JP2007070962A - Automatic cock - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly convenient and economical automatic cock which is capable of spouting one of different kinds of first spouting water and second spouting water from a spout, and is capable of giving priority to the kind of water for spouting which is more frequently used than the other. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic cock for automatically spouting the water from the spout 18 selects the cold water or the warm water and allows it to spout from the spout 18. The automatic cock is provided with a cold water switch 24 and a warm water switch 26 for switching-over from cold water spouting to hot water spouting or vise-versa. When the water is spouted next time after elapsing a predetermined time after stopping the cold water or the warm water, the cold water or the warm water is spouted according to the preset priority. The presetting of the priority by the cold water switch 24 or the warm water switch 26 is carried out in a process different from the process of ordinary switching-over of the spouting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic faucet that automatically detects water discharge from a water outlet by detecting a user's operation for water discharge with a sensor, and more specifically, any one of at least two types of water discharged from the water outlet. It is related with the automatic faucet which enabled water discharge by selecting.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, automatic faucets have been widely used in which a sensor detects this when a hand is put in front of the sensor and water is automatically discharged from a water outlet.
However, the conventional automatic faucet only discharges water (cold water) or hot water whose temperature has been adjusted to an appropriate temperature in advance from the water outlet, that is, only performs a single type of water discharge. It was not always sufficient in terms of convenience.
For this reason, there has been proposed an automatic faucet that can discharge either water or hot water that has been temperature-adjusted in advance to an appropriate temperature from a water outlet according to the user's selection.
For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses this type of automatic faucet.

  By the way, the automatic faucet that can discharge either water or hot water from the water outlet according to the user's choice, that is, the automatic that can switch the water discharge from water to hot water or vice versa by switching the switching means. In the faucet, for example, when the user switches the water discharged from the water outlet to warm water, after the water has been discharged, the next user put out his hand and discharged water from the water outlet When the warm water suddenly comes out where the water was expected, the next user will be surprised, especially if the hot water is set to a high temperature.

In this case, in order to discharge the water requested by the next user from the water outlet, the next user will need to switch the switching means again. If it is not present or troublesome, it may occur that hot water is continuously discharged from the water outlet instead of water, and hand washing is completed.
In this case, hot water is continuously discharged from the place where water is originally required, resulting in energy loss, which is not economically preferable.

  In addition, in an automatic faucet that discharges raw water (tap water) from the water outlet and purified water after purifying it with a purification device, the water discharge state is not sufficient even with the raw water. If it is switched to purified water, the next user may continue to take out purified water as it is and handwashing etc. may occur, and in this case as well, the consumption of the purification device proceeds and this is economically disadvantageous.

JP 11-61912 A

  The present invention is based on the circumstances as described above, and an automatic faucet that can discharge water from a water outlet by selecting one of at least two types of water discharged from different types of first water discharge and second water discharge. Therefore, it is intended to provide an automatic water faucet that can discharge water in preference to water discharge that is used more frequently and is highly convenient or economical.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic faucet that automatically detects water discharge from the water outlet by detecting a user's operation for water discharge with a sensor. A switch for selecting one of at least two types of water discharge, water discharge and second water discharge, to enable water discharge and switching the water discharged from the water discharge port from the first water discharge to the second water discharge or vice versa. When the next water discharge is performed after the first water discharge or the second water discharge is completed from the water outlet, the first water discharge or the second water discharge is set in advance. In addition to discharging water preferentially, the priority setting is performed by operating the switching means with an operation pattern different from an operation pattern for normal water discharge switching. Features .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the switching unit has a first operation unit corresponding to the first water discharge and a second operation unit corresponding to the second water discharge separately. The priority setting is performed by operating the operation unit corresponding to the water discharge type on the side on which priority setting is desired with an operation pattern different from an operation pattern for normal water discharge switching. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first and second aspects, the priority setting is operated for a long time longer than a set time exceeding an operation time required for normal water discharge switching with respect to the switching means. It is characterized by being performed by continuing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, either water or hot water is used as the first water discharge, and the other is used as the second water discharge. It is made to do so.

Effects and effects of the invention

As described above, according to the present invention, after finishing discharging the first water discharge or the second water discharge from the water discharge port, the type of water discharge that is set in advance is discharged from the water discharge port at the next water discharge. In addition, the priority setting is performed by operating the switching means with an operation pattern different from an operation pattern for normal water discharge switching.
According to the present invention, the first water discharge or the second water discharge set in advance can be preferentially discharged from the water discharge port, and the convenience of the automatic water faucet can be enhanced.

In addition, in the case where either water or warm water is the first water discharge and the other is the second water discharge, by setting the priority to discharge the frequently used water, the next user can When you use a water faucet, you won't be surprised by the unexpectedly hot water, and you will waste energy by continuing to use hot water where it can be used. Can be solved.
However, in this case, whether water is given priority or warm water is given priority depending on the use environment of the faucet. For example, in cold districts, warm water is given priority. You can also keep it.

  On the other hand, when either the raw water (tap water) or the purified water is used as the first water discharge and the other is used as the second water discharge, the raw water with high frequency of use is preferentially discharged so that the purified water can be discharged. It is possible to solve the problem of being used wastefully and becoming uneconomical.

In the present invention, the priority setting for preferentially discharging the first water discharge or the second water discharge from the water outlet is an operation pattern different from the operation pattern for switching the normal water discharge to the switching means. It is characterized by the fact that it is performed by operation.
Normally, such priority setting is performed by operating, for example, a main unit provided under the counter, specifically, a main unit including a hot water mixing unit, a valve, a control unit, etc. An operator must sneak into and work, and in some cases, special parts for the priority setting are separately required.

However, in the present invention, priority setting is performed by operating the switching means operated by the user as the water tap is used.
This switching means is usually provided near the water discharge part on the counter so that the operation by the user is easy. Therefore, if priority setting is performed by operation of such switching means, priority setting is performed. It is not necessary to go under the counter and work in a dark place during the operation for the operation, and it is possible to easily perform the priority setting operation not only for the construction worker but also for the user of the faucet.
Alternatively, the operation of switching the preferential water discharge from the first water discharge to the second water discharge or vice versa as required can be performed very easily.

According to the present invention, after the first water discharge or the second water discharge is discharged from the water discharge port, the type of water discharge preferentially set when performing the next water discharge is discharged from the water discharge port. When the water discharge or the second water discharge is stopped, the non-detection state by the sensor continues for a predetermined time, and then the next water discharge is performed by the detection by the sensor. The water discharge can be made to discharge.
The predetermined time can be set to 1 second, for example.

  The automatic water faucet of the present invention detects a user's operation for water discharge with a sensor, but this sensor may be a non-contact type sensor or a contact type sensor. In addition, the water may be discharged only while the sensor detects a human operation, or the water discharge is continued once the operation is detected, and then the water is stopped when the operation is detected again. In other words, water discharge and water stop may be alternately repeated every time an operation by the user is detected.

  The switching means may be one that switches from the first water discharge to the second water discharge or vice versa each time one push button is pressed, or a switch for selecting the first water discharge, etc. The first operation unit and the second operation unit such as a switch for selecting the second water discharge are provided separately, and the water discharge is switched by operating one of them. Also good.

In this case, the above priority setting can be performed by operating the operation unit corresponding to the water discharge type on the side to be prioritized with an operation pattern different from the operation pattern for normal water discharge switching. (Claim 2).
In this way, priority setting of water discharge can be performed easily and easily.

  Next, the third aspect of the present invention is configured to perform the above priority setting by continuously operating the switching means for a long time longer than the set time exceeding the operation time required for normal water discharge switching. In this way, it is possible to perform the priority setting or switch the priority setting very easily.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, either water or hot water is used as the first water discharge, and the other is used as the second water discharge. When the power is turned on, the water discharge is set as the priority water discharge. The user can use the automatic faucet with peace of mind from the beginning without any unexpected warm water being suddenly discharged at the time of the first water discharge after charging.

Next, based on the drawings, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automatic water faucet that selectively discharges water as the first water discharge and hot water adjusted to an appropriate temperature as the second water discharge. Will be described in detail.
In FIG. 1, 10 is a counter, 12 is a hand-washing machine provided on the counter 10, and 14 is an embodiment in which the hand-washing machine 12 is provided in a standing state obliquely forward from a flat mounting part 16 at the back of the bowl part 13. It is the water discharge part in the automatic water tap of a form.
The water discharge portion 14 has a water discharge port 18 protruding forward and a sensor 20 provided on the upper side of the water discharge port 18. When the hand is put out in front of the sensor 20, the sensor 20 detects this, Water is automatically discharged from the water outlet 18.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, a plate 22 is provided at the base of the water discharge unit 14, and a water switch (first operation) for selecting water as a water discharge type from the water discharge port 18 is provided on the plate 22. Part) 24 and a hot water switch (second operation part) 26 for selecting hot water whose temperature has been adjusted to an appropriate temperature as the kind of water discharged from the water outlet 18.
Further, in close proximity to the water switch 24 and the hot water switch 26, an LED 28 for indicating that water discharge has been selected and an LED 30 for indicating that hot water discharge has been selected are provided as display means.

In FIG. 3, the water and hot water sent through the water and hot water flow paths 32 and 34 are sent to the mixing section 40 through the stop cocks 36 and 38, where the water and hot water are mixed at a predetermined ratio. Then, the hot water having an appropriate temperature is sent to the water discharge section 14 through the flow path 44 on the water discharge side through the flow path 42 of the hot water, and discharged from the water discharge port 18.
A branch channel 46 branches off from the water channel 32, and the other end of the branch channel 46 is connected to the water discharge side channel 44.
Each of the hot water flow path 42 and the branch flow path 46 is provided with a hot water valve 48 and a water valve 50 made of electromagnetic valves so that the hot water flow path 42 and the branch flow path 46 are opened and closed, respectively. It has become.

In this embodiment, when the water valve 50 is closed and the hot water valve 48 is open, the hot water from the mixing unit 40 is sent to the water discharge unit 14 and discharged from the water discharge port 18.
On the other hand, when the hot water valve 48 is closed and the water valve 50 is opened, the water flowing into the branch channel 46 is discharged from the water outlet 18 through the water discharge side channel 44.

In FIG. 2 (B), 52 is a main unit disposed below the counter 10, and the main unit 52 includes stop cocks 36 and 38, a mixing unit 40, a hot water valve 48, a water valve 50, and these hot water valves 48. , A controller 54 for controlling the operation of the water valve 50 is provided.
The control unit 54 is also electrically connected to the sensor 20, the water switch 24, the hot water switch 26, and the LEDs 28 and 30, and a detection signal from the sensor 20 is input to the control unit 54. In addition, switch signals from the water switch 24 and the hot water switch 26 are input to the control unit 54.
The controller 54 controls the operation of the hot water valve 48 and the water valve 50 based on signal inputs from these.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the hot water valve 48 and the water valve 50 of the automatic faucet in this embodiment as a time chart together with the presence / absence of human body detection by the sensor 20, the on / off of the water switch 24 and the hot water switch 26. Is.
In this embodiment, the priority water discharge from the water discharge port 18 is set in advance to be water discharge water.

In the time chart shown in FIG. 4, when the user turns on the hot water switch 26 to discharge hot water from the water outlet 18, the LED 30 is turned on (or flashes) to indicate that the hot water discharge is selected.
Under this state, when the user puts his hand in front of the sensor 20, the sensor 20 detects this, the hot water valve 48 opens based on the detection signal from the sensor 20, and hot water is discharged from the spout 18. Water is discharged.

Even once the hands out of the detection area of the sensor 20 in its hot water in the water discharge, when shorter than the time t ₀ is a predetermined time (1 second in this example) is continuing the automatic faucet is continuously used When the hand is removed from the detection area of the sensor 20, the hot water valve 48 is once closed. However, when the hand enters the detection area of the sensor 20 again, the hot water valve 48 is opened and the spout 18 is opened. Continue to warm water from the water.

However, when the sensor 20 detects a hand again after the non-detection state by the sensor 20 continues for a time t longer than a predetermined time t, the use of the automatic faucet is terminated after the use of the automatic faucet is once completed. In this case, the water that has been set in advance is discharged from the water outlet 18 first.
After that, when the warm water switch 26 is not turned on, the water discharged from the water discharge port 18 becomes water discharge.

In the above, water discharge is preferentially set as the type of water discharge, but it is also possible to set so as to give priority to hot water discharge.
The operation for the priority setting here is a switching means for switching from water spouting to hot water spouting or vice versa, specifically, here, for example, the hot water switch 26 is set longer than the operation time required for water switching. Do by continuing to operate.
FIG. 5 shows the operation at that time as a time chart.

As shown in FIG. 5, here, the hot water switch 26 (which may be the water switch 24 in some cases) is set for a set time (here, 3 seconds) exceeding the operation time required for normal water discharge switching. By keeping pressing for the above long time T, setting is performed so that warm water is discharged preferentially (or the setting is switched).
After performing the priority setting or switching, even if the user selects to cause the water switch 24 to turn on and discharge water from the water outlet 18, the non-detected state by the sensor 20 remains at the time t. When the sensor 20 detects the human body again after the lapse of time, not the water spout but the warm water spout is performed from the spout 18. That is, warm water is preferentially discharged from the water outlet 18.

According to the present embodiment as described above, it is possible to preferentially discharge water or hot water set in advance from the water outlet 18, and the convenience of the automatic water faucet can be enhanced.
In addition, by setting the water discharge priority, when the next user discharges the water, the user will not be surprised by the unexpectedly warm water, and In the end, it is possible to solve the problem of uneconomical consumption of energy by continuing to give out hot water.

In the present embodiment, priority setting of water discharge from the water outlet 18 is performed on the water switch 24 or the hot water switch 26 as switching means for switching selection of the water discharge type. This can be done very easily not only by the construction worker but also by the user.
Normally, such priority setting is performed, for example, by operating the main unit 52 provided under the counter 10. In this case, an operator must enter the work under the counter 10, and In some cases, a separate part for the priority setting is required.
However, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to go under the counter 10 and work in a dark place when performing an operation for priority setting, and the priority setting operation can be easily performed.

In this embodiment, when the automatic faucet is installed and turned on and the power is turned on, water discharge is automatically prioritized as the water discharge type.
That is, the first water discharge type discharged after construction is water discharge (when the water switch 24 and the hot water switch 26 are not turned on).
If it does in this way, at the time of the first water discharge after turning on the power, the hot water will not be suddenly discharged and the user will not be surprised, and the automatic water faucet can be used with confidence from the beginning.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, priority setting is performed by pressing any one of the hot water switch and the water switch for a long time longer than the setting time, or the priority setting is switched. For example, priority setting may be performed or priority setting may be switched by continuously turning on / off a plurality of times, or by operating with another operation pattern.
In addition, this invention can be comprised in the form which added the various change in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.

It is a figure which shows the automatic faucet of one Embodiment of this invention in an installation state. It is the figure which showed the principal part of the automatic water tap of the embodiment. It is the figure which showed the automatic water tap of the embodiment centered on the flow path. It is the figure which represented the operation | movement of the automatic faucet of the embodiment in the case of discharging water preferentially with the time chart. It is a figure showing operation of an automatic faucet of the embodiment in case warm water is discharged preferentially with a time chart.

Explanation of symbols

18 Water outlet 20 Sensor 24 Water switch (switching means)
26 Hot water switch (switching means)

Claims (4)

In the automatic faucet which detects the operation by the user for water discharge with a sensor and automatically discharges water from the water outlet, at least two types of first water discharge and second water discharge from the water outlet different from each other And switching means for switching the water discharged from the water discharge port from the first water discharge to the second water discharge, or vice versa, is provided. When the next water discharge is performed after discharging the water discharge or the second water discharge from the water discharge port, the first water discharge or the second water discharge set in advance is preferentially discharged. The automatic faucet is characterized in that the priority setting is performed by operating the switching means with an operation pattern different from an operation pattern for normal water discharge switching.   In Claim 1, The said switching means has separately the 1st operation part corresponding to the said 1st water discharge, and the 2nd operation part corresponding to the said 2nd water discharge, The said priority setting An automatic faucet configured to perform the priority setting by operating an operation unit corresponding to a water discharge type on the side to be operated with an operation pattern different from an operation pattern for normal water discharge switching .   The method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the priority setting is performed by continuously operating the switching means for a long time longer than a set time exceeding an operation time required for normal water discharge switching. Automatic faucet characterized by   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein either water or warm water is the first water discharge, the other is the second water discharge, and water is given priority when the power is turned on. Automatic faucet characterized by.

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