CN114825758A - Automatic opening and closing device and toilet - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic opening/closing device and a toilet bowl including the same, which contribute to improvement of transmission efficiency of a transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of a motor to an output shaft even if a torsion spring for applying an assisting force to the output shaft is provided. The automatic opening and closing device of the present invention comprises: a housing; an output shaft having one end protruding from the housing; a motor housed in the case; and a transmission mechanism accommodated in the housing and transmitting rotation of the motor to the output shaft, wherein the transmission mechanism further comprises: an auxiliary gear arranged with the output shaft in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the output shaft within the housing and engaged with one of the gears in the transmission mechanism; and a first torsion spring disposed around a central axis of the auxiliary gear, having a first end disposed at the housing and a second end disposed at the auxiliary gear, the first torsion spring applying a force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear when the auxiliary gear rotates toward the first direction.

Description

Automatic opening and closing device and toilet

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a toilet bowl having an automatic opening/closing device.

Background

With the improvement of living standard of people, the requirements of people on products used in daily life are more and more diversified.

For example, in a toilet (also referred to as a toilet), in addition to a simple and beautiful appearance, it is sometimes desired that a toilet lid and a toilet seat be automatically opened and closed with respect to a toilet seat.

In response to the above-mentioned demand, a toilet in the market at present employs an automatic opening/closing device including, for example, a housing fixed to a toilet seat, an output shaft having one end protruding from the housing and fixed to, for example, a toilet lid and/or a toilet seat, a motor housed in the housing, and a transmission mechanism housed in the housing and transmitting rotation of the motor to the output shaft, whereby the output shaft is rotated forward or backward by the forward or backward rotation of the motor, and the toilet lid and/or the toilet seat can be opened or closed with respect to the toilet seat.

In addition, in the automatic opening/closing device used for the toilet described above, a torsion spring may be wound around a base portion of the output shaft opposite to one end protruding from the housing, the torsion spring urging the output shaft to assist opening/closing of the toilet lid and/or the toilet seat.

However, in the automatic opening/closing device used for the toilet bowl, if the torsion spring is wound around the base portion of the output shaft opposite to the end protruding from the housing, a space for disposing the torsion spring needs to be secured in the base portion of the output shaft, and therefore, an idle gear has to be provided in the transmission mechanism, and the gear transmission efficiency may be deteriorated.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic opening/closing device which contributes to an improvement in transmission efficiency of a transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of a motor to an output shaft even if a torsion spring for applying an assisting force to the output shaft is provided, and a toilet including the automatic opening/closing device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic opening and closing device including: a housing; an output shaft having one end protruding from the housing; a motor housed in the case; and a transmission mechanism accommodated in the housing and transmitting rotation of the motor to the output shaft, wherein the transmission mechanism further comprises: an auxiliary gear that is aligned with the output shaft in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the output shaft within the housing and that meshes with one of the gears in the transmission mechanism; and a first torsion spring provided around a central axis of the auxiliary gear, having a first end provided to the housing and a second end provided to the auxiliary gear, and applying a force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear when the auxiliary gear rotates in the first direction.

Here, the phrase "the first torsion spring applies an urging force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the assist gear when the assist gear rotates in the first direction" does not require that the first torsion spring applies an urging force in the second direction opposite to the first direction to the assist gear as long as the assist gear rotates in the first direction, but may be used as long as the first torsion spring applies an urging force in the second direction opposite to the first direction to the assist gear at least for a period of time when the assist gear rotates in the first direction.

The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to the present invention further comprises: an auxiliary gear arranged with the output shaft in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the output shaft within the housing and engaged with one of the gears in the transmission mechanism; and a first torsion spring provided around a center axis of the auxiliary gear, a first end of the first torsion spring being provided to the housing, a second end of the first torsion spring being provided to the auxiliary gear, and the first torsion spring applying an urging force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear when the auxiliary gear rotates in the first direction, and therefore, the auxiliary gear can be indirectly applied with the auxiliary force to the output shaft by the first torsion spring, and it is not necessary to provide an idle gear in the transmission mechanism in order to secure a space for disposing the first torsion spring at a base portion of the output shaft, contributing to improvement of transmission efficiency of the transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of the motor to the output shaft; further, by providing the auxiliary gear and the first torsion spring at a position other than the transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the output shaft, the internal space of the housing is easily utilized, and the space is saved while maintaining the performance.

In the automatic opening/closing device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the output shaft includes: a gear portion housed in the case; and a connection shaft portion protruding from the gear portion toward an outside of the housing, the transmission mechanism including a final stage gear meshing with the gear portion, the auxiliary gear meshing with the final stage gear.

According to the automatic opening and closing device of the present invention, the output shaft includes: a gear portion housed in the case; and a connection shaft portion protruding from the gear portion toward an outside of the housing, the transmission mechanism including a final stage gear engaged with the gear portion, the auxiliary gear being engaged with the final stage gear, that is, there are fewer intervening members between the auxiliary gear and the output shaft, and therefore, transmission loss due to the intervening members is easily reduced, thereby effectively applying the auxiliary force to the output shaft using the first torsion spring.

In the automatic opening/closing device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary gear is provided so as to have a rotation speed greater than that of the output shaft.

According to the automatic opening and closing device of the present invention, since the assist gear is provided to be greater than the rotation speed of the output shaft, the operating area of the first torsion spring is increased, and even if a normal spring having a small elastic force is used as the first torsion spring without increasing the diameter of the wire rod constituting the first torsion spring or forming the cross section of the wire rod constituting the first torsion spring to be rectangular or the like, a large assist force can be applied to the output shaft, and the cost of the first torsion spring can be reduced, and the magnitude of the assist force can be changed by changing the speed increase ratio of the assist gear with respect to the output shaft in addition to the elastic force of the first torsion spring, and thus, the degree of freedom in designing the assist force increases.

In the automatic opening/closing device according to the present invention, it is preferable that a part of the gears in the transmission mechanism partially or completely overlap with the output shaft in an extending direction of the center axis of the output shaft.

According to the automatic opening/closing device of the present invention, since a part of the gears in the transmission mechanism partially or completely overlaps with the output shaft in the extending direction of the central axis of the output shaft, the transmission mechanism can be arranged more compactly, contributing to downsizing of the entire device.

In the automatic opening/closing device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the automatic opening/closing device further includes a second torsion spring provided on an outer peripheral side of the first torsion spring around a center axis of the auxiliary gear, a first end of the second torsion spring being provided on the housing, a second end of the second torsion spring being provided on the auxiliary gear, and the second torsion spring applying the urging force in the second direction to the auxiliary gear when the auxiliary gear rotates in the first direction.

According to the automatic opening/closing device of the present invention, since the second torsion spring is provided on the outer peripheral side of the first torsion spring around the center axis of the assist gear, the first end of the second torsion spring is provided on the housing, and the second end of the second torsion spring is provided on the assist gear, and the second torsion spring applies a biasing force in the second direction opposite to the first direction to the assist gear when the assist gear rotates in the first direction, it is possible to further increase the large assist force applied to the output shaft.

In the automatic opening/closing device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the second torsion spring applies the biasing force in the second direction to the auxiliary gear after the first torsion spring applies the biasing force in the second direction to the auxiliary gear when the auxiliary gear rotates in the first direction.

According to the automatic opening/closing device of the present invention, when the assist gear rotates in the first direction, the second torsion spring applies the second-direction urging force to the assist gear after the first torsion spring applies the second-direction urging force to the assist gear, and therefore, the rotational speed of the output shaft can be easily adjusted and controlled.

In the automatic opening/closing device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary gear is provided with a first stopper portion and a second stopper portion, the first stopper is formed in an arc groove shape or an arc hole shape centering on a central axis of the auxiliary gear and into which the second end of the first torsion spring is inserted, the second limit portion is in the shape of an arc groove or an arc hole which is centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear and into which the second end of the second torsion spring is inserted, and the second stopper portion is located at an outer peripheral side of the first stopper portion, the first stopper portion allowing only the second end of the first torsion spring to move within a first preset range centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear, the second stopper allows only the second end of the second torsion spring to move within a second preset range centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear.

In the automatic opening/closing device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary gear includes a shaft portion and a cylindrical portion connected to the shaft portion, the shaft portion is centered on a central axis of the auxiliary gear, the cylindrical portion is provided radially outward of the shaft portion at a distance from the shaft portion, an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion has teeth that mesh with the one gear, and the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring are provided between the shaft portion and the cylindrical portion.

According to the automatic opening and closing device of the present invention, the auxiliary gear includes the shaft portion and the cylindrical portion connected to the shaft portion, the shaft portion is centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear, the cylindrical portion is provided radially outward of the shaft portion with a space from the shaft portion, and the outer peripheral surface has teeth that mesh with one gear, and the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring are provided between the shaft portion and the cylindrical portion.

In the automatic opening/closing device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary gear includes a partition portion between the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring.

According to the automatic opening and closing device of the present invention, the auxiliary gear has the partition portion between the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring, which helps to prevent the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring from interfering with each other during the rotation of the output shaft and from failing to perform a normal spring operation, thereby preventing abnormal stress from being generated and durability from being damaged.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a toilet bowl including: a toilet seat; and a toilet lid and/or a toilet seat rotatably connected to the toilet seat, wherein the toilet seat further comprises an automatic opening/closing device according to any one of the above-mentioned embodiments, the toilet seat is connected to one of the output shaft and the housing, and the toilet lid and/or the toilet seat is connected to the other of the output shaft and the housing.

(effect of the invention)

According to the present invention, an automatic opening and closing device includes: an auxiliary gear arranged with the output shaft in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the output shaft within the housing and engaged with one of the gears in the transmission mechanism; and a first torsion spring provided around a center axis of the auxiliary gear, a first end of the first torsion spring being provided to the housing, a second end of the first torsion spring being provided to the auxiliary gear, and the first torsion spring applying an urging force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear when the auxiliary gear rotates in the first direction, and therefore, the auxiliary gear can be indirectly applied with the auxiliary force to the output shaft by the first torsion spring, and it is not necessary to provide an idle gear in the transmission mechanism in order to secure a space for disposing the first torsion spring at a base portion of the output shaft, contributing to improvement of transmission efficiency of the transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of the motor to the output shaft; further, by providing the auxiliary gear and the first torsion spring at a position other than the transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the output shaft, the internal space of the housing is easily utilized, and the space is saved while maintaining the performance.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an automatic opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the first casing is not shown.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing an automatic opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the first housing is not shown.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a motor, an output shaft, a transmission mechanism, an auxiliary gear, a first torsion spring, and a second torsion spring included in an automatic opening/closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view schematically showing an auxiliary gear, a first torsion spring, and a second torsion spring included in an automatic opening/closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state corresponding to when an output shaft is rotated to a halfway position.

(symbol description)

1 automatic opening and closing device

10 casing

12 second casing

121 intermediate wall

122 second peripheral wall

1221 first engaging part

1222 second locking part

13 third casing

131 bottom wall

132 third peripheral wall

14 support element

1411 opening

20 output shaft

21 gear part

22 connecting shaft part

30 motor

31 motor body

32 rotating output shaft

321 worm part

40 transfer mechanism

41 Torque limiter

411 inner peripheral part

4111 main body part

4112 shaft part

412 outer peripheral portion

4121 Worm wheel

42 Gear train

421 first gear

422 second gear

4221 Large-diameter gear part

4222 Small-diameter gear part

423 third gear

4231 Large diameter gear part

4232 small-diameter gear part

50 auxiliary gear

51 shaft part

52 barrel part

53 connecting plate

531 first position limiter

532 second position-limiting part

61 first torsion spring

611 first end of a first torsion spring

612 second end of first torsion spring

62 second torsion spring

621 first end of second torsion spring

622 second end of the second torsion spring

71 bearing component

711 shaft-like part

CW clockwise

CCW counter clockwise

Central axis of L output shaft

Detailed Description

Next, an automatic opening/closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 4, in which a perspective view of the automatic opening/closing device according to the embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown, in which the first housing is not shown, fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the automatic opening/closing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the first housing is not shown, fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a motor, an output shaft, a transmission mechanism, an auxiliary gear, a first torsion spring, and a second torsion spring included in the automatic opening/closing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 4 is a bottom view schematically showing the auxiliary gear, the first torsion spring, and the second torsion spring included in the automatic opening/closing device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state corresponding to when the output shaft is rotated to a halfway position.

Here, for convenience of explanation, three directions orthogonal to each other are assumed to be an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction, and one side in the X direction is assumed to be X1, the other side in the X direction is assumed to be X2, one side in the Y direction is assumed to be Y1, the other side in the Y direction is assumed to be Y2, one side in the Z direction is assumed to be Z1, the other side in the Z direction is assumed to be Z2, the extending direction of the central axis L of the output shaft is assumed to coincide with the Z direction, the output side, which is one side in the extending direction of the central axis L of the output shaft, is assumed to coincide with the Z1 direction, and the opposite output side, which is the other side in the extending direction of the central axis L of the output shaft, is assumed to coincide with the Z2 direction.

(integral structure of automatic opening/closing device)

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the automatic opening/closing device 1 includes a housing 10, an output shaft 20, a motor 30, and a transmission mechanism 40, wherein one end of the output shaft 20 protrudes to the outside from the housing 10, the motor 30 is housed in the housing 10, and the transmission mechanism 40 is housed in the housing 10, and transmits the rotation of the motor 30 to the output shaft 20.

Here, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the transmission mechanism 40 includes a gear train 42 that reduces the rotation speed of the motor 30 and transmits the reduced rotation speed to the output shaft 20.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the housing 10 includes a first housing (not shown), a second housing 12, and a third housing 13, and the first housing, the second housing 12, and the third housing 13 are stacked in order in the Z direction and connected together by a screw and/or a snap fit structure, thereby forming the housing 10.

Further, the first housing has, for example, a top wall perpendicular to the Z direction and a first peripheral wall extending from a peripheral edge of the top wall toward the Z2 direction. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the second housing 12 includes a middle wall 121 perpendicular to the Z direction and a cylindrical second peripheral wall 122 extending from the peripheral edge of the middle wall 121 in the Z1 direction. The third casing 13 has a bottom wall 131 perpendicular to the Z direction and a third peripheral wall 132 extending from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 131 in the Z1 direction. Also, the first peripheral wall of the first housing, the second peripheral wall 122 of the second housing 12, and the third peripheral wall 132 of the third housing 13 have the same outer contour as viewed in the Z direction. As shown in fig. 2, a support 14 is further provided in the housing 10, and the support 14 is perpendicular to the Z direction, interposed between the first housing and the second housing 12, and fixed to the first housing, the second housing 12, and the third housing 13. The first, second, and third housings 12 and 13 enclose a space in which the motor 30, the transmission mechanism 40, a part of the output shaft 20, and the auxiliary gear 50, the first torsion spring 61, and the second torsion spring 62, which will be described below, are housed, the motor 30 is provided in the third housing 13 such that the axial direction thereof is perpendicular to the Z direction, for example, and the gear train 42 in the transmission mechanism 40 includes a plurality of gears that mesh with each other, and these gears are supported by the housing 10 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the Z direction. The transmission mechanism 40 further includes a torque limiter 41, and the torque limiter 41 prevents the motor 30 from being damaged by, for example, interrupting transmission of torque when the torque transmitted from the output shaft 20 to the motor 30 is greater than a predetermined value.

Further, although not shown, the first housing has an opening through which one end (specifically, an output-side end portion, that is, an end portion on the Z1 direction side in the drawing) of the output shaft 20 protrudes to the outside; as shown in fig. 2, the support member 14 has a plate shape substantially perpendicular to the Z direction, and has an opening 1411, and the intermediate portion of the output shaft 20 penetrates through the opening 1411; as shown in fig. 2, a bearing member 71 is fixed in the second housing 12, and the other end (specifically, the end on the opposite output side) of the output shaft 20 is rotatably supported by the bearing member 71 (in the illustrated example, a recessed portion recessed toward the Z1 direction is formed in the end on the Z2 direction side of the output shaft 20, and the bearing member 71 has a shaft-shaped portion 711 inserted into the recessed portion to rotatably support the output shaft 20). Also, the first housing, the second housing 12, the third housing 13, and the bearing 14 may be made of metal or resin, and the output shaft 20 may also be made of metal or resin.

(Structure of Transmission mechanism)

As described above, the transmission mechanism 40 is housed in the case 10, and transmits the rotation of the motor 30 to the output shaft 20.

Here, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the motor 30 has a motor main body 31 and a rotation output shaft 32 protruding from the motor main body 31. The motor main body 31 is substantially rectangular parallelepiped, the rotation output shaft 32 extends in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, and a worm portion 321 is formed at the tip of the rotation output shaft 32.

Further, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the output shaft 20 includes: a gear portion 21, the gear portion 21 being housed in the case 10; and a connection shaft portion 22, the connection shaft portion 22 protruding from the gear portion 21 toward the outside of the case 10. The gear portion 21 is rotatable integrally with the connecting shaft portion 22 about an axis extending in the Z direction (in the illustrated example, the gear portion 21 is connected to the connecting shaft portion 22 by an engaging structure so as not to be relatively rotatable, but the gear portion 21 may be connected to the connecting shaft portion 22 by an adhesive or the like so as not to be relatively rotatable, or may be formed integrally with the connecting shaft portion 22).

Further, as shown in fig. 2 to 4, the transmission mechanism 40 includes a torque limiter 41 and a gear train 42. The torque limiter 41 includes an inner circumferential portion 411 and an outer circumferential portion 412 surrounding the inner circumferential portion 411 from the radially outer side; an inner peripheral portion 411 rotatable about an axis extending in the Z direction, the inner peripheral portion including a main body portion 4111 and a shaft portion 4112 protruding from the main body portion 4111 in the Z1 direction side, an outer peripheral portion 412 rotatable about an axis extending in the Z direction, an outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral portion 412 including a worm wheel portion 4121 fitted to the worm portion 321; further, an interlocking structure is provided in the inner circumferential portion 411 and the outer circumferential portion 412, the interlocking structure allowing the inner circumferential portion 411 to rotate together with the outer circumferential portion 412 in a normal state, but allowing one of the inner circumferential portion 411 and the outer circumferential portion 412 to idly rotate relative to the other when a torque greater than a preset value is applied to the inner circumferential portion 411 and/or the outer circumferential portion 412. The gear train 42 is a reduction gear train in which a part of gears partially or completely overlaps the output shaft 20 in the Z direction, which is the direction in which the central axis of the output shaft 20 extends, and includes a first gear 421, a second gear 422, and a third gear 423; the first gear 421 is coaxially fixed to the shaft portion 4112 of the inner circumferential portion 411, and partially or completely overlaps with the output shaft 20 in the extending direction of the central axis of the output shaft 20; the second gear 422 is rotatable about an axis extending in the Z direction, partially or completely overlaps the output shaft 20 in the direction in which the central axis of the output shaft 20 extends, and has a large diameter gear portion 4221 that meshes with the first gear 421, and a small diameter gear portion 4222 integrally formed on the Z1 direction side of the large diameter gear portion 4221; the third gear 423 is rotatable about an axis extending in the Z direction, and includes a large diameter gear portion 4231 meshing with the second gear 422 and a small diameter gear portion 4232 integrally formed on the Z1 direction side of the large diameter gear portion 4231, and the third gear 423 constitutes a final stage gear meshing with the gear portion 21 of the output shaft 20. The first gear 421, the second gear 422, and the third gear 423 are rotatably supported in the housing 10 by support shafts extending in the Z direction, respectively.

(Structure of auxiliary Gear, first torsion spring, and second torsion spring)

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the housing 10 further includes: an auxiliary gear 50, the auxiliary gear 50 being aligned with the output shaft 20 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis L of the output shaft 20 and meshing with one of the gears of the transmission mechanism 40; and a first torsion spring 61, the first torsion spring 61 being disposed around a central axis of the auxiliary gear 50, a first end 611 of the first torsion spring 61 being disposed at the housing 10, a second end 612 of the first torsion spring 61 being disposed at the auxiliary gear 50, and the first torsion spring 61 applying a force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear 50 when the auxiliary gear 50 rotates toward the first direction.

Here, as shown in fig. 1 to 3, the auxiliary gear 50 partially overlaps the output shaft 20 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, and the auxiliary gear 50 is supported within the housing 10 (e.g., supported by the intermediate wall 121 of the second housing 12) in a manner rotatable about a central axis extending in the Z direction, in engagement with the third gear 423 in the transmission mechanism 40; the auxiliary gear 50 is set to have a rotation speed greater than that of the output shaft 20. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the second peripheral wall 122 of the second housing 12 is provided with a first locking portion 1221, the first end 611 of the first torsion spring 61 is locked to the first locking portion 1221 (in the illustrated example, the first torsion spring 61 has a substantially cylindrical body portion, a first end 611 protruding from an end portion of the body portion on the Z1 direction side, and a second end 612 protruding from an end portion of the body portion on the Z2 direction side, the first end 611 of the first torsion spring 61 has a distal end portion extending in the Z direction, and a connecting portion extending in the Z direction, the connecting portion extends in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, and connects the distal end portion to the body portion, and the first locking portion 1221 is constituted by a groove portion extending in the Z direction at a side wall portion of the Y2 direction in the second peripheral wall 122 of the second housing 12, and the distal end portion of the first end 611 of the first torsion spring 61 is fitted therein).

Further, as shown in fig. 1 to 3, a second torsion spring 62 is further provided in the housing 10, the second torsion spring 62 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the first torsion spring 61 around the center axis of the auxiliary gear 50, a first end 621 of the second torsion spring 62 is provided in the housing 10, a second end 622 of the second torsion spring 62 is provided in the auxiliary gear 50, and the second torsion spring 62 applies a biasing force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear 50 when the auxiliary gear 50 rotates in the first direction. When the assist gear 50 rotates in the first direction, the second torsion spring 62 applies the biasing force in the second direction to the assist gear 50 after the first torsion spring 61 applies the biasing force in the second direction to the assist gear 50.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a second locking portion 1222 is provided on the second peripheral wall 122 of the second housing 12, and the first end 621 of the second torsion spring 62 is locked to the second locking portion 1222 (in the illustrated example, the second torsion spring 62 has a substantially cylindrical body portion, a first end 621 protruding from an end portion on the Z1 direction side of the body portion, and a second end 622 protruding from an end portion on the Z2 direction side of the body portion, the first end 621 of the second torsion spring 62 has a distal end portion extending in the Z direction, and a connecting portion extending in the Z direction, the connecting portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, and connecting the distal end portion to the body portion, and the second locking portion 1222 is constituted by a groove portion extending in the Z direction at a side wall portion on the Y2 direction in the second peripheral wall 122 of the second housing 12, and is aligned in the X direction with the groove portion constituting the first locking portion 1221, and the distal end portion of the first end 621 of the second torsion spring 62 is fitted therein).

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the auxiliary gear 50 includes a shaft 51 and a cylindrical portion 52 connected to the shaft 51. The shaft 51 is centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear 50; the cylindrical portion 52 is provided radially outward of the shaft portion 51 with a space from the shaft portion 51, and has teeth on its outer peripheral surface that mesh with one gear (the third gear 423 in the illustrated example) in the transmission mechanism 40; the first torsion spring 61 and the second torsion spring 62 are disposed between the shaft portion 51 and the cylindrical portion 52.

Further, as shown in fig. 4, the auxiliary gear 50 is provided with a first stopper portion 531 and a second stopper portion 532; the first stopper portion 531 and the second stopper portion 532 are each in the form of an arc groove or an arc hole centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear 50, and the second stopper portion 532 is located on the outer peripheral side of the first stopper portion 531; the first stopper 531 allows only the second end 612 of the first torsion spring 61 to move within a first preset range (which may be appropriately set as needed) centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear 50, and the second stopper 532 allows only the second end 622 of the second torsion spring 62 to move within a second preset range (which may be appropriately set as needed) centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear 50.

As shown in fig. 2, the auxiliary gear 50 includes a connecting plate 53 connecting the shaft 51 and the tube 52, the connecting plate 53 connecting the end of the shaft 51 on the Z2 direction side and the end of the tube 52 on the Z2 direction side, and the connecting plate 53 is provided with a first stopper 531 and a second stopper 532.

(example of operation of automatic opening/closing device 1)

It is assumed that in an initial state (in the case of applying the automatic opening and closing device 1 to a toilet, for example, corresponding to a state in which a toilet lid and/or a toilet seat is fully opened with respect to a toilet seat), the second end 612 of the first torsion spring 61 and the second end 622 of the second torsion spring 62 are located at the upper ends in fig. 4 of the first stopper 531 and the second stopper 532, respectively.

In the above state, the output shaft 20 is rotated in a preset direction (which corresponds to a direction in which the toilet lid and/or the toilet seat is closed with respect to the toilet seat in the case where the automatic opening and closing device 1 is applied to the toilet). Thereby, as shown in fig. 4, the auxiliary gear 50 rotates in the clockwise direction CW, but at this time, neither the first torsion spring 61 nor the second torsion spring 62 biases the auxiliary gear 50.

Next, when the auxiliary gear 50 rotates by a certain angle, the second end 612 of the first torsion spring 61 starts to abut against the lower end of the first stopper portion 531 in fig. 4, and thereby the first torsion spring 61 starts to urge the auxiliary gear 50 in the counterclockwise direction CCW, but at this time, the second end 622 of the second torsion spring 62 does not abut against the lower end of the second stopper portion 532 in fig. 4, and therefore the second torsion spring 62 does not urge the auxiliary gear 50.

When the auxiliary gear 50 continues to rotate by a certain angle (for example, corresponding to an angle at which the toilet lid and/or the toilet seat is about to close with respect to the toilet seat when the automatic opening/closing device 1 is applied to a toilet), the second end 622 of the second torsion spring 62 also starts to abut against the lower end of the second stopper 532 in fig. 4, and thus the second torsion spring 62 also starts to urge the auxiliary gear 50 in the counterclockwise direction CCW, that is, the first torsion spring 61 and the second torsion spring 62 simultaneously urge the auxiliary gear 50.

(main effect of the present embodiment)

The automatic opening/closing device 1 according to the present embodiment includes: an auxiliary gear 50 arranged with the output shaft 20 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis L of the output shaft 20 within the housing 10, the auxiliary gear 50 meshing with one of the gears of the transmission mechanism 40; and a first torsion spring 61, the first torsion spring 61 being disposed around a center axis of the auxiliary gear 50, a first end 611 of the first torsion spring 61 being disposed at the housing 10, a second end 612 of the first torsion spring 61 being disposed at the auxiliary gear 50, and the first torsion spring 61 applying an urging force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear 50 when the auxiliary gear 50 rotates in the first direction, and therefore, the auxiliary gear 50 can be urged by the first torsion spring 61 to indirectly apply the auxiliary force to the output shaft 20, and it is not necessary to provide an idle gear in the transmission mechanism 40 in order to secure a space for disposing the first torsion spring 61 at a base portion (an end portion on a Z2 direction side in the drawing) of the output shaft 20, contributing to an improvement in transmission efficiency of the transmission mechanism 40 for transmitting rotation of the motor 30 to the output shaft 20; further, by providing the auxiliary gear 50 and the first torsion spring 61 at a position other than the transmission mechanism 40 for transmitting the rotation of the motor 20 to the output shaft 20, the internal space of the housing 10 is easily utilized, and the space is saved while maintaining the performance.

Further, according to the automatic opening and closing device 1 of the present embodiment, since the assist gear 50 is provided to be greater than the rotation speed of the output shaft 20, the operating area of the first torsion spring 61 is increased, and even if a normal spring having a small elastic force is used as the first torsion spring 61 without increasing the diameter of the wire rod constituting the first torsion spring 61 or forming the cross section of the wire rod constituting the first torsion spring 61 into a rectangular shape or the like, a large assist force can be applied to the output shaft 20, and the cost of the first torsion spring 61 can be reduced, and the magnitude of the assist force can be changed by changing the speed increasing ratio of the assist gear 50 to the output shaft 20 in addition to the elastic force of the first torsion spring 61, and thus, the degree of freedom in designing the assist force is increased.

Further, according to the automatic opening/closing device 1 of the present embodiment, since the second torsion spring 62 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the first torsion spring 61 around the center axis of the auxiliary gear 50, the first end 621 of the second torsion spring 62 is provided on the housing 10, the second end 622 of the second torsion spring 62 is provided on the auxiliary gear 50, and the second torsion spring 62 applies the biasing force in the second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear 50 when the auxiliary gear 50 rotates in the first direction, it is possible to further increase the large auxiliary force applied to the output shaft 20.

The present invention is described above by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is to be understood that the specific implementations of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiment, the housing 10 includes the first housing, the second housing 12, and the third housing 13, but is not limited thereto, and the specific structure of the housing 10 may be appropriately changed as needed.

In the above embodiment, the auxiliary gear 50 is engaged with the final stage gear in the transmission mechanism 40, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the auxiliary gear 50 may be engaged with another gear in the transmission mechanism 40.

In the above embodiment, the assist gear 50 is provided so as to have a rotation speed greater than the rotation speed of the output shaft 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the assist gear 50 may be provided so as to have a rotation speed of the output shaft 20 or less.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the second torsion spring 62 applies the urging force in the second direction to the auxiliary gear 50 after the first torsion spring 61 applies the urging force in the second direction to the auxiliary gear 50, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first torsion spring 61 may apply the urging force in the second direction to the auxiliary gear 50 after the second torsion spring 62 applies the urging force in the second direction to the auxiliary gear 50, or the second torsion spring 62 may start applying the urging force in the second direction to the auxiliary gear 50 at the same time as the first torsion spring 61.

Further, in the above embodiment, the auxiliary gear 50 may also have a partition between the first torsion spring 61 and the second torsion spring 62.

In the above embodiment, the second torsion spring 62 may be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the specific shape of the auxiliary gear 50 is not limited to the shape shown in the drawings, and may be appropriately modified as necessary.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a part of the gears in the transmission mechanism 40 partially or completely overlap the output shaft 20 in the extending direction of the central axis of the output shaft 20, but is not limited to this, and the gears in the transmission mechanism 40 may be provided so as not to overlap the output shaft 20 in the extending direction of the central axis of the output shaft 20.

In the above embodiment, the transmission mechanism 40 includes the torque limiter 41, but the torque limiter 41 may be omitted in some cases.

Further, the automatic opening and closing device 1 of the present invention can also be applied to a toilet including a toilet seat and a toilet lid and/or a toilet seat rotatably coupled to the toilet seat. Specifically, for example, the toilet seat may be connected to one of the output shaft 20 and the housing 10, and the toilet lid and/or the toilet seat may be connected to the other of the output shaft 20 and the housing 10.

It should be understood that the present invention can freely combine the respective components in the embodiments, or appropriately change or omit the respective components in the embodiments within the scope thereof.

Claims (10)

1. An automatic opening and closing device comprising: a housing; an output shaft having one end protruding from the housing; a motor housed in the case; and a transmission mechanism accommodated in the housing and transmitting rotation of the motor to the output shaft, characterized by further comprising:

an auxiliary gear that is aligned with the output shaft in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the output shaft within the housing and that meshes with one of the gears in the transmission mechanism; and

a first torsion spring disposed around a central axis of the auxiliary gear, having a first end disposed to the housing and a second end disposed to the auxiliary gear, and applying a force in a second direction opposite to the first direction to the auxiliary gear when the auxiliary gear rotates in the first direction.

2. The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

the output shaft includes:

a gear portion housed in the case; and

a connection shaft portion protruding from the gear portion toward an outside of the housing,

the transmission mechanism includes a final stage gear meshed with the gear portion,

the auxiliary gear is engaged with the final stage gear.

3. The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

the auxiliary gear is set to have a rotation speed greater than that of the output shaft.

4. The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

a part of the gears in the transmission mechanism partially or completely overlaps with the output shaft in the extending direction of the central axis of the output shaft.

5. The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to claim 1,

the auxiliary gear includes a first torsion spring that is provided on an outer peripheral side of the first torsion spring around a center axis of the auxiliary gear, a first end of the first torsion spring is provided to the housing, a second end of the first torsion spring is provided to the auxiliary gear, and the first torsion spring applies the urging force in the first direction to the auxiliary gear when the auxiliary gear rotates in the first direction.

6. The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to claim 5,

when the auxiliary gear rotates in the first direction, the second torsion spring applies the second-direction force to the auxiliary gear after the first torsion spring applies the second-direction force to the auxiliary gear.

7. The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to claim 6,

a first limit part and a second limit part are arranged on the auxiliary gear,

the first stopper is formed in an arc groove shape or an arc hole shape centering on a central axis of the auxiliary gear and into which the second end of the first torsion spring is inserted,

the second stopper portion has an arc groove shape or an arc hole shape into which the second end of the second torsion spring is inserted, the second stopper portion being located on an outer peripheral side of the first stopper portion,

the first stopper allows only the second end of the first torsion spring to move within a first preset range centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear,

the second stopper allows only the second end of the second torsion spring to move within a second preset range centered on the central axis of the auxiliary gear.

8. The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to claim 5,

the auxiliary gear includes a shaft portion and a cylindrical portion connected to the shaft portion,

the shaft portion is centered on a central axis of the auxiliary gear,

the cylindrical portion is provided radially outward of the shaft portion with a space therebetween, and has a tooth on an outer peripheral surface thereof that meshes with the one gear,

the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring are disposed between the shaft portion and the cylindrical portion.

9. The automatic opening and closing apparatus according to claim 8,

the auxiliary gear has a partition between the first torsion spring and the second torsion spring.

10. A toilet, comprising: a toilet seat; and a toilet lid and/or a toilet seat rotatably connected to the toilet seat, characterized in that,

comprising the automatic opening and closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the toilet seat is connected to one of the output shaft and the housing,

the toilet lid and/or the toilet seat are connected to the other of the output shaft and the housing.

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