WO2021166500A1

WO2021166500A1 - Apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2021166500A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/000960
Authority: WO
Inventors: 直之飯村; 和康筏井
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2020-02-21
Filing date: 2021-01-14
Publication date: 2021-08-26
Also published as: JP2021133931A

Abstract

This apparatus comprises a base surface, and a tank which stores liquid in an internal space therein. The tank includes a supply port for putting liquid into the internal space, and a discharge port for discharging liquid to the base surface from the internal space. The tank includes a partition member for dividing the internal space into a first internal space including the supply port and a second internal space including the discharge port. The partition member includes a plurality of holes connecting the first internal space with the second internal space, and a plurality of open/close parts. At least one of the plurality of open/close parts is provided at a position separated from other open/close parts by a plane that includes two points: the center of the supply port and the center of the discharge port.

Description

device

This disclosure relates to equipment that uses liquids.

There are known devices that use the water in the water tank to achieve the intended purpose. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of a clothing steamer in which water in a water tank is applied to clothing as steam to smooth out wrinkles.

JP-A-2017-6205

In the clothing steamer, the water in the tank may not be sufficiently discharged. In the clothing steamer described in Patent Document 1, water is discharged from an appropriate discharge port according to the usage state of the clothing steamer by providing a first water supply channel and a second water supply channel in the tank. However, the configuration of the clothing steamer including the tank may be complicated by providing a plurality of outlets.

The present disclosure is an invention for solving the above problems, and provides an apparatus for suitably discharging water in a tank with a simple configuration.

The device according to the present disclosure is a device including a base surface and a tank for storing the liquid in the internal space, and the tank has a supply port for putting the liquid in the internal space and the internal space to the base surface. The tank is provided with a discharge port for discharging liquid, and the tank further includes a partition member for dividing the internal space into a first internal space including the supply port and a second internal space including the discharge port, and the partition member. Is provided with a plurality of holes connecting the first internal space and the second internal space, and a plurality of opening / closing portions each capable of opening / closing the plurality of holes. , At least one of them is provided at a position separated by a plane including two points, the center of the supply port and the center of the discharge port, with respect to the other opening / closing part.

According to the equipment according to the present disclosure, the water in the tank can be suitably discharged with a simple configuration.

A side view of the device of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the housing cover of the device of FIG. 1 is removed. An enlarged view of the tank of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tank of FIG. A cross-sectional view showing the inside of a tank when the equipment is arranged in a predetermined state. A cross-sectional view showing the inside of a tank when the equipment is arranged in an inclined state. A partially enlarged view showing the inside of the tank of FIG. A cross-sectional view showing the inside of a tank when the equipment is arranged in an inclined state. A cross-sectional view showing the inside of a tank when the equipment is arranged in an inclined state. A cross-sectional view showing the inside of a tank when the equipment is arranged in an inclined state.

(Example of possible forms of equipment)
The device according to the present disclosure is a device including a base surface and a tank for storing the liquid in the internal space, and the tank has a supply port for putting the liquid in the internal space and the internal space to the base surface. The tank is provided with a discharge port for discharging liquid, and the tank further includes a partition member for separating the internal space into a first internal space including the supply port and a second internal space including the discharge port, and the partition member. Is provided with a plurality of holes connecting the first internal space and the second internal space, and a plurality of opening / closing portions configured to be able to open / close the plurality of holes, and the plurality of opening / closing portions may be provided with the plurality of opening / closing portions. At least one of them is provided at a position separated by a plane including two points, the center of the supply port and the center of the discharge port, with respect to the other opening / closing part.

According to the above equipment, since the hole portion and the opening / closing portion are provided at positions separated by a plane including two points, the center of the supply port and the center of the discharge port, the water in the tank can move suitably. Therefore, the water in the tank can be suitably discharged with a simple configuration.

According to an example of the device, the opening / closing section includes a first opening / closing section and a second opening / closing section, and when the device is arranged in a state other than a predetermined state, the first opening / closing section and the second opening / closing section are provided. It is formed so that one of the opening / closing portions is in an open state.

According to the above equipment, since one of the first opening / closing part and the second opening / closing part is in an open state, the water in the tank can move suitably.

According to an example of the device, one end of the opening / closing portion is rotatably attached to the partition member.

According to the above equipment, the configuration of the opening / closing part can be simplified.

According to an example of the device, a weight is provided at the other end of the opening / closing portion.

According to the above equipment, opening and closing of the opening and closing part can be realized by a force in the direction of gravity.

According to an example of the device, the tank further includes an engaging portion in which the other end of the opening / closing portion engages with the second internal space.

According to the above equipment, the other end of the opening / closing part can be fixed to maintain the open state.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the device 10 of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

The device 10 of the present embodiment obtains various effects by using the liquid stored inside the device. Preferably, it is an electrically operated home appliance. An example of a liquid is water. The device 10 is, for example, a steam iron, a hair dryer, and an electric kettle. An example of a home appliance shown in FIG. 1 is a steam iron. Hereinafter, the device 10 will be described as a steam iron. The main elements constituting the device 10 are the housing cover 11, the base surface 20, and the tank 30. Note that arranging the device 10 in a predetermined state includes a state in which the base surface 20 is arranged so as to be horizontal. When the device 10 is arranged in a predetermined state, the base surface 20 side may be expressed as the lower side, and the side opposite to the base surface 20 side may be expressed as the upper side. Further, when the device 10 is arranged in a state other than the predetermined state, it may be expressed that the device 10 is arranged in an inclined state.

The housing cover 11 constitutes the appearance of the device 10 and accommodates various elements constituting the device 10. The various elements housed in the housing cover 11 are, for example, at least one of a control unit, a storage unit, a power supply unit, a detection unit, a pump, and a heater. The control unit is, for example, a microcomputer, and controls the output amounts of the pump and the heater. The storage unit is, for example, a volatile memory, and stores information necessary for controlling the pump and the heater. The operation unit is composed of buttons or switches, and outputs, for example, an operation signal for changing the output amount of the pump and the heater to the control unit. The power supply unit is a battery that supplies electric power.

When the device 10 is connected to an external power supply, the configuration of the power supply unit can be omitted. The external power supply and the device 10 are connected by a power line. The detection unit is, for example, a thermistor and detects the temperature of the base surface 20 and the temperature of the heater. The pump moves, for example, the liquid in the tank 30 to the vaporization chamber 14. The heater heats the liquid in the vaporization chamber 14 to form steam. An example of a heater is a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater. As the material constituting the housing cover 11, any material having heat resistance is selected. In one example, the material that makes up the housing cover 11 is polycarbonate. The housing cover 11 forms a grip portion 12 suitable for the user to grip. The grip unit 12 is provided with, for example, an operation unit 13 that outputs an operation signal for changing an on / off state of power supply by the power supply unit.

The base surface 20 supplies steam to the garment, for example, in a state of contact or non-contact with the garment. In one example, a pump is driven, the liquid in the tank 30 is supplied to the vaporization chamber 14 as the pump is driven, and the liquid in the vaporization chamber 14 is heated by a heater to generate steam. The generated steam passes through the steam passage and is ejected to the outside through the opening provided in the base surface 20. The base surface 20 is made of, for example, aluminum metal. Preferably, a heat insulating member is provided between the base surface 20 and the housing cover 11.

The tank 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. The tank 30 is provided in the housing cover 11 and stores the liquid in the internal space S. An example of a liquid is water. The tank 30 includes a supply port 31 for supplying a liquid to the internal space S of the tank 30 and a discharge port 32 for discharging the liquid existing in the internal space S of the tank 30. The supply port 31 is configured to be openable and closable by a lid (not shown). The discharge port 32 is configured to be openable and closable by a valve (not shown). The discharge port 32 is connected to, for example, the vaporization chamber 14. The tank 30 is made of any water resistant material. In one example, the material that makes up the tank 30 is polycarbonate. The tank 30 may be configured to be removable with respect to the device 10. Preferably, when the device 10 is arranged in a predetermined state, the position of the supply port 31 is provided at a position higher in the upward direction than the position of the discharge port 32. The shape of the supply port 31 and the discharge port 32 is arbitrary. In one example, the shape of the supply port 31 and the discharge port 32 is circular. The shape of the tank 30 is arbitrary, but it is preferable that the liquid can be easily supplied to the supply port 31 by the user. In one example, the shape of the tank 30 includes a shape in which the supply port 31 protrudes. It is preferable that the supply port 31 and the discharge port 32 are formed at the longest distance with the internal space S in between.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tank 30 further includes a partition member 40 that separates the internal space S into the first internal space S1 and the second internal space S2. The material of the partition member 40 is, for example, polycarbonate. The first internal space S1 includes the supply port 31 and does not include the discharge port 32. The second internal space S2 includes the discharge port 32 and does not include the supply port 31. The partition member 40 suppresses the movement of the liquid between the first internal space S1 and the second internal space S2.

The partition member 40 includes a hole H. The hole H has a configuration that allows the liquid to move between the first internal space S1 and the second internal space S2. For example, one or a plurality of holes H are provided. In one example, the partition member 40 is provided with two hole portions H, a first hole portion H1 and a second hole portion H2.

The partition member 40 further includes an opening / closing portion 41. The opening / closing portion 41 configures the hole portion H in an open state or a closed state. The opening / closing portion 41 is configured to be able to move the liquid between the first internal space S1 and the second internal space S2 via the hole H in the open state. The opening / closing portion 41 is configured such that the liquid between the first internal space S1 and the second internal space S2 via the hole H cannot move in the closed state. The material constituting the opening / closing portion 41 is, for example, polypropylene. The shape of the opening / closing portion 41 is a shape suitable for making it impossible for the liquid to move in the hole H in the closed state. In one example, the shape of the opening / closing portion 41 is a rectangle larger than the area of the hole portion H.

The opening / closing portion 41 includes a first end portion 41A and a second end portion 41B. The first end portion 41A is connected to the partition member 40. The opening / closing portion 41 is configured to be rotatable around the first end portion 41A. The second end 41B is not connected to the partition member 40. Preferably, the second end 41B comprises a weight W. The weight W is formed of, for example, a metal having a large specific density. The weight W causes the opening / closing portion 41 to rotate due to a force in the direction of gravity. The second end portion 41B rotates between the engaging portion C provided in the second internal space S2 of the tank 30 and the partition member 40.

The opening / closing portion 41 further includes a first opening / closing portion 42 provided in the first hole portion H1 and a second opening / closing portion 43 provided in the second hole portion H2. The positions of the first opening / closing portion 42 and the second opening / closing portion 43 will be described with reference to FIG. The tank 30 in FIG. 6 is arranged in an inclined state in the leftward direction. In the tank 30 of FIG. 6, the center point of the supply port 31 and the center point of the discharge port 32 of the tank 30 exist on the plane P1. The at least one hole H and the opening / closing portion 41 are provided on one side sandwiching the plane P1, and the at least one hole portion H and the opening / closing portion 41 are provided on the other side sandwiching the plane P1.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the tank 30 is arranged in an inclined state in the leftward direction, the second hole portion H2 is configured in an open state. The second end 41B of the second opening / closing portion 43 engages with the engaging portion C by a force in the direction of gravity. On the other hand, the first hole H1 is configured in a closed state.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the tank 30 is arranged in an inclined state in the right direction, the first hole portion H1 is configured in an open state. The second end 41B of the first opening / closing portion 42 engages with the engaging portion C by a force in the direction of gravity. On the other hand, the second hole H2 is configured in a closed state.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the tank 30 is arranged in an upwardly inclined state, the first hole portion H1 is configured in an open state. The second end 41B of the first opening / closing portion 42 engages with the engaging portion C by a force in the direction of gravity. On the other hand, the second hole H2 is configured in a closed state.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the tank 30 is arranged in a downwardly inclined state, the second hole portion H2 is configured in an open state. The second end 41B of the second opening / closing portion 43 engages with the engaging portion C by a force in the direction of gravity. On the other hand, the first hole H1 is configured in a closed state.

The method of using the device 10 of the present embodiment will be described.

The user arranges the tank 30 in the predetermined state shown in FIG. 5 and supplies the liquid from the supply port 31. The user operates the operation unit 13 to start using the device 10. As steam is output from the base surface 20, the amount of liquid existing in the internal space S decreases. When the user recognizes that the output of steam is small when the device 10 is used in a posture other than the predetermined state, the device 10 is arranged so that the tank 30 is tilted upward as shown in FIG. The liquid existing in the first internal space S1 moves to the second internal space S2 via the first hole H1. The user continues to use the device 10 by arranging it in a predetermined state or an inclined state. At the end of use of the device 10, the tank 30 shown in FIG. 10 is arranged in a downwardly inclined state. The liquid existing in the second internal space S2 moves to the first internal space S1 via the second hole H2. The user discharges the liquid in the first internal space S1 remaining at the end of use from the supply port.

According to the device 10 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be further obtained.

Since the liquid can be easily moved from the second internal space S2 to the first internal space S1 at the end of use, even if the tank 30 cannot be removed from the device 10, the liquid can be easily discharged through the supply port 31.

The equipment related to the present disclosure can be used for equipment such as home appliances and commercial household appliances that use liquids such as beauty equipment and health equipment.

10: Equipment 12: Grip part 20: Base surface 30: Tank 31: Supply port 32: Discharge port 40: Partition member 41: Opening and closing part 42: First opening and closing part 43: Second opening and closing part H: Hole part S: Internal space S1: First internal space S2: Second internal space P1: Plane

Claims

A device equipped with a base surface and a tank that stores liquid in the internal space.
The tank includes a supply port for putting a liquid into the internal space and a discharge port for discharging the liquid from the internal space to the base surface.
The tank further includes a partition member that divides the internal space into a first internal space including the supply port and a second internal space including the discharge port.
The partition member includes a plurality of holes connecting the first internal space and the second internal space, and a plurality of opening / closing portions each capable of opening / closing the plurality of holes.
A device in which at least one of the plurality of opening / closing portions is provided at a position separated by a plane including two points, a center of a supply port and a center of a discharge port, with respect to the other opening / closing portion.
The opening / closing portion includes a first opening / closing portion and a second opening / closing portion.
The device according to claim 1, wherein one of the first opening / closing part and the second opening / closing part is formed so as to be in an open state when the device is arranged in a state other than a predetermined state.
The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one end of the opening / closing portion is rotatably attached to the partition member.
The device according to claim 3, wherein a weight is provided at the other end of the opening / closing portion.
The device according to claim 4, wherein the tank further includes an engaging portion that engages the other end of the opening / closing portion with the second internal space.