JPH047426A - Automatic washing method of urinal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent unnecessary waste of washing water by detecting the movement of a human body by means of a human body detector, performing only a preliminary washing when a human body has been detected within a predetermined time, and performing a normal washing for a long time after the predetermined time when a human body has not been detected. CONSTITUTION:A urinal 42 is attached on a wall 40 to supply washing water to the urinal through a water feed pipe 44, a feed water control unit 46 and a feed water connecting pipe 48. The feed water control unit 46 is provided with a human body sensor 50, a control circuit 52 and a valve (solenoid valve) 54. When a next user comes before the lapse of a predetermined time after a human body has left, a preliminary washing is performed instead of a normal washing. When a predetermined time has passed before a next user comes after a previous user has finished, a normal washing function is actuated as usual to prevent deposit of urine component.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for automatically flushing a urinal in response to use. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement in an automatic urinal cleaning method that performs preliminary cleaning and main cleaning.

[Prior Art] Devices that automatically supply flushing water to clean the urinal when the urinal is used are widely used. As this type of automatic cleaning method, a method of performing preliminary cleaning and main cleaning is known. In this method, when a person stands in front of the urinal, a preliminary flush is performed by supplying cleansing water to the urinal for a short period of time to wet the needle surface, and then after the person leaves the urinal, cleansing water is supplied for a long time to the urinal. This method involves supplying water to the urinal and thoroughly cleaning it (main cleaning). By performing this preliminary cleaning to keep the needle surface wet, direct contact of urine components with the needle surface can be avoided, resulting in the effect that dirt is less likely to adhere to the needle surface.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] If the next user appears immediately after the previous user leaves, it is sufficient to lightly wash the needle surface by running a small amount of water; Even if the mirror is thoroughly washed with water, the mirror surface will be smeared with urine immediately after washing, resulting in a waste of cleaning effort and a needless use of a large amount of washing water.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention basically provides an automatic urinal cleaning method that performs a short-time preliminary cleaning when a human body stands in front of the urinal, and performs a long-term main cleaning after the human body is removed. , the main cleaning is performed only if the next user does not appear even after a predetermined time T has elapsed after the human body has been removed, and if the next user appears within the predetermined time T, the main cleaning is omitted and the preliminary cleaning is performed. It is designed to perform only cleaning.

In the present invention, the predetermined time T is preferably selected from a period of 5 to 30 seconds. In addition, the pre-cleaning time is 1
About 5 seconds is suitable, and the main washing time is preferably about 5 to 20 seconds.

[Function] According to the present invention, when the next user appears immediately after the previous user leaves, only a short cleaning is performed. Therefore, washing water is prevented from flowing wastefully.

[Example] Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a urinal to which an automatic cleaning method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the control method, and FIG. 3 is a timing chart.

In FIG. 1, a urinal 42 is attached to a wall surface 40,
Wash water can be supplied to the urinal 42 via a water supply pipe 44, a water supply control device 46, and a water supply connection pipe 48. The water supply control device 46 includes a human body detection sensor 50 for detecting a urinal user standing in front of the urinal 42, a control circuit 52 into which a signal from the human body detection sensor 50 is input, the water supply pipe 44, and a water supply connection. The valves (electromagnetic valves) 54 to which the pipes 48 are connected are provided. This control circuit 52 is equipped with a microcomputer, and a control program shown in FIG. 2 is stored in this microcomputer.

This control method will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. It should be noted that the following ■ to ■ correspond to ■ to ■ in FIG. 3. 3 is not shown in FIG.

■ Main cleaning (15 seconds after turning on the power switch)
2 seconds) is started.

The program starts when the power switch is turned on. First, in step 1 all flags are set to O. Next, in step 2, all timers are reset, and further, in step 3, the detection flag is set to 1. Next, in step 4, it is determined whether a human body is detected. In this case, since the program has just started and the human body is not yet standing in front of the toilet bowl, the human body has not been detected, so the process moves from step 4 to step 5.

In step 5, it is determined whether the detection flag is 0 or 1. In this case, since the detection flag is set to 1 in step 3, the process proceeds to step 6, and after setting the detection flag to 0, the leaving timer is started in step 7. In this embodiment, the leaving timer is a 2-second timer that times out every 2 seconds.

Next, in step 8, it is determined whether flag A is 1 or O. In this case, flag A is set to O in step 1, and the process moves from step 8 to step 9, where it is determined whether the leaving timer has timed up.

At this stage, since only a very short time has elapsed since the leaving timer started in step 7, the process jumps from step 9 to step 15, and it is determined whether or not the main cleaning timer has timed up. Ru. In this embodiment, the main cleaning timer is a 15 second timer.

In this case, the main cleaning timer has not been started and the determination result is No, so steps 15 to 26
Move to. In this step 26, it is determined whether the pre-cleaning timer has expired. In this case, the pre-cleaning timer has not started and, of course, the pre-cleaning timer has not started up, so the process moves from step 26 to step 29.

In step 29, it is determined whether the A timer (6 second timer) has timed up. In this case, since the A timer has not started and the determination result is NO, the process moves from step 29 to step 32, and it is determined whether or not the B timer (17 second timer) has timed out. In this case as well, since the B timer has not yet been started and the determination result is NO, the process moves from step 32 to step 4.

From step 4, the process returns to step 5, and then from step 5 to step 8. That is, since the detection flag is returned to 0 in step 6, the process moves from step 5 to step 8. And further step 9
Then, it is determined whether the leaving timer has been up.

The process moves from step 9 to step 15 until the leave timer times up, then from step 26.29.32 to step 4, and again cycles through steps 5.8.9. After repeating this cycle multiple times, the leaving timer times up. Then, the process moves from step 9 to step 1°, the valve is opened, and main cleaning is started. Next, in steps 11, 12, 13, and 14, the leave timer is reset in sequence, and the main cleaning timer is started, the B timer is started, and the flag B is set to 1, after which the process returns to step 15.

In step 15, the main cleaning timer has not yet been activated, so the process moves from step 15 to step 26.
Next, steps 29, 32, 4, 5, 8, and 9 are performed in the order of steps 29.32.4.5.8.9. In step 9, the leaving timer itself is not activated and the determination result in step 9 is No, so the process goes from step 9 to step 15B. From step 15 to step 2 until the main cleaning timer is up.
6.29.32.4.5.8.9 cycles are made.

When 15 seconds have passed from the start of cleaning, the main cleaning timer will be up in step 15, so step 15 will be changed to step 1.
Proceed to step 6, close the valve, and complete the main cleaning. Next, the process moves to step 17, where the main cleaning timer is reset, and then the process moves to step 26, and then to step 29. From step 29, the process moves to step 32, where it is determined whether or not the B timer has counted up. Immediately after the main cleaning timer is up, the B timer is not up yet and the process returns directly from step 32 to step 4, and step 5.8.9
．． The program proceeds in the order of 15 degrees. In step 15,
Since the main cleaning timer has been reset in step 17, the process moves directly from step 15 to step 26.
Further, the process moves to step 29, and circulation is performed in this order. Eventually, 17 seconds have passed since the start of the cleaning, and when the B timer is up, the process moves from step 32 to step 33, where the B timer is reset and the flag B is set to O. Then, return to step 4.

In this way, main cleaning is performed 2 seconds after the power is turned on. After completing this main cleaning, step 4.5.8.
9. Move to standby state that cycles through 15.26.29.32.

■ In this standby state, when a person stands in front of the toilet bowl, preliminary flushing is performed.

That is, since the determination result in step 4 is YES, the process moves from step 4 to step 18.

Then, it is determined whether the detection flag is O or 1. In this case, the detection flag is set to 0 in step 6.
, so step 18 to step 19
, and reset the leaving timer. After setting the detection flag to 1, it is determined whether flag B is O or 1 (steps 20 and 21). In this case, since the flag B is set to 0 in step 34, the process moves to step 22, where the valve is opened and water begins to flow into the urinal. Next, in steps 23, 24, and 25, a pre-cleaning timer is started, an A timer is started, and a flag A is set to 1. After that, step 15 jumps to step 26, and step 2
In step 6, it is determined whether the pre-wash timer has expired.

In this case, the pre-cleaning timer has just started and the pre-cleaning timer has not counted up, so the process jumps from step 26 to step 29, and it is determined whether or not the A timer has counted up.

At this stage, the A timer has just started, the determination result in step 29 is No, and the process jumps from step 29 to step 32. In this case, since the B tire has not started, the determination result in step 32 is NO, and the process moves to step 4.

In step 4, the human body continues to be present in front of the urinal, and the process moves to step 18. In this case, since the detection flag is set to 1 in step 20, the process jumps from step 18 to step 15, and then to step 26. and step 26.29.32.4.1 until the pre-wash timer is up.
8. Cycle through 15.

During this circulation, the pre-cleaning timer times out when 5 seconds have elapsed since the start of the pre-cleaning. Then,
The process moves from step 26 to step 27, and the valve is closed to complete the preliminary cleaning. Also, the pre-cleaning timer is reset (step 28). Thereafter, step 29.32.4.18.1 until the A timer times up.
The program is cycled in the order of 5.26.29.

Eventually, when 6 seconds have passed since the A timer started (1 second after the end of pre-washing), the A timer times up, so the process moves from step 29 to step 30.31, where the A timer is reset and the flag A is set. Set it back to 0. The program cycles through steps 32.4.18.26.29.32 until the person leaves the front of the urinal.

(2) If the next user does not appear until time T (2 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed after the human body has left, the main cleaning is performed.

When the human body leaves the front of the urinal, the process moves from step 4 to step 5. In this case, since the detection flag was set to 1 in step 20, the process moves from step 5 to step 6, returns the detection flag to 0, and then starts the leaving timer (step 7). Next, the process moves to step 8, and it is determined whether flag A is 0 or 1. In this case, since the flag A is set to 0 in step 31, the process moves from step 8 to step 9, and it is determined whether the leaving timer has timed up. At this stage, the leaving timer has just started, and since the determination result is No, the process jumps from step 9 to step 15, and it is determined whether the main cleaning timer has timed up.

At this stage, the main cleaning timer has not started and the judgment result is NO, so the process jumps from step 15 to step 26 and then to step 29. It has not been started and jumps from step 29 to step 32. At this stage, the B timer has not been started and the program moves from step 32 to step 4 and then jumps to step 5.

At this stage, the detection flag is set to 0 in step 6.
Since it is set to , move from step 5 to step 8. Since flag A is O, the process moves to step 9. Step 9.15.2 until the leave timer times up
It cycles in the order of 6.29.32.4.5.8.9.

Eventually, the leaving timer starts and when two seconds have elapsed, the leaving timer times up, so the process moves from step 9 to step 10, and first the valve is opened and water begins to flow into the urinal. This is the start of the main cleaning. Next, in step 11.12, after resetting the leaving timer, the main cleaning timer is started. Furthermore, step 13.
After starting the B timer at 14, flag B is set to 1.
Set to . Next, the process moves to step 15. The cycle from step 15 to steps 26, 29, 32, 4, 5, 8, 91, and 15 is performed until the main cleaning timer times out (in step 9, the leaving timer is reset in step 11). (This will cause you to jump directly from step 9 to step 15.)

Eventually, 15 seconds will pass from the start of the main cleaning and the main cleaning timer will time out, so steps 15 to 16 will be executed.
Move to , close the valve, and complete the main cleaning. Furthermore, after resetting the main cleaning timer in step 17, the process moves to step 26. Steps 26.29.32.4.5.8.9.15. until B timer times up.
It is circulated in the order of 26.

17 seconds after the B timer starts (2 seconds after the main cleaning ends), the B timer times up, so the process moves from step 32 to steps 33 and 34, and the B timer is reset and the flag B is set to 0. Set to . Then move on to step 4, step 4.5.8.9.1
5. Move to standby state cycling through 26.29.32.

- The next time a user appears during main washing, main washing will continue, but preliminary washing will not be performed.

Step 4.5.8.9.15.26.29 as above
．． 32. Assume that a human body appears in front of the urinal while the main cleaning is being performed by circulating in the order of 4. In this case, the process moves from step 4 to step 18. In this case, since the detection flag was set to 0 in step 6, the process moves from step 18 to step 19.20. Then, the leaving timer is reset and the detection flag is set to 1.
Set to . Next, in step 21, it is determined whether flag B is 0 or 1.

In this case, since flag B is set to 1 in step 14, the process goes from step 21 to step 15.
Further, the process moves to step 29 via step 26 - and the circulation is performed in the order of steps 29.32.4.18.15.26.29. (Since the detection flag is set to 1 in step 20, the process moves from step 18 to step 15.) Eventually, when the main cleaning timer is up, the process moves from step 15 to step 16.17, and the main cleaning valve is closed. Cleaning is complete.

In this way, even if the next time a user appears in front of the urinal during main washing, the programs of steps 22-25.2 and 28 will not be executed, and no preliminary washing will be performed.

■ If a person leaves during preliminary cleaning, main cleaning will not be performed.
Only the pre-wash is performed.

As mentioned above, if preliminary cleaning is performed due to a human body appearing in front of the urine container, step 4.18.2
The circulation is done in the order of 6.29.32.4,
A case in which a human body leaves the front of the urinal during this preliminary cleaning will be described next.

In this case, the process moves from step 4 to step 5, and then to step 6. That is, since the detection flag is set to 1 in step 20, the process moves from step 5 to step 6. After starting the leave timer in step 7, the process returns to step 8B. In this case, since flag A is set to 1 in step 25, the process moves from step 8 to step 35, and after resetting the leaving timer, the process moves to step 15. and step 15.26 until the pre-wash timer times out.
．． The program runs in the order of 29.32.4.5.8.35.26, and after the pre-wash timer times up, the program moves from step 26 to step 27, closes the valve, completes the pre-wash, and resets the pre-wash timer. do. Then step 29.32.4.5.8.35.2
It is circulated in the order of 6.29 and goes into a standby state.

- If the next user appears before time T (2 seconds) has elapsed since the human body left, preliminary cleaning will be performed and main cleaning will be omitted.

When the human body leaves, step 4.5 is performed as in the case of ■ above.
．． It cycles in the order of 6.7.8.9.15.26.29.32.4. If a human body is detected within 2 seconds after the leaving timer starts (step 7), the process moves from step 4 to step 18. Thereafter, preliminary cleaning is carried out in the same manner as in (1) above.

In this way, when the next user appears within two seconds after the previous user appears, only the preliminary cleaning is performed and the main cleaning is not performed.

[Effects] As is clear from the above examples, according to the automatic cleaning method of the present invention, when the urinal is used frequently, the main cleaning function is stopped for the paddy and only preliminary cleaning is performed, which saves water. can be achieved. Of course, if a predetermined period of time has elapsed without the next user appearing after the previous user finished using the product, the cleaning function will operate as usual, preventing urine components from adhering to the surface and ensuring a sufficient cleaning effect. Obtainable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a urinal cleaning device to which the method of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining a control program, and FIG. 3 is a timing chart. 42...Urinal, 44...Water pipe, 46...
-Cleaning control device, 50...Human body detection sensor, 52...
- Control circuit, 54... Solenoid valve. Patent applicant Inax Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An automatic urinal flushing method in which a human body detection device detects a human body in front of the urinal and flushes water into the urinal, and when a human body is detected in front of the urinal, the urinal is flushed for a short period of time. In an automatic urinal flushing method that performs preliminary flushing by flushing water, and when a human body is detected leaving the urinal, flushing water is flushed into the urinal depending on the time until the next human body is detected, using a human body detection device. A predetermined period of time T after detecting the departure of a human body
If a human body is detected inside, only preliminary cleaning is performed.
An automatic urinal cleaning method characterized in that when a human body is not detected within the predetermined time T, main cleaning is performed for a long time after the time T has elapsed.