U.S. patent application number 12/055800 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for liquid transfer device and suction unit.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kazuo KAWASUMI.
Application Number | 20080247892 12/055800 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39827072 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080247892 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KAWASUMI; Kazuo |
October 9, 2008 |
LIQUID TRANSFER DEVICE AND SUCTION UNIT
Abstract
A liquid transfer device that includes: a plurality of reservers
that each store therein a liquid; a plurality of elastic tubes that
are linked to the reservers and retained by a tube guide; a
rotation axis that is retained to be able to rotate; and a tube
depressing member whose depressing section is fixed to the rotation
axis for depressing the tubes with a helical-structured convex
portion provided thereto. In the liquid transfer device, when the
rotation axis rotates, the liquid starts to flow by the depressing
section sequentially depressing the tubes in a direction from the
reservers toward a flow-out side of the liquid.
Inventors: |
KAWASUMI; Kazuo; (Chino,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Assignee: |
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
39827072 |
Appl. No.: |
12/055800 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/476 ;
137/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 43/1223 20130101;
F04B 43/12 20130101; Y10T 137/2897 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/476 ;
137/150 |
International
Class: |
F04B 43/12 20060101
F04B043/12; F04F 10/00 20060101 F04F010/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 3, 2007 |
JP |
2007-097210 |
Dec 17, 2007 |
JP |
2007-324325 |
Claims
1. A liquid transfer device, comprising: a reserver that stores
therein a liquid; a plurality of elastic tubes that are linked to
the reservers and retained by a tube guide; a rotation axis that is
retained to be able to rotate; and a tube depressing member in
which a depressing section is fixed to the rotation axis for
depressing the tubes with a helical-structured convex portion each
provided thereto, wherein when the rotation axis rotates, the
liquid starts to flow by the depressing section sequentially
depressing the tubes in a direction from the reserver toward a
flow-out side of the liquid.
2. A liquid transfer device, comprising: a reserver that stores
therein a liquid; a first tube and a second tube linked to the
reserver in different direction; a rotation axis that is retained
to be able to rotate; and a depressing member including a first
depressing section that is fixed to the rotation axis and depresses
the first tube using a helical-structured convex portion provided
thereto, and a second depressing section that is fixed to the
rotation axis and depresses the second tube using a
helical-structured convex portion provided thereto with a helical
direction opposite to the convex portion depressing the first tube,
wherein when the rotation axis rotates, the liquid starts to flow
in two different directions by the first depressing section and the
second depressing sections sequentially depressing the first tube
and the second tube in a direction from the reserver toward a
flow-out side of the liquid.
3. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the
reserver include the first reserver and the second reserver, the
tubes include the first tube and the second tube, the depressing
section include the first depressing section and the second
depressing section whose helical-structured concave portions each
have different helical direction, and the first tube is linked to
the first reserver and the second tube is linked to the second
reserver, the first and second tubes are extended in each different
direction, and the liquid starts to flow in two different
directions when the first depressing section and the second
depressing section respectively depress the first tube and the
second tube.
4. The liquid transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the
first reserver and the second reserver are disposed along the
rotation axis.
5. The liquid transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the
first reserver and the second reserver are disposed around the
rotation axis.
6. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the
helical-structured convex portions respectively provided in the
depressing sections are each a coil wound around the tube
depressing member in different helical direction.
7. The liquid transfer device according to claim 6, wherein the
tube depressing member is formed, as a piece, by a coil section
corresponding to the convex portion of each of the depressing
sections and the rotation axis.
8. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein at
least one of the tubes has an internal and external diameter
different from other tubes, and the helical-structured convex
portions of the depressing sections provided as many as the tubes
have different external diameter in accordance with the internal or
external diameter of the corresponding tube.
9. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the
tubes are retained by the tube guide while being linked to the
reserver, and the tube guide including the reserver and the tubes
is configured to be attachable to, and detachable from a device
frame keeping hold of the rotation axis.
10. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein an
insertion pipe is provided at an end portion of each of the tubes
on a reserver side for linkage to the reserver, and a tip end
portion of the insertion pipe is inserted into each of the reserver
for linkage therewith, and the tubes can be inserted into, and
removed from the reservers.
11. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein a lid
is provided to a portion of the tube guide covering the
reserver.
12. The liquid transfer device according to claim 11, wherein the
lid is provided in a area including the reserver and part of the
tube guide supporting the tubes except end portions in the length
direction thereof.
13. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the
reserver is disposed in a multiple-connected arrangement along the
rotation axis, at least one of the tubes provided as many as the
reserver is linked thereto in a direction different from other
tubes, and the depressing section show different helical direction
in accordance with the direction of linkage of each of the
tubes.
14. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the
reserver is disposed around the rotation axis, at least one of the
tubes provided as many as the reserver is linked thereto in a
direction different from other tubes, and the depressing section
are respectively provided with helical-structured convex portions
that show each different helical direction in accordance with the
direction of linkage of each of the tubes.
15. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the
reserver is disposed at one end portion of the tube depressing
member, and the reserver is provided with the tubes around the
depressing section.
16. The liquid transfer device according to claim 15, wherein the
depressing section is disposed in a multiple-connected arrangement,
and at least one depressing section is provided with a convex
portion showing a helical direction different from other depressing
sections.
17. A suction unit, comprising: the liquid transfer device of claim
1; a first atomizer that atomizes a liquid coming from at least one
of the tubes; a second atomizer that atomizes a liquid coming from
at least another the tube; a motor that provides a rotation force
to the tube depressing member; a control section that includes a
control circuit for controlling the first atomizer and the second
atomizer, and a drive control circuit for controlling the drive of
the motor; and a power supply section that supplies power to the
control section, wherein in a tubular chassis, the power supply
section, the control section, the first atomizer and the second
atomizer, and the liquid transfer device are disposed along the
longitudinal direction of the chassis, and an aperture section is
provided for ejection or suction of liquid particles atomized by
each of the first atomizer and the second atomizer.
18. The suction unit according to claim 17, wherein one of the
aperture sections is a suction port for sucking the atomized liquid
particles, and the other of the aperture sections is an ejection
port for ejecting the atomized liquid particles.
19. The suction unit according to claim 17, wherein the suction
port is provided at both ends of the chassis in the length
direction for sucking the atomized liquid particles.
20. The suction unit according to claim 17, wherein the chassis is
configured by upper and lower frames, and the upper and lower
frames are configured to be attachable/detachable, and at least the
liquid transfer device and the power supply section can be attached
thereto, and detached therefrom.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a liquid transfer device
that transfers a liquid in one or two different directions by
depressing a plurality of tubes using a tube depressing member
formed with a helical-shaped convex portion, and a suction unit
including the liquid transfer device and an atomizer.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] There has been known a tube pump (liquid transfer device)
that includes a helical roller configured by a rotation axis
disposed in parallel with a tube and a helical-structured convex
portion formed on the rotation axis and operates to rotate the
helical roller and depress the tube by the helical-structured
convex portion, whereby a liquid is flowed (e.g., JP-A-2003-301778;
p.p. 5 and 6, and FIG. 2).
[0005] The tube pump of JP-A-2003-301778 is of a configuration that
the tube is depressed by the helical-structured convex portion
formed on the rotation axis. The helical roller is thus implemented
by such a simple configuration.
[0006] The problem here is that the tube pump of such a
configuration has only one tube available for liquid transfer. For
implementation of liquid transfer using a plurality of tubes, there
requires a drive shaft with a plurality of cams, or a plurality of
sets of a rotation axis with a helical-structured convex portion
and a drive source such as a motor.
SUMMARY
[0007] A first aspect of the invention is directed to a liquid
transfer device that includes: a plurality of reservers that each
store therein a liquid; a plurality of elastic tubes that are
linked to the reservers and retained by a tube guide; a rotation
axis that is retained to be able to rotate; and a tube depressing
member whose depressing section is fixed to the rotation axis for
depressing the tubes with a helical-structured convex portion
provided thereto. In the liquid transfer device, when the rotation
axis rotates, the liquid starts to flow by the depressing section
sequentially depressing the tubes in a direction from the reservers
toward a flow-out side of the liquid.
[0008] With such a configuration that the tube depressing member is
provided with a plurality of depressing sections provided as many
as a plurality of tubes. There thus are effects of being able to
transfer a liquid all at once from a plurality of tubes only by
rotating a single tube depressing member without increasing any
driving member.
[0009] A second aspect of the invention is directed to a liquid
transfer device that includes: one reserver that stores therein a
liquid; first and second tubes linked to the reserver in different
directions; a rotation axis that is retained to be able to rotate;
and a depressing member including a first depressing section that
is fixed to the rotation axis and depresses the first tube using a
helical-structured convex portion provided thereto, and a second
depressing section that is fixed to the rotation axis and depresses
the second tube using a helical-structured convex portion provided
thereto with a helical direction opposite to that of the convex
portion depressing the first tube. In the liquid transfer device,
when the rotation axis rotates, the liquid starts to flow in two
different directions by the first and second depressing sections
sequentially depressing the first and second tubes in a direction
from the reserver toward a flow-out side of the liquid.
[0010] With such a configuration that a single reserver is provided
with two tubes each with a different linkage direction, and these
tubes are depressed by a depressing section formed with two convex
portions being formed with each different helical direction. As
such, by rotating the tube depressing member, a liquid starts to
flow in two different directions.
[0011] In the liquid transfer device of the first aspect, the
reservers are first and second reservers, the tubes include first
and second tubes, the depressing sections include first and second
depressing sections whose helical-structured concave portions show
each different helical direction, and the first tube is linked to
the first reserver and the second tube is linked to the second
reserver. The first and second tubes are extended in each different
direction, and the liquid starts to flow in two different
directions when the first and second depressing sections
respectively depress the first and second tubes.
[0012] With such a configuration of including the first and second
reservers respectively linked with the first and second tubes, when
the first and second reservers store a different type of liquid,
respectively, rotating the tube depressing member enables to
transfer the two types of liquids at the same time in two different
directions.
[0013] Also in such a liquid transfer device, preferably, the first
and second reservers are disposed along the rotation axis.
[0014] With such a configuration that the first and second
reservers are disposed along the rotation axis on a straight line,
the resulting liquid transfer device can be in the shape of a long
and slim tube.
[0015] Also in such a liquid transfer device, preferably, the first
and second reservers are disposed around the rotation axis.
[0016] With such a configuration, compared with the above
configuration in which the first and second reservers are disposed
along the rotation axis, there are more effects of downsizing in
the direction of liquid flow, i.e., in the liquid transfer
direction.
[0017] Also in the liquid transfer device of the first aspect,
preferably, the helical-structured convex portions respectively
provided to the depressing sections are each a coil wound around
the tube depressing member in each different helical direction.
[0018] In this way, the helical-shaped convex portion can be formed
by a coil with more ease than by cutting work. Moreover, by using a
coil lead having a circular cross section, as the material of the
coil the surface where the first and second tubes come in contact
with each other becomes smooth. Such a smooth surface leads to the
effects of being able to reduce the resistance of contact of the
surface at the time of depressing, thereby reducing the driving
force. There are also effects of being able to increase the
durability of the first and second tubes.
[0019] The coil can be varied in shape and winding outer diameter
so that the convex portions can be easily changed in height, and
the first and second depressing sections can be easily changed in
maximum diameter. This accordingly achieves other effects of
leading to the ease of adjustment in terms of the amount of liquid
transfer per unit time.
[0020] Also in such a liquid transfer device, preferably, the tube
depressing member is formed, as a piece, by a coil section
corresponding to the convex portion of each of the depressing
sections and the rotation axis.
[0021] With such a configuration in which the tube depressing
member is formed as a piece by a plurality of coil sections and the
rotation axis, the resulting device can be of a much simpler
configuration. Such a tube depressing member can be specifically
formed by wire forming or the like, thereby enabling cost
reduction.
[0022] In the liquid transfer device of the first aspect,
preferably, at least one of the tubes has an internal and/or
external diameter different from other tubes, and the
helical-structured convex portions of the depressing sections
provided as many as the tubes have each different external diameter
in accordance with the internal or external diameter of the
corresponding tube.
[0023] When the first and second tubes have the same internal
diameter, the amount of liquid transfer thereby is the same. By
varying the internal and external diameters of the first and second
tubes, i.e., the internal diameter being the cross-sectional area
of the tube for a liquid to flow, the amount of liquid transfer can
be varied between the first and second tubes only by a single tube
depressing section operating in response to the rotation of the
tube depressing member about the rotation axis of the shared use by
the tubes. With a configuration of including the above-described
first and second reservers storing each different type of liquid,
any desired amount of liquid transfer can be implemented in
accordance with the type of the liquid.
[0024] In the liquid transfer device of the first aspect,
preferably, the tubes are retained by the tube guide while being
linked to the reservers, and the tube guide including the reservers
and the tubes is configured to be attachable/detachable to/from a
device frame keeping hold of the rotation axis.
[0025] With such a configuration, users find it easy to make a
replacement of a reserver(s) and a liquid refilling. The liquid
transfer device in the embodiments of the invention is a tube pump
for transferring a liquid by depressing the tubes using a tube
depressing member, and once it is assembled, the tubes remain
depressed by a convex portion of the tube depressing member.
Accordingly, there may be a possibility that the tubes may suffer
from permanent deformation if the tubes remain depressed for a long
time. However, such permanent deformation of the tubes can be
prevented if a tube guide is attached to a device frame only at the
time of driving the liquid transfer device.
[0026] In the liquid transfer device of the first aspect,
preferably, an insertion pipe is provided at an end portion of each
of the tubes on a reserver side for linkage to the reservers, and a
tip end portion of the insertion pipe is inserted into each of the
reservers for linkage therewith, and the tubes can be
inserted/removed into/from the reservers.
[0027] This configuration enables a replacement only of a
reserver(s), and with a replacement of a reserver(s), a liquid
refilling can be made with ease. For replacement of a reserver(s),
the components, i.e., the first and second tubes and the tube
guide, are not necessarily replaced because these can be good for
repeated use, thereby favorably leading to economic effects.
[0028] In the liquid transfer device of the first aspect,
preferably, an open/close lid is provided to a portion of the tube
guide covering the reservers.
[0029] With such a configuration, the reserver(s) can be replaced
when the open/close lid is open, and when the open/close lid is
closed, the reservers can be retained in position at the time of
driving, and can be protected from any external forces and the
like.
[0030] Also in such a liquid transfer device, preferably, the
open/close lid is provided in the area including the reservers and
part of the tube guide supporting the tubes except end portions in
the length direction thereof.
[0031] With such a configuration, by opening the open/close lid, a
replacement of a reserver(s) can be made in the state that the
reservers and the tubes are linked to each other.
[0032] In the liquid transfer device of the first aspect,
preferably, the reservers are disposed in a multiple-connected
arrangement along the rotation axis, at least one of the tubes
provided as many as the reservers is linked thereto in a direction
different from other tubes, and the depressing sections show each
different helical direction in accordance with the direction of
linkage of each of the tubes.
[0033] With such a configuration, the tube depressing member is
provided with a plurality of depressing sections provided as many
as a plurality of reservers, i.e., tubes, and some of the convex
portions of the pressing sections show the helical direction
opposite to that of the remaining. This accordingly enables to
increase the amount of liquid transfer, and enables a liquid to
flow in two different directions.
[0034] Also with the configuration in which a plurality of
reservers are disposed in a multiple-connected arrangement along
the rotation axis, the size reduction can be achieved especially in
the diameter direction.
[0035] In the liquid transfer device of the first aspect,
preferably, the reservers are disposed around the rotation axis, at
least one of the tubes provided as many as the reservers is linked
thereto in a direction different from other tubes, and the
depressing sections are respectively provided with
helical-structured convex portions that show each different helical
direction in accordance with the direction of linkage of each of
the tubes.
[0036] With such a configuration, the tube depressing member is
provided with a plurality of depressing sections provided as many
as a plurality of reservers, i.e., tubes, and some of the convex
portions of the pressing sections show the helical direction
opposite to that of the remaining. This accordingly enables to
increase the amount of liquid transfer, and enables a liquid to
flow in two different directions.
[0037] Also with the configuration in which a plurality of
reservers are disposed around the rotation axis, the size reduction
can be achieved especially in the length direction, i.e., the
direction of liquid flow.
[0038] In the liquid transfer device of the first aspect,
preferably, one of the reservers is disposed at one end portion of
the tube depressing member, and the reservers are provided with the
tubes around the depressing sections.
[0039] With such a configuration, the area for disposing the
reservers can be extended to the vicinity of the outer diameter of
the liquid transfer device. This accordingly enables to increase
the capacity of the reservers, and to flow a large amount of liquid
in one specific direction.
[0040] Also in such a liquid transfer device, preferably, the
depressing sections are disposed in a multiple-connected
arrangement, and at least one of the depressing sections is
provided with a convex portion showing a helical direction
different from other depressing sections.
[0041] With such a configuration, some of the tubes make a liquid
flow out from the reservers, and other remaining tubes make the
liquid flow into the reservers. It means that providing the tubes
for liquid flow-in as many as the tubes for liquid flow-out can
equalize the amount of liquid flow-in and flow-out. If this is the
case, by linking the tubes for liquid flow-in to any external
liquid storage container, the liquid can be refilled by the
flow-out amount while the liquid transfer device is being
driven.
[0042] A third aspect of the invention is directed to a suction
unit that includes: the liquid transfer device of the first aspect;
a first atomizer that atomizes a liquid coming from at least one of
the tubes; a second atomizer that atomizes a liquid coming from at
least another one of the tubes; a motor that provides a rotation
force to the tube depressing member; a control section that
includes a control circuit for controlling over the first and
second atomizers, and a drive control circuit for controlling the
motor to drive; and a power supply section that makes a supply of
power to the control section. In the suction unit, the power supply
section, the control section, the first and second atomizers, and
the liquid transfer device are disposed in the inside of a tubular
chassis along the longitudinal direction of the chassis, and an
aperture section is provided for ejection or suction of liquid
particles atomized by each of the first and second atomizers.
[0043] With the suction unit of the third aspect of the invention,
the liquid stored in the reservers is transferred to the first and
second atomizers by the liquid transfer device, and is atomized by
the first and second atomizers so that the atomized liquid
particles can be ejected or sucked.
[0044] With such a configuration of including the power supply
section, the control section, the first and second atomizers, and
the liquid transfer device in the tubular chassis, the satisfactory
level of portability can be achieved.
[0045] In the suction unit of the third aspect, preferably, one of
the aperture sections is a suction port for suction of the atomized
liquid particles, and the other is an ejection port for ejection of
the atomized liquid particles.
[0046] With such a configuration, the first and second reservers
store therein each different type of liquid, and from the suction
port, different types of liquid particles are sucked, and from the
ejection port, atomized liquid particles are ejected. As such, the
liquid particles can be sucked while visually observing the
generating state of the liquid particles on the side of the
ejection port.
[0047] Assuming that the suction unit is an artificial cigarette,
from the suction port, a user can simulate smoking by sucking
flavor particles, and from the ejection port, the user can eject
dummy smoke particles. As such, provided is a dummy smoking unit
being safe and harmless for health and environment while allowing a
user to enjoy the atmosphere of smoking.
[0048] In the suction unit of the third aspect, preferably, the
suction port is provided at both ends of the chassis in a length
direction for suction of the atomized liquid particles.
[0049] With such a configuration in which the first and second
reservers store therein each different type of liquid, different
types of liquid particles can be respectively sucked from the
suction port provided at two positions.
[0050] In the suction unit of the third aspect, preferably, the
chassis is configured by upper and lower frames, and the upper and
lower frames are configured to be attachable/detachable, and at
least the liquid transfer device and the power supply section can
be attached/detached thereto/therefrom.
[0051] With such a configuration in which the upper and lower
frames can be separated, consumable items such as power supply
section, i.e., small-sized battery, and reservers can be replaced
with ease.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0052] The invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like
elements.
[0053] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a liquid
transfer device of a first embodiment.
[0054] FIGS. 2A to 2C are horizontal cross sectional views of the
liquid transfer device of FIG. 1, i.e., FIG. 2A is a cross
sectional view of the device along a line A-A, FIG. 2B is a cross
sectional view of FIG. 2A along a line B-B, and FIG. 2C is a cross
sectional view of FIG. 2A along a line C-C.
[0055] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of a liquid
transfer device of a second embodiment.
[0056] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a liquid transfer
device of a modified example in the second embodiment, wherein FIG.
4A is a cross sectional view of the liquid transfer device when
viewed from the above, and FIG. 4B is a cross sectional view of
FIG. 4A along a line D-D.
[0057] FIG. 5 is a front view of a tube depressing member of a
third embodiment.
[0058] FIG. 6 is a front view of a tube depressing member in a
fourth embodiment.
[0059] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a liquid transfer
device of a fifth embodiment, wherein FIG. 7A shows a part of the
vertical cross sectional view of the device, and FIG. 7B is a cross
sectional view of FIG. 7A along a line E-E.
[0060] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a liquid transfer device
of a sixth embodiment.
[0061] FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing an exemplary liquid
transfer device of a seventh embodiment, wherein FIG. 9A is a
vertical cross sectional view of the device, FIG. 9B is a layout
diagram when the liquid transfer device of FIG. 9A is viewed from
the direction of a tip end, and FIG. 9C is a layout diagram showing
a modified example.
[0062] FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a liquid transfer
device of an eighth embodiment, wherein FIG. 10A is a vertical
cross sectional view of the device, and FIG. 10B is a front view of
the device when viewed from the direction of a tip end, i.e., right
side in the drawing.
[0063] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view of an exemplary
suction unit in an embodiment of the invention, showing the
schematic configuration thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0064] In the below, embodiments of the invention are described by
referring to the accompanying drawings.
[0065] FIGS. 1 to 2C each show a liquid transfer device of a first
embodiment, FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment, FIGS. 4A and 4B each
show a modified example of the second embodiment, FIG. 5 shows a
third embodiment, FIG. 6 shows a tube depressing member of a fourth
embodiment, FIGS. 7A and 7B each show a fifth embodiment, FIG. 8
shows a sixth embodiment, FIGS. 9A to 9C each show a seventh
embodiment and a modified example thereof, FIGS. 10A and 10B each
show a liquid transfer device of an eighth embodiment, and FIG. 11
shows a suction unit of an embodiment of the invention.
[0066] Note here that the diagrams to be referred to in the below
are schematic diagrams in which, for convenience, components and
sections are under a different scaling from those in actuality.
First Embodiment
[0067] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a liquid
transfer device of a first embodiment, and FIGS. 2A to 2C are
horizontal cross sectional views of the liquid transfer device of
FIG. 1, i.e., FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view of the device along
a line A-A, FIG. 2B is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2A along a
line B-B, and FIG. 2C is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2A along a
line C-C. In FIGS. 1 to 2C, a liquid transfer device 10 is
configured to include a reserver 40 storing therein a liquid, first
and second tubes 50 and 60, and a tube depressing member 70. The
first tube 50 is made elastic, and is extended in one direction
after being linked to the reserver 40. The second tube 60 is also
made elastic, and is extended in a direction opposite to that of
the first tube 50 after being linked to the reserver 40. The tube
depressing member 70 is provided for depressing both the first and
second tubes 50 and 60.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 1, at the lower portion of the reserver 40,
i.e., in the vicinity of the bottom portion thereof, first and
second outlet sections 41 and 42 are provided for ejection of a
liquid to the outside of the reserver 40. The first and second
outlet sections 41 and 42 are respectively provided to the sides of
the reserver 40 in the longitudinal direction, and are each formed
with a tubular protrusion portion toward the outside. To these
protrusion portions, the first and second tubes 50 and 60 are
respectively attached.
[0069] The first and second tubes 50 and 60 are made of a material
having an elasticity which allows them to deform in the cross
sectional direction when being depressed, and to quickly return to
the original cross sectional shape when the depressing force is
released, and a resistance against any liquid for use. In the state
of being linked to the reserver 40, the first and second tubes 50
and 60 are retained with their positions controlled by a tube guide
30. In this embodiment, the first and second tubes 50 and 60 have
the same cross sectional shape, and are both extended along
substantially the same straight line.
[0070] The tube guide 30 has a semicircular transverse cross
section, and is configured to include, on the side of the first
tube 50, a reserver housing section 31, a through hole 32, and a
first tube retaining groove 33 (refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B). The
reserver housing section 31 is formed like a concave portion for
housing most of the reserver 40. The through hole 32 is inserted
with the first tube 50, and keeps hold of the first tube 50. The
first tube retaining groove 33 serves for position control over the
cross sectional direction.
[0071] The tube guide 30 is configured to include, on the side of
the second tube 60, a through hole 34 and a second tube retaining
groove 35. The through hole 34 is inserted with the second tube 60,
and keeps hold of the second tube 60. The second tube retaining
groove 35 also serves for position control over the cross sectional
direction.
[0072] As such, the tube guide 30 is attached with the first and
second tubes 50 and 60 both being linked to the reserver 40,
thereby allowing the handling of the components as a piece, i.e.
the tube guide 30, the reserver 40, and the first and second tubes
50 and 60, that is, enabling attachment/detachment of those
components as a piece to/from a device frame 20.
[0073] In the tube guide 30, in the cross sectional direction, the
reserver housing section 31 is disposed with a space from the tube
guide 30, and in the longitudinal direction, controls the movement
of the reserver 40.
[0074] The device frame 20 is provided to oppose the tube guide 30.
The device frame 20 has a semicircular transverse cross section,
and on the side of the tube guide 30, is formed with concave
sections 22 and 23, and a reserver retaining section 24 being
concave.
[0075] The tube depressing member 70 is made of a material with a
rigidity, and in the directions of both ends, first and second
depressing sections 72 and 73 of a cylindrical shape are
respectively provided. To the perimeter of the first depressing
section 72, a helical-structured convex portion 72a is provided,
and to the perimeter of the second depressing section 73, a
helical-structured convex portion 73a is provided.
[0076] The convex portions 72a and 73a have the same cross
sectional shape but have opposite helical directions, and in the
example of FIG. 1, assuming that the convex portion 72a is of a
left-handed helical structure, and the convex portion 73a is of a
right-handed helical structure. The first and second depressing
sections 72 and 73 are disposed on the extension of a common
rotation axis P, and are coupled together by a coupling shaft
71.
[0077] The tube depressing member 70 is respectively provided with,
support shafts 74 and 75 at the ends thereof. The support shaft 74
is inserted into a through hole formed in a support frame section
21 of the device frame 20 (refer also to FIG. 2A), and the
remaining support shaft 75 is inserted into a through hole formed
in a tube depressing member support frame 80. The tube depressing
member 70 is allowed to be able to freely rotate. Note that the
tube depressing member support frame 80 is fixed to the device
frame 20 by a screw 90 (not shown).
[0078] Although not shown, the tip end portion of the support shaft
75 of the tube depressing member 70 is protruded from the tube
depressing member support frame 80, and is coupled to a motor that
is also not shown.
[0079] The tube depressing member 70 is disposed in parallel with
the direction along which the first and second tubes 50 and 60 are
extended with a predetermined distance therefrom. Herein, the
predetermined distance is of a range that allows the convex
portions 72a and 73a to tightly close the holes formed in the first
and second tubes 50 and 60 for liquid flow therethrough, and the
perimeter of the cylindrical portion of the first depressing
section 72 and that of the second depressing section 73 do not come
in contact with, respectively, the perimeter portion of the first
tube 50 and that of the second tube 60.
[0080] Note here that the device frame 20 is provided with the
reserver retaining section 24 to be protruded below the reserver 40
so that the reserver 40 is supported thereby to be in place (refer
also to FIG. 2C).
[0081] The tube guide 30 attached with the reserver 40 is combined,
to be a piece, with the device frame 20 attached with the tube
depressing member 70 using a screw 91 (not shown), i.e., combined
by bringing their surfaces of the chords of the semicircles very
close to each other. As a result, the liquid transfer device 10
becomes a cylinder with the cross section of substantially
circular. Alternatively to the position in FIGS. 2A to 2C example,
the tube guide 30 and the device frame 20 may be fixed together by
screws at a plurality of positions where fixation is possible with
good balance.
[0082] Also by referring to FIGS. 1 to 2C, described next is how to
drive the liquid transfer device 10 of the embodiment. When the
tube depressing member 70 is rotated in the direction of an arrow R
by a motor, the convex portion 72a of a left-handed helical
structure provided in the first depressing section 72 depresses and
blocks the first tube 50. As to the convex portion 72a depressing
the first tube 50 as such, the depressing portion thereof
sequentially moves in the direction of F1 in response to the
rotation. At this time, the liquid in the first tube 50 is moved in
the direction of F1 for flowing out. The convex portion 72a is set
with the winding count and pitch such that at least one part of the
convex portion 72a always blocks the first tube 50.
[0083] Also in the second depressing section 73, the convex portion
73a similarly depresses the second tube 60, but its depressing
portion sequentially moves in the direction of F2 because the
convex portion 73a is of a right-handed helical structure, and the
liquid in the second tube 60 is moved in the direction of F2 for
flowing out.
[0084] As such, in the first embodiment described above, the tube
depressing member 70 is provided with the depressing sections 72
and 73 corresponding to a plurality of tubes, i.e., the tubes 50
and 60. This leads to effects of enabling transfer of a liquid all
at once from the tubes only by rotating the tube depressing member
70 with no increase of components for driving use.
[0085] Also in the first embodiment, the first tube 50 is depressed
by the helical-structured convex portion 72a provided in the first
depressing section 72, and the second tube 60 is depressed by the
convex portion 73a provided in the second depressing section 73 so
that a liquid is transferred to the outside from the reserver 40.
The convex portion 72a of the first depressing section 72 is
helically structured with a helical direction opposite to that of
the convex portion 73a of the second depressing section 73. As
such, when the tube depressing member 70 is rotated about the
common rotation axis P of shared use, the liquid can be moved to
flow from the reserver 40 all at once through the first and second
tubes 50 and 60 in the directions of F1 and F2, respectively.
[0086] Also in the first embodiment, the tube depressing member 70
is configured as a piece by the first and second depressing
sections 72 and 73 and the coupling shaft 71. As such, a
small-sized liquid transfer device of a cylindrical shape, i.e., a
liquid transfer device of a size especially small in the diameter
direction, can be implemented with a simple configuration while
enabling liquid transfer in two different directions.
[0087] Also in the first embodiment, the reserver 40 is retained by
the tube guide 30 in the state that the first and second tubes 50
and 60 are linked thereto. With the configuration that the tube
guide 30 including the first and second tubes 50 and 60 is
attachable/detachable to/from the device frame 20, removing the
tube guide 30 from the device frame 20 allows an easy replacement
of the reserver 40 attached with the first and second tubes 50 and
60, thereby leading also to easy liquid refilling.
[0088] The liquid transfer device 10 of the first embodiment is a
tube pump for transferring a liquid by depressing the tubes using
the tube depressing member, and once it is assembled, the first and
second tubes 50 and 60 remain depressed respectively by part of
each of the convex portions 72a and 73a. As a result, the first and
second tubes 50 and 60 may suffer from permanent deformation if
those remain depressed for a long time. However, such permanent
deformation of the first and second tubes 50 and 60 can be
prevented if the tube guide 30 is attached to the device frame 20
only at the time of driving the liquid transfer device 10.
[0089] Also in the first embodiment above, the first and second
tubes 50 and 60 have the same cross sectional shape, and the tube
depressing member 70 is rotated at the same rotation speed.
Accordingly, the amount of liquid flowing through the first and
second tubes 50 and 60 can be made the same.
[0090] Exemplified in the above first embodiment is the case where
the first and second tubes 50 and 60 have the same cross sectional
shape. Alternatively, the first and second tubes 50 and 60 may have
different internal and/or external diameters, respectively. If this
is the case, by setting the external diameters of the first and
second depressing sections 72 and 73 and the maximum diameters of
the convex portions 72a and 73a so as to able to open and block the
respective tubes, the amount of liquid flowing through the first
and second tubes 50 and 60 can be changed as appropriate.
Second Embodiment
[0091] Next, a liquid transfer device of a second embodiment is
described by referring to the accompanying drawings. In the second
embodiment, a reserver is characteristically configured by two
parts. Herein, any difference from the first embodiment is mainly
described, and any component similar to that in the first
embodiment described above is not described twice, and is provided
with the same reference numeral.
[0092] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the liquid
crystal device of the second embodiment. In FIG. 3, a reserver is
configured by first and second reservers 140 and 150. In this
embodiment, the first and second reservers 140 and 150 are disposed
along the rotation axis P, and the first and second tubes 50 and 60
are disposed along the rotation axis P in directions opposite to
each other.
[0093] The first reserver 140 is formed with an outlet section 141
for moving a liquid to flow to the outside of the first reserver
140, and the first tube 50 is linked thereto. On the other hand,
the second reserver 150 is formed with an outlet section 151 for
moving a liquid to flow to the outside of the second reserver 150,
and the second tube 60 is linked thereto.
[0094] The first and second reservers 140 and 150 may store the
same or different types of liquids.
[0095] The first and second reservers 140 and 150 may have the same
or different capacity.
[0096] In the tube guide 30, a partition wall 37 is provided
between the first and second reservers 140 and 150. That is, the
first reserver 140 is housed in a reserver housing section 31, and
the second reserver 150 is housed in a second reserver housing
section 38 so that the first and second reservers 140 and 150 are
under the position control not to move at the time of driving the
liquid transfer device 10.
[0097] In the second embodiment, the first and second reservers 140
and 150 are provided as such. When the first and second reservers
140 and 150 store therein each different type of a liquid, rotating
the tube depressing member 70 enables to transfer two different
types of liquids all at once.
[0098] In this case, if the first and second reservers 140 and 150
have the same capacity, the liquid flow-out can be completed
substantially at the same time, and if with each different
capacity, the completion time of liquid flow-out can be made
different.
[0099] If the internal and/or external diameters of the first and
second tubes 50 and 60 are set with various value combinations in a
range of allowing to open and block the tubes, under the same
rotation requirements for the tube depressing member 70, the amount
of liquid transfer can be set as appropriate in accordance with the
type of a liquid to be stored, and the completion time for liquid
flow-out can be made different.
[0100] With a configuration that the internal and/or external
diameters of the first and second tubes 50 and 60 are set
differently respectively, the value setting of allowing to open and
block the tubes is made for the external diameters of the first and
second depressing sections 72 and 73 and the maximum diameters of
the convex portions 72a and 73a. With such a value setting, the
amount of liquid flowing through the first and second tubes 50 and
60 can be changed as appropriate.
[0101] Moreover, with the configuration that the first and second
reservers 140 and 150 are disposed along the rotation axis P, the
resulting liquid transfer device 10 can be shaped like a long and
slim tube.
Modified Example of Second Embodiment
[0102] Described next is a modified example of the second
embodiment by referring to the accompanying drawings. Compared with
the second embodiment described above, this modified example is
characterized in that the first and second reservers 140 and 150
are disposed around the rotation axis P, i.e., the tube depressing
member 70. Therefore, any component similar to that of the second
embodiment is provided with the same reference numeral, and any
difference from the second embodiment is mainly described.
[0103] FIGS. 4A and 4B are each a diagram showing a liquid transfer
device in the modified example of the second embodiment, i.e., FIG.
4A is a cross sectional view of the liquid transfer device when
viewed from the above, and FIG. 4B is a cross sectional view of
FIG. 4A along a line D-D. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second reserver
150 is disposed on the side opposite to the first reserver 140 with
the tube depressing member 70 disposed therebetween. As such, the
second reserver 150 is housed in the second reserver housing
section 26 provided in the device frame 20.
[0104] The tube depressing member 70 is supported by a tube
depressing member support frame 180 to be able to freely rotate.
The tube depressing member support frame 180 is disposed between
the device frame 20 and the tube guide 30.
[0105] The tube depressing member support frame 180 is a plate-like
frame member, and its perimeter portion is press-contacted between
the device frame 20 and the tube guide 30. Between the first and
second reservers 140 and 150, reserver support sections 181 and 182
are protruded, thereby supporting the first and second reservers
140 and 150 (refer to FIG. 4B).
[0106] The second tube 60 linked to the second reserver 150 is
protruded to the outside of the device frame 20 through the second
tube retaining section 27 provided in the device frame 20.
[0107] Also in this modified example configured as such, when the
tube depressing member 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow
R, from the first tube 50, a liquid stored in the first reserver
140 is moved to flow in the direction of F1, and from the second
tube 60, a liquid stored in the second reserver 150 is moved to
flow in the direction of F2.
[0108] In FIG. 4B, exemplified is the case where the first and
second reservers 140 and 150 both have a circular cross section.
The cross section is not necessarily circular in shape, and may be
of a shape along the inner wall of the reserver housing section 31
of the tube guide 30 and that of the second reserver housing
section 26 of the device frame 20, respectively. The first and
second reservers 140 and 150 may vary in size, i.e., liquid
capacity.
[0109] If this is the case, the outlet section 141 of the first
reserver 140 and the outlet section 151 of the second reserver 150
are both preferably provided in the vicinity of the bottom portion
of the respective reservers. This configuration enables to reduce
the amount of liquid to be left in the reservers at the time of
driving the liquid transfer device 10.
[0110] In such a modified example, if with a liquid transfer device
of the capacity same as that in the second embodiment described
above (refer to FIG. 3), a reserver for use can store a larger
amount of liquid.
[0111] Note that exemplified in FIG. 4B is the case where the outer
cross section of the liquid transfer device 10 is a rectangle. The
cross section is not necessarily rectangular in shape, and may be
of a shape along the inner wall of the reserver housing section 31
or that of the second reserver housing section 26 so as to increase
the volumetric efficiency.
[0112] In the above-described modified example, removing the tube
guide 30 from the device frame 20 (attached with the tube
depressing member support frame 180) allows a replacement of the
first reserver 140, and removing the device frame 20 from the tube
guide 30 (attached with the tube depressing member support frame
180) allows a replacement of the second reserver 150.
[0113] Note here that the placement direction of the first and
second reservers 140 and 150 is not restrictive to the plane
direction shown in FIG. 4B, and may be any arbitrary position,
i.e., position in the rotation direction about the rotation axis P,
as long as the distance between the first tube 50 and the first
depressing section 72 is made the same as the distance between the
second tube 60 and the second depressing section 73.
Third Embodiment
[0114] Next, a liquid transfer device of a third embodiment is
described by referring to the accompanying drawings. The third
embodiment is characterized in the configuration of a tube
depressing member, and any remaining components are structurally
adaptable to those in the first and second embodiments described
above. A description is thus given about the tube depressing member
by referring to the drawing.
[0115] FIG. 5 is a front view of a tube depressing member of the
third embodiment. In FIG. 5, a tube depressing member 170 is
configured to include first and second depressing sections 172 and
173, a coupling shaft 171, and support shafts 176 and 177. The
coupling shaft 171 serves to couple together the first and second
depressing sections 172 and 173, and the support shafts 176 and 177
are respectively provided to end portions of the tube depressing
member 170.
[0116] Note here that these components, i.e., the first and second
depressing sections 172 and 173, the coupling shaft 171, and the
support shafts 176 and 177, are coupled together on the extension
of the common rotation axis P.
[0117] The first depressing section 172 is provided with a first
coil 160 as a helical-structured convex portion, which is wound
around a first depressing shaft 174 of a cylindrical shape. At both
ends of the first coil 160, fixing portions 160a and 160b are
provided to be inserted respectively to hole portions drilled in
the first depressing shaft 174. Utilizing the elasticity of the
first coil 160, the fixing portions 160a and 160b are fixed to the
first depressing shaft 174.
[0118] On the other hand, the second depressing section 173 is
provided with a second coil 161 as a helical-structured convex
portion, which is wound around a second depressing shaft 175 of a
cylindrical shape. At both ends of the second coil 161, fixing
portions 161a and 161b are provided to be inserted, respectively to
hole portions drilled in the second depressing shaft 175. Utilizing
the elasticity of the second coil 161, the fixing portions 161a and
161b are fixed to the second depressing shaft 175.
[0119] Herein, assuming that the first coil 160 is of a left-handed
helical structure, the second coil 161 is of a right-handed helical
structure.
[0120] The support shafts 167 and 177 respectively correspond to
the support shafts 74 and 75 of the first embodiment (refer to FIG.
1), and the tube depressing member 170 is rotated about the support
shafts 176 and 177 as the rotation axis.
[0121] As such, similarly to the first embodiment, when the tube
depressing member 170 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R,
on the side of the first depressing section 172, a liquid is moved
to flow in the direction of F1, and on the side of the second
depressing section 173, a liquid is moved to flow in the direction
of F2 (refer to FIG. 1).
[0122] As described above, with such a configuration in which the
first and second coils 160 and 161 each serve as a
helical-structured convex portion, the convex portions can be
formed by wire forming or the like so that the helical-structured
convex portions can be formed with much ease than by cutting works.
Moreover, the material of a coil in use is of a coil lead having a
circular cross section, thereby being able to make smooth the
surfaces which come in contact with the first and second tubes 50
and 60. Such a smooth surface leads to the effects of being able to
reduce the resistance of contact of the surface at the time of
depressing, thereby reducing the driving force. There are also
effects of being able to increase the durability of the first and
second tubes 50 and 60.
[0123] Note that the cross sectional shape of the first and second
coils 160 and 160 is not necessarily circular as long as the
surfaces which come in contact with the first and second tubes 50
and 60 are shaped like a smooth arc.
[0124] Moreover, the first and second coils 160 and 161 can be
varied in shape and winding outer diameter so that the convex
portions can be easily changed in height, and the first and second
depressing sections 172 and 173 can be easily changed in maximum
diameter. This accordingly achieves the effects of leading to the
ease of adjustment in terms of the amount of liquid transfer per
unit time.
Fourth Embodiment
[0125] Described next is a liquid transfer device of a fourth
embodiment by referring to the accompanying drawings. The fourth
embodiment is characterized in the configuration of a tube
depressing member, and any remaining components are structurally
adaptable to those in the first and second embodiments described
above. A description is thus given about the tube depressing member
by referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 is also referred to.
[0126] FIG. 6 is a front view of a tube depressing member of the
fourth embodiment. In FIG. 6, a tube depressing member 190 is a
coil member, which is configured to include a first coil section
191 serving as a first depressing section, a second coil section
192 serving as a second depressing section, a coupling shaft 193,
and support shafts 194 and 195. The coupling shaft 193 serves to
couple together the first and second coil sections 191 and 192, and
the support shafts 194 and 195 are respectively provided at tip end
portions of the first and second coil sections 191 and 192.
[0127] Note here that these components, i.e., the support shaft
194, the coupling shaft 193, and the support shaft 195 are provided
on the extension of the common rotation axis P.
[0128] The maximum outer diameters of the first and second coil
sections 191 and 192 respectively correspond to the maximum outer
diameters of the first and second coils 160 and 161 of the third
embodiment (refer to FIG. 5), i.e., correspond to the
helical-structured convex portions 72a and 73a of the first
embodiment (refer to FIG. 1). The support shafts 194 and 195
respectively correspond to the support shafts 74 and 75 of the
first embodiment (refer to FIG. 1), and the tube depressing member
190 rotates about the support shafts 194 and 195 as the rotation
axis.
[0129] In this embodiment, because the tube depressing member 190
is formed as a piece by a coil lead, the coupling shaft 193 may not
be rigid enough. In consideration thereof, part of the reserver
retaining section 24 being a protruded from the device frame 20
(refer to FIG. 1) is used as a reinforcing section, thereby
ensuring the depressing amount and force of the first and second
coil sections 191 and 192 with respect to the first and second
tubes 50 and 60.
[0130] As such, in the fourth embodiment, similarly to the third
embodiment described above, when the tube depressing member 190 is
rotated in the direction of the arrow R, on the side of the first
coil section 191, a liquid is moved to flow in the direction of F1,
and on the side of the second coil section 192, a liquid is moved
to flow in the direction of F2 (refer to FIG. 1).
[0131] In the tube depressing member 190 of this embodiment, the
first and second coil sections 190 and 191 are formed as a piece,
thereby leading to the simpler configuration to a further extent.
Such a tube depressing member 190 can be formed by wiring forming
or the like so that the cost reduction can be achieved thereby.
Moreover, the first and second coil sections 191 and 192 can be
varied in shape and winding outer diameter similarly to those in
the third embodiment, thereby leading to the effects of being able
to easily adjust the amount of liquid transfer per unit time.
Fifth Embodiment
[0132] Described next is a liquid transfer device of a fifth
embodiment by referring to the accompanying drawings. The fifth
embodiment is characterized in that a reserver is configured so as
to be attachable/detachable to/from a tube. The liquid transfer
device of this embodiment is structurally adaptable to those in the
first to fourth embodiments described above, and thus the liquid
transfer device of the first embodiment is exemplified as a basic
configuration. The sides of the first and second tubes 50 and 60
are of the same configuration, and thus the side of the first tube
50 is described as an example. FIG. 1 is also referred to.
[0133] FIGS. 7A and 7B each show a liquid transfer device of a
fifth embodiment, i.e., FIG. 7A shows a part of the vertical cross
sectional view of the device, and FIG. 7B is a cross sectional view
of FIG. 7A along a line E-E. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, at the end portion
of the first tube 50 on the side of the reserver 40, an insertion
pipe 130 is inserted.
[0134] The insertion pipe 130 is formed by being bent like a letter
L, and one end portion 132 thereof is inserted to the first tube
50. The other end portion thereof, i.e., an insertion section 131
whose tip end portion is cut at an acute angle, is inserted to the
bottom portion of the reserver 40, and the first tube 50 and the
reserver 40 are linked together via the insertion pipe 130.
[0135] A septum 45 is provided at the bottom portion of the
reserver 40, and a linkage is established by inserting the
insertion section 131 of the insertion pipe 130 to the septum 45.
By removing the reserver 40 from the insertion pipe 130, the
reserver 40 can be removed from the liquid transfer device 10. At
this time, because the septum 45 is tightly sealed by its own
elasticity, no liquid leaks from the reserver 40.
[0136] At the position between the device frame 20 and the lower
portion of the insertion pipe 130, i.e., the side opposite to the
reserver 40, an insertion pipe retaining frame 110 is disposed. The
insertion pipe retaining frame 110 is provided with an insertion
pipe guidance section 112 (refer to FIG. 7B) shaped like a groove
for position control over the insertion pipe 130, thereby
preventing any possible deformation of the first tube 50 at the
time of inserting the reserver 40. On the side of the device frame
20 of the insertion pipe retaining frame 110, a concave section 111
is provided for preventing the insertion pipe retaining frame 110
from coming in contact with the coupling shaft 71 of the tube
depressing member 70.
[0137] As shown in FIG. 7B, on the side of the tube guide 30 from
which the reserver 40 is removed, i.e., the upper portion in the
drawing, an open/close lid 120 is provided. One end portion of the
open/close lid 120 is attached to the tube guide 30 to be able to
freely open and close by a hinge 125 of the tube guide 30. The
other end portion of the open/close lid is provided with a hook
mechanism (not shown) for attachment of the open/close lid 120 to
the tube guide 30 to be able to open and close.
[0138] As such, when the open/close lid 120 is removed from the
tube guide 30, the reserver 40 becomes insertable/removable to/from
the first and second tubes 50 and 60, thereby allowing a
replacement only of the reserver 40 and liquid refilling with ease.
For a replacement of the reserver 40, the components, i.e., the
first and second tubes 50 and 60 and the tube guide 30, can be good
for repeated use, thereby favorably leading to economic
effects.
[0139] With such a configuration of allowing a replacement of a
reserver, the reserver 40 can be replaced by opening the open/close
lid 120, and when the open/close lid 120 is closed, the reserver 40
can be protected from external forces or the like while being in a
position at the time of driving.
Sixth Embodiment
[0140] Described next is a liquid transfer device of a sixth
embodiment by referring to the accompanying drawings. The sixth
embodiment is characterized in the configuration of allowing
attachment/detachment of a reserver attached with a tube. The
liquid transfer device of this embodiment is structurally adaptable
to those in the first to fifth embodiments described above, and
thus the liquid transfer device of the first embodiment (refer to
FIG. 1) is exemplified as a basic configuration, and any component
different from that of the first embodiment is mainly
described.
[0141] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a liquid transfer device
of the sixth embodiment. In FIG. 8, the tube guide 30 is provided
with the open/close lid 120 in the area including the reserver 40
and part of the tube guide 30 supporting the first and second tubes
50 and 60 except end portions in the length direction thereof.
[0142] To be specific, the tube guide 30 is open except at a
portion where the first tube 50 provided in the tube guide 30 is
inserted into the through hole 32, and at a portion where the
second tube 60 is inserted into the through hole 34. The open/close
lid 120 is provided so as to cover this open portion.
[0143] As shown in FIG. 7B, one end portion of the open/close lid
120 is attached to the tube guide 30 to be able to freely open and
close by the hinge 125 provided in the tube guide 30. The other end
portion is provided with a hook mechanism (not shown), and the
open/close lid 120 can be attached to the tube guide 30 to be able
to open and close.
[0144] The open/close lid 120 is provided with the tube retaining
grooves 33 and 35 so as to respectively perform position control
over the first and second tubes 50 and 60 when the open/close lid
120 is closed, and to allow easy removal of the first and second
tubes 50 and 60 when the open/close lid 120 is open.
[0145] As such, when the open/close lid 120 is open, the reserver
40 being linked with the first and second tubes 50 and 60 becomes
insertable/removable, thereby allowing a replacement not only of
the reserver 40 but also of the first and second tubes 50 and 60.
This favorably leads to easy liquid refilling. That is, before
driving of the liquid transfer device 10, the reserver 40 can be
stored with no attachment to the first and second tubes 50 and 60
so that the first and second tubes 50 and 60 can be protected from
any possible deformation due to depression.
Seventh Embodiment
[0146] Described next is a seventh embodiment by referring to the
accompanying drawings. Compared with the liquid transfer devices of
the first to sixth embodiments described above, the seventh
embodiment is characterized in including a larger number of tubes,
and a tube depressing member including depressing sections as many
as the tubes.
[0147] FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing an exemplary liquid
transfer device of the seventh embodiment, i.e., FIG. 9A is a
vertical cross sectional diagram, FIG. 9B is a layout diagram when
the liquid transfer device of FIG. 9A is viewed from the direction
of a tip end, and FIG. 9C is a layout diagram showing a modified
example. In the liquid transfer device 10 of FIGS. 9A and 9B, a
plurality of reservers 140, 145, 150, and 155 are disposed in a
multiple-connected arrangement along the rotation shaft P, i.e.,
the tube depressing member 70, and the reservers 140, 145, 150, and
155 are linked with tubes 50, 55, 60, and 65, respectively.
[0148] The tubes 50 and 60 are extended in the direction opposite
to that of the tubes 55 and 65. The tube depressing member 70 is
provided with first to fourth depressing sections 72, 73, 76, and
77 on a straight line of the rotation axis P respectively
corresponding to the tubes 50, 55, 60, and 65. The reservers 140
and 150 are disposed all in the same direction with respect to the
tube depressing member 70. As shown in FIG. 9B, the reservers 145
and 155 are disposed on the side opposite to the reservers 140 and
150 with respect to the tube depressing member 70.
[0149] The third tube 55 is linked to the first reserver 140, and
is disposed between the first depressing section 72 and a tube
retaining groove 20b. As such, the third tube 55 is able to be
depressed by the first depressing section 72, but is bent at a
point not to come in contact with the third depressing section 76.
The fourth tube 65 is linked to the third reserver 145, and is
disposed at a position to be depressed by the third depressing
section 76 while being retained by a tube retaining groove 30b.
[0150] On the other hand, the first tube 50 is linked to the second
reserver 150, and is disposed between the second depressing section
73 and the tube retaining groove 20a. As such, the first tube 50 is
able to be depressed by the second depressing section 73, but is
bent at a point not to come in contact with the fourth depressing
section 77. The second tube 60 is linked with the third reserver
155, and is disposed at a position to be depressed by the fourth
depressing section 77 while being retained by the tube retaining
groove 30a.
[0151] In this example, the first and third depressing sections 72
and 76 are respectively formed with convex portions of the same
helical direction for both moving a liquid to flow in the direction
of F1. The remaining second and fourth depressing sections 73 and
77 are respectively formed with convex portions of the helical
direction opposite to the first and third depressing sections 72
and 76 for both moving a liquid to flow in the direction of F2.
[0152] The first and second reservers 140 and 150 are disposed
between the first and second depressing sections 72 and 73, the
third reserver 145 is disposed between the first and third
depressing sections 72 and 76, and the fourth reserver 155 is
disposed between the second and fourth depressing sections 73 and
77. With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 9B, the resulting
liquid transfer device 10 can be small in outer diameter even with
a plurality of reservers provided therein.
[0153] Note here that the liquid transfer device 10 is driven in a
manner similar to that in the first embodiment (refer to FIG. 1) or
that of the second embodiment (refer to FIG. 3), and thus no
further description is given.
[0154] In this embodiment, exemplified is the case with four
reservers, but a larger number of reservers can be surely provided.
If this is the case, the tubes and the depressing sections can be
provided as many as the reservers.
[0155] As such, with the configuration of the seventh embodiment,
liquid transfer is enabled with a single tube depressing member 70
depressing a plurality of tubes, and this favorably leads to the
effects of being able to increase the amount of liquid transfer
without increasing the number of components.
[0156] Also in the configuration of the embodiment, the tube
depressing member 70 is provided with the first and second
depressing sections 72 and 73 respectively formed with convex
portions of each different helical direction. The first and second
tubes 50 and 60 move a liquid to flow in the direction of F2, and
the third and fourth tubes 55 and 65 move a liquid to flow in the
direction of F1. As such, compared with the first embodiment
described above, the amount of liquid transfer can be
increased.
[0157] Moreover, with a plurality of reservers being disposed in a
multiple-connected arrangement along the rotation axis P, i.e.,
axial direction of the tube depressing member 70, the resulting
liquid transfer device can be reduced in size especially in the
diameter direction even with a plurality of reservers provided
therein.
[0158] As an alternative configuration, at least one of the tubes
provided as many as a plurality of reservers may be linked in the
direction opposite to those of the remaining tubes, and in
accordance with the linkage direction of the tubes, i.e., direction
of extension, the depressing sections each may have opposite
helical direction.
[0159] If this is the case, the amount of liquid flow can be varied
depending on the direction of liquid flow, and any desired amount
of liquid flow can be set in accordance with target uses.
Modified Example of Seventh Embodiment
[0160] Described next is a modified example of the seventh
embodiment by referring to FIG. 9C. This modified example is
characterized in the configuration that a plurality of reservers
are disposed around the rotation axis P. Any component different
from that of the seventh embodiment is mainly described. FIG. 9A is
also referred to, and any functional component same as that in the
drawing is provided with the same reference numeral. In FIG. 9C,
the first to fourth reservers 140, 150, 145, and 155 are disposed
around the rotation axis P, i.e., the tube depressing member
70.
[0161] The tube depressing member 70 is provided with the first and
second depressing sections 72 and 73 sharing the same rotation axis
P, and the first and second depressing sections 72 and 73 are
provided with helical-structured convex portions each showing a
different helical direction. The first to fourth reservers 140,
150, 145, and 155 are disposed between the first and second
depressing sections 72 and 73 each with a space in the
circumferential direction.
[0162] The first reserver 140 is linked with the third tube 55, the
second reserver 150 is linked with the first tube 50, the third
reserver 145 is linked with the fourth tube 65, and the fourth
reserver 155 is linked with the second tube 60. The third and
fourth tubes 55 and 65 are extended along the rotation axis P,
i.e., in the direction different from that of the first and second
tubes 50 and 60.
[0163] The first and second depressing sections 72 and 73 are
provided with the convex portions showing each different helical
direction. As such, liquids are moved to flow in the directions
different from each other through the first and second tubes 50 and
60, through the third and fourth tubes 55 and 65.
[0164] With such a configuration of the modified example, the first
to fourth reservers 140, 150, 145, and 155 are disposed around the
rotation axis P and between the first and second depressing
sections 72 and 73. Accordingly, the resulting liquid transfer
device can be reduced in size especially in the length direction,
i.e., direction of liquid flow.
[0165] Also possible is a configuration of adapting the technical
scope of the seventh embodiment described above and that of the
modified example of the seventh embodiment. As a possible
configuration, the third reserver 145 may be disposed at the
position same as the first reserver 140 of FIG. 9A in the axial
direction, and the fourth reserver 155 may be disposed at the
position same as the second reserver 150 in the axial
direction.
[0166] Exemplified in the first to seventh embodiments described
above is the configuration in which a liquid is moved to flow in
two different directions. Alternatively, the tubes may be extended
from the reservers all in the same direction so as to flow a liquid
in the same direction, e.g., the configuration of including the
second reserver 150 and the first tube 50, the fourth reserver 155
and the second tube 60, and the tube depressing member 70 with the
second and fourth depressing sections 73 and 77, which are
described in the seventh embodiment (refer to FIG. 9A).
[0167] Such a configuration enables to implement a small-sized
liquid transfer device whose amount of liquid flow is large in one
specific direction. Note that, in this case, the second and fourth
reservers 150 and 155 may be disposed at the same position in the
axial direction. As shown in FIG. 9C, the first to fourth reservers
140, 150, 145, and 155 may be disposed around the rotation axis P,
and the tubes may be disposed in the same direction so that the
resulting configuration allows liquid transfer of a larger amount
in one specific direction.
Eighth Embodiment
[0168] Described next is a liquid transfer device of an eighth
embodiment by referring to the accompanying drawings. The eighth
embodiment is characterized in that a single reserver is linked
with a plurality of tubes being extended in the same direction.
Note here that any functional component same as that in the first
embodiment described above (refer to FIG. 1) is provided with the
same reference numeral, and not described twice.
[0169] FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the liquid transfer
device of the eighth embodiment, i.e., FIG. 10A is a vertical cross
sectional view of the device, and FIG. 10B is a front view when the
liquid transfer device is viewed from the direction of a tip end,
i.e., right side in the drawing. In FIGS. 10A and 10B, a reserver
156 is disposed at one end portion of the tube depressing member
70, and the reserver 156 is provided with the first to fourth tubes
50, 60, 55, and 65 around the first depressing section 72.
[0170] The first to fourth tubes 50, 60, 55, and 65 are all linked
to one end portion of the reserver 156, and are extended in the
direction opposite to the reserver 156. As such, the direction of
liquid flow in the respective tubes is the direction of F2.
[0171] With such a configuration, the area for placement of a
reserver can be extended to the vicinity of the outer diameter of
the liquid transfer device 10 so that the reserver 156 can be
increased in capacity, and a large amount of liquid can be moved to
flow in one specific direction.
[0172] Moreover, when four of the tubes, i.e., the first to fourth
tubes 50, 60, 55, and 65, are disposed as shown in FIG. 10B, in the
course of a liquid gradually reducing in the reserver 156, the
number of tubes available for liquid flow can be varied, e.g.,
four, two, and then one, so that the amount of liquid flow can be
changed in accordance with the stored amount of the liquid.
[0173] If the first to fourth tubes 50, 60, 55, and 65, are
disposed on the bottom portion side of the reserver 156, i.e., the
side of the second tube 60 of FIG. 9B, all of the four tubes remain
available for liquid flow until the liquid in the reserver 156 is
completely drained.
Modified Example of Eighth Embodiment
[0174] Described next is a modified example of the eighth
embodiment. Although the modified example is not shown, a
description is given by referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B. In the
liquid transfer device 10 of the modified example, a plurality of
depressing section of the tube depressing member 70 are disposed in
a multiple-connected arrangement. At least one of the plurality of
depressing sections is provided with a helical-structured convex
portion of a helical direction opposite to those of others. In this
case, the tubes which are provided as many as the depressing
sections and are to be depressed thereby are each bent so as not to
come in contact with other depressing sections. As a possible
configuration, the first and second tubes 50 and 60 may be
depressed by the depressing sections each formed with a
helical-structured convex portion of one helical direction, i.e.,
the convex portion 72a of FIG. 10A, and the third and fourth tubes
55 and 65 may be depressed by the depressing sections each formed
with a helical-structured convex portion of the other helical
direction.
[0175] If this is the case, the first and second tubes 50 and 60
flow a liquid out from the reserver 156, and the third and fourth
tubes 55 and 65 flow the liquid into the reserver 156. It means
that providing the tubes for liquid flow-in as many as the tubes
for liquid flow-out can equalize the amount of liquid flow-in and
flow-out. In this configuration, by linking the tubes for liquid
flow-in to any external liquid storage container, the liquid can be
refilled by the amount of flow-out while the liquid transfer device
is being driven.
Suction Unit
[0176] Described next is a suction unit using the liquid transfer
device 10 described in the first to seventh embodiments above. Note
that the suction unit according to the invention is of sucking a
liquid after atomizing it into particles by an atomizer, and is
provided to atomize various types of liquids such as flavor liquid
and liquid drug preparations. The suction unit is provided as a
smoking unit such as electronic cigarette being safe and harmless
for human health and environment, and an oral suction unit for
liquid drug preparations. In this embodiment, the suction unit is
exemplified by a smoking unit.
[0177] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view of an exemplary
suction unit in an embodiment of the invention, showing the
schematic configuration thereof. Exemplified here is a
configuration using the liquid transfer device of the first
embodiment (refer to FIG. 1). In FIG. 11, in a suction unit 200,
the liquid transfer device 10 is disposed to the tubular chassis
configured by upper and lower frames 220 and 210 substantially at
the center portion in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG.
1, the liquid transfer device 10 is configured to include the
reserver 40 storing therein a flavor liquid, the first and second
tubes 50 and 60, and the tube depressing member 70.
[0178] The suction unit 200 is configured to include a motor 250
and a second atomizer 280. The motor 250 is disposed on the right
side of the liquid transfer device 10 in the drawing for providing
a rotation force to the tube depressing member 70. The second
atomizer 280 is disposed in the vicinity of the tip end portion of
the second tube 60 for atomizing a flavor liquid coming from the
second tube 60.
[0179] On the other hand, on the left side of the liquid transfer
device 10 in the drawing, provided are a control section 260, a
battery 270 serving as a power supply, and a first atomizer 290.
The first atomizer 290 is disposed in the vicinity of the tip end
portion of the first tube 50 for atomizing a flavor liquid coming
from the first tube 50.
[0180] These components configuring the suction unit 200 are
disposed in the chassis substantially linearly in the longitudinal
direction, and are shaped as a whole into a long and slim
pillar.
[0181] In this embodiment, the first and second atomizers 290 and
280 are each a surface acoustic wave element. The control section
260 includes a control circuit for drive control over the first and
second atomizers 290 and 280, and a drive control circuit for
control over the motor 250 to drive. The battery 270 supplies power
to the control section 260.
[0182] The components described above are each disposed in a
concave portion formed in the lower frame 210, and are fixed in
position by mounting the upper frame 220 to the lower frame 210.
Herein, on the side of the second atomizer 280, provided is a grip
port section 230 having a suction port 231 for flowing and sucking
the atomized liquid particles. The tip end portion of the grip port
section 230 is formed long and slim for easy gripping, and the
other end thereof is attached so as to sandwich the end portions of
the upper and lower frames 220 and 210.
[0183] By referring to FIG. 8, described next is how to use the
suction unit 200 configured as such. In accordance with a drive
signal coming from the control section 260 the motor 250 is driven,
and the tube depressing member 70 of the liquid transfer device 10
is then rotated. The first and second depressing sections 72 and 73
of the tube depressing member 70 respectively depress the first and
second tubes 50 and 60, and in response, a flavor liquid in the
reserver 40 is supplied to the surfaces of the first and second
atomizers 290 and 280 from the first and second tubes 50 and 60,
respectively.
[0184] The first and second atomizers 290 and 280 excite surface
waves in response to a drive signal, i.e., excitation signal,
coming from the control section 260, thereby atomizing a flavor
liquid into liquid particles. The liquid particles atomized by the
second atomizer 280 remain in a space 281 above the second atomizer
280, and when a user takes a suck at the grip port section 230, the
particles are sucked from the suction port 231.
[0185] Note here that the upper frame 220 is formed with an air
guide hole 221 for a linkage between the space 281 and the outside
for helping the user to take a suck at the suction port 231 by
capturing air from the outside.
[0186] The flavor liquid here means a liquid which does not include
substances alleged to be hazardous to health and found in the smoke
of general cigarettes such as nicotine and tar, but enables users
to enjoy the flavor and taste of cigarettes. The smoking unit of
this embodiment is of sucking such a flavor liquid after atomizing
it into liquid particles by an atomizer.
[0187] On the other hand, on the side of the first atomizer 290,
the liquid particles atomized by the first atomizer 290 remain in a
space 291 above the first atomizer 290, and is ejected naturally
from a through hole 222, corresponding to an ejection port in this
embodiment, formed in the upper frame 220.
[0188] Note here that the upper and lower frames 220 and 210 and
the grip port section 230 are attached as a piece and inserted into
a tubular member 240. The tubular member 240 is formed so as to
allow close placement of the upper and lower frames 220 and 210,
and to allow insertion/removal thereof.
[0189] As such, by removing the grip port section 230 from the
tubular member 240, the upper and lower frames 210 and 220 are
separated from each other, thereby enabling a replacement of the
battery 270 being a consumable item and the liquid transfer device
10. The inspection and maintenance of the control section 260 and
the motor 250 can be also performed.
[0190] Further, with the liquid transfer device 10 of the fifth
embodiment (refer to FIGS. 7A and 7B) described above, a
replacement of the reserver 40 can be solely completed by opening
the open/close lid 120 of the tube guide 30, thereby enabling a
easy refill a flavor liquid.
[0191] Still further, with the liquid transfer device 10 of the
sixth embodiment (refer to FIG. 8) described above, a replacement
of the reserver 40 having the tubes linked with can be completed by
opening the open/close lid 120.
[0192] As such, with the suction unit 200 described above, a flavor
liquid stored in the reserver 40 is transferred to the first and
second atomizers 290 and 280 by the liquid transfer device 10, and
the flavor liquid is atomized so that the resulting liquid
particles can be available for suction.
[0193] In this case, the grip port section 230 is provided on the
side of the second atomizer 280, and the through hole 222, i.e.,
ejection port, is provided on the side of the first atomizer 290
for liquid particles. With this configuration, a user can enjoy
dummy smoking with the smell and atmosphere of smoking. What is
more, the user can take a suck while checking the amount of
atomization and others.
[0194] When employing the configuration of the second embodiment
(refer to FIG. 3) described above, i.e., including the first and
second reservers 140 and 150, the first and second reservers 140
and 150 store therein each different type of flavor liquid. Users
thus can enjoy different types of flavors and scents. If the second
reserver 150 stores therein a flavor liquid for dummy smoking, and
if the first reserver 140 stores therein a flavor liquid smells
like the smoke of cigarette, the atmosphere of dummy smoking can be
enhanced to a further extent.
[0195] With the configuration of including the grip port section
230 formed with the suction port 231 on both sides of the first and
second atomizers 290 and 280, the liquid particles can be sucked
from two different directions. With the configuration of including
two reservers, different types of liquid particles can be sucked
from the grip port sections provided at two positions.
[0196] Moreover, because the upper and lower frames 220 and 210 are
inserted into the tubular member 240, the
attachability/detachability between the upper and lower frames 220
and 210 can be of a satisfactory level. The tubular member 240 can
be of various types of designs in terms of color and surface
treatment, thereby implementing designs meeting users' tastes and
preferences.
[0197] The suction unit 200 of the embodiment of the invention is
shaped like a tube, thereby achieving a good portability.
[0198] The suction unit described above is an example using the
liquid transfer device of the first embodiment described above
(refer to FIG. 1), i.e., the device including one reserver.
Alternatively, the liquid transfer device of the second embodiment
(refer to FIGS. 3 to 4B) can be used, i.e., the device including
two reservers. If this is the case, the first and second reservers
140 and 150 can store each different type of scented-liquid.
[0199] Moreover, using the liquid transfer device 10 of the seventh
embodiment (refer to FIGS. 9A to 9C) enables suction and ejection
of a large amount of liquid particles, and using the liquid
transfer device of the eighth embodiment (refer to FIGS. 10A and
10B) enables suction of a much larger amount of liquid
particles.
[0200] In the above, the suction unit described above is
exemplified by a smoking unit. This is surely not restrictive, and
the suction unit can be adapted for a unit of sucking various types
of liquids, e.g., flavor liquid and liquid drug preparations, after
atomization thereof. When the sucking unit is used for oral
medication using liquid drug preparations, for example, adjusting
the oscillation frequency of the atomizer can change the particle
diameter of the liquid, thereby being able to be used as a device
for medication specifically for oral cavity, bronchus, lung, and
others.
[0201] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application Nos:
2007-097210, filed Apr. 3, 2007 and 2007-324325, filed Dec. 17,
2007 are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
* * * * *