JPH11303756A - Automatic water feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic water feeder equipped to stop water feed so that a user can do it at will. SOLUTION: During a closing of an open water feeder valve 6, a sensor stops its operation for a specified time Tw1 from a time t4 when his/her hand is moved out from a detection area. During the time Tw1, even if his/her hand re-enters the detection area after the time t4, a detection signal causes no alteration, so that since an opening/closing signal that opens the water feeder valve 6 is not outputted thereto, the water feeder valve 6 goes on with the closing even if his/her hand re-enters the detection area during the closing thereof. Accordingly, even if his/her hand reenters the detection area during the closing of the water feeder valve 6, water is prevented from being re-fed against his/her will, and thus a user can stop the water feed at will.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic water supply device for use in toilets, kitchens and the like. Is started, and when the hand or the like is again put into the detection area, the water supply is automatically stopped.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automatic water supply apparatus, it is well known that a sensor section is disposed, for example, above a water tap, and the automatic water supply is started and stopped according to a detection signal of the sensor section. Specifically, in the sensor unit, the emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged close to each other, and when the user extends his hand to the detection area of the sensor unit, the light (infrared light) of the emitting element is reflected by hand. When the reflected light enters the light receiving element, water supply is automatically started (the solenoid valve (for example, a pilot type) is opened). And once the water supply starts,
Water supply is continued until a hand is again provided to the detection area.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, when water supply is stopped from the start, that is, when the solenoid valve is changed from open to closed,
The valve operation of the solenoid valve is made slower in order to prevent water hammer noise than in the case of closing to opening.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, when stopping the water supply, the valve operation of the solenoid valve is delayed as described above, so that the water supply does not stop immediately. For this reason, the user judges that the water supply has not stopped, even though the user has extended his hand to the detection area for stopping, and tries to stop the water supply by again extending his hand to the detection area. I do. For this reason, there was a problem that water supply was started again contrary to the intention of the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to automatically start water supply when a hand or the like is extended to the detection area of the sensor unit, and to automatically stop water supply when a hand or the like is again extended to the detection area. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic water supply device capable of stopping water supply according to a user's intention.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the invention as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7,
During the valve closing operation for operating the water supply valve (6) from the open state to the closed state, even if the detection target enters the detection area (A) again, a valve opening signal is output to the water supply valve (6). By prohibiting the valve closing operation, the valve closing operation is continuously performed.

Accordingly, during the valve closing operation, even if the object to be detected enters the detection area again, the output of the valve closing signal to the water supply valve is prohibited, so that the valve closing operation is continuously performed. . For this reason, even if the detection target object is inserted again into the detection area while the water supply valve is performing the valve closing operation, it is possible to prevent water supply from being started in a manner opposite to the user's will and to prevent the water from being used. Water supply can be stopped to meet the will of the elderly.

Specifically, during the valve closing operation, the driving of the sensor section (8) may be stopped. Further, during the valve closing operation as in the invention according to claim 4,
The sensor unit (8) is driven, and it is preferable to prohibit the output of the valve opening signal to the water supply valve (6) regardless of the detection signal of the sensor unit (8). According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a predetermined time is detected in the detection area (A) for a predetermined time after the water supply valve (6) enters the closed state by performing the valve closing operation. Even if the object enters,
It is characterized in that the driving of the sensor section (8) is stopped and the water supply valve (6) is kept in a closed state.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, according to claim 4,
In the invention described above, the valve-opening signal is continuously output from the water-supply valve (6) during a predetermined predetermined valve-closing time that exceeds the time when the valve-closing operation ends after the valve-closing signal is output to the water-supply valve (6). (6)
Output to the user. Further, in the invention according to claim 6, during the valve closing operation of operating the water supply valve (6) from the open state to the closed state, even if the detection target enters the detection area (A) again, the water supply valve is provided. By prohibiting the output of the valve opening signal in (6),
After the valve closing operation is continuously performed and the water supply valve (6) is closed by performing the valve closing operation, even if an object to be detected enters the detection area (A) for a predetermined time, the water supply valve (6) may be used. Is kept closed.

According to the third, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, immediately before the closing operation of the water supply valve ends, the object to be detected is inserted again into the detection area in an attempt to stop the water supply. However, even if the above is the same as the end of the valve closing operation, it is possible to reliably prevent the water supply from being started contrary to the intention of the user.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of the automatic water supply device. In this example, the automatic water supply device of the present invention is applied to a kitchen. Reference numeral 1 denotes a tap for water supply installed above a sink (not shown), and reference numeral 2 denotes a base (an upper surface portion of the sink) on which the tap pipe 1 is installed. A water supply pipe section 3 to the faucet pipe 1 is provided below the base 2 (inside the sink).

The water supply pipe section 3 has an upstream side 3a serving as a connection section connected to a water pipe (not shown) outside the house, and a downstream side 3b connected to the faucet pipe 1 in a communicating manner. It has become. In the middle part of the water supply pipe part 3,
An automatic water supply unit 4 for automatically supplying and stopping water supply is provided. FIG. 2 shows a control block diagram of the automatic water supply unit 4. The automatic water supply unit 4 includes, for example, a water supply valve 6 (water supply unit) that is a control member that controls whether water is supplied or stopped from the faucet pipe 1 into a resin casing 5 and controls the water supply valve 6. A control unit 7 (actually, an electric circuit board) is built in. In addition,
The water supply valve 6 includes an electromagnetic coil unit (not shown) for driving the plunger, a pilot valve provided at the tip of the plunger, and a main valve having a pressure introduction passage opened and closed by the pilot valve.

A signal from the sensor unit 8 is transmitted to the control unit 7. The structure of the sensor unit 8 is as follows. In this example, the sensor unit 8 includes a light emitting element 9 that emits infrared light and a light receiving element 10 that receives infrared light from the light emitting element 9. The light emitting element 9 and the light receiving element 10 are formed of a case 11 made of a transparent resin material.
It is stored and arranged inside. The sensor unit 8 including the light emitting element 9 and the light receiving element 10 packaged as described above is installed in an upper part of the faucet pipe 1 as shown in FIG.

The sensor unit 8 performs the following sensing. The light emitting element 9 emits infrared light toward a user standing above and in front of the kitchen. Then, for example, when the user wants to supply water from the faucet pipe 1, a hand (detection target) is extended and brought close to the light emitting element 8, and the position of the hand reaches a predetermined detection area A (detection area). Then, the light emitting element 9
Is reflected by the user's hand, and the light receiving element 10 receives the reflected light.

A signal from the light receiving element 10 is sent to a detection control unit 7a in FIG. 2, and the detection control unit 7a sends a water supply signal for supplying water to a water supply control unit 7b.
In response to this signal, an open / close signal is output to the water supply valve 6 so that the water supply valve 6 is opened. Thereby, faucet piping 1
Water supply is automatically started from. And this water supply
Thereafter, the operation is continued until the detection target A enters again until the hand enters the detection area A again.
In other words, the water supply control unit 7b recognizes whether or not water is being supplied, and opens or closes the water supply valve 6 according to an output signal from the detection control unit 7a. I do.

In this embodiment, when the water supply is stopped from the time when the water supply is being performed, that is, when the water supply valve 6 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the valve of the water supply valve 6 is rapidly opened and closed. Then, a water hammer sound is generated. For this reason, in this example, the opening and closing operation of the water supply valve 6 is reduced in order to reduce the water hammer sound when the water supply valve 6 changes from the open state to the closed state, as compared with the case where the water supply valve 6 changes from the closed state to the open state. I try to slow it down. In this example, the operation of the water supply valve 6 is delayed by adjusting the valve opening area of the pressure introduction path.

The power supply to the water supply valve 6, the control unit 7, and the sensor unit 8 is performed by plugging an outlet (not shown) into a power source. As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor unit 8 is installed at a position separated from the water supply valve 6 and the control unit 7, so that power is supplied from the wiring unit 13 via the control unit 7. . The wiring section 13 includes wiring for transmitting a detection signal from the sensor section 9 to the control section 7.

The wiring section 13 is, as shown in FIG.
Although it is directly exposed below, it is inserted into the faucet pipe 1 above the base 2. In particular,
The faucet pipe 1 has a double pipe structure, the inner pipe member (not shown) is a rubber water pipe, and the outer pipe member has a lower portion 1a made of metal (for example, stainless steel). The upper part (tip part) 1b is made of resin. Then, the wiring section 13
It is arranged in the space between the two piping members. The sensor section 8 is attached to a resin piping member 1a.

Next, the control contents of the control section 7 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the control contents. However, the sensor driving in FIG. 3 indicates the operating state (power supply state) of the sensor unit 8, and a portion where a protruding waveform appears indicates that the sensor unit 8 is operating. . The detection signal in the figure is a signal detected by the light receiving element 10, and when a rectangular waveform is output,
This means that there is a hand in the detection area A. The open / close signal is a signal that the water supply control unit 7b outputs to the water supply valve 6. The driving of the sensor unit 8 is performed at predetermined intervals, and is performed once every 0.25 seconds in this example. Thus, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

First, at time t1 when water supply is stopped,
If the user places his / her hand in the detection area A, the sensor unit 8 issues a detection signal indicating that the hand is in the detection area A. In response to this, the water supply control unit 7b outputs an open / close signal for opening the water supply valve 6 to the water supply valve 6 at time t1.
As a result, the water supply valve 6 is opened at time t1 (shown as a time slightly delayed from time t1 as a control delay in the figure), so that water supply is automatically started. In addition, if the hand is continuously in the detection area A from the time t1 to the time t2 in FIG. 3, the detection signal of the sensor unit 8 will emit a signal twice in this example. The valve 6 is not closed from open. That is, in this example, when the sensor unit 8 continuously emits the detection signal in each sensor driving cycle, the opening and closing signal is output only at the time of the first detection signal. That is, when the detection signal is present, absent, or present in each sensor drive cycle, the valve-open signal changes from open to closed and from closed to open for the first time.

Thereafter, at time t3, when the sensor section 8 issues a detection signal indicating that the hand is in the detection area A, the water supply control section 7b issues an open / close signal for closing the water supply valve 6. As a result, the water supply valve 6 slowly moves from open to closed in order to reduce the water hammer sound as described above. In this example, a time Tr (2 seconds) is required from the time t3 when the water supply valve 6 is driven and the valve starts to move until the valve is completely closed.

Driving the water supply valve 6 slowly in this manner is equivalent to the time Tr for stopping the water supply completely.
Therefore, the user has a question whether the water really stops during this time Tr. For this reason, in order to stop the water supply, the hand is again extended to the detection area A (time t5 in FIG. 3), and the above-described problem occurs.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, after an open / close signal for closing the water supply valve 6 is generated at time t3, during the time Tr, that is, the water supply valve 6 is changed from the open state to the closed state. During the closing operation to be operated, during a predetermined time Tw1 (in this example, 2 seconds, which is the same as the closing operation time of the water supply valve 6) from the time when the hand disappears from the detection area A (time t4), the sensor unit 8 Stop driving. As a result, if the hand enters the detection area A after the time t4, no change occurs in the detection signal, and the output of the opening / closing signal (the valve opening signal) for opening the water supply valve 6 is prohibited to the water supply valve 6. Therefore, even if the hand enters the detection area A again during the time Tr, the water supply valve 6
Continues the closing operation.

Thus, even if the hand is inserted again into the detection area A while the water supply valve 6 is performing the valve closing operation, it is possible to prevent the water supply from being started in reverse to the user's intention. Water supply can be stopped to meet the user's will. In this example, since the detection signal of the sensor unit 8 switches from a signal indicating that the hand is in the detection area A to a signal indicating that the hand is not present, a sensor driving time of 0.25 seconds is required.
Start point of time Tw1 for stopping sensor driving (time t
4) is a time (time t) at which the water supply valve 6 starts the valve closing operation.
3) Always behind. And Tw1 is T as described above.
Since the same time as r is set, the sensor drive is stopped at least for a predetermined time (in the present example, the drive cycle is 0.25 seconds) after the valve closing operation of the water supply valve 6 is completed. Thus, even after the water supply valve 6 is closed, even if a hand enters the detection area A during the predetermined time, the water supply valve 6 keeps the closed state.

As a result, immediately before the closing operation of the water supply valve 6 is completed, the user inserts his hand again in the detection area A in an attempt to stop the water supply, and this insertion point is at the same time as the end of the valve closing operation. However, it is possible to reliably prevent the water supply from being started contrary to the intention of the user. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the driving of the sensor unit 8 is stopped during the valve closing operation of the water supply valve 6, but in the present embodiment, the sensor unit 8 is driven during the valve closing operation, Irrespective of the detection signal of the section 8, during the valve closing operation, an opening / closing signal for opening the water supply valve 6 (a valve opening signal) is prohibited from being output to the water supply valve 6. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the contents of this operation. FIG.
Is the same as the operation timing described with reference to FIG. 3, and differs in whether or not a signal indicating that the hand is in the detection area A is generated at time t5 ′.

More specifically, in this example, as shown in FIG. 4, an open / close signal for opening the water supply valve 6 at time t3 is output to the water supply valve 6, and the time exceeds the time t6 at which the valve closing operation ends. During the set predetermined valve closing time (time t3 to time t7), output of an open / close signal (valve opening signal) for continuously opening the water supply valve 6 is prohibited from being output to the water supply valve 6. Thereby, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in this example, there is an advantageous effect as compared with the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, after the hand enters the detection area A in order to stop water supply, the driving of the sensor unit 8 is stopped for Tw1 time from the time when the hand disappears from the detection area A.

Therefore, in order to stop the water supply, the hand is put into the detection area A, and the time when the hand remains in the detection area A is long, and when the hand disappears from the detection area A, the closing operation of the water supply valve 6 is performed. Is about to end, the drive of the TW1 time sensor unit 8 is stopped from this stage. For this reason, when the water supply is completely stopped and the water supply is to be started immediately, and when the hand is put out to the detection area A,
There is a problem that water supply is not performed promptly due to the stop of driving of the sensor unit 8. Therefore, in this example, since the time Tw1 is measured from the time when the valve opening signal is output to the water supply valve 6, the water supply can be started immediately after the water supply is stopped.

(Modifications) In each of the above embodiments, the automatic water supply device of the present invention is applied to a sink, but the present invention can be used in any place requiring water supply, such as a toilet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic water supply device according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the automatic water supply device in each of the embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the automatic water supply device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a time chart illustrating an operation of the automatic water supply device according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Water supply valve 7 Control unit 8 Sensor unit 9 Light emitting element 10 Light receiving element

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideyuki Miyajima 5-1-1 Koiehonmachi, Tokoname-shi, Aichi Inside Inax Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] When an object to be detected enters a detection area (A) of a sensor section (8), a water supply valve (6) is automatically opened to start water supply, and thereafter the water supply is performed in the detection area (A). A) is continued until the detection target enters again into A), and when the water supply valve (6) changes from the open state to the closed state, when the water supply valve (6) changes from the closed state to the open state. In comparison, an automatic water supply device that delays the opening / closing operation of a water supply valve (6) in order to reduce water hammer noise, wherein the water supply valve (6) is operated from an open state to a closed state. During the valve closing operation, even if the detection target enters the detection area (A) again, the valve opening signal is prohibited from being output to the water supply valve (6), so that the valve closing operation is continued. Automatic water supply device characterized by performing. 2. The sensor section (8) during the valve closing operation.
The automatic water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the drive of the water supply is stopped. 3. The water supply valve (6) performing the valve closing operation.
After the valve enters the closed state, even if a detection target enters the detection area (A) for a predetermined time, the driving of the sensor section (8) is stopped and the water supply valve (6) is closed. 3. The automatic water supply device according to claim 2, wherein the automatic water supply device is kept in a valve state. 4. The sensor section (8) during the valve closing operation.
2. The automatic water supply according to claim 1, wherein the valve is driven, and the output of the valve opening signal to the water supply valve (6) is prohibited regardless of the detection signal of the sensor section (8). 3. apparatus. 5. The valve-opening signal is continuously output during a predetermined valve-closing time that has been set before the time when the valve-closing operation is completed after the valve-closing signal is output to the water supply valve (6). The automatic water supply device according to claim 4, wherein output to the water supply valve (6) is prohibited. 6. When a detection object enters the detection area (A) of the sensor section (8), the water supply valve (6) is automatically opened to start water supply, and thereafter the water supply is performed in the detection area (A). A) is continued until the detection target enters again into A), and when the water supply valve (6) changes from the open state to the closed state, when the water supply valve (6) changes from the closed state to the open state. In comparison, an automatic water supply device that delays the opening / closing operation of a water supply valve (6) in order to reduce water hammer noise, wherein the water supply valve (6) is operated from an open state to a closed state. During the valve closing operation, even if the detection target enters the detection area (A) again, the valve opening signal is prohibited from being output to the water supply valve (6), so that the valve closing operation is continued. Performing the valve closing operation, the water supply valve (6) is closed After a predetermined time the as it detection object in the detection area (A) it is also enters, an automatic water supply device in which the water supply valve (6), characterized in that to hold the closed state. 7. The automatic water supply device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor section (8) is installed in an upper part of a faucet pipe for water supply.