JP7369550B2 - washbasin equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washbasin device.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a washstand device is known that includes a hand dryer that blows air from a dryer body equipped with an air blower and blows air for drying hands into a washbowl from an outlet (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-255225

Hand dryers installed in conventional washroom devices can only blow air uniformly, and if the position of the user's hand is shifted from the air outlet, for example, it may not be possible to apply sufficient air to the user's hand. The problem was that it was difficult to dry the hands sufficiently.

The present invention was made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine equipped with a hand dryer that can suitably dry a user's hands.

In order to solve the above problems, a washbasin device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a washbowl, a hand dryer that blows air into the washbowl from an outlet, a sensor that detects information about the user's hands, and a sensor. The apparatus includes an air outlet variable device that adjusts at least one of the position and size of the air outlet opening based on the detected information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a washroom equipped with a washroom device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a hand dryer. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the operation|movement of the air outlet variable device according to the position of a hand. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the operation|movement of the air outlet variable device according to the size of a hand. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the operation|movement of the air outlet variable device according to a hand gesture.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Identical or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted as appropriate. The embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting the invention, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.

A washbasin device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a washbasin device that can automatically perform everything from hand washing to drying.

The washbasin device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a counter-type washbasin device installed on a counter 102. The washbasin device 10 includes a washbowl 12 made of ceramic and a functional unit 14 attached to the back side of the washbowl 12. The washbowl 12 does not need to be made of ceramic, and may be made of resin, for example.

The functional unit 14 has a casing 16, and various functional parts are housed within the casing 16. A water spout 18 is provided approximately at the center of the front surface 16a of the casing 16. A soap solution outlet 20 is provided on the left side of the front surface 16a of the casing 16. Human body detection sensors (not shown) are provided directly above the spout 18 and the spout 20, respectively. The human body detection sensor provided directly above the spout 18 and the spout 20 may be a sensor that simply detects the presence/absence of a user's hand.

In the washbasin device 10, when you put your hand out in front of the soap solution outlet 20, the human body detection sensor installed directly above the outlet 20 detects this and automatically dispenses a mousse-like soap solution from the outlet 20. A soap solution mixed with air to form a foam) is discharged. Instead of the mousse-like soap solution, liquid or gel-like soap may be discharged from the discharge port 20.

When a hand is extended in front of the water spout 18, a human body detection sensor provided directly above the water spout 18 detects this and automatically spouts water from the water spout 18.

Further, on the right side of the front surface 16a of the casing 16, an air outlet 24 of a hand dryer 22 is provided. The hand dryer 22 is equipped with a human body detection sensor (not shown) directly above the air outlet 24 . When you hold your wet hand in front of the air outlet 24 after washing your hands, the hand dryer 22 automatically blows air from the air outlet 24 into the washbasin 12 based on the detection by the human body detection sensor to dry your wet hand. let

As shown in FIG. 2, the hand dryer 22 includes an air outlet 24, an air outlet nozzle 30, an air outlet variable device 28, a human body detection sensor 26, a dryer main body (not shown), and a blower pipe 29. Be prepared.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air outlet 24 is formed in the shape of a slit that is elongated from side to side. The blow-off nozzle 30 is provided in front of the blow-off port 24, and is arranged so as to guide the air from the blow-off port 24 diagonally downward.

The dryer main body has a blower and a heater, and is arranged at the bottom of the counter 102. The dryer main body and the blower outlet 24 are connected through a blower pipe 29 made of a flexible hose. In the hand dryer 22, when the human body detection sensor 26 detects that the user's hand is extended in front of the air outlet 24, warmed air is sent from the dryer main body to the air outlet 24 through the air pipe 29. It will be done. The air blown out from the outlet 24 is blown out into the washbasin 12 through the blowout nozzle 30 as warm air for drying hands. The heater may be provided in the middle of the air path, such as the air outlet 24 or the air pipe 29.

In the washroom device 10 according to the present embodiment, the human body detection sensor 26 is a sensor that detects information regarding the user's hand, and an image sensor is preferably used. The human body detection sensor 26 is configured to be able to detect not only the presence/absence of the user's hand but also the position and size of the user's hand based on the captured image.

The air outlet variable device 28 adjusts the position and size of the opening of the air outlet 24 based on information detected by the human body detection sensor 26 (i.e., hand position information and hand size information). It is. The outlet variable device 28 is housed within the casing 16. The air outlet variable devices 28 are arranged on the left and right sides of the slit-shaped air outlet 24, respectively. Hereinafter, the outlet variable device disposed on the left side of the outlet 24 will be referred to as the "outlet variable device 28L" and the corresponding movable plate will be referred to as the "movable plate 31L". Similarly, the air outlet variable device disposed on the right side of the air outlet 24 will be referred to as the “air outlet variable device 28R”, and the corresponding movable plate will be referred to as the “movable plate 31R”.

The air outlet variable device 28 includes a movable plate 31 arranged to cover a part of the air outlet 24, and an actuator 32 that moves the movable plate 31 in the left-right direction. The actuator 32 moves the movable plate 31 in the left-right direction based on information detected by the human body detection sensor 26. By moving the movable plate 31 in the left-right direction, at least one of the position and size of the opening of the air outlet 24 can be changed to adjust the hot air blowing position, blowing range, air volume, etc. Some operation examples will be explained below.

First, an example of the operation of the air outlet variable device 28 according to the position of the hand will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the human body detection sensor 26 detects the position of the user's hand (S10), the air outlet variable device 28 adjusts the position of the opening of the air outlet 24 based on the hand position information. adjust.

Specifically, the air outlet variable devices 28L and 28R determine whether the hand position is located at the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction (S12). When the hand position is located at the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction (Yes in S12), the air outlet variable devices 28L and 28R are arranged so that the openings thereof are located at the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction. The movable plates 31L and 31R are moved (S14). On the other hand, if the hand position is not located at the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction (No in S12), the air outlet variable devices 28L, 28R control the hand position relative to the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction. It is determined whether it has shifted to the left (S16).

When the position of the hand is shifted to the left with respect to the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction (Yes in S16), the air outlet variable device 28L moves the movable plate 31L to the left, and the air outlet variable device 28R also moves the movable plate 31L. By moving 31R to the left, the opening is shifted to the left with respect to the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction (S18). On the other hand, if the hand position is shifted to the right with respect to the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction (No in S16), the air outlet variable device 28L moves the movable plate 31L to the right, and the air outlet variable device 28R also moves the movable plate 31L to the right side. By moving the movable plate 31R to the right, the opening is shifted to the right with respect to the center of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction (S20).

In this way, by adjusting the position of the opening of the air outlet 24 in the left-right direction according to the position of the user's hand, hot air can be effectively blown toward the user's hand, and the hand It can be dried suitably.

Next, an example of the operation of the air outlet variable device 28 according to the size of the hand will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the human body detection sensor 26 detects the size of the user's hand (S30), the air outlet variable device 28 adjusts the opening of the air outlet 24 based on the information on the hand size. Adjust the size of.

Specifically, the outlet variable devices 28L and 28R determine whether the hand size is a predetermined value (S32). The "predetermined value" is set to, for example, the size of a standard adult's hand. When the hand size is a predetermined value (Yes in S32), the outlet variable devices 28L and 28R respectively move the movable plates 31L and 31R so that the openings have the predetermined size (S34). The "predetermined size" is set, for example, to a size suitable for drying the hands of a standard adult. On the other hand, if the hand size is not the predetermined value (No in S32), the air outlet variable devices 28L, 28R determine whether the hand size is larger than the predetermined value (S36).

If the hand size is larger than the predetermined value (Yes in S36), the air outlet variable device 28L moves the movable plate 31L to the left, and the air outlet variable device 28R moves the movable plate 31R to the right, thereby adjusting the opening. The section is enlarged (S38). As a result, warm air can be blown out over a wide area of the large hand, allowing the hand to be suitably dried. On the other hand, if the hand size is smaller than the predetermined value (No in S36), the outlet variable device 28L moves the movable plate 31L to the right, and the outlet variable device 28R moves the movable plate 31R to the left. , the opening is reduced (S40). As a result, a stronger amount of warm air can be blown out for small hands, and hands can be suitably dried.

Next, an example of the operation of the air outlet variable device 28 in response to a hand gesture will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, when the human body detection sensor 26 detects a hand gesture of the user (S50), the air outlet variable device 28 adjusts the position of the opening of the air outlet 24 based on the information of the hand gesture. , adjust the size (S52). For example, when a gesture such as pinching the thumb and index finger is made, the air outlet variable devices 28L, 28R move the movable plates 31L, 31R so that the opening is narrowed. This makes it possible to locally blow out a strong amount of hot air.

In the above operation example, the position adjustment and size adjustment of the opening of the air outlet 24 were explained separately. The position adjustment and size adjustment of the opening of the air outlet 24 may be performed simultaneously.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this embodiment is illustrative and that various modifications and changes are possible and within the scope of the claims of the present invention. By the way. Accordingly, the description and drawings herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Unlike the above embodiment, the human body detection sensor 26 may be configured to detect only the position and size of the hand.

Unlike the embodiments described above, the washbasin device may be of the wall-mounted type.

Unlike the embodiments described above, a hand dryer may be used to dry small items such as toothbrushes and eyeglasses. In this case, the human body detection sensor is configured to detect at least one of the position and size of the small object, and the air outlet is variable so that the position and size of the air outlet opening can be adjusted based on the detected information. All you have to do is configure the device.

The mechanism for adjusting the position and size of the opening of the air outlet 24 may be different from the embodiment described above. For example, two plates provided with a plurality of slits are prepared, and the plates are placed one on top of the other. When at least one of the plates is moved in the direction in which the slits are lined up, the slits overlap and open, or the slits shift and the opening is closed. The above position adjustment and size adjustment are realized by appropriately setting the shape and size of the slit and moving the plate.

10 washing device, 12 washing bowl, 14 functional unit, 16 casing, 18 water outlet, 20 outlet, 22 hand dryer, 24 outlet, 26 human body detection sensor, 28 outlet variable device, 29 blower pipe, 30 outlet nozzle, 31 movable plate, 32 actuator, 100 washroom, 102 counter.

Claims (5)

wash bowl and
a hand dryer that blows air into the washbowl from an air outlet;
A sensor that detects information about the user's hand,
an air outlet variable device that adjusts at least one of the position and size of the opening of the air outlet based on information detected by the sensor;
Equipped with
The sensor is configured to be able to detect the position of the user's hand,
The air outlet variable device is a washstand device configured to adjust the position of the opening according to hand position information detected by the sensor. The washroom device according to claim 1 , wherein the air outlet variable device is configured to adjust the position of the opening in the left-right direction according to detected hand position information. wash bowl and
a hand dryer that blows air into the washbowl from an air outlet;
A sensor that detects information about the user's hand,
an air outlet variable device that adjusts at least one of the position and size of the opening of the air outlet based on information detected by the sensor;
Equipped with
The sensor is configured to be able to detect the size of the user's hand,
The air outlet variable device is a washroom device configured to adjust the size of the opening according to information about the size of the hand detected by the sensor. The air outlet variable device increases the size of the opening when the detected hand size is larger than a predetermined value, and expands the opening when the detected hand size is smaller than the predetermined value. The washbasin device according to claim 3 , wherein the size of the washbasin device is reduced. wash bowl and
a hand dryer that blows air into the washbowl from an air outlet;
A sensor that detects information about the user's hand,
an air outlet variable device that adjusts at least one of the position and size of the opening of the air outlet based on information detected by the sensor;
Equipped with
The sensor is configured to be able to detect a user's hand gesture,
The air outlet variable device is a washbasin device configured to adjust the size of the opening according to information on hand gestures detected by the sensor.

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