阅读说明：本技术 静电纺丝装置 (Electrostatic spinning device ) 是由 小玉伸二 藤波进 榎本晴臣 平野乔大 东城武彦 于 2019-10-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种静电纺丝装置(1),包括：喷嘴(3),其用于喷射带电的纺丝用液体；开关(5),其用于控制纺丝用液体的喷射动作；和壳体(2),其具有鼓出部(21)和供使用者握持的握持部(23),鼓出部(21)向与连结喷嘴(3)的前端(30)和开关(5)中的喷嘴(3)侧的端部(50)的虚拟线(12)相比的更外侧鼓出,喷嘴(3)的轴(13)与握持部(23)的轴(14)所成的角度(θ1)为45度以上。(The invention provides an electrostatic spinning device (1) comprising: a nozzle (3) for ejecting an electrically charged spinning liquid; a switch (5) for controlling the spraying action of the spinning liquid; and a housing (2) having a bulging portion (21) and a grip portion (23) to be gripped by a user, wherein the bulging portion (21) bulges outward beyond a virtual line (12) connecting a tip (30) of the nozzle (3) and an end (50) of the switch (5) on the side of the nozzle (3), and an angle (theta 1) formed by an axis (13) of the nozzle (3) and an axis (14) of the grip portion (23) is 45 degrees or more.)

1. An electrostatic spinning device is characterized in that,

the electrospinning apparatus is a hand-held type having a shape or size that can be held by a user's hand, comprising:

a nozzle for ejecting the charged spinning liquid;

a switch for controlling the spraying action of the spinning liquid; and

a housing having a bulging portion and a grip portion to be gripped by a user,

the bulging portion bulges outward beyond a virtual line connecting a tip of the nozzle and an end portion of the switch on the nozzle side,

an angle formed by an axis of the nozzle and an axis of the grip portion is 45 degrees or more.

2. The electrospinning apparatus of claim 1,

an angle formed by an axis of the nozzle and an axis of the grip portion is 60 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

3. The electrospinning apparatus of claim 1 or 2,

an angle formed by the axis of the nozzle and the virtual line is 25 degrees or more.

4. The electrospinning apparatus of claim 3,

an angle formed by the axis of the nozzle and the virtual line is 25 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

5. The electrospinning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the portion of the housing between the nozzle and the switch is flat,

the switch is disposed at a position corresponding to an outer edge portion of the flat portion of the case.

6. The electrospinning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

a ratio of a distance between the virtual line and a vertex of the bulging portion to a distance between the tip of the nozzle and the nozzle-side end portion of the switch is 0.20 or more.

7. The electrospinning apparatus of claim 6,

the ratio is 0.20 or more and 0.50 or less.

8. The electrospinning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the corner at which the surface from which the nozzle protrudes and the surface on which the switch is provided intersect is the apex of the bulging portion.

9. The electrospinning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the switch overlaps with a center of the electrospinning device in a direction along an axis of the nozzle or is located on an opposite side of the nozzle with respect to the center.

10. The electrospinning device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the grip portion overlaps with the switch in a direction along an axis of the nozzle or is located on an opposite side of the nozzle with respect to the switch.

11. The electrospinning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

the holding portion is located at an end portion of the electrostatic spinning device in the opposite direction to the nozzle.

12. The electrospinning device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

the grip portion is flat, and the switch is disposed at an outer edge portion of the grip portion.

13. The electrospinning device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,

the switch is configured to eject the spinning liquid from the nozzle by being pressed.

14. The electrospinning device of any one of claims 1 to 13,

the switch is configured to eject the spinning liquid from the nozzle during pressing, and to stop the ejection when released.

15. The electrospinning device of any one of claims 1 to 14,

the switch is pressed in a direction toward the inside of the housing.

16. The electrospinning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 15,

comprising 1 of said switches.

17. The electrospinning device of any one of claims 1 to 16,

the grip portion has a portion extending away from the nozzle along an axis that forms an angle greater than zero with respect to an axis of the nozzle.

18. The electrospinning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17,

an insulating material is used as a material constituting the housing.

19. The electrospinning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 18,

the region that is touched by the hand of the user when the user grips the conductive material has a region formed of the conductive material.

20. The electrospinning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 19,

the switch is formed of a conductive material.

21. The electrospinning device of any one of claims 1 to 20,

the spinning device is provided with a cartridge which contains the spinning liquid and is detachably mounted on a mounted part of the shell.

22. The electrospinning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 21,

the spinning liquid is capable of forming a deposit of fibers on the surface of an object, and the length of the fibers in the deposit is at least 100 times the thickness of the fibers.

23. The electrospinning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 22,

the spinning liquid contains the following components a, b and c, the mass ratio b/c of the component b to the component c is more than 0.4 and less than 50,

a is 1 or more volatile substances selected from alcohols and ketones;

b is a fiber-forming water-insoluble polymer;

c is water.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrospinning device.

Background

Electrostatic spray devices that spray a liquid using electrostatic force have been known. For example, japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-521941 describes an electrostatic spray device having a motor, a high-voltage generator, and a battery inside a housing made in such a size that it can be held by a user's hand, and applying an electrostatically charged liquid composition from a nozzle to the user's skin by a high voltage from the high-voltage generator. The device is provided with a power switch for supplying power to the motor and the high voltage generator when pressed.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to an electrospinning device, which is a hand-held electrospinning device having a shape or size that can be held by a hand of a user, and which comprises: a nozzle for ejecting the charged spinning liquid; a switch for controlling the spraying action of the spinning liquid; and a housing having a bulging portion and a grip portion to be gripped by a user, the bulging portion bulging outward beyond a virtual line connecting a tip of the nozzle and an end portion of the switch on the nozzle side, an angle formed by an axis of the nozzle and an axis of the grip portion being 45 degrees or more.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrospinning device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge in the electrospinning device according to this embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the electrospinning device according to this embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the electrospinning device according to this embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the electrostatic spinning device according to the embodiment held.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an electrospinning device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of an electrospinning device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of an electrospinning device according to embodiment 4 of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of an electrospinning device according to a comparative embodiment.

Detailed Description

Conventionally, an electrospinning device has been known which ejects a solution containing a raw material for electrospinning, i.e., a spinning liquid, onto an object. When the spinning liquid is sprayed, the solvent evaporates, and the raw material is formed into filaments and deposited on the surface of the object.

For a hand-held electrospinning device having a shape or size that can be held by a hand of a user, it is required that the user easily hold the device and easily operate the device. For example, from the viewpoint of reducing the burden on the wrist or the like, when the user sprays the spinning liquid toward the user's face, it is preferable that the spraying can be performed without performing an unnatural motion such as raising the wrist or the elbow upward. Alternatively, from the viewpoint of accurate ejection and improvement in operability, it is preferable that the user hold the apparatus without obstructing the tip of the nozzle or the object to be ejected, for example, when the user ejects the apparatus toward his or her hand or foot. Further, since the hand holding the electrospinning device has a low potential, if there is no obstacle between the tip of the nozzle and the hand, the spinning liquid or the content after evaporation of the solvent ejected from the tip of the nozzle may change its direction and return to the hand. However, in the conventional electrospinning device, it is difficult to improve the above-described ease of operation and to prevent the spinning liquid and the like from being rewound.

The present invention relates to a hand-held electrospinning device capable of achieving both improvement in ease of operation and prevention of wraparound of a spinning liquid or the like to be ejected.

In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand-held electrospinning device comprising: a nozzle for ejecting the charged spinning liquid; a switch for controlling the spraying action of the spinning liquid; and a housing having a bulging portion and a grip portion to be gripped by a user, the bulging portion bulging outward beyond a virtual line connecting a tip of the nozzle and a nozzle-side end of the switch, an angle formed by an axis of the nozzle and an axis of the grip portion being 45 degrees or more.

According to the electrostatic spinning device of the present invention, both improvement of the ease of operation and prevention of the wraparound of the spinning liquid or the like to be ejected can be achieved.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numeral, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

< embodiment 1>

The electrospinning device 1 according to embodiment 1 shown in fig. 1 employs an electrostatic spraying method. The electrostatic spraying method is a method in which a liquid is charged by applying a positive or negative high voltage to the liquid, and the charged liquid is sprayed onto an object. The liquid may be a composition comprising a plurality of components. The sprayed liquid is repeatedly made fine and spatially spread by coulomb repulsion, and a film can be formed on the surface of the object by drying the liquid with a solvent as a volatile substance during the process or after the liquid is attached to the object. Hereinafter, the liquid containing the raw material for electrospinning and applied with a high voltage is referred to as a spinning liquid. The electrospinning device 1 is one type of an electrostatic spraying device that can be used, for example, in applications in which a person performs an operation with his or her hands, private applications of a user, or the like, and can form a deposit of fibers on the surface of an object by spraying a spinning liquid onto the object. As an example of the object, a part of a human body, for example, skin or nails of a user himself or herself or another person can be cited.

In the case of forming a deposit of fibers by the electrostatic spraying method, the cross-sectional shape of the fibers is preferably circular or elliptical. The thickness of the fiber may be the length of the diameter when the cross-sectional shape of the fiber is circular, or the length of the major axis when the cross-sectional shape is elliptical. The thickness of the fiber is preferably 10nm or more, more preferably 50nm or more, when expressed by a diameter corresponding to a circle. Further, it is preferably 3000nm or less, and more preferably 1000nm or less. The thickness of the fiber can be measured by the following method, for example. That is, the fibers were observed at a magnification of 10000 times by a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and defects (fiber blocks, intersection portions of fibers, and droplets) were removed from the two-dimensional image. The thickness of the fiber was measured by selecting 10 fibers arbitrarily from the fibers, drawing out a line perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fibers, and directly reading the fiber diameter.

The length of the fibers forming the coating is infinite in terms of production principle, but actually it is preferable that the fibers have a length of at least 100 times the thickness of the fibers. For example, the formed coating film preferably contains fibers having a length of preferably 10 μm or more, more preferably 50 μm or more, and still more preferably 100 μm or more.

Hereinafter, the spinning liquid will be described in detail. As the spinning liquid, for example, a solution in which a polymer compound capable of forming fibers is dissolved in a solvent can be used. As such a polymer compound, any of a water-soluble polymer compound and a water-insoluble polymer compound can be used.

In the present specification, the term "water-soluble polymer compound" refers to a polymer compound having such a water-soluble property that 50% by mass or more of the polymer compound to be impregnated is dissolved after a sufficient time (for example, 24 hours or more) has elapsed after the polymer compound is impregnated in water of 10 times or more mass as compared with the polymer compound in an environment of 1 atm/normal temperature (20 ℃ ± 15 ℃). On the other hand, the term "water-insoluble polymer compound" refers to a polymer compound having a property of being hardly soluble in water to such an extent that 80% by mass or more of the polymer compound to be impregnated is not dissolved after a sufficient period of time (for example, 24 hours or more) has elapsed since the polymer compound was immersed in water of 10 times or more mass as much as the polymer compound in an environment of 1 atm/room temperature (20 ℃ ± 15 ℃).

Examples of the water-soluble polymer compound include pullulan, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, poly-gamma-glutamic acid, modified corn starch, beta-glucan, glucooligosaccharide, heparin, mucopolysaccharides such as cutin sulfate, cellulose, pectin, xylan, lignin, glucomannan, galactose, psyllium seed gum, and tamarind seed gum, examples of the polymer include natural polymers such as gum arabic, gum tragacanth, modified corn starch, soybean water-soluble polysaccharide, alginic acid, carrageenan, laminaran, agar (agarose), fucoidan (fucoidan), methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol (when used without a crosslinking agent), low-saponified polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene oxide, and synthetic polymers such as sodium polyacrylate. These water-soluble polymer compounds can be used alone or in combination of 2 or more. Among these water-soluble polymer compounds, synthetic polymers such as pullulan, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol, low saponified polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and polyethylene oxide are preferably used from the viewpoint of facilitating the formation of fibers.

On the other hand, as the water-insoluble polymer compound, examples thereof include fully saponified polyvinyl alcohol which can be insolubilized after fiber formation, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol which can be crosslinked after fiber formation by using a crosslinking agent in combination, oxazoline-modified silicone such as poly (N-propionylethyleneimine) graft-dimethylsiloxane/γ -aminopropylmethylsiloxane copolymer, zein (a main component of zein), polyester, polylactic acid (PLA), acrylic resins such as polyacrylonitrile resin and polymethacrylic acid resin, polystyrene resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, polyimide resin, and polyamideimide resin. These water-insoluble high molecular compounds may be used alone or in combination of 2 or more.

When a water-insoluble polymer compound is used, the spinning liquid preferably contains the following components (a), (b), and (c), and the mass ratio (b/c) of the component (b) to the component (c) is 0.4 or more and 50 or less.

(a) 1 or more volatile substances selected from alcohols and ketones;

(b) fiber-forming water-insoluble polymers;

(c) and (3) water.

The volatile substance of the component (a) is a substance having volatility in a liquid state. The component (a) in the spinning liquid was prepared for the following purposes: after the spinning liquid placed in the electric field is sufficiently charged, the spinning liquid is discharged from the tip of the nozzle toward a target object such as skin, and when the component (a) evaporates, the charge density of the spinning liquid becomes excessive, and the component (a) is further refined by coulomb repulsion and further evaporates, and finally a coating film containing dried fibers is formed. For this purpose, the vapor pressure of the volatile substance is preferably 0.01kPa or more and 106.66kPa or less, more preferably 0.13kPa or more and 66.66kPa or less, still more preferably 0.67kPa or more and 40.00kPa or less, and still more preferably 1.33kPa or more and 40.00kPa or less at 20 ℃.

Among the volatile substances of the component (a), the alcohol is preferably a monohydric chain aliphatic alcohol, a monohydric cyclic aliphatic alcohol, or a monohydric aromatic alcohol. Examples of the monohydric chain aliphatic alcohol include C1-C6 alcohols, examples of the monohydric cyclic alcohol include C4-C6 cyclic alcohols, and examples of the monohydric aromatic alcohol include benzyl alcohol and phenethyl alcohol. Specific examples thereof include ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, phenethyl alcohol, n-propanol, and n-pentanol. These alcohols can be used in 1 or 2 or more kinds selected from them.

Among the volatile substances of the component (a), the ketones include di-C1-C4 alkyl ketones, such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and methyl isobutyl ketone. These ketones can be used alone in 1 kind or more than 2 kinds in combination.

The volatile substance of the component (a) is more preferably 1 or 2 or more selected from ethanol, isopropanol and butanol, more preferably 1 or 2 selected from ethanol and butanol, and still more preferably ethanol.

The content of the component (a) in the spinning liquid is preferably 50% by mass or more, more preferably 55% by mass or more, further preferably 60% by mass or more, and further preferably 65% by mass or more. Further, it is preferably 95% by mass or less, more preferably 92% by mass or less, still more preferably 90% by mass or less, and still more preferably 88% by mass or less. The content of the component (a) in the spinning liquid is preferably 50 mass% or more and 95 mass% or less, more preferably 55 mass% or more and 92 mass% or less, still more preferably 60 mass% or more and 90 mass% or less, and still more preferably 65 mass% or more and 88 mass% or less. By containing the component (a) in the spinning liquid at such a ratio, the spinning liquid can be sufficiently volatilized at the time of performing the electrostatic spraying method, and a coating film containing fibers can be formed on the surface of an object such as skin.

The fiber-forming water-insoluble polymer of the component (b) is a substance capable of dissolving the volatile substance of the component (a). Here, the term "dissolved" means a state of dispersion at 20 ℃, and the dispersed state is visually uniform, and is preferably visually transparent or translucent.

As the fiber-forming water-insoluble polymer, an appropriate polymer can be used depending on the properties of the volatile substance of the component (a). Specifically, the polymer is soluble in the component (a) and insoluble in water. In the present specification, "water-soluble polymer" means a polymer having the following properties: in the 1 atmospheric pressure 23 degrees C environment, weighing 1g polymer, then immersed in 10g ion exchange water, after 24 hours, the impregnated polymer more than 0.5g dissolved in water. On the other hand, the term "water-insoluble polymer" as used herein means a polymer having a property that 1g of the polymer is weighed out under an environment of 1 atm 23 ℃ and then immersed in 10g of ion-exchanged water, and after the lapse of 24 hours, 0.5g or more of the immersed polymer is insoluble, in other words, a polymer having a property that the amount of the polymer dissolved therein is less than 0.5 g.

Examples of the water-insoluble polymer having fiber-forming ability include completely saponified polyvinyl alcohol which can be insolubilized after fiber formation, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol which can be crosslinked after fiber formation by using a crosslinking agent in combination, oxazoline-modified silicone such as poly (N-propionylethyleneimine) graft-dimethylsiloxane/γ -aminopropylmethylsiloxane copolymer, polyvinylacetal diethylaminoacetate (polyvinylacetal diammine), zein (a main component of zein), acrylic resins such as polyester, polylactic acid (PLA), polyacrylonitrile resin, polymethacrylic acid resin, polystyrene resin, polyvinylbutyral resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, polyurethane resin, and the like, Polyamide resins, polyimide resins, polyamideimide resins, and the like. 1 or 2 or more selected from these water-insoluble polymers can be used in combination. Among these water-insoluble polymers, it is preferable to use 1 or 2 or more selected from the group consisting of completely saponified polyvinyl alcohol which can be insolubilized after the formation of a coating, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol which can be crosslinked after the formation of a coating by using a crosslinking agent in combination, an acrylic resin such as a polyvinyl butyral resin and a polymethacrylic acid resin, oxazoline-modified silicones such as polyvinyl acetal diethylaminoacetate and poly (N-propionylethyleneimine) graft-dimethylsiloxane/γ -aminopropylmethylsiloxane copolymers, polylactic acid (PLA), zein, and the like.

The content of the component (b) in the spinning liquid is preferably 4% by mass or more, more preferably 6% by mass or more, and further preferably 8% by mass or more. Further, it is preferably 35% by mass or less, more preferably 30% by mass or less, and further preferably 25% by mass or less. The content of the component (b) in the spinning liquid is preferably 4 mass% or more and 35 mass% or less, more preferably 6 mass% or more and 30 mass% or less, and further preferably 8 mass% or more and 25 mass% or less. By containing the component (b) in the spinning liquid at this ratio, a fibrous coating film can be formed stably and efficiently.

The water of the component (c) is ionized and charged as compared with a non-ionized solvent such as ethanol, and therefore, conductivity can be imparted to the spinning liquid. Therefore, a fibrous coating can be stably formed on the surface of an object such as skin by electrostatic spraying. Water also contributes to improvement in adhesion of a coating film formed by electrostatic spraying to an object such as skin and improvement in durability. From the viewpoint of obtaining these effects, it is preferable that the component (c) is contained in the spinning liquid in an amount of 0.2 mass% to 25 mass%. The content of the component (c) in the spinning liquid is preferably 0.3% by mass or more, more preferably 0.35% by mass or more, and further preferably 0.4% by mass or more. The content of the component (c) in the spinning liquid is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 19% by mass or less, and still more preferably 18% by mass or less. The content of the component (c) in the spinning liquid is 0.2 mass% or more and 25 mass% or less, preferably 0.3 mass% or more and 20 mass% or less, more preferably 0.35 mass% or more and 19 mass% or less, and further preferably 0.4 mass% or more and 18 mass% or less.

In addition, the mass ratio (b/c) of the component (b) to the component (c) is preferably 0.4 to 50 inclusive from the viewpoint of forming a fibrous coating on the surface of an object such as skin, from the viewpoint of improving the adhesion of the coating to the object, and from the viewpoint of improving the durability of the coating. The mass ratio (b/c) is preferably 0.5 or more, more preferably 0.6 or more. The mass ratio (b/c) is preferably 45 or less, and more preferably 40 or less. The mass ratio (b/c) is preferably in the range of 0.4 to 50, more preferably 0.5 to 45, still more preferably 0.55 to 40, and yet more preferably 0.6 to 40.

Further, the mass ratio (a/c) of the component (a) to the component (c) is preferably 3 or more and 300 or less from the viewpoint of stably obtaining a fibrous coating by direct electrostatic spraying of a spinning liquid, from the viewpoint of improving the adhesion of the obtained coating, from the viewpoint of improving the durability of the coating, and the like. The mass ratio (a/c) is more preferably 3.5 or more, and still more preferably 4 or more. The mass ratio (a/c) is more preferably 250 or less, and still more preferably 210 or less. The range of the mass ratio (a/c) is more preferably 3.5 or more and 250 or less, and still more preferably 4 or more and 210 or less.

The mass ratio (b/a) of the component (b) to the component (a) is preferably 0.01 or more, more preferably 0.02 or more, further preferably 0.04 or more, and further preferably 0.07 or more, from the viewpoint of dispersibility of the component (b) in the spinning liquid, the formability of the coating, and the durability of the coating. The mass ratio (b/a) is preferably 0.55 or less, more preferably 0.50 or less, still more preferably 0.30 or less, and still more preferably 0.25 or less.

The spinning liquid may contain only the above components (a) to (c), or may contain other components in addition to the components (a) to (c). Examples of the other components include polyhydric alcohols, liquid oils, plasticizers for polymers of the component (b), conductivity control agents in spinning liquids, water-soluble polymers other than the component (b), powders of coloring pigments, extender pigments and the like, dyes, perfumes, repellents, antioxidants, stabilizers, preservatives, various vitamins and the like. When other components are contained in the spinning liquid, the content ratio of the other components is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less.

The spinning liquid may contain a powder of a coloring pigment, an extender pigment, or the like, but the content of the powder having a particle diameter of 0.1 μm or more at 20 ℃ is preferably 1 mass% or less, more preferably 0.1 mass% or less, further preferably 0.01 mass% or less, and the powder is preferably not contained except for the case where the powder is inevitably mixed, from the viewpoint of uniform film formation, film durability, and adhesion.

The viscosity of the spinning liquid is preferably 2 to 3000mPa · s at 25 ℃ from the viewpoint of stably forming a fibrous coating, the spinning property at the time of electrostatic spraying, the durability of the coating, and the feeling of the coating. The viscosity is preferably 10mPa · s or more, more preferably 20mPa · s or more, and further preferably 30mPa · s or more. The viscosity is preferably 1500mPa · s or less, more preferably 1000mPa · s or less, and further preferably 800mPa · s or less. The range of the viscosity is preferably 2 to 3000 mPas, more preferably 20 to 1500 mPas, even more preferably 30 to 1000 mPas, even more preferably 30 to 800 mPas. The viscosity in the spinning liquid was measured at 25 ℃ using an E-type viscometer. As the E-type viscometer, for example, a viscometer (viscoic EMD) manufactured by tokyo co. The measurement conditions in this case were: 25 ℃; the rotor number of the conical plate is 43; the rotation speed is selected to be appropriate according to the viscosity, 5rpm is selected for the viscosity of 1300 mPaS or more, 10rpm is selected for the viscosity of 250 mPaS or more and less than 1300 mPaS, 50rpm is selected for the viscosity of 25 mPaS or more and less than 250 mPaS, and 100rpm is selected for the viscosity of less than 25 mPaS.

Next, a schematic configuration of an electrospinning device 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 4. The electrospinning device 1 is of a hand-held type, and has a shape, size, and weight that can be held by a single hand of a user for use, for example. As shown in fig. 1, an electrospinning apparatus 1 (hereinafter, referred to simply as "apparatus 1") includes a housing 2, a nozzle 3, a switch 5, and a switch 6. The housing 2 is a housing member that covers the outside of the device 1, and houses a container, a battery, a high-voltage generator, electrodes, a motor, a pump, a controller, and the like. As a material constituting the case 2, a resin as an insulating material can be used. The material constituting the case 2 preferably contains an antistatic agent, or the outer surface of the case 2 is preferably coated. On the other hand, it is preferable that the device 1 has a region formed of a conductive material at a position on the outer surface of the housing 2 where the user's hand contacts. More preferably, the switches 5 and 6 that will be in contact with the user's fingers when the device 1 is in use are formed of a conductive material. As the conductive material, in addition to the metal, a mixed material of a metal and a resin, and the like can be cited.

The container contains a spinning liquid. The battery functions as a power source that can supply power to the high-voltage generator and the motor. The high voltage generator generates a high voltage and supplies the high voltage to the electrodes. The motor drives the pump. The controller can control the actions of the motor and the high voltage generator. The pump is, for example, a gear pump, and sucks the spinning liquid from the container and supplies the spinning liquid to the passage inside the nozzle 3. The ejection opening opens at the front end 30 of the nozzle 3. The passage inside the nozzle 3 connected to the ejection port is linear, and an electrode is provided in the passage. The spinning liquid is supplied to the nozzle 3, and when a high voltage is applied to the spinning liquid via the electrode, the charged spinning liquid is ejected from the ejection opening of the nozzle 3 toward the object due to the potential difference between the object and the electrode.

From the viewpoint of sufficiently charging the spinning liquid, the voltage applied to the electrodes of the apparatus 1 (spinning voltage: corresponding to the potential difference between the electrodes and the object) is preferably 5kV or more, more preferably 8kV or more, and still more preferably 10kV or more. In addition, the spinning voltage is preferably 30kV or less, and more preferably 25kV or less, from the viewpoint of preventing discharge between the electrode and the object, and the like. From the above viewpoint, the spinning voltage is preferably 5kV or more and 30kV or less, and more preferably 10kV or more and 25kV or less.

The switches 5 and 6 are operation switches operable by a user for operating the apparatus 1 to eject the spinning liquid from the nozzle 3, and are provided to switch electrical connection and disconnection between the high voltage generator, the motor, or the controller and the battery in accordance with the user's operation. The switch 6 switches the power supply of the device 1 on and off. When the switch 6 is turned on, the apparatus 1 can perform an operation of ejecting the spinning liquid, that is, an ejection operation. When the switch 6 is turned off, the injection operation is disabled. The switch 6 may have other functions, and may be provided to change the set amount of the spinning liquid to be ejected, for example. On the other hand, the switch 5 is provided so as to control the injection operation in a state where the injection operation is possible, in other words, after the switch 6 is turned on to enable the injection operation. The control of the ejection operation means switching the presence or absence of the ejection operation, in other words, switching the start and stop of the ejection, but is not limited to this, and may mean changing and adjusting the amount of the spinning liquid to be ejected. Specifically, the switch 5 is pressed in a direction toward the inside of the housing 2. The switch 5 is configured to eject the spinning liquid from the nozzle 3 while being pressed, and to stop the ejection when released. In this manner, the switch 5 functions as a control switch for controlling the ejection operation of the spinning liquid. From the viewpoint of operability of the ejection operation, it is preferable to include 1 switch 5.

During the electrostatic spraying, a high potential difference is preferably generated between the nozzle 3 and the skin or the like (hereinafter, referred to as a spinning target) as a target. From this viewpoint, in the device 1, it is preferable that the region to be gripped by the user of the switch 5 is formed of a conductive material. This facilitates the flow of current from the inside of the device 1 to the user, increases the potential difference between the nozzle 3 and the spinning target, and improves the spinning performance. In addition, since the inductance is very large, the current flowing to the user during the electrostatic discharge is extremely small, and for example, the present inventors confirmed that the current is several orders of magnitude smaller than the current flowing through the human body due to the static electricity generated in daily life.

As shown in fig. 3, the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 is an axis along the direction in which the spinning liquid is ejected from the nozzle 3. The shaft 13 of the present embodiment extends along the passage inside the nozzle 3. The nozzle 3 may be integrated with a cartridge 4 as shown in fig. 2. The cartridge 4 has a mounting portion 40 and a container 41. The mounting portion 40 houses the pump and the electrode. The nozzle 3 is provided in the mounting portion 40, and the container 41 is mounted. The container 41 is in the form of a flat bag made of a sheet such as a thin film formed of an insulating material, and is capable of containing a liquid (spinning liquid) and deforming freely. The cartridge 4 is detachably mounted on the mounted portion of the housing 2. A cover 25 is provided on the main body of the housing 2 so as to cover the mounted cartridge 4. As shown in fig. 1, the nozzle 3 protrudes through a hole 200 provided in the cover 25.

The housing 2 has a grip portion 23 and a main housing portion 24. The grip portion 23 mainly houses the battery and the switch 5, and is a portion that is expected to be gripped with high covering performance when the user uses the device 1. The grip portion 23 overlaps the switch 5 in a direction along the axis 13 of the nozzle 3. The grip portion 23 is located at the opposite end of the device 1 from the nozzle 3. The main housing portion 24 mainly houses the container 41, the pump, the electrodes, the high voltage generator, the motor, and the controller. The cartridge 4 is mounted in the main housing portion 24. The cover 25 functions as a part of the main housing portion 24. The main housing portion 24 is continuous with the nozzle 3 via a cover 25. The portion of the housing 2 between the nozzle 3 and the switch 5 corresponds to the main housing portion 24.

The housing 2 has a flat shape. Here, the flat shape means the following. The x, y and z axes are assumed to be orthogonal to each other. The fact that the certain object has a flat shape with a small thickness in the z-axis direction means that the dimension of the certain object in the z-axis direction is smaller than the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction by a certain degree or more, and specifically means that the dimension of the certain object in the z-axis direction, that is, the thickness is equal to or less than a value obtained by multiplying the dimension of the certain object in the x-axis direction by a predetermined ratio, and is equal to or less than a value obtained by multiplying the dimension of the certain object in the y-axis direction by the ratio. The outer surface of the flat object has a flat portion and an outer edge portion. The flat portion extends along a plane perpendicular to a z-axis direction, which is a direction in which the thickness of the object is reduced, and an angle formed by the flat portion with respect to the plane is within a predetermined range. The outer edge portion surrounds the outer periphery of the flat portion. In the housing 2 of the electrospinning device 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, a direction along the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 is defined as an x-axis direction. A direction extending in the vertical direction in the plane of fig. 3 perpendicular to the axis 13 is defined as a y-axis direction. A direction extending perpendicularly to the plane of fig. 3 and perpendicular to the axis 13 is defined as a z-axis direction. The housing 2 has a flat shape with a smaller thickness in the z-axis direction than in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. The flat portion of the outer surface of the housing 2 has a substantially rectangular shape in a side view of the housing 2 viewed from the z-axis direction.

The outer surface of the housing 2 has a 1 st surface 201, a 2 nd surface 202, a 3 rd surface 203, a 4 th surface 204, a 5 th surface 205, and a 6 th surface 206. Each of the surfaces 201 to 206 is formed in a curved surface shape bulging outward. The 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202 are larger than the 3 rd to 6 th surfaces 203 to 206 and correspond to the flat portions. The 3 rd side 203 is a part of the cover 25. The nozzle 3 protrudes from the 3 rd face 203. The nozzle 3 has a 1 st surface 201 and a 2 nd surface 202 on opposite sides with respect to the axis 13. The 3 rd to 6 th surfaces 203 to 206 are located between the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202, correspond to the outer edge portions, and surround the outer edges of the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202. The axis 13 of the nozzle 3 extends along the x-axis direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the 1 st surface 201, the 2 nd surface 202, the 4 th surface 204, and the 6 th surface 206. The axis 13 of the nozzle 3 is located at the center between the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202, and is also located at the center between the 4 th surface 204 and the 6 th surface 206. The axis 13 of the nozzle 3 passes through the center of the 3 rd face 203 and the center of the 5 th face 205.

The main housing portion 24 is provided with a switch 6 on the 4 th surface 204. In the main housing portion 24, a projection protruding from the 1 st surface 201 may be provided on the 1 st surface 201 on the side of the nozzle 3 with respect to the center 7. When the device 1 is placed on a desk or the like, the convex portion abuts against the desk or the like, and the tip of the nozzle 3 faces upward, thereby preventing liquid leakage from the nozzle 3 or the like. It is more effective if the 2 nd surface 202 also has such a convex portion, i.e., if the housing 2 has convex portions at both flat portions.

In the grip portion 23, a concave portion 231 and a convex portion 232 are formed on the 1 st surface 201. The concave portion 231 has a flat circular outer edge extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3, is recessed from the 1 st surface 201, and has a concave bottom surface. The convex portion 232 is located adjacent to the nozzle 3 side with respect to the concave portion 231, protrudes from the 1 st surface 201, has a ridge line along the outer edge of the concave portion 231 on the nozzle 3 side, and has a crescent shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3. Similarly to the 1 st surface 201, a concave portion 231 and a convex portion 232 are also formed on the 2 nd surface 202 of the grip portion 23.

The grip 23 is provided with a switch 5 on the 4 th surface 204 and the 5 th surface 205. The switch 5 is located on the opposite side of the nozzle 3 with respect to the centre 7 of the device 1, in a direction along the axis 13 of the nozzle 3. The switch 5 is located at a corner portion connecting the 4 th surface 204 and the 5 th surface 205, and extends in a predetermined region along the outer edges of the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202 so as to straddle both surfaces. The 4 th surface 204 of the switch 5 is movably overlapped with the concave portion 231 and the convex portion 232 in the direction along the axis 13 of the nozzle 3, and is pressed by a user, for example, to electrically connect the high voltage generator and the motor to the battery. The portion of the 5 th surface 205 of the switch 5 may be electrically connected by being pressed by the user, similarly to the movable portion of the 4 th surface 204 of the switch 5, or may have only a function as a fulcrum when the movable portion operates. The 5 th surface 205 of the switch 5 may be omitted.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a state in which the grip portion 23 is held by a hand of a user. The grip portion 23 can be gripped by the palm portion of the hand and supported by the fingers of the hand. Further, the switch 5 is operated with a finger. Specifically, the grip portion 23 is shaped to facilitate the support with the thumb, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger and the operation of the switch 5 with the index finger. The thumb is located in the recess 231 of the 1 st surface 201, the middle, ring and little fingers are located in the recess 231 of the 2 nd surface 202, and the index finger is located at the corner connecting the 4 th surface 204 and the 5 th surface 205 and beside the corner, i.e., the position of the switch 5. The finger pulp of the index finger is located on the 4 th surface 204 of the switch 5. Thus, the switch 5 on the 4 th surface 204 can be easily pressed by moving the 1 st joint or the 2 nd joint of the index finger. When the thumb is located at the position of the concave portion 231 of the 1 st surface 201 and the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger are located at the position of the concave portion 231 of the 2 nd surface 202, the switch 5 is arranged such that the web of the index finger is located at the movable portion of the switch 5. The convex portion 232 suppresses the finger disposed in the concave portion 231 from protruding from the concave portion 231 and moving toward the nozzle 3. By arranging the grip portion 23 gripped by the palm portion of the hand and the switch 5 operated by the finger portion of the hand in this manner, the hand of the person being gripped can be positioned farther from the nozzle 3.

The concave portions 231 and the convex portions 232 may be omitted. In the present embodiment, the 1 st surface 201 has the concave portion 231 and the convex portion 232, so that the thumb can be easily positioned. By having the concave 231 and convex 232 on the 2 nd surface 202, the positioning of the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger becomes easy.

The hand of the person holding the grip portion 23 is cylindrical. The axis of the barrel can be assumed to be the axis 14 of the grip portion 23. For example, in the example of the grasping method shown in fig. 5, the cylindrical space surrounded by the palm portion sandwiching the grasping portion 23 and the finger portion supporting the grasping portion 23 can be regarded as having an axis perpendicular to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 and extending in the direction along the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202. Therefore, the axis can be defined as the axis 14 of the grip portion 23. The shaft 14 can be determined by the shape of the grip 23 itself. For example, when the shape of the recess 231 in a plan view is an ellipse, the major axis direction of the ellipse can be defined as the direction in which the shaft 14 extends. In this case, the axis 14 is orthogonal to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 and extends in a direction along the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202. The shaft 13 of the nozzle 3 and the shaft 14 of the grip 23 may not intersect with each other. In other words, the two axes 13, 14 may not be in the same plane.

Here, the angle θ 1 formed by the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 and the axis 14 of the grip portion 23 is an angle sandwiched by the two intersecting axes 13 and 14 when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the two axes 13 and 14 as shown in fig. 3. When the angle is not 90 degrees, θ 1 is a smaller (acute angle) of 2 large and small angles between the two intersecting axes 13 and 14. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 1 is 90 degrees. I.e. above 45 degrees. Therefore, when the user sprays the spinning liquid toward the body, the user can easily hold the device 1 and can easily operate the device. For example, in the case where the user sprays the liquid onto his or her face, the liquid can be sprayed without performing an unnatural motion such as raising the wrist or the elbow upward, and thus the burden on the wrist or the like is small. Further, in the case where the user sprays the liquid onto his or her hand and foot, the user's hand holding the device 1 can be prevented from obstructing the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 or the target object to be sprayed from the front of the user's sight. Therefore, the user can visually confirm the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the like during the ejection, and therefore, the ejection can be performed more accurately, and the operability of the device 1 can be improved.

Further, since the hand holding the apparatus 1 has a low potential, if there is no obstacle between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the hand, an electric field may be generated between the charged spinning liquid in the nozzle 3 and the hand due to a potential difference between the electrode and the hand. In this case, the content of the spinning liquid or solvent sprayed from the nozzle 3 after evaporation may be turned and returned to the hand. Such an injection pattern is indicated by arrow 100 in fig. 5. Hereinafter, such a wraparound phenomenon is referred to as back-spray (back-spray). In the present embodiment, since the angle θ 1 is 90 degrees or more and 45 degrees or more, the ratio of the main housing portion 24 of the housing 2 as an obstacle to the back-flow between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the hand, that is, the degree of preventing the electric field from being generated can be increased. Thus, the back spray can be suppressed. In order to more significantly obtain the above advantages, the inventors found that the angle θ 1 may be 45 degrees or more. That is, as shown in fig. 3, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 and the axis 14 of the grip portion 23, the axis 14 of the grip portion 23 may be present in a region 91 that forms an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the line 11 with the intersection of the axis 13 and the axis 14 as a vertex. The line 11 is a straight line passing through the intersection of the axis 13 and the axis 14 and orthogonal to the axis 13 when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the axis 13 and the axis 14. From the above viewpoint, the angle θ 1 is 45 degrees or more, preferably 60 degrees or more, further preferably 90 degrees or less, and further preferably 60 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

The switch 5 is located on the opposite side of the nozzle 3 with respect to the centre 7 of the device 1, in a direction along the axis 13 of the nozzle 3. And thus the back spray can be more easily suppressed. That is, the user's finger is placed on the switch 5. By arranging the switch 5 in the above-described manner, the distance between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the finger placed on the switch 5 becomes large. This prevents the spray from the nozzle 3 from being applied to the finger. The center 7 of the device 1 may also be located at an intermediate point between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the 5 th surface 205, for example, in the plan view of fig. 3.

The grip portion 23 overlaps the switch 5 in a direction along the axis 13 of the nozzle 3. Therefore, even when the respective portions are arranged so that the switch 5 can be operated by the fingers of the hand of the user holding the grip portion 23 while the position of the hand is maintained, by arranging the grip portion 23 in this manner, the distance between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the hand can be suppressed from decreasing, and the back-spray can be suppressed.

A virtual straight line connecting the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the end 50 of the switch 5 on the nozzle 3 side is defined as a virtual line 12. The end portion 50 is, for example, the end of the movable portion of the switch 5. In the main housing portion 24, a portion that bulges outward beyond the virtual line 12 is referred to as a bulging portion 21. Here, the outer side is the side away from the center 7 of the device 1. The bulging portion 21 bulges in a convex shape outward of the virtual line 12. Therefore, the projection 21 can suppress the discharge pattern (indicated by an arrow 100 in fig. 5) of the spinning liquid or the content thereof discharged from the discharge port of the nozzle 3 toward the finger placed on the switch 5. That is, the projection 21 can prevent the electric field from being generated between the charged spinning liquid in the nozzle 3 and the finger in the switch 5, and thus the generation of the jet itself as shown by the arrow 100 can be suppressed. In other words, the bulging portion 21 can promote the main housing portion 24 to function as an obstacle to the back-flow. Thus, the back spray can be more effectively suppressed.

Here, the angle θ 2 formed by the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 and the virtual line 12 is an angle sandwiched by the intersecting axis 13 and line 12 when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the axis 13 and line 12 as shown in fig. 3. When the angle is not 90 degrees, θ 2 is defined as the smaller (acute angle) of the 2 large and small angles between the intersecting axis 13 and the line 12. When the switch 5 is disposed at a position offset from the axis 13 of the nozzle 3, the switch 5 can be easily operated with the fingers of the hand of the user holding the grip portion 23 while maintaining the position of the hand, and the operability of the device 1 can be improved. The present inventors have found that in order to obtain the above advantages remarkably, the angle θ 2 is preferably 25 degrees or more. That is, as shown in fig. 3, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 and the virtual line 12, the virtual line 12 preferably exists outside the region 92 having the tip 30 as a vertex and forming an angle of 25 degrees with respect to the axis 13. In addition, the angle θ 2 is preferably 90 degrees or less, and more preferably 45 degrees or less, from the viewpoint of suppressing the size of the apparatus 1 and ease of handling. From the above viewpoint, the angle θ 2 is preferably 25 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, and more preferably 25 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 2 is 26 to 27 degrees.

As shown in fig. 3, in the outer surface of the main housing portion 24, the corner 210 located at the boundary between the 3 rd surface 203 and the 4 th surface 204 is the largest distance from the virtual line 12, and can be said to be the apex of the expanded portion 21. In short, the corner 210 where the 3 rd surface 203 from which the nozzle 3 protrudes and the 4 th surface 204 on which the switch 5 is provided intersect is the apex of the expanded portion 21. R represents a ratio of a distance 84 between the virtual line 12 and the apex of the bulging portion 21 to a distance 83 between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the end 50 of the switch 5 on the side of the nozzle 3. The distance 84 is the maximum length of the bulging portion 21 from the virtual line 12. The back spray from the nozzle 3 to the finger placed on the switch 5 can be effectively suppressed as the distance from the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 to the finger, around which the spinning liquid or the content thereof reaching the finger must be wound, is longer than the linear distance from the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 to the finger. The present inventors have found that in order to obtain such an advantage remarkably, the ratio R of the distance 84 to the distance 83 is preferably 0.20 or more, more preferably 0.25 or more. Further, the present inventors have found that, in order to obtain the above advantages, the distance 84 is preferably 2cm or more. From the viewpoint of suppressing the size of the apparatus 1 and the ease of handling, the ratio R of the distance 84 to the distance 83 is preferably 0.50 or less, and more preferably 0.40 or less. From the above viewpoint, the ratio R is preferably 0.20 or more and 0.50 or less, and more preferably 0.25 or more and 0.40 or less. In the present embodiment, the ratio R is 0.28 to 0.29.

From the viewpoint of ease of handling, suppression of back-blowing, and the like, the distance 83 between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the end 50 of the switch 5 on the side of the nozzle 3 is preferably 30mm or more and 100mm or less, and more preferably 40mm or more and 80mm or less. In addition, the overall length of the device 1 is preferably 100mm to 200mm from the viewpoint of ease of handling, storage, and the like. The overall length of the device 1 is, for example, the maximum length from the front end 30 of the nozzle 3 to the rear end of the grip portion 23 in the direction of the axis 13 of the nozzle 3.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the grip portion 23 has a flat shape. Directions orthogonal to the axis 14 of the grip portion 23, that is, 2 directions orthogonal to each other in the radial direction of the grip portion 23 are set as the 1 st direction and the 2 nd direction. In the present embodiment, the 1 st direction is a direction along the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202, and the 2 nd direction is a direction along the 5 th surface 205. The dimension 85 of the grip portion 23 in the 1 st direction shown in fig. 3 is larger than the dimension 86 of the grip portion 23 in the 2 nd direction shown in fig. 4.

As described above, the grip portion 23 is flat, so that the user can easily grip the grip portion 23 with his or her hand. Further, the grip 23 is hard to rotate by hand, and the nozzle 3 is easily positioned with respect to the object. From such a viewpoint, the dimension 86 may be larger than the dimension 85. In this case, the grip portion 23 is easily gripped with the outer surface of the flat portion of the grip portion 23 along the palm of the hand. When the dimension 85 is larger than the dimension 86 as in the present embodiment, the grip portion 23 is easily gripped by sandwiching the grip portion 23 between the base portion of the thumb and the portion of the palm facing the base portion of the thumb as shown in fig. 5.

The switch 5 is disposed at the outer edge of the flat grip 23 as described above, that is, a part of the 4 th surface 204 and a part of the 5 th surface 205 adjacent to the 4 th surface 204. In other words, the switch 5 is located on the front end side in the above-described 1 st direction, i.e., the direction along the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202, in the outer surface of the grip 23. Therefore, when the user grips the grip portion 23 with the hand, the switch 5 can be easily arranged so that the finger pad of the finger of the hand is positioned at the movable portion of the switch 5. With such arrangement of the switch 5, the switch 5 can be easily operated with the fingers of the hand of the user holding the grip portion 23 while maintaining the position of the hand, and operability of the device 1 can be improved. For example, as shown in fig. 5, in the case where the grip portion 23 is sandwiched between the base portion of the thumb and the portion opposed to the base portion in the palm, it is easy to press the switch 5 with the index finger or the middle finger. From the above viewpoint, the ratio of the dimension 86 to the dimension 85 is preferably 50% or more, preferably 70% or more, and further preferably 120% or less, and more preferably 100% or less, and further preferably 50% or more and 120%, and more preferably 70% or more and 100% or less. In the present embodiment, the ratio of the dimension 86 to the dimension 85 is 80 to 90%.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the main housing portion 24 has a flat shape and a substantially rectangular shape in side view. The outer shape of the main housing portion 24 in the cross-sectional direction perpendicular to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 is a rectangular basic shape. Directions orthogonal to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3, that is, 2 directions orthogonal to each other in the radial direction of the main housing portion 24 are set as the 3 rd direction and the 4 th direction. The dimension 81 of the main housing portion 24 in the 3 rd direction is larger than the dimension 82 of the main housing portion 24 in the 4 th direction. In the present embodiment, the 3 rd direction is a direction along the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202, and the 4 th direction is a direction along the 4 th surface 204 and the 6 th surface 206.

In this manner, the main housing portion 24 is flat, thereby improving the layout of the housing 2. That is, in the case where the pump for supplying the spinning liquid to the nozzle 3 is of a suction type such as a gear pump, the container 41 for containing the spinning liquid shown in fig. 2 is preferably deformable and flat in order that the pump can suck the liquid more efficiently. When the container 41 is flat as described above, the main housing portion 24 for housing the container 41 is also flat, so that the housing 2 can be made compact and the layout of the internal space of the housing 2 can be improved. From such a viewpoint, the ratio of the dimension 82 to the dimension 81 is preferably 30% or more and 50% or less. In the present embodiment, the ratio of the dimension 82 to the dimension 81 is 40 to 45%.

The main housing portion 24, which is a portion between the nozzle 3 and the switch 5 in the housing 2, is flat, and the switch 5 is disposed at a position corresponding to the outer edge portion of the main housing portion 24, which is the flat portion as described above, that is, a portion of the 4 th surface 204, which is the outer edge portion of the grip portion 23 continuous with the outer edge portion of the main housing portion 24, and a portion of the 5 th surface 205 adjacent to the 4 th surface 204. In other words, the switch 5 is located on the front end side in the above-described 3 rd direction, i.e., the direction along the 1 st surface 201 and the 2 nd surface 202, of the outer surface of the grip portion 23 adjacent to the outer surface of the main housing portion 24. Thus, the back spray can be more easily suppressed. That is, when the switch 5 is located at a position corresponding to the outer edge portion of the main housing portion 24, the user's hand holding the grip portion 23 can be guided to a position farther from the nozzle 3 by placing the finger on the switch 5. Further, as shown in fig. 3, by positioning the switch 5 at a position corresponding to the outer edge portion of the main housing portion 24, it is possible to more easily set the degree to which the main housing portion 24 bulges outward with respect to the straight line 12 connecting the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the switch 5, in other words, the ratio R of the distance 84 to the distance 83 to be large. Therefore, the ratio of the main housing portion 24 that occupies the space between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the finger placed on the switch 5 as an obstacle can be more easily increased.

The switch 5 may be any control switch for controlling the ejection operation of the spinning liquid, and is configured to eject the spinning liquid from the nozzle 3 by pressing, for example. Therefore, in use of the device 1, the user's finger is placed on the switch 5, and therefore the above-described advantage such as suppression of back-spray from the nozzle 3 to the finger can be effectively obtained.

< embodiment 2>

Next, the electrospinning device 1 according to embodiment 2 will be described with reference to fig. 6. The same components as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in embodiment 1, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The grip portion 23 has a portion 230 having a shape bent with respect to the shaft 13 of the nozzle 3. The portion 230 is, for example, cylindrical and extends away from the nozzle 3 along an axis 14 that forms an angle θ 1 greater than zero with respect to an axis 13 of the nozzle 3. The angle θ 1 is 55 degrees. Thus, the user can easily hold the device 1 with the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 facing toward himself/herself, for example, by placing the finger pad of the thumb on the switch 5 and holding the portion 230.

By extending the grip portion 23 away from the nozzle 3, the distance between the hand of the user gripping the grip portion 23 and the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 can be maintained to a certain extent. Thus, the back spray can be suppressed.

The grip portion 23 overlaps the switch 5 in a direction along the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 or is located on the opposite side of the nozzle 3 with respect to the switch 5. Therefore, even when the switch 5 is arranged so that the user can operate the hand with his or her fingers while holding the position of the hand gripping the grip portion 23, the distance between the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the hand can be suppressed from decreasing, and the back-spray can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 2 is 30 degrees, and the ratio R of the distance 84 to the distance 83 is 0.27 to 0.28.

< embodiment 3>

Next, the electrospinning device 1 according to embodiment 3 will be described with reference to fig. 7. The same components as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in embodiment 1, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The portion where the 4 th surface 204 and the 5 th surface 205 are connected is a curved surface having a curvature smaller than that of the corner portion of embodiment 1. The curved surface is provided with a switch 5. The method of holding the device 1 is the same as that of embodiment 1 (fig. 5). Since the connection portion between the 4 th surface 204 and the 5 th surface 205 is a gentle curved surface as described above, it is not necessary to bend the joint of a finger, for example, an index finger, placed on the switch 5. Thus, the user can easily hold the device 1 and operate it. The axis 14 of the grip 23 may be inclined with respect to a straight line 11 orthogonal to the axis 13. In the example shown in fig. 7, the angle θ 1 formed by the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 and the axis 14 of the grip 23 is 73 degrees. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 2 is 27 degrees, and the ratio R of the distance 84 to the distance 83 is 0.27 to 0.28.

< embodiment 4>

Next, the electrospinning device 1 according to embodiment 4 will be described with reference to fig. 8. The same components as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in embodiment 1, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The grip portion 23 has a portion 230, the portion 230 having a gently curved shape with respect to the shaft 13 of the nozzle 3. The portion 230 has a tapered shape extending toward the opposite side of the switch 5 with the shaft 13 of the nozzle 3 interposed therebetween. The portion 230 extends away from the nozzle 3 along an axis 14 forming an angle θ 1 greater than zero with respect to the axis 13 of the nozzle 3. The method of holding the device 1 is the same as that of embodiment 1 (fig. 5). The portion where the switch 5 is provided is a curved surface as in embodiment 3, and therefore the user can easily hold the device 1 and can easily operate it.

As in embodiment 2, the grip portion 23 extends away from the nozzle 3, overlaps the switch 5, or is located on the opposite side of the switch 5 from the nozzle 3, and therefore, can suppress back spray. Since the outer surface of the grip portion 23 from the switch 5 to the tip of the portion 230 is a gently curved surface bulging toward the opposite side of the nozzle 3, the palm of the user can follow the curved surface, and the user can easily grip the device 1 and operate the device. The axis 14 of the grip 23 may be inclined with respect to a straight line 11 orthogonal to the axis 13. In the example shown in fig. 8, the angle θ 1 formed by the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 and the axis 14 of the grip 23 is 79 degrees. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 2 is 29 degrees, and the ratio R of the distance 84 to the distance 83 is 0.30 to 0.31.

< comparative experiment >

The present inventors performed comparative experiments on the apparatuses 1 of embodiments 1 to 4 and the apparatus 1 of the comparative system. The device 1 of the comparative embodiment shown in fig. 9 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and includes a cylindrical casing 2, a nozzle 3, and a switch 5. The vicinity of the switch 5 of the housing 2 functions as a grip portion of the device 1. The axis 14 of the grip portion overlaps the axis 13 of the nozzle 3, and the angle θ 1 formed between the two axes 13 and 14 is 0 degree. An angle θ 2 formed by a virtual line 12 connecting the tip 30 of the nozzle 3 and the end 50 of the switch 5 on the side of the nozzle 3 and the axis 13 of the nozzle 3 is 20 degrees. The distance 83 between the front end 30 of the nozzle 3 and the end 50 of the switch 5 is 40 mm.

The apparatus 1 of embodiments 1 to 4 and the apparatus 1 of the comparative embodiment perform electrospinning under the following conditions. As each device 1, a device in which the switch 5 is made of stainless steel and the case 2 is made of resin was used. As the spinning liquid, a mixed liquid of 88 mass% ethanol (99.5%) and 12 mass% polyvinyl butyral was used. As the polyvinyl butyral, a polyvinyl butyral having a trade name of S-LEC B BM-1 manufactured by accumulated water chemical Co., Ltd is used. The device 1 was held by the right hand, and the spinning liquid was sprayed to a diameter range of about 40mm near the wrist of the left hand.

Linear distance from nozzle tip 30 to skin: 120mm

Voltage application: 10.4kV

Temperature of the environment: 23 deg.C

Relative humidity of the environment: 40% RH

Injection speed: 6mL/h

Injection time: 20 seconds

As a result, in the apparatus 1 of the comparative system, a back-blowing phenomenon was observed in which the spinning liquid or the like ejected from the ejection port of the nozzle 3 changed its direction and returned to the right finger side of the hand. On the other hand, in the devices 1 according to embodiments 1 to 4, no back-spray phenomenon to the right hand to be held was observed.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present invention can conceive various modifications and alterations within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and they naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

The present invention further discloses the following electrospinning device according to the above embodiment.

<1>

An electrospinning device, which is a hand-held electrospinning device having a shape or size that can be held by a hand of a user, comprising: a nozzle for ejecting the charged spinning liquid; a switch for controlling the spraying action of the spinning liquid; and a housing having a bulging portion and a grip portion to be gripped by a user, wherein the bulging portion bulges outward from a virtual line connecting a tip of the nozzle and an end portion of the switch on the nozzle side, and an angle formed by an axis of the nozzle and an axis of the grip portion is 45 degrees or more.

<2>

In the electrospinning device according to the above <1>, an angle formed by the axis of the nozzle and the axis of the grip portion is preferably 60 degrees or more, and is preferably 90 degrees or less, and is preferably 60 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.

<3>

The electrospinning device according to the above <1> or <2>, wherein an angle formed by the axis of the nozzle and the virtual line is 25 degrees or more.

<4>

The electrospinning device according to <3> above, wherein an angle formed by the axis of the nozzle and the virtual line is preferably 90 degrees or less, more preferably 45 degrees or less, and is preferably 25 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less, more preferably 25 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less.

<5>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <4> above, wherein a portion of the housing between the nozzle and the switch is flat, and the switch is disposed at a position corresponding to an outer edge portion of the flat portion of the housing.

<6>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <5> above, wherein a ratio of a distance between the virtual line and a vertex of the bulging portion to a distance between the tip of the nozzle and an end portion of the switch on the side of the nozzle is 0.20 or more.

<7>

The electrospinning device according to the above <6>, wherein the ratio is preferably 0.50 or less, more preferably 0.40 or less, and further preferably 0.20 or more and 0.50 or less, more preferably 0.25 or more and 0.40 or less.

<8>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <7> above, wherein a corner at which a surface from which the nozzle protrudes intersects with a surface on which the switch is provided is a vertex of the bulging portion.

<9>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <8> above, wherein the switch overlaps with a center of the electrospinning device in a direction along an axis of the nozzle or is located on an opposite side of the nozzle with respect to the center.

<10>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <9> above, wherein the grip portion overlaps the switch in a direction along an axis of the nozzle or is located on an opposite side of the nozzle with respect to the switch.

<11>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <10> above, wherein the grip portion is located at an end portion of the electrospinning device in a direction opposite to the nozzle.

<12>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <11> above, wherein the grip portion is flat, and the switch is disposed at an outer edge portion of the grip portion.

<13>

The electrostatic spinning device according to any one of the above <1> to <12>, wherein the switch is configured to eject the spinning liquid from the nozzle by being pressed.

<14>

The electrostatic spinning device according to any one of the above <1> to <13>, wherein the switch is configured to eject the spinning liquid from the nozzle during pressing and to stop the ejection when released.

<15>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <14> above, wherein the switch is pressed in a direction toward an inside of the housing.

<16>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <15> above, comprising 1 switch.

<17>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <16> above, wherein the grip portion has a portion extending away from the nozzle along an axis forming an angle larger than zero with respect to an axis of the nozzle.

<18>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <17> above, wherein an insulating material is used as a material constituting the housing.

<19>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <18> above, wherein the region formed of the conductive material is provided at a position where a hand of the user touches when the user grips the device.

<20>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <19> above, wherein the switch is formed of a conductive material.

<21>

The electrostatic spinning apparatus according to any one of the above <1> to <20>, wherein a cartridge is provided which contains the spinning liquid and is detachably attached to an attached portion of the housing.

<22>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <21>, wherein the length of the fiber is at least 100 times or more the thickness of the fiber, preferably 10 μm or more, more preferably 50 μm or more, and still more preferably 100 μm or more, with respect to a deposit (coating) of the fiber formed from the spinning liquid.

<23>

The electrospinning device according to any one of <1> to <22> above, wherein the spinning liquid contains the following components (a), (b), and (c) and a mass ratio (b/c) of the component (b) to the component (c) is 0.4 or more and 50 or less,

(a) 1 or more volatile substances selected from alcohols and ketones;

(b) fiber-forming water-insoluble polymers;

(c) and (3) water.

Description of the symbols

1 Electrostatic spinning device

2 casing

21 bulge part

23 grip part

3 spray nozzle

5 switch

12 virtual line

13 axis of nozzle

14 shaft of the grip portion.