Volatilization device

Abstract

To provide a volatilization device that can stably and securely volatilize chemical solution.SOLUTION: A volatilization device 10 has a container 20, a liquid absorption core 50, a volatilization body 60 and two protrusion parts 9. The container 20 has a cylindrical body part 24; a bottom part 22 which closes a bottom end of the body part 24; and an opening part 26a provided for a top end of the body part 24, and houses chemical solution. The liquid absorption core 50 has: a bottom end 52 which abuts on an outer peripheral part 4 of the bottom part 22 adjacent to the inside of the bottom end of the body part 24; and a top end 54 protruded from the opening part 26a, and immerses a part of the bottom end 52 side into chemical solution and arranges it inside the container 20. The volatilization body 60 has a bottom face 62 abutting on the top end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50, impregnates and volatilizes the chemical solution which was absorbed by the liquid absorption core 50. The protrusion part 9 regulates movement of the bottom end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50, which abuts on the outer peripheral part 4, in a circumferential direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a volatilization device that volatilizes a chemical solution such as a fragrance or a deodorant, for example.

Background Art

[0002] The volatilization device has, for example, a container that stores a chemical solution, a liquid absorption core that has its lower end immersed in the chemical solution and is disposed in the container, and a volatilization body that is impregnated with the chemical solution sucked up from the container by the liquid absorption core and volatilizes it.

[0003] In this type of volatilization device, in order to use up the chemical solution stored in the container, there is one in which a concavo-convex structure is provided at the bottom of the container. As the concavo-convex structure, for example, a structure is known in which a recess for disposing the lower end of the liquid absorption core is provided at the center of the bottom bulging upward, and a plurality of flow paths connecting the recess and the outer peripheral portion of the bottom are provided. When this container is used, a part of the chemical solution remaining at the outer peripheral portion finally flows into the recess through the plurality of flow paths and can be sucked up by the liquid absorption core.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above-described conventional volatilization device, there is a possibility that the lower end of the liquid absorption core may move into the flow path connected to the recess. In this case, compared with the case where the lower end is disposed in the recess, the length (projection amount) of the upper end of the liquid absorption core protruding toward the volatilization body becomes shorter. Thus, when the projection amount of the liquid absorption core becomes shorter, the contact state of the liquid absorption core with respect to the volatilization body becomes unstable, and the volatilization of the chemical solution may become unstable.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a volatilization device capable of stably and surely volatilizing a chemical solution.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the volatilization device of the present invention includes a container, a liquid absorption core, a volatilization body, and a restricting means. The container has a cylindrical peripheral portion, a bottom portion that closes one axial end of the peripheral portion, and an opening provided on the other end side of the peripheral portion, and stores a chemical solution. The liquid absorption core has a lower end that abuts on the outer peripheral portion of the bottom portion adjacent to the inside of one end of the peripheral portion, and an upper end that protrudes from the opening, and is disposed in the container with a part of the lower end side immersed in the chemical solution. The volatilization body has a lower surface that abuts on the upper end of the liquid absorption core, and impregnates and volatilizes the chemical solution sucked up by the liquid absorption core. The restricting means restricts the circumferential movement of the lower end of the liquid absorption core that abuts on the outer peripheral portion.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a volatilization device capable of stably and surely volatilizing a chemical solution.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, the volatilizer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a container 20, a lid 30, a middle stopper 40, a liquid absorption core 50, and a volatile body 60. FIG. 1 is a front view of the volatilizer 10 as viewed from the front, FIG. 2 is a side view of the container 20 of the volatilizer 10 of FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow F2 (left direction in the drawing), FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bottom 22 of the container 20 of FIG. 2 as viewed from above, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the concavo-convex structure of the bottom 22.

[0011] The container 20 has a bottom 22 having a substantially elliptical outer shape, a substantially elliptical cylindrical body portion 24 (circumferential portion) continuous with the outer peripheral edge 23 (annular peripheral edge) of the bottom 22, a substantially cylindrical neck portion 26, and a shoulder portion 28 having a shape that converges from the upper end of the body portion 24 toward the lower end of the neck portion 26. The container 20 is integrally formed of resin with the bottom 22, the body portion 24, the neck portion 26, and the shoulder portion 28. The container 20 can be manufactured by blow molding such as direct blow molding or injection blow molding, for example. The container 20 can be manufactured by polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example. The container 20 stores a chemical solution such as a fragrance or a deodorant.

[0012] At the upper end of the neck portion 26 of the container 20, there is a substantially circular opening 26a for injecting the chemical solution. On the outer peripheral surface of the neck portion 26, a male thread 26b is provided. A female thread of a cap (not shown) can be screwed onto the male thread 26b of the neck portion 26 so that the opening 26a can be sealed with the cap. At the time of shipping of the volatilization device 10, a stopper 40 is attached to the opening 26a of the container 20 containing the chemical solution, the liquid absorption core 50 is inserted through the stopper 40 and immersed in the chemical solution, and the opening 26a is closed with the cap to seal the container 20.

[0013] The stopper 40 has an annular upper wall portion 42 that covers the edge of the opening 26a of the neck portion 26 from above, a cylindrical tube portion 44 that is vertically provided from the lower surface of the upper wall portion 42 and is arranged along the inner peripheral surface of the neck portion 26, a tube portion 46 that inserts and holds the liquid absorption core 50, and a liquid receiving portion 48 provided between the upper end edge of the tube portion 46 and the inner peripheral edge of the upper wall portion 42. The tube portion 46 and the liquid receiving portion 48 are coaxially arranged inside the tube portion 44. A vent hole 49 is provided through the liquid receiving portion 48 in the liquid receiving portion 48. The stopper 40 having the upper wall portion 42, the tube portion 44, the tube portion 46, and the liquid receiving portion 48 is formed, for example, by integral molding of resin.

[0014] The stopper 40 is attached to the container 20 by fitting the tube portion 44 into the opening 26a of the container 20. In a state where the stopper 40 is attached to the opening 26a, the lower surface of the upper wall portion 42 of the stopper 40 abuts against the edge of the opening 26a of the neck portion 26. After attaching the stopper 40 to the container 20 in this way, the liquid absorption core 50 is inserted into the tube portion 46.

[0015] The lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 inserted into the tube portion 46 is guided by a guide groove portion 6 and is arranged at a holding portion 8 on the outer peripheral portion 4 of the bottom portion 22 of the container 20 as described later. The liquid absorption core 50 is curved toward the rear of the container 20 as shown by a broken line in FIG. 2 with the lower end 52 arranged at the holding portion 8, and the upper end 54 protrudes above the upper wall portion 42 of the stopper 40. In the present embodiment, a guide groove portion 6 is provided in the short axis direction of the elliptical bottom portion 22 toward the rear of the container 20 to minimize the curvature of the liquid absorption core 50 with the lower end 52 arranged at the holding portion 8.

[0016] In the illustrated state where the plug 40 is attached to the neck portion 26 of the container 20, the tube portion 46 of the plug 40 extends coaxially with the central axis C of the volatilizer 10 (i.e., the central axis C of the container 20). The inner diameter of the tube portion 46 is larger than the outer diameter of the liquid-absorbing core 50. That is, when the liquid-absorbing core 50 is inserted into the tube portion 46, there is a slight gap (play) between the outer peripheral surface of the liquid-absorbing core 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the tube portion 46.

[0017] The liquid-absorbing core 50 is made of a material capable of sucking up the chemical solution, for example, a porous material such as felt, a rod-shaped synthetic resin molded body having a plurality of rib-shaped grooves formed on the surface, a synthetic fiber bundle, a natural fiber bundle, or a foamed synthetic resin, or a material obtained by mixing one or more of these porous materials, and is formed in a rod shape with a substantially circular cross section. When the volatilizer 10 is in use, the upper end 54 of the liquid-absorbing core 50 contacts the lower surface 62 of the volatilizer 60. The liquid-absorbing core 50 sucks up the chemical solution contained in the container 20 and guides it to the volatilizer 60. The volatilizer 60 impregnates and volatilizes the chemical solution sucked up by the liquid-absorbing core 50.

[0018] The lid 30 integrally has a peripheral wall 32 whose cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the central axis C is substantially the same as that of the body portion 24 of the container 20, and a top wall 34 that closes the upper end of the peripheral wall 32. That is, the peripheral wall 32 is substantially elliptical in shape, and the top wall 34 is substantially elliptical in plate shape. The outer peripheral edge of the top wall 34 is connected to the upper end edge of the peripheral wall 32. At least one of the peripheral wall 32 and the top wall 34 has at least one volatilization hole 33 for volatilizing the chemical solution.

[0019] On the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 32, a plurality of support protrusions (not shown) for supporting the lower surface 62 of the volatilizer 60 with the upper surface 64 of the volatilizer 60 facing the inner surface 34a (illustrated lower surface) of the top wall 34 are integrally provided. The volatilizer 60 is supported by the plurality of support protrusions in the state before the lid 30 is attached to the container 20, and in the state where the lid 30 is attached to the container 20 (the state shown in FIG. 1), it is supported by the upper end 54 of the liquid-absorbing core 50 and is slightly separated upward from the plurality of support protrusions. In this state, the liquid-absorbing core 50 supports substantially the entire weight of the volatilizer 60 from below.

[0020] The volatile body 60 has a size and shape that overlap all the support protrusions in the gravitational direction, and is formed in a substantially elliptical plate shape with a certain thickness (for example, a thickness of about 1 mm to 50 mm). The volatile body 60 absorbs the chemical solution sucked up by the liquid absorption core 50, impregnates and supports it, and volatilizes the chemical solution from its surface into the air. The volatile body 60 is formed of a material capable of sucking the chemical solution upon contact with the chemical solution, such as papers such as natural paper and synthetic paper, or porous materials such as felt, synthetic fiber bundles, natural fiber bundles, and foamed synthetic resins.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom 22 of the container 20 has an uneven structure. The uneven structure of the bottom 22 includes a central portion 2 through which the central axis C of the volatilization device 10 passes, an outer peripheral portion 4 continuous inside the lower end of the body portion 24, a ridge portion 3 between the central portion 2 and the outer peripheral portion 4, a guide groove portion 6 inclined from the central portion 2 toward the outer peripheral portion 4, a holding portion 8 at a position where the guide groove portion 6 and the outer peripheral portion 4 merge, and two protrusion portions 9 arranged adjacent to both sides of the holding portion 8 along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion 4. The edge of the guide groove portion 6 is surrounded by a wall portion 5 including the ridge portion 3.

[0022] Since the container 20 is manufactured by blow molding as described above, the uneven structure of the bottom 22 appears on both the inner surface 22a and the outer surface 22b of the bottom 22. Further, the bottom 22 of the container 20 basically has a shape in which the inside of the outer peripheral portion 4 bulges upward. The upper surfaces of the central portion 2, the ridge portion 3, the outer peripheral portion 4, the wall portion 5, the guide groove portion 6, the holding portion 8, and the protrusion portion 9 constitute a single surface that smoothly connects as a surface in contact with the chemical solution, and this surface is the inner surface 22a of the bottom 22.

[0023] The central portion 2 is provided in a substantially circular region coaxial with the central axis C and is above the outer peripheral portion 4. The outer peripheral portion 4 is provided in an annular region that is inside the outer peripheral edge 23 of the bottom portion 22 and connected to the lower end of the body portion 24. The bottom surface of the outer peripheral portion 4 is connected over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral portion 4 as the lowest surface of the inner surface 22a of the bottom portion 22. The central portion 2 is inside the outer peripheral portion 4. The bottom portion 22 between the central portion 2 and the outer peripheral portion 4 bulges upward toward the ridge portion 3. The guide groove portion 6 has a sliding contact surface 6a that is gently continuous with the bottom surface of the central portion 2. The sliding contact surface 6a is a part of the inner surface 22a of the bottom portion 22. The guide groove portion 6 is inclined downward from the central portion 2 toward the outer peripheral portion 4 (holding portion 8). The guide groove portion 6 has a shape that converges from the central portion 2 toward the outer peripheral portion 4 (holding portion 8) when viewed from above (FIG. 3).

[0024] The ridge portion 3 between the central portion 2 and the outer peripheral portion 4 includes an arcuate raised portion between the central portion 2 and the outer peripheral portion 4 and extends along the edge of the guide groove portion 6 to the holding portion 8. That is, the ridge portion 3 is a part of the wall portion 5 that surrounds the periphery of the recess where the central portion 2 and the guide groove portion 6 are connected. The wall portion 5 is inclined downward from the central portion 2 toward the outer peripheral portion 4 (holding portion 8) following the inclination of the guide groove portion 6. The height of the wall portion 5 extending to the holding portion 8 gradually decreases from the central portion 2 toward the outer peripheral portion 4 so as to be zero at the holding portion 8. The bottom surface of the holding portion 8 is connected to the lowest surface of the outer peripheral portion 4, and there is no wall portion 5 separating the two.

[0025] The sliding contact surface 6a of the guide groove portion 6 surrounded by the wall portion 5 intersects with an imaginary flat cross-section parallel to the central axis C passing through the central portion 2 and the outer peripheral portion 4 (holding portion 8), and the straight line connecting any two points on this line is inclined downward from the central portion 2 toward the outer peripheral portion 4. In other words, the sliding contact surface 6a is a surface where all parts are inclined downward from the central portion 2 toward the outer peripheral portion 4. In the present embodiment, the sliding contact surface 6a is a surface having a shape in which the line where the imaginary cross-section intersects does not include a straight portion.

[0026] The line where the folding contact surface 6a intersects the overhead cross-section may include a straight portion, but is preferably a free curve in order to slide the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50. By gently inclining the folding contact surface 6a, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 inserted into the pipe portion 46 of the middle plug 40 contacts the bottom surface of the central portion 2, and then slides downward in the direction of gravity while sliding on the folding contact surface 6a and moves to the holding portion 8 in the outer peripheral portion 4.

[0027] In FIG. 2, the state where the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 contacts the central portion 2 of the bottom portion 22 is shown by a dashed line, the state where the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 is sliding along the folding contact surface 6a of the guide groove portion 6 is shown by a two-dot chain line, and the state where the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 is arranged at the holding portion 8 in the outer peripheral portion 4 is shown by a broken line. In this way, when the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 moves from the central portion 2 to the holding portion 8 along the guide groove portion 6, the curvature of the liquid absorption core 50 gradually increases.

[0028] Since the pipe portion 46 of the middle plug 40 attached to the opening portion 26a of the container 20 has play and the liquid absorption core 50 is inserted therethrough, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 inserted into the pipe portion 46 may contact a position slightly displaced outward from the center of the central portion 2 (the point through which the central axis C passes). In this case, since the inner surface of the wall portion 5 outside the central portion 2 is inclined downward from the ridge portion 3 toward the center, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 that contacts the central portion 2 at a position displaced from the center moves toward the center of the central portion 2.

[0029] Also, since the inclination of the folding contact surface 6a of the guide groove portion 6 starts from a position including the center of the central portion 2 (the position through which the central axis C passes), the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 that contacts the central portion 2 is directly received by the guide groove portion 6. Then, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 slides on the folding contact surface 6a inclined downward in the guide groove portion 6 and moves to the holding portion 8 in the outer peripheral portion 4. At this time, since the chemical liquid is stored in the container 20, the chemical liquid functions as a lubricant between the folding contact surface 6a and the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50, reducing the friction between the two and making it easy to slide.

[0030] As described above, the wick 50 has a length such that, with the lower end 52 inserted into the tube portion 46 of the stopper 40 and arranged at the holding portion 8 of the outer peripheral portion 4, the upper end 54 protrudes from the upper wall portion 42 of the stopper 40 by a predetermined protruding amount. The predetermined protruding amount here means that, with the lower end 52 of the wick 50 arranged at the holding portion 8 as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2, when the lid body 30 holding the volatilizer 60 is attached to the container 20 (the state shown in FIG. 1), the upper end 54 of the wick 50 protrudes by an amount that at least contacts the lower surface 62 of the volatilizer 60.

[0031] The two protruding portions 9 are protrusions that bulge a part of the outer peripheral portion 4 upward. The two protruding portions 9 function as restricting means for restricting the circumferential movement of the lower end 52 of the wick 50 arranged at the holding portion 8. The protruding portions 9 are arranged on both sides in the circumferential direction of the holding portion 8 of the outer peripheral portion 4, and have a size and shape that do not prevent the chemical solution remaining in the outer peripheral portion 4 from flowing into the holding portion 8, and are arranged at positions where the flow is not blocked. In the present embodiment, the two protruding portions 9 are arranged at positions slightly separated from the wall portion 5 around the guide groove portion 6 and the outer peripheral edge 23 of the bottom portion 22, and are formed in a shape that bulges upward from the circular outer peripheral edge toward the center. Therefore, even if the two protruding portions 9 are provided on the outer peripheral portion 4, the chemical solution remaining in the outer peripheral portion 4 can be made to flow to the holding portion 8.

[0032] As described above, according to the volatilization device 10 of the first embodiment, the lower end 52 of the wick 50 can be arranged at the outer peripheral portion 4 at the lowermost end in the gravitational direction on the inner surface 22a of the bottom portion 22 of the container 20, and substantially all of the chemical solution stored in the container 20 can be sucked up by the wick 50 and used up without waste.

[0033] Also, according to the present embodiment, the lower end 52 of the wick 50 arranged at the holding portion 8 can be fixed to the holding portion 8 by the two protruding portions 9, and it is possible to prevent the problem that the lower end 52 of the wick 50 moves in the circumferential direction and comes off from the holding portion 8. Thereby, the protruding amount of the upper end 54 of the wick 50 from the opening 26a can be made constant, the contact state with respect to the lower surface 62 of the volatilizer 60 can be stabilized, and stable volatilization of the chemical solution becomes possible.

[0034] In this embodiment, since the guide groove portion 6 is extended in the minor axis direction of the substantially elliptical bottom portion 22, the curvature of the liquid absorption core 50 can be minimized, the protrusion amount from the opening portion 26a at the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be easily controlled, and the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be surely brought into contact with the lower surface 62 of the volatilization body 60. On the other hand, if the two protrusion portions 9 are not provided and the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 is displaced in the circumferential direction, the distance from the center of the bottom portion 22 where the central axis C intersects to the lower end 52 becomes long, and the protrusion amount of the upper end 54 becomes short.

[0035] That is, when the shape of the bottom portion 22 is substantially elliptical as in this embodiment, since the distance from the center of the bottom portion 22 to the outer peripheral edge 23 is not constant depending on the circumferential position, the protrusion amount of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 changes depending on the circumferential position where the lower end 52 abuts. Therefore, when the bottom portion 22 is elliptical as in this embodiment, it is effective to arrange the holding portion 8 in the minor axis direction and arrange the protrusion portions 9 on both sides in the circumferential direction.

[0036] Note that the shape of the outer peripheral edge 23 of the bottom portion 22 is not limited to an elliptical shape, and may be a quasi-circular shape such as an oval, an egg shape, or a rounded rectangle. In the volatilization device 10 having such a quasi-circular bottom portion 22, it is effective to provide two protrusion portions 9 on both sides of the holding portion 8. In other words, it can be said that it is effective to apply the configuration of this embodiment to a volatilization device using a container in which the outer peripheral edge 23 of the bottom portion 22 is an annular shape connecting points at different distances from the point where the central axis C of the container intersects the bottom portion 22.

[0037] In this embodiment, two protrusion portions 9 are provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the holding portion 8, but a plurality of holding portions 8 may be provided at positions where the protrusion amount of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 is constant, and any structure that can restrain the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 to the holding portion 8 may be used.

[0038] (Second Embodiment) The volatilization device according to the second embodiment of the present invention has an uneven structure 70 as shown in FIG. 5 at the bottom 22 of the container 20. The second to fifth embodiments described below have substantially the same structure as the volatilization device 10 of the first embodiment described above, and only the uneven structure of the bottom 22 of the container 20 is different. Therefore, in the following description of the second to fifth embodiments, only the uneven structure of the bottom 22 will be described, and the description of other structures will be omitted.

[0039] In addition to the guide groove portion 6 of the first embodiment described above, the uneven structure 70 has another guide groove portion 72 that is symmetric with respect to the major axis of the bottom 22, and has two protrusion portions 74 corresponding to the guide groove portion 72. The guide groove portion 72 is a groove portion that gently connects to the central portion 2, and extends in a direction opposite to the guide groove portion 6. The two protrusion portions 74 are on both circumferential sides of the holding portion 76 where the guide groove portion 72 intersects the outer peripheral portion 4. The distance from the center of the central portion 2 to the holding portion 8 is the same as the distance from the center to the holding portion 76.

[0040] In this way, when two guide groove portions 6 and 72 extending in the minor axis direction of the bottom 22 are provided, when the liquid absorption core 50 is inserted into the container 20, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 that contacts the central portion 2 is received by one of the guide groove portions 6 and 72, and moves to one of the holding portions 8 and 76 on the outer peripheral portion 4. For this reason, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be arranged at one of the two holding portions 8 and 76 on the outer peripheral portion 4, and the protruding amounts of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be made the same. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the contact state of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 with respect to the lower surface 62 of the volatilization body 60 can always be made constant, and the chemical liquid can be stably volatilized.

[0041] (Third Embodiment) The volatilization device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has an uneven structure 80 as shown in FIG. 6 at the bottom 22 of the container 20. The uneven structure 80 has four guide groove portions 81, 82, 83, and 84 that extend radially from the central portion 2 toward the outer peripheral portion 4. The four guide groove portions 81 to 84 have the same shape. Further, the uneven structure 80 has four sets of two protrusion portions 85 corresponding to the respective guide groove portions 81 to 84. Also in the present embodiment, the lengths of the four guide groove portions 81 to 84, that is, the distances from the central portion to the holding portion, are the same.

[0042] Also in the present embodiment, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 that abuts on the central portion 2 of the bottom portion 22 can be guided to any one of the four holding portions in the outer peripheral portion 4, and the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be restrained at each holding portion, and the protruding amounts of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be made the same. Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the contact state of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 with respect to the lower surface 62 of the volatilization body 60 can always be made constant, and the chemical liquid can be stably volatilized.

[0043] (Fourth Embodiment) The volatilization device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has a container in which the shape of the bottom portion 92 is a substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 7. The four corner portions 96 of the bottom portion 92 are rounded in an arc shape. Also, the bottom portion 92 bulges upward from its outer peripheral portion 94 toward the point where the central axis C intersects, similar to other embodiments. Note that the bottom portion 92 does not have a configuration corresponding to the guide groove portion and the protrusion portion of the first to third embodiments.

[0044] According to the present embodiment, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 that abuts near the center of the bottom portion 92 slides along the inclination of the inner surface of the bulging portion of the bottom portion 92 and moves toward the four corner portions 96 in the outer peripheral portion 94. The lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 disposed at each corner portion 96 is indicated by a broken line. At this time, on both sides in the circumferential direction of each corner portion 96, there are walls of the body portion of the container that are orthogonal to each other, and the two walls sandwiching each corner portion 96 function as restricting means for preventing the deviation of the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50.

[0045] Also in this embodiment, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be disposed at any one of the four corner portions 96 having the same distance from the center, and the protruding amount of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be made constant. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the contact state of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 with respect to the lower surface 62 of the volatilizer 60 can always be made constant, and the chemical liquid can be stably volatilized.

[0046] (Fifth Embodiment) The volatilization device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention has a container in which the shape of the bottom portion 102 is a substantially regular hexagon as shown in FIG. 8. The six corner portions 106 of the bottom portion 102 are rounded in an arc shape. Further, the bottom portion 102 bulges upward from its outer peripheral portion 104 toward the center of the bottom portion 102, similar to other embodiments. Note that the bottom portion 102 does not have a configuration corresponding to the guide groove portion and the protrusion portion of the first to third embodiments.

[0047] According to this embodiment, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 that abuts near the center of the bottom portion 102 slides along the inclination of the inner surface of the bulging portion of the bottom portion 102 and moves toward the six corner portions 106 on the outer peripheral portion 104. The lower ends 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 disposed at the respective corner portions 106 are indicated by broken lines. At this time, on both sides in the circumferential direction of each corner portion 106, there are walls of the body portion of the container disposed at an obtuse angle (about 120°), and the two walls sandwiching each corner portion 106 function as restricting means for preventing the displacement of the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50.

[0048] Also in this embodiment, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be disposed at any one of the six corner portions 106 having the same distance from the center, and the protruding amount of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be made constant. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the contact state of the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 with respect to the lower surface 62 of the volatilizer 60 can always be made constant, and the chemical liquid can be stably volatilized.

[0049] (Sixth Embodiment) The volatilization device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention has a container 110 with a shape different from that of the container 20 of the volatilization device 10 in the first embodiment. Further, this volatilization device has a lid body (not shown) with a shape adapted to the shape of the container 110. Since the middle stopper 40, the liquid absorption core 50, and the volatilization body 60 are substantially the same as those of the volatilization device 10 in the first embodiment, their illustrations and descriptions are omitted.

[0050] The container 110 has a substantially square bottom 112 with rounded four corners. The bottom 112 has substantially the same uneven structure as that of the volatilization device 10 in the first embodiment. Therefore, for the uneven structure, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations that function in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0051] The container 110 has a body portion 114 (peripheral portion) with a shape different from that of the body portion 24 of the container 20 in the first embodiment. The body portion 114 is a cylindrical shape in which the front side bulges outward greatly and the back side bulges outward slightly. The body portion 114 has a shape that expands toward the annular lower end of the shoulder portion 118.

[0052] Also in this embodiment, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 that abuts against the central portion 2 of the bottom 112 can be guided to the outer peripheral portion 4, and the chemical solution can be used up without waste.

[0053] Further, according to this embodiment, the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 disposed in the holding portion 8 can be fixed to the holding portion 8 by the two protrusions 9, and it is possible to prevent the problem that the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 moves in the circumferential direction and comes off from the holding portion 8. Thereby, the protruding amount from the opening 26a at the upper end 54 of the liquid absorption core 50 can be made constant, the contact state with respect to the lower surface 62 of the volatilization body 60 can be stabilized, and stable volatilization of the chemical solution becomes possible.

[0054] As described above, the present invention has been described based on several embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Also, the respective embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations, and in that case, the combined effects can be obtained.

[0055] For example, in the above-described first embodiment, the protruding height near the lower end in the inclined direction of the wall portion 5 surrounding the guide groove portion 6 is made substantially zero. However, in addition to the portion where the protruding height is zero, portions protruding from the outer peripheral portion 4 may be provided on both sides in the circumferential direction of the holding portion 8 that holds the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50. In this case, the protruding height of the protruding portions of the wall portion 5 on both sides of the holding portion 8 may be about 3 mm. Thereby, after omitting the protruding portion 9, the movement of the lower end 52 of the liquid absorption core 50 disposed in the holding portion 8 in the circumferential direction can be restricted by the protruding portions of the wall portion 5.

[0056] Also, in the above-described first to third embodiments, the shape of the bottom portion 22 of the container 20 is substantially elliptical, but the shape of the bottom portion 22 may be any shape, for example, circular or polygonal.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0057] 2... central portion, 3... ridge portion, 4... outer peripheral portion, 5... wall portion, 6... guide groove portion, 6a... sliding contact surface, 8... holding portion, 9... protruding portion, 10... volatilization device, 20, 110... container, 22, 112... bottom portion, 22a... inner surface, 23... outer peripheral edge, 24, 114... body portion, 26... neck portion, 26a... opening portion, 28... shoulder portion, 30... lid body, 33... volatilization hole, 40... middle plug, 42... upper wall portion, 46... tube portion, 50... liquid absorption core, 52... lower end, 54... upper end, 60... volatilization body, 62... lower surface, 64... upper surface, C... central axis.

Claims

1. a container having a cylindrical peripheral portion, a bottom portion closing one axial end of the peripheral portion, and an opening portion provided on the other end side of the peripheral portion, the container containing a medicinal solution; an absorbent wick having a lower end abutting on an outer periphery of the bottom portion adjacent to the inside of the one end of the peripheral portion and an upper end protruding from the opening, the absorbent wick being placed in the container with a part of the lower end side immersed in the chemical solution; a volatilizer having a lower surface that contacts the upper end of the absorbent wick, the volatilizer being impregnated with the liquid medicinal solution absorbed by the absorbent wick and volatilizing the liquid medicinal solution; a restricting means for restricting the movement of the lower end of the liquid absorbent wick in the circumferential direction when the lower end abuts against the outer circumferential portion; An evaporation device having the above structure.

2. the bottom of the container has an annular periphery connecting points at different distances from a point where a central axis of the container passing through the opening intersects with the bottom; The outer periphery is inside the periphery. The volatilization device according to claim 1.

3. the restricting means has two protrusions protruding upward from the outer circumferential portion of the bottom portion on both sides of a position where the lower end of the liquid absorbent wick abuts on the outer circumferential portion, The volatilization device according to claim 2.

4. a position where the lower end of the liquid absorbent wick abuts on the outer periphery is inside a point closest to the intersecting point on the periphery; The volatilization device according to claim 3.

5. a guide means for guiding the lower end of the liquid absorbent wick, which is inserted into the container through the opening, to a holder located at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential portion, the restricting means restricts movement of the lower end of the liquid absorbent wick in the circumferential direction when the lower end contacts the holding portion. The volatilization device according to claim 1.

6. the bottom of the container has an annular periphery connecting points at different distances from a point where a central axis of the container passing through the opening intersects with the bottom; The retaining portion is located inside a point on the periphery closest to the intersecting point. The volatilization device according to claim 5.

7. The periphery of the base is approximately circular. The volatilization device according to claim 6.

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