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JP-7857290-B2 - Cleaning unit for surface cleaning device

JP7857290B2JP 7857290 B2JP7857290 B2JP 7857290B2JP-7857290-B2

Inventors

  • マオ ジンリャン
  • リー スンスー

Assignees

  • コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エヌ ヴェ

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20211014
Priority Date
20201116

Claims (15)

  1. A cleaning unit for a surface cleaning device, The main unit and An arrangement of protrusions or cleaning elements on the surface of the main body to be operatively contacted with the surface to be cleaned during use in order to enable a mechanical cleaning action, An ultrasonic transducer device supported by the aforementioned main body, comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers that generate ultrasonic radiation in response to one or more drive signals, An electromagnetic radiator device supported by the main body, comprising an electromagnetic radiator device that generates radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) radiation in response to the supply of a radio frequency (RF) drive signal, The ultrasonic transducer device and the electromagnetic radiator device generate spatially overlapping ultrasonic and EM radiation to enable simultaneous ultrasonic and RF stimulation of the surface to be cleaned. Cleaning unit.
  2. The main body has a first outer surface which forms a first surface of the main body for placement adjacent to a surface to be cleaned during use, The ultrasonic transducer device and the electromagnetic radiator device each generate radiation that propagates outward from at least a portion of the first surface. The cleaning unit according to claim 1.
  3. The cleaning unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body receives the ultrasonic radiation from the ultrasonic transducer device and redirects the ultrasonic radiation along one or more predetermined propagation paths outward from the main body and/or away from the main body.
  4. The cleaning unit according to claim 3, wherein the acoustic wave directing element focuses the received ultrasonic radiation into one or more ultrasonic beams directed along one or more propagation paths.
  5. The cleaning unit according to claim 4, wherein the acoustic wave directing element comprises one or more parabolic acoustic reflectors.
  6. The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main body comprises an ultrasonic shielding component that prevents the propagation of ultrasonic waves in one or more directions from the main body.
  7. The main body has an outer first surface, and the ultrasonic transducer device generates ultrasonic radiation that propagates outward from at least a portion of the first surface. The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first surface carries the arrangement of projections extending outward from the first surface, and these projections are to be operationally brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned during use to enable a mechanical cleaning action, and these projections extend from the first surface to a maximum height of 5 mm or less.
  8. The cleaning unit according to claim 7, wherein the projection is formed from a material having a Shore A scale hardness of 5 to 120, preferably 10 to 100, and more preferably 20 to 70.
  9. The cleaning unit according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the main body has at least a first portion and a second portion, the first surface is included in the first portion, the first portion is detachable from the second portion, and the second portion has the ultrasonic transducer device and the electromagnetic radiator device.
  10. The cleaning unit is for an oral cleaning device, and the main body is receptive to the user's mouth, as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.
  11. The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least a portion of the main body is tubular, the main body has a tubular outer surface, the outer surface forms an output surface for RF and ultrasonic radiation, and the ultrasonic transducer device is arranged such that the ultrasonic radiation propagates in multiple directions from the output surface.
  12. A cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, An ultrasonic driver module that is operable to generate one or more drive signals that generate ultrasonic radiation when coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, A surface cleaning device having a signal generator that generates an AC drive signal that generates radio frequency radiation when coupled to the electromagnetic radiator device.
  13. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a base unit, and the cleaning unit is detachably coupled to the base unit of the surface cleaning apparatus.
  14. The surface cleaning device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the surface cleaning device is an oral cleaning device.
  15. A surface cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising a mechanical drive mechanism operable to provide a source of sonic vibration motion, and a mechanical coupling arm for coupling the sonic vibration motion to the cleaning unit.

Description

This invention relates to a cleaning unit for a surface cleaning apparatus. Surface cleaning is a task used in a variety of application areas, including household, industrial, institutional, and healthcare sectors. In the field of healthcare, surface cleaning devices can be used to clean the surface of teeth as part of oral healthcare functions. Dental cleaning and periodontal disease prevention are important parts of oral hygiene. This includes the removal of plaque, tartar, and tartar from the tooth surface to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Currently, manual and electric toothbrushes are the most common dental cleaning tools. These generally consist of a densely packed bristle head (brush head) mounted on a handle that facilitates cleaning hard-to-reach areas of the mouth, and toothpaste can be applied to the head. Other exemplary oral cleaning devices include electric brushing mouthpiece devices. In operation, electric toothbrushes perform high-speed vibrating bristle motions, such as back-and-forth vibration, rotational vibration, or oscillation, to clean teeth. When the motion is controlled at the speed of sound, this is called sonic toothbrush motion. Sonic toothbrushes generate motion or vibrations in the audible frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Currently, all toothbrushes have bristles on the brush head. These bristles are typically made from non-biodegradable nylon, which poses a significant environmental pollution risk after disposal. Due to the potential for undesirable enamel wear and gingival tissue damage when using hard bristles, soft bristles are generally recommended for brushing teeth. In dental cleaning, brushing removes or cleans two types of undesirable deposits from the tooth surface: plaque and extrinsic stains. In dentistry, calculus, or tartar, is a form of hardened plaque. Once formed, calculus adheres firmly and is too hard to remove with ordinary electric or manual toothbrushes. Tartar hardens into calculus if not removed every 24 hours. Calculus cannot be removed with currently available electric toothbrushes and dental floss. Instead, calculus buildup must be removed by a dental professional using specialized ultrasonic tools or dental hand tools (e.g., periodontal scalers). Recent developments have seen the integration of radio frequency (RF) generating elements into toothbrush devices, combined with the sonic vibrations of toothbrush bristles. Radio frequency radiation has a dielectric heating effect on certain materials, leading to the softening or "melting" of plaque on the tooth surface. This can assist in plaque removal by electric toothbrushes. However, this effect is limited, and this technology remains ineffective in removing tartar. This technology also provides no cleaning effect in areas that the brush bristles cannot mechanically access. Figure 1 shows the basic components of an exemplary cleaning unit according to one or more embodiments.Figure 2 shows the basic components of an exemplary cleaning unit according to one or more embodiments.Figure 3 shows the emission of ultrasonic and RF radiation from the transducer and radiator devices of the cleaning unit.Figure 4 shows the emission of ultrasonic and RF radiation from the transducer and radiator devices of the cleaning unit.Figure 5 shows a cross-section of another exemplary cleaning unit according to one or more embodiments.Figure 6 shows an acoustic directional element included in an exemplary cleaning unit according to one or more embodiments.Figure 7A shows another exemplary cleaning unit having protrusions on exposed surfaces for mechanical cleaning and/or acoustic transmission functions.Figure 7B shows another exemplary cleaning unit having protrusions on exposed surfaces for mechanical cleaning and/or acoustic transmission functions.Figure 8 shows another exemplary cleaning unit with protrusions on its exposed surface.Figure 9 shows another exemplary cleaning unit having two separable parts, one of which carries a cleaning projection and the other which includes a transducer device and a radiator device.Figure 10 shows another exemplary cleaning unit having a tubular shape for radiating ultrasonic and/or RF waves in multiple directions.Figure 11 shows an exemplary cleaning apparatus equipped with a cleaning unit according to one or more embodiments.Figure 12 shows another exemplary cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning unit according to one or more embodiments.Figure 13 shows yet another exemplary cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning unit according to one or more embodiments. The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples illustrate exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method, but are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, system, and method of the invention will be b