JP2022052024A - Bathtub washing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a bathtub washing system that allows a washing operation to be started when various predetermined conditions are satisfied in the case where an instruction to start the washing operation is given remotely.SOLUTION: A bathtub washing system including a bathtub washing device (10) for automatically washing a bathtub by spraying, to the bathtub (1), washing liquid made by adding detergent to hot water supplied from a hot water supply device (2) includes: a plurality of operation remote controllers (11, 12, 13, and 17) equipped with notification means for notifying of information on bathtub washing, for executing a washing start operation from inside and outside a bathroom; a human detection sensor (9) for detecting presence or absence of a human in the bathroom; and control means capable of acquiring hot water use information from the hot water supply device (2) for controlling the bathtub washing device (10). In the case where a human is detected by the human detection sensor when an instruction to start washing is given from the operation remote controller outside the bathroom, start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped, and a notification to start the washing is given by the operation remote controller (11) in the bathroom.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a bathtub cleaning system including a bathtub cleaning device, and more particularly to a system in which a problem of instructing the start of cleaning operation from an operation remote controller outside the bathroom is solved.

Conventionally, a cleaning nozzle is provided at the bottom of the bathtub, and a storage tank for storing hot water from the hot water supply device, valves (on-off valve and constant flow valve), cleaning pump, check valve, flow sensor, etc. are provided near the bathtub. A bathtub cleaning device that automatically cleans the inner surface of the bathtub by providing a cleaning unit and a detergent supply system that supplies detergent to the discharged hot water, and spraying the cleaning liquid containing the detergent on the hot water from the cleaning nozzle onto the inner surface of the bathtub. Has been put into practical use.

The above bathtub cleaning device is basically operated by the cleaning operation remote controller, but the bathtub cleaning device is connected to the hot water supply device so that signals can be sent and received, and can also be operated by the bathroom operation remote controller and the kitchen operation remote controller. There is.
Moreover, recently, the hot water supply device and the bathtub cleaning system can be remotely controlled by a smartphone or the like via the Internet.

Here, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which the bathtub washing operation is not performed even if the operation switch of the bathtub washing operation is turned on during the execution of the bath function operation.

Patent Document 2 includes a functional unit provided in a predetermined room, a remote controller capable of remotely controlling the functional unit from the outside of a predetermined room, and a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a person in the room. A remote control system that invalidates a command from a remote controller when a person in the room is detected is disclosed.

Japanese Patent No. 3593841 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-68220

When the bathtub cleaning device is remotely controlled by an operation remote controller (kitchen operation remote controller or smartphone) outside the bathroom, the situation inside the bathroom is not known, so the bathtub cleaning device starts operation even when there are people in the bathroom. However, when the cleaning operation of the bathtub is started with a person in the bathroom, it is started regardless of the intention of the person in the bathroom, and when the lid of the bathtub is open, the cleaning liquid is in the bathroom. There are problems such as scattering, spraying the cleaning liquid on the face of a person, and spraying the cleaning liquid on clothes dried in the bathroom.
When the cleaning start command from the outside is uniformly invalidated when there is a person in the bathroom as in Patent Document 2, the bathtub lid is closed and cleaning is possible, and cleaning is possible even when cleaning is desired. There is a problem that it cannot be started.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub cleaning system in which a cleaning operation is started when various predetermined conditions are satisfied when a remote start of the cleaning operation is ordered.

The bathtub cleaning system according to claim 1 notifies information on bathtub cleaning in a bathtub cleaning system including a bathtub cleaning device that automatically cleans a bathtub by spraying a cleaning liquid obtained by adding a detergent to hot water supplied from a hot water supply device to the bathtub. It is possible to acquire hot water supply usage information from multiple operation remote controls for starting the cleaning operation from inside and outside the bathroom, a human sensor that detects the presence or absence of people in the bathroom, and a hot water supply device. It is equipped with a control means to control the bathtub cleaning device, and when a person is detected by the human sensor when a person is commanded to start cleaning from an operation remote control outside the bathroom, the start of the cleaning operation is temporarily stopped and the cleaning is started. It is characterized by notifying with the operation remote control in the bathroom.

According to the above configuration, when a person is detected by the human sensor when the operation remote controller outside the bathroom commands the start of cleaning, the operation in the bathroom is to suspend the start of the cleaning operation and start the cleaning. Since the notification is made by the remote controller, the washing operation is not started unexpectedly without the person in the bathroom knowing.

In the invention of claim 1, the bathtub cleaning system according to claim 2 suspends the start of the cleaning operation and starts the cleaning when the information that the hot water supply is used is acquired at the time of the start operation of the cleaning operation. It is characterized by notifying with the operation remote control in the bathroom.
According to the above configuration, when the hot water supply is used, the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped, and the operation remote controller in the bathroom notifies that the washing is started. If hot water is used, there may be a person in the bathroom, so that person can be notified that cleaning will start.

In the invention of claim 1, when a person is detected by the motion sensor and the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped, the bathtub washing system according to the third aspect also notifies that the washing is started by the operation remote controller outside the bathroom. It is characterized by that.
According to the above configuration, when a child is playing in the bathroom, the child can be evacuated from the bathroom by notifying the start of cleaning with an operation remote controller outside the bathroom (for example, a kitchen operation remote controller).

In the invention of claim 2, when the information that the hot water supply is used is acquired and the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped, the bathtub washing system of the fourth aspect also notifies that the washing is started by the operation remote controller outside the bathroom. It is characterized by that.
According to the above configuration, the same effect as that of claim 3 can be obtained.

In the invention of any one of claims 1 to 4, the bathtub cleaning system according to claim 5 is configured to be able to select whether or not to start cleaning operation by the operation remote controller that has notified the start of cleaning after notifying the start of cleaning. It is characterized by being.
According to the above configuration, since it is possible to select whether or not to start the washing operation, it is possible to wash only when the bathtub washing is really necessary, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary washing.

The bathtub cleaning system according to claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 4, the cleaning start can be canceled by an operation remote control in the bathroom after the cleaning start is notified. There is.
According to the above configuration, since the person in the bathroom can cancel the start of cleaning, it is possible to prevent the cleaning from being performed against the intention of the person.

In the invention of any one of claims 1 to 4, the bathtub cleaning system according to claim 7 starts the cleaning if there is no operation with the operation remote controller in the house for a predetermined time after notifying the cleaning start. Information indicating that the unit is on standby is displayed on the operation remote controller that instructed to wait, and if there is no operation of the operation remote controller in the house for the set time after that, the information that the cleaning start is canceled is displayed on the operation remote controller in the house. It is a feature.

According to the above configuration, if there is no operation with the operation remote controller in the house for a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes), there is a high possibility that there is no person in the house, so the operation remote controller instructed to start cleaning is on standby. If the indicated information is displayed and waits for a while, and then there is no operation of the operation remote control in the house for the set time (for example, 3 minutes), it is very likely that there are no people in the house, so the start of cleaning is canceled. After displaying the information on the operation remote controller in the house, the start of cleaning is canceled.

According to the present invention, various effects as described above can be obtained.

It is a block diagram of the bathtub cleaning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of 1st example of a cleaning operation start control. It is a flowchart of the 2nd example of a washing operation start control.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to examples.

First, the overall configuration of the bathtub cleaning system including the bathtub cleaning device 10 and its peripheral devices will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a hot water supply device 2 for filling and reheating the bathtub 1 is connected to the bathtub 1 via a hot water filling and reheating pipe 3. Further, at the bottom of the bathtub 1, a drain plug 4 for draining hot water and a washing nozzle 5 for spraying detergent and hot water to wash the bathtub 1 are arranged.

In the vicinity of the bathtub 1, a cleaning unit 6 for supplying detergent and hot water to the cleaning nozzle 5, a detergent tank 7 for storing detergent, and a drain switch 4a for opening and closing the drain plug 4 are arranged. There is. The bathtub cleaning device 10 has a cleaning unit 6, a detergent tank 7, and a cleaning nozzle 5, and is configured by connecting these with a plurality of pipes.

The cleaning unit 6 is connected to a detergent pipe 7a for supplying detergent from the detergent tank 7 and a hot water supply pipe 2a for supplying hot water from the hot water supply device 2. For example, the power supply communication unit 8 arranged on the ceiling of the bathroom is connected to the hot water supply device 2 by a power cord and a communication cord, and the power supply communication unit 8 and the cleaning unit 6 are connected by a plurality of drive control cords. A motion sensor 9 for detecting the presence or absence of a person in the bathroom is provided in the bathroom, and the motion sensor 9 is connected to the power communication unit 8.

The hot water supply device 2 is, for example, a combustion type hot water supply device that supplies hot water heated by utilizing the combustion heat of fuel, but may be a hot water supply device or the like having a heat pump type heat source machine. A bathroom operation remote controller 11 and a kitchen operation remote controller 12 for performing a hot water filling operation, a reheating operation start operation, a hot water supply set temperature setting operation, and the like are connected to the hot water supply device 2.

Further, a cleaning operation remote controller 13 for performing a cleaning operation start operation by the bathtub cleaning device 10 is connected to the power communication unit 8 and the hot water supply device 2 so as to be able to send and receive signals. The cleaning operation remote controller 13 is installed in the dressing room. The remote controller is an abbreviation for a remote controller. The kitchen operation remote controller 12 and the bathroom operation remote controller 11 can also communicate with the bathtub cleaning device 10 via the hot water supply device 2 and the power communication unit 8.

The kitchen operation remote controller 12 has a touch-operable display unit 12a and an audio output unit 12b. The bathroom operation remote controller 11 has a touch-operable display unit 11a and an audio output unit 11b. The cleaning operation remote controller 13 has a touch-operable display unit 13a and a voice output member 13b.

The bathroom operation remote controller 11, the kitchen operation remote controller 12, and the cleaning operation remote controller 13 are connected to the Internet 15 via a home wireless network constructed by, for example, a line termination device 14 having a router function. A server 16 installed by a provider (manufacturer or the like) of the hot water supply device 2 and the bathtub cleaning device 10 is connected to the Internet 15.

The server 16 relays so that the user of the hot water supply device 2 and the bathtub cleaning device 10 can operate from the smartphone 17 or the like via the Internet 15 on the go. The bathroom operation remote controller 11, the kitchen operation remote controller 12, the cleaning operation remote controller 13, the smartphone 17, and the like are remote controllers capable of starting the cleaning operation by the bathtub cleaning device 10.

The cleaning unit 6 of the bathtub cleaning device 10 is a storage tank 22 for storing hot water, a hot water supply pipe 23 connected to the hot water supply pipe 2a and supplying hot water to the storage tank 22, and two branch passages 23a and 23b. A hot water supply pipe 23 having a merging passage 23c where these branch passages 23a merge, a filter 24 interposed in the hot water supply pipe 23, and an electromagnetic on-off valve 25a interposed in one branch passage 23a in order from the upstream side. And a constant flow rate valve 26a, and an electromagnetic on-off valve 25b and a constant flow rate valve 26b interposed in the other branch passage 23b in order from the upstream side.

The storage tank 22 is provided with a float-type water level detector 22a capable of detecting a low water level and a high water level, and the detection signal is supplied to the control unit 21 in the power communication unit 8. The storage tank 22 is also provided with an overflow pipe 22b.

Further, the cleaning unit 6 includes a discharge pipe 27 extending from the storage tank 22 to the cleaning noble 5, a pump 28 and a thermista 29 interposed in the discharge pipe 27 in order from the upstream side, two check valves 30, and a flow rate sensor 31. It has a check valve 32 or the like to which the detergent supply pipe 7a is connected. An electromagnetic on-off valve 7c is interposed in the detergent supply pipe 7a extending from the detergent tank 7.

The control unit 21 built in the power communication unit 8 includes, for example, a microcomputer having a calculation unit, a storage unit, an input / output unit, and a clock circuit, and is cleaned based on a control program or the like stored in the storage unit. It controls the equipment related to the operation and the drain plug 4, and controls the start of the cleaning operation described later.
In the cleaning operation, the control unit 21 opens the drain plug 4, controls the opening / closing of the electromagnetic on-off valves 25a, 25b, 7c of the hot water supply pipe 23 and the detergent supply pipe 7a, the drive of the pump 28, and the like, and also performs the cleaning operation. The washing operation history including the start time or the end time, the washing course, the number of washing operations (the number of automatic washings), etc. is stored.

The cleaning operation will be described.
When the cleaning operation is started by the bathtub cleaning device 10 by any operation of the bathroom operation remote controller 11, the kitchen operation remote controller 12, the cleaning operation remote controller 13, the smartphone 17, etc., the control unit is in a state where the bathtub lid is closed. 21 opens the drain plug 4, and while storing hot water in the storage tank 22, drives the pump 28 to inject and spray the cleaning liquid obtained by mixing the detergent with the hot water supplied to the cleaning nozzle 5 from the cleaning nozzle 5.

The single wash process includes an initial rinse wash with hot water only, followed by multiple washes and standby operations with a wash solution, and a final rinse wash with hot water only. The cleaning and standby operation includes a cleaning operation using a cleaning liquid and a standby operation following this cleaning operation.

The flow rates of the constant flow rate valves 26a and 26b are, for example, 5 L / min, respectively, and the discharge amount of the pump 28 is, for example, 6.5 L / min. When the water level in the storage tank 22 becomes low, the electromagnetic on-off valves 25a and 25b Both are opened and hot water is supplied at a flow rate of 10 L / min, and when the water level in the storage tank 22 becomes high, one of the electromagnetic on-off valves 25a and 25b is closed and the flow rate is 5 L / min. Hot water is supplied at.

Next, the cleaning operation start control performed by the control unit 21 will be described.
First, a first example of cleaning operation start control will be described with reference to FIG. The reference numerals Si (i = 1, 2, ...) In the flowchart of FIG. 2 indicate each step.

When this cleaning operation start control is started, it is determined whether or not a cleaning operation start command has been received from the operation remote controller outside the bathroom (S1). In this implementation, the operation remote controller outside the bathroom is, for example, a smartphone 17. When the determination of S1 is No, S1 is repeated, and when the start command is received and the determination of S1 is Yes, it is determined whether or not the motion sensor 9 has detected a person in S2, and the determination is No. When the case shifts to S8, and when the determination of S2 is Yes (that is, when there is a person in the bathroom), the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped in S3.

If there is a person in the bathroom and the cleaning of the bathtub 1 is suddenly started by remote control, the cleaning liquid may get into the eyes or the clothes may be splashed with the cleaning liquid, so that the cleaning is temporarily stopped.
Next, in S4, the bathroom operation remote controller 11 notifies that cleaning is started. This notification is performed by both character display and voice output. However, either one may be used.

Next, in S5, it is determined whether or not there is an operation of the bathroom operation remote controller 11 by a person in the bathroom. If the determination is No, the process proceeds to S11, and if the determination is Yes, the washing operation is started in S6. Asks whether or not to cancel the washing operation by displaying characters, and if the judgment is No, the process proceeds to S11. If the judgment is Yes, the start of the washing operation is canceled in S7 and a return is made.

When the determination of S2 is No, the process proceeds to S8, and in S8, it is determined whether or not hot water supply is used, and when the determination is No, the process proceeds to S17. When hot water supply is used, the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped in S9. When hot water supply is used, there is a possibility that there is a person in the house and goes to the bathroom, so the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped as in S3.

In the next S10, as in the case of S4, the bathroom operation remote controller 11 notifies that the cleaning is started. This notification is performed by both character display and voice output. However, either one may be used.

In S11, it is determined whether or not the bathroom operation remote controller 11 or the kitchen operation remote controller 12 (that is, the operation remote controller in the house) is operated for a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes) after the notification, and if there is such an operation, the process proceeds to S17. If there is no operation, the process proceeds to S12.
In the next S12, the operation remote controller (smartphone 17 in this embodiment) that has issued the start command is notified (character display, voice output) indicating that it is on standby.

In the next S13, it is determined whether or not the bathroom operation remote controller 11 or the kitchen operation remote controller 12 (that is, the operation remote controller in the house) is operated during the set time (for example, 3 minutes) after the notification of S12, and the operation is performed. If there is no operation, the process proceeds to S17, and if there is no operation, the process proceeds to S14.
In S14, it is determined whether or not the motion sensor has detected a person, as in S2, and if the determination is Yes, the process proceeds to S15, and if the determination is No, the process proceeds to S17.

In the next S15, the bathroom operation remote controller 11 and the kitchen operation remote controller 12 (that is, the operation remote controller in the house) are notified by character display that the start of the washing operation is cancelled. However, audio output may also be used together.
Further, if the operation remote controller for which the start command is given is not the operation remote controller in the house as in the present embodiment, the operation remote controller for which the start command is given may also notify that the start of the washing operation is cancelled.
Then, in the next S16, the start of the washing operation is canceled, and then the washing operation is returned.
On the other hand, in S17, the washing operation is started and this control is terminated.

The operation and effect of the first example of the above-mentioned cleaning operation start control will be described.
When there is a person in the bathroom, the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped, and the bathroom operation remote controller 11 is notified that the washing operation is started. Therefore, the washing operation is not started unexpectedly without the person in the bathroom knowing.

After confirming that there is a person in the bathroom by the judgment of S5, ask whether you want to cancel the start of the washing operation, and if you want to cancel, the intention of the person in the bathroom to cancel the start of the washing operation. It will be a control that respects.

On the other hand, if there is a hot water supply, there is a person in the house and that person may go to the bathroom. Therefore, in this case as well, the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped, and the bathroom operation remote controller 11 is notified that the washing operation is started. do.
In S11, if there is no operation of the bathroom operation remote controller 11 or the kitchen operation remote controller 12 for a predetermined time after notifying the start of the cleaning operation, the operation remote controller (smartphone 17) that has issued the cleaning start command is notified to indicate standby. Therefore, the operator who issued the command can understand the situation and feel relieved.

After that, if there is no operation of the bathroom operation remote controller 11 or the kitchen operation remote controller 12 for the set time, there is a high possibility that there are no people in the house. After displaying on, cancel the start of cleaning operation.
If the determination in S11 is No or the determination in S13 is No, there is a high possibility that there is a person in the house, and the washing operation is started in S17.

Next, a second example of the cleaning operation start control will be described with reference to FIG. The reference numerals Si (i = 1, 2, ...) In the flowchart of FIG. 3 indicate each step.
Since S1 to S4 and S8 to S10 in FIG. 3 are substantially the same as S1 to S4 and S8 to S10 in FIG. 2, description thereof will be omitted.

S4 is slightly different from S4 of the first example, and in S4, the bathroom operation remote controller 11 and the kitchen operation remote controller 12 notify that the washing operation is started (character display, voice output).
In S20 following S4, the necessity selection screen for starting the washing operation is displayed on the bathroom operation remote controller 11 and the kitchen operation remote controller 12. In the next S21, it is determined whether or not the start of the washing operation is unnecessary, and if the determination is Yes, the start of the washing operation is canceled and returned in S22.
If the determination in S21 is No, the process proceeds to S26.

S10 is slightly different from S10 in FIG. 2, and in this S10, the bathroom operation remote controller 11 and the kitchen operation remote controller 12 are notified (character display, voice output) that cleaning is to be started.
In S23 following S10, the necessity selection screen for starting the washing operation is displayed on the bathroom operation remote controller 11 and the kitchen operation remote controller 12. In the next S24, it is determined whether or not the start of the washing operation is unnecessary, and if the determination is Yes, the start of the washing operation is canceled and returned in S25. If the determination in S24 is No, the process proceeds to S26.
In S26, the washing operation is started and this control is terminated.

The operation and effect of the second example of the above-mentioned cleaning operation start control will be described.
The actions and effects of S1 to S4 are substantially the same as in the case of the first example.
In S4, the bathroom operation remote controller 11 and the kitchen operation remote controller 12 are used to notify that the cleaning is to be started. It is determined whether or not the operation needs to be started, and if it is not necessary, the start of the washing operation is canceled. In this way, the washing operation can be started or canceled with respect for the will of the person in the bathroom or kitchen.

In S10, the bathroom operation remote controller 11 and the kitchen operation remote controller 12 are notified to start cleaning, and in S23, the bathroom operation remote controller 11 and the kitchen operation remote controller 12 display a screen for selecting whether or not to start the cleaning operation.

Therefore, regardless of whether the person is in the bathroom or in the kitchen, the above selection screen can be viewed and the necessity of starting the washing operation can be selected.
In S21 and S24, after confirming the selection result of whether or not the washing operation needs to be started, the washing operation is canceled when the washing operation start is not necessary, and the washing operation is started when the washing operation start is necessary.
It can be controlled with respect for the will of the person in the house.

Next, an example of changing the embodiment will be described.
(1) The notification of S4 and the display of S6 in FIG. 2 may be notified or displayed by the cleaning operation remote controller 13 in the dressing room. Further, the display of S14 may also be displayed on the cleaning operation remote controller 13.
(2) The notification of S10 in FIG. 2 may be notified not only by the bathroom operation remote controller 11 but also by the cleaning operation remote controller 13.

(3) The notification of S4 and the display of S20 in FIG. 3 may be notified or displayed by the cleaning operation remote controller 13. Further, the display of S14 may also be displayed on the cleaning operation remote controller 13. The notification of S10 and the display of S23 may be notified or displayed by the cleaning operation remote controller 13.
(4) In addition, those skilled in the art can make various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention also includes those modified forms.

1 Bathtub 2 Hot water supply device 6 Cleaning unit 8 Power communication unit 9 Motion sensor 10 Bathtub cleaning device 11 Bathtub operation remote control 12 Kitchen operation remote control 13 Cleaning operation remote control 17 Smartphone 21 Control unit

Claims (7)

In a bathtub cleaning system including a bathtub cleaning device that automatically cleans a bathtub by spraying a cleaning solution obtained by adding a detergent to hot water supplied from a hot water supply device to the bathtub.
Equipped with a notification means to notify information related to bathtub cleaning, from multiple operation remote controls for starting the cleaning operation from inside and outside the bathroom, a human sensor that detects the presence or absence of people in the bathroom, and a hot water supply device. Equipped with a control means that can acquire hot water supply usage information and control the bathtub cleaning device.
If a person is detected by the human sensor when the operation remote controller outside the bathroom commands the start of cleaning, the start of the cleaning operation is temporarily stopped and the operation remote controller in the bathroom notifies that the cleaning is started. A featured bathtub cleaning system. The first aspect of the present invention is that when the information that the hot water supply is used is acquired at the time of the start operation of the washing operation, the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped and the operation remote controller in the bathroom notifies that the washing is started. The bathtub cleaning system described in. The bathtub cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein when a person is detected by the motion sensor and the start of the cleaning operation is temporarily stopped, the operation remote controller outside the bathroom also notifies that the cleaning is started. The bathtub cleaning system according to claim 2, wherein when the information on the use of hot water supply is acquired and the start of the washing operation is temporarily stopped, the start of washing is notified by the operation remote controller outside the bathroom. The bathtub cleaning system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein after notifying the start of cleaning, the operation remote controller that has notified can select whether or not the cleaning operation needs to be started. The bathtub cleaning system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning start can be canceled by an operation remote controller in the bathroom after the cleaning start is notified. If there is no operation with the operation remote controller in the house for a predetermined time after notifying the start of cleaning, information indicating standby is displayed on the operation remote controller instructing the start of cleaning, and then in the house for a further set time. The bathtub cleaning system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein if there is no operation of the operation remote controller, information indicating that the start of cleaning is canceled is displayed on the operation remote controller in the house.

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