JPH0951856A - Bathtub water circulating and cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathtub water circulating and cleaning device capable of sterilizing bathtub water after the bathing of a bathing person at good timing and improving a cleaning operation. SOLUTION: This bathtub water circulating and cleaning device is provided with a circulation path 10 for introducing bathtub water in a bathtub 1 to the outside of the bathtub, circulating the bathtub water and returning it into the bathtub again and an ultraviolet sterilizing device 18 for sterilizing bacteria in the circulating bathtub water in the circulation path 10. The bathtub 1 is provided with an ultrasonic sensor 19 for detecting that the bathing person leaves the bathtub 1 and further and a controller for operating the ultraviolet sterilizing device 18 based on a detection signal outputted from the ultrasonic sensor 19.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to a bath water circulation purifying device which can guide bath water out of the bath to purify it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional bath water circulation purifying apparatus of this type, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-290294 shown in FIG. 5 is known.

In such a case, the bath water in the bathtub 1 is drawn out of the bathtub 1 using the pump 3 from the inlet 2 formed in the bathtub side wall and circulated, and is again formed on the bathtub side wall. A circulation path 5 is provided for returning from the protruding port 4 into the bath 1.

A filter 6 for purifying by inserting bath water and ozone are generated in the circulation path 5,
An ozone generator 7 is provided to purify the bath water by dissolving it in the bath water.

In the conventional bath water circulation purifying apparatus thus constructed, when performing the purifying operation, the short-circuit passage 8 is closed to allow the bath water to pass through the filter 6 and the ozone generator 7 to be activated. It is activated to generate ozone and kill bacteria in the bath water.

As another type of this type, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-290295 is known.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional bath water circulation purifying apparatus as described above, organic matter (fat, protein), dirt such as hair (hereinafter,
Waste products) gradually adhere to the inner walls of the circulation path 5 and the short circuit path 8.

In the conventional bath water circulation purifying apparatus, in addition to manually starting the apparatus, in order to save power, a sterilizer such as the ozone generator 7 is operated for a certain time with a timer or the like at certain intervals. It is also considered to sterilize the circulating bath water. Even if the operation of the sterilizer is controlled by a timer in this way, the sterilizer operates due to poor timing when the amount of waste products in the bath water increases and the bacterial growth conditions are met, such as immediately after the bathing of a bather. You may not have done it.

In this case, waste products adhere to the inner walls of the circulation path 5 and the short-circuit path 8 and serve as a hotbed for bacterial propagation, and bacteria and bacteria (hereinafter referred to as bacteria) propagate. In particular, when the warming device and the circulation path 5 and the like are shared, bath water containing wastes flows in the circulation path 5 and the like, the boiler and the like, and adheres to the inner wall in a large area.

Bacteria and the like that have propagated in the circulation path 5 and the like cannot be efficiently removed even if the circulating bath water is sterilized by the sterilizing device after the timer is started. There is a possibility that the action may be reduced.

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bath water circulation purifying apparatus capable of sterilizing the bath water immediately after bathing by the bather in a timely manner and improving the purifying action. .

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the circulation path, the bath water in the bathtub is led out to the outside of the bath, circulated, and returned to the bath again. In the bathtub water circulation purifying device having a sterilizer for sterilizing bacteria in circulating bathtub water in the circulation path, in the bathtub, a human sensor for detecting the presence of a bather in the bathtub is provided. The bath water circulation purification device is provided which is provided with control means for actuating the sterilization device according to a detection signal output from the motion sensor.

According to the first aspect of the present invention thus constructed, the human sensor outputs a detection signal when the bather leaves the bathtub. The control means actuates the sterilizing device according to the output detection signal to sterilize the bacteria in the circulating bath water. Since the sterilized bath water is returned to the bath again, the waste products in the bath water are in a substantially sterile state, and the growth of bacteria on the inner wall of the circulation path is suppressed.

In this way, the bather can sterilize the bath water immediately after taking a bath in a timely manner, and the purification effect can be improved.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the inner wall of the circulation path is subjected to antibacterial treatment.
It is characterized by the bath water circulation purification device described.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the inner wall of the circulation path is subjected to the antibacterial treatment, the growth of bacteria is further suppressed.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show the first embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown. It should be noted that the same or equivalent parts as those of the conventional bath water circulation purifying device will be described with the same reference numerals.

First, the structure will be described.
In the bath water circulation purifying apparatus, the bath water in the bath 1 is drawn out from the bath 2 through the inlet 2 formed in the side wall of the bath using the pump 3 provided in the water purifying apparatus 9 to circulate the water. Again, a circulation path 10 is provided for returning from the protruding port 4 formed on the side wall of the bathtub into the bathtub 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, an antibacterial agent 12 made of silver or the like is applied to the inner wall 11 of the circulation path 10 over the entire area to be subjected to antibacterial processing.

This circulation path 10 includes a return pipe 13 connected to the introduction port 2 and a forward pipe 1 connected to the projection port 4.
4 and an in-apparatus pipe 1 to be installed in the water purification device 9
5 and 5.

Of these, the return pipe 13 and the forward pipe 14
Ball valves 16 and 16 are provided in the chamber so that bath water can be inserted or stopped. The return pipe 13 and the outgoing pipe 14 are provided outside the bathtub 1 in the bathroom wall surface 1
It is connected to the water purification device 9 which is arranged with a space 7 therebetween.

In the water purification device 9, the return pipe 13 is provided.
There is provided a filter 6 which is connected to the tub and is purified by inserting the bath water. The filter 6 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is configured to allow the bath water introduced from the upper portion to pass through the filter medium composed of the composite layer and to be discharged from the lower portion. Inside the filter 6, a physical filter 6 for removing large dust such as hair from the waste products in the bath water.
a and 6a are provided in the vicinity of the upper portion by being doubly laminated.

In the inside of the filter 6, a biofoam having a wide bath water contact area is formed because organic substances such as fats and proteins among the waste products in the bath water are decomposed by the action of aerobic bacteria. 6b is disposed downstream of the physical filters 6a, 6a so that the bath water from which large dust and the like has been removed by the physical filters 6a, 6a is inserted.

On the downstream side of the biofoam 6b, an adsorption filter medium 6c for adsorbing waste products in the bath water is further arranged, and the bath water inserted through the physical filters 6a, 6a and the biofoam 6b is inserted. Is configured to. The adsorbent filter medium 6c adsorbs chlorine, bacteria, malodor, etc., and also has a water quality such as adding minerals to bath water to be inserted, stabilizing the ph value, or exerting antibacterial properties. You may use the thing which has the effect | action which makes it good, for example, bakuhanishi (Nishio brand name) etc.

The pump 3 is connected to the downstream side of the water purification device 9. Further, on the downstream side of the pump 3, an ultraviolet sterilizer 18 is disposed as a sterilizer that projects from the pump 3 and sterilizes bacteria in the inserted bath water by irradiating with ultraviolet rays.

Inside the ultraviolet sterilizer 18, an ultraviolet lamp for irradiating ultraviolet rays when turned on is provided, and the ultraviolet irradiation amount of this ultraviolet lamp is about 15 minutes to 1 hour, and all bacteria in the bath water are removed. The number of outputs is set so that it can be sterilized.

The upstream pipe 14 is connected to the downstream side of the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 so as to return the purified bath water to the bath 1.

An ultrasonic sensor 19 is provided on the side wall of the bathtub 1 as a human sensor for detecting that the bather has left the bathtub 1.

The ultrasonic sensor 19 is electrically connected to a controller 20 as a control means provided in a dressing room or the like outside the bathtub 1 as shown in FIG.

An amplifier section 21 for amplifying the detection signal output from the ultrasonic sensor 19 is provided in the controller 20.

Further, in the controller 20, there is provided a signal filter section 22 for removing a noise portion in the signal amplified by the amplifier section 21.

In the controller 20, the state of the bathtub when a bather is present in the bathtub 1,
There is provided a signal comparison unit 23 which presets the signal of the state in the bathtub when it does not exist and compares the detection signal sent from the signal filter unit 22 with these signals.

In the signal comparing section 23, when there is a bather in the bathtub 1 and then there is no bather, it is determined that the bather has exited the bathtub 1, and the ultraviolet sterilizer is used. It is configured to output a sterilizer activation signal that activates 19.

In the first embodiment, the controller 20 is further provided with about 15 sterilizer operation signals.
A timer unit 24 is provided for outputting only from one minute to one hour. The sterilizer operation signal output time of the timer unit 24 is configured to be adjustable according to the amount of bath water or the degree of dirt.

The sterilizer activation signal becomes electric power supplied from the power source 26 via the electric power control unit 25 provided in the controller 20, and is sent to the electrically connected ultraviolet sterilizer 19. It is configured to be.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

When the bather enters the bathtub 1, the ultrasonic sensor 19 first outputs a signal indicating that the bather is present in the bathtub 1 to the controller 20.

Next, when the bather exits the bathtub 1, the ultrasonic sensor 20 outputs a signal indicating that there is no bather to the controller 20.

The controller 20 amplifies each signal through the amplifier section 21, and the signal filter section 22 removes noise from the amplified signal and sends it to the signal comparison section 23.

In the signal comparison unit 23, after the bather exists in the bathtub 1 and the bather does not exist, the bather exits the bathtub 1 when the signals of both states are input. When it is judged that the ultraviolet ray sterilization device 19 is operated, a sterilization device operation signal for operating the ultraviolet sterilization device 19 is output to the timer unit 24.

The timer section 24 outputs the sterilizer operation signal only for about 15 minutes to 1 hour. This sterilizer activation signal supplies the power of the power supply 26 to the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 from the power controller 25.

The ultraviolet sterilizer 18 is operated by the supply of the electric power, and when the built-in ultraviolet lamp is turned on, ultraviolet rays are emitted, and the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 is turned on.
Sterilizes the water passing through the bathtub.

By the operation of the ultraviolet sterilizer 18, the circulating bacteria in the bath water are sterilized and returned to the bath 1 again, so that the waste products in the bath water become substantially sterile, and the inner wall of the circulation passage 10 is made. Even if a waste material adheres to 11, the seed bacteria have been killed, so that the growth of bacteria on the inner wall 11 surface is suppressed.

As described above, since the bather can sterilize the bath water immediately after taking a bath in a timely manner, the purifying action can be improved.

Since the inner wall 11 of the circulation path 10 is antibacterial processed by the antibacterial agent 12, further,
Wastes and bacteria are less likely to adhere and can be circulated as bath water. Therefore, almost all of the bath water carries waste products and bacteria and is exposed to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray sterilizer 18 to be sterilized in about 15 minutes to 1 hour, and becomes substantially sterile. Therefore, the seed bacteria are not left, and the bacterial reproduction is further suppressed.

After the sterilization is completed, the operation of the timer section 24 stops the supply of electric power to the ultraviolet sterilization device 18 to save electric power.

The bath water circulating in the circulation path 10 is
Since the waste products are removed by the filter 6 and the organic substances such as fat and protein are decomposed and purified, clean bath water can be returned to the bath 1 from the projecting port 4 again.

Moreover, by continuously operating the pump 3,
Even if the circulating water is constantly circulated in the circulation passage 10, the growth of bacteria is suppressed. Therefore, for example, in the circulation passage 10 or a sub circulation passage branched from the circulation passage 10. Even if a heat insulating device such as a boiler is installed in the
Can maintain clean bath water.

Although the first embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the first embodiment, and there are design changes and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention. Even this is included in the present invention.

For example, although the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 is used as the sterilizer in the first embodiment, the invention is not limited to this. For example, ozone is generated and the ozone is dissolved in the bath water. Any sterilizer such as an ozone generator for purifying the bath water may be provided, or the ozone generator and the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 may be used together.

In the first embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor is used as the human sensor, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an optical sensor, a water level sensor, or the like is used by a bather to leave the bathtub. Therefore, any human sensor may be used as long as it outputs a detection signal.

In the first embodiment, the circulation path 1
The antibacterial agent 12 made of silver or the like is applied to the inner wall 11 of No. 0, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, an antibacterial agent made of other components may be applied, or the antibacterial agent may be applied. Agent 12
Instead of applying the above, kneading the inner wall 11 with an antibacterial agent,
It may be configured.

Further, in the first embodiment, the bathtub 1
After the bather is present in the bath, if the bather is not present, it is determined that the bather has exited the bathtub 1, and a sterilizer activation signal for operating the ultraviolet sterilizer 19 is output. Although it is configured, as described above, it is not limited to sterilizing after exiting, and for example, when a bather bathes in the bathtub 1, a sterilizer operating signal for operating the ultraviolet sterilizer 19 is output. For example, the presence of a bather in the bathtub may be detected and the sterilization device may be operated in response to the detection signal.

Further, in the first embodiment, the ultraviolet sterilizer 18 as a sterilizer is provided in the water purification device 9, but the invention is not limited to this, and the ultraviolet sterilization device 18 is provided outside the water purification device 9.
An ultraviolet sterilizer 18 or a sterilizer such as an ozone generator is provided, or a sterilizer is provided in a circulation path connected to the boiler device, and the bath water in the bath is guided to the outside of the bath for circulation. A sterilizing device may be provided in the circulation path for returning to the bathtub again.

[0056]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the bather leaves the bathtub, the human sensor outputs the detection signal. The control means actuates the sterilizing device according to the output detection signal to sterilize the bacteria in the circulating bath water.

Since the sterilized bath water is returned to the bath again, the waste products in the bath water are in a substantially sterile state, and the growth of bacteria on the inner wall of the circulation path is suppressed.

In this way, the bather can sterilize the bath water immediately after taking a bath in a timely manner, and the purification effect can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the inner wall of the circulation path is subjected to the antibacterial treatment, it has a practically useful effect of suppressing the growth of bacteria.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a main configuration of a bath water circulation purifying apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a portion where the water purification device is provided in the bath water circulation purification device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration centering on a controller that is a control unit in the bath water circulation purification apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a circulation path in the bath water circulation purifying apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a bathtub water circulation purification device of a conventional example and explaining the main configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathtub 9 Water purification device 10 Circulation path 13 Return pipe 14 Outgoing pipe 15 Internal piping 12 Antibacterial agent 18 Ultraviolet sterilizer (sterilizer) 19 Ultrasonic sensor (human sensor) 20 Controller (control means)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sterilizer for sterilizing bacteria in the circulating bath water, which has a circulating path for leading out the bath water in the bath to circulate it outside and to return it back into the bath. In the provided bath water circulation purification device, a human sensor for detecting the presence of a bather in the bath is provided in the bath, and the sterilizer is operated in response to a detection signal output from the human sensor. A bath water circulation purifying device characterized in that a control means is provided. 2. The bath water circulation purifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an antibacterial treatment is applied to an inner wall of the circulation path.