JPH024361A - Automatic water-filling device for glass - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically start water filling when a glass is put on a receiving stand and to stop the water-filling when the glass is filled up with the water of prescribed quantity by providing sensor in a water-filling control means, adding a mark, which can be detected by the sensor, to the glass, detecting the mark with the sensor and starting the water-filling. CONSTITUTION:When a glass 30 is put on a glass receiving stand 20, a light from a projecting part 22 is reflected by a mark 31. Then, since the light is made incident to a photo-detecting part 23, on optical sensor 25 outputs a signal to a water-filling control means 26. The water-filling control means opens an electro-magnetic type water-shutting valve 28 of a water filling 27 according to the signal and starts the water-filling through a water filling pipe 29 to the glass. When water goes into the glass 30, a spring 15 is compressed and an external cylinder 12 descends together with the receiving stand 20. When the glass 30 is filled with the water of the prescribed quantity, since a ferro-magnetic substance 16 of the external cylinder 12 is closed to a magnetic sensor 17 of a base stand 10, the sensor 17 is operated and a signal is outputted to the water filling control means 26. With receiving the signal, the water filling control means 26 closes the valve 28 and stops the water filling to the glass 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an improvement in a device for automatically injecting water into a gargling spout in a dental unit or the like.

[Prior Art] There are two types of automatic water filling devices for gargling pots: a pneumatic type and an electric type. These known devices use a relatively heavy tip such as a metal tip, support a pedestal on which the tip is placed with a spring, and pneumatically or electrically detect the displacement of the spring due to the weight of the tip alone. When a predetermined amount of water is injected into the pot, the displacement of the spring is detected, either pneumatically or electrically, and the water injection is stopped.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] Metal cups are cleaned each time they are used, but if the attached saliva is not washed sufficiently, there is a risk of transmitting viral diseases, so disposable paper or plastic cups are used. The use of was requested. However, paper tips are significantly lighter than metal tips, and the spring that supports the tip holder hardly moves, so conventional devices have been unable to detect empty paper tips.

The present invention was made to solve this problem, and its purpose is to automatically start pouring water when a disposable, lightweight gargle tip such as a paper tip is placed on top of the gargle tip, and to dispense a predetermined amount of water. To provide a device that stops water injection when a pot is filled with water.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the means adopted by the present invention includes a base, a cup pedestal mounted on the base so as to be movable up and down,
A lightweight tip that can be placed on the tip holder, a water injection means for injecting water into the tip, a spring that constantly pushes up the tip holder, and a device that detects that the tip is placed on the tip holder. A device comprising a water injection control means for starting water injection by the water injection means and for detecting that a predetermined amount of water has been poured into the tip and stopping the water injection by the water injection means. The present invention is configured to detect that the tip is placed on the tip pedestal by either one of them.

When using an optical sensor, a light-reflective mark is attached to the tip, and the light emitting part of the optical sensor projects light onto the mark, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving part to detect the presence or absence of the tip.

When using a magnetic sensor, a ferromagnetic mark is attached to the tip, and the magnetic sensor is placed near the ferromagnetic mark to detect the presence or absence of the tip.

When using air pressure, when the tip is placed on the tip pedestal, the air intake hole is blocked by the bottom of the tip, the movable element connected to the air intake hole is activated, and the air pressure is applied to the air actuation of the water injection means. Open the normally closed water valve and start water injection.

[Operation] Even if an empty paper tip is placed on the tip holder, the position of the tip holder will hardly change because it is lightweight, but if you attach light reflective tape or ferromagnetic tape to the paper tip as a mark, it will be easier to use. , an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor detects the light reflective tape or the ferromagnetic tape and outputs a signal to the water injection control means;
Upon receiving the signal, the water injection control means opens the electromagnetic normally closed water valve of the water injection means and starts water injection.As the weight of the water injection into the paper tip increases, the spring supporting the tip holder bends, causing the holder to flex. descend. When the tip pedestal is lowered to a predetermined position, a known displacement sensor outputs a signal to the water injection control means, and upon receiving the signal, the water injection control means closes the electromagnetic normally closed water valve to stop water injection.

When using pneumatic pressure, a suction pipe is connected to the pressure receiving part of the movable element as a pneumatic directional switching valve. The suction tube consists of an inner tube and an outer tube that are airtight and can slide against each other. The inner tube or the outer tube moves up and down together with the tip holder, and its upper end opens on the upper surface of the tip holder. The lower end of the outer cylinder or the inner cylinder is connected to the pressure receiving part of the movable element, and is also branched and connected to a negative pressure source. When a paper tip is placed on the tip holder, the opening at the top end of the suction tube is blocked by the bottom of the paper tip, resulting in negative pressure inside the suction tube, which acts on the pressure receiving part, so the air directional switching valve The movable element is actuated in one direction to supply actuating air pressure to the air-operated normally closed water valve of the water injection means to open the valve and begin water injection into the paper tip. When a predetermined amount of water enters the tip and the inner tube or outer tube is lowered together with the tip holder, if the inner tube and the outer tube are provided with ventilation holes that communicate with the atmosphere, air will be supplied into the suction tube. As the pressure returns to normal, the movable element moves in reverse and ceases to supply actuating air pressure. As a result, the normally closed water valve closes and water injection into the paper cob stops.

[Example] The apparatus of the present invention will be explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an inner cylinder 11 is fixed to a base 10,
The outer cylinder 12 is fitted into the inner cylinder so as to be vertically slidable. A spring 15 is inserted into the inner cylinder 11, and the upper end of the spring 15 contacts the upper surface of the outer cylinder 12. The lower end of the spring 15 contacts the upper surface of the adjusting screw 13 screwed into the bottom of the inner cylinder 11. Outer cylinder 1
2 is provided with a flange 14, a ferromagnetic material 16 is provided on the lower surface of the flange, and a magnetic sensor 17 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the base 10 corresponding thereto. On the top surface of the outer cylinder 12 is a socket holder 2.
0 is fixed. Empty paper tip 30 on the tip pedestal 20
When placed, the spring 15 bends according to the weight of the tip 30, but since the weight of the tip 30 is light, the deflection is slight. A light reflective tape mark 31 is wrapped around the circumferential surface of the tip 30.

A support 21 is attached to the base 10, and a light sensor 25 consisting of a light emitter 22 and a light receiver 23 is mounted at the tip of the support.
will be provided. When the tip 30 is placed on the tip holder 20, the light from the light projecting section 22 is reflected by the mark 31 and enters the light receiving section 23, so the optical sensor 25 outputs a signal to the water injection control means 26. In response to the signal, the water injection control means opens the electromagnetic normally closed water valve 28 of the water injection means 27 and starts filling the cup with water through the water injection pipe 28.

As shown in FIG. 2, as the wood enters the tip 30, the spring 15 is bent, and the outer cylinder 12 is lowered together with the tip holder 20. When a predetermined amount of water enters the tip 30, the ferromagnetic material 16 of the outer cylinder 12 approaches the magnetic sensor 17 of the base lO, so that
The magnetic sensor 17 operates and outputs a signal to the water injection control means 28. Upon receiving the signal, the water injection control means 26 closes the electromagnetic normally-closed water valve 28 of the water injection means 27, and stops water injection from the water injection pipe 29 to the pot 30. In this way, a predetermined amount of water is injected into the pot 30. Then, when the tip 30 is removed from the tip holder 20, the reaction force of the spring 15 returns it to its initial state.

In the example, a light-reflective tape was attached to the tip as a mark, but any material that can be detected by the sensor may be used. For example, when using a color discrimination sensor, use a color tape and a Hall element sensor. If using, attach magnetic tape to each tip.

Although the water injection is controlled electrically in the above embodiment, the water injection may be controlled pneumatically. As shown in Figure 3, the base 1
An outer cylinder 12 is fixed to the outer cylinder 0, and an inner cylinder 11 is fitted into the outer cylinder so as to be vertically slidable. The inner cylinder 11 is fixed to the tip pedestal 20, and the opening 32 at the upper end opens on the top surface of the tip pedestal 20.
The lower end of the outer cylinder 12 is connected to the negative pressure source 33 and the pressure receiving part of the movable element 37, and the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12 as a whole are connected to the suction pipe 3.
form 4. Ventilation holes 35 and 36 are provided which communicate with each other when the inner cylinder 11 is lowered to a predetermined position, thereby allowing the inside of the suction pipe 34 to communicate with the atmosphere.

A spring 15 is disposed around the IN of the suction pipe 34, and its upper end contacts the tip pedestal 20 and its lower end contacts the inner bottom surface of the base 10.

When the tip 30 is placed on the tip holder 20, the opening 32 of the inner cylinder 11 is covered by the bottom surface of the tip 30.
The interior of the suction pipe 34 becomes negative pressure, and the negative pressure acts on the pressure receiving portion of the movable element 37. The movable element element 37 is a directional switching valve for operating air pressure as water injection control means, and when negative pressure acts on the pressure receiving part, it is switched to one direction and supplies operating air pressure to the air-operated normally closed water valve 28 as water injection means. and open the valve,
Water injection into the pot 30 from the water injection pipe 28 is started.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a predetermined amount of water enters the tip 30, the spring 15 bends, causing the tip holder 20 and the inner cylinder 11 to descend, and the vent holes 35 and 36 of the outer tube 12 and the inner tube 11 to communicate with each other. Therefore, the air pressure inside the suction tube 34 returns to near atmospheric pressure.

When a pressure close to atmospheric pressure acts on the pressure receiving portion of the movable element 37, the switch is reversed and the supply of operating air pressure to the air-operated normally closed water valve 28 is interrupted. As a result, the air-operated normally closed water valve 28 is closed and water injection from the water injection pipe 28 to the pot 3o is stopped. When the tip 3o is picked up from the tip holder 20, the reaction force of the spring 15 causes the tip holder 20 to return to its initial position. Note that the inner cylinder and outer cylinder can also be reversed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the device of the present invention differs from conventional devices in which the presence or absence of a tip is detected by the displacement of the tip holder due to weight. Since the presence or absence of the tip on the tip holder is detected by the suction tube, it is possible to reliably detect lightweight tips made of paper or synthetic resin.0 Because tips made of paper or synthetic resin are disposable. The apparatus of the present invention not only eliminates the need for cleaning, but also prevents infections such as viral diseases.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are vertical cross-sectional views of the main parts of the apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 showing the state before the start of water injection, and FIG. 2 showing the state after the water injection is completed, respectively. 3 and 4 are diagrams corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the second embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 10 is a base, 11 is an inner cylinder, 12 is an outer cylinder, 15 is a spring, 20 is a socket holder, 25 is an optical sensor, 2
6 is a water injection control means, 27 is a water injection means, 28 is a normally closed water valve,
30 is a tip, 31 is a mark, 33 is a negative pressure source, 34 is a suction tube, 35, 38 is a ventilation hole, and 37 is a movable element.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A base, a cup holder provided on the base so as to be movable up and down, a spring provided on the base to support the cup holder, and a spring placed on the cup holder. a lightweight cup that can be placed in the cup, a water filling means for filling the cup with water, and when the cup is placed on the cup holder, the water filling means starts filling water, and when a predetermined amount of water enters the cup, water is poured into the water filling means. In the apparatus, the water injection control means includes a sensor, a mark detectable by the sensor is attached to the cup, and the sensor detects the mark to start water injection. Features an automatic water filling device for cups. 2) a base, a cup holder provided on the base so as to be movable up and down, a spring provided on the base to support the cup holder, and a lightweight cup placed on the cup holder; a water injection means for filling the cup with water; and a water injection control means for causing the water injection means to start pouring water when the cup is placed on the cup holder, and for causing the water injection means to stop pouring water when a predetermined amount of water has entered the cup. In the apparatus, the water injection control means includes a suction pipe consisting of an inner and outer cylinder that are slidable with respect to each other, a negative pressure source connected to the suction pipe, and a pneumatic direction having a pressure receiving part connected to the suction pipe. a movable element of a switching valve, the movable element opens the valve when the pressure receiving part becomes negative pressure, supplies air pressure to the air-operated normally closed water valve of the water injection means, and opens the valve when the pressure receiving part becomes atmospheric pressure. The suction tube is fixed to the cup holder and has an opening at the upper end that is covered by the cup, and the inner and outer cylinders communicate at a predetermined mutual position to close the suction tube. 2. The automatic water filling device for a cup according to claim 1, further comprising a vent hole for venting to the atmosphere.