Electrostatic atomizing apparatus and electrostatic atomizing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020094271-A1
Application number	US-201916296847-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2019
Priority date	Sep 21, 2018
Publication date	Mar 26, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrostatic atomizing apparatus includes a main body portion, a container, a first air flow path, a second air flow path, an electrostatic atomization unit, and an air flow generation unit. The container is detachable from the main body portion, is capable of storing a liquid, and includes a first ventilation hole and a second ventilation hole. The first air flow path includes a first end that includes an air suction port, and a second end that connects to the first ventilation hole. The second air flow path includes a third end that connects to the second ventilation hole, and a fourth end that includes an air exhaust port. The electrostatic atomization unit is disposed on the second air flow path. The air flow generation unit generates an air flow that causes air to flow through the first air flow path, through the container, and through the second air flow path.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An electrostatic atomizing apparatus, comprising:
a main body portion; a container that is detachable from the main body portion and is capable of storing a liquid, the container including a first ventilation hole and a second ventilation hole; a first air flow path including a first end and a second end, the first end including an air suction port, the second end connecting to the first ventilation hole; a second air flow path including a third end and a fourth end, the third end connecting to the second ventilation hole, the fourth end including an air exhaust port; an electrostatic atomization unit disposed on the second air flow path; and an air flow generation unit for generating an air flow that causes air to flow through the first air flow path, through the container, and through the second air flow path.

2 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole are open in a same direction.

3 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a duct member including a first duct and a second duct, the first duct connecting to the first ventilation hole and forming a portion of the first air flow path, the second duct connecting to the second ventilation hole and forming a portion of the second air flow path; and a container detachment mechanism for pressing the duct member against the container attached to the main body portion.

4 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the container detachment mechanism is capable of moving the duct member back and forth with respect to the container attached to the main body portion.

5 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the container detachment mechanism includes a first elastic member that is capable of urging the duct member toward the container attached to the main body portion.

6 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the container detachment mechanism includes a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, the first engaging portion includes a protrusion or a recess that is provided in the duct member, the second engaging portion includes a recess or a protrusion that is provided in the container, and when attaching the main body portion to the container, the first engaging member engages with the second engaging member.

7 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the first duct and the second duct respectively include an open end having a hook-shaped cross-section, the open end includes an abutting surface, and the abutting surface faces the container attached to the main body portion and abuts against the main body portion in a direction crossing a direction of the air flow.

8 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising
a second elastic member disposed between the duct member and the container.

9 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
the second elastic member is disposed between the first duct and surroundings of the first ventilation hole, and between the second duct and surroundings of the second ventilation hole.

10 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a humidifier for humidifying the air that passes through the container.

11 . The electrostatic atomizing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein
the duct member is an integrally molded part.

12 . An electrostatic atomizing method, comprising:
introducing air suctioned through a suction port into a container that stores a liquid; humidifying the air by causing the air to pass through the container; exhausting the air that has been humidified from the container; producing charged particulate water by causing water in the air that has been humidified to condensate on an electrode, and applying a voltage to the electrode; and exhausting air that includes the charged particulate water through an exhaust port.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kajiyama Kenichi
• Yamaguchi Takahiro
• Matsuoka Masaru
• Noda Yuki

Classifications

• F24F6/14

  using nozzles · CPC title

• B05B5/03

  characterised by the use of gas {, e.g. electrostatically assisted pneumatic spraying (B05B5/04, B05B5/043, B05B5/047 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F24F6/00

  Air-humidification {, e.g. cooling by humidification} · CPC title

• F24F6/12

  by forming water dispersions in the air · CPC title

• B64D2013/067

  with air ionizers · CPC title