Toilet equipment

Abstract

This toilet system provides a compact design that allows for secure sealing of waste collection bags and is easy to maintain. [Solution] The toilet comprises a toilet bowl 1 and a toilet seat 2 attached to the upper opening of the toilet bowl. Each time it is used, a waste collection bag 3 is placed inside the toilet bowl, and the upper edge of the collection bag is folded over to cover the toilet seat, thereby attaching the collection bag to the toilet seat. The toilet comprises a squeezing mechanism 4 placed inside the toilet bowl that constricts the area above the waste contained in the collection bag attached to the toilet seat, a heat sealing mechanism 12 placed inside the toilet bowl that welds and seals the upper or lower side of the area squeezed by the squeezing mechanism in the collection bag attached to the toilet seat, and a tank connected to the lower opening of the toilet bowl that collects the collection bag containing the waste.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet device that is used as a temporary toilet at disaster shelters, construction sites, etc., and also as an in-vehicle toilet for trains, high-speed buses, camper vans, etc.

Background Art

[0002] In this type of toilet device, if the method of directly storing excrement in a tank is used, there are problems such as odor leakage and the trouble of collecting excrement from the tank. Therefore, a toilet device has been proposed in which excrement is sealed and stored in a synthetic resin bag every time it is used, collected in a tank, and the sealed bag is recovered from the tank.

[0003] As a toilet device of this type, for example, a cylindrical or square tubular toilet bowl, a toilet seat attached to the upper end opening of the toilet bowl, a film storage portion provided in the upper part of the internal space of the toilet bowl for storing a tubular film in a folded state, a film feeding mechanism provided in the internal space of the toilet bowl for feeding the tubular film from the film storage portion to a predetermined position directly below the opening of the toilet seat every time it is used, a welding and cutting mechanism provided below the film feeding mechanism in the internal space of the toilet bowl for welding and cutting the film fed by the film feeding mechanism, and a tank connected to the lower end opening of the toilet bowl for collecting a sealed bag containing excrement formed by the welding and cutting mechanism (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[0004] However, according to this conventional toilet device, the film cannot be fed smoothly, and the film supply may stop. Also, since the film is sandwiched between a pressure bonding member and a heater and welded and cut in a state where the opening diameter of the film is relatively large, there may be a problem in film welding and sufficient bag sealing performance may not be obtained.

[0005] Furthermore, since the device configuration is large and complex, it has not been easy to make the toilet device compact. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-285297 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6166657 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 6453259 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a toilet device that can reliably seal the bag containing the collected waste, is easy to maintain, and is compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a toilet device comprising: a toilet bowl that is substantially cylindrical or rectangular in shape; a toilet seat attached to the upper end opening of the toilet bowl; wherein, each time it is used, a waste collection bag is placed inside the toilet bowl, and the upper edge of the collection bag is folded outward to cover the toilet seat, thereby attaching the collection bag to the toilet seat; further comprising: a squeezing mechanism placed inside the toilet bowl that constricts the area above the waste contained in the collection bag attached to the toilet seat; a heat sealing mechanism placed inside the toilet bowl that welds and seals the upper or lower side of the area squeezed by the squeezing mechanism in the collection bag attached to the toilet seat; and a tank connected to the lower end opening of the toilet bowl that collects the collection bag containing the waste.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the constriction mechanism includes a band having a predetermined rigidity, arranged in a loop shape that opens in the vertical direction, and capable of taking between a standby position surrounding the outer circumference of the collection bag attached to the toilet seat and a constriction position that reduces the diameter from the standby position to constrict the collection bag, and a band drive unit that is fixed to the toilet bowl and supports the band, causing it to move between the standby position and the constriction position.

[0010] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat sealing mechanism includes a support block fixed to the toilet bowl, a pair of arms attached to the support block so as to be rotatable around one end in a horizontal plane, and capable of taking a standby position spaced apart from each other and from the collection bag attached to the toilet seat, and a welding position closer to each other from the standby position and pressing against the constricted collection bag from both sides, a heater provided on one of the pair of arms, and a heater receiver provided on the other of the pair of arms, wherein when the pair of arms take the welding position, the heater and the heater receiver face each other with the collection bag in between, and further includes an arm drive unit fixed to the support block for moving the pair of arms between the standby position and the welding position, a power supply for the heater attached to the support block, and a control unit attached to the support block for controlling the power supplied from the power supply to the heater. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, by attaching the collection bag to the toilet device each time it is used, there is no need to provide a structure in the internal space of the toilet bowl for storing the continuous film in a folded state and for dispensing a fixed length each time it is used. Therefore, the toilet device can be made extremely simple and easy to maintain.

[0012] Furthermore, by providing a squeezing mechanism to constrict the opening of the collection bag containing the excrement, and then using a heat-sealing mechanism to weld and seal the upper or lower side of this constricted area, the area of ​​the collection bag to be welded is reduced, thereby allowing for a smaller heater in the heat-sealing mechanism and ensuring that the collection bag containing the excrement is reliably sealed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a toilet device according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the throttling mechanism of the toilet device. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the heat sealing mechanism of the toilet device. [Figure 4] Figure 1 illustrates the operation of the throttling mechanism and heat sealing mechanism of the toilet device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The configuration of the present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a toilet device according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side.

[0015] Referring to Figure 1, the toilet device of the present invention comprises a toilet bowl 1 that is substantially cylindrical or rectangular in shape, and a toilet seat 2 attached to the upper opening of the toilet bowl 1.

[0016] In this toilet system, each time it is used, the waste collection bag 3 is placed inside the toilet bowl 1, and the upper edge 3a of the collection bag 3 is folded outwards to cover the toilet seat 2, so that the collection bag 3 is attached to the toilet seat 2.

[0017] The toilet device of the present invention also includes a squeezing mechanism 4 that is placed inside the toilet bowl 1 and squeezes the area 3b containing excrement in the collection bag 3 attached to the toilet seat 2.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the throttle mechanism of the toilet device shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the throttle mechanism 4 has a plastic band 5 having a predetermined rigidity and arranged in a loop shape opening in the vertical direction, which can take a standby position separated from the collection bag 3 attached to the toilet seat 2 and a throttle position in which the diameter is reduced from the standby position to throttle the collection bag 3, and a band drive unit 6 that is fixed to the toilet 1 and supports the band 5 and moves it between the standby position and the throttle position.

[0019] The band drive unit 6 has a support block 7 fixed to the toilet 1. On the support block 7, a spur gear 8a and a pulley 8b are respectively rotatably attached around a vertical axis at an interval corresponding to the thickness of the band 5. Further, the rotation axis of the spur gear 8a is connected to the rotation axis 10 of a stepping motor (not shown) via an interlocking connection mechanism composed of a pair of bevel gears 9a and 9b.

[0020] On one side surface of the band 5, grooves in the width direction are provided at intervals corresponding to the pitch of the spur gear 8a over the entire length of the band 5.

[0021] A band guide 11 is attached to the support block 7, and the band guide 11 is provided with guide slots extending vertically.

[0022] Then, one end side of the band 5 is introduced between the spur gear 8a and the pulley 8b in a state where its groove and the spur gear 8a are engaged, and then is inserted into the guide slot of the band guide 9 with both sides standing upright, and then is fixed to the band guide 9 in a loop shape opening in the vertical direction.

[0023] As a result, the spur gear 8a of the band drive unit 6 is rotated in one direction by the stepping motor, and the pulley 8b moves in conjunction to extend the band 5 toward the guide hole of the band guide 11, increasing the diameter of the loop until the band 5 takes its standby position. Simultaneously, the spur gear 8a is rotated in the reverse direction by the stepping motor, and the pulley 8b moves in conjunction to pull the band 5 back out of the guide hole of the band guide 11, reducing the diameter of the loop until the band 5 takes its diaphragm position.

[0024] The toilet device further includes a heat-sealing mechanism 12 that is positioned inside the toilet bowl 1 and welds and seals the upper or lower part of the area constricted by the squeezing mechanism 4 in the collection bag 3 attached to the toilet seat 2.

[0025] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the heat sealing mechanism of the toilet device shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the heat sealing mechanism 12 is mounted above the throttling mechanism 4 to the support block 7 so as to be rotatable around one end in the horizontal plane, and has a pair of arms 13a and 13b that can take on a retracted position away from each other and away from the collection bag 3 attached to the toilet seat 1, and a welding position that is close to each other from the retracted position and presses against the collection bag 3 from both sides.

[0026] One of the pair of arms 13a, 13b, arm 13a is provided with a heater (not shown), and the other of the pair of arms 13a, 13b, arm 13b, is provided with a heater receiver (not shown). When the pair of arms 13a, 13b are in the welding position, the heater and heater receiver face each other with the collection bag 3 in between.

[0027] The heat sealing mechanism 12 also has an arm drive unit 14 fixed to the support block 7, which moves a pair of arms 13a and 13b between a retracted position and a welding position.

[0028] The arm drive unit 14 is provided on the respective pivot axes of the pair of arms 13a and 13b and includes a pair of spur gears 15a and 15b that engage with each other, and another stepping motor (not shown) that is linked to the rotation axis of one of the spur gears 15a and 15b.

[0029] Then, a pair of spur gears 15a and 15b are rotated in one direction by another stepping motor, and a pair of arms 13a and 13b pivot to a retracted position, while the pair of spur gears 15a and 15b are rotated in the opposite direction by another stepping motor, and a pair of arms 13a and 13b pivot to a welding position.

[0030] Although not shown in the figures, the heat seal mechanism 12 further includes a power supply for the heater, which is attached to the support block 7, and a control unit, which is also attached to the support block 7 and controls the power supplied from the power supply to the heater.

[0031] In this embodiment, the heat sealing mechanism 12 is provided above the aperture mechanism 4, but the heat sealing mechanism 12 may also be provided below the aperture mechanism.

[0032] Furthermore, although not shown in the figures, the toilet device of the present invention includes a tank connected to the lower end opening 1a of the toilet bowl 1 for collecting the collection bag 3 in which the excrement is sealed.

[0033] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the aperture mechanism 4 and the heat sealing mechanism 12. As shown in Figure 4(A), when the toilet device of the present invention is used, the band 5 of the throttling mechanism 4 is in the standby position, while the heat sealing mechanism 12 is in the retracted position and the heater is stopped. Then, the waste collection bag 3 is newly placed inside the toilet bowl 1, and the upper edge 3a of the collection bag 3 is folded back outwards to cover the toilet seat 2, and the collection bag 3 is attached to the toilet seat 2.

[0034] Afterward, when the use is complete, the user turns on an operating switch (not shown), causing the band 5 of the throttling mechanism 4 to take the throttling position (see Figure 4(B)), and then the heat sealing mechanism 12 takes the welding position, and the heater of the heat sealing mechanism 12 activates, welding and sealing the upper side of the throttled area of ​​the collection bag 3 (see Figure 4(C)).

[0035] Then, the heat sealing mechanism 12 returns to its retracted position and the heater stops, and the band 5 of the throttling mechanism 4 returns to its standby position. As a result, the excrement is collected, and the sealed collection bag 3 is discharged from the lower end opening 1a of the toilet bowl 1 and collected in the tank.

[0036] According to the present invention, by attaching the collection bag 3 to the toilet device each time it is used, there is no need to provide a structure in the internal space of the toilet bowl 1 for storing the continuous film in a folded state and dispensing a fixed length each time it is used. Therefore, the toilet device can be made extremely simple and easy to maintain.

[0037] Furthermore, by providing a squeezing mechanism 4 to constrict the opening of the collection bag 3 containing the excrement, and then using the heat sealing mechanism 12 to weld and seal this constricted area, the area of ​​the collection bag 3 to be welded is reduced, the heater of the heat sealing mechanism 12 can be made smaller, and the collection bag 3 containing the excrement can be reliably sealed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1 toilet bowl 1a Bottom opening 2 toilet seats 3 Collection bags 3a Upper edge 3b Area containing excrement 4. Aperture mechanism 5 bands 6 Band drive unit 7. Support Block 8a Spur gear 8b pulley 9a, 9b bevel gears 10. Rotation axis of a stepping motor 11 Band Guide 12 Heat sealing mechanism 13a, 13b Arms 14 Arm drive unit 15a, 15b Spur gears

Claims

1. A toilet that is essentially cylindrical or rectangular in shape, The toilet bowl comprises a toilet seat attached to the upper opening of the toilet bowl, Each time the toilet is used, a waste collection bag is placed inside the toilet bowl, and the upper edge of the collection bag is folded outwards to cover the toilet seat, so that the collection bag is attached to the toilet seat. A squeezing mechanism is placed inside the toilet bowl and attached to the toilet seat, which constricts the area above the area containing the excrement in the collection bag, A heat-sealing mechanism is provided, which is located inside the toilet bowl and attached to the toilet seat, to weld and seal the upper or lower part of the area constricted by the constricting mechanism in the collection bag. A toilet device characterized by comprising a tank connected to the lower end opening of the toilet bowl for collecting the collection bag in which the excrement is sealed.

2. The aperture mechanism is, A band having a predetermined rigidity, arranged in a loop shape with an opening in the vertical direction, capable of taking a standby position surrounding the outer circumference of the collection bag attached to the toilet seat, and a constricting position where the diameter is reduced from the standby position to constrict the collection bag, The toilet device according to claim 1, further comprising a band drive unit that is fixed to the toilet bowl and supports the band, causing it to move between the standby position and the constricted position.

3. The heat sealing mechanism described above is A support block fixed to the toilet bowl, A pair of arms are attached to the support block so as to be rotatable around one end in a horizontal plane, and are capable of taking a retracted position away from each other and away from the collection bag attached to the toilet seat, and a welding position that is close to each other from the retracted position and presses against the constricted collection bag from both sides, A heater is provided on one of the pair of arms, A heater receiver is provided on the other arm of the pair of arms, When the pair of arms assume the welding position, the heater and the heater receiver face each other with the collection bag in between, and further, An arm drive unit fixed to the support block, which moves the pair of arms between the retracted position and the welded position, A power supply for the heater is attached to the support block, The toilet device according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit attached to the support block and controlling the power supplied from the power source to the heater.

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