JP7483210B2 - Toilet equipment - Google Patents

Description

An aspect of the present invention relates to a toilet device.

Patent document 1 describes a toilet apparatus equipped with a spray device that sprays mist into the toilet bowl and on the toilet seat. The spray device in Patent document 1 is configured to spray mist into the toilet bowl and on the toilet seat by supplying water onto a disk by opening an electromagnetic valve in the water supply flow path, while rotating the disk at high speed using a motor.

JP 2019-112924 A

The toilet device described in Patent Document 1 (see, for example, FIG. 8) reverses the rotation direction of the disk during mist spraying in order to spray mist over a wide area, and the solenoid valve is left open during the reversal. When the disk is reversed, it rotates in the following order: high speed (CW) → low speed (CW) → low speed reverse (CCW) → high speed reverse (CCW), so mist spraying is performed with the disk rotating at a low speed. When mist spraying is performed with the disk rotating at a low speed, the large-diameter mist is non-mist water sprayed into the toilet bowl and toilet seat. When large-diameter mist is sprayed into the toilet bowl and toilet seat, the mist sprayed during high-speed rotation and accumulated in the toilet bowl and toilet seat flows down, which causes a problem that the sterilization effect and the effect of suppressing the adhesion of dirt caused by the accumulation of mist are reduced.

The present invention was made based on the recognition of such problems, and aims to provide a toilet device in which a rotary mist sprayer can spray a large-diameter mist onto the inside of the toilet bowl or the toilet seat midway through mist spraying (when reversing), preventing mist remaining inside the toilet bowl or on the toilet seat from flowing down.

The first invention is a toilet device that includes a spray device that sprays mist toward at least one of the bowl and the seat of a toilet bowl, and a control device that controls the spray device. The spray device has a motor, a rotor that is rotationally driven by the motor, and a valve that supplies water to the rotor. The control device is capable of executing a first mist process in which the rotor is rotationally driven in a first direction by the motor and the valve is opened to supply water to the rotor to spray mist, and a second mist process that is a process subsequent to the first mist process and in which the rotor is rotationally driven in a second direction opposite to the first direction by the motor and the valve is opened to supply water to the rotor to spray mist. The solenoid valve is closed when the rotor is reversed from the first mist process to the second mist process.

According to this toilet device, by closing the solenoid valve when reversing, water is supplied while the rotor is not rotating enough, which prevents large-diameter mist from being sprayed inside the toilet bowl or on the toilet seat. This prevents the small-diameter mist sprayed in the first mist process from flowing down from the inside of the toilet bowl or off the toilet seat due to the large-diameter mist sprayed during reversal.

The second invention is the toilet device according to the first invention, characterized in that the control unit starts an operation to switch the rotation of the rotor from the first direction to the second direction when the rotor reverses rotation, simultaneously with or after the solenoid valve closes.

With this toilet device, the rotor starts reversing after the solenoid valve closes, so water is supplied when the rotor is not rotating enough, which more reliably prevents large-diameter mist from being sprayed onto the inside of the toilet bowl or the toilet seat.

The third invention is the toilet device according to the first or second invention, characterized in that the control unit has a stop process for stopping the rotor when the rotor reverses its rotation.

Even if the solenoid valve is closed when the rotor is reversed, residual water in the water supply flow path downstream of the solenoid valve may fall onto the rotating plate. With this toilet device, a resting step is provided when the rotor is reversed, allowing the residual water to fall during the resting step, so that water is supplied with the rotor plate not rotating enough after the resting step, and large-diameter mist is more reliably prevented from being sprayed inside the toilet bowl or on the toilet seat.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a toilet device is provided in which a rotary mist spray device sprays large-diameter mist onto the inside of the toilet bowl or the toilet seat during mist spraying (when reversing), preventing mist remaining in the toilet bowl or on the toilet seat from flowing down.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet device according to an embodiment; 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toilet device according to an embodiment. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a toilet seat device according to an embodiment. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a spray device according to an embodiment; 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the toilet seat apparatus according to the embodiment in an after-mist mode and a manual mist mode. 1 is a plan view illustrating an operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in a first step. FIG. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional and plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in a second step. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the toilet seat apparatus according to the embodiment in an after-mist mode. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in a manual mist mode of the toilet seat apparatus according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the toilet device according to the embodiment.

The toilet device 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a toilet bowl 800 and a toilet seat device 100. The 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 portion 200 and the toilet lid 300 are each pivotally supported on the casing 400 so that they can be opened and closed freely.

The casing 400 includes a built-in body washing function section that washes the body parts (such as the buttocks) of the user sitting on the toilet seat 200. The casing 400 is also provided with a seating detection sensor 404 that detects when a user sits on the toilet seat 200. When the seating detection sensor 404 detects a user sitting on the toilet seat 200, the user can operate the manual operation section 500, such as a remote control, to advance the washing nozzle (hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, simply referred to as the "nozzle") 473 into the bowl section 801 of the toilet 800. In the toilet seat device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle 473 is shown advanced into the bowl section 801.

The tip of the nozzle 473 is provided with one or more water outlets 474. The nozzle 473 can spray water from the water outlets 474 at its tip to clean the bottom of a user sitting on the toilet seat 200.

In this specification, the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left side," and "right side" refer to the directions as seen by a user sitting on the toilet seat 200 with their back to the open toilet lid 300.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet 800 has a rim portion 805 provided on the bowl portion 801. The rim portion 805 is an annular portion that forms the upper edge of the toilet 800. Water 801w is stored in the bowl portion 801. For example, when a user operates the toilet flush using a switch provided on a remote control or the like, or when the user stands up from the toilet seat 200, a toilet flush (an operation to expel waste from within the bowl portion 801 and clean the surface of the bowl portion 801) is performed. In the toilet flush, flush water is supplied into the bowl portion 801. 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 800.

The rim portion 805 has an upper surface 806 and an inner wall surface 807. The upper surface 806 is the surface that faces the underside surface 204 of the closed toilet seat portion 200. The inner wall surface 807 is the portion of the inner wall of the toilet bowl 800 (the wall surface facing the center of the bowl portion 801) that is above the portion through which flushing water flows during toilet flushing. In other words, in this specification, the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805 refers to the portion that is not flushed during toilet flushing. In the example of FIG. 2, the inner wall surface 807 includes a vertical surface that is located above the shelf-shaped bent portion 805B.

The inner wall surfaces 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 are prone to direct adhesion of dirt, and therefore are areas that are subject to a high load of dirt. In addition, the inner wall surfaces 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805 are areas that are highly tolerant of getting wet, as they are unlikely to cause any inconvenience if they get wet.

The upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and the rim portion 805 is less susceptible to direct adhesion of waste than the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805. For example, urine and wastewater that splash against the bowl portion 801 or the accumulated water 801w adhere to the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and the rim portion 805. Therefore, the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and the rim portion 805 is a portion that is relatively less susceptible to dirt. In addition, if the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 or the rim portion 805 becomes excessively wet, there is a possibility that the disinfectant water may come into contact with the user's skin or drip outside the toilet bowl, so the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and the rim portion 805 is a portion that has a low tolerance for getting wet.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows the main configurations of the waterway system and the electrical system.
The toilet seat device 100 includes an electromagnetic valve 431, a sterilization device 450, a switching valve 472, a spray device 481, a nozzle motor 476, a nozzle 473, a nozzle cleaning chamber 478, and flow paths 110 to 113. These are arranged inside a casing 400.

The flow path 110 is a flow path for guiding water supplied from a water supply source (not shown), such as a waterworks or a water tank, to the spray device 481, the nozzle 473, etc. An electromagnetic 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 the supply of water based on commands from a control device 405 provided inside the casing 400.

On the flow path 110, downstream of the solenoid valve 431, a sterilization device 450 that generates sterilized water is provided. 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) by controlling the current from the control device 405. Note that the sterilized water is not limited to one that contains 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 be any configuration that can generate sterilized water.

A changeover 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 changeover valve 472. The flow path 110 is branched by the changeover 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. The changeover valve 472 controls the opening and closing of each of the flow paths 111, 112, and 113 based on a command from the control device 405. In other words, the changeover valve 472 controls the supply of water to the nozzle 473, the nozzle cleaning chamber 478, and the spray device 481. The changeover valve 472 also switches the flow rate of water supplied downstream.

The nozzle 473 receives a driving force from the nozzle motor 476 and advances and retreats into the bowl portion 801 of the toilet 800. In other words, the nozzle motor 476 advances and retreats the nozzle 473 based on commands from the control device 405. When not in use, the nozzle 473 is stored in the casing 400. When the nozzle 473 advances forward from the casing 400, it ejects water from the water outlet 474 to clean the private parts of the human body.

The nozzle cleaning chamber 478 cleans the outer surface (body) of the nozzle 473 by spraying disinfectant water or tap water from a water outlet provided inside.

The spray device 481 turns tap water or sterilized water generated by the sterilization device 450 into a mist. The spray device 481 sprays mist M (sterilized water mist or tap water mist) onto the bowl portion 801, the rim portion 805, and the toilet seat portion 200. In other words, the spray device 481 causes the sterilized water mist or tap water mist to land on the bowl portion 801, the rim portion 805, and the toilet seat portion 200. In this specification, "landing" refers to water (sterilized water or tap water) adhering to the surface of an object. In particular, "direct landing" refers to water (fine particles p of sterilized water or tap water) arriving on 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 warm air heater 514 are provided.
The toilet seat motor 511 electrically rotates the toilet seat 200 to open and close based on commands from the control device 405. The toilet lid motor 512 electrically rotates the toilet lid 300 to open and close based on commands from the control device 405.

The blower 513 is, for example, a fan provided inside the casing 400. The blower 513 operates based on a command from the control device 405. For example, the blades rotate as the motor of the blower 513 rotates. This allows the blower 513 to blow air toward the inside of the toilet 800 (for example, into the bowl portion 801). The blower 513 may also blow air toward the private parts of a user sitting on the toilet seat portion 200. The warm air heater 514 warms the air sent to the outside of the casing 400 by the blower 513. This allows warm air to be sent toward the private parts of the user, thereby drying them.

The toilet seat heater 515 (drying device) is provided, for example, inside the toilet seat 200. The toilet seat heater 515 has, for example, a ring-shaped metal member provided around the opening 200a formed in the center of the toilet seat 200. The toilet seat heater 515 heats the toilet seat 200 when electricity is applied to the toilet seat heater 515 based on a command from the control device 405. For example, a tubing heater, a sheath heater, a halogen heater, a carbon heater, or the like may be used as the toilet seat heater 515. The metal member is made of, for example, aluminum or copper. The metal member may have various shapes, such as a sheet shape, a wire shape, or a mesh shape.

The control device 405 uses a circuit that receives power from a power supply circuit (not shown). For example, the control device 405 includes an integrated circuit such as a microcomputer. The control device 405 controls the solenoid valve 431, the sterilization device 450, 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 based on detection information from a detection sensor 402 (e.g., a human body detection sensor 403 or a seating detection sensor 404) that detects a user or operation information from a manual operation unit 500.

The manual operation unit 500 is an operation unit that allows a user to spray sterilizing water at, for example, any timing. For example, the manual operation unit 500 is a remote control having switches or buttons, and when a user operates the manual operation unit 500, operation information (signal) instructing spraying of sterilizing 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. This allows the user to spray sterilizing water by operating the manual operation unit 500.
Furthermore, the manual operation unit 500 may have not only a function for spraying sterilizing water, but also a switch or button for the user to operate each function of the toilet seat device 100. 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 a user is seated on the toilet seat 200. The seating detection sensor 404 detects whether the user is sitting or leaving the seat. The seating detection sensor 404 can be a microwave sensor, a distance sensor (infrared light projector sensor), an ultrasonic sensor, a tact switch, a capacitance switch (touch sensor), or a distortion sensor. In this example, a distance sensor provided in the casing 400 is used as the seating detection sensor 404.

When using contact sensors such as a tactile switch, electrostatic sensor, and strain sensor, these contact sensors are provided on the toilet seat 200. When a user sits on the toilet seat 200, the tactile switch is pressed by the user's weight. Alternatively, the user comes into contact with the electrostatic sensor. Alternatively, pressure is applied to the strain sensor by the user's weight. The user's sitting can be detected by the electrical signals from these sensors.

The human body detection sensor 403 can detect a user in front of the toilet bowl 800, i.e., a user who is in a position away from the toilet seat 200 toward the front. In other words, the human body detection sensor 403 can detect a user who has entered the toilet room and is approaching the toilet seat 200. For example, a pyroelectric sensor, a microwave sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a distance sensor (infrared projection sensor) can be used as such a human body detection sensor. In this example, a pyroelectric sensor provided in the casing is used as the human body detection sensor 403. The human body detection sensor 403 may also detect a user who has just opened the door of the toilet room and entered the room, or a user who is about to enter the toilet room, i.e., a user who is in front of the door about to enter the toilet room. For example, when a microwave sensor is used, it is possible to detect the presence of a user through the door of the toilet room.

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

The control device 405 is capable of implementing 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 sterilizing water is automatically sprayed after a user has used the toilet device 10, based on detection information from the detection sensor 402. The pre-mist mode is, for example, an operation mode in which a mist of sterilizing water or tap water is automatically sprayed before a user has used the toilet device 10, based on detection information from the detection sensor 402. The manual mist mode is an operation mode in which a mist of sterilizing water is sprayed based on operation information from the manual operation unit 500.

4A to 4C are schematic diagrams illustrating the spray device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4( a ) is a perspective view of the spray device 481 , and FIG. 4( b ) is a side view of the spray device 481 .
The spray device 481 has a motor 481a and a disk 481b connected below the motor 481a. The rotation of the motor 481a is controlled by the control device 405. When the motor 481a rotates, the driving force of the rotation is transmitted to the disk 481b, causing the disk 481b to rotate.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), water W (tap water or sterilized water generated by the sterilization device 450) is supplied to the top surface of the disk 481b. When the water W is supplied while the disk 481b is rotating, the spray device 481 sprays the water W in a mist form. Note that in this example, the disk 481b is a flat circular plate, but it may be appropriately uneven or may be a cone or sphere.

4(c) is an enlarged view of a part of the disk 481b seen from above. The water W dropped onto the upper surface of the rotating disk 481b spreads in a film shape on the disk 481b by centrifugal force and is emitted from the disk 481b. At this time, the water W splits in a film shape from near the edge of the disk 481b, or splits after becoming thread-like, and then becomes fine particles p (mist). The particle size of the mist (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, a low rotation speed of about 1000 (rotations per minute: rpm), a medium rotation speed of about 10,000 rpm, or a high rotation speed of about 20,000 rpm can be appropriately used to obtain the desired particle size. The particle size of the mist can also be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the water W supplied to the spray device 481 from the water supply port 481c.

In this specification, the particle size refers to the particle size of the particles p present in the air before landing on the toilet device 10, and the Sauter mean particle size (total volume/total surface area) is used. The measurement method of "particle size" in this specification will be described later with reference to FIG. 22. In addition, the mist refers to a particle size ranging from 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 parts such as the bowl part 801, the rim part 805, and the toilet seat part 200. In addition, when using disinfecting water containing hypochlorous acid, if the particle size of the mist is less than 10 μm, the concentration of hypochlorous acid in the mist is likely to attenuate, and the disinfecting performance is likely to decrease. On the other hand, if the particle size of the mist is greater than 300 μm, the mist is difficult to diffuse, making it difficult to spray the mist over a wide area. In the following description, large mist means mist with a particle size in the range of 100 μm to 300 μm, preferably 150 μm to 300 μm, medium mist means mist with a particle size in the range of 50 μm to 200 μm, preferably 60 μm to 150 μm, and small mist means mist with a particle size in the range of 10 μm to 100 μm, preferably 10 μm to 60 μm.

With reference to Figures 5 to 7, examples of the operation of the toilet seat device 100 in the after-mist mode and manual mist mode will be described.

5(a) and 5(b) are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the toilet seat apparatus according to the embodiment in the after-mist mode and manual mist mode.
The control device 405 executes a first step and a second step in one mist mode (one after-mist mode or one manual mist mode). Fig. 5(a) illustrates the first step, and Fig. 5(b) illustrates the second step.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), in the first step, the spray device 481 is operated to spray a mist of sterilizing water into the toilet bowl 800, and then the blower device 513 is operated to generate a first ascending air current U1. The first ascending air current U1 is an air current that can raise the mist of sterilizing water toward the toilet seat 200.

As shown in FIG. 5(b), in the second step, when the spray device 481 is operated to spray a mist of disinfectant water into the toilet bowl 800, the blower device 513 does not generate the first ascending air current U1, and the mist of disinfectant water does not rise toward the toilet seat 200.

With this configuration, the mist of sterilizing water sprayed from below the toilet seat 200 rises to the toilet seat 200 side by the first ascending air current U1 in the first step and lands on the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805. On the other hand, the mist of sterilizing water sprayed from below the toilet seat 200 does not rise to the toilet seat side by the first ascending air current U1 in the second step, but lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl 801 and the rim 805. This allows the single spray device 418 to land the mist of sterilizing water not only on the bowl 801 of the toilet bowl 800 but also on the upper surface 806 of the rim 805 and the toilet seat 200. Therefore, bacteria and dirt can be suppressed over a wide range, including not only the bowl 801 of the toilet bowl 800 but also the rim 805 of the toilet bowl 800 and the toilet seat 200. In addition, by using a single spray device 481, the toilet seat device 100 can be made smaller.

Note that the scope of "not allowing the mist of sterilizing water to rise toward the toilet seat" in the second step may include not only cases where all the mist does not rise, but also cases where only a small amount of mist rises. For example, the amount of mist that rises toward the toilet seat in the second step is less than the amount of mist that rises toward the toilet seat in the first step. However, in the second step, it is preferable that the amount of sterilizing water that lands on the toilet seat 200, the upper surface 806 of the rim, and the toilet lid 300 is as small as possible, for example, zero.

The timing at which the control device 405 executes the first step is different from the timing at which the control device 405 executes the second step. By executing the first step, which generates a first ascending air current U1 capable of causing the mist of sterilizing water to rise toward the toilet seat 200, and the second step, which does not generate the first ascending air current U1 and does not cause the mist of sterilizing water to rise toward the toilet seat 200, at different times, it is possible to arbitrarily control the amount of sterilizing water that reaches the bowl portion 801, the amount of sterilizing water that reaches the upper surface of the rim portion 805, and the amount of sterilizing water that reaches the toilet seat 200.

Furthermore, the control device 405 controls the spray device 481 so that the total amount (g) of the mist of the sterilizing water sprayed in the first step is less than the total amount (g) of the mist of the sterilizing water sprayed in the second step. As a result, the amount of the sterilizing water that lands on the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and the rim part 805 is relatively small, and the amount of the sterilizing water that lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl part 801 and the rim part 805 is relatively large. By having a large amount of the mist of the sterilizing water land on the bowl part 801 and the inner wall surface 807, which have a large dirt load and a high tolerance to wetting, the generation of bacteria and dirt can be suppressed. By reducing the amount of the sterilizing water that land on the upper surface 806 of the toilet seat 200 and the rim part 805, which have a small dirt load and a low tolerance to wetting, the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim part 805 can be dried in a short time while suppressing bacteria and dirt. This prevents the disinfectant water from coming into contact with the user's skin or 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 after-mist mode or one manual mist mode). In one mist mode, the spray device 481 may spray mist continuously or intermittently. The total amount of mist in the first step and the total amount of mist in the second step can be controlled, for example, by adjusting the rotation speed of the disk 481b and the flow rate of sterilized water supplied to the spray device 481.

For example, the control device 405 controls the spray device 481 so that the particle size of the mist of sterilizing water sprayed during the second step is larger than the particle size of the mist of sterilizing water sprayed during the first step. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the spray device 481 generates a first mist M1 with a small particle size during the first step. The particle size of the first mist M1 (the diameter of the fine particles p1 of the sterilizing water) is a particle size that can rise to the toilet seat 200 side by the first ascending air current U1. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the spray device 481 generates a second mist M2 with a medium particle size during the second step. The particle size of the second mist M2 (the diameter of the fine particles p2 of the sterilizing water) is larger than the particle size of the first mist M1.

By reducing the particle size of the mist of sterilizing water sprayed during the first step, the total amount of sterilizing water sprayed in the first step can be reduced. This makes it possible to more reliably reduce the amount of sterilizing water that lands on the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805. On the other hand, by increasing the particle size of the mist of sterilizing water sprayed during the second step, the total amount of sterilizing water sprayed in the second step can be increased. This makes it possible to increase the amount of sterilizing water that lands on the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl 801 and the rim 805.

For example, in the second step, the control device 405 stops the operation of the air blower 513 and does not blow air. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the mist of sterilizing water from rising toward the toilet seat 200 in the second step.

The control device 405 may also operate the blower device 513 in the second step to generate a 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 in the second step does not rise toward the toilet seat 200 by 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. This allows the disinfecting water to land over a wider area within the toilet 800.

The spray device 481 also sprays the mist of sterilizing water radially when viewed from above. Radially means that the range in which the mist is present becomes wider the further away from the spray device 481. For example, when viewed from above, the mist is sprayed in all directions away from the center of the disk 481b.

Because the mist in the first step (first mist M1) is radial, the mist can be carried by the entire first ascending air current U1 and land on a wide area, such as the toilet seat 200 and the upper surface 806 of the rim 805. Also, because the mist in the second step (second mist M2) is radial, even if the mist does not ride on the air current, the mist can land on a wide area inside the toilet 800, such as the bowl 801 and the inner wall surface 807 of the rim 805.

The way the mist (first mist M1 and second mist M2) spreads can be adjusted by the rotation speed, arrangement, and shape of the disk 481b, and the position of the water supply port 481c that supplies water to the disk 481b.

6(a) to 6(d) are plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in a first step.
For ease of explanation, the toilet seat 200 and toilet lid 300 are omitted in Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(c). The dashed arrow indicates the direction of air blowing from the air blower 513. The solid arrow indicates the flow of mist sprayed from the sprayer 481. The thickness of the solid arrow corresponds to the amount of sterilizing water. The thicker the arrow, the more sterilizing water there is. Fig. 6(b) and Fig. 6(d) show the toilet seat 200.
6(a) and 6(b) show the state when the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates counterclockwise in a top view. In this case, more disinfectant water lands on the left side of the toilet device 10 than on the right side. For example, as shown in FIG. 6(a), on the top surface of the rim, more disinfectant water lands on the left side region RL1 than on the right side region RR1. For example, as shown in FIG. 6(b), on the toilet seat 200, more disinfectant water lands on the left side region RL2 than on the right side region RR2.

Figures 6(c) and 6(d) show the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotating clockwise in a top view. In this case, more disinfectant water lands on the right side of the toilet device 10 than on the left side. For example, as shown in Figure 6(c), on the top surface of the rim, more disinfectant water lands on the right region RR1 than on the left region RL1. For example, as shown in Figure 6(d), on the toilet seat 200, more disinfectant water lands on the right region RR2 than on the left region RL2.

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 first step. This makes it easier to distribute the mist evenly in the left-right direction.

7(a) to 7(c) are cross-sectional views and plan views illustrating the operation of the toilet seat device according to the embodiment in the second step.
The solid arrows indicate the flow of mist sprayed from the spray device 481. The thickness of the solid arrows corresponds to the amount of sterilizing water. The thicker the arrows, the more sterilizing water there is. For ease of explanation, the toilet cover 300 is omitted in FIG. 7(a), and the toilet seat 200 and toilet cover 300 are omitted in FIG. 7(b) and FIG. 7(c). Also, in this example, in the second step, the control device 405 does not operate the air blower 513. In other words, in the second step, air is not blown into the toilet bowl 800.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7(a), the spray device 481 sprays mist toward the upper end of the rim portion 805. In the second step, the mist of the sterilizing water lands on the bowl portion 801 and the inner wall surface 807 of the rim portion 805. In the second step, since the first ascending air current U1 is not generated, the mist of the sterilizing water does not land on, for example, the toilet seat portion 200 or the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805.

The plan view in FIG. 7(b) shows the state when the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above. In this case, more disinfectant water lands on the left side of the toilet bowl 800 compared to the right side.

The plan view in FIG. 7(c) shows the state when the disk 481b of the spray device 481 rotates clockwise when viewed from above. In this case, more disinfectant water lands on the right side of the toilet bowl 800 compared to the left side.

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 second step. This makes it easier to distribute the mist evenly in the left-right direction.

As described above, the first step allows the disinfectant water to land on the upper surface 806 of the rim portion 805, the toilet seat portion 200, the toilet lid 300, etc. Furthermore, the second step allows the disinfectant water to land on the inner wall surface 807 of the bowl portion 801 and the rim portion 805. As a result, every corner of the toilet device 10, including the rim portion 805, the toilet seat portion 200, the toilet lid 300, etc., can be disinfected.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the toilet seat apparatus in the after-mist mode according to the embodiment.
When the human body detection sensor 403 detects that the user has left the room (step S401: Yes), the control device 405 controls the toilet cover motor 512 to close the toilet cover 300, rotates the motor 481a and the disk 481b of the spray device 481 counterclockwise (CCW) at high speed (step S402), and opens the solenoid valve 431 (step S403). When the solenoid valve 431 opens, water supply to the disk 481b begins.

The control device 405 maintains the disk 481b rotating at high speed for a predetermined time (step S404: No). This allows the remaining water on the disk 481b to be discharged from above the disk 481b. At this time, for example, the mist damper 482 is closed, so mist is not sprayed into the toilet bowl 800.

When the predetermined time has elapsed (step S404: Yes), the control device 405 causes the nozzle motor 476 to advance the nozzle 473 into the bowl portion 801. As a result, the mist damper 482 opens (step S405).

Then, the control device 405 controls the sterilization device 450 to start producing sterilized water, and controls the air blower 513 to start blowing air into the toilet bowl 800 (step S406). This starts spraying a mist of sterilized water into the toilet bowl 800, the toilet seat 200, the toilet lid 300, etc. The control device 405 maintains the state in which the mist of sterilized water is sprayed from the disk 481b rotating at high speed counterclockwise for a predetermined time (t1) (step S407: No).

When a predetermined time (t1) has elapsed (step S407: Yes), the solenoid valve 431 is closed (step S408), and after the solenoid valve is closed, the motor is stopped, the generation of sterilized water is stopped, and the air supply is stopped (step S409). Since the motor continues to rotate by inertia even after the control is stopped, the motor is maintained at a rest time (t2) until the rotation speed decreases (step S410: No).

When the rest time (t2) has elapsed (step S410: Yes), the motor 481a and disk 481b of the spray device 481 are rotated clockwise (CW) at high speed (step S411), and the solenoid valve 431 is opened (step S412). When the solenoid valve 431 is opened, water supply to the disk 481b begins.

Then, the control device 405 controls the sterilization device 450 to start producing sterilized water, and controls the air blower 513 to start blowing air into the toilet bowl 800 (step S413). This starts spraying a mist of sterilized water into the toilet bowl 800, the toilet seat 200, the toilet lid 300, etc. The control device 405 maintains the state in which a mist of sterilized water is sprayed from the disk 481b rotating clockwise at high speed for a predetermined time (t1) (step S414: No).

When the predetermined time t1 has elapsed (step S414: Yes), the control device 405 closes the solenoid valve 431 (step S415), stops the rotation of the motor 481a and the disk 481b, and causes the nozzle motor 476 to move the nozzle 473 back into the casing 400. As a result, the mist damper 482 closes. The control device 405 also turns the toilet seat heater 515 ON (energized state) (step S416).

The control device 405 keeps the toilet seat heater 515 ON for a predetermined time (step S417: No). This raises the temperature of the toilet seat 200, evaporating the disinfecting water that has landed on the toilet seat 200, and drying the toilet seat 200. Note that instead of the toilet seat heater 515, the air blower 513 and the hot air heater 514 may be driven to dry the toilet seat 200 with hot air.

When the predetermined time has elapsed (step S417: Yes), the control device 405 turns off the toilet seat heater 515 (de-energized state) (step S418). This ends the after-mist mode.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the toilet seat apparatus in the manual mist mode according to the embodiment.
When the user operates the manual operation unit 500 (step S501: Yes), the control device 405 controls the toilet lid motor 512 to close the toilet lid 300, rotates the motor 481a and disk 481b of the spray device 481 counterclockwise (CCW) at high speed (step S502), and opens the solenoid valve 431 (step S503), thereby starting the supply of water to the disk 481b.

The control device 405 maintains the disk 481b rotating at high speed for a predetermined time (step S504: No). This allows the remaining water on the disk 481b to be discharged from above the disk 481b. At this time, for example, the mist damper 482 is closed, so mist is not sprayed into the toilet bowl 800.

When the predetermined time has elapsed (step S504: Yes), the control device 405 causes the nozzle motor 476 to advance the nozzle 473 into the bowl portion 801. As a result, the mist damper 482 opens (step S505).

Then, the control device 405 controls the sterilization device 450 to start producing sterilized water, and controls the air blower 513 to start blowing air into the toilet bowl 800 (step S506). This starts spraying a mist of sterilized water into the toilet bowl 800, the toilet seat 200, the toilet lid 300, etc. The control device 405 maintains the state in which a mist of sterilized water is sprayed from the disk 481b rotating counterclockwise at high speed for a predetermined time (t3) (step S507: No).

When a predetermined time (t3) has elapsed (step S507: Yes), the solenoid valve 431 is closed (step S508), and after the solenoid valve is closed, the motor is stopped, the generation of sterilized water is stopped, and the air supply is stopped (step S509). Since the motor continues to rotate by inertia even after the control is stopped, the motor is maintained at a rest time (t2) until the rotation speed decreases (step S510: No).

When the rest time (t2) has elapsed (step S510: Yes), the motor 481a and disk 481b of the spray device 481 are rotated clockwise (CW) at high speed (step S411), and the solenoid valve 431 is opened (step S512). When the solenoid valve 431 is opened, water supply to the disk 481b begins.

Then, the control device 405 controls the sterilization device 450 to start producing sterilized water, and controls the air blower 513 to start blowing air into the toilet bowl 800 (step S513). This starts spraying a mist of sterilized water into the toilet bowl 800, the toilet seat 200, the toilet lid 300, etc. The control device 405 maintains the state in which a mist of sterilized water is sprayed from the disk 481b rotating clockwise at high speed for a predetermined time (t4) (step S514: No).

When a predetermined time (t4) has elapsed (step S514: Yes), the control device 405 closes the solenoid valve 431 (step S515), stops the rotation of the motor 481a and the disk 481b, and causes the nozzle motor 476 to move the nozzle 473 back into the casing 400. Accordingly, the mist damper 482 closes (step S516). This ends the manual mist mode. In addition, after the manual mist mode, the user can disinfect the toilet seat 200 by appropriately wiping off the disinfectant water that has landed on the toilet seat 200 with toilet paper or the like.

The control device 405 controls the spray device so that the time for spraying disinfectant water in the manual mist mode is longer than the time for spraying disinfectant water in the after-mist mode. For example, the predetermined time (t3) described with reference to FIG. 9 is longer than the predetermined time (t1) described with reference to FIG. 8. This allows the amount of disinfectant water landing on the toilet seat 200 in the manual mist mode to be greater than the amount of disinfectant water landing on the toilet seat 200 in the after-mist mode. This allows the disinfectant water to thoroughly soak into toilet paper, etc. in the manual mist mode, improving disinfection performance. In addition, damage to the plastic toilet seat 200 when wiping can be suppressed.

For example, one possible method is to change the amount of disinfectant water that lands on the toilet by changing the particle size of the disinfectant water mist without changing the time for which the disinfectant water is sprayed. For example, the amount of disinfectant water that lands on the toilet can be increased by increasing the particle size. However, increasing the particle size may make it difficult for the disinfectant water to ride on rising air currents. In contrast, by changing the time for which the disinfectant water is sprayed, the amount of disinfectant water that lands on the toilet seat 200 or the like can be increased without changing the particle size. This makes it easier for the disinfectant water mist to ride on rising air currents, and the disinfectant water can be spread over a wide area, such as the toilet seat 200.

Furthermore, during or after the after-mist mode is being executed, the control device 405 operates the drying device that dries the toilet seat 200 with the first drying power. For example, in Fig. 8, the control device 405 operates the toilet seat heater 515 with the first heating amount (first power (watts)) in steps S417 and S418.
On the other hand, the control device 405 does not operate the drying device during or after the manual mist mode is executed, or operates the drying device at a second drying power that is smaller than the first drying power. For example, in Fig. 9, the control device 405 does not operate the toilet seat heater 515. Alternatively, the control device 405 may operate the toilet seat heater 515 at a second heating amount (second power (watts)) that is smaller than the first heating amount. For example, the toilet seat heater 515 makes the temperature of the seat surface during or after the after mist mode is executed higher than the temperature of the seat surface during or after the manual mist mode is executed.

In this way, during or after the after-mist mode is being performed, the drying device dries the toilet seat 200 with a relatively large first drying power (e.g., first power), thereby shortening the drying time of the disinfectant water that has landed on the toilet seat 200. On the other hand, during or after the manual mist mode is being performed, the drying device does not operate, or dries the toilet seat 200 with a relatively small second drying power (e.g., second power), thereby lengthening the drying time of the disinfectant water that has landed on the toilet seat 200. This makes it possible to prevent the toilet seat 200 from drying before the disinfectant water that has landed on the toilet seat 200 is wiped off with toilet paper.

The above describes the embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. Any design modifications made by a person skilled in the art to the above-described embodiments are also included within the scope of the present invention as long as they include the features of the present invention. For example, the shape, dimensions, materials, arrangement, installation form, etc. of each element of the toilet bowl, toilet seat device, etc. are not limited to those exemplified, and can be modified as appropriate.
Furthermore, the elements of each of the above-described embodiments can be combined to the extent technically possible, and such combinations are also included within the scope of the present invention as long as they include the features of the present invention.

10 toilet device, 100 toilet seat device, 110-113 flow path, 200 toilet seat portion, 200a opening, 203 surface, 203F tip region, 203L side region, 203R side region, 204 back surface, 204F tip region, 204L side region, 204R side region, 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 water outlet, 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 blower damper, 516a opening, 600 measuring device, 601 light emitting unit, 602 light receiving unit, 800 toilet bowl, 801 bowl portion, 801F tip region, 801L side region, 801R side region, 801w water storage, 805 rim portion, 806 upper surface, 806F tip region, 806L side region, 806R side region, 807 inner wall surface, 807F tip region, 807L Side area, 807R side area, 811 bowl water inlet, M, M3 mist, M1 first mist, M2 second mist, S slit, T1 specified time, T2 specified time, U1 first updraft, U2 second updraft

Claims (3)

A spray device that sprays mist toward at least one of a bowl portion and a toilet seat portion of the toilet;
A control device for controlling the spray device,
The spray device includes a motor, a rotor that is rotated by the motor, and a valve that supplies water to the rotor,
The control device includes:
a first mist step of spraying mist by opening the valve and supplying water to the rotor while the rotor is rotationally driven in a first direction by the motor;
a second mist process, which is a process subsequent to the first mist process, in which the motor is used to rotate the rotor in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the valve is opened to supply water to the rotor to spray mist;
The toilet device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is closed when the rotor is reversed from the first mist step to the second mist step. The toilet device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the rotating body is reversed, the control device starts an operation of switching the rotation of the rotating body from the first direction to the second direction simultaneously with or after the valve is closed. 3. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device has a stopping step for stopping the rotating body when the rotating body is reversed.