Door opening / closing mechanism and cleaning device

Abstract

A cleaning device is provided that allows the opening for maintenance work to be opened and closed more easily than in the prior art. [Solution] The door opening / closing mechanism provided in the cleaning device 1 comprises a door 12 for opening and closing a maintenance work opening provided in the side wall of the cleaning room, a lower left shaft 13L provided on the underside of the left side of the door 12, a lower right shaft 13R provided on the underside of the right side of the door 12, a left rail 14L that holds the lower left shaft 13L so that it can slide up and down, a right rail 14R that holds the lower right shaft 13R so that it can slide up and down, a bar that extends in the left-right direction and is attached to an upper position in the up-down direction on the outer surface of the door 12, a left arm 16L that holds the upper left shaft 15L, which is the left end part of the bar, so that it can rotate around a left-right axis, and a right arm 16R that holds the upper right shaft 15R, which is the right end part of the bar, so that it can rotate around a left-right axis.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to a door opening and closing mechanism for a cleaning apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Some devices (hereinafter referred to as "cleaning devices") that clean objects housed in a cleaning chamber have an opening (hereinafter referred to as "maintenance opening") in the side wall to allow users to perform work such as cleaning the inside of the cleaning chamber. The maintenance opening is normally closed with a lid, such as when cleaning objects.

[0003] Non-Patent Document 1 is an example of a document disclosing a cleaning device having an opening for maintenance work that is closed with a lid. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Conveyor-type container washer CW105", Cleo Co., Ltd., [online], [searched July 31, 2024], Internet<https: / / www.a-creo.co.jp / solution / container / conveyor-type / cw105 / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When a user of the cleaning device according to the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned non-patent document 1 closes an open maintenance opening with a lid, the user must, for example, (1) lift the lid and hook the hook on the upper outer edge of the lid onto the bracket provided on the upper outer edge of the maintenance opening in the cleaning chamber body, or (2) lift the lid and insert the upper outer edge of the lid from below into the groove provided on the upper outer edge of the maintenance opening in the cleaning chamber body, and then drop the lower outer edge of the lid into the groove provided on the lower outer edge of the maintenance opening in the cleaning chamber body.

[0006] Furthermore, when a user opens a maintenance opening that is blocked by a lid as described above, the user must, for example, (1) lift the lid and remove the hook of the lid from the receiving bracket on the cleaning chamber body, or (2) lift the lid and pull the lower outer edge of the lid out of the groove on the lower outer edge of the maintenance opening in the cleaning chamber body, tilt the lid forward, and then lower the lid to pull the upper outer edge of the lid out of the groove on the upper outer edge of the maintenance opening in the cleaning chamber body.

[0007] The above-described operation of opening and closing the maintenance opening by attaching and detaching the cover imposes a great physical burden on the user.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a cleaning device that allows the opening and closing of a maintenance work opening to be performed more easily than in the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention is a door opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes an opening in a side wall of a cleaning chamber of a cleaning device that cleans an object to be cleaned stored in the cleaning chamber, wherein when the vertically upward direction when the cleaning device is cleaning an object to be cleaned is defined as the +Z direction, the right direction in the horizontal direction along the side wall as seen from the outside of the side wall is defined as the +Y direction, and the direction from the outside to the inside of the side wall in the thickness direction of the side wall is defined as the +X direction, the door closing mechanism includes a door that closes the opening, a left lower shaft that is a shaft that forms the left side of the outer edge of the door when the door is closing the opening and that protrudes in the -Y direction from a position on the -Z side of the center in the Z direction of the left side of the door outer edge, which is a surface that extends in the X direction of the door, a right lower shaft that is a shaft that forms the right side of the outer edge of the door when the door is closing the opening and that protrudes in the +Y direction from a position on the -Z side of the center in the Z direction of the right side of the door outer edge, which is a surface that extends in the X direction of the door, a right rail provided on the right surface of the outer edge of the opening, which is the right surface of the side wall that extends in the X direction and forms the outer edge of the opening, and holding the lower-left shaft slidably in the Z direction; an upper-left shaft that is attached to a position on the +Z side of the center in the Z direction on the outer surface of the door and protrudes in the -Y direction from the left edge of the door; a right-top shaft that is attached to a position on the +Z side of the center in the Z direction on the outer surface of the door and protrudes in the +Y direction from the right edge of the door; a left arm that is attached to the outer surface of the side wall at a position on the -Y side of the opening, rotatably about an axis in the Y direction, and rotatably holds the upper-left shaft; and a right arm that is attached to the outer surface of the side wall at a position on the +Y side of the opening, rotatably about the axis in the Y direction, and rotatably holds the upper-left shaft.

[0010] The present invention also proposes a cleaning device equipped with the door opening and closing mechanism described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the user can easily open and close the maintenance opening compared to when using a cleaning device according to the prior art. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cleaning device in a closed state according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cleaning device in an open state according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the cleaning device in a closed state according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the cleaning device in an open state according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of a cleaning chamber main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning chamber main body according to one embodiment of the present invention (view taken along the arrow AA in FIG. 6). [Figure 8] 7 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning chamber main body according to one embodiment of the present invention (view taken along arrow BB in FIG. 6). [Figure 9] 9 is a view of the cleaning chamber body according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a front view of a door according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view of a door according to one embodiment of the present invention (viewed in the direction of arrow DD in FIG. 10). [Figure 12] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a door according to an embodiment of the present invention (viewed from the arrow EE in FIG. 10). [Figure 13] 13 is a view of the door according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 12. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a side wall and a door of a cleaning chamber main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a side wall and a door of a cleaning chamber main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a front view of a cleaning device according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 17A]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the appearance of a cleaning device in a closed state according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 17B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the appearance of a cleaning device in an open state according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 18A] FIG. 10 is a front view of a cleaning device in a closed state according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 18B] FIG. 10 is a front view of a cleaning device in an intermediate state according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 18C] FIG. 10 is a front view of a cleaning device in an open state according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 19A] FIG. 10 is a right side view of a cleaning device in a closed state according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 19B] FIG. 10 is a right side view of a cleaning device in an intermediate state according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 19C] FIG. 10 is a right side view of a cleaning device in an open state according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a front view of a cleaning device according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a friction reduction mechanism according to a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] [Embodiment] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a cleaning apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that the actual cleaning apparatus 1 includes a transport unit for transporting objects to be cleaned in addition to the cleaning chamber portion shown in Fig. 1, but these components of the cleaning apparatus are not shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the cleaning chamber of the actual cleaning apparatus 1 is provided with openings for loading and unloading objects to be cleaned into the cleaning chamber, and the cleaning chamber is equipped with curtains or the like for covering these openings, but these components are also not shown in Fig. 1.

[0014] Fig. 1(A) shows a state (hereinafter referred to as "closed state") in which an opening O (opening for maintenance work) provided in a cleaning chamber main body 11 of the cleaning device 1 is closed by a door 12. Fig. 1(B) shows a state (hereinafter referred to as "open state") in which the opening O is not closed by the door 12 and is open.

[0015] A user can grasp the handle 18 of the cleaning device 1 (FIG. 1(A)) in the closed state, pull the door 12 slightly forward, and then push it up to put the cleaning device 1 in the open state (FIG. 1(B)). A user can also grasp the handle 18 of the cleaning device 1 (FIG. 1(B)) in the open state, pull the door 12 down, and then push it back slightly to put the cleaning device 1 in the closed state (FIG. 1(A)).

[0016] Fig. 2 is a front view of the cleaning device 1 in a closed state, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the cleaning device 1 in an open state.

[0017] In the following description, as shown in FIG. 2, the vertically upward direction of the cleaning device 1 when cleaning the object to be cleaned is the +Z direction, the horizontal direction along the wall (hereinafter referred to as the "side wall") that forms the cleaning chamber of the cleaning device 1 and has the opening O opened therein is the +Y direction, and the direction from the outside of the side wall to the inside of the side wall in the thickness direction of the side wall is the +X direction.

[0018] As described above, the cleaning device 1 includes the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the door 12 that closes the opening O provided in the cleaning chamber main body 11. The door 12 has a window 121 that is closed with light-transmitting glass or the like so that a user can see the inside of the cleaning chamber from the outside. However, the door 12 does not necessarily have to have the window 121.

[0019] The cleaning device 1 includes a lower left shaft 13L, a lower right shaft 13R, a left rail 14L, and a right rail 14R as components for enabling the door 12 to slide generally in the up and down direction.

[0020] The lower left shaft 13L is a shaft that protrudes in the -Y direction from a position on the -Z side of the center in the Z direction on the left surface of the door outer edge, which is the surface that extends in the X direction of the door 12 and forms the left side (-Y side) of the outer edge of the door 12 when the door 12 is blocking the opening O.

[0021] The lower right shaft 13R is a shaft that protrudes in the +Y direction from a position on the -Z side of the center in the Z direction on the right surface of the door outer edge, which is the surface that extends in the X direction of the door 12 and forms the right side (+Y side) of the outer edge of the door 12 when the door 12 is blocking the opening O.

[0022] The left rail 14L is provided on the left surface of the outer edge of the opening O, which is the left side surface extending in the X direction of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 that forms the outer edge of the opening O, and is a rail that holds the lower left shaft 13L slidably in the Z direction.

[0023] The right rail 14R is provided on the right surface of the outer edge of the opening O, which is the right side surface extending in the X direction of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 that forms the outer edge of the opening O, and is a rail that holds the lower right shaft 13R slidably in the Z direction.

[0024] The lower left shaft 13L has a roller (an example of a left rotating body) that rotates in contact with the left rail 14L as it slides on the left rail 14L, and the lower right shaft 13R has a roller (an example of a right rotating body) that rotates in contact with the right rail 14R as it slides on the right rail 14R.

[0025] The cleaning device 1 is equipped with an upper left shaft 15L, an upper right shaft 15R, a left arm 16L, and a right arm 16R, which are configured to hold the door 12, which can rotate freely around the axes of the lower left shaft 13L and the lower right shaft 13R, in a position generally along the YZ plane without interfering with the sliding movement of the lower left shaft 13L and the lower right shaft 13R in the Z direction.

[0026] The upper left shaft 15L and the upper right shaft 15R are molded integrally with the handle 18.

[0027] The upper left shaft 15L is attached to a position on the +Z side of the center in the Z direction on the outer surface of the door 12, and protrudes in the -Y direction from the left edge of the door 12. The upper right shaft 15R is attached to a position on the +Z side of the center in the Z direction on the outer surface of the door 12, and protrudes in the +Y direction from the right edge of the door 12.

[0028] The left arm 16L is rotatably attached around an axis in the Y direction to a position on the -Y side of the opening O on the outer surface of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11, and is a member that rotatably holds the upper left shaft 15L. The right arm 16R is rotatably attached around an axis in the Y direction to a position on the +Y side of the opening O on the outer surface of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11, and is a member that rotatably holds the upper right shaft 15R.

[0029] The cleaning device 1 is provided with a left gas spring 17L and a right gas spring 17R as a biasing mechanism that biases the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R in a counterclockwise rotational direction when viewed in the +Y direction, thereby reducing the load when a user pushes up the door 12 and preventing the door 12 from descending too forcefully when the user pulls down the door 12.

[0030] The left gas spring 17L is a gas spring having one end rotatably attached to the left arm 16L around an axis in the Y direction, and the other end rotatably attached to a position on the -Y side of the opening O on the outer surface of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11. The right gas spring 17R is a gas spring having one end rotatably attached to the right arm 16R around an axis in the Y direction, and the other end rotatably attached to a position on the +Y side of the opening O on the outer surface of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11.

[0031] The cleaning device 1 includes a handle 18 as a member with which the user applies force to open or close the door 12. The handle 18 is provided on the outer surface of the door 12 and is gripped by the user.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a right side view of the cleaning device 1 in the closed state. Fig. 5 is a right side view of the cleaning device 1 in the open state.

[0033] When the door 12 transitions from the closed state (FIG. 4) to the open state (FIG. 5), it rises while rotating counterclockwise as viewed in the -Y direction around the axes of the lower-left shaft 13L, which slides in the +Z direction on the left rail 14L, and the lower-right shaft 13R, which slides in the +Z direction on the right rail 14R. At this time, the door 12 is supported by the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R, and maintains a posture generally along the YZ plane. In addition, the door 12 is biased generally in the +Z direction by the left gas spring 17L and the right gas spring 17R via the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R, so that the user can push up the handle 18 with a relatively small force.

[0034] Furthermore, when the door 12 transitions from the open state (FIG. 5) to the closed state (FIG. 4), it descends while rotating clockwise as viewed in the -Y direction around the axes of the lower-left shaft 13L, which slides in the -Z direction on the left rail 14L, and the lower-right shaft 13R, which slides in the -Z direction on the right rail 14R. Even during this movement, the door 12 is supported by the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R, and maintains a posture generally along the YZ plane. Furthermore, the door 12 is biased generally in the +Z direction by the left gas spring 17L and the right gas spring 17R via the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R, so that when the user pulls down the handle 18, the user can easily and gently descend the door 12.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a front view of the cleaning chamber main body 11. FIG.

[0036] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning chamber body 11 taken along line AA in Fig. 6 in the X direction, viewed in the direction of arrow A. As shown in Fig. 7, the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 has a left body-side flange 111L provided so as to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from a portion located at the -Y side edge of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, and a right body-side flange 111R provided so as to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from a portion located at the +Y side edge of the opening O toward the center of the opening O.

[0037] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning chamber body 11 taken along line BB in Fig. 6 in the X direction, viewed in the direction of arrow B. As shown in Fig. 8, the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 has an upper body-side flange 111T provided to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from a portion located at the +Z side edge of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, and a lower body-side flange 111B provided to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from a portion located at the -Z side edge of the opening O toward the center of the opening O.

[0038] Fig. 9 is a view of the cleaning chamber main body 11 as viewed in the direction of arrow C in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 9, one or more holes P are provided in a member forming a portion on the -Z side of the surface of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 extending in the X direction, which forms the outer edge of the opening O. The holes P are, for example, drainage holes for allowing the cleaning liquid sprayed to clean the object to drop down inside the cleaning chamber.

[0039] FIG. 10 is a front view of the door 12.

[0040] Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the door 12 taken along line DD in the X direction as viewed in the direction of arrow D shown in Fig. 10. As shown in Fig. 11, the door 12 has a left door-side flange 122L provided to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from the +X-side edge of the -Y-side portion of the surface of the door 12 extending in the X direction, which forms the outer edge of the door 12, toward the center of the opening O, and a right door-side flange 122R provided to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from the +X-side edge of the +Y-side portion of the surface of the door 12 extending in the X direction, which forms the outer edge of the door 12.

[0041] 12 is a view of a cross section of the door 12 cut in the X direction at line EE shown in Fig. 10, viewed in the direction of arrow E. As shown in Fig. 12, the door 12 has an upper door-side flange 122T provided to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from the +X-side edge of the +Z-side portion of the surface of the door 12 extending in the X direction, which forms the outer edge of the door 12, toward the center of the opening O, and a lower door-side flange 122B provided to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from the +X-side edge of the -Z-side portion of the surface. The door 12 also has an additional door-side flange 123 that extends in the +X direction at a position slightly on the +Z side of the lower door-side flange 122B and is inclined with respect to the XY plane so as to move in the -Z direction as it approaches the +X direction.

[0042] Fig. 13 is a view of the door 12 as viewed in the direction of arrow F in Fig. 12. As shown in Fig. 13, in the door 12 that is covering the opening O, one or more holes Q are provided in a member that forms the -Z side portion of the surface of the door 12 that extends in the X direction, which forms the outer edge of the door 12. The holes Q are, for example, drainage holes that allow the cleaning liquid that is sprayed to clean the object to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber to fall down.

[0043] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the side wall and door 12 of the cleaning chamber main body 11 cut on the XY plane, viewed in the +Z direction. Figure 14(A) shows the positional relationship between the side wall and door 12 of the cleaning chamber main body 11 in the open state, and Figure 14(B) shows the positional relationship between the side wall and door 12 of the cleaning chamber main body 11 in the closed state.

[0044] As shown in Figure 14 (B), in the closed state, the left body side flange 111L on the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the left door side flange 122L on the door 12 are positioned opposite each other, and the right body side flange 111R on the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the right door side flange 122R on the door 12 are positioned opposite each other.

[0045] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the door 12 cut along the ZX plane, viewed in the -Y direction. Figure 15(A) shows the positional relationship between the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the door 12 in a closed state, Figure 15(B) shows the positional relationship between the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the door 12 in a state where the closed door 12 has been pulled forward by a user, Figure 15(C) shows the positional relationship between the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the door 12 in a state where the user has pushed the door 12 up about halfway in the +Z direction from the position of Figure 15(B), and Figure 15(D) shows the positional relationship between the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the door 12 in an open state.

[0046] 15(A), in the closed state, the upper body flange 111T of the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 and the upper door flange 122T of the door 12 are positioned opposite each other, and the lower body flange 111B of the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 and the lower door flange 122B of the door 12 are positioned opposite each other. Also, in the closed state, the additional door flange 123 of the door 12 faces the lower body flange 111B of the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 on the inside (+X side).

[0047] As described above, in the closed state, the left body flange 111L on the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 and the left door flange 122L on the door 12, the right body flange 111R on the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 and the right door flange 122R on the door 12, the upper body flange 111T on the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 and the upper door flange 122T on the door 12, and the lower body flange 111B on the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 and the lower door flange 122B on the door 12 are close to each other in opposing positions, forming a labyrinth structure. Therefore, for example, leakage of the cleaning liquid sprayed inside the cleaning chamber to the outside of the cleaning chamber is prevented or reduced.

[0048] Furthermore, at the edge on the -Z side of the opening O, where leakage of the cleaning liquid to the outside of the cleaning chamber is particularly likely to occur, in the closed state, the additional door-side flange 123 of the door 12 is close to and faces the inside (+X side) of the lower main body-side flange 111B, which forms a labyrinth structure together with the lower door-side flange 122B. This more reliably prevents or reduces leakage of the cleaning liquid to the outside of the cleaning chamber.

[0049] Furthermore, the portion of the lower main body flange 111B facing the additional door flange 123 and the portion of the additional door flange 123 facing the lower main body flange 111B are inclined with respect to the XY plane so that the more they move in the +X direction, the more they move in the -Z direction. Therefore, the cleaning liquid that is heading in the -X direction and falls in the -Z direction due to gravity is less likely to pass through the gap between the lower main body flange 111B and the additional door flange 123, and leakage of the cleaning liquid outside the cleaning chamber is more reliably prevented or reduced.

[0050] [Variations] The above-described cleaning device 1 is one embodiment of the cleaning device according to the present invention, and may be modified in various ways within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. Examples of such modifications are shown below. Two or more of the following modifications may be combined as appropriate.

[0051] (1) In the above-described embodiment, the lower left shaft 13L has a rotating body that rotates in contact with the left rail 14L as it slides on the left rail 14L, and the lower right shaft 13R has a rotating body that rotates in contact with the right rail 14R as it slides on the right rail 14R. However, instead of or in addition to this, one or more of the following may be adopted:

[0052] The lower left shaft 13L has a low-friction material that contacts the left rail 14L as it slides on the left rail 14L, and the lower right shaft 13R has a low-friction material that contacts the right rail 14R as it slides on the right rail 14R. The left rail 14L has a rotating body such as a bearing (an example of a left rotating body) that contacts and rotates with the lower left shaft 13L as the lower left shaft 13L slides, and the right rail 14R has a rotating body such as a bearing (an example of a right rotating body) that contacts and rotates with the upper right shaft 15R as the upper right shaft 15R slides. Left rail 14L has a low-friction material that comes into contact with lower-left shaft 13L as lower-left shaft 13L slides, and right rail 14R has a low-friction material that comes into contact with lower-right shaft 13R as lower-right shaft 13R slides.

[0053] In this application, the term "low-friction material" refers to a material such as fluororesin whose friction resistance is lower than that of an average metal or plastic.

[0054] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning device 1 is provided with a left gas spring 17L and a right gas spring 17R as a biasing mechanism that biases at least one of the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R in a counterclockwise rotational direction when viewed in the +Y direction. However, the cleaning device 1 may be provided with only one of these gas springs.

[0055] In addition, instead of or in addition to the left gas spring 17L and the right gas spring 17R, the cleaning device 1 may have at least one of a left spring that urges the left arm 16L in a counterclockwise rotation direction when viewed in the +Y direction, and a right spring that urges the right arm 16R in a counterclockwise rotation direction when viewed in the +Y direction.

[0056] Furthermore, the cleaning device 1 does not necessarily have to include a biasing mechanism that biases at least one of the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R in a counterclockwise rotational direction when viewed in the +Y direction. However, in this case, compared to when the cleaning device 1 includes a biasing mechanism, the user will need a stronger force to push up the door 12 when opening it, and will need to be careful when closing the door 12 to prevent it from descending too forcefully.

[0057] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the handle 18 is molded integrally with the upper left shaft 15L and the upper right shaft 15R, but the handle 18 may be separate from at least one of the upper left shaft 15L and the upper right shaft 15R.

[0058] Fig. 16 is a front view of a cleaning device 1 according to one example of this modification. The handle 18 of the cleaning device 1 shown in Fig. 16 is separated from the upper left shaft 15L and the upper right shaft 15R, and is composed of a left handle 18L provided so as to extend in the Z direction at a position on the -Y side of the window 121 on the outer surface of the door 12, and a right handle 18R provided so as to extend in the Z direction at a position on the +Y side of the window 121 on the outer surface of the door 12.

[0059] Parts of the handle 18 (lower parts of the left handle 18L and the right handle 18R) included in the cleaning device 1 according to this modification are located on the -Z side of the upper left shaft 15L and the upper right shaft 15R in the Z direction of the door 12 when it is closing the opening O. Therefore, the user can open or close the door 12 in a natural posture by gripping the lower side of the handle 18 when the door 12 is in a high position, or by gripping the upper side of the handle 18 when the door 12 is in a low position.

[0060] (4) In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning device 1 is provided with nine flanges: the left main body flange 111L, the right main body flange 111R, the upper main body flange 111T, the lower main body flange 111B, the left door flange 122L, the right door flange 122R, the upper door flange 122T, the lower door flange 122B, and the additional door flange 123. However, instead of or in addition to some or all of these flanges, the cleaning device 1 may be provided with a sealing material that is positioned to be sandwiched between the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and the door 12 when in the closed state.

[0061] Furthermore, the shape, size, position, etc. of the flange provided in the cleaning device 1 in the above-described embodiment are not limited to those shown in Figures 7, 8, 11, 12, etc., and may be modified in various ways.

[0062] Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the additional door flange 123 provided in the cleaning device 1 in the above-described embodiment, the door 12 may be provided with a flange facing the upper body flange 111T on the +X side of the upper body flange 111T. In this case, the upper body flange 111T and the flange of the door 12 facing the upper body flange 111T on the +X side may be inclined with respect to the XY plane so that they move in the -Z direction as they move toward the +X direction.

[0063] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a drain hole P is provided in a member forming the -Z side portion of the surface extending in the X direction of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 that forms the outer edge of the opening O, and when the door 12 is in a state of closing the opening O, a drain hole Q is provided in a member forming the -Z side portion of the surface extending in the X direction of the door 12 that forms the outer edge of the door 12, but the cleaning device 1 does not need to have some or all of these drain holes.

[0064] Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the above-described hole P, the cleaning device 1 may have a drainage hole in a member that forms a portion on the +Z side of the surface that extends in the X direction of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and that forms the outer edge of the opening O. Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the above-described hole Q, the cleaning device 1 may have a drainage hole in a member that forms a portion on the +Z side of the surface that extends in the X direction of the door 12 and that forms the outer edge of the door 12, when the door 12 is in a state of closing the opening O.

[0065] (5) The cleaning device 1 may include a door holding mechanism that generates a force that resists a force applied to the door 12 in the −X direction when the door 12 is closing the opening O.

[0066] For example, such a door holding mechanism may have a magnet (or magnetic body) arranged on the +X side surface of the door 12, and a magnetic body (or magnet) arranged on the -X side surface of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 in a position facing the magnet (or magnetic body) arranged on the door 12 in the closed state. When a force in the -X direction is applied to the door 12 in a state where the door 12 is blocking the opening O, the magnet of this door holding mechanism generates a magnetic force that resists the force.

[0067] Furthermore, the cleaning device 1 may be provided with a door holding mechanism such as a ball catch instead of or in addition to the door holding mechanism using magnetic force described above.

[0068] (6) In the above-described embodiment, the door 12 is opened and closed by the force of the user. However, instead of this, the cleaning device 1 may include a drive unit that rotates at least one of the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R around an axis in the Y direction. As such a drive unit, an electric cylinder (also called an electric actuator) may be used instead of the left gas spring 17L and the right gas spring 17R. Furthermore, as such a drive unit, a mechanism that directly applies a driving force to the rotation axis of at least one of the left arm 16L and the right arm 16R using an electric motor or the like may be used.

[0069] (7) The cleaning device 1 may be configured so that the force for opening and closing the door 12 is applied to the door 12 via a lever rod.

[0070] 17A and 17B are diagrams showing the appearance of a cleaning device 1A according to this modification. Fig. 17A shows the cleaning device 1A in a closed state, and Fig. 17B shows the cleaning device 1A in an open state.

[0071] Figures 18A, 18B, and 18C are front views of the cleaning device 1A. Figure 18A is a front view of the cleaning device 1A in a closed state, Figure 18B is a front view of the cleaning device 1A in a state in the middle of transitioning from a closed state to an open state (hereinafter referred to as the "intermediate state"), and Figure 18C is a front view of the cleaning device 1A in an open state.

[0072] 19A, 19B, and 19C are right side views of the cleaning device 1A. Fig. 19A is a right side view of the cleaning device 1A in the closed state, Fig. 19B is a right side view of the cleaning device 1A in the intermediate state, and Fig. 19C is a right side view of the cleaning device 1A in the open state.

[0073] The cleaning device 1A includes a left lever rod 19L, a right lever rod 19R, a handle 20, a left friction reduction member 21L, and a right friction reduction member 21R in addition to the components included in the cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment described above.

[0074] The left lever rod 19L is a rod-shaped member rotatably attached to the upper left shaft 15L around an axis in the Y direction. The right lever rod 19R is a rod-shaped member rotatably attached to the upper right shaft 15R around an axis in the Y direction.

[0075] The handle 20 is a rod-shaped member extending horizontally, and its -Y side end is connected to the left lever bar 19L near the lower end of the left lever bar 19L (an example of any part on the -Z side from the point where the left lever bar 19L contacts the upper left shaft 15L), and its +Y side end is connected to the right lever bar 19R near the lower end of the right lever bar 19R (an example of any part on the -Z side from the point where the right lever bar 19R contacts the upper right shaft 15R).

[0076] The left friction reduction member 21L is a sheet-like member made of a low-friction material and is arranged on a portion of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 that will come into contact with the upper end portion of the left lever bar 19L when a force is applied to the left lever bar 19L in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in the +Y direction, and the upper end portion of the left lever bar 19L is pressed against the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 (the wall that has the opening O among the walls that constitute the cleaning chamber of the cleaning device 1).The right friction reduction member 21R is a sheet-like member made of a low-friction material and is arranged on a portion of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 that will come into contact with the upper end portion of the right lever bar 19R when a force is applied to the right lever bar 19R in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in the +Y direction, and the upper end portion of the right lever bar 19R is pressed against the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11.

[0077] In this application, low-friction material refers to a material with a static or dynamic friction coefficient of 0.3 or less. Widely used low-friction materials include polymeric materials such as PTFE (Teflon (registered trademark)), UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene), and PEEK (polyether ether ketone). The low-friction material may also be a composite material having a substrate such as metal and a coating such as molybdenum or ceramic formed on the surface of the substrate.

[0078] When a user wishes to transition the cleaning device 1A from the closed state to the open state, he or she first grasps the handle 20 and pulls it in the -X direction. This action causes the left lever rod 19L and the right lever rod 19R to rotate counterclockwise when viewed in the +Y direction, and the upper end portion of the left lever rod 19L hits the upper left part of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11, sandwiching the left friction reduction member 21L between them, and the upper end portion of the right lever rod 19R hits the upper right part of the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11, sandwiching the right friction reduction member 21R between them.

[0079] After the cleaning device 1A is in the above state, when the user further pulls the handle 20 in the -X direction, the force applied by the user to the handle 20 is transmitted to the upper left shaft 15L and the upper right shaft 15R via the left lever rod 19L and the right lever rod 19R, and this force moves the door 12 in the -X direction, and the upper part of the door 12, which was fitted into the opening O in the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11, is pulled out to the outside of the cleaning chamber main body 11.

[0080] At this time, force is transmitted according to the principle of leverage, with the point at which the upper end of the left lever bar 19L contacts the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 via the left friction reduction member 21L as the fulcrum, the point at which the left lever bar 19L is connected to the handle 20 as the force point, and the point at which the left lever bar 19L contacts the upper left shaft 15L as the point of application, and force is transmitted according to the principle of leverage, with the point at which the upper end of the right lever bar 19R contacts the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 via the right friction reduction member 21R as the fulcrum, the point at which the right lever bar 19R is connected to the handle 20 as the force point, and the point at which the right lever bar 19R contacts the upper right shaft 15R as the point of application.

[0081] As described above, after the upper portion of the cleaning chamber main body 11 of the door 12 is pulled outward, if the user pushes the handle 20 upward while pulling it toward themselves, the left lever rod 19L and the right lever rod 19R will continue to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in the +Y direction, and according to the principle of leverage, will transmit the force applied by the user to the upper-left shaft 15L and the upper-right shaft 15R. The force transmitted to the upper-left shaft 15L and the upper-right shaft 15R in this way will open the door 12, and the cleaning device 1A will enter the intermediate state shown in FIG. 17B.

[0082] When the cleaning device 1A reaches the intermediate state shown in FIG. 17B , the user slightly pushes the handle 20 in the +X direction, separating the upper end of the left lever bar 19L from the left friction reduction member 21L and the upper end of the right lever bar 19R from the right friction reduction member 21R, so that the extension directions of the left lever bar 19L and the right lever bar 19R are aligned generally along the Z direction. Then, the user pushes the handle 20 up in the +Z direction. In this case, the force applied by the user to the handle 20 is transmitted directly to the upper-left shaft 15L and the upper-right shaft 15R via the left lever bar 19L and the right lever bar 19R, without following the principle of leverage. This force pushes the door 12 upward, transitioning it to the open state, similar to when the user pushes up the handle 18 in the cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment. As a result, the cleaning device 1A reaches the open state shown in FIG. 17C .

[0083] To transition the cleaning device 1A from the open state (FIG. 17C) to the closed state (FIG. 17A), the user pulls down the handle 20 in the −Z direction while the longitudinal direction of the left lever rod 19L and the right lever rod 19R is aligned with the Z direction, placing the cleaning device 1A in the intermediate state (FIG. 17B), and then either pushes down the handle 20 in the −Z direction, or releases the handle 20, grasps the handle 18, and pushes down the handle 18 in the −Z direction. As a result, the door 12 closes the opening O, and the cleaning device 1A transitions to the closed state (FIG. 17A). In this way, when transitioning the cleaning device 1A from the open state to the closed state, force is not transmitted according to the principle of leverage.

[0084] According to the cleaning device 1A described above, in the transition stage from the closed state (Fig. 17A) to the intermediate state (Fig. 17B), which requires the greatest force when opening and closing the door 12, the force applied by the user to the handle 20 is increased according to the principle of leverage and transmitted to the upper left shaft 15L and the upper right shaft 15R, which has the advantage that only a small force is required from the user.

[0085] Furthermore, the cleaning device 1A described above has the advantage that even if the user cannot reach the handle 18 in the open state (FIG. 17C), the door 12 can be opened or closed if the user can reach the handle 20, which is located lower than the handle 18.

[0086] The cleaning device 1A may be combined with the above-described modification (3) so that the cleaning device 1A does not include the handle 18. Fig. 20 is a front view of the cleaning device 1A (closed state) that does not include the handle 18. In this case, the handle 20 receives the force of the user instead of the handle 18, so the cleaning device 1A does not need to include the left handle 18L and right handle 18R that are included in the cleaning device 1 according to the above-described modification (3).

[0087] Alternatively, the cleaning device 1A may not have a handle 20, and the user may hold the left lever bar 19L near its lower end with his left hand and the right lever bar 19R near its lower end with his right hand to apply force to the left lever bar 19L and the right lever bar 19R.

[0088] Meanwhile, while the cleaning device 1A is transitioning from the closed state (FIG. 17A) to the intermediate state (FIG. 17B), the upper end portions of the left lever rod 19L and the right lever rod 19R slide on the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 while contacting the side wall.

[0089] The left friction reduction member 21L reduces the frictional force generated when the upper end portion of the left lever bar 19L slides on the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11, and also serves to slow the progression of wear caused by this sliding on the left lever bar 19L and the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11. The right friction reduction member 21R reduces the frictional force generated when the upper end portion of the right lever bar 19R slides on the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11, and also serves to slow the progression of wear caused by this sliding on the right lever bar 19R and the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11.

[0090] The configuration of the mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the "friction reduction mechanism") that reduces the frictional force generated between the left lever bar 19L or the right lever bar 19R and the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 and slows the progression of wear generated between the left lever bar 19L or the right lever bar 19R and the side wall of the cleaning chamber body 11 is not limited to the above. Fig. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a friction reduction mechanism provided in the cleaning apparatus 1A and configured differently from the above-mentioned friction reduction mechanism.

[0091] The left friction reduction member 21L, which is a sheet-like member made of a low-friction material and provided in the friction reduction mechanism shown in Fig. 21(A), is arranged not on the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11, but on the surface of the upper end portion of the left lever bar 19L, which comes into contact with the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11. In addition, the right friction reduction member 21R, which is a sheet-like member made of a low-friction material and provided in the friction reduction mechanism shown in Fig. 21(A), is arranged not on the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11, but on the surface of the upper end portion of the right lever bar 19R, which comes into contact with the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11.

[0092] The left friction reduction member 21L and right friction reduction member 21R provided in the friction reduction mechanism shown in Figure 21(B) are arranged on the side walls of the cleaning chamber main body 11, but are not sheet-like members made of low-friction material, but are mechanical parts equipped with bearings (an example of a rotating body).

[0093] The left friction reduction member 21L provided in the friction reduction mechanism shown in Figure 21(C) is a roller (an example of a rotating body) rotatably attached to the upper end portion of the left lever bar 19L around an axis in the Y direction, and the right friction reduction member 21R provided in the friction reduction mechanism shown in Figure 21(C) is a roller (an example of a rotating body) rotatably attached to the upper end portion of the right lever bar 19R around an axis in the Y direction.

[0094] In this way, the friction reduction mechanism provided in the cleaning device 1A may include low-friction materials arranged at the portion where the left lever bar 19L contacts the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11 and at the portion where the right lever bar 19R contacts the side wall of the cleaning chamber main body 11, or may include rotating bodies arranged at those positions.

[0095] Furthermore, the cleaning device 1A does not necessarily have to be equipped with the handle 20. In that case, the user opens and closes the door 12 by directly gripping the left lever rod 19L and the right lever rod 19R.

[0096] (8) The present invention provides a door opening / closing mechanism including at least components exemplified by the door 12, the lower left shaft 13L, the lower right shaft 13R, the left rail 14L, the right rail 14R, the upper left shaft 15L, the upper right shaft 15R, the left arm 16L, and the right arm 16R provided in the cleaning apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment. The present invention also provides a cleaning apparatus including the door opening / closing mechanism. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1...Cleaning device, 1A...Cleaning device, 11...Cleaning chamber body, 12...Door, 13L...Lower left shaft, 13R...Lower right shaft, 14L...Left rail, 14R...Right rail, 15L...Upper left shaft, 15R...Upper right shaft, 16L...Left arm, 16R...Right arm, 17L...Left gas spring, 17R...Right gas spring, 18...Handle, 111L...Left body side flange, 111R...Right body side flange , 111T...upper body flange, 111B...lower body flange, 121...window, 122L...left door flange, 122R...right door flange, 122T...upper door flange, 122B...lower door flange, 123...additional door flange, 18L...left handle, 18R...right handle, 19L...left lever bar, 19R...right lever bar, 20...handle, 21L...left friction reduction member, 21R...right friction reduction member.

Claims

1. A door opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing an opening formed in a side wall of a cleaning chamber of a cleaning device that cleans objects stored in the cleaning chamber, When the cleaning device is cleaning an object to be cleaned, the vertically upward direction is defined as the +Z direction, the rightward direction seen from the outside of the side wall in the horizontal direction along the side wall is defined as the +Y direction, and the direction from the outside to the inside of the side wall in the thickness direction of the side wall is defined as the +X direction. a door that closes the opening; In the door in a state where the opening is closed, a left lower shaft is a shaft that protrudes in the −Y direction from a position on the −Z side of the center in the Z direction of the left surface of the door outer edge, which is a surface of the door that extends in the X direction and forms the left side of the outer edge of the door; In the door in a state where the opening is closed, a right lower shaft is a shaft that protrudes in the +Y direction from a position on the -Z side of the center in the Z direction of the right surface of the door outer edge, which is a surface of the door that extends in the X direction and forms the right side of the outer edge of the door; a left rail provided on a left surface of an outer edge of the opening, which is a left surface of the side wall extending in the X direction and forming an outer edge of the opening, and which holds the lower-left shaft slidably in the Z direction; a right rail provided on a right surface of the outer edge of the opening, which is a right surface of the side wall extending in the X direction and forming an outer edge of the opening, and which holds the lower right shaft slidably in the Z direction; An upper left shaft that is attached to a position on the +Z side of the center in the Z direction on the outer surface of the door and protrudes in the -Y direction from the left edge of the door; an upper right shaft that is attached to the outer surface of the door at a position on the +Z side from the center in the Z direction and protrudes in the +Y direction from the right edge of the door; a left arm rotatably attached to an outer surface of the side wall at a position on the −Y side of the opening portion about an axis in the Y direction, the left arm rotatably holding the upper left shaft; a right arm that is rotatably attached to the outer surface of the side wall at a position on the +Y side of the opening and that rotatably holds the upper right shaft around an axis in the Y direction; A door opening and closing mechanism.

2. the left lower shaft has a left rotating body that rotates in contact with the left rail as the shaft slides on the left rail, The right lower shaft has a right rotating body that rotates in contact with the right rail as it slides on the right rail. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

3. the lower left shaft has a low-friction material that comes into contact with the left rail as the shaft slides on the left rail, The right lower shaft has a low-friction material that comes into contact with the right rail as it slides on the right rail. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

4. the left rail has a left rotating body that rotates in contact with the left lower shaft as the left lower shaft slides, The right rail has a right rotating body that rotates in contact with the right lower shaft as the right lower shaft slides. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

5. the left rail has a low-friction material that comes into contact with the lower left shaft as the lower left shaft slides, The right rail has a low-friction material that comes into contact with the lower right shaft as the lower right shaft slides. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

6. A biasing mechanism is provided that biases at least one of the left arm and the right arm in a counterclockwise rotation direction when viewed in the +Y direction. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

7. The biasing mechanism has at least one of a left gas spring, which is a gas spring having one end rotatably attached to the left arm around an axis in the Y direction and the other end rotatably attached to a position on the −Y side of the opening on the outer surface of the side wall, and a right gas spring, which is a gas spring having one end rotatably attached to the right arm around an axis in the Y direction and the other end rotatably attached to a position on the +Y side of the opening on the outer surface of the side wall. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 6.

8. The biasing mechanism has at least one of a left spring that biases the left arm in a counterclockwise rotation direction when viewed in the +Y direction, and a right spring that biases the right arm in a counterclockwise rotation direction when viewed in the +Y direction. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 6.

9. a handle provided on the outer surface of the door to be gripped by a user; The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

10. The handle is integrally molded with at least one of the upper left shaft and the upper right shaft. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 9.

11. At least a part of the handle is disposed on the −Z side of the upper left shaft and the upper right shaft in the Z direction of the door when the door is closing the opening. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 9.

12. The side wall is provided so as to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane toward the center of the opening, and has a main body side flange that is a flange that faces the door when the opening is closed. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

13. The portion of the body-side flange located on at least one of the −Z side edge and the +Z side edge of the opening is inclined with respect to the XY plane so as to move in the −Z direction as it moves toward the +X direction. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 12.

14. The door has a flange that faces, on the +X side, a portion of the body-side flange that is inclined with respect to the XY plane so as to move in the -Z direction as it approaches the +X direction when the door closes the opening, and that is inclined with respect to the XY plane so as to move in the -Z direction as it approaches the +X direction. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 13.

15. The door has a door-side flange that forms an outer edge of the door when the door closes the opening, and that is provided so as to protrude in a direction along the YZ plane from a +X-side edge of a surface of the door that extends in the X direction toward the center of the opening, and that is a flange that faces the side wall. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

16. A drain hole is provided in a member that forms at least one of a −Z side portion and a +Z side portion of the surface of the side wall that extends in the X direction and that forms the outer edge of the opening. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

17. In the door in a state where the opening is closed, a drain hole is provided in a member that forms at least one of a −Z side portion and a +Z side portion of a surface of the door that forms an outer edge of the door and extends in the X direction. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

18. A door holding mechanism is provided that generates a force that resists a force in the −X direction when the force is applied to the door while the door is closing the opening. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

19. The door holding mechanism has a magnet that generates a magnetic force that resists a force in the −X direction when the force is applied to the door in a state where the door is closing the opening. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 18.

20. a drive unit that drives at least one of the left arm and the right arm to rotate around an axis in the Y direction; The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

21. a left lever rod that is attached to the upper left shaft so as to be rotatable about an axis in the Y direction, and that, when a force is applied in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in the +Y direction at any part on the −Z side as viewed from the point of contact with the upper left shaft, acts on the point of contact with the upper left shaft, with the point at which the part on the +Z side as viewed from the point of contact with the upper left shaft contacting the side wall as a fulcrum; a right lever rod that is rotatably attached to the upper right shaft around an axis in the Y direction, and when a force is applied in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in the +Y direction at any part on the -Z side as viewed from the point of contact with the upper right shaft, the lever rod acts on the point of contact with the upper right shaft, with the point where the part on the +Z side as viewed from the point of contact with the upper right shaft contacting the side wall as a fulcrum; The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 1 .

22. A handle to be held by a user is provided, the handle being connected to any part of the left lever bar on the −Z side as viewed from the point where the left lever bar contacts the upper left shaft, and the handle being connected to any part of the right lever bar on the −Z side as viewed from the point where the right lever bar contacts the upper right shaft. The door opening and closing mechanism according to claim 21.

23. a low-friction material disposed at a portion where the left lever bar and the side wall contact; a low-friction material disposed at a portion where the right lever bar and the side wall contact; 22. The door opening and closing mechanism of claim 21, comprising:

24. a rotating body disposed at a portion where the left lever bar and the side wall contact each other; a rotor disposed at a portion where the right lever bar and the side wall contact each other; 22. The door opening and closing mechanism of claim 21, comprising:

25. A cleaning device comprising the door opening and closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 24.

Images