JP3012108B2 - Cup type water supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cup-type water supply device used for mouth washing and the like in dental treatment, and more particularly, to a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a cup and the amount of water (water level) in the cup. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are a fountain type and a cup type as a mouth water supply device used for dental treatment. In the case of a cup type, a total of a weight of a cup and a weight of water supplied to the cup is used. Since the water supply is controlled by using the method, only a predetermined cup can be used, which is very inconvenient in terms of operability and versatility. Further, when using a means for detecting the weight at the lower portion of the cup holder, it has been difficult to clean the cup holder.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present applicant has previously determined the amount of water in the cup without detecting the weight, and therefore without providing weight detecting means below the cup holder. The present invention has proposed a cup-type water supply device which can detect the amount of water, can easily clean the cup holder, and can use various cups irrespective of weight (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-9452).
No. 0).

[0004]

The above-described cup-type water supply device proposed by the present applicant has a photo sensor (light emitting / receiving detector) for detecting the presence (presence / absence) of the cup, and an upper part of the cup mounting table. And an ultrasonic sensor (ultrasonic transmitter / receiver) for detecting the level of water supplied into the cup, and required two sensors.

Moreover, in order to detect the presence or absence of a glass,
Since the photosensor is used, when the cup is made of a transparent material, the detection accuracy is low, and the circuit becomes complicated, which has a problem in practical use.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (1) a glass placing portion, and an ultrasonic sensor disposed above the glass placing portion. the by the ultrasonic sensor, the presence or absence of the cup, and, in co-up type water supply apparatus adapted to detect the water level in the cup
There, a portion of the cup mounting portion is formed on the inclined surface
The ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor is not reflected to the position where the ultrasonic sensor is disposed , and the
Is higher than the cup receiving surface.
Is obtained by the features the door, furthermore, it is obtained characterized in that (2) the inclined surface <br/> are spherical surfaces.

[0007]

An ultrasonic sensor is mounted above the cup mounting table, and means for preventing the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor from being reflected to the ultrasonic sensor section is provided on the cup mounting portion, and the cup is not mounted. When the sensor does not receive reflected ultrasonic waves, when the cup is placed, it receives reflected ultrasonic waves,
Further, when water is supplied to the cup, the water level (water amount) in the cup is detected based on the distance from the reflection surface of the ultrasonic waves.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of a cup type water supply apparatus according to the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a spitton. Are integrally formed. 20 is a water supply and sensor installation part, 21 is a water supply port, 22 is an ultrasonic sensor (ultrasonic transmitter / receiver part), and when the cup 30 is placed on the cup placement part 12, the cup is placed by the sensor 22. The water is supplied to the cup 30 from the water supply port 21 and the sensor 22 detects that the amount of water (water level) in the cup 30 has reached a predetermined amount (predetermined water level), and the water supply is stopped. is there.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the main parts for explaining the principle of operation of the present invention. In FIG. 2, parts having the same functions as those of the apparatus shown in FIG. Reference numbers are provided.

First, an example in which the presence or absence of a cup is detected will be described. When the cup 30 is not on the cup placing part 12, the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic sensor 22 is
As shown by a dotted line in the figure, the light travels toward a predetermined portion of the cup placing portion 12 and is reflected by the cup placing portion 12.

Thus, in the present invention, even if the ultrasonic wave hitting the cup placing section 12 is reflected by the cup placing section 12, it does not return to the sensor section 22. Specifically, the surface irradiated with the ultrasonic wave is an inclined surface as shown in FIG. 2, and the ultrasonic wave hitting the inclined surface is reflected in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. , Does not return to the sensor 22. Therefore, in this case, the absence of the glass can be detected by the fact that the ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitting unit of the ultrasonic sensor 22 does not return to the receiving unit of the ultrasonic sensor 22.

Here, when the cup 30 is placed on the cup placing portion, the ultrasonic waves emitted from the ultrasonic sensor 22 are:
The light is reflected by the bottom surface of the cup 30 (usually, the bottom surface of the cup is flat), returns to the ultrasonic sensor 22, and is detected by the receiving unit of the sensor. Is detected.

As described above, when it is detected that the cup is placed on the cup placing portion, the water supply valve 2 (not shown)
3 is opened, and water is poured into the cup 30 from the water supply port 21. At this time, the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic sensor 22 is reflected on the water surface in the cup and returns to the receiving unit of the ultrasonic sensor 22, and the ultrasonic wave from the position of the ultrasonic sensor 22 to the water surface in the cup by a known method. When the distance is detected and the distance reaches a predetermined value, that is, when the water level in the cup reaches a predetermined value, the water supply valve 23 is closed to stop water supply.

[0014]

[0015] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, as an inclined surface to form a surface of the cup mounting portion to the spherical surface B, when the cup is not placed, ultra from the ultrasonic sensor 22 Although an example is shown in which sound waves are reflected on the inclined surface of the sphere surface, in this case, water droplets on the sphere surface easily slide down the sphere surface, so that drainage is very good. However, in this case, if the bottom of the cup is received on the surface of the sphere, the cup is not stable and is unstable. In this case, the highest part of the center of the surface of the sphere is taken as the cup receiving part C. It is better to make it lower than the surface.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the presence or absence of a cup and the amount of water (water level) in the cup can be detected using a single ultrasonic sensor. Can be accurately detected even if is a transparent body. Since it is not necessary to add accessories such as a photo sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a cup and a cup weight detector for detecting the amount of water in the cup, it is very easy to manufacture the spitton itself, Moreover, the spittons can be kept sanitary, for example, by removing only the spitsons and washing them or sterilizing them by autoclaving. Furthermore, by making the surface of the cup mounting part a spherical surface, drainage becomes very good,
There are advantages such as keeping the cup receiver clean.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of a cup-type water supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part for describing an operation of a cup-type water supply device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... spitton, 11 ... bowl, 12 ... cup placement part,
20: water supply and sensor unit, 21: water supply port, 22: ultrasonic sensor, 30: cup.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cup receiver, and an ultrasonic sensor disposed above the cup receiver. The ultrasonic sensor detects presence / absence of the cup and a water level in the cup. a co-up type water supply apparatus adapted to detect a portion of the cup mounting portion is formed on the inclined surface, reflecting the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor to the installation position of the ultrasonic sensor So that the highest point of the slope is
A cup- type water supply device characterized by being configured lower than a cup receiving surface . 2. A cup-type water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is a spherical surface.