JP2004092385A - Toilet bowl with urine sampler, and urine sampler - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sample urine without causing urine splashes, and retard clogging of a urine sample feed system with foreign matter. <P>SOLUTION: A toilet bowl has a urine sampler 110 at a tip of a swing arm 72 swingable in a bowl 16 of the toilet bowl 12, in order to sample urine discharged into the bowl 16. The urine sampler 110 has a urine receiver 114 and an inlet opening 112, and has wire mesh 132 covering the inlet opening 112. At urine sampling, urine reaches the urine receiver 114 through the wire mesh 132, which enables efficient urine sampling. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

(4) The present invention relates to a toilet provided with a urine sampler for sampling urine excreted in the urinal when urine analysis is performed in a toilet.

ト イ レ A toilet with a urine analysis function has been proposed that can use a toilet to sample and analyze urine to support personal health checks.

For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a health diagnosis device in which a predetermined amount of urine is sampled by a urine collection device attached to a toilet seat and sent to a urine analyzer for analysis. A swivel arm is attached to the toilet seat to receive urine excreted from the user sitting on the toilet seat in the air in the bowl space for sampling, and a urine collection container in the form of a urine collection cup is attached to the free end of this arm. It is. Urine sampled by the urine collection container is aspirated by a manual syringe or an automatic sampling syringe, mixed with a liquid reagent, sent to an analyzer, and subjected to urine analysis.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-30764

(4) The conventional urine sampling apparatus has a problem that urine is repelled on the surface receiving urine, and urine collection efficiency is poor. In addition, if foreign matter such as urine stones or clothes dust that may be excreted in urine enters the urine sample transport system, the thin urine sample transport tube may be clogged. An obstacle to transportation. Even if the transfer tube is clogged, it is difficult to specify the location, and repair and maintenance are troublesome.

An object of the present invention is to collect urine without causing urine splashing, and to further prevent clogging of the urine sample transport system with foreign substances.

The present invention, in order to achieve the above object, according to claim 1, is a toilet bowl provided with a urine collector that moves in the bowl to collect urine excreted in the bowl of the toilet bowl, A net covering the inlet opening of the urine collector is provided.

２ Claim 2 according to claim 1, wherein the urine collector has a urine reservoir connected to the inlet opening.

Claim 3 relates to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mesh is a metal mesh made of stainless steel.

Claim 4 relates to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the urine collector is provided at a lower end of a swing arm that swings back and forth in the bowl.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the inlet opening is provided on a surface substantially perpendicular to a radial surface passing through a rotation axis of the swing arm.

Claim 6 relates to claim 4 or 5, wherein the swing arm has a built-in transport tube for transporting urine from the urine collector, and the mesh size of the mesh is about 1/3 of the inner diameter of the transport tube. The following was set.

７ Claim 7 relates to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the urine pool is provided with a detecting means for detecting that urine has accumulated.

In order to achieve the above object, claim 8 is a urine sampler for collecting excreted urine by moving the urine in a bowl of a toilet, wherein a net is provided to cover an inlet opening for collecting urine. It is characterized by the following.

In the present invention, since the entrance opening of the urine collection container is covered with the net, it is possible to prevent the urine hitting the urine collection container from scattering due to reflection, and to improve urine collection efficiency. Further, the net can prevent foreign matter from entering the urine collection container, prevent the urine sample transport tube from being clogged, prevent the urine sampling device from malfunctioning, and simplify maintenance.

FIG. 1 shows a urine analysis unit provided with a urine sampling device attached to a toilet bowl, and FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the urine analysis unit housing of FIG. Referring to these drawings, the toilet 10 has a toilet bowl 12, and a urine analysis unit 14 having a urine sampling device is attached to the toilet bowl 12. The toilet bowl 12 has a bowl (toilet bowl) section 16 and a washing water supply section 18. In the embodiment shown, the cleaning water supply comprises a cistern mounting part 18 to which a cistern 20 is mounted.

The urine analysis unit 14 has a housing 22 fixed to the toilet 12 as described later, and a toilet seat 24 is rotatably mounted on the housing 22. In the embodiment shown, the urine sampling device 26 of the present invention is incorporated into the toilet seat 24. A toilet lid 28 is attached to the housing 22 so as to be openable and closable. On the side wall of the toilet, a control unit 30 for controlling components of the urine analysis unit 14 including the urine sampling device 26 and outputting an analysis result can be provided.

The housing 22 of the urine analysis unit 14 can be composed of a housing substrate 32, an upper casing 34, and left and right lower casings 36 and 38, for example, as shown in FIG. These components of the housing 22 can be manufactured by injection molding of a resin, and the housing 22 is formed by fastening together with screws or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet 12 is provided with a pair of toilet seat mounting holes 40 between the bowl portion 16 and the washing water supply portion 18, and the housing 22 is formed using the toilet seat mounting holes 40. Mounted. For this reason, the substrate 32 of the housing 22 is mounted on the lower surface of the substrate 32 by fitting the two T-bolts 42 into the lower surface of the substrate 32 as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-6291. Is fixed to the upper surface 46 of the toilet bowl 12 between the bowl portion 16 and the cistern mounting portion 18 by fastening the corresponding nut 44.

As can be clearly seen from FIG. 2, the substrate 32 has a central portion extending transversely to the toilet bowl 12 and side portions extending forward from both ends of the central portion, and the upper casing 34 also corresponds to the substrate 32. Shape. Accordingly, the substrate 32, the upper casing 34, and the left and right lower casings 36 and 38 cooperate with each other to form a central portion 22C, a left side portion 22L, and a right side portion 22R (FIG. 1) of the housing.

As shown in FIG. 2, a measuring unit 48 for analyzing a urine sample sampled by the urine sampling device 26 and an electric syringe pump for transporting the urine sample and the carrier liquid to the measuring unit 48 are provided on the left side portion 22L of the housing. 50, a carrier liquid tank 52, and a calibration liquid tank 54 can be accommodated. As the measurement unit 48, a polarographic or absorptiometer type flow cell can be used. A finger sphygmomanometer unit 56 may be arranged on the left side portion 22L of the housing, and the blood pressure may be measured by engaging the finger sphygmomanometer unit with the left second finger of the subject. In the illustrated embodiment, a conventional bidet device 60 having a washing nozzle 58, a conventional hot air drying device 62, and a conventional deodorizing device 64 including an ozonizer are arranged in the housing central portion 22C. In addition, each function is provided when the toilet 10 provided with the urine analysis unit 14 is used for normal purposes. However, these additional functions are not essential and can be omitted. The power supply device 66 of the unit 14 and the operation panel 68 of the bidet device can be housed in the right side portion 22R of the housing.

Next, the urine sampling device 26 incorporated in the toilet seat 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. Referring to FIG. 3, the urine sampling device 26 includes a frame or case 70, and this frame is appropriately attached to the lower surface of the toilet seat 24 with screws or the like. The frame 70 is curved substantially along the contour of the toilet seat, and is generally hidden under the toilet seat when mounted on the toilet seat. A curved swing arm 72 is rotatably supported on the frame 70, and is swingable by an electric drive mechanism 74. 4, the upper end of the swing arm 72 is mounted on a spindle 76, which is pivotally supported on a frame 70 by a pair of bearings 78 and 80. The spindle 76 is driven by a stepping motor 82 via a belt transmission mechanism. For this purpose, a driven gear 84 is provided on the spindle 76, and a toothed belt 86 is engaged.

モ ー タ As can be clearly seen from FIG. 3, the motor 82 is arranged rearwardly separated from the spindle 76 of the swing arm 72. As shown in FIG. 5, a recess 88 is formed on the lower surface of the toilet seat 24 to accommodate the upper portions of the motor 82 and the belt 86.

As shown in FIG. 6, the output shaft of the motor 82 is splined to a spindle 94, which is rotatably supported by a bearing block 96 fixed to the frame 70 via a pair of bearings 98 and 100. ing. A drive gear 102 is provided on the spindle 94, and a belt 86 is engaged. Therefore, when the motor 82 is rotated, the swing arm 72 is driven to rotate. As shown in FIG. 3, a slider 104 biased upward is disposed on the frame 70, and a tension pulley (not shown) for engaging with a lower run of the belt 86 is mounted on the slider 104. As a result, the belt 86 is designed to take up any slack. The chamber accommodating the motor 82 and the belt transmission mechanism is hermetically sealed and waterproof by a packing 106 sandwiched between the frame 70 and the lower surface of the toilet seat 24.

尿 A urine collection container 110 is provided at the lower end 108 of the swing arm 72. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 8, the urine collection container 110 has a shallow bottom shape having a substantially rectangular entrance opening 112 having a long axis extending transversely to the toilet bowl 12. Is formed. The urine collection container 110 is provided with an L-shaped urine collection tube 116 that opens toward the bottom of the urine reservoir 114. In order to detect the accumulation of urine in the urine reservoir 114, a pair of covered upper electrode 118 and lower electrode 120 are projected into the urine reservoir.

The L-shaped urine collection tube 116 is connected to a flexible urine transport tube 134 extending inside the hollow of the swing arm 72. As the transfer tube 134, it is preferable to use "Tygon Tube" (trademark), which is commercially available from Norton Co., Ltd. as a tube on which sediment is not easily deposited. Preferably, the inner diameter of the transfer tube 134 is about 1 mm. The transfer tube 134 extends through the hollow interior of the spindle 76 and is guided rearward from the window 136 of the spindle 76 as shown in FIG. Similarly, urine sensing electrodes 118 and 120 are also connected to the swing arms and leads 138 and 140, respectively, which extend through the hollow interior of spindle 76. These leads are connected to the control circuit of the urine analysis unit 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, the urine collection container 110 includes an upstanding annular side wall 124, a bottom wall 126, a front wall 128 inclined rearward toward the bottom wall 126, and a right wall inclined leftward toward the bottom wall 126. It has a wall 130. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 7, the inlet opening 112 of the urine collection container 110 is substantially perpendicular to the radial surface 72A passing through the rotation axis of the swing arm 72.

(4) The entrance opening 112 of the urine collection container 110 is covered with a wire mesh 132 made of stainless steel or the like so as to prevent foreign matter from entering the urine collection container 110. The wire mesh 132 also has a function of preventing urine hitting the urine collection container 110 from scattering due to reflection, thereby enabling effective collection of urine that has fallen into the urine collection container. According to the present invention, the mesh size of the wire mesh 132 is smaller than the inner diameter of the transfer tube 134, and is about 0.3 mm.

As can be clearly seen from FIGS. 3 and 9, a storage case 144 that forms a channel-shaped storage and cleaning chamber 142 that opens downward toward the bowl 16 is provided to store the urine collection container 110 and the swing arm 72 when not in use. It is. This storage case 144 can be formed integrally with the frame 70. The storage case 144 extends from the side to the front of the rim 90 of the toilet bowl 12 in a curved manner along the contour of the rim 90, and is arranged inside the rim 90.

As shown in FIG. 3, the injection nozzle 146 is directed to the storage and cleaning chamber 142, and pressurized water is injected into the urine collection container 110 stored at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. And the swing arm 72 are cleaned. The injection nozzle 146 can be fixed to a mounting block 148 attached to the frame 70, and the injection nozzle 146 can be supplied with pressurized water from a hose 150 connected to a water pipe via a solenoid valve (not shown). it can. The channel-shaped storage case 144 decreases in size rearward, and forms a drain gutter 152.

When not in use, the urine collection container 110 is stored in the storage and cleaning chamber 142 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 9, and the toilet seat 24 can be rotated together with the urine sampling device 26 in this state. In the use position, the toilet seat 24 is supported by cushioned legs 154 (two of which are shown in FIG. 5 and the other two not shown are located on the underside of the frame 70) on the upper surface of the toilet rim 90. 92 supported.

In sampling and analyzing urine, when the subject sits on the toilet seat 24 and presses the start switch 30A provided in the control unit 30, the motor 82 rotates and the swing arm 72 rotates. Generally, there is a gender difference in the urination direction. In the case of men, the urethra tends to fall relatively forward, and in the case of women, it tends to fall backward. Therefore, when the user is a male, the swing arm is rotated in advance so that the urine collection container 110 is positioned near the position A indicated by a virtual line in FIG. Fine-tuned. When the user is a woman, the urine collection container 110 can be positioned substantially horizontally near the position B indicated by the imaginary line, and can be moved to the extreme position C according to the user's command.

The user can urinate toward the urine collection container 110 when the urine collection container 110 is brought to an appropriate position. Urine will hit the urine collection container 110 as indicated by the arrows 156 or 158 in FIG. The urine droplets that have fallen on the inclined front wall 128 of the urine collection container flow toward the rear urine pool 114 and accumulate in the urine pool as shown by the hatched area in FIG. When it is detected from the signals from the electrodes 118 and 120 that the urine has accumulated in the urine reservoir 114 up to the level of the upper electrode 118, the syringe pump 50 is operated and the urine is passed through the L-shaped urine collection tube 116 and the transport tube 134. Is sucked and transported to the measurement unit 48 together with the carrier liquid in the carrier liquid tank 52, and the urine sample is subjected to quantitative analysis.

The measurement unit 48 includes, for example, a polarographic flow cell having a glucose oxidase immobilized membrane, and outputs a signal corresponding to the glucose content in urine to the control unit 30. The control unit 30 calculates the glucose concentration based on the signal from the measurement unit 48, displays the calculated glucose concentration on the display unit 30B, and outputs the glucose concentration to the printer 30C in accordance with the subject's command.

(4) When the urine collection is completed, the urine collection container 110 is returned to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 9 by rotating the swing arm 72. Next, cleaning water is injected from the nozzle 146 by operating the solenoid valve. The injected cleaning water forms a spray or a mist, and cleans the outside of the urine collection container 110 and the surface of the swing arm 72 while traveling along the channel-shaped storage and cleaning chamber 142. A part of the spray is reflected forward by the inner wall of the cleaning chamber 142, enters the inside of the urine collection container through the wire mesh 132 of the urine collection container 110 which is now in a vertical posture, and cleans the inside of the urine collection container. The used washing water falls into the bowl 16. When the toilet seat is flipped up, residual drops of washing water are guided to the rear of the frame 70 by the drain gutter 152 and fall to the rear of the bowl.

(4) In order to effectively prevent foreign matter from entering, it is preferable that the mesh of the wire mesh 132 be as fine as possible. However, the finer the mesh, the more difficult it is to pass the spray of washing water. If a portion 124A of the side wall of the urine collection container 110 is inclined forward as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. , And effectively wash them, so that the limited amount of wash water that has entered the interior of the urine collection container can be maximized. As shown in FIG. 8, if the notch 160 is provided on the peripheral wall 124 of the urine collection container 110 facing the nozzle 146, the inside of the urine collection container can be facilitated to be cleaned.

Even if the wire mesh itself is clogged, it can be easily inspected and replaced.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various design changes can be made. For example, the shapes of the swing arm and the urine collection container can be appropriately changed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a urine analysis unit provided with a urine sampling device of the present invention attached to a toilet. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a housing of the urine analysis unit shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the urine sampling device shown in FIG. 1, in which the storage and cleaning chamber is partially cut away. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the toilet seat turned upside down. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view of the swing arm shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the urine collection container shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.

Explanation of reference numerals

12: urinal 26: urine sampling device 72: swing arm 110: urine collection container 112: entrance opening 132 of urine collection container: foreign matter entry prevention net

Claims (8)

What is claimed is: 1. A urinal provided with a urine collector which moves in the bowl to collect urine excreted in the bowl of the toilet, wherein a net covering an inlet opening of the urinal is provided. Equipped toilet. The toilet according to claim 1, wherein the urinal has a urine reservoir connected to the inlet opening. The toilet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the net is a metal net made of stainless steel. The toilet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the urinal is provided at a lower end of a swing arm that swings back and forth in the bowl. The urinal according to claim 4, wherein the inlet opening is provided on a surface substantially perpendicular to a radial surface passing through a rotation axis of the swing arm. 6. The swing arm according to claim 4, wherein a transport pipe for transporting urine from the urine collector is built in, and a mesh size of the mesh is about 1/3 or less of an inner diameter of the transport pipe. Toilet with a urine collector based on. A urinal provided with a urinal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a detecting means for detecting accumulation of urine in the urine pool. What is claimed is: 1. A urine collector for collecting urine excreted by being moved in a bowl of a toilet, wherein a net covering an inlet opening for collecting urine is provided.

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