JPH01295932A - Toilet equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make elimination of odorous air in a toilet certain and to curtail electric power consumption, by controlling operation of a fan from odor concentration detected by an odor sensor installed in the toilet. CONSTITUTION:In a bowl section 1a of a toilet stool or at an appropriate place in a toilet room, an odor sensor 10 is installed and odor concentration is detected by the sensor. An output signal corresponding to the detected odor concentration is then transmitted to a control member A. From this signal, the control member A drives and controls a fan 9, which sucks odorous air and exhaust it to a deodorizing process or to the open air. As the detected odor concentration becomes lower than a fixed limitation, the control member stops operation of the fan.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a toilet device that is capable of automatically deodorizing or releasing the odor to the outdoors by sensing foreign odors generated by defecating or odors inside the toilet.

[Conventional technology]

Problems related to toilet odors have been of general interest for a long time, and chemical agents such as deodorant air fresheners are widely used mainly because they are relatively easy to handle. This deodorizing air freshener is widespread not only in toilets but also in various fields such as automobiles.

Furthermore, instead of using deodorizing fragrances around toilet bowls, systems have recently been adopted that exhaust odors to the outside or deodorize them using deodorizing cassettes. One purpose of this is to solve the usability problems such as the need to periodically replace deodorant air fresheners. The applicant has already applied for a system for exhausting odors to the outside and a deodorizing cassette in 1982-5.
They have been proposed in No. 0753 and Japanese Utility Model Application No. 1988-88702, respectively.

The former type of exhaust system uses a fan to suck odor from the bowl of the toilet bowl and release it outdoors.

Also, those that employ a deodorizing cassette are equipped with a duct or fan so that the odor passes through the cassette. As described above, the basic treatment of off-odor is to exhaust the air containing the off-odor to the outside or pass it through a deodorizer.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

For basic handling of such deodorization,
The condition is that the odor-containing air be sucked and fluidized by a fan or the like. For this reason, the operation of the fan is extremely important, and it is necessary to perform the optimal deodorization process depending on the degree of odor generated and changes over time.

However, in conventional deodorizing and deodorizing treatments, the fan operation is
Most of the time is limited to a certain amount of time from start to stop. For example, a pressure sensor or the like may be used to detect that a person has sat on the toilet seat, and the fan may be activated at the same time as this detection or after a time delay, and the fan may be stopped after it is detected that the person has stood up from the toilet seat. It is assembled. In this control, the length of the fan operating time varies depending on the time the person is seated, but the start time of operation relative to the time the person sits down and the stop time of the fan relative to the time the person leaves the toilet seat are fixed. Therefore, the time when an odor is generated by using the toilet after sitting down may not necessarily correspond to the time when the fan starts operating. Regardless of the situation, there will be times when it does not work. Additionally, the fan stops operating at a certain time after the person leaves the toilet seat, but this is the result of setting the time based on an empirical prediction that the odor will be wiped out. Therefore, depending on the intensity of the odor and the capacity of the exhaust path or deodorizing cassette, the odor may remain, or conversely, the odor may be so small that the fan does not need to be operated at full capacity.

In this way, if the fan operating time is set to be fixed with respect to the sitting time of the person, the odor may not be completely eliminated, or the fan may be operated unnecessarily.

This can be said to be due to the fact that it is not clear at what point and to what extent the odor occurs, that is, the pattern in which the odor itself occurs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to detect the generated odor and operate a fan as long as the odor is present, thereby making it possible to optimally eliminate the odor.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the toilet device of the present invention includes an odor sensor that detects odor in the toilet, a fan that sucks air containing the odor and discharges it to the deodorizing process or outside the toilet.
A control unit that operates and stops the fan according to the odor concentration detected by the odor sensor.

Furthermore, the odor sensor may be incorporated into the bowl of the toilet bowl to reliably detect the odor caused by urination.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, features of the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of a toilet in which a flush toilet is installed.

The flushing toilet is equipped with a private part washing function, and a casing 2 is integrated into the rear part of a main body 1, and a toilet seat 3 and a toilet lid 4 are attached to the casing 2 so as to be openable and closable. The inside of the casing 2 is equipped with a cleaning water tank 2a that sends cleaning water to the ball portion 1a of the main body 1, and a nozzle 2 for private cleaning.
b. This nozzle 2b is connected to a hot water heating tank similarly housed in the casing 2, moves back and forth between the cleaning position and the storage position by a piping system, a drive system, and a control system, and jets hot water toward private parts in the cleaning position. .

Further, an operation panel 5 for operating the nozzle 2b is provided on the side of the casing 2, and functions other than private part cleaning are also operated using switches on the operation panel 5. Further, instead of the operation panel 5, a remote control switch 6 detachably provided on the wall may be used.

Furthermore, the casing 2 is provided with a deodorizing system that suctions and deodorizes the odor that remains in the ball portion 1a of the main body 1, the outline of which is shown in FIG.

A deodorizing chamber 7 for deodorizing power cera) C is provided at the bottom of the surface opposite to the operation panel 5 (the surface facing the remote control switch 6 in FIG. 1). A communicating exhaust passage 8 is formed in a portion that straddles the top of the main body 1. One end of the exhaust passage 8 communicates with the ball portion 1a and is connected to an exhaust port 1b provided in the main body 1, and the other end communicates with an inflow lower a opened at the upper end of the deodorizing chamber 1. A fan 9 is provided in the middle of the exhaust path 8 to suck air inside the ball portion la and send it into the deodorizing chamber 7. Further, the deodorizing chamber 7 has a discharge lower b opened at the lower end, and air that enters from the inflow lower a is passed through the deodorizing cellar C, deodorized, and discharged from the discharge lower b. The deodorizing cassette C is set in a door 7C attached to the deodorizing chamber 7 so as to be openable and closable, and can be opened to the outside as shown by the dashed line in the figure when replacing the cassette. Further, instead of the deodorizing cassette C, an ozone generator or the like may be provided for deodorizing.

On the other hand, an odor sensor 10 for detecting odor is arranged at an appropriate position of the ball portion 1a. This odor sensor 1
0 employs the principle of capturing and detecting sulfur compounds such as mercaptans, nitrogen compounds such as amines, and gases generated by the growth of microorganisms. Examples of this include color changes due to chemical reactions and light interference, since the generated gas is the object of detection.

Examples include infrared spectrum, catalytic combustion with platinum wire, and semiconductor sensors. Among these, the semiconductor sensor is the one that can be most compactly incorporated into the device and has the highest detection accuracy, such as one that includes a sensor resistor whose main component is 5n02 in the circuit. this is,
Since odor can be considered as a type of gas, this method utilizes the phenomenon that when this gas comes into contact with the sensor resistance, its electrical conductivity increases and the electrical resistance value decreases. By using a material that is sensitive to different types of odors for the sensor resistor, it can be used in various fields. Especially when used in toilets or toilet bowls, the main component of the odor generated is hydrogen sulfide, which is the aforementioned S
If the sensor resistor is mainly composed of nO2, the odor concentration can be detected with high accuracy.

An output signal obtained by detecting odor concentration by the odor sensor 10 using a semiconductor sensor as described above is manually inputted to a control section A that also controls a private part cleaning function and the like. This control unit A controls the operation of the fan 9 and outputs a signal for starting and stopping the operation of the fan 9 depending on the odor concentration level. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control section A. The output of the odor sensor 10 is amplified to a predetermined level by an amplifier 11a, and compared with a reference voltage in a level comparator 11b. The output of the level comparator 11b is the drive circuit 11
When the output of the amplifier 11a becomes equal to or higher than the reference voltage, the fan 9 is driven to rotate, and when it becomes equal to or lower than the reference voltage, the fan 9 is stopped. Note that by supplying the output of the level comparator 11b to the display device lid, it is possible to display this when the odor concentration exceeds the critical wave. Therefore, when the display device lid is provided on the operation panel 5 or the remote control switch 6, the operation of the fan 9 can be confirmed.

Note that the operation of the fan 9 may be switched between strong and weak depending on the odor concentration.

In addition to deodorizing with the deodorizing cassette C, the toilet bowl can also be sterilized by feeding cleaning water containing ozone into the bowl portion 1a. This ozone is supplied to a water tank 12 which is separate from the washing water tank 2a as shown in FIG.
This is done by providing a chamber and dissolving ozone inside it. A water supply pipe 12a equipped with a solenoid valve 12b is connected to the water tank 12, and a supply pipe 12C equipped with a solenoid valve 12d for sending water containing ozone to the ball portion 1a is connected.

Further, an ozone generator 13 such as a discharge type or an ultraviolet lamp type is provided outside the water tank 12, and a circulation pipe 13a is connected between the ozone generator 13 and the water tank 12, and a circulation pump 13b is provided.

Here, when the pump 13b is operated, the water in the water tank 12 is circulated through the ozone generator 13 by the circulation pipe 13a, and ozone is dissolved in the water during this circulation.

Then, when the electromagnetic valves 12b and 12d are opened, an aqueous solution containing ozone is supplied to the ball portion 1a, and the chemical properties of ozone facilitate cleaning of dirt and also enable sterilization.

The aqueous solution containing ozone is supplied to the ball part 1a in conjunction with detection of the odor concentration by the odor sensor 10, and similarly to the fan 9, the control part A controls the on-off valve 12.
b, 12d, pump 13b and ozone generator 13 are controlled respectively. In addition, in order to operate the fan 9 and supply the ozone solution independently, two levels comparators are provided so as to correspond to the fan 9 side and the ozone generator 13 side, and the reference voltages of each are set to be different. Accordingly, the fan 9 and the ozone generator 13 may be operated at different odor concentrations.

In the above configuration, the odor concentration of the air remaining in the bowl portion la during urination is detected by the odor sensor 10. When a semiconductor sensor is used as described above, the detection of the odor concentration is performed by the level comparator 11b using a circuit signal in which the resistance value of the sensor portion resistance is reduced.

Then, when the odor concentration becomes higher than the reference voltage, the fan 9 is operated by the drive circuit 11c.

By the operation of the fan 9, the air with high odor concentration in the ball portion la is sent from the exhaust path 8 to the deodorizing chamber 7, deodorized by the deodorizing force cera) and discharged from the discharge lower b.

In this way, when the odor concentration becomes high, the fan 9 is automatically activated by the signal from the odor sensor 10, and the user can use the device without feeling uncomfortable due to the odor. Then, during or after defecating, the odor concentration gradually decreases due to the effect of Odor Cera)C, and the odor concentration gradually decreases. When the voltage becomes lower than this, the control unit A stops energizing the fan 9.

On the other hand, the ozone-containing aqueous solution obtained from the ozone generator 13 is also controlled by the signal from the odor sensor 10. For example, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG.

By driving the ozone generator 13 and the pump 13b, an aqueous solution containing ozone is supplied to the ball portion 1a during the operating time of the fan 9. Furthermore, as described above, if two levels comparators are provided corresponding to the fan 9 side and the ozone generator 13 side, and the base voltage of each is made different, the fan 9 and the ozone generator 13 can be operated at different odor concentrations. It can be operated with.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which, instead of using an odor cassette, the air inside the ball portion a is sucked and released as it is outdoors. This is used as a unit toilet in an office building or the like, and the back of the main body 1 is installed against a box panel 20.

An exhaust chamber IC is formed on the upper surface of the back side of the main body 1, and as shown in FIG.
d communicates with the ball portion 1a.

The communication path 1d has an air intake port 1e opened toward the ball portion 1a as shown in FIG. 6 (a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-1 in FIG. 5), and air containing odor is discharged from the air intake port 1e. Connection route 1d
and is sent to the exhaust chamber IC. An exhaust pipe 21 is connected to the back of the exhaust chamber IC, and a fan 22 is installed downstream of the exhaust pipe 21. In addition, 23a is a water supply pipe for cleaning the ball part 1a, and 23b is a waste drainage pipe.

In this example as well, an odor sensor 10 for detecting the odor concentration in the ball portion 1a is installed at an appropriate position, and a control section A similar to that shown in FIG. 3 is housed in the box panel 20. These odor sensor 10 and control unit A can automatically operate and stop the fan 22 or change the exhaust capacity of the fan 22 depending on changes in odor concentration, just as in the previous embodiment.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the odor sensor 10 is connected to the ball portion 1a.
Although it is incorporated in the toilet seat 3, it can alternatively be installed on the wall of the toilet or inside the toilet seat 3. In the case where the odor sensor 10 is installed on the wall, it is not the local odor concentration inside the toilet bowl.
Can detect odors throughout the toilet. In addition, odor cassettes used for odor removal include chemical deodorization such as oxidative decomposition using an oxidizing agent, physical adsorption deodorization that adsorbs and deodorizes malodorous substances to adsorbents such as activated carbon, and odor deodorization that uses malodorous substances decomposing bacteria. Biochemical deodorization using microorganisms, etc. can be adopted.

Furthermore, not only the odor generated by urination, but also the odor emitted from the toilet itself can be deodorized by automatically rotating the fan, making it possible to maintain a comfortable sanitary environment at all times.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the toilet device of the present invention,
An odor sensor detects the odor concentration generated by toileting, and when the odor concentration exceeds a critical value, a fan sucks the air inside the toilet bowl to deodorize the odor or release it to the outside, and the odor concentration falls below the critical value. and trying to stop the fan. Therefore, it is possible to remove and release odor according to the degree of odor generation, and odor can be removed more reliably than conventional structures that cannot respond to odor generation conditions, such as timer control. In addition, the operating time of the fan changes depending on the strength of the odor, so compared to conventional systems that operate at fixed times when a person is seated, the fan does not operate unnecessarily and the odor remains. Not at all. Therefore, not only can power be saved, but the toilet can also be kept in a comfortable condition at all times.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the toilet device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the odor exhaust route from the ball part, Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of the control part, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing other parts. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line I-1 in FIG. 5. 1; Main body 1a: Ball part 1b = Exhaust port IC: Exhaust chamber 1d: Communication path le: Intake port 2: Caning 2a; Cleaning water tank 2b: Nozzle 3: Toilet seat 4: Toilet lid 5: Operation panel 6: Remote control switch 7: Deodorizing chamber 7a: Inflow lower b; Outlet 7c: Door 8: Exhaust path 9: Fan 10: Odor sensor 11a: Amplifier 11b; Level comparator 11C: Drive circuit 11d: Display device 12
: Water tank 12a: Water supply pipe 12b: Solenoid valve 12C: Supply pipe 12d: Solenoid valve 13; Ozone generator 13a
: Circulation pipe 13b: Pump 20: Box panel 21: Exhaust pipe 22: Fan

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An odor sensor that detects odor in the toilet; a fan that sucks the odor-containing air and discharges it to the deodorizing process or outside the toilet; A toilet device characterized by comprising a control section for starting and stopping a fan. 2. The toilet device according to claim 1, wherein the odor sensor is incorporated so as to correspond to a ball portion of a toilet bowl installed in the toilet.