JP4575569B2 - Automatic water supply apparatus and water supply method in automatic water supply apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic water supply apparatus that automatically supplies water to a flushing device such as a hand-washer or a toilet, and a water supply method in the automatic water supply apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A water washing device, a sensing unit that senses the use operation of the water washing device, a control unit to which a sensing signal is sent from the sensing unit, and a water stop state by a control signal from the control unit sent based on the sensing signal As a conventional automatic water supply device having a water supply unit that can be switched to a water discharge state, the detection unit is configured to intermittently enter a detection state at a predetermined cycle to save power consumption, and the detection unit Only when it senses the use of a water rinsing device, there are those in which the sensing state of the sensing unit is shortened and sensing signals are frequently output.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional automatic water supply apparatus having the above-described configuration, for example, when gum or detergent adheres to the sensing unit, the sensing signal is frequently output in the same manner as when the use of the water washer is sensed due to malfunction. As a result, power consumption was unnecessarily increased, and it was not possible to prevent the economy from becoming uneconomic.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned matters, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic water supply apparatus and a water supply method in the automatic water supply apparatus that can reduce unnecessary running power and reduce running costs. That is.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an automatic water supply apparatus of the present invention is a flushing device, a sensing unit that senses the use operation of the flushing device by a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, and a sensing signal from the sensing unit. A control unit and a water supply unit that is switched between a water stop state and a water discharge state by a control signal sent from the control unit based on the sensing signal, and the light projection period of the light projecting means in the sensing unit is a time zone. An automatic watering device configured to be changed separately,
The light projection period according to the frequency of use of the washing device obtained by the measurement of the number of times of use of the washing device has a feature that it is set for each time between zones (claim 1).
[0006]
In another aspect, the present invention provides a water basin, a sensing unit that senses the use of the water basin by a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, a control unit that receives a sensing signal from the sensing unit, and the sensing unit. A water supply unit that is switched between a water stop state and a water discharge state by a control signal sent from the control unit based on the signal, and configured such that the light projection period of the light projecting means in the sensing unit is changed according to time zones In supplying water to the washing machine using the automatic water supply device
Wherein the number of times of use of the washing device is measured, the light projection period according to the frequency of use of the resulting washing unit by the measurement of its, is characterized by setting for each time zone (claim 2).
[0007]
With the above configuration, it is possible to provide an automatic water supply apparatus that can reduce unnecessary running power consumption and reduce running costs.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a configuration of an automatic water supply apparatus D according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automatic water supply apparatus D is sent based on the sensing signal, the sensing unit 2 that senses the use operation of the flushing device 1, the control unit 3 that receives the sensing signal from the sensing unit 2, and the sensing signal. A water supply unit 4 that is switched between a water stop state and a water discharge state by a control signal from the control unit 3 is provided.
[0009]
The water basin 1 is, for example, a toilet or a hand basin.
[0010]
The sensing unit 2 includes a light projecting means (not shown) for irradiating light (for example, infrared or near infrared) toward the outside of the water washer 1 (user of the water washer), Light receiving means for receiving reflected light generated by reflection from the user. When the sensing unit 2 is in the sensing state, light is emitted from the light projecting means, and light reflected from the user of the water basin 1 can be received by the light receiving means. The sensing unit 2 may be attached to the washing machine 1 itself, or may be provided near the washing machine 1, part of which is provided in the washing machine 1, and the other part of the washing machine 1. It may be provided at a different position.
[0011]
The control signals sent from the control unit 3 to the water supply unit 4 include a valve closing signal and a valve opening signal. When the valve closing signal is sent to the water supply unit 4, the water supply unit 4 enters a water stop state, and the valve is opened. If a signal is sent to the water supply part 4, the water supply part 4 will be in a water discharge state.
[0012]
When the water supply unit 4 is in a water-stopped state, a valve body (not shown) closes a valve seat (not shown) through which water sent from the upstream side of the water washer 1 to the water washer always passes, In the water discharge state, the valve element is unblocked from the valve seat.
[0013]
And in the automatic water supply apparatus D which consists of said structure, the light projection period of the light projection means in the said sensing part 2 is changed according to a time slot | zone. Before distichum period, the light projecting hand stage is also the period turning on and off. In addition, the said period may be set according to the usage frequency of the flushing machine 1 measured after installing the flushing machine 1 or the automatic water supply apparatus D, and is set according to the usage frequency of the flushing machine 1 assumed. May be.
[0014]
When measuring the usage frequency of the water washing device 1, the measurement period for measuring the usage frequency may be, for example, 24 hours or one month. Further, the use frequency may be measured periodically.
[0015]
Before Kitokoshu period, for example, classification, such as the morning time zone (6 o'clock to 12) day time period (to 18 o'clock 12) night of the time zone (the next morning at 6 o'clock 18) May be changed based on the time, or the day (24 hours) may be equally divided into a plurality of time zones (for example, 3 equal portions, 4 equal portions, 24 equal portions, etc.) Good. In addition, you may set the method of division of the said time slot | zone, and the period in each time slot | zone for every day of the week, for example.
[0016]
The operation of measuring the usage frequency of the water washer 1 for 24 hours from 6 o'clock to 6 o'clock in the next morning and setting the cycle of the sensing unit 2 according to the usage frequency for a certain period of time (30 days) Each case is described below. In addition, the said time slot | zone in a present Example divides 1 day (24 hours) into 3 equal parts, the time slot | zone from 6:00 to 14:00, the time slot | zone from 14:00 to 22:00, and 22:00. To 6 am the next morning.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of the automatic water feeder D.
First, after installing the automatic water supply apparatus D, when a start button (not shown) provided in the automatic water supply apparatus D is pressed (S1), the clock provided in the automatic water supply apparatus D (for example, in the control unit 3) is initialized. (S2), the light projection period of the light projecting means of the sensing unit 2 is set (S3). At this time, the light receiving period of the light receiving means is also set at the same time, so that the period in which the sensing unit 2 is in the sensing state is set. The light projection period is set to a standard period t (for example, 0.5 sec).
[0018]
Subsequently, at the period t set in step S3, the light projecting unit projects light (S4), and when the light receiving unit detects reflected light (S5), the control unit 3 supplies the water supply unit. A valve opening signal is output to 4 (S6), and the water supply unit 4 changes from a water-stopped state to a water-discharged state, so that water is allowed to flow through the flushing device 1.
[0019]
When the light receiving means no longer detects reflected light (S7), a valve closing signal is output from the control unit 3 to the water supply unit 4 (S8), and the water supply unit 4 changes from a water discharge state to a water stop state and is washed with water. Water supply to the vessel 1 is stopped.
[0020]
After the valve closing signal is output in step S8, it is determined whether or not a predetermined measurement time (that is, 24 hours from the start time when the start button is pressed in this embodiment) has elapsed (S9). If the predetermined measurement time has not elapsed, each RAM is counted according to the usage time (S10). More specifically, the counting in the time zone from 6 o'clock to 14 o'clock is performed on the RAM 1, the counting in the time zone from 14 o'clock to 22 o'clock is performed on the RAM 2, and from 22:00 to 6 o'clock the next morning The counting in the time zone is performed on the RAM 3. Each RAM is provided in the control unit 3, for example.
[0021]
And after measurement of the said usage frequency is performed for predetermined time (24 hours), control of the automatic water supply apparatus D based on the usage frequency of the water washing machine 1 obtained by the said measurement will be made automatically. .
[0022]
That is, after the frequency of use of the water rinsing device 1 is measured for a predetermined time, the timepiece is initialized (S11), and the day memory is counted (12). And the light projection period value according to the use frequency (use frequency) of the water washing machine obtained by said measurement is calculated and substituted (S13), and the light projection period in each time slot | zone is set with reference to a clock. (S14). In addition, the said day memory is provided in the said control part 3, for example.
[0023]
In addition, as above-mentioned, a light projection period value is automatically set according to the statistical value for every time slot | zone of the use frequency of the water washing machine 1, and the use frequency and light projection period in each time slot | zone are set. The relationship should be decided in advance. For example, when the number of times of use is less than the standard number of times (for example, less than 10 times), the projection period in that time zone is set to twice the standard period t, that is, 2t (for example, 1.0 sec). Is the standard number of times (for example, 10 times or more and less than 30 times), the projection period in that time period is set to the standard period t (for example, 0.5 sec), and the number of uses is larger than the standard number of times (for example, In the case of 30 times or more), if the projection period in that time zone is set to half of the standard period t, that is, t / 2 (for example, 0.25 sec), as shown in FIG. The number of times of use in the time zone from 14:00 to 14:00 was 19 times, the number of times of use in the time zone from 14:00 to 22:00 was 38 times, and the number of times of use in the time zone from 22:00 to 6:00 the next morning was 9 times. Then, from 6:00 to 14:00 The light projection period in the time zone is t (0.5 sec), the light projection period in the time zone from 14:00 to 22:00 is t / 2 (0.25 sec), the time zone from 22:00 to 6:00 the next morning The light projection period is 2t (1.0 sec).
[0024]
Then, after the light projection period in each time zone is set as described above, the light projecting means emits light at the period set in step S14 (S15), and the light receiving means is When the reflected light is detected (S16), a valve opening signal is output from the control unit 3 to the water supply unit 4 (S17), so that the water supply unit 4 changes from a water stop state to a water discharge state so that water flows into the flushing device 1. become.
[0025]
When the light receiving means no longer detects reflected light (S18), a valve closing signal is output from the control unit 3 to the water supply unit 4 (S19), and the water supply unit 4 changes from a water discharge state to a water stop state and is washed with water. Water supply to the vessel 1 is stopped.
[0026]
After the valve closing signal is output in step S19, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) has elapsed since the start time of step 11 at which the clock was initialized (S20). If it has not elapsed, the process returns to step S14. If the predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined whether or not a predetermined period (for example, 30 days) has elapsed with reference to the number of days memory (S21). And if the predetermined period has not passed, it will return to step S11, and if 30 days have passed, it will return to step S1 and will measure the usage frequency of the water washing machine 1 again.
[0027]
In the automatic water supply apparatus D having the above-described configuration, the light projecting period of the light projecting means in the sensing unit 2 is set according to the frequency of use of the water washer 1, thus saving power for operating the sensing unit 2. In addition, even if gum or detergent adheres to the sensing unit 2, the power required to operate the sensing unit 2 does not change, so unnecessary power consumption is reduced and running costs are reduced. This is particularly effective when a dry battery is used as a power source.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide an automatic water supply apparatus and a water supply method in the automatic water supply apparatus that can reduce the running cost by suppressing unnecessary power consumption.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a configuration of an automatic water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing the operation of the automatic water supply apparatus in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a graph schematically showing a relationship between a statistical value of the number of uses of the water rinsing device and a light projection period in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Washing machine, 2 ... Sensing part, 3 ... Control part, 4 ... Water supply part, D ... Automatic water supply apparatus.

Claims (2)

A water washing machine, a sensing unit that senses the use operation of the water washing machine by a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, a control unit that receives a sensing signal from the sensing unit, and a control unit that is sent based on the sensing signal. An automatic water supply apparatus comprising a water supply unit that is switched between a water stop state and a water discharge state by a control signal, wherein the light projection period of the light projecting means in the sensing unit is configured to be changed according to time zone,
Automatic water supply device in which the light projecting period according to the frequency of use of the washing device obtained by the measurement of the number of times of use of the washing device, characterized in that it is set for each time between zones. A water washing machine, a sensing unit that senses the use operation of the water washing machine by a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit, a control unit that receives a sensing signal from the sensing unit, and a control unit that is sent based on the sensing signal. A water rinsing device using an automatic water supply device comprising a water supply unit that is switched between a water stop state and a water discharge state by a control signal, and configured such that the light projection period of the light projecting means in the sensing unit is changed according to time zones In supplying water to
Wherein the number of times of use of the washing device is measured, the water supply method in an automatic watering system for the light projection period according to the frequency of use of the resulting washing unit by the measurement of its, and setting for each time zone.

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