Oral irrigation device

Abstract

To provide an oral cavity washing device more efficiently washing the inside of the oral cavity.SOLUTION: An oral cavity washing device 1 includes: a tank 2 storing liquid; a nozzle 4 capable of discharging the liquid into the oral cavity; a pump 33 sucking the liquid stored in the tank 2 and discharging the liquid through the nozzle 4; and a pump drive mechanism 34 driving the pump 33. The pump 33 has a piston 331 performing reciprocating linear motion in one direction. The pump 33 alternately performs a suction process for sucking the liquid into the pump 33 and a discharge process for discharging the liquid from the pump 33 by making the piston 331 perform the reciprocating linear motion. The piston 331 can be reciprocated once so that a period of time taken for the suction process is different from a period of time taken for the discharge process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an oral cleaning device. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a pump-driven oral cleaning device is known. In this Patent Document 1, the pump is driven by driving a motor. Specifically, the rotational motion of the motor is converted into reciprocating linear motion to cause the piston to perform reciprocating linear motion within the cylinder, such that a process of sucking liquid into the pump and a process of discharging liquid inside the pump to the outside are alternately performed. By this means, liquid is discharged into the user's oral cavity through a member such as a nozzle, enabling cleaning of the user's oral cavity. [[Prior Art Literature]] [[Patent Literature]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-200424 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] As described above, in an oral cleaning device configured to cause a piston to reciprocate linearly in a cylinder using a motor, it is preferable to enable more efficient cleaning of the oral cavity and the like.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to obtain an oral cleaning device that enables more efficient cleaning of the oral cavity and the like. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0006] An oral irrigation device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a tank for storing liquid, a nozzle capable of discharging liquid into the oral cavity via a liquid channel supplied with the liquid stored in the tank, a pump positioned in the liquid channel for drawing in the liquid stored in the tank and discharging it from the nozzle, and a pump drive mechanism for driving the pump, wherein the pump has a piston that moves back and forth linearly in one direction, and by moving the piston back and forth linearly, an suction step in which liquid is drawn into the pump and a discharge step in which liquid is discharged from the pump are performed alternately, and it is possible to move the piston back and forth such that the time taken for the suction step and the time taken for the discharge step are different. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to obtain an oral cleaning device that can more efficiently clean the inside of the mouth. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure schematically shows an oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This diagram schematically shows the pump and pump drive mechanism of the oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing the pump drive mechanism with a piston for an oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is a plan view showing the pump drive mechanism with a piston for an oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This figure compares the piston displacement and liquid discharge volume when the discharge time is shorter than the suction time with that of a normal pump. [Figure 7] This figure compares the piston displacement and liquid discharge volume when the discharge process time is longer than the suction process time with that of a normal pump. [Figure 8]This figure schematically shows an oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 9] This diagram schematically shows the pump and pump drive mechanism of the oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view from one direction of the piston-equipped pump drive mechanism of the oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the pump drive mechanism with a piston of the oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 2, viewed from another direction. [Figure 12] This is a side view showing the pump drive mechanism with a piston for an oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 13] This is a plan view showing the pump drive mechanism with a piston for an oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 14] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of BB. [Figure 15] This diagram compares the motor current values ​​with and without an assist mechanism. [Figure 16] This figure schematically shows a first modified example of the assist mechanism provided in the pump drive mechanism of the oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 17] This figure schematically shows a second modified example of the assist mechanism provided in the pump drive mechanism of the oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 18] This figure schematically shows an oral irrigation device according to Embodiment 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted.

[0010] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter by the foregoing.

[0011] In addition, similar components are included in the following embodiments and their modifications. Therefore, in the following description, common reference numerals are assigned to these similar components, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0012] In addition, in the following embodiments, the description is made by defining the up-down direction in a state where the oral cleaning device is arranged such that the nozzle is positioned on the upper side.

[0013] (Embodiment 1) The oral cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a tank 2, a device main body 3, and a nozzle 4, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0014] The tank 2 is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape that opens upward and is closed at the lower end side, and a storage portion 2a capable of storing liquid is formed inside the tank 2. Water can be used as the liquid stored in the storage portion 2a, but the liquid is not limited to water, and various liquids can be used. For example, a cleaning liquid in which a cleaning agent is mixed into water can be used.

[0015] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the tank 2 is detachably attached to the device main body 3, so that the tank 2 can be cleaned in a state separated from the device main body 3. By doing so, the tank 2 can be kept cleaner. Such a tank 2 can be formed of, for example, polypropylene resin so that it can be cleaned in a dishwasher.

[0016] In this embodiment, the tank 2 comprises a roughly cylindrical body 21 with openings at the top and bottom, and a bottom wall 22 that closes the lower opening of the cylindrical body 21. A liquid supply hole (not shown) is formed in the side of the tank 2 (cylindrical body 21) that allows liquid to be injected into the storage section 2a, and this liquid supply hole is closed by a liquid supply lid 211. This allows liquid to be supplied to the storage section 2a inside the tank 2 while the tank 2 is attached to the device body 3.

[0017] On the other hand, the main body of the device 3 is equipped with a housing 31 that forms the outer casing. This housing 31 is roughly cylindrical in shape and elongated in the vertical direction, and the main components such as the pump 33, which will be described later, are housed inside this cylinder of housing 31. In addition, the housing 31 is constricted approximately in the middle in the longitudinal direction, making it easy for the user to grip when using the oral irrigation device 1.

[0018] In this embodiment, the housing 31 comprises a top wall 311, a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 312 extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 311, and a bottom wall 313 connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall 312.

[0019] A nozzle mounting section 3111 is formed on the top wall 311, and a nozzle 4, which is formed in a hollow, elongated shape and capable of discharging (spraying) liquid from its tip, is detachably attached to this nozzle mounting section 3111.

[0020] Furthermore, the peripheral wall 312 is provided with a button (not shown) that allows the nozzle 4 to be removed from the housing 31 (device body 3), and a power switch (not shown) that starts or stops the oral irrigation device 1 (switches the power on or off).

[0021] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a recessed area 3121 is formed in the lower part of the peripheral wall 312, and the tank 2 is detachably mounted in this recessed area 3121.

[0022] With the tank 2 installed in the recess 3121, the bottom surface 221 of the bottom wall 22 of the tank 2 and the bottom surface 3131 of the bottom wall 313 of the housing 31 are made to be approximately flush and flat surfaces. This allows the oral irrigator 1 to be placed in a position with the nozzle 4 facing upwards when not in use.

[0023] Furthermore, a liquid channel 32 is formed inside the housing 31 (device body 3) for supplying the liquid stored in the tank 2 to the nozzle 4.

[0024] In this embodiment, the liquid flow path 32 includes an intake passage 321 located upstream of the liquid flow path 32 and a discharge passage 322 located downstream of the liquid flow path 32, and the intake passage 321 and the discharge passage 322 are connected via a pump 33. Thus, in this embodiment, the pump 33 is located in the middle of the liquid flow path 32.

[0025] In this embodiment, the intake passage 321 is defined by a hollow tube 3211, such as a pipe, which penetrates the peripheral wall 312 and has its tip (upstream end) facing the recess 3121. A flexible tube 5 is attached to the tip (upstream end) of the tube 3211 facing the recess 3121, and the liquid stored in the tank 2 is supplied into the liquid flow path 32 via this tube 5. By using a flexible tube 5 in this way, the tank 2 can be easily attached to and detached from the device body 3.

[0026] Furthermore, the discharge passage 322 is also defined by a hollow pipe 3221, which is formed to penetrate the top wall 311 and open upwards, with the tip (downstream end) of the pipe 3221 communicating with the nozzle 4.

[0027] Furthermore, an intake valve (not shown) is provided between the pump chamber 333 and the intake passage 321, and a discharge valve (not shown) is provided between the pump chamber 333 and the discharge passage 322.

[0028] In this embodiment, the liquid channel 32 is provided inside the housing 31 (inside the device body 3) such that one end communicates with the inner space of the nozzle mounting portion 3111 and the other end faces the recess 3121. A tube 5 is attached to the other end facing the recess 3121. In this way, the liquid in the tank 2 introduced via the tube 5 passes through the liquid channel 32 and is supplied to the nozzle 4.

[0029] In this embodiment, the tube 5 is integrally attached to the tip (upstream end) of the pipe 3211 and is positioned inside the storage section 2a of the tank 2 when the tank 2 is mounted on the device body 3. The liquid stored in the storage section 2a is then introduced into the housing 31 (inside the device body 3) via this tube 5.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a pump drive mechanism 34 is located inside the housing 31 (device body 3). This pump drive mechanism 34 operates the pump 33, which draws up the liquid in the storage section 2a through the tube 5, passes it through the liquid flow path 32, and discharges (sprays) it from the tip of the nozzle 4.

[0031] As described above, the oral irrigation device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a pump 33 and a pump drive mechanism 34 that drives the pump 33, and is a device that discharges liquid when the pump 33 is driven.

[0032] In this embodiment, the pump 33 includes a pump chamber 333 through which an intake passage 321 and a discharge passage 322 are connected, a cylinder 332 formed to communicate with the lower end of the pump chamber 333, and a piston 331 disposed within the cylinder 332.

[0033] The piston 331 is connected to the pump drive mechanism 34, which causes it to reciprocate linearly in the vertical direction (one direction) within the cylinder 332. As the piston 331 reciprocates linearly in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332, the volume of the pump chamber 333 changes.

[0034] Specifically, when the piston 331 moves downward within the cylinder 332, the volume of the pump chamber 333 increases, and the liquid in the tank 2 flows into the pump chamber 333 via the tube 5 and the suction passage 321. Subsequently, with the liquid flowing into the pump chamber 333, when the piston 331 moves upward within the cylinder 332, the volume of the pump chamber 333 decreases, and the liquid in the pump chamber 333 is supplied to the nozzle 4 via the discharge passage 322. The liquid supplied to the nozzle 4 is then discharged (ejected) to the outside from the tip of the nozzle 4.

[0035] Thus, in this embodiment, the piston 331 moves downward within the cylinder 332 to perform an intake process in which liquid is drawn into the pump chamber 333, and moves upward to perform a discharge process in which liquid is discharged from the pump chamber 333 to the outside. In other words, the intake process and the discharge process are performed alternately by the piston 331's reciprocating linear motion between the top dead center and the bottom dead center. Therefore, when the piston 331 completes one reciprocating motion in the vertical direction from the top dead center, the intake process and the discharge process are performed once each.

[0036] This configuration allows liquid to be intermittently discharged from the tip of the nozzle 4 attached to the main body 3 of the device.

[0037] In this embodiment, the pump drive mechanism 34 is equipped with a motor 341, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. By driving this motor 341, the piston 331 is made to reciprocate linearly in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332.

[0038] Specifically, the pump drive mechanism 34 includes a motor 341 and a conversion mechanism 344 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 341 into reciprocating linear motion. A piston 331 is connected to this conversion mechanism 344, causing the piston 331 to reciprocate linearly in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332. The motor 341 is driven by power supplied from a battery (such as a rechargeable battery or dry cell battery) housed inside the main body of the device 3, or from an external power source.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pump drive mechanism 34 includes a reduction mechanism 342 that reduces the rotational speed of the motor 341, and a transmission mechanism 343 that transmits the rotational motion reduced by the reduction mechanism 342 to the conversion mechanism 344. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotational speed (number of rotations) of the motor 341 is reduced by the reduction mechanism 342 to a predetermined rotational speed (number of rotations), and then converted into reciprocating linear motion by the conversion mechanism 344.

[0040] At this time, by adjusting the reduction ratio of the reduction mechanism 342, the time it takes for the piston 331 to complete one reciprocation (the time required for one suction and one discharge cycle) can be set to a desired time. Considering the usability of the oral irrigation device 1, the piston pulsation rate (number of reciprocations of the piston 331 per minute) is preferably 500 rpm to 3000 rpm. Therefore, the time it takes for the piston 331 to complete one reciprocation (the time required for one suction and one discharge cycle), that is, the time required for one cycle of the pump 33, is preferably 0.02 seconds to 0.12 seconds.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the reduction mechanism 342 includes a pinion gear 3421 attached to the motor shaft 3411 of the motor 341 and rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the motor shaft 3411, and a reduction gear 3422 that meshes with the pinion gear 3421. Furthermore, the reduction mechanism 342 includes a first output shaft 3423 that supports the reduction gear 3422 and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the reduction gear 3422. By setting the gear ratio of the pinion gear 3421 and the reduction gear 3422 to a predetermined value, the rotational speed (rotational speed) of the motor 341 is reduced to a predetermined rotational speed (rotational speed).

[0042] A transmission mechanism 343 is connected to the first output shaft 3423. Specifically, the transmission mechanism 343 includes a first transmission gear 3431 that is mounted on the first output shaft 3423 and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the first output shaft 3423. The transmission mechanism 343 also includes a second transmission gear 3432 that meshes with the first transmission gear 3431. Furthermore, the transmission mechanism 343 includes a second output shaft 3433 that supports the second transmission gear 3432 and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the second transmission gear 3432. The rotation of the motor 341, which has been reduced by the reduction mechanism 342, is transmitted to the conversion mechanism 344 via the second output shaft 3433.

[0043] The conversion mechanism 344 is equipped with a first gear 3441 that is attached to the second output shaft 3433 and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the second output shaft 3433. The conversion mechanism 344 is also equipped with a second gear 3442 that meshes with the first gear 3441. Furthermore, the conversion mechanism 344 is equipped with a third output shaft 3443 that supports the second gear 3442 and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the second gear 3442.

[0044] Furthermore, the conversion mechanism 344 includes a cam 3444 attached to the third output shaft 3443 and rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the third output shaft 3443, and a rod 3446 that reciprocates linearly in the vertical direction by the cam 3444. The cam 3444 is a component that converts the rotation of the motor 341 into an axial operating force, and in this embodiment, it is fixed to the second gear 3442 by a screw 3445. The axial operating force converted by this cam 3444 causes the rod 3446 to reciprocate linearly along the vertical direction of the device body 3. Note that, as shown in Figure 2, it is also possible to configure the rod 3446 to be directly attached to the second gear 3442 (without using the cam).

[0045] A piston 331 is attached to the tip (upper end) of this rod 3446 by a connecting shaft 34461. This allows the piston 331 to reciprocate linearly in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332.

[0046] Furthermore, the pump drive mechanism 34 is not limited to the configuration described above, and can be configured in various ways. For example, the reduction gear 3422 and the first transmission gear 3431 can be integrated, as can the second transmission gear 3432 and the first gear 3441. It is also possible to integrate the second gear 3442 and the cam 3444.

[0047] In this embodiment, the oral cavity can be cleaned more efficiently.

[0048] Specifically, the pump drive mechanism 34 is equipped with a speed change mechanism 345 that makes the speed of movement of the piston 331 different when the discharge process is performed and when the suction process is performed. The piston 331 is then moved back and forth in such a way that the time taken for the discharge process is shorter than the time taken for the suction process.

[0049] In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism 345 uses non-circular gears to make the speed of movement of the piston 331 during the discharge process different from the speed of movement of the piston 331 during the suction process. In other words, in this embodiment, the transmission mechanism 345 has non-circular gears. Specifically, the first gear 3441 and the second gear 3442 that mesh with each other are non-circular gears. These non-circular gears can be made of metal or resin.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an elliptical gear is used as a non-circular gear, and the transmission mechanism 345 has an elliptical gear as a non-circular gear. Specifically, the first gear 3441 that meshes with each other is an elliptical gear 3451, and the second gear 3442 is an elliptical gear 3452.

[0051] Then, by appropriately setting the aspect ratio of the elliptical gears 3451 and 3452, the mounting position of the output shafts (second output shaft 3433 and third output shaft 3443), and the gear ratio of elliptical gear 3451 and 3452, the ratio of the time spent in the discharge process to the time spent in the suction process is set to 1:X (X>1). At this time, considering the cleaning effect in the oral cavity, it is preferable to set the feed ratio range to 1.5 to 5.0. That is, if the ratio of the time spent in the discharge process to the time spent in the suction process is 1:X, it is preferable to set the value of X to be between 1.5 and 5.0.

[0052] Thus, in this embodiment, the pump drive mechanism 34 is equipped with a speed change mechanism 345 that makes the speed of movement of the piston 331 different when the discharge process is performed and when the suction process is performed. The speed change mechanism 345 has non-circular gears (a first gear 3441 and a second gear 3442). The speed change mechanism 345 may have only one non-circular gear, or it may have three or more non-circular gears.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gear shift mechanism 345 has elliptical gears 3451 and 3452 as non-circular gears, and the gear shift mechanism 345 is composed of two elliptical gears 3451 and 3452. It is also possible to have only one elliptical gear, or three or more.

[0054] Furthermore, non-circular gears are not limited to elliptical gears; various non-circular gears can be used. For example, it is possible to use a polygonal gear with rounded vertices, or a gear with a concave, curved section.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since only the ratio of the time spent in the discharge process to the time spent in the suction process is changed by using a pair of elliptical gears, the time required for one cycle of the pump 33 is the same as in the case of a normal pump 33 (when circular gears are used).

[0056] When the pump 33 is driven by the pump drive mechanism 34 configured in this way, the speed of movement of the piston 331 during the discharge process (absolute value of movement speed) can be increased, and the speed of movement of the piston 331 during the suction process (absolute value of movement speed) can be decreased. In other words, the time required for the discharge process can be made shorter than the time required for the suction process.

[0057] As a result, as shown in Figure 6, the maximum discharge rate D can be increased compared to a normal pump where the ratio of the time spent in the discharge process to the time spent in the suction process is 1:1. In this embodiment, the maximum discharge rate D is defined as the maximum value of the discharge rate at the moment of the discharge process. That is, the time spent in the discharge process is divided equally into predetermined minute time intervals that are infinitesimally close to zero, and the maximum discharge rate among the discharge rates discharged in each interval is defined as the maximum discharge rate D. Therefore, if the discharge rates at each moment during the discharge process draw a graph as shown in Figure 6, the value of the discharge rate at the point located at the top of the graph is the maximum discharge rate D.

[0058] Note that in the present embodiment, the total discharge amount of liquid in the discharge step is the same in both cases. In this case, considering the cleaning efficiency in the oral cavity, the usability of the oral cleaning device 1, etc., the total discharge amount of liquid in the discharge step of the device is preferably 50 ml / min to 450 ml / min.

[0059] As described above, when the oral cleaning device 1 equipped with the pump drive mechanism 34 according to the present embodiment is used, discharge of waste liquid that is not used for cleaning can be minimized, and the inside of the oral cavity can be cleaned more efficiently. Further, even when the total discharge amount of liquid discharged per one reciprocation of the piston 331 is the same, the maximum discharge amount D can be increased. Therefore, the discharge pressure of the liquid discharged from the oral cleaning device 1 increases, making it possible to clean the inside of the oral cavity more efficiently.

[0060] Note that a switch capable of selecting forward rotation and reverse rotation of the motor 341 may be provided to allow the motor 341 to rotate reversely. When the motor 341 is rotated reversely in the pump drive mechanism 34 according to the present embodiment, the ratio of the time required for the discharge step to the time required for the suction step becomes 1:X (0<X<1), the movement speed (absolute value of the movement speed) of the piston 331 during the discharge step decreases, and the movement speed (absolute value of the movement speed) of the piston 331 during the suction step increases. That is, the time required for the discharge step is longer than the time required for the suction step.

[0061] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the maximum discharge amount D is smaller than that of a conventional pump in which the ratio of the time required for the discharge step to the time required for the suction step is 1:1, enabling liquid discharge for a relatively long time. Also in this case, the total discharge amount of liquid in the discharge step is the same in both cases.

[0062] As described above, with a configuration that allows selection of forward rotation and reverse rotation of the motor 341, the water flow (momentum and duration) during liquid discharge can be varied, allowing proper use according to the user's preference and application.

[0063] Furthermore, if the feed ratio range for motor 341 during forward rotation is set to 1.5 to 5.0, the feed ratio range for motor 341 during reverse rotation will be set to 0.2 to 0.67. In other words, if the ratio of the time spent in the discharge process to the time spent in the suction process during motor 341's reverse rotation is 1:X, the value of X will be set to a range of 0.2 to 0.67.

[0064] (Embodiment 2) The oral irrigation device 1 according to this embodiment has essentially the same configuration as the oral irrigation device 1 described in Embodiment 1 above. That is, the oral irrigation device 1 according to this embodiment also comprises a tank 2, a device body 3, and a nozzle 4, as shown in Figure 8.

[0065] In this embodiment as well, the tank 2 is detachably attached to the main body of the device 3, and the tank 2 can be cleaned while separated from the main body of the device 3.

[0066] Furthermore, the main body of the device 3 includes a housing 31 that constitutes the outer casing, and this housing 31 comprises a top wall 311, a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 312 extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 311, and a bottom wall 313 connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall 312.

[0067] Furthermore, a nozzle mounting section 3111 is formed on the top wall 311, and a nozzle 4, which is formed in a hollow, elongated shape and capable of discharging (spraying) liquid from its tip, is detachably attached to this nozzle mounting section 3111.

[0068] Furthermore, a liquid channel 32 is formed inside the housing 31 (device body 3) for supplying the liquid stored in the tank 2 to the nozzle 4.

[0069] In this embodiment as well, the liquid flow path 32 includes an intake passage 321 located upstream of the liquid flow path 32 and a discharge passage 322 located downstream of the liquid flow path 32, and the intake passage 321 and the discharge passage 322 are connected via a pump 33. Thus, in this embodiment as well, the pump 33 is located in the middle of the liquid flow path 32.

[0070] In this embodiment as well, as shown in Figures 8 to 14, a pump drive mechanism 34 is arranged inside the housing 31 (device body 3). The pump drive mechanism 34 operates the pump 33, which draws up the liquid in the storage section 2a through the tube 5, passes it through the liquid flow path 32, and discharges (sprays) it from the tip of the nozzle 4.

[0071] Thus, the oral irrigation device 1 according to this embodiment also includes a pump 33 and a pump drive mechanism 34 that drives the pump 33, and is a device that discharges liquid by driving the pump 33.

[0072] In this embodiment as well, the pump 33 comprises a pump chamber 333 through which an intake passage 321 and a discharge passage 322 are connected, a cylinder 332 formed to communicate with the lower end of the pump chamber 333, and a piston 331 connected to the pump drive mechanism 34 and positioned inside the cylinder 332. The volume of the pump chamber 333 changes as the piston 331 reciprocates linearly in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332.

[0073] Thus, in this embodiment as well, when the piston 331 moves downward within the cylinder 332, an intake process is performed in which liquid is drawn into the pump chamber 333, and when it moves upward, a discharge process is performed in which liquid is discharged from the pump chamber 333 to the outside.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment as well, the oral cavity can be cleaned more efficiently.

[0075] Specifically, the pump drive mechanism 34 is equipped with a speed change mechanism 345 that makes the speed of movement of the piston 331 different when the discharge process is performed and when the suction process is performed. The piston 331 is then moved back and forth in such a way that the time taken for the discharge process is shorter than the time taken for the suction process.

[0076] In this embodiment as well, the pump drive mechanism 34 includes a speed change mechanism 345 that makes the speed of movement of the piston 331 different when the discharge process is performed and when the suction process is performed. The speed change mechanism 345 has non-circular gears (a first gear 3441 and a second gear 3442). Furthermore, in this embodiment as well, the speed change mechanism 345 has elliptical gears 3451 and 3452 as non-circular gears, and the speed change mechanism 345 is composed of two elliptical gears 3451 and 3452.

[0077] By doing so, when using the oral irrigation device 1 equipped with the pump drive mechanism 34 according to this embodiment, the discharge of unnecessary liquid that is not used for cleaning is minimized, and the inside of the mouth can be cleaned more efficiently.

[0078] In this embodiment, the pump drive mechanism 34 is equipped with an assist mechanism 346 that assists in the movement of the piston 331.

[0079] The assist mechanism 346 comprises a spring retainer 3461, a pair of shafts 3463 fixed to both ends of the spring retainer 3461, and a slider 3464 slidably mounted on the pair of shafts 3463 along the axial direction. In this case, a pair of coil springs (biasing members) 3462 are attached to each of the pair of shafts 3463, and the slider 3464 is biased upward by this pair of coil springs (biasing members) 3462. Thus, in this embodiment, the assist mechanism 346 is equipped with coil springs (biasing members) 3462 that bias the piston 331 upward (in one direction).

[0080] The pressing portion 34641 of the slider 3464 is brought into contact with the lower end of the cylinder 332, so that the cylinder 332 is biased upward by the elastic restoring force of the pair of coil springs (biasing members) 3462. The biasing members can be any material that can be elastically deformed, and not only springs such as coil springs but also materials such as rubber can be used.

[0081] In this embodiment, as described above, the time required for the discharge process is shorter than the time required for the suction process. Therefore, the assist mechanism 346 in this embodiment assists the movement of the piston 331 when the discharge process is performed, which is the process that takes less time to complete one reciprocating motion of the piston among the discharge and suction processes.

[0082] This way, when a discharge process is performed in which the movement speed of the piston 331 increases and the load on the motor 341 increases, the movement of the piston 331 is assisted, thereby reducing the load on the motor 341. However, when the assist mechanism 346 is used, the load on the motor 341 decreases in the shorter process, but increases in the longer process.

[0083] Therefore, when using such an assist mechanism 346, it is preferable to appropriately set the timing of assisting the movement of the piston 331 by the assist mechanism 346 and the force assisted by the assist mechanism 346. In this way, as shown in Figure 15, the current value of the motor 341 (load on the motor 341) can be reduced (load reduction) when the assist mechanism 346 is used (solid line in Figure 15) compared to when the assist mechanism 346 is not used (dashed line in Figure 15). It is preferable to set the assist ratio in the range of 10 to 60. That is, it is preferable that the force assisted by the assist mechanism 346 be 10% to 60% of the motor output.

[0084] Even with such an oral irrigation device 1, it can achieve substantially the same actions and effects as the oral irrigation device 1 shown in Embodiment 1 above.

[0085] Furthermore, the assist mechanism 346 can also be configured in a way that replaces the shaft 3463 with a spring receiving rib 3465, as shown in Figure 16, or in a way that uses a single coil spring (biasing member) 3462, as shown in Figure 17. When using a single coil spring (biasing member) 3462, as shown in Figure 17, the single coil spring (biasing member) 3462 may directly press against the piston 331, or a slider may be interposed between the single coil spring (biasing member) 3462 and the piston 331.

[0086] This also produces substantially the same effects and benefits as in Embodiment 2 described above.

[0087] (Embodiment 3) As shown in Figure 18, the oral irrigation device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a tank 2, a device body 3, and a nozzle 4.

[0088] Tank 2 is formed as a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening at the top and a closed bottom end. Inside Tank 2, there is a storage section 2a capable of storing liquid. While water can be used as the liquid stored in the storage section 2a, it is not limited to water and various other liquids can be used. For example, a cleaning solution containing a cleaning agent mixed with water can be used.

[0089] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the device body 3 is supported in the tank 2 in such a way that it can slide vertically (in the longitudinal direction of the device body 3). At this time, the device body 3 is supported in the tank 2 so as to be slidable, with at least its lower end positioned within the storage section 2a.

[0090] The device body 3 is slid to the lower side of the tank 2 so that it is stored inside the tank 2, allowing the oral irrigator 1 to be stored in a more compact state when not in use. The device body 3 is also slid to the upper side of the tank 2 so that it is pulled out to the top of the tank 2, allowing more liquid to be supplied to the storage section 2a of the tank 2. With the device body 3 pulled out to the top of the tank 2, the nozzle 4 is attached to the device body 3, and liquid is supplied to the storage section 2a of the tank 2, enabling the oral irrigator 1 to be used.

[0091] As described above, the oral irrigation device 1 according to this embodiment is a tank-type retractable oral irrigation device in which the device body 3 is slidably supported in the tank 2 between a stored state where it is housed in the tank 2 and a pulled-out state where it is pulled out from the tank 2. In other words, when the oral irrigation device 1 is not in use, the nozzle 4 can be removed from the device body 3 and the device body 3 can be pushed into the tank 2 for storage. The oral irrigation device 1 can then be used by pulling out the device body 3 from the tank 2 and attaching the nozzle 4 to the device body 3.

[0092] In this case, it is preferable that the main body of the device 3 be detachably supported by the tank 2. That is, it is preferable that the main body of the device 3 be detached from the tank 2 by pulling it upward, or that the main body of the device 3 be attached to the tank 2 by pushing it downward while the lower end of the main body of the device 3 is inserted into the tank 2. This makes it possible to clean the tank 2 and the main body of the device 3 separately, thus making it possible to keep the tank 2 and the main body of the device 3 cleaner.

[0093] Furthermore, tank 2 is made of polypropylene resin or similar material so that it can be washed in a dishwasher, and is formed in a transparent or translucent container shape to enhance its design. In addition, tank 2 has a perfectly circular horizontal cross-sectional shape so that it can be rotated relative to the main body of the device 3.

[0094] In this embodiment, the tank 2 comprises a substantially cylindrical tubular body 21 with openings at the top and bottom, and a bottom wall 22 that closes the lower opening of the tubular body 21. A liquid supply hole (not shown) is formed in the side of the tank 2 (tubular body 21), allowing liquid to be injected into the storage section 2a, and this liquid supply hole is closed by a liquid supply lid (not shown). This allows liquid to be supplied to the storage section 2a inside the tank 2 even when the tank 2 is placed on its side.

[0095] On the other hand, the main body of the device 3 is equipped with a housing 31 that forms the outer casing, and this housing 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends in the vertical direction closed. Furthermore, the housing 31 (main body of the device 3) is also formed with a perfectly circular cross-section so that it can be rotated relative to the tank 2.

[0096] Therefore, in this embodiment, the housing 31 comprises a substantially disc-shaped top wall 311, a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 312 extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 311, and a substantially disc-shaped bottom wall 313 provided to close the opening on the lower side of the circumferential wall 312.

[0097] The top wall 311 has a nozzle mounting section 3111 formed therein, which is a hollow, elongated shape and is capable of detachably attaching a nozzle 4 that can discharge (spray) liquid from its tip.

[0098] Furthermore, the peripheral wall 312 is provided with a button (not shown) that allows the nozzle 4 to be removed from the housing 31 (device body 3), and a power switch (not shown) that starts or stops the oral irrigation device 1 (switches the power on or off).

[0099] Furthermore, a tube attachment portion 3132 is formed in the bottom wall 313 to which the tube 5 is attached.

[0100] In this embodiment, the tube 5 is integrally attached to the tube attachment portion 3132, and is positioned within the storage portion 2a of the tank 2 when the device body 3 is slidably attached to the tank 2. The liquid stored in the storage portion 2a is then introduced into the housing 31 (inside the device body 3) via this tube 5.

[0101] Furthermore, a coil spring 6 is positioned around the tube 5 to maintain its longitudinal orientation. By positioning the coil spring 6 around the tube 5, the tube 5 can be wound around the main body 3 of the device without bending when the device is stored in the tank 2, allowing the tube 5 to be neatly stored inside the tank 2. In addition, by positioning the coil spring 6 around the tube 5, the tube 5 can be neatly unwound from its wound state when the main body 3 of the device is pulled out of the tank 2.

[0102] Furthermore, a liquid channel 32 is formed inside the housing 31 (device body 3) that allows the liquid introduced via the tube 5 to pass through and be supplied to the nozzle 4. In this embodiment, the liquid channel 32 is provided inside the housing 31 (device body 3) such that one end communicates with the inner space of the nozzle mounting portion 3111 and the other end communicates with the inner space of the tube attachment portion 3132. In this way, the liquid introduced via the tube 5 is supplied to the nozzle 4 by passing through the liquid channel 32.

[0103] In this embodiment, the liquid flow path 32 includes an intake passage 321 located upstream of the liquid flow path 32 and a discharge passage 322 located downstream of the liquid flow path 32, and the intake passage 321 and the discharge passage 322 are connected via a pump 33. An intake valve (not shown) is provided between the pump chamber 333 and the intake passage 321, and a discharge valve (not shown) is provided between the pump chamber 333 and the discharge passage 322.

[0104] Furthermore, a pump drive mechanism 34 is located inside the housing 31 (device body 3). This pump drive mechanism 34 operates the pump 33, which draws up the liquid in the storage section 2a through the tube 5, passes it through the liquid flow path 32, and discharges (sprays) it from the tip of the nozzle 4.

[0105] As described above, the oral irrigation device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a pump 33 and a pump drive mechanism 34 that drives the pump 33, and is a device that discharges liquid when the pump 33 is driven.

[0106] In this embodiment, the pump 33 includes a pump chamber 333 through which an intake passage 321 and a discharge passage 322 are connected, a cylinder 332 formed to communicate with the lower end of the pump chamber 333, and a piston 331 disposed within the cylinder 332.

[0107] The piston 331 is connected to the pump drive mechanism 34, which causes it to reciprocate linearly in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332. As the piston 331 reciprocates linearly in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332, the volume of the pump chamber 333 changes.

[0108] Specifically, when the piston 331 moves downward within the cylinder 332, the volume of the pump chamber 333 increases, and the liquid in the tank 2 flows into the pump chamber 333 via the tube 5 and the suction passage 321. Subsequently, with the liquid flowing into the pump chamber 333, when the piston 331 moves upward within the cylinder 332, the volume of the pump chamber 333 decreases, and the liquid in the pump chamber 333 is supplied to the nozzle 4 via the discharge passage 322. The liquid supplied to the nozzle 4 is then discharged (ejected) to the outside from the tip of the nozzle 4.

[0109] Thus, in this embodiment, the piston 331 moves downward within the cylinder 332 to perform an intake process in which liquid is drawn into the pump chamber 333, and moves upward to perform a discharge process in which liquid is discharged from the pump chamber 333 to the outside. In other words, the intake process and the discharge process are performed alternately by the piston 331's reciprocating linear motion between the top dead center and the bottom dead center. Therefore, when the piston 331 completes one reciprocating motion in the vertical direction from the top dead center, the intake process and the discharge process are performed once each.

[0110] This configuration allows liquid to be intermittently discharged from the tip of the nozzle 4 attached to the main body 3 of the device.

[0111] The pump drive mechanism 34 is equipped with a motor 341, and by driving this motor 341, the piston 331 moves in a reciprocating linear motion in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332.

[0112] Specifically, the pump drive mechanism 34 includes a motor 341 and a conversion mechanism 344 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 341 into reciprocating linear motion. A piston 331 is connected to this conversion mechanism 344, causing the piston 331 to reciprocate linearly in the vertical direction within the cylinder 332. The motor 341 is driven by power supplied from a battery (such as a rechargeable battery or dry cell battery) housed inside the main body of the device 3, or from an external power source.

[0113] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pump drive mechanism 34 includes a reduction mechanism 342 that reduces the rotational speed of the motor 341, and a transmission mechanism 343 that transmits the rotational motion reduced by the reduction mechanism 342 to the conversion mechanism 344. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotational speed (number of rotations) of the motor 341 is reduced by the reduction mechanism 342 to a predetermined rotational speed (number of rotations), and then converted into reciprocating linear motion by the conversion mechanism 344.

[0114] Furthermore, in this embodiment as well, the oral cavity can be cleaned more efficiently.

[0115] Specifically, the pump drive mechanism 34 is equipped with a speed change mechanism 345 that makes the speed of movement of the piston 331 different when the discharge process is performed and when the suction process is performed. The piston 331 is then moved back and forth in such a way that the time taken for the discharge process is shorter than the time taken for the suction process.

[0116] In this embodiment as well, the pump drive mechanism 34 includes a speed change mechanism 345 that makes the speed of movement of the piston 331 different when the discharge process is performed and when the suction process is performed. The speed change mechanism 345 has elliptical gears 3451 and 3452 as non-circular gears, and the speed change mechanism 345 is composed of two elliptical gears 3451 and 3452.

[0117] Furthermore, in this embodiment as well, the pump drive mechanism 34 is equipped with an assist mechanism 346 that assists in the movement of the piston 331.

[0118] Even with such an oral irrigation device 1, it can achieve substantially the same functions and effects as the oral irrigation device 1 shown in each of the above embodiments and their variations.

[0119] In this embodiment, the pump drive mechanism 34 is similar to that shown in Embodiment 2, but it is also possible to use one similar to the pump drive mechanism 34 shown in Embodiment 1. In other words, it is also possible to use a pump drive mechanism 34 that does not include the assist mechanism 346.

[0120] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a tank-type retractable oral irrigation device 1 is exemplified in which the device body 3 is extended by rotating the device body 3 relative to the tank 2, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to construct a tank-type retractable oral irrigation device in which the device body 3 is extended by pulling the device body 3 in the sliding direction.

[0121] [Effects / Effects] The following describes the characteristic configurations of the oral irrigation devices shown in each of the above embodiments and their variations, and the effects obtained thereby.

[0122] The oral irrigation device 1 shown in each of the above embodiments and its modifications comprises a tank 2 in which liquid is stored, and a nozzle 4 that is capable of discharging the liquid into the oral cavity via a liquid channel 32 supplied with the liquid stored in the tank 2. The oral irrigation device 1 also comprises a pump 33 positioned in the liquid channel 32 that sucks in the liquid stored in the tank 2 and discharges it from the nozzle 4, and a pump drive mechanism 34 that drives the pump 33. The pump 33 has a piston 331 that moves in a linear, reciprocating motion in one direction.

[0123] Here, the pump 33 alternates between an intake process, where liquid is drawn into the pump 33, and a discharge process, where liquid is discharged from the pump 33, by causing the piston 331 to reciprocate linearly. Furthermore, it is possible to make one reciprocation of the piston 331 such that the time taken for the intake process and the time taken for the discharge process are different.

[0124] Thus, by using the oral irrigation device 1 shown in each of the above embodiments and its variations, it becomes possible to discharge liquid with a water flow different from the case where the ratio of the time spent in the discharge process to the time spent in the suction process is 1:1. As a result, it becomes possible to clean the inside of the mouth more efficiently.

[0125] Alternatively, the pump drive mechanism 34 may include a motor 341 and a conversion mechanism 344 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 341 into reciprocating linear motion, and the piston 331 may be connected to the conversion mechanism 344 to perform reciprocating linear motion.

[0126] Thus, by using a motor 341 as the driving source for the pump 33 and causing the piston 331 to move back and forth linearly using a conversion mechanism 344, it becomes possible to obtain an oral irrigation device 1 that can more efficiently clean the inside of the mouth, at a lower cost.

[0127] Furthermore, the piston 331 may be made to complete one reciprocating motion such that the time required for the discharge process is shorter than the time required for the suction process.

[0128] This minimizes the discharge of unnecessary liquid that is not used for cleaning, allowing for more efficient cleaning of the oral cavity.

[0129] Furthermore, the pump drive mechanism 34 may include a speed control mechanism 345 that causes the speed at which the piston 331 moves to differ from the speed at which the piston 331 moves to differ from the speed at which the piston 331 moves to differ from the speed at which the piston 331 moves to when the suction process is performed. The speed control mechanism 345 may also have non-circular gears (a first gear 3441 and a second gear 3442).

[0130] This allows for a simpler design while enabling more efficient cleaning of the oral cavity.

[0131] Furthermore, the non-circular gears may be elliptical gears 3451 and 3452.

[0132] Thus, by using elliptical gears 3451 and 3452 as non-circular gears, it becomes easier to set the ratio between the time spent in the discharge process and the time spent in the suction process.

[0133] The transmission mechanism 345 may also have two elliptical gears 3451 and 3452.

[0134] This simplifies the configuration of the transmission mechanism 345 while making it easier to set the ratio between the time spent in the discharge process and the time spent in the intake process.

[0135] Furthermore, the pump drive mechanism 34 may include an assist mechanism 346 that assists in the movement of the piston 331.

[0136] This will reduce the load on motor 341.

[0137] Furthermore, the assist mechanism 346 may be configured to assist the movement of the piston 331 when the discharge process or the suction process, whichever takes less time to complete one reciprocating motion of the piston, is being performed.

[0138] This allows the movement of the piston 331 to be assisted when a process that increases the load on the motor 341 is performed, thereby reducing the load on the motor 341 more efficiently.

[0139] Furthermore, the assist mechanism 346 may include a coil spring (biasing member) 3462 that biases the piston 331 in one direction.

[0140] This simplifies the configuration while reducing the load on the motor 341. It also has the advantage of making it easier to adjust the assist force (the force pressing the piston 331) provided by the assist mechanism 346.

[0141] [others] The contents of the oral irrigation device relating to this disclosure have been described above, but the embodiments and their modifications described above are for illustrative purposes only. Therefore, various changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0142] For example, it is possible to create an oral irrigation device by appropriately combining the configurations described in each of the above embodiments and their modified forms.

[0143] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments and its variations, examples of oral irrigation devices 1 are provided in which the time taken for the dispensing process is shorter than the time taken for the inhalation process. Specifically, examples of oral irrigation devices 1 are provided in which only the time taken for the dispensing process is shorter than the time taken for the inhalation process, and oral irrigation devices 1 are provided in which the length of the time taken for the dispensing process and the time taken for the inhalation process can be switched. However, the configuration of the oral irrigation device is not limited to these configurations, and it is also possible to have an oral irrigation device that is only capable of taking the time taken for the dispensing process longer than the time taken for the inhalation process. It is also possible to have an oral irrigation device that can select various ratios, including the case in which the time taken for the dispensing process and the time taken for the inhalation process are the same.

[0144] Furthermore, while the above embodiments and their modifications illustrate how a speed change mechanism is used to mechanically differentiate the time spent in the discharge process from the time spent in the suction process, the invention is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to differentiate the time spent in the discharge process from the time spent in the suction process by control, for instance, by providing a control unit that controls the rotational speed of the motor 341.

[0145] Furthermore, it is possible to use two or more motors, or two or more motors with different rotational speeds, to make the discharge process and the suction process take different lengths.

[0146] Furthermore, in the above embodiments and their modifications, the pump drive mechanism 34 is exemplified as having a motor 341 and a conversion mechanism 344 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 341 into reciprocating linear motion. However, it is also possible to configure the pump drive mechanism 34 without having a motor 341 and a conversion mechanism 344. For example, it is possible to configure the piston 331 to reciprocate linear motion using an electromagnetic actuator.

[0147] Furthermore, the configuration of the oral irrigation device is not limited to tank-separated or tank-extendable types, and this disclosure can be applied to oral irrigation devices with various configurations.

[0148] Furthermore, the specifications of the device itself, the tank, and other details (shape, size, layout, etc.) can be changed as needed. [Industrial applicability]

[0149] As described above, the oral rinsing device described herein can perform oral cleaning more efficiently, and can therefore be used in various types of oral rinsing devices, including those for home and commercial use. [Explanation of symbols]

[0150] 1. Oral irrigation device 2 tanks 32 Liquid flow path 33 pumps 331 pistons 332 liters 34 Pump drive mechanism 341 Motor 344 Conversion mechanism (converts rotational motion into reciprocating linear motion) 3441 First gear (non-circular gear) 3442 Second gear (non-circular gear) 345 Transmission 3451 Elliptical Gear 3452 Elliptical Gear 346 Assist mechanism 3462 Coil spring (biasing member) 4 nozzles

Claims

1. A tank in which liquid is stored, A nozzle capable of discharging liquid into the oral cavity, through which the liquid stored in the tank is supplied via a liquid channel, A pump is arranged in the liquid flow path and sucks in the liquid stored in the tank and discharges it from the nozzle, A pump drive mechanism for driving the aforementioned pump, Equipped with, The pump has a piston that moves linearly back and forth in one direction. By causing the piston to move back and forth in a linear motion, an intake process in which liquid is drawn into the pump and a discharge process in which liquid is discharged from the pump are performed alternately. It is possible to move the piston back and forth once such that the time taken for the suction step and the time taken for the discharge step are different. The pump drive mechanism comprises a motor and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into reciprocating linear motion. The piston is connected to the conversion mechanism so that it moves in a reciprocating linear motion. The pump drive mechanism is A reduction mechanism for reducing the rotational speed of the motor, A transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational motion reduced by the reduction mechanism to the conversion mechanism, Furthermore, it has, The aforementioned transmission mechanism is A first transmission gear is attached to the first output shaft of the reduction mechanism and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the first output shaft, A second transmission gear that meshes with the first transmission gear, A second output shaft supports the second transmission gear and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the second transmission gear, It has, The rotation of the motor, which has been reduced by the reduction mechanism, is transmitted to the conversion mechanism via the second output shaft. The pump drive mechanism includes a speed control mechanism that makes the speed at which the piston moves during the discharge process different from the speed at which the piston moves during the suction process. The aforementioned transmission mechanism has non-circular gears. Oral irrigation device.

2. It is possible to move the piston back and forth once such that the time taken for the discharge step is shorter than the time taken for the suction step. The oral irrigation device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned non-circular gear is an elliptical gear. The oral irrigation device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The aforementioned transmission mechanism has two elliptical gears. The oral irrigation device according to claim 3.

5. The pump drive mechanism includes an assist mechanism that assists the movement of the piston. The oral irrigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The assist mechanism assists the movement of the piston when the process that takes less time to complete one reciprocating motion of the piston among the discharge process and the suction process is performed. The oral irrigation device according to claim 5.

7. The assist mechanism includes a biasing member that biases the piston in one direction. The oral irrigation device according to claim 5 or claim 6.

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