JP6338983B2 - Spraying equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a spray device that atomizes a liquid and supplies the generated mist to a surrounding space.

Devices that atomize liquids such as liquid fragrances and chemicals by applying ultrasonic vibration are known.
In addition, it is equipped with a plurality of liquid storage units that individually store a plurality of types of liquids, and the plurality of types of liquids are individually absorbed by the liquid absorbing member and guided to an ultrasonic transducer to be atomized by applying ultrasonic vibrations. There has been proposed an ultrasonic fogger (see Patent Document 1). Further, in Patent Document 2, a porous or reticulated thin plate is disposed so as to be in contact with the atomizing surface of the piezoelectric vibrator, and substantially the same amount of liquid as that atomized by the atomizing surface is supplied. An atomizer with liquid-absorbing means is described.

JP 2012-130903 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 05-49067

  Since the ultrasonic atomizer of patent document 1 arranges the same number of liquid storage units as the number of liquids to be atomized in parallel, for example, when it is desired to increase the number of types of liquids to be atomized, a device is provided accordingly. Will also increase in size. Moreover, in the atomizer of patent document 2, it was difficult to switch rapidly the liquid to be atomized to another kind by presence of a porous thru | or reticulated thin plate. Note that Patent Document 2 does not describe arranging a plurality of supply means including a liquid absorbing member on a piezoelectric vibrator at the same time.

  The subject of this invention is related with the spraying apparatus which can eliminate the fault which the prior art mentioned above has.

  The present invention includes a piezoelectric vibrator having a vibration surface, a driving circuit for the piezoelectric vibrator, and a main body including a liquid container placement portion, and a liquid that comes into contact with the liquid storage portion and the vibration surface. A spraying device configured to supply liquid from the liquid supply unit of the liquid container having a supply unit to the vibration surface and atomize the liquid by ultrasonic vibration, and the liquid container disposition unit includes a plurality of liquid container disposition units. The liquid container can be inserted toward the vibration surface from a plurality of different directions above the vibration surface, and each of the liquid supply portions is inserted into the vibration surface. The spraying apparatus which can be supported in the state which contacted was provided.

  Further, the present invention provides a spraying device that includes a piezoelectric vibrator having a vibrating surface, a driving circuit for the piezoelectric vibrator, and a main body including a liquid container arrangement portion, and atomizes the liquid by ultrasonic vibration. A liquid container to be used, having a cylindrical shaft portion in which the inside is a storage portion for storing a liquid, and a liquid supply portion in contact with the vibration surface at a tip portion of the shaft portion; A liquid container formed in a pen shape is provided.

  The spraying apparatus of the present invention can easily atomize a liquid, can easily and quickly change the liquid to be atomized, and can easily downsize the apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a spraying apparatus of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spray device shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line II-II. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the piezoelectric vibrator used in the spray device shown in FIG. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are plan views of the liquid container placement portion of the spray device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are views showing a state in which the liquid container is arranged in the liquid container arrangement portion of the spraying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view, and FIG. 5 (b). Is a front view. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a liquid container used in the present invention. Fig.7 (a) is sectional drawing which shows another example of the liquid container used for this invention, FIG.7 (b) is a figure which shows the inflow rate suppression member used for the liquid container shown in FIG.7 (b). FIG.7 (c) is a figure which shows the disk which comprises the inflow speed suppression member shown in FIG.7 (b). It is a graph which shows an example of the change of the amplitude of the radial direction of the vibration surface of a piezoelectric material vibrator. FIGS. 9A to 9C are explanatory diagrams of a preferable configuration of the drive circuit of the piezoelectric vibrator, FIG. 9A is a configuration diagram, and FIG. 9A is an operation flowchart of the frequency variable unit. FIG. 9C is an operation flowchart of the output unit. FIG. 10: is the (a) top view and (b) perspective view which show the principal part (support guide) in other embodiment of the spraying apparatus of this invention. FIG. 11 is a (a) plan view and (b) perspective view showing a main part (support guide) in still another embodiment of the spraying apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a main part (support guide and its vicinity) in still another embodiment of the spray device of the present invention. 13A is a plan view and FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the support guide shown in FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ABC of FIG. 13 in a state where the liquid container is inserted. FIG. 15 is a front view showing still another embodiment of the spraying apparatus of the present invention. 16 (a) to 16 (e) are diagrams showing a more specific form of the spray device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 16 (a) is a front view, FIG. 16 (b) is a rear view, 16 (c) is a plan view, FIG. 16 (d) is a bottom view, FIG. 16 (e) is a left side view, FIG. 16 (f) is a right side view, and FIG. FIG. 16H is a sectional view taken along the line III-III, FIG. 16I is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV, and FIG. 16J is a sectional view taken along the line VV.

Below, this invention is demonstrated based on the preferable embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spray device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a piezoelectric vibrator 21 having a vibrating surface 21 a, a drive circuit 22 for the piezoelectric vibrator 21, and a liquid container placement unit 23. The main body 2 provided with. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit 43 of the liquid container 4 arranged in the liquid container arrangement unit 23 to the vibration surface 21 a so that the liquid is atomized by ultrasonic vibration. It is configured.

The apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 2 has a lower housing in which a piezoelectric vibrator drive circuit 22 and a rechargeable battery 24 as a power source are housed. A tip portion disposition space 27 in which the tip portion 41 of the liquid container 4 is disposed is formed above the lower housing portion 25.
The liquid container placement portion 23 has a support guide 26 that contacts the liquid container 4 and supports the liquid container 4 so as not to fall down, and the above-described tip portion placement space 27, and a bottom portion of the tip portion placement space 27. In addition, a piezoelectric vibrator 21 is disposed. The tip portion arrangement space 27 has a cylindrical shape, and a part in the circumferential direction is open toward a space for diffusing the atomized liquid, while another part in the circumferential direction is connected to the support guide 26. It is enclosed by the wall surface of the connection part 28 located between the lower accommodating parts 25. FIG.
In addition, in this specification, in the state installed on the horizontal surface of a desk or a stand, a vertical direction is called an up-down direction. Further, among the directions perpendicular to the vertical direction, the direction in which the tip portion arrangement space is opened is the front F, the opposite side is the rear R, the front side surface of the device and its part is the front (or front), The rear side surface of the device or its part is also referred to as a back surface.

  A blower fan 5 serving as a blowing means is arranged inside the connecting portion 28, and external air is sucked and sucked from the air inlet 32 opened on the back surface of the connecting portion 28 by the rotation of the blower fan 5. The air is blown out from an air outlet 33 opened on the back surface of the distal end portion arrangement space 27. The drive circuit 22 includes electronic components such as integrated circuits, resistors, and switches, wirings, and the like provided on the substrate, and is electrically connected to the rechargeable battery 24 and the piezoelectric vibrator 21. An operation switch 34 that can operate a switch as an electronic component is provided on the front surface of the lower housing portion 25, and the power of the apparatus can be turned on and off by pressing the operation switch 34. A connection part 35 of an AC adapter is provided at the lower part of the back surface of the lower housing part 25 so that the rechargeable battery 24 can be repeatedly charged.

As shown in FIG. 3, the piezoelectric vibrator 21 in the present embodiment includes a flat piezoelectric body 61 and a metal plate coupled to the piezoelectric body 61 so as to have a hollow portion 63 between the piezoelectric body 61. 62. The metal plate 62 is fixed to the peripheral portion of the piezoelectric body 61. More specifically, the piezoelectric body 61 has the metal plate 62 bonded to the peripheral portion on one side thereof with an adhesive. The metal plate 62 is formed by press forming a recess 62a for forming the hollow portion 63 in the central portion, and a stepped portion 62b having a cross-sectional shape along one corner of the piezoelectric body 61 is formed around the recess 62a. ing. The metal plate 62 is provided only on one side of the piezoelectric body 61.
When the piezoelectric vibrator 21 is applied with a periodically changing voltage to the piezoelectric body 61 via the wiring 64 and the electrode 65 (for example, a silver electrode) by the drive circuit 22 that operates by the electric power from the rechargeable battery 24. The piezoelectric body 61 vibrates mainly in the plane direction, and correspondingly, the vibrating surface 21a made of the metal plate 62 vibrates ultrasonically mainly in the normal direction (thickness direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 21). The piezoelectric vibrator 21 shown in FIG. 3 has a flat vibration surface 21a.

As the piezoelectric body 61, titanate / lead zirconate (PZT), barium titanate (BaTiO ₃ ), titanate (PT), lead metaniobate (PN), or the like is used. As the metal plate 62, a metal plate 62 that has mechanical strength even when made thin and that is strong against corrosion can be preferably used. For example, a plate made of stainless steel (SUS) or titanium can be used. . As the piezoelectric body 61, for example, a piezoelectric body TDSE20 manufactured by Tamura Corporation can be used, and the piezoelectric body is polished to a thickness of about 1 mm and used with increased radial (circumferential) vibration. It is also preferable.

  In the piezoelectric vibrator 21 in the present embodiment, the piezoelectric body 61, the metal plate 62, and the vibration surface 21 a are all circular in a plan view, and the upper surface portion facing the tip portion arrangement space 27 in the lower housing portion 25. Further, the vibration surface 21a is fixed so as to face upward. Since the vibration surface 21a of the piezoelectric vibrator 21 is directed upward in the vertical direction, the liquid container can be easily inserted toward the vibration surface 21a when the liquid container 4 is disposed in the liquid container placement portion 23. In addition, the support state of the liquid container 4 by the liquid container placement portion 23 is stabilized. The piezoelectric body 61 and the metal plate 62 may be joined using only an adhesive. However, instead of the adhesive or together with the adhesive, screws, springs, the piezoelectric body 61, the peripheral portion, and the metal plate. Other coupling means such as a fitting member that fits integrally with the peripheral edge of 62 may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the support guide 26 in the present embodiment has an inner wall 71 having a funnel shape, and the horizontal cross-sectional area of the internal space into which the liquid container 4 is inserted is upward. It decreases from the upper opening that opens toward the bottom. More specifically, the support guide 26 includes an inverted frustoconical cylindrical portion 70 whose diameter decreases downward, and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 70 is the inner wall 71.
Further, the support guide 26 supports the liquid container 4 inserted into the liquid container disposition unit 23 so as not to come into contact with two axially spaced portions of the liquid container so as not to fall down. 76. The inner wall 71 of the cylindrical portion 70 of the support guide 26 has an inclined annular step portion 72 near the center portion of the support guide 26 in the height direction of the apparatus 1, and the upper support portion 73 has the stepped portion. It consists of a concave notch 74 having an arcuate horizontal section formed at the upper end of the thick part below the part 72, and a pair of protrusions 75, 75 formed on both sides of the notch 74. On the other hand, the lower support portion 76 is formed in the vicinity of the lower end portion of the support guide 26 and includes a through hole formed by fixing a partition member 77 to the inner wall 71 of the cylindrical portion 70.

  The partition member 77 in the present embodiment has a central portion directly above the central portion of the vibration surface 21 a of the piezoelectric vibrator 21, and three extensions extending from the central portion toward the inner wall 71 of the support guide 26. The through hole as the lower support portion 76 is surrounded by a partition member 77 and a portion 78 facing the partition member 77 in the inner wall 71 of the support guide 26. The three upper support portions 73 and the three through holes as the lower support portion 76 formed by the partition member 77 are formed at the same position in the circumferential direction of the support guide 26.

  By having such a configuration, the liquid container disposition portion 23 in the present embodiment allows a plurality of liquid containers 4 to be placed in a plurality of different directions A above the vibration surface 21a as shown in FIG. 4B. -C can be inserted toward the vibration surface 21a, and as shown in FIG. 5, the liquid supply portions 43 forming the respective tip portions 41 of the plurality of inserted liquid containers 4 are formed on the vibration surface 21a. It can be supported in contact. More specifically, when the liquid container placement portion 23 is viewed in plan from the normal direction of the vibration surface, the plurality of liquid containers 4 are directed toward the vibration surface 21a from a plurality of different directions around the vibration surface 21a. Can be inserted. Moreover, it can insert from the diagonally upper direction of the vibration surface 21a toward the vibration surface 21a.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a preferred example of the liquid container 4 used in combination with the main body 2 described above. The liquid container 4 shown in FIG. 6 has a storage part 42a for storing a liquid and a liquid supply part 43 made of a porous body 44 that can be impregnated with the liquid in the storage part 42a. The liquid supply part 43 is formed at the tip 41 of the liquid container 4.
More specifically, the liquid container 4 shown in FIG. 6 has a cylindrical shaft portion 42 whose inside is a liquid storage portion 42 a, and the inside and outside of the storage portion 42 a at the tip of the shaft portion 42. A cylindrical porous body 44 is fixed so as to extend, and the liquid supply portion 43 is formed by the porous body 44 protruding from the shaft portion 42. A cap 45 can be detachably attached to the distal end side of the shaft portion 42 by screwing, fitting or the like. When the storage unit is not used, the cap 45 can be attached to evaporate liquid or in liquid. The volatilization of the components can be prevented. The rear end portion of the shaft portion 42 is sealed so that liquid does not leak. The rear end portion may be sealed by fixing the plug body 46 so as to be detachable by screwing, fitting, or the like. It can also be performed by integrally molding with the cylindrical portion of the shaft portion 42. Moreover, the liquid may be accommodated as it is in the accommodating portion 42a, or the liquid may be accommodated in a state in which the batting is accommodated in the accommodating portion 42a and the batting is impregnated. The fibers constituting the batting can be made of natural fibers, recycled fibers, synthetic fibers and combinations of two or more thereof, and the batting or the resin covering the batting (PE, PP, PET, etc.) is colored. Thus, it can be used as a mark indicating the type of liquid contained inside. The shape of the shaft portion 42 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and the cross section thereof may be a polygonal cylindrical shape such as a triangle or a hexagon, or an elliptical cylindrical shape.

  As the porous body constituting the liquid supply unit, various materials can be used in which the liquid in the storage part 42a is led out 43 from the storage part 42a, but the liquid can be guided out of the storage part 42a by capillary action. Those are preferred. Examples of such a porous body include those formed by thermoforming an original yarn made of a synthetic resin such as ester, nylon, and acrylic, impregnating the resin and a solvent, and drying and curing.

  Moreover, what consists of an extrusion molded product can also be used as the liquid supply part 43. FIG. As the extrusion molded product used as the liquid supply unit 43, various products that can lead the liquid in the storage unit 42a to the outside of the storage unit 42a can be used. However, as with the porous body, the liquid is removed from the storage unit 42a by capillary action. Those that can be induced to are preferred. It is manufactured by continuously forming a resin such as a polyacetal copolymer or a polyacetal homopolymer by an extrusion molding machine while maintaining a space capable of holding a liquid.

In the liquid container 4, it is preferable that the internal liquid is led out by applying vibration to the liquid supply unit 43, and the internal liquid is not substantially discharged when no vibration is applied.
For example, it is preferable that the liquid container 4 does not drip from the liquid supply unit 43 even if the liquid supply unit 43 is left for 3 minutes while supporting the shaft 42 with the liquid supply unit 43 facing downward. This measurement is performed at 25 ° C. and 1 atm with the cap 45 removed.
As such a liquid container, for example, a batting is accommodated in the container 42a of the liquid container described above and the liquid is accommodated in an impregnated state with the batting, or as shown in FIG. Examples thereof include an inflow rate suppressing member 47 that suppresses the rate of air inflow into the inside, and the liquid supply rate from the storage unit 42a is suppressed by limiting the liquid discharge speed from the storage unit 42a. . The liquid container 4A shown in FIG. 7 has an air inflow part P around the liquid supply part 43, but the inflow speed suppressing member including a number of disks 48 having slits 48a is used to control the speed of air inflow into the accommodating part 42a. 47, limiting the liquid delivery speed from the liquid supply unit 43. In the inflow rate suppressing member 47 shown in FIG. 7, a central penetrating material 49 made of ABS, PE, PP, nylon or the like passes through the central part of a number of disks 48, and the liquid in the accommodating part 42a passes through the central penetrating member 49a. The liquid 49 is guided from the end of the material 49 to the liquid supply unit 43.

The liquid container 4 has a shape similar to a pencil or a pen, and from the viewpoint of excellent handleability, the diameter L1 of the shaft portion is preferably 3 mm or more, more preferably 7 mm or more, and preferably 30 mm. Below, it is more preferably 20 mm or less, preferably 3 mm or more and 30 mm or less, more preferably 7 mm or more and 20 mm or less. From the same viewpoint, the liquid container 4 has a total length L2 (total length excluding the cap 45 portion) of preferably 50 mm or more, more preferably 80 mm or more, and preferably 250 mm or less, more preferably 180 mm or less. Moreover, it is preferably 50 mm or more and 250 mm or less, more preferably 80 mm or more and 180 mm or less.
The liquid container in the present invention is a pen-type liquid container, has a cylindrical shaft portion 42 having a diameter of 3 to 30 mm having the accommodating portion 42 a therein, has a total length of 50 to 250 mm, and is attached to the tip portion 41. It is preferable to have the liquid supply unit 41.

  The operation of the above-described apparatus 1 will be described. First, a plurality of liquid containers 4 are arranged in the liquid container arrangement unit 23. The liquid container 4 is arranged by arbitrarily selecting two or more of the directions A to C shown in FIG. Then, the piezoelectric vibrator 21 is vibrated by the drive circuit 22. The frequency of the vibration is at least 20 kHz or more (= ultrasonic vibration), and is preferably 50 kHz to 3 MHz, more preferably 70 kHz to 1000 kHz from the viewpoint of diffusing a mist or the like containing a fragrance component far away.

Thereby, the liquid supplied from each of the liquid supply parts 43 of the plurality of liquid containers 4 is atomized by the vibration of the piezoelectric vibrator 21.
Further, the piezoelectric vibrator 21 is vibrated and the blower fan 5 is rotated to send air to the tip portion arrangement space 27. Thereby, the liquid fine particles generated by the atomization of the liquid are transported to the air flow generated by the blower fan 5 and discharged into the space around the device 1. Although the liquid fine particles generated by the atomization float in the air, the diffusibility of the liquid itself, in particular, the ascending property is not great, but the liquid fine particles generated by the atomization are conveyed to the air flow generated by the blower fan 5. Thus, the fine particles and components such as fragrance components contained therein can be quickly diffused into the surrounding space.

In order to atomize a plurality of liquids supplied from a plurality of liquid containers 4 using the spray device 1 of the present embodiment, there are the following advantages (1) to (6).
(1) By preparing liquid containers that separately store a plurality of types of liquids, the types and combinations of liquids to be atomized can be easily changed by simply replacing the liquid containers disposed in the liquid container disposition unit 23. And it can switch quickly.
Thereby, for example, a liquid containing a fragrance component (hereinafter also referred to as a liquid fragrance) is disposed in the liquid container disposition portion 23, and the liquid is atomized to diffuse the fragrance into the surrounding space. The strength and the like can be changed easily and quickly.
For example, a liquid container containing only water as a liquid and a liquid container containing a liquid containing an aromatic component (hereinafter also referred to as a liquid fragrance) are disposed, and after the liquids are atomized, the liquid fragrance is stored. By replacing only the liquid container with a liquid container containing another liquid fragrance, the fragrance different from the initial fragrance can be diffused. As “water” in the case of “water only”, tap water, distilled water, ion-exchanged water or the like can be used, and may contain a preservative or the like for preventing mold.
Also, after arranging a plurality of liquid containers containing different liquid fragrances and atomizing those liquids, one or two or more liquid containers are replaced with liquid containers containing liquid fragrances different from the first. Thus, it is possible to diffuse a fragrance different from the original fragrance.
In addition, a liquid container containing only water as a liquid and a liquid container containing liquid fragrance are arranged, and after both liquids are atomized, a liquid container containing only water is replaced by a liquid container containing liquid fragrance. The quality and strength of the fragrance can be changed by exchanging with a liquid container containing the same liquid fragrance.
In addition, a liquid container containing only water as a liquid and a liquid container containing a liquid containing aromatic components (hereinafter also referred to as liquid fragrance) are disposed, and after both liquids are atomized, only water is contained. The quality and strength of the fragrance can be changed by increasing the number of either the liquid container or the liquid container containing the liquid fragrance.

(2) By using a liquid container that contains a plurality of types of liquids separately, the liquids may be mixed, or may be contaminated or deteriorated by each other during storage before use or after use. This can be prevented.
(3) Since a plurality of types of liquid are atomized from a common vibration surface of one piezoelectric vibrator, a plurality of types of fine particles generated by atomizing the plurality of types of liquid can be discharged in a mixed state. In addition, for example, by placing a liquid container containing only water as a liquid and a liquid container containing a liquid fragrance in the liquid container placement unit 23 and atomizing both liquids, an aromatic component is formed around the fine particles of water. It is also possible to efficiently generate composite particles to which the particles are attached. Such composite particles tend to be perceived as a fragrance close to a refreshing natural scent, with a scent like a medicine suppressed, as compared to particles of a fragrance component alone (see JP 2012-130903 A). ).
(4) Since the liquid container disposing unit 23 can be inserted from a plurality of directions different from each other from above with respect to the vibration surface 21a, the liquid container disposing units 23 are disposed in parallel. Compared to the above, the apparatus 1 can be downsized.
(5) Since the piezoelectric vibrator 21 having a hollow portion between the piezoelectric body and the metal plate is used, the amplitude of the portion where the liquid supply portion of the liquid container 4 contacts can be increased. Therefore, it becomes easy to increase the spray amount or atomize a liquid having a viscosity of 1 to 8 mPa · s. This liquid is, for example, a liquid containing a fragrance and a solvent for thinning the fragrance. The viscosity can be measured using a B-type viscometer (TVB-10 manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.) at a liquid temperature of 25 ° C. and using a rotor L adapter at a rotation speed of 30 rpm.
(6) Since there are a plurality of arrangement locations, when there is one liquid container, the arrangement position can be freely selected.
If the liquid container is transparent, the liquid container is inserted and used from above, so that the remaining amount of the content liquid can be easily confirmed and used up to the end.

From the viewpoint of facilitating the removal of the liquid container 4, the liquid container placement section 23 is positioned at an appropriate position where the liquid supply section 43 contacts the vibration surface 21 a of the ultrasonic transducer as shown in FIG. It is preferable that the height T at which the liquid container 4 protrudes from the upper end of the support guide 26 or the cylindrical portion 70 is 20 mm or more and 200 mm or less, particularly 40 mm or more and 150 mm or less.

Further, the amplitude of the vibration surface 21a of the piezoelectric vibrator 21 in the thickness direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 21 changes depending on the location. FIG. 8 is a graph showing an example of a change in the amplitude in the radial direction of the vibration surface 21a of the piezoelectric vibrator 21. The horizontal axis shows the distance in the radial direction from the center of the vibration surface 21a, and the vertical axis shows the piezoelectric vibration. The magnitude | size of the amplitude of the vibration surface 21a in the thickness direction of the child 21 is shown. As shown in FIG. 8, the peak of the amplitude of the standing wave (standing wave) appears on the vibration surface 21a of the piezoelectric vibrator 21 outward from the first peak P1 formed at the center of the vibration surface 21a in the radial direction. A plurality of concentric circles are formed. In this case, the liquid container disposing unit 23 includes the liquid supply units 43 of the plurality of liquid containers 4 in the region located on the second third peak P3 from the first peak P1 or inside the third peak P3. It is preferable that the tips are designed to be arranged at the same time, and it is more preferred that the tips of the liquid supply parts 43 of the plurality of liquid containers 4 are designed to be arranged at the same time on the second peak P2.
By providing the tip of the liquid supply unit 43 of the liquid container 4 on the third peak P3 or in the region inside the third peak P3, the liquid supply unit 43 is given sufficient vibration amplitude to supply the liquid. The liquid supplied from the unit 43 can be efficiently atomized, and further, the liquid can be efficiently atomized by being disposed on the second peak P2, and the plurality of liquid containers 4 It is also possible to avoid the inconveniences such as breakage and unintentional mixing of liquids by avoiding interference between the front ends of the liquid.

The drive circuit 22 may be a fixed system that operates at the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator, but preferably includes an oscillation circuit that repeatedly varies the oscillation frequency within a range including the resonance frequency in the middle. By making the oscillation frequency variable in the circuit, even if the load fluctuates due to the contact force with respect to the vibration surface 21a of the liquid supply part 43, and even if there is a fluctuation in the resonance frequency of the metal plate 21, etc., stable spraying is possible. Compared with continuous spraying, heating of the piezoelectric vibrator can be prevented.
For example, when the resonance frequency when the liquid supply unit 43 is not in contact with the vibration surface 21a is 130 kHz (the same applies to 125 kHz and 135 kHz), as shown in FIG. And a frequency variable unit, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), a frequency of 120 kHz is generated, then changed to 140 kHz in 1 second, and further up to 120 kHz in 1 second. As one cycle to be changed, this cycle is repeated, and in the output section, as shown in FIG. 9C, the FET (field effect transistor) is operated at the frequency generated by the frequency variable section and amplified by the transformer. It is preferable to apply to the vibrator.
“Including the resonance frequency in the middle” means that the resonance frequency is included between the upper limit and the lower limit of the range of the frequency to be varied.
The difference between the upper limit and the lower limit of the frequency for changing the oscillation frequency is preferably 50 kHz or less, more preferably 30 kHz or less, and further preferably 5 kHz or more from the viewpoint of spray stability.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a view showing a support guide 26A in the spray device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a view showing a support guide 26B in the spray device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The support guides 26A and 26B of both embodiments have cylindrical portions 70A and 70B each having a plurality of corner portions inside.
In particular, the support guide 26 in the spray apparatus 1 described above has a horizontal cross-sectional circular shape of the cylindrical portion 70, as the lower supporting portion 7 6, a through hole formed partitioned by supporting switching member 77 However, as shown in FIG. 10, the support guide 26A according to the second embodiment has a cylindrical portion 70A having an inverted quadrangular truncated pyramid having a square horizontal cross section, while the inside of the cylindrical portion 70A is supported. It is not partitioned by a partition member such as the cutting member 77. The support guide 26B in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, while the horizontal section has a triangular reverse triangular pyramidal frustum shape of the cylindrical portion 70B, the cylindrical portion 70B is supported switching member 77 It is not partitioned off by such a partition member.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the support guide 26 </ b> A according to the second embodiment is inclined by leaning the liquid container 4 along the corners 81 on the inner side of the corners 81 of the cylindrical portion 70 </ b> A. The liquid container 4 can be held in a state in which the liquid supply unit 41 is in contact with the vibration surface 21a of the ultrasonic transducer. The spray device according to the second embodiment can be used by simultaneously disposing the liquid container 4 at any two or three corners or all corners of the four corners 81 of the cylindrical portion 70A. .

As shown in FIG. 11, the support guide 26 </ b> B in the third embodiment leans the liquid container 4 so as to be inclined along the corners 81 inside the corners 81 of the cylindrical portion 70 </ b> B. The liquid container 4 can be held in a state in which the liquid supply unit 41 is in contact with the vibration surface 21a of the ultrasonic transducer. The spray device of the third embodiment can be used by simultaneously disposing the liquid container 4 on any two or all of the three corners 81 of the cylindrical portion 70B.
The support guide 26A and the support guide 26B may be configured such that the liquid container 4 is in continuous contact with the inner wall near the corner portion 81 of the cylindrical portion 70A in the height direction of the cylindrical portion 70A. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 70A in the vicinity of the corner 81 is partially in contact with each other at a plurality of mutually spaced portions in the height direction of the cylindrical portion 70A.

  In any of the embodiments of the present invention, the liquid container placement unit 23 is configured so that the liquid container 4 has an inclination angle θ (see FIG. 14) with respect to the vertical line L of the axial center line L4 of 5 ° or more and 80 ° or less, particularly 7 °. It is preferable to be able to support the angle of 70 ° or less because it is easy to avoid the interference between the tip portions 41 of the liquid container 4 and to insert the liquid container 4 into the liquid container placement portion 23 from above. Regarding the second and third embodiments, points that are not particularly described are the same as those of the spray device 1 described above.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, the support guide 26 </ b> D according to the fourth embodiment has a lower height T <b> 1 than the support guide 26 according to the first embodiment. The height T at which the liquid container 4 protrudes from the upper end of the support guide 26D is higher than the height T2 from the vibration surface 21a to the upper end of the support guide 26D.
As shown in FIG. 13, the support guide 26 </ b> D according to the fourth embodiment has an insertion part 81 for inserting the liquid container 4 at the center, and the diameter increases upward at the upper end of the insertion part 81. An insertion guide portion 87 is provided continuously. The insertion portion 81 has a central space and a liquid container holding space that extends in three directions from the central space, and a horizontal surface that abuts the peripheral surface of the liquid container 4 at the diametrically outer end of each of the three liquid container holding spaces. An upper support wall 82 having an arcuate cross section is provided. A lower support plate 83 is provided below the insertion portion 81. The lower support plate 83 is fixed to the lower portion of the insertion portion 81 via a support member 84 fixed to the inner surface of the insertion portion 81.

  According to the support guide 26D of the fourth embodiment, the plurality of liquid containers 4 can be inserted toward the vibration surface 21a from a plurality of different directions above the vibration surface 21a. When the lower end portion of the upper support wall 82 and the peripheral edge portion of the lower support plate 83 are in contact with each of the containers 4, each liquid container 4 is brought into contact with the vibration surface 21a at the tip of each liquid supply portion 43. It is possible to support the state.

  According to the spraying device of the fourth embodiment, in addition to the same effect as the spraying device 1 described above, there is an effect that the liquid container 4 can be more easily inserted and pulled out. .

  In the liquid container 4 shown in FIG. 14, the diameter of the liquid supply part 43 is 4 mm or less, and the length L3 of the liquid supply part 43 is 10% or more of the total length L2 of the liquid container 4. Thereby, interference between the front-end | tip parts of the liquid container 4 does not arise much more, and it can also prevent using the normal sign pen, the fluorescent pen, etc. which are writing tools by mistake with the liquid container 4. From the same viewpoint, the length L3 of the liquid supply part 43 having a diameter of 4 mm or less is preferably 10 mm or more and 40 mm or less, and more preferably 15 mm or more and 40 mm or less. The length L3 of the liquid supply unit 43 is more preferably 10% or more and 30% or less of the total length L2 of the liquid container 4. Moreover, the liquid supply part 43 may be formed by inserting a porous body into a cladding tube made of a liquid-impermeable synthetic resin, metal, or glass so that only the tip part protrudes. , Thereby preventing drying or breaking. Moreover, the liquid container 4 shown in FIG. 14 can be used for the spraying apparatus of each embodiment of this invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made. In addition, each embodiment can be replaced with each other to form another embodiment.
For example, the spray device in the present invention may have a plurality of support guides 26E corresponding to each of the plurality of liquid containers 4 in the liquid container arrangement portion, like the spray device 1A shown in FIG. Further, the support guide is replaced with one having a support portion that comes into contact with two mutually spaced locations of the liquid container, such as the upper support portion and the lower support portion of the apparatus 1 described above, and in the axial direction of the liquid container 4. Further, it may have a support portion that continuously abuts over a certain length.

  Further, the liquid container disposition portion may be one that can insert only two liquid containers from two directions at the same time, instead of one that can simultaneously insert three liquid containers from three directions. 4 or more liquid containers can be inserted simultaneously.

  Moreover, you may adjust the quantity of the liquid to atomize, and the intensity | strength of the fragrance to diffuse by changing the electric power of an apparatus and the interval of electric power application.

In addition, the spray device according to the present invention has a timer function so that the power is automatically turned off after operating for a certain time after the power is turned on, or the power is automatically turned on at a set time. You may do it.
Moreover, the spraying apparatus in this invention may not have ventilation means, such as a ventilation fan. Further, the power source of the spraying device may be a non-chargeable dry battery, a hydrogen battery, or the like, instead of a rechargeable battery (secondary battery) such as a lithium ion battery or a nickel metal hydride battery. Moreover, you may supply electricity from the outside with an AC adapter etc.

  Fig.16 (a)-FIG.16 (j) are the figures which showed the more concrete form about the spraying apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment of this invention.

In addition to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the following additional notes (a spraying device and the like) are disclosed.
<1>
A piezoelectric vibrator having a vibration surface, a drive circuit for the piezoelectric vibrator, and a main body including a liquid container placement portion, and a storage portion for storing a liquid and a liquid supply portion in contact with the vibration surface. A spraying device configured to supply liquid from the liquid supply unit of the liquid container to the vibrating surface and atomize the liquid by ultrasonic vibration;
The liquid container disposition unit is capable of inserting a plurality of liquid containers from a plurality of different directions above the vibration surface toward the vibration surface, and inserting the plurality of liquid containers inserted into the respective liquid containers. The spraying apparatus which can be supported in the state which the said liquid supply part contacted the said vibration surface.

<2>
The spray device according to <1>, wherein the liquid container disposition unit can support the plurality of inserted liquid containers in a state where the liquid supply units are in contact with the vibration surface at the same time.
<3>
The spray according to <1> or <2>, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator includes a flat piezoelectric body and a metal plate coupled to the piezoelectric body so as to have a hollow portion between the piezoelectric body. apparatus.
<4>
In the piezoelectric body, the metal plate is bonded to the peripheral edge portion on one side thereof via an adhesive, and the metal plate is formed with a recess for forming the hollow portion in the central portion by press molding. The spraying device according to <3>, wherein a step portion having a cross-sectional shape along a corner portion of one surface of the piezoelectric body is formed around the periphery.

<5>
The liquid container is a pen-type liquid container, has a cylindrical shaft portion with a diameter of 3 to 30 mm having the accommodating portion therein, has a total length of 50 to 250 mm, and has the liquid supply portion at the tip portion. The spraying apparatus according to any one of the above <1> to <4>.
<6>
In the liquid container, a columnar porous body is fixed to the distal end portion of the shaft portion so as to extend inside and outside of the housing portion, and the liquid supply portion is formed by the porous body protruding from the shaft portion. The spraying device according to <5>.
<7>
<5> or <6>, wherein the liquid container does not drip from the liquid supply part even if the liquid supply part is left for 3 minutes while supporting the shaft part with the liquid supply part facing downward. The spraying device according to 1.
<8>
The spraying device according to any one of <1> to <7>, comprising a plurality of the liquid containers.
<9>
At least one of the plurality of liquid containers is the spraying device according to <8>, wherein the liquid is a liquid containing an aroma component.

<10>
The spray device according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein the drive circuit includes an oscillation circuit that repeatedly varies an oscillation frequency within a range including a resonance frequency in the middle.
<11>
<1> to <10>, wherein the main body includes a blowing unit, and the fine particles generated by atomization of the liquid are transported to an air flow generated by the blowing unit and discharged into a surrounding space. The spraying device according to any one of the above.
<12>
The main body includes a lower housing portion in which a piezoelectric vibrator drive circuit and a rechargeable battery are housed in a lower portion, and a tip portion arrangement space in which a tip portion of a liquid container is disposed is formed above the lower housing portion. The spraying apparatus according to any one of the above <1> to <8>.
<13>
The spraying device according to <12>, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator is fixed to an upper surface portion of the lower housing portion facing a tip portion arrangement space so that a vibration surface faces upward.
<14>
The liquid container arrangement portion has a support guide that contacts the liquid container and supports the liquid container, and a tip portion arrangement space in which the tip portion of the liquid container is arranged, and a bottom portion of the tip portion arrangement space The spray device according to any one of <1> to <13>, wherein a piezoelectric vibrator is disposed.

<15>
The liquid container placement portion includes a support guide that contacts the liquid container and supports the liquid container,
The tip portion arrangement space has a cylindrical shape, and a part in the circumferential direction is opened toward a space for diffusing the atomized liquid, while the other part in the circumferential direction is formed with the support guide. The spraying device according to any one of <12> to <14>, wherein the spraying device is surrounded by a wall surface of a connecting portion positioned between the lower housing portion.
<16>
The support guide has an inner wall having a substantially funnel shape, and a horizontal cross-sectional area of the internal space into which the liquid container is inserted decreases downward from an upper opening that opens upward. The spraying device according to <14> or <15>.
<17>
The spray guide according to <14>, wherein the support guide includes a cylindrical portion having a plurality of corners on the inside.
<18>
The support guide has an upper support portion and a lower support portion that support the liquid container inserted into the liquid container placement portion by contacting two liquid containers spaced apart in the axial direction of the liquid container. The support part is composed of a concave notch part having an arcuate horizontal section and a pair of protrusions formed on both sides of the notch part, and the lower support part has a partition member near the lower end part of the support guide. The spraying device according to any one of the above <14> to <17>, comprising a through-hole fixedly formed.
<19>
The spray device according to any one of <1> to <18>, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator has a flat vibration surface.

<20>
The spraying device according to any one of <1> to <19>, wherein the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator is 20 kHz or more, preferably 50 kHz to 3 MHz, more preferably 70 kHz to 1000 kHz.
<21>
The spray device according to any one of <1> to <20>, wherein the liquid has a viscosity of 1 to 8 mPa · s.
<22>
The difference between the upper limit and the lower limit of the frequency for changing the oscillation frequency is preferably 50 kHz or less, more preferably 30 kHz or less, and preferably 5 kHz or more, <10> to <21> The spraying device according to any one of the above.
<23>
A plurality of standing wave (standing wave) amplitude peaks are concentrically formed outwardly in the radial direction from the first peak P1 formed at the center of the vibration surface on the vibration surface of the piezoelectric vibrator. The spray device according to any one of <1> to <22>.
<24>
The spray device according to any one of <1> to <23>, wherein the liquid container disposition unit includes a plurality of support guides corresponding to each of the plurality of liquid containers.

<25>
The spray device according to any one of <1> to <24>, wherein the liquid container disposition portion includes a support portion that continuously contacts a predetermined length in the axial direction of the liquid container.
<26>
The drive circuit of the piezoelectric vibrator adjusts the amount of liquid to be atomized or the intensity of the fragrance to be diffused by changing the power of the apparatus or the interval of power application, any one of <1> to <25> The spraying device according to 1.
<27>
Any one of the above items <1> to <26>, which has a timer function and automatically turns off after a certain period of time after turning on the power, or automatically turns on at the set time The spraying device according to 1.

<28>
A liquid container for use in a spraying device having a piezoelectric vibrator having a vibration surface, a drive circuit for the piezoelectric vibrator, and a main body provided with a liquid container arrangement portion, and configured to atomize liquid by ultrasonic vibration. There,
A liquid that is formed in a pen shape and has a cylindrical shaft portion that is a storage portion for storing liquid inside, and a liquid supply portion that is in contact with the vibration surface at the tip of the shaft portion container.
<29>
The liquid container according to <28>, wherein the length of the liquid supply unit is 10% or more of the total length of the liquid container.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A Spraying apparatus 2 Main body 21 Piezoelectric vibrator 21a Vibrating surface 22 Drive circuit 23 Liquid container arrangement | positioning part 24 Rechargeable battery (power supply)
25 Lower housing portion 26, 26A Support guide 27 Tip portion arrangement space 4 Liquid container 42a Housing portion 43 Liquid supply portion 44 Porous body 5 Blower fan (blower unit)

Claims (11)

A piezoelectric vibrator having a vibration surface, a drive circuit for the piezoelectric vibrator, and a main body including a liquid container placement portion, and a storage portion for storing a liquid and a liquid supply portion in contact with the vibration surface. A spraying device configured to supply liquid from the liquid supply unit of the liquid container to the vibrating surface and atomize the liquid by ultrasonic vibration;
The liquid container disposition portion has a support guide that contacts the liquid container and supports the liquid container above the vibration surface.
The support guide has an upper opening that opens upward and an internal space into which the liquid container is inserted, and a horizontal sectional area of the internal space decreases downward from the upper opening. ,
Wherein the support guide, a plurality of said liquid container, said upper and a plurality of different directions in the circumferential direction of the opening can be inserted toward the vibration surface, and inserted a plurality of said liquid container, each of said The spraying apparatus which can be supported in the state which the liquid supply part contacted the said vibration surface. The support guide can insert three or more liquid containers at the same time, and can support the inserted three or more liquid containers in a state where the liquid supply portions are in contact with the vibration surface at the same time. The spraying device according to claim 1. The said support guide has an upper support part and a lower support part which support each of the said several liquid containers so that it may contact | abut at two places spaced apart in the axial direction of each liquid container so that it may not fall down. 2. The spraying device according to 2. The liquid container arrangement portion includes the support guide and a tip portion arrangement space in which the tip portions of the plurality of liquid containers are arranged, and the tip portion arrangement space has a part in the circumferential direction surrounding the vibration surface. While the opening is opened toward the space for diffusing the atomized liquid, the other part in the circumferential direction connects the support guide and the lower housing part in which the drive circuit is housed. The spraying device according to claim 1, which is a part. The piezoelectric vibrator is flat piezoelectric body and a metal plate coupled with the piezoelectric body to have a hollow portion between the piezoelectric member, according to any one of claims 1-4 Spraying equipment. The liquid container is a pen-type liquid container, has a cylindrical shaft portion with a diameter of 3 to 30 mm having the accommodating portion therein, has a total length of 50 to 250 mm, and has the liquid supply portion at the tip portion. The spraying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . The spraying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , comprising a plurality of the liquid containers. The spraying device according to claim 7 , wherein the liquid in at least one of the plurality of liquid containers is a liquid containing an aroma component. Wherein the driving circuit, the oscillation frequency, comprising an oscillator circuit to vary repeatedly in a range intermediate containing the resonance frequency, the spraying device according to any one of claims 1-8. Said body having a blowing means, fine particles caused by atomization of the liquid, any one of claims 1 to 9 which is to be released into the surrounding space is conveyed to an air flow generated by air blowing means 2. A spraying device according to item 1. A liquid container used in the spray device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 ,
The interior has a cylindrical shaft portion that is a storage portion that stores liquid, and a liquid supply portion that comes into contact with the vibration surface at the tip of the shaft portion, and is formed in a pen shape,
When inserted into the support guide, the shaft portion is supported so as not to fall on contact with the support guide,
The liquid container in which the length of the liquid supply unit is 10% or more of the total length of the liquid container.

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