Drying device

Abstract

To inhibit variation in the degree of drying of each finger.SOLUTION: A drier 1 comprises a plurality of finger holders 41 on which a plurality of fingers U can be individually arranged, and a fan motor 411 that is provided for each of the plurality of finger holders 41. This can inhibit variation in the degree of drying of each finger U.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drying device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known devices for drying nail polish or the like applied to nails. For example, the device described in Patent Document 1 has a drying chamber with a fan or electric heater at the top, and multiple fingers placed in the drying chamber are dried by the fan or electric heater. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-287744 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the drying conditions such as the air volume and air direction for each of the multiple fingers are not uniform, which results in uneven drying of the fingers. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to suppress variations in the degree of dryness of each finger. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the drying device of the present invention comprises: a plurality of finger placement units on which a plurality of fingers can be individually placed; a finger drying means provided in each of the plurality of finger placement sections; An intermittent movement mechanism configured to be movable while intermittently locking the finger placement portion on one side in the first direction of the finger placement portion; Equipped with Huh? One side in the first direction of the finger placement portion corresponds to the tip side of the finger disposed on the finger placement portion; The intermittent movement mechanism includes: A plurality of teeth provided on the finger placement portion and arranged along the first direction; A locking claw whose position in the first direction is fixed; Second biasing means for biasing the locking claw toward the finger placement portion and meshing the locking claw with the plurality of teeth; Release means for releasing the biasing force of the second biasing means and releasing the meshing between the locking claw and the plurality of teeth; Characterized by comprising.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, variations in the degree of dryness of each finger can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] An embodiment of the drying device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. Note that, although various technically preferable limitations are imposed on the embodiments described below for carrying out the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples. Also, in the following embodiments, a case where the drying device dries the fingernails of the fingers of a hand will be described as an example, but the drying target of the drying device according to the present invention is not limited to the fingernails of the fingers of a hand, and for example, the fingernails of the toes may be a drying target.

[0009] It seems there is a small error in the original text where the line break "??" is used instead of a proper ID. I've translated it as best as possible with the given text.FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the drying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drying apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 3. In FIG. 2, illustration of the upper cover 3 described later is omitted. In the following embodiments, up / down, left / right, and front / rear refer to the directions shown in the drawings.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the drying apparatus 1 has a main body case 2 formed in a substantially box shape. The upper surface of the main body case 2 is open, and this opening is closed by a substantially flat upper cover 3. The upper cover 3 has a ventilation opening 31 formed over most of it, and the ventilation opening 31 allows the inside and outside of the main body case 2 to communicate with each other. In addition, an opening 21 is provided on the front surface of the main body case 2 over substantially the entire surface except for the upper portion thereof. The opening 21 functions as an insertion port or the like for inserting a finger U (see FIG. 3) having a nail T to be dried into the main body case 2.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2, a finger position adjustment mechanism 4 is accommodated inside the main body case 2. The finger position adjustment mechanism 4 is an example of the intermittent movement mechanism according to the present invention, and while supporting the plurality of fingers U so that the longitudinal positions of the plurality of fingers U can be individually adjusted, the nails T of the respective fingers U are dried. Specifically, the finger position adjustment mechanism 4 includes a plurality (six in this embodiment) of finger arrangement units 40 arranged side by side left and right. The plurality of finger arrangement units 40 correspond to the plurality of fingers U, and among them, four in the left-right center are the first finger arrangement units 40a for arranging the four fingers other than the thumb, and two on both the left and right sides are the second finger arrangement units 40b for arranging the thumbs. The two second finger arrangement units 40b are such that the one on the left is for the right thumb (see FIG. 7), and the one on the right is for the left thumb, and they are inclined left and right so that the upper surfaces face obliquely upward and outward of the apparatus. In the following, unless otherwise specified, the first finger arrangement unit 40a for arranging the four fingers other than the thumb will be described as an example. The second finger arrangement unit 40b is configured substantially the same as the first finger arrangement unit 40a except for the above-described left and right inclinations.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each finger placement unit 40 has a finger placement base 41, a first biasing spring 42, a locking claw 43, and a second biasing spring 44. The finger placement base 41 is an example of the finger placement portion according to the present invention, and is a portion where one finger U of the hand is placed, and is formed to be long in the front-rear direction. The upper surface of the finger placement base 41 is a finger placement surface 41a that supports the finger U, and is formed in a concave shape with the left and right centers recessed corresponding to the palm of the finger U. The longitudinal direction D (front-rear direction, first direction) of the finger placement base 41 corresponds to the extending direction of the finger U disposed on the finger placement base 41, and one side (rear side) thereof corresponds to the tip side of the finger U.

[0013] The finger placement base 41 is supported by the main body case 2 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the lower surface of the main body case 2 has a substantially front half portion of the portion excluding both left and right sides raised in an isosceles trapezoid shape, and a partition plate 24 that partitions the upper surface into a plurality of lanes 23 corresponding to the plurality of finger placement bases 41 is erected on the upper surface of this raised portion. Guide protrusions 24a along the front-rear direction are erected on the side surface of the partition plate 24, and guide grooves 41b corresponding to the guide protrusions 24a are formed on both side surfaces of the finger placement base 41. The finger placement base 41 is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction by engaging the guide grooves 41b with the guide protrusions 24a of the main body case 2 so as to be guided.

[0014] A small fan motor 411, which is an example of the finger drying means according to the present invention, is integrally provided at the rear end portion of the finger placement base 41. The fan motor 411 is fixed to a fan support portion 41c erected at the rear end of the finger placement base 41, and is disposed above the rear end portion of the finger placement surface 41a so as to be able to blow air downward. The fan motor 411 blows air toward the claw T disposed at the rear end portion of the finger placement surface 41a. Note that the finger drying means according to the present invention is not limited to the fan motor as long as it is provided on each finger placement base 41 and can dry the finger U (claw T), and may be, for example, a heating element or the like.

[0015] The first biasing spring 42 is disposed on the rear side of the finger rest 41 and between the finger rest 41 and the rear part of the main body case 2. This first biasing spring 42 is an example of the first biasing means according to the present invention, and biases the finger rest 41 forward.

[0016] The locking claw 43 and the second biasing spring 44 are for intermittently moving the finger rest 41 rearward. Among these, the locking claw 43 is disposed below the finger rest 41 and is configured to be engageable with a plurality of teeth 41d formed on the lower surface of the finger rest 41. The second biasing spring 44 is an example of the second biasing means according to the present invention, biases the locking claw 43 upward toward the finger rest 41, and causes the locking claw 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d to engage with each other. Specifically, the locking claw 43 is inserted through a through hole 23a formed in the lane 23 of the main body case 2 and is supported so as to be movable vertically while the position in the front-rear direction is fixed. The plurality of teeth 41d that engage with the locking claw 43 are arranged along the longitudinal direction D of the finger rest 41 over substantially the entire lower surface of the finger rest 41.

[0017] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the tip (upper end) of the locking claw 43 is formed in a substantially serrated shape having a front surface that curves so as to be gradually positioned rearward toward the tip and a flat rear surface that is substantially orthogonal to the front-rear direction. On the other hand, the tip (lower end) of each tooth 41d of the finger rest 41 is formed in a substantially serrated shape having a flat front surface that is substantially orthogonal to the front-rear direction and a rear surface that curves so as to be gradually positioned forward toward the tip.

[0018] With such a configuration, when the finger rest 41 attempts to move forward in a state where the locking claw 43 is engaged with the plurality of teeth 41d, the flat front surface of the tooth 41d and the rear surface of the locking claw 43 abut against each other. As a result, the finger rest 41 is locked by the locking claw 43 and the forward movement is restricted. On the other hand, when the finger rest 41 attempts to move rearward, the rear surfaces of the teeth 41d curved so as to face each other come into contact with the front surface of the locking claw 43, and the teeth 41d push down the locking claw 43 downward against the biasing force of the second biasing spring 44. Then, when the teeth 41d that have pushed down the locking claw 43 pass rearward, the locking claw 43 is biased upward by the second biasing spring 44 and returns to the front position of the teeth 41d, and is locked to the next tooth 41d adjacent to the front of the teeth 41d. By repeating this, the finger rest 41 moves rearward while being intermittently locked at the pitch between adjacent teeth 41d. Therefore, when a plurality of teeth 41d are engaged with the locking claw 43, the finger rest 41 moves intermittently toward one side (rearward) in the longitudinal direction D, and its movement toward the other side (forward) in the longitudinal direction D is restricted.

[0019] Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the finger position adjusting mechanism 4 includes a release plate 46 that releases the engagement between the locking claw 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d. The release plate 46 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape perpendicular to the vertical direction, and supports the locking claw 43 and the second biasing spring 44 from below. More specifically, the locking claws 43 and the second biasing springs 44 of all the finger arrangement units 40 are supported by a support plate 47, and the release plate 46 supports the locking claws 43 and the second biasing springs 44 via the support plate 47. The release plate 46 is housed below the lower surface of the main body case 2 that bulges in an isosceles trapezoid shape, and is supported by the main body case 2 and the lower cover 5 so as to be movable back and forth while its lower side is covered by the lower cover 5. Further, a handle portion 46c for the user to operate the release plate 46 back and forth is formed at the center of the left and right of the front end of the release plate 46.

[0020] The release plate 46 has a high platform portion 46a on the front side and a low platform portion 46b on the rear side thereof via a stepped portion 46d slightly on the rear side of the center in the front-rear direction. The high platform portion 46a and the low platform portion 46b are integrally formed by a plurality of fins standing along the front-rear direction. The raised portion 46a is formed at a height that supports the support plate 47 (the locking claw 43 and the second biasing spring 44) such that the locking claw 43 can mesh with a plurality of teeth 41d. The raised portion 46a supports the support plate 47 in a normal state where the release plate 46 is housed in the main body case 2. Further, the rear end portion (the connecting portion with the lowered portion 46b) of the raised portion 46a is formed in a tapered shape that smoothly connects to the lowered portion 46b so that the support plate 47 can easily return from the lowered portion 46b (can easily climb the stepped portion 46d). The lowered portion 46b is at a height lower than that of the raised portion 46a and is formed at a height that supports the support plate 47 (the locking claw 43 and the second biasing spring 44) so as to release the engagement between the locking claw 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d (separate the locking claw 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d). Therefore, when the release plate 46 is moved forward from the normal position, the biasing force of the second biasing spring 44 is temporarily released in all the finger arrangement units 40, and the engagement between the locking claw 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d is released (see FIG. 8). Among the release plates 46, the left and right side portions corresponding to the second finger arrangement unit 40b are formed lower by an amount corresponding to the inclination of the second finger arrangement unit 40b than the portions corresponding to the first finger arrangement unit 40a so that the support plate 47 (the locking claw 43 and the second biasing spring 44) can also be supported in the second finger arrangement unit 40b in the same manner as in the first finger arrangement unit 40a. Further, the release plate 46 may be provided individually in each finger arrangement unit 40 so as to release the biasing force of the second biasing spring 44 and release the engagement between the locking claw 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a control block diagram showing a schematic control configuration of the drying apparatus 1. As shown in this figure, in addition to the above-described configuration, the drying apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 61, a storage unit 64, a control unit 65, and the like.

[0022] The operation unit 61 is configured to perform various inputs, settings, etc. according to the operations of the user, and an input signal corresponding to the operation received by the operation unit 61 is transmitted to the control unit 65. The operation unit 61 of the present embodiment includes, for example, a button for starting / stopping the fan motor 411. However, the specific configuration of the operation unit 61 is not particularly limited, and for example, various operation buttons, a keyboard, a pointing device, a touch panel, etc. may be provided as the operation unit 61. The storage unit 64 stores various information, various programs, etc. for operating the drying device 1. The control unit 65 controls each part of the drying device 1. By expanding and executing the program in the storage unit 64 in the work area by the control unit 65, each part of the drying device 1 is comprehensively controlled.

[0023] Note that the drying device 1 may be configured to be communicable with a terminal device (not shown) that functions as a user interface. The terminal device is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet. However, the terminal device is not particularly limited as long as it can communicate with the drying device 1, and may be, for example, a notebook or stationary personal computer, a terminal device for games, etc. Further, the drying device 1 may include a display unit or the like that displays various information based on a display command from the control unit 65.

[0024] Subsequently, the operation of the drying device 1 will be described. FIGS. 6 and 8 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the drying device 1, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the state when the right hand H is inserted into the drying device 1.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 6(a), in the drying device 1 when not in use (not drying the fingers), in each finger placement unit 40, the finger rest 41 is biased by the first biasing spring 42 and is located at the front end of its movement range. Further, the release plate 46 is entirely housed in the main body case 2, and the high platform portion 46a supports the support plate 47. Therefore, the locking claw 43 supported by the support plate 47 meshes with the plurality of teeth 41d of the finger rest 41.

[0026] In this state, when the user inserts the finger U into the finger placement surface 41a of the finger placement base 41 and pushes the finger placement base 41 toward the back side (rear side) of the apparatus with the finger U against the biasing force of the first biasing spring 42, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the finger placement base 41 moves backward while being intermittently locked by the locking claw 43. Therefore, the finger placement base 41 moves to the front-rear position where the finger U extends naturally without difficulty and is locked there.

[0027] In the finger position adjustment mechanism 4, such movement of the finger placement base 41 is performed in each finger placement unit 40 (a plurality of finger placement bases 41 move individually). Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the five fingers U of the right hand H are individually inserted into the plurality of finger placement units 40, the finger placement bases 41 of each finger placement unit 40 are arranged at positions corresponding to the lengths of the inserted fingers U. Thereby, the user can arrange each of the plurality of fingers U with different lengths in a natural state.

[0028] Then, the user drives the fan motor 411 provided on each finger placement base 41 by operating the operation unit 61. Then, in each finger placement unit 40, the fan motor 411 starts blowing air toward the nail T of the finger U arranged at the rear end portion of the finger placement base 41, and the nail T is dried. Since the fan motor 411 is provided on each finger placement base 41, it is possible to make the drying conditions such as the air volume and the air direction uniform for the finger U of each finger placement base 41, and to dry the nails T of each finger U evenly.

[0029] When the drying is completed, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the user stops the fan motor 411, removes the finger U from the finger placement base 41, and then pulls out the release plate 46 toward the front side (front) of the apparatus by holding the handle portion 46c. Along with the movement of this release plate 46, the portion supporting the support plate 47 becomes lower from the high platform portion 46a to the low platform portion 46b. As a result, the positions of all the locking claws 43 supported by the support plate 47 are lowered, and the meshing between the locking claws 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d is temporarily released in all the finger placement units 40. Then, as shown in FIG. 8(b), since the locking of the finger rest 41 by the locking claw 43 is released, the finger rest 41 returns to the front end position within its movement range by the biasing force of the first biasing spring 42. Then, by pushing the release plate 46 backward and housing it in the main body case 2, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the finger position adjusting mechanism 4 returns to its original state.

[0030] As described above, according to the present embodiment, each of the plurality of finger rests 41 on which a plurality of fingers U can be individually arranged is provided with a fan motor 411 as a finger drying means. Thereby, unlike the conventional case where the air volume, air direction, etc. for each finger are non-uniform, it is possible to suppress variations in the drying degree of each finger U arranged on the plurality of finger rests 41.

[0031] Further, according to the present embodiment, the finger position adjusting mechanism 4 moves while intermittently locking the finger rest 41 on one side in the longitudinal direction D thereof (the tip side of the finger U arranged on the finger rest 41; the rear side). Therefore, the finger rest 41 moves to a position where the finger U extends naturally as the finger U is inserted, and is locked there. Thereby, the user can arrange the finger U on the finger rest 41 in a natural state without force.

[0032] Further, according to the present embodiment, the finger position adjusting mechanism 4 individually moves the plurality of finger rests 41. Thereby, the user can arrange each of the plurality of fingers U having different lengths in a natural state.

[0033] Further, according to the present embodiment, the finger position adjusting mechanism 4 includes a second biasing spring 44 that biases the locking claw 43 toward the finger rest 41 and meshes the locking claw 43 with a plurality of teeth 41d, and a release plate 46 that releases the biasing force of the second biasing spring 44 and releases the engagement between the locking claw 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d. Thereby, the engagement between the locking claw 43 and the plurality of teeth 41d can be easily released by operating the release plate 46.

[0034] Further, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of locking claws 43 and a plurality of second biasing springs 44 are provided corresponding to the plurality of finger placing bases 41, and the release plate 46 releases the biasing forces of the plurality of second biasing springs 44 at once. Thereby, by operating the release plate 46, the locked states of the plurality of finger placing bases 41 can be released all at once.

[0035] Further, according to the present embodiment, the finger position adjusting mechanism 4 includes a first biasing spring 42 that biases the finger placing base 41 toward the other side (front side) in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, when the locking of the finger placing base 41 is released by the release plate 46, the finger placing base 41 can be suitably returned to the forward position by the biasing force of the first biasing spring 42.

[0036] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

[0037] For example, in the present embodiment, six finger placement units 40 corresponding to the left and right hands are provided. However, as long as a plurality of finger placement units 40 (finger placing bases 41) are provided, the quantity and the like are not particularly limited. For example, the second finger placement unit 40b corresponding to the thumb may not be provided.

[0038] Further, in the present embodiment, the finger position adjusting mechanism 4 is configured to be able to individually move the plurality of finger placing bases 41. However, the finger position adjusting mechanism 4 may be configured to move while intermittently locking the finger placing bases 41, and may be configured such that the plurality of finger placing bases 41 move in the same manner. Further, the direction in which the finger position adjusting mechanism moves the finger placing base (the first direction according to the present invention) is not limited to the longitudinal direction of the finger placing base, and may be, for example, the width direction of the finger placing base.

[0039] Further, it is also possible to detect the forward and backward movement of the finger placement base 41 and use the detection result for controlling the drying device 1 by the control unit 65. For example, when the finger placement base 41 moves from the normal position (the position in Fig. 6(a)) and a certain time has elapsed, it may be determined that the finger U is arranged at a predetermined position and drying by the fan motor 411 may be started. The movement (front and rear positions) of the finger placement base 41 may be detected by various sensors or the like.

[0040] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof. The invention described in the claims first attached to the application form of this application is appended below. The claim numbers described in the appendix are as in the claims first attached to the application form of this application. 〔Appendix〕 <Claim 1> A plurality of finger placement parts capable of individually arranging a plurality of fingers; Finger drying means provided in each of the plurality of finger placement parts; Comprising A drying device characterized by the above. <Claim 2> An intermittent movement mechanism configured to be movable while intermittently locking the finger placement part on one side in the first direction of the finger placement part; One side in the first direction of the finger placement part corresponds to the tip side of the finger arranged on the finger placement part; The drying device according to claim 1, characterized by the above. <Claim 3> The intermittent movement mechanism individually moves the plurality of finger placement parts; The drying device according to claim 2, characterized by the above. <Claim 4> The intermittent movement mechanism A plurality of teeth provided on the finger placement part and arranged along the first direction; A locking claw with a fixed position in the first direction; Comprising When the finger placement part moves to one side in the first direction, the locking claw engages with the plurality of teeth, thereby intermittently locking and moving the finger placement part. The drying device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that. <Claim 5> The intermittent movement mechanism A second biasing means for biasing the locking claw toward the finger placement part and engaging the locking claw with the plurality of teeth; A release means for releasing the biasing force of the second biasing means and releasing the engagement between the locking claw and the plurality of teeth; Comprising The drying device according to claim 4, characterized in that. <Claim 6> A plurality of the locking claws and the second biasing means are provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of finger placement parts, The release means releases the biasing forces of the plurality of second biasing means at one time. The drying device according to claim 5, characterized in that. <Claim 7> The intermittent movement mechanism includes a first biasing means for biasing the finger placement part toward the other side in the first direction. The drying device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0041] 1 Drying device 2 Main body case 23a Through hole 4 Finger position adjustment mechanism (intermittent movement mechanism) 40 Finger placement unit 41 Finger placement base (finger placement part) 41a Finger placement surface 41c Fan support part 41d Teeth 411 Fan motor (finger drying means) 42 First biasing spring (first biasing means) 43 Locking claw 44 Second biasing spring (second biasing means) 46 Release plate (release means) 46a High platform part 46b Low platform part 46c Handle part 47 Support plate D Longitudinal direction (first direction) T Claw U Finger

Claims

1. a plurality of finger placement parts capable of arranging a plurality of fingers individually; finger drying means provided in each of the plurality of finger placement parts; an intermittent movement mechanism configured to be movable while intermittently locking the finger placement part to one side in a first direction of the finger placement part; comprising; one side in the first direction of the finger placement part corresponds to the tip side of the finger arranged in the finger placement part; the intermittent movement mechanism; a plurality of teeth provided on the finger placement part and arranged along the first direction; a locking claw whose position in the first direction is fixed; second biasing means for biasing the locking claw toward the finger placement part and meshing the locking claw with the plurality of teeth; release means for releasing the biasing force of the second biasing means and releasing the meshing between the locking claw and the plurality of teeth; comprising; a drying device characterized by the above.

2. The intermittent movement mechanism moves the plurality of finger placement parts individually. The drying device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

3. The intermittent movement mechanism; when the finger placement part moves to one side in the first direction, the locking claw meshes with the plurality of teeth, so as to move the finger placement part while intermittently locking it. The drying device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that.

4. A plurality of the locking claws and the second biasing means are provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of finger placement parts. The release means temporarily releases the biasing forces of the plurality of second biasing means. The drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that.

5. The intermittent movement mechanism includes first biasing means for biasing the finger placement part to the other side in the first direction. The drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

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