Desktop coating apparatus for mobile device

Abstract

This desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device includes: a casing which defines an accommodation space capable of accommodating the mobile device; a support member which supports the mobile device accommodated in the accommodation space; a reservoir which stores a coating liquid supplied from the outside; a sprayer which mists the coating liquid from the reservoir and sprays the mist into the accommodation space; and a controller which executes coating control including controlling the sprayer and driving the sprayer.

Description

Desktop Coating Device for Mobile Devices

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a desktop coating device for mobile devices.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for attaching a screen protection sheet, which is a transparent sheet made of resin or glass, to the display screen of a smartphone to protect the display screen.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-53944

[0004] However, when a user performs the operation of attaching the screen protection sheet, careful work is required, which takes time, and dust or air may be mixed between the display screen and the screen protection sheet.

[0005] Therefore, one aspect of the present disclosure aims to enable a process for favorably protecting a mobile device by a simple operation in a short time.

[0006] A desktop coating device for mobile devices according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a casing that defines an accommodation space capable of accommodating a mobile device, a support member that supports the mobile device accommodated in the accommodation space, a reservoir that stores a coating liquid supplied from the outside, a sprayer that atomizes the coating liquid from the reservoir and sprays it into the accommodation space, and a controller that executes coating control including controlling the sprayer to drive the sprayer.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the coating liquid supplied to the reservoir of the coating device is atomized inside the casing and sprayed into the accommodation space where the mobile device is disposed. Therefore, an operator can easily coat the mobile device by supporting the mobile device on the support member and operating the sprayer with the coating liquid supplied to the reservoir. Further, since the mobile device is coated by spraying the coating liquid by the sprayer, the coating liquid can be easily and widely applied to the mobile device.

[0008] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a process for effectively protecting a mobile device can be performed with a short and simple operation.

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the desktop coating apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of the desktop coating apparatus of Figure 2 with the cover removed. Figure 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the reservoir and its vicinity in Figure 2. Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVB-IVB in Figure 4A. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the holder and sealing lid of Figure 2 from above. Figure 6 is a block diagram of the control system of the desktop coating apparatus of Figure 2. Figure 7 is a time-series table showing the control by the controller in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a front view of the spray cartridge of the desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to the second embodiment. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the attachment and detachment of the spray cartridge of Figure 8 to the casing.

[0010] Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a desktop coating apparatus 1 for smartphones according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the desktop coating apparatus 1 includes a casing 2. The casing 2 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending horizontally. The casing 2 includes a casing body 3 and a cover 4 that is detachably attached to the casing body 3. The operator places the smartphone 100 inside the casing 2 by opening the cover 4. In this embodiment, a smartphone 100 is used as an example of a mobile device, but other mobile devices such as tablets and smartwatches may also be used.

[0012] The casing body 3 houses the operation switch 71 and the sealing lid 42, which will be described later. For example, the casing body 3 is opaque, while the cover 4 is entirely transparent. The cover 4 does not need to be entirely transparent; a portion of it may be transparent. The casing 2 only needs to be transparent in at least a portion facing the smartphone 100 placed inside the casing 2.

[0013] Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the desktop coating apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the casing 2 includes a first case section 11 and a second case section 12. The first case section 11 is composed of a part of the casing body 3 and a cover 4. The second case section 12 is composed of another part of the casing body 3. The first case section 11 has a storage space S1 in which a smartphone 100 is housed. The second case section 12 has an adjacent space S2 in which a reservoir 30, a controller 70, etc., which will be described later, are arranged. The casing 2 includes a partition wall 15 that divides the internal space of the casing 2 into the storage space S1 and the adjacent space S2. The partition wall 15 extends vertically, and the storage space S1 and the adjacent space S2 are aligned horizontally with respect to each other.

[0014] The partition wall 15 has an opening 15a. A sprayer 20 is positioned in the opening 15a of the partition wall 15. The sprayer 20 is, for example, an ultrasonic atomizer. The sprayer 20 is sheet-shaped. Specifically, the sprayer 20 includes a disc-shaped ultrasonic transducer 21 and an annular transducer support 22 that supports the peripheral edge of the ultrasonic transducer 21. The direction in which the ultrasonic transducer 21 ejects mist is closer to the horizontal direction than the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer 21 is positioned to eject mist horizontally toward the containment space S1.

[0015] The sprayer 20 is attached to the reservoir 30, which will be described later, by a holder 16. The sprayer 20 is held between the reservoir 30 and the holder 16, which is attached to the reservoir 30 from the side of the containment space S1. The holder 16 has an opening 17a. The ultrasonic transducer 21 atomizes the liquid supplied from the outlet 35a of the reservoir 30 and sprays the mist-like liquid into the containment space S1 through the opening 17a of the holder 16. Details of the holder 16 will be described later.

[0016] A reservoir 30 is located in the adjacent space S2 defined by the second case section 12, defining a storage space K. The storage space K of the reservoir 30 stores the coating liquid supplied from the outside. The storage space K of the reservoir 30 is open upwards. The reservoir 30 is attached to the partition wall 15. In this embodiment, the reservoir 30 is made up of a tank wall 35 having an outlet 35a. The outlet 35a of the reservoir 30 connects the lower part K2 of the storage space K to the ultrasonic transducer 21 of the sprayer 20.

[0017] The storage space K of the reservoir 30 is covered by the upper wall 41 of the second case portion 12. The upper surface of the upper wall 41 may have a recessed area 41a that is recessed downward. The bottom surface of the recessed area 41a is flat. A retainer 50 is provided in the recessed area 41a. The retainer 50 includes a retaining hole H formed in the bottom wall of the recessed area 41a of the upper wall 41, and a retaining wall 41b provided in the recessed area 41a of the upper wall 41 and defining the retaining hole H. The retaining wall 41b protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the recessed area 41a of the upper wall 41. The retainer 50 holds the liquid cartridge 80 containing the coating liquid when the liquid cartridge 80 is inserted into the retaining hole H.

[0018] The retaining hole H faces the storage space K of the reservoir 30 from vertically above and communicates with the storage space K. The coating liquid discharged vertically downward from the discharge port 80c of the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the retaining hole H reaches the storage space K of the reservoir 30 by its own weight. A sealing lid 42 may be connected to the upper wall 41 of the second case portion 12 via a hinge 43. The sealing lid 42 can move between a closed position, where it is positioned in the recess 41a to close the retaining hole H, and an open position, where it opens the retaining hole H to the outside.

[0019] In the adjacent space S2 of the second case section 12, a controller 70 having a control circuit 70a and a first light source 73 are arranged. The controller 70 controls the sprayer 20 and the blower 65, which will be described later. The first light source 73 is, for example, an LED. When the first light source 73 is lit, it becomes easier for the operator to see the liquid level of the coating liquid stored in the storage space K when looking through the holding hole H.

[0020] The casing 2 includes a flow-straightening wall 60 that defines the housing space S1 from below. The flow-straightening wall 60 has a plurality of holes 60a. As shown in Figure 3, the flow-straightening wall 60 is a perforated plate. Below the flow-straightening wall 60 is a fan space S3. A blower 65 is located in the fan space S3. The blower 65 is positioned to blow air toward the flow-straightening wall 60. The air coming out of the blower 65 flows through the plurality of holes 60a of the flow-straightening wall 60 into the housing space S1. A second light source 74 is located in the fan space S3. The second light source 74 is, for example, an LED. When the second light source 74 is lit, the inside of the cover 4 appears bright to the operator.

[0021] The rectifier wall 60 may be detachably arranged relative to the casing body 3. For example, a step 11a with an upper surface may be provided on the inner surface of the side periphery wall of the first case portion 11, and the rectifier wall 60 may be placed on the upper surface of the step 11a without being fixed to the first case portion 11. If the rectifier wall 60 can be removed, maintenance will be improved. The rectifier wall 60 may be fixed to the casing body 3, or it may be integrally formed with the casing body 3.

[0022] Multiple support pins 61 are arranged in the storage space S1 as support members for supporting the smartphone 100 housed in the storage space S1. The support pins 61 are inserted into holes arbitrarily selected from multiple holes 60a in the rectifier wall 60. Specifically, the support pin 61 includes a pin body 62 and a contact body 63 provided at the upper end of the pin body 62. The pin body 62 includes a rod portion 62a with a larger diameter than the holes 60a in the rectifier wall 60 and a projection portion 62b with a smaller diameter than the rod portion 62a. The support pin 61 protrudes upward from the rectifier wall 60 when the projection portion 62b is press-fitted into the holes 60a in the rectifier wall 60.

[0023] The contact body 63 directly contacts the lower surface of the smartphone 100. The contact body 63 is made of an elastic material. The contact body 63 may be, for example, a sponge, rubber, silicone, etc. The contact body 63 may also be a porous material. The contact body 63 may have an upward-convex hemispherical shape.

[0024] Each support pin 61 supports the smartphone 100 such that the spray axis X of the sprayer 20 extends along the main surface MS of the smartphone 100. The main surface MS of the smartphone 100 is the surface of the display screen 100a (see Figure 1) or the surface opposite to the display screen 100a. The spray axis X of the sprayer 20 is a virtual line that passes through the center of the spray area 21a of the ultrasonic transducer 21 and extends perpendicularly to the surface of the ultrasonic transducer 21. In this embodiment, the spray axis X of the sprayer 20 coincides with the axis X of the opening 17a of the retaining plate 17, which will be described later with reference to Figure 4A.

[0025] Each smartphone 100 supported by a support pin 61 is inclined with respect to the spray axis X. The main surface MS of each smartphone 100 supported by a support pin 61 that faces the spray axis X is inclined with respect to the spray axis X so as to face the sprayer 20. In other words, the normal N of the main surface MS of each smartphone 100 supported by a support pin 61 that faces the spray axis X is inclined toward the sprayer 20 with respect to a line V (vertical line in Figure 2) that extends in a direction perpendicular to the spray axis X.

[0026] Each support pin 61 supports the smartphone 100 such that the end 100c of the smartphone 100 closest to the ultrasonic transducer 21 is located on one side (upper side in Figure 2) of the spray axis X in a direction perpendicular to the spray axis X. In this case, the end 100c of the smartphone 100 supported by each support pin 61 closest to the ultrasonic transducer 21 is located on the aforementioned side (upper side in Figure 2) of the spray axis X in a direction perpendicular to the spray axis X, more so than the other end 100d of the smartphone 100 supported by each support pin 61 furthest from the ultrasonic transducer 21.

[0027] For example, the multiple support pins 61 include a first support pin 61A located on the side farther from the ultrasonic transducer 21 and a second support pin 61B located on the side closer to the ultrasonic transducer 21. The height of the first support pin 61A is lower than the height of the second support pin 61B. As an example, the first support point P1 where the first support pin 61A supports the smartphone 100 is closer to the spray axis X than the second support point P2 where the second support pin 61B supports the smartphone 100. The virtual straight line VL connecting the first support point P1 and the second support point P2 is inclined with respect to the spray axis X such that it approaches the spray axis X as it moves away from the sprayer 20. The virtual straight line VL may intersect the spray axis X.

[0028] As described above, by tilting the smartphone 100 with respect to the spray axis X, the mist of the coating liquid ejected from the sprayer 20 is more likely to collide with the main surface of the smartphone 100, and the coating liquid adheres well to the smartphone 100. The inclination angle θ of the main surface of the smartphone 100 with respect to the spray axis X, that is, the inclination angle θ of the virtual straight line VL with respect to the spray axis X, is, for example, greater than 0 degrees and less than 10 degrees.

[0029] The multiple support pins 61 may include support pins that are detachably attached to the rectifier wall 60 and support pins that are permanently fixed to the rectifier wall 60. For example, the first support pin 61A may be fixed to the rectifier wall 60, and the second support pin 61B may be detachably attached to the rectifier wall 60.

[0030] By placing the main surface of the smartphone 100 (the surface with the display screen 100a or the opposite surface) on the contact body 63 of the support pin 61, the smartphone 100 is maintained in a floating state in the housing space S1, at a position above the rectifier wall 60. The smartphone 100, supported by multiple support pins 61, has its main surface extended in a generally horizontal direction. Since the support pins 61 can be inserted into any of the multiple holes 60a in the rectifier wall 60, the position of the support pins 61 can be easily changed according to the specifications and size of the smartphone 100.

[0031] The ultrasonic transducer 21 of the sprayer 20 is positioned at a height that overlaps with the height range of the support pin 61. That is, the ultrasonic transducer 21 is positioned lower than the smartphone 100 supported by the support pin 61 and is facing the housing space S1. The mist sprayed from the sprayer 20 moves horizontally through the space below the smartphone 100, then flows upward through the gap between the casing 2 and the smartphone 100, and then flows through the space above the smartphone 100. Alternatively, the ultrasonic transducer 21 may be positioned higher than the smartphone 100 supported by the support pin 61 and facing the housing space S1.

[0032] The mist of the coating liquid filling the containment space S1 adheres to the surface of the smartphone 100. The mist flowing in the space above the smartphone 100 is promoted to adhere to the top surface of the smartphone 100 by its own weight. The mist flowing in the space below the smartphone 100 is promoted to adhere to the bottom surface of the smartphone 100 by the upward airflow from the blower 65.

[0033] Figure 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the reservoir 30 and its vicinity in Figure 2. Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVB-IVB in Figure 4A. As shown in Figure 4A, the ultrasonic transducer 21 has a spray region 21a in which numerous fine ejection holes are arranged. The spray region 21a of the ultrasonic transducer 21 is separated from the transducer support 22. The holder 16 includes a retaining plate 17 that presses the transducer support 22 of the sprayer 20 toward the tank wall 35, and fasteners 18 that fix the retaining plate 17 to the tank wall 35. The retaining plate 17 has an opening 17a. The transducer support 22 is sandwiched between the side surface of the tank wall 35 around the outlet 35a and the side surface of the retaining plate 17 around the opening 17a. The ultrasonic transducer 21 is positioned to face the outlet 35a of the tank wall 35 and the opening 17a of the retaining plate 17. The ultrasonic transducer 21 atomizes the liquid supplied from the outlet 35a of the tank wall 35 of the reservoir 30, and sprays the mist-like liquid into the containment space S1 through the opening 17a of the retaining plate 17.

[0034] The retaining plate 17 has a projection 17b that protrudes toward the transducer support 22 of the sprayer 20. The projection 17b of the retaining plate 17 extends circumferentially, surrounding the opening 17a when viewed from the direction in which the axis X of the opening 17a of the retaining plate 17 extends. When the retaining plate 17 is fastened to the tank wall 35 by the fastener 18, the projection 17b of the retaining plate 17 presses firmly against the transducer support 22, thereby preventing liquid leakage from the boundary between the transducer support 22 and the partition wall 15. The tank wall 35 also has a projection 35c that protrudes toward the transducer support 22. The projection 35c of the tank wall 35 also extends circumferentially, surrounding the outlet 35a of the tank wall 35 when viewed from the direction in which the axis X extends. As a result, the projection 35c of the tank wall 35 presses firmly against the transducer support 22, preventing liquid leakage from the boundary between the transducer support 22 and the tank wall 35.

[0035] As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the reservoir 30 has an upper part 31 and a lower part 32. The storage space K includes an upper part K1 defined by the upper part 31 of the reservoir 30 and a lower part K2 defined by the lower part 32 of the reservoir 30. The upper part K1 of the storage space K is continuous with the lower part K2 of the storage space K.

[0036] In the reservoir 30, the lower part K2 of the storage space K has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the upper part K1 of the storage space K. The volume of the lower part K2 of the storage space K per unit length in the vertical direction is smaller than the volume of the upper part K1 of the storage space K per unit length in the vertical direction. The upper part 31 of the reservoir 30 has a bottom surface 31a that defines a part of the upper part K1 of the storage space K from below. The bottom surface 31a is inclined diagonally downward toward the lower part K2 of the storage space K.

[0037] The lower part 32 of the reservoir 30 has a bottom surface 32a that defines the lower part K2 of the storage space K from below, and a pair of inner surfaces 32b that define the lower part K2 of the storage space K from the side. Viewed from the direction in which the axis X of the opening 15a of the partition wall 15 extends, the bottom surface 32a and inner surfaces 32b of the lower part 32 of the reservoir 30 are arranged to follow the outer edge of the spray area 21a of the ultrasonic transducer 21. In the vertical direction, the lower end of the bottom surface 32a of the lower part 32 of the reservoir 30 is located between the lower end of the spray area 21a of the ultrasonic transducer 21 and the lower end of the inner periphery of the transducer support 22. The inner surfaces 32b of the lower part 32 of the reservoir 30 are located between the side edge of the spray area 21a of the ultrasonic transducer 21 and the side edge of the inner periphery of the transducer support 22.

[0038] Since the lower part K2 of the reservoir space K of the reservoir 30 has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the upper part K1 of the reservoir space K, even when the amount of coating liquid remaining in the reservoir space K decreases, the liquid level of the coating liquid in the reservoir space K does not easily decrease, and the state in which the coating liquid is in contact with the spray area 21a of the ultrasonic transducer 21 is maintained for a long time. Therefore, the ultrasonic transducer 21 is cooled by the coating liquid, and the ultrasonic transducer 21 is prevented from becoming hot.

[0039] In the portion of the tank wall 35 adjacent to the upper side of the outlet 35a, the side facing the storage space K is a tapered surface 35b that is inclined with respect to the vertical. The tapered surface 35b of the tank wall 35 is inclined so that the tank wall 35 gradually becomes thinner from top to bottom. As a result, the accumulation of air bubbles in the upper portion of the peripheral surface of the outlet 35a is suppressed.

[0040] A cartridge detector 75 is positioned inside the casing 2 to detect that the liquid cartridge 80 is held in the holder 50. The cartridge detector 75 may be a sensor or switch that detects the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the holding hole H by mechanically detecting the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the holding hole H, or it may be a sensor that optically detects the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the holding hole H, or it may be a sensor that electromagnetically detects the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the holding hole H.

[0041] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the retainer 50 and sealing lid 42 of Figure 2, viewed from above. As shown in Figure 5, the retaining wall 41b of the retainer 50 has a shape that matches the outer shape of the liquid cartridge 80. That is, the retaining hole H has a shape that matches the outer shape of the liquid cartridge 80. This prevents the wrong cartridge from being used and the wrong coating liquid from being supplied to the reservoir 30.

[0042] The liquid cartridge 80 has a tank portion 80a filled with coating liquid and a flange portion 80b protruding outward from the tank portion 80a. The lower end of the liquid cartridge 80 is provided with a discharge port 80c (see Figure 4A) that communicates with the inside of the tank portion 80a. The tank portion 80a is more flexible than the flange portion 80b. When an operator pinches and presses the tank portion 80a with their fingers, the coating liquid inside the tank portion 80a is discharged downward from the discharge port 80c.

[0043] The liquid cartridge 80 contains the amount of coating liquid necessary for one coating control, for example, to coat one smartphone. Various coating liquids can be used to fill the liquid cartridge 80. When the solvent in the coating liquid evaporates while the coating liquid is adhering to the surface of the smartphone 100, the transparent coating material solidifies on the surface of the smartphone 100, covering the smartphone 100. As an example, the coating liquid may be a liquid in which a silicone compound is dissolved in a solvent. Note that the coating material does not have to be transparent.

[0044] On the bottom surface of the recess 41a of the upper wall 41 of the second case portion 12, a circumferential seal member 45 is fixed so as to surround the holding hole H. The seal member 45 is an elastic material such as rubber or silicone. On the surface of the sealing lid 42 that faces the bottom surface of the recess 41a, a circumferential pressing member 46 is fixed. The pressing member 46 has a shape and size that match the seal member 45. When the sealing lid 42 is in the closed state so as to cover the holding hole H, the pressing member 46 is pressed against the seal member 45. When the sealing lid 42 is in the closed state, the storage space K of the reservoir 30 is sealed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the coating liquid accumulated in the reservoir 30 from evaporating to the outside through the holding hole H. Note that a seal member 45 may be provided on the sealing lid 42, and a pressing member 46 may be provided in the recess 4la.

[0045] In addition, a notch portion 41c obtained by laterally cutting out the recess 41a is formed in the upper wall 41 of the second case portion 12. An operator can easily open the sealing lid 42 by putting a finger into the notch portion 41c.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system of the desktop coating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 6, a power supply circuit 72 is electrically connected to the controller 70. Power may be supplied to the power supply circuit 72 from an external power supply of the desktop coating apparatus 1 via a power cord or a USB cord, or power may be supplied from a battery mounted on the desktop coating apparatus 1. If the desktop coating apparatus 1 is provided with a USB port, power can be supplied from a mobile battery to the power supply circuit 72 via a USB cord, so that the place where the desktop coating apparatus 1 is used is not limited, which is preferable. When an operator presses the operation switch 71 when the desktop coating apparatus 1 is in the power-off state, power is supplied from the power supply circuit 72 to the controller 70, and the desktop coating apparatus 1 is in the power-on state.

[0047] When the desktop coating device 1 is in the power-on state and the cartridge detector 75 detects that the liquid cartridge 80 is held by the holder 50, power is supplied from the power circuit 72 to the first light source 73 and the second light source 74 (see FIG. 2), and the first light source 73 and the second light source 74 are lit. When the operator long-presses the operation switch 71 to turn off the desktop coating device 1, the power supply from the power circuit 72 to the controller 70 and the light sources 73 and 74 stops.

[0048] When the operator presses the operation switch 71 when the desktop coating device 1 is in the power-on state, the operation mode of the desktop coating device 1 switches between the coating mode, the cleaning mode, and the drying mode. The cleaning mode and / or the drying mode may be omitted.

[0049] In the coating mode, when the controller 70 detects the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the holding hole H by the cartridge detector 75, it starts the coating control sequence described later and controls the atomizer 20 and the blower 65. In the cleaning mode, when the controller 70 detects the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the holding hole H by the cartridge detector 75, it continuously drives the atomizer 20 for a predetermined time as cleaning control. In the drying mode, the controller 70 drives the blower 65 without driving the atomizer 20.

[0050] FIG. 7 is a time-series table showing the control by the controller 70 in FIG. 6. When the operator presses the operation switch 71 when the desktop coating device 1 is in the power-off state, power is supplied to the controller 70, and the controller 70 waits for the start of control in the coating mode while keeping the atomizer 20 and the blower 65 stopped.

[0051] When the cartridge detector 75 detects the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the holding hole H, the controller 70 performs standby control as initial control. In standby control, the sprayer 20 and blower 65 are initially stopped and left waiting for a predetermined time (t1). During this time, the operator pinches and presses the tank portion 80a of the liquid cartridge 80 with their fingers, causing the coating liquid inside the tank portion 80a to be discharged from the outlet 80c into the reservoir 30. After the predetermined time (t1) has elapsed, the controller 70 performs warm-up control for a predetermined time (t2). In warm-up control, the controller 70 turns on the heater. For example, the ultrasonic transducer 21 may be used as a heater to heat the coating liquid stored in the reservoir 30. In warm-up control, the controller 70 may drive the ultrasonic transducer 21 at a frequency that does not cause the ultrasonic transducer 21 to emit mist, so that the coating liquid flowing out from the outlet 35a of the reservoir 30 and in contact with the ultrasonic transducer 21 rises in temperature.

[0052] Specifically, the vibration frequency of the ultrasonic transducer 21 during warm-up control is lower than the vibration frequency of the ultrasonic transducer 21 during coating control. This warm-up control reduces the viscosity of the coating liquid in the reservoir 30, allowing the ultrasonic transducer 21 to smoothly atomize the coating liquid. In addition, the warm-up control raises the temperature of the coating liquid, making it easier for the mist ejected from the ultrasonic transducer 21 to rise, thus making it easier for the mist to adhere to the bottom surface of the smartphone 100. Alternatively, instead of using the ultrasonic transducer 21 as the heater for warm-up control, a different heater 85 (e.g., a heating element) may be used to heat the coating liquid in the reservoir 30. In that case, the heater 85 may be placed near the reservoir 30. Furthermore, the warm-up control may be omitted.

[0053] When standby control ends, the controller 70 starts coating control. When coating control starts, the controller 70 drives the sprayer 20 for a predetermined time (t3) while the blower 65 remains stopped. Specifically, the controller 70 drives the sprayer 20 after a short trigger time (t0) for a command to drive the sprayer 20. After the predetermined time (t3) has elapsed, the controller 70 deactivates the sprayer 20 and drives the blower 65 for a predetermined time (t4) after a trigger time (t0). After the predetermined time (t3) has elapsed, the controller 70 deactivates the blower 65 and waits for a predetermined time (t5) with the sprayer 20 and blower 65 remaining in a deactivated state. This cycle is repeated N times (N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2). The number of cycle repetitions N for coating control can be, for example, 5 or more and less than 10 times. In the coating control, the controller 70 performs intermittent control, which intermittently drives the sprayer 20, and intermittent control, which intermittently drives the blower 65.

[0054] In coating control, it is preferable that the operating time of the sprayer 20 (t3) is longer than the operating time of the blower 65 (t4). In coating control, it is preferable that the operating time of the blower 65 (t4) is shorter than the non-operating time of the blower 65 (t0 + t3 + t0 + t5).

[0055] In coating control, the controller 70 controls the blower 65 so that it alternately drives and dedrives the blower 65. This allows the mist of the coating liquid to be applied to the surface of the smartphone 100 and to be widely distributed in the containment space S1, thus enabling efficient coating.

[0056] The controller 70 controls the sprayer 20 in the coating control process so that it alternately drives and dedrives the sprayer 20. At the same time, the controller 70 controls the sprayer 20 and the blower 65 so that the blower 65 is dedriven when the sprayer 20 is driven. This makes it easier for the mist ejected from the sprayer 20 to spread widely throughout the containment space S1. It also prevents the flow of mist ejected from the sprayer 20 from becoming difficult to see due to the wind from the blower 65. During the coating process as described above, the operator can see the coating being applied to the smartphone 100 from the outside through the transparent cover 4.

[0057] The timing at which the sprayer 20 switches from the driven state to the non-driven state may be the same as the timing at which the blower 65 switches from the non-driven state to the driven state, or it may be earlier. The timing at which the sprayer 20 switches from the non-driven state to the driven state may be the same as the timing at which the blower 65 switches from the driven state to the non-driven state, or it may be later.

[0058] When the coating control is complete, the controller 70 starts the dry control. During the dry control, the controller 70 keeps the sprayer 20 stopped. In the dry control, the controller 70 first waits for a predetermined time (t6) with the sprayer 20 and blower 65 stopped. After the predetermined time (t6) has elapsed, the controller 70 drives the blower 65 for a predetermined time (t7) after a short trigger time (t0) for a command to drive the blower 65. This promotes the drying of the coating liquid attached to the surface of the smartphone 100 by the airflow from the blower 65. Note that driving the blower 65 may be omitted during the dry control. In that case, the time during the dry control is used to allow the coating liquid to air dry naturally with the sprayer 20 and blower 65 stopped.

[0059] After a predetermined time (t7) has elapsed, the controller 70 deactivates the blower 65 and waits for a predetermined time (t8) with the sprayer 20 and blower 65 remaining in a deactivated state. After a predetermined time (t8) has elapsed, the controller 70 turns off the first light source 73 and the second light source 74. This allows the operator to understand that the dry control is complete and that the series of controls for coating are finished. If the desktop coating device 1 is equipped with a display or speaker, the controller 70 may output a display indicating completion or an audible signal indicating completion to the speaker when the dry control is finished.

[0060] As described above, the coating liquid supplied to the reservoir 30 of the tabletop coating device 1 is atomized inside the casing 2 and sprayed into the containment space S1 where the smartphone 100 is placed. Therefore, the operator can easily coat the smartphone 100 by supporting it with the support pin 61 and operating the sprayer 20 while the coating liquid is supplied to the reservoir 30. Furthermore, since the sprayer 20 is used to apply the coating liquid to the smartphone 100, the coating liquid can be easily and widely applied to the smartphone 100.

[0061] Figure 8 is a front view of the spray cartridge 190 of the desktop coating device 101 for smartphones according to the second embodiment. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the attachment and detachment of the spray cartridge 190 of Figure 8 to the casing 102. Components common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, in the desktop coating device 101 of the second embodiment, the spray cartridge 190 is detachable from the casing 102, and the spray cartridge 190 can be easily replaced with a new one.

[0062] The spray cartridge 190 is a unit including a reservoir 130, a sprayer 20, a holder 160, a retainer 140, and electrical terminals 195. The casing 102 includes a receiver 102a that detachably houses the spray cartridge 190. For example, the receiver 102a includes an opening 103a of the casing body 103 that opens upward to an adjacent space S2 of the casing 102, and a guide wall 103b that extends downward from the periphery of the opening 103a. When the spray cartridge 190 is inserted from above into the adjacent space S2 through the opening 103a, the spray cartridge 190 is guided by the partition wall 115 and the guide wall 103b, with the spray cartridge 190 sandwiched between the partition wall 115 and the guide wall 103b that separate the housing space S1 and the adjacent space S2.

[0063] The reservoir 130 of the spray cartridge 190 defines a storage space K that is open upward. The storage space K of the reservoir 130 is open upward. The outlet 130a of the reservoir 130 is oriented horizontally. The sprayer 20 is attached to the reservoir 130 by a holder 160 in a position where the spray direction of the sprayer 20 is oriented horizontally. The sprayer 20 is held between the reservoir 130 and the holder 160 attached to the reservoir 130. The holder 160 has an opening 160a. The spray cartridge 190 has a locking portion 160c for locking onto the casing 2. Specifically, the holder 160 has an elastic piece 160b and a locking portion 160c which is a protrusion extending from the tip of the elastic piece 160b. Since the slit SL is formed in an open loop shape along the periphery of the elastic piece 160b, the elastic piece 160b can bend, allowing the locking portion 160c to be elastically displaced in the horizontal direction.

[0064] The casing 2 has a locking portion 115b at a position corresponding to the locking portion 160c of the spray cartridge 190. Specifically, the locking portion 115b, which is a recess that matches the locking portion 160c, is provided on the surface of the partition wall 115 of the casing 2 that faces the spray cartridge 190. When the spray cartridge 190 is inserted into the adjacent space S2 through the opening 103a of the casing 2, the locking portion 160c of the spray cartridge 190 is locked to the locking portion 115b of the casing 2. In this state, the opening 160a of the holder 160 of the spray cartridge 190 matches the opening 115a of the partition wall 115.

[0065] An electrical terminal 195 is provided on the outer surface of the spray cartridge 190. The electrical terminal 195 is electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer 21. An electrical terminal 70b corresponding to the electrical terminal 195 of the spray cartridge 190 is located on the casing 2. The electrical terminal 70b is electrically connected to the controller 70. When the locking portion 160c of the spray cartridge 190 is locked to the locking portion 115b of the casing 2, the electrical terminal 195 of the spray cartridge 190 contacts the electrical terminal 70b, which is electrically connected to the control circuit 70a, and conducts electricity. This allows the controller 70 to control the ultrasonic transducer 21. The ultrasonic transducer 21 atomizes the liquid supplied from the outlet 130a of the reservoir 130 and sprays the mist-like liquid into the containment space S1 through the opening 160a of the holder 160.

[0066] The retainer 140 is attached to the reservoir 130 so as to cover the storage space K of the reservoir 130 from above. The retainer 140 includes a cover portion 141 that covers the storage space K of the reservoir 130 from above, and a pair of retaining walls 142 that protrude upward from the cover portion 141. The cover portion 141 has a retaining hole H into which the liquid cartridge 80 is inserted. The pair of retaining walls 142 are arranged with a gap between them. The pair of retaining walls 142 have guide grooves 142a that extend vertically on their opposing surfaces. The gap between the pair of retaining walls 142 is sized to accommodate the tank portion 80a of the liquid cartridge 80. The flange portion 80b of the liquid cartridge 80 slides vertically into the guide grooves 142a of the pair of retaining walls 142. The coating liquid, which is discharged vertically downward from the outlet 80c of the liquid cartridge 80 inserted into the holding hole H, reaches the storage space K of the reservoir 130 by its own weight.

[0067] By sliding the spray cartridge 190 upward from the casing 2 and removing it, the spray cartridge 190 can be easily replaced with a new one. Therefore, even if the sprayer 20 becomes clogged, the sprayer 20 can be easily replaced with a new one by replacing the spray cartridge 190. The other components are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0068] Furthermore, the technology disclosed herein is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the desktop coating apparatus 1 is not limited to being placed horizontally on a desktop; for example, it may be placed at an angle to the horizontal plane, or vertically to the horizontal plane. The blower 65 is positioned to blow air perpendicularly to the main surface of the smartphone 100 (the display screen or the opposite surface), but it may be positioned to blow air diagonally or parallel to the main surface of the smartphone 100. The cover 4 does not need to be openable and closable as long as the smartphone 100 can be inserted into and removed from the housing space S1 of the casing 2. For example, the smartphone 100 may be placed in a drawer that can be inserted into and removed from the casing 2. The support member for supporting the smartphone 100 is not limited to the support pin 61. For example, the support member may be fixedly positioned in the casing 2.

[0069] Coating control may be started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the power of the tabletop coating device 1 was turned on. Coating control may also be started when an operator presses the start button provided on the casing 2.

[0070] The reservoir 30, in which the lower part K2 has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional area than the upper part K1 in the storage space K, is not limited to the shape shown in Figures 4A and 4B. For example, the reservoir 30 may have an inverted triangular cross-sectional shape. The desktop coating device 1 may be equipped with a heater for drying and solidifying the coating liquid attached to the surface of the smartphone 100. In that case, the controller 70 may be configured to turn on the heater with a delay from the start of the coating control.

[0071] The functions of the elements disclosed herein can be performed using circuits or processing circuits, including general-purpose processors, dedicated processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, configured or programmed to perform the disclosed functions. A processor is considered a processing circuit or circuit because it includes transistors and other circuits. In this disclosure, a circuit, unit, or means is hardware that performs the enumerated functions, or hardware programmed to perform the enumerated functions. The hardware may be hardware disclosed herein, or other known hardware that is programmed or configured to perform the enumerated functions. If the hardware is a processor, which is considered a type of circuit, the circuit, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software, and the software is used to configure the hardware and / or the processor.

[0072] [Embodiment] The embodiments described above are specific examples of the following embodiments.

[0073] (Aspect 1) A desktop coating apparatus for smartphones comprising: a casing that defines a housing space capable of housing a smartphone; a support member that supports the smartphone housed in the housing space; a reservoir that stores a coating liquid supplied from the outside; a sprayer that atomizes the coating liquid from the reservoir and sprays it into the housing space; and a controller that performs coating control, including controlling the drive of the sprayer.

[0074] According to Embodiment 1, the coating liquid supplied to the reservoir of the coating device is atomized inside the casing and sprayed into the containment space where the smartphone is placed. Therefore, the operator can easily coat the smartphone by supporting it on the support member and operating the sprayer while the coating liquid is supplied to the reservoir. Furthermore, since the coating is applied to the smartphone by spraying the coating liquid with the sprayer, uneven distribution of the coating liquid on the smartphone is minimized, resulting in a good coating. Thus, the operator can apply a treatment to properly protect the smartphone with a simple operation.

[0075] (Aspect 2) The desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to aspect 1, further comprising a holder including a holding hole into which a cartridge containing a coating liquid is inserted, wherein the holding hole has a shape that matches the outer shape of the cartridge and is in communication with the reservoir.

[0076] According to embodiment 2, the coating liquid can be easily supplied to the reservoir by holding the cartridge in the holder, and the incorrect coating liquid will not be filled into the coating device if the wrong cartridge is used.

[0077] (Aspect 3) The desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to aspect 1 or 2, further comprising a blower for generating airflow in the containment space, wherein the coating control further includes controlling the blower.

[0078] According to embodiment 3, the mist of the coating liquid sprayed by the sprayer can be widely applied to the surface of the smartphone by the airflow from the blower. Therefore, the coating liquid can be properly fixed to the surface of the smartphone.

[0079] (Aspect 4) The desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to aspect 3, wherein the coating control includes controlling the blower so that the blower is driven intermittently.

[0080] According to embodiment 4, it is possible to achieve both applying the mist to the surface of the smartphone and widely distributing the mist within the containment space, thereby enabling efficient coating.

[0081] (Aspect 5) The desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to aspect 4, wherein the coating control includes controlling the sprayer so that it is driven intermittently, and the blower is controlled to be in a non-driven state when the sprayer is driven.

[0082] According to embodiment 5, the mist ejected from the sprayer can spread more easily throughout the containment space. In addition, it is possible to suppress the problem of the mist flow being difficult to see due to the wind from the blower.

[0083] (Aspect 6) The desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, wherein the casing has a wall defining the housing space, the wall has a plurality of holes, and the support member includes a support pin that is inserted into a hole selected from the plurality of holes.

[0084] According to embodiment 6, the support pin is inserted into a hole selected from a plurality of holes formed in the wall, so the position of the support pin can be easily changed according to the specifications and size of the smartphone.

[0085] (Aspect 7) A desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the support member supports the mobile device such that the spray axis of the sprayer extends along the main surface of the mobile device, and the support member supports the mobile device in an inclined state with respect to the spray axis such that the main surface of the mobile device facing the spray axis faces the sprayer.

[0086] According to embodiment 7, the mist of the coating liquid ejected from the sprayer is more likely to collide with the main surface of the mobile device, thereby promoting the adhesion of the coating liquid to the mobile device.

[0087] (Aspect 8) The sprayer is a desktop coating device for smartphones according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the sprayer has a transducer that performs ultrasonic vibration.

[0088] According to embodiment 8, the coating liquid is atomized by the ultrasonic vibrations of the transducer, so the coating liquid is atomized and can be widely diffused within the containment space.

[0089] (Aspect 9) The desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein at least a portion of the casing facing the smartphone supported by the support member is transparent.

[0090] According to embodiment 9, since at least a portion of the casing facing the smartphone is transparent, the operator or user can visually observe the coating process from the outside while the smartphone is being coated. Therefore, the operator or user can confirm whether the coating process is being carried out properly, thereby improving the usability of the coating device.

[0091] (Aspect 10) The desktop coating device for smartphones according to any one of aspects 1 to 9, wherein the casing includes a wall that partitions the internal space of the casing into the housing space and an adjacent space in which the reservoir and the controller are arranged, the wall has an opening that connects the adjacent space to the housing space, and the sprayer is positioned to face the opening in the wall.

[0092] According to embodiment 10, the coating apparatus can be miniaturized.

[0093] (Aspect 11) The desktop coating apparatus for smartphones according to any one of aspects 1 to 10, wherein the reservoir and the sprayer constitute a spray cartridge that is detachable from the casing, and the casing includes a receiver that detachably houses the spray cartridge.

[0094] According to embodiment 11, the spray cartridge can be replaced with a new one by removing it from the casing. Therefore, even if the sprayer becomes clogged, the sprayer can be easily replaced with a new one by replacing the spray cartridge.

[0095] (Aspect 12) A desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to any one of aspects 1 to 11, further comprising a heater capable of heating the coating liquid stored in the reservoir, wherein the controller performs a warm-up control that turns on the heater before the coating control.

[0096] According to embodiment 12, the viscosity of the coating liquid in the reservoir is reduced by warm-up control, allowing the sprayer to smoothly atomize the coating liquid.

[0097] 1 Tabletop coating device 2 Casing 15 Partition wall 15a Opening 20 Sprayer 21 Ultrasonic transducer; heater 22 Transducer support 30, 130 Reservoir 50 Holder 60 Rectifying wall 60a Hole 65 Blower 70 Controller 80 Cartridge 85 Heater 100 Smartphone 190 Spray cartridge H Holding hole K Storage space K1 Upper part K2 Lower part S1 Containment space S2 Adjacent space X Spray axis

Claims

1. A desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device, comprising: a casing that defines a housing space capable of housing a mobile device; a support member that supports the mobile device housed in the housing space; a reservoir that stores a coating liquid supplied from the outside; a sprayer that atomizes the coating liquid from the reservoir and sprays it into the housing space; and a controller that performs coating control, including controlling and driving the sprayer.

2. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a holder including a holding hole into which a cartridge containing a coating liquid is inserted, wherein the holding hole has a shape that matches the outer shape of the cartridge and communicates with the reservoir.

3. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a blower for generating airflow in the containment space, wherein the coating control further comprises controlling the blower.

4. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the coating control includes controlling the blower so that the blower is driven intermittently.

5. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the coating control includes controlling the sprayer so that it is driven intermittently, and the blower is controlled to be in a non-driven state when the sprayer is driven.

6. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the casing has a wall defining the housing space, the wall has a plurality of holes, and the support member includes a support pin inserted into a hole selected from the plurality of holes.

7. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support member supports the mobile device such that the spray axis of the sprayer extends along the main surface of the mobile device, and the support member supports the mobile device in an inclined state with respect to the spray axis such that the main surface of the mobile device facing the spray axis faces the sprayer.

8. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sprayer has a transducer that performs ultrasonic vibrations.

9. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a portion of the casing facing the mobile device supported by the support member is transparent.

10. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the casing includes a wall that partitions the internal space of the casing into the housing space and an adjacent space in which the reservoir and the controller are arranged, the wall having an opening that connects the adjacent space to the housing space, and the sprayer is positioned to face the opening in the wall.

11. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reservoir and the sprayer constitute a spray cartridge that is removable from the casing, and the casing includes a receiver that detachably houses the spray cartridge.

12. The desktop coating apparatus for a mobile device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a heater capable of heating the coating liquid stored in the reservoir, wherein the controller performs a warm-up control that turns on the heater before the coating control.

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