JP3647645B2 - Automatic water supply device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an automatic water supply apparatus used in a toilet, kitchen, etc., and particularly when the hand etc. is extended to the detection area of the sensor part of the automatic water supply apparatus, water supply is automatically started, and again, It relates to a device that automatically stops water supply when a hand or the like is put out in the detection area.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automatic water supply apparatus, it is well known that a sensor unit is disposed, for example, at a location above a water faucet, and automatic water supply is started and stopped according to a detection signal from the sensor unit. Specifically, in the sensor unit, the issuing element and the light receiving element are arranged close to each other, and when the user puts his hand in the detection area of the sensor unit, the light (infrared light) of the issuing element is reflected by the hand. When the reflected light enters the light receiving element, water supply is automatically started (electromagnetic valve (for example, pilot type) is opened). And once water supply is started, water supply is continued until a hand is again put out to a detection area.
[0003]
Further, in the above conventional apparatus, when water supply is stopped from the start, that is, when the electromagnetic valve is changed from open to closed, the valve operation of the electromagnetic valve is performed in order to prevent water hammer noise compared to the reverse closing to opening. It is late.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional apparatus, when the water supply is stopped, the valve operation of the solenoid valve is delayed as described above, so the water supply does not stop immediately. For this reason, the user determines that the water supply has not stopped even though he / she has put his / her hand in the detection area to stop, and tries to stop the water supply by putting his hand in the detection area again. To do. For this reason, there is a problem that water supply is started again contrary to the intention of the user.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to automatically start water supply when a hand or the like is extended to the detection area of the sensor unit, and automatically stop water supply when a hand or the like is again extended to the detection area. In an apparatus, it is providing the automatic water supply apparatus which can stop water supply so that a user's intention may be met.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the detection area (A) is again detected during the valve closing operation for operating the water supply valve (6) from the valve opening state to the valve closing state. ), Even if an object to be detected enters, the valve closing operation is continued by prohibiting the output of the valve opening signal to the water supply valve (6).
[0007]
Thereby, even if a detection target object enters the detection area again during the valve closing operation, the valve closing operation is continued by prohibiting the valve closing signal from being output to the water supply valve. For this reason, even when the water supply valve is closing, even if the detection object is inserted again into the detection area, it is possible to prevent water supply from being started contrary to the intention of the user. Water supply can be stopped to suit the intention of the person.
[0008]
Specifically, the driving of the sensor unit (8) may be stopped during the valve closing operation as in the second aspect of the invention. Further, during the valve closing operation as in the fourth aspect of the invention, the sensor unit (8) is driven, and the valve opening signal is supplied to the water supply valve (6) regardless of the detection signal of the sensor unit (8). It is good to prohibit output.
According to a third aspect of the invention, in the second aspect of the invention, after the valve closing operation is performed and the water supply valve (6) is in the closed state, a predetermined time is detected in the detection area (A). Even if an object enters, the driving of the sensor unit (8) is stopped and the water supply valve (6) is held in a closed state.
[0009]
In the invention according to claim 5, in the invention according to claim 4, a predetermined valve closing time set in advance beyond the time when the valve closing operation ends after the valve closing signal is output to the water supply valve (6). The inside is characterized in that the valve opening signal is continuously prohibited from being output to the water supply valve (6).
Further, in the invention according to claim 6, during the valve closing operation for operating the water supply valve (6) from the open state to the closed state, even if the detection object enters the detection area (A) again, the water supply valve By prohibiting the output of the valve opening signal in (6), the valve closing operation is continued, and after the valve closing operation is performed and the water supply valve (6) is in the closed state, a predetermined time is detected in the detection area. Even if a detection object enters (A), the water supply valve (6) is held in a closed state.
[0010]
According to the inventions of claims 3, 5 and 6 as described above, immediately before the closing operation of the water supply valve is finished, the detection object is again inserted into the detection area in an attempt to stop the water supply, and this insertion time point is closed. Even at the same time as the end of the valve operation, water supply can be reliably prevented from starting contrary to the user's intention.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of an automatic water supply apparatus. In this example, the automatic water supply apparatus of the present invention is applied to a kitchen.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a water faucet pipe installed in an upper portion of a sink (sink) (not shown), and reference numeral 2 denotes a base (an upper surface portion of the sink) on which the faucet pipe 1 is installed. A water supply pipe section 3 to the faucet pipe 1 is installed below the base 2 (inside the sink).
[0012]
The water supply pipe section 3 is a connection section whose upstream side 3a is connected to a water pipe (not shown) outside the house, and the downstream side 3b is connected to the faucet pipe 1 in communication. Yes. An automatic water supply unit 4 for automatically performing or stopping water supply is attached to an intermediate portion of the water supply pipe unit 3.
A control block diagram of the automatic water supply unit 4 is shown in FIG. The automatic water supply unit 4 includes, for example, a water supply valve 6 (water supply unit) that is a control member that controls whether water is supplied or stopped from the faucet pipe 1 in the resin casing 5, and the water supply valve 6 is controlled. The control unit 7 (actually an electric circuit board) is built in. Although not shown, the water supply valve 6 includes an electromagnetic coil portion that drives the plunger, a pilot valve provided at the tip of the plunger, and a main valve having a pressure introduction path that is opened and closed by the pilot valve. .
[0013]
A signal from the sensor unit 8 is transmitted to the control unit 7, and the structure of the sensor unit 8 is as follows. In this example, the sensor unit 8 includes a light emitting element 9 that emits infrared light, and a light receiving element 10 that receives infrared light from the light emitting element 9. The light emitting element 9 and the light receiving element 10 are accommodated in a case 11 formed of a transparent resin material. And the sensor part 8 containing the light emitting element 9 and the light receiving element 10 which were packaged in this way is installed in the upper site | part of faucet piping 1, as shown in FIG.
[0014]
The sensor unit 8 performs the following sensing. The light emitting element 9 emits infrared light toward the user standing above and in front of the kitchen. For example, when the user wants to supply water from the faucet pipe 1, a hand (detection target) is extended to the light emitting element 8, and the position of the hand reaches a predetermined detection area A (detection area). Then, the light from the light emitting element 9 is reflected on the user's hand, and the light receiving element 10 receives the reflected light.
[0015]
A signal from the light receiving element 10 is sent to the detection control unit 7a in FIG. 2, and the detection control unit 7a sends a water supply signal for supplying water to the water supply control unit 7b, and the water supply control unit 7b receives this signal, An open / close signal is output to the water supply valve 6 so that the water supply valve 6 is opened. Thereby, water supply is automatically started from the faucet pipe 1.
Then, the water supply is continued until the detection object enters until the hand enters the detection area A again. In other words, the water supply control unit 7b recognizes whether or not water is being supplied, and depending on the output signal from the detection control unit 7a, the water supply valve 6 is opened or closed. To do.
[0016]
Here, in this example, when water supply is stopped from the time when water supply is performed in this way, that is, when the water supply valve 6 is closed from the open state, when the valve of the water supply valve 6 is suddenly opened and closed, A hammer sound is generated. For this reason, in this example, when the water supply valve 6 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the water supply valve 6 is opened and closed in order to reduce the water hammer noise compared to the case where the water supply valve 6 is changed from the closed state to the open state. I try to slow down. In this example, the operation of the water supply valve 6 is slowed by adjusting the valve opening area of the pressure introduction path.
[0017]
Power supply to the water supply valve 6, the control unit 7, and the sensor unit 8 is performed by plugging an unillustrated outlet into a power source. As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor unit 8 is installed at a position away from the water supply valve 6 and the control unit 7, so that power is supplied from the wiring unit 13 via the control unit 7. . The wiring unit 13 includes a wiring for sending a detection signal from the sensor unit 9 to the control unit 7.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the wiring part 13 is directly exposed below the base part 2, but is inserted into the faucet pipe 1 above the base part 2. Specifically, the faucet pipe 1 has a double pipe structure, an inner pipe member (not shown) is a rubber water pipe, and the outer pipe member has a lower part 1a made of metal ( For example, the upper part (tip part) 1b is made of resin. And the wiring part 13 is arrange | positioned in the space between these two piping members. In addition, the said sensor part 8 is attached to resin-made piping members 1a.
[0019]
Next, details of the control contents of the control unit 7 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a time chart showing the contents of this control. However, the sensor drive in FIG. 3 represents the operating state (power supply state) of the sensor unit 8 and means that the sensor unit 8 is operating in the part where the protruding waveform appears. . The detection signal in the figure is a signal detected by the light receiving element 10 and means that a hand is in the detection area A when a rectangular waveform appears. The open / close signal is a signal that the water supply control unit 7 b outputs to the water supply valve 6. The sensor unit 8 is driven every preset period, and in this example, the sensor unit 8 is driven once every 0.25 seconds. Thereby, excessive power consumption can be suppressed.
[0020]
First, if the user inserts his / her hand into the detection area A at time t <b> 1 when the water supply is stopped, the sensor unit 8 issues a detection signal that the detection area A has a hand. In response to this, the water supply control unit 7b outputs an opening / closing signal for opening the water supply valve 6 to the water supply valve 6 at time t1.
As a result, the water supply valve 6 is opened at time t1 (shown as a time slightly delayed from time t1 as a control delay in the figure), and water supply is automatically started. In this example, if the hand is continuously in the detection area A from time t1 to time t2 in FIG. 3, the detection signal of the sensor unit 8 emits a signal twice in this example. The valve 6 is prevented from closing from opening. That is, in this example, when the sensor unit 8 issues a detection signal continuously every sensor driving cycle, an open / close signal is output only at the first detection signal. That is, when there is a detection signal in each sensor driving cycle, or when there is a detection signal, the valve opening signal is opened from closed to closed, and then from closed to open.
[0021]
Thereafter, when the sensor unit 8 issues a detection signal indicating that the hand is in the detection area A at time t3, the water supply control unit 7b issues an opening / closing signal for closing the water supply valve 6. As a result, the water supply valve 6 slowly moves from opening to closing in order to reduce water hammer noise as described above. In this example, time Tr (2 seconds) is required from when the water supply valve 6 is driven from time t3 to when the valve starts to move until the valve is completely closed.
[0022]
And since slowly driving the water supply valve 6 in this way means that only the time Tr is required to completely stop the water supply, does the user really stop the water during this time Tr? I have the doubt. For this reason, in order to stop water supply, the above-mentioned problem occurs by extending the hand to the detection area A again (time t5 in FIG. 3).
[0023]
Therefore, in this example, as shown in FIG. 3, after the opening / closing signal for closing the water supply valve 6 is generated at time t3, during the time Tr, that is, the blockage that operates the water supply valve 6 from the open state to the closed state. During the operation, the driving of the sensor unit 8 is stopped for a predetermined time Tw1 (in this example, the same as the closing operation time of the water supply valve 6 in 2 seconds) from the time when the hand disappears from the detection area A (time t4). To do. As a result, if the hand enters the detection area A after time t4, the detection signal is not changed, and an opening / closing signal (opening signal) for opening the water supply valve 6 is prohibited from being output to the water supply valve 6. Therefore, even if the hand enters the detection area A again during the time Tr, the water supply valve 6 continues to perform the closing operation.
[0024]
Thereby, even if the hand is inserted into the detection area A again when the water supply valve 6 is closing, it is possible to prevent the water supply from being started contrary to the intention of the user. Water supply can be stopped to suit the intention of the person.
In this example, since the detection signal of the sensor unit 8 requires a sensor driving time of 0.25 seconds to switch from a signal indicating that the hand is in the detection area A to a signal indicating that the hand is not present, Tw1 time for stopping the sensor driving is required. The start time (time t4) is always delayed from the time (time t3) when the water supply valve 6 starts the valve closing operation. Since Tw1 is set at the same time as Tr as described above, the sensor drive stop must be performed at least for a predetermined time (in this example, the above drive cycle, 0. 25 seconds). Thereby, even if the hand enters the detection area A during the predetermined time after the water supply valve 6 is closed, the water supply valve 6 maintains the closed state.
[0025]
As a result, immediately before the closing operation of the water supply valve 6 ends, even if the user inserts his hand into the detection area A again to stop water supply, and this insertion time is the same as the end of the valve closing operation, Contrary to the user's intention, water supply can be reliably prevented from starting.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the driving of the sensor unit 8 is stopped during the closing operation of the water supply valve 6, but in this example, the sensor unit 8 is driven during the valve closing operation, and this sensor Regardless of the detection signal of the part 8, during the valve closing operation, an open / close signal for opening the water supply valve 6 (valve open signal) is prohibited from being output to the water supply valve 6. FIG. 4 shows a time chart representing this operation content. 4 is similar to the operation timing described in FIG. 3, and is different in whether a signal indicating that the hand is in the detection region A is generated at time t5 ′.
[0026]
Specifically, in this example, as shown in FIG. 4, an opening / closing signal for opening the water supply valve 6 is output to the water supply valve 6 at time t3, and is preset in advance over time t6 when the valve closing operation ends. During the predetermined valve closing time (from time t3 to time t7), the opening / closing signal (opening signal) for continuously opening the water supply valve 6 is prohibited from being output to the water supply valve 6.
Thereby, the same effect as the first embodiment is obtained. In addition, this example has an advantageous effect as compared with the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, after the hand enters the detection area A in order to stop the water supply, the driving of the sensor unit 8 is stopped for Tw1 time from the time when the hand disappears from the detection area A.
[0027]
Accordingly, the hand is pushed out to the detection area A to stop the water supply, and when the hand remains in the detection area A for a long time and the hand disappears from the detection area A, the valve closing operation of the water supply valve 6 is about to end. In this stage, the drive of the TW1 time sensor unit 8 is stopped from this stage. For this reason, when water supply is completely stopped and it is desired to start water supply immediately, and when a hand is pushed out to the detection area A, there is a problem that water supply is not performed promptly due to the stop of driving of the sensor unit 8. is there. Therefore, in this example, since the time Tw1 is measured from the time when the valve opening signal is output to the water supply valve 6, the water supply can be started promptly after the water supply is stopped.
[0028]
(Modification)
Although each said embodiment applied the automatic water supply apparatus of this invention to the sink, this invention can be used for every place where water supply is required, such as a toilet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic water supply apparatus according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the automatic water supply apparatus in each of the embodiments.
FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the automatic water supply apparatus in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the automatic water supply apparatus in the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
6 Water supply valve 7 Control unit 8 Sensor unit 9 Light emitting element 10 Light receiving element

Claims (7)

When a detection object enters the detection area (A) of the sensor unit (8), the water supply valve (6) is automatically opened to start water supply, and then this water supply is detected again in the detection area (A). When the water supply valve (6) is changed from the open state to the closed state, the water hammer is continued as compared with the case where the water supply valve (6) is changed from the open state to the closed state. An automatic water supply device that slows the opening and closing operation of the water supply valve (6) in order to reduce noise,
During the valve closing operation for operating the water supply valve (6) from the valve open state to the valve closed state, even if a detection object enters the detection area (A) again, the valve opening signal is supplied to the water supply valve (6). The automatic water supply device is characterized in that the valve closing operation is continuously performed by prohibiting the output of. The automatic water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving of the sensor section (8) is stopped during the valve closing operation. Even if a detection target object enters the detection area (A) for a predetermined time after the valve closing operation is performed and the water supply valve (6) is in the valve closed state, the sensor unit (8) is driven. The automatic water supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the water supply valve (6) is held in the closed state by stopping the water supply. During the valve closing operation, the sensor unit (8) is driven, and the valve opening signal is prohibited from being output to the water supply valve (6) regardless of the detection signal of the sensor unit (8). The automatic water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: During a predetermined valve closing time that is preset beyond the time when the valve closing operation ends after the valve closing signal is output to the water supply valve (6), the valve opening signal continues to be supplied to the water supply valve (6). The automatic water supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the output is prohibited. When a detection object enters the detection area (A) of the sensor unit (8), the water supply valve (6) is automatically opened to start water supply, and then this water supply is detected again in the detection area (A). When the water supply valve (6) is changed from the open state to the closed state, the water hammer is continued as compared with the case where the water supply valve (6) is changed from the open state to the closed state. An automatic water supply device that slows the opening and closing operation of the water supply valve (6) in order to reduce noise,
During the valve closing operation for operating the water supply valve (6) from the valve open state to the valve closed state, even if a detection object enters the detection area (A) again, the valve opening signal is supplied to the water supply valve (6). Is prohibited, the valve closing operation is continued,
Even if the detection object enters the detection area (A) for a predetermined time after the valve closing operation is performed and the water supply valve (6) is in the closed state, the water supply valve (6) is An automatic water supply device that is maintained in a closed state. The automatic water supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sensor unit (8) is installed in an upper part of a faucet pipe.

Images