Abstract: A piezoelectric-driven diaphragm pump is comprised of a driving unit (1) having a driving diaphragm (12) and a first housing (11), a replaceable driven unit (2) having a driven film (241) and a second housing (21), and a fixing unit (3) for fixing the driven unit (2) to the driving unit (1). A vibration transmitting face (14) of the driving diaphragm (12) from which displacement of the driving diaphragm (12) is transmitted to the driven film (241) and a vibration transmitted face (241a) of the driven film (241) to which the displacement of the driving diaphragm is transmitted are not parallel to a reference plane (11b) of the first housing (11) which faces the second housing (21), and the vibration transmitting face (14b) of the driving diaphragm (12) contacts with entire of the vibration transmitted face (241a) of the driven film (241). Thereby, the displacement of the driving diaphragm (12) is efficiently transmitted to the driven film (241), so that a capacity of a pump room (25) can be varied largely.

Abstract: In a liquid discharge control apparatus which uses a piezoelectric type diaphragm pump, an accumulator having a liquid accumulation cavity and a movable member is communicated to an outlet of the diaphragm pump. In discharge operation of the diaphragm pump, a quantity of the liquid in the liquid accumulation cavity is rapidly increased, and the movable member is elastically deformed so as to increase of the volume of the liquid accumulation cavity. Alternatively, in suction operation, when a back stream of the liquid occurs, the quantity of the liquid in a path communicated to the outlet of the diaphragm pump is decreased due to the back stream. The decrease of the liquid can be compensated by the decrease of the volume of the liquid accumulation cavity of the accumulator. Thereby, variation of the quantity of the liquid discharged from the outlet of the accumulator is reduced and the liquid can be discharged, smoothly.

Abstract: In a diaphragm pump performing electrostatic atomization, occurrence of defects such as electrolysis of liquid is restricted and enables to electrostatic atomization smoothly. The diaphragm pump 10 comprises a pump chamber unit 1 and a diaphragm unit 2, and the diaphragm unit 2 has a diaphragm driving portion 2a by a piezoelectric element 21 and a driving power transmission portion 2b to transmit variation of the driving portion 2a to a pump chamber portion 3. The pump chamber unit 1 comprises a pump chamber 31 formed of an electric conductive material, a liquid container 4, a suction flow path 34a coupling the liquid container 4 and the pump chamber 31, a discharge vent 5 from which the liquid is discharged, and a discharge flow path 34b coupling the discharge vent 5 and the pump chamber 31, and the pump chamber 31 has a driven membrane 33a which is cooperated with the driving power transmission portion 2b and formed of an electric conductive resin.

Abstract: A piezoelectric-driven diaphragm pump is comprised of a driving unit (1) having a driving diaphragm (12) and a first housing (11), a replaceable driven unit (2) having a driven film (241) and a second housing (21), and a fixing unit (3) for fixing the driven unit (2) to the driving unit (1). A vibration transmitting face (14) of the driving diaphragm (12) from which displacement of the driving diaphragm (12) is transmitted to the driven film (241) and a vibration transmitted face (241a) of the driven film (241) to which the displacement of the driving diaphragm is transmitted are not parallel to a reference plane (11b) of the first housing (11) which faces the second housing (21), and the vibration transmitting face (14b) of the driving diaphragm (12) contacts with entire of the vibration transmitted face (241a) of the driven film (241). Thereby, the displacement of the driving diaphragm (12) is efficiently transmitted to the driven film (241), so that a capacity of a pump room (25) can be varied largely.

Abstract: In a liquid discharge control apparatus which uses a piezoelectric type diaphragm pump, an accumulator having a liquid accumulation cavity and a movable member is communicated to an outlet of the diaphragm pump. In discharge operation of the diaphragm pump, a quantity of the liquid in the liquid accumulation cavity is rapidly increased, and the movable member is elastically deformed so as to increase of the volume of the liquid accumulation cavity. Alternatively, in suction operation, when a back stream of the liquid occurs, the quantity of the liquid in a path communicated to the outlet of the diaphragm pump is decreased due to the back stream. The decrease of the liquid can be compensated by the decrease of the volume of the liquid accumulation cavity of the accumulator. Thereby, variation of the quantity of the liquid discharged from the outlet of the accumulator is reduced and the liquid can be discharged, smoothly.

Abstract: A hair removing device with a lotion applicator includes a housing, a hair removing head mounted to the housing and adapted to be held against a user's skin for hair depilation or hair epilation, an applicator which dispenses a lotion on the user's skin, a tank holding the lotion and a lotion supply mechanism for supplying the lotion from the tank to the applicator. The lotion supply mechanism includes a regulating device, which regulates an amount of the lotion being dispensed from the applicator. The lotion supply mechanism includes a powered pump for expelling the lotion from the tank to the applicator. The regulating device includes a handle for varying pump capacity of the powered pump. The applicator is incorporated into a head frame forming a part of the hair removing head with the head frame being detachable from the housing.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer actuator, which has the capability of improving response speed and operation reliability of a device utilizing an electroactive effect, comprises a laminate formed by alternately placing a plurality of ring members of an electroactive polymer material having different diameters and a plurality of ring electrodes having different diameters such that each of the ring members is positioned between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of adjacent ring electrodes, and a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage(s) between odd-numbered ring electrodes and even-numbered ring electrodes in the case of counting the ring electrodes in order from an innermost ring electrode of the laminate, to thereby cause a deformation in the laminate. This actuator is preferably used as a diaphragm drive unit of a diaphragm pump.

Abstract: An improved hair removing device is capable of controlling a dispensing amount of the lotion to give the lotion adequately as intended by a user for comfortable hair treatment. The device includes a housing carrying a hair removing head adapted to be held against a user's skin for hair depilation or epilation. The device further includes an applicator for dispensing the lotion on the user's skin, a tank holding the lotion, and a lotion supply mechanism for supplying the lotion from the tank to the applicator. The lotion supply mechanism is provided with a regulating means which regulates an amount of the lotion being dispensed from the applicator.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer actuator, which has the capability of improving response speed and operation reliability of a device utilizing an electroactive effect, comprises a laminate formed by alternately placing a plurality of ring members of an electroactive polymer material having different diameters and a plurality of ring electrodes having different diameters such that each of the ring members is positioned between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of adjacent ring electrodes, and a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage(s) between odd-numbered ring electrodes and even-numbered ring electrodes in the case of counting the ring electrodes in order from an innermost ring electrode of the laminate, to thereby cause a deformation in the laminate. This actuator is preferably used as a diaphragm drive unit of a diaphragm pump.

Abstract: A compact pump has a pump chamber, inlet and outlet channels communicating with the pump chamber, and a pair of check valve units between the pump chamber and the inlet and outlet channels. Each check valve unit has a thin film check valve membrane, and a check valve body with a channel opened and closed by the check valve membrane due to a pressure difference.