JP5489058B2 - Kitchen faucet - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a kitchen faucet equipped with a sensor unit, and the sensor unit is an invention related to a kitchen faucet that detects the state of water flow using radio waves such as microwaves and controls spout water.

Conventionally, a pair of photoelectric sensors is provided in the sink, and the object is detected by blocking light from the photoelectric sensor by holding an object to be detected such as a hand or tableware in the vicinity of the photoelectric sensor, thereby opening the valve. There was a stopper (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
However, as in Patent Document 1, when the light from the photoelectric sensor is blocked, water discharge is started, and when there is no light blocking, the water is stopped. If it enters, the light from the photoelectric sensor will be blocked by a cooking utensil, etc., so that the water will remain discharged, and the user may discharge water even in situations where the user does not want to discharge water. was there.

  Also, in the faucet that controls the water stoppage by detecting the presence of an object in the vicinity of the spout, such as a commonly used automatic faucet, in the sink or in the vicinity of the spout like a kitchen In places where various operations are performed, even if the user wants to stop the water, an object may be present in the detection range of the sensor, and the water may not be stopped in a timely manner.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-75570

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and can detect water stoppage or water discharge continuation more accurately by detecting the state of the detected body even in a kitchen with a lot of complicated work. A kitchen faucet is provided to realize more precise control.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a water discharge unit for discharging water obliquely downward with respect to the sink bottom surface, a sensor unit for collecting information on water discharged from the water discharge unit as a detection signal, and the sensor unit A kitchen faucet that opens and closes a valve based on the detection signal and controls the water discharge from the water discharge portion, and the sink is provided with a work table adjacent thereto. The sensor unit is provided on a sink side surface adjacent to the workbench, and radiates a radio wave in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of water discharged from the water discharging unit in a top view and toward the sink bottom surface , The control unit keeps the valve open when the sensor unit collects information on the scattered water that collides with the body to be cleaned with respect to the water to be discharged, so that the user can use the cleaning water. Whether or not It is possible to perform constant easily. In the present invention, in order to discharge water obliquely downward from the water discharge portion, the water discharge flow is discharged in an oblique direction with respect to the sink bottom surface. When radio waves are radiated substantially orthogonally to the water discharge flow when viewed from above, the radio waves are applied substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the water discharge flow, making it difficult to obtain a signal for the movement of the water discharge flow alone. However, in the present invention, since a radio wave is further radiated in the direction of the bottom surface of the sink, it is possible to obtain a large signal for an object that falls substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the sink. Here, during washing, the discharged water stream becomes scattered water when it collides with the object to be cleaned, and falls in the vertical direction, so that a large signal is output for the scattered water. For this reason, it is possible to output a large signal for the scattered water generated when using the water discharge flow and to output a small signal for only the water discharge flow not using the water discharge flow. Therefore, since it is possible to determine the usage state of the water discharge flow from the state of the water discharge flow, it is possible to perform strict opening / closing control when performing valve opening / closing control.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the control unit performs an optimal water stop control by closing the valve in accordance with a detection signal based on information on the water discharge flow detected by the sensor unit. It can be realized. Here, the scattered water can be detected more strictly by radiating the radio wave from the sensor unit substantially orthogonal to the discharged water flow in a top view and downward in the sink bottom direction. Therefore, if it is recognized that the object to be cleaned collides with the water discharge flow based on the information on the scattered water, the water can be stopped accurately even when there is an operation not related to the water discharge flow above the sink. Therefore, it becomes possible to realize water stop control according to the intention of the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the sensor unit is disposed above the sink on the side surface of the sink adjacent to the work table, so that it is possible to more strictly determine whether or not to stop water. Become. Here, by installing the sensor unit above the side surface of the sink, the transmission range of the radio wave transmitted from the sensor unit can be radiated from the top of the sink to the bottom of the sink with respect to the vertical direction of the sink. Become. As a result, radio waves can be reliably transmitted to the scattered water falling inside the sink, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in detection accuracy due to the height at which the scattered water is generated. It is possible to obtain information used for water stop control.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to transmit radio waves in the falling direction of scattered water generated during cleaning by transmitting radio waves from the sensor unit substantially orthogonal to the water discharge flow and to the lower part of the sink. In addition, since the radio wave is radiated in a direction substantially orthogonal to the traveling direction of the water discharge flow only for the water discharge flow, the detection signal obtained by the scattered water is larger than the detection signal obtained from the state of the water discharge flow alone. It becomes possible to detect the scattered water reliably. As a result, it is possible to reliably detect the state in which the discharged water flow is used, so that it is possible to stop the water at the timing intended by the user if it is detected that there is no scattered water. Become.

Schematic configuration diagram of the kitchen faucet of the present invention Top view of the kitchen faucet of the present invention Front view of the kitchen faucet of the present invention

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the kitchen faucet of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the schematic configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the schematic configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1 to 3 show a water discharge unit 1 that discharges water obliquely downward with respect to the bottom surface of the sink 2, a sensor unit 3 that collects information on the detected object as a detection signal, and a valve based on a detection signal from the sensor unit 3. A kitchen faucet that opens and closes 5 and controls water discharge from the water discharge unit 1, and a work table 10 is provided adjacent to the sink 2, and a sensor unit 3 is provided on the sink side surface adjacent to the work table 10, and is configured to radiate radio waves in a direction substantially orthogonal to the flow of the water discharge flowed from the water discharge unit 1 in a top view and toward the sink bottom surface. . Here, the kitchen faucet of the present invention has a water discharge section 1 that discharges water obliquely downward with respect to the bottom surface of the sink. Since the water can be discharged obliquely downward, for example, when the faucet body is mounted on the rear edge of the sink as shown in FIG. 1, the user who uses the water is discharged even when the amount of protrusion to the front edge of the faucet body is small. Therefore, it is possible to supply water to a place where the user can easily use even in a form in which the faucet body does not exist above the sink. In addition, since it becomes possible to make a faucet body that does not have a protruding amount in the sink leading edge direction above the sink, the faucet body enters the field of view in cooking work in the sink or in the vicinity of the sink opening surface. The smooth cooking operation that exists in the flow line of the cooking operation is not hindered, and the action of rotating the faucet body and removing it from the work space can be reduced.

  Further, in the present invention, the work table 10 is provided adjacent to the sink, and the sensor unit is provided on the side surface of the sink adjacent to the work table 10. In the cooking operation, there are operations such as cutting, mixing, washing food and equipment quickly while standing in front of the work table 10, and washing the cooking utensils and food in front of the faucet body. And water discharge is often used immediately before the faucet body, that is, in a state of standing on the front edge of the sink. Therefore, it is desirable to install the sensor unit in a place where the valve 5 can be opened and closed from the cooking table and the front edge of the sink. By installing the sensor unit on the side of the sink adjacent to the work table 10 as in the present invention, it is possible to perform the operation while moving toward the faucet even when operating from the cooking table. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a physical load such as moving the body largely only for this purpose. In particular, since the washing work from the cooking table has a large number of washing times in a short time of about 2 to 3 seconds, the physical load can be greatly reduced. In addition, even when washing from the front edge of the sink, it is possible to reduce a physical load such as reaching for the rear edge of the sink. In addition, since the sensor is installed on the side surface of the sink, the sensor unit can be installed without disturbing cooking work in the sink and can be easily operated from the front edge of the sink.

  Next, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the radio wave radiated from the sensor unit is configured to be substantially orthogonal to the flow of the water discharge flow discharged from the water discharge unit 1 in a top view. Here, in sensing using radio waves, the signal obtained for an object moving in a direction substantially parallel to the transmission direction of the radio waves is output at a speed that is substantially the same as the moving speed. Large output. However, in sensing using radio waves, a signal with almost no velocity component is output to an object that moves substantially orthogonal to the radio wave transmission direction, as in a substantially stationary state. Here, since the object does not appear to move from the sensor, the signal hardly appears, and as a result, the signal level is output as a small signal. Therefore, by radiating radio waves substantially orthogonal to the flow of water discharged, the signal output from the sensor unit tends not to be output for the movement of the water discharge flow alone.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the radio wave is radiated toward the sink bottom surface. Here, when the object to be cleaned is inserted into the water discharge flow during the cleaning operation using the water discharge, the water discharge flow collides with the body to be cleaned and the hand to be cleaned, and the momentum of the water discharge flow is reduced. It becomes scattered water and falls almost perpendicular to the bottom of the sink. In the present invention, since a radio wave is transmitted from the sensor unit installed on the side surface of the sink toward the bottom surface of the sink, the traveling direction of the radio wave is radiated with a vector in the vertical direction. Therefore, the moving direction of scattered water generated during cleaning and the transmission direction of radio waves have the same vector at least in the vertical direction, so the detection signal from the sensor unit for scattered water corresponds to the falling speed of the scattered water. A detection signal having a velocity component is output, and a detection signal having a large level can be output.

  As described above, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the radio wave radiated from the sensor unit is directed substantially orthogonally to the flow of the water discharge flow in the top view and toward the bottom surface of the sink. Scattered water generated during use can be detected, and only the water discharge flow in a state where water discharge is not used cannot be detected. Therefore, since it is possible to determine whether or not the user is using the water discharge based on the state of the water discharge flow, that is, only the scattered water or the water discharge flow, the valve 5 suitable for the use state of the user's water discharge. It is possible to perform opening / closing control. Furthermore, in the method of performing the opening / closing control of the valve 5 using the general object presence / absence information, in a situation where it is not desired to use the discharged water, the cooking operation in the vicinity of the sink enters the detection range of the sensor unit. Although there is a high possibility that erroneous detection will occur, in the configuration of the present invention, it is complicated work by making the configuration capable of controlling the opening and closing of the valve 5 according to the behavior of the discharged water flow. Even in a large kitchen, it is possible to control the valve 5 in accordance with the user's intention.

  Here, the start of water discharge in the present invention, that is, the opening operation control of the valve 5 is described. As described above, since the work in the kitchen is very complicated, if the opening operation of the valve 5 is controlled by using the presence or absence of a user near the sink, water is discharged at a timing unintended by the user. Could occur. Further, when the opening operation of the valve 5 is controlled using the presence or absence of a user in a place where work is not performed above the faucet, it is necessary to perform an operation such as reaching a large hand for the operation, In the case where a device that raises and lowers the shelf from above the stopper is provided, water discharge may occur carelessly depending on the raising and lowering state of the shelf.

  Therefore, in the present invention, information on the vicinity of the sink side surface where the sensor unit is installed can be used to reduce the user's physical load during the water discharge operation, and to prevent erroneous detection in the surrounding environment and operation. Based on the above, the valve 5 is opened. Here, in the vicinity of the side surface of the sink, it is known that if the work is performed, the hand or the cooking utensil may collide with the side wall, and there is little cooking work in the vicinity of the side surface of the sink (based on the investigation result of the inventors). Therefore, by controlling the opening operation of the valve 5 based on the user's operation in the vicinity of the sink side surface, it is possible to provide a kitchen faucet that can reduce false detection even when there is a cooking operation inside the sink.

  Here, when the user performs an operation to discharge water on the sensor unit installed on the sink side surface, in order to perform an operation on the vicinity of the sink side surface, the hand approaching the operation is the sink side surface. Therefore, the vehicle is decelerated to suppress the collision. In the present invention, by detecting the movement of the hand decelerating on the sink side surface, it is determined that the user has approached the sink side surface to perform an operation, and this movement is performed by opening the valve 5. It is used as a detection signal for performing. Thereafter, the user performs an acceleration operation of the hand such as a hand-holding or snapping operation on the sink side surface. Therefore, as a control method for performing the opening operation of the valve 5, first, the deceleration of the hand is detected, Thereafter, the valve 5 is opened only when it is detected that a predetermined operation is performed. By such a control method, it is possible to prevent water discharge at a timing unintended by the user in response to a complicated movement in the cooking operation inside the sink. In addition, as described above, in order to determine how the detection signal from the sensor unit moves, a signal processing circuit is provided in the control unit 6, and in this signal processing circuit, The user's movement is collected in time series using a filter or FFT, and the user's movement as described above is determined based on the movement change (frequency and signal intensity) for each time.

  Moreover, in the kitchen faucet of this invention, it is set as the structure which installs a sensor part above the sink of a sink side surface like FIG. By installing the sensor unit above the sink, that is, near the sink opening, radio waves radiated downward with respect to the sink bottom surface can be radiated in the range from the vicinity of the sink opening surface to the sink bottom surface. As a result, it is possible to output a detection signal from the sensor unit to the movement of the scattered water in the vertical direction from the sink opening surface to the sink bottom surface, so that the user can use the water discharge anywhere. Since it is possible to reliably detect the movement of the scattered water generated at the place of use falling to the bottom of the sink, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not the user has discharged water. .

  Furthermore, by installing the sensor unit above the sink, when the user performs a water discharging operation on the sensor unit, it is possible to reduce a physical load such as inserting a hand into the sink. It is possible to use the kitchen faucet without large body movement to perform the operation during the cooking operation. Furthermore, since it is installed above the sink, it is possible to avoid a state in which cooking utensils are stacked immediately before the sensor unit even when cooking utensils etc. are installed inside the sink. It becomes possible to radiate inside the sink, and it becomes possible to detect the movement of the scattered water more precisely.

  With the above configuration, by radiating radio waves from the sensor unit toward the bottom surface of the sink, it becomes possible to reliably detect detection signals accompanying the movement of scattered water that occurs when the user uses water discharge. Thus, it is possible to reliably perform the water stop control according to the use situation of the user's water discharge. Furthermore, because the structure allows water discharge control along with the movement near the side of the sink where the sensor unit is installed, depending on the complicated movement associated with cooking work inside the sink, the timing is not intended by the user. Since it is possible to suppress water discharge, it is possible to provide a kitchen faucet capable of realizing control of water discharge in accordance with the user's intention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water discharge part, 2 ... Sink, 3 ... Sensor part, 4 ... Water discharge flow, 5 ... Valve, 6 ... Control part, 7 ... Radiation direction of a radio wave, 8 ... Water supply pipe, 9 ... Single lever, 10 ... Worktable

Claims (3)

A water discharger that discharges water obliquely downward with respect to the bottom surface of the sink;
A sensor unit that collects information on water discharged from the water discharge unit as a detection signal;
A control unit that opens and closes a valve based on a detection signal from the sensor unit, and controls water discharge from the water discharge unit;
A kitchen faucet comprising:
A work table is provided adjacent to the sink,
The sensor unit is provided on a sink side surface adjacent to the work table,
Radiating radio waves in a direction substantially orthogonal to the flow of the water discharge discharged from the water discharge portion and in the direction of the sink bottom ,
The said control part maintains the opening operation | movement of a valve | bulb when the said sensor part collects the information of the scattered water which collides with a to-be-cleaned body about the water discharged as a detection signal, The kitchen faucet characterized by the above-mentioned.   The kitchen faucet according to claim 1, wherein the controller closes the valve in accordance with a detection signal based on information on water discharge detected by the sensor unit. The kitchen faucet according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the sensor unit is disposed above the sink on the side surface of the sink adjacent to the work table.

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