JP2006255232A - Automatic hand washing and drying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the excellent and simple cleaning of a stain which is even generated between an upper surface of a basin and a functional section unit. <P>SOLUTION: An automatic hand washing and drying apparatus 10 is equipped with a discharge aperture for soapy water, a flush aperture 38 for hand washing water and a blowout aperture for warm air to dry the hand, and automatically executes the discharge of the soapy water, the flush of the hand washing water and the blowout of the warm air respectively from those apertures on the basis of the human body detection by a human body detection sensor, wherein the functional section unit 16 is disposed on the upper surface of the basin 12 and a lifting up mechanism 112 is installed to make the functional section unit 16 to be lifted up to form a cleanable space between the functional section unit 16 and the basin 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic hand-washing / drying device that automatically discharges soap solution, discharges water for hand-washing, and blows out hot air for hand-drying based on human body detection by a human body detection sensor.

Conventionally, it has a soap solution discharge port, a hand wash water discharge port, and a hot air discharge port for hand drying. Based on human detection by the human body detection sensor, soap solution discharge, hand wash water discharge, hot air An automatic hand-washing / drying apparatus which performs blowing automatically is known.
For example, as an automatic hand-washing / drying device of this type in Patent Document 1 below, the functional unit is provided with a soap solution discharge port, a hand-wash water discharge port, and a hot air discharge port, and when the hand is put out in front of each, these discharge ports Based on human detection by the corresponding human detection sensor, which is located close to the water outlet and outlet, it automatically discharges soap solution, discharges water for hand washing, and blows warm air for hand drying. An automatic hand washing and drying apparatus is disclosed.

In this automatic hand washing and drying apparatus, it is conceivable that the functional unit is placed on the upper surface of the handwasher. In this case, the functional unit, more specifically, between the case of the functional unit and the upper surface of the handwasher. There is a problem that when dirt such as water or dust enters and stains occur, it is practically impossible to clean and remove the dirt.
Of course, it is possible to temporarily remove the functional unit from the upper surface of the hand-washer to clean and remove the dirt, but it is practically difficult for the user to do this.

Japanese Patent No. 2656289

  The present invention is based on the above circumstances, and even when dirt is generated between the functional unit and the upper surface of the hand-washing machine, the automatic hand-washing and drying that can be cleaned and removed well and easily. It was made for the purpose of providing a device.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a soap solution discharge port, a hand-wash water discharge port, and a hot air blow-off port for hand drying are provided, and the soap solution is discharged from each based on human detection by a human detection sensor. In an automatic hand-washing / drying apparatus that automatically discharges hand-wash water and blows out hot air, the functional unit is installed on the upper surface of the hand-washer, and the functional unit is lifted to A lift-up mechanism is provided that creates a cleanable space between the upper surface of the hand-washer.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the lift-up mechanism exerts an upward biasing force on the functional unit, and the functional unit against the biasing force of the biasing unit And a lock means for locking the function unit to the lowered position, and the function unit is lifted up by the urging force of the urging means by manually releasing the lock by the lock means. To do.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the lift-up mechanism includes a drive motor, and the function unit is automatically moved up and down by the drive motor.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the guide that guides a pipe and / or a wiring penetrating vertically through the bottom of the case of the functional unit and the hand-washer when the functional unit is raised and lowered. Is provided.

Effects and effects of the invention

As described above, the present invention is provided with a lift-up mechanism that lifts up the functional unit installed on the upper surface of the hand-washer. According to the present invention, the upper surface of the hand-washer in detail with the functional unit installed. If dirt is generated between the installation surface of the functional unit in the hand-washer and the functional unit, the lift-up mechanism works to create a space between the functional unit and the upper surface of the hand-washer. It can be easily cleaned and removed.
Thereby, between a functional part unit and the upper surface of a hand-washing machine can always be kept clean.

In this case, the lift-up mechanism has an urging unit that applies an upward urging force to the functional unit and a locking unit that locks the functional unit in the lowered position, that is, the installation position, and is manually locked by the locking unit. The functional unit can be lifted up automatically by the urging force of the urging means by removing the (Claim 2).
In this way, it is possible to easily lift up the functional unit and clean and remove the dirt when necessary.

On the other hand, the lift-up mechanism can be provided with a drive motor, and the function unit can be moved up and down automatically by the drive motor.
In this case, the functional unit can be lifted up more easily to remove the dirt.
After that, the functional unit can be easily lowered to the lowered position which is the installation position by driving the drive motor.

By the way, when piping, wiring, etc. are provided in a state that penetrates the bottom of the case and the hand-washer in the functional unit up and down, when the functional unit is moved up and down, it is lowered again from the lifted-up state. When installed on the upper surface of a hand-washer, there is a risk that piping and wiring will be caught.
In this case, the fourth aspect of the present invention is provided with a guide for guiding the pipe and / or the wiring passing through the bottom of the case of the functional unit unit and the hand-washer in the vertical direction when the functional unit is raised and lowered. It is possible to satisfactorily solve the problem that the piping or the wiring is sandwiched due to the elevation of the functional unit.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an automatic hand-washing / drying device (here, a wall-hanging type) having a ceramic hand-washing device 12, a lower cabinet 14, and a functional unit 16 installed in the hand-washing device 12.
The functional unit 16 has a case 18 in which various functional units are built.
Here, the case 18 has a lower case 18A as a case main body and an upper lid 18B that closes the opening at the upper end thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear part of the upper surface of the hand-washer 12 has a rising rear wall part 24 extending in the left-right direction along the rear end part, and in the front-rear direction along the left and right side parts. A pair of rising side wall portions 26 are provided, and a rear wall portion 24 and a storage recess 28 surrounded by the pair of side wall portions 26 are formed inside thereof.
As shown in FIG. 3, the functional unit 16, that is, the case 18 is stored in the storage recess 28.

The functional unit 16 has its rear surface and side surfaces surrounded by a rear wall portion 24 and a pair of left and right side wall portions 26, respectively, and its front surface opens toward the bowl portion (water receiving recess) 32 of the hand-washing device 12. Has been.
Here, the bottom of the storage recess 28 is a support portion 30 that supports the functional unit 16, and the upper surface thereof is a flat installation surface (mounting surface).
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 34 denotes a drain port provided in the bowl portion 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front wall 20 of the case 18 in the functional unit 16, a human body detection sensor 46 corresponding to the soap solution discharge port 40, and a human body detection sensor 44 corresponding to the hand wash water discharge port 38. And the human body detection sensor 42 corresponding to the blower outlet 36 which blows out the warm air for hand-drying is provided.
Here, the discharge port 40, the water discharge port 38, and the blower port 36 are provided in a form protruding from the front wall 20 of the case 18, respectively.
Further, the air outlet 36 is formed in an elongated slit shape on the left and right at the tip of the air outlet nozzle 48.

In this automatic hand-washing / drying apparatus 10, when a hand is put out in front of the soap solution discharge port 40, the human body detection sensor 46 detects this and automatically discharges mousse-like soap solution (air to the soap solution) from the discharge port 40. The mixture is mixed to make a foam).
When a hand is put out in front of the water discharge port 38, the human body detection sensor 44 detects this and automatically discharges hot water as hand-washing water from the water discharge port 38.
Further, when a wet hand is put out in front of the air outlet 36, the human body detection sensor 42 detects this, and hot air is automatically blown out from the air outlet 36 to dry the wet hand.

As shown in FIG. 1, a drain pipe 50 is provided inside the cabinet 14, and its upper end is connected to the drain port 34 of the bowl portion 32.
Waste water from the bowl portion 32 is discharged to the outside through the trap portion 52 of the drain pipe 50.

The cabinet 14 is also provided with a soap solution tank 60 inside and below, in which a predetermined amount of soap solution (water soap solution) is stored.
A flexible liquid supply pipe 62 extends from the soap liquid tank 60, and a liquid supply pump 64 is provided on the liquid supply pipe 62.
The soap solution in the soap solution tank 60 is sent to the soap solution discharge port 40 through the supply pipe 62 by the supply pump 64.
Reference numeral 70 denotes an air pump, and air is sent to the soap solution discharge port 40 through the flexible air supply pipe 68 by the air pump 70.
The soap solution is mixed with the air to form a mousse, and is discharged from the discharge port 40 toward the bowl portion 32.

The front wall 20 of the case 18 is provided with a replenishing port 22 for replenishing soap liquid, and the replenishing port 22 and the soap liquid tank 60 are communicated with each other through a flexible replenishment pipe 66. .
The replenishing port 22 is provided with a drawer container 86 so that it can be inserted and removed from the front and back. The soap liquid is replenished by injecting the soap liquid into the inlet on the upper surface of the drawer container 86 when it is pulled out. To do.

Inside the cabinet 14, there is also provided a hot water mixing section 54 and an electromagnetic valve 56 for cutting off the supply of hot water, and a pipe for supplying cold water and hot water is connected to the mixing section 54.
The cold water and hot water supplied to the mixing unit 54 are mixed at a predetermined ratio to be mixed water at an appropriate temperature, and are sent to the water discharge port 38 through the water supply pipe 58 by opening the electromagnetic valve 56, from there. Water is discharged toward the bowl portion 32.

The cabinet 14 is further provided with a dryer main body 35 in which a blower and a heater are housed in a case 72, and a flexible blower pipe 74 extends upward from the dryer main body 35.
An air inlet 76 is provided in the case 72 of the dryer main body 35, and the air sucked from the air inlet 76 is heated by the heating action of the heater and blown through the blower pipe 74 by the air blowing action of the blower. It is sent to the outlet 36.
As shown in FIG. 2, the blowing nozzle 48 is provided integrally with the blowing chamber case 78.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a control board 80 for controlling the operation of the automatic hand-drying apparatus 10 and a power transformer 82 for transforming the power voltage are provided in the functional unit 16, that is, in the case 18. It has been. These are fixed to the lower surface of the upper lid 18B in a suspended state.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 88 denotes a drawer case for holding the drawer container 86 so that the drawer container 86 can be put in and out. Downward connecting pipes 90 and 92 are integrally formed in the drawer case 88 and the blowout chamber case 78. The flexible supply pipe 66 and the upper end of the blower pipe 74 are connected thereto.
The bottom 94 of the case 18 has a through hole 100 through which a pipe 96 composed of a connecting pipe 92 and a blower pipe 74 is vertically passed, and a through hole 102 through which a pipe 98 such as a water supply pipe 58 and a liquid supply pipe 62 is vertically passed. And a through-hole 104 through which a pipe 99 composed of a connection pipe 90 and a supply pipe 66 formed integrally with the drawer case 88 passes vertically.

Similarly, through holes 106, 108, and 110 are provided in the support portion 30 of the hand-washer 12 at positions corresponding to the through holes 100, 102, and 104 of the case 18, respectively.
In addition, the control board 80, the dryer main body 35, the feed pump 64, etc. are electrically connected to the through hole 102 of the bottom 94 of the case 18 and the corresponding through hole 108 of the hand washing machine 12 together with the pipe 98. Electrical wiring (not shown) is also inserted.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is a plate-like main body in the lift-up mechanism 112 shown in FIG. 4 between the case 18 and the hand-washing machine 12, more specifically between the support part 30 in the hand-washing machine 12. Part 114 is interposed.
Here, the main body 114 has a substantially horizontal horizontal plate portion 116 and a vertical plate portion 118 standing from its rear end, and the horizontal plate portion 116 is provided with guide tubes 120, 122, and 124. .

Here, the guide tube 120 is provided at a position corresponding to the through holes 100 and 106 on the right side in FIG. 2 in the case 18 and the hand-washing machine 12, and the guide tube 122 is formed in the through hole 102 in the left and right intermediate portion in FIG. 2. Further, the guide tube 124 is provided at a position corresponding to the through holes 104 and 110 on the left side in FIG.
Each guide tube 120, 122, 124 has an open shape at the upper and lower ends.
Here, the guide tube 120 guides the piping 96 of FIG. 2 when the functional unit 16, that is, the case 18 is raised and lowered, and the guide tube 122 guides the piping 98 of FIG. 2 and electric wiring not shown. Further, the guide tube 124 guides the pipe 99 in FIG.
The guide tubes 120, 122, and 124 are respectively inserted downward through the through holes 106, 108, and 110 on the handwasher 12 side.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 114 is provided with an elevating member 126 having a U-shaped planar shape so as to be movable up and down.
In the present embodiment, the elevating member 126 has a plate shape and includes a pair of left and right lift arms 128 and a connecting portion 130 for connecting them, and as shown in FIG. Between 94 and the upper surface of the support part 30 in the hand-washing machine 12, it is inserted from back to front (from right to left in FIG. 3).

A box 132 is provided at the left and right intermediate part of the main body 114 (see FIG. 4), and a lift-up spring (biasing means) 134 is provided therein.
As shown in FIG. 6, the lift-up spring 134 is obtained by winding a spring steel plate 136 around a drum in a mainspring manner, and a force is always applied to pull the end of the spring steel plate 136 toward the drum.
The end of the spring steel plate 136 in the lift-up spring 134 is connected to the lifting member 126, and therefore the upward biasing force by the lift-up spring 134 always acts on the lifting member 126.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 18, specifically, the lower case 18 </ b> A is provided with a pair of lock bars (locking means) 138 so as to penetrate the case 18 in the front-rear direction.
These lock bars 138 function to lock the case 18, that is, the functional unit 16 to the lowered position, that is, the installation position. As shown in FIG. It penetrates the rear wall and is inserted and locked in a lock hole (lock means) 140 of the vertical plate portion 118 of the main body 114 in the lift-up mechanism 112.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pair of lock bars 138 is urged by a spring (here, a coil spring) 142 so as to always face rearward, that is, in a direction in which the end on the back side is inserted and locked into the lock hole 140. ing.
At the front ends of these lock bars 138, there are provided knobs 144 that are bent downward. When these knobs 144 are pulled forward (forward), each lock bar 138 resists the biasing force of the spring 142. The lock bar 138 is pulled out from the lock hole 140 of the main body 114 and the lock by the lock bar 138 is released.

FIG. 7 shows the operation of the lift-up mechanism 112 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7 (I), the knob 144 of the lock bar 138 is picked with the functional unit 16 in the lowered position. When the lock bar 138 is pulled forward, the lock by the lock bar 138 is released here.
Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (II), the functional unit 16, that is, the entire case 18 is lifted from the support 30 of the hand-washer 12 by a predetermined amount by the upward pulling force of the lift-up spring 134 in the drawing, that is, the upward biasing force. Up.
Here, a large space is formed between the upper surface of the support portion 30 and the lower surface of the case 18, and therefore, dirt generated between the support portion 30 of the hand-washing machine 12 and the functional unit 16 in this state, for example, the support portion 30. Dirt generated on the upper surface and the lower surface of the case 18 can be easily cleaned and removed.

When the cleaning and removal are completed, the functional unit 16 is pushed downward against the urging force of the lift-up spring 134 and is lowered to the original position (at this time, the lock bar 138 is pulled out to the front). When the knob 144 of the lock bar 138 is released, the lock bar 138 is pushed back in the right direction in FIGS. 5 and 7, that is, rearward by the urging force of the spring 142, and the rear end portion is again the lock hole 140 of the main body 114. Are inserted into the lock holes 140 and locked.
Here, the functional unit 16 is again locked in the initial installation position, that is, the lowered position.
When the function unit 16 is raised and lowered, the pipes 96, 98, 99 and the electric wirings are also raised and lowered at the same time. In this case, the pipes and wirings are well guided by the guide pipes 120, 122, and 124.

According to the present embodiment as described above, even if dirt is generated between the functional unit 16 and the upper surface of the handwasher 12 (the upper surface of the support unit 30) in the installed state of the functional unit 16, the lift-up mechanism By causing 112 to act to create a space between the functional unit 16 and the upper surface of the support unit 30, dirt can be easily cleaned and removed.
Thereby, between the functional part unit 16 and the upper surface of the hand-washing machine 12 can always be kept clean.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the function unit 16 can be automatically lifted up by the urging force of the lift-up spring 134 by manually releasing the lock by the lock bar 138. In addition, the portion between the functional unit 16 and the handwasher 12 can be cleaned.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pipes 96, 98, 99 passing vertically through the bottom 94 of the case 18 of the functional unit 16 and the hand-washer 12, and guide tubes 120, 122, 124 for guiding electric wiring (not shown) are provided in the main body. 114, it is possible to satisfactorily solve the problem of the pipes 96, 98, 99 or the electric wiring being sandwiched due to the elevation of the functional unit 16.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, a drive motor 146 is provided inside the box 132 as a drive source of the lift-up mechanism 112, and the elevating member 126 is moved up and down by the driving force of the drive motor 146.
Here, the drive shaft 148 is rotated by the drive motor 146, and the elevating member 126 is moved up and down by the screwing action of the male screw provided on the drive shaft 148 and the female screw provided on the elevating member 126. Further, it is possible to convert the rotational driving force of the drive motor 146 into the lifting force of the lifting member 126 by using various other motion transmission mechanisms, and to lift the function unit 16 up and down.

According to the present embodiment, the function unit 16 can be lifted up more easily to remove the dirt.
After that, the functional unit 16 can be easily lowered to the lowered position which is the installation position by driving the drive motor 146.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be configured in various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a front view which shows the whole automatic hand-washing drying apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which decomposes | disassembles and shows the functional part unit of FIG. It is a figure which shows the lift-up mechanism of the embodiment with a peripheral part. It is a perspective view which shows the whole lift up mechanism with a lower case. It is a figure which shows the locking means and peripheral part in the lift-up mechanism. It is a figure which expands and shows the lift-up spring and peripheral part of FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the lift up mechanism. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic hand-washing drying apparatus 12 Hand-washing machine 16 Functional part unit 18 Case 18A Lower case 30 Support part 36 Outlet 38 Outlet 40 Outlet 42,44,46 Human body detection sensor 94 Bottom part 96,98,99 Piping 112 Lift up mechanism 120 , 122, 124 Guide pipe 134 Lift-up spring (biasing means)
138 Lock bar (locking means)
140 Lock hole (locking means)
146 Drive motor

Claims (4)

Equipped with a soap solution outlet, hand wash water outlet, and hot air outlet for hand drying. Based on human body detection by the human body detection sensor, soap solution discharge, hand wash water discharge, and hot air blow out from each. In automatic hand-washing and drying equipment designed to do automatically,
A function unit is installed on the upper surface of the hand-washer, and a lift-up mechanism is provided that lifts the function unit to create a cleanable space between the function unit and the upper surface of the hand-washer. Features automatic hand-washing and drying equipment.   2. The lock according to claim 1, wherein the lift-up mechanism applies an upward biasing force to the functional unit, and locks the functional unit in the lowered position against the biasing force of the biasing unit. An automatic hand-washing and drying apparatus, wherein the functional unit is lifted up by the urging force of the urging means by manually releasing the lock by the locking means.   2. The automatic hand-washing / drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lift-up mechanism includes a drive motor, and the function unit is automatically moved up and down by the drive motor.   The guide according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein pipes and / or wirings penetrating vertically through the bottom of the case of the functional unit and the hand-washer are provided when the functional unit is raised and lowered. And automatic hand washing and drying equipment.

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