JP6848558B2 - Sanitary cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary cleaning device.

Conventionally, this type of sanitary cleaning device has a water stop electromagnetic valve, a water pump, and a flow rate sensor, and determines an abnormality based on the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor for each period from the start of cleaning. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this sanitary cleaning device, when the flow rate a of the period A from the start of cleaning to the opening of the water stop electromagnetic valve is not a value 0, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the water stop electromagnetic valve, and the water stop electromagnetic valve is opened. When the value b of the flow rate b of the period B from when the water pump is turned on is 0, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the water stop electromagnetic valve, and the flow rate c of the period C after the water pump is turned on is the period. When the flow rate b of B is smaller than the flow rate b, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the water pump.

Further, a water stop solenoid valve, a sub tank, a water pump, a relief valve, a flow control valve, and a nozzle device are provided in this order from the upstream side, and the washing water discharged from the relief valve is returned to the sub tank. A sanitary cleaning device provided with a flow path has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this sanitary cleaning device, when an abnormality occurs in the flow control valve and the water pressure in the flow path rises, the relief valve opens to prevent the water pressure in the flow path from rising abnormally.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-220061 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-199931

In general, sanitary cleaning equipment has a water stop solenoid valve, a heater, a water pump, a switching valve, and multiple nozzles, some of which are made of tubes as needed for ease of assembly and parts replacement. It is connected. Examples of the plurality of nozzles include a nozzle for a tail, a nozzle for a bidet, a nozzle for cleaning the inside of a pot, a nozzle for cleaning the nozzle, and the like, so that cleaning water can be ejected from any of the nozzles by a switching valve. It has become. In such a sanitary cleaning device, whether or not the nozzle is clogged can be detected when the flow rate from the flow rate sensor is close to a value of 0, but when the nozzle that ejects the cleaning water is changed. When the nozzle after the change is clogged, the value does not instantly reach 0 because the rotary blade of the flow sensor is rotating due to inertia, and it takes time to detect an abnormality. At this time, the water pressure in the flow path rises abnormally, and the tube may come off. It is conceivable to provide a relief valve and a recirculation flow path in order to cope with an abnormal increase in water pressure in the flow path, but in that case, the number of parts increases.

The main object of the sanitary cleaning apparatus of the present invention is to quickly determine whether or not the nozzle is clogged when the nozzle that ejects the cleaning water is changed.

The sanitary cleaning device of the present invention has adopted the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

The sanitary cleaning device of the present invention
A plurality of nozzles for ejecting wash water from the wash water flow path, a water stop electromagnetic valve for supplying the wash water to the wash water flow path, and a flow rate of the wash water flowing through the wash water flow path as a rotation cycle of the rotary blade. A sanitary cleaning device including a flow sensor for detection, an electric switching valve for switching the supply of cleaning water to the plurality of nozzles, and a control device for driving and controlling the water stop electromagnetic valve and the electric switching valve. ,
When the control device drives the electric switching valve to switch from a state in which cleaning water is ejected from one of the plurality of nozzles to a state in which cleaning water is ejected from another nozzle, the control device is switched. When the rotation cycle of the rotary blade of the flow sensor reaches the predetermined cycle or more within a predetermined time after the start of switching, it is determined that the other nozzles are clogged.
It is characterized by that.

In the sanitary cleaning device of the present invention, when the electric switching valve is driven to switch from a state in which cleaning water is ejected from one of a plurality of nozzles to a state in which cleaning water is ejected from another nozzle. When the other nozzles are not clogged, the rotary blade of the flow sensor depends on the degree of rotation of the washing water from the nozzle before switching from the number of rotations according to the degree of the washing water ejected from the other nozzles. It shifts to the number of rotations and rotates. On the other hand, when the other nozzles are clogged, the rotor blades of the flow sensor rotate at a deceleration speed according to the inertia of the rotary blades from the rotation speed according to the degree of ejection of the washing water from the nozzle before switching. Reduce and stop. In the sanitary cleaning device of the present invention, when the rotation cycle of the rotary blade of the flow sensor reaches the predetermined cycle or more within a predetermined time after the start of switching, it is determined that the other nozzles are clogged. It is possible to quickly determine whether or not the nozzle is clogged before it stops. Here, if a predetermined time is used, which is slightly shorter than the time required for the water pressure in the washing water flow path to reach the water pressure at which the tube comes off when the other nozzles are clogged, the water pressure in the washing water flow path is used. It can be determined that the nozzle is clogged before the water pressure reaches such that the tube comes off. In this case, the tube can be prevented from coming off by immediately closing the water stop solenoid valve. As a result, it is quickly determined whether or not the nozzle is clogged when the nozzle that ejects the washing water is changed, and the nozzle is clogged without increasing the number of parts. This can prevent the tube from coming off.

In such a sanitary cleaning device of the present invention, in the predetermined period, cleaning water is ejected from the nozzle having the smallest ejection amount among the plurality of nozzles by using a flow rate sensor in which the rotor blades are most difficult to rotate due to manufacturing variations. It may be set to a cycle slower than the rotation cycle of the rotary blade in the present state. In this way, it is possible to accurately determine that the nozzle is clogged even if the degree of rotation of the rotary blade differs due to manufacturing variations.

Further, in the sanitary cleaning device of the present invention, the predetermined period is set to a larger period as the rotation period of the rotary blade of the flow sensor before switching to the state of ejecting cleaning water from the other nozzles is larger. May be. In this way, it is possible to more accurately determine that the nozzle is clogged.

In the sanitary cleaning apparatus of the present invention, the predetermined cycle may be set for each type of the other nozzles. This is based on the fact that the degree to which the washing water is ejected differs depending on the type of nozzle, and by doing so, it is possible to more accurately determine that the nozzle is clogged for each type.

In the sanitary cleaning device of the present invention, when it is determined that the other nozzles are clogged once or a plurality of times, the control device prohibits the ejection of cleaning water from the other nozzles. May be good. In this way, it is possible to prevent the water pressure in the washing water flow path from becoming high due to the use of the clogged nozzle. In this case, the washing water can be ejected from a nozzle other than the nozzle in which the clogging occurs. In addition, if it is determined that the nozzle is clogged multiple times and the ejection of cleaning water from the nozzle is prohibited, the nozzle is clogged due to disturbance such as air being caught in the water pipe. It is possible to prevent erroneous determination that it has occurred. In this aspect, the control device may release the prohibition of the ejection of the washing water from the other nozzles when the reset operation is performed. In this way, it can be easily used after the clogging is cleared.

It is a block diagram which shows typically the outline of the structure of the sanitary cleaning device 20 as the embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the structure of the flow rate sensor 34 schematically. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the clogging determination process executed by the control device 60. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the clogging processing executed by the control device 60. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the time change of the water pressure of the washing water flow path 24 and the rotation period waveform. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the clogging determination process of a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the map for setting a correction coefficient.

Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a sanitary cleaning device 20 as an embodiment of the present invention. The sanitary cleaning device 20 of the embodiment is used by being attached to a toilet seat (not shown), and as shown, a water stop electromagnetic valve 22 that controls the supply of water from the water supply pipe 12 to the cleaning water flow path 24, and a cleaning water flow path. A tank assembly 30 having a heat exchanger 32 and a flow sensor 34 provided in 24, a nozzle assembly 40 having a pulsating pump 42, a vacuum breaker 44, a switching valve 46, and a plurality of nozzles 50 to 58, and a control device 60. And.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flow sensor 34 uses a rotary wing 35 to which six blades are attached, a magnet 36 attached to the rotary wing 35 at a position eccentric from the rotation axis, and a magnetic force of the magnet 36 to generate an electric current. A coil 37 for generating an electric current is provided. The flow sensor 34 uses the coil 37 to detect a change in the magnetic force due to the magnet 36 that rotates as the washing water flows and the rotor 35 rotates, and detects the rotation cycle based on the cycle of the change in the magnetic force.

The switching valve 46 serves as a rotary switching valve for switching from which of the plurality of nozzles 50 to 58 the cleaning water in the cleaning water flow path 24 on the wake side of the pulsating pump 42, which adjusts the cleaning strength as needed, is ejected. It is configured. In the present embodiment, each discharge port of the switching valve 46 is connected to each nozzle 50 to 58 by a tube.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of nozzles 50 to 58 clean the powerful nozzle 50 for cleaning the tail, the mild nozzle 52 for cleaning the tail, the bidet nozzle 54 for the bidet, and the powerful nozzle 50, the mild nozzle 52, and the bidet nozzle 54. It is composed of a cleaning nozzle 56 for cleaning the nozzle and a spray nozzle 58 for spraying cleaning water into the toilet bowl.

Although not shown, the control device 60 is configured as a microcomputer centered on a CPU, and includes a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output port in addition to the CPU. A rotation cycle signal from the coil 37 of the flow sensor 34, a switch signal such as a reset switch 62 from a control panel (not shown), and the like are input to the control device 60 via the input port. From the control device 60, a drive signal to the water stop solenoid valve 22, a control signal to the heat exchanger 32, a drive signal to the pulsating pump 42, a drive signal to the switching valve 46, an abnormality display unit 64 of a control panel (not shown) The display control signal to is output via the output port.

Next, the operation of the sanitary cleaning device 20 of the embodiment configured in this way, particularly the operation of determining whether or not the nozzle is clogged when the nozzle for ejecting the cleaning water is switched will be described. In the present embodiment, when the washing water is ejected from any of the nozzles 50 to 58, first, in order to discharge the cold water from the heat exchanger 32 to the switching valve 46, the switching valve 46 has the largest flow rate. The cleaning water is ejected from the powerful nozzle 50 in a state where the nozzle 50 is housed in a guide case (not shown). Then, after that, the switching valve 46 is driven so that the washing water is ejected from the selected nozzle. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a clogging determination process executed by the control device 60 when the washing water is ejected from the powerful nozzle 50.

When the clogging determination process is executed, the control device 60 first waits to start switching from the state in which the cleaning water is ejected from the powerful nozzle 50 to the state in which the cleaning water is ejected from another nozzle. (Step S100). Whether or not the switching has been started can be determined by whether or not the operation of the switching nozzle 46 has been started.

When it is determined in step S100 that the switching has been started, it is determined whether or not the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 of the flow sensor 34 reaches the threshold value Tref or more within a predetermined time after the switching is started (steps S110 to S130). ). Specifically, the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 is input (step S110), it is determined whether or not the rotation cycle T is equal to or greater than the threshold Tref (step S120), and when the rotation cycle T is less than the threshold Tref, switching is performed. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of (step S130), and if the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process of returning to the input of the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 in step S110 is performed in step S120. Is repeated until it is determined that is equal to or greater than the threshold value Tref, or it is determined in step S130 that a predetermined time has elapsed. Here, the threshold Tref is the cleaning water from the nozzle (spray nozzle 58 in the embodiment) having the smallest ejection amount among the plurality of nozzles 50 to 58, using a flow rate sensor in which the rotor 35 is most difficult to rotate due to manufacturing variations or the like. It is a period (time) slower than the rotation period Tslow of the rotary blade 35 in the state of ejecting. The predetermined time is slightly longer than the time required for the water pressure in the washing water flow path 24 to reach a pressure at which the tube comes off after the switching by the switching valve 46 is started when the switching destination nozzle is clogged. It's a short time.

When it is determined that the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 does not reach the threshold value Tref or more within a predetermined time after the start of switching, it is determined that the nozzle at the switching destination is not clogged, and this routine is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 reaches the threshold value Tref or more within a predetermined time after the start of switching, it is determined that the nozzle at the switching destination is clogged (step S140), and this routine is performed. To finish.

In the present embodiment, when it is determined in the clogging determination process of FIG. 3 that the nozzle at the switching destination is clogged, the control device 60 executes the clogging process of FIG. In the clogging treatment, first, the water stop solenoid valve 22 is closed (step S200). As a result, it is possible to prevent the water pressure in the washing water flow path 24 from reaching a pressure at which the tube comes off. Then, the use of the nozzle determined to be clogged is prohibited (step S210), and the fact that the clogging abnormality has occurred is displayed on the abnormality display unit 64 of the control panel (not shown) to notify the notification (step S220). As a result, it is possible to eject the washing water from a nozzle other than the nozzle determined to be clogged, and it is possible to notify the user that an abnormality has occurred. Then, when the reset switch 62 of the control panel (not shown) is operated and reset (step S230), the prohibition of use of the nozzle determined to be clogged is released (step S240), and this process ends. .. As a result, it is possible to eject the washing water from the nozzle that is determined to be clogged.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the time change of the water pressure of the washing water flow path 24 and the waveform (rotational cycle waveform) detected by the flow rate sensor 34 when the nozzle for ejecting the washing water is switched when the switching destination nozzle is clogged. It is explanatory drawing which shows. In the figure, the cleaning water pressure Pre is the water pressure at which the tube comes off. The rotation cycle waveform 1 is a detection waveform of the rotor blades that is detected when the nozzle at the switching destination is clogged by using the flow rate sensor in which the rotor blades 35 are most likely to rotate due to manufacturing variations or the like. The rotation cycle waveform 2 is a detection waveform of the rotor blades that is detected when the nozzle at the switching destination is not clogged by using the flow rate sensor at which the rotor blades 35 are most difficult to rotate due to manufacturing variations or the like. In FIG. 5, the above-mentioned threshold value Tref is represented as a period (time) slightly larger than the period Tslow of the rotation period waveform 2. Further, in FIG. 5, the predetermined time is a time slightly before the time t1 from the time t1 at which the switching by the switching valve 46 is started to the time t3 at which the water pressure of the washing water flow path 24 reaches the water pressure Pref to which the tube is disengaged due to the clogging of the nozzle. It is expressed as the time to t2 (t2-t1). Therefore, when the rotation cycle Tfast of the rotation cycle waveform 1 reaches the threshold value Tref or more by the time t2, it is determined that the nozzle is clogged.

In the sanitary cleaning device 20 of the embodiment described above, when the state in which the cleaning water is ejected from the powerful nozzle 50 is switched to the state in which the cleaning water is ejected from another nozzle, a predetermined time (t2-t1) from the start of the switching. When the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 of the flow sensor 34 reaches the threshold value Tref or more, it is determined that the nozzle at the switching destination is clogged. As a result, it is possible to determine an abnormality in which the nozzle at the switching destination is clogged before the water pressure in the washing water flow path 24 reaches a pressure at which the tube comes off. Then, when it is determined that the clogging has occurred, the water stop solenoid valve 22 is immediately closed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tube from coming off due to the increase in water pressure in the washing water flow path 24. As a result, it is quickly determined whether or not the nozzle is clogged when the nozzle that ejects the washing water is changed, and the nozzle is clogged without increasing the number of parts. This can prevent the tube from coming off.

Further, in the sanitary cleaning device 20 of the embodiment, when it is determined that the nozzle is clogged, the user can be notified of the abnormality that the nozzle is clogged by notifying the clogging abnormality. Further, when it is determined that the nozzle is clogged, only the nozzle having the clogging is prohibited, so that another nozzle can be used. Further, by operating the reset switch 62 after clearing the clogging of the nozzle, the prohibition of use of the nozzle in which the clogging has occurred is released. As a result, the sanitary cleaning device 20 can be easily put into a normal state.

In the sanitary cleaning device 20 of the above-described embodiment, the cleaning water is ejected from the nozzle having the smallest amount of ejection by using the flow rate sensor in which the rotary blade 35 is the most difficult to rotate due to the manufacturing variation or the like. The period (time) is slower than the rotation period Tslow of the rotary blade 35 in the above. However, the threshold value may be changed according to the rotation period T of the rotary blade 35, or the threshold value may be changed according to the type of the nozzle to be switched to. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example of the clogging determination process in this case. In the clogging determination process of FIG. 6, the correction coefficient k1 is set based on the rotation period T of the rotor 35 (step S70), and the correction coefficient k2 is set according to the type M of the nozzle to be switched (step S80). , The reference period Tset is multiplied by the correction coefficients k1 and k2 to determine the threshold Tref (step S90). Here, the reference cycle Tset is a threshold value for determining that the standard nozzle is clogged based on the rotation cycle Tst of the rotor 35 of the standard flow sensor 34, and the washing water is drawn from the standard nozzle. The period (time) is larger than the rotation period of the rotary blade 35 of the standard flow sensor 34 when it is in the ejected state. The correction coefficient k1 is defined as a relationship in which the correction coefficient k1 increases as the rotation period T increases at a value of 1.0 when the rotation period Tst of the rotor 35 of the standard flow sensor 34 is Tst. For the correction coefficient k1, for example, the relationship between the rotation period T of the rotary blade 35 and the correction coefficient k1 is predetermined and stored as a correction coefficient setting map, and when the rotation period T is given, the corresponding correction coefficient k1 is obtained from the map. Can be set by deriving. An example of the correction coefficient setting map is shown in FIG. The correction coefficient k2 is a standard flow rate sensor when the wash water is ejected from each nozzle with respect to the rotation cycle Tst of the rotor 35 of the standard flow sensor 34 when the wash water is ejected from the standard nozzle. It is defined as the ratio (T / Tst) of the rotation period T of the rotary blades 35 of 34. Therefore, the threshold value Tref is set larger as the rotation period T is larger. When the threshold value Tref is set in this way, the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 is set to the threshold value Tref within a predetermined time after waiting for the switching to start (step S100), as in the clogging determination process of FIG. A process (steps S110 to S140) for determining whether or not the nozzle is clogged is performed depending on whether or not the above is reached. In this way, by setting the threshold value Tref according to the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 and the type of the nozzle to be switched to, it is possible to more accurately determine that the nozzle is clogged. In the modified example, the threshold Tref is set according to the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35 and the type of the nozzle to be switched to, but the threshold Tref is set to the rotary blade 35 regardless of the type of the nozzle to be switched to. It may be set according to the rotation cycle T, or the threshold Tref may be set according to the type of the nozzle to be switched to regardless of the rotation cycle T of the rotary blade 35.

In the sanitary cleaning device 20 of the embodiment, when it is determined that the nozzle is clogged, the use of the nozzle that is immediately determined to be clogged is prohibited, but the same nozzle is clogged multiple times. The use of the nozzle may be prohibited when it is determined that the nozzle has occurred. In this way, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination that the nozzle is clogged due to disturbance such as air being caught in the water pipe.

In the sanitary cleaning device 20 of the embodiment, when it is determined that the nozzle is clogged, the clogging abnormality is notified by displaying it on the control panel, but various methods such as notifying the clogging abnormality by voice are used. It may be notified by.

In the sanitary cleaning device 20 of the embodiment, when it is determined that the nozzles are clogged, only the use of the clogged nozzles is prohibited, but the use of all the nozzles 50 to 58 is prohibited. However, the use of a nozzle that is clogged may not be prohibited.

In the sanitary cleaning device 20 of the embodiment, the use prohibition of the nozzle that was clogged was released by operating the reset switch 62, but the use of the nozzle that was clogged when the power was turned on again was prohibited. May be released.

Although the embodiments for carrying out the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

The present invention can be used in the manufacturing industry of sanitary cleaning equipment and the like.

12 Water supply pipe, 20 Sanitary cleaning device, 22 Water stop electromagnetic valve, 24 Cleaning water flow path, 30 Tank assembly, 32 Heat exchanger, 34 Flow sensor, 35 Rotating blade, 36 Magnet, 37 Coil, 40 Nozzle assembly, 42 Pulsating pump , 44 Vacuum Breaker, 46 Switching Valve, 50 Powerful Nozzle, 52 Mild Nozzle, 54 Bide Nozzle, 56 Cleaning Nozzle, 58 Spray Nozzle, 60 Control Device, 62 Reset Switch, 64, Abnormality Display.

Claims (6)

A plurality of nozzles for ejecting wash water from the wash water flow path, a water stop electromagnetic valve for supplying the wash water to the wash water flow path, and a flow rate of the wash water flowing through the wash water flow path as a rotation cycle of the rotary blade. A sanitary cleaning device including a flow sensor for detection, an electric switching valve for switching the supply of cleaning water to the plurality of nozzles, and a control device for driving and controlling the water stop electromagnetic valve and the electric switching valve. ,
When the control device drives the electric switching valve to switch from a state in which cleaning water is ejected from one of the plurality of nozzles to a state in which cleaning water is ejected from another nozzle, the control device is switched. When the rotation cycle of the rotary blade of the flow sensor reaches the predetermined cycle or more within a predetermined time after the start of switching, it is determined that the other nozzles are clogged.
A sanitary cleaning device characterized by the fact that. The sanitary cleaning device according to claim 1.
The predetermined cycle is the rotation cycle of the rotor blade in a state where the washing water is ejected from the nozzle having the smallest amount of ejection among the plurality of nozzles by using the flow sensor in which the rotor blade is most difficult to rotate due to manufacturing variations. Set to a slower cycle,
Sanitary cleaning equipment. The sanitary cleaning device according to claim 1.
The predetermined cycle is set as the rotational cycle of the rotary blade of the flow sensor before switching to the state of ejecting the washing water from the other nozzle is larger.
Sanitary cleaning equipment. The sanitary cleaning device according to claim 1 or 3.
The predetermined cycle is set for each type of the other nozzle.
Sanitary cleaning equipment. The sanitary cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
When the control device determines that the other nozzles are clogged once or a plurality of times, the control device prohibits the ejection of the washing water from the other nozzles.
Sanitary cleaning equipment. The sanitary cleaning device according to claim 5.
When the reset operation is performed, the control device releases the prohibition of the ejection of the washing water from the other nozzles.
Sanitary cleaning equipment.

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