JPH1193241A - Western-styled water toilet stool for achieving self-cleaning with photocatalyst - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a western-styled flush toilet stool capable of suppressing generation of yellowish parts or offensive odor. SOLUTION: A photocatalyst layer to bring out the catalytic effect by exposing the ultraviolet ray is formed on an inner surface of a flush toilet stool 1, an openable/closable toilet stool lid 3 is mounted on a flush toilet stool 1, a fluorescent lamp 7 is mounted on a surface of the toilet stool lid 3 on the toilet stool 1 side, and the action of the fluorescent lamp 7 is controlled based on the information of a toilet stool lid opening/closing condition detecting means 9. The efficient purification action by the photocatalyst can be achieved only by operating the toilet stool lid 3 after use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Western flush toilet having a photocatalyst layer which exhibits a catalytic action by being exposed to ultraviolet rays formed on the inner surface of a toilet bowl, which can suppress the occurrence and accumulation of yellowing and the like. It was done.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Titanium dioxide and other materials having a photocatalytic function are applied to the outer surfaces of pedestrian crossings, road fences, etc., exposed to the ultraviolet rays of sunlight, the outer surfaces of building windows, automobile glass windows, and the like. Coatings that purify adhering dirt substances and maintain the cleanliness or transparency of the surface have come into practical use.

[0003] On the other hand, even in indoor or underground spaces where sunlight does not reach, curtains, carpets, toilet equipment, hospitals, etc., to which photocatalytic substances are added or surface-treated, are placed at positions exposed to ultraviolet rays emitted from fluorescent lamps and mercury lamps. Equipment that is equipped with medical equipment and the like and is devised so that cleanliness is continuously exhibited has come into practical use.

[0004] Also, in fluorescent lamps and mercury lamps, attention is paid to the fact that the temperature of the lamp itself becomes relatively high. The concept of applying a photocatalyst substance to the surface of the light-emitting device and efficiently cleaning dirt substances in the air that come into contact with the outer surface of the high-temperature portion in the vicinity thereof has come into practical use.

[0005] In the above-mentioned practical application, proposals have been made by various patent applications. Among them, Japanese Patent Publication No. 06-811092 and the like have particularly proposed improvement of toilet-related environmental hygiene.

[0006]

The technology of photocatalyst utilization has entered a full-scale commercialization stage, and has been producing results in various fields. For example, ceilings, side walls, floors, mirrors, and basins of washrooms. As for the surface where the light of fluorescent lamps can reach, such as the inside of a Western-style flush toilet, such as the inside of a Western-style flush toilet, it is difficult to reach the light. At the location, a sufficient amount of ultraviolet rays did not reach, and the expected cleaning action could not be exerted.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of this point, and has been provided with a Western-style flush toilet having a photocatalyst layer formed on an inner surface thereof which is exposed to ultraviolet rays and exhibits a catalytic action.
A toilet lid that is openably and closably attached to the flush toilet, and an open / close detection unit that detects an open / closed state of the toilet lid,
Self-cleaning is performed by a photocatalyst using an ultraviolet lamp that is attached to the toilet bowl side of the toilet lid and emits ultraviolet light toward the inside of the toilet, and a control device that controls the operation of the ultraviolet lamp based on information from the open / close detection means. A Western-style flush toilet was constructed.

Further, the control device is provided with operation selecting means for selectively setting whether or not the operation of the ultraviolet lamp is enabled.

Further, the control device is provided with a timer / continuous selection means for selectively setting whether the operation of the ultraviolet lamp is performed for a predetermined time or continuously.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Since the present invention is as described above, the control device detects the open / closed state of the toilet lid through the open / close detecting means, and controls the operation of the ultraviolet lamp accordingly.

More specifically, when the toilet bowl is covered by the toilet lid, the control device makes the ultraviolet lamp operable, and at that time, the operation selection means is set to operate. Then, the ultraviolet lamp is operated in one of the modes according to the setting of the timer / continuous switching means. That is, if the timer control is set, the ultraviolet lamp is turned on for a predetermined time. On the other hand, if the continuous control is set, the ultraviolet lamp is turned on continuously while the closing of the toilet lid is continued. If the operation selecting means is set not to be operated, the ultraviolet lamp is not operated even if the toilet lid is closed.

That is, the operating time of the ultraviolet lamp can be selected in accordance with the usage status of the toilet. For example, assuming a case where the toilet is not used for a long time, the ultraviolet lamp is not operated even if the toilet lid is opened and closed for cleaning or the like during that time.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of an embodiment of the Western flush toilet of the present invention, and a low tank for storing flush water is not shown.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a Western-style flush toilet, which is formed by spraying a sol of titanium dioxide on the glaze surface on the inner surface, and then, through a firing process, a thin film layer (not shown) having a high mechanical surface strength. Is to be formed, 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a plastic toilet seat installed on the upper surface of the toilet 1, and 3 denotes a toilet lid which covers the upper surface of the toilet seat 2 and serves as a lid of the toilet 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a mounting portion to which the toilet seat 2 and the toilet lid 3 are rotatably mounted. Reference numeral 5 denotes a mounting shaft for mounting the toilet seat 2 to the mounting portion 4, and reference numeral 6 denotes a mounting shaft for mounting the toilet lid 3 to the mounting portion 4. It is. Reference numeral 7 denotes a fluorescent lamp serving as an ultraviolet radiation source attached to the toilet lid 3, and reference numeral 8 denotes a plastic protective cover for protecting the fluorescent lamp 7 from the atmosphere in the toilet 1. It is necessary to use a material for the protective cover 8 that has an excellent ability to transmit ultraviolet rays as much as possible. Although not shown in detail in FIG. 1, when attaching the protective cover 8 to the toilet lid 3, it is necessary to make it difficult to replace the fluorescent lamp 7. Reference numeral 9 denotes an opening / closing detection switch for detecting the opening / closing of the toilet lid 3 which opens and closes by rotating about the mounting shaft 6.
Is a control device that controls the lighting of the fluorescent lamp 7 based on the information of Reference numeral 11 denotes an operation selection switch provided on the control device 10, which instructs the control device 10 to turn on the fluorescent lamp 7 when the toilet lid 3 is closed or to instruct the control device 10 not to turn on. Is set selectively. Reference numeral 12 denotes a timer / continuous selection switch for selectively setting the operation of the fluorescent lamp 7 when the toilet lid 3 is closed for a predetermined time or continuously. It is. Reference numeral 13 denotes a power supply device that supplies power to the control device 10. Reference numeral 14 denotes flush water accumulated at a lower portion of the flush toilet.

In one embodiment configured as described above,
When the operation selection switch 11 of the control device 10 is set to the operation (lighting) of the fluorescent lamp 7 and the timer / continuous selection switch 12 is set to the operation of the timer, the toilet lid 3 is closed. Then, the fluorescent lamp 7 is turned on for a predetermined period of time, and emits ultraviolet rays indicated by an arrow UVR in the figure to optically excite the photocatalyst layer, thereby cleaning contaminants on the inner surface of the toilet 1 that have not been removed by the washing water. To suppress yellowing and undesirable odor. As a result, a predetermined cleaning action can be performed only by properly opening and closing the toilet lid 3 without troublesome management and operation regarding the lighting time of the fluorescent lamp 7. In this case, the timer time should be determined based on the capacity of the photocatalyst and the amount of ultraviolet radiation of the fluorescent lamp.

As another example of use, when the timer / continuous selection switch 12 is set to operate continuously, the operation selection switch 11 is operated until the operation is forcibly stopped, or the toilet lid 3 is turned off. The lighting of the fluorescent lamp 7 is continued until it is lifted and opened. This allows
It is now possible to respond to cases where it is not enough to rely on timer operation.

The use of the timer / continuous selection switch 12 should, of course, be performed in accordance with the manner in which the toilet 1 is used. This is because unexpected yellowing and odor can occur on a daily basis. The timer / continuous selection switch 12 of this embodiment is secured for that time.

In the above description, the heat generated during the operation of the fluorescent lamp 7 is not required to be touched, but it cannot be ignored as a practical problem. It is necessary to cope with this by providing an air vent on the surface as appropriate.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the photocatalytic layer on the inner surface of the toilet can be supplied with a sufficient amount of ultraviolet light necessary for its photoactivation, so that the interior of the toilet is always kept in a clean state. You can now keep. In addition, it is possible to select whether or not to activate the ultraviolet lamp, and if it is to be activated, whether it is a predetermined period of time or continuous, so that it is insufficient according to the actual situation of use of the toilet. It can be operated without any Further, since the operation of the ultraviolet lamp is controlled based on the opening and closing of the toilet lid, the present invention can be used without largely changing the usage form of the conventional toilet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toilet 2 Toilet seat 3 Toilet lid 7 Fluorescent lamp 8 Protective cover 9 Opening / closing detection switch 10 Controller 11 Operation selection switch 12 Timer / continuous selection switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A Western-style flush toilet having a photocatalyst layer formed on an inner surface thereof, which exhibits a catalytic action by being exposed to ultraviolet rays,
A toilet lid (3) attached to the flush toilet so as to be openable and closable, open / close detection means (9) for detecting the open / closed state of the toilet lid, and the toilet lid attached to a surface of the toilet lid on the toilet side. It is characterized by comprising an ultraviolet lamp (7) for emitting ultraviolet light toward the inside of the toilet and a control device (10) for controlling the operation of the ultraviolet lamp based on the information of the opening / closing detection means. A Western-style flush toilet that performs self-cleaning using a photocatalyst. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device includes an operation selecting means for selectively setting whether to enable the operation of the ultraviolet lamp.
A Western-style flush toilet that performs self-cleaning with the photocatalyst described. 3. The control device further comprises a timer / continuous selection means (12) for selectively setting whether to operate the ultraviolet lamp for a predetermined time or continuously. A Western flush toilet which performs self-cleaning by the photocatalyst according to claim 1 or 2.