JPH05269025A - Motor-driven tooth-brush - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To widen an area to be brushed, and contrive a brush section not to be placed even into sections between teeth by rotating the brush section to be oscillated with the reciprocating motion of the working of the brush section, and by making the moving passages different from each other with a going passage and a returning passage. CONSTITUTION:Linear reciprocating motion in the axial direction is performed with a reciprocatively driving eccentric cam 44 formed integrally on a face gear 43 to be fitted on a pinion 42, and a cam follower 46 for reciprocating motion to be engaged with the reciprocatively driving eccentric cam 44. On the internal wall of an attachment 10, a guide channel 90 is set, and by fitting a tooth-brush section 6 on an oscillating shaft 4, into the guide channel 90, a guide projection section 91 set on the tooth-brush section 6 is movably inserted. When the linear reciprocating motion of the driving shaft 4 is performed, then the guide projection section 91 is moved into the guide channel 90, and then, at the time of a going-process, the guide projection section 91 passes a circular guide section 90b on the one side of the guide channel 90, and rotational motion and going working upward are performed. At the time of a returning process, the motion of returning working only downward through the perpendi-channel section 90b on the other one-side of the guide channel 90 is performed. Combined working can be performed without a brush section 36 to be placed even into sections between teeth.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothbrush used as an oral hygiene tool, and more particularly to an electric toothbrush.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In most conventional electric toothbrushes, the toothbrush portion reciprocates or rolls. Then, only by the reciprocating movement or rolling operation, the brush tip is pinched between the back teeth, and the stroke is reduced, so that the cleaning effect is reduced. Further, among the conventional electric toothbrushes, there is one in which the brush portion repeatedly rotates or the brush bundle repeatedly rotates. In this, it is necessary to apply one tooth, one tooth, or one place between teeth. There was, and it took time.

Further, since the brush portion is fixed to the brush surface of the handle of the toothbrush portion, the pressure of the brush portion may be applied too strongly due to the unevenness of the tooth surface. When the pressing force is weakened, the bristle tips reach between the teeth. It was difficult. In addition, the brushing area of the brush portion was constant in the motion direction of one motion unless the position of the brush portion was changed, and it took time to brush all the teeth.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to:
The brush part moves reciprocally and oscillates (rolls), and the path is different between the forward path and the return path, so that the brushing area is wide and cleaning is possible without pinching the brush part between the teeth. Efficient cleaning between teeth and gums or between teeth can be performed, and since the protrusion of the brush part can be varied by the pressing force on the tooth surface, the pressing force does not become too strong and the tooth is pressed with a constant pressure. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric toothbrush whose bristles reach even in the interspaces and which can be efficiently cleaned along the irregularities of teeth and gums.

[0005]

In order to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional examples and to achieve the object of the present invention, an electric toothbrush according to the present invention is an electric toothbrush having an output part capable of linear reciprocating movement in the axial direction. At the same time, when the output part reciprocates, at the same time, the brush part 6 that reciprocates while swinging and rotating about the shaft center is moved.
Is characterized by having different means for the forward and backward trajectories.

Further, the trajectory of the brush portion 36 may make a linear motion either when the reciprocating motion is going forward or backward. Further, it is also preferable that the brush portion 36 has a locus that traces the outer shape of the figure 8. Further, the brush portion 36 may be configured so that its protrusion can be varied depending on the pressing force and that it can be inclined in an oblique direction.

Further, the brush section 36 has a plurality of brush blocks 3
It is also preferable that the brush block 36a is divided into 6a, and each brush block 36a is configured so that its protrusion can be varied and tilted in an oblique direction depending on the pressing strength. Further, a means for linearly reciprocating in the axial direction and a means for performing a swinging rotary motion about the axis center are integrally formed, and the eccentric cam for reciprocating drive 44, the rotation repeating cam 44a, and the eccentric cam for reciprocating driving. 44 and reciprocating cam follower 46 and reciprocating cam follower 46, which are integrally formed with the cam 44 and the repetitive rotating cam 44a, respectively.
It is also preferable to be composed of a and.

[0008]

According to the present invention, however, in the electric toothbrush having the output portion capable of linearly reciprocating in the axial direction, the output portion reciprocates, and at the same time, the brush portion which reciprocates while swinging and rotating about the shaft center. Since the trajectory of 36 has different means for the forward and backward movements, it is possible to brush the brush portion 36 without being pinched even between the teeth. Further, the brush portion 36 can be brushed by a combined operation of reciprocating movement (bath) and swinging rotation (rolling) in the axial direction.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The electric toothbrush includes the storage battery 5 and the motor 40.
And the like, and a toothbrush portion 6 connected to a drive shaft 4 projecting from the tip of the body 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a frame 13 having a motor 40 and a cam block 41 mounted therein and a storage battery 5 are mounted inside the main body 1 having covers 11 and 12 attached to the upper end and the lower end, respectively. And a battery holder 50. The drive shaft 4 is also supported by the frame 13 and is connected to the motor 40 via the cam block 41. In the figure, reference numeral 15 is a waterproof rubber for waterproofing the tip of the main body 1, and 2 is a switch, which performs a seesaw operation by alternately operating a push-on switch 22 and a push-off switch 23 arranged on the front surface of the main body 1. It is formed of a switch plate 29 and a contact portion (not shown) that is turned on and off according to the movement of the switch plate 29.

The cam block 41 converts the rotation of the motor 40 into a reciprocating linear motion of the drive shaft 4, and as shown in FIG. 3, the cam block 41 is supported by a shaft 47 whose both ends are supported by the frame 13 to support the motor 40. A face gear 43 that meshes with the pinion 42 mounted on the output shaft, a reciprocating drive eccentric cam 44 and a rotation repeating cam 44a that are integrally formed with the face gear 43, a reciprocating drive eccentric cam 44, and a rotation repeating. It comprises a reciprocating cam follower 46 having a horizontally long hole and a reciprocating cam follower 46a having a vertically long hole which respectively engage with the reciprocating cam 44a. The repetitive cam follower 46a is integrally formed on the front part of the reciprocating cam follower 46. The reciprocating cam follower 46 is provided at the lower end of the drive shaft 4 mounted axially slidably on the frame 13. Here, the reciprocating drive eccentric cam 44 is perpendicular to the face gear 43 so as to be eccentric with respect to the center axis of the face gear 43, and the rotation repeating cam 44a.
Has a circular outer periphery, and the circular repeating cam 44
Reference symbol a is inclined with respect to the axis of the reciprocating eccentric cam 44 which is perpendicular to the face gear 43.

When the motor 40 rotates the eccentric shaft 44 via the pinion 42 and the face gear 43, the reciprocating drive eccentric cam 44 reciprocates up and down the reciprocating cam follower 46 and the rotation repeating cam 44a repeats the rotation. The cam follower 46a is oscillated and rotated, whereby the drive shaft 4 reciprocates in the vertical direction, and at the same time, oscillates and rotates about the shaft center.
Since the drive shaft 4 reciprocates in the axial direction,
Although it is necessary to mount the drive shaft 4 on the frame 13 via a bearing, the drive shaft 4 is supported by the rolling bearings 81, 81 mounted on the frame 13 here.

Rolling bearing 8 for supporting the tip of drive shaft 4
As shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes an annular retainer 82, balls 83 respectively arranged in a plurality of axial grooves 84 formed in the retainer 82, and outer peripheries of both ends of the ball 83 in the retainer 82. And an outer ring 85 that surrounds the ball 8 when the drive shaft 4 reciprocates in the axial direction.
3 is made movable in the axial direction.

A toothbrush portion 6 is detachably attached to the tip of the drive shaft 4 which makes a reciprocating linear motion. A brush portion 36 is provided at the tip of the toothbrush portion 6 so as to project in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the toothbrush portion 6. 5 and 6 show each embodiment of the operation of the toothbrush portion 6. Now, the lower end position when the toothbrush portion 6 makes a linear reciprocating motion is (a),
Assuming that the position in the middle of the outward path is (b), the upper end position is (c), and the intermediate positions in the return path are (d) and (e), respectively, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the toothbrush portion 6 is the lower end of the outward path. It swings and rotates while moving from the position (a) to the upper end position (c), and does not swing and rotate when returning from the upper end position (c) to the lower end position (a) on the return path.
Further, in FIG. 6, the lower end position when the toothbrush portion 6 makes a linear reciprocating motion is (a), the middle position of the forward path is (b), the upper end position is (c), and the middle position of the return path is ( d), the toothbrush portion 6 swings and rotates from the center to the right while moving from the lower end position (a) of the forward path to the upper end position (c), and on the return path from the upper end position (c) to the lower end position (a). When returning to, it swings from the center to the left. As described above, according to the present invention, the output unit reciprocates and performs the swinging and rotational motion about the axis center at the same time, and the trajectory of the reciprocating motion of the brush unit differs between the forward and backward movements.

FIG. 8 shows the movement of the brush portion 36 shown in FIG. 6 represented by a substantially O-shaped locus, the movement of the drive shaft 36, and the relationship between the rotation repeating cam 44a and the rotation repeating cam follower 46a. The vertical relationship of the toothbrush portion 6 and the relationship between the reciprocating drive eccentric cam 44 and the reciprocating cam follower 46 are shown in each state. In the above-described embodiment, the embodiment in which the axial linear reciprocating means and the swinging and rotating means about the axis center are provided inside the main body 1 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, but the axial linear reciprocating means is shown in FIGS. Is provided in the main body 1, and the swinging and rotating means around the axis is provided in the detachable attachment 10. That is, in this embodiment,
The cover 11 constitutes an attachment 10 that can be attached to and detached from the main body 1. FIG. 11 is a view showing a linear reciprocating means provided in the main body 1. The eccentric cam 44 for reciprocating drive integrally formed with the face gear 43 that meshes the linear reciprocating motion in the axial direction with the pinion 42, and the reciprocating drive. Eccentric cam 44
Is performed by a reciprocating cam follower 46 that engages with. A guide groove 90 is provided on the inner wall of the attachment 10. The guide groove 90 has a vertical groove portion 90a and a lower end communicating with an upper end portion of the vertical groove portion 90a, and an upper end portion of the vertical groove portion 9a.
0b and an arc-shaped groove 90b having a substantially arc shape that communicates with the upper end of the toothbrush 0b.
The toothbrush portion 6 in the guide groove 90
The guide protrusion 91 provided on the above is movably fitted. When the drive shaft 4 makes a linear reciprocating movement, the guide protrusion 91 moves in the guide groove 90, so that the guide protrusion 91 passes through the arc-shaped groove 90b on one side of the guide groove 90 during the forward stroke to rotate. The upward movement is performed, and during the backward stroke, only the downward backward movement is performed through the vertical groove portion 90b on the other side of the guide groove 90.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a driving mechanism in which the brush portion 36 operates so as to trace the outer shape of a substantially 8-shape. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the rotation repeating cam follower 46a is a four-lobed cam groove. Further, in FIG. 12, the lower end position when the toothbrush portion 6 makes a linear reciprocating motion is (a), and is 1/4 from the lower end of the outward path.
Is (b), the position 2/4 from the lower end of the outward path is (c), and the position 3/4 from the lower end of the outward path is (d), the rotational position of the brush portion 36 and the drive shaft 4 Position, rotation repeating cam 44a and rotation repeating cam follower 4
6a engagement position, the vertical movement position of the toothbrush portion 6,
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an engagement position between a reciprocating drive eccentric cam 44 and a reciprocating cam follower 46. In this embodiment, the drive shaft 4 rotates one stroke when the drive shaft 4 moves only from the bottom stroke to the top stroke, and rotates one stroke when the drive shaft 4 moves from the top stroke to the bottom stroke only. It is supposed to do. In other words, when the drive shaft 4 makes a reciprocating linear motion for one stroke, the drive shaft 4 makes an oscillating rotation for two strokes.

FIG. 13 shows a flocking base 32 having one brush portion 36.
The hair-implanted base 32 is fixed to the end of the toothbrush portion 6 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction and is prevented from popping out by the contact portion 6c at the front end portion of the recessed portion 6a. Is biased forward by a spring 6b. Then, when a pressing pressure is applied to the brush portion 36, the brush portion 36 is bent by the repulsive force of the spring 6b. As the spring 6b, one as shown in FIG. 13 (a) or FIG. 13 (b),
Although the one shown in FIG.
When the supporting portions of the spring 6b are provided at a plurality of positions as shown in (b) and (c), the brush portion 36 can be obliquely projected even with respect to a diagonal load. Further, FIG. 14 shows an embodiment in which the brush portion 36 is divided into a plurality of small blocks, which can be bent for each of a plurality of divided brush blocks 36a, and can cope with smaller unevenness, and more particularly It is capable of projecting diagonally in response to small irregularities.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the electric toothbrush having the output portion capable of linearly reciprocating in the axial direction, the output portion reciprocates and at the same time, the swinging and rotating motion about the axis center is performed. In addition, since the trajectory of the brush portion of the reciprocating motion differs between the forward and backward movements, the brush portion does not get pinched even between the teeth, and the brush portion operation reciprocates in the axial direction. Tooth brushing can be performed by a combined operation of (bath) and oscillating rotation (rolling), and as a result, tooth brushing can be performed efficiently.

Further, in the case where the locus of the brush portion makes a linear motion at either the forward or backward movement of the reciprocating motion, the space between the teeth is surely polished, and the swinging motion about the shaft center is also performed. As a result, the brush portion does not become clogged even between the teeth and rolling brushing can be performed, and tooth brushing can be performed evenly. Further, in the structure in which the locus of the brush portion traces the outer shape of a figure of 8, the upper and lower teeth can be simultaneously brushed between the teeth and the gums and between the teeth, so that every corner can be efficiently brushed. ..

Further, in the case where the brush portion is capable of projecting freely depending on the pressing strength and tiltable in an oblique direction, it is possible to brush the teeth with a constant pressing pressure, and the brush portion also follows the uneven portion well. It can be efficiently cleaned. Also, the brush part is divided into multiple brush blocks,
In the case where each brush block is configured so that the protrusion can be varied depending on the pressing force and can be tilted in an oblique direction, it is possible to efficiently brush the brush portion along the fine irregularities.

Also, means for linearly reciprocating in the axial direction,
Means for swinging and rotating about the shaft center are integrally formed to engage with the reciprocating drive eccentric cam, the rotary repeating cam, and the reciprocating drive eccentric cam and the rotary repeating cam, respectively. With a cam follower for reciprocating motion and a cam follower for rotating and repeating, the number of parts is small, the cost is reduced, and the synchronous positioning can be uniquely determined by the angle between the cams. It can have a different structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same main body.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the drive block of the above.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the above bearing.

FIG. 5 is a lower end position, an intermediate position, an upper end position,
It is an explanatory view of an example showing the swinging rotation position of the brush portion in the middle position of the return path.

FIG. 6 is a lower end position, an intermediate position, an upper end position,
It is explanatory drawing of the other example which shows the rocking | fluctuation rotation position of the brush part in the intermediate position of a return path.

7A is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 3 at the time of engagement, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 3 at the time of engagement.

8 (a), (b), (c), and (d) are the lower end position, the intermediate position, the upper end position of the forward path, the swinging rotational position of the brush section at the midway position of the return path, and the rotation of the drive shaft in the case of FIG. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a moving position, a relationship between a rotation repeating cam and a rotation repeating cam, a vertical movement position of a toothbrush portion, and a relationship between a reciprocating driving eccentric cam and a reciprocating driving eccentric cam.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a drive block according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the drive shaft, the attachment, and the toothbrush portion of the above.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a drive block according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

12 (a), (b), (c), and (d) are the lower end position of the forward path in the case of FIG. 11, a position 1/4 from the lower end, and 2/4 from the lower end.
Position, the swinging rotation position of the brush portion at a position of 3/4 from the lower end, the rotation position of the drive shaft, the relationship between the rotation repeating cam and the rotation repeating cam, the vertical movement position of the toothbrush portion, and the reciprocating driving bias. It is an operation explanatory view showing a relation between a core cam and a reciprocating drive eccentric cam.

FIG. 13 (a) is an exploded perspective view of the toothbrush portion of the above, and FIG. 13 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the above-mentioned spring when the spring is different,
(C) is a perspective view of the spring used for (b).

14A is an exploded perspective view of a toothbrush portion of another embodiment of the same, FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view of the same spring when the spring is different, and FIG. 14C is a spring used in FIG. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 36 Brush Unit 36a Brush Block 44 Eccentric Cam for Reciprocating Drive 44a Cam for Repeating Rotation 46 Cam Follower for Reciprocating Motion 46a Cam Follower for Repeating Rotation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electric toothbrush having an output section capable of linearly reciprocating movement in the axial direction, wherein the output section reciprocates and, at the same time, performs an oscillating rotary motion about the axis center and the loci of the reciprocating brush section are forward and backward. An electric toothbrush characterized by comprising different means depending on time. 2. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the locus of the brush portion makes a linear motion either when the reciprocating motion is going forward or backward. 3. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein a locus of the brush portion is a locus that traces an outer shape of a figure-eight. 4. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the brush portion is configured so that the protrusion can be freely changed and tilted obliquely according to the pressing strength. 5. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the brush portion is divided into a plurality of brush blocks, and each of the brush blocks is capable of projecting and varying according to a pressing strength and tiltable in an oblique direction. 6. A reciprocating drive eccentric cam, a rotation repeating cam, and a reciprocating drive eccentric, which are integrally formed with a means for linearly reciprocating in the axial direction and a means for oscillating and rotating about an axis center. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the electric toothbrush is composed of a reciprocating cam follower and a rotating repeat cam follower which are integrally formed with the cam and the rotating repeat cam, respectively.