JP2001211945A - Slippers circulating and sterilizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the occurrence of the actual harm of skin diseases with slippers as infection routes and the psychological insanitary feel, or the like, for the slippers utilized by an unspecific number of other persons by adding a function to automatically sterilize the housed slippers to a function to house the slippers with good space efficiency. SOLUTION: A pair of transporting chains 30 and 30 are vertically circulated and driven within a longitudinally long armor case 10 disposed with sterilizing lamps L1, L1, or the like, on its inner wall surface. The armor case 10 is provided with a housing port 11A for housing the slippers and a take-out port 11B for taking out the slippers. Many trays 27, 27, or the like, for housing the slippers are freely oscillatably hung between a pair of the transporting chains 30 and 30. The used slippers are successively placed on the trays 27, 27, or the like, from the housing port 11A. The slippers places on the trays 27 are irradiated with the sterilizing lamps L1, L1, or the like, and are thereby subjected to a sterilization treatment while circulating in the armor case 10. The slippers subjected to the sterilization are successively taken out of the take-out port 11B and may by utilized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a hotel, a hospital,
The present invention relates to a slipper circulating sterilizer that is designed to efficiently store slippers to be provided to an unspecified number of users in a public bath or the like and to automatically sterilize the stored slippers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called lower foot box is frequently used as a slipper storage tool in a hotel or a public bath.
The lower leg box is formed by combining a horizontal partition plate and a vertical partition plate in a cross-girder shape, thereby forming a large number of storage boxes partitioned in a grid shape in the vertical and horizontal directions. In general, such lower-foot boxes are prepared with slippers in each storage box, and an outside user removes the stored slippers from the storage box and stores outer shoes in the storage box from which the slippers are taken out. It is used as it is.

[0003]

The slippers used by an unspecified number of users are different from those fixed by the users, and the inside of the slippers becomes dirty in a short period of time and becomes unsanitary. Since the outer shoe and the slipper come into frequent contact with each other via the lower foot box, dirt becomes noticeable in a short period of time even on the outside of the slipper. On the other hand, slipper users select slippers having a color tone with less noticeable dirt, and discard the slippers whose stains have become noticeable despite the fact. In other words, as hospitals, hotels, and other facilities of public baths where slippers are used are modernized, there is no particularly effective countermeasure for slipper hygiene, and slippers are a hidden factor such as skin infections. There is no denying that it may be. In addition, the use of slippers used by an unspecified number of people involves an unsanitary feeling even if the slippers are new.

[0004] In view of such circumstances, the present invention is capable of storing the slippers in a space-efficient manner and automatically disinfecting the stored slippers so that the slippers can be transmitted to the infection route without any particular trouble. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slipper circulating sterilizer devised so as to be able to eliminate the occurrence of actual harm such as skin diseases and the like and the psychological unsanitary feeling of slippers used by an unspecified number of others.

[0005]

The present invention employs the following structure as means for achieving this object.

That is, the slipper circulating sterilizer has a vertically long outer case having a storage port for storing the slipper and a take-out port for taking out the slipper, and a germicidal lamp disposed on an inner wall surface, and a top end portion of the outer case. A pair of transport chains, which are wound around a pair of upper and lower sprockets disposed closer to the lower end, and which are arranged side by side while maintaining a parallel positional relationship, and a drive motor that synchronizes and circulates and drives the pair of transport chains. And a number of trays that are swingably hung between a pair of transport chains, and the drive motor is transported at a transport speed capable of storing slippers in the trays through the storage ports or stored in the trays through the take-out ports. The gist of the present invention is to drive the transport chain to circulate at a transport speed at which the slipper can be taken out.

[0007] In such a configuration, the pair of transport chains are turned back by the upper sprocket and the lower sprocket by operating the drive motor.
Circulates vertically in the vertically long outer case at the same speed.
Therefore, a large number of trays suspended between the pair of transport chains also circulate in the outer case along with the transport chains. Further, the pair of transport chains are driven at a speed capable of storing the slippers on the tray from the storage opening, or taking out the slippers on the tray from the outlet, and the user can put the slippers in and out. it can.
As a result, when the slippers placed on each tray pass through the vicinity of the germicidal lamp provided on the inner wall surface of the outer case, at least once per round, and twice or more depending on the number of germicidal lamps installed. And sterilized.

The driving motor for circulating the pair of transport chains can be adjusted in rotational speed via an external setting device.

By providing an external setting device, the user of the slipper circulating sterilizer can be activated, for example, as a group of high school students on a school excursion or as a participant in a meeting of a geriatric society. When there is a difference in the speed, within the speed safe enough to put the slipper in and out,
The tray speed can be adjusted to a speed that is efficient for slippers in and out.

[0010] In a configuration in which the rotation speed of the drive motor can be adjusted, a torque limiter device may be interposed between the drive motor and the transport chain.

The maximum value of the torque transmitted from the drive motor to the transport chain can be limited to a certain limit by the torque limiter device. It is possible to prevent an accident such as an injury accident or a biting accident when an object other than slippers is put in the apparatus.

In the slipper circulation sterilizer, the drive motor is a drive motor with a brake, a storage stop switch is provided on the storage port side of the outer case, a removal stop switch is provided on the discharge port side, and the storage port is connected to the storage port. At the lower edge position of the mouth, a proximity sensor for detecting the tray and a slipper detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a slipper on the tray are provided, respectively.The storage stop switch detects the proximity sensor detects the tray, and detects the slipper. The drive motor is temporarily stopped on condition that the sensor does not detect the slipper, and the unloading stop switch temporarily stops the drive motor on condition that the proximity sensor detects the tray and the slipper detection sensor detects the slipper. It can be configured to control to stop.

In this configuration, the condition for stopping the drive motor when the storage stop switch is operated is that the proximity sensor provided at the lower edge position of the storage opening detects the tray and the slipper detection sensor does not detect the slipper. That is. Under these conditions, when the storage stop switch is operated,
The drive motor is stopped when an empty tray containing no slippers is first detected. At this time, since the drive motor has a brake, the drive motor stops instantaneously without coasting rotation. As a result, when the storage stop switch is operated, the first detected empty tray comes to the lower edge position of the storage opening and stops. On the other hand, the stop condition of the drive motor when the unload stop switch is operated is as follows.
The proximity sensor provided at the lower edge position of the ejection port detects the tray, and the slipper detection sensor detects the slipper.Therefore, when the ejection stop switch is operated, the first detected slipper is placed. The tray comes to a stop at the lower edge position of the outlet of the outer case.

The slipper circulation sterilizer has an electromagnetic clutch interposed between a drive motor and a transport chain, an electromagnetic brake means attached to a sprocket, a storage stop switch provided at a storage opening side of an outer case, and a take-out side. A storage stop switch is provided, and a proximity sensor for detecting a tray and a slipper detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a slipper on the tray are provided at a lower edge position of the storage port and the discharge port, respectively. The proximity sensor detects the tray, and the electromagnetic clutch is temporarily disengaged on condition that the slipper detection sensor does not detect the slipper, and the sprocket is braked via the electromagnetic brake means. The proximity sensor detects the tray and the slipper detection sensor detects the slipper. Together temporarily disconnected operating the electromagnetic clutch as matter, it can be configured to brake the sprocket via an electromagnetic brake means.

In this configuration, when the storage stop switch is operated, the electromagnetic clutch interposed between the drive motor and the transport chain is temporarily disconnected, and at the same time, the sprocket is braked by the electromagnetic brake means.
By operating the take-out stop switch, the electromagnetic clutch is also temporarily disconnected, and at the same time, the sprocket is braked by the electromagnetic brake means. Therefore, the empty tray or the tray storing the slippers can be accurately stopped at the storage port or the take-out port without repeatedly starting and stopping the drive motor.

In any case, the bottom surface of the tray may be formed of a transparent material, and the germicidal lamp may pass through the bottom surface of the tray and irradiate the bottom surface of the slipper.

[0017] Since the bottom surface of the slippers stored on the tray is also sterilized, it is possible to prevent the spread of bacteria due to the use of slippers whose bottom surfaces are not sterilized.

In any case, an infrared lamp can be provided near the upper end inside the outer case.

Since the stored slippers can be warmed by the infrared lamp, sterilized warm slippers can be provided to the user in winter or the like.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The slipper circulating sterilizer is configured to vertically circulate and move a large number of trays 27 for storing the slippers inside the vertically long outer case 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The outer case 10 has a pair of side plates 11 and 11 forming the front and back surfaces, a pair of side plates 12 and 12 forming left and right side surfaces, a top plate 13 forming a top surface, and a bottom surface forming. And a base plate 14. And top plate 1
3 is provided with an infrared lamp L2, and two pairs of germicidal lamps L1, L1 are provided on inner wall surfaces of the front and rear side plates 11, 11, respectively.
… Is arranged. The front side plate 11 is provided with an outlet 11B for taking out slippers, and the rear side plate 11 is provided with a storage opening 11A for storing slippers. Therefore, the slipper circulation sterilization apparatus is installed with the front side facing the entrance side of a facility or the like.

Slipper take-out port 11B and storage port 1
1A is formed at a height near the waist of an adult,
A storage stop switch B1 and an extraction stop switch B are provided at the upper right of the storage opening 11A and the upper right of the extraction opening 11B, respectively.
2 are arranged. The drive motor 2 is mounted on the base plate 14 so as to be attached to the lower end of the right side plate 12.
A motor case 16 for accommodating 0 is provided.

A reinforcing plate 15 is provided between the left and right side plates 12, 12 so as to block between the storage opening 11A and the outlet 11B (FIGS. 1, 4). 1
A pair of reflectors 15m, 15m are adhered to both surfaces of 5. Therefore, one sheet of the reflection plate 15m is used
A and the other one is in a positional relationship facing the outlet 11B. A proximity sensor A1 for detecting trays 27 is attached to the back surface of the side plate 11 at the center lower edge position of the storage opening 11A.
A slipper detection sensor A2, which forms a pair with the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, is attached. Similarly, a proximity sensor A3 and a slipper detection sensor A4 are attached to the outlet side. The slipper detection sensors A2 and A4
The light projecting and light receiving operations can be performed via the fifth reflectors 15m, 15m.

A pair of bearings 26b, 26b are fixed to the left and right side plates 12, 12 near the upper end of the outer case 10, and sprockets 26, 26 are attached to the bearings 26b, 26b, respectively (FIG. 1). 2). Also,
A pair of sprockets 25, 25 corresponding to the sprockets 26, 26 mounted on the upper side are attached to the left and right side plates 12, 12 near the lower end of the outer case 10. The sprockets 25, 25
It is fixed to a shaft 24 provided between the bearings 24b, 24b mounted between the sprockets 2, 12, and the interval is set to be equal to the interval between the upper sprockets 26, 26.

One end of the shaft 24 extends through the side plate 12 and into the motor case 16, and a bevel gear 22 is fixed to the shaft end via a torque limiter 23.
The bevel gear 22 meshes with a bevel gear 21 attached to an output shaft of the drive motor 20 fixed in an upward posture.

Of the pair of upper sprockets 26, 26 and the pair of lower sprockets 25, 25, a transport chain 30, 30 is hung between a pair of upper and lower sprockets 25, 26, 25, 26 respectively. Has been turned. Therefore, the pair of transport chains 30, 30 have a positional relationship of being juxtaposed in parallel with each other. A large number of trays 2 are provided between the pair of transport chains 30, 30.
7, 27... Are swingably suspended (FIGS. 1 and 2). Each transport chain 30 is driven in a direction indicated by an arrow R in FIG.

Each of the trays 27 (FIG. 3) is formed by bending a metal plate punched into a predetermined mold to form a bottom plate 27a.
And substantially triangular suspension plates 27b, 27 erected on both sides thereof
b are integrally formed, and bosses 27c, 27c having shaft holes are formed on the outer surface near the apex of each suspension plate 27b by welding a collar serving as a bearing. The bottom plate 27a is formed to have a vertical and horizontal dimension on which a pair of normal size slippers F, F can be placed with a margin. Dogs 27d, 27d corresponding to the proximity sensors A1, A3 at the positions are attached.

On the other hand, each transport chain 30 has a pair of inner link plates 32, 32 and outer link plates 31, 31.
Is a kind of roller chain in which the outer link plate 3 is connected to the outer link plate 3 at predetermined intervals.
A special member having brackets 31b with holes 31b is used for 1,31. Also, outer link plates 31, 3 having brackets 31b, 31b with holes.
1 is used at a position corresponding to the horizontal direction in the pair of transport chains 30, 30.

Each tray 27 and the transport chains 3 on both sides thereof
Pins 31 with male threads on both ends
c, 31c are used. Each tray 27 is provided with a suspension plate 27 positioned with respect to the transport chains 30 on both sides.
b, 27b and the brackets 31b, 31b of the outer link plates 31, 31 with the pins 31
The cap nuts 31d, 31d are attached from both sides of the pins 31c, 31c through the pins 31c, 31c so as to be swingable. Therefore, the posture of each tray 27 is determined by its own weight regardless of the state of the transport chains 30, 30.
The bottom plate 27a is always kept horizontal.

The drive motor 20 and the sprocket 2
Torque limiter 23 interposed between shafts 24 of 5, 25
Can be replaced by an electromagnetic clutch 28 (FIG. 5). However, when the electromagnetic clutch 28 is used, the electromagnetic brake means 29 is additionally provided on the sprocket 25. Electromagnetic brake means 29 used here
Is a powerful electromagnetic solenoid with a brake pad attached to the tip of the movable rod 29b.
The movable rod 29b is moved from the outside of the side plate 12 by the excitation current.
Into the inside, and at its tip end one sprocket 2
5 is a mechanism for braking the sprocket 25 by pressing the rim portion of the sprocket 5.

The storage stop switch B1 and the take-out stop switch B2 in the above embodiment are the proximity sensor A
1 and A3 and the slipper detection sensors A2 and A4, the drive motor 20 or the electromagnetic clutch 28 and the electromagnetic brake means 2 through a logic circuit having the following logical configuration.
9 (FIG. 6).

Here, the storage stop switch B1 and the take-out stop switch B2 are activated when the button is pressed, that is, when the logical level becomes positive and the button is not pressed,
Inactive, that is, the logic level is negative. Similarly, when the proximity sensors A1 and A3 detect the tray 27, and when the slipper detection sensors A2 and A4 detect the slippers F and F, respectively, the logic level becomes positive. On the other hand, the drive motor 20 or the electromagnetic clutch 28
A rotation or connection operation is performed for an input having a positive logic level, and a stop or disconnect operation is performed for an input having a negative logic level. In FIG. 6, the drive motor 20,
A driver circuit provided immediately before the electromagnetic clutch 28 and the electromagnetic brake means 29 is omitted, and only the control logic is shown.

In FIG. 6, D3, D4 and D6 are AND gates, D1 and D8 are OR gates, D5 and D7.
Is a NAND gate, and D2 and D9 are AND gates whose one input is a negative logic input.

The proximity sensor A1 of the storage opening 11A is connected to the AND gate D2, and the slipper detection sensor A2 is connected to the negative logic input terminal of the AND gate D2. Therefore, the AND gate D2 indicates that the tray 27
It is possible to detect that the slippers F, F are located at the lower edge of 1A and are not stored in the tray 27. The output of this AND gate D2 is
Is input to

On the other hand, the proximity sensor A3 and the slipper detection sensor A4 of the outlet 11B are input to the AND gate D3. Therefore, the AND gate D3 can detect that the tray 27 exists at the lower edge position of the outlet 11B and that the slippers F, F are stored in the tray 27. The output of this AND gate D3 is
Input to AND gate D6.

The output of the storage stop switch B1 is branched and input to the OR gate D1, AND gate D4 and OR gate D8, and the output of the extraction stop switch B2 is branched and input to the OR gate D1, AND gate D6 and OR gate D8. ing. As a result, the OR gates D1, D8
Can detect that one of the storage stop switch B1 and the takeout stop switch B2 has been pressed and that they have not been pressed simultaneously. Then, the AND gate D4 can detect that the storage stop switch B1 is pressed and the slippers F and F are not present in the tray 27 existing in the storage opening 11A at that time. Similarly, the AND gate D6 pushes the take-out stop switch B2, and at this time, the slippers F, F
Can be detected.

The output of the OR gate D1 and the output of the AND gate D4 are input to a NAND gate D5, and the output of the OR gate D1 and the output of the AND gate D6 are input to a NAND gate D7. The outputs of the NAND gates D5 and D7 are supplied to the drive motor 20 or the electromagnetic clutch 28 via a driver circuit (not shown).
It is connected to the. As a result, the NAND gate D5 operates the drive motor 20 or the electromagnetic motor on the condition that the storage stop switch B1 is pressed, the removal stop switch B2 is not pressed at this time, and the empty tray 27 is present in the storage opening 11A. A temporary stop signal or a temporary disconnection signal can be output to the clutch 28. Therefore, the user can store the slippers F, F in the empty tray 27. Similarly, in the NAND gate D7, the take-out stop switch B2 is turned on, the storage stop switch B1 is not pressed at this time, and the slipper F,
A temporary stop signal or a temporary disconnection signal is output to the drive motor 20 or the electromagnetic clutch 28 on condition that the tray 27 on which F is placed exists. Thus, the user can take out the sterilized slippers F from the tray 27 and use them. When the infrared lamp L2 is turned on, sterilized warm slippers F, F are provided.

The outputs of the NAND gates D5 and D7 are
All are input to the negative logic input terminal of the AND gate D9. Therefore, the AND gate D9 can brake the sprocket 25 on condition that either the storage stop switch B1 or the takeout stop switch B2 is pressed and the electromagnetic clutch 28 is temporarily disengaged. The tray 27 can be stopped without stopping the motor. Note that the AND gate D9 is not used in the slipper circulation sterilization apparatus having no electromagnetic clutch and the electromagnetic brake means 29.

In any of the above embodiments, the bottom plate 27a of the tray 27 can be formed of a transparent material such as a hard transparent acrylic plate or a reinforced glass plate. In this case, it is preferable to add germicidal lamps L1 and L1 on the base plate 14 of the outer case 10 (FIGS. 7 and 8).

The other part of each tray 27 except for the bottom plate 27a is a pair of left and right suspension plates 27b, 27b.
And a bottom plate 27a made of a transparent material.
Is attached so as to be dropped into the peripheral frame 27f (FIG. 7). At this time, a double-sided adhesive tape or the like may be interposed between the peripheral frame 27f and the bottom plate 27a, but it is more advantageous not to interpose it during cleaning. Further, since the bottom plate 27a of the tray 27 is always kept horizontal during the circulating movement, no particular trouble occurs even if no interposition is provided.

In such a tray 27, the bottom plate 2
7a can be transmitted by the light of the germicidal lamp L1,
When the slippers F, F placed on the tray 27 pass over the base plate 14, the germicidal lamp L
1, L1 ensures that the back side is also sterilized.

The slipper circulating sterilizer described above is
In both cases, the tray 2 is temporarily stopped by temporarily stopping the drive motor 20 or temporarily disengaging the electromagnetic clutch 28 when storing and removing the slippers.
By setting the transport speed of 7, 27... To a transport speed at which the slipper can be taken out through the storage port 11A, or a transport speed at which the slipper can be taken out through the take-out port 11B, the storage stop switch B1 and the take-out stop Switch B
2. Proximity sensors A1, A3, slipper detection sensors A2,
A4, and a complicated control system interposed between them and the drive motor 20, the electromagnetic clutch 28 and the like can be omitted. If the time required for each tray 27 to pass through the take-out port 11B or the storage port 11A is set to about 3 seconds, the slippers can be taken in and out with a sufficient margin. At this time, it is more convenient to adjust the rotation speed of the drive motor through an external setting device. It is desirable that the torque limiter 23 is not omitted even in this case in order to enhance safety.

Further, it is possible to easily respond to a demand for storing a larger number of slippers by enlarging the width of the bottom plate 27a of the tray 27. For example, if the width of the bottom plate 27a is set to five pairs of slippers, the number of stored slippers can be reduced to 5 at a stretch by merely changing the dimensions.
Can be doubled. At this time, by installing a simple partition plate on the bottom plate 27a of the tray 27 for every pair of slippers, the storage posture of each slipper can be stably maintained.

[0045]

As described above, the slipper circulating sterilizer according to the present invention requires only a small installation space because the outer case is vertically long, so that the slippers can be efficiently stored. With
Since the stored slippers are sterilized by the germicidal lamp while circulating in the outer case, it is possible to effectively prevent the spread of infectious skin diseases and the like via the slippers, and to be used by others. There is an effect that it is possible to eliminate a feeling of psychological unsanitaryness for the slippers.

[0046]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a logical configuration diagram of a control system in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F Slipper A1 Proximity sensor A2 Slipper detection sensor A3 Proximity sensor A4 Slipper detection sensor B1 Storage stop switch B2 Removal stop switch L1 Sterilization lamp L2 Infrared light 10 Exterior case 11A Storage opening 11B Removal opening 20 Drive motor 23 Torque limiter 25 Sprocket 26 Sprocket 26 Tray 27a Bottom surface 28 Electromagnetic clutch 29 Electromagnetic brake means 30 Drive motor

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A vertically long outer case having a storage port for storing a slipper and an outlet for taking out the slipper, wherein a germicidal lamp is disposed on an inner wall surface, and near an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the outer case. A pair of transport chains that are wound around between a pair of upper and lower sprockets and that are arranged side by side while maintaining a parallel positional relationship, a drive motor that synchronizes and drives the pair of transport chains, and A plurality of trays which are swingably hung between the transport chains, and wherein the drive motor is capable of storing slippers in the trays through the storage ports or storing the slippers in the trays through the takeout ports. A circulating sterilizing device for circulating the transport chain at a transport speed at which the slipper can be taken out. 2. The apparatus for circulating and sterilizing slippers according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed of the drive motor is adjustable via an external setting device. 3. The slipper circulation sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein a torque limiter is interposed between the drive motor and the transport chain. 4. A drive motor having a brake as the drive motor, a storage stop switch provided on a storage port side of the outer case, a removal stop switch provided on a discharge port side, and a lower edge of the storage port and the discharge port. At each position, a proximity sensor for detecting the tray and a slipper detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a slipper on the tray are provided, and the storage stop switch is configured such that the proximity sensor detects the tray, and The drive motor is temporarily stopped on the condition that the slipper detection sensor does not detect the slipper, and the removal stop switch is provided on condition that the proximity sensor detects the tray, and that the slipper detection sensor detects the slipper. The slipper circulation sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive motor is temporarily stopped. . 5. An electromagnetic clutch is interposed between the drive motor and the transport chain, an electromagnetic brake is provided on the pulley, a storage stop switch is provided on a storage opening side of the outer case, and a take-out opening side is provided. And a proximity sensor for detecting the tray and a slipper detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a slipper on the tray are provided at the lower edge positions of the storage port and the discharge port, respectively. The stop switch temporarily operates the electromagnetic clutch on condition that the proximity sensor detects the tray and the slipper detection sensor does not detect the slipper, and brakes the sprocket via the electromagnetic brake means. The take-off stop switch is configured such that the proximity sensor detects a tray, and the slipper detection sensor detects a tray. The slipper circulation sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electromagnetic clutch is temporarily disengaged on condition that the sprocket is detected, and the sprocket is braked via the electromagnetic brake means. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the tray is formed of a transparent material, and the germicidal lamp irradiates the bottom surface of the slipper through the bottom surface of the tray. 4. The slipper circulation sterilizer according to item 1. 7. The apparatus for circulating and sterilizing a slipper according to claim 1, wherein an infrared lamp is provided near an upper end portion inside the outer case.