Cleaning care appliance and transducer arrangement thereof

Abstract

The present application provides a cleaning care appliance and a transducer device thereof. The transducer comprises a transducer frame, a magnet, an elastic assembly and a drive shaft attached to the transducer frame, and the elastic assembly comprises a transmission arm and an elastic piece held by the transmission arm, wherein the transmission arm is fixedly connected with the drive shaft, the elastic piece has an outer edge and an inner edge corresponding to the holding part of the transmission arm, the transmission arm forms a recess, and the inner recess depth D of the recess is greater than the first fixed connection width B1 between the bottom surface of the recess and the longitudinal axis. The scheme avoids the inhibition of the damping in the resonance motion on the resonance rotation angle, so that the cleaning assembly such as the brush head can have a larger rotation angle, and the mechanical efficiency is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of cleaning and grooming appliances, and more particularly, to a transducer assembly for use in cleaning and grooming appliances. BACKGROUND

[0002] For personal cleaning and grooming appliances such as electric toothbrushes, electric shavers, electric facial cleaners, electric shower devices, etc., it is important to have a transducer assembly that can convert a reciprocating motion into a desired rotational motion of a cleaning element. These personal cleaning and grooming appliances should be simple in construction, easy to assemble, long in service life, safe and reliable, and small in size.

[0003] Known transducer assemblies include an electromagnetic device for generating an electromagnetic force, which is usually generated by the interaction between a fixedly mounted drive coil and a magnet mounted on a transducer frame. The transducer assembly further includes a resilient assembly mounted on a portion of a drive shaft. Under the interaction of the electromagnetic device and the resilient assembly, the transducer assembly is capable of efficiently converting electrical energy into mechanical energy by means of the resonant motion and the harmonic motion of a resonant body composed of the cleaning assembly and the transducer.

[0004] The elastic piece in the resilient assembly, which generates the elastic force, is usually fixed at one end to the drive shaft, and this end is capable of reciprocating rotation with the drive shaft. The other end of the elastic piece is fixed to the housing of the transducer, and the end fixed to the transducer housing is stationary.

[0005] However, it has been found that when the electromagnetic force is transmitted to the drive shaft to make the drive shaft reciprocate rotationally, the fixed portion of the drive shaft and the elastic piece hinders the elastic deformation of the elastic piece, inhibits the rotation angle of the drive shaft, and reduces the output power of the drive shaft.

[0006] Therefore, the transducer assembly of the existing personal cleaning and grooming appliances still has defects and needs to be improved. SUMMARY

[0007] To overcome the deficiencies in the prior art, the present application proposes a transducer device for cleaning a care appliance, the transducer device comprising a transducer and a drive coil, the transducer comprising a transducer frame and a magnet, an elastic assembly and a drive shaft with a longitudinal axis L attached to the transducer frame, and the elastic assembly comprising a transmission arm and at least one spring blade held by the transmission arm, wherein the transmission arm is fixedly connected to the drive shaft, the drive coil is arranged opposite the magnet of the transducer, the transducer is movable relative to the drive coil, an alternating electromagnetic force is generated between the drive coil and the magnet by an alternating current in the drive coil, the electromagnetic force drives the transducer into a resonant movement, wherein the spring blade has an outer edge remote from the longitudinal axis L and an inner edge close to the longitudinal axis L, the spring blade extends from the outer edge to the inner edge in an extension direction of the spring blade transverse to the longitudinal axis L, the spring blade has a spring blade fixing section on one side of the inner edge held by the transmission arm, the outer edge of the spring blade is stationary during operation of the transducer device, the transmission arm has a holding portion holding the spring blade fixing section, and a recess is formed in the transmission arm inwardly from an outer surface thereof corresponding to the holding portion, the recess has a bottom surface, the spring blade extends from the bottom surface of the recess and in a space formed by the recess in the extension direction of the spring blade, the holding portion has a first fixed connection width B1 from the bottom surface of the recess to the longitudinal axis L, wherein the first fixed connection width B1 is greater than or equal to zero, and the inner recess depth D is defined as the radial distance between the bottom surface of the recess and the outer surface of the transmission arm on the same side as the recess in the extension plane of the spring blade and on the side of the recess, the inner recess depth D is greater than the first fixed connection width B1.

[0008] According to one aspect of the application, the width of the deformable section of the spring blade is h, and the first fixed connection width B1 is less than 20% of the width h of the deformable section.

[0009] According to a further aspect of the application, the spring blade extends inwardly from the outer edge toward the longitudinal axis L and beyond the longitudinal axis L such that the outer edge and the inner edge are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L, the spring blade fixing section has a second fixed connection width B2 in the extension direction of the spring blade on the side of the inner edge of the longitudinal axis L, wherein the first fixed connection width B1 is less than the second fixed connection width B2, and the holding portion is offset relative to the longitudinal axis L.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the application, the holding portion of the transmission arm is completely offset on one side of the longitudinal axis L, and the holding portion and the outer edge of the spring blade are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the application, the second fixed connection width B2 is greater than 1 mm, and the first fixed connection width B1 is in the range of 0-3 mm.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present application, the at least one elastic piece of the elastic assembly comprises a first elastic piece and a second elastic piece, and the recess of the transmission arm comprises a first recess and a second recess, the first recess and the second recess are recessed in opposite directions on the transmission arm, the first elastic piece and the second elastic piece respectively extend in the space of the first recess and the second recess from the transmission arm in opposite directions transversely to the longitudinal axis L, and the inner recess depths of the first recess and the second recess are substantially equal.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present application, the transmission arm has a first holding portion holding the first elastic piece and a second holding portion holding the second elastic piece, the first holding portion and the second holding portion are offset on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L and are also staggered along the longitudinal direction, and the first holding portion and the second holding portion are connected by a connecting portion. Alternatively, the first elastic piece and the second elastic piece are held by the same holding portion, and the first recess and the second recess are located on two sides of the holding portion.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present application, the side surface of the elastic piece and the recess is separated by a gap in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present application, the transducer device further comprises a bearing supporting the driving shaft.

[0016] Preferably, the driving shaft comprises a first driving shaft portion and a second driving shaft portion, the proximal end and the distal end of the transmission arm are fixedly connected to the first driving shaft portion and the second driving shaft portion respectively, and the bearing comprises a proximal end bearing and a distal end bearing arranged on the first driving shaft portion and the second driving shaft portion respectively.

[0017] In addition, the present application also provides a cleaning and care tool comprising the above-mentioned transducer device, and the cleaning and care tool can be one of an electric toothbrush, an electric shaver, an electric facial cleanser, and an electric shower.

[0018] In the transducer device according to the present application, the inner recess depth of the recess accommodating the elastic piece on the transmission arm is greater than the first fixed connection width on the holding portion of the transmission arm on the same side of the recess, so that the negative influence of the transmission arm holding the elastic piece on the elastic piece can be reduced as much as possible without affecting the strength of the driving shaft and the connection strength between the driving shaft and the transmission arm, the resonance efficiency of the deformable section of the elastic piece is ensured, and the working efficiency of the entire transducer device is improved.

[0019] In the transducer device according to the present application, since the first fixed connection width in the fixed section of the elastic piece held by the transmission arm is less than the second fixed connection width, the damping generated by the transmission arm on one side of the outer edge of the elastic piece is reduced, the inhibition of the damping on the resonance rotation angle in the resonance motion is avoided, the cleaning assembly such as a brush head can have a larger rotation angle, and the mechanical efficiency is improved.

[0020] The transmission arm adopts a biased holding part to realize the reduction of the first fixed connection width, and such structure can make the elastic component of the transducer smaller in size, but does not affect the holding effect of the transmission arm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] For a more complete understanding of the present application, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] Figure 1 exploded perspective view of a personal cleansing device and internal mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 2 perspective view of a personal cleansing device and internal mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present application in an assembled state, with portions of the housing removed to better illustrate the internal structure;

[0024] Figure 3 perspective view of a transducer assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present application in an assembled state;

[0025] Figure 4 perspective view of a transducer according to a preferred embodiment of the present application in a transducer assembly;

[0026] Figure 5 plan view of a transducer according to a preferred embodiment of the present application; Figure 4

[0027] cross-sectional view of a transmission arm in a transducer according to a preferred embodiment of the present application, showing the structure of the spring and transmission arm connection; Figure 6

[0028] perspective view of a transducer assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the present application. Figure 7

[0029] perspective view of a transducer assembly according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present application. Figure 8

[0030] plan view of a portion of a transducer assembly as shown in Figure 9 Figure 8

[0031] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0032] 1 handle housing

[0033] 2 transducer

[0034] 4 drive coil assembly

[0035] 5 circuit board

[0036] 6 lower housing

[0037] 7 upper housing​​

[0038] 8 battery compartments

[0039] 9 batteries

[0040] 22, 22', 22" drive arm

[0041] 221 transmission arm distal end

[0042] 222 drive arm proximal end

[0043] 223, 223', 223” holding section

[0044] 225, 225', 225" recess

[0045] 226 Connecting part

[0046] 24, 25, 24', 24” shrapnel

[0047] S-shaped fragment fixing section

[0048] 26, 26', 26" bearings

[0049] 27 transducer racks

[0050] 28 transducer disks

[0051] 29 magnets

[0052] 300 drive shaft

[0053] 30 First drive shaft section

[0054] 31 Second drive shaft section

[0055] 32, 33, 32', 33', 32", 33" gap

[0056] 35, 20', 21', 20", 21" spring clip fixing block

[0057] 41 Drive coil frame

[0058] 42 drive coils

[0059] L longitudinal axis L

[0060] B1 First Fixed Width

[0061] B2 Second Fixed Width

[0062] width of the deformable section of the h-piece Detailed Implementation

[0063] The present application will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific examples, in which more details are set forth. However, the present application is not limited to the examples described herein, but can be implemented in various ways. Thus, it should be understood that the present application can be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present application.

[0064] The exemplary embodiments of the present application will be described in greater detail below with reference to an electric toothbrush as a typical example of a personal cleaning appliance, and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Although the present application will be described below with reference to the electric toothbrush as an example, the present application is not limited to the electric toothbrush. The present application can also be applied to an electric shaver, an electric facial cleanser, an electric shower, and the like, which can provide a cleaning action through a transducer.

[0065] For the sake of clarity, the terms of spatial relative positions such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "proximal", "distal", "outer", "inner", and the like are used in the present specification to simply describe the mutual relationship of one element or feature with another element(s) or feature(s) as shown in the drawings, in which the direction of the longitudinal axis of the drive coil means the direction parallel to the magnetic line of force generated inside the core when the drive coil flows with the current I; "upper" and "lower" are relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, and are defined as "upper" in the upward direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and "lower" in the downward direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, facing the corresponding view; "left" and "right" are relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, and are defined as "left" in the left side of the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and "right" in the right side of the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft, facing the corresponding view, in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; "proximal" means the end or side close to the position of the cleaning force when the cleaning appliance is used; "distal" means the end or side away from the position close to the cleaning force when the cleaning appliance is used; "outer" and "inner" are relative to the distance from the longitudinal axis L, and are defined as "outer" relatively far from the longitudinal axis L and "inner" relatively close to the longitudinal axis L.

[0066] In addition, the term "and / or" used in the present application includes any one and all combinations of the associated terms listed.

[0067] Although the terms "first", and the like are used in the present specification to describe a plurality of elements or components, the elements or components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only to distinguish one element or component from another element or component, and do not include "order". Therefore, the ordinal numbers of the elements or components to be discussed below are interchangeable with each other without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application.

[0068] Figure 1 andFigure 2 A disassembled perspective view and an assembled perspective view of a cleaning implement according to a preferred embodiment of the present application are shown, respectively. Figure 1 and Figure 2 An electric toothbrush as a cleaning implement is shown. The electric toothbrush mainly comprises a handle and a cleaning assembly (not shown) detachably mounted on the handle. The handle comprises a handle housing 1 and various functional components mounted in the handle housing 1. The cleaning assembly of the electric toothbrush is usually in the form of a toothbrush head, which comprises a cleaning element carrier and cleaning elements distributed on the cleaning element carrier. The carrier of the toothbrush head is mounted on a drive shaft 300 extending from the handle 1, for example, in a snap coupling manner, which allows the drive handle 1 and the cleaning assembly to be reliably coupled together and also allows the drive handle and the cleaning assembly to be conveniently separated. The cleaning elements can comprise bristles of various hardness, material and arrangement.

[0069] As shown in Figure 1 , the functional components housed in the handle housing 1 of the electric toothbrush mainly comprise a power supply part, a control part and a transducer device.

[0070] The power supply part usually comprises a rechargeable battery 9 and a charging circuit mounted in a battery compartment 8, which are used to provide power to various functional parts of the electric toothbrush. The control part mainly comprises a circuit board 5, which is used to control various operating modes of the electric toothbrush and to turn the electric toothbrush on or off, etc. The control part comprises a trigger part such as a switch, which is used to start and stop the operation of the electric toothbrush. The transducer device is configured to convert the input electrical energy into mechanical energy to provide reciprocating motion of the cleaning assembly. These functional parts are basically housed in the inner cavity of the handle housing 1, as shown in Figure 2 , from the distal side of the electric toothbrush, the power supply part and the transducer device are arranged in the inner cavity of the housing 1 in sequence, and the drive shaft 300 of the transducer device extends out of the opening formed at the proximal end of the housing 1.

[0071] Figure 3 A transducer device according to a preferred embodiment of the present application is shown. The transducer device mainly comprises a transducer 2 and a drive coil assembly 4, which is arranged relative to a portion of the transducer 2.

[0072] The transducer 2 mainly comprises a transducer frame 27 and a magnet 29, a spring assembly and a drive shaft 300 attached to the transducer frame 27. As can be clearly seen from Figure 4 , the magnet 29 comprises a first magnet and a second magnet arranged opposite each other with a space therebetween, which are fixed to one side of the transducer disk 28 of the transducer frame 27, for example, by means of glue, screws or injection molding, etc., and they are located at the distal end away from the cleaning elements in the entire electric toothbrush. The magnet 29 becomes an integral part of the transducer frame 27, so that the movement of the magnet 29 will drive the entire transducer frame 27 to move together.

[0073] The drive coil assembly 4 generally comprises a drive coil frame 41 and a drive coil 42, as Figure 3 shown, the drive coil 42 is arranged in the space between the first magnet 29 and the second magnet 29, such that both sides of the drive coil 42 are opposite to the magnets 29.

[0074] Further, a drive shaft 300 is fixedly attached to the transducer frame 27, the drive shaft 300 extends substantially along the longitudinal axis L, and the elastic assembly is fixedly connected to the drive shaft 300 of the transducer 2, and the elastic force generated by the elastic pieces 24, 25 in the elastic assembly can be directly transmitted to the drive shaft 300 during use.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment according to the present application, as Figure 4 shown, in the preferred embodiment, the drive shaft 300 of the transducer 2 comprises a first drive shaft portion 30 close to the magnets 29 and a second drive shaft portion 31 away from the magnets 29. The first drive shaft portion 30 and the second drive shaft portion 31 are arranged substantially concentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis L. The elastic assembly comprises a transmission arm 22 and two elastic pieces 24, 25. The transmission arm 22 of the elastic assembly is fixed between the first drive shaft portion 30 and the second drive shaft portion 31 by means of its proximal end and distal end along the longitudinal axis L. The two elastic pieces 24, 25 are fixed at their edges transverse to the longitudinal axis L. In particular, each elastic piece 24, 25 has an outer edge away from the longitudinal axis L and an inner edge close to the longitudinal axis L, at which the elastic piece 24, 25 is fixed by the transmission arm 22, and at which, as Figure 3 shown, the elastic piece 24, 25 is fixed by the housing of the transducer 2, in the case where the housing of the transducer 2 comprises an upper housing 7 and a lower housing 6, the outer edge of the elastic piece 24, 25 is clamped between the upper housing 7 and the lower housing 6 by means of an elastic piece fixing block 35. The upper housing 7 and the lower housing 6 of the transducer 2 can be fixed together by means of fasteners or fastening structures. In such an arrangement, the outer edge of the elastic piece 24, 25 is a fixed edge or a stationary edge, and the inner edge of the elastic piece 24, 25 is a movable edge or a resonant edge that moves with the drive shaft 300.

[0076] When the user triggers the switch button on the housing 1 of the electric toothbrush to start the electric toothbrush, the power supply part of the electric toothbrush is activated by the control part to excite the drive coil assembly 4. Through the alternating current of a certain frequency, the magnetic field formed by the two magnets 29 and the energized drive coil assembly 4 interact to generate electromagnetic force, and the electromagnetic torque Ml is formed on the transducer 2. Since the current I flowing through the drive coil assembly 4 is alternating, the direction of the electromagnetic torque Ml on the transducer 2 is also alternating, so that the transducer frame 27 and the parts fixed thereon realize reciprocating motion around the longitudinal axis L under the action of the reciprocating couple from the drive coil assembly 4. The transmission arm 22 in the elastic assembly reciprocates with the drive shaft 300. Since the outer edges of the elastic sheets 24, 25 are fixed or stationary by the outer shell of the transducer 2, and the part of the elastic sheets 24, 25 held in the transmission arm 22 reciprocates with the transmission arm 22, at this time, the elastic sheets 24, 25 undergo reciprocating bending elastic deformation, thereby realizing the resonant motion of the transducer 2 and the cleaning assembly attached thereto.

[0077] It should be understood that the magnets and coils can be arranged in other alternative embodiments, for example, the magnets can be arranged around and close to the drive shaft, and the coils are arranged around the magnets and away from the drive shaft with respect to different polar surfaces of the magnets. The arrangement of the above-mentioned magnets and coils does not affect the implementation of the present application, and will not be described here.

[0078] In order to better constrain the drive shaft 300 to reciprocate around the longitudinal axis L, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a bearing 26, for example a rolling bearing 26, is arranged on the first drive shaft part 30 and the second drive shaft part 31 respectively. The inner ring of the rolling bearing 26 is fixed to the drive shaft 300, and the outer ring of the rolling bearing 26 is preferably fixed inside the outer shell 6 and 7 of the transducer 2. In this way, the two rolling bearings 26 are arranged on both sides of the elastic assembly along the direction of the longitudinal axis L. In this way, when the resonant motion of the transducer occurs, the rolling bearing 26 can support the drive shaft 300 and the elastic assembly thereon, and limit the movement of the drive shaft 300 to reciprocating rotation around the longitudinal axis L. Figure 4 Figure 5 Referring next to the drawings in detail, Figs. 1 to 3 show the preferred embodiment of the present application, which is an electric toothbrush 1. The electric toothbrush 1 comprises a housing 1, a power supply part, a control part, a drive coil assembly 4, a transducer 2, a drive shaft 300, an elastic assembly, a cleaning assembly, and a handle 10.

[0079] Referring next to the drawings in detail, Figs. 1 to 3 show the preferred embodiment of the present application, which is an electric toothbrush 1. The electric toothbrush 1 comprises a housing 1, a power supply part, a control part, a drive coil assembly 4, a transducer 2, a drive shaft 300, an elastic assembly, a cleaning assembly, and a handle 10. Figure 6 The connection structure between the elastic sheets 24, 25 and the transmission arm 22 according to the preferred embodiment of the present application will be described in detail.

[0080] Figure 6 ​A perspective view of the cross-section of the transmission arm 22 is shown, in which sheet-like spring pieces 24 and 25, held in their initial positions within the transmission arm 22, are shown in the cut view. Spring pieces 24 and 25 are held in two recesses 225 formed within the transmission arm 22 by two retaining portions 223. Spring pieces 24 and 25 extend within these recesses 225, thus providing space for elastic deformation of this portion of the spring piece during resonant motion. The recesses 225 are recessed relative to the outer surface of the transmission arm 22 towards the longitudinal axis L. Each recess 225 has a bottom surface from which spring pieces 24 and 25 extend. Each recess 225 has two side surfaces (i.e., two surfaces of the recess 225 along the longitudinal axis L). In this embodiment, the side surfaces are flat surfaces; however, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the side surfaces of the recess 225 may also be arcuate surfaces or a combination of flat and arcuate surfaces.

[0081] Spring pieces 24 and 25 have an outer edge away from the longitudinal axis L and an inner edge close to the longitudinal axis L. The spring pieces extending from the outer edge to the inner edge extend transversely to the longitudinal axis L. Preferably, the spring pieces 24 and 25 extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L. Figure 6 As shown, the spring pieces 24 and 25 extend inward from their outer edges toward and across the longitudinal axis L, such that the outer and inner edges of the spring pieces 24 and 25 are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L. In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal axis L extends through the spring pieces 24 and 25.

[0082] The spring pieces 24 and 25 have a spring piece fixing section S near their inner edges, which is held by the holding part 223 of the transmission arm 22. Specifically, the "spring piece fixing section" here refers to a spring piece with a certain length in the extension direction of the spring piece, one or two surfaces of which are in direct contact with the holding part 223 of the transmission arm 22 and are held in a position where they cannot undergo elastic deformation.

[0083] like Figure 6 As shown, the spring clip fixing segment refers to the spring clip section between point A and point C, which is held inside the retaining segment 223. Point A is also the location of the inner edge of the spring clip 25, while point C is the location of the bottom surface of the recess 225.

[0084] from Figure 6 As can be clearly seen, on the side where the outer edge of the longitudinal axis L is located, the retaining portion 223 of the transmission arm 22 has a first retaining width B1 in the extending direction of the spring pieces 24 and 25. This width B1 refers to the distance between the bottom surface of the recess 225 and the longitudinal axis L. On the side where the inner edge of the longitudinal axis L is located, the spring piece fixing segment S has a second retaining width B2 in the extending direction of the spring piece. In other words, when the bottom surface of the recess 225 and the outer edge of the spring piece are on the same side, such as... Figure 6As shown, the second fixing width B2 is the distance from the inner edge of the spring piece to the longitudinal axis L; when the bottom surface of the recess 225 and the outer edge of the spring piece are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L, the second fixing width B2 is the distance from the bottom surface of the recess 225 to the inner edge of the spring piece. Spring pieces 24 and 25 have a deformable section, the width of which is denoted as h. The "deformable section" of the spring piece generally refers to a length of unconstrained spring piece between the held inner and outer edges, specifically a section of spring piece between the holding part of the transmission arm and the spring piece fixing block. The furthest radial distance between the bottom surface of the recess 225 and the outer surface of the transmission arm 22 on the same side as the recess is defined as the concave depth D of the recess 225, and specifically, this concave depth D is greater than the first fixing width B1. Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the flat bottom surface of the recess 225 is substantially parallel to the flat outer surface of the transmission arm 22, the recess depth D is the distance between these two flat surfaces, and the first fixing width B1 is greater than zero, that is, a portion of the fixing segment S of the retaining portion 223 is on the same side of the longitudinal axis L as the outer edge of the spring. In a more preferred embodiment, the first fixing width B1 can be equal to zero. It should be understood that in this invention, the case where the first fixing width B1 is zero includes a structure in which the entire retaining portion 223 is biased on the side opposite to the outer edge of the spring along the longitudinal axis L, and the spring fixing segment S extends only between the longitudinal axis L and the inner edge, not extending to the outer edge of the spring along the longitudinal axis L. In other words, when the bottom surface of the recess 225 is on the longitudinal axis L or when the bottom surface of the recess 225 and the outer edge of the spring are respectively located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L, the first fixing width B1 is considered to be equal to zero, that is, the retaining portion does not have a first fixing width, but only a second fixing width B2.

[0085] Furthermore, preferably, the first fixing width B1 is less than 20% of the width h of the deformable section, and preferably the first fixing width B1 of the spring pieces 24 and 25 is less than 3 mm. Assuming the retaining portion of the transmission arm only has the first fixing width B1 portion and not the second fixing width B2 portion, when the first fixing width B1 and the width h of the deformable section of the spring piece (e.g., ...) Figure 6When the ratio of the first fixed-connection width B1 to the total width h (B1 / h) is 0.0339 (B1 / h = 0.0339), the rotation angle of the driving shaft 300 is α3; when the transmission arm 22 has only the second fixed-connection width B2 and no first fixed-connection width B1, the rotation angle of the driving shaft 300 is α4, and according to the mechanical principle, α3 is about 0.9 times α4. Obviously, the existence of the first fixed-connection width B1 inhibits the rotation angle of the driving shaft, and the greater the value of B1 / h, the smaller the rotation angle of the driving shaft, while the second fixed-connection width B2 can fully release the rotation angle of the driving shaft. When the first fixed-connection width B1 and the second fixed-connection width B2 exist simultaneously, the rotation angle of the driving shaft depends only on the effect of the first fixed-connection width B1, that is, the rotation angle of the driving shaft is inhibited, and the α3 is the inhibited rotation angle of the driving shaft, and the α4 is the rotation angle of the driving shaft without inhibition. When B1 / h = 0.2, according to the mechanical principle, α3 is about 0.52 times α4 at this time. 0.52 times can be accepted in actual engineering, so it is required that B1 / h is less than or equal to 0.2. The width h of the elastically deformable section of the spring sheet is usually 5mm-15mm, so the first fixed-connection width B1 should not be greater than 3mm in general.

[0086] On the other hand, preferably, the first fixed-connection width B1 is smaller than the second fixed-connection width B2. The purpose of the second fixed-connection width B2 is to fasten the spring sheets 24, 25 and to transmit the electromagnetic torque from the magnet to the transmission arm 22 and the spring sheets 24, 25 to drive the driving shaft 300 to reciprocate and rotate, and the existence of the first fixed-connection width B1 will hinder the elastic deformation of the spring sheet and inhibit the rotation angle of the driving shaft 300, thereby reducing the output power of the driving shaft. When the first fixed-connection width B1 is set to be smaller than the second fixed-connection width B2, the inhibition of the rotation angle of the driving shaft 300 can be effectively reduced, and the output power of the driving shaft 300 can be improved.

[0087] The size of the second fixed-connection width B2 should be set to be sufficient to transmit the electromagnetic torque. In practice, it is found that the size of the second fixed-connection width B2 has little effect on the elastic deformation of the spring sheets 24, 25, but the second fixed-connection width B2 has a direct impact on the stable and effective transmission of the electromagnetic torque to the transmission arm. It is proved by experiments that the optimal choice is that, in the case where the first fixed-connection width B1 is equal to zero, in order to stably and effectively transmit the electromagnetic torque to the transmission arm 22, the second fixed-connection width B2 is greater than or equal to 1mm.

[0088] In order to realize that the first fixed-connection width B1 of the spring sheets 24, 25 is smaller than the second fixed-connection width B2, and at the same time realize the miniaturization of the entire elastic assembly, as shown in Figure 5 As shown, the transmission arm 22 according to the preferred embodiment of the present application is particularly in the shape of a curved arm with multiple curved sections.

[0089] In particular, the transmission arm 22 comprises a distal end and a proximal end fixedly connected to the first drive shaft portion 30 and the second drive shaft portion 31, respectively, which are both connected to the corresponding drive shaft portion 30, 31 in a manner centred along the longitudinal axis L. The transmission arm 22 further comprises a holding portion 223 holding the spring fixing segment S between the distal end 221 and the proximal end 222, the holding portion 223 being offset with respect to the longitudinal axis L, and thus also with respect to the proximal and distal ends of the drive shafts. For the case in which the first fixed width B1 is zero, the holding portion 223 is completely offset to one side of the longitudinal axis L.

[0090] Furthermore, in order to enable the springs 24, 25 to be elastically deformed in the recesses 225 without any hindrance, it is preferable that the springs 24, 25 are spaced apart from the sides of the recesses 225 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L by a gap 32 and 33.

[0091] For the case in which the elastic assembly has two springs 24, 25, the transmission arm 22 has two holding portions 223, which are arranged spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis L and which are offset in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal axis L. As shown in Figure 5 the holding portion 223 near the drive shaft portion 31 is offset to the right of the longitudinal axis L, while the holding portion 223 near the drive shaft portion 30 is offset to the left of the longitudinal axis L. The offset of the two holding portions 223 with respect to the longitudinal axis L is preferably the same. The two holding portions 223 are connected by a connecting portion 226, the width of which is substantially the same as the width of the distal end 221 and the proximal end 222 of the transmission arm 22.

[0092] The two offset holding portions 223 form two recesses 225 in the transmission arm 22, each of which has a length in the direction of the longitudinal axis L which is greater than the length of the springs 24, 25 in the longitudinal direction, so that the springs 24, 25 are spaced apart from both sides of the recesses 225 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L by a gap 32 and 33, the size of which is sufficient to ensure that the transmission arm 22 does not come into contact with the springs in the longitudinal direction.

[0093] With the transducer device according to the preferred embodiment of the application, the reciprocating electromagnetic torque from the magnet 29 acts on the springs 24, 25, the transducer 2 and the cleaning element resonate under the alternating electromagnetic torque, and the drive shaft 300 is constrained by the bearings to rotate reciprocatingly about the longitudinal axis L of the drive shaft 300. As shown in Figure 6As shown, the spring fixed section is a section of the spring between point A and point C. When the point of action of the electromagnetic torque on the spring 24, 25 is at point C, i.e. on the spring 24, 25 between the outer edge and the longitudinal axis L, the maximum rotation angle of the drive shaft 300 is a1. When the point of action of the electromagnetic torque on the spring 24, 25 is at point A, i.e. on the inner edge of the spring 24, 25 on the side opposite to the side where the outer edge is located, the maximum rotation angle of the drive shaft 300 is a2. Since the drive shaft 300 is constrained by the bearing to reciprocate around the drive shaft 300 axis L, according to the principle of solid mechanics, since the spring fixed section S is held by the transmission arm 22, this section of the spring cannot be elastically deformed, and under the same electromagnetic torque, the rotation angle a1 is smaller than the rotation angle a2. The section of the transmission arm 22 between point C and the longitudinal axis L forms a damping on the springs 24 and 25, reducing the mechanical efficiency. When the first fixed width B1 is set to be smaller than the second fixed width B2, especially when the first fixed width B1 is smaller than 20% of the deformable width h of the adjacent spring, the damping of the part of the transmission arm 22 on the side of the outer edge is significantly reduced, thereby effectively improving the mechanical efficiency. According to the optimal scheme, the first fixed width B1 can be set to zero, i.e. the spring fixed section S only exists between the longitudinal axis L and the inner edge, and therefore no part of the spring between the longitudinal axis L and the outer edge of the spring as the fixed edge is constrained by the transmission arm 22, and since the damping of this part from the transmission arm 22 is eliminated, the mechanical efficiency is greatly improved.

[0094] In addition, if there is a force of the transmission arm 22 acting on the spring between the outer edge of the spring and the longitudinal axis L of the drive shaft 300, this force will periodically generate an impact force between the bearing and the drive shaft 300, resulting in high-frequency noise, and if the first fixed width B1 is set to zero, the noise can also be effectively eliminated.

[0095] Figure 7 A transducing device according to another preferred embodiment of the present application is shown. The transducing device also has a transducer and a drive coil assembly, and the device and manner of generating electromagnetic force are consistent with the previous preferred embodiment, which will not be described here.

[0096] The difference between the transducing device is that the transmission arm 22' therein only has one recess 225' and a spring 24' accommodated in the space of the recess 225'. The spring 24' has an outer edge away from the longitudinal axis L and an inner edge close to the longitudinal axis L, at the inner edge of the spring 24', the spring 24' is fixed by the transmission arm, and at the outer edge of the spring 24', the spring 24' is fixed by the housing of the transducer 2. The outer edge of the spring 24' is a fixed edge or a stationary edge, and the inner edge of the spring 24' is a movable edge or a resonant edge.

[0097] Similar to the previous embodiment, the spring piece 24' extends inward from its outer edge toward and across the longitudinal axis L, such that the outer and inner edges of the spring piece 24' are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L. The spring piece 24' has a spring piece fixing section near its inner edge, which is held by the transmission arm 22'. Consistent with the previous preferred embodiment, the "spring piece fixing section" here refers to a spring piece segment of a certain length in the spring piece extension direction, one or both surfaces of which are in direct contact with the body of the transmission arm and remain in place without elastic deformation. On the side where the outer edge of the longitudinal axis L is located, the holding portion of the transmission arm 24' has a first fixing width B1 in the spring piece extension direction, while on the side where the inner edge of the longitudinal axis L is located, it has a second fixing width B2 in the spring piece extension direction. Specifically, the concave depth D of the recess 225' is greater than the first fixing width B1 of the spring piece 24', and preferably, the first fixing width B1 is less than the second fixing width B2. Preferably, the first fixing width B1 of the spring is less than 3mm, and more preferably less than 0mm, that is, the fixing section of the spring is only provided between the longitudinal axis L and the inner edge.

[0098] like Figure 7 As shown, the transducer also has two bearings, which are mounted on the drive shaft 300 on the near and far sides of the elastic component along the longitudinal axis L, with the spring piece 24' being closer to the near bearing 26.

[0099] Corresponding to a 24' design of a spring, Figure 7 The transmission arm 22' shown includes a retaining portion 223 that holds the spring clip fixed section. This retaining portion 223 is offset relative to the longitudinal axis L. When the first fixing width B1 is zero, this retaining portion 223 is completely offset to one side of the longitudinal axis L. This embodiment can also reduce the damping generated by the transmission arm 22' on the outer edge of the spring clip, thereby effectively improving mechanical efficiency.

[0100] The transmission arms 22, 22' and the spring can be integrally formed by overmolding, but in other alternative embodiments, they can also be mounted together by other fastening devices.

[0101] Figure 8 , Figure 9A transducing device according to another preferred embodiment of the present application is shown. In this transducing device, the transmission arm has only one holding portion 223", which is centered with respect to the longitudinal axis L, and two recesses 225" are formed on both sides of the holding portion 223", which are centered with respect to the longitudinal axis L. The proximal and distal ends of the transmission arm 22" have end portions enveloping a portion of the drive shaft, which are substantially cylindrical, so that the transmission arm 22" is considered to have a cylindrical outer surface, and it should be understood that this portion of the outer surface is configured as the surface that is radially farthest from the bottom of the recess 225", and in the extension plane of the spring 24", the distance of the bottom of the recess 225" to the outer surface on the same side of the end portion is the inner recess depth D, which is greater than Figure 9 The first fixed connection width B1 of the holding portion 223" is shown in the middle.

[0102] As in the previous embodiments, along the extension direction of the spring 24", the width B1 of the bottom of the recess 225" to the longitudinal axis L is less than 20% of the width h of the deformable section of the spring, i.e. B1 / h<20%.

[0103] The two springs 24" extend in the two recesses 225", respectively, and preferably in the same plane. The outer edges of the spring 24" are held by the spring fixing blocks 20" and 21", respectively, so as to constitute the stationary or fixed edges of the spring in the resonant motion. Similarly, a gap 32", 33" is left between the spring 24" and the side surface of the recess, and a bearing 26" is also provided on the drive shaft.

[0104] The transmission arm can be plastic, or it can be plastic that envelops a portion of the drive shaft 300, which is usually metal, to strengthen the strength of the transmission portion, especially the holding portion. In this embodiment, the inner edge of the spring can be located on the longitudinal axis L, or the inner edge and the outer edge can be arranged on the same side of the longitudinal axis L.

[0105] Figure 8 And Figure 9 Two springs 24" are shown, but it should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the two springs 24" can also be formed as one body.

[0106] With the transducing device according to the present application, since the transmission arm has a recess, the spring is arranged in the recess, and the first fixed connection width B1 is less than the inner recess depth D of the recess, preferably the first fixed connection width B1 is less than 20% of the width h of the deformable section of the spring, so that the inhibition of the first fixed connection width B1 on the resonant rotation angle is effectively reduced, and the mechanical efficiency is improved. Preferably, the first fixed connection width B1 in the spring holding section is less than the second fixed connection width B2, which can further enable the cleaning assembly such as a brush head to obtain a larger rotation angle, and enhance the holding reliability of the spring.

[0107] The transmission arm adopts a biased holding part to realize the reduction of the first fixed connection width B1, so that the volume of the elastic assembly of the transducer can be smaller, but the holding effect of the transmission arm is not affected.

[0108] The present application is disclosed with the preferred embodiments as above, but is not intended to limit the present application, any person skilled in the art can make possible changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, any modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present application without departing from the technical solutions of the present application, all fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A transducing device for a cleaning appliance, wherein the transducing device comprises a transducer and a drive coil, the transducer comprises a transducer frame and a magnet, an elastic assembly and a drive shaft with a longitudinal axis L attached to the transducer frame, and the elastic assembly comprises a transmission arm and at least one spring blade held by the transmission arm, wherein the transmission arm is fixedly connected to the drive shaft, the drive coil is arranged opposite the magnet of the transducer, the transducer is movable relative to the drive coil, an alternating electromagnetic force is generated between the drive coil and the magnet by an alternating current in the drive coil, the electromagnetic force drives the transducer into a resonant movement, characterized in that the spring blade has an outer edge away from the longitudinal axis L and an inner edge close to the longitudinal axis L, a spring blade extension direction from the outer edge to the inner edge is transverse to the longitudinal axis L, the spring blade has a spring blade fixing section held by the transmission arm on one side of the inner edge, the outer edge of the spring blade is stationary when the transducing device is in operation, the transmission arm has a holding portion holding the spring blade fixing section, the transmission arm is recessed inwardly from its outer surface to form a recess corresponding to the holding portion, the recess has a bottom surface, the spring blade extends from the bottom surface of the recess and extends in the space formed by the recess, in the extension direction of the spring blade, the holding portion has a first fixed connection width B1 from the bottom surface of the recess to the longitudinal axis, the first fixed connection width B1 is greater than or equal to zero, and on the side of the recess and in the extension plane of the spring blade, the deepest radial distance between the bottom surface of the recess and the outer surface of the transmission arm on the same side as the recess is defined as the recess depth D, the recess depth D is greater than the first fixed connection width B1.

2. The transducing device according to claim 1, characterized in that a width of the deformable section of the spring blade is h, and the first fixed connection width B1 is less than 20% of the width h of the deformable section.

3. A transducer device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, the spring blade extends inwardly from the outer edge towards the longitudinal axis L and beyond the longitudinal axis L, so that the outer edge and the inner edge are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L, the spring blade fixing section has a second fixed connection width B2 in the extension direction of the spring blade on the side of the inner edge of the longitudinal axis L, wherein the first fixed connection width B1 is less than the second fixed connection width B2, and the holding portion is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis L.

4. The transducing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the holding portion of the transmission arm is completely offset on one side of the longitudinal axis L, and the holding portion and the outer edge of the spring blade are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L.

5. The transducing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the second fixed connection width B2 is greater than 1 mm, and the first fixed connection width B1 is in the range of 0-3 mm.

6. The transducing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The at least one elastic piece of the elastic assembly includes a first elastic piece and a second elastic piece, and the recess of the transmission arm includes a first recess and a second recess, the first recess and the second recess are recessed in opposite directions formed in the transmission arm, the first elastic piece and the second elastic piece respectively extend in the space of the first recess and the second recess from the transmission arm in opposite directions transversely to the longitudinal axis L, Wherein, the inner recess depth of the first recess and the second recess is substantially equal.

7. The transducer device of claim 6, wherein, The transmission arm has a first holding portion holding the first elastic piece and a second holding portion holding the second elastic piece, the first holding portion and the second holding portion are biased on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis L, and the first holding portion and the second holding portion are connected by a connecting portion.

8. The transducing device of claim 6, wherein, The first elastic piece and the second elastic piece are held by the same holding portion, and the first recess and the second recess are located on both sides of the holding portion.

9. The transducing device of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The side surface of the elastic piece and the recess is separated by a gap in the direction of the longitudinal axis L.

10. The transducing device of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The transducer device further comprises a bearing supporting the drive shaft.

11. The transducing device of claim 10, wherein, The drive shaft includes a first drive shaft portion and a second drive shaft portion, the proximal end and the distal end of the transmission arm are fixedly connected to the first drive shaft portion and the second drive shaft portion respectively, The bearing includes a proximal end bearing and a distal end bearing, respectively arranged on the first drive shaft portion and the second drive shaft portion.

12. A cleaning care appliance comprising the transducer device of any one of claims 1 to 11, the cleaning care appliance comprising one of an electric toothbrush, an electric shaver, an electric facial cleanser, and an electric shower.

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