JP7154486B2 - toilet equipment - Google Patents

Description

Aspects of the present invention relate generally to toilet apparatus.

In the toilet device described in Patent Document 1, after using the toilet device (for example, when the human body detection sensor stops detecting the user), the bowl of the toilet is automatically sprayed with hypochlorous acid water. be. In this toilet device, since the hypochlorous acid water is sprayed only on the bowl of the toilet bowl, there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of suppressing the generation of bacteria and dirt in every corner of the toilet bowl, toilet seat, toilet lid, etc. There is

In the toilet with a mist cleaning device described in Patent Document 2, mist of ozone water, electrolytic sterilization water, or high-temperature water is sprayed based on manual operation by the user. Patent Document 2 states that the mist generated by the mist cleaning device can be spread to every corner of the toilet bowl, toilet seat, toilet lid, and the like by air currents to clean them.

Japanese Patent No. 5029930 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-138605

In order to suppress the generation of bacteria and stains on the toilet bowl and the like, it is preferable to execute an after-mist mode that automatically sprays sterilized water such as hypochlorous acid water after using the toilet seat device. Moreover, in the after-mist mode, in order to disinfect every corner of the toilet bowl, toilet seat, etc., it is preferable to spray the disinfected water not only inside the toilet bowl but also over a wide area including the toilet seat.

In addition, it may be difficult to remove stains adhered to the inside of the toilet bowl and the toilet seat only in the after-mist mode. Therefore, it is preferable to execute a manual mist mode in which the disinfected water is sprayed over a wide area such as the inside of the toilet bowl and the toilet seat based on the user's manual operation. For example, the user wipes off the sterilizing water sprayed on the toilet seat or the like in the manual mist mode with toilet paper (wiping sterilization). This makes it possible to easily remove adhered stains.

Immediately after the after-mist mode ends, the sprayed sterilized water may remain on the toilet seat. Therefore, when the user uses the toilet seat device immediately after the after-mist mode ends, the user's buttocks and hands may come into contact with the sterilized water that has landed on the toilet seat, causing discomfort. Therefore, in order to quickly dry the toilet seat, it is preferable that the amount of sterile water that lands on the toilet seat is small.

However, as in the after-mist mode, if the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat is reduced in the manual mist mode as well, the toilet paper or the like cannot be thoroughly impregnated with the sterilized water. For this reason, there arises a problem that the sterilization performance is lowered and the resin toilet seat is damaged during wiping.

The present invention has been made based on the recognition of such problems, and the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode can suppress the generation of bacteria and dirt in a wide range such as a toilet bowl and a toilet seat. To provide a toilet seat device capable of easily removing scum and having both drying performance in an after-mist mode and wiping performance in a manual mist mode.

A first invention is a toilet seat device installed in the upper part of a toilet bowl, comprising a toilet seat on which a user sits, a sterilization device that generates sterilized water, and a mist that sprays the sterilized water. A device, a detection sensor that detects the user, a manual operation unit for the user to spray the disinfectant water, and based on the detection information of the detection sensor or the operation information of the manual operation unit, A control device that controls the sterilization device and the spray device, and the control device changes from a state in which the detection sensor detects the user to a state in which the user is not detected, An after-mist mode in which the mist of the sterilized water is automatically sprayed into the toilet bowl and the toilet seat, and an after-mist mode in which the mist of the sterilized water is sprayed into the toilet after the user operates the manual operation unit. and a manual mist mode for spraying the toilet seat, and the average amount of water landing per unit area of the disinfected water landing on the toilet seat in the manual mist mode is the above The toilet seat device is characterized in that the spray device is controlled so that the amount of the disinfected water that lands on the toilet seat portion is greater than the average amount of water per unit area.

According to this toilet seat device, after the user uses the toilet, the disinfected water can be made to land on the toilet bowl and the toilet seat in the after-mist mode. As a result, it is possible to automatically suppress the generation of germs and stains not only on the toilet bowl but also on a wide area such as the toilet seat. In addition, the manual mist mode makes it possible to further suppress the generation of bacteria and stains by causing the disinfected water to land on the toilet bowl and the toilet seat at the timing when the manual operation unit is operated. For example, by wiping off the sterilizing water that has landed on the surface using toilet paper or the like, it is possible to sterilize adhered stains that are difficult to suppress in the after-mist mode. The user can easily remove bacteria by wiping without using special disinfecting paper. In this way, the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode can suppress the generation of germs and dirt in a wide area such as the toilet bowl and the toilet seat, and easily remove the germs and dirt.
Furthermore, since the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat in the after-mist mode is relatively small, the toilet seat can be dried in a short time after the after-mist. As a result, even when the user uses the toilet seat device after the after-mist, the disinfected water can be prevented from touching the user's hands and buttocks. In addition, since the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat in the manual mist mode is relatively large, the sterilized water can be thoroughly impregnated into the toilet paper or the like. As a result, it is possible to improve the sterilization performance by wiping, and to prevent the resin toilet seat from being damaged during wiping. Therefore, both the drying performance in the after-mist mode and the wiping performance in the manual mist mode can be achieved.

According to a second invention, in the first invention, a blower device for blowing air into the toilet bowl is further provided, and the spray device is configured to blow air into the toilet bowl in a state where the toilet seat device is installed on the upper part of the toilet bowl. The air blower is arranged below the toilet seat, and the air blower generates an ascending air current that raises the mist of the sterilized water sprayed from the spray device toward the toilet seat, and the controller operates in the manual mist mode. 2. The toilet seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spraying device is controlled so that the time for spraying the sterilized water is longer than the time for spraying the sterilized water in the after-mist mode.

According to this toilet seat device, the sterilized water mist sprayed from below the toilet seat rises toward the toilet seat due to the rising air current, and can land on the toilet seat. As a result, the disinfected water can be applied not only to the toilet bowl but also to the toilet seat with a single spray device, and the toilet seat device can be miniaturized.
In addition, since the time to spray sterilized water in manual mist mode is longer than the time to spray sterilized water in after-mist mode, the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat in manual mist mode is relatively small. can do a lot. For example, it is conceivable to change the amount of sprayed sterilizing water by changing the particle size of the mist of sterilizing water without changing the spraying time of sterilizing water. For example, by increasing the particle size, it is possible to increase the amount of sterilized water that lands. However, if the particle size is increased, there is a risk that the sterilized water will be less likely to ride on the rising air current. On the other hand, according to this toilet seat device, by changing the spraying time of the sterilized water, it is possible to increase the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat without changing the particle size. Therefore, the mist of the sterilized water can be easily put on the rising air current, and the sterilized water can be spread over a wide area of the toilet seat.

In a third invention based on the first or second invention, the control device executes the manual mist mode in a state where the detection sensor detects the user, and then the detection sensor detects the user. is detected, the after-mist mode is executed even when the state changes from the state in which the user is detected to the state in which the user is not detected.

According to this toilet seat device, even if the manual mist mode is executed before the user uses the toilet seat device (defecating or urinating), the after-mist mode is executed to more reliably remove bacteria and dirt. The occurrence can be suppressed.

In a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the control device detects the user within a first predetermined time after the end of the manual mist mode. When the state changes to the state where the user is not detected, the after-mist mode is not executed, or the amount of the disinfected water sprayed by the spray device in the after-mist mode is set to the end of the manual mist mode. This toilet seat device is characterized in that the detection sensor changes from the state in which the user is detected to the state in which the user is not detected after a first predetermined time has elapsed from the time of the first predetermined time, compared to the case where the detection sensor does not detect the user.

If the user leaves the toilet room immediately after the end of the manual mist mode, there is a possibility that the sterilized water that has landed on the toilet seat or the upper surface of the rim of the toilet bowl has not been wiped off. In other words, if the detection sensor does not detect the user within the first predetermined time after the end of the manual mist mode, there is a possibility that disinfectant water remains on the upper surface of the toilet seat and rim. . Therefore, in this toilet seat device, when the detection sensor does not detect the user within the first predetermined time after the end of the manual mist mode, the after mist mode is not executed, or the sterilization in the after mist mode is performed. Use less water. As a result, it is possible to prevent the disinfected water from dripping out of the toilet bowl due to excessive wetness of the upper surface of the toilet seat and rim due to the after-mist mode.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control device controls the manual mist Mode is not executed, or the amount of the sterilized water sprayed by the spray device in the manual mist mode is compared with the case where the manual operation unit is operated after a second predetermined time has elapsed from the end of the after mist mode. The toilet seat device is characterized by reducing

Immediately after the after-mist mode ends, if the next user enters the toilet room, the upper surface of the toilet seat and rim may be wet with disinfectant water. In other words, if the manual operation unit is operated within the second predetermined time after the end of the after-mist mode, the disinfected water may still remain on the upper surfaces of the toilet seat and rim. Therefore, in this toilet seat device, if the manual operation unit is operated within the second predetermined time after the end of the after-mist mode, the manual mist mode is not executed, or the amount of sterilized water in the manual mist mode is reduced. do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the top surface of the toilet seat and rim from getting too wet due to the manual mist mode, and the sterilized water from dripping outside the toilet bowl.

In a sixth invention, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, further comprising a drying device for drying the toilet seat, wherein the control device controls the drying device during or after execution of the after-mist mode. is operated with a first drying force, and the drying device is not operated during or after the execution of the manual mist mode, or is operated with a second drying force smaller than the first drying force. It is a device.

According to this toilet seat device, during or after the execution of the after mist mode, the drying device dries the toilet seat with a relatively large first drying force, thereby shortening the drying time of the disinfected water that has landed on the toilet seat. can do. On the other hand, during or after the execution of the manual mist mode, the drying device does not operate, or the disinfectant water that has landed on the toilet seat is dried by drying the toilet seat with a relatively small second drying force. can do. As a result, the toilet seat can be prevented from drying out before the disinfected water that has landed on the toilet seat is wiped off with toilet paper.

According to the aspect of the present invention, the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode can suppress the generation of bacteria and dirt in a wide range such as a toilet bowl and a toilet seat, and can easily remove bacteria and dirt. To provide a toilet seat device that achieves both drying performance in the after-mist mode and wiping performance in the manual mist mode.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toilet device according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a block diagram which illustrates the principal part structure of the toilet seat apparatus which concerns on embodiment. 4(a) to 4(e) are a plan view and a perspective view illustrating the toilet device according to the embodiment. 5(a) to 5(c) are perspective views illustrating another toilet apparatus according to the embodiment. 6(a) to 6(c) are schematic diagrams illustrating the spray device according to the embodiment. 7(a) and 7(b) are plan views illustrating the disk of the spray device according to the embodiment. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment; 9(a) and 9(b) are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating operations in an after-mist mode and a manual mist mode of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment; 11(a) and 11(b) are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode. 12(a) to 12(d) are plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in an after-mist mode; 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in a manual mist mode. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the operation|movement in the pre-mist mode of the toilet seat apparatus which concerns on embodiment. 16(a) to 16(c) are cross-sectional views and plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the pre-mist mode. 17(a) to 17(c) are cross-sectional views and plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the pre-mist mode. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in an after-mist mode; 19(a) to 19(e) are plan views illustrating the toilet apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a table illustrating the amount of mist landing on water in an after-mist mode; FIG. 21(a) and 21(b) are perspective views illustrating a method for measuring particle size according to the embodiment. 22(a) and 22(b) are a plan view and a cross-sectional view illustrating part of a toilet apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each drawing, the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent elements, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet apparatus according to an embodiment; FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating part of the toilet apparatus according to the embodiment.

The toilet apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a western-style seated toilet bowl (hereinafter simply referred to as a “toilet bowl” for convenience of explanation) 800 and a toilet seat apparatus 100 . Toilet bowl 800 has a concave bowl portion 801 that receives waste. The toilet seat device 100 is installed on top of the toilet bowl 800 .

The toilet seat device 100 has a casing 400 , a toilet seat portion 200 on which a user sits, and a toilet lid 300 . The toilet seat 200 and the toilet lid 300 are pivotally supported to the casing 400 so as to be freely opened and closed. The state of FIG. 1 is a state in which the toilet seat 200 is closed (lowered state) and the toilet lid 300 is open (raised state). The toilet lid 300 covers the seat surface of the toilet seat portion 200 from above in the closed state.

Inside the casing 400, there is built-in a body washing function part and the like for realizing washing of the human body parts ("buttocks", etc.) of the user sitting on the toilet seat part 200. As shown in FIG. Further, for example, the casing 400 is provided with a seating detection sensor 404 that detects that the user has sat on the toilet seat portion 200 . When the seating detection sensor 404 detects the user sitting on the toilet seat 200, the user operates the manual operation unit 500 such as a remote control, for example, the washing nozzle (hereinafter simply referred to as "nozzle" for convenience of explanation). ) 473 into the bowl portion 801 of the toilet bowl 800 . Note that the toilet seat device 100 shown in FIG. 1 shows a state in which the nozzle 473 has advanced into the bowl portion 801 .

One or more water outlets 474 are provided at the tip of the nozzle 473 . The nozzle 473 can jet water from a spout 474 provided at the tip of the nozzle 473 to wash the "bottom" of the user sitting on the toilet seat 200. FIG.

In the specification of the present application, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “forward”, “backward”, “left side” and “right side” respectively refer to the toilet seat 200 with the back facing the open toilet lid 300. This is the direction viewed from the seated user.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet bowl 800 has a rim portion 805 provided over the bowl portion 801 . Rim portion 805 is an annular portion that forms the upper edge of toilet bowl 800 . A pooled water 801 w is stored in the bowl portion 801 . For example, when the user operates the toilet flushing operation with a switch provided on a remote control or the like, or when the user stands up from the toilet seat 200, the toilet flushes (discharges the dirt in the bowl portion 801 and ) is performed. Washing water is supplied into the bowl portion 801 in washing the toilet bowl. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, flush water is discharged from the bowl water supply port 811 along the upper edge of the toilet bowl 800 .

Rim portion 805 has a top surface 806 and an inner wall surface 807 . The top surface 806 is the surface facing the back surface 204 of the closed toilet seat 200 . The inner wall surface 807 is a portion of the inner wall of the toilet bowl 800 (the wall surface facing the center side of the bowl portion 801) above the portion through which flushing water for flushing the toilet bowl flows. That is, in the specification of the present application, the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 refers to a non-cleaning portion in toilet flushing. In the example of FIG. 2, the inner wall surface 807 includes an upright surface positioned above the bent portion 805B that is bent like a shelf.

The inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 is a portion that is subject to a large amount of dirt because dirt easily adheres directly to the inner wall surface 807 . In addition, the bowl portion 801 and the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 are highly permissive to wetting, because even if they get wet, problems are unlikely to occur.

The toilet seat portion 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 are less likely to be directly contaminated with dirt than the inner wall surfaces 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 . For example, the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat portion 200 and the rim portion 805 is covered with urine and dirty water splashed by the bowl portion 801 and the pooled water 801w. Therefore, the toilet seat portion 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 are relatively less soiled. In addition, if the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 or the rim 805 becomes excessively wet, the disinfected water may touch the user's skin or drip outside the toilet bowl. The top surface 806 of the is a less tolerant area for wetting.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the essential configuration of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment.
Note that FIG. 3 also shows the main configuration of the waterway system and the electrical system.
The toilet seat device 100 has a solenoid valve 431, a sterilization device 450, a switching valve 472, a spray device 481, a nozzle motor 476, a nozzle 473, a nozzle washing chamber 478, flow paths 110-113, and the like. These are arranged within the casing 400 .

The channel 110 is a channel for guiding water supplied from a water supply source (not shown) such as a tap or a water storage tank to the spray device 481, the nozzle 473, and the like. A solenoid valve 431 is provided upstream of the flow path 110 . The electromagnetic valve 431 is an electromagnetic valve that can be opened and closed, and controls water supply based on commands from the control device 405 provided inside the casing 400 .

A sterilization device 450 that generates sterilized water is provided downstream of the solenoid valve 431 on the flow path 110 . The sterilization device 450 generates sterilized water containing, for example, hypochlorous acid. An example of the sterilization device 450 is an electrolytic cell unit. The electrolytic cell unit electrolyzes tap water flowing through a space (flow path) between an anode plate (not shown) and a cathode plate (not shown) under control of energization from the control device 405 . Note that the sterilized water is not limited to one containing hypochlorous acid. For example, the sterilized water may be a solution containing metal ions such as silver ions or copper ions, a solution containing electrolytic chlorine or ozone, acidic water, or alkaline water. The sterilization device 450 is not limited to an electrolytic cell, and may have any configuration that can generate sterilized water.

A switching valve 472 is provided downstream of the sterilization device 450 on the flow path 110 . A nozzle 473 , a nozzle cleaning chamber 478 and a spray device 481 are provided downstream of the switching valve 472 . The flow path 110 is branched by a switching valve 472 into a flow path 111 that guides water to the nozzle 473 , a flow path 112 that guides water to the nozzle cleaning chamber 478 , and a flow path 113 that guides water to the spray device 481 . Switching valve 472 controls opening and closing of flow path 111 , flow path 112 and flow path 113 based on a command from control device 405 . That is, the switching valve 472 controls water supply to the nozzle 473 , the nozzle cleaning chamber 478 and the spray device 481 . Also, the switching valve 472 switches the flow rate of water supplied downstream thereof.

The nozzle 473 receives a driving force from the nozzle motor 476 and advances or retreats into the bowl portion 801 of the toilet bowl 800 . That is, the nozzle motor 476 advances and retreats the nozzle 473 based on commands from the control device 405 . The nozzle 473 is housed inside the casing 400 when not in use. The nozzle 473 is extended forward from the casing 400 and discharges water from the water discharge port 474 to wash the human body parts.

The nozzle cleaning chamber 478 cleans the outer peripheral surface (body) of the nozzle 473 by spraying sterilized water or tap water from a spout provided therein.

The spray device 481 turns tap water or sterilized water generated by the sterilizer 450 into a mist. The spraying device 481 sprays the bowl portion 801, the rim portion 805, and the toilet seat portion 200 with the mist M (sterilized water mist or tap water mist). In other words, the spray device 481 causes the sterile water mist or tap water mist to land on the bowl portion 801 , the rim portion 805 and the toilet seat portion 200 . In the specification of the present application, "landing on water" means that water (disinfected water or tap water) adheres to the surface of an object. In particular, the term “direct water landing” means that water (microparticles p of sterilized water or tap water) reaches the surface of an object from the air.

Inside the casing 400, a toilet seat motor 511 (rotating device), a toilet lid motor 512 (rotating device), an air blower 513, and a hot air heater 514 are provided.
The toilet seat motor 511 electrically rotates and opens/closes the toilet seat 200 based on a command from the control device 405 . The toilet lid motor 512 electrically rotates and opens and closes the toilet lid 300 based on a command from the control device 405 .

The blower device 513 is, for example, a fan provided inside the casing 400 . Air blower 513 operates based on a command from control device 405 . For example, the blades rotate as the motor of the blower 513 rotates. Thereby, the air blower 513 can blow air toward the inside of the toilet 800 (for example, the inside of the bowl portion 801). In addition, the air blower 513 may blow air to the private parts of the user sitting on the toilet seat 200 . Warm air heater 514 warms the air sent to the outside of casing 400 by air blower 513 . As a result, warm air can be sent toward the user's private parts to dry the private parts.

The toilet seat heater 515 (drying device) is provided inside the toilet seat 200, for example. The toilet seat heater 515 has, for example, an annular metal member provided along the periphery of an opening 200a formed in the center of the toilet seat portion 200. As shown in FIG. When the toilet seat heater 515 is energized based on a command from the control device 405 , the toilet seat heater 515 warms the toilet seat portion 200 . As the toilet seat heater 515, for example, a tubing heater, a sheathed heater, a halogen heater, a carbon heater, or the like may be used. The metal member is made of, for example, aluminum or copper. Moreover, various shapes such as a sheet shape, a wire shape, and a mesh shape can be adopted as the shape of the metal member.

A circuit to which power is supplied from a power supply circuit (not shown) is used for the control device 405 . For example, controller 405 includes an integrated circuit such as a microcomputer. The control device 405 operates the electromagnetic valve 431, the sterilization device 450, It controls the switching valve 472, the nozzle motor 476, the air blower 513, the hot air heater 514, the toilet seat heater 515, the toilet seat motor 511, and the toilet lid motor 512.

The manual operation unit 500 is an operation unit for the user to spray sterilized water at arbitrary timing, for example. For example, the manual operation unit 500 is a remote controller having switches or buttons. When the user operates the manual operation unit 500, operation information (signal) instructing spraying of the disinfectant water is sent to the control device 405. The control device 405 controls the sterilization device 450 and the spray device 481 based on the operation information. Thereby, the user can spray the sterilized water by operating the manual operation unit 500 .
In addition, the manual operation unit 500 may have switches, buttons, and the like for the user to operate each function of the toilet seat device 100 in addition to spraying the sterilized water. When an operation corresponding to each function is performed, the operation information is sent to the control device 405, and the control device 405 controls the operation of each part of the toilet seat device 100 based on the operation information.

The seating detection sensor 404 can detect whether or not the user is seated on the toilet seat 200 . A seating detection sensor 404 detects seating and leaving of the user. The seating detection sensor 404 can be a microwave sensor, a ranging sensor (infrared projection sensor), an ultrasonic sensor, a tact switch, a capacitance switch (touch sensor), or a strain sensor. In this example, the seating detection sensor 404 uses a distance sensor provided in the casing 400 .

When contact sensors such as a tact switch, an electrostatic sensor, and a strain sensor are used, these contact sensors are provided on the toilet seat 200 . When the user sits on the toilet seat portion 200, the tact switch is pressed by the user's weight. Alternatively, the user touches the electrostatic sensor. Alternatively, pressure is applied to the strain sensor by the weight of the user. The seating of the user can be detected by electrical signals from these sensors.

Human body detection sensor 403 can detect a user in front of toilet bowl 800 , that is, a user in a position spaced forward from toilet seat 200 . That is, the human body detection sensor 403 can detect a user who has entered the toilet room and approaches the toilet seat 200 . As such a human body detection sensor, for example, a pyroelectric sensor, a microwave sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a ranging sensor (infrared projection type sensor) can be used. In this example, the human body detection sensor 403 is a pyroelectric sensor provided in the casing. In addition, the human body detection sensor 403 detects a user who has just opened the door of the toilet room and entered the room, or a user who has just entered the toilet room, that is, a user who is about to enter the toilet room and is present in front of the door. You may For example, when a microwave sensor is used, it is possible to detect the presence of the user through the door of the toilet room.

The control device 405 receives detection information from the human body detection sensor 403 (signal indicating whether or not the user is present) and detection information from the seating detection sensor 404 (signal indicating whether or not the user is seated). Based on the information, the operation of each part of the toilet seat device 100 is controlled.

The control device 405 can perform three types of mist modes: an after-mist mode, a pre-mist mode, and a manual mist mode.
The after-mist mode is, for example, an operation mode in which a mist of sterile water is automatically sprayed based on the detection information of the detection sensor 402 after the user uses the toilet device 10 . The pre-mist mode is, for example, an operation mode in which a mist of sterilized water or tap water is automatically sprayed based on the detection information of the detection sensor 402 before the user uses the toilet device 10 . The manual mist mode is an operation mode in which mist of sterilized water is sprayed based on the operation information of the manual operation unit 500 .

4(a) to 4(e) are a plan view and a perspective view illustrating the toilet device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4(a) shows a part of the toilet device 10 viewed from the front.
As shown in FIG. 4( a ), the spray device 481 , the nozzle damper 479 , and the blower damper 516 are positioned in the rear upper portion of the bowl portion 801 when the toilet seat device 100 is installed on the toilet bowl 800 .

FIG.4(b) expands and represents a part of Fig.4 (a). In addition, in FIG.4(b), a part of casing 400 located in front of the spraying apparatus 481 is abbreviate|omitted for visibility.
The nozzle damper 479 is rotatably supported with respect to the casing 400 . The nozzle 473 is positioned behind the nozzle damper 479 in a state of being retracted inside the casing 400 . During washing of a human body part, the nozzle 473 comes into contact with the nozzle damper 479 , rotates the nozzle damper 479 to open, and advances from the inside of the casing 400 .

4(c) to 4(e) are enlarged perspective views showing the periphery of the spray device 481, the nozzle damper 479, and the blower damper 516. FIG.
Blow damper 516 is rotatably supported with respect to casing 400 . A blower 513 is arranged behind the blower damper 516 . Blow damper 516 covers opening 516 a of casing 400 . The air sent from the blower 513 is sent into the toilet bowl 800 through the opening 516a.

4(c) shows a state in which the blower device 513 has stopped operating, and in FIGS. 4(d) and 4(e), the blower device 513 operates and blows air into the bowl portion 801. Indicates status.
As shown in FIG. 4(c), the air blow damper 516 is closed when the air blow is stopped.
As shown in FIG. 4D , when the blower 513 operates, the blower damper 516 is rotated and opened by the pressure (wind pressure) of the air sent from the blower 513 . As a result, the air blower 513 blows air from the rear upper portion in the bowl portion 801 toward the front lower portion in the bowl portion 801, as indicated by arrow A1, for example.
In the state of FIG. 4(e), the amount of air blown by the blower 513 is greater (or the wind speed is higher) than in the state of FIG. 4(d). In this case, the blower damper 516 is further rotated and opened compared to the state of FIG. 4(d). As a result, the air blower 513 blows air from the upper rear portion of the bowl portion 801 toward the upper front portion of the bowl portion 801 as indicated by an arrow A2, for example.

Thus, the direction of the air blown from the air blower 513 is changed by the air blow damper 516 . In other words, the air blower 513 can control the blowing direction by the air volume (air velocity). By placing the mist sprayed from the spray device 481 on the airflow generated by the wind from the blower device 513, the range where the mist lands and the amount of water droplets in each range (disinfecting water that lands in each range Or the amount of tap water) may be controlled.

5(a) to 5(c) are perspective views illustrating another toilet apparatus according to the embodiment. In this example, a mist damper 482 is provided in front of the spray device 481 . The mist damper 482 covers at least part of the front of the spray device 481 in the closed state. For example, when the mist damper 482 is closed, it covers the front of a disk 481b, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

The mist damper 482 is fixed to, for example, the nozzle damper 479 and interlocks with the nozzle damper 479 . When the nozzle damper 479 opens, the mist damper 482 also opens, and when the nozzle damper 479 closes, the mist damper 482 also closes.

5(b) and 5(c) are enlarged views of the nozzle damper 479 and the mist damper 482. FIG. FIG. 5(b) shows a state in which the nozzle 473 is retracted inside the casing 400. FIG. At this time, the nozzle damper 479 is in a closed state and covers the front of the nozzle 473 . Also, the mist damper 482 is in a closed state and covers at least part of the front of the spray device 481 .

When the spray device 481 is not used, the spray device 481 is hidden from the bowl portion 801 side by the mist damper 482 as shown in FIG. 5(b). As a result, it is possible to prevent urine and dirt from adhering to the spray device 481 .

FIG. 5C shows a state in which the nozzle 473 has advanced forward and the nozzle damper 479 has been rotated. The forward advance distance of the nozzle 473 at this time may be shorter than the forward advance distance during washing of the human body's private parts. For example, the tip of the nozzle 473 is in contact with the nozzle damper 479 . Also, in FIG. 5C, the mist damper 482 rotates together with the nozzle damper 479 and is open. A portion of the spray device 481 (disk 481b) is exposed to the bowl portion 801 side. Thereby, the spray device 481 can spray mist toward the bowl portion 801 . Note that the spray device 481 may be arranged inside the casing 400 without providing the mist damper 482, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 22, for example.

6(a) to 6(c) are schematic diagrams illustrating the spray device according to the embodiment.
6(a) is a perspective view of the spray device 481, and FIG. 6(b) is a side view of the spray device 481. FIG.
The spray device 481 has a motor 481a and a disc 481b connected below the motor 481a. Rotation of the motor 481 a is controlled by the control device 405 . When the motor 481a rotates, the rotational driving force is transmitted to the disk 481b, and the disk 481b rotates.

As shown in FIG. 6B, water W (tap water or sterilized water generated by the sterilizer 450) is supplied to the upper surface of the disk 481b. By supplying the water W while the disk 481b is rotating, the spray device 481 sprays the water W in the form of mist. In this example, the disk 481b has a flat disk shape, but it may be provided with irregularities as appropriate, or may have a conical shape or a spherical shape.

FIG. 6(c) is an enlarged view of a portion of the disc 481b viewed from above. The water W dropped on the upper surface of the rotating disk 481b spreads out like a film on the disk 481b due to centrifugal force and is emitted from the disk 481b. At this time, the water W splits from the vicinity of the edge of the disk 481b while remaining in the form of a film, or splits after becoming filamentous, and then becomes fine particles p (mist). The particle size of the mist (the diameter of the fine particles p) can be controlled by the rotation speed of the disk 481b, that is, the rotation speed of the motor 481a. The higher the rotation speed, the smaller the particle size of the mist. For example, low-speed rotation with a rotation speed of about 1000 (rotation per minute: rpm), medium-speed rotation with a rotation speed of about 10000 rpm, or high-speed rotation with a rotation speed of about 20000 rpm is used as appropriate to obtain the desired particle size. . Further, by adjusting the flow rate of the water W supplied to the spray device 481 from the water supply port 481c, the particle size of the mist can be controlled.

In the specification of the present application, the particle size is the particle size of the fine particles p existing in the air before landing on the toilet device 10, for example, the Sauter mean particle size (total volume/total surface area). The method of measuring "particle size" in this specification will be described later with reference to FIG. Moreover, mist refers to particles having a particle size in the range of 10 micrometers (μm) to 300 μm. If the particle size of the mist is less than 10 μm, it will take a long time to wet the target portions such as the bowl portion 801, the rim portion 805, and the toilet seat portion 200 with the mist. In the case of using sterilized water containing hypochlorous acid, if the particle size of the mist is less than 10 μm, the concentration of hypochlorous acid in the mist tends to be attenuated, and the sterilization performance tends to decrease. On the other hand, if the particle size of the mist is larger than 300 μm, it is difficult to diffuse the mist, making it difficult to spray the mist over a wide area. In the following description, large particle size mist is mist having a particle size of 100 μm or more and 300 μm or less, preferably 150 μm or more and 300 μm or less, and medium particle size mist is mist having a particle size of 50 μm or more and 200 μm or less. In the following, mist having a particle size of preferably 60 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and small particle size mist means mist having a particle size of 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less, preferably 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less.

7(a) and 7(b) are plan views illustrating the disk of the spray device according to the embodiment.
7(a) and 7(b) show the rotating disk 481b viewed from above. In the example of FIG. 7A, there is one water supply port 481c for supplying water W onto the disk 481b. In this case, in the area near the water supply port 481c, the water W is emitted from the disk 481b before the water film of the supplied water W becomes thin on the disk 481b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the particle size of the mist is uneven around the spray device 481. FIG. That is, a region R1 where the mist particle size is relatively large, a region R2 where the mist particle size is medium, and a region R3 where the mist particle size is relatively small are generated. In addition, the flow rate (amount of mist sprayed per unit time) is also biased according to the particle size of the mist. That is, the flow rate is large in the region R1, medium in the region R2, and small in the region R3.

For this reason, for example, depending on the position of the water supply port 481c and the rotation direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) of the disk 481b, the particle size, flow rate, direction, etc. of the mist sprayed from the spray device 481 into the toilet bowl 800 can be adjusted. Thereby, the range where the mist sprayed from the spray device 481 lands and the amount of mist lands in each range may be controlled. Also, a cover or the like for controlling the direction in which the mist is sprayed may be appropriately provided around the disk 481b.

Also, the number of water supply ports 481c is not limited to one, and a plurality of water supply ports 481c may be provided. For example, in FIG. 7B, four water supply ports 481c are provided. The water supply ports 481c are arranged every 90 degrees when viewed from the center of the disc 481b. By arranging a plurality of water supply ports 481c along the outer periphery of the disk at approximately equal intervals in this way, it is possible to suppress unevenness in particle size and flow rate of the mist around the spray device 481 and perform uniform spraying.

The spray device 481 is arranged below the toilet seat portion 200 in a state where the toilet seat device 100 is installed on the toilet bowl 800 (see FIG. 2), and sprays mist toward the inside of the toilet bowl 800 . Here, the state in which the spray device 481 is arranged below the toilet seat 200 means that at least a portion of the spray device 481 (disk 481 b in this example) is below the toilet seat 200 . As a result, mist of tap water or sterilized water is sprayed into the toilet bowl 800 from below the toilet seat 200 .

In addition, in the embodiment, the spray device is not limited to the device described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 . For example, an ultrasonic atomization device may be used as the atomization device. An ultrasonic atomizer irradiates a liquid with ultrasonic waves to mist the liquid. Also, for example, a two-fluid nozzle may be used as the spray device. The two-fluid nozzle jets the gas and the liquid together to make the liquid mist. However, when the device described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 is used, there is an advantage that the blower 513 can easily control the spray range. In addition, the risk of clogging is low, and auxiliary equipment such as a compressor is not required.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment.
9(a) and 9(b) are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9(b) shows target portions (P1 to P4) on which mist of sterilized water or tap water lands. FIG. 9A shows the amount of water landing on each target portion (amount of water landing per unit area) in each mist mode in four stages of "large", "medium", "small", and "very small".

In the pre-mist mode, after the detection sensor 402 changes from not detecting the user to detecting the user, the disinfected water or tap water does not land on the toilet seat 200 automatically. A mist of sterilized water or a mist of tap water is sprayed into the toilet bowl 800 .

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when a user enters the toilet room and the human body detection sensor 403 detects that the user has entered the room, a signal (detection information) indicating that the user has entered the room is transmitted to the control device 405. be. Controller 405 automatically executes the pre-mist mode based on the signal. In the pre-mist mode, the control device 405 causes the spray device 481 to spray mist of tap water and causes the mist to land on the target site. Target portions in the pre-mist mode are, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a target portion P3 (the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805) and a target portion P4 (the bowl portion 801). In the pre-mist mode, the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805 are not sprayed.

In this way, before using the toilet seat device 100, the disinfected water or tap water is made to land in the toilet bowl 800 in the pre-mist mode. As a result, a water film is formed in the toilet bowl 800, which has a large dirt load and a high degree of tolerance for wetting, and adhesion of waste can be suppressed. On the other hand, on the toilet seat portion 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 where the dirt load is small, even if the water film is not formed in the pre-mist mode, after using the toilet seat device 100, the disinfected water can be made to land in the after-mist mode. , it is possible to suppress the sticking of contaminants. Therefore, in the pre-mist mode, the toilet seat device 100 sprays a mist of sterilized water or tap water into the toilet bowl 800 so as not to land on the toilet seat portion 200 . As a result, the pre-mist mode and the after-mist mode suppress the generation of bacteria and dirt in a wide range such as the toilet bowl 800 and the toilet seat 200, and the user can use the sterilized water or tap water sprayed in the pre-mist mode. You can avoid getting wet. For example, even if the user rotates the toilet seat 200 by hand or sits on the toilet seat 200 immediately after the pre-mist mode is executed, the user's buttocks and hands may be sterilized by landing on the toilet seat. It can prevent contact with water or tap water. That is, the user can immediately use the toilet seat device 100 without getting wet with the mist.

Furthermore, in the pre-mist mode, by preventing the mist from landing on the toilet seat 200, a water film can be formed in the toilet bowl 800 in a short time, and the execution time of the pre-mist mode can be shortened. A user who has entered the toilet room can use the toilet seat device 100 without waiting for the end of the pre-mist mode.

In addition, in the pre-mist mode, the range in which "sterilized water or tap water does not reach the toilet seat" is not limited to the case where all the mist does not reach the toilet seat 200. It may include cases where For example, the amount of tap water or sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat 200 in pre-mist mode is less than the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat 200 in after-mist mode or manual mist mode. However, in the pre-mist mode, the amount of sterilized water or tap water that lands on the toilet seat 200 is preferably as small as possible, for example, zero.

The after-mist mode automatically sprays sterile water mist onto the toilet bowl 800 and the toilet seat 200 after the detection sensor 402 goes from detecting the user to not detecting the user.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the user leaves the toilet room and the human body detection sensor 403 detects that the user has left the room, a signal (detection information) indicating that the user has left the room is transmitted to the control device 405. be. Controller 405 automatically executes the aftermist mode based on the signal. In the after-mist mode, the control device 405 causes the sterilization device 450 to generate sterilized water, causes the spray device 481 to spray sterilized water mist, and lands the mist on the target site. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, target sites in the after mist mode are target site P1 (front surface 203 of toilet seat 200), target site P2 (back surface 204 of toilet seat 200 and rim 805). upper surface 806), a target portion P3 and a target portion P4.

In this manner, by executing the after-mist mode, the disinfected water can be automatically made to land on the toilet bowl 800 and the toilet seat portion 200 after the user uses the toilet seat device 100 . As a result, the generation of germs and stains can be automatically suppressed not only in the toilet bowl 800 but also in a wide area such as the toilet seat portion 200 .

Since the after-mist mode is executed after the user uses the toilet seat device 100, it is easy to secure a longer non-use time than before use. Therefore, even if the toilet seat portion 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 get wet in the after-mist mode, the toilet seat portion 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 are likely to dry before the next use.

In the manual mist mode, after the user operates the manual operation unit 500, a mist of sterilized water is sprayed inside the toilet bowl 800 and on the toilet seat 200. FIG.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the user operates the manual operation unit 500 while entering the toilet room (for example, after executing the pre-mist mode), a signal (operation information) corresponding to the operation is transmitted to the control device 405. be done. Controller 405 executes the manual mist mode based on the signal. The manual mist mode is executed before and after using the toilet seat device 100, and when cleaning. In the manual mist mode, the control device 405 causes the sterilization device 450 to generate sterilized water, causes the spray device 481 to spray sterilized water mist, and lands the mist on the target site. The target parts in the manual mist mode are the target part P1, the target part P2, the target part P3, and the target part P4, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b).

In this way, by causing the disinfected water to land on the toilet bowl 800 and the toilet seat 200 in the manual mist mode, it is possible to further suppress the generation of germs and stains. For example, by wiping off the sterilizing water that has landed on the surface using toilet paper or the like, it is possible to sterilize adhered stains that are difficult to suppress in the after-mist mode. The user can easily remove bacteria by wiping without using special disinfecting paper.
Also, for example, a user who is concerned about dirt on the toilet seat portion 200 before using the toilet seat device 100 can disinfect the toilet seat portion 200 in the manual mist mode. Since sterilization is performed based on the user's own operation, it is possible to enhance the user's sense of security and satisfaction.

As shown in FIG. 8, after executing the manual mist mode while the detection sensor is detecting the user, the control device 405 does not detect the user from the state where the detection sensor is detecting the user. Aftermist mode is executed even if it is in the state. As a result, even if the manual mist mode is performed before the user uses the toilet seat device 100 (defecating or urinating), the after-mist mode is performed to more reliably suppress the generation of bacteria and dirt. can do.

However, if the user leaves the toilet room immediately after the manual mist mode ends, there is a possibility that the disinfected water that has landed on the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and rim 805 has not been wiped off. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the manual mist mode is executed after the use of the toilet seat device 100 and the detection sensor does not detect the user within the first predetermined time T1 after the end of the manual mist mode, , the sterilized water may remain on the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805 .

Therefore, the control device 405 executes the after mist mode when the detection sensor changes from detecting the user to not detecting the user within the first predetermined time T1 after the end of the manual mist mode. You don't have to. Alternatively, the control device 405 adjusts the amount of sterilized water sprayed by the spray device 481 in the after-mist mode from the state in which the detection sensor detects the user after the first predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the end of the manual mist mode. It may be less than when the user is not detected. As a result, it is possible to prevent the disinfected water from dripping out of the toilet due to excessive wetness of the toilet seat portion 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 in the after-mist mode. The first predetermined time T1 is, for example, approximately 10 to 30 seconds. However, the first predetermined time T1 is not limited to this and can be set as appropriate.

Also, if the next user enters the toilet room immediately after the after-mist mode ends, there is a possibility that the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805 are wet with disinfectant water. For example, when the next user enters the toilet room and operates the manual operation unit 500 within the second predetermined time T2 after the end of the after mist mode, the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat unit 200 and the rim unit 805 has: There is a possibility that the sterilized water still remains.

Therefore, the control device 405 does not need to execute the manual mist mode when the manual operation unit 500 is operated within the second predetermined time T2 from the end of the after mist mode. Alternatively, the control device 405 reduces the amount of sterilized water sprayed by the spray device 481 in the manual mist mode compared to when the manual operation unit 500 is operated after the second predetermined time T2 has elapsed from the end of the after mist mode. It can be less. As a result, it is possible to prevent the disinfected water from dripping out of the toilet bowl due to excessive wetness of the toilet seat portion 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 due to the manual mist mode. The second predetermined time T2 is, for example, approximately 10 to 30 seconds. However, the second predetermined time T2 is not limited to this and can be set as appropriate.

In addition, the controller 405 determines that the amount of sterile water landing on the toilet seat 200 per unit area (average amount of water) in the manual mist mode is equal to the amount of sterile water landing on the toilet seat 200 in the after-mist mode. The spraying device is controlled so that the amount of sterilized water applied per unit area (average amount of water applied) is greater. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the amount of sterilized water per unit area that lands on the target sites P1 and P2 in the manual mist mode is "small". In the after mist mode, the amount of sterilized water per unit area that lands on the target site P1 is "very small", and the amount of sterilized water that lands on the target site P2 per unit area is " Small.

In this way, since the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat 200 in the after-mist mode is relatively small, the toilet seat 200 can be dried in a short time after the after-mist. As a result, even when the user uses the toilet seat device 100 after the after mist, the disinfected water can be prevented from touching the user's hands and buttocks. In addition, since the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat 200 in the manual mist mode is relatively large, the sterilized water can be thoroughly impregnated into the toilet paper or the like. As a result, it is possible to improve the sterilization performance by wiping, and to prevent the resin toilet seat 200 from being damaged during wiping. Therefore, both the drying performance in the after-mist mode and the wiping performance in the manual mist mode can be achieved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the amount of sterilized water per unit area that lands on the target site P3 and the target site P4 is "large" in the manual mist mode and the after-mist mode. On the other hand, in the pre-mist mode, the amount of sterilized water per unit area that lands on the target sites P3 and P4 is "medium". After the toilet seat device 100 is used, the generation of germs and stains can be further suppressed by allowing a large amount of sterilized water to land in the toilet bowl 800 .

In addition, for example, the control device 405 controls the particle size of the mist of sterilized water sprayed in the after-mist mode to be smaller than the particle size of the mist of tap water (or sterilized water) sprayed in the pre-mist mode. to control the spray device. In addition, the control device 405 sprays the sterilized water mist sprayed in the manual mist mode so that the particle size of the mist is smaller than the particle size of the tap water (or sterilized water) mist sprayed in the pre-mist mode. control the device.

In this way, in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode, by reducing the particle size of the mist, it becomes easier for the sterilized water mist to spread over a wide area. As a result, bacteria and stains can be suppressed not only in the bowl portion 801 but also in a wide range such as the rim portion 805 and the toilet seat portion 200 . In the pre-mist mode, a water film can be formed on the inner wall surfaces 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 in a short time by increasing the particle size of the mist. As a result, the pre-mist mode can be terminated before the user sits on the toilet seat.

An example of operation of the toilet seat apparatus 100 in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 10-12.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode.
In the after-mist mode and manual mist mode, the controller 405 activates the blower 513 . Thereby, the air blower 513 blows air into the toilet bowl 800 to generate the first updraft U1 in the toilet bowl 800 . Further, the control device 405 controls the spray device 481 so as to simultaneously generate the first mist M1 of the sterilized water and the second mist M2 of the sterilized water in a state where the first rising air current U1 is generated. . The first mist M1 is a small particle size mist. The particle diameter of the first mist M1 (the diameter of the microparticles p1 of the disinfected water) is a particle diameter that can rise toward the toilet seat portion 200 by the first rising air current U1. The second mist M2 is mist of medium particle size. The particle diameter of the second mist M2 (the diameter of the microparticles p2 of the sterilized water) is larger than the particle diameter of the first mist M1. The second mist M2 does not rise toward the toilet seat 200 due to the first rising air current U1. The range in which the second mist M2 does not rise with the first rising air current U1 may include not only the case where all the second mist M2 does not rise, but also the case where a small amount of the second mist M2 rises. do. The second mist M2 rising by the first rising air current U1 is preferably as small as possible, for example, preferably zero.

That is, the first mist M1 sprayed from below the toilet seat 200 rises toward the toilet seat 200 on the first updraft U1 and lands on the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805 . On the other hand, the second mist M2 sprayed from below the toilet seat 200 does not rise toward the toilet seat 200 due to the first updraft U1 because of its large particle diameter, and the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 does not rise. land on. As a result, with the single spray device 481 , the sterile water mist can be applied not only to the bowl portion 801 of the toilet bowl 800 but also to the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 and the toilet seat portion 200 . Therefore, bacteria and dirt can be suppressed not only in the bowl portion 801 of the toilet bowl 800 but also in a wide range such as the rim portion 805 and the toilet seat portion 200 . Moreover, by using the single spray device 481, the toilet seat device 100 can be made smaller.

Furthermore, by simultaneously generating the first mist M1 having a small particle size that can be ascended by the first ascending current U1 and the second mist M2 having a particle size that is not ascended by the first ascending current U1, the removal in the bowl portion 801 can be achieved. The amount of sterile water that lands, the amount of sterilized water that lands on the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805, and the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat portion 200 can be arbitrarily controlled.

In the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode, the control device 405 also controls the spray device 481 so that the total amount (g) of the first mist M1 is less than the total amount (g) of the second mist M2. As a result, the amount of sterile water that lands on the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat portion 200 and the rim portion 805 is relatively small, and the amount of sterilized water that lands on the inner wall surfaces 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 is relatively more. By causing a large amount of sterilizing water mist to land on the bowl portion 801 and the inner wall surface 807, which have a large dirt load and a high tolerance for wetting, the generation of germs and dirt can be suppressed. On the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat portion 200 and the rim portion 805, which have a small dirt load and a low tolerance for wetting, by reducing the amount of the sterilizing water that lands on the toilet seat portion 200 and the rim portion 805, bacteria and dirt are suppressed, and the toilet seat portion 200 and the toilet seat portion 200 can be cleaned in a short time. The top surface 806 of the rim portion 805 can be dried. This prevents the sterilized water from touching the user's skin and from dripping outside the toilet bowl.

The total amount of mist is the total amount of mist sprayed by the spray device 481 in one mist mode (one aftermist mode or one manual mist mode). In the one-time mist mode, the spray device 481 may spray mist continuously or may spray mist intermittently. Also, the total amount of the first mist M1 and the total amount of the second mist M2 can be controlled by adjusting the rotation speed of the disk 481b, the flow rate of the sterilized water supplied to the spray device 481, and the like.

Also, the spray device 481 sprays the sterilized water so that the first mist M1 is formed above the second mist M2. More specifically, the spray device 481 sprays the first mist M1 obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal plane. In addition, the spray device 481 sprays the second mist M2 parallel or obliquely downward with respect to the horizontal plane. It should be noted that the direction of the first mist M1 and the direction of the second mist M2 may be vertically divided according to the particle size after spraying.

As a result, when the first mist M1 having small particle diameters rises due to the first ascending current U1, it is possible to prevent the first mist M1 from contacting the second mist M2. Therefore, the particle size of the first mist M1 increases due to the contact with the second mist M2, and it is possible to suppress the first mist M1 from falling into the toilet bowl 800. FIG.

Further, the spray device 481 sprays each of the first mist M1 and the second mist M2 radially when viewed from above. Radial is a state in which the range in which mist exists becomes wider as the distance from the spray device 481 increases. For example, mist is sprayed in all directions away from the center of the disc 481b when viewed from above.

Since the first mist M1 is radial, the first mist M1 can be placed on the entire first updraft U1 and land on a wide range such as the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805. In addition, since the second mist M2 is radial, even if the second mist M2 has a particle size so large that it does not get on the air current, it will be dispersed inside the toilet bowl 800 such as the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805. , the second mist M2 can land on the water.

The formation position and spread of the mist (the first mist M1 and the second mist M2) are adjusted by the rotation speed, arrangement, and shape of the disk 481b, the position of the water supply port 481c that supplies water to the disk 481b, and the like. be able to.

11(a) and 11(b) are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode.
FIG. 11(b) is an enlarged view of region R4 shown in FIG. 11(a).
The dashed arrows represent the airflow created by the blower 513 . As shown in FIG. 11(a), in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode, the blower 513 blows air forward and downward. At least part of the air sent from the blower 513 hits the inside of the toilet bowl 800 (the inside of the bowl portion 801 or the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805) and travels upward. As a result, an updraft U1 is formed that rises above the toilet seat 200 from within the toilet bowl 800 below the toilet seat 200 .

Solid arrows represent the flow of mist sprayed from the spray device 481 . The thickness of the solid arrow corresponds to the amount of the sterilized water. The thicker the arrow, the more the sterilized water. In the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode, some mist is emitted from the spray device 481 toward the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion. Also, the mist having a relatively large particle size lands on the bowl portion 801 . Mist with a relatively small particle size lands on the upper surface 806 of the rim portion, the toilet seat portion 200, the toilet lid 300, and the like due to the rising air current. As a result, every corner of the toilet apparatus 10 including the rim portion 805, the toilet seat portion 200, the toilet lid 300, and the like can be sterilized.

Further, in the embodiment, the nozzle 473 is arranged between the spray device 481 and the blower device 513 in the width direction (transverse direction) of the nozzle 473 (see FIG. 4). That is, the spray device 481 is arranged at a position away from the blower device 513 in the left-right direction. As a result, the first mist M1 having small particle diameters is blown from the air blower 513 toward the inside of the toilet bowl 800 before riding on the first rising air current U1 (the air current before generating the first rising air current U1). ) and landing on the toilet bowl 800 can be suppressed.

12(a) to 12(d) are plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode.
12(a) and 12(c), the toilet seat 200 and the toilet lid 300 are omitted for convenience of explanation. The dashed arrow indicates the blowing direction of the blower 513 . Solid arrows represent the flow of mist sprayed from the spray device 481 . The thickness of the solid arrow corresponds to the amount of the sterilized water. The thicker the arrow, the more the sterilized water. 12(b) and 12(d) show the toilet seat 200. FIG.
12(a) and 12(b) show how the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above. In this case, more sterile water lands on the left side of the toilet device 10 than on the right side. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, on the upper surface of the rim portion, more sterile water lands on the left area RL1 than on the right area RR1. For example, as shown in FIG. 12(b), in the toilet seat 200, more sterile water lands on the left area RL2 than on the right area RR2.

FIGS. 12(c) and 12(d) show how the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates clockwise when viewed from above. In this case, more sterile water lands on the right side of the toilet device 10 than on the left side. For example, as shown in FIG. 12(c), on the upper surface of the rim portion, more sterile water lands on the right area RR1 than on the left area RL1. For example, as shown in FIG. 12(d), in the toilet seat 200, more sterile water lands on the right area RR2 than on the left area RL2.

Preferably, the control device 405 controls the motor 481a of the spray device 481 to appropriately switch between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation during the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode. As a result, the distribution of mist in the horizontal direction tends to be uniform.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the after-mist mode.
When the human body detection sensor 403 detects that the user has left the room (step S101: Yes), the control device 405 controls the toilet lid motor 512 to close the toilet lid 300, open the electromagnetic valve 431, and 481a and disk 481b are rotated counterclockwise (CCW) at high speed (step S102). Water supply to the disk 481b is started by opening the electromagnetic valve 431 .

The control device 405 maintains the state in which the disk 481b rotates at high speed for a predetermined time (step S103: No). As a result, residual water on the disk 481b can be discharged from the disk 481b. At this time, for example, the mist damper 482 is closed, so mist is not sprayed into the toilet bowl 800 .

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S103: Yes), the control device 405 causes the nozzle motor 476 to advance the nozzle 473 into the bowl portion 801 . Along with this, the mist damper 482 opens (step S104).

After that, the control device 405 controls the sterilization device 450 to start generating sterilized water, and controls the air blower 513 to start blowing air into the toilet bowl 800 (step S105). As a result, spraying of the sterile water mist to the toilet bowl 800, the toilet seat 200, the toilet lid 300, etc. starts. The control device 405 maintains for a predetermined time (t1) a state in which a mist of sterilizing water is sprayed from the disk 481b that rotates counterclockwise at high speed (step S106: No).

When the predetermined time (t1) has passed (step S106: Yes), the control device 405 rotates the motor 481a and the disk 481b of the spray device 481 clockwise (CW) at high speed (step S107). The control device 405 maintains the state in which the sterile water mist is sprayed from the disk 481b that rotates clockwise at high speed for a predetermined time (t1) (step S108: No).

When the predetermined time (t1) elapses (step S108: Yes), the control device 405 controls the blower 513 to stop blowing, controls the sterilization device 450 to stop the generation of sterilized water, and controls the motor 481a and disk 481b are rotated clockwise (CW) at low speed (step S109).

The control device 405 maintains the state in which tap water is supplied to the disk 481b and the disk 481b rotates at a low speed for a predetermined time (step S110: No). Thereby, self-cleaning of the disk 481b is performed. Note that self-cleaning is an operation of physically cleaning the disk at a rotational speed that does not dare generate mist. Sterilized water may be used for self-cleaning.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S110: Yes), the control device 405 closes the solenoid valve 431 (step S111). The controller 405 stops the water supply to the disk 481b and maintains the state in which the disk 481b rotates at a low speed for a predetermined time (step S112: No). Thereby, residual water on the disk 481b can be removed.

After a predetermined period of time has passed (step S112: Yes), the control device 405 stops the rotation of the motor 481a and the disc 481b, and causes the nozzle motor 476 to retract the nozzle 473 into the casing 400. FIG. Along with this, the mist damper 482 is closed. In addition, the control device 405 turns on the toilet seat heater 515 (step S113).

The controller 405 maintains the ON state of the toilet seat heater 515 for a predetermined time (step S114: No). As a result, the temperature of the toilet seat portion 200 is increased, the sterilized water that has landed on the toilet seat portion 200 is evaporated, and the toilet seat portion 200 can be dried. Instead of the toilet seat-heater 515, the air blower 513 and the warm air heater 514 may be driven to dry the toilet seat 200 with warm air.

When the predetermined time has passed (step S114: Yes), the control device 405 turns off the toilet seat heater 515 (step S115). After that, the after mist mode ends.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the manual mist mode.
When the user operates the manual operation unit 500 (step S201: Yes), the control device 405 controls the toilet lid motor 512 to close the toilet lid 300, open the solenoid valve 431, and The disk 481b is rotated counterclockwise (CCW) at high speed (step S202). Water supply to the disk 481b is started by opening the electromagnetic valve 431 .

The control device 405 maintains the state in which the disk 481b rotates at high speed for a predetermined time (step S203: No). As a result, residual water on the disk 481b can be discharged from the disk 481b. At this time, for example, the mist damper 482 is closed, so mist is not sprayed into the toilet bowl 800 .

After a predetermined period of time has passed (step S203: Yes), the control device 405 causes the nozzle motor 476 to advance the nozzle 473 into the bowl portion 801 . Along with this, the mist damper 482 opens (step S204).

Thereafter, the control device 405 controls the sterilization device 450 to start generating sterilized water, and controls the air blower 513 to start blowing air into the toilet bowl 800 (step S205). As a result, spraying of the sterile water mist to the toilet bowl 800, the toilet seat 200, the toilet lid 300, etc. starts. The control device 405 maintains for a predetermined time (t2) a state in which a mist of sterilizing water is sprayed from the disk 481b that rotates counterclockwise at high speed (step S206: No).

After the predetermined time (t2) has passed (step S206: Yes), the control device 405 rotates the motor 481a and the disk 481b of the spray device 481 clockwise (CW) at high speed (step S207). The controller 405 maintains for a predetermined time (t2) the state in which the sterile water mist is sprayed from the disk 481b that rotates clockwise at high speed (step S208: No).

When the predetermined time (t2) elapses (step S208: Yes), the control device 405 controls the blower 513 to stop blowing air, controls the sterilization device 450 to stop the generation of sterilized water, and controls the motor 481a and disk 481b are rotated clockwise (CW) at low speed (step S209).

The control device 405 maintains the state in which tap water is supplied to the disk 481b and the disk 481b rotates at a low speed for a predetermined time (step S210: No). Thereby, self-cleaning of the disk 481b is performed.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S210: Yes), the control device 405 closes the electromagnetic valve 431 (step S211). The controller 405 stops the water supply to the disk 481b and maintains the state in which the disk 481b rotates at a low speed for a predetermined time (step S212: No). Thereby, residual water on the disk 481b can be removed.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S212: Yes), the control device 405 stops the rotation of the motor 481a and the disc 481b, and causes the nozzle motor 476 to retract the nozzle 473 into the casing 400. FIG. Accordingly, the mist damper 482 is closed (step S213). With the above, the manual mist mode ends. In addition, the user can sterilize the toilet seat 200 by appropriately wiping off the sterilized water that has landed on the toilet seat 200 with toilet paper or the like after the manual mist mode.

The control device 405 controls the spraying device so that the time for spraying the sterilized water in the manual mist mode is longer than the time for spraying the sterilized water in the after-mist mode. For example, the predetermined time (t2) described with reference to FIG. 14 is longer than the predetermined time (t1) described with reference to FIG. As a result, the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat 200 in the manual mist mode can be made larger than the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat 200 in the after-mist mode. As a result, in the manual mist mode, it is possible to thoroughly impregnate the toilet paper or the like with the sterilized water, thereby improving the sterilization performance. In addition, it is possible to prevent the toilet seat portion 200 made of resin from being damaged during wiping.

For example, it is conceivable to change the amount of sprayed sterilizing water by changing the particle size of the mist of sterilizing water without changing the spraying time of sterilizing water. For example, by increasing the particle size, it is possible to increase the amount of sterilized water that lands. However, if the particle size is increased, there is a risk that the sterilized water will be less likely to ride on the rising air current. On the other hand, by changing the spraying time of the sterilized water, it is possible to increase the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat 200 without changing the particle size. Therefore, the mist of the sterilized water can be easily put on the rising air current, and the sterilized water can be diffused over a wide area of the toilet seat 200. - 特許庁

Further, the control device 405 operates the drying device for drying the toilet seat portion 200 with the first drying power during or after the execution of the after-mist mode. For example, in FIG. 13, the controller 405 operates the toilet seat heater 515 with a first heating amount (first electric power (watts)) in steps S113 and S114.
On the other hand, the control device 405 does not operate the drying device or operates it with a second drying force that is smaller than the first drying force during or after the execution of the manual mist mode. For example, in FIG. 14, controller 405 does not activate toilet seat heater 515 . Alternatively, the control device 405 may operate the toilet seat heater 515 with a second heating amount (second power (watts)) that is smaller than the first heating amount. For example, the toilet seat heater 515 causes the temperature of the seat during or after the after-mist mode to be higher than the temperature of the seat during or after the manual mist mode.

In this way, during or after the execution of the after-mist mode, the drying device dries the toilet seat 200 with a relatively large first drying power (for example, first power), so that the disinfected water that has landed on the toilet seat 200 drying time can be shortened. On the other hand, during or after the execution of the manual mist mode, the drying device does not operate, or the toilet seat 200 dries with a relatively small second drying power (for example, second electric power), and the toilet seat 200 lands on the water. It is possible to lengthen the drying time of the sterilized water. This prevents the toilet seat 200 from drying out before wiping off the disinfected water that has landed on the toilet seat 200 with toilet paper.

An example of operation of the toilet seat apparatus 100 in the pre-mist mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17. FIG.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation in the pre-mist mode of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment.
In the pre-mist mode, the control device 405 operates the spray device 481 to generate a mist M3 (sterilized water mist or tap water mist). Further, the control device 405 controls the blower device 513 so as not to generate the first updraft U1 and to prevent the mist M3 from rising toward the toilet seat 200 while the spray device 481 is spraying the mist M3. As described above, the first rising airflow U1 is an airflow generated by the blower 513, and is an airflow that can raise the mist of the sterilized water toward the toilet seat 200 in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode. is.

In the pre-mist mode, mist sprayed from below the toilet seat 200 lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 of the toilet bowl 800 without rising toward the toilet seat portion 200 . A water film is formed on the bowl portion 801 and the inner wall surface 807, making it difficult for dirt to adhere. In addition, since the mist does not rise to the toilet seat 200 side, it is possible to prevent the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 from getting wet in the pre-mist mode. This prevents the hands and buttocks of the user from getting wet when the user sits down or rotates the toilet seat 200 by hand immediately after the pre-mist mode.
On the other hand, in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode, the control device 405 operates the air blower 513 to raise the sterilized water mist toward the toilet seat 200 by the first rising air current U1.

That is, the control device 405 can switch between a case where the mist sprayed from below the toilet seat 200 is placed on the rising air current and lands on the toilet seat 200, and a case where the mist is not placed on the rising air current. As a result, with a single spray device 481, in the after-mist mode and manual mist mode, the mist of the sterilized water lands on the toilet bowl 800 and the toilet seat 200, and in the pre-mist mode, the toilet seat 200 is not wet. The mist can be made to land in the toilet bowl 800 at this time.

In addition, in the pre-mist mode, the range of ``do not raise the mist of sterilized water or the mist of tap water to the toilet seat side'' may include not only the case where all the mist does not rise, but also the case where a small amount of mist rises. shall be For example, the amount of mist rising toward the toilet seat in the pre-mist mode is less than the amount of mist rising toward the toilet seat in the after-mist mode or manual mist mode.

For example, in the pre-mist mode, the control device 405 deactivates the air blower 513 and does not blow air. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the mist from rising toward the toilet seat portion 200 .

Further, in the pre-mist mode, the control device 405 may operate the blower device 513 to generate the second updraft U2. The flow velocity of the second updraft U2 is lower than the flow velocity of the first updraft U1, and the mist M3 does not rise toward the toilet seat 200 due to the second updraft U2. The second updraft U2 can diffuse the mist horizontally or downward without causing it to rise toward the toilet seat 200 side. This allows the disinfected water to land on a wider area within the toilet bowl 800 .

Also in the pre-mist mode, the spray device 481 sprays a mist of sterilized water or a mist of tap water radially when viewed from above. As a result, even if the mist does not ride on the rising air current in the pre-mist mode, the mist can land on a wide range such as the bowl portion 801 and the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 .

The mist M3 is, for example, a medium-sized or large-sized mist. The particle diameter of the mist M3 (the diameter of the fine particles p3 of the sterilized water or tap water) may be larger than the particle diameter of the first mist M1 and the particle diameter of the second mist M2 in the manual mist mode and the after-mist mode, for example. good. This may prevent the mist M3 from rising toward the toilet seat 200 side.

16(a) to 16(c) are cross-sectional views and plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the pre-mist mode.
FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c) illustrate a state in which the motor 481a of the spray device 481 rotates at medium speed. At this time, the mist sprayed by the spray device 481 is medium-sized mist. 16(a) to 16(c), solid line arrows represent the flow of mist sprayed from the spray device 481. FIG. The thickness of the solid arrow corresponds to the amount of the sterilized water. The thicker the arrow, the more the sterilized water. In addition, in FIG.16(b) and FIG.16(c), the toilet seat part 200 is abbreviate|omitted for convenience of explanation.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 16( a ), the spray device 481 sprays mist toward the upper end of the rim portion 805 . When the motor 481a rotates at medium speed, the outer region RS of the toilet bowl 800 (the outer portion 801S in the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion A large amount of sterilized water or tap water lands on the inner wall surface 807) of 805 .

The plan view of FIG. 16(b) shows how the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above. In this case, more sterile water or tap water lands on the left side of the toilet bowl 800 than on the right side.

The plan view of FIG. 16(c) shows how the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates clockwise when viewed from above. In this case, more sterilized water or tap water lands on the right side of the toilet bowl 800 than on the left side.

17(a) to 17(c) are cross-sectional views and plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the pre-mist mode.
FIGS. 17(a) to 17(c) illustrate states in which the motor 481a of the spray device 481 rotates at low speed. At this time, the mist sprayed by the spray device 481 is mist with large particle diameters. 17(a) to 17(c), solid line arrows represent the flow of mist sprayed from the spray device 481. FIG. The thickness of the solid arrow corresponds to the amount of the sterilized water. The thicker the arrow, the more the sterilized water. In addition, in FIG.17(b) and FIG.17(c), the toilet seat part 200 is abbreviate|omitted for convenience of explanation.

When the motor 481a rotates at a low speed, the particle size of the mist is larger and the centrifugal force is smaller than when the motor rotates at a medium speed, so that the mist travels a shorter distance. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 17( a ), when the motor 481 a rotates at a low speed, the inner region RU of the toilet bowl 800 contains more sterile water or tap water than the outer region RS of the toilet bowl 800 . lands on the water.

The plan view of FIG. 17(b) shows how the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates clockwise when viewed from above. In this case, more sterilized water or tap water lands on the right side of the toilet bowl 800 than on the left side.

The plan view of FIG. 17(c) shows how the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above. In this case, more sterile water or tap water lands on the left side of the toilet bowl 800 than on the right side.

The control device 405 controls the motor 481a of the spray device 481 to appropriately switch between low-speed rotation and medium-speed rotation during the pre-mist mode. As a result, the mist of the sterilized water or tap water can be made to land on every corner of the toilet bowl 800 .

Moreover, it is preferable that the control device 405 controls the motor 481a of the spray device 481 to appropriately switch between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation during the pre-mist mode (during low-speed rotation and during medium-speed rotation). As a result, the distribution of mist in the horizontal direction tends to be uniform.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the after-mist mode.
When the human body detection sensor 403 detects that the user has entered the room (step S301: Yes), the controller 405 controls the toilet lid motor 512 to open the toilet lid 300, open the electromagnetic valve 431, and 481a and disk 481b are rotated counterclockwise (CCW) at medium speed (step S302). Water supply to the disk 481b is started by opening the electromagnetic valve 431 .

The control device 405 maintains the state where the disk 481b rotates at medium speed for a predetermined time (step S303: No). As a result, residual water on the disk 481b can be discharged from the disk 481b. At this time, for example, the mist damper 482 is closed, so mist is not sprayed into the toilet bowl 800 .

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S303: Yes), the control device 405 causes the nozzle motor 476 to advance the nozzle 473 into the bowl portion 801 . Along with this, the mist damper 482 opens (step S304). As a result, spraying of tap water mist into the toilet bowl 800 is started. The control device 405 maintains for a predetermined time the state in which tap water mist is sprayed from the disk 481b that rotates counterclockwise at a medium speed (step S305: No).

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S305: Yes), the control device 405 causes the motor 481a and disk 481b of the spray device 481 to rotate clockwise (CW) at medium speed (step S306). The control device 405 maintains for a predetermined time the mist of tap water being sprayed from the disk 481b rotating clockwise at medium speed (step S307: No).

When the predetermined time has passed (step S307: Yes), the control device 405 rotates the motor 481a and the disk 481b of the spray device 481 clockwise (CW) at low speed (step S308). The control device 405 maintains for a predetermined time the mist of tap water being sprayed from the disk 481b that rotates clockwise at low speed (step S309: No).

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S309: Yes), the control device 405 rotates the motor 481a and the disk 481b of the spray device 481 counterclockwise (CCW) at low speed (step S310). The control device 405 maintains for a predetermined time the state in which tap water mist is sprayed from the counterclockwise rotating disk 481b at low speed (step S311: No).

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S311: Yes), the control device 405 closes the electromagnetic valve 431 (step S312). The controller 405 stops the water supply to the disk 481b and maintains the state in which the disk 481b rotates at a low speed for a predetermined time (step S313: No). Thereby, residual water on the disk 481b can be removed.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed (step S313: Yes), the control device 405 stops the rotation of the motor 481a and the disk 481b, and causes the nozzle motor 476 to retract the nozzle 473 into the casing 400. FIG. Along with this, the mist damper 482 is closed (step S314). With the above, the pre-mist mode ends.

The control device 405 executes the pre-mist mode with the toilet lid 300 open. That is, in the pre-mist mode, mist is sprayed with the toilet lid 300 open. Thereby, the user can immediately sit on the toilet seat section 200 without waiting for the completion of execution of the pre-mist mode. In the pre-mist mode, the spray device 481 sprays so that the mist does not land on the toilet seat 200. Therefore, even if the user sits on the toilet seat 200 while the pre-mist mode is being executed, the user cannot use the toilet seat 200. It is unlikely that the person will be exposed to mist.

On the other hand, the control device 405 executes the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode with the toilet lid 300 closed. That is, in the after-mist mode and the manual mist mode, mist is sprayed with the toilet lid 300 closed. As a result, while preventing the mist of the disinfected water from scattering outside the toilet bowl, the mist of the disinfected water is diffused to remove bacteria and dirt in a wide range such as the toilet bowl 800, the toilet seat part 200, and the toilet lid 300. can be suppressed.

In the embodiment, in one mist mode (for example, one aftermist mode), the control device 405 controls the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat 200 per unit area, The amount of water that lands per unit area is smaller than the amount of sterilized water that lands on the bowl portion 801 per unit area, and the amount of sterilized water that lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 per unit area. The spray device 481 is controlled so that it becomes smaller.

That is, according to the embodiment, in one mist mode, the control device 405 increases the amount of sterile water that lands on the inner wall surfaces 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 . By causing a large amount of mist of the sterilizing water to land on the inner wall surfaces 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805, which have a large dirt load and a high wetting tolerance, the generation of germs and dirt can be suppressed.

Further, according to the embodiment, in one mist mode, the control device 405 relatively reduces the amount of sterile water that lands on the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat portion 200 and the rim portion 805 . Since the toilet seat portion 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 have a relatively small dirt load, it is possible to suppress germs and dirt by landing a relatively small amount of sterilizing water on them.

In addition, by reducing the amount of sterilizing water that lands on the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805, which have low tolerance for wetting, the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805 can be dried in a short period of time. . This prevents the sterilized water from touching the user's skin and from dripping outside the toilet bowl.

As described above, according to the embodiment, bacteria and dirt are suppressed not only in the bowl portion 801 of the toilet bowl but also in the rim portion 805 and the toilet seat portion 200 in a wide range, and the disinfected water comes into contact with the user's skin. , causing discomfort and preventing sterilized water from dripping out of the toilet bowl.

For example, in one mist mode, the control device 405 determines that the amount of water that lands on the toilet seat 200 (the amount of sterilized water that lands on the toilet seat per unit area) The spraying device 481 is controlled so that the amount of water that lands on the surface of the water remains without sagging. In one mist mode, the control device 405 controls the amount of water landing on the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 (the amount of water landing per unit area of the sterilized water on the upper surface of the rim portion). The spraying device is controlled so that the amount of sterilized water deposited does not drip and stays.

In this way, since the sterilized water stays without dripping on the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805, which have a small dirt load, the time for the oxidative decomposition and bleaching action of the retained sterilized water is secured. It is possible to suppress the generation of bacteria and stains. In addition, by setting the amount of water that lands on the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and the rim 805 to the amount of water that the sterilized water stays, the risk of the sterilized water dripping out of the toilet bowl can be reduced.

Furthermore, the control device 405 determines that the amount of water landing on the bowl portion 801 (the amount of water landing per unit area of the sterile water on the bowl portion) in one mist mode is the amount that the sterile water that has landed on the bowl portion 801 drips. The spray device 481 is controlled so that the amount of water landing is equal to the amount. In one mist mode, the control device 405 determines that the amount of water landing on the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 (the amount of water landing per unit area of the sterile water on the inner wall surface of the rim portion) The spray device 481 is controlled so that the amount of the sterilized water that has landed on the 807 is dripped.

In this way, by dripping the sterilizing water on the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 where the dirt load is large, not only the oxidative decomposition action and the bleaching action but also the action of washing away the dirt with the sterilizing water can be achieved. can be used. As a result, the generation of bacteria and stains can be suppressed more effectively than when the sterilized water is retained.

Note that "dripping" means that water (for example, sterilized water) adhering to the surface of an object flows down. The range of "dripping" includes the flow of water droplets or films due to their own weight or due to vibrations associated with the operation of the toilet apparatus.

For example, the control device 405 controls the amount of water landing on the toilet seat 200 to be The spraying device is controlled so that the amount of water that lands stays.

As a result, even when the toilet seat 200 is rotated, it is possible to prevent the sterilized water from dripping. It is possible to further suppress the occurrence of dirt and stains. In addition, by setting the amount of water that lands on the toilet seat 200 to the amount of sterilized water that stagnate, it is possible to reduce the risk of the sterilized water dripping onto an unintended site.

The amount of water landing as described above can be controlled by controlling the particle size of mist sprayed from the spray device 481 . For example, the control device 405 controls the particle size of the sterile water mist sprayed onto the toilet seat 200 and the particle size of the sterile water mist sprayed onto the top surface 806 of the rim section 805 so that the bowl section 801 The spray device 481 is controlled so that the particle size of the mist of the sterilized water sprayed onto the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 is smaller than that of the mist of the sterilized water sprayed onto the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 . Note that the particle size of the mist of the sterilizing water sprayed onto each part is, for example, the particle size of the mist that lands on each part.

Since the particle diameter of the sterilized water mist that lands on the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and the rim 805 is small, the sterilized water that lands on the upper surfaces of the toilet seat and the rim can be prevented from dripping. . In addition, since the particle size of the mist of the sterilized water that lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 is large, the sterilized water that lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 is liquid. It becomes easy to drip and the effect of washing away dirt can be improved.

A method for measuring the water landing amount (average water landing amount) will be described with reference to FIGS.
19(a) to 19(e) are plan views illustrating the toilet apparatus according to the embodiment. 19(a) and 19(b) show the front surface 203 of the toilet seat 200 and the rear surface 204 of the toilet seat 200, respectively. The surface 203 is a seating surface on which the user sits, and faces upward when the toilet seat 200 is closed. The back surface 204 is the surface opposite to the front surface 203 and faces downward when the toilet seat 200 is closed.

As shown in FIG. 19(a), the surface 203 includes a front end region 203F located on the front side, a side region 203R located on the right side, and a side region 203R located on the left side when the toilet seat 200 is closed. and a square region 203L. The area of each region shall be 20 square centimeters (cm ² ).
The amount of water landing per unit area in the tip region 203F (g/cm ² ), the amount of water landing per unit area in the side region 203R (g/cm ² ), and the amount of water landing per unit area in the side region 203L (g /cm ² ) is taken as the amount of applied water per unit area on the surface 203 (average amount of applied water (g/cm ² )).

As shown in FIG. 19(b), the back surface 204 includes a tip region 204F positioned on the front side when the toilet seat 200 is closed, a side region 204R positioned on the right side, and a side region 204R positioned on the left side. and a square region 204L. The area of each region shall be 20 square centimeters (cm ² ).
The amount of water landing per unit area in the tip region 204F (g/cm ² ), the amount of water landing per unit area in the side region 204R (g/cm ² ), and the amount of water landing per unit area in the side region 204L (g /cm ² ) is taken as the amount of water applied per unit area on the back surface 204 (average amount of water applied (g/cm ² )).

The water landing amount per unit area (average water landing amount (g/cm ² )) on the toilet seat portion 200 is the average of the water landing amount per unit area on the front surface 203 and the water landing amount per unit area on the back surface 204 .

As shown in FIG. 19C, the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 includes a front end region 806F, a right lateral region 806R, a left lateral region 806L, and a lateral region 806L. have The area of each region shall be 20 square centimeters (cm ² ).
The amount of water applied per unit area (average amount of water applied (g/cm ² )) on the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 is the amount of water applied per unit area (g/cm ² ) on the tip region 806F and the unit area on the side region 806R. It is the average of the amount of water landing per area (g/cm ² ) and the amount of water landing per unit area (g/cm ² ) in the side region 806L.

As shown in FIG. 19(d), the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 includes a tip region 807F located on the front side, a side region 807R located on the right side, and a side region 807L located on the left side. , has The area of each region shall be 20 square centimeters (cm ² ).
The amount of water applied per unit area (average amount of water applied (g/cm ² )) on the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 is the amount of water applied per unit area (g/cm 2 ) on the tip region 807F and the amount of water applied per unit area (g/cm ² ) on the side region 807R. It is the average of the amount of water landing per unit area (g/cm ² ) and the amount of water landing per unit area (g/cm ² ) in the side region 807L.

As shown in FIG. 19(e), the bowl portion 801 (the portion of the inner surface of the bowl portion 801 in which water is not provided) is composed of a front end region 801F located on the front side and a side region 801F located on the right side. It has a region 801R and a side region 801L located on the left side. The area of each region shall be 20 square centimeters (cm ² ).
The amount of water applied per unit area (average amount of water applied (g/cm ² )) on the bowl portion 801 is the amount of water applied per unit area (g/cm ² ) on the tip region 801F and the amount of water applied per unit area on the side region 801R. It is the average of the amount of water landing (g/cm ² ) and the amount of water landing per unit area (g/cm ² ) in the side region 801L.

19(a) to 19(e) (203F, 203L, 203R, 204F, 204L, 204R, 806F, 806L, 806R, 807F, 807L, 807R, 801F, 801L, and 801R, respectively) , the measurement of the amount of water landing per unit area is as follows.
First, after the mist is sprayed, a certain area is wiped with paper, and the paper absorbs the mist that has landed on the area. Next, the difference between the weight of the paper before absorbing water and the weight of the paper after absorbing water is defined as the amount of mist that has landed on the area (water landing amount). By dividing the amount of landed water by the area of the area (area wiped off), the amount of landed water per unit area in the area is calculated.

FIG. 20 is a table exemplifying the mist landing amount in the after-mist mode.
In FIG. 20, the magnitude relationship of the amount of water landing per unit area in each region shown in FIGS. indicated by .
For example, the amount of water landing per unit area in the tip region and side regions of the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 is "medium". On the other hand, the amount of water landing per unit area on the front end region and side regions of the surface 203 of the toilet seat 200 is "very small".

That is, the control device 405 controls the amount of sterile water that lands on the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 per unit area to be greater than the amount of sterilized water that lands on the surface 203 of the toilet seat 200 per unit area. Control the atomizer 481 . Compared to the surface 203 of the toilet seat portion 200 that the user directly touches, the amount of disinfectant water that lands on the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805, which is less likely to be directly touched by the user, is large, so that bacteria on the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805 It is possible to suppress the occurrence of dirt and stains.

In addition, when the user urinates while sitting on the toilet seat 200, the front side of the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 is likely to be splashed with urine or sewage that hits the bowl 801 or the pooled water 801w. Therefore, the front side of the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 is a portion with a larger dirt load than the lateral sides of the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 20, the amount of landed water per unit area in the tip region of the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 is "large", and the amount per unit area in the side regions of the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 is "small".

That is, when the front side of the opening 200a of the toilet seat 200 is set as the front portion and the side side of the opening 200a is set as the side portion, the control device 405 controls the amount of sterilized water in the front portion of the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200. The spray device 481 is installed so that the amount of water per unit area (average amount of water) is greater than the amount of disinfected water per unit area (average amount of water) on the side portion of the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200. Control. By increasing the amount of sterilized water that lands on the front side compared to the lateral side, the generation of bacteria and stains on the back surface 204 of the toilet seat portion 200 can be further suppressed.

In addition, compared to the front surface 203, the user is less likely to directly touch the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200, so the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 is a portion with a high tolerance for getting wet. In addition, splashed urine or dirty water that hits the bowl portion 801 or the pooled water 801w easily adheres to the back surface 204 of the toilet seat portion 200 . Therefore, compared to the front surface 203 of the toilet seat 200, the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 is a portion with a larger dirt load. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 20, the control device 405 determines that the amount of sterilized water landing per unit area on the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 per unit area of sterilized water on the front surface 203 of the toilet seat 200 is The spray device 481 is controlled so that the amount of water landing is greater than the amount of water.

That is, the amount of sterilized water that lands on the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200 is larger than that on the front surface 203 of the toilet seat 200 . By increasing the amount of sterilized water that lands on the back surface 204 of the toilet seat 200, the generation of germs and dirt can be suppressed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20 , the amount of water landing per unit area in the tip region and side regions of the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 is “large”, and the unit area in the tip region and side regions of the bowl portion 801 is “large”. The amount of water landing per area is "large". However, the amount of sterilized water per unit area that directly lands on the tip region and side regions of the bowl portion 801 is "medium".

That is, the control device 405 determines that the amount of sterile water that directly lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 per unit area (average amount of water that lands) per unit area of sterilized water that directly lands on the bowl portion 801 The spray device 481 is controlled so that the amount of water landing per area (average amount of water landing) is greater. Note that the amount of sterilized water that directly lands does not include the amount of sterilized water that flows down from above.

The flushing water for flushing the toilet bowl flows through the bowl portion 801 , and the flushing water for flushing the toilet bowl does not flow through the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 . Therefore, the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 is subjected to a larger dirt load than the bowl portion 801 . Therefore, as described above, by increasing the amount of sterilized water that directly lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805, which has a relatively large dirt load, the generation of bacteria and dirt on the inner wall surface 807 can be further suppressed. can be done.

21(a) and 21(b) are perspective views illustrating a method for measuring particle size according to the embodiment.
A laser diffraction method is used for particle size measurement. When a fine particle is irradiated with a laser, diffracted and scattered light is generated in various directions from the fine particle. The intensity of diffracted scattered light has a spatial pattern in the direction in which the light is emitted. This spatial pattern is called a light intensity distribution pattern. The light intensity distribution pattern changes depending on the particle size of the fine particles. The particle size can be calculated by detecting the light intensity distribution pattern using the correlation between the particle size of the fine particles and the light intensity distribution pattern.

As shown in FIGS. 21( a ) and 21 ( b ), a particle size measuring device 600 has a light emitting section 601 and a light receiving section 602 . The light receiving section 602 is provided so as to be able to receive the laser emitted by the light emitting section 601 . In measuring the particle size, the mist M sprayed from the spray device 481 is irradiated with the laser emitted by the light emitting unit 601 . The light receiving unit 602 receives diffracted and scattered light generated by laser irradiation. Thereby, the light intensity distribution pattern can be detected. Aerotrack LDSA-3500A (manufactured by Microtrack Bell Co., Ltd.) can be used as a measuring device.

22(a) and 22(b) are a plan view and a cross-sectional view illustrating part of a toilet apparatus according to a modification of the embodiment.
FIG. 22(a) is a plan view of a portion of the toilet apparatus as seen from the front. FIG. 22(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 22(a).
As shown in FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b), in this example, the mist damper 482 is not provided, and the casing 400 is provided with the slit S. As shown in FIGS. The spray device 481 is arranged inside the casing 400 , and the slit S is located in the lower front part of the spray device 481 . For example, the height of the upper surface S1 of the slit S (position in the vertical direction) is the same as the height of the bottom surface B1 of the disk 481b, and the upper surface S1 and the bottom surface B1 are on the same plane. Alternatively, the top surface S1 may be lower than the bottom surface B1.

The upper surface of the disk 481b is inclined from the horizontal, and the disk 481b sprays the mist M slightly below the horizontal. The mist M sprayed from the disk 481b passes through the slit S and is sprayed into the bowl portion 801. As shown in FIG. As a result, since the mist damper 482 as shown in FIG. 5 is not provided, it is possible to prevent dirt Y such as urine from adhering to the spray device 481 without impairing the design and cleanability of the toilet device.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the invention is not limited to these descriptions. Appropriate design changes made by those skilled in the art with respect to the above embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the features of the present invention. For example, the shape, size, material, arrangement, installation form, and the like of each element included in the toilet bowl, toilet seat device, etc. are not limited to those illustrated and can be changed as appropriate.
Moreover, each element provided in each of the above-described embodiments can be combined as long as it is technically possible, and a combination of these is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the features of the present invention.

10 toilet device 100 toilet seat device 110 to 113 flow path 200 toilet seat part 200a opening 203 front surface 203F tip region 203L side region 203R side region 204 back surface 204F tip region 204L side region 204R side area 300 toilet lid 400 casing 402 detection sensor 403 human body detection sensor 404 seating detection sensor 405 control device 431 solenoid valve 450 sterilization device 472 switching valve 473 nozzle 474 spout 476 Nozzle motor 478 Nozzle cleaning chamber 479 Nozzle damper 481 Spray device 481a Motor 481b Disk 481c Water supply port 482 Mist damper 500 Manual operation unit 511 Toilet seat motor 512 Toilet lid motor 513 Air blower 514 Warm air heater 515 Toilet seat heater 516 Air blow damper 516a Opening 600 Measuring device 601 Light emitting part 602 Light receiving part 800 Toilet bowl 801 Bowl part 801F Tip region 801L Side region 801R Side region 801w Accumulated water 805 Rim part 806 Upper surface 806F Tip area 806L Side area 806R Side area 807 Inner wall surface 807F Tip area 807L Side area 807R Side area 811 Bowl water inlet M, M3 Mist M1 First mist M2 Second mist S Slit T1 Predetermined time T2 Predetermined time U1 First updraft U2 Second updraft

Claims (4)

A toilet device installed on the upper part of a toilet bowl,
a toilet seat on which the user sits;
a sterilization device that generates sterilized water;
a spraying device that sprays the disinfected water mist onto the toilet seat;
A control device that controls the sterilization device and the spray device,
The control device is arranged such that an average amount of water landing per unit area of the sterile water on the back surface of the toilet seat is larger than an average amount of water landing per unit area of the sterile water on the surface of the toilet seat, A toilet device that controls the spray device. An opening is formed in the center of the toilet seat, and when the front side of the opening is set as the front portion and the side side of the opening is set as the side portion, the control device controls the back surface of the toilet seat. The spraying device is set so that the average amount of water landing per unit area of the sterilized water on the front portion is larger than the average amount of water lands per unit area on the side portion of the back surface of the toilet seat portion. 2. The toilet system of claim 1, wherein the toilet system controls. 2. The spraying device is controlled so that the average amount of water landing on the toilet seat is an amount of water that the disinfected water that has landed on the toilet seat stays without dripping. 3. Toilet apparatus according to claim 2. Further comprising a rotating device for electrically rotating the toilet seat,
The control device determines that the average amount of water landing on the toilet seat is an amount of water that the sterile water that has landed on the toilet seat remains without dripping when the toilet seat is rotated by the rotating device. 4. The toilet apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said spraying device is controlled such that:

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