JPH1088634A - Automatic faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a faucet from discharging water when the faucet is turned onto a cooking table and improve the responsiveness of discharging water and cutting off water, by regulating the radiation direction of object detecting waves and detecting the horizontal distance from the object. SOLUTION: The valve body 4 of an automatic water valve 1 is fixed to the rear edge of a sink 3 and a faucet 7 having a water discharge opening 8 is set so as to be horizontally rotatable. The mixing ratio of water and hot water and the discharge volume is adjusted by a single bar 14. A detection sensor 15 detecting a substance below the discharge opening 8 is fitted at the lower part of the root of faucet 7. Infrared ray is projected horizontally or more upward to detect the distance from the substance. When the substance approaches the faucet, the solenoids 11, 12 are opened at the distance L1 and when it separates therefrom, the solenoids are closed at the distance L2. In this case, L1 is larger than L2. The direction of the faucet 7 is, detected by a faucet-directional detector 17 and when the faucet 7 is turned to a position deviated from the sink 3, the solenoids 11, 12 are closed. Accordingly, it prevents water discharge on a cooking table and the responsiveness of discharge of water and cut-off of water is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic faucet which detects an object below a spout and automatically spouts water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic faucets for automatically discharging and stopping water by detecting an object below a water discharge port with an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor have already been widely used.

[0003]

When such an automatic faucet is applied to a swing-type faucet for a kitchen sink having a horizontally rotatable rotatable curan, the curan rotates on the worktop. There is a problem that the cooking table is automatically detected by the sensor when it is discharged.

[0004] It is a first object of the present invention to provide an automatic faucet which does not discharge water even when a curan is rotated on a cooking table.

[0005] In the conventional automatic faucet, there is a time lag from when the sensor detects an object to when water discharge starts. In a kitchen sink faucet, an object to be cleaned is frequently put in and out below the spout, so that such a time lag makes the faucet extremely inconvenient for the user. Further, in the conventional automatic faucet, there is a time lag from when the sensor detects the object to when the water is stopped. If there is such a water stoppage time lag, water is wasted as much.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an automatic faucet having good responsiveness of water discharge and water stoppage.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present invention, an automatic faucet having a rotating portion that is rotatable and horizontally rotatable allows detection waves (for example, infrared rays and ultrasonic waves) of an object to be directed horizontally or upward. A detection sensor is provided on the rotating part so as to emit light in the direction.

When such an automatic faucet is provided in the kitchen sink, even if the curan is positioned above the cooking table, the cooking table is not detected by the sensor and automatic water discharge is not performed.

In another aspect of the present invention, the direction of the curan is detected, and when the direction of the curan deviates from a predetermined range (for example, a range above the sink), water is not discharged, thereby preventing water from flowing onto the cooking table. I have. In this case, when the direction of the sink is out of the predetermined range, the object detection sensor may not be operated, and the valve opening operation of the valve device may be prohibited.

In yet another aspect of the present invention detects the horizontal distance between spout downward and the object in the sensor, when coming object approaching the spout downward, the water discharge device when it is at a distance L ₁ Open When the object moves away from below the water discharge port, the water discharge device is closed when the distance L ₂ (L ₂ <L ₁ ) is reached. By setting the relationship between the distances L ₁ and L ₂ to L ₂ <L ₁ , when an object approaches (L ₁ =
L ₂ and the compared to automatic faucet) water discharge is started early, the water shut-off is also carried out in early when an object moves away.

It is preferable that L ₁ is larger than L ₂ by 20 to 80 mm, especially 30 to 50 mm.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A is a side view of the automatic faucet according to the embodiment, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a main part of the automatic faucet, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a sink provided with the automatic faucet. FIG.

The automatic faucet 1 has a faucet main body 4 fixed to the rear edge of the sink 3 of the cabinet 2 and a turning part which is horizontally rotatable and rotatable with respect to the faucet main body 4. 5 is provided. The rotating portion 5 includes a tubular portion 6 fitted to the faucet main body 4 and a curan 7 integrally formed with the tubular portion 6 and extending obliquely upward. A water outlet 8 is provided on the lower surface of the tip of the curan 7.

A mixing valve composed of a fixed disk and a movable disk is provided inside the faucet main body 4 so that water and hot water from the water supply pipe 9 and the hot water supply pipe 10 are mixed and sent to the curran 7. It has become.

The water supply pipe 9 and the hot water supply pipe 10 are provided with solenoid valves 11 and 12, respectively.
The valves 1 and 12 are controlled to open and close by a valve controller 13.

The mixing ratio of hot water and water at the mixing valve and the amount of spouted water (including water stoppage) are adjusted by a single lever 14 provided above the faucet body 4.

A detection sensor 15 for detecting an object below the water outlet 8 is provided below the base of the callan 7 on the side surface of the cylindrical portion 6.

The detection sensor 15 emits infrared light horizontally and upward by a light emitting element, and receives reflected light by a light receiving element to detect an object (including a human body). I have.

The detection sensor 15 includes an object and the sensor 15
It is a distance-measurement type that can detect the distance to the distance.

The automatic faucet 1 is provided with a curl 7
Is provided with a callan direction detector 17 for detecting the direction of the arrow. As shown in FIG. 1B, the callan direction detector 17
Is composed of a magneto-sensitive element provided in a protruding piece 18 protruding from the cylindrical portion 6 and a magnet 19 provided in the faucet main body 4 in a circumferential direction. When the callan 7 is located above the sink 3, the projection 18 is located above the magnet 19.
Then, the magneto-sensitive element senses the magnetic flux of the magnet 19, and detects that the curran 7 is located above the sink 3. When the callan 7 is rotated to a position deviated from above the sink 3, the magneto-sensitive element is deviated from a position above the magnet 19, and the magneto-sensitive element does not sense magnetic flux. The output of the magneto-sensitive element is input to the valve control device 13 together with the output of the sensor 15.

The valve control device 13 applies a valve-opening current to the solenoid valves 11 and 12 when the distance from the sensor 15 becomes L ₁ when an object approaches below the water outlet 8 from a distance. In addition, the valve control device 13 controls the
When moving away from below, the distance from the sensor 15 is L
_When the value becomes ₂ , a valve closing current flows through the solenoid valves 11 and 12.

In the automatic faucet constructed as described above, since the sensor 15 emits infrared rays horizontally or obliquely upward, the curan 7 is rotated above the worktop 20 of the cabinet 2. In this case, since the cooking table 20 is not detected by the sensor 15, no water is discharged.

Further, in this embodiment, the direction of the curran 7 is detected by the curran direction detector 17, and when the curran 7 takes a position deviated from above the sink 3, the electromagnetic valve 1
The valve control device 13 controls the valves 1 and 12 to close. Therefore, when the curan 7 is rotated above the cooking table 20, even if there is an object on the cooking table 20, even if a hand or the like is inserted below the water discharge port 8, water is not discharged. In addition, even when the curan 7 is rotated to the rear of the sink 3, the water is not discharged similarly.

[0024] In this embodiment, when an object is approaching the lower water discharge port 8, the solenoid valve 11, 12 is opened at the stage where the distance between the sensor 15 has become L _1. Further, when an object moves away from below the water discharge port 8, the electromagnetic valve at the stage where the distance between the sensor 15 has become L ₂ 11, 12
Closes. Therefore, as compared to that equal to the L ₁ and L _2, since so none of the water discharge start and the water stopping is performed in the early, usability of the automatic faucet 1 is good.

In the above embodiment, the curan 7 is the sink 3
When it is out of the range, the solenoid valves 11 and 12 are closed based on the signal from the Karan direction detector 17, but instead of closing the solenoid valves 11 and 12 (or the solenoid valve 1).
The detection operation of the detection sensor 15 may be stopped while the valves 1 and 12 are closed.

Although the curan direction detector 17 using a magneto-sensitive element is employed in the above embodiment, it is apparent that other various detectors can be employed.

The automatic faucet in which the distance L ₁ for starting water discharge and the distance L ₂ for stopping water are set to L ₁ > L ₂ can also be applied to automatic faucets other than the swing faucet.

In the above-described embodiment, the detection sensor 15 is provided on the cylindrical portion 6. However, the detection sensor 15 may be provided on a portion of the lower surface of the curan 7 which is directed forward of the faucet.

[0029]

According to the first, second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, water can be discharged only when the curan is directed in a predetermined range.

According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the timing of water discharge and stop of water can be made earlier, so that the usability of the automatic faucet is improved and a water saving effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment, in which (a) is a side view of an automatic faucet, (b) is a perspective view of a main part, and (c) is an installation state of the automatic faucet in a kitchen cabinet. FIG.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing distances L ₁ and L ₂ .

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic faucet 2 Cabinet 3 Sink 4 Faucet main body 5 Rotating part 6 Cylindrical part 7 Callan 8 Water outlet 11, 12 Solenoid valve 13 Valve control device 15 Detection sensor 17 Callan direction detector

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A water faucet body fixedly installed, and a callan having a downwardly-facing water outlet at a distal end side, wherein a base end side is connected to the water faucet body part so as to be rotatable in a horizontal turning direction. A tap for detecting an object below the spout, and a valve device for spouting and stopping water from the spout based on a detection signal of the detection sensor. The automatic faucet according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is provided in the rotating part so as to emit a detection wave of an object in a horizontal direction or in an upward direction from the horizontal. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a distance measuring sensor, if the object is approaching the spout downwardly from faucet far, the valve when the distance from the sensor has reached a predetermined distance L ₁ device is opened, when the object is gradually moved away in faucet far from the water discharge port lower, the valve device being configured to close when the distance from the sensor has reached a predetermined distance L _2, said the distance L ₂ is automatic faucet, characterized in that less than the distance L _1. 3. The curan direction detecting means according to claim 1, further comprising a curan direction detecting means for detecting a direction of the curran of the rotating portion, wherein the valve device is opened when the direction of the curran deviates from a predetermined range. An automatic faucet characterized in that the valve is prohibited. 4. A curan direction detecting means according to claim 1, further comprising a curan direction detecting means for detecting a direction of the curan of the rotating portion, and detecting the sensor when the direction of the curran deviates from a predetermined range. Automatic faucet, characterized in that the water is stopped. 5. An automatic faucet, comprising: a sensor for detecting an object below a water outlet, and a valve device for switching between water discharge from the water outlet and water stoppage based on a detection signal of the sensor. If approaching from faucet far the spout downward, when the distance from the sensor the valve device is opened if it becomes a predetermined distance L _1, the object is gradually moved away in faucet far from the water discharge port lower , automatic faucet distance from the sensor, characterized in that the predetermined distance L ₂ to the valve device being configured to close when it becomes, the distance L ₂ is less than the distance L _1. 6. A faucet body which is fixed and installed, and a callan provided with a downward spout at a distal end thereof, and a base end thereof is connected to the faucet main body so as to be rotatable in a horizontal turning direction. A tap for detecting an object below the spout, and a valve device for spouting and stopping water from the spout based on a detection signal of the detection sensor. In the automatic faucet having the above, a curan direction detecting means for detecting a direction of the callan of the rotating portion is provided, and when the direction of the callan deviates from a predetermined range, opening of the valve device is prohibited. An automatic faucet, characterized in that: 7. A water faucet body fixedly installed, and a callan provided with a downward spout at a distal end side, and a base end side is connected to the water faucet body part so as to be rotatable in a horizontal turning direction. A tap for detecting an object below the spout, and a valve device for spouting and stopping water from the spout based on a detection signal of the detection sensor. In the automatic faucet having the above, provided is a callan direction detecting means for detecting the direction of the callan of the rotating portion, so as to stop the detection operation of the sensor when the direction of the callan is out of a predetermined range. Automatic faucet characterized by the following.