JP7382208B2 - Opening/closing member drive device and toilet lid opening/closing unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an opening/closing member driving device that drives an opening/closing member, and a toilet lid opening/closing unit that opens and closes a toilet lid of a toilet unit as an opening/closing member.

An opening/closing member driving device for opening/closing an opening/closing member such as a toilet lid is described in Patent Document 1. The opening/closing member drive mechanism of Patent Document 1 includes a motor, an output shaft, a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the output shaft, and a case that houses the motor and the transmission mechanism. The output shaft includes a protrusion that protrudes outward from an opening provided in the case, and a base located inside the case. An opening/closing member is connected to the protrusion. A gear portion that receives driving force from the transmission mechanism is provided at an end portion of the base portion opposite to the protruding portion.

The opening/closing member drive mechanism of the document incorporates an assist spring that biases the output shaft to assist opening/closing of the opening/closing member. The assist spring is a coil spring, and is arranged to surround the base from the outer peripheral side. The assist spring is located between the gear portion and the protrusion in the axial direction of the output shaft.

JP2014-200458A

In the configuration in which the assist spring is located between the gear part and the protruding part, on the output shaft, the protruding part to which the opening/closing member is connected and the gear part to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted are connected to the assist spring. separated in the axial direction by the same amount.

Here, the output shaft has a protrusion connected to an end of the opening/closing member, and opens/closes the opening/closing member in a cantilevered state. Therefore, a load is applied to the output shaft from the opening/closing member side. Further, the gear portion is subjected to a load from the transmission mechanism. Therefore, if the protruding part and the gear part are spaced apart in the axial direction, stress is likely to be generated on the output shaft when the opening/closing member is opened and closed, which may lead to deformation of the output shaft.

In view of this, the problem of the present invention is that the protruding part of the output shaft to which the opening/closing member is connected and the part to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted are spaced apart in the axial direction due to the arrangement of the assist spring. It is an object of the present invention to provide an opening/closing member driving device and a toilet lid opening/closing unit that are unique.

In order to solve the above problems, the opening/closing member driving device of the present invention includes a motor, an output shaft to which the opening/closing member is connected, a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the output shaft, the motor and the output shaft. a case that accommodates a transmission mechanism; and a first assist spring that stores elastic energy that rotates the output shaft in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction when the output shaft rotates in the first rotation direction. and a direction along the axis of the output shaft is an axial direction, one side of the axial direction is a first direction, and the other side is a second direction, the case includes a first case and the an intermediate case that overlaps the first case from the first direction of the first case; and a second case that overlaps the intermediate case from the first direction of the intermediate case, and the output shaft is connected to the first case . and a base located between the intermediate case and the base , and a protrusion protruding from the first case in the second direction of the base, the transmission mechanism including an output gear, and the first case , the intermediate case includes an opening that allows the output shaft to penetrate from the inside to the outside of the first case , and the intermediate case is coaxial with the opening and rotatably supports the end portion of the base in the first direction. The cylindrical portion includes a notched groove extending in the axial direction from the end in the second direction, and the first assist spring includes a coil-shaped first spring body surrounding the cylindrical portion from an outer peripheral side. , a first case-side locking portion extending radially inward from the end in the first direction of the first spring body and passing through the notch groove; and a first case-side locking portion extending in the second direction of the first spring body. a first protruding portion protruding from an end in the second direction, the base portion having an insertion portion inserted into the cylindrical portion, and contacting the cylindrical portion from an outer periphery side on an outer periphery side of the insertion portion. an annular portion, a first spring locking portion to which the first protrusion is locked, and a gear fixing portion to which the output gear is coaxially fixed in a non-rotatable state in a second direction of the insertion portion. It is characterized by being prepared.

According to the present invention, the first assist spring is located on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion that rotatably supports the insertion portion of the output shaft. Further, in the output shaft, the gear fixing portion to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted is located in the second direction of the insertion portion. Furthermore, the protruding portion to which the opening/closing member is connected is located in the second direction of the gear fixing portion. Thereby, the first assist spring is not located between the gear fixing part to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted and the protrusion part to which the opening/closing member is connected. Therefore, by arranging the first assist spring, it is possible to avoid separation in the axial direction between the protruding portion of the output shaft to which the opening/closing member is connected and the portion to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted.

Here, the first case-side locking portion of the first assist spring is locked to the cylindrical portion while passing through a notch groove provided in the cylindrical portion of the case in the radial direction. Therefore, when the output shaft rotates in the first rotation direction and the first assist spring accumulates elastic energy, the first case-side locking portion is moved around the notch groove due to the deformation of the first assist spring. It contacts the inner wall on one side of the direction and tries to push the notch groove wider. If the notch groove widens, there is a possibility that the cylindrical portion that supports the output shaft may be deformed or damaged. To solve this problem, the base includes an annular portion that contacts the cylindrical portion from the outer periphery, on the outer periphery of the insertion portion that is inserted into the cylindrical portion. Therefore, the cylindrical portion provided with the notched groove is held at the base from the inner circumferential side and the outer circumferential side. Therefore, even if a force that deforms the cylindrical portion is applied from the first case-side locking portion due to the deformation of the first assist spring, deformation or damage to the cylindrical portion can be prevented or suppressed.

In the present invention, the cylindrical portion includes a large diameter cylindrical portion, a small diameter cylindrical portion having a smaller outer diameter than the large diameter cylindrical portion in the second direction of the large diameter cylindrical portion, and a large diameter cylindrical portion and the small diameter cylindrical portion. An annular end surface facing the second direction between the cylindrical portion and the annular portion may be configured to contact the small diameter cylindrical portion from an outer peripheral side and contact the annular end surface from the second direction. . In this way, the output shaft can be received from the first direction side by the annular end surface of the cylindrical portion.

In the present invention, the reinforcing member has higher rigidity than the case and is fixed to the inside of the case, and the base portion includes a bearing portion having a circular outer circumferential surface in the second direction of the gear fixing portion. The reinforcing member includes a through hole passing through the base, and a bearing portion extending in the axial direction from an opening edge of the through hole and rotatably supporting the bearing portion from an outer peripheral side. I can do it. In this way, the output shaft can be rotatably supported by the cylindrical portion of the case and the bearing portion of the reinforcing member. Further, the reinforcing member including the bearing portion has higher rigidity than the case. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the output shaft from tilting when opening and closing the opening/closing member.

In the present invention, a second assist spring is provided that stores elastic energy for rotating the output shaft in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction when the output shaft rotates in the first rotation direction, The second assist spring includes a coil-shaped second main body disposed on the outer peripheral side of the first assist spring, and a second spring main body that protrudes from an end in the first direction and is locked to the case. The output gear includes a second case-side locking portion and a second protrusion that protrudes in the second direction from the second direction end of the second spring main body, and the output gear includes The second spring locking portion may be locked. In this way, the first assist spring and the second assist spring can assist the rotation of the output shaft in the second rotation direction. Further, the second assist spring is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the first assist spring. Therefore, the second assist spring is not located between the protrusion to which the opening/closing member is connected and the gear fixing part to which the driving force of the motor is transmitted in the axial direction. Therefore, by arranging the second assist spring, it is possible to avoid separation in the axial direction between the protruding portion of the output shaft to which the opening/closing member is connected and the gear fixing portion to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted.

In the present invention, the output shaft is made of resin, the base includes a connecting part between the gear fixing part and the insertion part, the outer diameter of which is larger than that of the insertion part, and the annular part is , protrudes in the first direction from an outer peripheral edge of an end surface of the connecting portion in the first direction, and the end surface of the connecting portion in the first direction is located between the annular portion and the insertion portion in the radial direction. A hole extending in the second direction may be provided in the annular end face portion, and the hole may reach the bearing portion. In this way, since the wall thickness of the output shaft can be adjusted by the hole, shrinkage of the resin after molding can be suppressed when the output shaft is molded by injection molding or the like. Therefore, it becomes easy to mold the output shaft into a desired shape.

In the present invention, the case may be made of resin, and the reinforcing member may be made of metal. In this way, it is easy to form the case into a desired shape. Further, it is easy to make the stiffness of the reinforcing member higher than that of the case. Furthermore, since the output shaft is rotatably supported by the metal reinforcing member, it is easy to prevent or suppress the output shaft from tilting.

In the present invention, the output shaft includes an output shaft body made of resin, and a metal columnar member coaxially fixed to the output shaft body, and the insertion portion is arranged in the first direction of the columnar member. It can be assumed that the end portion of In this way, since the output shaft includes a metal portion, the rigidity of the output shaft 7 is increased. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the output shaft held by the cylindrical portion from inclining.

Next, the toilet lid opening/closing unit of the present invention is characterized in that it has the above-mentioned opening/closing member driving device, and the opening/closing member is a toilet lid.

According to the present invention, since the opening/closing member driving device includes the first assist spring, the motor drives the output shaft to rotate when opening the toilet lid connected to the protrusion of the output shaft from a lying position to an upright position. can assist. Further, the first assist spring is not located between the gear fixing portion to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted and the protruding portion to which the toilet lid is connected. Therefore, due to the arrangement of the first assist spring, the protruding portion of the output shaft to which the toilet lid is connected and the portion to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted are not separated in the axial direction. Therefore, deformation of the output shaft due to the load applied to the output shaft from the toilet lid side can be prevented or suppressed.

In the present invention, the first assist spring is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the insertion portion located at the end of the output shaft in the first direction. Thereby, the first assist spring is not located between the gear fixing part to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted and the protrusion part to which the opening/closing member is connected. Therefore, due to the arrangement of the first assist spring, the protruding part of the output shaft to which the opening/closing member is connected and the part to which the driving force from the motor is transmitted are spaced apart in the axial direction, resulting in deformation of the output shaft. can be prevented or suppressed.

It is an external perspective view of an opening-and-closing member drive device. It is an explanatory view of a toilet lid opening and closing unit. It is a sectional view of an opening-and-closing member drive device. It is an exploded perspective view of an opening-and-closing member drive device. It is a perspective view of an intermediate case. It is an exploded perspective view when an output shaft, an output gear, a 1st assist spring, and a 2nd assist spring are seen from an axial direction. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the output shaft, the output gear, the first assist spring, and the second assist spring when viewed from the opposite side from FIG. 6 . It is a perspective view when a motor, a transmission mechanism, and an output shaft are seen from an axial direction. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the motor, transmission mechanism, and output shaft viewed from the opposite side from FIG. 8; It is a top view of a 2nd case, a 1st assist spring, and a 2nd assist spring. It is an explanatory view of an output shaft of a modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the toilet lid opening/closing unit of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the opening/closing member driving device. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the toilet lid opening/closing unit. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the opening/closing member driving device. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the opening/closing member driving device. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the intermediate case. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the output shaft, output gear, first assist spring, and second assist spring viewed from the axial direction. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the output shaft, output gear, first assist spring, and second assist spring viewed from the opposite side from FIG. 6. FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the motor, transmission mechanism, and output shaft viewed from the axial direction. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the motor, transmission mechanism, and output shaft viewed from the opposite side from FIG. 8. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the second case, the first assist spring, and the second assist spring.

The opening/closing member driving device 1 shown in FIG. 1 rotates opening/closing members such as lids and doors to open and close them. The toilet lid opening/closing unit 3 is constructed by connecting the toilet lid 201 of the toilet unit 200 as an opening/closing member to the opening/closing member driving device 1. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the toilet unit 200 includes a toilet main body 202, a toilet seat 203, a toilet lid 201, and a tank 204. The end portion of the toilet lid 201 on the side of the tank 204 is connected to the output shaft 7 of the opening/closing member driving device 1 . Due to the rotation of the output shaft 7, the toilet lid 201 moves between a closed position where it lies flat and covers the toilet bowl main body 202 and an open position where it stands up from the toilet bowl main body 202. It is also possible to provide the second opening/closing member driving device 1 in the toilet unit 200, and to connect the toilet seat 203 as the opening/closing member to the output shaft 7 of the second opening/closing member driving device 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the opening/closing member driving device 1 includes a motor 6, an output shaft 7 to which the toilet lid 201 is connected, a transmission mechanism 8 that transmits the driving force of the motor 6 to the output shaft 7, and the motor 6 and the output shaft 7. It has a case 9 that houses the transmission mechanism 8.

The output shaft 7 includes a protrusion 11 protruding from a case opening 10 of the case 9 and a base 12 housed in the case 9. The end of the toilet lid 201 is connected to the protrusion 11 of the output shaft 7 . Therefore, the opening/closing member driving device 1 opens and closes the toilet lid 201 in a cantilevered state. As shown in FIG. 1, the case 9 has a shape elongated in one direction when viewed from the direction along the axis L of the output shaft 7. The output shaft 7 projects from a longitudinal end portion of the case 9 to the outside of the case 9 .

In the following description, three mutually orthogonal directions are referred to as an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction. The Z-axis direction is the axial direction along the axis L of the output shaft 7, the Y-axis direction is the longitudinal direction of the case 9, and the X-axis direction is the lateral direction of the case 9. In the Z-axis direction, the side on which the output shaft 7 protrudes is the +Z direction, and the opposite side is the -Z direction. Also, one side in the X-axis direction is the −X direction, and the other side is the +X direction. One side in the Y-axis direction is the −Y direction, and the other side is the +Y direction. The output shaft 7 protrudes to the outside of the case 9 from an end portion of the case 9 in the +Y direction of the Y-axis direction. Further, the direction around the axis L is the circumferential direction, and the direction orthogonal to the axis L is the radial direction.

Case 9 is made of resin. As shown in FIG. 1, the case 9 includes a first side wall 13 and a second side wall 14 that extend parallel to the Y-axis direction. The case 9 also includes a third side wall 15 that extends in the X-axis direction and connects the -Y direction end of the first side wall 13 and the -Y direction end of the second side wall 14. Further, the case 9 includes a fourth side wall 16 connecting the ends in the +Y direction. The fourth side wall 16 has a shape in which the space between the first side wall 13 and the second side wall 14 protrudes in the +Y direction.

Further, the case 9 includes a first case 21, an intermediate case 22, and a second case 23 arranged along the Z-axis direction, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The first case 21 is located in the -Z direction of the intermediate case 22, and the second case 23 is located in the +Z direction of the intermediate case 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first case 21 includes a bottom wall portion 25 serving as an end surface of the case 9 in the −Z direction, and a first frame portion 26 extending from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 25 in the +Z direction. The first frame portion 26 constitutes an end portion of the first side wall 13, second side wall 14, third side wall 15, and fourth side wall 16 of the case 9 in the -Z direction. A motor 6 is fixed to the first case 21 . The motor 6 includes a motor body 28 , a rotating shaft 27 that protrudes from the motor body 28 , and a pair of motor terminals 29 that protrudes from the motor body 28 on the opposite side of the rotating shaft 27 . The output shaft 7 is located in the -Y direction of the motor body 28. The rotating shaft 27 faces in a direction intersecting the axis L of the output shaft 7. In this example, the rotating shaft 27 faces in a direction perpendicular to the axis L of the output shaft 7. Moreover, the rotating shaft 27 is inclined with respect to the Y-axis direction (the longitudinal direction of the case 9) when viewed from the Z-axis direction. The tip of the rotating shaft 27 is rotatably supported by a bearing member 30.

The intermediate case 22 includes an intermediate bottom portion 31 and an intermediate frame portion 32 extending from the outer peripheral edge of the intermediate bottom portion 31 in the +Z direction. The intermediate frame portion 32 constitutes an intermediate portion of the first side wall 13 , the second side wall 14 , the third side wall 15 , and the fourth side wall 16 of the case 9 in the Z-axis direction. The intermediate case 22 accommodates some of the gears that constitute the transmission mechanism 8 .

As shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate bottom portion 31 of the intermediate case 22 is provided with a cylindrical portion 24 that protrudes in the +Z direction. The cylindrical portion 24 is a bearing that rotatably supports the end portion of the output shaft in the −Z direction. The cylindrical portion 24 includes a notch groove 24a extending in the Z-axis direction from the +Z-direction end. Further, the cylindrical portion 24 has a large-diameter cylindrical portion 24b, a small-diameter cylindrical portion 24c having a smaller outer diameter than the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24b, and a large-diameter cylindrical portion 24b from the side in the −Z direction to the side in the +Z direction. An annular end surface 24d facing the +Z direction between the small diameter cylindrical portion 24c and the small diameter cylindrical portion 24c.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plate-shaped reinforcing member 35 is fixed to the end portion of the intermediate case 22 on the second case 23 side. The reinforcing member 35 is made of metal and has higher rigidity than the case 9. In this example, the reinforcing member 35 is a sheet metal. The reinforcing member 35 is provided with a reinforcing member opening 35a through which the base extends in the Z-axis direction. Further, the reinforcing member is provided with a cylindrical bearing portion 36 that protrudes in the +Z direction from the opening edge of the reinforcing member opening 35a. Further, a potentiometer 37 is attached to the reinforcing member 35. The potentiometer 37 is located at an end portion opposite to the output shaft 7 in the Y-axis direction.

The second case 23 (case portion) is plate-shaped and is fixed to the intermediate case 22 by being placed over the reinforcing member 35 from the +Z direction. The second case 23 constitutes an end surface of the case 9 in the +Z direction. The second case 23 includes a plate portion 17 that serves as an end surface of the case 9 in the +Z direction. The plate portion 17 includes a plate through hole 17a through which the output shaft 7 passes. Further, the second case 23 includes a shaft support portion 18 that protrudes from the opening edge of the plate portion through hole 17a in the plate portion 17 in the +Z direction. The plate portion through hole 17a and the shaft support portion 18 are provided coaxially. The output shaft 7 passes through the plate through hole 17a and the shaft support part 18 inside the case 9, and projects to the outside of the case 9 from the case opening 10, which is the end of the shaft support part 18 in the +Z direction.

Here, the cylindrical portion 24 provided at the intermediate bottom portion 31 of the intermediate case 22 is provided at a position overlapping the case opening 10 when viewed from the Z-axis direction. The cylindrical portion 24 is coaxial with the case opening 10, the plate through hole 17a, and the shaft support portion 18.

The output shaft 7 is made of resin. As shown in FIG. 3, the base portion 12 of the output shaft 7 includes an insertion portion 39 inserted into the cylindrical portion 24 at the end in the −Z direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the base 12 includes a gear fixing portion 40 to which the output gear 53 is coaxially fixed in a non-rotatable manner in the second direction of the insertion portion 39. The outer diameter of the gear fixing part 40 is larger than the outer diameter of the insertion part 39. Further, the base portion 12 includes a connecting portion 41 that connects the gear fixing portion 40 and the insertion portion 39, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The outer diameter of the connecting portion 41 is larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 39 and smaller than the outer diameter of the gear fixing portion 40. As shown in FIG. 6, an annular end surface 40a facing in the -Z direction is provided between the gear fixing part 40 and the connecting part 41. Furthermore, an annular end surface 41a facing in the −Z direction is provided between the connecting portion 41 and the insertion portion 39.

A first spring locking hole 42 (first spring locking portion) extending in the +Z direction is formed in the end surface 40a of the gear fixing portion 40. The end surface 41a of the connecting portion 41 is provided with an annular portion 43 that protrudes from the outer peripheral edge in the −Z direction. The annular portion 43 is located on the outer peripheral side of the insertion portion 39. There is a gap between the annular portion 43 and the insertion portion 39.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the base 12 includes a bearing portion 44 having a circular outer circumferential surface facing radially outward from the gear fixing portion 40 toward the +Z direction, and a circular outer circumferential surface facing radially outward. A supported portion 45 having a surface is provided in this order. The outer diameter of the bearing portion 44 is larger than the outer diameters of the gear fixing portion 40 and the supported portion 45. The supported portion 45 includes an annular groove 70 midway in the Z-axis direction. An O-ring 71 is attached to the annular groove 70.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, in the end face 41a of the connecting part 41 in the -Z direction, the annular end face part located between the annular part 43 and the insertion part 39 in the radial direction has a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction. A hole 46 is provided in the hole 46 . The hole 46 extends from the end surface portion of the connecting portion 41 in the +Z direction. The end of the hole 46 in the +Z direction reaches the bearing portion 44 . By providing the hole 46 in the output shaft 7, the thickness of the output shaft 7 is adjusted. Therefore, when the output shaft 7 is molded by injection molding or the like, shrinkage of the resin after molding can be suppressed. Therefore, it becomes easy to mold the output shaft 7 into a desired shape.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the transmission mechanism 8 includes the worm 48, the first gear 49, the second It includes a gear 50, a third gear 51, a fourth gear 52 (front gear), and an output gear 53. The worm 48 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the rotating shaft 27. The worm 48 and the first gear 49 are located within the first case 21 . The second gear 50, the third gear 51, the fourth gear 52, and the output gear 53 are located within the intermediate case 22. The worm 48 , the first gear 49 , the second gear 50 , the third gear 51 , the fourth gear 52 , and the output gear 53 constitute a transmission path that transmits the driving force of the motor 6 to the output shaft 7 .

The first gear 49 is located in the +X direction of the rotating shaft 27 of the motor 6. The first gear 49 includes a first large-diameter gear 49a that meshes with the worm 48, and a first small-diameter gear 49b that is coaxial with the first large-diameter gear 49a and has a smaller outer diameter than the first large-diameter gear 49a. . The first large diameter gear 49a is located in the −Z direction of the first small diameter gear 49b. The first gear 49 is rotatably supported by a first support shaft 55 extending in the Z-axis direction. The first support shaft 55 has an end portion in the −Z direction held by the bottom wall portion 25 of the first case 21 and an end portion in the +Z direction held by the intermediate bottom portion 31 of the intermediate case 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the first gear 49 includes a torque limiter 56 that connects and disconnects transmission of driving force between the first large-diameter gear 49a and the first small-diameter gear 49b.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second gear 50 includes a second large diameter gear 50a that meshes with the first small diameter gear 49b, and a second large diameter gear 50a that is coaxial with the second large diameter gear 50a and is outer than the second large diameter gear 50a. A second small diameter gear 50b having a small diameter is provided. The second large diameter gear 50a is located in the -Z direction of the second small diameter gear 50b. The second large-diameter gear 50a meshes with the first small-diameter gear 49b through an intermediate case opening 33 provided in the intermediate bottom 31 of the intermediate case 22 (see FIG. 5). The second gear 50 is rotatably supported by a second support shaft 58 extending in the Z-axis direction. The end portion of the second support shaft 58 in the −Z direction is held by the intermediate bottom portion 31 of the intermediate case 22, and the end portion in the +Z direction is held by the reinforcing member 35.

The third gear 51 includes a third large diameter gear 51a that meshes with the second small diameter gear 50b, and a third small diameter gear 51b that is coaxial with the third large diameter gear 51a and has a smaller outer diameter than the third large diameter gear 51a. Be prepared. The third large diameter gear 51a is located in the -Z direction of the third small diameter gear 51b. The third gear 51 is rotatably supported by a third support shaft 59 extending in the Z-axis direction. The third support shaft 59 has an end portion in the −Z direction held by the intermediate bottom portion 31 of the intermediate case 22, and an end portion in the +Z direction held by the second case 23. The third support shaft 59 passes through the reinforcing member 35.

The fourth gear 52 is a spur gear that meshes with the third small diameter gear 51b and the output gear 53. The fourth gear 52 and the output gear 53 are arranged in the Y-axis direction. The fourth gear 52 is arranged coaxially with the second gear 50 and is rotatably supported by the second support shaft 58. As shown in FIG. 3, the second support shaft 58 has an end portion in the −Z direction held by the intermediate case 22, and an end portion in the +Z direction held by the reinforcing member 35. That is, the intermediate bottom portion 31 of the intermediate case 22 includes a shaft holding portion 34 that holds the second support shaft 58 that supports the second gear 50 and the fourth gear 52 (see FIG. 5). The reinforcing member 35 includes a shaft holding portion 57 that holds a second support shaft 58 that supports the second gear 50 and the fourth gear 52 (see FIG. 3).

The output gear 53 is made of metal. The output gear 53 is coaxially fixed to the gear fixing portion 40 of the output shaft 7 . That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the output gear 53 has an annular shape, and the gear fixing portion 40 of the output shaft 7 is inserted into the center hole thereof. The inner peripheral surface of the output gear 53 is provided with a plurality of recesses 61 in the circumferential direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the gear fixing part 40 of the output shaft 7 is provided with a plurality of recesses 61 that fit into the recesses 61 on the inner peripheral surface of the output gear 53. A convex portion 62 is provided. Thereby, the output gear 53 and the output shaft 7 are connected in a state where they cannot rotate relative to each other around the axis L.

Here, the transmission mechanism 8 includes a first assist spring 63 and a second assist spring 64. The first assist spring 63 and the second assist spring 64 are both coil springs, and are located in the -Z direction of the output gear 53. The first assist spring 63 includes a coil-shaped first spring main body 63a that surrounds the cylindrical part 24 of the intermediate bottom 31 of the intermediate case 22 from the outer peripheral side, and a coil-shaped first spring main body 63a that extends radially inward from the -Z direction end of the first spring main body 63a. It includes a first case-side locking portion 63b extending circumferentially, and a first protruding portion 63c protruding in the +Z direction from the +Z direction end of the first spring body portion 63a. The first spring main body portion 63a is located on the outside of the connecting portion 41, the annular portion 43, and the insertion portion 39 in the radial direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the first case-side locking portion 63b passes through the notch groove 24a of the cylindrical portion 24 of the intermediate case 22 and protrudes toward the inner peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 24. As shown in FIGS. The first protruding portion 63c is inserted into the first spring locking hole 42 provided in the end surface 40a of the gear fixing portion 40 of the output shaft 7.

The second assist spring 64 includes a coil-shaped second spring main body 64a disposed on the outer peripheral side of the first assist spring 63, and a second spring main body 64a that protrudes in the -Z direction from the -Z direction end of the second spring main body 64a. It includes a second case side locking part 64b and a second protruding part 64c protruding in the +Z direction from the +Z direction end of the second spring main body part 64a. As shown in FIG. 10, the second case-side locking portion 64b protrudes in the −Z direction from a through hole 65 provided in the intermediate bottom portion 31 of the intermediate case 22, and is connected to the second coil spring provided in the first case 21. It is locked by the first locking part 66 (see FIG. 4). The second protruding portion 64c is inserted into a second coil spring second locking portion 67 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the output gear 53 so as to be lockable therein. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first coil spring second locking portion 67 is a notch provided in the tooth portion of the output gear 53. As shown in FIGS. The second protrusion 64c can contact the output gear 53 from the circumferential direction. The cross section of the second assist spring 64 is rectangular.

(Support structure of output shaft)
As shown in FIG. 3, the output shaft 7 is rotatably supported with the insertion portion 39 located at the end in the −Z direction inserted into the cylindrical portion 24 of the intermediate bottom portion 31 of the intermediate case 22. As shown in FIG. When the insertion portion 39 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 24, the annular portion 43 located on the outer periphery side of the insertion portion 39 contacts the end portion of the cylindrical portion 24 in the +Z direction from the outer periphery side. That is, the annular portion 43 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion 24c of the cylindrical portion 24. Further, the end face of the annular portion 43 in the −Z direction contacts the annular end face 24d facing in the +Z direction between the large diameter cylindrical portion 24b and the small diameter cylindrical portion 24c. Thereby, the end portion of the output shaft 7 in the −Z direction is rotatably supported by the cylindrical portion 24 around the axis L, and is also supported from the −Z direction side by the annular end surface 24d of the cylindrical portion 24.

Further, in the output shaft 7, the bearing portion 44 is rotatably supported from the outer circumferential side by the bearing portion 36 of the reinforcing member 35. Furthermore, the supported portion 45 of the output shaft 7 is rotatably supported by the shaft support portion 18 of the second case 23 from the outer circumferential side. The O-ring 71 fixed to the supported part 45 is compressed in the radial direction between the output shaft 7 and the shaft support part 18.

(Fixing structure of reinforcing member)
Next, the reinforcing member 35 is fixed to the intermediate case 22 between the bearing part 36 and the shaft holding part 57 in the Y-axis direction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate case 22 has a first protrusion 32a and a second frame portion 32b extending in parallel to the Y-axis direction in the intermediate frame portion 32, each of which has first protrusions that protrude inward. 73 and a second protrusion 74. Each of the first protrusion 73 and the second protrusion 74 is provided with a screw hole. Further, the first frame portion 32a includes a rectangular first notch 32c at a position where the first protrusion 73 is provided. The second frame portion 32b includes a rectangular second notch 32d at the position where the second protrusion 74 is provided. The first protrusion 73 and the second protrusion 74 face each other in the X-axis direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the reinforcing member 35 includes a pair of protrusions 35b and 35c that protrude on both sides in the X-axis direction between the bearing part 36 and the shaft holding part 57 in the Y-axis direction. A through groove is provided in each of the protrusions 35b and 35c. In the reinforcing member 35, the protrusion 35b in the −X direction is inserted into the first notch 32c of the first frame portion 32a from the +Z direction, and comes into contact with the first protrusion 73. Further, in the reinforcing member 35, the protruding portion 35c in the +X direction is inserted into the second notch 32d of the second frame portion 32b from the +Z direction and comes into contact with the second protruding portion 74. The reinforcing member 35 is fixed to the intermediate case 22 by a screw 75 that passes through the second case 23, passes through the through groove of the protrusion 35b, and is screwed into the screw hole of the first protrusion 73. Ru. Further, the reinforcing member 35 is fixed to the intermediate case 22 by a screw 75 that passes through the second case 23, passes through a through groove of the protrusion 35c, and is screwed into a screw hole of the second protrusion 74. Ru.

With the reinforcing member 35 fixed to the intermediate case 22, a gap 76 is partially provided between the reinforcing member 35 and the first frame portion 32a, and a gap 76 is provided between the reinforcing member 35 and the second frame portion 32b. A gap 77 is partially provided in the. That is, in a state where the reinforcing member 35 is fixed to the case 9, a portion (gap 76) is provided between the reinforcing member 35 and the first side wall 13 that are not in contact with each other. Further, a portion (gap 77) that does not contact each other is provided between the reinforcing member 35 and the second side wall 14.

(potentiometer)
As shown in FIG. 8, the potentiometer 37 includes a potentiometer gear 81 that meshes with one of a plurality of gears forming the transmission mechanism 8. Further, the potentiometer 37 includes a detection section 82 that detects the rotational angular position of the potentiometer gear 81, as shown in FIG. The potentiometer gear 81 is located in the -Z direction of the reinforcing member 35 and meshes with the third small diameter gear 51b of the third gear 51. The detection unit 82 is fixed to the reinforcing member 35 via the substrate 83. Here, wiring (not shown) for supplying power to the motor 6 is connected between the substrate 83 and the pair of motor terminals 29. A plurality of terminal pins 86 connected to wiring and the potentiometer 37 are fixed to the substrate 83. As shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate case 22 includes a terminal pin holding portion 87 at one end Y1 of the intermediate frame portion 32 in the Y-axis direction.

(motion)
When the motor 6 is driven in the forward or reverse direction by supplying power through the terminal pin 86, the driving force of the motor 6 is transmitted to the output shaft 7 through the transmission mechanism 8. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the toilet lid 201 fixed to the output shaft 7 is rotated in the closing direction A (first rotation direction) toward the closed position, or in the opening direction B (second rotation direction) toward the open position. ). When the toilet lid 201 rotates, the potentiometer 37 outputs a signal corresponding to the rotational angular position of the toilet lid 201.

Furthermore, when the toilet lid 201 connected to the output shaft 7 rotates in the closing direction A, the first assist spring 63 and the second assist spring 64 generate elastic energy that rotates the output shaft 7 in the opening direction B around the axis L. store. Therefore, the first assist spring 63 and the second assist spring 64 bias the output shaft 7 driven in the opening direction B by the motor 6 in the opening direction B when the toilet lid 201 is rotated in the opening direction B. , assists in the opening operation. Further, the transmission mechanism 8 includes a torque limiter 56 on the first gear 49. Therefore, when an excessive load is applied to the transmission mechanism 8 from the toilet lid 201 via the output shaft 7, the torque limiter 56 functions to cut off the transmission of the driving force by the transmission mechanism 8. This prevents the transmission mechanism 8 from being damaged due to excessive external load.

(effect)
According to the present invention, the first assist spring 63 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 24 that rotatably supports the insertion portion 39 of the base portion 12 of the output shaft 7 . Further, in the output shaft 7 , the gear fixing portion 40 to which the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted is located in the +Z direction of the insertion portion 39 . Furthermore, in the output shaft 7 , the protruding portion 11 to which the toilet lid 201 is connected is located in the +Z direction of the gear fixing portion 40 . Thereby, the first assist spring 63 is not located between the gear fixing part 40 to which the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted and the protrusion part 11 to which the toilet lid 201 is connected in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, due to the arrangement of the first assist spring 63, the protruding portion 11 on the output shaft 7 to which the toilet lid 201 is connected and the gear fixing portion 40 to which the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted are separated in the Z-axis direction. can be avoided.

Here, the first case-side locking portion 63b of the first assist spring 63 is locked to the cylindrical portion 24 while passing through a notch 24a provided in the cylindrical portion 24 in the radial direction. Therefore, when the output shaft 7 rotates in the closing direction A that closes the toilet lid 201 and the first assist spring 63 accumulates elastic energy, the first case side locking portion 63b is deformed due to the deformation of the first assist spring 63. , comes into contact with the inner wall on one side of the notch groove 24a in the circumferential direction and tries to force the notch groove 24a to widen. If the notch groove 24a widens, the cylindrical portion 24 that supports the output shaft 7 may be deformed or damaged. To solve this problem, the base portion 12 includes an annular portion 43 that contacts the cylindrical portion 24 from the outer circumferential side of the insertion portion 39. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 24 provided with the notched groove 24a is held by the base 12 from the inner circumferential side and the outer circumferential side. Therefore, even if a force that deforms the cylindrical portion 24 is applied from the first case-side locking portion 63b due to the deformation of the first assist spring 63, deformation or damage to the cylindrical portion 24 can be prevented or suppressed.

Further, in this example, the cylindrical portion 24 includes a large diameter cylindrical portion 24b, a small diameter cylindrical portion 24c having a smaller outer diameter than the large diameter cylindrical portion 24b in the +Z direction of the large diameter cylindrical portion 24b, and a large diameter cylindrical portion 24b. An annular end surface 24d facing the +Z direction is provided between the small diameter cylindrical portion 24c and the annular end surface 24d. The annular portion 43 of the output shaft 7 contacts the small-diameter cylindrical portion 24c from the outer peripheral side, and contacts the annular end surface 24d from the +Z direction. Therefore, the annular end surface 24d of the cylindrical portion 24 can receive the output shaft 7 from the −Z direction.

Furthermore, in this example, the reinforcing member 35 is higher in rigidity than the case 9 and is fixed to the inside of the case 9. The reinforcing member 35 includes a bearing portion 36 that rotatably supports the bearing portion 44 of the output shaft 7 from the outer circumferential side. Therefore, the output shaft 7 can be rotatably supported by the cylindrical portion 24 of the case 9 and the bearing portion 36 of the reinforcing member 35. Further, the reinforcing member 35 including the bearing portion 36 has higher rigidity than the case 9. Therefore, when opening and closing the toilet lid 201, it is possible to prevent or suppress the output shaft 7 from tilting.

Further, in this example, when the output shaft 7 rotates in the closing direction A that closes the toilet lid 201, the second assist spring stores elastic energy that rotates the output shaft 7 in the opening direction B opposite to the closing direction A. 64. Therefore, the first assist spring 63 and the second assist spring 64 can assist the rotation of the output shaft 7 in the opening direction B. Here, the second assist spring 64 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the first assist spring 63. Therefore, the second assist spring 64 is not located between the gear fixing portion 40 to which the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted and the protrusion 11 to which the toilet lid 201 is connected in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, by arranging the second assist spring 64, it is possible to avoid separation in the Z-axis direction between the protruding portion 11 to which the toilet lid 201 is connected on the output shaft 7 and the portion to which the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted. .

Further, the output shaft 7 is made of resin and includes a hole 46 in the −Z direction end surface 41a of the connecting portion 41 that extends in the +Z direction and reaches the bearing portion 44. In this way, since the wall thickness of the output shaft 7 can be adjusted by the hole 46, shrinkage of the resin after molding can be suppressed when the output shaft 7 is molded by injection molding or the like. Therefore, it becomes easy to mold the output shaft 7 into a desired shape.

Further, the case 9 is made of resin, and the reinforcing member 35 is made of metal. Therefore, it is easy to form the case 9 into a desired shape. Furthermore, it is easy to make the stiffness of the reinforcing member 35 higher than that of the case 9. Furthermore, since the output shaft 7 is rotatably supported by the metal reinforcing member 35, it is easy to prevent or suppress the output shaft 7 from inclining.

Furthermore, in this example, the highly rigid reinforcing member 35 rotatably supports the output shaft 7 to which the output gear 53 is fixed, and also supports the second support shaft 58 of the fourth gear 52 that meshes with the output gear 53. . Thereby, it is possible to prevent the fourth gear 52 and the output gear 53 from being displaced in a direction away from each other due to an external load, so that the meshing between the fourth gear 52 and the output gear 53 can be maintained in a normal state. Therefore, the efficiency of torque transmission to the toilet lid 201 does not deteriorate.

Further, in this example, the output gear 53 and the fourth gear 52 are arranged along the Y-axis direction, and the reinforcing member 35 is attached to the case between the bearing section 36 and the shaft holding section 57 in the Y-axis direction. It is fixed at 9. That is, in the reinforcing member 35, a pair of protruding parts 35b and 35c located between the bearing part 36 and the shaft holding part 57 in the Y-axis direction are fixed to the case 9. Thereby, the reinforcing member 35 is fixed to the case 9 at a position close to the output gear 53. Therefore, when a load is applied to the output gear 53 via the output shaft 7, the reinforcing member 35 can be prevented from being bent.

Here, according to the toilet lid opening/closing unit 3 of this example, the opening/closing member driving device 1 includes the first assist spring 63 and the second assist spring 64. Therefore, when opening the toilet lid 201 connected to the protrusion 11 of the output shaft 7 from a lying position to an upright position, the rotational drive of the output shaft 7 by the motor 6 is controlled by the first assist spring 63 and the second assist spring. 64 can be assisted by the stored elastic energy.

(Other embodiments)
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an output shaft of a modified example. In FIG. 11, the output shaft of the modified example is shown cut along the axis L. In the opening/closing member driving device 1, the output shaft 7A shown in FIG. 11 can be used instead of the output shaft 7. Note that since the output shaft 7A has a configuration corresponding to that of the output shaft 7, the corresponding configurations are given the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, the output shaft 7A includes an output shaft main body 100 made of resin, and a metal columnar member 101 coaxially fixed to the output shaft main body 100. The output shaft main body 100 includes a gear fixing portion 40 , a connecting portion 41 , an annular portion 43 , a bearing portion 44 , a supported portion 45 , and a protruding portion 11 . The connecting portion 41 includes a circular recess 100a at the center of the end surface 41a in the −Z direction. An annular portion 43 extends in the −Z direction from the outer peripheral edge of the end surface 41a of the connecting portion 41 in the −Z direction.

The columnar member 101 has a cylindrical shape. The columnar member 101 is arranged coaxially with the output shaft main body 100, and is partially inserted into the circular recess 100a. The insertion portion 39 is the end portion of the columnar member 101 in the −Z direction and protrudes from the connecting portion 41 in the −Z direction. In this way, since the output shaft 7A includes a metal portion, the rigidity of the output shaft 7A increases. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the output shaft 7 held by the cylindrical portion 24 from inclining.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Opening/closing member drive device, 3...Toilet lid opening/closing unit, 6...Motor, 7...Output shaft, 8...Transmission mechanism, 9...Case, 10...Case opening, 11...Protruding portion, 12...Base, 13...No. 1 side wall, 14... second side wall, 15... third side wall, 16... fourth side wall, 17... plate part, 17a... plate part through hole, 18... shaft support part, 21... first case, 22... intermediate case, 23... Second case, 24... Cylinder part, 24a... Notch groove, 24b... Large diameter cylinder part, 24c... Small diameter cylinder part, 24d... Annular end surface, 25... Bottom wall part, 26... First frame part, 27... Rotating shaft, 28... Motor body, 30... Bearing member, 31... Intermediate bottom, 32... Intermediate frame, 32a... First frame portion, 32b... Second frame portion, 32c... First notch, 32d... Second Notch, 33... Intermediate case opening, 34... Shaft holding part, 35... Reinforcement member, 35a... Reinforcement member opening, 35b... Projection, 35c... Projection, 36... Bearing, 37... Potentiometer, 39... Insertion part, 40... Gear fixing part, 40a... End face, 41... Connection part, 41a... End face, 42... First spring locking hole, 43... Annular part, 44... Bearing part, 45... Supported part, 46... Hole, 48... Worm, 49... First gear, 49a... First large diameter gear, 49b... First small diameter gear, 50... Second gear, 50a... Second large diameter gear, 50b... Second small diameter gear, 51... Third gear, 51a...Third large diameter gear, 51b...Third small diameter gear, 52...Fourth gear, 53...Output gear, 55...First support shaft, 56...Torque limiter, 57...Shaft holder, 58... Second support shaft, 59...Third support shaft, 61...Concave portion, 62...Convex portion, 63a...First spring body portion, 63b...First case side locking portion, 63c...First protrusion, 64a...Second Spring body part, 64b...Second case side locking part, 64c...Second protrusion, 65...Through hole, 66...Second coil spring first locking part, 67...Second coil spring second locking part, 70... Annular groove, 71... O-ring, 73... First protrusion, 74... Second protrusion, 76... Gap, 77... Gap, 77... Partial gap, 81... Potentiometer gear, 82... Detection part, 83 ... Board, 86... Terminal pin, 87... Terminal pin holding part, 100... Output shaft body, 101... Column member, 200... Toilet unit, 201... Toilet lid, 202... Toilet bowl body, 203... Toilet seat, 204... Tank

Claims (8)

motor and
an output shaft to which the opening/closing member is connected;
a transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the output shaft;
a case housing the motor and the transmission mechanism;
a first assist spring that stores elastic energy to rotate the output shaft in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction when the output shaft rotates in the first rotation direction;
When the direction along the axis of the output shaft is an axial direction, one side of the axial direction is a first direction, and the other side is a second direction,
The case includes a first case, an intermediate case that overlaps the first case from the first direction of the first case, and a second case that overlaps the intermediate case from the first direction of the intermediate case. ,
The output shaft includes a base located between the first case and the intermediate case , and a protrusion protruding from the first case in the second direction of the base,
The transmission mechanism includes an output gear,
The first case includes an opening that allows the output shaft to pass through the first case from inside to outside,
The intermediate case includes a cylindrical portion that is coaxial with the opening and rotatably supports the end portion of the base in the first direction,
The cylindrical portion includes a notch groove extending in the axial direction from the end in the second direction,
The first assist spring includes a coil-shaped first spring main body that surrounds the cylindrical part from the outer circumferential side, and a notch that extends from the end of the first spring main body in the first direction to the inner circumferential side in the radial direction. a first case side locking portion that passes through the groove; and a first protrusion portion that protrudes in the second direction from the end of the first spring main body portion in the second direction;
The base portion includes an insertion portion inserted into the cylindrical portion, an annular portion that contacts the cylindrical portion from the outer periphery side of the insertion portion, and a first spring locking portion to which the first protrusion portion is locked. and a gear fixing part to which the output gear is coaxially fixed in a non-rotatable state in a second direction of the insertion part.
The cylindrical portion includes a large diameter cylindrical portion, a small diameter cylindrical portion having a smaller outer diameter than the large diameter cylindrical portion in the second direction of the large diameter cylindrical portion, and a combination of the large diameter cylindrical portion and the small diameter cylindrical portion. an annular end face facing the second direction between the two;
The opening/closing member driving device according to claim 1, wherein the annular portion contacts the small diameter cylindrical portion from an outer peripheral side and contacts the annular end surface from the second direction. a reinforcing member having higher rigidity than the case and fixed inside the case;
The base includes a bearing portion having a circular outer peripheral surface in the second direction of the gear fixing portion,
The reinforcing member includes a through hole passing through the base, and a bearing portion extending in the axial direction from an opening edge of the through hole and rotatably supporting the bearing portion from an outer peripheral side. Item 2. The opening/closing member driving device according to item 2. comprising a second assist spring that stores elastic energy to rotate the output shaft in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction when the output shaft rotates in the first rotation direction;
The second assist spring includes a coil-shaped second main body disposed on the outer peripheral side of the first assist spring, and a coil-shaped second main body that protrudes from an end of the second spring main body in the first direction and is locked to the case. a second case-side locking portion; and a second protruding portion protruding in the second direction from the end of the second spring main body portion in the second direction;
The opening/closing member driving device according to claim 3, wherein the output gear includes a second spring locking portion to which the second protrusion is locked. The output shaft is made of resin,
The base portion includes a connecting portion between the gear fixing portion and the insertion portion, the outer diameter being larger than the insertion portion,
The annular portion protrudes in the first direction from an outer peripheral edge of an end surface in the first direction of the connecting portion,
The end surface of the connecting portion in the first direction includes a hole extending in the second direction in an annular end surface portion located between the annular portion and the insertion portion in the radial direction,
The opening/closing member driving device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the hole reaches the bearing portion. The case is made of resin,
The opening/closing member driving device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the reinforcing member is made of metal. The output shaft includes an output shaft main body made of resin, and a metal columnar member coaxially fixed to the output shaft main body,
The opening/closing member driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the insertion portion is an end portion of the columnar member in the first direction. It has an opening/closing member driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A toilet lid opening/closing unit, wherein the opening/closing member is a toilet lid.

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