JPH08196965A - Ultrasonic atomizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an ultrasonic atomizer capable of also using a spray mesh composed of a flexible material or a fragile material and capable of being realized in low cost. CONSTITUTION: The small diameter part 15b of a step type ultrasonic horn 15 is set within a spray soln. tank 16 and a spray mesh 17 is constituted as a part of the spray soln. tank 16 and a definite distance is provided between the leading end 15c of the ultrasonic horn 15 and the spray mesh 17 and a replenishing bottle 19 is mounted above the spray soln. tank.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator and a spray mesh having many fine holes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 2, an ultrasonic atomizer using an ultrasonic vibrator and a spray mesh having a large number of fine holes has a double horn type vibration capable of absorbing water by itself. The spray mesh 2 is brought into contact with one tip 1a of the child 1,
The other end 1b of the ultrasonic oscillator 1 is put into the chemical solution 3 to be sprayed, an ultrasonic signal is applied from the oscillator 4 to the ultrasonic oscillator 1, the oscillator is vibrated, and the vibration is also transmitted to the spray mesh 2. As a result, suction and spray are realized by the interaction of the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 1 and the vibration of the spray mesh 2.

[0003]

In the ultrasonic atomizer using the double horn type ultrasonic vibrator and the spray mesh, the ultrasonic vibrator and the spray mesh are in contact with each other. When a soft material such as resin is used, the material is scraped by the vibration energy of the ultrasonic oscillator, and the scraps cause a problem that the fine holes are clogged. Also Ni +
Although it is possible to realize a spray mesh with a large number of fine holes by electroforming P (corrosion when using a chemical solution only with Ni), it is a double horn type super-contact type that makes the tip of the ultrasonic vibrator contact the spray mesh. The sonic atomizer has a problem that the atomized mesh is broken.

Therefore, the spray mesh is realized by making holes in a ceramic material with an excimer laser. However, in this method, the cost of the ceramic material is high, and since a large processing energy is required to process the ceramic material as compared with the resin material, the processing time becomes long, and the cost including the manufacturing equipment is further increased. There is the problem of becoming expensive. In addition, the spray mesh made of a ceramic material is liable to crack in handling, and there is a problem that it is necessary to pay attention to handling.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and by forming the spray mesh so as not to directly contact the ultrasonic vibrator, the spray mesh of a soft material or a fragile material can be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic atomizer that can be used and can be realized at low cost.

[0006]

The ultrasonic atomizer according to the present invention comprises an ultrasonic vibrator and a spray mesh having a large number of fine holes. The meshes are arranged so as to face each other at a predetermined interval, and the ultrasonic vibrator and the spray mesh form a part of the spray liquid tank.

According to this ultrasonic atomizer, the spray liquid is filled between the vibrating surface of the ultrasonic vibrator and the spray mesh, and the vibration energy of the ultrasonic vibrator indirectly uses the spray as a medium. Be transmitted to. As a result, the vibration energy of the ultrasonic transducer is not directly applied to the mesh material.

[0008]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic atomizer showing one embodiment of the present invention. The ultrasonic atomizer of this embodiment includes an electric circuit 11 including an oscillator and an electric circuit 1
Power supply 12 for supplying power supply voltage to 1 and piezoelectric ceramic 1
4, an ultrasonic vibrator 13 including a step type ultrasonic horn 15, and a spray liquid tank 16 for spraying a chemical liquid to be sprayed.
And a bottle 19 for supplying the chemical liquid 18 to be sprayed to the spray liquid tank 16.

The oscillation signal from the electric circuit 11 is connected so as to be applied between the piezoelectric ceramic 14 and the step type ultrasonic horn 15. Step type ultrasonic horn 15
Is composed of a large-diameter cylindrical portion 15a and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 15b, and the small-diameter cylindrical portion 15b is an O-link 2 of the opening 16a.
It is mounted in the spray liquid tank 16 through 0, and its tip surface 1
5c serves as a vibrating surface of the ultrasonic transducer 13. However, this step type ultrasonic horn itself is a known one.
A resin, a metal such as Ni + P, Au, or the like is used as the spray mesh 17, and a sectional view thereof is shown in FIG. When resin is used as the material, the fine holes are processed with an excimer laser.

The small-diameter cylindrical portion 15b of the step type ultrasonic horn 15 and the spray mesh 17 constitute a part of the spray liquid tank 16. The bottle 19 has an opening 1 protruding from the bottom.
9 a, which is arranged above the spray liquid tank 16 and has a projecting opening 19 a fitted into the upper opening 16 b of the spray liquid tank 16 via an O-ring 21.

In the ultrasonic atomizer of this embodiment, when an oscillation signal is applied from the oscillator of the electric circuit 11 between the piezoelectric ceramic 14 and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 15a of the step type ultrasonic horn 15, the ultrasonic vibrator 13 is used. Vibrates, and the vibration energy is indirectly transmitted from the vibrating surface 15c to the spray mesh 17 via the chemical solution 18, and the atomized chemical solution is discharged from the fine holes 17a of the spray mesh 17.

When the spray liquid 18 is ejected from the spray mesh 17 and the internal pressure of the spray liquid tank 16 is reduced, the negative pressure thereof causes the bottle 19 to project into the spray liquid tank 16 automatically through the openings 19a and 16b. It is automatically sucked. Further, since the ultrasonic oscillator 13 and the bottle 19 can be freely attached to and detached from the spray liquid tank 16, they can be easily removed for maintenance such as cleaning after use.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the spray liquid is filled between the vibrating surface of the ultrasonic vibrator and the spray mesh, and the transmission of the vibration energy of the ultrasonic vibrator to the spray mesh is performed by using the spray liquid as a medium. Since the vibration energy of the ultrasonic transducer is not directly applied to the mesh material by performing indirectly, the mesh material is made of a soft material such as resin or Ni.
If + P, etc., which is easily broken during use, or an ultrasonic vibrator, such as Au, directly hits, a soft metal, etc., in which fine holes are easily crushed by the vibration energy, can also be used.
For example, when resin is selected for the mesh material, the micropores are processed with an excimer laser, but the processing energy is much smaller than when the material is ceramic,
The processing time can be shortened. In addition, for example, when the spray mesh is formed by electrocasting of Ni + P, Au, or the like, it is possible to manufacture a larger amount and at a lower cost than the case where the ceramic material is finely processed by an excimer laser. Further, since these materials have higher mechanical strength than ceramics, the possibility of cracking during handling can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic atomizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a spray mesh of the ultrasonic atomizer of the example.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an ultrasonic atomizer using a conventional double-horn ultrasonic transducer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 13 Ultrasonic vibrator 14 Piezoelectric ceramic 15 Step type ultrasonic horn 16 Spray liquid tank 17 Spray mesh 18 Spray liquid 19 Bottle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic atomizer comprising an ultrasonic vibrator and a spray mesh having a large number of fine holes, wherein the vibrating surface of the ultrasonic vibrator and the spray mesh are arranged so as to face each other with a predetermined gap. An ultrasonic atomizer characterized in that the ultrasonic oscillator and the atomizing mesh form a part of the atomizing liquid tank. 2. The ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein a bottle for supplying a chemical liquid to be sprayed to the spray liquid tank is provided above the spray liquid tank. 3. The ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the spray liquid tank and / or the bottle is detachably configured.