JP2810577B2 - electric toothbrush - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush for switching a driving state of a motor by a slide switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
The following are known. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical main body case in which a motor 2 and a storage battery 3 are built. Reference numeral 4 denotes a toothbrush detachably mounted on a drive shaft (not shown) driven by the motor 2, and reference numeral 5 denotes a slide knob which can be moved to three axial positions a, b, and c of the main body case 1. 5 to position b
, The driving of the motor 2 is stopped,
When slid to the position a, the motor 2 is rotated forward and the toothbrush 4 is reciprocated as shown by the arrow P. When the slide knob 5 is slid to the position c, the motor 2
Is rotated in the reverse direction, and the toothbrush 4 reciprocates in the axial direction as shown by the arrow Q.

Switching between forward and reverse rotation of the motor 2 by sliding movement of the slide knob 5 is performed by a switch mechanism shown in FIG.

In FIG. 18, reference numeral 6 denotes a rotating member which is rotated by sliding movement of a slide knob 5, and the rotating member 6 is rotatably mounted in a hole (not shown) provided in a main body case. A pin 6a is provided at an eccentric position on the rotating member 6, and this pin 6a is
The groove 5a provided in the slide knob 5
Is rotated, the rotating member 6 rotates.

A pin 5b is provided at an eccentric position below the rotating member 6, and the pin 5b is engaged with the long hole 7a of the swinging member 7, and when the rotating member 6 rotates, the swinging member is rotated. 7
Swings about a shaft 7b.

The movable contact pieces 8a, 8
b is locked, and the fixed contact piece 9 is located at a position sandwiching the movable contact pieces 8a and 8b.
a, 9b and 9c are provided. When the swinging member 7 swings in the direction of arrow R, the movable contact pieces 8a and 8b come into contact with the fixed contact pieces 9a and 9b, and when the swinging member 7 swings in the direction of arrow I, the movable contact pieces 8a and 8b It comes into contact with the fixed contact pieces 9b and 9c.
The rotation direction of the motor 2 is switched by these contacts.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a click mechanism for fixing the rotary member 6 at three predetermined positions, that is, the slide knob 5 at three positions, and a projection 11a provided on the arm 11 has a concave portion (not shown) provided on the rotary member 6. ).

[0008]

However, in the above-described electric toothbrush, the rotation of the rotating member 6 is controlled by the swing member 7.
The contact between the movable contact pieces 8a and 8b and the fixed contact pieces 9a to 9c is switched by the swing of the swing member 7, so that the structure is complicated and the number of parts increases. There was a problem.

Since the five contact pieces 8a, 8b, 9a to 9c are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the main body case 1, the contact pieces 8
There is a problem that the width of a substrate (not shown) to which a, 8b, 9a to 9c are attached is wide, and the diameter of the main body case 1 must be increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to reduce the number of parts with a simple structure.
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric toothbrush capable of reducing the diameter of a main body case.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cylindrical main body case provided with a drive shaft for mounting a toothbrush at a distal end thereof, and the drive shaft provided in the main body case. And a slide switch for controlling the driving of the motor. The slide switch includes a first switch including a movable contact piece and a pair of fixed contact pieces.
Switch section, a second switch comprising a movable contact piece and a pair of fixed contact pieces.
Switch part and a hole provided in the main body case so as to be rotatable.
Attached to the rotating member and the outer peripheral surface of the body case in the axial direction.
Slide and rotate
Electric toothbrush having a slide knob for rotating a member
A first case and a second case , wherein the first and second switches are
Is disposed at an axial position sandwiching the rotating member, and when the slide knob is at a preset reference position, the movable contact piece and the fixed contact piece of the first and second switch portions are brought into non-contact with each other, The knob is slid to one side in the axial direction
First, contacting the movable contact piece of the second switch to one of the stationary contact piece, the other a first, movable contact piece of the second switch when the slide knob is slid in the axial direction of the other when the
The rotary member is provided with a switching unit that switches the driving state of the motor by contacting the fixed contact piece.

[0012]

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electric toothbrush according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a cylindrical main body case constituting the main body of the electric toothbrush. The outer peripheral surface 20a of the main body case 20 is provided at three axial positions (bus, off, and scrub) of the main body case 20. A slide knob 21 that slides is provided. When the slide knob 21 is moved to the off position (reference position), rotation of a motor described later is stopped, and when the slide knob 21 is slid to the bus position, the motor rotates forward to rotate the toothbrush. When the toothbrush 22 reciprocates largely in the axial direction and slides to the scrub position, the motor rotates in the reverse direction, and the toothbrush 22 reciprocates slightly in the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a frame 23 composed of side plates 23a and 23b and end plates 23c and 23d is provided in the main body case 20, and the end plate 23c of the frame 23 is provided on the end plate 23c. A bearing part 24 is attached. The bearing portion 24 holds the drive shaft 25 so as to be able to reciprocate in the axial direction by means of a bearing 24a, thereby reducing the frictional resistance of the reciprocation of the drive shaft 25.

A motor 26 is attached to the end plate 23d of the frame 23. A drive converter 27 for converting the rotation of the motor 26 into a reciprocating movement is provided between the side plates 23a and 23b of the frame 23. Is provided. When the motor 26 is rotating forward, the drive conversion unit 27
5 is reciprocated a large amount, and when the motor 26 is rotating in the reverse direction, the drive shaft 25 is reciprocated a small amount. Since this structure is publicly known, its description is omitted.

A storage case 40 is detachably attached to a rear portion of the motor 26 via a connection stand 30, and a storage battery 50 for driving the motor is stored in the storage case 40. The bearing 24, the frame 23, the motor 26, the storage case 40, the storage battery 50, and the like are integrally housed in the main body case 20, as shown in FIG.

The side plate 23b of the frame 23 has
As shown in FIG. 4, a contact piece substrate 60 is attached. As shown in FIG. 5, on the contact piece substrate 60, a pair of first switch portions 61 and 62 are disposed at positions in the axial direction of the main body case 20 and separated from each other by a predetermined distance.
The first and second switch portions 61 and 62 include movable contact pieces 61a and 62a arranged on the center line of the contact piece substrate 60 and fixed contact pieces 61b, 61c, 62b and 62 arranged at positions sandwiching the movable contact pieces.
and c. Also, the first and second switch units 61 and 6
Between the two, a rotating plate (switching unit) 63 is disposed,
A shaft 64 (see FIG. 8) provided on the lower surface 63a of the rotating plate 63 is inserted into a hole 65 provided on the contact piece substrate 60, and the rotating plate 63 is rotatable with respect to the contact piece substrate 60.

The rotary plate 63 is provided with concave portions 66, 67 in the axial direction of the main body case 20 and at symmetrical positions with respect to the center of the rotary plate 63, and movable contact portions are provided in the concave portions 66, 67. The tips of the pieces 61a, 62a are inserted, and the movable contact pieces 61a, 62a are fixed contact pieces 61b, 61c, 62b, 62c.
And is in a non-contact state. When the rotary plate 63 rotates clockwise as shown in FIG. 6, the movable contact pieces 61a and 62a come into contact with the fixed contact pieces 61b and 62c, and when the rotary plate 63 rotates counterclockwise, the movable contact pieces 61a and 62a Fixed contact piece 61c,
Touches 62b.

On the upper surface 63b of the rotating plate 63, a rectangular recess 6 extending in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the main body case 20 is provided.
8 are provided.
As shown in the figure, a projection 71 provided on the lower surface of the joint cam (rotating member) 70 is engaged. This joint cam 7
An engagement pin 74 is provided at an eccentric position on the upper surface of the zero.

On the other hand, the slide knob 2 of the main body case 20
A hole 28 is formed in a portion covered by 1, and a joint cam 70 is rotatably fitted in the hole 28. The engagement pin 74 of the joint cam 70 is provided with two engagement wall portions 21a, 21a provided on the back surface of the slide knob 21.
When the slide knob 21 is slid and engaged (see FIG. 3), the join cam 70 rotates. S1 is a seal member.

The slide knob 21, the joint cam 70, the rotary plate 63, and the contact pieces 61a to 61c, 62a to 6
2c constitutes a slide switch.

When the slide knob 21 is slid from the off position to the bus position as shown in FIG. 9, the joint cam 70 rotates counterclockwise, and when the slide knob 21 is moved to the right scrub position, the joint cam 70 rotates clockwise. Rotate. Due to the rotation of the joint cam 70, the rotary plate 60 rotates, and the movable contact pieces 61a, 62a are fixed to the fixed contact pieces 61b, 61c,
62b and 62c.

As described above, each contact piece 6 is rotated by the rotating plate 63.
Since the contact states of 1a to 61c and 62a to 62c are directly switched, the number of parts for switching the contact pieces can be reduced and the structure can be simplified. In addition, since the contact pieces 61a to 61c and 62a to 62c are provided at positions sandwiching the rotary plate 63, there are three contact pieces 61a to 61c and 62a to 62c arranged in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the main body case 20. The width of the substrate 60 may be small, and the diameter of the main body case 20 can be reduced.

Each contact piece 61a to 61c, 62a of the contact piece substrate 60
As shown in FIG. 4, the motor 26 and the storage battery 5 through the lead wires 81 printed on the film plate 80
0 electrode. FIG. 10 shows a circuit diagram thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the storage case 40 has a T-shaped projection 4 on the rear outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 41.
2, 42 are provided, and the projections 42, 42 are provided in FIG.
The storage case 40 is fixed in the main body case 20 by engaging with T-shaped concave portions 43 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rear part of the main body case 20 as shown in FIG.

At the rear end of the cylindrical portion 41 of the storage case 40, electrode terminals 44 and 45 are provided. The electrode terminals 44 and 45 are connected to the anode 50a and the cathode 50b of the storage battery 50 in the storage case 40. They are connected by conductor plates 46,46. 47, 47 are screw holes, and cutouts 48, 48 and a projection 49 abutting on the inner peripheral surface of the main body case 20 are provided at the left end (in FIG. 11) of the cylindrical portion 41.

In the cylindrical portion 41 of the storage case 40, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the connection base 30 is detachably fitted, and when the bearing unit 24, the frame 23, the motor 26, the storage case 40, and the like are taken out of the main body case 20, the connection base is connected. By removing 30 from storage case 40, storage battery 50 can be taken out of storage case 40.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the connection base 30 has a substantially circular bottom plate 32 having a hole 31 at the center.
A cylindrical portion 33 extending from the hole 31 and fitted to a projection 26a (see FIGS. 2 and 3) provided at the rear end of the motor 26; and a flat portion of the motor 26 extending from the peripheral end of the bottom plate 32. Holding portions 34 and 35 for holding the rear portion of the portion 26b. 33a is a notch.

A portion of the holding pieces 34 and 35 (see FIG. 12)
Are fitted in the storage case 40, and the portion B sandwiches the flat portion 26 b of the motor 26 and enters a gap formed between the flat portion 26 a and the main body case 20 to reinforce the main body case 20. .

Further, projections 32a, 32a are formed on the bottom plate 32. The projections 32a, 32a engage with the notches 48, 48 of the storage case 40 shown in FIG. Positioned and fitted.

A spring 3 is provided in the cylindrical portion 33 of the connection base 30.
6 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), the urging force of the spring 36 causes the protruding portion 24a provided on the bearing portion 24 to abut on the contact portion 20b provided on the distal end of the main body case 20, End 42 of projection 42 of storage case 40
The a is brought into contact with the end 43a of the concave portion 43 of the main body case 20 to fix the motor 26, the storage battery 50, and the like in the main body case 20. The spring 36 absorbs a dimensional error of each component in the axial direction of the main body case 20.

The spring 36 is connected to the anode 50 of the storage battery 50.
a and contacts the terminal T provided on the protrusion 26a of the motor 26, and electrically connects the anode 50a and the terminal T. The terminal T is electrically connected to the fixed contact pieces 61c and 62b of the contact piece substrate 60.

By the way, when the connection base 30 is fitted into the storage case 40, the position of the cylindrical portion 33 of the connection base 30 and the position of the anode 50a of the storage battery 50 are set so as to coincide with each other. . With this setting, the cylindrical portion 6
3 is fitted to the protrusion of the motor 26, the terminal T is always in contact with the anode 50a of the storage battery 50 via the spring 66, and even if the storage battery 50 is replaced, the terminal T is connected to the anode 50a of the storage battery 50. There is no problem that the device does not come into contact.

Reference numeral 72 denotes a lid member for closing the rear opening of the main body case 20, and this lid member 72 is attached to the storage case 40 by screws 73 as shown in FIG.
S2 to S4 are seal members.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 76 denotes a waterproof rubber.
One end is fixed to the tip of the main body case 20, and the other end is fixed to the drive shaft 25. 77 is a cap covering the waterproof rubber material.

Next, the operation of the electric toothbrush of the above embodiment will be described.

When the slide knob 21 is in the off position,
The joint cam 70 and the rotary plate 60 are shown in FIGS.
The movable contact pieces 61a and 62a are in the positions shown in FIG.
1b, 61c, 62b, and 62c are in a non-contact state. Therefore, the motor 26 is not driven.

Next, when the slide knob 21 is slid to the bus position, the joint cam 70 rotates counterclockwise, whereby the rotary plate 60 also rotates counterclockwise to fix the movable contact pieces 61a, 62a. It comes into contact with the contact pieces 61c and 62b. By this contact, the motor 26 rotates forward and the toothbrush 2
2 reciprocates greatly.

When the slide knob 21 is slid to the scrub position, the joint cam 70 rotates clockwise, whereby the rotary plate 60 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 6, and the movable contact pieces 61a and 62a become fixed contact pieces. 61b and 62c. Due to this contact, the motor 26 rotates in the reverse direction, and the toothbrush 22 reciprocates slightly.

In the above embodiment, the joint cam 70 and the rotary plate 63 are formed as separate components. However, the rotary plate 63 may be provided integrally with the joint cam 70.

In the above embodiment, the slide knob 2
A description has been given of the case where the amount of reciprocation of the drive shaft 25 is switched by the slide movement of 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It is needless to say that the drive shaft 25 may be switched between reciprocating swing and reciprocating movement.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first and second switch portions are provided within the main body case by the rotation.
Place the member in the axial direction to sandwich the member, and
The first and second switch sections
The movable contact and the fixed contact are brought into non-contact, and the slide knob is
When it is slid to one side in the axial direction, the first and second switches
Contact the movable contact of the switch with one fixed contact
When the knob is slid to the other side in the axial direction,
1. Contact the movable contact of the second switch with the other fixed contact
The switching unit that switches the driving state of the motor
Since the rotary member is provided on the rotating member, the contact state between each movable contact piece and the fixed contact piece can be directly switched by the switching portion, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure. Can be. Moreover, since the first switch portion and the second switch portion are provided at positions sandwiching the rotating member, the number of contact pieces arranged in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the main body case can be reduced, and the diameter of the main body case can be reduced. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electric toothbrush according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a main part housed in a main body case;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the electric toothbrush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a main part configuration diagram in a main body case showing a mounting position of a contact substrate and a film plate,

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a contact substrate;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a contact state of a contact piece due to rotation of a rotating plate;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a joint cam and a rotary plate,

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship among a contact substrate, a rotary plate, a joint cam, and a slide switch.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a slide switch and a joint cam;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a connection relationship between a motor, a storage battery, and a contact piece;

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the storage case,

FIG. 12 is a bottom view showing the bottom of the storage case;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view showing a rear portion of the main body case;

FIG. 14 is a side view showing a side surface of the connection base;

FIG. 15 is a front view showing the front of the connection stand;

FIG. 16 is a bottom view showing the bottom surface of the connection base;

FIG. 17 is an external view showing the appearance of a conventional electric toothbrush,

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a contact-piece switching mechanism of a conventional electric toothbrush.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 body case 21 slide switch 22 toothbrush 25 drive shaft 26 motor 61 first switch section 62 second switch section 61a movable contact piece 62a movable contact piece 61b, 61c fixed contact piece 62b, 62c fixed contact piece 63 rotating plate (switching section) 70 Joint cam (rotating member)

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A46B 13/02 A61C 17/22 H01H 15/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cylindrical main body case provided with a driving shaft for mounting a toothbrush at a distal end thereof, a motor provided in the main body case for driving the driving shaft, and a slide switch for controlling the driving of the motor. The slide switch comprises a first switch comprising a movable contact piece and a pair of fixed contact pieces.
Switch section, a second switch comprising a movable contact piece and a pair of fixed contact pieces.
Switch part and a hole provided in the main body case so as to be rotatable.
Attached to the rotating member and the outer peripheral surface of the body case in the axial direction.
Slide and rotate
Electric toothbrush having a slide knob for rotating a member
A sheet the rotation, the first, the second switch unit, in the main body casing
Disposed axial position sandwiching member, the first when the slide knob is in the reference position set in advance, the non-contact to the fixed contact piece and movable contact piece of the second switch, the slide knob is axially When the slider is slid to one side, the movable contact pieces of the first and second switch portions are brought into contact with one fixed contact piece, and when the slide knob is slid to the other in the axial direction, the first and second switch sections are moved . 2 Switch section movable contact
An electric toothbrush, wherein a switching portion for switching a driving state of a motor by bringing one piece into contact with the other fixed contact piece is provided on the rotating member.