WO2011071159A1

WO2011071159A1 - Automatic faucet

Info

Publication number: WO2011071159A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/072276
Authority: WO
Inventors: 伸明板頭; 亮佑吉谷
Original assignee: 株式会社Inax
Priority date: 2009-12-10
Filing date: 2010-12-10
Publication date: 2011-06-16
Also published as: CN102782223A; EP2511435B1; EP2511435A4; CA2783541A1; JP2011122358A; EP2511435A1; US20120297534A1; CN102782223B; JP5435274B2; IN2012DN05100A

Abstract

Provided is an automatic faucet wherein the tip section of a fiber-optic cord for projecting light and the tip section of a fiber-optic cord for receiving light can be easily fixed and separated, the aforementioned tip section of the fiber-optic cord for projecting light constituting a light projection section, and the aforementioned tip section of the fiber-optic cord for receiving light constituting a light receiving section; wherein workability during installation of the tip sections of the fiber-optic cords and workability during maintenance can be rendered satisfactory; and wherein the tip section of a water spout pipe can be made compact. A tubular water spout member (52) is provided inside the tip section of the water spout pipe. Furthermore, the fiber-optic cord (80) for projecting light and the fiber-optic cord (82) for receiving light are passed inside the water spout pipe as far as the tip section of the water spout pipe. Moreover, the tips of the fiber-optic cords (80, 82) constitute the light projection section (62) and the light receiving section (64). Protruding fitting sections (86) are provided on the outer surfaces of the fiber-optic cords (80, 82). Furthermore, recessed fitting sections (96A, 98A) are provided on the outer surface of the water spout member (52). The tip sections of the fiber-optic cords (80, 82) are fixed in a positioned state by fitting the protruding fitting sections into the recessed fitting sections.

Description

Automatic faucet

The present invention relates to an automatic water faucet that automatically discharges water from a water discharge port based on detection of a detection target by an optical sensor, and more particularly to a device having a feature in a fixing structure of a tip portion of an optical fiber.

Conventionally, an optical sensor that projects light from a light projecting portion provided at the tip of a water discharge pipe and receives reflected light from a detection target such as a user's hand at a light receiving portion provided on the water discharge pipe to detect the detection target. An automatic faucet (hereinafter simply referred to as a sensor) that automatically discharges water based on detection by the sensor is widely used in public toilets and toilets.
Usually, the sensor determines that there is a detection target when the amount of received light is larger than a set threshold value.
In such an automatic water faucet, conventionally, the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are often provided at the tip of the water discharge pipe.

By the way, in the conventional automatic faucet, a light emitting element such as an LED that emits light is used as the light projecting unit, and a light receiving element such as a photodiode or phototransistor is used as the light receiving unit at the tip of the water discharge pipe. A water discharge tube connected to the light emitting element and the light receiving element is connected to the light emitting driving circuit for causing the light emitting element to emit light and the photoelectric conversion circuit for converting the light received by the light receiving element into an electrical signal and processing the signal. It was provided at the tip.

For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 listed below disclose an automatic faucet in which a sensor including the light emitting element, the light receiving element, and the sensor circuit is provided at the distal end portion of the water discharge pipe.
However, in the case of an automatic faucet in which a sensor including a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a sensor circuit is provided at the distal end portion of the water discharge pipe, such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the shape of the front end portion of the water discharge pipe is Inevitably, the shape of the water discharge pipe increases, and as a result, the entire water discharge pipe becomes thicker and larger, resulting in a problem that the design and design are impaired.

Conventionally, a sensor body including a light emitting element, a light receiving element, and a sensor circuit is arranged outside the water discharge pipe, and an optical fiber on a light projecting side that guides light from the light emitting element of the sensor body, and reflection from a detection target The optical fiber on the light receiving side that guides light to the light receiving element passes through the inside of the water discharge tube until it reaches the tip of the water discharging tube, and the light projecting unit is connected to the light emitting side at the tip of the light emitting side optical fiber. There is also known an automatic faucet in which a light receiving part is configured at the tip of each.

For example, Patent Documents 3 and 4 listed below disclose an automatic faucet using this type of optical fiber.
When the sensor main body is arranged outside the water discharge pipe in this way, the optical fiber is passed through the water discharge pipe until it reaches the tip of the water discharge pipe, and the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion are configured at the tip of the optical fiber. The water discharge pipe can be made thinner and smaller than when the sensor body is provided at the tip of the water discharge pipe.

By the way, when the light projecting part and the light receiving part are configured as described above at the tip of the optical fiber that has passed through the water discharge pipe, the fixing structure of the tip part of each of the light projecting side optical fiber and the light receiving side optical fiber is as follows. It becomes a problem.
Depending on the fixing structure, the work of assembling the tip of the optical fiber to the water discharge pipe or the work of removing the tip of the optical fiber from the water discharge pipe and performing maintenance work may be difficult. Will become larger.
However, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 do not specifically disclose the fixing structure of the tip portion of the optical fiber.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-133103 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-70096 Japanese National Utility Model Publication No. 3-125862 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-31709

The present invention is based on the circumstances as described above, and can easily fix and separate the front end portions of the light projecting side optical fiber and the light receiving side optical fiber for constituting the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic faucet that can improve the workability at the time of assembly of the fiber tip and the workability at the time of maintenance, and can hold the tip of the water discharge pipe in a small size.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical spout member that forms a spout at the front end of a water passage in a spout pipe is provided inside a front end portion of the spout pipe, and a light projecting side optical fiber that guides light from a light emitting element And the optical fiber on the light receiving side that guides the reflected light from the detection target to the light receiving element through the inside of the water discharge pipe until reaching the tip of the water discharge pipe, and at the tip of the light emitting side optical fiber. In the automatic faucet that forms the light-receiving unit at the tip of the optical fiber on the light-receiving side, and discharges water from the water outlet based on the detection of the detection target by the optical sensor, A fitting convex portion is provided on one of the outer surface of each tip portion of the optical fiber on the light receiving side and the fiber holding portion on the outer surface of the water outlet member, and a fitting concave portion corresponding to the other is provided, and the fitting is performed. Based on the concavo-convex fitting between the convex part and the fitting concave part, Characterized in that fixing the distal end portion of the bar in a positioned state.

The second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, a cover is further provided to cover a fixed portion of the tip portion of the optical fiber to the outer surface of the spout member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical spout member that forms a spout at the front end of the water channel in the spout pipe inside the front end of the spout pipe, and a light projecting side optical fiber that guides light from the light emitting element And the optical fiber on the light receiving side that guides the reflected light from the detection target to the light receiving element through the inside of the water discharge pipe until reaching the tip of the water discharge pipe, and at the tip of the light emitting side optical fiber. In the automatic water faucet that configures the light receiving portion at the tip of the light receiving side optical fiber and discharges water from the water outlet based on the detection of the detection target by the optical sensor, A fitting convex portion is provided on one side of the outer surface of each tip portion of the optical fiber on the light receiving side and the fiber holding portion of the cover fixed to the water outlet member so as to cover the outer surface of the water outlet member. Corresponding fitting recesses are provided respectively, and these fitting projections and Based on the recess-projection fitting between the engagement recess, characterized in that to fix the tip of the optical fiber in the positioned state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cylindrical spout member that forms a spout at the front end of the water channel in the water discharge pipe on the inner side of the front end of the water discharge pipe, and a light projecting side optical fiber that guides light from the light emitting element And the optical fiber on the light receiving side that guides the reflected light from the detection target to the light receiving element through the inside of the water discharge pipe until reaching the tip of the water discharge pipe, and at the tip of the light emitting side optical fiber. In the automatic faucet that configures the light-receiving unit at the tip of the optical fiber on the light-receiving side, and discharges water from the spout based on detection of the detection target by the optical sensor, and the outer surface of the spout member, Provided with a groove as a fiber holding portion for holding the tip of the optical fiber facing each other on both the inner surface of the cover that covers the outer surface, and fitting the tip of the optical fiber into the groove, An outer surface of the tip of the optical fiber; A fitting convex part is provided on one side with the inner surface of the groove, and a fitting concave part is provided on the other, and the tip of the optical fiber is fixed in a positioning state based on the concave-convex fitting between the fitting convex part and the fitting concave part. It is characterized by that.

According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the tip of the optical fiber is linearly arranged and fixed so as to be parallel to the tube axis of the water discharge pipe. It is characterized by.

6th invention is provided inside the front-end | tip part of a water discharge pipe, the water outlet member which forms a water discharge port, the light projection part which has a 1st optical fiber which guides light from a light emitting element, and reflection from a detection target A light receiving unit having a second optical fiber for guiding light to the light receiving element, and an automatic water faucet that discharges water from a water discharge port based on detection of a detection target by an optical sensor, wherein the first optical fiber is a first optical fiber. 1 fitting convex part, the 2nd optical fiber has the 2nd fitting convex part, and the spout member fits the 1st fitting convex part. It has a fitting recess and a second fitting recess that fits with the second fitting projection.

7th invention is a cover which covers the said water outlet member in 6th invention, Comprising: It fits with the 1st fitting convex part of the said 1st optical fiber installed in the said water outlet member A cover having a third fitting recess and a fourth fitting recess fitted to the second fitting convex portion of the second optical fiber installed in the water outlet member. It is a feature.

8th invention is provided inside the front-end | tip part of a water discharge pipe, the water outlet member which forms a water outlet, the light projection part which has a 1st optical fiber which guides light from a light emitting element, and reflection from a detection target An automatic faucet comprising a light receiving unit having a second optical fiber that guides light to a light receiving element, and a cover that covers the water outlet member, and discharges water from the water outlet based on detection of a detection target by an optical sensor. The first optical fiber has a first fitting convex portion, the second optical fiber has a second fitting convex portion, and the cover has the first fitting convex portion. It has the 1st fitting recessed part which fits, and the 2nd fitting recessed part fitted to the said 2nd fitting convex part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

9th invention is provided inside the front-end | tip part of a water discharge pipe, the water outlet member which forms a water outlet, the light projection part which has the 1st optical fiber which guides light from a light emitting element, and reflection from a detection target A light receiving portion having a second optical fiber that guides light to the light receiving element; and a cover that covers the water discharge port member, wherein the first optical fiber has a first fitting convex portion, and The optical fiber has a second fitting convex portion, and the spout member has a first fitting concave portion that fits with the first fitting convex portion, and the second fitting convex portion. A second fitting recess for fitting, wherein the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are fixed by the water outlet member and the cover. It is a spout unit of a stopper.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical water outlet that forms the outer surface of the tip of each of the optical fiber on the light projecting side and the optical fiber on the light receiving side and the water outlet at the tip of the water channel in the water discharge pipe A fitting convex part is provided on one side of the fiber holding part on the outer surface of the member, a fitting concave part corresponding to the other is provided, and the tip part of each optical fiber is fixed in a positioning state based on the concave-convex fitting, According to the present invention, it is possible to easily fix the tip portions of the light-emitting side optical fiber and the light-receiving side optical fiber to the tip portion of the water discharge pipe via the water discharge port member by the concave-convex fitting. It is easy to release, and the work when assembling the tip of the optical fiber to the water discharge pipe can be performed with good workability, and the fixation can be easily released, and the tip of the optical fiber is taken out from the water discharge pipe. Maintenance work should be done with good workability. Kill.

In the present invention, the tip ends of the light-projecting side optical fiber and the light-receiving side optical fiber can be directly fixed to the water outlet member, and the light-receiving side light receiving portion includes the tip part of the light-projecting side optical fiber including the light projecting part. The tip of the water discharge tube can be reduced in size as compared with the case where the tip of the optical fiber on the side is assembled in advance as a unit and fixed to the tip of the water discharge tube in the unit state.

In this invention, the cover which covers the fixing | fixed part of the front-end | tip part of the optical fiber to the outer surface of a water outlet member can be further provided (2nd invention).
In this way, the tip of the optical fiber can be sandwiched between the water outlet member and the cover, and the tip of the optical fiber can be better fixed to the water outlet member.

In the present invention, one of the outer surface of each tip part of the optical fiber on the light projecting side and the optical fiber on the light receiving side and the fiber holding part of the cover fixed to the water outlet member so as to cover the outer surface of the water outlet member It is possible to provide a fitting convex portion on the other side and a fitting concave portion on the other side, and fix the tip end portion of each optical fiber in the positioning state based on the concave-convex fitting (third invention).
Even in this case, the work of assembling and maintaining each tip of the optical fiber to the tip of the water discharge tube can be easily performed with good workability, and the tip of the water discharge tube can be miniaturized.
In this case, the fiber holding part can be provided on the inner surface of the cover.
If it does in this way, it can be set as the state which pinched | interposed the front-end | tip part of the optical fiber with the cover and the water outlet member, and can fix the front-end | tip part of an optical fiber more favorably.

In these cases, the fiber holding portion can be a groove, and the end portion of each optical fiber can be fixed in the groove.
If it does in this way, the front-end | tip part of each optical fiber can be fixed to a spout member more easily, and therefore it can fix to a spout pipe | tube front-end | tip part.
In addition, the restraining force on each tip can be increased, and the fixing strength can be increased.

Moreover, since the tip part of each optical fiber is inserted into the groove, the light projecting part and the light receiving part can be protected inside the groove, and the tip part of each optical fiber can be connected to a spout member or cover. Since it can fix to the state stored in the inside, it becomes possible to reduce the front-end | tip part of a water discharging pipe more effectively.
In this case, said groove | channel can be provided in the shape extended from the end of the water discharge pipe base end side to the end of the front end side with respect to the water outlet member or the cover.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a groove as a fiber holding portion is provided on both the outer surface of the water outlet member and the inner surface of the cover so as to face each other, and the tip of the optical fiber is fitted into the groove, and the optical fiber A fitting convex part is provided on one of the outer surface of the tip part and the inner surface of the groove, and a fitting concave part is provided on the other part so that they are concavo-convexly fitted, and the tip part of the optical fiber is fixed in a positioned state. According to the fifth aspect, the tip portion of each optical fiber can be effectively constrained inside the groove, and the positioning function and the fixing function with respect to the tip portion of each optical fiber can be further enhanced.
Moreover, the tip part of each optical fiber including a light projection part and a light-receiving part can be made into the state covered with the water outlet member and the cover, and the protection function with respect to each tip part can be improved.

The tip of each optical fiber can be arranged and fixed in a straight line so as to be parallel to the tube axis of the water discharge pipe (fifth invention).
In this way, compared to the case where the tip of the optical fiber is fixed obliquely, the water outlet member and the cover can be made thinner, and the tip of the water discharge pipe can be reduced in size.

1 is an overall view of an automatic faucet that is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the water discharge pipe in the same embodiment. It is principal part sectional drawing of the front-end | tip part of the water discharging pipe in the embodiment. It is a figure of the spout unit in the embodiment. It is the figure which showed the water discharge unit in the same embodiment in the state before the assembly | attachment to a water discharge pipe. It is a figure of other embodiment of this invention.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, 10 is an automatic faucet of the present embodiment, and 12 is a water discharge pipe in the automatic faucet 10. Here, the water discharge pipe 12 is made of metal.
The water discharge pipe 12 is installed so as to stand up from a counter (mounting base) 14, and the upper part has an inverted U-shaped gooseneck shape, and its front end face is inclined obliquely downward toward the user.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially elliptical opening 16 corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the water discharge pipe 12 is formed at the tip of the water discharge pipe 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water discharge pipe 12 integrally has a seating portion 18 and an insertion tube 20 extending downward from the seating portion 18 on the base end side.
The insertion tube 20 is inserted through the mounting hole 22 of the counter 14 and protrudes to the lower side of the counter 14, and a fixing nut 26 is screwed into a male screw portion 24 provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
The water discharge pipe 12 is attached to the counter 14 such that the seat 18 is seated on the upper surface of the counter 14, and the counter 14 is sandwiched between the seat 18 and the fixing nut 26 via

packings

28 and 30. .

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 32 denotes a main body function unit disposed below the

counter

14, and 34 denotes a function unit box of the main body function unit 32, in which an electromagnetic valve 36 is accommodated.
The electromagnetic valve 36 is a valve that opens and closes a water supply path for supplying water from a water supply main pipe to a water outlet 58 (FIG. 2) described later. The lower end of the water supply tube 38 connects the joint 40 to the electromagnetic valve 36. Connected through.

The water supply tube 38 is a member that forms a part of the water supply channel, extends upward from the functional unit box 34, and the inside of the water discharge pipe 12 from the opening 42 at the base end (lower end) of the water discharge pipe 12 shown in FIG. 2. I'm stuck in.
The water supply tube 38 further extends inside the water discharge pipe 12 until it reaches the tip.
In this example, the water supply tube 38 is flexible and is made of polyurethane resin.
In FIG. 1, 44 represents a water stop cock.

Inside the functional unit box 34 are also housed a control unit 46 including a microcomputer as a main element, and a sensor main body 48 forming a main element of an optical sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as a sensor).
The control unit 46 controls the operation of the electromagnetic valve 36, opens the electromagnetic valve 36 based on detection of the detection target by the sensor, and closes the electromagnetic valve 36 when the sensor detects no detection target.

The sensor main body 48 includes a light emitting element such as an LED that emits light (in this case, infrared light), a light receiving element such as a photodiode and a phototransistor, a light emission driving circuit that emits light by the light emitting element, and light received by the light receiving element. A sensor circuit including a photoelectric conversion circuit that converts the signal into an electrical signal and processes the signal.
A light-emitting optical fiber 80 (see FIG. 4) extends from the light-emitting element of the sensor body 48, and a light-receiving optical fiber 82 extends from the light-receiving element.

The light projecting side optical fiber 80 and the light receiving side optical fiber 82 are bundled into one.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 50 denotes an optical fiber cord formed by bundling them.
The light projecting side optical fiber 80 and the light receiving side optical fiber 82 extending from the sensor main body 48 enter the water discharge pipe 12 through the opening 42 at the base end of the water discharge pipe 12. And the inside of the water discharge pipe 12 is extended until it reaches the front-end | tip part.

As shown in FIG. 3, a water discharge port member 52 is housed inside the distal end portion of the water discharge pipe 12.
In this example, the water discharge port member 52 is made of resin (here, POM resin (polyacetal resin)), and has a generally elliptical cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the tip of the water discharge pipe 12 as a whole.

This water discharge port member 52 is integrally provided with a cylindrical insertion portion 54 on the right end side in the figure, and the insertion portion 54 is press-fitted into the water supply tube 38 and the band for tightening the water supply tube 38 from the outer peripheral surface. It is connected and fixed to the water supply tube 38 by a cylindrical fastening member 56.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the opening at the tip of the spout member 52 forms a spout 58 at the tip of the water channel in the spout 12, and the water flow passes through the spout 58. A discharge end member 60 that controls the discharge pattern of water discharged from the water discharge port 58 is disposed.
Specifically, the discharge end member 60 has an oval cylindrical shape with a flat cross-sectional shape, and the discharge end member 60 is inserted into a tubular water discharge port member 52 in an internally fitted state. The water outlet member 52 is held in a position slightly behind the water outlet 58.

In this embodiment, the discharge end member 60 rectifies and discharges the flow of water sent through the water supply tube 38. That is, the discharge pattern of discharged water is a bundle of rectified discharged water.
However, the water sent through the water supply tube 38 may be discharged as a bubble stream mixed with bubbles or as a shower stream. Alternatively, the water discharge can be discharged in various other patterns.

In the present embodiment, the discharge end member 60 and the water discharge port member 52 are commonly fixed to the water discharge pipe 12 in the fixed hole 68 by a fixing member 67 shown in FIG.

The fixing member 67 is a circular push button type member, and includes a circular outer peripheral wall portion 70, a first fitting convex portion 71 rising from the center portion thereof, and an upper end of the first fitting convex portion 71. A second fitting convex portion 72 having a small diameter projecting upward is integrally formed. The second fitting convex portion 72 is fitted into the fitting hole 74 of the discharge end member 60, and the first fitting convex portion 72 is inserted into the fitting hole 74. The fitting convex portion 71 is fitted into the penetrating fitting hole 76 of the water discharge port member 52, and the outer peripheral wall portion 70 is fitted to the circular fixing hole 68 of the water discharge tube 12, and is attached to the water discharge tube 12. Accordingly, the discharge end member 60 and the water discharge port member 52 are fixed to the water discharge pipe 12 in a positioned state.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the fixing member 67 has a pair of claws 78 on the left and right when viewed from the front. 12 is secured.

In FIG. 4, 62 is a light projecting unit, 64 is a light receiving unit, and the light projecting unit 62 and the light receiving unit 64 are configured at the tips of the optical fiber 80 on the light projecting side and the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side, respectively. Yes.
The light projecting unit 62 is provided with a lens 84 for imparting directivity to the projected light.

In this embodiment, a sensor is constituted by the sensor main body 48 shown in FIG. 1 and the light projecting unit 62 and the light receiving unit 64 constituted by the tip portions of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 extending therefrom, and the sensor detects the sensor. When an object, usually a user's hand out, is detected, the electromagnetic valve 36 opens under the control of the control unit 46, and water is automatically discharged from the water outlet 58 of FIG.
When the user pulls in the hand and moves out of the detection area by the sensor, the sensor does not detect the hand. Here, the electromagnetic valve 36 is closed under the control of the control unit 46 and the water discharged from the water outlet 58 is discharged. Stop.

As shown in FIG. 4, the distal ends of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 are positioned with respect to the spout member 52 at the distal ends of the optical fiber 80 on the light projecting side and the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side. An annular fitting convex part 86 for fixing is provided integrally.
On the other hand, on the outer surface of the water outlet member 52, specifically, the upper surface in FIG. 4, a deep holding groove 92A as a fiber holding portion of the optical fiber 80 on the light emitting side and a deep holding groove as a fiber holding portion of the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side. 94A is provided in a shape extending in the axial direction of each of the

fibers

80 and 82 so as to be parallel to the tube axis of the water discharge pipe 12, and each of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 is shown in the holding

grooves

92A and 94A. Most of the middle and lower sides are fitted.

Here, each holding

groove

92A, 94A extends linearly from the right end in the figure of the water discharge port member 52, that is, the proximal end of the water discharge pipe 12, to the left end in the figure, that is, the end of the water discharge pipe 12. ing.
The front end on the left side of the holding groove 92A in the drawing is a U-shaped notched projection window 100, and the front end on the left side of the holding groove 94A in the drawing is a U-shaped notched light receiving window 102.
Then, the light projecting portion 62 and the light receiving portion 64 are fitted downwardly in the figure so as to align the tips of the light projecting window 100 and the light receiving window 102.

The holding

grooves

92A and 94A are respectively provided with fitting

concave portions

96A and 98A corresponding to the fitting convex portions 86 of the

optical fibers

80 and 82, and the optical fibers 80 fitted into the holding grooves 92A and 94A. , 82 are positioned and fixed in the axial direction by concavo-convex fitting between the fitting convex part 86 and the fitting

concave parts

96A, 98A in the holding

grooves

92A, 94A.

That is, the tip ends of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 are perpendicular to the axes of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 by the restraint by the holding

grooves

92A and 94A and the concave and convex fitting between the fitting convex portion 86 and the fitting

concave portions

96A and 98A. The positioning is fixed in the left-right direction and the axial direction in the direction diagram.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 90 denotes a cover that covers the outer surface of the water discharge port member 52, specifically the upper surface thereof. The cover 90 is also made of the same resin material as the water discharge port member 52.
The cover 90 is integrally formed with a pair of curved elastic arms 104, and the cover 90 elastically moves the claws 106 at the tips of the pair of elastic arms 104 to the corresponding locking projections 108 of the water outlet member 52. By being locked, the water outlet member 52 is assembled.

In the present embodiment, a shallow holding groove 92B for the light-projecting optical fiber 80 and a shallow holding groove 94B for the light-receiving optical fiber 82 are also provided on the inner surface of the cover 92 as a fiber holding portion. It is provided in a state facing the holding

grooves

92A, 94A corresponding to the water port member 52 in the vertical direction.
In the holding

grooves

92B and 94B, fitting

concave portions

96B and 98B corresponding to the fitting convex portions 86 of the optical fiber 80 are formed, respectively.
However, the

fitting recesses

96B and 98B on the cover 90 side are shallower than the

fitting recesses

96A and 98A on the water outlet member 52 side.

The holding groove 92A on the water outlet member 52 side and the holding groove 92B on the cover 90 side together correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber 80 as a whole as shown in FIG. A continuous groove space having a circular cross section is formed inside.
Similarly, the holding groove 94 </ b> A on the water outlet member 52 side and the holding groove 94 </ b> B on the cover 90 side are combined to form a groove space having a circular cross section corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the optical fiber 82 as a whole. Form.

That is, in this embodiment, a holding groove as a fiber holding portion is formed on both the outer surface of the water discharge port member 52 and the inner surface of the cover 90, and they cooperate to position the tip portions of the

optical fibers

80 and 82. It is something to hold.
The light projecting side in which most of the lower side is fitted into the

deep holding grooves

92A and 94A of the water outlet member 52, and the remaining upper part (small part) is fitted into the holding

grooves

92B and 94B of the cover 90. The optical fiber 80 and the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side are sandwiched between the holding

grooves

92A and 92B and the spout member 52 and the cover 90 in the holding

grooves

92A and 92B in the vertical direction in FIG. Are also constrained, and the tips of the

fibers

80 and 82 are fixed in a positioning state in any direction.
Thus, the light projecting unit 62 and the light receiving unit 64 are correctly positioned at the set position, and the detection target is detected with high accuracy by the light projection and light reception.
However, these holding grooves may be provided only on the side of the water outlet member 52 so that the tip portions of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 are held in a positioned state only on the side of the water outlet member 52.

The holding grooves 92A on the water discharge port member 52 side and the holding grooves 92B on the cover 90 side are respectively provided with

recesses

110A and 110B for receiving the lens 84 of the light projecting unit 62.
Further, the spout member 52 is incorporated in the inside of the distal end portion of the spout pipe 12 together with the cover 90 as shown in FIG. 3B, and in the fitted state, the spout pipe is formed by the fixing member 67 described above. 12 tube axis directions and directions perpendicular to the tube axis are fixed.

In this embodiment, the main body of the spout member is designated by reference numeral 52, and the spout member is divided into a main body and a cover 90, and the tip portions of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 between them. It can also be considered that this is embedded in the faucet member in a state of sandwiching.

According to the present embodiment as described above, it is possible to easily fix the distal end portions of the light projecting side optical fiber 80 and the light receiving side optical fiber 82 to the distal end portion of the water discharge pipe 12 via the water discharge port member 52, Further, the fixation can be easily released, and the work for assembling the tip end portions of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 to the water discharge pipe 12 can be performed with good workability. , 82 can be taken out from the water discharge pipe 12 for maintenance work with good workability.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the tip portions of the light projecting side optical fiber 80 and the light receiving side optical fiber 82 are each directly fixed to the water outlet member 52, the light projecting unit 62 is included. When the front end portion of the optical fiber 80 on the light projecting side and the front end portion of the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side including the light receiving portion 64 are assembled in advance as a unit and fixed to the front end portion of the water discharge pipe 12 in the unit state In comparison, the tip of the water discharge pipe 12 can be reduced in size.

Moreover, in this embodiment, since the front-end | tip part of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 is fixed so that it may be pinched | interposed with the spout member 52 and the cover 90, the front-end | tip part of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 can be made into a fixed state firmly. .

In addition, the tip portions of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 can be protected in the holding

grooves

92A and 92B and 94A and 94B, and the tip portions of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 are connected to the spout member 52 and the cover 90. Therefore, the tip of the water discharge pipe 12 can be effectively downsized.

The distal ends of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 are arranged and fixed in a straight line so as to be parallel to the tube axis of the water discharge pipe 12, and in this way, the distal ends of the

optical fibers

80 and 82 are fixed. Compared with the case of fixing in an oblique direction, the thickness of the water outlet member 52 and the cover 90 can be reduced, and the tip of the water discharge pipe 12 can be reduced in size.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example.
For example, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the holding grooves 92 </ b> B and 94 </ b> B are formed only on the inner surface of the cover 90 fixed to the water outlet member 52 without providing the holding groove on the water outlet member 52 side. It is also possible to insert the optical fiber 80 on the light-projecting side and the optical fiber 82 on the light-receiving side into the optical fiber 82 and hold it only on the cover 90 side.
It is also possible to provide the holding groove on the outer surface of the cover 90 and to provide the fiber holding portion in a form other than the groove.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fitting convex portion is provided on the tip end side of the optical fiber, and the fitting concave portion is provided on the side of the spout member and the cover so that they are concavo-convexly fitted. It is also possible to provide a fitting recess on the tip end side of the optical fiber and a fitting projection on the spout member and cover side, and fit them in a concave-convex manner.
In addition, this invention can be comprised with the form which added the various change in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.

Although the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-281030 filed on Dec. 10, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic faucet 12 Water discharge pipe 52 Water discharge port member 58 Water discharge port 62 Emitting part 64

Light receiving part

80,82 Optical fiber 86 Fitting convex part 90

Cover

92A, 92B, 94A,

94B Holding groove

96A, 96B, 98A, 98B fitting Joint recess

Claims

A cylindrical water outlet member that forms a water outlet at the tip of the water channel in the water discharge pipe is provided on the inner side of the front end portion of the water discharge pipe, and an optical fiber on the light projecting side that guides light from the light emitting element, and a detection target. A light-receiving side optical fiber that guides reflected light to the light-receiving element is passed through the water discharge tube until it reaches the tip of the water discharge tube, and the light projecting unit is inserted at the tip of the light-projecting side optical fiber. In the automatic faucet that configures the light receiving part at the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving side, and discharges water from the water outlet based on detection of the detection target by the optical sensor,
A fitting convex portion is provided on one of the outer surface of each of the light emitting side optical fiber and the light receiving side optical fiber and the fiber holding portion on the outer surface of the water discharge port member, and the fitting concave portion corresponding to the other. An automatic faucet characterized in that the tip of the optical fiber is fixed in a positioning state based on the concave-convex fitting between the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion.
2. The automatic water faucet according to claim 1, further comprising a cover that covers a fixed portion of the tip of the optical fiber to the outer surface of the spout member.
A cylindrical water outlet member that forms a water outlet at the tip of the water channel in the water discharge pipe is provided on the inner side of the front end portion of the water discharge pipe, and an optical fiber on the light projecting side that guides light from the light emitting element, and a detection target. A light-receiving side optical fiber that guides reflected light to the light-receiving element is passed through the water discharge tube until it reaches the tip of the water discharge tube, and the light projecting unit is inserted at the tip of the light-projecting side optical fiber. In the automatic faucet that configures the light receiving part at the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving side, and discharges water from the water outlet based on detection of the detection target by the optical sensor,
One of the outer surface of the tip of each of the optical fiber on the light emitting side and the optical fiber on the light receiving side, and the fiber holding portion of the cover fixed to the water outlet member so as to cover the outer surface of the water outlet member The fitting convex portion is provided with a fitting concave portion corresponding to the other, and the tip end portion of the optical fiber is fixed in a positioning state based on the concave-convex fitting between the fitting convex portion and the fitting concave portion. And automatic faucet.
A cylindrical water outlet member that forms a water outlet at the tip of the water channel in the water discharge pipe is provided on the inner side of the front end portion of the water discharge pipe, and an optical fiber on the light projecting side that guides light from the light emitting element, and a detection target. A light-receiving side optical fiber that guides reflected light to the light-receiving element is passed through the water discharge tube until it reaches the tip of the water discharge tube, and the light projecting unit is inserted at the tip of the light-projecting side optical fiber. In the automatic faucet that configures the light receiving part at the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving side, and discharges water from the water outlet based on detection of the detection target by the optical sensor,
A groove as a fiber holding portion for holding the tip portion of the optical fiber is provided on both the outer surface of the water outlet member and the inner surface of the cover covering the outer surface so as to face each other, and the optical fiber is provided inside the groove. A fitting projection on one of the outer surface of the tip of the optical fiber and the inner surface of the groove, and a fitting recess on the other, and the fitting projection and the fitting recess. An automatic faucet characterized in that the tip of the optical fiber is fixed in a positioning state based on the concave-convex fitting.
The automatic water faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tip of the optical fiber is linearly arranged and fixed so as to be parallel to the tube axis of the water discharge pipe.
A water outlet member provided inside the front end of the water discharge pipe and forming a water outlet;
A light projecting unit having a first optical fiber for guiding light from the light emitting element;
A light receiving unit having a second optical fiber for guiding reflected light from the detection target to the light receiving element;
An automatic faucet that discharges water from a water outlet based on detection of a detection target by an optical sensor,
The first optical fiber has a first fitting convex portion, and the second optical fiber has a second fitting convex portion,
The spout member has a first fitting recess that fits with the first fitting protrusion, and a second fitting recess that fits with the second fitting protrusion. Features an automatic faucet.
The automatic faucet according to claim 6 further comprises:
A cover that covers the water outlet member; a third fitting recess that fits with a first fitting convex portion of the first optical fiber installed in the water outlet member; and the water outlet member A cover having a fourth fitting recess that fits with a second fitting projection of the second optical fiber installed;
A water outlet member provided inside the front end of the water discharge pipe and forming a water outlet;
A light projecting unit having a first optical fiber for guiding light from the light emitting element;
A light receiving unit having a second optical fiber for guiding reflected light from the detection target to the light receiving element;
A cover covering the spout member;
An automatic faucet that discharges water from a water outlet based on detection of a detection target by an optical sensor,
The first optical fiber has a first fitting convex portion, and the second optical fiber has a second fitting convex portion,
The cover has a first fitting recess that fits with the first fitting protrusion, and a second fitting recess that fits with the second fitting protrusion. Automatic faucet to do.
A water outlet member provided inside the front end of the water discharge pipe and forming a water outlet;
A light projecting unit having a first optical fiber for guiding light from the light emitting element;
A light receiving unit having a second optical fiber for guiding reflected light from the detection target to the light receiving element;
A cover covering the spout member;
With
The first optical fiber has a first fitting convex portion, and the second optical fiber has a second fitting convex portion,
The spout member has a first fitting recess that fits with the first fitting protrusion, and a second fitting recess that fits with the second fitting protrusion,
The automatic faucet spout unit, wherein the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are fixed by the spout member and the cover.