JP2009052336A - Automatic faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic faucet which minimizes the design-spoiling exposure of a joint of parts and the inside of the parts, enables a sensor to be easily attached/detached during maintenance, and minimizes the risk of malsensing. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic faucet 10 is provided with a cylindrical water discharge pipe 12 which is almost horizontally mounted on an installation face 11, a lid member 13 which is detachably fitted in an opening 12a formed at the tip of the water discharge pipe 12, a water discharge opening 12b arranged at the lower face of the water discharge pipe 12, a water discharge joint 15 which has a water discharge port 14 facing the water discharge opening 12b and is fitted in the water discharge pipe 12 arranged more toward the installation face 11 than the water discharge opening 12b, a sensor 16 which is arranged between the lid member 13 and the water discharge joint 15 and detects a hand stretched out in the vicinity of the water discharge opening 12b, and a control part which issues a command to an opening/closing valve for carrying out the discharge and shut off of water from the water discharge port 14 based on a signal from the sensor 16. When the lid member 13 is removed from the opening 12a, the sensor 16 together with the water discharge joint 15 can be taken out in the axial center C direction of the water discharge pipe 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic faucet having a function of automatically discharging water when a hand is brought close to a water outlet.

  2. Description of the Related Art An automatic faucet is known that includes a water discharge port that discharges water downward at the tip of a horizontally extending water discharge tube, and a sensor that detects a hand that is inserted into the water discharge port. In this structure, the sensor is sandwiched between upper and lower divided cases.

JP 2003-293407 A

  Since the automatic faucet described in Patent Document 1 has a complicated structure in which the case is divided into two parts, the constituent material is not limited, and there is a problem that dust accumulates in the gap between the upper and lower cases. Yes. Moreover, in order to ensure the accuracy of assembling the upper and lower cases, the design restrictions are large and the cost is very high.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to minimize the exposure of parts seams and parts that impair the design, facilitate the attachment and detachment of the sensor during maintenance, and eliminate the risk of false detection. It is to provide.

The automatic faucet of the present invention has a cylindrical water discharge pipe attached substantially horizontally to the installation surface,
A lid member detachably fitted into an opening established at the tip of the water discharge pipe;
A water discharge opening opened in the lower surface of the water discharge pipe;
A water discharge joint that has a water discharge opening facing the water discharge opening, and is fitted in the water discharge pipe closer to the installation surface than the water discharge opening;
A sensor that is disposed between the lid member and the water discharge joint and detects a hand that is inserted near the water discharge opening,
In the automatic faucet provided with the control unit that issues a command to an on-off valve that performs water discharge / water stop from the water outlet based on a signal from the sensor,
When the lid member is removed from the opening, the sensor can be pulled out along with the water discharge joint along the axial direction of the water discharge pipe.

  With such a configuration, since the water discharge port is exposed at the water discharge opening on the lower surface of the cylindrical water discharge tube whose tip is closed by the lid member, the part seam that impairs the design and the internal exposure of the part Can be minimized. In addition, if the lid member closing the opening at the tip of the water discharge pipe is removed, the sensor and the water discharge joint can be taken out from the opening and loaded without using a special tool. Therefore, the sensor can be easily attached and detached during maintenance, and the water discharge joint taken out together can be maintained.

  Here, it is desirable to connect the signal line extending from the sensor to the control unit via a detachable connector housed closer to the installation surface than the water discharge joint in the water discharge pipe. With such a configuration, the connector is positioned on the upstream side of the water discharge joint constituting the water discharge path, so that the waterproofness of the connector portion can be enhanced. In addition, since the water discharge joint can be taken out together with the sensor, the signal line connector connecting the sensor and the control unit can be exposed, and the sensor can be maintained by removing the connector with the water discharge pipe fixed to the installation surface. it can.

  Moreover, if the recording lid member and the water discharge joint are connected via a link mechanism, the lid member and the joint member can be fitted into the water discharge pipe at a time.

  In this case, if the link mechanism is provided with a holding mechanism that keeps the distance between the water discharge joint and the lid member at a certain level or more, the sensor disposed between the lid member and the water discharge joint when the cover member is attached. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an excessive pressing force from being applied.

  On the other hand, the sensor window part of the sensor is disposed inside the water discharge pipe, and an internal antireflection surface that is substantially perpendicular to the sensor window part is provided between the sensor window part and the water discharge pipe. You can also. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the internal reflection of the transmission wave from the sensor within the water discharge pipe, which is effective in enhancing the directivity of the sensor and increasing the sensor sensitivity.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an automatic water faucet that minimizes exposure of parts seams and parts that impair designability, facilitates sensor attachment / detachment during maintenance, and does not cause false detection.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a partially cutaway side view showing an automatic faucet according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the automatic faucet shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the automatic faucet shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view of the automatic faucet shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a lid member from the water discharge pipe of the automatic faucet shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the automatic faucet shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which the joint member and sensor are taken out.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the automatic faucet 10 of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical water discharge pipe 12 that is mounted substantially horizontally on a vertical installation surface 11, and a tip of the water discharge pipe 12. From the water discharge opening 12b having the lid member 13 detachably fitted in the opened opening 12a, the water discharge opening 12b opened on the lower surface of the water discharge pipe 12, and the water discharge opening 14 facing the water discharge opening 12b. A water discharge joint 15 fitted in the water discharge pipe 12 close to the installation surface 11, a sensor 16 disposed between the lid member 13 and the water discharge joint 15, and detecting a hand put out in the vicinity of the water discharge opening 12b; And a control unit 18 that issues a command to the on-off valve 17 that performs water discharge / water stop from the water discharge port 14 based on a signal from the sensor 16.

  The base end portion 12c of the water discharge pipe 12 penetrates the installation surface 11 and protrudes to the back side thereof, and is fixed by screwing a female screw member 20 to a male screw portion provided in the protruding portion. A water supply pipe 19 extending from the on-off valve 17 is inserted into the water discharge pipe 12 from the back side of the installation surface 11, a water discharge joint 15 is connected to the tip of the water supply pipe 15, and a water discharge port 14 is attached to the tip of the water discharge joint 15. . The water discharge joint 15 is detachably fixed by a screw 24 inserted from the lower surface of the water discharge pipe 12.

  Further, the signal line 21 extending from the sensor 16 is connected to the control unit 18 via a detachable connector 22 housed closer to the installation surface 11 than the water discharge joint 15 in the water discharge pipe 12. Between the sensor 16 and the connector 22, a packing 23 that partitions the water discharge pipe 12 is disposed. The packing 23 is provided with a connecting portion 15a for connecting to the water supply pipe 19 on the upstream side of the water discharge joint 15, and two flange portions 15b and 15c formed at intervals, and these flange portions 15b, The packing 23 is sandwiched between 15c.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a ring-shaped seal member 26 is sandwiched between the opening 12 a of the water discharge pipe 12 and the lid member 13, and the lid member 13 and the water discharge joint 15 are linked to each other. It is connected through. The link mechanism 25 includes a pair of left and right link members 25a arranged along the direction of the axis C of the water discharge pipe 12, and support shafts 25b for supporting both ends of the link member 25a to the lid member 13 and the water discharge joint 15, respectively. 25c. The support shaft 25b passes through the vertically long circular hole 25d of the link member 25a, is screwed into the screw hole 13a of the lid member 13, and the two support shafts 25c protruding from the water discharge joint 15 are formed into a horizontally long circle of the link member 25a. It is inserted in the hole 25e. The two support shafts 25c are disposed inscribed in the inner circumferences at both ends in the major axis direction of the horizontally long circular hole 25e.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the automatic faucet 10 has an external shape in which the water discharge port 14 is exposed to the water discharge opening 12 b on the lower surface of the cylindrical water discharge pipe 12 whose tip is closed by the lid member 13. The part seam and the part internal exposure that impair the design are kept to a minimum. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the lid member 13 that closes the opening 12 a at the tip of the water discharge pipe 12 is removed from the opening 12 a, the sensor 16 together with the water discharge joint 15 is in the axial C direction of the water discharge pipe 12 ( (See FIG. 4).

  As described above, the sensor 16 and the water discharge joint 15 can be taken out and loaded together from the opening 12a without using a special tool, so that the sensor 16 can be easily attached and detached during maintenance. The water discharge joint 15 taken out together can be maintained. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, since the water discharge joint 15 can be taken out together with the sensor 16, the connector 22 of the signal line connecting the sensor 16 and the control unit 18 is exposed, the connector 22 is removed, and the sensor 16 is removed. Can be maintained.

  5 and 6, since the lid member 13 and the water discharge joint 15 are connected via the link mechanism 25, the lid member 13 and the joint member 15 are fitted into the water discharge pipe 12 at once. be able to. Furthermore, by attaching both end portions of the link member 25a constituting the link mechanism 25 to the lid member 13 and the water discharge joint 15 through the support shafts 25b and 25c, respectively, the distance between the water discharge joint 15 and the cover member 13 is made a certain value or more. Since a holding mechanism is provided, when the lid member 13 is mounted in the water discharge pipe 12, it is possible to prevent an excessive pressing force from being applied to the sensor 16 disposed between the lid member 13 and the water discharge joint 15. Can do.

  On the other hand, in the sensor 16, an infrared light emitting part (not shown) and a light receiving part (not shown) for detecting the infrared light reflected by the object have an integral structure. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the sensor window 16a of the sensor 16 is disposed inside the water discharge pipe 12, and is a part of the lid member 13 between the water discharge pipe 12 and the sensor window 16a. An internal antireflection surface 13c perpendicular to the surface is provided. Therefore, the infrared rays emitted from the sensor 16 are not reflected and received by the inner surface of the water discharge pipe 12 before reaching the object. For this reason, the directivity of the sensor 16 increases, and the sensor sensitivity can be increased.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the signal line 21 extending from the sensor 16 is connected to the control unit 18 via a detachable connector 22 housed closer to the installation surface 11 than the water discharge joint 15 in the water discharge pipe 12. By connecting to (refer FIG. 1), the connector 22 is located upstream from the water discharge joint 15 which comprises a water discharge path | route, Therefore The waterproofness of the connector 22 part can be improved. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, since the water discharge joint 15 can be taken out together with the sensor 16, the connector 22 of the signal line 21 connecting the sensor 16 and the control unit 18 (see FIG. 1) is exposed, and the water discharge pipe Maintenance of the sensor 16 can be performed by removing the connector 22 while 12 is fixed to the installation surface (see FIG. 4).

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the internal reflection preventing surface 13c is provided on a part of the lid member 13 as the internal reflection preventing means has been described. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. May be provided with a separate internal reflection preventing means, or a part of the sensor 16 may be extended from the sensor window 16a to constitute the internal reflection preventing means.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway side view showing an automatic faucet according to another embodiment. In FIG. 8, the parts denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 7 are parts having the same structure and function as the constituent parts of the automatic faucet 10, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the automatic water faucet 50 shown in FIG. 8, the connecting portion 55a on the upstream side of the water discharge joint 55 is provided eccentrically below the axis D of the water discharge pipe 52, and is formed at an interval on the downstream side of the connecting portion 55a. The packing 23 is sandwiched between the two flange portions 55b and 55c. A signal line 21 extending from the sensor 16 is connected to the control unit via a detachable connector 22 housed closer to the lid member 53 than the water discharge joint 55 in the water discharge pipe 52.

  With such a configuration, the connector 22 and the water discharge joint 55 can be arranged vertically within the water discharge pipe 52, and the size of the water discharge pipe 52 in the direction of the axis D can be reduced. Can be achieved. Other structures and functions are the same as those of the automatic faucet 10 described above.

  The automatic faucet according to the present invention can be widely used in toilets of public facilities and toilets of ordinary houses.

It is a partially cutaway side view showing an automatic faucet according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial enlarged view of the automatic water tap shown in FIG. It is a front view of the automatic water tap shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. It is a partially cutaway side view of the automatic water tap shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which a lid member, a joint member, a sensor, and the like are taken out from the water discharge pipe of the automatic water faucet shown in FIG. 5. It is an exploded view of the automatic water tap shown in FIG. It is a partially notched side view which shows the automatic water tap which is other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,50 Automatic faucet 11 Installation surface 12,52 Water discharge pipe 12a Opening part 12b Water discharge opening part 12c Base end part 13,53 Lid member 13a Screw hole 14 Water discharge port 15,55 Water discharge joint 15a Connection part 15b, 15c Flange part 16 Sensor 16a Sensor window portion 17 Open / close valve 18 Control portion 19 Water supply pipe 20 Female screw member 21 Signal line 22 Connector 23 Packing 24 Screw 25 Link mechanism 25a Link member 25b, 25c Support shaft 25d Long circular hole 25e Horizontal long hole 26 Seal member C shaft heart

Claims (5)

A cylindrical water discharge pipe mounted substantially horizontally on the installation surface;
A lid member detachably fitted into an opening established at the tip of the water discharge pipe;
A water discharge opening opened in the lower surface of the water discharge pipe;
A water discharge joint that has a water discharge opening facing the water discharge opening, and is fitted in the water discharge pipe closer to the installation surface than the water discharge opening;
A sensor that is disposed between the lid member and the water discharge joint and detects a hand that is inserted near the water discharge opening,
In the automatic faucet provided with the control unit that issues a command to an on-off valve that performs water discharge / water stop from the water outlet based on a signal from the sensor,
An automatic water faucet, wherein the sensor can be pulled out along the axial center direction of the water discharge pipe together with the water discharge joint when the lid member is removed from the opening.   The signal line extended from the said sensor was connected to the said control part via the detachable connector accommodated near the said installation surface rather than the said water discharge joint in the said water discharge pipe. Automatic faucet.   The automatic faucet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid member and the water discharge joint are connected via a link mechanism.   The automatic faucet according to claim 3, wherein a holding mechanism that maintains a distance between the water discharge joint and the lid member at a certain level or more is provided in the link mechanism.   The sensor window portion of the sensor is disposed inside the water discharge pipe, and an internal antireflection surface that is substantially perpendicular to the sensor window portion is provided between the sensor window portion and the water discharge pipe. The automatic faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

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