JP6441633B2 - Automatic cleaning device for urinals - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning apparatus for a urinal in which a user of the urinal is detected by a sensor for detecting a human body and the urinal is automatically cleaned by ejecting cleaning water.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automatic cleaning device for a urinal, an automatic cleaning device is known that detects a user of a urinal with a human body detection sensor and automatically jets cleaning water to clean the urinal. For example, in the cleaning apparatus described in Patent Document 1, an ultrasonic sensor in which an ultrasonic transmitter and a receiver are separately incorporated is embedded in a wall surface near the urinal. When the user stands in front of the urinal, the urinal is washed by detecting this with an ultrasonic sensor.

  This automatic cleaning apparatus requires a separate work for installing an ultrasonic sensor on a nearby wall surface in addition to the installation of a urinal, which is complicated and expensive. In addition, when the ultrasonic sensor is attached to the wall surface, the sensor may be displaced or the installation position may be varied. In addition, the sensor may be damaged when the sensor is attached.

  On the other hand, in the automatic washing apparatus described in Patent Document 2, an infrared human body detection sensor having a light projecting part and a light receiving part is provided on the front surface of a spreader provided in a bowl part of a urinal.

JP-A 63-212275 JP 2007-321543 A

  However, in the human body detection sensor described in Patent Document 2, a dedicated infrared transparent cover is installed on the surface where the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the spreader are housed to transmit infrared light from the light projecting unit, and further to be incident on the light receiving unit. I had to. In addition, infrared rays are easily affected by ambient light, and are also susceptible to differences in light receiving sensitivity depending on the color of the user's clothes. Furthermore, since the infrared light is a spot-like beam light, there is a drawback that the installation position of the sensor is limited in order to reliably detect the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides an automatic cleaning device for a urinal that has a small number of parts, is not easily affected by ambient light, and can reliably detect a user. For the purpose.

An automatic urinal washing apparatus according to the present invention is a urinal automatic washing apparatus that detects a user by a sensor that detects a human body, thereby jetting washing water into the urinal and washing the urinal. A water supply unit having a water discharge unit to be ejected, a sensor for detecting a user, a holding member for holding the sensor, and a cover for fixing and holding the water supply unit and the holding member and covering at least the holding member. The spreader is provided in the urinal, the sensor is exposed on the surface of the spreader, and the cover of the spreader, the water supply unit, and the holding member are integrated .
According to the automatic cleaning apparatus for a urinal according to the present invention, since the sensor is provided on the spreader, the installation and maintenance of the sensor can be performed by attaching and detaching the spreader, and the assembly and maintenance work is easy. In addition, since the sensor is exposed to the spreader, a covering member for the sensor is not required, the number of parts can be reduced, and the appearance design can be improved.

The sensor is preferably an ultrasonic sensor.
Even if the surface of the sensor is soiled by urine, washing water, or the like, the user can be reliably detected in order to perform detection using an ultrasonic signal. Furthermore, since it is an ultrasonic sensor, it can detect a stationary human body, and even if the user moves slowly or enters from the side, the user can be reliably detected and cleaned with a spreader. In addition, since the ultrasonic sensor is used, the detection range of the human body is wide and can be reliably detected even by a small user such as a child.

In addition, the spreader is preferably a unit that includes a water discharge unit that discharges cleaning water and a water supply unit that supplies water to the water discharge unit, and includes a sensor and a driving substrate thereof.
According to the present invention, since the spreader is unitized by combining a water discharge unit, a sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor, and a driving substrate, it is easy to attach and detach the urinal, and the installation and maintenance work can be performed easily and accurately.

In addition, a sensor may be fitted in an opening provided in the cover of the spreader, and a vibration transmission suppressing body provided in the sensor may seal the opening of the cover, the sensor, and the holding member of the sensor in a liquid-tight manner.
The spreader with a built-in sensor is held in fluid tightness with the spreader cover and the sensor holding member by the vibration transmission deterrent, which protects the sensor against cleaning water, urine, cleaning chemicals, etc. In addition, it is possible to cut off the edge by cutting off the vibration of the sensor and external vibration due to the ejection of cleaning water, etc., so that the noise can be cut off to prevent the malfunction of the sensor.

The spreader may be provided obliquely downward in the urinal.
Since the spreader is provided in the urinal, it is difficult for the user to find the spreader and the sensor, the appearance is good, and adhesion of the sensor such as urine dirt and water droplets can be reduced.

Moreover, it is preferable that the spreader is provided with an electrical path including a sensor and a driving substrate for the sensor on the upper side, and a water discharge unit for discharging cleaning water and a water supply unit for supplying water to the water discharge unit on the lower side. .
The spreader is installed with an electrical path including an ultrasonic sensor and its drive board on the upper side, and a water discharge part and a water supply part on the lower side are installed on the lower side. This can prevent the failure of the sensor.

  According to the automatic cleaning apparatus for a urinal according to the present invention, since the sensor is provided in the spreader, the installation and maintenance of the sensor can be performed by attaching and detaching the spreader, and the assembly and maintenance work is easy. In addition, since the sensor is exposed to the spreader, a covering member for the sensor is not required, the number of parts can be reduced, and the appearance design can be improved.

It is a front view of the urinal by the embodiment of the present invention. It is an AA center sectional view of the urinal shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of a spreader with an ultrasonic sensor attached to a urinal according to an embodiment. It is a center longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spreader shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the spreader with an ultrasonic sensor shown in FIG. The modification of the attachment position of the spreader to the bowl part of a urinal is shown, (a) tooth | gear front view and (b) are center sectional drawings. The other modification of the attachment position of the spreader to the bowl part of a urinal is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a center sectional view.

Hereinafter, an automatic toilet cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a urinal 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, for example, a ceramic urinal. In this urinal 1, the bowl part 2 attached to the wall surface forms a droop receiving part 3 protruding forward from the upper part at the lower part, and the top surface 4 is formed at the upper part of the bowl part surface 2 a. A spreader 5 for automatically ejecting cleaning water is attached to the top surface 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the spreader 5 is installed obliquely downward.

Next, the automatic cleaning device 6 using the spreader 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The spreader 5 ejects washing water and incorporates an ultrasonic sensor 7 that detects that the user stands and moves away from the urinal 1. The ultrasonic sensor 7 is a device that detects a user by transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward a user who is an object by a transmitter and receiving the reflected wave by a receiver. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the transmitter and the receiver are integrally installed in the sensor head 7 a of the ultrasonic sensor 7.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the spreader 5 is a tubular body that houses an ultrasonic sensor 7, a sensor drive board 8 that transmits and receives electrical signals between the ultrasonic sensor 7, and a power transmission wiring (not shown). The electrical path 9 and the water flow path 10 which is a water supply part for the washing water jet installed on the lower side of the electrical path 9 are schematically provided. And since the electrical equipment path | route 9 and the water flow path 10 are water-tightly partitioned by the water flow pipe which forms the water flow path 10, water is not applied to the sensor drive board | substrate 8 grade | etc.,.
The ultrasonic sensor 7 is set so that the ultrasonic irradiation direction is obliquely downward, and is radiated radially around the center line L in the ultrasonic irradiation direction, for example, over a range of 28 degrees (see FIG. 2). Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect not only adults but also small children. Needless to say, the ultrasonic irradiation angle and angle range of the ultrasonic sensor 7 can be arbitrarily set according to the distance from the object, the height, and the like.

In the spreader 5 shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasonic sensor 7 is watertightly fitted to a substantially cylindrical cylinder 12 made of an elastic body such as silicon rubber, and the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 12 is, for example, silicon rubber or the like. A vibration transmission suppressing body 13 which is a ring-shaped packing made of an elastic body is provided. The cylindrical body 12 and the vibration transmission suppressing body 13 have a function of blocking the vibration of the ultrasonic sensor 7 and the transmission of vibration from the outside.
And the ultrasonic sensor 7 fitted to the cylinder 12 is installed in the receiving part 14a formed in the radial direction upper side of the cylindrical sensor case 14 whose diameter is larger than that of the cylinder 12. In this state, the ring-shaped vibration transmission suppressing body 13 protrudes from the sensor case 14 to the outside.

  A spreader body 16 is connected to the rear portion of the sensor case 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the spreader body 16 is provided with an electrical path 9 on the upper side and a water passage 10 having a substantially L shape in side view on the lower side. One or a plurality of water discharge ports 17, which are water discharge portions for discharging washing water to the pot portion 2 of the urinal 1, are arranged at the distal end portion of the water passage 10.

On the other hand, the sensor drive board 8 in the electrical path 9 is connected to the ultrasonic sensor 7 and the water passage 10 by wirings 19a and 19b. And it detects that the human body stood in front of the urinal 1 with the ultrasonic sensor 7, and the required amount of washing water is ejected from the water passage 10 by the sensor drive board 8 as pre-washing. When the ultrasonic sensor 7 detects that the user has moved away from the front of the urinal 1, a required amount of washing water is ejected from the water outlet 17 by the sensor driving substrate 8 as the main washing.
The ultrasonic sensor 7 is positioned in front of the electrical path 9 in a state where the ultrasonic sensor 7 is installed in the receiving portion 14 a in the sensor case 14. A water outlet 17 is installed obliquely below the ultrasonic sensor 7.

  Further, a substantially covered cylindrical cover 21 is fitted to the front end side of the sensor case 14, and the rear end portion of the cover 21 is fitted to the spreader body 16. An opening 21b is formed in the surface 21a of the cover 21, and a sensor head 7a for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic sensor 7 is inserted into the opening 21b. Therefore, the sensor head 7a of the ultrasonic sensor 7 is exposed on the surface 21a of the cover 21, and the sensor head 7a is not covered with a covering material that protects against urine or washing water.

Further, the vibration transmission restraining body 13 is pressed and fitted between the cover 21, the sensor case 14, and the cylindrical body 12 of the ultrasonic sensor 7, so that the opening 21 b of the cover 21 of the spreader 5 and the ultrasonic sensor 7. The space between the cylindrical body 12 and the space between the cylindrical body 12 and the receiving portion 14a of the sensor case 14 are kept watertight. In addition, the cylindrical body 12 of the ultrasonic sensor 7 can be fitted into the opening 21b of the cover 21 in a watertight manner.
Also, the surface including the sensor head 7a of the ultrasonic sensor 7 is to be painted, and the coating structure is layered with a base treatment, a primer, a top coating, and a clear coating, and the top coating is the same color as the spreader 5 and the cover 21. It is preferable in terms of design.

The automatic cleaning device 6 of the urinal 1 according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, and a method for using the same will be described next.
First, when a user stands in front of the urinal 1, a human body is detected by the ultrasonic sensor 7, and a detection signal is output to the sensor drive board 8, and the urinal is discharged from the spout 17 by an instruction signal from the sensor drive board 8. Wash water is jetted onto the surface 1a of the bowl part 1a.

When the user ends the urine and moves away from the urinal 1, this is detected by the ultrasonic sensor 7. Similarly, a detection signal is output to the sensor drive substrate 8, and the pot portion of the urinal 1 is discharged from the spout 17. Washing water is jetted onto the surface 2a to wash the bowl part 2.
Further, since the spreader 5 having the ultrasonic sensor 7 is installed obliquely downward on the top surface 4 of the urinal 1, the ultrasonic waves of the ultrasonic sensors 7 of the urinal 1 facing each other do not physically interfere with each other. No false detection due to interference.

As described above, according to the automatic cleaning device 6 of the urinal 1 according to the present embodiment, since the ultrasonic sensor 7 is used as the human body detecting means, the detection range is wide compared to the infrared sensor, and the position of the sensor is not limited. High degree of freedom. Moreover, since it is strong against disturbance light and resistant to water droplets and temperature changes, the human body can be reliably detected over a wide range.
Further, since the spreader 5 is fixed to the top surface 4 of the urinal 1, it is difficult to see from the user and is not easily affected by splashes of urine and water. Furthermore, since the ultrasonic sensor 7 and the spreader 5 are integrated, it is possible to prevent erroneous assembly of the ultrasonic sensor 7 and to reduce the height of the urinal 1.
In addition, since the sensor head 7a of the ultrasonic sensor 7 is directly exposed to the opening 21b of the surface 21a of the cover 21 that is the surface of the spreader 5, no covering member is required, so that the assembling cost is reduced and urine and washing water are used. Even if the surface of the sensor head 7a becomes dirty due to, etc., there is no false detection, and the human body can be reliably detected by ultrasonic waves. Further, when the ultrasonic sensor 7 and the water discharge port 17 are maintained or repaired, the spreader 5 can be taken out of the bowl portion 2 to perform maintenance inspection, repair, etc., so that maintainability is improved.

In addition, since the cylindrical body 12 made of an elastic body that attenuates vibration and the vibration transmission suppressing body 13 are provided between the opening 21 b of the cover 21, the ultrasonic sensor 7, and the sensor case 14, the vibration of the piezoelectric body of the ultrasonic sensor 7 is provided. Can be prevented from being transmitted to external devices such as the sensor case 14 and the sensor drive board 8 and the like, and the sensor output can be prevented from being lowered. Further, it is possible to prevent the malfunction due to the vibration caused by the ejection of the washing water from the water outlet 17 from the cover 21 or the sensor case 14 to the ultrasonic sensor 7.
Moreover, since the cylindrical body 12 and the vibration transmission restraining body 13 can hold the opening 21b of the cover 21 in the spreader 5 and the ultrasonic sensor 7 and the sensor case 14 in a watertight manner, cleaning water, urine, cleaning chemicals, and the like are ultrasonic. It is possible to prevent intrusion into the sensor 7, the sensor drive substrate 8, and the like, and it is possible to prevent malfunction and corrosion destruction.

  In addition, the automatic washing apparatus 6 of the urinal 1 by this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A suitable change, a replacement | exchange, etc. are possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. In the following, modifications of the present invention will be described. However, the same or similar components or members described in the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the transmitter and the receiver are integrally installed in the sensor head 7a of the ultrasonic sensor 7. However, the transmitter and the receiver are set separately, and the cover of the spreader 5 is set. The sensor heads of the transmitter and the receiver may be fitted and installed by individually forming openings on the surface of 21.

In the above-described embodiment, the sensor head 7a of the ultrasonic sensor 7 is exposed to the opening 21b of the cover 21 and is not covered with the covering material. However, the sensor according to the present invention is limited to the ultrasonic sensor 7. Alternatively, a radio wave sensor or the like may be provided. In this case, the sensor head of the radio wave sensor can be exposed to the opening 21 b of the cover 21.
In the present invention, the sensor case 14 in the embodiment constitutes a holding member.

  Moreover, the attachment position of the spreader 5 with respect to the urinal 1 is not limited to the top surface 4, and can be installed in the appropriate position of the urinal 1. For example, in the modification shown in FIG. 6, it is installed on the upper part of the back wall 2b of the bowl part surface 2a of the urinal 1. In another modification shown in FIG. 7, a substantially U-shaped arm portion 23 may be installed from the top surface 4 of the pot portion 2, and the spreader 5 may be installed at the center of the arm portion 23.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Urinal 2 Bowl part 4 Top surface 5 Spreader 7 Ultrasonic sensor 9 Electrical path 10 Water passage 12 Tubular body 13 Vibration transmission suppression body 14 Sensor case 17 Water outlet 21 Cover 21b Opening

Claims (6)

In the automatic cleaning device for a urinal that detects a user by a sensor that detects a human body, and jets wash water into the urinal and cleans it,
A water supply unit having a water discharge unit for ejecting washing water ;
A sensor for detecting a user;
A holding member for holding the sensor;
A cover that fixedly holds the water supply unit and the holding member and covers at least the holding member;
A spreader having
An automatic cleaning device for a urinal, wherein the sensor is exposed on a surface of the spreader, and the cover of the spreader, the water supply unit, and the holding member are integrated .   The automatic cleaning device for a urinal according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor. The urinal automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the spreader is a unit including the water supply unit and the sensor and a driving substrate thereof.   The sensor is fitted in an opening provided in a cover of the spreader, and a vibration transmission suppressing body provided in the sensor seals the opening of the cover, the sensor, and a holding member of the sensor in a liquid-tight manner. The automatic cleaning device for a urinal according to any one of 1 to 3.   The urinal automatic cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spreader is provided obliquely downward on the urinal. The said spreader installed the electrical equipment path | route provided with the said sensor and a drive board | substrate on the upper side, and installed the water supply part provided with the water discharging part which discharges the said wash water on the lower side. Automatic cleaning device for urinals described in 1.

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