Driving device and bathing device

Abstract

To contribute to downsizing and cost reduction and suppress an occurrence of stress such as unbalanced load and torsion.SOLUTION: A drive device includes a holder for holding a driving object, a drive section having a cylinder part and a rod part, a guide shaft fixed to the holder and the rod part, a facing wall part disposed to face the holder, a guide plate having a guide hole in which the guide shaft is fitted, and a cylinder fixed shaft fixed to the guide plate and the cylinder part. A plurality of set of the drive part, guide shaft, guide plate and cylinder fixed shaft are provided at intervals apart in a second direction, where the guide plate includes a through-hole, and the multiple sets are attached to the facing wall part with screw members inserted into the through-holes. An elastically-deformable elastic member is provided between the facing wall part and the guide plate. The facing wall part has insertion holes for inserting the guide shafts. A gap amount between the guide shaft and the insertion hole and a gap amount between the screw member and the through-hole are gap amounts depending on a maximum slope of the guide shafts calculated from a distance in the second direction of the multiple sets of guide shafts and a maximum amount of synchronization deviation of the multiple sets of rod parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive device and a bath apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a bathing apparatus such as that described in Patent Document 1 below has been proposed as an apparatus for allowing a physically disabled person who requires assistance (hereinafter, referred to as a person requiring assistance) to take a bath in a bathtub while in a wheelchair.

[0003] The bathing device described in Patent Document 1 has a notch extending from one end of the movable bathtub into the bathtub, and a support rod for supporting the seat of a wheelchair is passed through the notch and moved into the bathtub. A pair of seal members that can be opened and closed is provided in the notch. The seal members are moved by two single-shaft drive devices provided on the frame at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the seal members, and come into contact with each other, closing the notch by liquid-tightly sandwiching the support rod.

[0004] For example, it is not easy to synchronously move a driven object (sealing member) using a pair of driving devices constituted by a single-axis actuator such as a hydraulic actuator. If the pair of driving devices becomes out of sync, stress such as an unbalanced load or twisting may occur in the cylinder shaft of the driving device or in the connecting shaft connecting the cylinder shaft and the driven object, which may cause the opening and closing of the notch by the sealing member to become unstable.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a lifting device having a damper mechanism that absorbs the tilting stress of multiple hydraulic cylinder rods. Patent Document 3 discloses a synchronously controlled lifting device equipped with a constant amount oil supply mechanism that enables multiple hydraulic actuators to be operated simultaneously and in small increments. Patent Document 4 discloses a high-precision synchronization method that controls the synchronization of multiple hydraulic cylinders by small stroke movement + movement amount feedback control. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-231947 A [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3204753 [Patent Document 3] JP 2000-027806 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2004-035138 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the drive device described in Patent Document 2, when one of the hydraulic cylinder rods tilts or when the short stroke side stops, the long stroke side cylinder may not be pushed to an angle corresponding to the desired tilt due to a relief valve (safety device). The drive device described in Patent Document 3 requires a constant quantity oil supply mechanism that enables multiple hydraulic actuators to be operated simultaneously and in small increments, which may lead to an increase in size and cost of the device. The drive device described in Patent Document 4 uses a sensor and an electric wiring control circuit, which hinders space saving and is not suitable for use in places where a lot of water is used.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and aims to provide a drive unit that contributes to miniaturization and low cost, and can suppress the occurrence of stress such as uneven load and torsion, and a bathing apparatus having such a drive unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drive device for driving a driven object in a first direction, the drive device comprising: a holder for holding the driven object on one side in the first direction; a drive unit having a cylinder portion and a rod portion driven in the first direction relative to the cylinder portion; a guide shaft extending in the first direction and having one end fixed to the holder and the other end fixed to the rod portion; an opposing wall portion disposed opposite to the one side of the holder in the first direction; a guide plate attached to the one side of the opposing wall portion in the first direction and having a guide hole into which the guide shaft is fitted so as to be movable in the first direction; and a cylinder fixing shaft extending in the first direction and having one end fixed to the guide plate and the other end fixed to the other side of the cylinder portion in the first direction, and positioning the cylinder portion on one side of the guide plate in the first direction; the guide plate and the cylinder fixing shaft are provided in a plurality of sets spaced apart in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the guide plate has through holes arranged on both sides of the guide hole in the second direction and penetrating in the first direction, and is attached to the opposing wall portion by a screw member inserted into the through hole, elastic members which elastically deform in the first direction are provided at the positions of the through holes between the opposing wall portion and the guide plate, the opposing wall portion has an insertion hole which penetrates in the first direction and through which the guide shaft is inserted, and the amount of gap between the guide shaft and the insertion hole and the amount of gap between the screw member and the through hole are each an amount of gap corresponding to a maximum inclination of the guide shaft calculated from the distance in the second direction of the plurality of sets of guide shafts and the maximum amount of synchronization deviation of the plurality of sets of rod portions.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a bathing device in which a bather in a wheelchair is transported into a movable bathtub tilted to an entry / exit position, and the movable bathtub holding the wheelchair is rotated to a substantially horizontal bathing position and filled with hot water to allow the bather to bathe, the bathing device is characterized in that it comprises a notch extending inward from one end of the movable bathtub, which can move a support member supporting the seat of the wheelchair into the movable bathtub, a sealing member capable of opening and closing the notch, and a drive device of the first aspect that drives the sealing member to liquid-tightly clamp the support member and close the notch. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The present invention contributes to miniaturization and cost reduction in the drive device and bathing apparatus, and can suppress the occurrence of stress such as uneven load and torsion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a drive unit and bathing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a side view showing a bathing wheelchair and a bathtub tilted to an entry / exit position. [Diagram 2] 1 is a side view showing the bathing apparatus with the movable bathtub in a horizontal position for bathing. [Diagram 3] This is a side cross-sectional view showing a wheelchair entering a movable bathtub in the entry / exit position. [Figure 4] 13 is a perspective view of a notch with a sealing member in a support rod provided in a movable bathtub. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a movable bathtub with a seal member cutout, as viewed from the rear side of the movable bathtub. FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a support rod of a wheelchair is inserted into a notch with a sealing member and held in a normal holding position. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a movable bathtub with a seal member cutout, as viewed from the rear side of the movable bathtub. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 7. [Figure 9]This is a side cross-sectional view showing the intermediate process of the movable bathtub with the wheelchair stored therein moving from the entry / exit position to the reference position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a drive device and a bathing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The following embodiment shows one aspect of the present invention, does not limit the present invention, and can be modified as desired within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. In addition, in the following drawings, the scale and number of each structure are different from the actual structure in order to make each configuration easier to understand.

[0014] The bathing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with a rotatable bathtub 2 installed on the floor and a bathing wheelchair 3 that can be moved into the bathtub 2. The wheelchair 3 comprises a base 5 formed, for example, in the shape of a rectangular frame, and casters 6 provided at the four corners of the base 5. A support rod 7 is supported as a support member at the end of the base 5 in the direction of travel, and a seating section 8 for the bather to sit on, a backrest section 9, and a headrest section 9a are provided at the upper part of the support rod 7. A footrest 10 for resting the feet is connected to the front of the seating section 8, and armrests 11 are formed on both sides of the seating section 8. A roller 12 is rotatably supported in the center of the seating section 8.

[0015] The bathtub 2 is provided with a fixed base 13 supported on the floor and a movable bathtub 14 that can rotate relative to the fixed base 13 and accommodate a wheelchair 3. A drain pedal 15 for draining the hot water in the movable bathtub 14 is provided below the fixed base 13.

[0016] Next, the internal structure of the bathtub 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the bathtub 2 shown in Fig. 3, the internal structure with the outer casing of the fixed base 13 omitted and the cross section of the movable bathtub 14 are shown. A base 16 formed in a roughly L-shape in side view is provided at the bottom of the movable bathtub 14, and a tank 17 for storing hot water is provided on the back side (right side in the figure). A rotating shaft 18 of the movable bathtub 14 is attached to the upper end of the upright support of the base 16, and a plate-shaped base 20 is disposed on this rotating shaft 18 via a support part 19 facing forward (left side in the figure), and this base 20 is formed by bending a flat plate part and a bending part bent upward on the tip side in a roughly L-shape in cross section. The base 20 may be a curved plate instead of bent, or may be a single flat plate that does not bend.

[0017] The movable bathtub 14 is attached to the upper surface of the base 20. The movable bathtub 14 is formed in a substantially V-shape in a side cross-sectional view, and the intersection angle between one inner wall 21a and the other inner wall 21b is set to an obtuse angle exceeding 90 degrees. One inner wall 21a of the movable bathtub 14 is provided with a first abutment surface 24 against which a first abutment shaft 23 provided on the back surface of the head rest portion 9a of the wheelchair 3 can abut when the wheelchair 3 is moved into the movable bathtub 14 to the right in the left-right direction in FIG. 3. Furthermore, when the wheelchair 3 is accommodated in the correct holding position in the movable bathtub 14, the seating portion 8 comes into contact with the other inner wall 21b and is placed thereon. In addition, a hydraulic drive cylinder 28 is attached to the base 16 as a drive means, and a rod 29 of the drive cylinder 28 that can move back and forth is connected to the base 20. Therefore, by driving the drive cylinder 28 to move the rod 29 back and forth, the base 20 is pushed and the movable bathtub 14 can be rotated around the rotation axis 18.

[0018] The bathtub 2 has a movable bathtub 14 that can rotate around a rotation shaft 18 in the fixed base 13. For example, the position shown in FIG. 3 where the upper surface 14a of the movable bathtub 14 is tilted at a predetermined angle (e.g., 28 degrees) counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal plane is set as an entry / exit position where the wheelchair 3 can move to enter and exit the movable bathtub 14. The bathtub 2 also has a reference position where the base 20 is horizontal, where the movable bathtub 14 is rotated, for example, 8 degrees clockwise around the rotation shaft 18 from the entry / exit position, that is, where the upper surface 14a of the movable bathtub 14 is tilted at -20 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal plane. Furthermore, the horizontal position where the movable bathtub 14 is rotated 20 degrees clockwise around the rotation shaft 18 from the reference position is set as a bathing position where the upper surface 14a of the movable bathtub 14 is horizontal.

[0019] The other inner wall 21b of the base 20 is formed with a notch 31 through which the support rod (support member) 7 of the wheelchair 3 can move from its front end side (the left end side in FIG. 3; one end) to the intersection with one inner wall 21a of the movable bathtub 14. The notch 31 extends substantially linearly in the left-right direction in FIG. 3. In the enlarged views of the notch 31 shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the sealing members 32, 32 as the driving object are arranged on both side surfaces forming the notch 31. The sealing members 32, 32 are arranged so as to be able to open and close facing each other in the width direction of the notch 31 (substantially the left-right direction in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, hereinafter referred to as the first direction). The sealing members 32, 32 extend substantially linearly along the notch 31 in a second direction (substantially the left-right direction in FIG. 3) perpendicular to the first direction. At the inner depth of each of the notches 31, a substantially semicircular fitting recess 33 is formed as a regular holding position for receiving and holding the support rod 7.

[0020] In addition, a limit switch 38 is provided on the underside of the base 20. When the base 5 of the wheelchair 3 enters under the fixed base 13 of the bathtub 2, the limit switch 38 is turned ON by the base 5 at the temporary holding position just before the support rod 7 reaches the fitting recess 33. When the limit switch 38 is turned ON, the drive cylinder 28 is operated, and the base 20 and the movable bathtub 14 are raised, for example, by 8 degrees from the downwardly inclined entry / exit position to the reference position.

[0021] In addition, the base 20 is provided with a guide section 40 having a substantially right-angled triangular cross section with a slope 40a on the long side on the upper surface near the fitting recess 33. When the movable bathtub 14 rotates and rises from the entrance / exit position, the rollers 12 provided on the seat 8 of the wheelchair 3 come into contact with the slope 40a of the guide section 40 and are pushed, so that the wheelchair 3 is guided to move to the regular protection position at the back side of the movable bathtub 14.

[0022] 5, a plurality of driving devices 35 (details will be described later) are arranged on both sides of the seal members 32, 32 as opening / closing means for opening and closing each seal member 32, for example, two sets of driving devices 35. Also, a switch 36 is provided as a detection means which is turned on when the support rod 7 reaches and abuts against the fitting recess 33 at the deepest part of the notch 31. When this switch 36 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 6, the driving device 35 drives the seal members 32, 32 to abut against each other, and the support rod 7 is liquid-tightly sandwiched within the fitting recess 33 to close the notch 31. In the switch-off state where the support rod 7 is not located within the fitting recess 33, the driving device 35 keeps the seal members 32, 32 in an open state, and the support rod 7 can enter and exit the notch 31.

[0023] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the main part of the notch 31 with the seal member 32 of the movable bath 14, as seen from the rear side of the movable bath 14. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 7. 7 and 8, the driving device 35 includes a driving section 50 having a cylinder section 51 and a rod section 52, a guide shaft 53, a seal box 54, a guide plate 57, a cylinder fixing shaft 58, and a holder 59. Note that the driving device 35 is shown in a simplified form in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0024] A plurality of sets (two sets in this embodiment) of driving devices 35 are provided at intervals in the second direction for one sealing member 32. Furthermore, the sealing member 32 and the driving devices 35 are provided symmetrically with respect to a center line that is located at the center of the cutout 31 in the first direction and extends in the second direction.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, a holder 59 is provided for each seal member 32. Each holder 59 has a side plate 59a and a bottom plate 59b. The side plate 59a faces the outer side of the seal member 32 in the first direction (the side opposite to the notch 31; one side in the first direction). The side plate 59a holds the outer side of the seal member 32. The bottom plate 59b faces the bottom surface of the lower side of the seal member 32. The bottom plate 59b holds the bottom surface of the seal member 32. The bottom plate 59b extends from the lower end of the side plate 59a to the inner side in the first direction (the notch 31 side; the other side in the first direction). Each holder 59 and the seal member 32 are fixedly fixed. The side plate 59a of the holder 59 has a tube portion 60 that protrudes outward in the first direction. The tube portion 60 is cylindrical. The cylindrical portion 60 is coaxial with the guide shaft 53 and the rod portion 52 .

[0026] 8, the cylinder portion 51 is, for example, a hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder portion 51 drives the rod portion 52 in a first direction by hydraulic movement of a piston (not shown). The rod portion 52 is axially shaped and extends in the first direction. When the cylinder portion 51 is driven, the rod portion 52 moves forward or backward in the first direction.

[0027] The guide shaft 53 is axially shaped and extends in the first direction. The guide shaft 53 penetrates the seal box 54 in the first direction. One end of the guide shaft 53 (the seal member 32 side in the first direction) is fitted into and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 60. The other end of the guide shaft 53 is fitted into and fixed to the tip of the rod portion 52.

[0028] The seal box 54 has an opposing wall portion 55 and a guide wall portion 56. The opposing wall portion 55 is disposed facing the outer side of a side plate 59a of the holder 59 in the first direction with a gap therebetween. The opposing wall portion 55 has an insertion hole 55a that penetrates in the first direction and through which the guide shaft 53 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide wall portion 56 extends from the lower end of the opposing wall portion 55 toward the inside in the first direction. The guide wall portion 56 contacts a bottom plate 59b of the holder 59 from below. The guide wall portion 56 guides the movement of the holder 59 in the first direction from below.

[0029] The guide plate 57 is attached to the outer side of the opposing wall portion 55 in the first direction and spaced apart from the opposing wall portion 55. The guide plate 57 has a guide hole 57a and through holes 57b and 57c. The guide hole 57a is located at the center of the guide plate 57 in the second direction. The guide hole 57a penetrates the guide plate 57 in the first direction. The guide shaft 53 fits into the guide hole 57a so as to be movable in the first direction. The guide hole 57a guides the movement of the guide shaft 53 in the first direction.

[0030] The through holes 57b and 57c penetrate the guide plate 57 in the first direction. The through holes 57b and 57c are arranged symmetrically in the second direction with the guide hole 57a as the center. Screw members 61b and 61c are inserted into the through holes 57b and 57c, respectively. The heads of the screw members 61b and 61c engage with the outer surface of the guide plate 57 in the first direction.

[0031] The minimum gap between the guide shaft 53 and the insertion hole 55a, and the minimum gap between the screw members 61b, 61c and the through holes 57b, 57c are gaps according to the maximum inclination of the guide shaft 53, which is determined by the distance between the two sets of guide shafts 53 in the second direction and the maximum amount of synchronization deviation between the two sets of rod parts. The maximum inclination of the guide shaft 53 is the maximum amount of the angle θ at which the holder 59 and the seal member 32, which will be described later, are inclined with respect to the second direction. The minimum gap between the guide shaft 53 and the insertion hole 55a is set to a size such that the guide shaft 53 does not interfere with the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 55a even when the guide shaft 53 is inclined at the maximum inclination. The minimum gap between the screw members 61b, 61c and the through holes 57b, 57c are set to a size such that the screw members 61b, 61c do not interfere with the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes 57b, 57c even when the guide shaft 53 is inclined at the maximum inclination.

[0032] The tips of the screw members 61b, 61c penetrate the opposing wall portion 55 of the seal box 54 in the first direction and protrude inward in the first direction. The tips of the screw members 61b, 61c are screwed by nuts 62b, 62c on the inside of the opposing wall portion 55 in the first direction. Elastic members 63b, 63c that elastically deform in the first direction are provided at the positions of the through holes 57b, 57c between the opposing wall portion 55 and the guide plate 57. The elastic members 63b, 63c are, for example, disc springs (hereinafter, disc springs 63b, 63c). The screw members 61b, 61c are inserted through center holes of the disc springs 63b, 63c. The spring constant of the disc spring 63b is the same as that of the disc spring 63c.

[0033] The cylinder fixing shaft 58 extends in a first direction. One end in the first direction of the cylinder fixing shaft 58 is fixed to the guide plate 57. The other end in the first direction of the cylinder fixing shaft 58 is fixed to the inside of the cylinder portion 51 in the first direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the cylinder fixing shafts 58 are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the rod portion 52. The cylinder fixing shafts 58 position the cylinder portion 51 on the outside of the guide plate 57 in the first direction. The outside of the cylinder portion 51 in the first direction is provided unconstrained.

[0034] Next, the operation of driving the seal member 32 by the driving device 35 will be described. When the two sets of drive devices 35 move the seal member 32 in the first direction toward the notch 31, each drive device 35 drives the rod portion 52 inward in the first direction relative to the cylinder portion 51. Driving the rod portion 52 inward in the first direction moves the seal member 32 inward in the first direction via the guide shaft 53 and the holder 59. At this time, the guide shaft 53 fits into the guide hole 57a and is guided in its movement in the first direction, and the bottom plate 59b of the holder 59 is guided in its movement in the first direction from below by the guide wall portion 56. Therefore, the seal member 32 can move smoothly in the first direction.

[0035] In the two sets of drive devices 35, the rod portions 52 are driven inward in the first direction in a synchronized manner, but due to a difference in drive timing or the like, the positions of one rod portion 52 in the two sets of drive devices 35 and the other rod portion 52 in the first direction may be misaligned. In this case, as shown in Fig. 8, the holder 59 and the seal member 32 are inclined at an angle θ with respect to the second direction. Fig. 8 shows a state in which the holder 59 and the seal member 32 are inclined counterclockwise at an angle θ. The maximum value of the angle θ is determined by the distance between the two sets of guide shafts 53 in the second direction and the maximum amount of synchronization deviation expected for the two sets of rod portions.

[0036] As the holder 59 and the seal member 32 tilt, a counterclockwise tilting force is applied to the guide shaft 53 connected to the holder 59, and to the guide plate 57 and rod portion 52 connected to the guide shaft 53. Here, a gap is formed between the guide plate 57 and the opposing wall portion 55 by providing disc springs 63b and 63c.

[0037] Therefore, the disc spring 63b is elastically deformed in a contracting direction by the force generated by the tilt of the holder 59 and the seal member 32, and the guide plate 57 tilts counterclockwise against the elastic force of the disc spring 63b. At this time, the minimum clearance between the screw members 61b, 61c that screw the guide plate 57 to the opposing wall portion 55 and the through holes 57b, 57c of the guide plate 57 is set to a size that does not cause the screw members 61b, 61c to interfere with the inner circumferential surfaces of the through holes 57b, 57c even when the guide shaft 53 is tilted at the maximum inclination. Therefore, the guide plate 57 can be tilted smoothly without interference between the inner circumferential surfaces of the through holes 57b, 57c and the screw members 61b, 61c. In addition, when the guide plate 57 is tilted counterclockwise, the guide shaft 53 tilted integrally with the guide plate 57 can be smoothly tilted without interfering with the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole 55a because the minimum gap between the guide shaft 53 and the insertion hole 55a is set to a size such that the guide shaft 53 does not interfere with the inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole 55a even when the guide shaft 53 is tilted at the maximum inclination. Furthermore, when the guide shaft 53 and the guide plate 57 are tilted, the cylinder part 51 fixed to the guide plate 57 via the cylinder fixing shaft 58 and the rod part 52 fixed to the guide shaft 53 can be tilted. In particular, the cylinder part 51 can be smoothly tilted because the outer end in the first direction is provided unconstrained and the inner end in the first direction is fixed by the cylinder fixing shaft 58.

[0038] Therefore, even if the holder 59 is tilted counterclockwise, the guide shaft 53, the guide plate 57, the cylinder portion 51, and the rod portion 52 will tilt following the holder 59. In other words, even if the holder 59 is tilted, the guide shaft 53, the rod portion 52, and the cylinder portion 51 will be arranged on a straight line, and the occurrence of stress such as uneven load and twisting can be suppressed.

[0039] Thereafter, when the holder 59 and the seal member 32 reach the closing position of the notch 31 and the synchronization misalignment of the rod portions 52 in the two sets of drive devices 35 is eliminated, the inclination of the holder 59 and the seal member 32 with respect to the second direction is eliminated. In addition, the inclination of the guide plate 57 is also eliminated by the elastic restoring force of the disc spring 63b that has been elastically deformed in the contracting direction. As a result, the guide shaft 53, the guide plate 57, the cylinder portion 51 and the rod portion 52 return to their normal positions aligned in the first direction.

[0040] As described above, in the drive device 35 of this embodiment, even if a synchronization error occurs during the drive of the rod portion 52, the guide shaft 53, the rod portion 52, and the cylinder portion 51 are arranged in a straight line, and the occurrence of stress such as uneven load and twisting can be suppressed. In addition, since the drive device 35 of this embodiment does not use a sensor and an electric wiring control circuit, it can be used without problems in a small space and in a place where a lot of water is used. Furthermore, since the drive device 35 of this embodiment can suppress uneven load and twisting, it is possible to reduce the load-bearing design, which contributes to weight reduction and cost reduction. In addition, the drive device 35 of this embodiment does not require a control or adjustment function that takes into account hydraulic fluctuations and component variations, which brings about great effects including reduced maintenance.

[0041] Furthermore, in the drive device 35 of this embodiment, the sealing members 32 and the drive device 35 are each arranged symmetrically about a center line that is located at the center of the notch 31 in the first direction and extends in the second direction, so that when closing the notch 31, the pair of sealing members 32 can be effectively closed in a compression state rather than in shear.

[0042] Next, a bathing method will be described as the above-mentioned operation of the bathing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment having the drive unit 35. When a person requiring assistance is taking a bath, the movable bathtub 14 of the bathing device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is in an inlet / outlet position on the side opposite the tank 17, for example, the left side, tilted downward with respect to the fixed base 13. In this state, the upper surface 14a of the movable bathtub 14 is tilted at, for example, -28 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. In this state, the seal members 32, 32 of the movable bathtub 14 are open and the notch 31 is open, so the wheelchair 3 on which the bather (not shown) is seated can be turned backwards and guided into the movable bathtub 14 by the assistant.

[0043] When the wheelchair 3 is moved into the movable bathtub 14, the base 5 slips under the fixed base 13, the seat 8 and the backrest 9 enter the movable bathtub 14, and the support rod 7 enters the notch 31 toward the innermost part. Then, as shown in Figure 3, the seat 8 and the backrest 9 of the wheelchair 3 enter the movable bathtub 14 and stop at a position where the first abutment shaft 23 provided on the backrest 9 abuts against the first abutment surface 24 of one inner wall 21a of the movable bathtub 14. In this position, the support rod 7 is not yet at the deepest fitting recess 33 of the notch 31, and a gap K is formed between the back of the seat 8 of the wheelchair 3 and one of the inner walls 21a. This position of the wheelchair 3 is the temporary holding position.

[0044] Then, when the base 5 of the wheelchair 3 slips under the fixed base 13 and advances, the tip of the base 5 at the temporary holding position presses the limit switch 38 that hangs down below the base 20. As a result, the drive cylinder 28 is driven via a control means (not shown) and pushed by the extending rod 29, and the base 20 and the movable bathtub 14 rotate a small angle, for example 8 degrees, clockwise around the rotation shaft 18. As the base 20 and the movable bathtub 14 placed on it rotate clockwise around the rotation axis 18, the inclined surface 40a of the guide portion 40 provided on the base 20 abuts against and pushes the rollers 12 of the seating portion 8, as shown in Figure 9, thereby moving and pushing the wheelchair 3 to the back of the movable bathtub 14.

[0045] As a result, the wheelchair 3 advances to the inner depth side of the notch 31, and the support rod 7 reaches and is held in the fitting recesses 33, 33, which are the innermost parts of the notch 31. When the support rod 7 reaches the fitting recesses 33, 33, a switch 36 provided at the innermost part of the notch 31 is pressed, so that the drive device 35 operates via a control means (not shown), and the seal members 32, 32 close the notch 31 liquid-tightly, thereby holding the support rod 7 liquid-tightly in the fitting recesses 33, 33. This position of the wheelchair 3 is the normal holding position. In the drive device 35, even if a synchronization error occurs when the rod part 52 is driven, as described above, the guide shaft 53, the rod part 52, and the cylinder part 51 are arranged in a straight line, and the occurrence of stress such as biased load and twisting can be suppressed.

[0046] When the wheelchair 3 is pushed into the rear of the movable bathtub 14 in the normal holding position, the first abutment shaft 23 moves away from the first abutment surface 24 as the movable bathtub 14 rotates. In this position, the base 20 is held horizontally, and the upper surface 14a of the movable bathtub 14 is in a reference position inclined, for example, by about 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. In this state, as shown in Fig. 8, the seat 8 of the wheelchair 3 is held at a reference position in contact with the other inner wall 21b of the movable bathtub 14. Moreover, the wheelchair 3 is fixed and held liquid-tight in the movable bathtub 14 by the abutting seal members 32, 32 and the support rod 7 being fitted and held by the recesses 33, 33. In this state, the wheelchair 3 is positioned and held at the regular holding position in the movable bathtub 14.

[0047] Next, by pressing the activation switch in a panel switch (not shown) provided on the top surface 14a of the movable bathtub 14, the drive cylinder 28 further extends the rod 29, rotating the base 20 and the movable bathtub 14 20 degrees clockwise around the rotation axis 18, and making the top surface 14a of the movable bathtub 14 approximately horizontal. As a result, the wheelchair 3 held between the seal members 32, 32 is lifted and rotated together with the movable bathtub 14. At this time, since the rotation axis 18 that forms the center of rotation is located on the rear side (the right side in the figure) of the base 20 and the movable bathtub 14, the wheelchair 3 held by the movable bathtub 14 rotates clockwise in the lifting direction, so that the base 5 and casters 6 located below the fixed base 13 do not collide with the floor surface, and the wheelchair is lifted by smoothly rotating.

[0048] When the upper surface 14a of the movable bathtub 14 is held approximately horizontally in the bathing position, hot water is supplied from the tank 17 into the movable bathtub 14, and the bather seated on the seating section 8 of the wheelchair 3 begins to take a bath. At this time, the notch 31 provided in the other inner wall 21b of the movable bathtub 14 and the support rod 7 are liquid-tightly sealed by the sealing members 32, 32 and their mating recesses 33, 33, so that no hot water leaks.

[0049] To allow the bather to leave the movable bathtub 14 after the bathing is finished, the above-mentioned operations are carried out in reverse. That is, the hot water in the movable bathtub 14 is returned to the tank 17, and the base 20 and the movable bathtub 14 are rotated counterclockwise to the reference position by the driving cylinder 28. Then, the movable bathtub 14 is further rotated counterclockwise to the inlet / outlet position, and the seal members 32, 32 are opened to open the notch 31, whereby the first abutment shaft 23 of the wheelchair 3 is pressed by the first abutment surface 24 of one inner wall 21a of the rotating movable bathtub 14, and the wheelchair 3 is moved from the holding position where the support rod 7 is held in the fitting recesses 33, 33 to the temporary holding position along the notch 31. Thereafter, the attendant pushes the wheelchair 3 and moves it outside the movable bathtub 14 through the notch 31.

[0050] As described above, the bathing device 1 of this embodiment can suppress the occurrence of stress such as biased load and torsion in the drive mechanism 35 for opening and closing the notch 31 that enables the wheelchair 3 to move into the movable bathtub 14.

[0051] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the examples. The shapes and combinations of the components shown in the above examples are merely examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0052] For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration in which two sets of drive units 35 are arranged at intervals in the second direction for one sealing member 32 is exemplified, but this configuration is not limited to this, and a configuration in which three or more sets of drive units 35 are arranged may also be used.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the elastic member is a disc spring. However, the elastic member is not limited to this configuration and may be, for example, a coil spring or a rubber material.

[0054] In addition, in the above embodiment, the bathtub 2 has a configuration including a movable bathtub 14, but is not limited to this configuration and may be a fixed bathtub.

[0055] In addition, in the above embodiment, a configuration in which the drive unit 35 is used in the bathing apparatus 1 is exemplified, but this configuration is not limited to this, and the drive unit 35 can be widely applied to devices such as lifting devices, in which a drive object is driven by multiple drive units, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...bath apparatus, 2...bathtub, 3...wheelchair, 7...support rod (support member), 32...seal member (drive object), 35...drive device, 50...drive section, 51...cylinder section, 52...rod section, 53...guide shaft, 54...seal box, 55...opposing wall section, 56...guide wall section, 57...guide plate, 58...cylinder fixing shaft, 59...holder

Claims

1. A drive device that drives a driven object in a first direction, a holder that holds the driven object on one side in the first direction; a driving unit having a cylinder portion and a rod portion that is driven in the first direction relative to the cylinder portion; a guide shaft extending in the first direction, one end of which is fixed to the holder and the other end of which is fixed to the rod portion; an opposing wall portion disposed opposite to one side of the holder in the first direction; a guide plate attached to one side of the opposing wall portion in the first direction and having a guide hole into which the guide shaft is fitted so as to be movable in the first direction; a cylinder fixing shaft extending in the first direction, one end of which is fixed to the guide plate and the other end of which is fixed to the other side of the cylinder portion in the first direction, and which positions the cylinder portion on one side of the guide plate in the first direction, the driving portion, the guide shaft, the guide plate, and the cylinder fixing shaft are provided in a plurality of sets spaced apart in a second direction intersecting the first direction, The guide plate is a through hole that is disposed on each side of the guide hole in the second direction and penetrates in the first direction, and the plate is attached to the opposing wall portion by a screw member that is inserted into the through hole, an elastic member that is elastically deformable in the first direction is provided between the opposing wall portion and the guide plate at a position of the through hole, The opposing wall portion has an insertion hole penetrating in the first direction and through which the guide shaft is inserted, a gap amount between the guide shaft and the insertion hole, and a gap amount between the screw member and the through hole, each of which corresponds to a maximum inclination of the guide shaft calculated from the distance in the second direction of the multiple sets of guide shafts and the maximum synchronization deviation amount of the multiple sets of rod portions.

2. the opposing wall portion includes a guide wall portion extending from a lower end position to the other side in the first direction and guiding the movement of the holder in the first direction from below; The drive device according to claim 1 .

3. An end portion of the cylinder portion on one side in the first direction is provided in an unconstrained state.

3. The drive device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The elastic member is a disc spring through which the screw member is inserted. A drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The driven object, the driving unit, the guide shaft, the guide plate, and the cylinder fixing shaft are provided symmetrically with respect to a center line extending in the second direction. A drive arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A bathing device that transports a bather in a wheelchair into a bathtub tilted to an entrance / exit position and allows the bather to take a bath by filling the bathtub with hot water while holding the wheelchair, a notch formed extending inward from one end of the bathtub, allowing a support member for supporting a seat of the wheelchair to move into the bathtub; a seal member capable of opening and closing the notch; a driving device according to claim 1 , which drives the sealing member to liquid-tightly sandwich the support member and close the notch; A bathing device comprising:

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