Ejection device and method for removing foreign matter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12434272-B2
Application number	US-202318150376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2023
Priority date	Jan 31, 2022
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

Provided are an ejection device including an insertion portion that is held by an operator and inserted toward a relevant portion in a narrow space, and a method for removing foreign matter adhering to the relevant portion. The insertion portion includes an ejection unit including a fluidic substance ejection port in a distal end portion. A foreign matter removing surface configured to remove foreign matter adhering to the relevant portion by scraping the foreign matter off the relevant portion is located on the distal end portion of the ejection unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ejection device, comprising an insertion portion that is held by an operator and inserted toward a relevant portion in a narrow space, wherein the insertion portion includes an ejection unit including a fluidic substance ejection port in a distal end portion of the ejection unit, and a foreign matter removing surface configured to remove foreign matter adhering to the relevant portion by scraping the foreign matter off the relevant portion is located on the distal end portion of the ejection unit, and
wherein the insertion portion further includes an imaging device configured to capture an image including the distal end portion of the ejection unit, the foreign matter removing surface, and surroundings of the distal end portion and the foreign matter removing surface.

2. The ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein:
a side surface of the distal end portion of the ejection unit includes a projecting portion projecting from the side surface;
the foreign matter removing surface is a surface intersecting an insertion direction of the insertion portion; and
the foreign matter removing surface is located on a side of the projecting portion in the insertion direction of the insertion portion.

3. The ejection device according to claim 2 , wherein the projecting portion is provided by bending a part of the distal end portion of the ejection unit.

4. The ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein:
a side surface of the distal end portion of the ejection unit includes a projecting portion projecting from the side surface;
the foreign matter removing surface is a surface intersecting a withdrawal direction of the insertion portion; and
the foreign matter removing surface is located on a side of the projecting portion in the withdrawal direction of the insertion portion.

5. The ejection device according to claim 4 , wherein the projecting portion is provided by bending a part of the distal end portion of the ejection unit.

6. The ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the foreign matter removing surface is a surface intersecting a swinging direction of the distal end portion of the ejection unit; and
the foreign matter removing surface is located on a side surface of the distal end portion of the ejection unit.

7. The ejection device according to claim 6 , wherein the ejection unit includes a bent portion located at a swung center portion about which the distal end portion is swung.

8. The ejection device according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is an endoscope.

9. The ejection device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a supply unit configured to supply a fluidic substance to the insertion portion; and
a flexible tube configured to connect the insertion portion and the supply unit.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Takenaka Tetsuhiro
• Fukushima Keisuke
• Katsura Masashi

Classifications

• F16C33/6622

  Details of supply and/or removal of the grease, e.g. purging grease · CPC title

• F16C2361/43

  Clutches, e.g. disengaging bearing · CPC title

• F16D2023/141

  characterised by using a fork; Details of forks · CPC title

• F16N5/00

  Apparatus with hand-positioned nozzle supplied with lubricant under pressure (F16N3/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16N3/10

  delivering grease · CPC title