. For this reason, there is no need to increase the pressure in the pressure chamber such as the ink droplet ejection head, and it is not necessary to forcibly supply the fragrance, so that the inflow port for fragrance supply to the pressure chamber is opened. And there is no need to provide a complicated bubble removing means.

Further, by coating the nozzle opening surface with a fluorine-based oleophobic substance, the fragrance does not flow out of the nozzle and forms a convex meniscus in the nozzle portion by acting on the contact angle of the oleophobic film with the fragrance. And a stable state is maintained. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the scent due to the dripping from the nozzle and the wasteful consumption.

Further, the amount of spray can be controlled by controlling the driving voltage, the driving frequency and the driving time of the electric signal input to the piezoelectric vibrator, which is the pressure vibration wave generating means, for discharging the fragrance.

With the above-described configuration, a highly reliable fragrance generating device having a high discharge efficiency can be realized, and an inexpensive device can produce a fragrance space suitable for each person's preference.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scent generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a cassette type scent generator, 2 is a fragrance container, 3 is an electric signal, 4 is a body, 5 is a holder, 6 is a lead electrode PC plate, 11 is a vibration plate, 12 is a piezo plate, 16 Is a lead wire, and 17 is a connector.

The scent generator 1 generally comprises a scent storage container 2 for storing scents, a body part 4 having a vibration wave 11 for applying a sharp pressure oscillation wave to the scent according to an electric signal 3 and a piezo plate 12. ing. The detachable cassette type scent generator 1 is provided with a scent generator in a holder 5 which also serves as a lead electrode take-out contact provided in a part of a scent generator or an air conditioner having a blower circuit (not shown). The container 2 is pressed down and fixed. Also, a lead wire 1 drawn out of the piezo electrode surface by bonding or the like
Reference numeral 6 denotes a connector connected to a contact pin provided on the lead electrode PC plate 6 by a connector 17.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the scent generator according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 7 is a nozzle, 8 is a fragrance, 9 is a pressure chamber, 10 is a supply passage, 13 is an oil-repellent film,
14 is a lid, 15 is a vent, and 18 is a liquid level.

In the fragrance storage container 2, for example, a fragrance 8 mixed with the scent of fruits and flowers is stored, and fine droplets of the fragrance 8 are discharged into the fragrance storage container 2 in accordance with the electric signal 3. A metal body part 4 which is an engine part to be joined is joined. A rectangular parallelepiped pressure chamber 9 is formed in the body portion 4.
Are connected by a supply passage 10 for supplying the air.

A nozzle 7 for discharging fine droplets of the fragrance 8 is provided at the bottom of the pressure chamber 9, and a metallic vibration plate 11 is provided on the upper surface of the pressure chamber 9 facing the nozzle 7. A piezo plate 12 is joined to the outer surface of the diaphragm. An oil-repellent film 13 made of a fluorine-based oil-repellent substance or a monomolecular film is formed on the outer surface of the nozzle 7. A lid 14 is attached to the top of the fragrance storage container 2,
A small vent 15 that is always in communication with the outside air
Is provided.

The operation of the scent generating device 1 is as follows. The scent generating device 1 has a holder 5 and a lead electrode PC provided in an air conditioner or a scent generator having a blower circuit (not shown).
When the nozzle 7 is set between the plates 6, the position of the nozzle 7 is lower than the liquid level 18, so that a positive static pressure P acts on the opening of the nozzle 7, but the oil-repellent coating 13 is applied to the surface of the nozzle 7. ,
Even if the fragrance has a surface tension of about 25 dyne / cm, the liquid does not drool from the nozzle 7 and a convex meniscus is formed at the opening of the nozzle 7 to maintain a stable state. For example, the radius r of the nozzle 7 is 0.025 mm, the surface tension γ of the fragrance is 25 dyne / cm, the density ρ of the liquid is 0.9 g / cm ² ,
The acceleration of gravity g is 980 cm / sec ² , and the contact angle θ is 6
If 0 °, the meniscus holding pressure P becomes 170 mmAq or more from P = (2 · γ) / (r · ρ · g · sin θ). That is, 170 mmAq
The following static pressure means that no liquid dripping from the nozzle 7 occurs.

In such a state, an electric signal 3 is output by a drive control circuit via a remote controller (not shown) or the like.
Is applied to the electrodes on both sides of the holder 5 and the piezo plate 12, the vibration of the piezo plate 12 and the diaphragm 11 causes the pressure chamber 9.
A sharp pressure oscillation wave is generated in the fragrance 8 in the inside, and a microdroplet corresponding to the electric signal 3 is discharged from the nozzle 7 into the air by the resonance wave, and is evaporated as it is in the air or a liquid (not shown). After adhering to a drip pan or heating plate, it evaporates to generate a scent. A small vent 15 opened in a part of the lid 14
The reason is to minimize the leakage of the fragrance at the time of rest, and to maintain the volume change accompanying the consumption of the fragrance 8 and the pressure change due to the temperature and the atmospheric pressure only by the static pressure of the fragrance 8.

The construction, operation, action, and the like of the scent generator of the present invention have been described above. The constituent materials of the scent generator include metal, glass, ceramics, and other transparent or translucent plastic materials. The use of (1) has an advantage that the remaining amount of the fragrance can be visually confirmed, and the cost can be reduced by a molding die. In addition, this scent generator has the advantage that the components of the scent do not change from the beginning to the end of use because it is a droplet spray type, and since it is a cassette type, it is possible to select a scent that suits each person's taste by preparing many types of fragrances Is possible.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, a nozzle provided with an oil-repellent coating is provided at a position lower than the liquid level in the flavor storage container, and a pressure vibration wave generating means is provided at a position facing the nozzle. With this structure, the static pressure of the liquid acting on the nozzle can be kept constant, stabilizing the discharge, and discharging the fragrance directly by using the resonance wave by the pressure vibration wave. In addition, with the above-described structure, a fragrance can be supplied without remaining bubbles in the pressure chamber, so that a stable and reliable piezo-driven scent generator can be provided. And by mounting it on a single type of fragrance generator with an air conditioner or air blower circuit for automobiles and ordinary households, it is possible to create a fragrance space at home and office according to each person's taste at a reasonable price. It is possible to produce effects, stabilize the mind and change the mood, and can expect effects such as improvement of work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scent generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a scent generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional piezo-drive type ink jet head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fragrance generator 2 Fragrance storage container 3 Electric signal 4 Body part 5 Holder 6 Lead electrode PC board 7 Nozzle 8 Fragrance 9 Pressure chamber 10 Supply passage 11 Vibration plate 12 Piezo plate 13 Oil repellent film 14 Cover 15 Vent hole 16 Lead wire 17 Connector 18 Liquid level

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-3-198863 (JP, A) JP-A-4-298262 (JP, A) JP-A-56-101869 (JP, A) JP-A-58-109156 (JP, A) , A) JP-A-57-87967 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A61L 9/14 B05B 17/04-17/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fragrance storage container, a pressure chamber, a supply passage for supplying fragrance in the fragrance storage container to the pressure chamber, and an oil-repellent material film formed on a surface formed at the bottom of the pressure chamber. A discharge nozzle, and a pressure vibration wave generating means for generating a sharp pressure vibration wave in the fragrance supplied to the pressure chamber on an upper part of the pressure chamber opposed to the discharge nozzle, and from the discharge nozzle in accordance with an electric signal. An integrated fragrance generating apparatus for discharging / stopping the minute liquid droplets of the liquid fragrance, wherein the discharge nozzle, the pressure chamber, and the pressure vibration wave generating means include a liquid level of the fragrance in the fragrance storage container. A scent generator always at a lower position.