JPH05287785A - Automatic water stopper - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly control the amount of water to be discharged as well as lessen the scattering degree of water by a method in which the discharging amount of water from the discharge mouth is varied for each zone and water is discharged according to the sizes of objects to be washed. CONSTITUTION:In the controller 12 of an automatic water stopper 1, when a reflector is detected in the zone Z1, a valve 9 is opened and the flow rate of water from the discharge mouth 2 is reduced controllably. When reflector is detected in the zone Z2, a valve 10 is opened, and the flow rate of water from the mouth 2 is controlled to medium. Also, when reflector is detected in the zone Z3, a valve 11 is opened, and the flow rate of water from the mouth 2 is controlled to an increasing degree. The zone Z1 is suitable for washing small-size objects such as spoon, the zone Z2 is suitable for washing hands, and the zone Z3 is suitable for washing large-size objects such as pans, dishes, and others.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic faucet device which automatically discharges water when a hand or the like is inserted below the water spout.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automatic faucet device for automatically discharging water when a hand is put out to the lower side of a water outlet, for example, "Water Supply System" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-235824. "Automatic faucet control method". The feature of the above conventional invention is that water is not spattered below the faucet, only when a hand or a cup is put out in a most appropriate specific range where water is not scattered, and carelessly touching the faucet. This is to control the water so that it does not splash even if a glass or cup is brought close to it.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned conventional method for controlling an automatic faucet of water, water is ejected at the same discharge amount only when a hand or a cup is extended to an intermediate zone where water is less scattered. The amount of discharge is too large when washing small spoons and chopsticks with a small amount of water, while the amount of discharge is too large when washing pots and large dishes. There is a problem of being few.

Therefore, in the present invention, the first zone, the second zone, and the third zone are set in the order of being closer to the water discharge port, and the small zone or the like is set in the first zone. A small amount of water suitable for washing, a medium amount of water suitable for washing hands etc. in the second zone, and a relatively small amount suitable for washing pots, large plates etc. in the third zone. By discharging a large flow rate of water, it is a technical subject to reduce the splash of the discharged water in each zone and to solve the conventional problems.

[0005]

The technical means for solving the above-mentioned problems are a light emitting means for projecting an automatic faucet device in a discharge direction of water discharged from a water discharge port, and a reflector by the light projection. A light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the discharge port is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port, and a range from the discharge port to a first predetermined distance in the water discharge direction is defined as a first zone, The range from the distance to the second predetermined distance is set as the second zone, and the distance from the second predetermined distance is set as the third zone, and the reflection is performed based on the received light intensity of the reflected light. A reflector position detecting means for detecting a zone where the body is located, and a flow rate of water discharged from the water outlet when the reflector is detected by the reflector position detecting means in the first zone. At least, when the reflector is detected by the second zone, Discharge control means is provided to control the flow rate of the discharged water to a medium level, and to control the flow rate of the water discharged from the water discharge port to a large amount when the reflector is detected by the third zone. That is.

[0006]

According to the automatic faucet device having the above structure, the discharge control means reduces the flow rate of water discharged from the water discharge port when the reflector position detecting means detects the reflector in the first zone. , When the reflector is detected by the second zone, the flow rate of water discharged from the water outlet is medium, and when the reflector is detected by the third zone, the water is discharged from the water outlet. Since the flow rate of water is controlled to a large extent, the first zone is suitable for washing small items such as spoons and chopsticks, and the second zone
The third zone is suitable for washing hands, and the third zone is suitable for washing large items such as pots and dishes.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the overall configuration of the automatic faucet device 1. In FIG. 1, a faucet pipe 3 provided with a discharge port 2 for discharging water when washing hands, dishes, etc. is rotatably attached to a main pipe 4. At the tip of the main pipe 4, there is attached a handle 5 for manually adjusting the discharge amount of water or for adjusting the temperature of discharge water by mixing cold water and hot water, which will be described later. The discharge port 2
The light emitting means for projecting light in the discharge direction of the water discharged from the water discharge port 2 and the light receiving means for receiving the reflected light from a hand or a reflector such as tableware by the projection. The provided infrared sensor-6 is provided.

A cold water supply pipe 7 and a hot water supply pipe 8 are connected to the main pipe 4, and cold water and hot water supplied from the cold water supply pipe 7 and the hot water supply pipe 8 are mixed in the main pipe 4. The temperature is adjusted according to the turning position of the handle 5.

Further, as shown in the drawing, a range up to a first predetermined distance in the water discharge direction is set as a first zone Z1 with respect to the infrared sensor-6, and a second predetermined distance from the first predetermined distance. The range up to the distance is set as the second zone Z2, and the third zone Z3 is set farther than the second predetermined distance.
In addition, each of the zones Z1, Z2 and Z3 is an infrared sensor-6.
The light emitted from is set based on the intensity of the reflected light reflected by a hand or a reflector such as tableware.

On the other hand, the automatic faucet device 1 is provided with three valves 9, 10 and 11, and when the valve 9 is opened, the flow rate of water discharged from the water discharge port 2 is small. When the valve 10 is opened, the flow rate of water discharged from the water discharge port 2 is medium, and when the valve 11 is opened, the flow rate of water discharged from the water discharge port 2 is switched to three large flow rates. It is configured to be possible.

The infrared sensor 6 and the three valves 9, 10 and 11 are connected to the controller 12 via a sensor cable CA1, a valve cable CA2 and connectors C1 and C2. There is. The control device 12 has batteries B1, B2, B3, B4 built therein as a power source, and further determines whether the hand or a reflector such as tableware is located in the zones Z1, Z2, Z3. It has a built-in reflector detection circuit for detecting based on the intensity of light, and a discharge control circuit for controlling valve opening of any one of the valves 9, 10, 11 according to the zone where the reflector is located. 2 is a plan view of a portion where the water discharge port 2 and the infrared sensor 6 are arranged.

In the automatic faucet device 1 configured as described above, in the discharge control circuit, the reflector is the first zone Z.
1 is detected, the valve 9 is opened, the flow rate of the water discharged from the water discharge port 2 is controlled to be small, and the reflector is set to the second zone.
Valve Z2 is detected, the valve 10 is opened, when the flow rate of the water discharged from the water outlet 2 is medium, and when the reflector is detected by the third zone Z3, the valve 11 is opened. Since the flow rate of the water discharged from the spout 2 is controlled to a large amount, the first zone Z1 is suitable for washing small objects such as spoons and chopsticks, and the second zone Z2 is for hands, etc. The third zone Z3 is suitable for washing large items such as pots and dishes. In addition, in the first zone Z1, it is also possible to put out a spawn and put a small amount of water in the spun to add water for cooking or the like. Also, the third zone
With the Z3, water can be quickly poured into pots, plates, etc., and the practicality at the actual use site is enhanced. In this example, the bulbs 9 and 1 are set according to the zone where the reflector is located.
Although it was configured to control valve opening of either 0 or 11,
Three valves 9, 10, 11 of the same type are arranged side by side, and the valve 9 is opened in the first zone Z1 and the valve 10 is opened together with the valve 9 in the second zone Z2. In the third zone Z3, the same effect can be obtained even if the control device 12 controls the valves 9 and 10 so that the valve 11 is opened.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the reflector is detected by the first zone, the flow rate of the water discharged from the water outlet is small, and the reflector is the second zone. In order to control the flow rate of the water discharged from the water discharge port to a medium level, and to control the flow rate of the water discharged from the water discharge port to a large amount when the reflector is detected in the third zone, The first zone is suitable for washing small items such as spoons and chopsticks, the second zone is suitable for washing hands, and the third zone is suitable for large pots and plates. There is an effect that it is suitable for washing things and that the amount of spouted water can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Automatic faucet device 2 Water outlet 3 Faucet pipe 4 Main pipe 5 Handle 6 Infrared sensor-7 Cold water supply pipe 8 Hot water supply pipe 9 Valve 10 Valve 11 Valve 12 Control device Z1 1st zone Z2 2nd zone Z3 Third Zone

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting means for emitting light in a discharge direction of water discharged from a water discharge outlet and a light receiving means for receiving reflected light from a reflector due to the light emission are provided near the discharge outlet. The range from the water outlet to the first predetermined distance in the water discharge direction is the first zone, and the range from the first predetermined distance to the second predetermined distance is the second zone. A reflector position detecting means for detecting a zone where the reflector is located based on the received light intensity of the reflected light, and a reflector position which is set as a third zone farther than the second predetermined distance. When the detecting means detects the reflector in the first zone, the flow rate of water discharged from the water outlet is small, and when the reflector is detected in the second zone, the water is discharged from the water outlet. The flow rate of discharged water is moderate, and the reflector detects it in the third zone. An automatic faucet device comprising a discharge control means for controlling the flow rate of water discharged from the water discharge port to a large amount when the water is discharged.