JP6367096B2 - Automatic faucet - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic faucet that controls water discharge by a sensor.

  In kitchens, washstands, and the like, automatic faucets provided with a water discharge pipe, a sensor disposed at the tip of the water discharge pipe, and a water discharge port member are widely used. When an object to be detected such as a hand or tableware inserted below the water outlet member is detected by the sensor, control is performed so that water is discharged from the water outlet of the water outlet member.

  Among automatic water faucets, there is one in which a water outlet member can be pulled out from the main body of the water discharge pipe (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-108286 A

  In the automatic faucet described in Patent Document 1, a water outlet member that can be pulled out from the sensor at the front end of the water discharge pipe as viewed from the user is disposed, and the water outlet member is discharged below the sensor. It is comprised so that it may isolate | separate from a water pipe. In such a configuration, since the distance between the light emitting portion of the sensor and the water discharge port is increased, there is a problem that the sensor is difficult to react when a hand is put out under the water discharge port.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a subject, The objective is to provide the technique which raises the usability | use_condition of the automatic water tap which can draw out a water outlet member from the front-end | tip of a water discharge pipe.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an aspect of the present invention is provided in the vicinity of a water discharge pipe, a water discharge outlet member having a water discharge opening, and a water discharge outlet member that is retractably accommodated at the tip of the water discharge pipe. An automatic faucet comprising: a sensor for detecting an object below the water mouth and starting water discharge. The water outlet member is configured to be drawn from the heel side in the axial direction of the water discharge pipe from the sensor.

  According to this aspect, the structure in which the spout member is pulled out from the sensor in the axial direction of the spout pipe, that is, from behind the sensor, reduces the amount of downward protrusion of the spout member with respect to the light emitting part of the sensor. The distance between the light emitting part of the sensor and the water outlet can be reduced. Therefore, when the hand is put out under the spout, the sensor easily reacts and the feeling of use is improved. Moreover, a wide space below the water outlet can be secured.

  The water discharge pipe may have a shape that swells from the middle portion toward the tip, and the water discharge port member may be configured to be drawable from the swelled portion. According to this, it can be set as the structure which attaches a water discharge outlet member to the front-end | tip of a water discharge pipe, without enlarging a water discharge pipe over the full length. Moreover, since the unevenness | corrugation of a water discharge pipe can be suppressed to the minimum, while being excellent in design property, cleanability improves.

  The spout member may be formed in a shape that is continuous with a smooth curve from the upstream side of the spout pipe to the spout member with the spout member attached. According to this, since the water supply hose connected to the water outlet member is not caught in the water discharge pipe when the water outlet member is pulled out or stored, the water outlet member can be easily operated. Moreover, cleaning becomes easy when the water discharge pipe is smooth.

  The water discharge pipe has a shape that swells in the front-rear direction when viewed from the user toward the tip, and may be configured such that the water discharge port member can be pulled out from either side of the part swelled back and forth. According to this, when the automatic faucet is observed from the front side when viewed from the user, the swelled portion is not conspicuous, and the user can give the user a compact and clean impression as a whole.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the usability | use_condition of the automatic water tap which can draw out a water outlet member from the front-end | tip of a water discharge pipe can be improved.

It is the schematic of the kitchen provided with the automatic faucet which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the whole automatic faucet perspective view. It is a side view of a water discharge pipe. It is an expansion perspective view of the tip of a water discharge pipe. It is a perspective view of the state where the water outlet member was pulled out.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a kitchen provided with an automatic faucet 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A sink 102 is provided in the kitchen 100, and a counter 104 having a step with respect to the top surface is provided on the rear side of the sink 102. An automatic faucet 10 is installed on the left side of the counter 104, and a purified water faucet 106 is installed on the right side of the counter 104. The automatic faucet 10 is connected to a water pipe and supplies normal tap water, while the purified water faucet 106 is connected to a water purifier installed below the sink 102 and supplies purified water.

  Hereinafter, in this specification, the directions such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “inside”, “outside”, “front”, “奧”, etc. are indicated. When the terminology is used, they mean the direction in posture when the automatic faucet 10 is attached to a kitchen or the like.

  FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the automatic faucet 10 of FIG. The automatic faucet 10 mainly includes a water discharge pipe 12, a base end portion 24, and a handle lever 22. FIG. 3 is a side view of the water discharge pipe 12 in a state of being removed from the base end portion 24.

  The water discharge pipe 12 is formed in a so-called gooseneck shape in which an intermediate portion 12a is curved and formed in an inverted U shape, and a distal end 12b extends obliquely downward. The water discharge pipe 12 is formed of a casting made of a metal material. As will be described in detail later, a water outlet member 30 having a water outlet 38 and an automatic water discharge sensor 40 for controlling water discharge from the water outlet 38 are provided at the tip 12b of the water discharge pipe 12. As shown in FIG. 3, a connecting member 26 for connecting to the base end portion 24 is provided on the base end portion side of the water discharge pipe 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the base end portion 24 is disposed on the upper surface of the counter 104 of the kitchen. A handle lever 22 is provided at the upper end of the base end portion 24.

  Inside the base end portion 24, a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe (not shown) connected to a supply source of cold water and hot water respectively extend. An electromagnetic valve (not shown) is provided between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe and a water supply hose that is housed in the water discharge pipe 12 and supplies water to the water discharge port 38. This electromagnetic valve can control the flow of water from the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe to the water supply hose by opening and closing the valve under the control of a control unit (not shown).

  Inside the base end portion 24, a mixing valve (not shown) is provided that mixes water and hot water at a predetermined ratio to obtain hot water having an appropriate temperature. The handle lever 22 is a lever for operating this mixing valve, and adjusts the mixing ratio of water and hot water by turning left and right, that is, adjusts the temperature of the mixed water, and also controls the water discharge flow rate of hot water by turning up and down. Adjust.

  An automatic water discharge sensor 40 is provided at the tip 12 b of the water discharge pipe 12. The automatic water discharge sensor 40 is, for example, an infrared distance measuring sensor having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The automatic water discharge sensor 40 projects light from the light emitting unit to the lower side of the water discharge port 38 of the water discharge port member 30, and receives light reflected from an object to be detected such as a user's hand or tableware by the projected light. To detect whether there is an object to be detected within a predetermined detection area. The automatic water discharge sensor 40 outputs a signal indicating the detection result of the detected object to the control unit.

  A hand-holding sensor 14 is provided on the front side of the water discharge pipe 12, that is, the side facing the user standing in the kitchen. The hand-holding sensor 14 is an infrared light quantity sensor having a light emitting part and a light receiving part. The hand-holding sensor 14 projects light obliquely above the sensor 14, receives light reflected from a detected object such as a user's hand by the projected light, and receives the light within a predetermined detection area. Detect whether there is an object to be detected. The hand-holding sensor 14 outputs a signal indicating the detection result of the detected object to the control unit.

  The control unit is configured by a circuit board on which a microcomputer is mounted. The control unit opens and closes the electromagnetic valve based on an output signal from the automatic water discharge sensor 40 or the hand-holding sensor 14, and switches whether water is supplied from the water outlet 38 of the water outlet member 30. Note that the control unit may be realized by combining elements and circuits including a CPU and a memory of a computer.

  The automatic water discharge sensor 40 is controlled so that water is supplied from the water discharge port 38 only while an object to be detected is detected in the detection area, whereas the hand-holding sensor 14 once in the detection area. When the object to be detected is detected, water supply from the water outlet 38 is continued even if the object to be detected is no longer detected. When an object to be detected is detected again in the detection area, water supply from the water outlet 38 is stopped.

  A push button type on / off switch 16 is provided on the near side as viewed from the user of the water discharge pipe 12 and below the hand-holding sensor 14 (on the tip 12b side). When the on / off switch 16 is turned off, the automatic water discharge sensor 40 does not operate and water is not supplied from the water discharge port 38 even if an object exists below the sensor 40.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the water discharge pipe 12 is formed to have a constant curvature. Further, a hollow projecting portion 18 that bulges toward the lower side of the water discharge pipe 12 is formed from a portion near the apex of the intermediate portion 12a of the water discharge pipe 12 to the tip 12b. The lower surface of the overhang portion 18 has a smaller curvature than the water discharge pipe 12 itself, but is formed so as to be connected by a continuous smooth curve from the base end portion 24 side of the water discharge pipe 12. The tip 18a of the overhanging portion 18 is located on the heel side in the axial direction of the water discharge pipe (the upstream side of the water discharge pipe 12, obliquely upward on the right in FIG. 3) than the tip 12b of the water discharge pipe 12. As a method for manufacturing such a water discharge pipe, there are bulge processing, zinc die casting, resin molding and the like.

  A water discharge port member 30 that can be pulled out is attached to the back side of the water discharge pipe 12 from the front end 12b of the automatic water discharge sensor 40 as viewed from the user. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the spout member 30 is attached to the heel side as viewed from the user rather than the front end of the overhang portion 18 and the front end 12 b of the spout pipe 12. With the water spout member 30 attached, the inner peripheral side of the water spout member 30 is smoothly curved with the base end portion 24 of the spout pipe 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the overhang portion 18. It is formed to be connected.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the tip 12b of the water discharge pipe 12, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the water discharge port member 30 is pulled out.

  The water outlet member 30 has a cover part 32, a switching operation part 34, and a water outlet 38.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a flexible metal water supply hose 50 is connected to the water outlet member 30. The other end of the water supply hose 50 is connected to the electromagnetic valve described above. The water supply hose 50 is accommodated in the water discharge pipe 12 and the overhang portion 18 so as to be movable by a predetermined length in the pipe axis direction. Therefore, when the water discharge port member 30 is pulled out from the water discharge pipe 12, the water supply hose 50 is also pulled out accordingly. The direction in which the water discharge port member 30 is pulled out is substantially the same as the axial direction of the water discharge pipe 12. When the spout member 30 is attached to the water discharge pipe 12, the water supply hose 50 moves through the overhang part 18 and the water discharge pipe 12 toward the base end part 24. Water flowing through the water supply hose 50 is discharged through the water outlet 38.

  The cover unit 32 connects the water supply hose 50 and the switching operation unit 34 and constitutes a portion that is held by the user when the water discharge port member 30 is removed from the water discharge pipe 12. The cover portion 32 also has a function as an attachment that allows the water outlet member 30 to be easily attached to and detached from the water discharge pipe 12.

  An end face 42 that is recessed toward the inside of the pipe is formed at the distal end 12 b of the water discharge pipe 12, and an automatic water discharge sensor 40 is disposed so as to be flush with the end face 42. Since the pipe wall 12c of the water discharge pipe 12 forms the periphery of the automatic water discharge sensor 40, contamination of the sensor light-emitting surface and light-receiving surface due to the user's hand coming into contact with the sensor 40, or tableware hits. Can prevent damage.

  At the tip 12 b of the water discharge pipe 12, a part of the pipe wall 12 c is cut out, and a recessed guide part 44 that functions as a guide when the water discharge port member 30 is stored is provided in the cut out part. . On the upper surface (surface on the near side when viewed from the user) of the cover portion 32 of the water outlet member 30, a convex portion 39 that faces the guide portion 44 when the water outlet member 30 is stored is formed.

  A cylindrical hose guide portion 52 having a hole through which the water supply hose 50 is inserted is provided at the distal end 18 a of the overhang portion 18. Although not shown, a recess for receiving the hose guide portion 52 is formed at the rear end of the water discharge port member 30 facing the overhanging portion 18.

  When the spout member 30 is stored, the rear end of the spout member 30 is guided to the hose guide part 52 by pushing the water supply hose 50 into the hole of the hose guide part 52. When the spout member 30 is pushed in as it is, the convex portion 39 formed on the upper surface of the spout member 30 is guided by the guide portion 44 of the spout pipe 12 and the spout member 30 and the hose guide portion 52 are fitted. Thus, the water discharge port member 30 is held against the water discharge pipe 12. In the case of pulling out the water outlet member 30, when the water outlet member 30 is pulled obliquely downward, the convex portion 39 is guided and pulled out by the guide portion.

  As described above, the overhang portion 18 and the lower surface of the water discharge pipe 12 are smoothly continuous so that there are no corners or large curvature changes in the pipe. For this reason, the water supply hose 50 connected to the water discharge port member 30 is not caught in the water discharge pipe 12 and the overhanging portion 18 when the water discharge port member 30 is pulled out or stored. Easy to operate. Further, since there are no bent portions, the outer surfaces of the water discharge pipe 12 and the overhang portion 18 can be easily cleaned.

  The tip 18a of the overhanging portion 18 with which the rear end of the water outlet member 30 in the stored state is in contact is located closer to the heel side in the axial direction of the water discharge pipe (upstream side of the water discharge pipe 12) than the tip 12b of the water discharge pipe 12. Yes. For this reason, in the state in which the water outlet member 30 is accommodated, the water outlet 38 of the water outlet member 30 is positioned relatively near the automatic water discharge sensor 40. As described above, the water outlet member 30 is structured to be drawn out from the axial side of the water discharge pipe from the automatic water discharge sensor 40, that is, from the back of the sensor 40, so The distance between the light emitting part of the sensor and the water outlet can be reduced by reducing the protruding amount. Therefore, it becomes easy for the sensor to react when the hand is put out under the spout.

  The switching operation unit 34 of the water outlet member 30 is a member for switching the water flowing from the water supply hose 50 to shower water discharge or straight water discharge. The switching operation part 34 has a shape that is smoothly continuous with the lower surface side of the outer periphery of the cover part 32, and has a cylindrical shape as a whole. The switching operation unit 34 is configured to rotate by a predetermined angle (for example, 90 degrees) around the central axis with respect to the cover unit 32. On the cylindrical surface of the switching operation portion 34, a knob portion 36 for a user to put his / her finger is formed. When the position of the knob portion 36 is rotated by a predetermined angle, shower water discharge and straight water discharge can be switched.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the spout member with respect to the light emitting part of the sensor has a structure in which the spout member is pulled out from the automatic spout sensor in the axial direction of the spout pipe, that is, from behind the sensor. It is possible to reduce the amount of protrusion of the member downward and to shorten the distance between the light emitting part of the sensor and the water outlet. Therefore, when the hand is put out under the spout, the sensor easily reacts and the feeling of use is improved. Moreover, the space below the water outlet can be secured widely by reducing the amount of downward protrusion of the water outlet member.

  Further, the water discharge pipe has an overhanging portion that swells in the front-rear direction as viewed from the user from the intermediate portion toward the tip, and the water discharge port member is configured to be able to be pulled out from the overhanging portion. If it carries out like this, it can be set as the structure which accommodates a water discharge port member in the front-end | tip of a water discharge pipe, without enlarging the diameter of a water discharge pipe over the full length. Moreover, since the unevenness | corrugation of a water discharge pipe can be suppressed to the minimum, while being excellent in design property, cleanability improves. Furthermore, by providing the overhanging part on the heel side in the axial direction of the water discharge pipe, the overhanging part does not stand out when the automatic faucet is observed from the front side when viewed from the user, and it is compact and clean overall. Impression can be given to the user.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, embodiment only shows the principle and application of this invention. In the embodiment, many modifications and arrangements can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention defined in the claims.

  In the embodiment, the spout member is provided on the heel side (counter side) as viewed from the user rather than the automatic spout sensor, but the overhanging portion is formed on the front side (sink side) of the spout pipe. The water outlet member may be provided in front of the automatic water discharge sensor. Even in this case, the boundary between the spout member and the overhanging portion is on the heel side (base end side) in the axial direction of the spout pipe relative to the light emitting portion of the automatic spout sensor, and the spout member is drawn from there. If it is, the same effect as the embodiment can be expected.

  Like the overhanging portion described in the embodiment, instead of only the distal end side of the water discharge tube being swelled in the front-rear direction when viewed from the user, the shape may be swelled in the front-rear direction over the entire length of the water discharge tube. And it is good also as a shape swelled in the left-right direction over the full length of the water discharge pipe.

  The automatic faucet according to the present invention can be used for facilities installed in buildings, ships, and the like, and may be used for a washstand, a hand-washer, a bathroom, and the like in addition to a kitchen. Moreover, although the counter was illustrated as a base | substrate to which the base end part of an automatic faucet is fixed, the base | substrate may be a wall member etc. which divides the inside and outside of facilities, such as a bathroom.

  Moreover, the shape of the water discharge pipe is not limited to the gooseneck shape, and may be formed in other shapes.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic faucet, 12 Water discharge pipe, 12b Tip, 18 Overhang part, 24 Base end part, 30 Water outlet member, 32 Cover part, 34 Switching operation part, 36 Knob part, 38 Water outlet, 40 Automatic water discharge sensor, 50 water supply hose, 100 kitchen.

Claims (4)

A spout,
A spout member having a spout, which is housed at the tip of the spout so as to be freely drawable;
A sensor provided in the vicinity of the water outlet, for detecting an object below the water outlet and starting water discharge;
An automatic water faucet comprising
The automatic faucet characterized in that the water spout member is configured to be pulled out from the heel side in the axial direction of the water discharge pipe from the sensor.   The said water discharge pipe has a shape which swells toward the front-end | tip from the intermediate part of this water discharge pipe, The said water discharge port member is comprised so that extraction from the swelled part is possible. Automatic faucet.   The said spout member is made into the shape which follows the smooth curve from the upstream of the said spout pipe to this spout member in the state which accommodated this spout member. Automatic faucet.   The water discharge pipe has a shape that swells in the front-rear direction when viewed from the user toward the tip, and is configured such that the water discharge port member can be pulled out from either one of the swelled parts in the front-rear direction. Item 4. The automatic faucet according to item 2 or 3.

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