JP4235029B2 - Toilet lid opening / closing unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toilet lid opening / closing unit capable of automatically driving a toilet lid in an open posture to a closed posture.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When using the toilet, it is not so comfortable that the toilet lid is left open, which is not preferable in terms of hygiene. Therefore, a toilet lid opening / closing unit that automatically closes a toilet lid in an open posture by a motor has been proposed as a device that automatically closes the opened toilet lid (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-262868
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional toilet lid opening / closing unit, while the toilet lid is being driven in the closing direction, the motor is interrupted when the next user manually tries to open the toilet lid with an open posture. Since the subsequent drive in the closing direction with respect to the toilet lid is continuously performed, there is a problem that the toilet lid falls down during use. That is, when a stepping motor or the like is used as a drive source in the toilet lid opening / closing unit, the driving in the closing direction with respect to the toilet lid is controlled by the energizing time and the number of pulses. When the toilet lid is returned to the open position, when the toilet lid is released from artificial external pressure, the stepping motor rotates the toilet lid in the closing direction for the remaining energization time and the number of pulses.
[0005]
In addition, when a self-supporting holding mechanism is provided for allowing the toilet seat to stand on its own, the toilet lid is driven with a large amount of torque, so the toilet lid is placed on the back of the user sitting on the toilet seat. May collide and cause discomfort.
[0006]
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a toilet lid opening / closing unit capable of automatically driving a toilet lid in an open position to a closed position. The object is to provide a configuration in which the toilet lid does not fall down even if it is returned to.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, A toilet lid opening / closing mechanism comprising: a pivot shaft for opening and closing the toilet lid; and a driving means provided with a motor for rotating the pivot shaft to drive the toilet lid in the fully open position toward the fully closed position. In the unit, the toilet lid is moved from the fully open position. The weight tilt start position where the toilet lid can rotate in the closing direction by its own weight A self-supporting holding position for applying a self-supporting holding torque for holding the toilet lid or the toilet seat in an upright state is set at an intermediate position until the drive means has passed through the self-supporting holding position. The rotational axis is driven to rotate with a driving force that is small compared to the interval from the fully open position to the position where the toilet lid passes through the self-supporting holding position and the toilet cover cannot pass through the self-supporting holding position. It is characterized by.
[0012]
In the present invention, after the toilet lid has passed the self-supporting holding position from the fully open position, the toilet lid rotates and rotates the rotating shaft with a small driving force that cannot pass through the self-supporting holding position. Even if the driving in the closing direction for the toilet lid after being interrupted by the external force is resumed after being returned to the fully open position by the external force, the toilet lid does not pass through the self-supporting holding position. In other words, when a stepping motor or the like is used as a drive source in the driving means and the toilet lid driving in the closing direction is controlled by the energization time or the number of pulses, after the self-supporting holding position is passed, the driving in the closing direction is in progress. When the toilet lid is returned to the fully open position by external force, the drive in the closing direction of the toilet lid is resumed according to the remaining energization time and the number of pulses, but the driving force at this time passes the toilet lid through the self-supporting holding position. The toilet lid does not pass through the self-supporting holding position because of the small driving force that is impossible. Therefore, even if the toilet lid is returned to the fully opened position by an external force during driving in the closing direction, the toilet lid does not fall down, which is convenient. Further, if the toilet lid is driven with a small driving force, the number of rotations of the motor can be increased by that amount, so that the toilet lid can be quickly closed. Therefore, when the next user tries to use it, the strange scene that the toilet lid moves so as to be in the closed position does not occur.
[0013]
In the present invention, the driving means includes, for example, a driving member connected to the output shaft side of the motor, a driven member connected to the rotating shaft side, and a mechanical mechanism of the driving member and the driven member. A switching mechanism for switching connection; and an opening operation detecting means for detecting that the toilet lid is returned to the fully opened position by an external force during driving of the toilet lid in the closing direction. The toilet lid in the fully open position is moved by the forward rotation of the motor. Above When the rotation shaft is driven to rotate until it passes through its own weight tilt start position, the driven member is interlocked with the drive member, and after the toilet lid has passed through the own weight tilt start position, the drive member The driven member is disengaged from the driving member and the driven member is interlocked with the rotation of the toilet lid by its own weight, while the motor is reversely rotated and the driving member is separated from the driven member. The toilet lid is configured to return to an initial position when the toilet lid is in the fully opened position. In this case, when the opening means detects that the toilet lid has been returned to the fully opened position by an external force, the driving means performs the returning operation of the driving member to the initial position by reverse rotation of the motor. It is preferable to stop. When the toilet lid is returned to the fully open position by external force during driving in the closing direction, the drive member is also returned to the initial position by external force, so when the drive member is further driven to return to the initial position, the drive member is Although it will collide with the stopper which prescribes | regulates the initial position, if such a drive is stopped, the collision with a drive member and a stopper can be avoided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the generation of abnormal noise and damage to the member due to the collision between the driving member and the stopper.
[0014]
In the present invention, a stepping motor is preferably used as the motor. If comprised in this way, even if it is going to open a toilet lid manually while the toilet lid is rotationally driven by the motor in the closing direction, a stepping motor will step out. For this reason, even if it is operated to the opposite side during motor driving, it can be operated with a small force.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A toilet lid opening / closing unit to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
[Embodiment 1]
(overall structure)
1A, 1B, and 1C are a side view, a plan view, and a side view showing movement of a toilet lid, respectively, of a toilet seat unit including a toilet lid opening / closing unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is. 2A and 2B are a front view and a side view, respectively, of the toilet lid opening / closing unit of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the toilet lid in the toilet lid opening / closing unit of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing operating conditions of a stepping motor used as a drive source in the toilet lid opening / closing unit of the present embodiment.
[0017]
1 (A), (B), (C) and FIGS. 2 (A), (B), the western-style toilet 1 of this embodiment is composed of a toilet body 2 and a toilet seat unit 4, and the toilet seat unit 4 is: The toilet seat 5, the toilet lid 6, the main body cover 7, and the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 are configured. The toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 is substantially L-shaped when viewed from the side, and an L-shaped portion 10 b extending in the lateral direction is fixed to the lower portion of the main body case 7.
[0018]
The toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 is entirely covered by a unit case 30 including an upper case 36 and a lower case 37. From the portion near the upper end of the L-shaped longitudinally extending portion 10a of the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10, the toilet seat support shaft 11 connected to the toilet seat 5 and the rotating shaft 20 connected to the toilet lid 6 are coaxial. The toilet seat 5 and the toilet lid 6 are rotatable around the toilet seat support shaft 11 and the rotation shaft 20, respectively.
[0019]
1 and 3, the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 of the present embodiment is configured to rotate the rotating shaft 20 to which the toilet lid 6 is coupled around its axis, and to stand up as shown by a solid line LA in FIG. In the following description, the standing posture shown by the solid line LA in FIG. 1 (C) is referred to as a “fully open position P0”. The prone posture shown in FIG. 1A is assumed to be “fully closed position P7”.
[0020]
In addition, a fully-closed detection position P6 by the fully-closed sensor 97 is set at a position before the fully-closed position P7, and whether or not the toilet lid 6 is closed by passing the toilet lid 6 through this position. It comes to monitor. By such monitoring, when the toilet lid 6 is left in the fully open position P0 for a predetermined period of time despite the absence of a user, the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 operates to close the toilet lid 6 in the closing direction. To automatically drive.
[0021]
Here, while the toilet lid 6 is rotationally driven from the fully open position P0 toward the fully closed position P7, after it becomes an oblique posture indicated by the one-dot chain line LB, it falls down to its fully closed position P7. In the following description, the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line LB in FIG. 1C is referred to as “self-weight tilt start position P4”.
[0022]
Driving by the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 is performed only on the toilet lid 6 when the toilet seat 5 is in a flat state on the toilet body 2. On the other hand, when the toilet seat 5 is also in the fully open position P0 together with the toilet lid 6, the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 rotates both the toilet lid 6 and the toilet seat 5 from the fully open position P0 to the self-weight tilt start position P4. It will be. Here, with respect to the toilet seat 5, a self-supporting holding mechanism for holding the toilet seat 5 in a substantially upright posture is configured by a click mechanism using a biasing force of a spring, and acts on the toilet seat 5 by this self-supporting holding mechanism. The self-supporting holding torque also acts on the toilet lid 6. Such a self-supporting torque acts on the toilet lid 6 at a position indicated by a dotted line LC in FIG. 1C. This position is referred to as “self-supporting holding position P1” in the following description. . The following description is an example in which the self-supporting holding torque is applied to the toilet seat 5, but the same applies to a configuration in which the self-supporting holding torque is applied to the toilet lid 6.
[0023]
Corresponding to such a configuration, when the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 of this embodiment sets the toilet lid 6 in the fully open position P0 to the fully closed state, the stepping motor used as a drive source is in the fully open position. The number of steps in the forward direction so as to drive the rotating shaft 20 (toilet lid 6) until it reaches a reversal position P5 that has passed through the toilet lid 6 at P0 through its own weight tilt start position P4 in the closing direction by a predetermined margin angle. Is set. Further, the stepping motor is set so as to reversely rotate by a predetermined number of steps after the toilet lid 6 reaches the reverse position P5 and to return the driving member of the driving mechanism described later to the initial position.
[0024]
Accordingly, after the toilet lid 6 is driven by the motor to the reverse position P5 after passing through the own weight tilt start position P4, the toilet lid 6 is rotated to the fully closed position P7 due to the tilt due to the own weight.
[0025]
Further, in this embodiment, as shown by a straight line T in FIG. 4, in order to drive the toilet lid 6 at the fully open position P0 to the reversal point, the toilet lid 6 is driven to rotate independently with respect to the toilet lid 6. In addition to the above load, when passing through the self-supporting holding position P1, a load obtained by adding a self-supporting torque to the toilet seat 5 is added.
[0026]
Therefore, in this embodiment, as indicated by a straight line R in FIG. 4, the pulse rate switching position P2 is set at a position inclined in the closing direction from the self-supporting holding position P1, and the toilet lid 6 is moved from the fully open position P0 to the self-supporting holding position P1. Until the pulse rate switching position P2 is passed, the pulse rate applied to the stepping motor is kept at a low level (pulse rate A), and a large driving force is generated in the self-starting region, while the toilet lid 6 switches the pulse rate. After passing the position P2, until reaching the reverse position P5, the pulse rate for the stepping motor is increased to a high level (pulse rate B), and the driving force is small in the response region, but the rotational speed is increased. Here, the driving force generated at the pulse rate B until the toilet lid 6 reaches the reverse position P5 from the pulse rate switching position P2 is at a level at which the toilet lid 6 cannot pass through the self-supporting holding position P1.
[0027]
Further, the stepping motor rotates backward after driving the toilet lid 6 from the fully open position P0 to the reverse position P5, and returns the drive mechanism described below to the initial state. Although the force is small, the pulse rate B is capable of high-speed rotation. At that time, the inversion position P5 to the pulse rate switching position P2 is the self-starting area, but the pulse rate switching position P2 to the fully open position P0 is the response area.
[0028]
In FIG. 3 again, in the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 of the present embodiment, the passage detection position P3 by the passage sensor 98 is set at a position inclined in the closing direction by 10 ° as a margin angle from the self-supporting holding position P1. While the lid 6 is driven in the closing direction, it is monitored that the toilet lid 6 has been returned from the closing direction to the opening direction, and the toilet lid 6 has been artificially returned to the fully open position P0. The motor driving in the closing direction with respect to the suspended toilet lid 6 and the motor driving for returning the driving member of the driving mechanism to the initial position are stopped. In this embodiment, the detection position by the passage sensor is set to the same position as the pulse rate switching position P2.
[0029]
All of such controls are performed by a control unit (not shown) configured in the toilet seat unit 4.
[0030]
(Internal structure of toilet lid opening / closing unit)
FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are plan views showing layouts of various components constituting the drive mechanism in the toilet lid opening / closing unit of the present embodiment, and the toilet lid is in the fully open position P0 and inverted, respectively. This corresponds to the position P5 and the fully closed position P7. FIG. 6 is a development view of various parts constituting the drive mechanism in the toilet lid opening / closing unit of the present embodiment.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 6, in the unit case 30 of the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 of the present embodiment, a connecting wheel 40 (driven member) having a circular planar shape is formed on the base end side of the rotating shaft 20. On the other hand, a stepping motor 60 that can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions is disposed in the unit case 30 as a motor (drive source) for rotationally driving the toilet lid 6 via the connecting vehicle 40. . The motor case and the ground plane of the stepping motor 60 are positioned and fixed by circular ribs and groove-shaped ribs formed in the L-shaped laterally extending portion 10b of the upper case 36.
[0032]
In a driving force transmission path from the output shaft of the stepping motor 60 to the connecting vehicle 40, a first car 70 having a pinion 61 fixed to the output shaft of the stepping motor 60, a gear meshing with the pinion 61, and the first car. A second car 71 having a gear meshing with 70 pinions, a third car 72 having a pinion meshing with the second car 71, a fourth car 73 having a gear meshing with the pinion of the third car 72, A gear train including an idle gear 8 that meshes with the pinion 73b of the four-wheel 73 and a drive gear 50 that meshes with the idle gear 8 is configured. The drive gear 50 and the coupled vehicle 40 are between the drive gear 50 and the coupled vehicle 40. A switching mechanism 80 for switching the mechanical connection is configured. Here, the drive gear 50 overlaps with the connecting wheel 40 in a planar and coaxial manner, and can rotate around a common rotation center axis.
[0033]
In the switching mechanism 80, the drive gear 50 has a groove 51 formed of an arc-shaped recess centered on the rotation center axis on the surface facing the connecting wheel 40, and the groove 51 and the rotation axis about the groove 51. On the other hand, on the side of the connecting wheel 40, two protrusions 41 are formed that fit into the groove 51 and the arc-shaped recess 52, respectively.
[0034]
FIG. 5 (A) shows a state when the toilet lid 6 is at the fully open position P0. When the toilet lid 6 is at the fully open position P0, one end of the groove 51 positioned on the clockwise CW side is shown. Of the edge 511 and the other end edge 512 located on the counterclockwise CCW side, the protrusion 41 is substantially in contact with one end edge 511. In addition, the protrusion 41 is substantially in contact with one edge 521 out of the one edge 521 located on the clockwise CW side and the other edge 522 located on the counterclockwise CCW side in the arc-shaped recess 52. You are in contact.
[0035]
Here, the groove 51 and the circular arc-shaped recess 52 are formed over an angle range of about 157 °, while the protrusion 41 occupies an angle range of 30 °, and therefore, the groove 51 and the protrusion 41 have an angle of 127 °. The play corresponding to the angle range is secured.
[0036]
Also, on the inner surface of the unit case 30, there are two stoppers 31, 32 that mechanically define the initial position and the end point position of the drive gear 50 when the toilet lid 6 rotates from the fully open position P0 to the self-weight tilt start position P4. On the other hand, the drive gear 50 is formed with a protrusion 55 capable of interfering with the stoppers 31 and 32.
[0037]
One sensor magnet 96 is fixed to the outer periphery of the connecting vehicle 40, and a sensor substrate 99 is disposed at a side position of the connecting vehicle 40. On the sensor substrate 99, a fully-closed sensor 97 composed of a Hall IC for detecting the passage of the sensor magnet 96 and a passage sensor 98 (opening operation detecting means) are arranged. The fully closed sensor 97 is located below and is located on the side of the connecting vehicle 40 in the counterclockwise CCW direction with respect to the passing sensor 98.
[0038]
In the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 of this embodiment, an oil damper device 21 is configured for the toilet seat support shaft 11, and an oil damper device 22 is also configured for the rotating shaft 20.
[0039]
In addition, the toilet seat support shaft 11 is provided with a self-supporting holding mechanism 23 for holding the toilet seat 5 in a substantially upright posture by a click mechanism using a biasing force of a spring.
[0040]
(Toilet lid opening / closing operation)
In the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 of this embodiment, when the toilet lid 6 is in the fully open position P0, as shown in FIG. 5A, near one end edge 511 of the groove 51 formed in the drive gear 50, and The projection 41 of the connecting wheel 40 is located near one end edge 521 of the arc-shaped recess 52.
[0041]
In this state, in spite of detecting that no one is using in the toilet seat unit 4, the fully closed sensor 97 of the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 keeps the toilet lid 6 open for a predetermined time, When it is detected that it is left unattended, the stepping motor 60 is first driven a predetermined number of steps in the forward direction. As a result, the rotation of the output shaft of the stepping motor 60 is transmitted to the first car 70, the second car 71, the third car 72, the fourth car 73, the idle gear 8, and the drive gear 50, as shown in FIG. As shown, the drive gear 50 rotates 60 ° counterclockwise in the CCW direction. This position is the end point position of the drive gear 50. During such rotation, the projection 41 of the coupled vehicle 40 is pressed by one end edge 511, 521 of the groove 51 of the drive gear 50 and the arcuate recess 52, so that the coupled vehicle 40 is 60 °. The toilet lid 6 passes through the self-supporting holding position P1 and the self-weight tilt start position P4 and reaches the reverse position P5. At that time, until the toilet lid 6 passes from the fully open position P0 through the self-supporting holding position P1 and reaches the pulse rate switching position P2, the pulse rate with respect to the stepping motor 60 is suppressed to level A and a large driving force is generated. After the lid 6 passes the pulse rate switching position P2, the pulse rate for the stepping motor 60 is increased to the high level B until the rotation position P5 is reached, and the rotation speed is increased.
[0042]
When the toilet lid 6 is driven in the closing direction in this way, the toilet lid 6 tilts due to its own weight after passing through its own weight tilt start position P4. Therefore, even if the motor driving stops at the reversal position P5. Then, it falls down to the fully closed position P7. In that case, since the oil damper mechanism 22 is comprised with respect to the rotating shaft 20, the toilet lid 6 does not fall down rapidly. Further, since the oil damper mechanism 21 is also configured on the toilet seat support shaft 11, the toilet seat 5 does not fall down suddenly.
[0043]
Thus, when the toilet lid 6 falls to the fully closed position P7 due to its own weight, the projection 41 of the connecting vehicle 40 rotates 60 ° in the counterclockwise CCW direction as shown in FIG. 5C. However, since sufficient play is ensured between the groove 51 of the drive gear 50, the arc-shaped recess 52, and the projection 41, the drive gear 50 and the projection 41 do not interfere with each other, and the drive gear 50 and the connecting vehicle are connected. Of the 40, only the connecting vehicle 40 is linked to the toilet lid 6.
[0044]
Further, when the toilet lid 6 is rotationally driven in the closing direction, the sensor magnet 96 fixed to the connecting vehicle 40 rotates counterclockwise in the CCW direction, so that the toilet lid 6 is in the fully closed position P7. The sensor magnet 96 approaches the position sensor 97 at the 30 ° angular position (fully closed detection position P6), and the output signal from the position sensor 97 is switched. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the toilet lid 6 is closed based on the signal output from the position sensor 97.
[0045]
On the other hand, when the toilet lid 6 passes the reverse position P5, the stepping motor 60 rotates in the reverse direction, and the drive gear 50 rotates 60 ° in the clockwise CW direction and returns to the initial position shown in FIG. To do. At that time, the drive gear 50 returns to the initial position without interfering with the protrusion 41.
[0046]
When the user manually opens the toilet lid 6 in the state where the toilet lid 6 has been moved to the fully closed position P7 in this way, the connecting vehicle 40 is interlocked with the rotation of the toilet lid 6 as shown in FIG. 5A returns to the position shown in FIG. 5A. At this time, the drive gear 50 has already returned to the initial position, so that the protrusion 41 does not interfere with the drive gear 50. Therefore, the toilet lid 6 can be returned to the fully open position P0 with a small force.
[0047]
(Operation when the toilet lid is opened during the closed drive)
While the toilet lid 6 is driven in the closing direction by the motor driving in this way, after the toilet lid passes the passage detection position P3 (pulse rate switching position P2) by the passage sensor 98, the toilet lid 6 is fully opened by an artificial external force. When the position is returned to the position P0, the sensor magnet 96 passes over the passage sensor 98 made of the Hall IC. Therefore, it can be detected that the toilet lid 6 has been returned to the fully opened position P0 by an artificial external force.
[0048]
In such a case, the number of steps until the toilet lid 6 reaches the inversion position P5 should remain. In this embodiment, the toilet lid is canceled by the stepping motor 60 after being canceled and interrupted by an external force. 6 is stopped in the closing direction.
[0049]
Further, when the toilet lid 6 is driven in the closing direction by the motor drive and the toilet lid 6 is returned to the fully open position P0 by an artificial external force, the driving gear 50 is already in FIG. 5 (A) by this external force. Since it returns to the position shown, the reverse rotation of the stepping motor 60 that should have been performed after the toilet lid reached the reverse position P5 is also not performed.
[0050]
(Main effects of this form)
As described above, in the toilet lid opening / closing unit 10 of this embodiment, while the toilet lid 6 is driven in the closing direction by the motor drive, the toilet lid passes the passage detection position P3 (pulse rate switching position P2) by the passage sensor 98, and then When the lid 6 is returned to the fully open position P0 by an artificial external force, the driving in the closing direction of the toilet lid 6 by the stepping motor 60 after being interrupted by the external force is stopped. For this reason, there is no inconvenience that the toilet lid 6 falls down during use.
[0051]
Further, when the toilet lid 6 is driven in the closing direction by the motor drive and the toilet lid 6 is returned to the fully opened position P0 by an artificial external force, it should be performed after the toilet lid reaches the reverse position P5. Also, the reverse rotation of the stepping motor 60 is not performed. Therefore, since the protrusion 55 of the drive gear 50 and the stopper 31 do not collide by unnecessary initialization operation, no abnormal noise is generated and damage to the protrusion 55 and the stopper 31 due to the collision is prevented. Can do.
[0052]
Further, in the present embodiment, the stepping motor 60 is driven at the pulse rate A so that the toilet lid 6 passes through the self-supporting holding position P1 from the fully open position P0, and after the pulse rate switching position P3 is passed, the self-supporting is maintained. The stepping motor 60 is driven at a pulse rate B that generates a torque obtained by reducing the torque. Therefore, when it is attempted to return the toilet lid 6 to the open posture by hand during the closing operation, if the toilet lid 6 has almost passed the self-supporting holding position P1 (pulse rate switching position P2), the force is small. The toilet lid 6 can be opened. Further, if the toilet lid 6 is driven with a small driving force, the number of rotations of the stepping motor 60 can be increased accordingly, so that the toilet lid 6 can be quickly brought into a closed posture. Therefore, when the next user tries to use, the strange scene that the toilet lid 6 moves so as to be in the closed posture does not occur.
[0053]
[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, while the toilet lid 6 is driven in the closing direction by the motor drive, the passage sensor 98 detects that the toilet lid 6 has been returned to the fully opened position P0 by an artificial external force, and thereby interrupted. After that, the driving of the toilet lid 6 in the closing direction by the stepping motor 60 is stopped. However, the toilet lid 6 is careless only by the driving force of the stepping motor 60 without using the passage sensor 98. Tilt may be prevented.
[0054]
That is, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the pulse rate applied to the stepping motor 60 is kept at a low level until the toilet lid 6 passes from the fully open position P0 through the self-supporting holding position P1 and reaches the pulse rate switching position P2. (Pulse rate A) is suppressed to generate a large driving force, but after the toilet lid 6 passes the pulse rate switching position P2, the pulse rate for the stepping motor 60 is set to a high level (pulse rate) until the inversion position P5 is reached. B), the driving force is small, but the rotational speed is increased. Moreover, after the toilet lid 6 has passed the pulse rate switching position P2, the driving force generated by the stepping motor 6 at the pulse rate B is at a level at which the toilet lid 6 cannot pass through the self-supporting holding position P1.
[0055]
Therefore, when the toilet lid 6 is driven in the closing direction by the motor drive and the toilet lid 6 is returned to the fully open position P0 together with the toilet seat 5 by an artificial external force, the toilet lid by the stepping motor 60 after being interrupted is suspended. Even when driving in the closing direction of 6 is resumed, the toilet lid 6 and the toilet seat 5 cannot pass through the self-supporting holding position P1 with the driving force generated by the stepping motor 6 at the pulse rate B. Therefore, even when the toilet lid 6 and the toilet seat 5 are returned to the fully opened position P0 by an artificial external force during driving in the closing direction, there is no inconvenience that the toilet lid 6 and the toilet seat 5 fall down.
[0056]
[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the increase or decrease of the driving force of the stepping motor 60 is realized by switching the pulse rate, but it may be realized simply by changing the voltage of the motor or changing the current.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the toilet lid opening / closing unit of the present invention, when the opening operation detecting means detects that the toilet lid has been returned to the fully opened position by an external force during driving in the closing direction of the toilet lid, the operation is interrupted. Since the subsequent drive in the closing direction with respect to the toilet lid is stopped, the toilet lid does not fall down during use, which is convenient. That is, when a stepping motor or the like is used as a drive source in the drive means and the toilet lid drive in the closing direction is controlled by the energization time or the number of pulses, the toilet lid is returned to the fully opened position by an external force during driving in the closing direction. When it is detected, the driving in the closing direction of the toilet lid according to the remaining energization time and the number of pulses is interrupted. Therefore, since the toilet lid does not fall down after being released from the external force, it is easy to use.
[0058]
Further, in the present invention, after the toilet lid has passed the self-supporting holding position from the fully open position, when the toilet lid is configured to rotationally drive the rotating shaft with a small driving force that cannot pass through the self-supporting holding position, When the toilet lid driven in the closing direction is returned to the fully open position by external force, the toilet lid does not pass through the self-supporting holding position even if driving in the closing direction for the toilet lid after being interrupted by the external force is resumed. . Further, if the toilet lid is driven with a small driving force, the number of rotations of the motor can be increased by that amount, so that the toilet lid can be quickly closed. Therefore, when the next user tries to use it, the strange scene that the toilet lid moves so as to be in the closed position does not occur.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A, 1B, and 1C are a side view, a plan view, and a movement of a toilet lid, respectively, of a toilet seat unit including a toilet lid opening / closing unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a side view.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view and a side view, respectively, of a toilet lid opening / closing unit of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the toilet lid in the toilet lid opening / closing unit shown in FIG. 2;
4 is an explanatory diagram showing operating conditions of a stepping motor used as a drive source in the toilet lid opening / closing unit shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
5A, 5B, and 5C are plan views showing the layout of various components that constitute the drive mechanism in the toilet lid opening / closing unit shown in FIG.
6 is a development view of various components constituting a drive mechanism in the toilet lid opening / closing unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Western style toilet
2 Toilet bowl
4 Toilet seat unit
5 Toilet seat
6 Toilet lid
7 Body cover
10 Toilet lid opening / closing unit
11 Toilet seat support
20 Rotating shaft
21, 22 Oil damper device
23 Self-supporting mechanism
30 cases
40 articulated vehicle (driven member)
50 Drive gear (drive member)
60 Stepping motor
80 switching mechanism
96 Magnet for sensor
97 Fully closed sensor
98 Passing sensor (opening motion detection means)
P0 fully open position
P1 Standing position
P2 Pulse rate switching position
P3 passage detection position
P4 Own weight tilt start position
P5 Reverse position
P6 Fully closed detection position
P7 Fully closed position

Claims (3)

A toilet lid opening / closing mechanism comprising: a pivot shaft for opening and closing the toilet lid; and a driving means provided with a motor for rotating the pivot shaft to drive the toilet lid in the fully open position toward the fully closed position. In the unit
A self-supporting holding torque for holding the toilet lid or the toilet seat in an upright position is applied to the toilet lid at a midway position from the fully opened position to a self-weight tilt start position where the toilet lid can rotate in the closing direction by its own weight. The self-supporting holding position is set,
The driving means has a driving force after the toilet lid has passed the self-supporting holding position is smaller than a section from the fully open position to the self-supporting holding position until the toilet lid has A toilet lid opening / closing unit that rotationally drives the pivot shaft with a driving force that cannot pass through the self-supporting holding position . 2. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive means is a drive member connected to the output shaft side of the motor, a driven member connected to the rotating shaft side, and a mechanical connection between the drive member and the driven member. A switching mechanism, and an opening operation detecting means for detecting that the toilet lid is returned to the fully opened position by an external force during driving of the toilet lid in the closing direction,
The switching mechanism causes the follower member to move relative to the drive member when rotating the rotation shaft until the toilet lid in the fully open position passes through the position of starting its own weight tilting by forward rotation of the motor. Interlock,
After the toilet lid has passed through its own weight tilt start position, the interlocking of the driven member with respect to the driving member is released, and the driven member is interlocked with the rotation due to the weight of the toilet lid independently of the driving member. The drive member is configured to return to the initial position when the toilet lid is in the fully opened position independently of the driven member by reverse rotation of the motor,
When the opening means detects that the toilet lid has been returned to the fully opened position by an external force, the driving means stops the returning operation of the driving member to the initial position due to reverse rotation of the motor. toilet lid opening and closing unit according to claim. 3. The toilet lid opening / closing unit according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a stepping motor .

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