JP2002143035A - Hand dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hand dryer capable of easily recognizing disposal time for waterdrops stored in a water receiving tray and preventing stain on a floor. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a hand inserting part 6 for inserting a hand 5, a gas blowoff port 4 for blowing gas to the hand 5 inserted into the hand inserting part 6, a gas supply means 20 for supplying gas to the gas blowoff port 4, a water receiving part 9 for receiving waterdrops blown away by gas blown from the gas blowoff port 4, a water receiving tray 11 for storing waterdrops guided by the water receiving part 9, a water level detection means 10 for detecting disposal timing for waterdrops stored in the water receiving tray 11 and a buzzer transmitting part 12 for notifying the disposal timing based on a detection signal from the water level detection means 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hand dryer for drying wet hands.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of hand drying apparatus hits the palm or back of a hand inserted into a hand insertion portion with gas blown from a blowing nozzle to blow off water droplets or the like attached to the hand, It is generally known that the blown water droplets and the like are stored in a water receiving tray via a water receiving portion.

In this apparatus, water droplets and the like stored in a water receiving tray are properly discarded and the water receiving tray is cleaned.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional hand drying device, the time for draining and cleaning the water in the water receiving tray is determined by the user by visually checking the water level in the water receiving tray. Therefore, it is necessary to check the water level of water droplets and the like accumulated in the water receiving tray at any time, and there is a problem that the user is troublesome.

Further, since the visibility of the water level of the water receiving tray is poor and it is difficult to confirm the water level, the water level may be overlooked even when the water level is full. There has been a problem that the surroundings are soiled and the cleaning takes a lot of trouble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily recognize the timing of drainage of water droplets or the like accumulated in a water receiving tray, and to make it possible to easily recognize floors and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a hand drying device capable of preventing contamination of the hand.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a hand drying device according to the present invention comprises a hand insertion portion for inserting a hand, and a gas inserted into the hand inserted into the hand insertion portion. A gas outlet to be blown out, a gas supply means for supplying the gas to the gas outlet, a water receiving portion for receiving water droplets or the like blown off by the gas blown out from the gas outlet, and a water receiving portion guided by the water receiving portion. A water receiving tray for storing water droplets and the like, water draining time detecting means for detecting a water discharging time of water droplets and the like stored in the water receiving tray, and water draining based on a detection signal from the water discharging time detecting means. It is characterized in that a notifying means for notifying the time is provided.

[0008] Therefore, according to this configuration, the user can easily recognize the timing of draining water such as water droplets accumulated in the water receiving tray, and can prevent the floor and the like from being stained. Become.

Further, if the drainage time detecting means is constituted by a water level detecting means for detecting a water storage level of the water receiving tray, it is possible to reliably detect a draining time of water droplets or the like accumulated in the water receiving tray. Can be.

[0010] Further, the water level detecting means detects the water level of the water receiving tray in a plurality of steps or steplessly.
If the water drainage time can be set arbitrarily, the water level of the water receiving tray can be set in a range from a low water level to a full water level according to a user's request. Can be set as frequently as possible, or the drainage time at which dirt or odor generated in the water receiving tray is minimized can be improved, and the usability is improved.

The water level detecting means may be constituted by any one of a float switch, a weight sensor, a light reflection type sensor and an ultrasonic sensor, and furthermore, a hand detecting means for detecting a hand inserted into the hand inserting portion. If the light reflection type sensor or the ultrasonic sensor is also used as the hand detecting means, the number of components can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

In addition, a hand detecting means for detecting a hand inserted into the hand inserting portion is provided, and a counting section for counting a detection signal from the hand detecting means is provided. When the count number reaches a predetermined number of times, it is determined that it is a drainage time and outputs a notification signal, or a drive integrating unit that integrates a drive time or a drive number of the gas supply unit is provided, and the drainage time detection unit is When the integrated value of the drive integration unit reaches a predetermined integrated value, it is determined that the water is to be drained and a notification signal is output, so that the water draining time can be recognized with a simple configuration.

Further, there is provided a water receiving tray position detecting means for detecting that the water receiving tray is not located at a predetermined position with respect to the water receiving portion, wherein the counting number by the counting portion or the driving integrating portion is provided. If the integrated value is reset based on a detection signal from the water receiving tray position detecting means, even if water drainage or cleaning is performed before the water drainage time is notified due to a user's convenience, the integrated value is automatically reset. Since the count number or the integrated value is reset, there is no danger of water drops or the like overflowing from the water receiving tray and soiling the floor or the like, and the usability is improved.

[0014] Further, if the notification means notifies the user of any of a buzzer, sound, lighting / flashing of a lamp, and character information, the user can easily recognize the time of water disposal.

In addition, if the water receiving tray is detachably attached to the water receiving portion, the user can remove the water receiving tray from the water receiving portion based on the notification of the water draining time and easily perform water draining and cleaning. It can be carried out.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the hand drying apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing an embodiment of the hand drying apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
A gas supply means 20 which supplies gas by being built in the upper part of the main body 1, a gas outlet 4 which blows out the gas from the gas supply means 20 via the supply path 2, and a water droplet or the like which is provided in the lower part of the main body 1 A water receiving section 9 for receiving water, a water receiving tray 11 that is detachably attached to the water receiving section 9 and stores water and the like received by the water receiving section 9 through a drain port 7 provided in the water receiving section 9; A hand insertion portion 6 formed between the upper portion of the main body 1 and the water receiving portion 9 for inserting a wet hand 5;
Heating means 3 such as a heater for heating the gas supplied from 0
It is composed of

In the vicinity of the gas outlet 4, there is provided a hand detecting means 8 for detecting the hand 5 inserted into the hand inserting section 6, and gas supply is performed based on a detection signal from the hand detecting means 8. A control unit 13 for controlling the means 20 and the heating means 3 is provided.

A water receiving tray 1 is provided at a lower portion of the main body 1.
A water level detection means 10 is provided as a water level detection means for detecting a water level of water droplets or the like stored in the apparatus 1. The water level detection means 10 notifies the water level according to a detection signal from the water level detection means 10. A buzzer transmitter 12 is provided on the upper part of the main body 1.

The operation of the hand drying apparatus A configured as described above will be described below.

When the user inserts the hand 5 into the hand insertion section 6,
The hand 5 is detected by the hand detecting means 8, a detection signal is input to the control unit 13, a driving signal is output from the control unit 13, the gas supply means 20 is driven, and the heating means 3 is energized. High-pressure gas blows away from the user from 4 toward the palm or back of hand 5,
Water drops and the like adhering to are blown off to dry the hands.

The water droplets blown off by the high-pressure gas are directed to the water receiving portion 9 along the tangential direction of the palm or back of the hand 5, received by the water receiving portion 9, and then passed through the drain port 7. Then, the water is stored in the water receiving tray 11.

When the water level such as water droplets accumulated in the water receiving tray 11 reaches a predetermined water level, the water level is detected by the water level detecting means 10 and a detection signal is input to the control unit 13 to notify the control unit 13 Buzzer transmitter 1 by signal output
A buzzer sounds from 2.

By the sound of the buzzer, the user confirms that it is time to drain water such as water droplets accumulated in the water receiving tray 11, and removes the water receiving tray 11 to perform water draining and cleaning. Do.

Therefore, according to this configuration, when the water level of the water droplets or the like stored in the water receiving tray 11 reaches the predetermined water level after the use of the hand drying device A, based on the detection signal from the water level detecting means 10. Since the buzzer sounds from the buzzer transmission section 12, the user does not need to periodically check the water level in the water receiving tray 11, thereby preventing water drops from overflowing from the water receiving tray 11 and contaminating the floor and the like. can do.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of the water level detecting means 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the water level detecting means 10
The float switch 15 is configured such that the float portion 15a rises with the rise of the water surface 14 such as water droplets stored in the water receiving tray 11, and the permanent magnet portion 15b provided on the float portion 15 When it reaches the position of the water level detection unit 15c constituted by a reed switch, the detection signal is sent to the control unit 13.

In the drawing, the water level detector 15c is set to 1
Although a plurality is provided, a plurality of water levels such as water drops stored in the water receiving tray 11 may be detected at a plurality of stages from a low water level to a full water level. in this case,
The detected water level may be arbitrarily set by an operation unit (not shown) according to a user's request.

With this configuration, it is possible to set a water draining time at a frequency at which a user can drain or clean the water, or at a time when dirt and odor generated in the water receiving tray are minimized. Can be improved.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing another embodiment of the water level detecting means 10. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the water level detecting means 10
The light reflection type sensor 16 emits light toward the water surface 14 such as water droplets stored in the water receiving tray 11, and the amount of light reflected from the water surface 14 is a predetermined reflection. When the amount is reached, the detection signal is sent to the control unit 13.

Incidentally, as the water level detecting means 10, an ultrasonic sensor or a weight sensor may be used in place of the light reflection type sensor 16.

Further, the light reflection type sensor 16 and the ultrasonic sensor may be used also as the hand detecting means 8. In this case, the light reflection type sensor 16 and the ultrasonic sensor are provided near the gas outlet 4 and It is sufficient to form a passage portion through which light or ultrasonic waves pass on the bottom surface of the water receiving portion 9, and to detect both the hand 5 and the water level of the reservoir according to the difference in the amount of light reflection and the time of ultrasonic wave reflection. When an ultrasonic sensor is used, the drain port 7 may be used also as a passage portion through which ultrasonic waves pass.

As described above, if the light reflection type sensor 16 and the ultrasonic sensor are also used as the hand detecting means 8, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram showing another embodiment of the hand dryer according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, a count section 17 is provided in the control section 13 and counts the detection signal from the hand detection means 8, and when the count reaches a predetermined count set in advance. The buzzer is sounded from the buzzer transmission unit 12 by the output of the notification signal from the counting unit 17.

Further, a water receiving tray position detecting means 18 comprising a limit switch for detecting that the water receiving tray 11 is not located at a predetermined position with respect to the water receiving section 9 is provided. Receiving tray position detecting means 18
Is input to a reset unit 19 provided in the control unit 13, the count number of the count unit 17 is reset.

Accordingly, with this configuration, the user can recognize the drainage time with a simple configuration, and can perform drainage and cleaning of the water droplets and the like accumulated in the water receiving tray 11. Since the count number is automatically reset even if the drainage or cleaning is performed before the notification of the drainage time due to the user's convenience, the water receiving tray 11 can be used.
There is no danger that the floor or the like will be stained by overflow of water drops or the like, and the usability can be improved.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram showing still another embodiment of the hand drying apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, a drive integration unit 21 is provided in the control unit 13, and the drive time of the gas supply means 20 is integrated, and when the integrated value reaches a predetermined integrated value set in advance. The buzzer is sounded from the buzzer transmission unit 12 by the output of the notification signal from the drive integration unit 21.

As shown in FIG. 5, a water receiving tray position detecting means 18 is provided, and a detection signal from the water receiving tray position detecting means 18 is input to a reset unit 19 provided in the control unit 13. Then, the integrated value by the drive integrating unit 21 is reset.

It should be noted that the driving integration section 21 is
Instead of the driving time, the number of driving of the gas supply means 20 may be integrated.

Even with such a configuration, the user can recognize the drainage time with a simple configuration, and can perform drainage and cleaning of water droplets and the like accumulated in the water receiving tray 11, and Even when water is drained or cleaned before the drainage time is notified due to the user's convenience, the integrated value is automatically reset, so that there is a possibility that water drops and the like overflow from the water receiving tray 11 and stain the floor and the like. Therefore, usability can be improved.

The above description relates only to one embodiment of the present invention, and does not mean that the present invention is limited only to the above content. For example, the buzzer transmission unit 12 is provided as a notification unit to sound the buzzer. However, the invention is not limited to this. The notification may be performed by sound or lighting / flashing of a lamp, or the display may be performed by displaying characters. Is also good.

The predetermined count value set in the count unit 17 and the predetermined integrated value set in the drive integration unit 21 are:
The setting may be arbitrarily changeable. In this case, the setting can be adjusted to the use condition of the hand dryer A for each installation location, so that usability can be improved.

Further, the high-pressure gas is supplied from the gas supply means 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The low-pressure gas may be used, and the heating means 3 is not necessarily provided, but is optional.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one embodiment of a hand drying device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing one embodiment of a hand drying device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a water level detection unit.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing another embodiment of the water level detecting means.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram showing another embodiment of the hand drying device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram showing still another embodiment of the hand drying apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of Signs] A: Hand drying device 1: Body 2: Supply path 3: Heating means 4: Gas outlet 5: Hand 6: Hand insertion section 7: Drain port 8: Hand detection means 9: Water receiving section 10: Water level detecting means 11 ... Water receiving tray 12 ... Buzzer transmitting section (notifying means) 13 ... Control section 15 ... Float switch 16 ... Light reflection type sensor 17 ... Counting section 18 ... Water receiving tray position detecting section 19 ... Reset section 20 ... Gas Supply means 21: drive integration unit

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A hand insertion portion for inserting a hand, a gas outlet for blowing gas to a hand inserted into the hand insertion portion, gas supply means for supplying the gas to the gas outlet, and the gas outlet A water receiving portion for receiving water droplets blown off by a gas blown out of a mouth, a water receiving tray for storing water droplets and the like guided from the water receiving portion, and a drainage of water droplets and the like stored in the water receiving tray A hand-drying device comprising: a drainage time detecting means for detecting a timing; and a notifying means for notifying a drainage time based on a detection signal from the drainage time detecting means. 2. The hand drying device according to claim 1, wherein said water drainage time detecting means comprises a water level detecting means for detecting a water level of the water stored in said water receiving tray. 3. The water level detecting means according to claim 2, wherein the water level detecting means detects the water level of the water receiving tray in a plurality of steps or in a stepless manner, and the water drainage time can be set arbitrarily. Hand drying equipment. 4. The hand dryer according to claim 2, wherein the water level detecting means is constituted by any one of a float switch, a weight sensor, a light reflection type sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor. 5. A hand detecting means for detecting a hand inserted in the hand inserting portion, wherein the light reflection type sensor or the ultrasonic sensor is also used as the hand detecting means. 4. The hand dryer according to 4. 6. A hand detecting means for detecting a hand inserted into the hand inserting part, and a counting part for counting a detection signal from the hand detecting means is provided. 2. The hand drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the count number of the hand reaches a predetermined number, it is determined that the water is to be discarded, and a notification signal is output. 7. A driving integration unit for integrating the driving time or the number of times of driving of the gas supply unit, wherein the drainage timing detection unit detects a drainage timing when the integrated value of the driving integration unit reaches a predetermined integration value. 2. The hand dryer according to claim 1, wherein a notification signal is output after the determination. 8. A water receiving tray position detecting means for detecting that the water receiving tray is not located at a predetermined position with respect to the water receiving portion, wherein the water receiving tray is provided with a counting number by the counting portion or a driving integrating portion. 8. The hand dryer according to claim 6, wherein the integrated value is reset based on a detection signal from the water tray position detecting means. 9. The hand drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said notifying means notifies by any one of a buzzer, sound, lighting / flashing of a lamp, and character information. 10. The hand dryer according to claim 1, wherein the water receiving tray is detachably attached to the water receiving portion.