WO2020217528A1

WO2020217528A1 - Liquid discharge apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2020217528A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/018138
Authority: WO
Inventors: 素樹 ▲高▼田; 基治青木; 小林　洋平; 岡本　祐介; 武則岡村; 一成穴井
Original assignee: 株式会社資生堂
Priority date: 2019-04-26
Filing date: 2019-04-26
Publication date: 2020-10-29
Also published as: CN113710589A; CN113710589B; JPWO2020217528A1; JP7185027B2

Abstract

A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: a main body; a rotation table provided with a plurality of container receiving units each for receiving a container provided with a liquid discharge nozzle, the rotation table rotating the container receiving units relative to the main body; a liquid discharge unit for causing a liquid stored by the containers to be discharged; a first detection unit (151) provided to the main body; a second detection unit (152); a third detection unit (153); and a processing unit (1553), the container receiving units being arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotation table, the rotation table being provided with a plurality of position sensing members arranged at equal intervals between adjacent container receiving units, the first detection unit and the second detection unit being capable of detecting the position sensing members and the discharge nozzle, the third detection unit not detecting the position sensing members and being capable of detecting the discharge nozzle, and the processing unit detecting the rotation position of the rotation table from the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit.

Description

Liquid discharge device

The present invention relates to a liquid material discharge device.

Conventionally, a dispenser that automatically discharges and supplies cosmetics and the like stored in a storage tank is known. (Patent Document 1)

International Release 2016/029104

However, in the prior art, it was necessary to prepare a mechanism for discharging the liquid material according to the number of storage tanks. In addition, the liquid material was discharged from each storage tank to different places, and the places where the liquid was discharged were widened.

One embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a liquid material discharge device that detects the position of a container and discharges the liquid material of a plurality of containers to the same place by a simple configuration.

The disclosed liquid material discharge device includes a main body, a plurality of container storage units for storing a container including a liquid material discharge nozzle, and a rotary table that rotates the container storage unit relative to the main body, and the above. The container storage unit includes a liquid material discharge unit for discharging the liquid stored in the container, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, a third detection unit, and a processing unit provided in the main body. , The rotary table is arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary table, and the rotary table includes a plurality of position detecting members arranged at equal intervals between the adjacent container storage portions, and the first detection unit and the said The second detection unit is arranged side by side in the circumferential direction, and the distance between the first detection unit and the second detection unit is the intermediate point between the two adjacent position detection members and the two position detection members. It is a distance that can be detected at a certain point of the position detection member, and the third detection unit is arranged side by side in the direction perpendicular to the first detection unit, and the first detection unit and the first detection unit are arranged side by side. The 2 detection unit can detect the position detection member and the discharge nozzle, the third detection unit can detect the discharge nozzle without detecting the position detection member, and the processing unit can detect the discharge nozzle. The rotation position of the rotary table is detected from the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit.

With a simple configuration, liquids from multiple containers can be detected at the position of the container and discharged to the same location.

It is an overall block diagram of an example of the liquid material discharge system which concerns on this embodiment. It is an overall view of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view of the container of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of the discharge mechanism of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is an enlarged view of the position detection device of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the position detection device of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart about the process of the position detection device of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Liquid discharge system 1>
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an example of the liquid material discharge system 1 according to the present embodiment.

The liquid material discharge system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a liquid material discharge device 100, an information processing terminal 200, and a server device 300. The liquid material discharge device 100, the information processing terminal 200, and the server device 300 are connected via the network 400. The liquid material discharge device 100 will be described later. The information processing terminal 200 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet computer. The information processing terminal 200 transmits user information and the like to the server device 300. The server device 300 is an information processing device (computer) that performs processing as a server. The server device 300 manages the user of the liquid material discharge device 100 and the state of the liquid material discharge device 100. Further, the server device 300 determines how to operate the liquid material discharge device 100 based on the user information and the like sent by the information processing terminal 200 and the weather information and the like that are open to the public.

In the liquid material discharge system 1 of the present embodiment, the liquid material discharge device 100 receives information (operation information) about the operation of the liquid material discharge device 100 from the server device 300 via the network 400. Then, the liquid material discharge device 100 performs processing based on the received operation information. Further, the liquid material discharge device 100 transmits the processing result based on the received operation information to the server device 300. Then, the server device 300 updates the information about the state of the liquid material discharge device 100 and the like.

Note that in FIG. 1, one liquid discharge device 100, an information processing terminal 200, and a server device 300 are connected to the network 400, but the number of each is not limited to the number shown in FIG. For example, a plurality of liquid material discharge devices 100 and an information processing terminal 200 may be connected to one server device 300. Further, the processing of the server device 300 may be distributed and the processing may be performed by a plurality of server devices 300. Furthermore, the liquid material discharge device 100 may be operated independently without being connected to the network 400.

<Liquid discharge device 100>
Next, the liquid material discharge device 100 will be described.

FIG. 2 is an overall view of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment. 2A is a top view (plan view) of the liquid material discharge device 100, FIG. 2B is a front view of the liquid material discharge device 100, and FIG. 2C is a side view of the liquid material discharge device 100. Is. Further, FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the liquid material discharge device 100.

The liquid material discharge device 100 includes an upper surface portion 101, an upper housing 102, a lower housing 103, and a bottom surface portion 104. The liquid material discharge device 100 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The lower housing 103 includes a manual insertion portion 105. Further, the lower housing 103 is provided with an extraction port 106 and a human body sensing sensor 107 at the upper part of the manual insertion portion 105. When the user inserts the hand into the hand insertion portion 105, the human body detection sensor 107 detects the hand. When the human body sensing sensor 107 detects a hand, the storage liquid (liquid) stored in the container 500, which will be described later, is discharged from the extraction port 106. The liquid material discharge device 100 includes a container lid 108. The container lid 108 is. It is provided so as to straddle the upper surface portion 101 and the upper housing 102. The user opens the container lid 108 and replaces the container 500, which will be described later, exposed from the opened portion of the container lid 108. Further, the liquid material discharge device 100 includes a button (switch) 109 on the upper surface portion 101. When the user presses the button 109, the operation of the liquid material discharge device 100 is started.

<Container 500>
Next, the container 500 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container 500 as an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The container 500 is a container for storing a liquid material (storage liquid) such as cosmetics such as milky lotion and serum. As the milky lotion, for example, a plurality of types of milky lotion can be used for morning use and nighttime use. Further, as the serum, for example, a plurality of types of serums for antioxidant, anti-drying, stress reduction and the like can be used.

The container 500 of this embodiment includes a main body 510 and a lid 520. A storage liquid (liquid) is stored in the main body 510. The lid 520 is attached to the main body 510 by screwing or the like. The lid 520 includes a flange 521, a push button (pressing member) 522, and a pipe 524. At the end of the pipe 524 on the opposite side of the push button 522, a discharge port 526 for discharging the stored liquid (liquid material) is provided. When the push button 522 is pressed, the liquid material (storage liquid) in the container 500 is discharged.

The container 500 is provided with an RFID tag 550 on the bottom surface of the main body 510. The RFID tag 550 stores a unique identifier attached to each container 500, information on the product type of the liquid (storage liquid) stored in the container 500, the expiration date of the liquid, the remaining amount, and the like. By providing the container 500 with the RFID tag 550, the expiration date and usage amount of the liquid material (storage liquid) stored in the container 500 can be managed, the container 500 can be prevented from being erroneously inserted, the counterfeit product can be prevented from being distributed, the container 500 and the container 500 can be used. It is possible to ensure the traceability of the liquid material (storage liquid) stored in the container 500.

Although the RFID tag 550 is used in the container 500 of the present embodiment, the means for recording the information of the container 500 is not limited to the RFID tag. For example, a barcode or the like may be used.

The container 500 of the present embodiment is stored in the container storage unit 120 of the rotary table 110 of the liquid material discharge device 100 described later so that the push button 522 is on the bottom. Specifically, the container 500 is stored in the container storage unit 120 by being inserted into the container storage unit 120 in the direction of the arrow I.

The upper housing 102 and the lower housing 103 are examples of the main body.

<Rotary table 110>
4 and 5 are perspective views showing an internal configuration of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment. 4 and 5 are views in a state where the upper housing 102 and a part of the inside of the upper housing 102 are removed to expose the rotary table 110. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the container 500 is not stored in the container storage unit 120. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the container 500 is stored in the container storage unit 120.

The liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment includes a rotary table 110 inside the upper housing 102 and above the lower housing 103. The rotary table 110 rotates about the rotation shaft 112 in the direction of arrow A or in the direction opposite to the arrow A relative to the upper housing 102 and the lower housing 103. In the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, the container 500 is rotationally moved by using the rotary table 110, but the moving method is not limited to rotation. For example, a moving table in which the container storage unit 120 moves horizontally on a straight line may be used. In this way, the rotary table 110 is movable relative to the upper housing 102 and the lower housing 103.

The rotary table 110 includes a container storage unit 120 for storing the container 500. The container storage portions 120 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the circumference centered on the rotation shaft 112. The rotary table 110 of the present embodiment includes container storage portions 120 at a total of five locations. Each container storage unit 120 is represented as a

container storage unit

121, 122, 123, 124, 125. The container 501 is stored in the container storage unit 121. Similarly, the

containers

502, 503, 504, and 505 are stored in the

container storage units

122, 123, 124, and 125, respectively. In the above description, the specific container 500 is stored in each container storage unit 120, but any container 500 can be stored in each container storage unit 120. Further, the pipe 524 of the container 500 stored in the container storage unit 120 is stored so as to be outside the container storage unit 120 with respect to the rotation shaft 112 of the rotary table 110.

The container storage unit 120 of the rotary table 110 has a fixed structure (not shown) for fixing the container 500. The container 500 is fixed by a fixed structure so as not to move in the vertical upward direction of FIG. 5 when it is stored in the container storage unit 120.

Each container 500 rotates with respect to the upper housing 102 and the lower housing 103 as the rotary table 110 rotates.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing an internal configuration of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view of the rotary table 110 in a state where the container 500 is stored in the container storage unit 120 as viewed from above. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the container 500 (container 501) is located above the extraction port 106. Note that FIG. 6A is a view of the liquid material discharge device 100 of FIG. 5 as viewed from above. The position of the container 501 above the extraction port 106 is referred to as the discharge position PosA. In the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, the container 500 can be stored in a total of five container storage units 120. Therefore, the rotary table 110 rotates 72 ° around the rotation shaft 112 to rotate the

containers

501, 502, 503. , 504, 505 will sequentially come to the position of the discharge position PosA.

FIG. 6B shows a state in which the rotary table 110 is rotated 36 degrees in the direction of arrow A from the state shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B shows a state in which the intermediate portion between the container 501 and the container 502 is located above the extraction port 106. The position opposite to the discharge position PosA with respect to the rotation shaft 112 (the position of the container 504 in FIG. 6B) is referred to as a replacement position PosB. In FIG. 6B, when the rotary table 110 shown in FIG. 6A rotates by 36 °, the container 504 (500) also rotates by 36 ° to reach the PosB position. When the container lid 108 is opened, the container 500 at the exchange position PosB is exposed to the outside. The user can replace the container 500 at the replacement position PosB with another container 500.

As described above, in the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, the rotary table 110 is configured to rotate every 36 ° around the rotation shaft 112, so that each container 501 to 505 is sequentially discharged at the discharge position PosA or the replacement position PosB. Can be the position of.

In the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge position PosA and the replacement position PosB are different in position in a plan view (top view).

<Discharge mechanism 130>
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing details of a discharge mechanism 130 of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The liquid material discharge device 100 includes a discharge mechanism 130 at a position corresponding to the discharge position PosA of the rotary table 110. The discharge mechanism 130 according to the present embodiment includes a discharge motor 131, a speed reducer 132, a cam 133, a sliding member 134, and a fixing member 135. The rotating shaft of the discharge motor 131 is connected to the speed reducer 132. The speed reducer 132 is connected to the cam 133. The speed reducer 132 decelerates the rotation of the discharge motor 131 to rotate the cam 133. The cam 133 is a substantially fan-shaped eccentric cam. The cam 133 is inserted into the recess 1341 provided on the surface of the sliding member 134 on the speed reducer 132 side. When the cam 133 rotates, the cam 133 comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess 1341 to slide the sliding member 134 up and down. The fixing member 135 is a member that fixes the sliding member 134 while holding the sliding member 134 so as to slide up and down.

The rotary table 110 moves the container 500 to the discharge position PosA. The position of the push button 522 of the container 500 at the discharge position PosA and the position of the tip portion 136 of the sliding member 134 coincide with each other in the top view. When the sliding member 134 slides in the direction (upward) of the container 500, the tip 136 of the sliding member 134 comes into contact with the push button 522 of the container 500, and the push button 522 of the container 500 is moved to the main body 510 of the container 500. Press in the direction. The main body 510 and the lid 520 of the container 500 are fixed by a fixing structure (not shown) so as not to move. Therefore, when the push button 522 of the container 500 is pressed, the storage liquid (discharge liquid) stored in the container 500 is discharged. The liquid material discharge device 100 controls the amount of the stored liquid (discharge liquid) by the number of times the push button 522 is pressed.

The discharge mechanism 130 is an example of a liquid material discharge unit.

<Control device 140>
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The liquid material discharge device 100 includes a control device 140. The control device 140 controls the operation of the liquid material discharge device 100. The control device 140 includes a device control unit 141, a communication control unit 142, a rotation control unit 143, a discharge control unit 144, a position detection unit 145, a discharge detection unit 146, an input / output unit 147, and an RFID control unit 148.

The device control unit 141 controls the entire device.

The communication control unit 142 controls communication between the liquid material discharge device 100 and the information processing terminal 200 or the server device 300. The communication control unit 142 controls the communication unit 180 provided in the liquid material discharge device 100. The communication unit 180 communicates with the information processing terminal 200 and the server device 300 via the network 400 under the control of the communication control unit 142. The communication by the communication unit 180 is performed by, for example, short-range communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), communication by wireless LAN (Local Area Network), mobile communication such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), or the like.

The rotation control unit 143 controls the rotation of the rotary table 110. The rotary table 110 is connected to the rotary motor 113. The rotation control unit 143 controls the rotation of the rotary table 110 by controlling the rotation of the rotation motor 113.

The discharge control unit 144 controls the discharge of the liquid material (stored liquid). The discharge control unit 144 controls the discharge of the liquid material (stored liquid) by controlling the rotation of the discharge motor 131 of the discharge mechanism 130.

The position detection unit 145 detects whether or not the predetermined container 500 is at a predetermined position, for example, the discharge position PosA or the replacement position PosB. The position detection unit 145 detects the position of the predetermined container 500 from the detection result of the position detection device 150 provided in the liquid material discharge device 100.

The discharge detection unit 146 detects whether or not the liquid material (storage liquid) has been discharged from the container 500 at the discharge position PosA. The discharge detection unit 146 detects whether or not the liquid material (stored liquid) has been discharged from the detection result of the discharge detection device 160 provided in the liquid material discharge device 100.

The input / output unit 147 accepts input from the user and outputs information to the user. The input / output unit 147 detects the pressing of the button 109 and accepts the input from the user. Further, the input / output unit 147 controls the LED drive unit 170 to control the light emission of the LED provided in the liquid material discharge device 100, and outputs information to the user.

The RFID control unit 148 controls the input and output of the information recorded on the RFID tag 550 of the container 500. The RFID control unit 148 controls the RFID reader / writer 190 provided in the liquid substance discharge device 100 to read information from the RFID tag 550 of the container 500 and write information to the RFID tag 550.

Each function of the control device 140 is realized by operating a CPU (Central Processing Unit) by a program that is readable and stored in a storage device (not shown). For example, each of these functions is realized by the collaboration of hardware and software in a microcomputer including a CPU. Further, the control device 140 may be divided into a plurality of processing devices, or another function may be incorporated into the control device 140.

<Operation of liquid discharge device 100>
The server device 300 discharges the liquid material used by the user from personal information such as the user's age, skin characteristics, and skin condition, environmental information such as temperature, humidity, and weather on the day of use, and time information. The type and amount of the liquid material discharged from the device 100 are determined. When the user presses the button (switch) 109 of the liquid material discharge device 100, the liquid material discharge device 100 is sent to the server device 300, and the server device 300 provides information on the type and amount of the liquid material to be discharged (discharge liquid information). ) Is transmitted to the liquid material discharge device 100. When the user inserts his / her hand into the manual insertion unit 105, the liquid material discharge device 100 discharges one or a plurality of types of liquid material corresponding to the container 500 housed in the liquid material discharge device 100. .. The liquid material discharge device 100 discharges each liquid material based on the amount of discharge liquid information.

From the discharged liquid material information received from the server device 300, the device control unit 141 of the liquid material discharge device 100 determines which container in the containers 500 (501, 502, 503, 504, 505) housed in the liquid material discharge device 100. Specify whether to discharge 500 liquids. Then, the device control unit 141 calculates how much the liquid material should be discharged from the specified discharge container 500, that is, how many times the push button 522 is pressed.

Then, when the user inserts his / her hand into the manual insertion unit 105, the device control unit 141 rotates the container storage unit 120 of the container 500 in which the liquid material is to be discharged to the discharge position PosA by controlling the rotation control unit 143. Move. Next, the device control unit 141 controls the discharge control unit 144 and presses the push button 522 of the container 500 a calculated number of times to discharge the liquid material.

<Position detection device 150>
The position detection device 150 of the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

First, the rotation position will be explained. FIG. 6A shows an example in which the container storage portion 121 of the container 501 is at the discharge position PosA. Not limited to this example, when any of the container storage portions 120 is at the discharge position PosA, the rotary table 110 is said to be at the rotation position RotA. FIG. 6B shows an example in which the container storage portion 124 of the container 504 is located at the exchange position PosB. Not limited to this example, when any of the container storage portions 120 is in the replacement position PosB, the rotary table 110 is said to be in the rotation position RotB.

The position detection device 150 of the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment detects whether the rotary table 110 is at the rotation position RotA or at the rotation position RotB.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged rear view of the

infrared sensors

151, 152, and 153 by removing a part of the inside of the upper housing 102 and the upper housing 102. FIG. 9A is a rear view showing the

infrared sensors

151, 152, and 153 in an exposed state. FIG. 9B is a rear view in which the rotary table 110 is added to FIG. 9A. 9 (c) is a rear view in which the container 500 is added to FIG. 9 (b).

As shown in FIG. 9A, the position detection device 150 of the present embodiment includes an infrared sensor 151 and an infrared sensor 153 at a position below the rotary table 110 corresponding to the replacement position PosB. The infrared sensors 153 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction of the infrared sensor 151.

Further, the position detection device 150 includes an infrared sensor 151 and an infrared sensor 152 arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the rotary table 110.

As shown in FIG. 9B, the rotary table 110 includes a position detecting member 116 in the middle between the adjacent container storage portions 120, respectively.

Here, the distance between the infrared sensor 151 and the infrared sensor 152 will be described. The infrared sensor 151 and the infrared sensor 152 are provided on the circumference centered on the rotation shaft 112. The infrared sensor 151 and the infrared sensor 152 are separated from each other by a distance in the circumferential direction corresponding to half the distance in the circumferential direction of the adjacent position detection member 116. For example, when the infrared sensor 151 is at a position facing the position detecting member 116, the infrared sensor 152 is at a position facing the intermediate point between the position detecting member 116 and the adjacent position detecting member 116. In other words, when the infrared sensor 152 is at a position facing the position detecting member 116, the infrared sensor 151 is at a position facing the intermediate point between the position detecting member 116 and the adjacent position detecting member 116. In this way, the distance between the infrared sensor 151 and the infrared sensor 152 is set at the midpoint between the two adjacent position detection members 116 and the point where the position detection member 116 of either of the two position detection members 116 is located. It is a detectable distance.

As shown in FIG. 9C, when the container 500 is stored in the container storage unit 120, the pipe 524 of the container 500 stored in the container storage unit 120 is located between the position detection members 116. Further, the vertical length of the position detecting member 116 is shorter than that of the pipe 524 of the container 500.

As described above, by arranging the

infrared sensors

151, 152, 153, the

infrared sensors

151, 152 can detect the position detection member 116 and the pipe 524, and the infrared sensor 153 does not detect the position detection member 116. In addition, the pipe 524 can be detected.

The pipe 524 is an example of a discharge nozzle.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of the position detection device 150 according to the present embodiment.

The liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment includes

infrared sensors

151, 152, 153, a magnetic sensor 154, and a position detection device control unit 155.

Infrared sensors

151, 152, and 153 are sensors that detect the presence or absence of an object using infrared rays. In the position detection device 150 of the present embodiment, the

infrared sensors

151 and 152 detect the position detection member 116 and the pipe 524, and the infrared sensor 153 detects the pipe 524.

The magnetic sensor 154 is a sensor that detects magnetism. The magnetic sensor 154 of the present embodiment detects a magnet 156 provided at a predetermined position on the rotary table 110. In the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, the magnet 156 is provided between the container storage portion 124 and the container storage portion 125 of the rotary table 110 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Further, the magnetic sensor 154 is provided at a position facing the magnet 156. Thereby, the position detection device 150 can detect that the magnet 156 of the rotary table 110 is in a predetermined position, that is, the rotary table 110 is in a predetermined reference rotation position.

The position detection device control unit 155 acquires data from the

infrared sensors

151, 152, 153, and the magnetic sensor 154, and detects whether the rotary table 110 is at the rotary position RotA or at the rotary position RotB. The position detection device control unit 155 includes an overall control unit 1551, a data acquisition unit 1552, and a calculation unit 1553.

The overall control unit 1551 controls the entire position detection device control unit 155.

The data acquisition unit 1552 acquires the detection results of the

infrared sensors

151, 152, 153 and the magnetic sensor 154.

The calculation unit 1553 calculates whether the rotary table 110 is at the rotation position RotA or the rotation position RotB based on the detection results of the

infrared sensors

151, 152, 153 and the magnetic sensor 154 acquired by the data acquisition unit 1552. And detect.

Note that the

infrared sensors

151, 152, and 153 are examples of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit, respectively.

The specific processing of the position detection device control unit 155 will be described.

First, Table 1 shows the detection results of the

infrared sensors

151, 152, and 153 at the rotation positions RotA and RotB.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the position detection device 150 of the present embodiment.

(Step S10) The overall control unit 1551 of the position detection device 150 controls the data acquisition unit 1552 to acquire data from the

infrared sensors

151, 152, and 153. The data acquisition unit 1552 acquires data from the

infrared sensors

151, 152, and 153. The overall control unit 1551 transfers the detection result data of the

infrared sensors

151, 152, and 153 acquired by the data acquisition unit 1552 to the calculation unit 1553.

(Step S20) Regarding the detection results of the

infrared sensors

151 and 152, the calculation unit 1553 determines whether or not both the infrared sensor 151 and the infrared sensor 152 have detected an object (position detection member 116 or pipe 524). If both the infrared sensor 151 and the infrared sensor 152 detect (“Yes” in step S20), the process proceeds to step S30, and if not (“No” in step S20), the process proceeds to step S60.

(Step S30) The calculation unit 1553 determines whether or not the infrared sensor 153 has detected an object. If the infrared sensor 153 detects it (“Yes” in step S30), the process proceeds to step S40, and if it does not detect it (“No” in step S30), the process proceeds to step S50.

(Step S40) The calculation unit 1553 determines that the position detection member 116 is located at a position facing the infrared sensor 152. Further, the calculation unit 1553 determines that the container 500 is located at a position corresponding to the infrared sensor 151. Then, the calculation unit 1553 determines that the rotary table 110 is at the rotary position RotB. Since it is in the rotation position RotB, it is determined that any one of the container storage portions 120 is in the replacement position PosB. After the above determination, the process ends.

(Step S50) The calculation unit 1553 determines that the position detection member 116 is located at a position facing the infrared sensor 151. Further, the calculation unit 1553 determines that the container 500 is located at a position corresponding to the infrared sensor 152. Then, the calculation unit 1553 determines that the rotary table 110 is at the rotary position RotA. Since it is at the rotation position RotA, it is determined that any of the container storage portions 120 is at the discharge position PosA. After the above determination, the process ends.

(Step S60) The calculation unit 1553 determines whether or not the infrared sensor 151 has detected an object. If the infrared sensor 151 has detected (“Yes” in step S60), the process proceeds to step S70, and if it has not been detected (“No” in step S60), the process proceeds to step S80.

(Step S70) The calculation unit 1553 determines that the position detection member 116 is located at a position facing the infrared sensor 151. Further, the calculation unit 1553 determines that the container 500 is not located at the position corresponding to the infrared sensor 152. Then, the calculation unit 1553 determines that the rotary table 110 is at the rotary position RotA. Since it is at the rotation position RotA, it is determined that any of the container storage portions 120 is at the discharge position PosA. After the above determination, the process ends.

(Step S80) The calculation unit 1553 determines that the position detection member 116 is located at a position facing the infrared sensor 152. Further, the calculation unit 1553 determines that the container 500 is not located at the position corresponding to the infrared sensor 151. Then, the calculation unit 1553 determines that the rotary table 110 is at the rotary position RotB. Since it is in the rotation position RotB, it is determined that any one of the container storage portions 120 is in the replacement position PosB. After the above determination, the process ends.

By processing as described above, the position detection device 150 determines whether the position detection member 116 is at a position facing the infrared sensor 151 or a position facing the infrared sensor 152. Then, it is possible to detect whether the rotary table 110 is at the rotation position RotA or at the rotation position RotB.

Note that in step S10, the overall control unit 1551 of the position detection device 150 may control the data acquisition unit 1552 to acquire data from the magnetic sensor 154 as well. The calculation unit 1553 uses the detection result of the magnetic sensor 154 from the data acquisition unit 1552 to indicate that the magnet 156 of the rotary table 110 is in a predetermined position, that is, the rotary table 110 is in a predetermined reference rotation position. Is detected. By using this detection result and the control information of the rotation control unit 143 of the control device 140, it is possible to grasp which container 500 (for example, container 501 or the like) is in the discharge position PosA or the replacement position PosB.

The magnetic sensor 154 is an example of the fourth detection unit. The magnet 156 of the rotary table 110 is an example of the detected portion. The calculation unit 1553 is an example of a processing unit.

<Action / effect>
In the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, by detecting the rotation position of the rotary table 110 by the position detection device 150, it is possible to reliably detect that the predetermined container 500 is at the discharge position PosA or the replacement position PosB. Can be done.

Thereby, the liquid material of each container 500 can be discharged at the discharge position PosA, and the discharged liquid material of each container 500 can be discharged to the same place. In addition, the container 500 to be exchanged can be moved to the exchange position PosB accurately.

Furthermore, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a container 500 at the exchange position PosB.

100 Liquid material discharge device 102 Upper housing 103 Lower housing 110 Rotating table 116 Position detection member 120 Container storage 130 Discharge mechanism 150 Position detection device 151 Infrared sensor 152 Infrared sensor 153 Infrared sensor 154 Magnetic sensor 155 Position detection device control unit 156 Magnet 500 Container 1553 Calculation unit

Claims

With the main body
A rotary table provided with a plurality of container storage units for storing containers provided with liquid discharge nozzles, and the container storage units are rotated relative to the main body.
A liquid material discharge unit that discharges the liquid stored in the container,
A first detection unit, a second detection unit, a third detection unit, and a third detection unit provided on the main body.
With a processing unit,
The container storage portions are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary table.
The rotary table includes a plurality of position detecting members arranged at equal intervals between adjacent container storage portions.
The first detection unit and the second detection unit are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction.
The distance between the first detection unit and the second detection unit is detected at an intermediate point between the two adjacent position detection members and a point where the position detection member is located on either one of the two position detection members. It ’s a possible distance,
The third detection unit is arranged side by side in the vertical direction of the first detection unit.
The first detection unit and the second detection unit can detect the position detection member and the discharge nozzle.
The third detection unit can detect the discharge nozzle without detecting the position detection member.
The liquid material discharge device is characterized in that the processing unit detects the rotation position of the rotary table from the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit.
From the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit, the processing unit determines whether the position detection member is located at a position facing the first detection unit, or the second detection unit. The liquid material discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether or not the position detecting member is located at a position facing the rotary table and detecting the rotating position of the rotary table.
When the processing unit determines that the position detection member is at a position facing the first detection unit, it determines that any of the container storage units is at a discharge position for discharging the liquid material of the container. When it is determined that the position detecting member is in a position facing the second detecting portion, it is determined that any one of the container accommodating portions is in an exchange position for replacing the container. The liquid material discharge device according to claim 2.
Claim 1 is characterized in that the processing unit detects whether or not the container is stored in the container storage unit from the detection results of the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the third detection unit. The liquid material discharge device according to.
Further equipped with a fourth detector
The liquid material discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fourth detection unit detects a detected unit attached to the circumference of the rotary table.