Fluid ejection gun and cleaning apparatus using the same

A fluid ejection gun includes: a flexible ejection tube for ejecting a fluid, the fluid being supplied to the inside of the ejection tube, the fluid being ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; a guide disposed to surround the ejection tube and introduce the ejection tube along the inner surface of the guide, the ejection tube being moved by the fluid ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; a casing disposed to surround the guide, the casing having an opening section forward in the ejection direction of the fluid ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; and a suction unit provided to the casing for sucking the fluid ejected from the ejection tube.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/JP2005/017411, filed on 21 Sep. 2005. Priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) and 35 U.S.C. §365(b) is claimed from Japanese Application No. 2005-063685, filed 8 Mar. 2005, the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fluid ejection gun and a cleaning apparatus using the same.

The present application is based on patent application No. 2005-063685 filed Mar. 8, 2005, in Japan, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional cleaning apparatuses are known for cleaning a textile surface of a sofa or compartment seat that is not easily removable from a compartment. Cleaning apparatuses of this kind eject a fluid, e.g., air or water pumped from a high-pressure compressor onto a surface of an object being cleaned to blow off dirt or dust.

Some cleaning apparatuses of the foregoing kind are provided with a fluid ejection gun that is provided with an elastic cylindrical nozzle and a circular guide disposed outside of the nozzle. The cleaning apparatus amplifies the pressure wave of the fluid by supplying the fluid to the nozzle to provide high-speed rotation to the nozzle along the inner surface of the guide; thus ejecting the fluid having more significant spurting force (see, for example, a patent document 1).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Since ejecting high-pressure fluid from the nozzle of the cleaning apparatus using the foregoing fluid ejection gun brushes dirt or dust, the removed dirt or the brushed dust is inevitably fluttered around the object being cleaned. On the contrary, reducing the spurting force of the fluid in order to prevent the dust from fluttering underpowers the cleaning capability. In addition, combined use of the fluid ejection gun and a vacuum apparatus for blowing the fluid onto the object being cleaned while suctioning the dirt or dust overloads the operator who has to operate two apparatuses simultaneously.

The present invention was conceived in consideration of the foregoing problems, and provides a cleaning apparatus that can reduce the workload of the operator and improve the cleaning capability while preventing dirt and dust from fluttering.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present invention provides a fluid ejection gun that includes: a flexible ejection tube for ejecting a fluid, the fluid being supplied to the inside of the ejection tube, the fluid being ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; a guide disposed to surround the ejection tube and introduce the ejection tube along the inner surface of the guide, the ejection tube being moved by the fluid ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; a casing disposed to surround the guide, the casing having an opening section forward in the ejection direction of the fluid ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; and a suction unit provided to the casing for suctioning the fluid ejected from the ejection tube.

According to the fluid ejection gun of the present invention, compressing the opening section of the casing onto a surface of an object being cleaned and ejecting a fluid from the tip of the ejection tube cause the tip of the ejection tube to swing along the inner surface of the guide with a reactive force of the ejected fluid. The swinging tip of the ejection tube causes the fluid to be blown onto the surface of the object being cleaned so that the blown fluid makes a circular path, thereby brushing dirt or dust from the object being cleaned effectively. In addition, confining the dust, etc., brushed from the object being cleaned in the casing prevents the dust from fluttering therearound.

According to the fluid ejection gun of the present invention, it is preferable that the suction unit further includes an exhaust tube communicating to the casing; and a dust-collecting unit communicating to the exhaust tube for collecting dust in the fluid. In addition, it is preferable that the suction unit supplies a part of the fluid from the inside of the ejection tube to the dust-collecting unit in the exhaust tube.

According to the fluid ejection gun of the present invention, ejecting a part of the fluid supplied to the inside of the ejection tube toward the dust-collecting unit in the exhaust tube generates a fluid flow toward the dust-collecting unit in the exhaust tube. This fluid flow causes the fluid containing dirt or dust in the casing to be suctioned through the exhaust tube and flown into the dust-collecting unit. Therefore, the dust, etc., brushed from the object being cleaned can be collected effectively.

The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus that includes: a flexible ejection tube for ejecting a fluid, the fluid being supplied to the inside of the ejection tube, the fluid being ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; a fluid-pumping unit for pumping the fluid to the inside of the ejection tube; a guide disposed to surround the ejection tube and introduce the ejection tube along the inner surface of the guide, the ejection tube being moved by the fluid ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; a casing disposed to surround the guide, the casing having an opening section forward with respect to the ejection direction of the fluid ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; and a suction unit provided to the casing for suctioning the fluid ejected from the ejection tube.

According to the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, compressing the opening section of the casing onto a surface of an object being cleaned and ejecting a fluid from the tip of the ejection tube cause the tip of the ejection tube to swing along the inner surface of the guide with a reactive force of the ejected fluid. The swinging tip of the ejection tube causes the fluid to be blown onto the surface of the object being cleaned so that the blown fluid makes a circular path, thereby brushing dirt or dust from the object being cleaned effectively. In addition, confining the dust, etc., brushed from the object being cleaned in the casing prevents the dust from fluttering therearound.

In the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the suction unit further includes an exhaust tube communicating to the casing; and a dust-collecting unit communicating to the exhaust tube for collecting dust in the fluid. In addition, it is preferable that the suction unit supply a part of the fluid from the inside of the ejection tube to the dust-collecting unit in the exhaust tube.

According to the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, ejecting part of the fluid from the inside of the ejection tube to the dust-collecting unit in the exhaust tube generates a fluid flow toward the dust-collecting unit in the exhaust tube. This fluid flow causes the fluid containing dirt or dust in the casing to be suctioned through the exhaust tube and flown into the dust-collecting unit. Therefore, the dust, etc., brushed from the object being cleaned can be collected effectively.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can prevent the dust, etc., from fluttering more reliably than in a case where a conventional vacuum apparatus is concurrently used. Therefore, effects can be obtained for reducing an operator's workload and enhancing the marketability of the product. In addition, a cost-reducing effect can be obtained due to a vacuum-apparatus-free structure.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a cleaning apparatus1includes: a compressor2for pumping a pressurized fluid, e.g., air or water; and an ejection gun4, connected to the compressor2via a hose3, for ejecting the fluid supplied by the compressor2. Carrying out cleaning includes pumping the fluid from the compressor2, and ejecting the fluid from the ejection gun4held by an operator onto a surface of an object being cleaned while moving the ejection gun4inch by inch.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the ejection gun4is provided with a gun body5. A hose3is connected to an entrance port7of the gun body5via a connector6. A grip section8is provided above the entrance port7. A trigger switch9is provided above the grip section8so that the trigger switch9protrudes in front of the grip section8.

An exit path11extending forward is formed above the gun body5. An exit port10is disposed at the front end of the exit path11. In addition, a trigger lever12pending in front of the grip section is provided above the gun body5. The trigger lever12is supported at the upper end of the gun body5and capable of freely rotating there. Usually, the trigger lever12is urged forward by the trigger switch9so that the entrance port7is disconnected from the exit port10. Dragging the trigger lever12toward the grip section8pushes the trigger switch9and communicates the entrance port7to the exit port10; thereby supplying the fluid pumped through the hose3to an ejection nozzle13or a bypass tube14, that will be explained later, through the exit port10.

An attachment screw section15is formed on an outer periphery of the exit port10of the exit path11. A branch socket (suction unit)16is engaged with the attachment screw section15for branching the fluid pumped from the gun body5. An ejection nozzle (ejection tube)13and a bypass tube (suction unit)14are connected to the branch socket16. The ejection nozzle13is cylindrical and has substantially a constant thickness. The ejection nozzle13is entirely made from plastic material, e.g., nylon, Teflon (Trade Mark Registered), polyurethane, or polypropylene. A plurality of synthetic resin guide bodies17are disposed on the outer circumference of the ejection nozzle13at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the ejection nozzle13. The guide bodies17making contact with a guide18, which will be explained later, prevent the ejection nozzle13from wearing out while the ejection nozzle13swings along the guide18.

The metal-made guide18for guiding the ejection nozzle13is disposed around the ejection nozzle13. The guide18has a cone shape so that an inner diameter thereof gradually increases from the branch socket16to the forward relative to the ejection gun4. A branch socket16is screwed into a base portion of the guide18. A case (casing)19is attached to the outer periphery of the guide18via a bottom-section-supporting member19a. The substantially cylindrical case19is made from engineering plastics.

The case19has an oval opening section20in the ejection direction, i.e., forward relative to the ejection nozzle13. A portion of the case19closer to the opening section20is more compressed vertically. The upper portion of the case19slightly protrudes forward of the bottom portion of the case19. Material forming the guide18may not be limited to metal as long as it is hard and has low friction resistance. Therefore using lighter material is advantageous because of improved operability of the ejection gun4.

The opening section20is a horizontal oval hole in order to obtain a larger cleaning area since the ejection gun4according to the present embodiment is assumed to be used vertically. In addition, the opening section may be a vertical oval hole in a case where the ejection gun is moved horizontally. That is, the shape of the opening section20may be determined in accordance with the operation direction of the ejection gun4.

An exhaust port21is formed above the base portion of the case19. An exhaust tube (suction unit)24is connected to the exhaust port21via cylindrical joints22and23. The exhaust tube24bends in an L-letter shape, that is, standing vertically and bending backward relative to the ejection direction. A filter attachment section25having a smaller diameter than an outer diameter of the exhaust tube24is formed at a rear end of the exhaust tube24so as to extend backward relative to the ejection direction. A filter (suction unit)26is fixed to the filter attachment section25. The filer26is tightened to the filter attachment section25by a resin-made tie-band27. A fabric cover28is fixed to the filter attachment section25to cover the filer26. The cover28is fixed to the filter attachment section25by a metal band29. A fastener, which is not shown in the drawing, is formed beneath the cover28. Opening the fastener allows the filer26to be exchanged without removing the cover28from the filter attachment section25. The filer26disposed backward relative to the fixed position of the cover28is fixed to the filter attachment section25. Meanwhile, only the filer26may be used without the cover28.

A horizontal section30extending backward relative to the ejection direction constitutes the bending exhaust tube24having an L-letter shape. A hole31is formed on a side wall of the horizontal section30. An end of the bypass tube14is inserted through the hole31. The other end of the bypass tube14is connected to a branch socket16. To be more specific, the end of the bypass tube14is inserted from the hole31through the exhaust tube24so that the opening of the tip is fixed toward the filer26disposed at an exhaust port of the exhaust tube24. Ejection of the fluid from the bypass tube14to the filer26causes a fluid flow toward the filer26inside of the exhaust tube24, and this results in reducing the pressure in the vicinity of the exhaust port21relative to the vicinity of the opening section20of the case19.

In the above explained first embodiment, the operator compresses the opening section20of the case19onto the surface of the object being cleaned, e.g., a compartment seat, and then draws the trigger lever12of the gun body5. The fluid pumped from the compressor2is then supplied to the inside of the ejection nozzle13and ejected from the tip thereof. Ejecting the fluid from the ejection nozzle13introduces the ejection nozzle13within the cone-shaped guide18and swings the ejection nozzle13so that the tip of the ejection nozzle13rotating outward relative to the ejection direction makes a circular path. This results in allowing the fluid to be dispersed in a cone-shape and ejected toward the surface of the object being cleaned, thereby amplifying the pressure wave of the fluid and ejecting the fluid having a more significant spurting force.

Dirt or dust brushed from the surface of the object being cleaned, e.g., a compartment seat with the fluid ejected in a cone-shape from the tip of the ejection nozzle13is confined in the case19since the opening section20of the case19is compressed onto the surface of the object being cleaned. Therefore, dust, etc., will not flutter in the exterior thereof.

Since the cleaning apparatus1according to the present embodiment is capable of carrying out cleaning works while facilitating the movement of the ejection nozzle13, it is capable of cleaning the surfaces of hardly movable and non-machine-washable objects being cleaned, e.g., a seat or a sofa of a compartment like an automobile.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the fluid pumped from the compressor2to the ejection nozzle13is utilized efficiently. So merely introducing the fluid to the exhaust tube24through the bypass tube14can cause a fluid flow to the filer26in the exhaust tube24, thereby immediately introducing dust, etc., confined in the case19to the exhaust tube24from the exhaust port21without leaking them from the exterior of the case19. This results in allowing only the fluid to be exhausted to the exterior of the ejection gun4and collecting only the dust, etc. by the filer26.

Dirt or dust accumulating in the filer26will not impair the appearance of the ejection gun4since the filer26is covered with the fabric cover28significantly larger than the filer26. Furthermore, the readily exchangeable filer26reduces the workload for the operator and prevents the suction force from dropping due to the clogging of the filer26.

The guide body17provided to the ejection nozzle13can prevent the ejection nozzle13from wearing and lower the exchange frequency of the ejection nozzle13, thereby reducing maintenance costs.

Furthermore, unifying the ejection nozzle13for ejecting the fluid with the exhaust tube24for suctioning dust, etc., via the case19can reliably prevent the dust, etc., from fluttering while the operator conducts cleaning work with one hand. This results in further reducing the workload for the operator and enhances the marketability of the product.

A second embodiment will be explained next based onFIG. 3. It should be noted that, in the second embodiment, the exhaust tube24that was explained in accordance with the above first embodiment is disposed coaxially with the case19. Structural elements that are equivalent to those of the first embodiment will be assigned the same numeric symbols and redundant explanations thereof will be omitted.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the ejection gun4is provided with the gun body5that is capable of being switched, i.e., selectively opening and closing an inner path by means of the trigger lever12. A support section32for supporting the exhaust tube24is formed above the gun body5. The thickness of the end of the support section32tapers down backward relative to the ejection direction. The fixed portion of the support section32is substantially in parallel with the exhaust tube24.

A branch socket69is connected to the exit port10of the gun body5via a tubing34extending vertically upward. An airflow path69bin the branch socket69divides in two directions. One of the divided paths is formed forward relative to the gun body5, and the other one is formed backward relative to the gun body5. An ejection nozzle60having a dual-wall structure, which will be explained later, is connected to the of the divided paths. An ejection port35disposed toward the exit of the exhaust tube24is formed to the latter of the divided paths.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the cylindrical guide18is disposed around the ejection nozzle60. The case19is disposed outside the guide18. The cylindrical exhaust tube24is inserted from the backside through the case19and fixed there. Fixing the exhaust tube24to the support section32by means of the attachment band33supports the exhaust tube24on the gun body5.

The ejection nozzle60is provided with a tubular outer nozzle61and a tubular inner nozzle62inserted through the outer nozzle61. The outer nozzle61is entirely made from plastic material like synthetic resin, e.g., nylon, Teflon (Trade Mark Registered), polyurethane, or polypropylene. In addition, at least the portion of the inner nozzle62disposed inside the outer nozzle61is also made from plastic material like synthetic resin.

One of the ends of the inner nozzle62slightly protrudes from the tip of the outer nozzle61. The other end of the inner nozzle62is connected to a liquid reservoir70disposed separately. The liquid reservoir70stores the non-compressed state of liquid. In the present case, the liquid reservoir70stores cleaning liquid.

The base portion of the outer nozzle61is attached to an attachment section69aof the branch socket69. The inner nozzle62is inserted through the outer nozzle61. An airflow path69bthat communicates with a space63between the outer nozzle61and the inner nozzle62is formed in the branch socket69.

A plurality of synthetic-resin-made and weighted sections64are fixed on outer peripheries of the outer nozzle61. A rotative guide body65is disposed between the weighted sections64.

The weighted sections64add weight to the tip of the ejection nozzle60so as to cause efficient rotating movement of the ejection nozzle60along the guide18. The guide bodies65, principally making contact with the guide18prevent the dual nozzle structure from wearing out while the ejection nozzle60swings along the guide18. The guide18is screwed onto the attachment section69aof the branch socket69.

The trigger lever12of the gun body5drawn by the operator causes the air pumped from the compressor2to be ejected from the tip of the ejection nozzle60through the airflow path69bof the branch socket69followed by the space63formed between the outer nozzle61and the inner nozzle62. The ejection nozzle60guided by the guide18swings so that the tip of the ejection nozzle60makes a circular path. On the other hand, ejecting the air outward from the tip of the ejection nozzle60through the space63reduces the pressure in the vicinity of the opening section on an end of the inner nozzle62, thus sucking the cleaning liquid from the liquid reservoir70through the inner nozzle62to produce a mixture of the air and the cleaning liquid. This causes mist mixture of the air and the cleaning liquid to be ejected in a cone-shape from the tip of the ejection nozzle60. In addition, swinging ejection nozzle60intensifies the momentum of the mixture of the air and the cleaning liquid; thus ejecting the mixture in impulse wave form.

The coaxial dispositions of the case19and the exhaust tube24in accordance with the above-explained second embodiment provide smoother liquid flow between the case19and the exhaust tube24than in the first embodiment. This results in causing the fluid having ejected from the ejection nozzle60and collided with the object being cleaned to be introduced to the exhaust tube24smoothly.

The above-explained ejection gun4ejects the air supplied by the compressor2from the tip of the ejection nozzle60through the space63between the outer nozzle61and the inner nozzle62. The ejected air causes the ejection nozzle60to swing along the guide18and causes the liquid to be suctioned from the liquid reservoir70via the inner nozzle62, thereby mixing and ejecting the sucked liquid with the air. Therefore, the present embodiment eliminates the need for a liquid-supply source for compressing and supplying the liquid.

Meanwhile, a fluid ejection nozzle40illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 6may replace of the ejection nozzle13or the ejection nozzle60in accordance with the above-explained embodiments. As illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 6, the fluid ejection nozzle40is provided with a cylindrical nozzle main body42and a weighted section43disposed to an end of the nozzle main body42. The nozzle main body42is made from plastic material, e.g., nylon, Teflon (Trade Mark Registered), polyurethane, or polypropylene. The nozzle main body42is formed to have a substantially constant thickness. The nozzle main body42has a through-hole41passing therethrough in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle main body42. A compressed section44is formed over a predetermined middle range of the nozzle main body42except for both ends of the nozzle main body42. The width of the compressed section44in a direction orthogonal with the longitudinal direction is shorter than another width of the compressed section44in the direction orthogonal to both the former orthogonal direction and the longitudinal direction. Cylindrical sections45and46are provided to predetermined ranges of both ends of the nozzle main body42. Meanwhile, in the present invention, it should be noted that the compressed shape of the compressed section44should not be deformed if the nozzle main body42extends straightforward in the longitudinal direction.

The weighted section43includes a screw member48screwed into the cylindrical section45; and a cylindrical cap member50having the cylindrical section45screwed thereinside. A substantially cylindrical through-hole47formed in the center of the weighted section43passes therethrough in the axial line direction. A male-thread section49is further formed on an outer periphery of the cylindrical section over the entire length.

The screw member48is made from metal material. The cap member50is made from elastic material, e.g., silicone. Since the screw member48is screwed into the female-thread section51that has been previously formed on an inner surface of the cylindrical section45, the removal from the nozzle main body42of the weighted section43can be prevented. Alternatively, the female-thread section51may not be formed on an inner surface of the cylindrical section45, that is, the weighted section43may be fixed to the nozzle main body42with a force caused by the deformation of a cylindrical section of the screw member48screwed into the cylindrical section45.

Since the inner diameter of an opening of the cap member50is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical section45onto which the screw member48is screwed, the force caused by the deformation of the cap member50into which the cylindrical section45is fitted prevents the removal of the cap member50from the cylindrical section45. Since the cylindrical section45is fitted onto the screw member48so that a part of the cylindrical section45does not fit to an end of the cap member50, the cylindrical section45making use of its extendability covers the tip of the screw member48to the extent that the cylindrical section45does not reach to the through-hole47of the screw member48.

The above-explained fluid ejection nozzle40ejects the fluid supplied by the compressor2from the tip of the fluid ejection nozzle40through the inner surface of the fluid ejection nozzle40, thereby causing a turbulence of the fluid in the fluid ejection nozzle40because the cross sectional shapes of the cylindrical sections45and46and the compressed section44vary and because the liquid itself vibrates. Therefore, the influence of the turbulence or the ejecting force of the fluid provides the compressed section44, made from flexible material, of the fluid ejection nozzle40with a reciprocal movement while the compressed section44bends in its compressed direction. This provides automatic reciprocal movement to the tip of the fluid ejection nozzle40, thereby ejecting the fluid in wide range. In addition, since the high-speed reciprocal movement of the fluid ejection nozzle40amplifies pressure wave of the fluid, thereby generating a swath of strong impulse from the pressure wave of the fluid, thus more significant ejecting force can be obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-explained embodiments. That is, a vacuum apparatus, e.g., a vacuum cleaner, may be connected to a filter attachment section of the exhaust tube to suck dust, etc.

Instead of the fluid that were explained as air and water used in the above-explained embodiments, detergent or organic solvent may be used.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The configuration of the present invention allows for addition, omission, substitution and further modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above descriptions but is limited only by the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides a fluid ejection gun that includes: a flexible ejection tube for ejecting a fluid, the fluid being supplied to the inside of the ejection tube, the fluid being ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; a guide disposed to surround the ejection tube and introduce the ejection tube along the inner surface of the guide, the ejection tube being moved by the fluid ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; a casing disposed to surround the guide, the casing having an opening section forward in the ejection direction of the fluid ejected from the tip of the ejection tube; and a suction unit provided to the casing for sucking the fluid ejected from the ejection tube. The fluid ejection gun of the present invention can brush dirt or dust from the object being cleaned effectively.