JP2007268099A - Automatic opening and closing device for toilet seat/toilet lid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform repair with simple work when abnormality occurs in a torque limiter arranged in an automatic opening/closing device for a toilet seat/toilet lid. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic opening/closing device for a toilet seat/toilet lid opens/closes the toilet seat/toilet lid relative to a casing 2 incorporating a function part such as a control part. The device includes: a drive unit 9 provided in the casing 2 and having a deceleration transmitting mechanism for transmitting the rotation of a motor to an output shaft 10; and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the output of the drive unit 9 to the toilet seat/toilet lid through the use of a first transmission unit 6 which is provided in the toilet seat 3 or the toilet lid 4 and has a rotary shaft 11 and a torsion spring 12 for energizing the rotary shaft 11 in the opening direction of the toilet seat/toilet lid and a second transmission unit 8 which is provided so as to be freely attachable to/detachable from the drive unit 9 and the first transmission unit 6 and has the torque limiter 17 for transmitting the rotation of the output shaft 10 of the drive unit 9 to the rotary shaft 11 of the first transmission unit 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic opening / closing device for a toilet seat or toilet lid in a Western-style toilet, and more particularly to an automatic opening / closing device having a torque limiter mechanism.

A conventional automatic toilet seat / toilet lid automatic opening / closing device that electrically opens and closes a toilet seat and / or toilet lid is connected to a drive motor that rotates in the opposite direction and a rotation shaft by a reduction gear train, and the drive motor and the deceleration The rotary shaft protrudes from a drive device in which the gear train is unitized, and the force generated when the user opens and closes the toilet seat and toilet lid is transmitted to the reduction gear via the rotary shaft. A torque limiter mechanism using a friction system is provided between the rotary shaft and the final stage of the reduction gear train so that excessive force generated by manual opening and closing is not transmitted to the reduction gear train via the rotary shaft. . This torque limiter mechanism transmits the rotation of the rotary shaft of the drive unit to the toilet seat / toilet lid, but if the toilet seat / toilet lid is manually opened / closed with a load exceeding a predetermined level, it will slip between the rotary shaft and the reduction gear train. To limit the load transmitted to the reduction gear train.
Thus, an automatic opening / closing device that operates with a stable torque is configured (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-102644 A WO03 / 101269

However, since the torque limiter mechanism is configured by a friction method between the rotating shaft in the driving device and the final stage of the reduction gear train, the slip surface of the rotating shaft of the driving device and the reduction gear train has been changed over time. There is an event that wears and eventually the toilet seat or toilet lid does not open and close. In that case, since the torque limiter mechanism exists in the drive device, if the torque limiter mechanism is abnormal and needs to be replaced, it is necessary to open the casing, take out the drive device from the casing, and replace the drive device itself. The work was difficult unless someone had expertise.
Even if only the torque limiter mechanism fails and only the torque limiter is to be replaced, the drive device itself has to be replaced, which increases the number of discarded members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In the invention of claim 1, a toilet seat / stool that allows a toilet seat / stool lid to be opened and closed with respect to a casing in which a functional unit such as a control unit is incorporated. In the automatic lid opening / closing device,
A drive device comprising a motor, an output shaft, and a deceleration transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of the motor to the output shaft;
An automatic opening and closing device is configured with a transmission mechanism that is provided on the toilet seat or toilet lid and transmits the output of the driving device to the toilet seat and toilet lid,
The transmission mechanism is detachable from the first transmission unit having a rotation shaft and a biasing means for biasing the rotation shaft in the opening direction of the toilet seat or the toilet lid, and the drive device and the first transmission unit. And a second transmission unit having a torque limiter for limiting a torque transmitted between the output shaft of the driving device and the rotation shaft of the first transmission unit. Therefore, the second transmission unit having the torque limiter is provided. If the torque limiter fails, only the second transmission unit needs to be replaced, and the number of discarded members can be reduced as much as possible.

  In the invention of claim 2, the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit are incorporated in the toilet seat or the toilet lid, so that the toilet seat and the toilet lid are attached to and detached from the casing in which the functional part is incorporated. The transmission unit can be attached and detached.

  In the invention of claim 3, since the angle detecting means for detecting the rotation angle of the toilet seat or the toilet lid is provided in the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit, the absolute position of the opened / closed state of the toilet seat or the toilet lid is determined. It can be detected, and the control of the rotation angle and rotation speed of the automatic opening / closing device is facilitated.

  In the invention of claim 4, since the heater seat is built in the toilet seat, the control signal line from the angle detection means is bundled together with the electric cord for energizing the toilet seat, and is connected to the control unit in the casing. Even if the angle detection means is in the toilet seat or the toilet lid, information on the rotation angle and rotation speed of the automatic opening / closing device can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, even when the torque limiter mechanism fails due to wear, it is not necessary to open the casing and remove the drive device from the casing, and remove the toilet seat or toilet lid from the casing and replace only the second transmission unit, or Repair it. By doing so, it is not necessary to open the casing and remove the drive device, so that repair work can be performed easily and the number of discarded members can be reduced as much as possible.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a warm water cleaning toilet seat device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a casing 2 of a warm water washing toilet seat device 1 is fixed using a rim upper surface on the back side of a toilet body (not shown), and a toilet seat 3 and a toilet lid 4 are attached to the casing 2 so as to be freely opened and closed. ing.
Insertion portions 3 a and 3 b for accommodating the first transmission units 5 and 6 and the second transmission units 7 and 8 are provided at the base end portion of the toilet seat 3.
The first transmission unit 5 for urging the toilet seat 3 to the open side and the second transmission unit 7 having a torque limiter mechanism are inserted into the insertion portion 3a. Further, a first transmission unit 6 for lid that biases the toilet lid 4 to the open side and a second transmission unit 8 including a torque limiter mechanism are inserted into the insertion portion 3b. The seat first transmission unit 5 and the second transmission unit 7 can rotate with respect to the toilet lid 4 and cannot rotate with respect to the toilet seat 3. Further, the lid first transmission unit 6 and the second transmission unit 8 can rotate with respect to the toilet seat 3 and cannot rotate with respect to the toilet lid 4.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining attachment of the toilet seat 3 and the toilet lid 4 of the warm water washing toilet seat device 1 equipped with the first transmission units 5 and 6 and the second transmission units 7 and 8 of the present invention.
For convenience of explanation, the connection relationship between the toilet cover 4 on the left side, the first transmission unit 6 for lid and the second transmission unit 8, and the casing 2 will be described below in FIG. The connection relationship between the seat first transmission unit 5, the second transmission unit 7, and the casing 2 is also substantially the same. (In the case of a toilet seat, the components of the toilet lid and the components of the toilet seat described below are interchanged.)
The drive device 9 fixed in the casing 2 transmits torque of a motor (not shown) in the drive device 9 to the output shaft 10 via a speed reducer (not shown). The torque of the output shaft 10 is transmitted to the lid second transmission unit 8 and the first transmission unit 6.
The lid second transmission unit 8 includes a fitting portion 18 that engages with the output shaft 10 of the driving device 9, an output shaft 16 that is fitted into the fitting portion 18, and a magnetic body 15 that is attached to one surface of the output shaft 16. The torque limiter 17 is sandwiched between the output shaft 16 and the fitting portion 18 and transmits the rotation of the output shaft 10 of the driving device 9 to the output shaft 16.
The lid first transmission unit 6 includes a storage cylinder 13, a rotary shaft 11 that is rotatably accommodated in the storage cylinder 13 and has one end engaged with the output shaft 16, a torsion spring 12, and the storage cylinder 13. It comprises a Hall IC 14 to be attached, and transmits the rotation of the output shaft 16 of the second transmission unit 8 for lid to the rotary shaft 11.
The storage cylinder 13 is provided in the vicinity of the output shaft 10 of the casing 2, is fitted to a projection (not shown), and cannot rotate with respect to the casing 2. One end 12 a of the torsion spring 12 is inserted into the spring receiving portion 13 a of the storage cylinder 13, and the other end 12 b is inserted into the spring receiving portion 11 c of the rotating shaft 11, depending on the amount of rotation of the rotating shaft 11 on the opening side of the toilet lid 4. The self-supporting of the toilet lid 4 is assisted by applying a torque.
The rotating shaft 11 includes an engaging portion 11a with the output shaft 16 of the second transmission unit 8, a bearing portion 11b, a spring receiving portion 11c, and an output portion 11d. The torque received by the engaging portion 11a is fitted into the output portion 11d. While transmitting to the toilet lid 4, the urging | biasing force (toilet lid open | release side torque) of the torsion spring 12 accommodated in the storage cylinder 13 is transmitted to the toilet lid 4 from the spring receiving part 11c.
The magnetic body 15 attached to the output shaft 16 and the Hall IC 14 fixed to one side surface of the storage cylinder 13 so as to face the magnetic body 15 constitute an angle detection means for detecting the rotation angle of the toilet lid 4.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the arrangement of the Hall IC 14 and the magnetic body 15 attached to the first transmission unit 6 and the second transmission unit 8. The magnetic body 15 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotating shaft 11, and the magnetic body 15 The Hall IC 14 detects which of the magnetized N / S poles is present, and detects the open / closed state of the toilet lid 4.

  FIG. 4 shows a mounting structure of the first transmission unit 6 and the second transmission unit 8. A torque limiter 17 is press-fitted between the output shaft 16 and the fitting portion 18 of the second transmission unit 8, and the output shaft 16 is further inserted. The magnetic body 15 is attached to the side surface opposite to the fitting portion 18. The first transmission unit 6 and the second transmission unit 8 are coupled by screws so that the second transmission unit 8 does not come off the first transmission unit 6 simply by removing the toilet seat 3 or the toilet lid 4 from the casing 2. It has become. Further, when the torque limiter mechanism fails, the second transmission unit 8 can be easily separated from the first transmission unit 6 by removing the screw.

  As described above, the second transmission unit 8 provided with the torque limiter 17 is attached to the toilet seat 3 or the toilet lid 4 when the toilet seat 3 or the toilet lid 4 is removed from the casing 2, so that an abnormality has occurred in the torque limiter 17. Even in such a case, it is not necessary to disassemble the casing 2 and remove the drive device 9, and the repair work can be easily performed. Further, if the second transmission unit 8 is replaced with a new one, the abnormality of the torque limiter 17 is eliminated, so that even a general user can easily perform repair work even if it is not a person with specialized knowledge.

  Next, a configuration for outputting the opening / closing position of the toilet lid 4 detected by the angle detection means will be described with reference to FIG. An electric cord for energizing a heater installed in the toilet seat 3 is wired in the casing 2 from the vicinity of the output shaft 10 of the drive device 9 and connected to a control unit (not shown). The control signal line from the Hall IC 14 is also bundled together with the electric cord for energizing the heating toilet seat and connected to the control unit in the casing 2, and the open / close state of the toilet lid 4 is changed to the control unit (see FIG. (Not shown).

It is a perspective view of the warm water washing toilet seat device carrying the toilet seat or toilet lid automatic opening and closing device of the present invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the fitting state of the 1st transmission unit of the toilet seat or toilet lid of this invention, the 2nd transmission unit, and a drive device. It is sectional drawing explaining the example which has arrange | positioned Hall IC and a magnetic body to the 1st transmission unit and the 2nd transmission unit of the toilet seat or toilet lid of this invention. It is a figure explaining the connection structure of the 1st transmission unit of the toilet seat or toilet lid of this invention, and a 2nd transmission unit. It is a figure explaining the structure which bundles the control signal wire | line from Hall IC attached to the 1st transmission unit of the toilet seat or toilet lid of this invention with the electric cord of a heating toilet seat, and connects it in a casing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Warm water washing toilet seat apparatus 2 Casing 3 Toilet seat 4 Toilet lid 5 First transmission unit for seat 6 First transmission unit for lid 7 Second transmission unit for seat 8 Second transmission unit for lid 9 Driving device 10 Output shaft 11 Rotating shaft 12 Torsion spring (biasing means)
13 Storage cylinder 14 Hall IC
15 Magnetic body 16 Output shaft 17 Torque limiter 18 Fitting portion

Claims (4)

In the toilet seat / toilet lid automatic opening / closing device that allows the toilet seat / toilet lid to be opened and closed with respect to the casing in which the functional unit such as the control unit is built in,
A drive device comprising a motor, an output shaft, and a deceleration transmission mechanism for transmitting rotation of the motor to the output shaft;
An automatic opening and closing device is configured with a transmission mechanism that is provided on the toilet seat or toilet lid and transmits the output of the driving device to the toilet seat and toilet lid,
The transmission mechanism is detachable from the first transmission unit having a rotation shaft and a biasing means for biasing the rotation shaft in the opening direction of the toilet seat or the toilet lid, and the drive device and the first transmission unit. And a second transmission unit including a torque limiter for limiting a torque transmitted between the output shaft of the driving device and the rotation shaft of the first transmission unit. Switchgear. 2. The toilet seat / toilet lid automatic opening / closing device according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit are built in the toilet seat or the toilet lid. 3. The toilet seat / toilet lid automatic opening / closing device according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission unit and the second transmission unit are provided with angle detection means for detecting a rotation angle of the toilet seat or the toilet lid. 4. A heating heater is built in the toilet seat, and a control signal line from the angle detection unit is bundled together with an electric cord for energizing the toilet seat and connected to a control unit in the casing. Automatic opening and closing device for toilet seat and toilet lid.

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