JP7792571B2 - Sanitary Cleaning Device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary washing device that is attached to a toilet bowl and sprays water onto the private parts of a seated person.

Conventionally, the nozzle for spraying cleaning water provided in a sanitary washing device is filled with water while on standby, and the water inside the nozzle becomes cold due to the heating device. Therefore, to prevent cold water from being sprayed onto the private parts of the human body, the cold water is discharged from the nozzle and then warmed water is sprayed towards the private parts.

Patent Document 1 describes a technology that uses an air pump to supply air to the nozzle and expel water from the nozzle using air.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-293743

However, to prevent the cold water expelled from the nozzle from spraying onto the seated person's buttocks, it is necessary to expel the cold water before extending the nozzle. As a result, the nozzle is extended after the cold water has been expelled, which poses the issue of a longer time lag between when the wash button is operated and when the private parts are washed.

Furthermore, installing an air pump not only increases costs, but also increases the size of the device and may result in increased noise during use due to the operation of the air pump.

The present invention was developed in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a sanitary washing device that can shorten the time until local washing of the human body can begin, even if the cold water in the nozzle is removed after the wash button is operated.

In order to achieve the above object, the sanitary washing device of the present invention is a sanitary washing device equipped with a nozzle device that sprays water toward the private parts of a seated person's body, the nozzle device comprising a first nozzle, a washing nozzle that sprays water to wash the first nozzle, and a switching device that switches between supplying water to the first nozzle or the washing nozzle, the switching device comprising a fixed plate having a first hole formed by a through hole that communicates with the first nozzle and a washing hole formed by a through hole that communicates with the washing nozzle, arranged on the same plane, and a surface of the fixed plate and a disk-shaped rotating plate that can be brought into close contact with a surface to close the first hole. The rotating plate has a selective hole that is a through hole that selectively communicates with the first hole or the cleaning hole by rotating around a rotation axis along the normal to the surface of the fixed plate. The fixed plate has a first groove with a bottom that is recessed from the surface in the direction of the rotation axis, communicates with the cleaning hole, and extends toward the first hole, and a second groove with a bottom that is recessed from the surface in the direction of the rotation axis and communicates with the first groove and the first hole, the second groove being shallower and narrower than the first groove.

This invention allows the cold water in the nozzle to be expelled from the heating device without being sprayed onto the human body while the nozzle is extended, thereby shortening the time from operating the cleaning button to starting local cleaning.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sanitary washing device attached to a toilet bowl. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a water circuit provided in the sanitary washing device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the nozzle device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the switching device in an exploded state. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the fixed plate from the rotating plate side. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the end of the second groove as viewed from the cleaning hole side. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the end of the fourth groove as viewed from the cleaning hole side. FIG. 8 is a simplified plan view showing the switching device from the rotating plate side. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a first example of the position of the rotary plate relative to the fixed plate. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a second example of the position of the rotary plate relative to the fixed plate. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a third example of the position of the rotary plate relative to the fixed plate. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a fourth example of the position of the rotary plate relative to the fixed plate. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a fifth example of the position of the rotary plate relative to the fixed plate. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a sixth example of the position of the rotary plate relative to the fixed plate. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a seventh example of the position of the rotary plate relative to the fixed plate.

Embodiments of the sanitary washing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are presented as examples to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical formulas, the content of each step in the method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, while geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, these expressions do not indicate mathematical precision and include substantially acceptable errors and deviations. Furthermore, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

The drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, or adjustment of proportions has been made as appropriate for the purpose of explaining the present invention, and differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in the drawings are Cartesian coordinates arbitrarily set for the purpose of explaining the drawings. In other words, the Z-axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X-axis and Y-axis are not necessarily located within a horizontal plane.

Furthermore, multiple inventions may be collectively described below as a single embodiment. Some of the content described below is also described as optional components related to the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the sanitary washing device 100 attached to a toilet 200. Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing the water circuit 180 provided in the sanitary washing device 100. The sanitary washing device 100 is attached to the toilet 200 and sprays water toward the private parts of a person seated on the toilet seat 190. The sanitary washing device 100 comprises a nozzle device 110 and a water circuit 180. Note that while a toilet lid is not shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment the sanitary washing device 100 is provided with a toilet lid that can be opened and closed relative to the toilet 200. Furthermore, in this specification and claims, "water" includes both cold water and hot water.

The configuration of the water circuit 180 provided in the sanitary washing device 100 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is configured as follows. From upstream, the water circuit 180 includes a water supply connection port 181, a strainer 182, a solenoid shut-off valve 183, a pressure reducing valve 184, a vacuum breaker 185, and a heating device 140.

The water supply connection port 181 is a component that is connected to a water pipe via an adapter or the like, and has a strainer 182 built into it that prevents impurities contained in the tap water from entering.

The solenoid stop valve 183 is a valve that can open and close the flow of water from the water pipe under the control of the control device 109 (see Figure 1). By opening the solenoid stop valve 183, water can be sprayed from the nozzle device 110, and by closing the solenoid stop valve 183, water spray from the nozzle device 110 can be stopped.

The pressure reducing valve 184 reduces the water pressure of the water supplied from the water pipe and keeps it constant.

The vacuum breaker 185 prevents water inside the water circuit 180 from flowing back into the water pipe when negative pressure occurs in the water pipe connected to the water supply connection port 181 due to a water outage or other reason.

The heating device 140 is a device that generates hot water by heating tap water supplied from a water pipe. The type of heating device 140 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the heating device 140 is a heat exchanger that instantly heats the tap water supplied from the water pipe. The heating device 140 is integrally equipped with a buffer tank 141 that keeps the temperature of the water heated by the heating device 140 uniform.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the nozzle device 110. The nozzle device 110 is a device that can be moved by a nozzle drive device 170 (not shown in Figure 3) between a standby position housed within the main body 101 (see Figure 1) and a protruding position where the tip of the nozzle device 110 is positioned below the private parts of a person seated on the toilet seat 190. The nozzle device 110 is equipped with a first nozzle 111, a second nozzle 112, a cleaning nozzle 113 (not shown in Figure 3), and a switching device 120. The branch pipe 114 shown in Figure 3 is connected to the cleaning nozzle 113. The nozzle device 110 may also be housed in a cylindrical jacket.

The first nozzle 111 is a nozzle for spraying water toward the buttocks of a person seated on the toilet seat 190. The second nozzle 112 is a nozzle for the bidet. The first nozzle and second nozzle have water passages that are independent of each other.

The cleaning nozzle 113 is a nozzle that sprays water onto the tip 115 of the first nozzle 111 and the second nozzle 112 when the nozzle device 110 is positioned in the standby position, cleaning the tip 115 of the first nozzle 111 and the second nozzle 112.

The switching device 120 switches whether water heated through the water circuit 180 is supplied to the first nozzle 111, the second nozzle 112, or the cleaning nozzle 113. Figure 4 is an oblique view showing the switching device 120 in an exploded state. Figure 5 is a plan view showing the fixed plate 121 from the rotating plate 122 side. The switching device 120 comprises the fixed plate 121 and the rotating plate 122. Note that the hatching in Figure 4 does not indicate a cross section, but is applied to the surface of the fixed plate 121 that is in close contact with the rotating plate 122 to make the holes and grooves easier to see. The hatching in Figure 5 does not indicate a cross section, but is applied to non-penetrating parts. Different hatching in Figure 5 indicates different heights.

The fixed plate 121 is a disk-shaped member connected to the upstream ends of the first nozzle 111, second nozzle 112, and cleaning nozzle 113, and is provided with a first hole 123 formed as a through-hole communicating with the first nozzle 111, a second hole 124 formed as a through-hole communicating with the second nozzle 112, and a cleaning hole 125 formed as a through-hole communicating with the cleaning nozzle 113. The first hole 123, second hole 124, and cleaning hole 125 are arranged circumferentially in the same plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 102 (see Figure 4) of the rotating plate 122.

The first hole 123 communicates with the first nozzle 111, and water passing through the first hole 123 is supplied only to the first nozzle 111 and sprayed onto the buttocks of a person seated on the toilet seat 190. In this embodiment, the radial width of the first hole 123 increases in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis 102 as it moves away from the cleaning hole 125. The effects based on this shape will be described later.

The second hole 124 communicates with the second nozzle 112, and water passing through the second hole 124 is supplied only to the second nozzle 112 and sprayed for bidet use. In this embodiment, the radial width of the second hole 124 increases in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis 102 as it moves away from the cleaning hole 125. The effects based on this shape will be described later.

The cleaning hole 125 is connected to the cleaning nozzle 113, and water passing through the cleaning hole 125 is supplied only to the cleaning nozzle 113 and sprayed onto the tips 115 of the first nozzle 111 and second nozzle 112, which are positioned in the standby position. In this embodiment, the cleaning hole 125 is fan-shaped with the rotation axis 102 at its center.

The fixed plate 121 is recessed from the surface that abuts the rotating plate 122 (the hatched surface in Figure 4) toward the rotating shaft 102 and has a bottomed first groove 126 that communicates with the cleaning hole 125 and extends toward the first hole 123. In this embodiment, the first groove 126 extends circumferentially around the rotating shaft 102. As shown in Figure 6, which shows the end of the second groove 127 viewed from the cleaning hole 125 side, the cross-sectional shape of the first groove 126 perpendicular to the direction of extension is rectangular. The depth of the first groove 126, that is, first depth D1, is selected from the range of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm. The width of the first groove 126, that is, first width W1, is selected from the range of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm.

The fixed plate 121 has a second groove 127 with a bottom recessed from its surface that abuts the rotating plate 122 (the hatched surface in FIG. 4) toward the rotating shaft 102, connecting the first groove 126 and the first hole 123. As shown in FIG. 6, the cross section of the second groove 127 perpendicular to the extension direction is rectangular. The second depth D2 of the second groove 127 is selected from the range of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm. The second width W2 of the second groove 127 is selected from the range of 0.1 mm to 0.25 mm. The second depth D2 is set to be shallower than the first depth D1. The second width W2 is set to be narrower than the first width W1.

The fixed plate 121 is recessed from the surface that abuts the rotating plate 122 (the hatched surface in Figure 4) toward the rotating shaft 102 and has a bottomed third groove 128 that communicates with the cleaning hole 125 and extends toward the second hole 124. In this embodiment, the third groove 128 extends circumferentially around the rotating shaft 102. As shown in Figure 7, which shows the end of the fourth groove 129 viewed from the cleaning hole 125 side, the cross-sectional shape of the third groove 128 perpendicular to the extension direction is rectangular. The depth of the third groove 128, which is a third depth D3, is a depth selected from the range of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm. The width of the third groove 128, which is a third width W3, is a width selected from the range of 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm.

The fixed plate 121 has a fourth groove 129 with a bottom recessed from its surface that abuts the rotating plate 122 (the hatched surface in FIG. 4) toward the rotating shaft 102, connecting the third groove 128 and the second hole 124. As shown in FIG. 7, the cross-sectional shape of the fourth groove 129 perpendicular to the extension direction is rectangular. The depth of the fourth groove 129, or fourth depth D4, is selected from the range of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm. The width of the fourth groove 129, or fourth width W4, is selected from the range of 0.1 mm to 0.25 mm. Furthermore, the fourth depth D4 is set to be shallower than the third depth D3. The fourth width W4 is set to be narrower than the third width W3.

The rotating plate 122 is a disk-shaped member that can fit tightly against the surface of the fixed plate 121 and block the first hole 123, the second hole 124, and the cleaning hole 125. The rotating plate 122 is provided with a selection hole 130, which is a through-hole that selectively communicates with the first hole 123, the second hole 124, or the cleaning hole 125 by rotating around the rotation axis 102, which is normal to the surface of the fixed plate 121, using the driving force of a motor 131 (see Figure 2). The shape of the selection hole 130 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, it is a sector-shaped notch centered on the rotation axis 102. The length of the selection hole 130 in the circumferential direction is set shorter than the first groove 126 and the third groove 128. The selection hole 130 is wider in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation axis 102 than the cleaning hole 125, and longer in the radial direction. The selection hole 130 is narrower in the circumferential direction than the first hole 123 and the second hole 124, and is longer in the radial direction than the maximum width of the first hole 123 and the second hole 124. Depending on the shapes of the first hole 123 and the second hole 124 and the shape of the selection hole 130, it is possible to change the amount of water passing through the selection hole 130 by changing the position of the selection hole 130 relative to the first hole 123 or the second hole 124. In other words, the switching device 120 not only switches the flow path through which water flows from multiple flow paths, but also functions as a flow rate adjustment device that can adjust the flow rate of water flowing into the first nozzle 111 or the second nozzle 112.

Next, the operation of the nozzle device 110 will be described. When the sanitary washing device 100 is not in use, as shown in FIG. 9, the selection holes of the rotating plate 122 are positioned so as not to overlap with the first hole 123, second hole 124, cleaning hole 125, first groove 126, second groove 127, third groove 128, and fourth groove 129 provided in the fixed plate 121, and the rotating plate 122 blocks the first hole 123, second hole 124, cleaning hole 125, first groove 126, second groove 127, third groove 128, and fourth groove 129.

Next, when the rear cleansing button on the control device 109 is operated, the nozzle device 110 remains in the standby position, and the rotating plate 122 rotates to a position where the selected hole 130 overlaps the first hole 123, as shown in Figure 10. This causes the nozzle device 110 to spray water from the tip of the first nozzle 111 in the standby position for a predetermined time (e.g., 3 seconds), cleaning the tip of the first nozzle 111 (pre-cleaning).

Next, once the pre-cleaning is complete, the rotating plate 122 rotates to a position where the selection hole 130 overlaps the cleaning hole 125, as shown in FIG. 11. The nozzle device 110 begins to protrude from the standby position toward the protruding position at the same time that the selection hole 130 overlaps the cleaning hole 125. The first nozzle 111 and the tip 115 of the second nozzle 112 are cleaned by water sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 113. At this stage, some of the water passing through the selection hole 130 passes through the first groove 126, is constricted by the second groove 127, and flows into the first nozzle 111 via the first hole 123. As a result, the cold water remaining in the first nozzle 111 is pushed out by the hot water. In other words, while the nozzle device 110 is moving from the standby position toward the protruding position, the cold water in the first nozzle 111 is pushed out by the hot water. While protruding, the tip of the first nozzle 111 passes under the buttocks of a person sitting on the toilet seat 190, but the water flowing into the first nozzle 111 is throttled by the second groove 127, and because a water flow of, for example, 50 cc/min is supplied, the water falls and overflows from the tip of the first nozzle 111, and does not hit the person's buttocks.

When the nozzle device 110 reaches a predetermined protruding position, the rotating plate 122 rotates to a position where the selection hole 130 overlaps a portion of the first hole 123, as shown in FIG. 12. The rotational position of the rotating plate 122 is set by the control device 109. As a result, water flows into the first nozzle 111 according to the overlapping area between the first hole 123 and the selection hole 130, and a corresponding amount of water is sprayed from the tip of the first nozzle 111. When the water is sprayed, any cold water remaining in the first nozzle 111 is replaced with warm water, and the warm water is sprayed onto the person's buttocks.

When the stop button on the control device 109 is operated, water spraying stops and the nozzle device 110 retracts to the standby position. This completes the series of operations of the nozzle device 110.

Furthermore, when the bidet button on the control device 109 is operated while the rotating plate 122 is blocking the first hole 123, the second hole 124, the cleaning hole 125, the first groove 126, the second groove 127, the third groove 128, and the fourth groove 129 (see FIG. 9), the nozzle device 110 remains in the standby position, and the rotating plate 122 rotates to a position where the selection hole 130 overlaps the second hole 124, as shown in FIG. 13. As a result, the nozzle device 110 sprays water from the tip of the first nozzle 111 in the standby position for a predetermined time (e.g., 3 seconds), cleaning the tip 115 of the second nozzle 112 (pre-cleaning).

Next, when the pre-wash is completed, the rotating plate 122 rotates to a position where the selection hole 130 overlaps the third groove 128, as shown in FIG. 14. The nozzle device 110 begins to extend from the standby position toward the extension position when the selection hole 130 overlaps the third groove 128. Water passing through the selection hole 130 passes through the third groove 128, is constricted by the fourth groove 129, and flows into the second nozzle 112 via the second hole 124. As a result, the cold water remaining in the second nozzle 112 is pushed out by the hot water while the nozzle device 110 is extending. While the tip of the second nozzle 112 is extending, it passes below the buttocks of a person seated on the toilet seat 190. However, because the water flowing into the second nozzle 112 is constricted by the fourth groove 129 and is supplied at a rate of, for example, 50 cc/min, it overflows from the tip of the second nozzle 112 and does not hit the person's buttocks.

When the nozzle device 110 reaches a predetermined protruding position, the rotating plate 122 rotates to a position where the selection hole 130 overlaps a portion of the second hole 124, as shown in Figure 15. This causes water to flow into the second nozzle 112 according to the area of overlap between the second hole 124 and the selection hole 130, and a corresponding amount of water is sprayed from the tip of the second nozzle 112. When the water is sprayed, any cold water remaining in the second nozzle 112 is replaced with warm water, and the warm water is sprayed onto the person's private parts.

When the stop button on the control device 109 is operated, water spraying stops and the nozzle device 110 retracts to the standby position. This completes the series of operations of the nozzle device 110.

In the sanitary washing device 100 described above, the time that the nozzle device 110 is protruding is used to push out any cold water remaining in the nozzle from the heating device with warm water at a flow rate that does not cause cold water to spray from the tip of the nozzle. This allows water of a stable temperature to be sprayed toward a person's private parts, shortening the time from when a person operates the control device 109 to when their private parts are washed.

Furthermore, this objective can be achieved by newly forming a groove in the fixed plate 121 of the switching device 120, eliminating the need to add a device such as an air pump, thereby reducing costs.

Furthermore, when water is being sprayed from the first nozzle 111 or the second nozzle 112, the first nozzle 111 or the second nozzle 112 is in communication with the cleaning nozzle 113 via the first groove 126 and the second groove 127, or the third groove 128 and the fourth groove 129. This creates an ejector effect, allowing air sucked in from the tip of the cleaning nozzle 113 to be mixed into the first nozzle 111 or the second nozzle 112, causing water mixed with air bubbles to be sprayed from the first nozzle 111 or the second nozzle 112.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, other embodiments may be realized by arbitrarily combining the components described in this specification, or by excluding some of the components. Furthermore, the present invention also includes various modifications that would occur to those skilled in the art, provided that they do not deviate from the spirit of the present invention, i.e., the meaning of the wording set forth in the claims.

For example, although the nozzle device 110 has been described as including the first nozzle 111, the second nozzle 112, and the cleaning nozzle 113, it may also include other nozzles. In this case, the fixed plate 121 of the switching device 120 may have holes other than the first hole 123, the second hole 124, and the cleaning hole 125.

Furthermore, while the water circuit 180 has been exemplified, various sensors may be provided in the water circuit 180. Furthermore, a pump may be provided in the water circuit 180 to pressurize the water and spray it intermittently from the nozzle.

This invention can be applied to sanitary washing devices in general.

100 Sanitary washing device 101 Main body 102 Rotating shaft 109 Control device 110 Nozzle device 111 First nozzle 112 Second nozzle 113 Washing nozzle 114 Branch pipe 115 Tip portion 120 Switching device 121 Fixed plate 122 Rotating plate 123 First hole 124 Second hole 125 Washing hole 126 First groove 127 Second groove 128 Third groove 129 Fourth groove 130 Selection hole 131 Motor 140 Heating device 141 Buffer tank 170 Nozzle driving device 180 Water circuit 181 Water supply connection port 182 Strainer 183 Water stop electromagnetic valve 184 Pressure reducing valve 185 Vacuum breaker 190 Toilet seat 200 Toilet bowl

Claims (3)

A sanitary washing device equipped with a nozzle device that sprays water toward the private parts of a seated person,
The nozzle device
A first nozzle;
a cleaning nozzle that sprays water to clean the first nozzle;
a switching device that switches between supplying water to the first nozzle and supplying water to the cleaning nozzle,
The switching device
a fixing plate including a first hole formed as a through hole communicating with the first nozzle and a cleaning hole formed as a through hole communicating with the cleaning nozzle, the first hole and the cleaning hole being arranged on the same plane;
a disk-shaped rotating plate that is in close contact with a surface of the fixed plate and that can close the first hole,
The rotating plate is
a selective hole formed of a through hole that selectively communicates with the first hole or the cleaning hole by rotating around a rotation axis along a normal to the surface of the fixing plate,
The fixing plate is
a first groove having a bottom recessed from the surface in the direction of the rotation axis, communicating with the cleaning hole, and extending toward the first hole;
a second groove having a bottom recessed from the surface in the direction of the rotation axis and communicating with the first groove and the first hole,
The second groove is
The sanitary washing device is shallower in depth and narrower in width than the first groove. The depth of the first groove is selected from the range of 0.4 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less,
The width of the first groove is selected from the range of 0.4 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less,
The depth of the second groove is selected from the range of 0.2 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less,
The sanitary washing device according to claim 1, wherein the width of the second groove is selected from the range of 0.1 mm to 0.25 mm. The nozzle device
a second nozzle;
The switching device
switching between supplying water to the first nozzle, supplying water to the cleaning nozzle, and supplying water to the second nozzle;
The fixing plate is
a second hole formed as a through hole communicating with the second nozzle, the second hole being arranged on the same plane as the first hole and the cleaning hole;
The selection hole of the rotary plate is
The first hole, the second hole, and the cleaning hole are blocked, and the first hole, the second hole, or the cleaning hole is selectively communicated with;
The fixing plate is
a third groove having a bottom recessed from the surface in the direction of the rotation axis, communicating with the cleaning hole, and extending toward the second hole;
a fourth groove having a bottom recessed from the surface toward the rotation axis and communicating with the third groove and the second hole,
The fourth groove is
The sanitary washing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second groove is shallower in depth and narrower in width than the third groove.