Spray gun, liquid injection device, cover member, cover member set, and spray gun set

Abstract

In a liquid spraying device that sprays a liquid containing foam, the scattering of liquid droplets is suppressed. [Solution] A spray gun is provided for spraying a foam-containing liquid by squeezing the trigger, comprising: a nozzle section having a nozzle for spraying the liquid; a perforated member positioned in front of the nozzle and having a plurality of holes through which the liquid from the nozzle passes; and a cover member positioned to cover a portion of the plurality of holes of the perforated member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a spray gun, a liquid injection device, a cover member, a cover member set, and a spray gun set, and particularly to a technique for preventing droplets when using a porous foam sprayer that injects liquid in a container from a nozzle by squeezing a trigger with the palm and fingers.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid ejector that ejects a liquid containing a high concentration of fine bubbles.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem of the present invention is to suppress the splashing of liquid in a liquid injection device that injects a liquid containing bubbles, or to provide a novel technique different from the inventions described in the above prior art documents.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] As an example, the following solutions are provided.

[0006] [1] A spray gun that injects a liquid containing bubbles by squeezing a trigger, comprising: a nozzle portion having a jet outlet through which the liquid is injected; a perforated member which is a mesh screen of 25 to 150 Lpi and is disposed in front of the jet outlet and provided with a plurality of holes through which the liquid from the jet outlet passes; a cover member disposed so as to cover a part of the plurality of holes of the perforated member. The perforated member has multiple holes arranged in a circle, and when the liquid from the nozzle is sprayed at the maximum angle, the liquid passes through the holes located on the outer periphery, and when the liquid from the nozzle is sprayed at an angle less than the maximum angle, the liquid does not pass through the holes located on the outer periphery, and the cover member is arranged to cover at least a portion of the holes located on the outer periphery. The cover member covers 30% or more of the holes through which liquid can pass, in terms of area ratio. An air hole is provided between the nozzle and the perforated member, and the liquid from the nozzle and the air from the air hole are mixed and pass through the hole in the perforated member. The distance from the perforated member to the tip of the cover member is 0.3 to 1.7 times the distance from the air hole to the perforated member. A spray gun, wherein the cover member is provided with an air hole that is aligned with the air hole.

[0007] [2] A spray gun that sprays a liquid containing foam when the trigger is squeezed, A nozzle section having an outlet from which liquid is ejected, A perforated member is positioned in front of the nozzle and has multiple holes through which the liquid from the nozzle passes; A spray gun comprising a cover member positioned to cover some of the multiple holes in the perforated member.

[0008] [3] The spray gun according to [2], wherein the cover member is arranged such that the scattering of liquid droplets is suppressed compared to the case in which the cover member is not provided.

[0009] [4] The perforated member has multiple holes arranged in a circular pattern. When the liquid is ejected from the nozzle at the maximum angle, the liquid passes through the holes located on the outer circumference. If the liquid from the nozzle is ejected at an angle less than the maximum angle, the liquid will not pass through the holes located on the outer circumference. The cover member is arranged to cover at least a part of the holes located in the outer peripheral portion, the spray gun according to [2] or [3].

[0010] [5] The cover member covers 20 to 80% of the holes through which the liquid can pass in terms of area ratio, the spray gun according to [4].

[0011] [6] The cover member covers 30% or more of the holes through which the liquid can pass in terms of area ratio, the spray gun according to [4].

[0012] [7] An air hole is provided between the ejection port and the perforated member, The liquid from the ejection port and the air from the air hole are mixed and pass through the holes of the perforated member, the spray gun according to any one of [2] to [6].

[0013] [8] The distance from the perforated member to the tip of the cover member is 0.3 to 1.7 times the distance from the air hole to the perforated member, the spray gun according to [7].

[0014] [9] The cover member is provided with an air hole aligned with the air hole, the spray gun according to [7] or [8].

[0015]

[10] The perforated member is a mesh screen of 25 to 150 Lpi, the spray gun according to any one of [2] to [9].

[0016]

[11] A container for containing the liquid, A liquid injection device comprising the spray gun according to any one of [1] to

[10] .

[0017]

[12] A nozzle portion having an ejection port for ejecting the liquid, A cover member that is attached to a spray gun for spraying a foam-containing liquid by squeezing the trigger, comprising: a perforated member positioned in front of the nozzle and having a plurality of holes through which the liquid from the nozzle passes; A cover member having a cover surface that covers some of the multiple holes of the perforated member.

[0018]

[13] It has a roughly cylindrical cover body, The cover member according to

[12] , wherein a disc-shaped cover surface is provided on the inside of the cover body.

[14]

[0019] A cover member according to

[12] or

[13] that is detachable from the spray gun.

[0020]

[15] The system comprises a plurality of cover members as described in any of

[12] to

[14] , A set of cover members, wherein the area of ​​the cover surface of the first cover member among the plurality of cover members is different from the area of ​​the cover surface of the second cover member among the plurality of cover members.

[0021]

[16] The system comprises a plurality of cover members as described in any of

[12] to

[14] , A set of cover members, wherein the distance from the cover surface of the first cover member to the tip of the first cover member is different from the distance from the cover surface of the second cover member to the tip of the second cover member.

[0022]

[17] A nozzle section having an outlet from which liquid is ejected, A spray gun comprising a perforated member positioned in front of the nozzle and having multiple holes through which the liquid from the nozzle passes, for spraying a foam-containing liquid when the trigger is squeezed, A spray gun set comprising a cover member set according to

[15] or

[16] that is detachable from the spray gun. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] It can suppress the scattering of liquid droplets. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0024] [Figure 1A] Front view of the liquid injection device. [Figure 1B] Enlarged view of a portion of the liquid injection device (with cover member 3 attached). [Figure 1C] A magnified view of a portion of the liquid injection device (with cover member 3 not yet attached). [Figure 1D] Schematic diagram of the nozzle portion 22 and the perforated member 23. [Figure 1E] Front view of the perforated member 23. [Figure 2A] Schematic diagram of the nozzle portion 22 and the perforated member 23. [Figure 2B] Schematic diagram of the nozzle portion 22 and the perforated member 23. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of the nozzle portion 22, the perforated member 23, and the cover member 3. [Figure 4A] Front view of cover member 3. [Figure 4B] Side view of cover member 3. [Figure 4C] Rear view of cover member 3. [Figure 4D] Cross-sectional view of cover member 3. [Figure 5A] A diagram illustrating coverage rate and coverage length. [Figure 5B] A diagram explaining coverage rate. [Figure 6A] This figure shows the evaluation results for spray prevention effect, spray distance, dripping, and foam creaminess. [Figure 6B] This figure shows the evaluation results for spray prevention effect, spray distance, dripping, and foam creaminess. [Figure 6C] This figure shows the evaluation results for spray prevention effect, spray distance, dripping, and foam creaminess. [Figure 6D] This figure shows the evaluation results for spray prevention effect, spray distance, dripping, and foam creaminess. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1A is a front view of the liquid spraying device. Figure 1B is a magnified view of a part of the liquid spraying device with the cover member 3 (described later) attached. Figure 1C is a magnified view of a part of the liquid spraying device without the cover member 3 (described later) attached. As shown in the figures, the liquid spraying device comprises a container 1 and a spray gun 2. Any liquid (such as detergent) can be placed in the container 1. By gripping the trigger 21 of the spray gun 2 with the palm and fingers, the liquid in the container 1 is sprayed out. The spray gun 2 will be described in detail below.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1C, the spray gun 2 has a nozzle portion 22 provided at its tip and a perforated member 23 provided at the tip of the nozzle portion 22. Figure 1D shows a schematic diagram of the nozzle portion 22 and the perforated member 23 (without the cover member 3, which will be described later).

[0027] The nozzle section 22 has a nozzle outlet 221 from which liquid is ejected. The nozzle section 22 also has air holes 222 located in front of the nozzle outlet 221. There are no particular restrictions on the position, number, shape, or size of the air holes 222. For example, two elongated air holes 222 are provided, facing each other, at a distance of several millimeters from the tip of the nozzle section 22. When negative pressure is created inside the nozzle section 22, air from the outside flows into the nozzle section 22 through the air holes 222.

[0028] The perforated member 23 is positioned in front of the nozzle 221 and has multiple holes through which the liquid from the nozzle 221 passes. There are no particular restrictions on the position, number, shape, size, etc. of the holes. For example, the perforated member is a porous member with 25 to 150 Lpi (Lines per inch), preferably 30 to 120 Lpi, and may be a mesh screen. As a more specific example, as shown in Figure 1E, a front view of the perforated member 23, multiple holes 231 may be arranged in a circle.

[0029] When the trigger 21 is squeezed, the liquid (air-mixed liquid) mixed with air from the air hole 222 in the nozzle section 22 passes through the holes in the perforated member 23, and the liquid containing bubbles is sprayed out.

[0030] The inventors of this application noticed a problem with conventional liquid spraying devices: liquid droplets could unintentionally scatter, contaminating the surrounding area. The inventors identified the following causes of liquid droplet scattering.

[0031] Figures 2A and 2B show schematic diagrams of the nozzle section 22 and the perforated member 23. As shown in these figures, the liquid from the nozzle outlet 221 in the nozzle section 22 spreads at a certain angle (ejection angle), mixes with air, and reaches the perforated member 23. In detail, immediately after the trigger 21 is squeezed, the ejection angle is small (see Figure 2A). Then, the ejection angle gradually widens and eventually reaches its maximum (see Figure 2B). The air-mixed liquid that reaches the perforated member 23 before the ejection angle reaches its maximum is dispersed as fine droplets.

[0032] Therefore, the inventors of the present invention conceived that by providing a cover member 3 so as to cover a part of the holes of the perforated member 23, as shown in Figure 3, the air-mixed gas that reaches the perforated member 23 and becomes fine droplets before the spray angle reaches its maximum will be taken up by the bubbles ejected from the perforated member 23, thereby suppressing the scattering of fine droplets. In other words, they conceived that the cover member 3 should be positioned in such a way that the scattering of liquid droplets is suppressed compared to the case where the cover member 3 is not provided.

[0033] As a specific example, when multiple holes in the perforated member 23 are arranged in a circle (see Figure 1C), if the ejection angle is at its maximum, the air-mixed liquid will pass through not only the holes in the central part but also the holes located on the outer periphery. On the other hand, if the ejection angle is less than the maximum angle, the air-mixed liquid will not pass through the holes located on the outer periphery. In this case, a cover member 3 can be provided to cover (block) at least a portion of the holes located on the outer periphery in a ring shape.

[0034] The cover member 3 will be described in detail below. It is preferable that the cover member 3 is a detachable attachment to the nozzle portion 22, but it may also be fixed in a non-removable manner, or it may be integrated with the nozzle portion 22.

[0035] Figure 4A is a front view of the cover member 3 (a view of the cover member 3 shown in Figure 1B from the left side). Figure 4B is a side view of the cover member 3. Figure 4C is a rear view of the cover member 3 (a view from the opposite side to Figure 4A). Figure 4D is a cross-sectional view of the cover member 3. For convenience, the side visible in Figure 4A is called the "tip side," and the opposite side is called the "base side."

[0036] As shown in Figure 4D, the cover member 3 has a generally cylindrical cover body 31. The base end of the cover body 31 is open, and a disc-shaped tip surface 32 is provided at the tip end.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4B, the cover body 31 is provided with air holes 33. There are no particular restrictions on the position, number, shape, size, etc., of the air holes 33, but it is desirable that they be aligned with the air holes 222 of the nozzle portion 22. This allows outside air to be smoothly drawn into the nozzle portion 22 through the air holes 33 of the cover member 3 and the air holes 222 of the nozzle portion 22, even when the cover member 3 is attached. As an example, the air holes 33 are notches that extend from the base end to the tip end of the cover body 31.

[0038] Furthermore, the inner surface of the tip surface 32 of the cover body 31 (see Figures 4C and 4D) becomes the cover surface 34 that covers the hole in the perforated member 23. Specifically, the cover surface 34 is disc-shaped and has a hole 35 that penetrates to the tip surface 32. The portion of the cover surface 34 other than the hole 35 covers a part of the hole in the perforated member 23. The cover surface 34 may be in contact with the perforated member 23 (see Figure 3) or may be separated from the perforated member 23.

[0039] In this study, the inventors of the present invention found that the coverage rate and cover length (described later) of the cover member 3 affect the splash prevention effect, spray distance, dripping (liquid dripping from the perforated member 23), and the creaminess of the foam.

[0040] Here, the coverage ratio is the area ratio of the area covered by the cover surface 34 of the cover member 3 to the holes through which the liquid from the nozzle 221 in the perforated member 23 can pass. As a specific example, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, if the holes through which the liquid can pass in the perforated member 23 (holes through which the liquid passes when the spray angle is at its maximum) are circles with a diameter of 2R, and the holes 35 in the cover surface 34 are circles with a diameter of 2r, then the coverage ratio A is expressed by the following equation (1). A = {π(R 2 -r 2 )} / πR 2 =1-(r / R) 2 ...(1)

[0041] Furthermore, the cover length, as shown in Figure 5A, is the difference between the distance D from the air hole 222 to the perforated member 23 and the distance d from the perforated member 23 to the tip surface 32 of the cover member 3, and is expressed by equation (2) B below. Note that when the perforated member 23 and the cover surface 34 of the cover member 3 are in contact, the distance d can also be said to be the distance between the cover surface 34 and the tip surface 32. B = dD ... (2)

[0042] Figures 6A to 6D show the results of experiments conducted using a commercial alkaline oil stain cleaner as the liquid, while varying the cover ratio A and cover length B. Among the evaluation items, the splash prevention effect was rated on a 5-point scale from poor (1) to good (5). The splash prevention effect when cover member 3 was not provided was rated as "poor (1)". The spray distance was the distance the liquid reached when sprayed with the center of the hole 35 of the perforated member 23 at a height of 235 mm. Dripping was rated as "present" if the liquid dripped and adhered to the hand holding the trigger 21, and as "absent" otherwise. Foam creaminess was rated on a 5-point scale from poor (1) to good (5).

[0043] In Figures 6A to 6D, items that yielded particularly favorable results are shown in gray. A coverage rate A of 30% to 70% provides at least a scattering prevention effect. Therefore, a coverage rate A of approximately 20% to 80%, preferably 30% or more, is recommended.

[0044] Furthermore, by setting the cover length B to 0 (d=D), particularly favorable results were obtained for spray distance, dripping, and foam creaminess. Therefore, it is desirable to set d and D to be equivalent (specifically, d = approximately 0.3D to 1.7D, more preferably approximately 0.9D to 1.1D) and set the cover length B to approximately 0.

[0045] However, it is not necessary to limit ourselves to the above values. We can appropriately design the diameter 2r of the hole 35 in the cover surface 34 of the cover member 3, and the distance d from the perforated member 23 to the tip surface 32 of the cover member 3, taking into consideration factors such as which to prioritize: the splash prevention effect, the spray distance, dripping, or creamy foam.

[0046] Furthermore, a set of multiple cover members 3 with different areas of the cover surface 34 (in other words, the diameter 2r of the hole 35) may be provided. Alternatively, a set of multiple cover members 3 with different distances from the cover surface 34 to the tip surface 32 may be provided. Such a set may be provided as a set with the spray gun 2. This allows for the appropriate cover member 3 to be replaced depending on the priority item.

[0047] Based on the above description, those skilled in the art may be able to conceive of additional effects and various modifications of the present invention, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the individual embodiments described above. For example, inventions that take only a part of each embodiment, or inventions that combine multiple embodiments, are naturally conceivable. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible as long as they do not depart from the conceptual idea and spirit of the present invention derived from the contents of the claims and their equivalents.

[0048] For example, what is described herein as a single device (or component, hereinafter the same) (including what is depicted as a single device in the drawings) may be implemented by multiple devices. Conversely, what is described herein as multiple devices (including what is depicted as multiple devices in the drawings) may be implemented by a single device. Alternatively, some or all of the means or functions that are included in one device may be included in another device. Furthermore, a "system" may consist of one device or two or more devices.

[0049] Furthermore, not all matters described herein are mandatory requirements. In particular, matters described herein but not included in the claims can be considered optional additional matters.

[0050] It should also be noted that the applicant is only aware of the prior art inventions described in the "Prior Art Documents" section of this specification, and the present invention is not necessarily intended to solve the problems described in those prior art inventions. The problems that the present invention aims to solve should be determined by considering this specification as a whole. For example, if this specification describes that a certain effect is achieved by a particular configuration, it can also be said that the problem that is the inverse of that predetermined effect is solved. However, this does not necessarily mean that such a particular configuration is an essential requirement. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1 container 2 spray guns 21 Trigger 22 Nozzle section 221 Spout 222 air holes 23 Perforated member 231 hole 3 Cover component 31 Cover body 32 Tip surface 33 air holes 34 Cover surface 35 holes

Claims

1. A spray gun that sprays a liquid containing foam when the trigger is squeezed, A nozzle section having an outlet from which liquid is ejected, A perforated member, which is a mesh screen with a mesh size of 25 to 150 Lpi, is positioned in front of the nozzle and has multiple holes through which the liquid from the nozzle passes. The perforated member comprises a cover member arranged to cover a portion of the multiple holes of the perforated member, The perforated member has multiple holes arranged in a circle, and when the liquid from the nozzle is sprayed at the maximum angle, the liquid passes through the holes located on the outer periphery, and when the liquid from the nozzle is sprayed at an angle less than the maximum angle, the liquid does not pass through the holes located on the outer periphery, and the cover member is arranged to cover at least a portion of the holes located on the outer periphery. The cover member covers 30% or more of the holes through which liquid can pass, in terms of area ratio. An air hole is provided between the nozzle and the perforated member, and the liquid from the nozzle and the air from the air hole are mixed and pass through the hole in the perforated member. The distance from the perforated member to the tip of the cover member is 0.3 to 1.7 times the distance from the air hole to the perforated member. A spray gun, wherein the cover member is provided with an air hole that is aligned with the air hole.

2. A spray gun that sprays a liquid containing foam when the trigger is squeezed, A nozzle section having an outlet from which liquid is ejected, A perforated member is positioned in front of the nozzle and has multiple holes through which the liquid from the nozzle passes; A spray gun comprising a cover member positioned to cover some of the multiple holes in the perforated member.

3. The spray gun according to claim 2, wherein the cover member is arranged in such a way that it can suppress the scattering of liquid droplets compared to when the cover member is not provided.

4. The perforated member has multiple holes arranged in a circular pattern. When the liquid is ejected from the nozzle at the maximum angle, the liquid passes through the holes located on the outer circumference. If the liquid from the nozzle is ejected at an angle less than the maximum angle, the liquid will not pass through the holes located on the outer circumference. The spray gun according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cover member is arranged to cover at least a portion of the holes located in the outer peripheral portion.

5. The spray gun according to claim 4, wherein the cover member covers 20 to 80% of the holes through which liquid can pass, in terms of area ratio.

6. The spray gun according to claim 4, wherein the cover member covers 30% or more of the holes through which liquid can pass in terms of area ratio.

7. An air hole is provided between the nozzle and the perforated member. The spray gun according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the liquid from the nozzle and the air from the air hole are mixed and pass through the holes of the perforated member.

8. The spray gun according to claim 7, wherein the distance from the perforated member to the tip of the cover member is 0.3 to 1.7 times the distance from the air hole to the perforated member.

9. The spray gun according to claim 7, wherein the cover member is provided with an air hole that is aligned with the air hole.

10. The spray gun according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the perforated member is a mesh screen with a density of 25 to 150 Lpi.

11. A container that can hold liquid, A liquid spraying device comprising a spray gun according to claim 1 or 2.

12. A nozzle section having an outlet from which liquid is ejected, A cover member that is attached to a spray gun for spraying a foam-containing liquid by squeezing the trigger, comprising: a perforated member positioned in front of the nozzle and having a plurality of holes through which the liquid from the nozzle passes; A cover member having a cover surface that covers some of the multiple holes of the perforated member.

13. It has a roughly cylindrical cover body, The cover member according to claim 12, wherein a disc-shaped cover surface is provided on the inside of the cover body.

14. The cover member according to claim 12 or 13, which is detachable from the spray gun.

15. The plurality of cover members as described in claim 12, A set of cover members wherein the area of ​​the cover surface of the first cover member among the plurality of cover members is different from the area of ​​the cover surface of the second cover member among the plurality of cover members.

16. The plurality of cover members as described in claim 12, A set of cover members, wherein the distance from the cover surface of the first cover member to the tip of the first cover member is different from the distance from the cover surface of the second cover member to the tip of the second cover member.

17. A nozzle section having an outlet from which liquid is ejected, A spray gun comprising a perforated member positioned in front of the nozzle and having multiple holes through which the liquid from the nozzle passes, for spraying a foam-containing liquid when the trigger is squeezed, A spray gun set comprising a cover member set according to claim 15 or 16, which is detachable from the spray gun.

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