Continuous umbrella dryer

Abstract

A continuous umbrella dryer includes a base, a first absorbent module, a second absorbent module, and a track frame. The base has first and second side walls and first and second recesses inside, connecting a channel and a receiving space. The first absorbent module is located in the first recess and includes a plurality of first absorbent elements, a linkage assembly, and a driving element; the second absorbent module is located in the second recess and includes a plurality of positioning seats and a plurality of second absorbent elements. The track frame has a closed end and an open end, the open end extending downward and connecting to the two side walls, and a sliding section between the open end and the closed end. In use, the umbrella enters the channel through the open end and hangs on the track frame. The first absorbent module rotates, causing rainwater to be absorbed by the first and second absorbent elements, and finally the umbrella slides to the closed end to complete drying.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of waterproof umbrellas, and in particular to a continuous umbrella drying machine that can be operated continuously, is fast, and is suitable for public places with large crowds. Prior Technology

[0002] Umbrellas, such an ordinary everyday item, present a subtle conflict between convenience and environmental protection. On the one hand, umbrellas provide us with shelter and convenience on rainy days; on the other hand, the disposal of umbrellas after use has become a problem.

[0003] Traditional methods of storing umbrellas, such as using dedicated containers or umbrella stands, while simple and convenient, have several inconveniences. First, these methods are unsuitable for crowded places, easily leading to overcrowding and even lost umbrellas. Second, open umbrella stands cannot effectively prevent rainwater from dripping in, easily wetting the ground.

[0004] To address these issues, disposable plastic umbrella covers were developed. However, this seemingly convenient solution has created new problems. The tips of umbrellas easily puncture the plastic covers, allowing rainwater to leak in, failing to effectively prevent slippery surfaces and increasing the risk of falls. More importantly, the large quantities of discarded plastic umbrella covers cause serious environmental pollution. Although some locations have recycling facilities, the long decomposition cycle of plastic waste means its impact on the ecosystem cannot be underestimated.

[0005] It is worth noting that the production process of plastic umbrella covers consumes a significant amount of energy and resources. From crude oil extraction to the manufacture of plastic products, every step has a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, plastic umbrella covers not only cause pollution during use, but their production process also runs counter to environmental protection principles.

[0006] In comparison, both traditional umbrella storage methods and disposable plastic umbrella covers have their own drawbacks. The former cannot effectively solve the problem of storing a large number of umbrellas, while the latter causes serious environmental pollution. This dilemma highlights the importance of paying attention to environmental protection while pursuing convenience. Finding a way to dispose of umbrellas that can both meet people's needs and reduce the burden on the environment is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed.

[0007] To address these shortcomings, some innovative technologies have emerged, such as the "Umbrella Dryer" in Republic of China Patent Application No. 112205869 and "Improved Structure and Application Method of Umbrella Dryer" in Patent Application No. 113129207. These patents describe umbrella dryers that effectively remove moisture from umbrella surfaces, reducing the risk of slipping and environmental pollution. However, these technologies still face challenges. For example, their single-unit design is only suitable for cleaning one umbrella at a time, failing to meet the need for cleaning multiple umbrellas simultaneously in crowded places. Especially in public places or during peak hours, the single-umbrella cleaning limitation of umbrella dryers not only reduces the efficiency of the equipment but also makes it difficult to meet the need for immediate cleaning of multiple umbrellas.

[0008] In view of the aforementioned shortcomings of conventional methods, the inventors researched ways to improve upon these shortcomings, and finally, this invention came into being. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The main objective of this invention is to provide a continuous umbrella dryer that can automatically clean residual rainwater from umbrellas.

[0010] A secondary objective of this invention is to provide a continuous umbrella drying machine that can be operated continuously and at high speed.

[0011] Another objective of this invention is to provide a continuous umbrella drying machine suitable for public places with large crowds.

[0012] To achieve the above objectives and effects, the technical means adopted by the present invention include: a base, a first water-absorbing module, a second water-absorbing module, and a track frame, wherein:

[0013] The seat has a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and a first recess and a second recess are respectively provided in the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A channel is provided between the first recess and the second recess. A receiving space is provided at the bottom of the seat, and the receiving space is connected to the channel.

[0014] The first absorbent module is disposed in the first recess and includes a plurality of first absorbent elements, with both ends respectively axially mounted on the top and bottom of the first recess, and connected to the first absorbent elements by a linkage component, which is then driven by a drive element.

[0015] The second water-absorbing module is disposed in the second recess and includes a plurality of positioning seats, which are respectively connected to the top and bottom of the second recess, and a plurality of second water-absorbing elements are mounted on the positioning seats.

[0016] The track frame has a closed end and an open end, with a sliding section between the open end and the closed end. The open end extends downward and connects to the first side wall and the second side wall, such that the open end and the sliding section are positioned directly opposite the channel.

[0017] According to the above structure, a water receiving plate is provided at the bottom of the first recess and the second recess respectively.

[0018] According to the above structure, an automatic drain valve is provided at the bottom of the seat.

[0019] According to the above structure, the open end extends downward and is provided with a fixed seat connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

[0020] According to the above structure, the linkage assembly includes: a plurality of axial moving elements respectively assembled at one end of the first water-absorbing elements, and a plurality of linkage elements respectively connected to the axial moving elements.

[0021] According to the above structure, the shaft moving elements and the linkage elements can be a combination of multiple gears and multiple racks, multiple gears and multiple chains, or multiple pulleys and multiple belts.

[0022] According to the above structure, a power element is provided at each end of the positioning seat.

[0023] According to the above structure, the point where the passage is directly opposite the open end is defined as an entrance, and the point where the passage is directly opposite the closed end is defined as an exit.

[0024] According to the above structure, the driving element is further electrically connected to a blocking sensor, which is connected to the first sidewall or the second sidewall.

[0025] According to the above structure, the first absorbent module and the second absorbent module are made of columnar sodium polyacrylate (SAP), super absorbent polymer (SAP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cellulose-based sponge, polyurethane foam (PU foam), silicone sponge, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

[0026] To provide a more concrete understanding of the above-mentioned objectives, effects, and features of the present invention, the following description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings: Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0027] [Figure 1] is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] [Figure 2] is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] [Figure 3] is a two-dimensional exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] [Figure 4] is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] [Figure 5] is a second cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0032] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5. As can be seen, the structure of this invention mainly comprises: a base 1, a first water-absorbing module 2, a second water-absorbing module 3, and a track frame 4. The combination and function of each component are as follows:

[0033] The base 1 has a first sidewall 11 and a second sidewall 12. A first recess 111 and a second recess 121 are respectively provided within the first sidewall 11 and the second sidewall 12, and the two are connected by a channel 13 to form a space for accommodating the umbrella and absorbing water. The bottom of the base 1 has a water collection space 14 and an automatic drain valve 16 to periodically drain accumulated water. A water receiving plate 15 is provided at the bottom of the first recess 111 and the second recess 121 to facilitate water collection and flow into the collection space 14.

[0034] The first absorbent module 2 is disposed within the first recess 111 and consists of a plurality of first absorbent elements 21, a linkage assembly 22, and a drive element 23. The first absorbent elements 21 are columnar absorbent materials, such as sodium polyacrylate (SAP), super absorbent polymer (SAP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cellulose-based sponge, polyurethane foam (PU foam), silicone sponge, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), etc.; the two ends of the first absorbent elements 21 are respectively axially mounted at the top and bottom of the first recess 111. The linkage assembly 22 consists of a plurality of pivot elements 221 and linkage elements 222. The pivot elements 221 and linkage elements 222 can be combinations of gears and racks, gears and chains, or pulleys and belts. In this embodiment, the pivot elements 221 and linkage elements 222 are represented by pulleys and belts. It is used to drive the first water-absorbing element 21 to squeeze and release, so as to achieve a better water absorption effect. The drive element 23 is connected to the linkage assembly 22 and electrically connected to the blocking sensor (not shown in the figure). The blocking sensor is disposed on the first side wall 11 or the second side wall 12 and is used to sense whether the umbrella enters the channel 13 and control the operation of the drive element 23.

[0035] The second absorbent module 3 is disposed within the second recess 121 and consists of a plurality of positioning seats 31 and a plurality of second absorbent elements 32. The second absorbent elements 32 are also columnar absorbent materials, such as sodium polyacrylate (SAP), superabsorbent polymer (SAP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cellulose-based sponge, polyurethane foam (PU foam), silicone sponge, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), etc.; the second absorbent elements 32 are fixed on the positioning seats 31. Power elements 33 are provided at both ends of the positioning seats 31 to apply pressure to the second absorbent elements 32 to improve absorbency.

[0036] The track frame 4 has a closed end 41 and an open end 42. The open end 42 extends downward to a fixed seat 44, which is connected to the first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12 to form a track. The open end 42 and the sliding section 43 are positioned directly opposite the channel 13 for convenient placement of umbrellas.

[0037] When a user inserts a wet umbrella into the open end 42 of the track frame 4, the umbrella slides along the sliding section 43 into the channel 13. At this time, the occlusion sensor detects the umbrella and immediately sends a signal to the drive element 23. Upon receiving the signal, the drive element 23 starts, driving the linkage assembly 22. The shaft moving element 221 and the linkage element 222 in the linkage assembly 22 interact, causing the first water-absorbing element 21 in the first water-absorbing module 2 to start rotating.

[0038] As the first absorbent element 21 rotates, the umbrella placed in the channel 13 is passively drawn into the gap between the first absorbent element 21 and the second absorbent element 32. Since the first absorbent element 21 and the second absorbent element 32 are made of highly absorbent materials, the moisture on the umbrella is quickly absorbed when the umbrella comes into full contact with the first absorbent element 21 and the second absorbent element 32.

[0039] Driven by the first absorbent module 2, the umbrella continuously moves within the channel 13. During this movement, the umbrella constantly comes into contact with the new first absorbent element 21 and the second absorbent element 32, ensuring that the moisture on the umbrella is completely absorbed. When the umbrella moves to the end of the channel 13 (near the closed end 41), it indicates that the moisture on the umbrella has been almost completely absorbed, at which point the user can remove the dried umbrella from the closed end 41.

[0040] During continuous operation, the first absorbent element 21 and the second absorbent element 32 continuously absorb moisture from the umbrella. To ensure that the first absorbent element 21 and the second absorbent element 32 can work continuously and efficiently, and to prevent the water level in the containment space 14 from becoming too high and causing overflow, the automatic drainage action of the continuous umbrella dryer is as follows:

[0041] First, the power element 33 receives a start signal and begins operation. The power element 33 is typically a drive device such as an electric motor or hydraulic cylinder, providing driving force. Driven by the power element 33, the positioning seat 31 undergoes relative movement. This movement of the positioning seat 31 drives the connected second water-absorbing element 32. Driven by the positioning seat 31, the second water-absorbing element 32 applies pressure to the first water-absorbing element 21. This squeezing action forces the water absorbed inside both the first and second water-absorbing elements 21 to be expelled. This squeezed water flows into the receiving space 14.

[0042] As water continues to drain, the water level in the container 14 will rise further until it reaches the activation level of the automatic drain valve 16. When the water level reaches the set value, the automatic drain valve 16 will automatically open, draining the excess water in the container 14 to the outside. The automatic drain valve 16 can be opened mechanically, electronically, or hydraulically.

[0043] In summary, the continuous umbrella drying machine of the present invention is a novel and progressive invention, and an application for invention patent is hereby filed in accordance with the law. However, the above description is only a description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all variations, modifications, alterations or equivalent substitutions extended from the technical means and scope of the present invention should also fall within the scope of the patent application of the present invention.

[0044] 1: base body 11: First sidewall 111: first concave part 12: Second sidewall 121:Second recess 13: Channel 14: Storage space 15: Water receiving plate 16: Automatic drain valve 17: Interruption sensor 2: First water absorption module 21: First water-absorbing element 22: Linkage Components 221: Shaft-moving element 222: Linking elements 23: Driving element 3: Second water absorption module 31: Positioning seat 32: Second water-absorbing element 33: Power Components 4: Track frame 41: Closed end 42: Open Terminal 43: Sliding segment 44: Fixed base

Claims

1. A continuous umbrella drying machine, comprising at least: A body having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein a first recess and a second recess are respectively provided in the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and a channel is provided between the first recess and the second recess; the bottom of the body has an accommodating space communicating with the channel; a first water-absorbing module is disposed in the first recess, comprising: a plurality of first water-absorbing elements, both ends of which are respectively axially mounted on the top and bottom of the first recess; and a linkage assembly connecting the first water-absorbing elements; A driving element connected to the linkage assembly; a second absorbent module disposed within the second recess, comprising: a plurality of positioning seats respectively connected to the top and bottom of the second recess; a plurality of second absorbent elements, each end of which is axially mounted on the positioning seats; a track frame having a closed end and an open end, a sliding section between the open end and the closed end, and the open end extending downward and connecting to the first sidewall and the second sidewall, such that the positions of the open end and the sliding section are aligned with the channel.

2. The continuous umbrella dryer as described in claim 1, wherein a water-receiving plate is provided at the bottom of the first recess and the second recess respectively.

3. The continuous umbrella dryer as described in claim 1, wherein an automatic drain valve is provided at the bottom of the base.

4. The continuous umbrella dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the open end extends downward and is provided with a fixed seat connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

5. The continuous umbrella dryer as described in claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly includes: A plurality of shaft-moving elements are respectively assembled at one end of the first water-absorbing elements; A plurality of linkage elements are connected to the same shaft moving elements respectively.

6. The continuous umbrella drying machine as described in claim 5, wherein the shafting elements and the linkage elements may be a combination of a plurality of gears and a plurality of racks, a plurality of gears and a plurality of chains, or a plurality of pulleys and a plurality of belts.

7. The continuous umbrella drying machine as described in claim 1, wherein a power element is provided at each end of the positioning base.

8. The continuous umbrella dryer as described in claim 1, wherein the passage is defined as an entrance directly opposite the open end, and the passage is defined as an exit directly opposite the closed end.

9. The continuous umbrella dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive element is further electrically connected to a shading sensor connected to the first sidewall or the second sidewall.

10. The continuous umbrella dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first absorbent module and the second absorbent module are made of columnar sodium polyacrylate (SAP), super absorbent polymer (SAP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cellulose sponge, polyurethane foam (PU foam), silicone sponge, or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).