EP0711877B1

EP0711877B1 - Faucet assembly including a metering element for delivering cleaning, disinfectant liquids and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0711877B1
Application number: EP95830470A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicola Borriello; Davide Carli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-11-11
Filing date: 1995-11-07
Publication date: 1999-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-07
Also published as: ITMI942292A1; IT1280037B1; DE69512603D1; ITMI942292A0; EP0711877A1; DE69512603T2

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a faucet assembly including a metering element for delivering cleaning, disinfectant liquids and the like.
Faucet assemblies provided with infrared sensors for controlling the delivery of water as an user puts his/her hands under the faucet are already known and broadly used mainly in public environments.
In such an application, the liquid soap or other disinfectant liquid delivering or metering device always constitutes a separated element which does not allow to rationally use the faucet since an user must at first withdraw the cleaning agent or soap and then arrange his/her hands under the faucet.
However, the document FR-A-2 097 796 describes a faucet assembly having substantially the features of the preamble of claim 1, and, in particular, including, in the outlet mouth of said faucet, a delivery tube for delivering a cleaning or disinfectant liquid, said tube being controlled by a pump communicating with a tank of one of said liquids and driven by a driving unit in turn driven by a sensor, the tube partially extending within the water barrel.
The document WO-A-93 10 311 also discloses a faucet assembly including a delivery element for delivering cleaning or disinfectant liquids and having a water delivery barrel provided with a sensor driving a solenoid valve for controlling the delivery of water. The faucet further comprises, at an outlet mouth thereof, a tube for delivering a cleaning or disinfectant liquid, said tube being controlled by a pump communicating with a tank of one of said liquids and being controlled by a driving assembly, in turn driven by said sensor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problem, by providing a faucet assembly, including a cleaning or disinfectant liquid metering or delivering device or element, which allows to perform, by a single element, the water delivery function as well as the cleaning material and/or disinfectant material delivery function.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a faucet assembly which is controlled by a managing controlling logic unit allowing to set a desired and very simple delivery operating cycle, by allowing to greatly reduce the washing water consumption.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a faucet assembly which is very reliable and safe in operation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a faucet assembly, including a cleaning liquid delivering element or device, which can be easily made starting from easily available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a faucet assembly, according to the main claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a faucet assembly including a cleaning or disinfectant liquid delivering element, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawing, the sole figure thereof is a schematic view illustrating a faucet assembly according to the invention.
With reference to the figure of the accompanying drawing, the faucet assembly including a cleaning or disinfectant liquid delivering element according to the present invention, comprises a delivery barrel 1, having a water delivery mouth 2.
Near the water delivery mouth 2, is provided a sensor, in particular an infrared ray or beam emitting sensor 3, which is associated with a photosensitive element 4, adapted to detect beams reflected by an user arranging his/her hands under the faucet.
The photosensitive element 4, in particular, is operatively connected to a driving assembly, generally indicated by the reference number 10, which drives a solenoid valve 11 arranged in the water inlet duct 12.
The main feature of the invention is that, inside the water delivery mouth 2, leads a tube or pipe 20, for delivering cleaning liquids, disinfectant liquids, and the like.
The tube 20 is connected to a pump which, through a suction duct 22, communicates with a cleaning liquid or disinfectant liquid tank.
In particular, the pump 21 is controlled by the controlling or driving circuit, in turn driven by the aforesaid photosensitive element or sensor 4.
In the operation control logic unit according to the invention, the control or drive set will control the washing cycle so that, as an user puts his/her hands under the faucet, the pump 21 will be at first operated, so as to deliver a preset dose of the cleaning liquid, disinfectant liquid or the like.
Thus, the cleaning liquid or liquid soap will directly fall on the user hands, arranged under the delivery mouth.
Upon delivering the cleaning liquid or disinfectant liquid, the operating cycle will be stopped for few seconds, so as to allow the user a proper time period to clean his/her hands.
Then, the control unit will cause the solenoid valve 11 to deliver washing and rinsing water.
This delivery can occur for a set time or it may end as the user removes his/her hands from the water outlet.
An end of cycle rest period is moreover provided for preventing the operating cycle from being repeated as the user rests under the operating ray or beam of the photosensitive element.
In order to provide a very safe operation, all of the live electronic and electric parts are held in a sealed casing and operate at a low voltage, i.e. 24 volts.
In this connection it should be apparent that the water delivery time can be adjusted depending on requirements.
From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that a faucet assembly has been provided, allowing, by using a single element, to deliver both the cleaning material and the washing or rinsing water, thereby allowing the possibility of setting an automatic operating cycle specifically designed to reduce to a minimum the cleaning material and water amount being delivered.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, provided that they are compatible to the intended use, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

Claims

A faucet assembly, including a delivery device for delivering cleaning, disinfectant liquids and the like, said faucet assembly including a water delivery barrel (1) provided with a sensor (3, 4) driving a solenoid valve (11) for controlling the delivery of water from a water delivery duct (12), said sensor comprising an infrared emitter (3) and an infrared photosensitive element (4) adapted to detect the radiation beams reflected by a user so as to drive on and off said solenoid valve (11), said faucet assembly further comprising, in the outlet mouth (2) thereof, a delivery tube (20) for delivering a cleaning or disinfectant liquid, said tube (20) being controlled by a cleaning or disinfectant liquid pump (21) communicating with a tank of one of said liquid and driven by a driving unit (10) in turn driven by said sensor (3, 4), said cleaning or disinfectant liquid delivery tube (20) partially extending within said water delivery duct (12) and water delivery barrel (1) characterized in that said driving unit drives at first said cleaning or disinfectant liquid pump (21) for a first set operating time period for delivering at first a set amount of soap and drives then said solenoid valve (11) for a second set operating time period, for delivering washing and rinsing water.
A faucet assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that said driving unit (10) provides, after said second set operating time period, a third set idle time period for preventing said first set operating time period from being immediately restarted.