JP2556031Y2 - Electric toothbrush device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention relates to an electric toothbrush device which appropriately attaches a toothbrush to a device body containing a driving means and automatically rotates or linearly reciprocates the toothbrush to perform tooth brushing. .

2. Description of the Related Art Tooth brushing methods performed using an electric toothbrush device of this type include a method of brushing teeth by rotating a toothbrush and a method of brushing teeth by reciprocating motion. In particular, in the case of reciprocating movement, the method is further divided into a method of brushing teeth by reciprocating rotation and a method of brushing teeth by reciprocating linearly. Among them, the former is specifically called a rolling method in which a toothbrush is rotated and reciprocated around the length of a tooth to brush the teeth. Among the latter, two more
There is a scrubbing method in which the toothbrush is reciprocated with a large stroke in the direction of the teeth and brushes the teeth, and a bath method in which the toothbrush is reciprocated in small strokes with small strokes and puts the teeth between the teeth to brush the teeth. . And each has a unique toothpaste effect. For example, according to the rolling method, dirt between teeth can be effectively removed, according to the scrubbing method, the entire tooth surface can be effectively polished, and according to the bath method,
There are advantages such as effective removal of plaque. Therefore, by selectively combining some of the plurality of tooth brushing methods according to the location and purpose of the tooth brush, a more effective tooth brush can be performed. Therefore, in the conventional electric toothbrush device, for example, the drive of the reversible motor,
Depending on the driving direction, a motion converting mechanism appropriately converts the reciprocating motion into a rotary reciprocating motion or a linear reciprocating motion, transmits the driving force to the driving shaft, and rolls or buses a toothbrush connected to the tip of the driving shaft, for example. is there. The motion conversion mechanism has a configuration in which a plurality of eccentric cams are provided around a support shaft of a face gear that meshes with a motor gear.

However, the conventional electric toothbrush device has a plurality of eccentric cams as a motion conversion mechanism, so that the motion conversion mechanism becomes complicated and costly, and the miniaturization is hindered. there were.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric toothbrush device which has a simple structure, can keep costs low, and can be downsized.

Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, the electric toothbrush device according to the present invention has a toothbrush 11 mounted thereon, for example, as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, and is rotatable reciprocally around an axis and linearly reciprocally reciprocable in an axial direction. A drive shaft 35 to be supported, and an upper end 30c is fixed to the drive shaft 35, and a lower end is extended in a direction away from the drive shaft 35 in a direction parallel to the drive shaft 35, and the lower end together with the drive shaft 35 A follower 30 which is rotatable and reciprocable about its axis and linearly reciprocable in the axial direction, and is provided with a holding hole 31 at its lower end.
A fixed guide frame 32 having a guide square hole 33 of equal size in the vertical and horizontal directions adjacent to the holding hole 31 of the follower 30; and a length substantially equal to one side of the guide square hole 33 of the fixed guide frame 32 in the longitudinal direction. In addition to providing an elongated engaging portion 28 having an elongated hole 27, the follower 30 is provided adjacent to the engaging portion 28.
The length of the hole is approximately equal to the diameter of the holding hole 31 of the
29 is provided, the fitting portion 29 is rotatably housed in the holding hole 31, and the engaging portion 28 is rotatably housed in the guide square hole 33, which is a first rotation position. The slot 27 is oriented in the axial direction of the drive shaft 35,
Is restricted by the fixed guide frame 32, and when the second rotation position is perpendicular to the first rotation position, the long hole 27 is perpendicular to the axis direction of the drive shaft 35. A switching guide 26 for regulating the movement of the engaging portion 28 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the engaging portion 28 with the fixed guide frame 32; and an eccentric projection inserted into the elongated hole 27 of the engaging portion 28 of the switching top 26. 25 is provided so that the motor 17 can rotate in the forward and reverse directions.
When the forward rotation is performed, the switching top 26 is driven to rotate by frictional engagement, and a part of the outer periphery of the switching top 26 is provided around the periphery of the holding hole 31 of the follower 30. The switching piece 26 is brought into the first rotation position by contacting with such a stopper, and only the movement of the eccentric projection 25 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft 35 is transmitted and guided by the fixed guide frame 32 to perform the switching. The top 26 is moved, and the follower 30 is rotated about the drive shaft 35 by the movement of the switching top 26.
When the motor 17 rotates in a reverse direction while rotating integrally with the motor 17, the switching piece 26 is driven to rotate by frictional engagement, and a part of the outer periphery of the switching piece 26 is held by the follower 30. The switching piece 26 is brought into the second rotation position by hitting against a stopper such as the engagement projections 30a and 30b provided around the periphery of the hole 31, and only the axial movement of the drive shaft 35 of the eccentric projection 25 is transmitted. The switching piece 26 is guided by the fixed guide frame 32.
And a rotating body such as a face gear 21 that linearly reciprocates the follower 30 together with the drive shaft 35 in the axial direction by the movement of the switching piece 26.

When the tooth brushing is performed by the rolling method, the motor 17 is driven to rotate the rotating body in the forward direction, the switching piece 26 is driven to rotate, and the switching piece 26 is brought into contact with the stopper of the follower 30 to be in the first rotation position. The movement of the drive shaft 35 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 35 is absorbed by the elongated hole 27, and only the movement in the direction perpendicular to the axis is transmitted, guided by the fixed guide frame 32 to move the switching piece 26, and the movement of the switching piece 26 , The follower 30 is rotated about the drive shaft 35, and the drive shaft 35 is rotated and reciprocated integrally around the axis.

When the tooth brushing is performed by the scrubbing method or the bath method, the motor 17 is driven in reverse to rotate the rotating body in reverse,
Is driven to rotate to the second rotation position by contacting the stopper of the follower 30, and the movement of the eccentric protrusion 25 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft 35 is absorbed by the elongated hole 27 and only the movement in the axial direction is transmitted. The switching piece 26 is moved by being guided by the fixed guide frame 32, and the switching piece 26 is moved.
, The follower 30 linearly reciprocates integrally with the drive shaft 35 in the axial direction thereof.

Embodiment Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the configuration of the entire internal mechanism of an electric toothbrush device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This electric toothbrush device has, for example, a toothbrush 11 connected to a device body 10 as shown in the figure. The container body 10 is
And an upper case 13 and a lower case 14 attached to both upper and lower ends thereof, and an internal mechanism is provided in these cases. Then, the upper case 13 is covered with the cap 15. Body case
Inside 12, an inner case 16 is arranged, and a reversible motor 17 and a rechargeable battery 18 are housed through the inner case 16. On the other hand, a charging terminal 19 is provided in the lower case 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, a face gear (rotary body) 21 meshes with a motor gear 20 of the reversible motor 17. The face gear 21 is provided on a support shaft 23 arranged at right angles to the motor shaft 22 so as to be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions. Both ends of the support shaft 23 are supported by the chassis 24. The face gear 21 has an eccentric protrusion 25, as shown in FIGS.
The eccentric protrusion 25 engages with a long hole 27 formed in the switching piece 26.
The switching piece 26 includes an engaging portion 28 on the face gear 21 side and a disc-shaped fitting portion 29 having a spherical outer surface. 5A, two pairs of engaging step portions 29 are respectively provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the long hole 27 as shown in FIG.
a ・ 29d and 29b ・ 29c are provided. And this switching frame 26
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fitting portion 29 is housed in the holding hole 31 of the follower 30 and the outer peripheral surface thereof is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the holding hole 31 to be rotatably held. I do. Also, the engaging portion
28 is arranged in the guide square hole 33 of the fixed guide frame 32. The entire switching piece 26 is connected to the face gear 21 and the chassis 24.
And restricts the lateral movement in the figure. The follower 30 has an engaging projection 30a facing the inner peripheral surface of the holding hole 31.
・ Has 30b Then, the drive shaft 35 penetrates the upper end portion 30c and is fixed to the drive shaft 35. As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed guide frame 32 has a bearing portion 32a integrally formed on the guide square hole 33, and the drive shaft is formed by the bearing portion 32a and a bearing 36 provided at an upper portion in the drawing. Bearing 35 And drive shaft 35
Is held so as to be rotatable and reciprocable about its axis and to be linearly reciprocable in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the fixed guide frame 32 is screwed to the upper case 13 with the chassis 24 interposed therebetween at the upper end 32b.
As shown in FIG. 1, the drive shaft 35 has a bus toothbrush 11 removably attached to its tip 35a. Now, when the face gear 21 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 (forward rotation), the switching piece 26
Press to rotate. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the engaging steps 29a and 29d are respectively engaged with the engaging projections 30a and 30b, and the switching piece 26 is set to the first rotation position in the figure. And
When the face gear 21 further rotates, the switching piece 26 is guided by the fixed guide frame 32 and moves in parallel to the left side in the figure, and the state shown in FIG. When the face gear 21 further rotates, it returns to the neutral position as shown in (c) and then moves parallel to the right side in the figure as shown in (d). Thereafter, the robot returns to the neutral position shown in FIG. By this repetition, the switching piece 26 moves in a horizontal direction in the drawing, that is, a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft 35, with a stroke corresponding to twice the amount of eccentricity of the eccentric projection 25. In this case, the upper and lower parallel guide surfaces 33a of the guide square holes 33 of the fixed guide frame 32 are shown.
And restricts the vertical movement of the switching top 26 in the figure. Then, the follower 30 is pushed by the switching piece 26 based on the parallel movement of the switching piece 26. Then the follower 30
, The drive shaft 35 reciprocates around its axis. Conversely, when the face gear 21 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the eccentric projection 25 causes the switching piece 26 to rotate.
Press to rotate 90 degrees in reverse. Then, as shown in (a) of FIG. 6, this time, the engaging step portions 29c and 29b are respectively engaged with the engaging protrusions, and the switching piece 26 is moved perpendicularly to the first rotation position. Two rotation positions. And further face gear 21
When is rotated in the reverse direction, the switching top 26 is guided by the fixed guide frame 32 and moves in parallel to the upper side in the figure to be in the state shown in FIG. When the face gear 21 further rotates in the reverse direction, it returns to the neutral position as shown in (c) and then moves parallel to the lower side in the figure as shown in (d). Thereafter, the robot returns to the neutral position shown in FIG. By repeating this, the switching top 26
Moves in the vertical direction in the drawing, that is, in the axial direction of the drive shaft 35, with a stroke corresponding to twice the amount of eccentricity of the same eccentric projection 25. In this case, the guide is guided by the left and right parallel guide surfaces 33b of the guide square holes 33 of the fixed guide frame 32 in the figure, and the right and left movement of the switching piece 26 in the figure is restricted. Then, the follower 30 is pushed by the switching piece 26 based on the parallel movement of the switching piece 26. Then, the drive shaft 35 linearly reciprocates in the axial direction via the follower 30.

Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 7, the inner case 16 is formed by integrally forming a motor storage part 40 and a battery storage part 41, and has a motor storage opening 42 that opens in the opposite direction to each other. The battery compartment 43 is provided. Of which motor storage section
As shown in FIG. 8, an L-shaped insulator 44 is attached to the reversible motor 17 housed in the inside 40. Its insulator 44
The motor terminals 46 and 47 connected to the lead terminals of the reversible motor 17 are screwed to the piece 45. Contact springs 48 and 49 are integrally provided on one motor terminal 46 by press working, and a contact spring 50 is integrally provided on the other motor terminal 47 by press working. The motor terminals 46 and 47 sandwich the insulating plate portion 45a provided on one piece 45 of the insulator 44 to insulate them from each other, and the contact spring holding portions 51a and 51b provided on the other piece 51 provide one contact spring 48. 49 and the contact spring holding part
The other contact spring 50 is held by 51c. Then, the contact springs 48, 49, 50 are extended upward in the figure in parallel. The insulator 44 is positioned such that one piece 45 is positioned at the lower end of the motor housing 40 in the drawing, and the reversible motor 17 is placed in the motor housing 40 with the other piece 51 covering a part of the motor housing 42. It will be stored. As shown in FIG. 2, the reversible motor 17 is screwed to the upper end of the inner case 16 via the chassis 24. Furthermore, the inner case 16
As shown in the figure, bend the power springs 53 and 54 to
It is assembled to the outer peripheral surface 41a of the base 41 and is held by a plurality of holding claws 55. The power springs 53 and 54 have their upper ends 53a and 54a extended upward in the drawing in parallel with each other. And the eighth
A power spring holding portion 51d provided on the other piece 51 of the insulator 44 shown in the figure.
· Hold by 51e, as shown in Fig. 2, power springs 53 and 54
Are arranged between contact springs 48 and 50 and between contact springs 50 and 49, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, holes 56 formed in the power supply housing 41 in the power supply springs 53 and 54 are provided.
・ Battery terminals 57 projecting from 56 are connected by soldering. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower ends 53b and 54b of the power springs 53 and 54 are connected to the charging terminal 19 by the lower case 14. Reference numeral 58 in FIG. 7 denotes a backflow prevention diode when the charging terminals 19 are short-circuited.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the outer periphery of the main body case 12 (the outer periphery of the upper end in FIG. 1) is provided with a guide plate portion.
60 is provided, and a guide long groove 61a is formed on both sides thereof, and an engagement round hole 61b is formed in the center. A cylindrical switch cam 63 is engaged with the engagement round hole 61b via an O-ring 62 to rotatably support the switch cam 63. The switch cam 63 has engagement protrusions 64 and 65 on the right and left end surfaces on the peripheral edge, respectively. Hook claws project inward on both sides of the slide plate 66 in the guide long groove 61a.
Engage 66a. Then, the slide plate 66 is slidable on the main body case 12 in the vertical direction. The slide plate 66 has an engaging long groove 67 provided in the center in the width direction. Then, the engagement protrusion 64 on the left side of the switch cam 63 in the figure is engaged with the engagement long groove 67. Thus, the switch cam 63 is rotated by sliding the slide plate 66. The engagement protrusion 65 on the right side of the switch cam 63 in the drawing engages with the elongated hole 69 of the switch lever 68. The switch lever 68, as shown in FIG.
A restriction hole 70 is formed in the upper end 68a together with the elongated hole 69, and spring holding grooves 71 and 72 are provided in the lower end 68b. The spring holding groove 71
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper ends 53a and 54a of the battery springs 53 and 54 are engaged with and held at 72. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the switch lever 68 is pivotally mounted on the chassis 24 with the pin 73 as a fulcrum. And then
11, as shown in FIG.
Of the switch lever 68 to regulate the swing angle range. A click spring 75 is attached to the tip 23a of the support shaft 23. Click spring 75 has its engaging recess
At 75a, it engages with the engaging step 68c of the operating lever 68,
Notch 63a where hook portion 75b is provided on the circumference of switch cam 63
Hang on. When the switch cam 63 is rotated against the click spring 75 by the slide plate 66, a click feeling is given. Thus, for example, when the slide plate 66 is positioned at the intermediate position on the main body case 12, the switch lever 68 is in the straight neutral position as shown in FIG.
The current is turned off. When, for example, the slide plate is slid and positioned at a position above the main body case 12 and the switch cam 63 is rotated, the switch cam 63 rotates in one direction and swings the switch lever 68 to the right in FIG. The upper ends 53a and 54a of the power supply springs 53 and 54 are bent to the right, and one upper end 53a and the contact spring 50 are brought into contact with each other and the other upper end 54a is brought into contact with the contact spring 49 and the power is turned on. The reversible motor 17 is driven. When the slide plate 66 is positioned at the lower position and the switch cam 63 is rotated in the other direction, the switch lever 68 swings to the left in FIG.
The upper ends 53a and 54a are bent to the left.
53a is brought into contact with the contact spring 48 and the other upper end 5
4a makes contact conduction with the contact spring 50, and reversely drives the reversible motor 17.

For example, when performing tooth brushing by a rolling method, the slide plate 66 is positioned above the main body case 12 and the power is turned on to drive the reversible motor 17. Then, the face gear 21 is rotated (forward rotation), and the engagement step 29 of the switching top 26 is rotated.
a and 29d are engaged with the engaging projections 30a and 30b of the follower 30 to bring the switching piece 26 into the first rotational position, guided by the fixed guide frame 32, and rotated together with the drive shaft 35 through the follower 30. Reciprocate. The toothbrush 11 is used to brush the teeth by the rolling method.

When brushing by the bath method, use a slide plate.
The reversible motor 17 is reversely driven with the position 66 below the main body case 12. Then, the switching gear 26 is rotated by rotating the face gear 21 in the reverse direction, and the engagement step portions 29c and 29b are engaged with the engagement protrusions 30a and 30b of the follower 30, and It is guided by the fixed guide frame 32 and linearly reciprocates with the drive shaft 35 via the follower 30. The toothbrush 11 is used to brush the teeth by the bath method.

In the illustrated embodiment described above, among the brushing methods in which the toothbrush is reciprocated, the case of the bath method is shown. However, the present invention makes it possible to brush the tooth by the scrubbing method by, for example, increasing the amount of eccentricity of the eccentric projection. Become.

Effects of the Invention Therefore, according to the invention, the motion conversion mechanism that converts the driving force of the motor into reciprocating motion and transmits the reciprocating motion to the drive shaft does not have a configuration in which a plurality of eccentric cams are combined as in the related art. The electric toothbrush device can be reduced in size with a simple and low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal mechanism of the entire electric toothbrush device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electric toothbrush device viewed from the right side, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the motion conversion mechanism of the electric toothbrush device, and FIGS. 5A to 5D show the stepwise movement of the switching piece when the face gear is rotated clockwise. 6 (a) to 6 (d) are step-by-step operation views showing the parallel movement of the switching piece when the face gear is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and FIG. 7 is a power supply spring attached. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an insulator and a motor terminal, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of assembling a slide plate and a switch cam to a main body case, and FIG. 10 is a slide plate and a switch cam. Fig. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the electric toothbrush device at It is an exploded perspective view of a switch lever which omitted a switch cam, a click spring, and a part. 11 Toothbrush, 17 Motor, 21 Face gear (rotating body), 25 Eccentric projection, 26 Switching frame, 27
Elongated hole, 28 ... engaging part, 29 ... fitting part, 30 ... follower, 30
a ・ 30b ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ engagement protrusion (stopper) 、 30c ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ top end 、 31
…… Holding hole, 32 …… Fixed guide frame, 33 …… Guide square hole, 35
…… Drive shaft.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A drive shaft having a toothbrush mounted thereon and supported so as to be rotatable and reciprocable about an axis and linearly reciprocally reciprocally in an axial direction, and a position separated from the drive shaft by fixing an upper end portion to the drive shaft. The lower end is extended in a direction parallel to the drive shaft, and the lower end is provided so as to be rotatable and reciprocable around the axis thereof together with the drive shaft and to be linearly reciprocable in the axial direction. A follower provided, a fixed guide frame having guide square holes of equal size in the vertical and horizontal directions adjacent to the holding hole of the follower, and a length substantially equal to one side of the guide square hole of the fixed guide frame in the longitudinal direction. An elongated engaging portion having a hole, a circular fitting portion having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a holding hole of the follower is provided adjacent to the engaging portion, and the fitting portion is formed by the holding hole. To be rotatable and When the first portion is in the first rotation position, the long hole is oriented in the axial direction of the drive shaft, and the movement of the engagement portion in the axial direction is performed. When restricted by the fixed guide frame and when the second rotation position is perpendicular to the first rotation position, the elongated hole is oriented in the direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the drive shaft in the axial direction of the engagement portion. And a eccentric projection inserted into a long hole of an engaging portion of the switching piece, provided to be rotatable forward and reverse by a motor, and to be forwardly rotated by a motor. Then, the switching piece is driven to rotate by frictional engagement, and a part of the outer periphery of the switching piece is brought into contact with a stopper provided around the periphery of the holding hole of the follower, and the switching piece is brought into the first position.
The rotation position is set, and only the movement of the eccentric protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft is transmitted, the switching piece is guided by the fixed guide frame, and the follower is driven by the movement of the switching piece. When the motor rotates around its axis and its drive shaft rotates and reciprocates integrally around the axis, when the motor rotates in reverse,
The switching piece is driven to rotate by frictional engagement, and a part of the outer periphery of the switching piece is brought into contact with a stopper provided around the periphery of the holding hole of the follower to set the switching piece to the second rotation position, Only the movement of the drive shaft of the eccentric projection in the axial direction is transmitted, and the switching piece is guided by the fixed guide frame to move the switching piece, and the movement of the switching piece moves the follower together with the drive shaft in a straight line in the axial direction. An electric toothbrush device comprising: a reciprocating rotating body;