JP6629527B2 - Electric toothbrush and brush unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush and a brush unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known an electric toothbrush of a type in which a toothbrush (removal of plaque) is performed by applying a brush that vibrates at high speed to a tooth surface. As such an electric toothbrush, there has been proposed an electric toothbrush provided with a means for detecting plaque or dental caries attached to a tooth in a brush unit.

  Patent Literature 1 discloses an electric toothbrush in which an optical sensor and a light source are provided in a brush unit, and reflected light of light emitted from the light source is detected by the optical sensor to detect caries and the like and notify the user.

  Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose a light emitting and receiving hole provided in a region surrounded by a brush in a brush unit, and a light source for introducing light into the hole and detecting light incident on the hole. An electric toothbrush in which a light sensor is provided in a main body is described.

  Patent Literature 4 describes an electric toothbrush provided with a light source and an image sensor in a region surrounded by a brush in a brush unit or on a back side of a surface of the brush unit on which the brush is formed.

JP 2008-532619 A JP 2002-515276 A JP-T-2013-53534 JP 2013-042906 A

  For example, in order to detect plaque in a brushing part in real time while brushing, light is applied to an intraoral part facing a region where a brush is formed in a brush unit, and reflected light of the light is detected. You need to be able to do it.

  As described in Patent Literatures 2 to 4, if the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit are provided in the area surrounded by the brush in the brush unit, it is possible to detect plaque in the brushed part. is there.

  However, in this configuration, it is necessary to reduce the number of brushes by the amount provided with the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit. Also, in order to keep the number of brushes from decreasing, the size of the brush unit must be increased. For this reason, it is difficult to satisfy the demand for miniaturization of the brush unit in the electric toothbrush.

  Patent Literature 1 describes a configuration in which a light receiving unit and a light emitting unit are provided in a brush unit with a region where a brush is formed interposed therebetween. However, with this configuration, it is difficult to detect only the plaque in the portion facing the region where the brush is formed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to detect plaque or the like at a site where a tooth is being brushed in real time during brushing, and to reduce the number of brushes while reducing the size of the brush unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric toothbrush capable of ensuring tooth brushing performance without reducing toothbrush and a brush unit detachable therefrom.

  An electric toothbrush according to the present invention includes a brush unit having a hollow portion, and a main body having a fitting portion that fits into the hollow portion, and the brush unit includes a plurality of brush portions standing upright on an outer peripheral surface. The plurality of brush portions are made of a light-transmitting material, and include at least one first brush portion whose end on the hollow portion side is exposed to the hollow portion, and the main body portion emits light. A light-emitting element that emits light, a light-receiving element that outputs a signal corresponding to light, and light that is emitted from the light-emitting element is guided to an end of the first brush unit on the hollow side, and the first brush unit A light guide unit that guides light that is incident from the outside of the brush unit and emitted from the end of the first brush unit on the hollow portion side to the light receiving element, and performs processing using an output signal of the light receiving element. And a processing unit for performing the processing.

  The brush unit of the present invention is the brush unit in the electric toothbrush.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, plaque etc. of the part which is brushing can be detected in real time during brushing, and the brushing performance is ensured without reducing the number of brushes, while reducing the size of the brush unit. It is possible to provide an electric toothbrush that can be used and a brush unit that can be attached to and detached from the electric toothbrush.

It is a top view showing the schematic structure which looked at the electric toothbrush for explaining one embodiment of the present invention from the brush pressing direction. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the electric toothbrush shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the holding part 10 of the electric toothbrush shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a modification of the cross-sectional configuration shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a modification of the cross-sectional configuration shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the plan view shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric toothbrush of FIG. 6 taken along line BB.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an electric toothbrush viewed from a brush pressing direction for describing an embodiment of the present invention.

  The electric toothbrush includes a grip unit 10 including a battery and an electric control system therein, a body unit having a stem 11 fixed to the grip unit 10 as a fitting unit, and a brush unit detachable from the stem 11. 20.

  The brush unit 20 is formed of a cylindrical member having a closed end, and includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged brush portions 22 erected on the outer peripheral surface. Each brush portion 22 is a bundle of a plurality of bristles made of nylon resin or the like. One of the plurality of brush portions 22 (hatched in the figure and denoted by reference numeral 22A) also functions as a detection portion for detecting plaque, tartar, caries, and the like.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of the brush unit 20 viewed from the direction in which the plurality of brush parts 22 are pressed (the direction in which the brush parts 22 extend) with the brush unit 20 mounted on the stem 11.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the electric toothbrush shown in FIG.

  The brush unit 20 is formed of a cylindrical housing having a hollow portion 20a and a closed end. The main body and the brush unit 20 are fixed by fitting the stem 11 to the hollow portion 20a.

  Of the plurality of brush portions 22 erected on the outer peripheral surface of the brush unit 20, the end on the hollow portion 20 a side of each brush portion 22 except the brush portion 22 </ b> A is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the brush unit 20. The brush unit 20 is adhesively fixed to the housing of the brush unit 20 with an adhesive.

  The end of the brush portion 22A, which is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the brush unit 20, on the hollow portion 20a side is inserted into a hole provided in a housing of the brush unit 20, and an adhesive is provided between the hole and the hole. Glued by

  That is, the end of the brush portion 22A on the hollow portion 20a side is exposed to the hollow portion 20a of the brush unit 20. On the other hand, the end of the brush portion 22 other than the brush portion 22A on the hollow portion 20a side is fixed to the housing of the brush unit 20, and is not exposed to the hollow portion 20a.

  In addition, there is a possibility that water may enter the hollow portion 20a from between the brush portion 22A and the hole provided in the housing of the brush unit 20. For this reason, it is preferable to use an adhesive having a waterproof function as an adhesive for bonding the hole and the brush 22A.

  The stem 11 is formed of a cylindrical housing whose tip (the end opposite to the grip 10) is closed. The stem 11 includes a bearing 12 formed at an inner end thereof, an eccentric shaft 13 having one end inserted into the bearing 12, a weight 14, a light emitting element 16, a light receiving element 17, a bandpass filter 18, a light guide Unit 19.

  The other end of the eccentric shaft 13 is connected to a rotation shaft of a motor M built in the gripper 10. When the rotation shaft of the motor M rotates, the eccentric shaft 13 rotates.

  The weight 14 is fixed to the eccentric shaft 13 near the bearing 12. Due to the weight 14, the center of gravity of the eccentric shaft 13 is shifted from the center of rotation. Note that a small clearance is provided between the eccentric shaft 13 and the bearing 12.

  The eccentric shaft 13 also rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft of the motor M, but the eccentric shaft 13 performs a motion of turning around the center of rotation because the center of gravity is shifted by the weight 14. Therefore, the entire eccentric shaft 13 bends, and the stem 11 and the brush unit 20 attached thereto are vibrated at high speed.

  As described above, in the case of the driving principle in which the brush unit 20 is vibrated by the turning motion of the eccentric shaft 13, the brush unit 20 is moved in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the motor M (in a plane parallel to the pressing direction of the brush unit 22). ) Can be oscillated two-dimensionally.

  In the electric toothbrush of the present embodiment, the entire vibrating portion (stem 11 and brush unit 20) has a resonance point (resonant frequency), and by controlling the rotation speed of the motor M, the stem 11 and the brush unit 20 are controlled. In the direction in which the brush unit 22 is pressed against the brush unit 22 and the operation in which the stem 11 and the brush unit 20 are vibrated in a direction intersecting the direction in which the brush unit 22 is pressed in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the motor M. It is possible to switch.

  The configuration for vibrating the stem 11 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, a configuration in which the stem 11 is vibrated by sound wave vibration may be used. Further, the stem 11 may be vibrated only in a single direction, not in a plurality of directions.

  The light emitting element 16 is configured by an LED (Light Emitted Diode), a laser diode, or the like. The optimal emission wavelength of the light emitting element 16 may be selected according to the element (plaque, tartar, caries, etc.) in the mouth to be detected. When plaque is detected, a light-emitting element 16 that emits blue light is used. The light emitting element 16 is connected to a later-described control unit 50 built in the holding unit 10 by a lead wire or the like.

  The light receiving element 17 is configured by an element such as a photodiode that converts light into an electric signal. The light receiving element 17 is connected to a control unit 50 built in the holding unit 10 by a lead wire or the like.

  The band pass filter 18 is provided to limit the wavelength of light incident on the light receiving element 17. For example, when the electric toothbrush has a function of detecting plaque, the bandpass filter 18 has a filter characteristic of blocking blue light emitted from the light emitting element 16 and transmitting red light reflected from plaque. Use what you have.

  The light guide 19 is partially fitted into the hole 15 of the stem 11 provided at a position facing the end of the brush portion 22A exposed to the hollow portion 20a. The light guide 19 guides the light emitted from the light emitting element 16 to the brush 22A, and guides the light emitted from the brush 22A to the light receiving element 17 via the bandpass filter 18.

  The light guide 19 is made of a material that transmits light emitted from the light emitting element 16 and transmits light to be incident on the light receiving element 17, and is made of, for example, acrylic or polycarbonate.

  The light guide portion 19 has a metal film deposited on a surface excluding the surface facing the brush portion 22A and the surface on which the light emitting element 16 and the bandpass filter 18 are formed, so that light incident inside leaks out. Is preventing.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the gripping portion 10 of the electric toothbrush shown in FIG.

  The grip unit 10 includes a motor M, a notification unit 60, and a control unit 50.

  The control unit 50 is configured to perform first driving for vibrating the vibrating unit including the stem 11 and the brush unit 20 fixed thereto in the first direction, which is the direction in which the brush unit 22 is pressed, and rotating the vibrating unit for rotation of the motor M. It functions as a drive unit that selectively performs a second drive that vibrates in a second direction that intersects the pressing direction of the brush unit 22 in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The controller 50 switches between the first drive and the second drive by changing the rotation speed of the rotation shaft of the motor M.

  The control unit 50 alternately performs the first drive and the second drive, for example. As described above, by automatically switching the vibration direction of the brush unit 20, the bristle tips of the brush portion 22 are brought into contact with the treatment portion from various angles. A debris removing effect can be obtained. The driving method of the stem 11 by the control unit 50 is not particularly limited. For example, only the first drive or only the second drive may be performed.

  The control unit 50 controls the light emitting element 16 to emit light from the light emitting element 16.

  The control unit 50 performs a process using a signal output from the light receiving element 17.

  In this process, the amount of plaque adhering to the tooth is obtained by calculation from the output signal value of the light receiving element 17, the presence or absence of tartar is determined from the output signal value of the light receiving element 17, and the presence or absence of dental caries is determined. It includes a process of determining from the output signal value of the light receiving element 17 and the like. Hereinafter, the description will be given on the assumption that the control unit 50 performs a process of calculating the amount of plaque.

  The notification unit 60 notifies a user of the electric toothbrush using a device such as a speaker or an LED. The notification unit 60 sounds a sound or illuminates an LED according to a command from the control unit 50 to notify the user.

  The content to be informed is the amount of plaque calculated by the control unit 50. For example, the notification unit 60 notifies the amount of plaque by illuminating the LED in green when the amount of plaque is very small, and illuminating the LED in red when the amount of plaque is large. Help with effective brushing.

  The operation of the electric toothbrush configured as described above will be described.

  When the power of the electric toothbrush is turned on and the brushing start operation is performed, the control unit 50 alternately performs the first drive and the second drive. Thereby, the brush unit 20 pressed against the teeth alternately repeats the vibration in the first direction and the vibration in the second direction, and the plaque attached to the teeth is removed by the brush unit 22.

  The control unit 50 causes the light emitting element 16 to emit light while performing the first drive and the second drive alternately. The blue light emitted from the light emitting element 16 is guided by the light guide 19 to the end of the brush portion 22A on the hollow portion 20a side, and enters the end.

  The blue light that has entered the brush portion 22A passes through the inside of each bristle constituting the brush portion 22A, proceeds to the tip portion of the brush portion 22A, and is emitted from the tip portion to the outside. The blue light emitted from the brush portion 22A is incident on the surface of the tooth D, which is a portion where the plurality of brush portions 22 are pressed.

  If there is plaque on the surface of the tooth D, red light is emitted from the plaque due to the incidence of blue light. The red light emitted from the plaque reaches the light guide portion 19 from the tip of each bristle of the brush portion 22A through the inside of each bristle, and is guided to the bandpass filter 18 by the light guide portion 19. Since the red light can pass through the band-pass filter 18, the red light is received by the light receiving element 17 as it is. The light receiving element 17 converts the received light into an electric signal and outputs it to the control unit 50.

  The control unit 50 obtains the amount of plaque in the brushing portion of the tooth D by calculation using the electric signal output from the light receiving element 17. And the control part 50 performs notification from the notification part 60 according to the calculated amount of plaque.

  As described above, according to the electric toothbrush described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the light from the light emitting element 16 is emitted by the brush part 22 </ b> A which is a part of the plurality of brush parts 22 provided in the brush unit 20. It can function as a light emitting portion and a light collecting portion for collecting light excited by the light. For this reason, it is possible to detect and report the plaque adhering to the portion where the brush portion 22A is pressed, that is, the tooth itself being brushed.

  Further, the brush portion 22A serves not only for detecting plaque but also as a brush for removing plaque. Therefore, plaque adhering to the brushing teeth can be detected without reducing the number of brush parts and without increasing the size of the brush unit 20.

  The brush unit 20 has a simple configuration in which some of the brush portions 22 in a conventional brush unit are replaced with brush portions 22A. For this reason, the manufacturing cost of the brush unit 20 can be reduced. Since the brush unit 20 is a consumable item, there is a great advantage that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the end of the brush portion 22A on the hollow portion 20a side is physically exposed to the hollow portion 20a. However, the end of the brush portion 22A on the hollow portion 20a side may be optically exposed to the hollow portion 20a. When the end is optically exposed, the end is visible from the hollow portion 20a for light in a wavelength range including the wavelength of light emitted from the light emitting element 16 and the wavelength of light to be received by the light receiving element 17. State.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the cross-sectional configuration shown in FIG. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 4, a part of the hole (hollow portion 20a side) provided in the housing of the brush unit 20 is filled with a material 20A transparent to light in the above-mentioned wavelength range. The brush portion 22A is bonded and fixed to a portion of the hole without the material 20A with an adhesive transparent to light in the above wavelength range. With such a configuration, the end of the brush portion 22A on the hollow portion 20a side is optically exposed to the hollow portion 20a.

  According to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the brush units 22 provided in the brush unit 20 can have the same size, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the material 20A prevents water from entering the hollow portion 20a, the waterproof effect can be enhanced.

  Up to this point, one of the plurality of brush portions 22 provided in the brush unit 20 is the brush portion 22A, but a plurality of the plurality of brush portions 22 may be the brush portion 22A.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of the cross-sectional configuration shown in FIG. 5, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the modification shown in FIG. 5, all the brush portions provided in the brush unit 20 are brush portions 22A. Further, the light guide 19 is changed to a light guide 19A.

  The light guide 19 </ b> A is formed inside the stem 11 so as to fill a hole 15 </ b> A provided in the stem 11. The light guide section 19A guides light emitted from the end of each brush section 22A provided on the brush unit 20 on the hollow section 20a side to the light receiving element 17 via the band pass filter 18 and emits the light from the light emitting element 16. The emitted light is guided to the end on the hollow portion 20a side of each brush portion 22A.

  In this manner, the plaque detection accuracy can be improved by providing all the brush portions 22 as the brush portions 22A.

  When a plurality of brush sections 22A are provided in the brush unit 20, a unit including the light guide section 19, the light emitting element 16, the light receiving element 17, and the bandpass filter 18 is provided for each of the plurality of brush sections 22A. It is good also as composition provided in. By doing so, even if one of the plurality of units fails, plaque detection can be continued using another unit. In addition, by calculating the amount of plaque using each of the plurality of units, the accuracy of calculating the amount of plaque can be increased.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modification of the plan view shown in FIG. 6, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  The electric toothbrush shown in FIG. 6 differs from FIG. 1 in that the area of the brush portion 22A provided in the brush unit 20 is larger than the area of the brush portion 22.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric toothbrush of FIG. 6 taken along line BB. 7 differs from FIG. 2 in that the width of the brush portion 22A is large and the width of the light guide portion 19 is large.

  As described above, by making the area of the brush section 22A in the plan view shown in FIG. 6 larger than that of the other brush sections 22, the amount of light emitted to the teeth can be increased, and the light reflected by the teeth can be increased. Can be increased. For this reason, plaque detection accuracy can be improved.

  In the modified examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the number of the brush portions 22A is one, but a configuration in which a plurality of brush portions 22A are provided may be adopted.

  The configuration in which the light guide 19, the light emitting element 16, the light receiving element 17, and the bandpass filter 18 are provided inside the stem 11 has been described. However, these may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the stem 11. The configuration in which these are built into the stem 11 is preferable because the tip of the electric toothbrush can be reduced in size.

  In the description so far, the light emitting element 16 and the light receiving element 17 are provided on the stem 11. However, the light emitting element 16 and the light receiving element 17 may be provided in the grip 10. In this case, an optical fiber extending from the inside of the grip 10 to the inside of the stem is provided.

  For example, one end of the optical fiber is in contact with the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 16 and the other end is in contact with the light guide 19, and one end is in contact with the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 17 and the other end is in contact with the light guide 19. An optical fiber is provided on the main body. In this configuration, the light guide 19 and the two optical fibers function as a light guide. According to this configuration, the light receiving element 17 is less likely to be affected by the vibration of the stem 11, so that improvement in plaque detection accuracy can be expected.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, in the configuration in which the light emitting element 16 and the light receiving element 17 are provided on the stem, the loss of light reflected from the mouth can be minimized and detected by the light receiving element 17. . For this reason, plaque detection accuracy can be improved.

  In the electric toothbrush described in the present embodiment, each bristle constituting the brush portion 22A is made of a light transmissive material that is at least transparent to light emitted from the light emitting element 16 and light to be received by the light receiving element 17. Must be configured. Since such a light-transmitting material can be selected from general brush materials, it is possible to prevent the manufacturing cost of the brush unit from increasing.

  It is to be noted that, of the portions of each bristle that are exposed from the surface of the brush unit 20 to the outside, a portion other than the tip end surface is coated so as to prevent light passing through the inside of each bristle from being emitted to the outside. preferable. For example, a coating agent such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) may be applied to the peripheral surface of each hair. With this configuration, plaque detection accuracy can be improved.

  The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  For example, a brush unit that removes plaque by rotating a base provided with a plurality of brush units may be used. In this type, plaque can be detected with high accuracy by providing an equivalent to the brush portion 22A at the center of rotation of the base.

  As described above, the following items are disclosed in this specification.

  The disclosed electric toothbrush includes a brush unit having a hollow portion, and a main body having a fitting portion that fits into the hollow portion, and the brush unit includes a plurality of brush portions standing upright on an outer peripheral surface. The plurality of brush portions are made of a light-transmitting material, and include at least one first brush portion whose end on the hollow portion side is exposed to the hollow portion, and the main body portion emits light. A light-emitting element that emits light, a light-receiving element that outputs a signal corresponding to light, and light that is emitted from the light-emitting element is guided to an end of the first brush unit on the hollow side, and the first brush unit A light guide unit that guides light that is incident from the outside of the brush unit and emitted from the end of the first brush unit on the hollow portion side to the light receiving element, and performs processing using an output signal of the light receiving element. And a processing unit.

  The disclosed electric toothbrush includes one in which each of the plurality of brush portions is the first brush portion.

  In the disclosed electric toothbrush, the light guide portion is provided in the fitting portion so as to face an end of the first brush portion on the hollow portion side, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided in the fitting portion. It is provided at the joint.

  In the disclosed electric toothbrush, the first brush portion is constituted by a plurality of bristles, and each of the plurality of bristles constituting the first brush portion prevents light passing through the inside from leaking to the outside. For the purpose.

  In the disclosed electric toothbrush, a part of the plurality of brush parts is the first brush part, and an area of the first brush part when viewed from a pressing direction of the plurality of brush parts is: , Are larger than the areas of the brush parts other than the first brush part.

  The disclosed brush unit is the brush unit in the electric toothbrush.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is particularly convenient and effective when applied to a household electric toothbrush.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 gripping portion 11 stem 12 bearing 13 eccentric shaft 14 weight 16 light emitting element 17 light receiving element 18 bandpass filter 19 light guide section 20 brush unit 20a hollow section 22, 22A brush section 50 control section 60 notification section M motor

Claims (6)

A brush unit having a hollow portion,
A main body having a fitting portion to be fitted with the hollow portion,
The brush unit has a plurality of brush portions erected on the outer peripheral surface,
The plurality of brush portions are formed of a light-transmitting material, and include at least one first brush portion whose end on the hollow portion side is exposed to the hollow portion,
The main body is
A stem as a fitting portion, wherein the brush unit is detachably provided on the stem,
A light emitting element for emitting light,
A light-receiving element that outputs a signal corresponding to light,
A light guide that guides light emitted from the light emitting element toward its end, and also guides light from the end to the light receiving element,
A processing unit that performs processing using an output signal of the light receiving element,
Has,
When the brush unit is mounted on the stem, an end of the light guide unit and an end of the first brush unit face each other, and the light guide unit emits light emitted from the light emitting element. Light guided to the end of the first brush unit on the hollow side, incident on the first brush unit from outside the brush unit, and emitted from the end of the first brush unit on the hollow side. The electric toothbrush is arranged so that it may be guided to the light receiving element. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1,
An electric toothbrush wherein each of the plurality of brush portions is the first brush portion. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2,
An electric toothbrush wherein the light emitting element , the light receiving element, and the light guide are provided on the stem . The electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The first brush portion is configured by a plurality of bristles,
The electric toothbrush in which each of the plurality of bristles constituting the first brush portion is coated so as to prevent light passing therethrough from leaking to the outside. The electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A part of the plurality of brush parts is the first brush part,
The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein an area of the first brush unit when viewed from a pressing direction of the plurality of brush units is larger than an area of a brush unit other than the first brush unit.   The brush unit in the electric toothbrush according to claim 1.

Images