Patent Description:
These days, decorative members called rhinestones (hereinafter, referred to as "stones") are arranged on and stuck to surfaces of a case for smartphone, a container for small article, and the like (workpiece) for aesthetic purposes (see Patent Document <NUM>). The stone is generally a facet cut crystal, a piece of glass, or a diamond-like stone made of acrylic resin, having metal vacuum-deposited on a back surface thereof. The stone is attached by putting an appropriate amount of adhesive on a toothpick or brush, applying it to a surface of an object to be decorated, and placing the stone held with tweezers or the like on the adhesive.

As a liquid-material discharge device, a dispenser is known. A dispenser including a manual switch device for controlling discharge of liquid is also known (see Patent Document <NUM>). Patent Document <NUM> discloses a handheld device having the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>. Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM> disclose further related prior art.

Conventionally, when attaching a part such as a decorative member to a workpiece, it has been required to take an application tool such as a toothpick to apply adhesive to a surface of the workpiece, then switch the application tool to a pickup tool such as tweezers to place the part.

An object of the present invention is to provide a handy-type device that enables an application operation and a placement operation by the single device when attaching a part to a workpiece.

The above object is achieved by a liquid-material discharge device having the features of claim <NUM>. Advantageous further developments are set out in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform an application operation and a placement operation by a single device when attaching a part to a workpiece.

A liquid-material discharge head of the present invention, which is a handy type and includes a nozzle and a liquid reservoir, includes a pickup member arranged next to the nozzle. Herein, the pickup member is a member for holding an attachment member. Though it may be constituted by a rod-shaped member having adsorption resin at the distal end, it is preferably constituted by a configuration to hold a target object by generating negative pressure at a distal end portion. More preferably, the liquid-material discharge head includes a negative-pressure operating unit that adjusts the negative pressure.

The liquid reservoir may be configured as a liquid chamber that temporarily stores liquid supplied from a tank, but is preferably a syringe that accommodates a necessary amount of liquid material for one-time attachment work. The liquid material can be discharged from the nozzle by manually pressing the liquid reservoir that is flexible. However, the liquid reservoir is preferably configured to be supplied with pressurized air. The liquid-material discharge head may include a discharge operating unit that performs on/off control of the pressurized air applied to the liquid reservoir.

To realize easy pickup and application operations, the nozzle and the pickup member are preferably arranged such that the distance between the distal ends of the pickup member and the nozzle is larger than the distance between the roots thereof. In other words, the central axis of the pickup member and the central axis of the nozzle are preferably arranged such that they spread apart toward the distal ends of the pickup member and the nozzle.

A liquid-material discharge device according to embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, a liquid-material discharge device <NUM> according to the first embodiment includes a discharge head <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and an air compressor <NUM>. This liquid-material discharge device <NUM> is a handy type and, for example, used to apply adhesive for sticking a decorative member (attachment member S) such as a stone to an accessory such as a pendant.

As shown in <FIG>, the discharge head <NUM> includes a nozzle <NUM>, a syringe <NUM>, holders <NUM>, <NUM>, a pickup member <NUM>, a suction tube <NUM>, and a cap member <NUM>.

The nozzle <NUM> is made of resin or metal, and has a discharge port 11a at a distal end portion thereof. The nozzle <NUM> that is suitable for use is selected to be utilized out of a plurality of nozzles different in diameter of discharge port 11a. The diameter of the discharge port 11a ranges from <NUM> to <NUM>, for example.

The syringe <NUM> is a liquid reservoir made of resin or metal, and has a connecting portion at the lower end (distal end) for detachably fitting the nozzle <NUM>. The syringe <NUM> that is suitable for use is selected to be utilized out of a plurality of syringes different in volume. The syringe <NUM> is filled with, for example, epoxy adhesive or ultraviolet curing resin. The syringe <NUM> includes a flange portion at the upper end (proximal end), and a cap member <NUM> can be fitted to the flange portion.

The holder <NUM> includes a nozzle insertion hole through which the nozzle <NUM> is inserted and a pickup member insertion hole through which the pickup member <NUM> is inserted, and supports the lower portion of the syringe <NUM>. The nozzle <NUM> is inserted through the nozzle insertion hole of the holder <NUM>, and the pickup member <NUM> is inserted through a pickup-member insertion hole. The holder <NUM> includes a fixing tool 13a that detachably fixes the pickup member <NUM>, which can be easily exchanged by loosening the fixing tool 13a.

The holder <NUM> includes a syringe insertion hole through which the syringe <NUM> is inserted and a suction-tube insertion hole through which the suction tube <NUM> is inserted, and supports the syringe <NUM> in the vicinity of the flange portion. The holder <NUM> includes a through-hole with which a hook portion <NUM> of a stand <NUM> is engaged.

In the present embodiment, the holder <NUM> and the holder <NUM> are configured as separate members. However, they may be configured as a single member.

The pickup member <NUM> is made of resin or metal, and has a suction port 15a at a distal end portion thereof. An end opening opposite to the suction port 15a of the pickup member <NUM> is detachably connected to the suction tube <NUM>. In the first embodiment, the pickup member <NUM> is constituted by a general-purpose nozzle. The pickup member <NUM> that has a diameter to exhibit desired suction power is selected to be utilized out of a plurality of nozzles different in diameter of suction port.

The nozzle <NUM> and the pickup member <NUM> are arranged such that the distance between the central axis of the nozzle <NUM> and the central axis of the pickup member <NUM> increases toward the distal ends. In other words, the pickup member <NUM> is arranged such that the distance between the distal ends of the pickup member <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM> is larger than the distance between the roots of the pickup member <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM>. This configuration can prevent the nozzle <NUM> from interfering with a pickup operation and a placement operation for an attachment member S, and thus enhance workability.

Note that the nozzle <NUM> and the pickup member <NUM> according to the first embodiment are made of resin and disposable.

The suction tube <NUM> is a flexible tube made of resin, and includes a negative-pressure operating unit <NUM> alongside the syringe <NUM>. The negative-pressure operating unit <NUM> is a cylinder made of resin, and has an opening 17a. Closing the opening 17a with a finger while applying negative pressure to the suction tube <NUM> yields negative pressure within the suction tube <NUM>, which enables generation of suction power at the suction port 15a. A plurality of openings 17a may be provided so that suction power generated at the suction port 15a is adjustable by adjusting the number of openings that are closed. The suction tube <NUM> preferably has a backflow prevention mechanism (valve or filter) that prevents backflow of liquid material and foreign substances.

Unlike the present embodiment, as the negative-pressure operating unit, a mechanism based on a button operation that opens and closes an opening to release the negative pressure may be utilized and arranged at the suction tube <NUM> or the holder <NUM>. Instead of providing the holder <NUM>, a suction-tube insertion hole may be provided in the cap member <NUM> which thereby support the suction tube <NUM>.

The suction tube <NUM> makes a negative-pressure-air supply port <NUM> of the controller <NUM> communicate with the pickup member <NUM>. The controller <NUM> includes a negative-pressure generating device (for example, ejector) in a main body, and causes it to generate desired negative pressure at the negative-pressure-air supply port <NUM> via a negative-pressure adjusting device (for example, regulator for negative pressure). The negative pressure generated at the negative-pressure-air supply port <NUM> is adjustable by a negative-pressure adjustment knob <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> includes a pressurized-air supply port <NUM>, which communicates with the cap member <NUM> via a pressurizing tube <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is equipped with a timing discharge mode to control timing of applying pressure to the pressurizing tube <NUM>. The timing discharge mode is a mode for applying a fixed amount of adhesive or the like in a uniformly-dotted form, in which timer control is performed to cause pressurized air to be supplied to the pressurizing tube <NUM> at a predetermined interval.

The controller <NUM> includes a pressurized-air inlet (not illustrated) that communicates with the air compressor <NUM>. Pressurized air is supplied from the air compressor <NUM> to the pressurized-air inlet, and generates desired pressure at the pressurized-air supply port <NUM> via a pressure adjustment regulator in the controller <NUM>. The pressure generated at the pressurized-air supply port <NUM> is adjustable by a pressure adjustment knob <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> includes a discharge operating unit that performs on/off control of a liquid-material discharge action. In the first embodiment, the discharge operating unit is constituted by a foot switch <NUM> electrically connected to the controller <NUM> via a signal cable. An operator can control turning on and off of a liquid-material discharge action through operating the foot switch <NUM> by a foot. Unlike the present embodiment, pressurized air with pressure depending on a stepped amount of the foot switch <NUM> may be supplied to the discharge head <NUM> to adjust a discharge amount.

Aside from the foot switch <NUM>, a button, knob, or the like that serves as the discharge operating unit may be provided to the main body of the controller <NUM> or the discharge head <NUM>. For example, a mechanism according to Patent Document <NUM> may be utilized as the discharge operating unit.

Usage of the liquid-material discharge device <NUM> according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> in an operation example where stones (attachment members) S are attached to a workpiece W in a desired pattern.

According to the liquid-material discharge device <NUM> of the first embodiment described above, it is possible to perform operations of picking up an attachment member S, applying adhesive L, and placing the attachment member S without switching the discharge head <NUM> to another device. That is, conventional usage of different devices for operations of picking up and placing an attachment member S and an operation of applying adhesive L is no longer necessary.

Since the distance between the distal ends of the pickup member <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM> is larger than the distance between the roots of the pickup member <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the nozzle <NUM> from interfering with a pickup operation and a placement operation for an attachment member S.

Further, since attachment members S can be attached after their actual arrangement pattern on a workpiece W is checked, it is also possible to enhance workability of an operator. Conventionally, to perform an application operation after a pickup operation with a device for pickup operation, switching would be done twice between the device for pickup operation and a device for application operation, and thus it would be difficult to achieve the operation procedure of the present invention.

<FIG> is a configuration diagram of a discharge head <NUM> according to a second embodiment, and (b) is a configuration diagram of a discharge head <NUM> according to a third embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a pickup member <NUM> having a bending tube 19b is connected to the suction tube <NUM>. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the holder <NUM> includes a pickup member insertion hole which is arranged such that a trunk portion 19a of the pickup member <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM> are aligned in parallel. Hereinafter, differences will be mainly described. Configurations common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols in the figures and description thereof will be omitted.

The pickup member <NUM> of the second embodiment includes a trunk portion 19a, and a bending tube 19b extending from the trunk portion 19a. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the distance between the distal ends of the pickup member <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM> is larger than the distance between the roots thereof.

The pickup member <NUM> of the third embodiment is configured in the same way as that of the second embodiment, and only the holder <NUM> is different. In the third embodiment, the trunk portion 19a of the pickup member <NUM> is arranged in parallel to the nozzle <NUM>, but the distal end of the bending tube 19b is arranged in a direction away from the nozzle <NUM>, resulting in an arrangement where the distance between the distal ends of the pickup member <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM> is still larger than the distance between the roots thereof.

As far as the distance between the distal ends of the pickup member <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM> is larger than the distance between the roots thereof, the pickup member <NUM> may be arranged such that an opening of a suction port 19c is deviated laterally (to a front or back side of <FIG>). That is, as shown in <FIG>, the pickup member <NUM> may be arranged such that the suction port 19c of the pickup member <NUM> is positioned away from a straight line R passing through the centers of the nozzle <NUM> and the pickup member <NUM> (for example, at one of positions 'a' to 'd' in <FIG>).

In the second and third embodiments described above, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to perform operations of picking up an attachment member S, applying adhesive L, and placing the attachment member S without switching the discharge head <NUM> to another device.

As in the first embodiment, it is also possible to prevent the nozzle <NUM> from interfering with a pickup operation and a placement operation for an attachment member S, and enhance workability.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the description of the above-mentioned embodiments. Various alterations and modifications can be applied to the above embodiments, and such altered or modified modes also fall within the technical scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims. For example, the first to third embodiments employ a configuration example <NUM> in Table <NUM> below, but the technical ideas of the present invention can be realized even when any one of configuration examples <NUM> to <NUM> in Table <NUM> below is employed.

Claim 1:
A liquid-material discharge device (<NUM>), comprising:
a liquid-material discharge head (<NUM>) of handy type including a nozzle (<NUM>), a liquid reservoir (<NUM>), and a pickup member (<NUM>; <NUM>) that is arranged next to the nozzle (<NUM>) and;
a suction tube (<NUM>) configured to supply negative-pressure air to the pickup member (<NUM>; <NUM>);
characterized in that it further comprises
a pressurizing tube (<NUM>) configured to supply pressurized air to the liquid reservoir (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to supply pressurized air to the pressurizing tube (<NUM>) and supply negative-pressure air to the suction tube (<NUM>);
whereby, the pickup member (<NUM>; <NUM>) is configured to pick up and releasably hold a target object by generating negative pressure at a distal end portion.