JP2001193124A - Automatic washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic washing device capable of subtle adjusting of a direction of a detection means easily and of sanitary water discharge operation, as well. SOLUTION: A sensor 22 is provided in this automatic washing device 5 so as to turn in at least one direction of horizontal direction and vertical direction. Moreover, a casing 6 is divided into a first casing 6a storing a solenoid 8 and a second casing 6b storing the sensor 22, and the second casing 6b is connected with the first casing 6a detachably. Furthermore, the casing 6 is detachably connected with an existing flush valve 4 connected to a stool 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for detecting a user,
The present invention relates to an automatic washing apparatus that automatically discharges washing water into a toilet without a user operating a lever or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, flush toilets (woman toilets different from morning glory) provided with a washing device have become widespread. This washing apparatus detects a user by a detecting means such as an infrared sensor mounted on a wall or the like, drives a discharging means connected to the toilet based on a toilet entry time (use time) or the like, and puts the user in the toilet. It is configured to discharge water.
In addition, the automatic cleaning device is provided with a manual water discharge switch as a water discharge operation means, similarly to the detection means for detecting the use state of the user. This is for etiquette cleaning, especially found in women's toilets, and allows the user to arbitrarily discharge a small amount of water.

[0003]

However, the conventional cleaning apparatus has the following problems.

(1) Since the detection means and the emission means are separated from each other, a structure for connecting them is required. This connection structure is a wired type that outputs a detection signal from the detection means to the emission means using a cord, and a wireless type that outputs the detection signal from the detection means to the water discharge means by radio waves or optical signals without using a cord. Two types are conceivable. However, since the former wired type requires wiring, there is a problem that the installation work is troublesome and the wiring becomes an obstacle. Further, the latter wireless type has a problem in that the electrical configuration becomes more complicated than that of the wired type, so that the cost increases.

[0005] (2) The detecting means has to perform a severe operation when it is installed in the toilet room. That is,
Since the sensor provided in the detecting means has directivity, if the mounting position of the detecting means is not accurately set, the user cannot be accurately detected, and the water discharging operation by the water discharging means is performed normally. Absent. Since the sensor of the detecting means is stored and held in the case in advance, the orientation of the sensor is changed by adjusting the mounting position of the case with respect to a wall or the like when the detecting means is installed.

However, since the sensor is housed in the case, there is a limit in changing the orientation of the sensor due to the installation space and the like, and fine adjustment is difficult. For this reason, there has been a problem that the work for installing the detecting means is very troublesome.

(3) With regard to the manual water discharge switch, which is one of the detection means, some users may feel uncomfortable because the switch, such as a touch switch, is directly touched by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to enable installation in a small space and to simplify a connection structure between a detecting means and a water discharging means. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cleaning device having a sanitary water discharging operation.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cleaning apparatus capable of easily performing fine adjustment of the direction of the detecting means.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a detecting means for detecting a use situation of a user and a detecting means for detecting a user by the detecting means are provided. In an automatic washing apparatus provided with a flushing means for flushing flush water to a toilet, the detecting means is provided rotatably in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. This is the gist.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the detecting means detects at least one usage state of a user's toilet use detection and manual water discharge detection. Is the gist.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the casing is a first casing.
The first chamber accommodates the water discharging means, the second chamber accommodates the detecting means, and the second chamber comprises a second chamber.
The gist is that the chamber is detachably connected to the first chamber.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the gist is that the casing is detachably connected to an existing flush valve connected to the toilet.

(Operation) According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the user uses the toilet, the use state of the user is detected by the detecting means. Then, the detection means non-mechanically and hygienically detects the necessity of water discharge for the user to detect the required amount of water discharge operation. As a result, the water discharging means is driven, and the flush water is discharged to the toilet. Since the detection means is provided rotatably in at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, it is possible to easily perform fine pointing adjustment of the detection means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, the detecting means detects the use of the toilet bowl by the user and determines whether the use is a large use or a small use. It has a detection function that drives the function of performing automatic water discharge (automatic cleaning) when the user leaves the room or the function of performing active water discharge (manual water discharge) of the user, and responds to the usage situation of the user To provide a sanitary and easy-to-use automatic washing device having a water saving effect.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the first or second aspect, the casing is divided into two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber. Since the water discharge means is accommodated in the second chamber and the detection means is accommodated in the second chamber, for example, when performing maintenance only on the detection means, the workability is improved by removing only the second chamber. You.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the third aspect of the present invention, an automatic flushing device for a flush toilet having a sanitary water discharging operation can be easily attached to an existing flush valve. Is done.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a discharge pipe 3 is connected to a Japanese style toilet 1 via a supply pipe 2 connected to a water pipe (not shown). A flash valve 4 is connected between the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3. Since the flash valve 4 is an existing one and its structure is also known, its detailed configuration will be briefly described.

A cleaning device 5 is provided above the flash valve 4.
Is attached. Casing 6 constituting cleaning device 5
Is vertically divided into a first chamber A and a second chamber B. A pull-type solenoid 8 as an actuator and a battery 9 are accommodated via a bracket 7 in a first casing 6a constituting the lower first chamber A. Solenoid 8
A valve box 10 is connected to a lower end face of the valve box.

A bush 12 having a piston guide hole 11 is screwed into the upper part of the flash valve 4. The bush 12 accommodates a piston valve 13 slidably up and down. When the piston valve 13 is at the upper position, communication between the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 is established. When the piston valve 13 is at the lower position, the space between the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 is shut off.
The valve box 10 is connected to an upper portion of the bush 12. The lower end surface of the valve box 10 and the piston valve 1
A valve chamber 14 is formed between the valve chamber 3 and the upper end face of the valve chamber 3. The piston 15 of the piston valve 13 has a communication hole 16 communicating between an inflow port (not shown) communicating with the supply pipe 2 and the valve chamber 14.

A communication port 17 communicating with the discharge pipe 3 is formed on the side of the flash valve 4, and the communication port 17 is closed by a blind plug 18. A bypass pipe 19 is provided between the blind plug 18 and the side of the valve box 10.
Communication. The valve box 10 includes the valve chamber 1.
A communication passage 20 communicating between the bypass pipe 4 and the bypass pipe 19 is formed. A plunger rod 21 of the solenoid 8 is arranged at an intermediate portion of the communication passage 20 so that the valve chamber 14 and the bypass pipe 19 are communicated or shut off with the vertical movement of the plunger rod 21. Has become. That is, when the solenoid 8 is held in the non-excited state, the connection between the valve chamber 14 and the bypass pipe 19 is cut off. When the solenoid 8 is held in the excited state, the valve chamber 14 is closed. And the bypass pipe 19 are kept in communication.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second chamber B
The sensor 22 constituting the detecting means is accommodated in the second casing 6b constituting the above. The sensor 22 includes light receiving elements 22c, 2 paired with infrared light emitting elements 22a, 22b.
2d. On the wall surface of the second casing 6b, a detection window 23 that opens toward the user (not shown) using the toilet 1 is formed. This detection window 2
The sensor 22 detects the user's usage status via 3.

The infrared light emitting element 22a and the light receiving element 22
c detects the user's toilet usage time (human body detection),
The time (in the present embodiment, starting from 120 seconds)
When the user exits the room, the amount of water is determined to be large or small, and water is automatically discharged. The infrared light emitting element 22b and the light receiving element 2
With 2d, arbitrary water discharge by the user, that is, manual water discharge is detected (hand detected) by holding a hand over the front of the sensor 22, and water is discharged. The detection window 23 is shielded by a translucent cover 38.

The sensor 22 is supported by an inner case 24 as a support member via a circuit board (not shown). A pair of left and right rotation shafts 25 are integrally formed on the side surface of the inner case 24. An opening 26 facing the detection window 23 is provided at the front of the inner case 24.
Are formed. A pair of left and right locking pieces 27 projecting downward are integrally formed on the upper inner wall surface of the second casing 6b. An arc surface 28 having substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the rotation shaft 25 of the inner case 24
Are formed. The rotating shaft 25 of the inner case 24 is engaged with the two arc surfaces 28.

A pair of left and right projecting pieces 29 projecting downward are integrally formed on the upper inner wall surface of the second casing 6b. A locking plate 30 is fastened and fixed to both protruding pieces 29 by screws 31. An inclined surface 32 is formed at the front end of the locking plate 30, and the rotating shaft 25 of the inner case 24 is in contact with the inclined surface 32. That is, the rotating shaft 25 is held by the arc surface 28 of the locking piece 27 and the inclined surface 32 of the locking plate 30, and the inner case 24 is connected and held in the second casing 6b in a suspended state.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of radial locking projections 33 are provided at the center of the upper surface of the first casing 6a.
Are formed. An adjustment plate 34 is connected to the upper surface of the first casing 6a via screws 36. At the center of the lower surface of the adjustment plate 34, a locking ridge 35 that engages with the locking ridge 33 formed on the upper surface of the first casing 6a is formed. The engagement of the locking projections 33 and 35 causes the adjustment plate 3 to be in contact with the first casing 6a.
4 is restricted. Notch recesses 37 are formed at three places on the peripheral surface of the adjustment plate 34. Further, locking recesses 39 communicating with the cutout recesses 37 are formed at three places on the lower surface of the adjustment plate 34. A pair of rotation stopper pieces 40a and 40b are integrally formed on the upper surface of the adjustment plate 34 at a predetermined interval. Further, the rear portion between the two rotation stopper pieces 40a and 40b (adjustment plate 3
A release stopper piece 41 is integrally formed on the (center side of 4).

Engaging projections 42 projecting inward are integrally formed at three positions on the inner edge of the lower surface of the second casing 6b. The width of each engagement projection 42 is substantially the same as the width of the cutout recess 39 formed in the adjustment plate 34. A locking stopper 43 extending downward is integrally formed on the inner wall surface of the second casing 6b. At the tip of the locking stopper 43, a projecting portion 44 projecting outward is integrally formed. The width of the protrusion 44 is substantially the same as the width between the pair of rotation stopper pieces 40a and 40b formed integrally with the adjustment plate 34. Projection 4
A through hole 45 is formed in the wall surface of the second casing
Are formed.

When the cleaning device 5 is assembled, the engaging projections 42 of the second casing 6b are engaged with the locking recesses 39 of the adjustment plate 34, and the locking stoppers 43 are provided.
Of the rotation plate 4 of the adjustment plate 34
0a, 40b.

Therefore, in this state, the engagement of the engaging projections 42 and the locking recesses 39 prevents the second casing 6b from floating with respect to the first casing 6a. Also,
The rotation of the second casing 6b with respect to the first casing 6a is prevented by the engagement between the projection 44 of the locking stopper 43 and the rotation stopper pieces 40a, 40b of the adjustment plate 34.

Next, the operation of the cleaning device 5 will be described.
When the infrared light emitting element 22a and the light receiving element 22c of the sensor 22 detect a toilet user, a controller (not shown) housed in the second casing 6b starts a timer.
Then, when the controller confirms that the user has left the room using the sensor 22, the use time of the user is equal to or less than the predetermined time (120).
Second) has elapsed. Here, when the controller determines that the usage time has passed the predetermined time, it determines that the usage status of the user is large usage, excites the solenoid 8 and contracts the plunger rod 21. Then, communication between the bypass pipe 19 and the valve chamber 14 is made through the communication passage 20. Thus, the water stored in the valve chamber 14 is discharged from the communication passage 20 through the bypass pipe 19 to the communication port 17 side. As the water in the valve chamber 14 is discharged, the pressure in the valve chamber 14 decreases, and the piston 15 is raised by the water pressure in the supply pipe 2. Thereby, the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 communicate with each other, and the flush water is discharged into the toilet 1.

When the controller excites the solenoid 8 for a predetermined time, the excitation of the solenoid 8 is stopped and the plunger rod 21 is extended. Then, since the communication path 20 is shut off and the communication between the valve chamber 14 and the communication port 17 is interrupted, water enters the valve chamber 14 from the communication hole 16 of the piston 15 and the pressure in the valve chamber 14 increases. Is done. Then
The piston 15 descends, the connection between the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 is shut off, and the discharge of the wash water to the toilet 1 is stopped.

When the controller determines that the use time does not exceed the predetermined time, the controller sets the excitation time of the solenoid 8 to be short, so that the water discharge amount is about half of the water discharge amount during the heavy use. The flush water is discharged to the toilet 1.

Next, the operation of manual water discharge will be described. When the hand is held over the front surface of the sensor 22, the operation is detected by the infrared light emitting element 22b and the light receiving element 22d. The controller excites the solenoid 8 for a predetermined time based on the detection operation of the infrared light emitting element 22b and the light receiving element 22d, and
Rinse the wash water.

Next, the operation when the detection direction of the sensor 22 is changed (adjusted) will be described. If the detection direction of the sensor 22 is inappropriate and the detection sensitivity of the user is insufficient,
First, a pin (not shown) is inserted through the through hole 45 of the second casing 6b to press the protrusion 44 of the locking stopper 43 inward. Then, the base end of the locking stopper 43 bends and deforms as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. That is,
The protrusion 44 is pressed by the pin to release the engagement between the protrusion 44 and the rotation stopper pieces 40a, 40b. At this time, the locking stopper 43 comes into contact with the release stopper 41, thereby preventing further deformation. This allows
It is possible to prevent the locking stopper 43 from breaking due to excessive insertion of the pin.

With the projection 44 of the locking stopper 43 disengaged from the rotation stopper pieces 40a, 40b, the second casing 6b is turned in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
2 faces the notch recess 37 of the adjustment plate 34. That is, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 42 and the locking recess 39 is released. By lifting the second casing 6b in this state, the second casing 6b can be separated from the first casing 6a.

Here, when the sensitivity of the sensor 22 is deemed to be poor due to the inappropriate orientation in the left-right direction, a screw 36 connecting the adjustment plate 34 and the first casing 6a is used.
Remove. This allows the adjustment plate 34 to rotate with respect to the first casing 6a. Next, the adjustment plate 34
Is rotated by an appropriate amount in the direction (horizontal direction) in which the sensitivity of the sensor 22 is considered to increase with respect to the first casing 6a. Then, the screw 36 is tightened, and the adjustment plate 34 is
Rotation is disabled with respect to the casing 6a.

When the sensitivity of the sensor 22 is deemed to be poor due to an inappropriate vertical orientation, the screw 31 on the second casing 6b side is loosened. Thereby, the pressure for holding the arc-shaped surface 28 of the locking piece 27 holding the inner case 24 and the locking plate 30 is reduced, and the rotation of the inner case 24 with respect to the second casing 6b becomes possible. Next, the inner case 24 is rotated by an appropriate amount in the direction (vertical direction) in which the sensitivity of the sensor 22 is considered to be higher with respect to the second casing 6b. Then, the screw 31 is tightened so that the inner case 24 cannot rotate with respect to the second casing 6b again.

Next, the engaging projections 42 of the second casing 6b are made to correspond to the notches 37 of the adjustment plate 34, and the engaging projections 42 are fitted into the notches 37. At this time, the projecting portion 44 of the locking stopper 43 is connected to one of the rotation stopper pieces 4.
The locking stopper 43 comes into contact with the back surface of Oa, and is deformed inward. In this state, the second casing 6b is turned in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow in FIG. Thereby, the engagement protrusion 42 of the second casing 6b is engaged with the locking recess 39 of the adjustment plate 34. At the same time, the projecting portion 44 of the locking stopper 43 rides over the one rotation stopper piece 40a and is engaged between the two stopper pieces 40a and 40b. Thereby, rotation and floating of the second casing 6b with respect to the first casing 6a are prevented.

Thus, the detection direction of the sensor 22 is adjusted. In the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained by configuring the cleaning device 5 as described above.

(1) Since the casing 6 accommodating the solenoid 8 and the sensor 22 is connected to the flash valve 4, the connection structure between the sensor 22 and the solenoid 8 can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced. With
The space for installing the device 5 can be made small.

(2) The casing 6 is divided into a first casing 6a containing the solenoid 8 and a second casing 6b containing the sensor 22, and one of the first casings 6a
Connected to the flash valve 4 and the other second
The casing 6b was detachably connected to the first casing 6a. Accordingly, when performing maintenance on only the sensor 22, it is possible to perform maintenance on the sensor 22 by removing only the second casing 6b from the first casing 6a without removing the entire casing 6 from the flash valve 4.

(3) Since the second casing 6b is rotatable in the horizontal direction with respect to the first casing 6a,
The detection direction (directivity) of the sensor 22 to the left and right can be easily and finely adjusted.

(4) The inner case 24 supporting the sensor 22 can be vertically rotated with respect to the second casing 6b, so that the detection direction of the sensor 22 in the vertical direction can be adjusted easily and finely. can do.

(5) Since the operation of the manual water discharge switch is detected without touching the user directly, the operation is sanitary. The above embodiment may be embodied as follows.

(1) The detecting means may be embodied in place of the sensor 22 in place of an ultrasonic sensor or the like. (2) The casing 6 may be embodied without being divided.

(3) The second casing 6b may be embodied by being connected to the first casing 6a in a detachable and non-rotatable manner. (4) Inner case 2 using sensor 22 as a support member
It may be embodied by directly fixing to the second casing 6b without passing through the fourth casing 6b.

(5) As the water discharging means and the actuator,
Instead of the solenoid 8, a motor or the like may be used. (6) In the above embodiment, when the manual water discharge signal is detected by the sensor 22, the solenoid 8 is excited and the piston valve 13 that shuts off the connection between the water supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 rises, and the two pipes 2 are raised. , 3 are communicated. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
1 is attached, and the rod 52 is connected to the end of the button 51. By pressing the push button 51, the rod 52 may push up the piston valve 13 to discharge water. In this case, the solenoid 8
Even if the battery 9 which is the power supply of the battery is discharged and the solenoid 8 becomes inoperable, it is possible to discharge the flush water to the toilet 1 by pressing the push button 51.

[0048]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the detecting means is housed and held in the casing so as to be rotatable in at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. The horizontal and vertical detection directions of the means can be easily and finely adjusted.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1
In addition to the effects of the invention described in (1), it is possible to determine whether the usage status of the user is large usage or small usage, and to change the discharge amount of the washing water according to the usage status, thereby achieving a high water saving effect. Obtainable. Alternatively, since the water discharging operation can be performed without directly touching the water at the time of manual water discharging, it is hygienic and easy to use.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
Or, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 2, the first chamber and the second chamber
By detachably connecting the chamber, the individual maintenance work can be easily performed without removing the entire casing, and the workability of assembly can be improved.

According to the invention described in claim 4, according to claim 3,
In addition to the effects of the invention described in (1), an automatic flushing device for flush toilets having a sanitary water discharging operation can be easily attached to the existing flush valve.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial front sectional view of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a cleaning device.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a valve structure connected between a communication port and a bypass pipe in another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... toilet bowl, 4 ... flush valve, 5 ... automatic washing device,
Reference numeral 6 denotes a casing, 6a denotes a first casing forming a first chamber, 6b denotes a second casing forming a second chamber, 8 denotes a solenoid as a water discharging means and an actuator, 22 denotes a sensor as a detecting means, and A denotes a first. Room B: Second room.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An automatic washing apparatus comprising: a detecting means for detecting a use condition of a user; and a water discharging means for discharging flush water to a toilet based on the detection of the user by the detecting means. The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is provided rotatably in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. 2. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means detects at least one of a user's use of a toilet and a manual discharge of water. 3. The automatic cleaning device comprises a casing divided into two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber has the water discharging means, and the second chamber has the detection means. 3. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means is accommodated, and the second chamber is detachably connected to the first chamber. 4. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the casing is detachably connected to an existing flush valve connected to a toilet.