Self-relieving negative pressure pump structure and breast pump

Abstract

The present invention provides a self-relieving negative pressure pump structure and a breast pump, which include a cylinder liner, a pump body, a power device, an eccentric wheel and a ball. An air chamber is formed inside the cylinder liner, and an air inlet connected to the air chamber is provided laterally. The pump body is installed at the upper end of the cylinder liner to pump out the gas in the air chamber upward. The power device is installed at the lower end of the cylinder liner. The eccentric wheel is drivingly connected to the power device and is eccentrically rotatably installed in the air chamber along an axis extending in the up and down direction under the drive of the power device. A pressure relief air passage is formed on the eccentric wheel. One end of the pressure relief air passage communicates with the air chamber, and the other end communicates with the outside. The pressure relief air passage has a passage section extending radially along the eccentric wheel, and the passage section penetrates through the eccentric wheel outward to form a pressure relief hole. The ball is rotatably arranged in the passage section. When the eccentric wheel rotates, the ball moves radially outward due to centrifugal force to close the pressure relief air passage, and the air flow enters the air chamber from the air inlet; when the eccentric wheel is stationary, the ball disengages from the pressure relief hole, and the air flow enters the air chamber from the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of negative pressure pumps, and particularly to a self-relieving negative pressure pump structure and a breast pump. Background Art

[0002] In the current trend, more and more parents have realized the benefits of breast-feeding for the healthy growth of children. At the same time, the market has given birth to breast pumps that can be used to dredge mammary glands and collect breast milk. The conventional configuration of these breast pumps is to configure a negative pressure pump in the breast pump housing to provide suction force for the milk. In order to increase the comfort of using the breast pump, a pressure relief valve is further configured to match the negative pressure pump to adjust the air pressure in the breast pump to normal air pressure after each operation of the negative pressure pump, so as to avoid the user from being subjected to continuous suction force.

[0003] However, the negative pressure pump and the pressure relief valve exist as two independent components in the breast pump, occupying extra accommodation space and requiring two sets of control circuits and power supply circuits for control, making the structure of the breast pump not sufficiently compact. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main object of the present invention is to provide a self-relieving negative pressure pump structure, aiming to provide a self-relieving negative pressure pump structure that can automatically relieve pressure.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure proposed by the present invention includes:

[0006] A cylinder liner, with an air chamber formed inside, and an air inlet connected to the air chamber is provided on the side of the cylinder liner.

[0007] A pump body, installed at the upper end of the cylinder liner, for pumping out the gas in the air chamber upward.

[0008] A power device, installed at the lower end of the cylinder liner.

[0009] An eccentric wheel, drivingly connected to the power device, and eccentrically rotatably installed in the air chamber along an axis extending in the up and down direction under the drive of the power device. A pressure relief air passage is formed on the eccentric wheel. One end of the pressure relief air passage communicates with the air chamber, and the other end communicates with the outside. The pressure relief air passage has a channel section extending radially along the eccentric wheel, and the channel section penetrates through the eccentric wheel outward to form a pressure relief hole; and,

[0010] A ball, rollingly arranged in the channel section.

[0011] Wherein, when the eccentric wheel rotates, the ball moves radially outward along the eccentric wheel under the action of centrifugal force to hermetically abut against the pressure relief hole, thereby closing the pressure relief air passage, and air flows from the air inlet into the air chamber.

[0012] When the eccentric wheel is stationary, the centrifugal force acting on the ball disappears, and the ball disengages from abutting against the pressure relief hole, thereby opening the pressure relief air passage, and air flows from the outside into the air chamber.

[0013] Preferably, the pump body is a diaphragm pump.

[0014] Preferably, the diaphragm pump includes:

[0015] An eccentric shaft portion;

[0016] A swing frame portion, on which a plurality of air bowls are formed, and all the air bowls are recessed downward; and,

[0017] A diaphragm portion, on the surface of which one-way air holes corresponding to the air bowls are formed. The eccentric wheel, the eccentric shaft portion, and the rotating portion are sequentially drivingly connected upward. The diaphragm portion movably abuts against and sealingly abuts above any one of the air bowls, and one-way air holes corresponding to any one of the air bowls are formed on the diaphragm portion;

[0018] Wherein, the air bowl is used to press out the air in the air chamber through the one-way air hole.

[0019] Preferably, the material of the diaphragm portion includes at least one of rubber, silica gel, and PVC.

[0020] Preferably, an air valve plate is formed on the diaphragm portion. The air valve plate sealingly abuts against the main body of the diaphragm portion. The air valve plate penetrates through the main body of the diaphragm portion in the up and down direction and has an upper end surface and a lower end surface with unequal areas on itself. The area of the upper end surface of the air valve plate is larger than the area of the lower end surface of the air valve plate, and the peripheral surface of the air valve plate sealingly abuts against the main body of the diaphragm portion;

[0021] Wherein, the area of the upper surface of the air valve plate is larger than the area of the lower surface of the air valve plate, so that the air valve plate can only be opened to open the upward exhaust passage.

[0022] Preferably, the outer periphery of the diaphragm portion is sealingly connected to the cylinder liner.

[0023] Preferably, the lower end surface of the eccentric wheel sealingly abuts against and is rotatably mounted on the bottom wall of the cylinder liner.

[0024] Preferably, the power device includes an electric motor.

[0025] Preferably, the material of at least one of the eccentric wheel and the ball includes a metal material.

[0026] The present invention also provides a breast pump, which includes the first subject matter. The self-pressure-relieving negative pressure pump structure includes:

[0027] The cylinder liner forms an air cavity inside, and an air inlet communicating with the air cavity is arranged on the side of the cylinder liner itself.

[0028] The pump body is installed at the upper end of the cylinder liner to pump out the gas in the air cavity upward.

[0029] The power device is installed at the lower end of the cylinder liner.

[0030] The eccentric wheel is drivingly connected to the power device and is eccentrically rotatably installed in the air cavity along an axis extending in the up and down direction under the drive of the power device. A pressure relief air passage is formed on the eccentric wheel. One end of the pressure relief air passage communicates with the air cavity, and the other end communicates with the outside. The pressure relief air passage has a channel section extending in the radial direction of the eccentric wheel, and the channel section penetrates through the eccentric wheel outward to form a pressure relief hole; and,

[0031] The ball is rotatably arranged in the channel section.

[0032] Wherein, when the eccentric wheel rotates, the ball moves radially outward to hermetically abut against the pressure relief hole, thereby closing the pressure relief air passage, and the air flow enters the air cavity from the air inlet.

[0033] When the eccentric wheel is stationary, the ball disengages from abutting against the pressure relief hole to open the pressure relief air passage, and the air flow enters the air cavity from the outside.

[0034] In the technical solution of the present invention, when the power device operates, the power device drives the eccentric wheel to rotate, and the eccentric wheel further drives the pump body to pump out the gas in the air cavity upward, so that a negative pressure is formed in the air cavity, so that the self-pressure-relieving negative pressure pump structure can suck in gas from the air inlet and generate suction on the outside. At the same time, the ball rolls outward due to centrifugal force until it hermetically abuts against the pressure relief hole, separating the two ends of the pressure relief air passage - the inner cavity and the outside atmosphere. When the power device stops operating, the pump body no longer operates, the eccentric wheel no longer rotates, the ball no longer receives the centrifugal force acting on itself, and then the ball separates from the pressure relief hole, so that the pressure relief air passage is in a communicating state to connect the air cavity and the outside atmosphere, and the outside air enters the air cavity through the pressure relief air passage, changing the air pressure in the air cavity from negative pressure to normal pressure. As described above, the technical solution proposed by the present invention simplifies the functions of a negative pressure pump and an external pressure relief valve into one self-pressure-relieving negative pressure pump structure, allowing the user to choose a more simplified alternative when a negative pressure pump and a pressure relief valve need to be used simultaneously. Description of the Drawings

[0035] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings.

[0036] Figure 1 Schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure provided by the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 For Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the air flow when the power device of the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure is operating;

[0038] Figure 3 For Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the air flow when the power device of the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure stops operating.

[0039] Explanation of the reference numerals in the drawings:

[0040]

[0041] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further described with reference to the embodiments and the drawings. Detailed implementation manners

[0042] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0043] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture (as shown in the drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0044] In addition, the descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the present invention are for descriptive purposes only, and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In addition, the technical solutions between various embodiments may be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of those of ordinary skill in the art to implement. When the combination of technical solutions results in contradictions or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0045] In the current trend, more and more parents are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding for the healthy growth of their children. At the same time, the market has given rise to breast pumps that can be used to dredge mammary glands and collect breast milk. The conventional configuration of these breast pumps is to configure a negative pressure pump that provides suction force for the milk in the breast pump housing. To increase the comfort of using the breast pump, the breast pump is further configured with a pressure relief valve that matches the negative pressure pump to adjust the air pressure in the breast pump to normal air pressure after each operation of the negative pressure pump ends, so as to prevent the user from being subjected to continuous suction force.

[0046] However, the negative pressure pump and the pressure relief valve exist as two independent components in the breast pump, occupying extra accommodation space and requiring two sets of control circuits and power supply circuits for control, making the structure of the breast pump not sufficiently streamlined.

[0047] To solve the above problems, the present invention proposes a self-pressure-relieving negative pressure pump structure, aiming to provide a self-pressure-relieving negative pressure pump structure that can automatically relieve pressure. Figures 1 to 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment provided by the self-pressure-relieving negative pressure pump structure of the present invention.

[0048] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3, the present invention provides a self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100, which includes a cylinder liner 1, a pump body 2, a power device 3, an eccentric wheel 4, and a ball 5. An air chamber is formed inside the cylinder liner 1, and an air inlet 11 communicating with the air chamber is provided on the side thereof. The pump body 2 is installed at the upper end of the cylinder liner 1 to pump out the gas in the air chamber upward. The power device 3 is installed at the lower end of the cylinder liner 1. The eccentric wheel 4 is drivingly connected to the power device 3 and is eccentrically rotatably installed in the air chamber along an axis extending in the vertical direction under the drive of the power device 3. A pressure relief air passage is formed on the eccentric wheel 4. One end of the pressure relief air passage communicates with the air chamber, and the other end communicates with the outside. The pressure relief air passage has a channel section extending radially along the eccentric wheel 4, and the channel section penetrates through the eccentric wheel 4 outward to form a pressure relief hole. And, the ball 5 is rotatably arranged in the channel section. When the eccentric wheel 4 rotates, the ball 5 moves radially outward along the eccentric wheel under the action of centrifugal force to hermetically abut against the pressure relief hole, thereby closing the pressure relief air passage, and the air flow enters the air chamber from the air inlet 11; when the eccentric wheel 4 is stationary, the centrifugal force acting on the ball 5 disappears and then the ball 5 disengages from abutting against the pressure relief hole to open the pressure relief air passage, and the air flow enters the air chamber from the outside, so that the air pressure in the air chamber changes from negative pressure to normal pressure. As described above, the technical solution proposed by the present invention simplifies the functions of a negative pressure pump and an external pressure relief valve into one self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100, allowing the user to select a more simplified alternative when a negative pressure pump and a pressure relief valve are needed simultaneously.

[0049] In the technical solution of the present invention, when the power device 3 operates, the power device 3 drives the eccentric wheel 4 to rotate, and the eccentric wheel 4 further drives the pump body 2 to pump out the gas in the air chamber upward, so that a negative pressure is formed in the air chamber, enabling the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100 to suck in gas from the air inlet 11 and generate a suction force on the outside. At the same time, the ball 5 rolls outward due to centrifugal force until it hermetically abuts against the pressure relief hole, separating the two ends of the pressure relief air passage - the inner cavity and the outside atmosphere. When the power device 3 stops operating, the pump body 2 stops operating, the eccentric wheel 4 no longer rotates, the ball 5 no longer receives the centrifugal force acting on itself, and then the ball 5 separates from the pressure relief hole, putting the pressure relief air passage in a communicating state to connect the air chamber and the outside atmosphere, and the outside air enters the air chamber through the pressure relief air passage, changing the air pressure in the air chamber from negative pressure to normal pressure. As described above, the technical solution proposed by the present invention simplifies the functions of a negative pressure pump and an external pressure relief valve into one self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100, allowing the user to select a more simplified alternative when a negative pressure pump and a pressure relief valve are needed simultaneously.

[0050] The self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100 can not only save the installation space required inside the product, but also, since the air-relieving method is related to the operating state of the power device 3, only controlling the operation of the power device 3 can simultaneously control the two functions of suction and air relief of the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100. Therefore, to achieve the suction and air relief of the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100, only one set of control circuit and one set of power supply components are required, without the need to separately control and supply power to the pressure relief valve and the negative pressure pump.

[0051] In an embodiment of the present invention, a cavity is formed at one end of the eccentric wheel 4 in its own radial direction. The cavity communicates with the air chamber through a first air hole formed on the circumferential surface of the eccentric wheel 4. The air chamber communicates with the atmosphere airway inside the power device 3 through a second air hole formed on the bottom surface of the eccentric wheel 4. The atmosphere airway is arranged inside the power device 3 and communicates the air chamber with the external environment. The first air hole, the cavity, and the second air hole together constitute the pressure relief airway. Of course, the number of air holes connecting the cavity to the outside can also be set to 4 or 8. A gap can also be formed between the power device 3 and the cylinder liner 1 to directly connect the pressure relief airway to the atmosphere. The present invention does not limit this.

[0052] The pump body 2 can include a piston pump or a peristaltic pump. The present invention does not limit this. In an embodiment of the present invention, the pump body 2 uses a diaphragm pump. Using the diaphragm pump can keep the exhaust volume stable continuously, avoiding a sharp change in the suction force generated and thus affecting the user experience.

[0053] To ensure the formation of a negative pressure in the air chamber, in an embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm pump includes an eccentric shaft portion 21, a swing frame portion 22, and a diaphragm portion 23. A plurality of air bowls 231 are formed on the swing frame portion 22, and all the air bowls 231 are recessed downward. One-way air holes corresponding to the air bowls 231 are formed on the surface of the diaphragm portion 23. The eccentric wheel 4, the eccentric shaft portion 21, and the rotating portion are sequentially drivingly connected upward. The diaphragm portion 23 is movably abutted and sealingly abutted above any one of the air bowls 231. One-way air holes corresponding to any one of the air bowls 231 are formed on the diaphragm portion 23. Among them, the air bowl 231 is used to press out the air in the air chamber through the one-way air hole. The eccentric shaft portion 21 swings with the operation of the power device 3. The swing of the eccentric shaft portion 21 drives the swing of the swing frame portion 22, so that the plurality of air bowls 231 on the swing frame portion 22 move up and down in sequence according to the circumferential direction of the swing frame portion 22, and the plurality of air bowls 231 exhaust air to the outside of the diaphragm portion 23 in sequence. The eccentric rod can be integrally formed, so that the swing frame portion 22 rotates around the vertical direction while swinging. At this time, each time any one of the air bowls 231 sealingly abuts the diaphragm portion 23, it can be docked with the one-way air holes at different positions. The eccentric rod can also be divided into a relative sleeve section and a main rod section. The sleeve section is rotatably sleeved on the main rod section, and the sleeve section rotates around its own axial direction relative to the main rod section, so that the swing frame portion 22 only swings with the eccentric rod, and any one of the air bowls 231 always corresponds to a fixed one-way hole in the vertical direction. The present invention does not limit this. The sleeve section can be connected to the eccentric wheel 4 and the main rod section can be connected to the swing frame portion 22. The sleeve section can also be connected to the swing frame portion 22 and the main rod section can be connected to the eccentric wheel 4. The present invention does not limit this.

[0054] To enable the air bowl 231 to generate elastic deformation, in an embodiment of the present invention, the material of the air bowl 231 includes at least one of rubber, PVC, and silica gel.

[0055] To increase the one-way airtightness of the one-way hole, in an embodiment of the present invention, the material of the diaphragm portion 23 includes at least one of rubber, silica gel, and PVC.

[0056] The one-way hole can be formed between the valve and the main body of the diaphragm portion 23, can be formed on the diaphragm portion 23, a sealing cover is arranged above the diaphragm portion 23, and the sealing cover is in transmission connection with the air bowl 231, so that the sealing cover moves up and down following the movement of the air bowl 231, realizing the cyclic appearance of two states that the sealing cover seals and abuts against the one-way hole and disengages upward from the one-way hole. The present invention does not limit this. In an embodiment of the present invention, a valve piece is formed on the upper surface of the diaphragm portion 23, the valve piece seals and abuts against the main body of the diaphragm portion 23, the valve piece penetrates through the main body of the diaphragm portion 23 in the up-and-down direction and has an upper end surface and a lower end surface with unequal areas formed on itself, the area of the upper end surface of the valve piece is larger than the area of the lower end surface of the valve piece, and the peripheral surface of the valve piece seals and abuts against the main body of the diaphragm portion 23. The fact that the upper surface area of the valve piece is larger than the lower surface area of the valve piece causes the main body of the diaphragm portion 23 to block the downward movement of the valve piece while allowing the upward movement of the valve piece, so that the valve piece discharges air unidirectionally. The valve piece can be strip-shaped, wherein one end of the valve piece is integrally connected to the main body of the diaphragm portion 23 and the other end of the valve piece seals and abuts against the main body of the diaphragm portion 23. The valve piece can also be circular, wherein the front end and the rear end of the valve piece are integrally connected to the main body of the diaphragm portion 23 and the left end and the right end of the valve piece seal and abut against the main body of the diaphragm portion 23. The present invention does not limit this.

[0057] To enhance the airtightness of the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100, in an embodiment of the present invention, the outer periphery of the diaphragm portion 23 is hermetically connected to the cylinder sleeve 1. The hermetic connection can include a labyrinth connection, or a sealing ring can be connected between the diaphragm portion 23 and the cylinder sleeve 1, or an oil seal can be used. The present invention does not limit this.

[0058] To enhance the airtightness of the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100, in an embodiment of the present invention, the lower end surface of the eccentric wheel 4 seals and abuts against and is rotatably installed on the bottom wall of the cylinder sleeve 1. The eccentric wheel 4 can seal and abut against the upper side of the sealing ring on the bottom wall of the cylinder sleeve 1, and lubricating oil can also be provided between the eccentric wheel 4 and the bottom wall of the cylinder sleeve 1 for oil sealing. The present invention does not limit this.

[0059] The power device 3 can include a cylinder, and can include an oil cylinder. The present invention does not limit this. In an embodiment of the present invention, the power device 3 includes an electric motor. Since electricity is more easily obtained than other energy sources in the civilian field, the self-relieving negative pressure pump has more application scenarios in the civilian field.

[0060] In order to reduce the deformation of the rolling ball 5 and / or the eccentric wheel 4, in an embodiment of the present invention, the material of at least one of the eccentric wheel 4 and the rolling ball 5 includes a metal material. Using the metal material makes the eccentric wheel 4 and / or the rolling ball 5 strong and wear-resistant, preventing the rolling ball 5 and the eccentric wheel 4 from deforming and affecting the sealing abutment effect.

[0061] The present invention also provides a breast pump, which includes a self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100. The specific structure of the self-relieving negative pressure pump structure 100 refers to the above embodiment. Since this breast pump adopts all the technical solutions of the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated here one by one.

[0062] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention accordingly. Any equivalent structural transformation made by using the description and drawings of the present invention under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields, is included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-relieving negative pressure pump structure, characterized in that Comprising: A cylinder liner, with an air chamber formed inside. The cylinder liner is provided with an air inlet on its side that communicates with the air chamber. A pump body, installed at the upper end of the cylinder liner, for pumping out the gas in the air chamber upward. A power device, installed at the lower end of the cylinder liner. An eccentric wheel, drivingly connected to the power device, and is eccentrically rotatably installed in the air chamber along an axis extending in the up and down direction under the drive of the power device. A pressure relief air passage is formed on the eccentric wheel. One end of the pressure relief air passage communicates with the air chamber, and the other end communicates with the outside. The pressure relief air passage has a channel section extending radially along the eccentric wheel, and the channel section penetrates the eccentric wheel outward to form a pressure relief hole. And, A ball, rollingly arranged in the channel section. Wherein, when the eccentric wheel rotates, the ball moves radially outward along the eccentric wheel under the action of centrifugal force to sealingly abut against the pressure relief hole, thereby closing the pressure relief air passage, and air flows into the air chamber from the air inlet. When the eccentric wheel is stationary, the centrifugal force acting on the ball disappears and it disengages from abutting against the pressure relief hole to open the pressure relief air passage, and air flows into the air chamber from the outside. The pump body adopts a diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump includes: An eccentric shaft portion. A swing frame portion, on which a plurality of air bowls are formed, and all the air bowls are recessed downward; and, A diaphragm portion, on the surface of which one-way air holes corresponding to the air bowls are formed. The eccentric wheel, the eccentric shaft portion, and the swing frame portion are sequentially drivingly connected upward. The diaphragm portion movably abuts and sealingly abuts above any one of the air bowls, and one-way air holes corresponding to any one of the air bowls are formed on the diaphragm portion. Wherein, the air bowl is used to press out the air in the air chamber through the one-way air hole.

2. The self-relieving negative pressure pump structure according to claim 1, wherein The material of the diaphragm portion includes at least one of rubber, silica gel, and PVC.

3. The self-relieving negative pressure pump structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, An air valve plate is formed on the diaphragm portion. The air valve plate sealingly abuts the main body of the diaphragm portion. The air valve plate penetrates the main body of the diaphragm portion in the up and down direction and has an upper end surface and a lower end surface with unequal areas on itself. The area of the upper end surface of the air valve plate is larger than the area of the lower end surface of the air valve plate, and the peripheral surface of the air valve plate sealingly abuts the main body of the diaphragm portion. Wherein, the area of the upper surface of the air valve plate is larger than the area of the lower surface of the air valve plate, so that the air valve plate can only be opened to open the upward exhaust passage.

4. The self-relieving negative pressure pump structure according to claim 1, wherein, The outer periphery of the diaphragm portion is sealingly connected to the cylinder liner.

5. The self-relieving negative pressure pump structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower end surface of the eccentric wheel sealingly abuts and is rotatably installed on the bottom wall of the cylinder liner.

6. The self-relieving negative pressure pump structure according to claim 1, wherein, The power device includes an electric motor.

7. The self-pressure-relieving negative pressure pump structure according to claim 1, wherein the material of at least one of the eccentric wheel and the ball includes a metal material.

8. A breast pump, characterized in that, Comprising the self-pressure-relieving negative pressure pump structure according to any one of claims 1-7.

Images