JP7702663B2 - Toilet bowl device and toilet seat device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a toilet bowl device with a toilet lid, and a toilet seat device with a toilet lid that is attached to a toilet bowl body for use.

Recently, from the perspective of preventing the spread of contaminants contained in excrement when flushing the toilet, it is recommended to flush the bowl with the toilet lid closed after defecating, so that droplets containing contaminants contained in the stool excreted in the bowl do not spread outside the toilet bowl.

For example, in a toilet device such as that described in Patent Document 1, the user can operate the toilet lid operating unit to close the toilet lid, and then operate the bowl flushing operating unit to supply flushing water to the bowl.

JP 2011-208380 A

However, in a toilet device like the one in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to operate the toilet lid operation unit and check that the toilet lid is closed before operating the flush operation unit, which results in poor operability. Also, in order to improve operability, it is conceivable to provide the remote control device with a dedicated operation unit that closes the toilet lid and then performs bowl flushing, but this would increase the number of operation units on the remote control device and make the remote control device more complicated.

The present invention was proposed in light of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a toilet apparatus and toilet seat apparatus that flushes the bowl after closing the toilet lid without the user having to perform any complicated operations.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the toilet device of the present invention is a tankless type toilet device that is directly connected to a water supply and is equipped with a bowl, a toilet flushing unit that supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the toilet lid, a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an opening/closing instruction to the control unit, wherein the control unit is characterized in that when it receives an opening/closing instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in a closed state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the operation of opening the toilet lid, and when it receives an opening/closing instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the operation of closing the toilet lid, and after the toilet lid is closed , it causes the toilet flushing unit to start flushing.
Another toilet device of the present invention is a toilet device comprising a bowl, a toilet flushing unit which supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid open/close detection unit which detects whether the toilet lid is open or closed, a toilet lid drive unit which opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit which controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid open/close instruction means which outputs an open/close instruction to the control unit, and further comprising a toilet seat, a toilet seat open/close detection unit which detects whether the toilet seat is open or closed, and a toilet seat drive unit which opens and closes the toilet seat, and the toilet flushing unit is capable of flushing large and small toilets separately, and the control unit controls the toilet lid open/close detection unit which detects whether the toilet seat is open or closed when the toilet lid is in a closed state. When the opening/closing command is received from the command means, the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid opening operation, whereas when the opening/closing command is received from the toilet lid opening/closing command means while the toilet lid is in the open position, if the toilet seat is in the closed position, the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid closing operation and then the toilet flushing unit starts flushing, whereas if the toilet seat is in the open position, the toilet seat drive unit starts the toilet seat closing operation, then the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid closing operation, and then the toilet flushing unit starts a small flush.
Another toilet device of the present invention is a toilet device comprising a bowl, a toilet flushing unit which supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit which detects the opening and closing of the toilet lid, a toilet lid drive unit which opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit which controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means which outputs an opening/closing instruction to the control unit, wherein the control unit, when it receives a close instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in an open state, causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and then causes the toilet flushing unit to start flushing, and when it receives a close instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in an open state within a predetermined time after the end of the flush that started after the start of the toilet lid closing operation has started, causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and does not cause the toilet flushing unit to start flushing.
Another toilet device of the present invention is a toilet device comprising a bowl, a toilet flushing unit which supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit which detects the opening and closing of the toilet lid, a toilet lid drive unit which opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit which controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means which outputs an opening/closing instruction to the control unit, wherein the control unit, when it receives a close instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in an open state, causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and then causes the toilet flushing unit to start flushing, and when it receives a close instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means within a predetermined time after the toilet lid is in an open state, causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and does not cause the toilet flushing unit to start flushing.

In addition, the toilet seat device of the present invention is a toilet seat device that is attached to a tankless type toilet body that is directly connected to a water supply and performs a bowl flushing operation, and comprises a toilet seat, a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the toilet seat, a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat, a toilet lid, a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the toilet lid, a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid, a toilet seat side control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an instruction to open or close the toilet lid to the toilet seat side control unit, and is characterized in that when the toilet seat side control unit receives the opening/closing instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in a closed state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the operation of opening the toilet lid, and when the toilet seat side control unit receives the opening/closing instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the operation of closing the toilet lid, and outputs a flushing instruction to the toilet body after the toilet lid is closed .
Another toilet seat device of the present invention is a toilet seat device that is attached to a toilet body that performs a bowl flushing operation, and includes a toilet seat, a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet seat is opened or closed, a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat, a toilet lid, a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet lid is opened or closed, a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid, a toilet seat side control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an instruction to open or close the toilet lid to the toilet seat side control unit, and the toilet seat device is attached to a toilet body that performs a bowl flushing operation, and the toilet body is capable of flushing large and small toilet bowls separately, and the toilet seat side control unit controls the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in a closed state. When the opening/closing command is received from the toilet lid opening/closing command means, the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid opening operation, while when the toilet lid is in the open position and the opening/closing command is received from the toilet lid opening/closing command means, if the toilet seat is in the closed position, the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid closing operation and then outputs a flushing command to the toilet body, while if the toilet seat is in the open position, the toilet seat drive unit starts the toilet seat closing operation, then the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid closing operation, and then outputs a small flushing command to the toilet body.
Another toilet seat device of the present invention is a toilet seat device that is attached to a toilet body that performs a bowl flushing operation and includes a toilet seat, a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the toilet seat, a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat, a toilet lid, a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the toilet lid, a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid, a toilet seat side control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an instruction to open or close the toilet lid to the toilet seat side control unit, and is characterized in that when the toilet seat side control unit receives a close instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation, and then outputs a flushing instruction to the toilet body, and when the toilet seat side control unit receives a close instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in an open state within a predetermined time after the end of the flush that started after the start of the toilet lid closing operation, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation, and does not output a flushing instruction to the toilet body.
Another toilet seat device of the present invention is a toilet seat device that is attached to a toilet body that performs a bowl flushing operation and comprises a toilet seat, a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the toilet seat, a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat, a toilet lid, a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the toilet lid, a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid, a toilet seat side control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an instruction to open or close the toilet lid to the toilet seat side control unit, and is characterized in that when the toilet seat side control unit receives a close instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and then outputs a flushing instruction to the toilet body, and when it receives a close instruction from the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means within a predetermined time after the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and does not output a flushing instruction to the toilet body.

Since the toilet device and toilet seat device of the present invention are configured as described above, the bowl can be flushed by starting the toilet lid closing operation.

1 is a basic block diagram of a toilet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a schematic side view showing the inside of the toilet device, and FIG. 2B is a schematic side view showing the inside of a toilet device of another example. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a basic operation of the toilet apparatus of FIG. 1 . 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a basic operation of the toilet device. FIG. 2A is a basic block diagram of a toilet device and a toilet seat device used therein according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a schematic side view showing the inside of the toilet device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A toilet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The toilet device 1 comprises a bowl 12, a toilet flushing unit 13 that supplies flushing water to the bowl 12 to flush the inside of the bowl 12, and a toilet lid 20. The toilet device 1 further comprises a toilet lid open/close detection unit 21 that detects whether the toilet lid 20 is open or closed, a toilet lid drive unit 22 that opens and closes the toilet lid 20, a toilet lid open/close instruction means that outputs an open/close instruction to the toilet lid drive unit 22, and a control unit 5. When the control unit 5 receives a close instruction from the toilet lid open/close instruction means while the toilet lid 20 is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit 22 to start the closing operation of the toilet lid 20, and then causes the toilet flushing unit 13 to start flushing.
The details are explained below.

1 and 2 are diagrams showing the configuration of a toilet apparatus 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are flow charts explaining the basic operation of the toilet apparatus 1. As shown in FIG.
First, the configuration and structure of the toilet device 1 will be described.

The toilet device 1 comprises a bowl 12, a toilet flushing unit 13 that supplies flushing water to the bowl 12 to flush the inside of the bowl 12, a toilet lid 20, a toilet lid open/close detection unit 21 that detects whether the toilet lid 20 is open or closed, and a toilet lid drive unit 22 that opens and closes the toilet lid 20. The toilet device 1 also comprises a toilet lid operation unit 23 that receives opening and closing instructions from a user to the toilet lid drive unit 22. The toilet device 1 also comprises a toilet seat 24, a toilet seat open/close detection unit 25 that detects whether the toilet seat 24 is open or closed, a toilet seat drive unit 26 that opens and closes the toilet seat 24, a toilet seat operation unit 27 that receives opening and closing instructions to the toilet seat drive unit 26, and also comprises a seating detection unit 28.
Next, each of the components that make up the toilet device 1 will be described in detail.

The toilet device 1 is a seated Western-style toilet device that is fixed to the floor or wall within the toilet space. The toilet body 10 of this toilet device 1 is equipped with a bowl 12 that opens upward, a skirt part 11 that surrounds the periphery of the bowl 12, and a toilet seat 24 and a toilet lid 20 that are both rotatable and can be raised or lowered above the opening of the bowl 12.

A toilet flushing section 13 is arranged in the internal space of the skirt section 11, which drains wastewater from the bowl 12 and supplies flushing water from a water supply port 14 into the bowl 12 to clean the inside of the bowl 12. This toilet flushing section 13 has a water supply mechanism and a drainage mechanism.

The water supply mechanism includes a water supply port 14, a cleaning water supply passage 15 that supplies cleaning water from a water pipe (not shown) into the bowl 12 through the water supply port 14, and a water supply valve 16 that is disposed midway along the cleaning water supply passage 15 and supplies or cuts off the water supply to the bowl 12.

The drainage mechanism shown in FIG. 2(a) has a trap 17, which is a curved cylinder connected to extend rearward from the bottom of the bowl 12, and this trap 17 extends further downward and connects to a drain port 18. This type of drainage mechanism includes a siphon type, a siphon jet type, and a siphon vortex type, and is a mechanism that creates a draining state in which accumulated water is drained together with waste in the bowl 12 by the siphon action, or a water-sealing state in which accumulated water is stored in the bowl 12.

The drainage mechanism may also be a structure having a movable trap 17A as shown in FIG. 2(b). This trap 17A is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive unit (not shown) to form a drainage state or a water-sealed state. The trap 17 in the illustration is in a water-sealed state position, and in the drainage state, it rotates so that the open end of the trap 17A faces the drain outlet 18. The trap 17A is surrounded by a trap case (not shown) to prevent wastewater and odors from leaking into the surrounding area.

The drainage mechanism is not limited to a siphon type or a movable type, and may be, for example, a wash-down type. In the illustrated example, the toilet device 1 is shown as a tankless type that is directly connected to the water supply and does not have a flush tank (low tank), but it may also be configured with a flush tank.

The toilet lid drive unit 22 and the toilet seat drive unit 26 are each composed of a motor or the like. The toilet lid drive unit 22 electrically opens and closes (raises and lowers) the toilet lid 20 when instructed to do so by the toilet lid operation unit 23, and the toilet seat drive unit 26 electrically opens and closes (raises and lowers) the toilet seat 24 when instructed to do so by the toilet seat operation unit 27.

In this specification, the toilet lid 20 and the toilet seat 24 are in an approximately vertically upright position, and in a approximately horizontal position, approximately parallel to the opening of the bowl 12, are in a closed position.

The toilet device 1 is equipped with a main body operation unit (not shown) provided on the toilet main body 10, and a remote control provided at a position away from the toilet main body 10. These are provided with operation switches and operation buttons that allow various operations and settings. An infrared communication remote control is preferably used. The remote control is provided with a transmitting unit (not shown), and the toilet main body 10 is provided with a receiving unit (not shown).

The toilet lid opening/closing instruction means of this embodiment is a means for outputting an instruction to open or close the toilet lid 20 in cooperation with hardware and software based on an instruction to operate the toilet lid operation unit 23. It is preferable that the toilet lid operation unit 23 is arranged as an operation button on a remote control provided in a position away from the toilet body 10. The toilet lid opening/closing instruction means of this embodiment outputs different instructions to the toilet lid drive unit 22 via the control unit 5 described later depending on the open/closed state of the toilet lid 20 when the toilet lid operation unit 23 is operated. When the toilet lid operation unit 23 is operated, the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means outputs an instruction to open the toilet lid 20 if the toilet lid 20 is closed, and outputs an instruction to close the toilet lid 20 if the toilet lid 20 is open. In other words, the toilet lid operation unit 23 of this embodiment functions as a toilet lid opening/closing button that switches between opening and closing the toilet lid 20 with one button. The toilet lid operation unit 23 may be configured to include two types of operation buttons, a toilet lid open button and a toilet lid close button, with the toilet lid open button outputting an instruction to open the toilet lid 20 and the toilet lid close button outputting an instruction to close the toilet lid 20.

The toilet seat operation unit 27 is preferably arranged as an operation button on a remote control, similar to the toilet lid operation unit 23. The toilet seat operation unit 27 of this embodiment outputs different instructions to the toilet seat drive unit 26 via the control unit 5 described below depending on the open/closed state of the toilet seat 24, outputting an instruction to open the toilet seat 24 if the toilet seat 24 is closed, and outputting an instruction to close the toilet seat 24 if the toilet seat 24 is open. In other words, the toilet seat operation unit 27 of this embodiment is a toilet seat open/close button that switches between opening and closing the toilet seat 24 with a single button. Note that the toilet seat operation unit 27 may be configured to include two types of operation buttons, a toilet seat open button and a toilet seat close button, with the toilet seat open button outputting an instruction to open the toilet seat 24 and the toilet seat close button outputting an instruction to close the toilet seat 24.

When the toilet lid operating unit 23 issues an instruction to close the toilet lid 20, if the toilet lid 20 and toilet seat 24 are both open, the toilet seat 24 first performs a closing operation, and after it is closed (stopped in the closed state), the toilet lid 20 performs a closing operation in conjunction with the closing operation of the toilet seat 24. Also, when the toilet seat operating unit 27 issues an instruction to open the toilet seat 24, if the toilet seat 24 and toilet lid 20 are both closed, the toilet lid 20 first performs an opening operation, and after it is opened (stopped in the open state), the toilet seat 24 performs an opening operation in conjunction with the opening operation of the toilet lid 20.

As the seating detection unit 28, for example, a load sensor built into the toilet seat 24 or an infrared sensor provided near the rotation shaft of the toilet seat 24 is used. These sensors detect when the user sits down or leaves the seat. As the toilet lid opening/closing detection unit 21 and the toilet seat opening/closing detection unit 25, those configured to detect the open/closed state based on the opening angle are used.

The toilet device 1 may further be configured with various functional devices, such as a deodorizing device that deodorizes the inside of the bowl 12, a heating device that warms the toilet seat 24, and a private parts cleaning device that cleanses the private parts.

The toilet device 1 further includes a flush operation unit 29 that outputs flush instructions to the toilet flush unit 13. This flush operation unit 29 includes a stool flush button 29a and a urination flush button 29b that output flush instructions to the toilet flush unit 13 via the control unit 5, which will be described later.

It is preferable that the flush operation unit 29 is provided either on the main unit operation unit provided on the toilet main unit 10 or on a remote control provided at a position away from the toilet main unit 10. It is also possible to have a configuration in which a flush command is output by a single flush button, without providing both the stool flush button 29a and the urination flush button 29b. In other words, in this case, the amount of flush water into the bowl 12 is only one type, large volume for stool, without any distinction between large volume for stool and small volume for urination.

The toilet device 1 is equipped with a control unit 5 that controls the above-mentioned controlled objects (such as the water supply valve 16 of the toilet flushing unit 13, the toilet lid drive unit 22, and the toilet seat drive unit 26), while receiving output signals from the flush operation unit 29, the toilet lid open/close detection unit 21, the toilet seat open/close detection unit 25, and the seating detection unit 28. This control unit 5 is composed of a processor such as a CPU or MPU, and various programs. The toilet device 1 further includes a timer unit 6 that measures the time since flushing by the toilet flushing unit 13 has ended and the time since the toilet lid 20 has been opened, and a power supply unit (not shown) that supplies power to the toilet device 1, etc.

The toilet device 1 also includes a notification unit 7 that is made up of a speaker or the like that notifies the user of device abnormalities, status, and guidance using sound or voice synthesis. Note that the notification unit 7 may be configured to include a display such as an LED or a lamp that lights up or flashes, instead of or in addition to a sound output device.

Next, the basic operation of this toilet device 1 will be described based on the flowcharts in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 describes the basic operation when an instruction to open or close the toilet lid is given by the toilet lid operation unit 23, and Figure 4 describes the basic operation when an instruction to flush is given by the flush operation unit 29.

In the following operation description, the open/closed state of the toilet lid 20 and the open/closed state of the toilet seat 24 are detected by the various detection units, but the description of the operation of these detection units will be omitted. Also, the opening and closing operations of the toilet lid 20 and the toilet seat 24 are detected by the various drive units, but the description of these drive units will be omitted. Also, as described above, the toilet lid operation unit 23 in this embodiment is a toilet lid opening/closing button that switches the toilet lid 20 between open and closed with a single button, and the following operation description will be based on the toilet lid opening/closing instructions given by this toilet lid opening/closing button, the toilet lid operation unit 23.

First, the operation of FIG. 3 will be explained according to the flowchart shown in steps S100 to S119. Note that in the following explanation, the operation steps in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 will be abbreviated to "Sxxx" instead of "Step Sxxx", which is just the reference number.

When the control unit 5 receives an instruction to open or close the toilet lid 20 from the toilet lid operating unit 23, it determines whether the toilet lid 20 is open or closed. If the toilet lid 20 is closed, the toilet lid 20 opens (S100, N in S101, S109). This opening operation of the toilet lid 20 is an operation that is performed by the user to use or clean the toilet device 1.

If the toilet lid 20 is open, the control unit 5 determines whether the user is seated on the toilet seat 24 (S102). If the user is seated on the toilet seat 24, there is a risk that the toilet lid 20 may collide with the user when the toilet lid 20 is closed, so the control unit 5 cancels the toilet lid open/close command of S100 and causes the notification unit 7 to notify, by sound or other means, that the toilet lid open/close command has been canceled (Y in S102, S110, S111).

If the user is not seated, the control unit 5 determines whether a time T1 has elapsed from the end of the previous flush (the flush that begins after the toilet lid operating unit 23 begins the closing operation of the toilet lid 20) until it receives a close command from the toilet lid operating unit 23 this time (N in S102, S103).

If time T1 has elapsed, the control unit 5 determines whether time T2 has elapsed from when the toilet lid 20 was opened until the toilet lid operating unit 23 issued a close command (Y in S103, S104).

If time T2 has elapsed, the control unit 5 determines whether the toilet seat 24 is open or closed. If the toilet seat 24 is closed, the toilet lid 20 is closed (Y in S104, N in S105, S106). After the toilet lid 20 has been closed and the toilet lid 20 has closed, an electronic sound or other notification is issued that the bowl 12 will be flushed, and then the toilet flushing unit 13 flushes the bowl 12 (S107, S108). If the toilet device 1 distinguishes between a large capacity for stool and a small capacity for urination, the flushing operation in S108 will be a large flush.

On the other hand, if the toilet seat 24 is open, the toilet seat 24 is closed, followed by the toilet lid 20 (Y in S105, S116, S117). After the toilet lid 20 has been closed and the toilet lid 20 has been shut, an electronic sound or other notification is issued that the bowl 12 will be flushed, and the toilet flushing unit 13 flushes the bowl 12 (S118, S119). If the toilet device 1 distinguishes between a large capacity for stool and a small capacity for urination, the flushing operation in S119 will be a small flush.

In the above description, flushing is started after the toilet lid 20 is closed in S106 and S117, but flushing by the toilet flushing unit 13 may also be started while the toilet lid 20 is being closed.

On the other hand, even if time T1 has not elapsed in S103 or time T2 has not elapsed in S104, the control unit 5 first determines whether the toilet seat 24 is open or closed (N in S103 or N in S104, S112). If the toilet seat 24 is closed, the closing operation of the toilet lid 20 is initiated (N in S112, S114). If the toilet seat 24 is open, the closing operation of the toilet seat 24 is initiated, followed by the closing operation of the toilet lid 20 (Y in S112, S113, S114). If the toilet lid 20 is closed, the fact that the toilet lid 20 is closed is notified by sound or the like (S115).

As described above, in the toilet device 1 of this embodiment, when the control unit 5 receives a close command from the toilet lid operating unit 23 (toilet lid opening/closing command means) while the toilet lid 20 is in the open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit 22 to start the closing operation of the toilet lid 20, and then causes the toilet flushing unit 13 to start flushing.

In this way, when an instruction to close the toilet lid 20 is received from the toilet lid operating unit 23, flushing is performed after the toilet lid 20 is closed. Therefore, after excretion, the user does not need to issue an instruction to flush the bowl 12 again from the flushing operating unit 29.

In addition, in the toilet device 1 of this embodiment, when the control unit 5 receives a close command from the toilet lid operating unit 23 (toilet lid opening/closing command means) while the toilet seat 24 is in the open state, it causes the toilet seat drive unit 26 to start the closing operation of the toilet seat 24, and then causes the toilet lid drive unit 22 to start the closing operation of the toilet lid 20. After that, the control unit 5 causes the toilet flush unit 13 to start a small flush.

In this way, if the toilet seat 24 is in the open position when an instruction to close the toilet lid 20 is received from the toilet lid operating unit 23, a small flush is performed because it is highly likely that a male user has urinated in a standing position.

In addition, in the toilet device 1 of this embodiment, when the control unit 5 receives a close command from the toilet lid operating unit 23 (toilet lid opening/closing command means) while the toilet lid 20 is in the open state within time T1 after the end of the flush that started after the start of the closing operation of the toilet lid 20, the control unit 5 causes the toilet lid drive unit 22 to start the closing operation of the toilet lid 20. On the other hand, the control unit 5 does not cause the toilet flushing unit 13 to start flushing.

In this way, if the time T1 has not elapsed, the toilet lid open/close command in S100 is determined to have been issued by the user to check whether waste remains in the bowl 12 after flushing, and a new flush is not performed even if the toilet lid 20 is closed. This prevents excessive flushing of the bowl 12, saving on water and electricity bills. Note that the time T1 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable for it to be around 20 seconds.

In addition, in this embodiment, if the control unit 5 receives a close command from the toilet lid operating unit 23 (toilet lid opening/closing command means) within time T2 after the toilet lid 20 is opened, the control unit 5 causes the toilet lid drive unit 22 to start the closing operation of the toilet lid 20. On the other hand, the control unit 5 does not cause the toilet bowl flushing unit 13 to start flushing.

In this way, if time T2 has not elapsed, the toilet lid open/close command in S100 is determined to mean that the toilet lid 20 has been opened and closed repeatedly at short intervals for purposes such as inspection of the toilet device 1, and a new flush is not performed even if the toilet lid 20 is closed. This prevents excessive flushing of the bowl 12, saving on water and electricity costs. Note that time T2 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable for it to be around 30 seconds.

The toilet device 1 described above is configured so that the notification unit 7 issues a notification after the toilet lid is closed in response to a toilet lid opening/closing command or after the toilet lid opening/closing command is canceled, but may be configured so that no notification is issued.

The toilet lid operation unit 23 may be configured to have two types of operation buttons, a toilet lid open button and a toilet lid close button. In this case, if the toilet lid 20 is open when an open command is output by the toilet lid open button, the open command is canceled and the toilet lid 20 is maintained in the open state. On the other hand, if the toilet lid 20 is closed when an open command is output by the toilet lid open button, the toilet lid 20 is opened (S109 in FIG. 3). Also, if the toilet lid 20 is closed when a close command is output by the toilet lid close button, the close command is canceled and the toilet lid 20 is maintained in the closed state. On the other hand, if the toilet lid 20 is open when a close command is output by the toilet lid close button, the operation is performed according to the flowchart from S102 in FIG. 3.

Next, the operation of FIG. 4 will be explained with reference to the flowchart (S200 to S204).

When the control unit 5 receives a flush command from the flush operation unit 29, it determines whether flushing is being performed after the toilet lid 20 is closed by the toilet lid operation unit 23 (S200, S201). If flushing is not being performed, the toilet flushing unit 13 performs a flushing operation of the bowl 12 regardless of whether the toilet lid 20 is open or closed (N in S201, S202).

On the other hand, in S201, if cleaning is in progress, the cleaning command is canceled and an electronic sound or other notification is generated to inform the user that the cleaning command has been canceled (Y in S201, S203, S204).

As described above, in the toilet device 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 5 does not accept flushing by the flushing operation unit 29 during flushing that begins after the toilet lid 20 has begun to close.

In this way, when the toilet lid operating unit 23 is performing flushing after closing the toilet lid 20, even if the user operates the flush operating unit 29 as a normal habit, a new flush is not performed, so excessive flushing is suppressed and water and electricity bills are saved.

The toilet device 1 is not limited to the above, and may be one in which the toilet seat 24 and toilet cover 20 are replaceable as a single unit. In particular, it may be a toilet device 3 to which a toilet seat device 30 as shown in FIG. 5 has been added (or replaced). The basic structure of a toilet device 3 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5(a) and (b). Note that in this embodiment, a movable trap 17A is shown in FIG. 5(b) as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to toilets in which the toilet body has a siphon-type trap 17 (see FIG. 2(a)) or other types.

Specifically, the toilet device 3 includes a bowl 12, a toilet flushing unit 13 that supplies flushing water to the bowl 12 to flush the inside of the bowl 12, a toilet seat device 30, and a flushing operation unit 29 that outputs a flushing command to the toilet flushing unit 13. The toilet device 3 further includes a control unit 5, a timing unit 6, and an alarm unit 7.

The toilet seat device 30 is a separate, detachable unit from the toilet body of the toilet device 3 (parts excluding the toilet seat device 30). The toilet seat device 30 includes a toilet lid 40, a toilet lid open/close detection unit 41, a toilet lid drive unit 42, a toilet lid operation unit 43, a toilet seat 44, a toilet seat open/close detection unit 45, a toilet seat drive unit 46, a toilet seat operation unit 47, a seating detection unit 48, a bowl flush operation unit 49, a toilet seat side control unit 35, and an alarm unit 37. In addition, signals can be sent and received between the toilet seat device 30 and the toilet body.

The configuration of the toilet device 3 (toilet body) excluding the toilet seat device 30 is generally similar to that shown in FIG. 1, so detailed explanations will be omitted. In addition, the toilet lid 40, toilet lid open/close detection unit 41, toilet lid drive unit 42, toilet lid operation unit 43, toilet seat 44, toilet seat open/close detection unit 45, toilet seat drive unit 46, toilet seat operation unit 47, and seating detection unit 48 provided in the toilet seat device 30 are also generally similar to those shown in FIG. 1, so explanations will be omitted.

The toilet seat device 30 in FIG. 5 is configured so that an instruction to flush the bowl 12 can be output from the toilet seat device 30 to the toilet flushing unit 13. Specifically, when a flushing instruction is issued from the bowl flushing operation unit 49, the toilet seat side control unit 35 of the toilet seat device 30 receives this instruction and controls the toilet flushing unit 13 via the control unit 5 on the toilet body side to flush the bowl 12. Alternatively, the toilet seat side control unit 35 may be configured to directly control the toilet flushing unit 13.

As shown in FIG. 5, the toilet device 3 includes not only the bowl flush operation unit 49 on the toilet seat device 30 side, but also the flush operation unit 29 on the main body side. In other words, the toilet device in FIG. 5 is configured so that flush commands can be issued from either the flush operation unit 29 or the bowl flush operation unit 49. It may also be configured so that flush commands can be issued only from the bowl flush operation unit 49, without providing the flush operation unit 29 on the main body side. It is also preferable that the bowl flush operation unit 49 also has a stool flush button and a urination flush button.

When the toilet lid operating unit 43 issues a command to open or close the toilet lid, this toilet device 3 is capable of the operation shown in FIG. 3, similar to the toilet device 1 shown in FIG. 1. In other words, if the toilet seat device 30 receives a command to close the toilet lid 40 while the toilet lid 40 is in the open state, the toilet seat side control unit 35 causes the toilet lid 40 to execute a closing operation, and after the toilet lid 40 is closed, it outputs a flushing command to the toilet flushing unit 13.

When a flushing command is received, the operation shown in FIG. 4 is possible, similar to the toilet device 1 shown in FIG. 1. In other words, when a flushing command is received, the toilet seat-side control unit 35 outputs a flushing command if the bowl 12 is not flushing, and cancels the flushing command if the bowl 12 is flushing.

As described above, the toilet seat device 30 comprises the toilet seat 44, the toilet seat open/close detection unit 45 that detects whether the toilet seat 44 is open or closed, the toilet seat drive unit 46 that opens and closes the toilet seat 44, and the toilet lid 40. The toilet seat device 30 further comprises a toilet lid open/close detection unit 41 that detects whether the toilet lid 40 is open or closed, a toilet lid drive unit 42 that opens and closes the toilet lid 40, and a toilet seat side control unit 35, and is attached to the toilet body that performs the flushing operation of the bowl 12. When the toilet seat side control unit 35 receives a closing command from the toilet lid operation unit 43 (toilet lid opening/closing command means) while the toilet lid 40 is in the open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit 42 to start the closing operation of the toilet lid 40, and then outputs a flushing command to the toilet body.

In this way, if the user issues a command to close the toilet lid 40 using the toilet lid operating unit 43 after defecation, flushing will be performed after the toilet lid 40 is closed, so the user does not need to issue a command to flush the bowl 12 using the flushing operating unit 29 or bowl flushing operating unit 49.

In addition, when the toilet seat side control unit 35 receives a close command from the toilet lid operation unit 43 (toilet lid opening/closing command means) while the toilet seat 44 is in the open state, it causes the toilet seat drive unit 46 to start the closing operation of the toilet seat 44. The toilet seat side control unit 35 then causes the toilet lid drive unit 42 to start the closing operation of the toilet lid 40, and then outputs a small flush command to the toilet body. In other words, this operation corresponds to S116, S117, S118, and S119 in Figure 3.

The toilet seat control unit 35 does not output a flush command to the toilet body during flushing that begins after the toilet lid 40 begins to close. In other words, this operation corresponds to that shown in Figure 4.

In addition, if the toilet seat-side control unit 35 receives a close command from the toilet lid operation unit 43 (toilet lid opening/closing command means) while the toilet lid 40 is in the open state within time T1 after the end of the flush that started after the start of the closing operation of the toilet lid 40, the toilet seat-side control unit 35 causes the toilet lid drive unit 42 to start the closing operation of the toilet lid 40. On the other hand, the toilet seat-side control unit 35 does not output a flush command to the toilet body. In other words, this operation corresponds to N of S103 and S114 in Figure 3.

In addition, if the toilet seat side control unit 35 receives a close command from the toilet lid operating unit 43 (toilet lid opening/closing command means) within time T2 after the toilet lid 40 is opened, it causes the toilet lid drive unit 42 to start the toilet lid 40 closing operation, and does not output a flush command to the toilet body. In other words, this operation corresponds to N of S104 and S114 in Figure 3.

Various notifications, such as notifications after the toilet lid 40 is closed during the operation of the toilet device 3, or notifications after a toilet lid open/close command is cancelled, may be issued by either the notification unit 37 of the toilet seat device 30 or the notification unit 7 of the toilet body.

The toilet seat device 30 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 5. For example, the toilet seat device 30 may be configured to include a private parts cleansing device, or may have a toilet seat operating unit (not shown) that can operate and set various functions (e.g., the private parts cleansing device).

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1, 3 Toilet device 5 Control unit 12 Bowl 13 Toilet flushing unit 20 Toilet lid 21 Toilet lid open/close detection unit 22 Toilet lid drive unit 24 Toilet seat 25 Toilet lid open/close detection unit 26 Toilet seat drive unit 29 Flush operation unit 30 Toilet seat device 35 Toilet seat side control unit 40 Toilet lid 41 Toilet lid open/close detection unit 42 Toilet lid drive unit 44 Toilet seat 45 Toilet seat open/close detection unit 46 Toilet seat drive unit

Claims (12)

A tankless type toilet device directly connected to a water supply, comprising a bowl, a toilet flushing unit which supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid open/close detection unit which detects whether the toilet lid is open or closed, a toilet lid drive unit which opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit which controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid open/close command means which outputs an open/close command to the control unit,
The toilet device is characterized in that when the control unit receives an open/close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in a closed state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid opening operation, and when the control unit receives an open/close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation, and after the toilet lid is closed , it causes the toilet flushing unit to start flushing. A toilet device comprising a bowl, a toilet flushing unit which supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid open/close detection unit which detects whether the toilet lid is open or closed, a toilet lid drive unit which opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit which controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid open/close instruction means which outputs an open/close instruction to the control unit,
The toilet seat further includes a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet seat is opened or closed, and a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat,
The toilet flushing unit is capable of flushing large and small toilet bowls separately,
When the control unit receives the toilet lid opening/closing command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means while the toilet lid is in a closed state, the control unit causes the toilet lid drive unit to start an opening operation of the toilet lid,
A toilet device characterized in that, when the toilet lid is in an open position and an open/close command is received from the toilet lid opening/closing command means, if the toilet seat is in a closed position, the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid closing operation, and then the toilet flushing unit starts flushing, while if the toilet seat is in an open position, the toilet seat drive unit starts the toilet seat closing operation, and then the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid closing operation, and then the toilet flushing unit starts a small flush. In claim 1 or 2 ,
The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means outputs the opening/closing instruction based on the operation of a toilet lid opening/closing button consisting of a single button. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
A flush operation unit that outputs a flush instruction to the toilet flushing unit,
The toilet apparatus, wherein the control unit does not accept flushing by the flushing operation unit during a flush that is started after the start of the toilet lid closing operation. A toilet device comprising a bowl, a toilet flushing unit which supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid open/close detection unit which detects whether the toilet lid is open or closed, a toilet lid drive unit which opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit which controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid open/close instruction means which outputs an open/close instruction to the control unit,
The toilet device is characterized in that when the control unit receives a close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and then causes the toilet bowl flushing unit to start flushing, and when the control unit receives a close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in an open state within a predetermined time after the end of the flushing that started after the start of the toilet lid closing operation, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and does not cause the toilet bowl flushing unit to start flushing. A toilet device comprising a bowl, a toilet flushing unit which supplies flushing water to the bowl to flush the inside of the bowl, a toilet lid, a toilet lid open/close detection unit which detects whether the toilet lid is open or closed, a toilet lid drive unit which opens and closes the toilet lid, a control unit which controls the toilet lid drive unit, and a toilet lid open/close instruction means which outputs an open/close instruction to the control unit,
The toilet device is characterized in that when the control unit receives a close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and then causes the toilet flushing unit to start flushing, and when it receives a close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means within a predetermined time after the toilet lid is in the open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation and does not cause the toilet flushing unit to start flushing. A toilet seat device that is attached to a tankless type toilet body that is directly connected to a water supply and that performs a bowl flushing operation, the toilet seat device comprising: a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet seat is opened or closed; a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat; a toilet lid; a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet lid is opened or closed; a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid; a toilet seat side control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit; and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an instruction to open or close the toilet lid to the toilet seat side control unit,
The toilet seat device is characterized in that when the toilet seat side control unit receives an opening/closing command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in a closed state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid opening operation, and when it receives an opening/closing command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation, and after the toilet lid is closed , it outputs a flushing command to the toilet bowl body. A toilet seat device comprising: a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet seat is opened or closed; a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat; a toilet lid; a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet lid is opened or closed; a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid; a toilet seat side control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit; and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an instruction to open or close the toilet lid to the toilet seat side control unit, the toilet seat device being attached to a toilet body that performs a bowl flushing operation,
The toilet body is capable of being flushed separately for large and small flushes,
When the toilet seat side control unit receives the toilet lid opening/closing command from the toilet lid opening/closing command unit while the toilet lid is in the closed state, the toilet seat side control unit causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid opening operation,
When the toilet lid is in the open position and an open/close command is received from the toilet lid opening/closing command means, if the toilet seat is in the closed position, the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid closing operation, and then outputs a flush command to the toilet body, while if the toilet seat is in the open position, the toilet seat drive unit starts the toilet seat closing operation, and then the toilet lid drive unit starts the toilet lid closing operation, and then outputs a small flush command to the toilet body. In claim 7 or claim 8 ,
The toilet seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toilet lid opening/closing instruction means outputs the opening/closing instruction based on the operation of a toilet lid opening/closing button consisting of a single button. In any one of claims 7 to 9,
The toilet seat device, wherein the toilet seat side control unit does not output a flush command to the toilet body during a flush that is started after the start of the toilet lid closing operation. A toilet seat device comprising: a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet seat is opened or closed; a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat; a toilet lid; a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet lid is opened or closed; a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid; a toilet seat side control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit; and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an instruction to open or close the toilet lid to the toilet seat side control unit, the toilet seat device being attached to a toilet body that performs a bowl flushing operation,
The toilet seat device is characterized in that, when the toilet seat side control unit receives a close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in an open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation, and then outputs a flushing command to the toilet body, and when the toilet seat side control unit receives a close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in an open state within a predetermined time after the end of the flush that started after the start of the toilet lid closing operation, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation, and does not output a flushing command to the toilet body. A toilet seat device comprising: a toilet seat opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet seat is opened or closed; a toilet seat drive unit that opens and closes the toilet seat; a toilet lid; a toilet lid opening/closing detection unit that detects whether the toilet lid is opened or closed; a toilet lid drive unit that opens and closes the toilet lid; a toilet seat side control unit that controls the toilet lid drive unit; and a toilet lid opening/closing instruction means that outputs an instruction to open or close the toilet lid to the toilet seat side control unit, the toilet seat device being attached to a toilet body that performs a bowl flushing operation,
The toilet seat device is characterized in that when the toilet seat side control unit receives a close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means when the toilet lid is in the open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation, and then outputs a flushing command to the toilet body, and when it receives a close command from the toilet lid opening/closing command means within a predetermined time after the toilet lid is in the open state, it causes the toilet lid drive unit to start the toilet lid closing operation, and does not output a flushing command to the toilet body.

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