JP2019152012A - Automatic faucet device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an automatic faucet device that can suppress erroneous detection caused by reflected light of a drain tool.SOLUTION: An automatic faucet device comprises: a water discharge part, a bowl part, a drain tool that is provided at an exhaust port for discharging water in the bowl part, a sensor part that projects light toward the bowl part and detects an object to be detected based on reflected light of projected light, and a control part that controls discharged and stopped water of a discharged water flow discharged from the water discharge port based on a detection signal output from the sensor part, wherein the water discharge part is provided outside the bowl part at a position separated from the bowl part, the drain tool is located on an extension of a light projecting direction of the sensor part, and the light reflectance on a surface of the drain tool is configured to be equal to or lower than the light reflectance on the surface of the bowl part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic faucet device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an automatic water faucet device that automatically detects water discharge by detecting an object to be detected (for example, a user's hand) using a photoelectric sensor such as an infrared sensor (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

In such a conventional automatic faucet device, a photoelectric sensor is provided in the vicinity of the water outlet of the automatic faucet device. The photoelectric sensor irradiates light from the sensor downward or obliquely downward from the tip of the automatic water faucet device toward the bowl portion in order to detect the user's hand that is brought close to the vicinity of the spout.
In addition, a drain outlet for draining the water in the bowl portion is opened on the bottom surface of the bowl portion. A drainage tool such as is provided. Such a drainage tool is comprised, for example with a metal.

JP 2003-47565 A

  Here, in recent years, some automatic water faucet devices are provided with a water discharge portion at a position outside the bowl portion and spaced from the bowl portion in order to improve design. In such an automatic water faucet device, since the bowl part and the water discharge part are separated, the layout of the bowl part and the water discharge part can be freely changed.

  In such an automatic water faucet device, the water discharge part and the bowl part can be installed freely, so it is also possible that drainage tools such as drain plugs and eye plates are located on the extension of the light projecting direction of the photoelectric sensor. It is done. However, when a drainage device such as a drain plug or eye plate is positioned on the extension of the light projecting direction of the photoelectric sensor, the light projected from the photoelectric sensor is reflected by the drainage device, and the reflected light is received by the photoelectric sensor. There is a risk of false detection. In particular, since the reflectance of light is high in the case of metal, there is a high possibility of erroneous detection when the drainage device is made of metal.

  This invention is made | formed in order to solve such a subject, and it aims at providing the automatic water tap apparatus which suppresses the misdetection resulting from the reflected light of a drainage tool.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to an automatic faucet device according to one aspect of the present invention, a water discharge portion having a water discharge port, a bowl portion that receives a water discharge flow discharged from the water discharge port, A drainage device provided at a drainage port for draining water, a sensor provided at the water discharge unit, for projecting light toward the bowl unit, and detecting a detection object based on reflected light of the projected light And an automatic faucet device comprising: a control unit that controls discharge water discharged from the water discharge port based on a detection signal output from the sensor unit. Outside the bowl part, provided at a position separated from the bowl part, on the extension of the light projecting direction of the sensor part, the drainage device is located, the light reflectance of the drainage device surface, The reflectance of the bowl surface should be less than the reflectance Made is characterized in that is.

  According to this configuration, since the reflectance of the light on the surface of the drainage device is configured to be equal to or less than the reflectance of the light on the surface of the bowl portion, the light projected from the sensor portion and reflected by the drainage device is reduced. It can suppress that a sensor part receives light. Thereby, the erroneous detection resulting from the reflected light of a drainage tool can be suppressed.

  In the automatic faucet device according to one aspect of the present invention, preferably, the surface of the drainage tool is formed with unevenness larger than the unevenness of the surface of the bowl portion.

  According to this structure, since the unevenness | corrugation is formed in the drainage device surface, if the light projected from the sensor part hits the drainage device, light will be scattered by an unevenness | corrugation. Therefore, compared with the case where the surface of a drainage tool is smooth, it can suppress more that a sensor part light-receives the light projected from the sensor part and reflected by the drainage tool.

  In the automatic faucet device according to an aspect of the present invention, preferably, the color of the surface of the drainage tool is configured with a color having a lower reflectance than the color of the surface of the bowl portion.

  According to this configuration, since the color of the surface of the drainage device is configured with a color having a lower reflectance than the color of the surface of the bowl portion, the light projected from the sensor unit may be reflected by being reflected by the drainage device. It is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the sensor unit from receiving the light projected from the sensor unit and reflected by the drainage device with a simpler configuration.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the false detection resulting from the reflected light of a drainage tool can be suppressed in an automatic faucet device.

It is a perspective view of the automatic faucet device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the automatic water tap apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing composition of an automatic faucet device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the eye plate of the automatic faucet device concerning one embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the structure of the automatic water tap apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic faucet device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the automatic faucet device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the automatic water faucet device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the eye plate of the automatic water faucet device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic faucet device 1 includes a water discharge unit 10, a bowl unit 20, a sensor unit 30, and a control unit 40.

  The water discharger 10 is a member for discharging water downward, and is provided outside the bowl 20 that receives the water discharge discharged from the water discharger 10 and at a position separated from the bowl 20. The installation surface of the water discharge unit 10 is located below the upper edge of the bowl unit 20. The water discharge part 10 is arrange | positioned so that it may stand up from this installation surface. A water supply channel 11 through which water supplied from a water supply source passes is formed inside the water discharge unit 10, and a water discharge port 12 that is an outlet of water is opened at a downstream end portion thereof. A water supply pipe (not shown) is connected to the water supply path 11, and water is supplied from the water supply pipe to the water supply path 11 of the water discharge unit 10. The water supplied from the water supply pipe to the water supply channel 11 is discharged from the water discharge port 12 to the bowl unit 20 through the flow path inside the water discharge unit 10.

A sensor unit 30 is provided inside the water discharge unit 10, and the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 50 provided in the middle of the water supply channel 11 is controlled based on the detection result of the sensor unit 30.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor unit 30 receives a light projecting unit 31 that projects light toward the bowl unit 20, and reflected light of light projected from the light projecting unit 31. And a light receiving portion 32. The light projecting unit 31 projects light based on the light projection signal from the control unit 40, and the light receiving unit 32 generates a detection signal based on the reflected light of the light projected from the light projecting unit 31, and the control unit 40. The control unit 40 determines whether or not a detected object (for example, a human hand) is detected from the detection signal output from the sensor unit 30, and opens or closes the electromagnetic valve 50 based on the determination result. The water stop from the water outlet 12 is controlled.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the bowl portion 20 is formed of earthenware and has a concave shape that is recessed downward from above. Moreover, the bowl part 20 is the position away from the water discharging part 10, Comprising: It mounts on the counter C as an installation surface in which the water discharging part 10 is installed. A drain port 21 for discharging water in the bowl portion 20 is opened on the bottom surface in the bowl portion 20.

  Further, a drainage tool 60 is provided at the drain outlet 21. The drainage tool 60 includes a drainage plug 61 provided so as to cover the periphery of the drainage port 21 and a pan 62 provided above the drainage plug 61. The eye plate 62 is provided so as to cover the drain plug 61 and the drain port 21 from above. In other words, when the user looks into the bowl portion 20 from above, the drain plug 61 and the drain port 21 are concealed by the eye plate 62. Further, on the extension of the direction of light projected from the light projecting unit 31 of the sensor unit 30 (hereinafter referred to as the light projecting direction A), the drain plug 61 and the eye plate 62 of the drainage tool 60 are located.

Here, when the drainage tool 60 is provided on the extension of the light projecting direction A of the sensor unit 30, the light projected from the sensor unit 30 is reflected on the drain plug 61 and the eye plate 62, and the reflected light is reflected on the sensor unit. If 30 light-receiving parts 32 receive light, there is a possibility of erroneous detection. In particular, when the surface of the drainage device 60 is made of metal, the light reflectance is high, so that the possibility of erroneous detection is increased.
In addition, about the reflection of the bowl part 20 surface, it can set previously so that the misdetection by reflected light may not generate | occur | produce by the change of the determination threshold value for the control part 40 to judge.

On the other hand, in the automatic faucet device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the light reflectance on the surface of the drainage device 60 is configured to be equal to or lower than the light reflectance on the surface of the bowl portion 20. In other words, the light reflectance of the drainage device 60 is configured to be equal to or lower than the light reflectance. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, unevenness larger than the unevenness on the surface of the bowl portion 20 is formed on the surface of the eye plate 62 of the drainage tool 60.
In addition, although the example where the uneven | corrugated shape was formed in the surface of the eye plate 62 was demonstrated, the unevenness | corrugation larger than the bowl part 20 surface may be formed in the drain plug 61 surface.
In addition, when the eye plate 62 is provided above the drain plug 61, the drain plug 61 is concealed by the eye plate 62, so that only the eye plate 62 is less than the reflectance of light on the surface of the bowl portion 20. It may be configured.

  Thus, since the reflectance of the light on the surface of the drainage device 60 is configured to be equal to or less than the reflectance of the light on the surface of the bowl portion 20, the light is projected from the sensor unit 30 and reflected by the drainage device 60. Even if the sensor unit 30 receives light, erroneous detection caused by the reflected light of the drainage device 60 can be suppressed.

  Specifically, since the unevenness is formed on the surface of the eye plate 62 of the drainage device 60, when the light projected from the sensor unit 30 hits the eye plate 62, the light is scattered by the unevenness. Therefore, compared with the case where the surface of the eye plate 62 is smooth, it can suppress that the sensor part 30 light-receives the light projected from the sensor part 30 and reflected by the drainage tool 60 more.

Next, an automatic faucet device according to a modification of the present invention will be described.
In addition, about the part similar to embodiment mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

In the automatic faucet device 1 according to the modification, the color of the surface of the drainage tool 60 is configured with a color having a lower reflectance than the color of the surface of the bowl portion 20.
Thus, since the color of the surface of the drainage device 60 is composed of a color having a lower reflectance than the color of the surface of the bowl unit 20, the light projected from the sensor unit 30 hits the drainage device 60 and is reflected. It is suppressed. Therefore, even if the sensor unit 30 receives light that is projected from the sensor unit 30 and reflected by the drainage device 60 with a simpler configuration, it is possible to suppress erroneous detection caused by the reflected light of the drainage device 60. it can.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. As long as the features of the present invention are provided, those skilled in the art appropriately modified the design of the above-described embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape, size, material, arrangement, installation form, and the like of each element included in the operation input device are not limited to those illustrated, but can be changed as appropriate.
Moreover, each element with which each embodiment mentioned above is provided can be combined as long as technically possible, and the combination of these is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the features of the present invention.

  For example, an uneven shape may be provided on the surface of the drainage device 60 and the color of the surface of the drainage device 60 may be configured with a color having a lower reflectance than the color of the surface of the bowl portion 20.

  Further, for example, the material of the surface of the drainage device 60 may be changed so that the reflectance of light on the surface of the drainage device 60 is equal to or lower than the reflectance of light on the surface of the bowl portion 20.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic water faucet device 10 Water discharging part 11 Water supply path 12 Water discharging port 20 Bowl part 21 Drain outlet 30 Sensor part 31 Light emitting part 32 Light receiving part 40 Control part 50 Electromagnetic valve 60 Drainage tool 61 Drain plug 62 Eye plate A Light emitting direction C counter

Claims (3)

A water discharge part having a water discharge port;
A bowl portion for receiving a water discharge flow discharged from the water outlet;
A drainage tool provided at a drainage port for draining water in the bowl part;
A sensor unit that is provided in the water discharge unit, projects light toward the bowl unit, and detects a detection object based on reflected light of the projected light;
A control unit for controlling water discharge from the water discharge port based on a detection signal output from the sensor unit;
In an automatic faucet device equipped with
The water discharge part is provided outside the bowl part and at a position separated from the bowl part,
On the extension of the light projecting direction of the sensor unit, the drainage tool is located,
The automatic faucet device is configured such that the light reflectance on the surface of the drainage tool is equal to or less than the light reflectance on the surface of the bowl portion. The automatic faucet device according to claim 1, wherein unevenness larger than the unevenness of the surface of the bowl part is formed on the surface of the drainage tool. 3. The automatic faucet device according to claim 1, wherein a color of the surface of the drainage tool is a color having a lower reflectance than a color of the surface of the bowl portion.

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