Liquid ejection nozzle and liquid supply device

Abstract

To provide a liquid ejection nozzle that quickly fills a container with liquid while suppressing the occurrence such as liquid splashing and liquid overflowing from the container.SOLUTION: A liquid ejection nozzle of an embodiment includes a cylindrical body, a pressure regulating valve, and a convex-concave structure part. A flow path through which a liquid flows is formed in the cylindrical body, and the flow path opens to the outside at an ejection port. The pressure regulating valve is disposed in the flow path, and a flow rate of the liquid passing through the pressure regulating valve decreases as an open and closed state of the pressure regulating valve changes in response to an increase in a pressure of the liquid flowing through the flow path. The convex-concave structure part is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body adjacent to the flow path, and a convex portion and a concave portion are arranged alternately in the convex-concave structure part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD An embodiment of the present invention relates to a liquid ejection nozzle and a liquid supply device. [Background technology]

[0002] When supplying liquid using a liquid supplying device, the liquid is discharged from the outlet of a liquid discharge nozzle into the inside of a container, and the container is filled with the liquid. For example, in the manufacture of a battery, an electrolyte is discharged from the outlet of the liquid discharge nozzle into the inside of a liquid injection hopper, which serves as a container, and the electrolyte is stored in the liquid injection hopper. The electrolyte stored in the liquid injection hopper is then injected into the inside of the battery. When filling a container with liquid, such as filling the liquid injection hopper with electrolyte, it is required to suppress the occurrence of splashing and overflowing from the container. It is also required to quickly fill the container with liquid while suppressing the occurrence of splashing and overflowing from the container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-237458 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2011-119201 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge nozzle and a liquid supplying device that can quickly fill a container with liquid while suppressing the occurrence of splashes and overflowing of the liquid from the container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The liquid discharge nozzle of the embodiment includes a cylindrical body, a pressure regulating valve, and an uneven structure. A flow path through which liquid flows is formed inside the cylindrical body, and the flow path opens to the outside at an outlet. Liquid that flows through the flow path can be discharged from the outlet. The pressure regulating valve is disposed in the flow path, and the flow rate of liquid passing through the pressure regulating valve decreases as the open / closed state of the pressure regulating valve changes in response to an increase in pressure of the liquid flowing through the flow path. The uneven structure is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body adjacent to the flow path, and in the uneven structure, convex portions and concave portions are arranged alternately. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a liquid supplying apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates the configuration of a liquid supply nozzle according to an embodiment, in a cross section parallel or approximately parallel to the flow direction of the electrolyte. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view that diagrammatically shows a cross section taken along line A1-A1 in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the ejection port of the example liquid ejection nozzle of FIG. 2 as viewed from the opening direction of the ejection port. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an electrolyte is being filled into a liquid filling hopper through a liquid discharge nozzle in the liquid supplying device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart that illustrates an example of a process that is performed by the control unit of the liquid supplying device according to the embodiment in a state in which the electrolyte is being filled into a filling hopper that is a filling target. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of adjustment of the position of the liquid discharge nozzle in the vertical direction in a state in which the liquid filling hopper to be filled is being filled with the electrolyte in the liquid supplying device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0008] FIG 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a liquid supplying device 1 according to an embodiment. The example liquid supplying device 1 shown in FIG 1 is used in a manufacturing process of a battery (not shown). In the manufacturing process of the battery, the liquid supplying device 1 is used to store an electrolyte in a liquid injection hopper 2, which is a container. Then, the electrolyte stored in the liquid injection hopper 2 is injected into the inside of the battery.

[0009] The liquid supplying device 1 includes an installation stand 3, and one or more liquid pouring hoppers 2 can be installed on the installation stand 3. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of liquid pouring hoppers 2 are installed on the installation stand 3. The liquid supplying device 1 also includes a liquid discharge nozzle 5. In the liquid supplying device 1, the electrolyte discharged from the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is stored inside each of the liquid pouring hoppers 2.

[0010] The liquid discharge nozzle 5 includes a cylindrical body 6, and the cylindrical body 6 forms the exterior and outer peripheral surface of the liquid discharge nozzle 5. In the liquid discharge nozzle 5, a flow path 7 is formed inside the cylindrical body 6. In addition, the cylindrical body 6 is formed with an outlet 8, and the flow path 7 opens to the outside of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 (the outside of the cylindrical body 6) at the outlet 8. In the liquid discharge nozzle 5, a supply tube 11 is connected to the end of the flow path 7 opposite to the outlet 8. A liquid electrolyte is supplied to the flow path 7 inside the cylindrical body 6 from a supply source (not shown) including a storage tank through the supply tube 11. Then, in the flow path 7, the supplied electrolyte flows toward the outlet 8, and the electrolyte is discharged from the outlet 8 to the outside of the cylindrical body 6.

[0011] Since the electrolyte flows as described above, in the flow path 7, the direction toward the outlet 8 is the flow direction of the liquid electrolyte, and is the downstream side. In the flow path, the opposite direction to the direction toward the outlet 8 is the upstream side. Therefore, the outlet 8 is the downstream end of the flow path 7. In addition, in the flow path 7, an imaginary central axis C is defined along the flow direction of the electrolyte. In the liquid discharge nozzle 5 and the flow path 7, the direction around the central axis C is defined as the circumferential direction. In addition, in the liquid discharge nozzle 5 and the flow path 7, the side toward the central axis C in the radial direction is the inner peripheral side, and the side away from the central axis C in the radial direction is the outer peripheral side.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the liquid discharge nozzle 5. FIG. 2 shows a cross section parallel or approximately parallel to the flow direction of the electrolyte in the flow path 7. As shown in FIG. 2 etc., a pressure regulating valve 12 is disposed in the flow path 7. When the electrolyte flows through the flow path 7, the open / close state of the pressure regulating valve 12 changes, thereby changing the flow rate of the electrolyte passing through the pressure regulating valve 12 toward the downstream side. The open / close state of the pressure regulating valve 12 changes depending on the pressure of the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7. In this embodiment, the open / close state of the pressure regulating valve 12 changes in response to an increase in the pressure of the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7, thereby decreasing the flow rate of the electrolyte passing through the pressure regulating valve 12.

[0013] In one example, when the pressure of the electrolyte in the flow path 7 becomes equal to or greater than a specified pressure, the pressure regulating valve 12 is switched from an open state to a closed state by the pressure from the electrolyte. This results in a state in which the electrolyte does not flow downstream beyond the pressure regulating valve 12, and the amount of electrolyte passing through the pressure regulating valve 12 decreases. In another example, when the pressure of the electrolyte in the flow path 7 becomes equal to or greater than a specified pressure, the amount of throttling in the pressure regulating valve 12 gradually increases as the pressure of the electrolyte increases, and the amount of electrolyte passing through the pressure regulating valve 12 gradually decreases.

[0014] Moreover, in the liquid discharge nozzle 5, the inner circumferential surface 13 of the cylindrical body 6 surrounds the flow path 7 from the outer circumferential side and is adjacent to the flow path 7 from the outer circumferential side. Therefore, the flow path 7 is defined by the inner circumferential surface 13 of the cylindrical body 6. In this embodiment, an uneven structure 15 is formed on the inner circumferential surface 13 of the cylindrical body 6.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cross section taken along line A1-A1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows a cross section passing through the uneven structure 15 and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the flow direction of the electrolyte in the flow path 7. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the uneven structure 15 is formed of a plurality of convex portions 16 and a plurality of concave portions 17. On the inner peripheral surface 13 of the cylindrical body 6, each of the convex portions 16 protrudes toward the inner peripheral side, and each of the concave portions 17 is concave toward the outer peripheral side. In Fig. 2, each of the convex portions 16 in the uneven structure 15 is shown painted black.

[0016] In one example shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the uneven structure 15, the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 each extend from the upstream side to the downstream side of the flow path 7, and extend along the flow direction of the electrolyte in the flow path 7. In addition, in the uneven structure 15, the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 are arranged alternately. In one example shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the flow path 7. The uneven structure 15 is formed over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the flow path 7. In addition, the uneven structure 15 is formed over a predetermined range D0 in the flow direction of the flow path 7. The downstream end of the uneven structure 15 is located away from the discharge port 8 on the upstream side.

[0017] 2 and 3, convex portions 16 and concave portions 17 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, and due to the uneven structure 15 in which the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 extend from the upstream side to the downstream side, a force acts on the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7 toward the downstream side. As a result, the uneven structure 15 directs the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7 toward the downstream side. That is, the uneven structure 15 causes the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7 to become a laminar flow toward the discharge port 8.

[0018] In the example of Figures 2 and 3, the uneven structure 15 is divided into two regions 21, 22, and the region 22 is adjacent to the downstream side of the region 21. The upstream end of the uneven structure 15 is located in the region 21, and the downstream end of the uneven structure 15 is located in the region 22. The pitch of the unevenness is smaller in the region 22 than in the region 21. Therefore, the number density of the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 is higher in the region 22 than in the region 21. Therefore, in the example of Figures 2 and 3, in the uneven structure 15, the pitch of the unevenness decreases stepwise toward the downstream side, and the number density of the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 increases stepwise toward the downstream side.

[0019] In one example, the pitch of the convexoconcave structures 15 changes stepwise toward the downstream side. However, in this example, the pitch of the convexoconcave structures 15 increases stepwise toward the downstream side, and the number density of the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 decreases stepwise toward the downstream side. In this case, if the convexoconcave structures 15 are divided into two regions 21 and 22 as in the example of Figures 2 and 3, the pitch of the convexoconcave structures is larger in region 22 than in region 21, and the number density of the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 is sparser in region 22 than in region 21.

[0020] In another example, the pitch of the convexoconcave structures is uniform from the upstream end to the downstream end in the convexoconcave structure 15. That is, the pitch of the convexoconcave structures does not change or changes very little in the convexoconcave structure 15. Therefore, the number density of the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 is uniform in the convexoconcave structure 15 from the upstream end to the downstream end.

[0021] 2 and 3, the uneven structure portion 15 is located downstream of the pressure regulating valve 12. However, in one example, the uneven structure portion 15 is located upstream of the pressure regulating valve 12. In another example, the pressure regulating valve 12 is disposed in a range where the uneven structure portion 15 is formed with respect to the flow direction of the electrolyte.

[0022] Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the discharge port 8 of the example liquid discharge nozzle 5 of Fig. 2, viewed from the opening direction of the discharge port 8 (the direction indicated by the arrow B). As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, in the liquid discharge nozzle 5, an opening edge 23 is defined as the edge of the discharge port 8. The opening edge 23 surrounds the discharge port 8 from the outer periphery side and is adjacent to the discharge port 8 from the outer periphery side.

[0023] 2 and 4, a plurality of protruding portions 26 and a plurality of recessed portions 27 are formed on the opening edge 23 of the discharge port 8. On the opening edge 23, each of the protruding portions 26 protrudes toward the inner periphery, and each of the recessed portions 27 is recessed toward the outer periphery. In FIG. 2, each of the protruding portions 26 formed on the opening edge 23 is shown filled in black. Also, in the example of FIG. 2 and 4, on the opening edge 23, the protruding portions 26 and the recessed portions 27 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the flow path 7. Therefore, the opening edge 23 is formed in an uneven shape in which the protruding portions 26 and the recessed portions 27 are alternately arranged.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid supplying device 1 includes a nozzle holding part 31 that holds the liquid discharge nozzle 5. The nozzle holding part 31 is formed of, for example, a support member, and supports the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in a predetermined position. In this embodiment, the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is held by the nozzle holding part 31 in a state in which the closer it is to the discharge port 8, the lower it is in the vertical direction (the side indicated by the arrow Z1). Therefore, the nozzle holding part 31 is held in a position in which the nozzle 5 is positioned vertically lower toward the downstream side of the flow path 7. In addition, the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is held by the nozzle holding part 31 in a position in which the opening direction of the discharge port 8 (the direction indicated by the arrow B) is inclined relative to the vertical direction (the directions indicated by the arrows Z1 and Z2). Here, the vertical lower side corresponds to the direction in which gravity acts.

[0025] In the example shown in FIG. 1, a bent portion 32 is formed in the liquid discharge nozzle 5. The flow path 7 is bent at the bent portion 32. The nozzle holder 31 holds the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in a position in which the flow path 7 extends along the vertical direction between the upstream end and the bent portion 32. The nozzle holder 31 holds the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in a position in which the flow path 7 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction between the bent portion 32 and the downstream end (discharge port 8). As a result, the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is held in a position in which the opening direction of the discharge port 8 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0026] In one example, the liquid discharge nozzle 5 does not have any bent portions, and the flow path 7 extends straight or approximately straight from the upstream end to the downstream end (discharge port 8). The nozzle holder 31 holds the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in such a position that the flow path 7 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction from the upstream end to the downstream end (discharge port 8). As a result, the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is held in such a position that the opening direction of the discharge port 8 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0027] The liquid supplying device 1 also includes a nozzle moving section 33. The nozzle moving section 33 is formed of, for example, a moving stage. The nozzle moving section 33 operates by transmitting a driving force by driving a driving member (not shown) such as a servo motor. In a state in which the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is held by the nozzle holding section 31 as described above, the nozzle moving section 33 operates to move the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in the vertical direction. At this time, the liquid discharge nozzle 5 moves in the vertical direction together with the nozzle holding section 31.

[0028] The liquid discharge nozzle 5 is moved in the vertical direction by the operation of the nozzle moving part 33, whereby the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is inserted into the interior of the liquid pouring hopper 2 placed on the installation stand 3. In the liquid supplying device 1, the electrolyte is filled into the liquid pouring hopper 2, which is the container, with the liquid discharge nozzle 5 inserted into the internal space of the liquid pouring hopper 2.

[0029] 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the liquid injection hopper 2 to be filled is being filled with the liquid electrolyte from the liquid discharge nozzle 5. As shown in FIG. 5, when the electrolyte is to be filled into the liquid injection hopper 2, the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is moved vertically downward from a state in which the entire liquid discharge nozzle 5 including the discharge port 8 is positioned outside the liquid injection hopper 2 (see FIG. 1). Then, the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is inserted vertically from the upper side into the liquid injection hopper 2, and the discharge port 8 is positioned inside the liquid injection hopper 2. Then, with the discharge port 8 positioned inside the liquid injection hopper 2, the electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 into the liquid injection hopper 2, which is a container, and the electrolyte is stored in the liquid injection hopper 2.

[0030] The liquid pouring hopper 2 includes a bottom wall 35 and a peripheral wall 36, and an internal space 37 inside the liquid pouring hopper 2 is defined by the bottom wall 35 and the peripheral wall 36. The liquid pouring hopper 2 is installed on the installation stand 3 with the bottom wall 35 adjacent to the internal space 37 from the vertically lower side. Therefore, in the liquid pouring hopper 2 installed on the installation stand 3, the peripheral wall 36 extends vertically upward from the bottom wall 35, and the peripheral wall 36 surrounds the outer periphery of the internal space 37. In one example, by operating the nozzle moving part 33, it is possible to move the liquid discharge nozzle 5 vertically downward until the discharge port 8 is located near the bottom wall 35 in the internal space 37.

[0031] When the liquid electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 into the liquid injection hopper 2, the nozzle holding part 31 holds the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in a position in which the opening direction of the discharge port 8 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction, as described above. In addition, a virtual extension line α extending from the discharge port 8 in the opening direction of the discharge port 8 is defined. When the electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 into the liquid injection hopper 2, the nozzle holding part 31 holds the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in a position in which the virtual extension line α passes through the peripheral wall 36 of the liquid injection hopper 2. Note that, when the liquid electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8, the portion of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 near the discharge port 8 may or may not be in contact with the peripheral wall 36 of the liquid injection hopper 2.

[0032] The liquid supplying device 1 also includes a control unit 40. The control unit 40 includes a processor or integrated circuit (control circuit) including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a storage medium such as a memory. The control unit 40 may include only one integrated circuit or a plurality of integrated circuits. The control unit 40 performs processing by executing a program or the like stored in a storage medium or the like. In this embodiment, the control unit 40 adjusts the position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in the vertical direction by controlling the operation of the nozzle moving unit 33.

[0033] In one example of FIG. 1, the liquid supplying device 1 includes a sensor 41. The sensor 41 detects the height of the liquid level β of the electrolyte L stored in the liquid injection hopper 2 when the electrolyte is being discharged from the discharge port 8 of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 to the liquid injection hopper 2 as in the state of FIG. 5 and the like. The sensor 41 is attached to, for example, the nozzle holding part 31. As shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the sensor 41 detects the height of the liquid level β when the sensor 41 is disposed at a position facing the liquid level β of the electrolyte L stored in the liquid injection hopper 2 from the vertically upper side. In one example, the sensor 41 detects the height of the liquid level β of the electrolyte L by detecting the distance between the sensor 41 and the liquid level β by a light reflection method or a light interference method using light such as visible light or infrared light.

[0034] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the control unit 40 when the electrolyte is being filled into the liquid injection hopper 2 to be filled. The processing of the example of FIG. 6 is performed repeatedly when the electrolyte is being filled into the liquid injection hopper 2 to be filled. When the processing of the example of FIG. 6 is started, the control unit 40 acquires the detection result of the sensor 41 regarding the height of the liquid level β of the electrolyte L stored in the liquid injection hopper 2 (S51).

[0035] Then, the control unit 40 controls the operation of the nozzle movement unit 33 based on the detection result of the height of the liquid level β, and adjusts the position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in the vertical direction (S52). At this time, the position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is adjusted so that the passing position where the above-mentioned imaginary extension line α passes through the peripheral wall 36 of the liquid pouring hopper 2 is located vertically above the liquid level β of the electrolyte L. Therefore, the position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is adjusted so that the entire liquid discharge nozzle 5 including the discharge port 8 is located vertically above the liquid level β of the stored electrolyte L.

[0036] FIG. 7 shows an example of adjusting the position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in the vertical direction when the electrolyte L is being filled into the liquid filling hopper 2 to be filled. In the example of FIG. 7, filling the liquid filling hopper 2 to be filled with the electrolyte L changes the state from state γ1 to state γ2 in which the liquid level β of the electrolyte L is higher than state γ1. In state γ1, the passing position of the imaginary extension line α passing through the peripheral wall 36 is located vertically above the liquid level β of the electrolyte L. Here, if the position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 does not change from state γ1, when the liquid level β of the electrolyte L rises to the height of state γ2, the passing position of the imaginary extension line α through the peripheral wall 36 is located vertically below the liquid level β of the electrolyte L.

[0037] In this embodiment, the position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in the vertical direction is adjusted based on the height of the liquid level β as described above, so that the control unit 40 moves the liquid discharge nozzle 5 vertically upward from the position in state γ1 in response to the liquid level β rising from state γ1. As a result, even in state γ2 where the liquid level β has risen from state γ1, the position where the imaginary extension line α passes through the peripheral wall 36 is located vertically above the liquid level β of the electrolyte L.

[0038] As described above, in this embodiment, the pressure regulating valve 12 is disposed in the flow path 7, and the open / close state of the pressure regulating valve 12 changes in response to an increase in the pressure of the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7, thereby reducing the flow rate of the electrolyte passing through the pressure regulating valve 12. Therefore, even if the pressure suddenly increases in the flow path 7 inside the cylindrical body 6, the flow rate of the electrolyte passing through the pressure regulating valve 12 decreases, thereby mitigating the increase in the pressure of the electrolyte downstream of the pressure regulating valve 12. This suppresses an increase in the discharge speed of the electrolyte from the discharge port 8. In a state in which the electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 into the inside of the liquid injection hopper 2, which is a container, the suppression of an increase in the discharge speed of the electrolyte effectively prevents splashing and overflow from the liquid injection hopper 2.

[0039] In this embodiment, the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7 is directed toward the downstream side in the uneven structure portion 15, and the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7 is made into a laminar flow toward the discharge port 8 by the uneven structure portion 15. Here, if the flow rate of the electrolyte passing through the pressure regulating valve 12 is reduced with a sudden increase in the pressure of the flow path 7, a flow toward a direction other than the downstream side may occur in the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7. In this embodiment, even if a flow toward a direction other than the downstream side occurs in the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7, the uneven structure portion 15 directs the electrolyte toward the downstream side. Therefore, even if a flow toward a direction other than the downstream side occurs in the electrolyte, a sudden change in the flow rate of the electrolyte toward the downstream side in the flow path 7 is appropriately suppressed. As a result, when the electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 into the inside of the liquid injection hopper 2, the electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 at a stable discharge speed, and therefore splashing and overflow from the liquid injection hopper 2 are effectively prevented.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flow rate of the electrolyte passing through the pressure regulating valve 12 is not reduced and is maintained at a certain level unless the pressure in the flow path 7 rises excessively. Therefore, unless the pressure in the flow path 7 rises excessively, the electrolyte is stably discharged from the discharge port 8 at a certain discharge rate. Therefore, the electrolyte, which is a liquid, is quickly filled into the liquid injection hopper 2, and the operation of filling the electrolyte into the liquid injection hopper 2 with the electrolyte is effectively prevented from taking a long time.

[0041] In one example of this embodiment, the opening edge 23 of the discharge port 8 is formed in an uneven shape in which the protruding portions 26 and the recessed portions 27 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. Therefore, compared to a case in which the opening edge 23 is formed smoothly, the contact angle of the liquid at the opening edge 23 is smaller and the surface tension at the opening edge 23 is larger. This effectively prevents the electrolyte from dripping from the discharge port 8 when the electrolyte is not being discharged from the discharge port 8.

[0042] In addition, the uneven shape of the opening edge 23 prevents dripping from the discharge port 8, making it possible to realize a configuration in which the amount of electrolyte discharged from the discharge port 8 is increased by increasing the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 6 and the opening area of ​​the discharge port 8. By increasing the amount of electrolyte discharged from the discharge port 8, the electrolyte can be filled into the liquid injection hopper 2 more quickly.

[0043] In this embodiment, the nozzle holding part 31 holds the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in a position in which the opening direction of the discharge port 8 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. In addition, when a virtual extension line α extending from the discharge port 8 in the opening direction of the discharge port 8 is defined, the nozzle holding part 31 holds the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in a position in which the virtual extension line α passes through the peripheral wall 36 of the liquid pouring hopper 2 in a state in which the electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 to the liquid pouring hopper 2. Since the liquid discharge nozzle 5 is held in the above-mentioned position, the electrolyte discharged from the discharge port 8 is likely to collide with the peripheral wall 36 of the liquid pouring hopper 2 before reaching the liquid level β of the electrolyte stored in the liquid pouring hopper 2. Therefore, it is effectively prevented that the electrolyte discharged from the discharge port 8 directly reaches the liquid level β (landing) without colliding with the peripheral wall 36, etc. This more effectively prevents the liquid from splashing and the liquid from overflowing from the liquid pouring hopper 2.

[0044] In this embodiment, the control unit 40 adjusts the position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in the vertical direction based on the detection result of the height of the liquid level β. The position of the liquid discharge nozzle 5 in the vertical direction is adjusted so that the passing position of the imaginary extension line α passing through the peripheral wall 36 of the liquid pouring hopper 2 is located vertically above the liquid level β. Since the above-mentioned control is performed, the electrolyte discharged from the discharge port 8 more reliably collides (lands) on the peripheral wall 36 of the liquid pouring hopper 2 before reaching the liquid level β of the electrolyte stored in the liquid pouring hopper 2. Therefore, it is more effectively prevented that the electrolyte discharged from the discharge port 8 without colliding with the peripheral wall 36 etc. directly reaches (lands) the liquid level β. This more effectively prevents the liquid from splashing and the liquid from overflowing from the liquid pouring hopper 2.

[0045] The uneven structure 15 is not limited to a configuration in which the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, and each of the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 extends from the upstream side to the downstream side. The uneven structure 15 formed on the inner peripheral surface 13 of the cylindrical body 6 may have any configuration in which the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 are alternately arranged. Furthermore, it is sufficient that the uneven structure 15 directs the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7 toward the downstream side.

[0046] In one example, in the uneven structure 15, the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 are alternately arranged, and each of the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 extends in a spiral shape centered on the central axis C of the flow path 7. Therefore, each of the convex portions 16 and the concave portions 17 extends in a state inclined with respect to the flow direction of the electrolyte in the flow path 7. In this example, due to the uneven structure 15, a swirling flow toward the downstream side is generated in the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7. Then, the generated swirling flow exerts a propulsive force toward the downstream side on the electrolyte, and the uneven structure 15 directs the electrolyte flowing through the flow path 7 toward the downstream side.

[0047] In this example as well, since the uneven structure 15 directs the electrolyte toward the downstream side, even if a flow of the electrolyte toward a direction other than the downstream side occurs, a sudden change in the flow rate of the electrolyte toward the downstream side in the flow path 7 is appropriately suppressed, as in the above-mentioned embodiment, etc. As a result, when the electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 into the inside of the liquid injection hopper 2, the electrolyte is discharged from the discharge port 8 at a stable discharge rate, effectively preventing splashing, overflow of the liquid from the liquid injection hopper 2, etc.

[0048] In addition, the above-mentioned embodiment and the like have been described with reference to the case where an electrolyte solution is discharged as a liquid into the liquid injection hopper 2, which is a container, but the configurations of the above-mentioned liquid discharge nozzle 5 and liquid supply device 1 and the like can also be applied to the case where a liquid other than an electrolyte solution is filled into a container, etc. In this case as well, the same actions and effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiment and the like can be achieved.

[0049] According to at least one of these embodiments or examples, the open / close state of the pressure regulating valve changes in response to an increase in pressure of the liquid flowing through the flow path, thereby reducing the flow rate of the liquid passing through the pressure regulating valve. In the uneven structure formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body adjacent to the flow path, convex portions and concave portions are arranged alternately. This makes it possible to provide a liquid discharge nozzle and a liquid supply device that quickly fill a container with liquid while suppressing the occurrence of liquid splashing and liquid overflowing from the container.

[0050] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1...liquid supply device, 2...liquid injection hopper, 5...liquid discharge nozzle, 6...cylindrical body, 7...flow path, 8...discharge port, 12...pressure regulating valve, 13...inner surface, 15...uneven structure portion, 16...convex portion, 17...concave portion, 23...opening edge, 26...protruding portion, 27...recessed portion, 31...nozzle holding portion, 33...nozzle moving portion, 35...bottom wall, 36...periphery, 40...control portion, 41...sensor, α...imaginary extension line.

Claims

1. a cylindrical body having a flow path formed therein through which a liquid flows and an ejection port through which the flow path opens to the outside, the cylindrical body being capable of ejecting the liquid that has flowed through the flow path from the ejection port; a pressure regulating valve that is disposed in the flow path and changes its open / closed state in response to an increase in pressure of the liquid flowing through the flow path, thereby reducing a flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow path; a convex-concave structure portion formed on an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body adjacent to the flow path, the convex portions and the concave portions being arranged alternately; A liquid dispensing nozzle comprising:

2. The liquid ejection nozzle of claim 1 , wherein in the uneven structure, each of the convex portions and the concave portions extends from the upstream side to the downstream side of the flow path, and the convex portions and the concave portions are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction of the flow path.

3. The liquid discharge nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the opening edge of the discharge port in the cylindrical body is formed in an uneven shape in which protruding portions and recessed portions are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the flow path.

4. A liquid ejection nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a nozzle holder that holds the liquid discharge nozzle in a position in which an opening direction of the discharge port is inclined with respect to a vertical direction; A liquid supply device comprising:

5. 5. The liquid supply device of claim 4, wherein the nozzle holding portion holds the liquid ejection nozzle in a position in which an imaginary extension line extending from the ejection outlet in the opening direction of the ejection outlet passes through a peripheral wall of the container when the liquid is ejected from the ejection outlet of the liquid ejection nozzle into a container.

6. a sensor that detects a liquid level of the liquid stored in the container while the liquid is being discharged from the discharge port of the liquid discharge nozzle into the container; a nozzle moving unit that moves the liquid discharge nozzle along a vertical direction by operating; a control unit that adjusts the position of the liquid discharge nozzle in the vertical direction so that the passing position where the virtual extension line passes through the peripheral wall of the container is located vertically above the liquid surface of the liquid by controlling the operation of the nozzle movement unit based on the detection result of the sensor; and The liquid supply system of claim 5 further comprising:

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