WO2020217529A1 - Liquid dispensing device and liquid dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid dispensing device comprising an operation button, a device communication unit, and a device control unit, wherein the device control unit transmits an action information request command from the device communication unit to the server when the operation button is operated, and, when action information is received from the server by the device communication unit, controls the liquid dispensing device on the basis of the received action information.

Description

Liquid discharge device and liquid discharge system

The present invention relates to a liquid material discharge device and a liquid material discharge system.

Conventionally, a dispenser that automatically discharges and supplies cosmetics and the like stored in a storage tank is known. (Patent Document 1)

International Release 2016/029104

Since dispensers such as those used in the prior art are used every day, there is a demand for a user interface that is easy to use.

One embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a liquid material discharge device capable of realizing a plurality of functions by operating one switch.

The disclosed liquid material discharge device includes an operation button, a device communication unit, and a device control unit, and the device control unit issues an operation information request command from the device communication unit when the operation button is operated. When it is transmitted to the server and the operation information from the server is received by the device communication unit, the liquid material discharge device is controlled based on the received operation information.

Multiple functions can be realized by operating one switch for the liquid material in multiple containers.

It is an overall block diagram of an example of the liquid material discharge system which concerns on this embodiment. It is an overall view of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view of the container of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of the discharge mechanism of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of an example of the liquid material discharge device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the server apparatus of an example of the liquid material discharge system which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the operation of an example of the liquid body discharge system which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Liquid discharge system 1>
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an example of the liquid material discharge system 1 according to the present embodiment.

The liquid material discharge system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a liquid material discharge device 100, an information processing terminal 200, and a server device 300. The liquid material discharge device 100, the information processing terminal 200, and the server device 300 are connected via the network 400. The liquid material discharge device 100 will be described later. The information processing terminal 200 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet computer. The information processing terminal 200 transmits user information and the like to the server device 300. The server device 300 is an information processing device (computer) that performs processing as a server. The server device 300 manages the user of the liquid material discharge device 100 and the state of the liquid material discharge device 100. Further, the server device 300 determines how to operate the liquid material discharge device 100 based on the user information and the like sent by the information processing terminal 200 and the weather information and the like that are open to the public.

In the liquid material discharge system 1 of the present embodiment, the liquid material discharge device 100 receives information (operation information) about the operation of the liquid material discharge device 100 from the server device 300 via the network 400. Then, the liquid material discharge device 100 performs processing based on the received operation information. Further, the liquid material discharge device 100 transmits the processing result based on the received operation information to the server device 300. Then, the server device 300 updates the information about the state of the liquid material discharge device 100 and the like.

Note that in FIG. 1, one liquid discharge device 100, an information processing terminal 200, and a server device 300 are connected to the network 400, but the number of each is not limited to the number shown in FIG. For example, a plurality of liquid material discharge devices 100 and an information processing terminal 200 may be connected to one server device 300. Further, the processing of the server device 300 may be distributed and the processing may be performed by a plurality of server devices 300. Furthermore, the liquid material discharge device 100 may be operated independently without being connected to the network 400.

<Liquid discharge device 100>
Next, the liquid material discharge device 100 will be described.

FIG. 2 is an overall view of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment. 2A is a top view (plan view) of the liquid material discharge device 100, FIG. 2B is a front view of the liquid material discharge device 100, and FIG. 2C is a side view of the liquid material discharge device 100. Is. Further, FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the liquid material discharge device 100.

The liquid material discharge device 100 includes an upper surface portion 101, an upper housing 102, a lower housing 103, and a bottom surface portion 104. The liquid material discharge device 100 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The lower housing 103 includes a manual insertion portion 105. Further, the lower housing 103 is provided with an extraction port 106 and a human body sensing sensor 107 at the upper part of the manual insertion portion 105. When the user inserts the hand into the hand insertion portion 105, the human body detection sensor 107 detects the hand. When the human body sensing sensor 107 detects a hand, the storage liquid (liquid) stored in the container 500, which will be described later, is discharged from the extraction port 106. The liquid material discharge device 100 includes a container lid 108. The container lid 108 is. It is provided so as to straddle the upper surface portion 101 and the upper housing 102. The user opens the container lid 108 and replaces the container 500, which will be described later, exposed from the opened portion of the container lid 108. Further, the liquid material discharge device 100 includes a button (switch) 109 on the upper surface portion 101. When the user presses the button 109, the operation of the liquid material discharge device 100 is started.

<Container 500>
Next, the container 500 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container 500 as an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The container 500 is a container for storing a liquid material (storage liquid) such as cosmetics such as milky lotion and serum. As the milky lotion, for example, a plurality of types of milky lotion can be used for morning use and nighttime use. Further, as the serum, for example, a plurality of types of serums for antioxidant, anti-drying, stress reduction and the like can be used.

The container 500 of this embodiment includes a main body 510 and a lid 520. A storage liquid (liquid) is stored in the main body 510. The lid 520 is attached to the main body 510 by screwing or the like. The lid 520 includes a flange 521, a push button (pressing member) 522, and a pipe 524. At the end of the pipe 524 on the opposite side of the push button 522, a discharge port 526 for discharging the stored liquid (liquid material) is provided. When the push button 522 is pressed, the liquid material (storage liquid) in the container 500 is discharged.

The container 500 is provided with an RFID tag 550 on the bottom surface of the main body 510. The RFID tag 550 stores a unique identifier attached to each container 500, information on the product type of the liquid (storage liquid) stored in the container 500, the expiration date of the liquid, the remaining amount, and the like. By providing the container 500 with the RFID tag 550, the expiration date and usage amount of the liquid material (storage liquid) stored in the container 500 can be managed, the container 500 can be prevented from being erroneously inserted, the counterfeit product can be prevented from being distributed, the container 500 and the container 500 can be used. It is possible to ensure the traceability of the liquid material (storage liquid) stored in the container 500.

Although the RFID tag 550 is used in the container 500 of the present embodiment, the means for recording the information of the container 500 is not limited to the RFID tag. For example, a barcode or the like may be used.

The container 500 of the present embodiment is stored in the container storage unit 120 of the rotary table 110 of the liquid material discharge device 100 described later so that the push button 522 is on the bottom. Specifically, the container 500 is stored in the container storage unit 120 by being inserted into the container storage unit 120 in the direction of the arrow I.

<Rotary table 110>
4 and 5 are perspective views showing an internal configuration of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment. 4 and 5 are views in a state where the upper housing 102 and a part of the inside of the upper housing 102 are removed to expose the rotary table 110. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the container 500 is not stored in the container storage unit 120. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the container 500 is stored in the container storage unit 120.

The liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment includes a rotary table 110 inside the upper housing 102 and above the lower housing 103. The rotary table 110 rotates about the rotation shaft 112 in the direction of arrow A or in the direction opposite to the arrow A relative to the upper housing 102 and the lower housing 103. In the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, the container 500 is rotationally moved by using the rotary table 110, but the moving method is not limited to rotation. For example, a moving table in which the container storage unit 120 moves horizontally on a straight line may be used. In this way, the rotary table 110 is movable relative to the upper housing 102 and the lower housing 103.

The rotary table 110 includes a container storage unit 120 for storing the container 500. The container storage portions 120 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the circumference centered on the rotation shaft 112. The rotary table 110 of the present embodiment includes container storage portions 120 at a total of five locations. Each container storage unit 120 is represented as a container storage unit 121, 122, 123, 124, 125. The container 501 is stored in the container storage unit 121. Similarly, the containers 502, 503, 504, and 505 are stored in the container storage units 122, 123, 124, and 125, respectively. In the above description, the specific container 500 is stored in each container storage unit 120, but any container 500 can be stored in each container storage unit 120. Further, the pipe 524 of the container 500 stored in the container storage unit 120 is stored so as to be outside the container storage unit 120 with respect to the rotation shaft 112 of the rotary table 110.

The container storage unit 120 of the rotary table 110 has a fixed structure (not shown) for fixing the container 500. The container 500 is fixed by a fixed structure so as not to move in the vertical upward direction of FIG. 5 when it is stored in the container storage unit 120.

Each container 500 rotates with respect to the upper housing 102 and the lower housing 103 as the rotary table 110 rotates.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing an internal configuration of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view of the rotary table 110 in a state where the container 500 is stored in the container storage unit 120 as viewed from above. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the container 500 (container 501) is located above the extraction port 106. Note that FIG. 6A is a view of the liquid material discharge device 100 of FIG. 5 as viewed from above. The position of the container 501 above the extraction port 106 is referred to as the discharge position PosA. In the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, the container 500 can be stored in a total of five container storage units 120. Therefore, the rotary table 110 rotates 72 ° around the rotation shaft 112 to rotate the containers 501, 502, 503. , 504, 505 will sequentially come to the position of the discharge position PosA.

FIG. 6B shows a state in which the rotary table 110 is rotated 36 degrees in the direction of arrow A from the state shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B shows a state in which the intermediate portion between the container 501 and the container 502 is located above the extraction port 106. The position opposite to the discharge position PosA with respect to the rotation shaft 112 (the position of the container 504 in FIG. 6B) is referred to as a replacement position PosB. In FIG. 6B, when the rotary table 110 shown in FIG. 6A rotates by 36 °, the container 504 (500) also rotates by 36 ° to reach the PosB position. When the container lid 108 is opened, the container 500 at the exchange position PosB is exposed to the outside. The user can replace the container 500 at the replacement position PosB with another container 500.

As described above, in the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, the rotary table 110 is configured to rotate every 36 ° around the rotation shaft 112, so that each container 501 to 505 is sequentially discharged at the discharge position PosA or the replacement position PosB. Can be the position of.

In the liquid material discharge device 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge position PosA and the replacement position PosB are different in position in a plan view (top view).

<Discharge mechanism 130>
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing details of a discharge mechanism 130 of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The liquid material discharge device 100 includes a discharge mechanism 130 at a position corresponding to the discharge position PosA of the rotary table 110. The discharge mechanism 130 according to the present embodiment includes a discharge motor 131, a speed reducer 132, a cam 133, a sliding member 134, and a fixing member 135. The rotating shaft of the discharge motor 131 is connected to the speed reducer 132. The speed reducer 132 is connected to the cam 133. The speed reducer 132 decelerates the rotation of the discharge motor 131 to rotate the cam 133. The cam 133 is a substantially fan-shaped eccentric cam. The cam 133 is inserted into the recess 1341 provided on the surface of the sliding member 134 on the speed reducer 132 side. When the cam 133 rotates, the cam 133 comes into contact with the inner surface of the recess 1341 to slide the sliding member 134 up and down. The fixing member 135 is a member that fixes the sliding member 134 while holding the sliding member 134 so as to slide up and down.

The rotary table 110 moves the container 500 to the discharge position PosA. The position of the push button 522 of the container 500 at the discharge position PosA and the position of the tip portion 136 of the sliding member 134 coincide with each other in the top view. When the sliding member 134 slides in the direction (upward) of the container 500, the tip 136 of the sliding member 134 comes into contact with the push button 522 of the container 500, and the push button 522 of the container 500 is moved to the main body 510 of the container 500. Press in the direction. The main body 510 and the lid 520 of the container 500 are fixed by a fixing structure (not shown) so as not to move. Therefore, when the push button 522 of the container 500 is pressed, the storage liquid (discharge liquid) stored in the container 500 is discharged. The liquid material discharge device 100 controls the amount of the stored liquid (discharge liquid) by the number of times the push button 522 is pressed.

<Control device 140>
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an example of the liquid material discharge device 100 according to the present embodiment.

The liquid material discharge device 100 includes a control device 140. The control device 140 controls the operation of the liquid material discharge device 100. The control device 140 includes a device control unit 141, a communication control unit 142, a rotation control unit 143, a discharge control unit 144, a position detection unit 145, a discharge detection unit 146, an input / output unit 147, and an RFID control unit 148.

The device control unit 141 controls the entire device.

The communication control unit 142 controls communication between the liquid material discharge device 100 and the information processing terminal 200 or the server device 300. The communication control unit 142 controls the communication unit 180 provided in the liquid material discharge device 100. The communication unit 180 communicates with the information processing terminal 200 and the server device 300 via the network 400 under the control of the communication control unit 142. The communication by the communication unit 180 is performed by, for example, short-range communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), communication by wireless LAN (Local Area Network), mobile communication such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), or the like. The communication unit 180 is an example of the device communication unit.

The rotation control unit 143 controls the rotation of the rotary table 110. The rotary table 110 is connected to the rotary motor 113. The rotation control unit 143 controls the rotation of the rotary table 110 by controlling the rotation of the rotation motor 113.

The discharge control unit 144 controls the discharge of the liquid material (stored liquid). The discharge control unit 144 controls the discharge of the liquid material (stored liquid) by controlling the rotation of the discharge motor 131 of the discharge mechanism 130.

The position detection unit 145 detects whether or not the predetermined container 500 is at a predetermined position, for example, the discharge position PosA or the replacement position PosB. The position detection unit 145 detects the position of the predetermined container 500 from the detection result of the position detection device 150 provided in the liquid material discharge device 100.

The discharge detection unit 146 detects whether or not the liquid material (storage liquid) has been discharged from the container 500 at the discharge position PosA. The discharge detection unit 146 detects whether or not the liquid material (stored liquid) has been discharged from the detection result of the discharge detection device 160 provided in the liquid material discharge device 100.

The input / output unit 147 accepts input from the user and outputs information to the user. The input / output unit 147 detects the pressing of the button 109 and accepts the input from the user. Further, the input / output unit 147 controls the LED drive unit 170 to control the light emission of the LED provided in the liquid material discharge device 100, and outputs information to the user.

The RFID control unit 148 controls the input and output of the information recorded on the RFID tag 550 of the container 500. The RFID control unit 148 controls the RFID reader / writer 190 provided in the liquid substance discharge device 100 to read information from the RFID tag 550 of the container 500 and write information to the RFID tag 550.

Each function of the control device 140 is realized by operating a CPU (Central Processing Unit) by a program that is readable and stored in a storage device (not shown). For example, each of these functions is realized by the collaboration of hardware and software in a microcomputer including a CPU. Further, the control device 140 may be divided into a plurality of processing devices, or another function may be incorporated into the control device 140.

<Operation of liquid discharge device 100>
The server device 300 discharges the liquid material used by the user from personal information such as the user's age, skin characteristics, and skin condition, environmental information such as temperature, humidity, and weather on the day of use, and time information. The type and amount of the liquid material discharged from the device 100 are determined. When the user presses the button (switch) 109 of the liquid material discharge device 100, the liquid material discharge device 100 is sent to the server device 300, and the server device 300 provides information on the type and amount of the liquid material to be discharged (discharge liquid information). ) Is transmitted to the liquid material discharge device 100. When the user inserts his / her hand into the manual insertion unit 105, the liquid material discharge device 100 discharges one or a plurality of types of liquid material corresponding to the container 500 housed in the liquid material discharge device 100. .. The liquid material discharge device 100 discharges each liquid material based on the amount of discharge liquid information.

From the discharged liquid material information received from the server device 300, the device control unit 141 of the liquid material discharge device 100 determines which container in the containers 500 (501, 502, 503, 504, 505) housed in the liquid material discharge device 100. Specify whether to discharge 500 liquids. Then, the device control unit 141 calculates how much the liquid material should be discharged from the specified discharge container 500, that is, how many times the push button 522 is pressed.

Then, when the user inserts his / her hand into the manual insertion unit 105, the device control unit 141 rotates the container storage unit 120 of the container 500 in which the liquid material is to be discharged to the discharge position PosA by controlling the rotation control unit 143. Move. Next, the device control unit 141 controls the discharge control unit 144 and presses the push button 522 of the container 500 a calculated number of times to discharge the liquid material.

<Server device 300>
FIG. 9 shows a configuration diagram of the server device 300 of the present embodiment.

The server device 300 includes a server control unit 301, a server communication control unit 302, a server storage unit 303, and a server communication unit 310.

The server control unit 301 controls the entire server device 300.

The server communication control unit 302 controls communication with the liquid material discharge device 100 via the server communication unit 310 and the network 400.

The server storage unit 303 stores the processed information and the like.

The server storage unit 303 is an example of a state storage unit.

<Operation when button 109 is pressed>
The operation of the liquid material discharge system 1 when the button 109 is pressed will be described. The button 109 is an example of an operation button.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the liquid material discharge system 1.

(Step S100) The user U presses the button 109 of the liquid material discharge device 100. The input / output unit 147 of the control device 140 of the liquid material discharge device 100 detects that the button 109 is pressed. Then, the input / output unit 147 notifies the device control unit 141 that the button 109 has been pressed.

(Step S110) The device control unit 141 controls the communication control unit 142 and requests the server device 300 to transmit information (operation information) regarding the operation of the liquid material discharge device 100 via the communication unit 180. A command (command) (operation information request command) is transmitted to the server device 300.

(Step S120) The server communication unit 310 receives the operation information request command transmitted by the liquid material discharge device 100 from the network 400. The server communication control unit 302 transmits the operation information request command received by the server communication unit 310 to the server control unit 301.

(Step S130) The server control unit 301 acquires the device status information of the liquid material discharge device 100 that has transmitted the operation information request command recorded in the server storage unit 303. Table 1 shows an example of device state information of the liquid material discharge device 100.

(Step S140) Based on the device status information acquired in step S130, the server control unit 301 creates operation information that defines the operation of the liquid material discharge device 100 that has transmitted the operation information request command. Table 2 shows the operations corresponding to each device.

(Step S150) The server control unit 301 controls the server communication control unit 302 and transmits the operation information created in step S140 to the liquid material discharge device 100 via the server communication unit 310 as an operation information request command. It is transmitted to the liquid material discharge device 100.

(Step S160) The device control unit 141 controls the communication control unit 142 and receives operation information from the server device 300 via the communication unit 180.

(Step S170) The device control unit 141 controls the liquid material discharge device 100 based on the received operation information.

(Step S180) The device control unit 141 creates device state update information based on the result of processing based on the operation information received in step S170. For example, the liquid material discharge device 100 creates the type and amount of the liquid material actually discharged as device state update information.

(Step S190) The device control unit 141 controls the communication control unit 142 and transmits the device status update information created in step S170 to the server device 300 via the communication unit 180.

(Step S200) The server communication unit 310 receives the device state update information transmitted by the liquid material discharge device 100 from the network 400. The server communication control unit 302 transmits the device status update information received by the server communication unit 310 to the server control unit 301.

(Step S210) The server control unit 301 acquires the device status information of the liquid material discharge device 100 that has transmitted the device status update information recorded in the server storage unit 303. Then, the device state information is updated based on the received device state update information.

Further, information may be transmitted from the server device 300 to the information processing terminal 200. An example will be described.

(Step S500) The server control unit 301 creates related information related to the device status information created in step S150. The related information may be the device status information itself or a part thereof, or may include error information and the like.

(Step S510) The server control unit 301 controls the server communication control unit 302 and transmits the related information created in step S200 to the liquid material discharge device 100 via the server communication unit 310.

(Step S520) The information processing terminal 200 receives the related information transmitted from the server device 300.

(Step S530) The information processing terminal 200 performs processing based on the received related information.

Each function of the server device 300 is realized by operating a CPU (Central Processing Unit) by a program that is readable and stored in a storage device (not shown). For example, each of these functions is realized by the collaboration of hardware and software in a microcomputer including a CPU.

<Action / effect>
By operating the button 109, the liquid material discharge device 100 can perform a plurality of operations according to the state of the liquid material discharge device 100. Therefore, only one button operation is required, so that the user can easily operate the button.

1 Liquid material discharge system 100 Liquid material discharge device 109 button 140 Control device 180 Communication unit 300 Server device 301 Server control unit 303 Server storage unit 310 Server communication unit

Claims (3)

A liquid material discharge device including an operation button, a device communication unit, and a device control unit.
When the operation button is operated, the device control unit transmits an operation information request command from the device communication unit to the server, and when the device communication unit receives the operation information from the server, the device communication unit receives the operation information. A liquid material discharge device, characterized in that the liquid material discharge device is controlled based on the above. A liquid material discharge device including an operation button, a device communication unit, and a device control unit,
A liquid material discharge system including a state storage unit, a server communication unit, and a server including a server control unit.
When the operation button is operated, the device control unit transmits an operation information request command from the device communication unit to the server communication unit.
When the server control unit receives the operation information request command from the server communication unit, the server control unit acquires the device state information stored in the state storage unit, creates operation information based on the device state information, and creates the operation information. The operation information is transmitted from the server communication unit to the device communication unit,
The device control unit is a liquid material discharge system, characterized in that when the device communication unit receives the operation information, the device control unit controls the liquid material discharge device based on the received operation information. After controlling the liquid material discharge device based on the received operation information, the device control unit transmits the device state update information to the server communication unit by the device communication unit.
The liquid material discharge system according to claim 2, wherein the server control unit updates the device state information stored in the state storage unit based on the received device state update information.

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