JP3691755B2 - Automatic cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning apparatus that detects a user and automatically discharges cleaning water into a toilet without the user operating a lever or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, flush toilets (women's toilets different from morning glory) equipped with a cleaning device have become widespread. This cleaning device detects a user by a detection means such as an infrared sensor mounted on a wall, etc., and drives a discharge means connected to the toilet based on the entrance time (use time) of the toilet, etc. It is configured to discharge water. In addition, the automatic washing apparatus is provided with a manual water discharge switch as a water discharge operation means, similarly to the detection means for detecting the use state of the user. This is especially for etiquette washing found in women's toilets, and allows the user to arbitrarily discharge a small amount of water.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional cleaning apparatus has the following problems.
[0004]
(1) Since the detection means and the discharge means are separated from each other, a configuration for connecting the two is required. This connection structure is a wired type that outputs a detection signal from the detection means to the discharge means using a cord, and a wireless type that outputs a detection signal from the detection means to the water discharge means by radio waves or optical signals without using a cord. Two types are possible. However, since the former wired type requires wiring, the construction work is troublesome and the wiring is obstructed. Further, the latter wireless type has a problem in that the cost is increased because the electrical configuration is more complicated than the wired type.
[0005]
(2) The detection means needs to perform the work when installing in the toilet room severely. That is, since the sensor provided in the detection means has directivity, the user cannot be accurately detected unless the attachment position of the detection means is accurately performed, and the water discharge operation by the water discharge means is normally performed. Not done. Since the sensor of the detecting means is accommodated and held in the case in advance, the orientation of the sensor is changed by adjusting the mounting position of the case with respect to the wall or the like when the detecting means is installed.
[0006]
However, since the sensor is housed in the case, there is a limit to the change of the sensor orientation due to the installation space and the like, and delicate adjustment is difficult. For this reason, there has been a problem that the work for installing the detection means becomes very troublesome.
[0007]
(3) In the manual water discharge switch which is one of the detection means, there are some users who feel uncomfortable because the user touches the hand directly such as a touch switch.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object is to enable installation in a small space, to simplify the connection structure between the detection means and the water discharge means, and to be hygienic. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cleaning device having a proper water discharge operation.
[0009]
The second object is to provide an automatic cleaning apparatus that can easily perform fine directivity adjustment of the detection means.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting means for detecting the use state of the user, and for flushing flush water to the toilet based on the detection of the user by the detecting means. In the automatic washing apparatus attached to the upper part of the flush valve provided with the water discharge means, and the casing for housing the detection means and the water discharge means, the detection means is provided in the upper part of the casing via a support member. rotatably provided above and below direction by horizontal and the support member by, as its gist in that the detecting means is for detecting usage of both the toilet using detection and manual water discharge detection of a user.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the casing is divided into two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, and the water discharge means is provided in the first chamber, and the second chamber. The gist of the invention is that the detection means is accommodated in the chamber, and the second chamber is detachably connected to the first chamber.
[0013]
The gist of the invention of claim 3 is that, in the invention of claim 2 , the casing is detachably connected to an existing flush valve connected to a toilet.
[0014]
(Function)
In the first aspect of the present invention, when the user uses the toilet, the use state of the user is detected by the detecting means. Then, the detection means detects the necessity of water discharge for the user in a non-mechanical and hygienic manner. Thereby, a water discharge means is driven and wash water is discharged to a toilet bowl. It said detecting means, via a support member in an upper portion of the casing is performed because it is provided rotatably in the vertical Direction by horizontal and the support member, to facilitate fine directional adjustment of the detector by the casing be able to.
[0015]
In addition, the detection means detects the use of the toilet of the user, determines whether the use is large or small, and performs a function of performing automatic water discharge (automatic cleaning) when the user leaves the room and the user's active Provided is a hygienic and easy-to-use automatic cleaning device that has a detection function for driving a function of performing a general water discharge (manual water discharge) and has a water-saving effect corresponding to the use situation of the user.
[0016]
In the invention according to claim 2 , in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 1 , the casing is divided into two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, and the water discharge means is also provided in the first chamber. Since the detection means is accommodated in the second chamber, for example, when only the detection means is maintained, workability is improved by removing only the second chamber.
[0017]
In the invention described in claim 3 , in addition to the action of the invention described in claim 2 , an automatic cleaning device for a flush toilet having a sanitary water discharge operation combined with an existing flush valve is easily attached.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a discharge pipe 3 is connected to a Japanese style toilet 1 through a supply pipe 2 connected to a water pipe (not shown). A flash valve 4 is connected between the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3. Since the flash valve 4 is an existing one and its structure is also known, the detailed configuration will be described in a simplified manner.
[0019]
A cleaning device 5 is attached to the top of the flash valve 4. The casing 6 constituting the cleaning device 5 is divided into a first chamber A and a second chamber B in the vertical direction. A pull-type solenoid 8 and a battery 9 as an actuator are accommodated via a bracket 7 in a first casing 6a constituting the lower first chamber A. A valve box 10 is connected to the lower end surface of the solenoid 8.
[0020]
A bush 12 having a piston guide hole 11 is screwed onto the upper part of the flash valve 4. A piston valve 13 is accommodated in the bush 12 so as to be slidable up and down. When the piston valve 13 is in the upper position, the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 are communicated with each other. Further, when the piston valve 13 is in the lower position, the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 are disconnected. The valve box 10 is connected to the upper portion of the bush 12. A valve chamber 14 is formed between the lower end surface of the valve box 10 and the upper end surface of the piston valve 13. The piston 15 of the piston valve 13 is formed with a communication hole 16 communicating between an inlet port (not shown) communicating with the supply pipe 2 and the valve chamber 14.
[0021]
A communication port 17 communicating with the discharge pipe 3 is formed at the side of the flash valve 4, and the communication port 17 is closed by a blind plug 18. The blind plug 18 and the side of the valve box 10 are connected by a bypass pipe 19. The valve box 10 is formed with a communication passage 20 that communicates between the valve chamber 14 and the bypass pipe 19. A plunger rod 21 of the solenoid 8 is disposed in the middle of the communication path 20 so that the valve chamber 14 and the bypass pipe 19 are communicated or blocked with the vertical movement of the plunger rod 21. It has become. That is, when the solenoid 8 is held in the non-excited state, the valve chamber 14 and the bypass pipe 19 are disconnected, and when the solenoid 8 is held in the excited state, the valve chamber 14 is disconnected. And the bypass pipe 19 are kept in communication.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second casing 6b constituting the second chamber B houses a sensor 22 constituting detection means. The sensor 22 includes light receiving elements 22c and 22d that are paired with infrared light emitting elements 22a and 22b. A detection window 23 is formed in the wall surface of the second casing 6b so as to open toward a user (not shown) who is using the toilet 1. The sensor 22 detects the usage status of the user through the detection window 23.
[0023]
The infrared light emitting element 22a and the light receiving element 22c detect the user's toilet use time (human body detection), and based on the time (in this embodiment, 120 seconds is the starting point), when the user leaves the room, the amount of water is reduced. In addition to the automatic water discharge, the infrared light emitting element 22b and the light receiving element 22d detect the user's arbitrary water discharge, that is, manual water discharge by placing a hand on the front surface of the sensor 22 (hand detection). Like to do. The detection window 23 is shielded by a translucent cover 38.
[0024]
The sensor 22 is supported by an inner case 24 as a support member via a circuit board (not shown). A pair of left and right rotating shafts 25 are integrally formed on the side surface of the inner case 24. In addition, an opening 26 facing the detection window 23 is formed in the front portion of the inner case 24. A pair of left and right locking pieces 27 protruding downward are integrally formed on the upper inner wall surface of the second casing 6b. An arc surface 28 having the same diameter as the outer diameter of the rotation shaft 25 of the inner case 24 is formed at the tip of the locking piece 27. The rotating shaft 25 of the inner case 24 is engaged with both the arc surfaces 28.
[0025]
In addition, a pair of left and right protruding pieces 29 protruding downward are integrally formed on the upper inner wall surface of the second casing 6b. A locking plate 30 is fastened and fixed to each of the protruding pieces 29 by screws 31. An inclined surface 32 is formed at the front end of the locking plate 30, and the rotating shaft 25 of the inner case 24 is in contact with the inclined surface 32. That is, the rotating shaft 25 is held between the arc surface 28 of the locking piece 27 and the inclined surface 32 of the locking plate 30, and the inner case 24 is connected and held in a suspended state in the second casing 6b.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of radial locking ridges 33 are formed at the center of the upper surface of the first casing 6a. An adjustment plate 34 is connected to the upper surface of the first casing 6a via a screw 36. A locking ridge 35 that engages with a locking ridge 33 formed on the upper surface of the first casing 6 a is formed at the center of the lower surface of the adjustment plate 34. The rotation of the adjustment plate 34 with respect to the first casing 6a is restricted by the engagement of the locking protrusions 33 and 35. Cutout recesses 37 are formed at three locations on the peripheral surface of the adjustment plate 34. Locking recesses 39 communicating with the notch recesses 37 are formed at three positions on the lower surface of the adjustment plate 34. A pair of rotation stopper pieces 40a and 40b are integrally formed on the upper surface of the adjustment plate 34 with a predetermined interval. In addition, a release stopper piece 41 is integrally formed behind (in the center of the adjustment plate 34) between the both rotating stopper pieces 40a and 40b.
[0027]
Engaging protrusions 42 projecting inward are integrally formed at three positions on the inner edge of the lower surface of the second casing 6b. The width of each engagement protrusion 42 is substantially the same as the width of the notch recess 39 formed in the adjustment plate 34. A locking stopper 43 extending downward is integrally formed on the inner wall surface of the second casing 6b. A protruding portion 44 that protrudes outward is integrally formed at the tip of the locking stopper 43. The width of the projecting portion 44 is substantially the same as the width between the pair of rotation stopper pieces 40a and 40b formed integrally with the adjustment plate 34. A through-hole 45 is formed in the wall surface of the second casing 6 b facing the protruding portion 44.
[0028]
In the assembled state of the cleaning device 5, the engagement protrusion 42 of the second casing 6 b is engaged with the engagement recess 39 of the adjustment plate 34, and the protrusion 44 of the engagement stopper 43 is rotated both times of the adjustment plate 34. The movable stopper pieces 40a and 40b are engaged.
[0029]
Therefore, in this state, the second casing 6b is prevented from being lifted with respect to the first casing 6a by the engagement between the engaging protrusion 42 and the locking recess 39. Further, the engagement of the protrusion 44 of the locking stopper 43 and the rotation stopper pieces 40a and 40b of the adjustment plate 34 prevents the rotation of the second casing 6b relative to the first casing 6a.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the cleaning device 5 will be described.
When the infrared light emitting element 22a and the light receiving element 22c of the sensor 22 detect a toilet user, a controller (not shown) housed in the second casing 6b starts a timer. When the controller confirms that the user has left the room with the sensor 22, the controller determines whether or not the user's usage time has passed a predetermined time (120 seconds). Here, when the controller determines that the usage time has passed the predetermined time, the controller determines that the usage status of the user is heavy usage, excites the solenoid 8 and contracts the plunger rod 21. Then, the bypass pipe 19 and the valve chamber 14 are communicated with each other via the communication path 20. Thereby, the water stored in the valve chamber 14 passes through the bypass pipe 19 from the communication path 20 and is discharged to the communication port 17 side. As the water in the valve chamber 14 is discharged, the pressure in the valve chamber 14 decreases, and the piston 15 is raised by the water pressure in the supply pipe 2. Thereby, the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 are communicated with each other, and the wash water is discharged into the toilet 1.
[0031]
When the controller excites the solenoid 8 for a predetermined time, the excitation of the solenoid 8 is stopped and the plunger rod 21 is extended. Then, the communication path 20 is blocked and the communication between the valve chamber 14 and the communication port 17 is blocked, so that water enters the valve chamber 14 from the communication hole 16 of the piston 15 and the pressure in the valve chamber 14 increases. Is done. Then, the piston 15 descends, the connection between the supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 is cut off, and the discharge of the wash water to the toilet 1 is stopped.
[0032]
In addition, when the controller determines that the use time has not passed the predetermined time, the excitation time of the solenoid 8 is set to be short, and the washing water is discharged with a water discharge amount that is about half of the water discharge amount during the large use. The toilet 1 is drained.
[0033]
Next, the manual water discharge operation will be described.
When the hand is put on the front surface of the sensor 22, the operation is detected by the infrared light emitting element 22b and the light receiving element 22d. Based on the detection operation of the infrared light emitting element 22b and the light receiving element 22d, the controller excites the solenoid 8 for a predetermined time and discharges flush water to the toilet 1.
[0034]
Next, an operation when the detection direction of the sensor 22 is changed (adjusted) will be described. When the detection direction of the sensor 22 is inappropriate and the detection sensitivity of the user is insufficient, first, a pin (not shown) is inserted from the through hole 45 of the second casing 6b, and the protrusion 44 of the locking stopper 43 is inserted. Press inward. Then, the base end of the locking stopper 43 is bent and deformed as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. That is, the protrusion 44 is pressed by the pin, and the engagement between the protrusion 44 and the rotation stopper pieces 40a and 40b is released. At this time, when the locking stopper 43 comes into contact with the release stopper 41, further deformation is prevented. Thereby, it can prevent that the latching stopper 43 breaks by the insertion of a pin too much.
[0035]
With the engagement between the protrusion 44 of the locking stopper 43 and the rotation stopper pieces 40a, 40b being released, the second casing 6b is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. It is made to oppose with the notch recessed part 37. FIG. That is, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 42 and the locking recess 39 is released. By lifting the second casing 6b in this state, the second casing 6b can be separated from the first casing 6a.
[0036]
Here, when it seems that the sensitivity of the sensor 22 is bad because the orientation in the left-right direction is inappropriate, the screw 36 that connects the adjustment plate 34 and the first casing 6a is removed. Thereby, the adjustment plate 34 can be rotated with respect to the first casing 6a. Next, the adjustment plate 34 is rotated by an appropriate amount in the direction (horizontal direction) in which the sensitivity of the sensor 22 seems to increase with respect to the first casing 6a. And the screw | thread 36 is tightened and the adjustment plate 34 is made non-rotatable with respect to the 1st casing 6a again.
[0037]
Further, when the sensitivity of the sensor 22 seems to be bad because the vertical direction is inappropriate, the screw 31 on the second casing 6b side is loosened. Accordingly, the holding pressure between the arc surface 28 of the locking piece 27 holding the inner case 24 and the locking plate 30 is reduced, and the inner case 24 can be rotated with respect to the second casing 6b. Next, the inner case 24 is rotated by an appropriate amount in the direction (vertical direction) in which the sensitivity of the sensor 22 seems to increase with respect to the second casing 6b. Then, the screw 31 is tightened so that the inner case 24 cannot rotate with respect to the second casing 6b again.
[0038]
Next, the engagement protrusion 42 of the second casing 6 b is made to correspond to the notch recess 37 of the adjustment plate 34, and the engagement protrusion 42 is fitted into the notch recess 37. At this time, the protruding portion 44 of the locking stopper 43 comes into contact with the back surface of the one rotating stopper piece 40a, and the locking stopper 43 is deformed inward. In this state, the second casing 6b is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow direction in FIG. As a result, the engagement protrusion 42 of the second casing 6 b is engaged with the locking recess 39 of the adjustment plate 34. At the same time, the protruding portion 44 of the locking stopper 43 gets over the one rotating stopper piece 40a and is engaged between the stopper pieces 40a and 40b. Thereby, the rotation and lifting of the second casing 6b with respect to the first casing 6a are prevented.
[0039]
In this way, the detection direction of the sensor 22 is adjusted.
In the present embodiment, since the cleaning device 5 is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
[0040]
(1) Since the casing 6 accommodating the solenoid 8 and the sensor 22 is connected to the flash valve 4, the connection structure between the sensor 22 and the solenoid 8 can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the device 5 can be a small space.
[0041]
(2) The casing 6 is divided into a first casing 6a that houses the solenoid 8 and a second casing 6b that houses the sensor 22, and one of the first casings 6a is connected to the flash valve 4 and the other second casing 6b. The casing 6b was detachably connected to the first casing 6a. Thereby, when only the sensor 22 is maintained, the sensor 22 can be maintained by removing only the second casing 6b from the first casing 6a without removing the entire casing 6 from the flash valve 4.
[0042]
(3) Since the second casing 6b can be rotated in the horizontal direction with respect to the first casing 6a, the detection direction (directivity) to the left and right of the sensor 22 can be easily and finely adjusted. .
[0043]
(4) By making the inner case 24 supporting the sensor 22 rotatable in the vertical direction with respect to the second casing 6b, the vertical detection direction of the sensor 22 can be easily and finely adjusted. it can.
[0044]
(5) The manual water discharge switch is hygienic by adopting a non-touch system that detects its operation without the user touching it directly. The above embodiment may be embodied as follows.
[0045]
(1) The detecting means may be embodied in place of the ultrasonic sensor other than the sensor 22.
(2) The casing 6 may be embodied without being divided.
[0046]
(3) The second casing 6b may be embodied by connecting to the first casing 6a so as to be attachable / detachable and non-rotatable.
(4) The sensor 22 may be embodied by being directly fixed to the second casing 6b without using the inner case 24 as a support member.
[0047]
(5) The water discharge means and actuator may be embodied in place of the motor 8 other than the solenoid 8.
(6) In the above embodiment, when the manual water discharge signal is detected by the sensor 22, the solenoid 8 is excited and the piston valve 13 that shuts off between the water supply pipe 2 and the discharge pipe 3 is raised, so that both pipes 2 , 3 are configured to communicate with each other. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, a push button 51 is attached to the communication port 17, and a rod 52 is connected to the end of the button 51. By pressing the push button 51, the rod 52 may be configured to push the piston valve 13 upward to discharge water. In this case, even if the battery 9 as the power source of the solenoid 8 is discharged and the solenoid 8 cannot be driven, the washing water can be discharged to the toilet 1 by pressing the push button 51. Become.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
According to the invention described in claim 1, the detecting means, since through the support member in an upper portion of the casing, and is rotatably received and held in the vertical Direction by horizontal and the support member by a casing, The detection direction of the detection means in the horizontal and vertical directions can be easily and finely adjusted.
[0049]
In addition, it is possible to obtain a high water-saving effect by determining whether the use state of the user is large or small, and changing the discharge amount of the washing water according to the use state. Furthermore, since the water discharge operation can be performed without touching the hand directly at the time of manual water discharge, it is hygienic and easy to use.
[0050]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, the first chamber and the second chamber are detachably connected, so that individual maintenance work can be performed without removing the entire casing. Can be easily performed, and the workability of the assembly can be improved.
[0051]
According to the invention described in claim 3 , in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2 , it is possible to easily attach an automatic cleaning device for a flush toilet having a sanitary water discharge operation to an existing flush valve.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial front sectional view of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a cleaning device.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning device.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a valve structure connected between a communication port and a bypass pipe in another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Toilet bowl, 4 ... Flash valve, 5 ... Automatic washing apparatus, 6 ... Casing, 6a ... 1st casing which comprises a 1st chamber, 6b ... 2nd casing which comprises a 2nd chamber, 8 ... As a water discharge means and an actuator Solenoid, 22 ... sensor as detection means, A ... first chamber, B ... second chamber.

Claims (3)

Detection means for detecting a use situation of a user, water discharge means for discharging wash water to a toilet based on detection of the user by the detection means, and a casing for housing the detection means and water discharge means In the automatic cleaning device attached to the top of the flush valve provided,
Said detecting means, via a support member in an upper portion of the casing, provided rotatably in the vertical Direction by horizontal and the support member by the casing, said detecting means of the toilet using the detection and manual water discharge detection of a user An automatic cleaning device characterized by detecting both usage conditions.   The automatic cleaning apparatus is composed of a casing divided into two chambers, a first chamber and a second chamber, the water discharge means is housed in the first chamber, and the detection means is housed in the second chamber, The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber is detachably connected to the first chamber.   The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the casing is detachably connected to an existing flush valve connected to a toilet.

Images