JP2005106620A - Toilet unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a toilet unit, having a urine-sampling mechanism section, having an improvement in sanitary and cosmetic design properties, by composing a urine-sampling means without deteriorating convenience as a toilet pan. <P>SOLUTION: The toilet unit 1 comprises a bowl section 12 for storing urine that a user egests and collected water, a trap for discharging the collected water to a sewer, a water-supplying means for promoting the discharge of the collected water to the sewer, and urine-sampling equipment 51 for sampling the user's urine. In the toilet unit 1, a through section for connecting the inside and outside of the bowl section 12 is provided, and a drive means for moving the urine-sampling equipment 51 to the through section on a urination path is arranged, thus sending the excreted urine to a specified constituent correction/quantitative measuring means as a post process reliably with improved sanitary and cosmetic design properties. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toilet unit capable of performing quantitative / qualitative measurement on a specific component contained in excreted urine.

As a conventional toilet unit related to a specific component contained in urine, there is one in which a urine collection port is provided on a dry surface in a ball portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In addition, there is an apparatus that drives the urine collection device into the ball portion by using an expansion / contraction mechanism arranged in the toilet seat (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
In addition, there is a device that locks the urine collection mechanism member on the toilet rim surface so that movement of the urine collection device in accordance with the rotation of the toilet seat does not occur (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP-A-6-230006 Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-54666 JP-A-9-229925

  However, in the case of Patent Document 1, for example, not only the urine to be measured with respect to the urine collection port, but also the detergent used for washing the stool and the toilet bowl enters, and the measurement result accuracy and the operational reliability of the mechanism There was a problem that there is a risk of lowering.

  Also, in the case of Patent Document 2, it is possible to collect only the measurement object, but for example, if the toilet seat is raised when the boy is small, urine and washing liquid droplets fall on the seating surface of the toilet seat and may be unsanitary. In the state where the toilet seat is set up at the time of small use, there is a problem in that the user is uncomfortable because the adhesion of urine caused by urine adhering to the urine collecting means can be easily recognized.

  Furthermore, even in the case of Patent Document 3, the opening part of the toilet bowl / toilet seat is made small, the men's penis comes into contact with the urine collection mechanism and becomes unsanitary, or the pressure feeling associated with the small toilet seat opening is used There was a problem that it was difficult to clean the toilet rim surface.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable highly accurate qualitative / quantitative measurement of a specific component contained in urine and to deteriorate usability as a toilet. This shows a method for realizing a toilet unit having a urine collection mechanism unit that is hygienic and excellent in design.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the urine excreted by the user and the ball part for storing the stored water, the trap for discharging the stored water to the sewage, and the sewage of the stored water In a toilet unit comprising a water supply means for promoting the discharge of urine and a urine collector for collecting urine of a user,
By providing a penetrating part that communicates the inside and the outside of the ball part, and disposing the driving means for moving the urine collecting device on the urination route in the penetrating part, the toilet and the urine collecting means are integrated so that it is not noticeable. Not only is it excellent in design, it is also hygienic because the urine collector can be washed using the stored water supplied to the toilet bowl. It can be sent to the quantitative measuring means.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the penetrating part is formed by notching the ball part, so that it is easy to attach the urine collector to the penetrating part.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, the urine collector moves into the ball part during urine collection and is housed in the vicinity of the upper end of the ball part when not in use, so that the urine collector is a stool or a toilet bowl. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of measurement errors due to contamination by washing detergents, etc., or accidental suction of collected water by the urine collector, etc., and high-precision qualitative and quantitative measurement of specific components contained in urine Can be implemented.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, at least during excrement discharge in the toilet, the toilet is drained by driving the driving means so as to move the urine collector from the water supply path. Therefore, since the interference between the water supplied and the driving means can be eliminated, the toilet cleaning performance is not deteriorated.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 5, the urine collector is washed by interference with water supplied from a water supply path without aiming for excrement discharge of the toilet bowl, so that the urine collector is removed next time. There is no need to provide a separate cleaning means for cleaning for the measurer, and as a result, an inexpensive and highly reliable cleaning means can be realized.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the driving means is a toilet having a urine collection function assembled by being disposed outside the ball portion and not interfering with a user's lower limb. Even if the toilet action itself is performed, there is no trouble in terms of usability with a general toilet.

  According to the present invention, a highly accurate qualitative / quantitative measurement of a specific component contained in urine can be performed, and the urine collection mechanism is superior in hygiene and design without deteriorating usability as a toilet. There is an effect of realizing a toilet unit having a section.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a toilet unit incorporating the urine collection means of the present invention.
The toilet unit 1 is composed of a Western-style toilet 11 and a functional case 2 in which a toilet seat 21 and a toilet lid 22 are rotatably locked. When the mechanism occupation space is insufficient, a mechanism unit cabinet 5 connected by a back portion of the toilet unit 1 or a piping member may be additionally provided. Inside the Western-style toilet 11, a ball portion 12 for storing a stored water 13 for receiving a user's excrement is configured. A rim surface 14 that contacts the toilet seat 21 is formed above the ball portion 12. The stored water 13 communicates with a sewage pipe (not shown) through a trap portion 15. At the bottom of the ball portion 12, a jet water discharge nozzle 31 that directs the water discharge direction toward the trap portion 15 is configured. The water discharged from the jet water discharge nozzle 31 generates a negative pressure with respect to the trap portion 15 and sends the water 13 to the sewage pipe.

  The urine collection unit 50 provided with a hole shape that communicates the inside and the outside of the ball part 12 is sent to a sensing means for qualitative / quantitative measurement of a specific component contained in urine excreted by a method described later. It has become. Sensing means may be incorporated into the toilet unit 1 as various biochemical sensors such as biosensors, electrochemical sensors, and physical quantity sensors, or samples may be collected for measurement by other large clinical laboratory equipment. A method of storing a predetermined amount in a container may be used.

  Since the urine collection unit 50 is disposed at a position where it does not submerge except when a toilet bowl or sewage is clogged, it is not necessary to take a special waterproof / drip-proof measure. Further, since the outer shell of the urine collection unit 50 is configured in a range that does not interfere with the back side of the user's lower limb, which is disposed on the outer shape of the Western-style toilet 11, a urine collection function is assembled. However, as long as the stool action is performed, there is no trouble in usability with the general toilet. The range in which the lower limb and the functional member do not interfere with each other is up to a protrusion dimension of about 50 mm or less with respect to the outer shape of the Western-style toilet 11.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the toilet unit of the present invention.
A ball portion 12 is formed inside the western-style toilet 11, and a jet water discharge nozzle 31 provided at the bottom portion faces the trap portion 15 in the direction of water discharge. The water discharged from the jet water discharge nozzle 31 generates a negative pressure with respect to the trap portion 15, and the stored water 13 is sent to the sewage pipe by the generated siphon phenomenon. A rim water spouting nozzle 32 is formed on the upper portion of the ball portion 12 to replenish water. Similarly, a rim surface 14 that contacts the toilet seat is formed above the ball portion 12. Water supply to the jet water discharge nozzle 31 and the rim water discharge nozzle 32 is supplied from the water channel switching means 3. A branch port 33 is provided in the middle of the water channel connecting the water channel switching means 3 and the jet water discharge nozzle 31, and a branch channel 34 is formed between the drain socket 16. As a method for lowering the accumulated water level, the water level can be lowered in a short time by using the siphon phenomenon described above. As another method, drainage may be performed by communicating a water channel between the jet water discharge nozzle 31 and the drain socket 16. When this method is adopted, although it takes a long time to change the water level, it is possible to reduce the water level height without variation. Each method may be selected singly, or a combination of both methods may be adopted in order to achieve both the water level change time and the reliability of the water level change. One end of the three-way valve 35 is configured to discharge the above-mentioned water into the sewage through the drain socket 16, and in order to measure the water level head of the urine 4 discharged to the ball portion 12, the pressure is supplied via the pressure guiding path 42. A sensor 43 is attached. Since the shape of the ball portion 12 is fixed, the measurement value of the water level can be converted into a urine amount.

  In a state where the water level is lowered, the urine collecting device 51 moves inside the ball portion 12 by the turning operation of the urine collecting arm 52 to reach the urination route, and directly collects urine. The toilet front side is a male urine collection position, and the rear side is a female urine collection position. In particular, since the urination range of women varies among individuals, a position adjustment function may be provided in the front-rear direction. (Position A) When the toilet bowl is washed, the urine collector 51 is prevented from interfering with the water supplied to the toilet bowl, and escapes from the concave portion of the rim surface 14 so as not to cause a harmful effect on the drainage. (Position B) When the urine is not collected, the urine collector 51 is accommodated in the vicinity of the rim surface 14. If it is arranged at this position in the stage of replenishing the stored water after completion of the toilet discharging operation, the urine collection device 51 is washed by the water flow of the makeup water. (Position C)

FIG. 3 is an operation sequence diagram showing the first embodiment of the toilet unit of the present invention.
When the user performs the measurement preparation start switch operation, the jet water is discharged toward the trap portion, and the water level of the stored water decreases due to the occurrence of the siphon phenomenon. Considering drainage efficiency, not only the method of discharging with only the head difference as shown in the example of FIG. 2, but also opening the water channel between the jet nozzle and the drain socket, or setting the pump against the water in the water channel The operation of the drainage means used may be used. When all of the accumulated water has been drained or when the remaining water amount is within the specified tolerance range, the ready display changes to the in-measurement display. Using the measurement preparation start switch operation as a trigger, deodorizing means (not shown) provided in the functional unit is operated to treat sewage odor, or branch water from the water channel switching means is discharged toward the sewage through the drain socket May prevent an increase in sewage odor. When the user urinates according to the display during measurement, the water level rises due to urine in the ball portion. At the same time, urine collection means for sending urine to other sensing means or storing urine in the sample container moves inside the ball part and collects and sucks a predetermined amount of urine. Collected.

  As a method for delivering a urine sample, a syringe pump method that is self-priming and hardly causes damage to cells or the like contained in urine and hardly causes a problem in visual inspection is recommended. The change in the water level in the ball portion is measured by a water level measuring means such as a pressure sensor, and converted into a change in urine volume based on the cross-sectional area data for each water level position of the toilet. The highest point of water level change is measured as the amount of excreted urine. The amount of change in urine volume converted from the change in water level with time is an index called urine flow rate or urinary flow rate, and can also be used for management of urinary system diseases typified by prostatic hypertrophy. The measured urine amount may be the actual excretion amount of the specific component excreted by the user by multiplying the specific component concentration measured by the urine specimen sensing means.

  For example, if the sodium ion concentration is a specific component, the amount of salt excretion can be calculated by multiplying the amount of urine, but humans estimate the amount of salt intake from the characteristic of excreting about 90% of the amount of salt intake. Is possible. This intake salt content can be used to control the intake salt amount, which should be controlled to 10 g or less for general people proposed in the healthy Japan 21 exercise, and 7 g or less for hypertensive patients.

  When urinating to conduct urine sample sensing, if the stool is accidentally excreted, the amplitude and frequency of the water level measurement value will be different from those of urine alone, so sample collection will be stopped. Or, by estimating the stool volume and correcting the urine volume, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the reliability of the urine volume measurement operation.

  The user confirms the displayed measurement value, communicates measurement data for cooperation with other services not included in the present invention, or the measurement result and other medical / health Printed out for guidance from relevant personnel. When the user performs the toilet bowl cleaning operation, the display changes again during preparation. When the rim water discharge is performed, the urine collector moves to a position where it does not interfere with the rim water discharge so that the toilet cleaning performance is not affected. In the state where the accumulated water level has risen to the overflow water level, a siphon phenomenon occurs due to jet water discharge, and urine is discharged into the sewage together with the accumulated water, and then the accumulated water level returns to the overflow water level by rim water discharge. At the stage where the accumulated water level returns to the overflow water level by the rim water discharge, the urine collecting device is stored in the storage position of the rim portion, and the urine collection device is washed by the rim water discharging at that position. Since the flow rate per unit time is large, the cleaning power of the urine collector is high. At the same time, when the cleaning of the other sensing means is completed, the ready display is switched to the measurable display.

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing a first embodiment of the toilet unit of the present invention.
It can be largely divided into a toilet part and a functional part. A zet water discharge nozzle for generating a siphon phenomenon with respect to the stored water in the toilet is provided in the stored water, and a rim water discharge nozzle is provided for the purpose of replenishing the stored water. The city water supplied to the functional unit is supplied to the water channel switching means through a water supply unit including a strainer for removing foreign matter so as not to affect the mechanical system. The water channel switching means cleans the zette water discharge nozzle and rim water discharge nozzle for discharging the waste sewage in the toilet unit, the drain socket for preventing the odor from rising from the sewage pipe, and the urine collection device for collecting the urine sample in the functional unit Water is sequentially supplied to the electrolyzed water supply means.

  The control means controls the water channel switching means, the electrolyzed water supply means, the water level measurement means, the urine collection device, and the sensing means, and transmits the measurement calculation result to the operation / display unit via the communication means. The communication means may be not only wired transmission but also wireless transmission using infrared rays or radio waves. The sensing means may be present in the functional unit, but may also be via a sample container for cooperation with other large clinical testing devices.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the urine collecting means of the present invention.
A through-hole communicating with the inside and the outside of the ball portion 12 is provided in a side portion of the Western-style toilet 11, and a urine collection unit 50, and more specifically, a drive portion of the urine collection unit is disposed in the hole portion. The through hole is above the water level height of the accumulated water 13 and prevents the accumulated water 13 from leaking to the outside even when the sealing property at the time of assembly is poor. The urine collection unit 50 includes a urine collection arm 52 having a urine collection device 51 that receives a user's urine at the tip, and the urine collection arm 52 is rotated inside the ball portion 12 by driving means so that the urine of the user is in the air. It comes to collect.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the urine collecting means of the present invention.
A through hole communicating with the inside and the outside of the ball portion 12 is provided in a cutout shape in the side portion of the Western-style toilet 11, and the urine collecting unit 50, more specifically, a driving unit for the urine collector 51 is disposed in the through hole. ing. The notch cuts the rim surface 14. The notch shape is higher than the water level height of the accumulated water 13 and prevents the accumulated water 13 from leaking to the outside even when the sealing property during assembly is poor. The urine collecting unit 50 includes a urine collecting arm 52 having a urine collecting device 51 that receives a user's urine at the tip, and rotates the inside of the ball portion 12 by a driving unit so as to collect the user's urine in the air. It has become.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the urine collection means of the present invention.
As described above, the side portion of the Western-style toilet 11 is provided with a notch-shaped through hole that allows the ball portion 12 to communicate with the inside and the outside, and the urine collection unit 50 is disposed in the through hole. The notch cuts the rim surface 14. The motor 53 rotates the lead screw 54 and drives the cam block 55 back and forth along the rotation. The kick spring 56 locked to the cam block 55 applies a force to the cam 57 so that a force is always applied in the horizontal direction. The cam 57 abuts on a cam surface 59 provided inside the case 58, and the urine collector is in the vertical direction at the position C indicating the storage / storage state of the urine collector 51, and by the inclination of the cam surface 59 at the position A indicating the urine collection state. 51 is rotated in the ball portion 12.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the urine collecting means of the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows a state viewed from a cross section DD in FIG. 7, the cam 57 contacting the cam surface 59 is tilted by the back-and-forth movement of the cam block 55, and the urine collection arm 52 connected to the cam 57 is the ball portion 12. The state which rotates inside is shown.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the urine collecting means of the present invention.
A notch-shaped through hole communicating with the ball portion 12 and the outside is provided in the front portion of the Western-style toilet 11, and the urine collection unit 50 is disposed in the hole portion. The hole shape is above the water level height of the accumulated water 13 and prevents the accumulated water 13 from leaking to the outside even when the sealing property at the time of assembly is poor. The urine collecting unit 50 includes a urine collecting arm 52 having a urine collecting device 51 that receives a user's urine at the tip, and rotates the inside of the ball portion 12 by a driving unit so as to collect the user's urine in the air. It has become.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the urine collecting means of the present invention.
The front portion of the Western-style toilet 11 is provided with a notch communicating with the ball portion 12 and the outside, and the urine collection unit 50 is disposed in the hole portion. The notch cuts the rim surface 14. The urine collecting device 51 is stored and stored at a position C in the vicinity of the rim surface 14, and the urine collecting device 51 is rotated in the ball portion 12 at the position A indicating the urine collecting state. A groove 60 is formed in the urine collecting arm 52 in the vertical direction, and in particular, consideration is given so that male urine can be easily guided to the urine collecting device 50.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the urine collecting means of the present invention.
It shows the state seen from E in FIG. The motor 53 rotates the lead screw 54 and drives the cam block 55 left and right along the rotation. The cam block 55 applies a force to the cam 57 so that a force is always applied in the horizontal direction. The cam 57 abuts against a cam surface 59 provided inside the case 58, and the urine collector 51 is inclined in the vertical direction at the position C indicating the storage / storage state of the urine collector 51, and by the inclination of the cam surface 59 at the position A indicating the urine collection state. Is rotated within the ball portion 12.

It is a perspective view which shows the Example of the toilet unit incorporating the urine collection means of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st Example of the toilet unit of this invention. It is an operation | movement sequence diagram which shows the 1st Example of the toilet bowl unit of this invention. It is a system block diagram which shows the 1st Example of the toilet unit of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the 1st Example of the urine collection means of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd Example of the urine collection means of this invention. It is a top view which shows the 2nd Example of the urine collection means of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the 2nd Example of the urine collection means of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the 3rd Example of the urine collection means of this invention. It is a top view which shows the 3rd Example of the urine collection means of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the urine collecting means of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Toilet unit 2 ... Function case 3 ... Mechanism unit cabinet 4 ... Urine 5 ... Mechanism unit cabinet 11 ... Western style toilet bowl 12 ... Ball part 13 ... Reservoir 14 ... Rim surface 15 ... Trap part 16 ... Drain socket 21 ... Toilet seat 22 ... Stool lid 31 ... Zet water discharge nozzle 32 ... Rim water discharge nozzle 33 ... Branch port 34 ... Branch path 35 ... Three-way valve 41 ... Overflow water level 42 ... Pressure path 43 ... Pressure sensor 50 ... Urine collection unit 51 ... Urine collection device 52 ... Urine collection device 52 Arm 53 ... Strainer 54 ... Lead screw 55 ... Cam block 56 ... Kick spring 57 ... Cam 58 ... Case 59 ... Cam surface 60 ... Groove

Claims (6)

To collect the urine excreted by the user and the stored water, the trap for discharging the stored water into the sewage, the water supply means for urging the stored water to drain into the sewage, and for collecting the user's urine A toilet unit comprising:
A toilet unit in which a penetrating portion that communicates the inside and the outside of the ball portion is provided, and driving means for moving the urine collector on the urination route is disposed in the penetrating portion. The toilet unit according to claim 1, wherein the penetrating part is formed by cutting out the ball part. The toilet unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the urine collector moves into the ball portion when collecting urine, and is stored near the upper end of the ball portion when not used. The toilet unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driving unit is driven so as to move the urine collecting device from a water supply path at least during excretion discharge in the toilet. . The toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the urine collector is washed by interference with water supplied from a water supply path without aiming to discharge excrement of the toilet. unit. The toilet unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the driving means is disposed outside the ball portion and in a range not interfering with a user's lower limb.

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