JP7809451B2 - Toilet equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a toilet device.

The toilet device disclosed in Patent Document 1 sends a seated signal from the toilet seat to the toilet bowl when a user sits on the seat, and sends a left-of-seat signal from the toilet seat to the toilet bowl when the user leaves the seat. When the toilet bowl receives the left-of-seat signal, it performs an automatic flush.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-177064

When flushing a toilet, tiny droplets are generated. These droplets may contain viruses and bacteria. For this reason, there is a need for technology that prevents droplets from scattering around the toilet.

This disclosure was made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and aims to solve the problem of providing a toilet device that can effectively prevent droplets generated when flushing the toilet from reaching the surrounding area.

The toilet apparatus of the present disclosure comprises a toilet lid that is supported so as to be freely rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position, a toilet flushing device that performs a toilet flush by supplying flush water to the toilet body, and a toilet lid opening/closing device that performs a toilet lid closing operation by rotating the toilet lid from the upright position to the reclined position before the toilet flushing device performs a toilet flush.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a toilet room in which a toilet apparatus provided with a toilet bowl apparatus according to a first embodiment is installed. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a toilet device according to a first embodiment. 10 is a timing chart when cleaning is performed after the closing operation in response to a user instruction. 10 is a timing chart showing a case where cleaning is automatically performed after the closing operation.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of a toilet apparatus 30 according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the up-down direction refers to the positive direction of the X-axis shown in FIG. 1 as the upward direction, and the negative direction of the X-axis refers to the downward direction. The left-right direction refers to the positive direction of the Z-axis shown in FIG. 1 as the leftward direction, and the negative direction of the Z-axis refers to the rightward direction. The front-rear direction refers to the positive direction of the Y-axis shown in FIG. 1 as the forward direction, and the negative direction of the Y-axis refers to the backward direction. Specifically, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction refer to the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction, respectively, as seen by a person seated on the reclined toilet seat 31.

As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet apparatus 10 comprises a toilet bowl main body 20, a toilet bowl device 30, and a remote controller 60. Operating the remote controller 60 activates the various functions of the toilet apparatus 30. The toilet apparatus 10 can perform a toilet lid closing operation, which rotates the toilet lid 32 into a reclined position, before flushing the toilet.

[Configuration of toilet body]
The toilet body 20 is a floor-standing flush toilet that is installed on the floor of the toilet room R. The toilet body 20 is formed with a toilet bowl 21. The toilet bowl 21 is bowl-shaped with a roughly oval opening at the top end. A water reservoir (not shown) where flush water accumulates is formed at the bottom of the toilet bowl 21. The water reservoir is connected to a drainage channel (not shown) through which the flush water is discharged.

[Configuration of toilet device]
The toilet device 30 is attached to the top surface of the toilet body 20. The toilet device 30 has a toilet seat 31, a toilet lid 32, and a body 33. As shown in Figure 2, the body 33 has a control unit 51, a toilet seat opening/closing device 48, a toilet lid opening/closing device 49, a toilet flushing device 41, a seating detection unit 43, a first human body detection unit 44A, a second human body detection unit 44B, a toilet lid detection unit 45, a deodorizing device 46, a sterilizing device 47, a remote controller 60, and the like. The body 33 is detachably fixed to the toilet body 20. The body 33 supports the toilet seat 31 and the toilet lid 32 so that they can rotate freely between a reclined position and an upright position.

The toilet seat 31 is formed in a ring shape with an opening on the inside. The toilet seat 31 is supported by the main body 33 so that it can rotate freely between an upright position and a reclined position. In the reclined position, it is positioned along the upper end of the toilet bowl 21 of the toilet body 20. The toilet lid 32 is supported by the main body 33 so that it can rotate freely between an upright position and a reclined position. In the reclined position, the toilet lid 32 covers the toilet seat 31 from above, closing the openings in the toilet seat 31 and the toilet bowl 21. In the upright position, the toilet lid 32 is in an open position, leaving the openings in the toilet seat 31 and the toilet bowl 21 open.

The control unit 51 is configured, for example, as a microcomputer, and functions to control the discharge of flush water into the toilet body 20, the opening and closing of the toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31, the operation of the deodorizing device 46, the sterilizing device 47, etc. Based on signals transmitted from the remote controller 60, the control unit 51 can control the discharge of flush water from the toilet body 20, the opening and closing of the toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31, the operation of the deodorizing device 46, the sterilizing device 47, etc.

The toilet seat opening/closing device 48 is composed of, for example, a motor. The control unit 51 drives the motor of the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 to rotate based on a signal sent from the remote controller 60. This causes the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 to rotate the toilet seat 31 between an upright position and a reclined position.

The toilet lid opening/closing device 49 is composed of, for example, a motor. The control unit 51 drives the motor of the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to rotate based on a signal transmitted from the remote controller 60. This causes the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to rotate the toilet lid 32 between an upright position and a reclined position.

The toilet flushing device 41 is a device that supplies flush water to the toilet body 20. The toilet flushing device 41 is provided with a water supply channel that supplies flush water, such as tap water, to the toilet body 20. The water supply channel leads to the toilet bowl 21. A water supply valve is provided midway along the water supply channel. The water supply valve is configured as, for example, a solenoid valve. The water supply channel and water supply valve are not shown. Based on a signal received from the remote controller 60, the control unit 51 opens the water supply valve of the toilet flushing device 41, opens the water supply channel, and begins supplying flush water to the toilet body 20. In other words, the remote controller 60 commands toilet flushing and is a flush operation unit possessed by the toilet flushing device 41. The control unit 51 closes the water supply valve after a predetermined time has elapsed, shuts off the water supply channel, and stops the supply of flush water to the toilet body 20. The toilet flushing device 41 performs toilet flushing by supplying flush water to the toilet body 20 to clean the toilet body 20.

The seating detection unit 43 detects when a user is seated on the toilet seat 31. The seating detection unit 43 is attached to the main body 33. The seating detection unit 43 is composed of a known infrared sensor. The seating detection unit 43 is equipped with a light-emitting element (e.g., an LED) and a light-receiving element (e.g., a photodiode), both not shown. The seating detection unit 43 detects that a user is seated on the toilet seat 31 by emitting infrared light from the light-emitting element and receiving the infrared light reflected from the surface of the user seated on the toilet seat 31 with the light-receiving element. The seating detection unit 43 is configured to output a seating detection signal to the control unit 51 when it detects that a user is seated on the toilet seat 31.

The first human body detector 44A and the second human body detector 44B detect a human body located at a predetermined position relative to the toilet device 30 (e.g., within the toilet room R). The first human body detector 44A and the second human body detector 44B are configured using known infrared sensors and include a light-emitting element (e.g., an LED, etc.) and a light-receiving element (e.g., a photodiode, etc.), not shown. The first human body detector 44A and the second human body detector 44B detect the presence of a user in the toilet room R by receiving infrared light emitted from the light-emitting element and reflected by a human body located within the toilet room R with the light-receiving element.

The first human body detector 44A detects a user in front of the front end of the toilet body 20 when the toilet lid 32 is in a reclined position. The first human body detector 44A is configured to output a first human body detection signal to the controller 51 when it detects a user.

The second human body detector 44B detects a user in front of the toilet body 20 when the toilet seat 31 is in an upright position. The second human body detector 44B is configured to output a second human body detection signal to the control unit 51 when it detects a user.

The toilet device 30 is provided with a human body detection light-emitting unit 44C, which is a light-emitting unit that illuminates at least one of the area around the toilet body 20 and the inside of the toilet bowl 21 when the first human body detector 44A and the second human body detector 44B detect a human body located in a predetermined position relative to the toilet device 30 (for example, within the toilet room R). The human body detection light-emitting unit 44C is composed of, for example, an LED. The color of the light emitted from the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C is, for example, white or warm white.

The toilet lid detection unit 45 detects the rotation state of the toilet lid 32. The toilet lid detection unit 45 is equipped with a known rotation detection means (e.g., a magnetic angle sensor that detects the orientation of a magnet that rotates with the toilet lid 32). The toilet lid detection unit 45 detects the difference in angle between the toilet lid 32 in the lying down state and the toilet lid 32 in the upright state. The toilet lid detection unit 45 is configured to detect the difference in angle between the toilet lid 32 in the lying down state and the toilet lid 32 in the upright state when the toilet lid 32 is rotated between the lying down state and the upright state by the toilet lid opening/closing device 49, and when the toilet lid 32 is manually changed between the lying down state and the upright state. The toilet lid detection unit 45 is configured to output a signal corresponding to the detected angle difference to the control unit 51.

The deodorizing device 46 has a duct with an air intake facing the toilet bowl 21, a fan installed in the duct, and a deodorizing filter. The duct, fan, and deodorizing filter are not shown. The deodorizing device 46 draws air from the toilet bowl 21 through the air intake by rotating the fan. The drawn-in air is deodorized by passing through the deodorizing filter. The deodorized air is discharged, for example, from an exhaust port formed at the rear of the main body 33. The exhaust port is not shown. In other words, the deodorizing device 46 deodorizes odors drawn in from the space below the down-turned toilet lid 32 (i.e., the space within the toilet bowl 21).

The sterilization device 47 has a sterilization unit (not shown). The sterilization unit ionizes the air to generate positive and negative ions, which act as sterilizing substances. These positive and negative ions surround bacteria and viruses floating in the air. In this way, the sterilization device 47 inactivates the bacteria and viruses floating in the air. The sterilization device 47 is configured, for example, to release the positive and negative ions generated in the sterilization unit into the toilet bowl 21 through a release port facing the toilet bowl 21. The release port is not shown. In other words, the sterilization device 47 releases the positive and negative ions (sterilizing substances) toward the space below the downturned toilet lid 32 (i.e., the space within the toilet bowl 21).

The sterilization device 47 is configured to perform cyclic operation, periodically repeating an operating state and a stopped state when no user is present in the toilet room R. For example, the sterilization device 47 maintains the operating state for 45 minutes and the stopped state for 15 minutes. If a user enters the toilet room R while the sterilization device 47 is in the operating state, the sterilization device 47 changes to the stopped state, and when the user leaves the toilet room R and the toilet lid 32 is closed, the sterilization device 47 resumes operation from the operating state or the cyclic operation state. The sterilization device 47 can be operated cyclically or stopped (i.e., maintained in the stopped state) by the remote controller 60.

The toilet device 30 is provided with a sterilization device light-emitting unit that turns on, blinks, or turns off depending on the operating state of the sterilization device 47. The sterilization device light-emitting unit is composed of, for example, an LED. The sterilization device light-emitting unit is not shown. The sterilization device light-emitting unit emits light of a color different from the color of light emitted by the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C (for example, bluish white, blue, etc.).

The toilet device 30 is provided with an alarm unit 50, which is composed of a buzzer or the like. The alarm unit 50's operation to emit an alarm sound is controlled by a control unit 51.

The remote controller 60 has the function of operating various functions of the toilet device 30. The remote controller 60 transmits signals corresponding to user operations to the control unit 51 of the toilet device 30, for example as wireless signals. The remote controller 60 is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. The remote controller 60 is attached to the wall of the toilet room R.

The remote controller 60 comprises a housing 60A and multiple operation buttons 63A. The housing 60A houses a microcomputer, battery, etc. The multiple operation buttons 63A are operated to activate a desired function of the toilet device 30. Each operation button 63A is pre-assigned one of various functions. For example, each operation button 63A is assigned the functions of opening and closing the toilet lid 32, opening and closing the toilet seat 31, and instructing the start of toilet flushing.

In other words, the remote controller 60 is a toilet lid operating unit possessed by the toilet lid opening/closing device 49, and instructs the execution of either a toilet lid opening operation that rotates the toilet lid 32 from a lying down state to an upright state, or a toilet lid closing operation that rotates the toilet lid 32 from an upright state to a lying down state. Furthermore, the remote controller 60 is a toilet seat operating unit possessed by the toilet seat opening/closing device 48, and instructs the execution of either a toilet seat opening operation that rotates the toilet seat 31 from a lying down state to an upright state, or a toilet seat closing operation that rotates the toilet seat 31 from an upright state to a lying down state.

[Operation of the toilet device]
Next, the operation of the toilet apparatus 30 will be described with reference to Figures 3, 4, etc. In the toilet apparatus 30, the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 performs a toilet lid closing operation in which the toilet lid 32, which is in an upright position, is rotated to a lying position before the toilet flushing device 41 performs a toilet flush. In other words, the toilet apparatus 30 can supply flush water to the toilet body 20 to flush the toilet body 20 after the toilet lid 32 has performed the toilet lid closing operation (hereinafter also referred to as post-closing flushing). The toilet apparatus 30 is configured so that, by the user operating the remote controller 60, it can switch between a post-closing flush and a pre-closing flush in which flush water is supplied to the toilet body 20 to flush the toilet body 20 before the toilet lid 32 performs the toilet lid closing operation (hereinafter also referred to as pre-closing flushing).

[When using the remote controller to close the seat after use and then cleaning]
In this case, first, a user enters the toilet room R. Then, the first human body detector 44A detects the user and outputs a first human body detection signal to the control unit 51. Then, the control unit 51 causes the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to execute a toilet lid opening operation, rotating the toilet lid 32 from a lying down position to an upright position. At the same time, the control unit 51 turns on the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C and activates the deodorizing device 46.

Next, as shown in Figure 3, at time T1, the user sits on the toilet seat 31. The seat detection unit 43 then detects that the user has sat on the toilet seat 31 and outputs a seat detection signal to the control unit 51. At this time, the control unit 51 starts playing predetermined music in the music playback unit provided in the main body 33 based on the input of the seat detection signal. The music playback unit is not shown.

Next, at time T2, the user leaves the toilet seat 31. The seat detection unit 43 then detects that the user has left the toilet seat 31 and stops outputting the seat detection signal. Then, at time T3, the user operates the operation button 63A on the remote controller 60, which corresponds to the toilet flush command. When the control unit 51 receives a wireless signal corresponding to the toilet flush command from the remote controller 60, it initiates the toilet lid closing operation, rotating the toilet lid 32 from an upright position to a reclined position. At this time, the control unit 51 activates the alarm unit 50 to emit an alarm sound indicating that the toilet lid 32 has begun the toilet lid closing operation. At this time, the toilet lid detection unit 45 is in a state where it has detected a change in the angle of the toilet lid 32 as the toilet lid 32 rotates (i.e., it has detected the toilet lid closing operation). Signals corresponding to the angle of the toilet lid 32 detected by the toilet lid detection unit 45 are input to the control unit 51 one by one.

When the toilet device 30 performs a pre-closing flush, the toilet flush is executed when the user leaves the toilet seat 31 and then operates the operation button 63A on the remote controller 60 that corresponds to the toilet flush command. A predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has passed since the user left the toilet seat 31, and the control unit 51 begins the toilet lid closing operation. At this time, the control unit 51 operates the alarm unit 50 to emit an alarm sound indicating that the toilet lid 32 has begun closing. In other words, in a pre-closing flush, the alarm unit 50 emits an alarm sound after the toilet flush is executed, and in a post-closing flush, the alarm unit 50 emits an alarm sound before the toilet flush is executed. In other words, the timing at which the alarm unit 50 emits an alarm sound differs between the pre-closing flush and the post-closing flush.

At time T4, a predetermined time (e.g., 6 seconds) after time T2, the control unit 51 stops the music playback unit from playing music.

Next, at time T5, the toilet lid 32 falls into a fallen state. At this time, the control unit 51 receives a signal from the toilet lid detection unit 45 corresponding to the angle of the fallen toilet lid 32. The control unit 51 then operates the toilet flushing device 41 based on the signal corresponding to the fallen state from the toilet lid detection unit 45, causing it to begin supplying flush water to the toilet body 20. In other words, the toilet flushing device 41 performs a toilet flush after the toilet lid detection unit 45 detects the toilet lid closing operation. At this time, the control unit 51 turns on the sterilization device light-emitting unit and changes the sterilization device 47 to an operating state. At this time, the sterilization device 47 begins operating from the operating state of its cyclical operation.

Then, at time T6, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the toilet flushing device 41 and stops the supply of flush water to the toilet body 20. The human body detection light-emitting unit 44C continues to be illuminated by the control unit 51 even after time T6 has passed. In other words, the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C remains illuminated at least while the toilet flushing device 41 is flushing after the toilet lid 32 has been placed in a reclined position. The control unit 51 does not perform the toilet lid opening operation for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) from time T5, even if a first human body detection signal is input from the first human body detector 44A (i.e., even if a user is detected in front of the front end of the toilet body 20 when the toilet lid 32 is in a reclined position). The predetermined time (30 seconds) from time T5 is an invalid period during which the control unit 51 does not accept the first human body detection signal. This predetermined time (30 seconds) is preferably longer than the time it takes for the toilet flushing device 41 to perform a toilet flush. In other words, when the toilet lid 32 is in a laid-down position and a predetermined time has elapsed since the toilet flushing device 41 started flushing, the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 will not perform the toilet lid opening operation even if the first human body detector 44A detects a user. During this inactive period, the toilet lid 32 can be manually rotated to an upright position.

The deodorizing device 46 also operates while the toilet flushing device 41 is flushing the toilet. In other words, the deodorizing device 46 operates while the toilet lid 32 is in the down position and the toilet flushing device 41 is flushing the toilet. The deodorizing device 46 continues to operate even after the toilet flushing device 41 has flushed the toilet and finished supplying flush water to the toilet body 20.

When the toilet lid 32 is in a reclined position and the toilet flushing device 41 is performing a toilet flush and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20, if the user operates the operation button 63A on the remote controller 60, which corresponds to an instruction to open the toilet lid 32, the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 will perform the toilet lid opening operation. Furthermore, when the toilet lid 32 is in a reclined position and the toilet flushing device 41 is performing a toilet flush and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20, the user operates the operation button 63A on the remote controller 60, which corresponds to an instruction to open the toilet seat 31. Then, the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 will perform the toilet lid opening operation, and the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 will perform the toilet seat opening operation.

If, for example, the user stops the rotation of the toilet lid 32 while the toilet lid 32 is closing, the user manually rotates the toilet lid 32 into an upright position, or the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 malfunctions, the angle of the toilet lid 32 detected by the toilet lid detection unit 45 will change differently from the angle that occurs when the toilet lid 32 normally closes. If the change in the angle of the toilet lid 32 is different from normal, the toilet lid detection unit 45 detects this as an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation. When the toilet lid detection unit 45 detects an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation in this way, the control unit 51 causes the toilet flushing device 41 to perform a toilet flush. In other words, when the toilet lid detection unit 45 detects an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation, the toilet flushing device 41 performs a toilet flush.

For example, if a user obstructs the rotation of the toilet lid 32 while the toilet lid 32 is performing the toilet lid closing operation, causing the toilet lid 32 to rotate more slowly than usual to the down position, the time it takes for the toilet lid 32 to reach the down position will be longer than when the toilet lid 32 normally reaches the down position. If the time it takes to reach the down position is longer than usual, the toilet lid detection unit 45 detects this as an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation. In this way, once the toilet lid detection unit 45 detects an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation and a predetermined time has passed (e.g., 10 seconds), the control unit 51 causes the toilet flushing device 41 to perform a toilet flush without waiting for the toilet lid 32 to reach the down position. In other words, once the predetermined time has passed since the toilet lid detection unit 45 detected an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation, the toilet flushing device 41 performs a toilet flush without waiting for the toilet lid 32 to reach the down position.

Next, at time T7, a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) after time T2, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the deodorizing device 46. In other words, the deodorizing device 46 operates until a predetermined time has elapsed after the toilet flushing device 41 finishes flushing. At this time, the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C is turned off by the control unit 51. When the toilet lid 32 is in a tilted position, it is highly likely that a user has entered the toilet room R. Therefore, by keeping the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C lit until time T7 and turning it off at time T7, it is possible to extend the time that at least one of the area around the toilet body 20 and the inside of the toilet bowl 21 is illuminated. This allows the area around the user's feet to be illuminated for a longer period of time when the toilet device 10 is used without turning on the lights provided in the toilet room R.

Next, at time T8, a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) after time T5, the control unit 51 changes the sterilization device light-emitting unit from a lit state to a flashing state. In other words, the sterilization device 47 operates while the toilet lid 32 is in the down position and the toilet flushing device 41 is flushing the toilet and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20, and after the toilet flushing device 41 has flushed the toilet and finished supplying flush water to the toilet body 20.

[When automatically closing and cleaning after use while seated]
In this case, first, a user enters the toilet room R. Then, the first human body detector 44A detects the user and outputs a first human body detection signal to the controller 51. The controller 51 then causes the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to open the toilet lid. At the same time, the controller 51 turns on the human body detection light emitting unit 44C and activates the deodorizing device 46.

Next, as shown in Figure 4, at time T11, the user sits on the toilet seat 31. The seat detection unit 43 then detects that the user has sat on the toilet seat 31 and outputs a seat detection signal to the control unit 51. Based on the input of the seat detection signal, the control unit 51 causes the music playback unit to start playing predetermined music.

Next, at time T12, the user leaves the toilet seat 31. The seat detection unit 43 then detects that the user has left the toilet seat 31 and stops outputting the seat detection signal to the control unit 51. Then, at time T13, a predetermined time (e.g., 6 seconds) after time T12, the control unit 51 causes the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to begin the toilet lid closing operation. At this time, the control unit 51 stops music playback from the music playback unit. At this time, the control unit 51 operates the alarm unit 50 to emit an alarm sound indicating that the toilet lid 32 has begun the toilet lid closing operation. The length of the predetermined time (6 seconds) from time T12 to time T13 can be changed, for example, by operating the remote controller 60.

Next, at time T14, the toilet lid 32 is placed in a lying position. At this time, a signal corresponding to the angle of the lying toilet lid 32 is input from the toilet lid detection unit 45 to the control unit 51. The control unit 51 then operates the toilet flushing device 41 based on the signal corresponding to the lying position from the toilet lid detection unit 45, causing the supply of flushing water to the toilet body 20 to begin. At this time, the control unit 51 turns on the sterilization device light-emitting unit, and the sterilization device 47 changes to an operating state. At this time, the sterilization device 47 begins operating from the operating state of its cyclical operation.

Then, at time T15, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the toilet flushing device 41 and stops the supply of flush water to the toilet body 20. The human body detection light-emitting unit 44C continues to be illuminated by the control unit 51 even after time T15 has passed. The control unit 51 does not perform the toilet lid opening operation for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) from time T14, even if a first human body detection signal is input from the first human body detector 44A (i.e., even if the control unit 51 detects a user in front of the front end of the toilet body 20 when the toilet lid 32 is in a tilted position). The predetermined time (30 seconds) from time T14 is an invalid period during which the control unit 51 does not accept the first human body detection signal. During the invalid period, the toilet lid 32 can be lifted by the user.

Next, at time T16, a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) after time T12, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the deodorizing device 46. At this time, the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C is turned off by the control unit 51.

Next, at time T17, which is a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) after time T14, the control unit 51 changes the sterilization device light-emitting unit from a lit state to a flashing state.

[When operating the remote controller to flush the toilet after use while standing]
In this case, first, a user enters the toilet room R. Then, the first human body detector 44A detects the user and outputs a first human body detection signal to the controller 51. The controller 51 then causes the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to open the toilet lid. At the same time, the controller 51 also operates the deodorizing device 46.

Next, the user operates the operation button 63A on the remote controller 60, which corresponds to the instruction to open the toilet seat. The control unit 51 then drives the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 to execute the toilet seat opening operation, rotating the toilet seat 31 into an upright position. At this time, the control unit 51 starts playing a predetermined piece of music in the music playback unit. At this time, the second human body detection unit 44B can detect a user in front of the toilet body 20 as the toilet seat 31 rotates into an upright position. A second human body detection signal is input to the control unit 51 from the second human body detection unit 44B. At the same time, the first human body detection unit 44A is unable to detect a user due to being blocked by the toilet lid 32, and stops outputting the first human body detection signal.

Next, the user operates the operation button 63A on the remote controller 60, which corresponds to the toilet flush command. When the control unit 51 receives a wireless signal corresponding to the toilet flush command from the remote controller 60 while the second human body detection signal is being input, it operates the toilet flushing device 41 and begins supplying flush water to the toilet body 20 while maintaining the toilet seat 31 and toilet lid 32 in the upright position. In other words, when the toilet seat 31 and toilet lid 32 are in the upright position and the second human body detection unit 44B detects a user, if the remote controller 60 is operated, the toilet flushing device 41 performs a toilet flush without the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 performing the toilet seat closing operation of rotating the toilet seat 31 from the upright position to the reclined position, and the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 performing the toilet lid closing operation.

Next, the user leaves the toilet room R. This causes the second human body detection unit 44B to stop outputting the second human body detection signal to the control unit 51. When the input of the second human body detection signal stops and a predetermined time (e.g., one second) has elapsed, the control unit 51 causes the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 and the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to start closing the toilet seat and the toilet lid. At the same time, the control unit 51 stops playing music in the music playback unit.

Furthermore, when a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed since the user left the toilet room R, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the deodorizing device 46. At the same time, the control unit 51 causes the sterilizing device 47 to start operating from the operating state of its cyclical operation.

[When using automatic cleaning after use in a standing position]
In this case, first, a user enters the toilet room R. Then, the first human body detector 44A detects the user and outputs a first human body detection signal to the controller 51. The controller 51 then causes the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to open the toilet lid. At the same time, the controller 51 also operates the deodorizing device 46.

Next, the user operates the operation button 63A on the remote controller 60, which corresponds to the instruction to open the toilet seat 31, causing the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 to perform the toilet seat opening operation. At this time, the control unit 51 starts playing a specified piece of music in the music playback unit. At this time, a second human body detection signal is input to the control unit 51 from the second human body detection unit 44B. At the same time, the first human body detection unit 44A is blocked by the toilet lid 32 and is no longer able to detect the user, so it stops outputting the first human body detection signal.

Next, the user leaves the toilet room R. This causes the second human body detection unit 44B to stop outputting the second human body detection signal to the control unit 51. When the input of the second human body detection signal stops and a predetermined time (e.g., one second) has elapsed, the control unit 51 causes the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 and the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to start closing the toilet seat and the toilet lid. At the same time, the control unit 51 stops playing music in the music playback unit.

Next, the toilet seat 31 and toilet lid 32 are placed in a reclined position. The control unit 51 then operates the toilet flushing device 41 to begin supplying flushing water to the toilet body 20.

Furthermore, when a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed since the user left the toilet room R, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the deodorizing device 46. At the same time, the control unit 51 causes the sterilizing device 47 to start operating from the operating state of its cyclical operation.

The embodiment configured as described above provides the following advantages:

The toilet device 30 comprises a toilet lid 32 that is supported so as to be rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position, a toilet flushing device 41 that performs a toilet flush by supplying flush water to the toilet body 20, and a toilet lid opening/closing device 49 that performs a toilet lid closing operation by rotating the upright toilet lid 32 to a reclined position before the toilet flushing device 41 performs a toilet flush. With this configuration, the toilet lid 32 can prevent splashes generated by the toilet flush from reaching the outside of the toilet body 20.

The toilet device 30 is equipped with a toilet lid detection unit 45 that detects the rotation state of the toilet lid 32, and the toilet flushing device 41 performs toilet flushing after the toilet lid detection unit 45 detects the toilet lid closing operation. With this configuration, the toilet flushing can be initiated taking into account the rotation state of the toilet lid 32.

The toilet flushing device 41 of the toilet device 30 performs a toilet flush when the toilet lid detection unit 45 detects an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation. This configuration prevents situations in which toilet flushing becomes impossible due to an abnormality in the operation of the toilet lid 32, ensuring reliable toilet flushing.

The toilet flushing device 41 of the toilet device 30 performs a toilet flush when a predetermined time has elapsed since the toilet lid detection unit 45 detected an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation. This prevents situations in which toilet flushing becomes impossible due to an abnormality in the operation of the toilet lid 32, ensuring reliable toilet flushing.

The toilet lid opening/closing device 49 of the toilet device 30 has a remote controller 60 (toilet lid operating unit) that commands the execution of a toilet lid opening operation, which rotates the toilet lid 32 from a lying down position to an upright position. The toilet lid opening/closing device 49 executes the toilet lid opening operation when the remote controller 60 (toilet lid operating unit) is operated by the user while the toilet lid 32 is lying down and the toilet flushing device 41 is executing a toilet flush and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20. With this configuration, it is possible to check the status of the toilet flush while the toilet flush is being executed.

The toilet device 30 includes a toilet seat 31 that is supported so as to be rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position, and a toilet seat opening/closing device 48 that has a remote controller 60 (toilet seat operating unit) that rotates the toilet seat 31 between the upright position and the reclined position and commands the execution of a toilet seat opening operation that rotates the reclined toilet seat 31 to the upright position. The toilet seat opening/closing device 48 executes the toilet seat opening operation when the remote controller 60 (toilet seat operating unit) is operated while the toilet seat 31 is in the reclined position and the toilet flushing device 41 is flushing the toilet and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20. This configuration improves user convenience.

The toilet device 30 includes a toilet seat 31 that is supported so as to be rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position, a toilet seat opening/closing device 48 that rotates the toilet seat 31 between the upright position and the reclined position, and a second human body detection unit 44B that detects a user in front of the toilet body 20 when the toilet seat 31 is in the upright position. The toilet flushing device 41 has a remote controller 60 (flush operation unit) that commands toilet flushing. When the toilet seat 31 and toilet lid 32 are in the upright position and the second human body detection unit 44B detects a user, operating the remote controller 60 (flush operation unit) causes the toilet seat opening/closing device 48 to perform the toilet seat closing operation of rotating the toilet seat 31 from the upright position to the reclined position, and the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, and performs a toilet flush. This configuration prevents the toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31 from falling over when the user is likely to be using the toilet in a standing position.

The toilet device 30 is equipped with a deodorizing device 46 that deodorizes odors sucked in from the space below the toilet lid 32 when it is in the down position. The deodorizing device 46 operates while the toilet lid 32 is in the down position and the toilet flushing device 41 is flushing the toilet. This configuration allows the space below the toilet lid 32 to be efficiently deodorized.

The deodorizing device 46 of the toilet device 30 operates until a predetermined time has elapsed after the toilet flushing device 41 has performed a toilet flush and finished supplying flush water to the toilet body 20. This configuration allows for more reliable deodorization.

The toilet device 30 is equipped with a sterilization device 47 that releases sterilizing substances below the down-positioned toilet lid 32. The sterilization device 47 operates while the toilet lid 32 is in the down-positioned position and the toilet flushing device 41 is flushing the toilet and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20, and after the toilet flushing device 41 has flushed the toilet and finished supplying flush water to the toilet body 20. This configuration improves the sterilization performance of sterilizing the area below the down-positioned toilet lid 32.

The toilet device 30 is equipped with a first human body detector 44A that detects a user in front of the front end of the toilet body 20 when the toilet lid 32 is in a reclined position. When the first human body detector 44A detects a user, the toilet lid opening/closing device 49 performs a toilet lid opening operation to rotate the reclined toilet lid 32 to an upright position. While the toilet lid 32 is in a reclined position and a predetermined time has elapsed since the toilet flushing device 41 started flushing, the toilet lid opening operation is not performed even if the first human body detector 44A detects a user. This configuration prevents the toilet lid 32 from being in an upright position during toilet flushing, thereby reliably preventing splashes generated during toilet flushing from reaching the surrounding area.

The toilet device 30 is equipped with a human body detection light-emitting unit 44C that illuminates the area around the toilet body 20 and the inside of the toilet bowl 21. The human body detection light-emitting unit 44C lights up at least while the toilet flushing device 41 is flushing after the toilet lid 32 has been placed in a downed position. This configuration makes it possible to extend the time that the area around the toilet body 20 and the inside of the toilet bowl 21 are illuminated.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments, for example, are also included within the technical scope of the present disclosure.
(1) Unlike the first embodiment, the toilet flushing device may be configured to flush the toilet when the toilet lid detection unit detects that the toilet lid has rotated to a predetermined position before the toilet lid is in the down position after the toilet lid opening/closing device has performed the toilet lid closing operation. Here, the predetermined position is 45° or less, preferably 60° or less, and more preferably 75°, relative to the angle of the toilet lid in the down position. With this configuration, the toilet flush is performed before the toilet lid is in the down position, thereby preventing droplets from the toilet lid from reaching the surrounding area and allowing the toilet to be flushed earlier.
(2) Unlike the first embodiment, the sterilization device may be configured to release sterilizing water or ozone having a sterilizing function into the toilet bowl.
(3) Unlike embodiment 1, the sterilization device may operate only while the toilet lid is in a down position and the toilet flushing device is flushing the toilet and supplying flush water to the toilet body, or only after the toilet flushing device has flushed the toilet and finished supplying flush water to the toilet body.
(4) Unlike the embodiment, the notification unit may be configured with an LED, a speaker, a liquid crystal panel, etc., or may be configured to combine an LED, a speaker, a liquid crystal panel, and a buzzer. When a speaker or a liquid crystal panel is used, a message such as words or sentences can be notified to the user. Furthermore, the buzzer pattern and the LED light emission pattern may be different between the post-closing operation flush and the pre-closing operation flush.
(5) Unlike the first embodiment, the remote controller may detect a human body located in the toilet room.
(6) Unlike the first embodiment, the human body detection unit may be configured with other sensors such as an ultrasonic sensor or a heat sensor.
(7) Unlike the first embodiment, the seating detection unit may be configured using a capacitance type or weight detection type sensor.
(8) Unlike the first embodiment, the toilet body may be wall-mounted.
(9) Unlike the first embodiment, if the rotation of the toilet lid is obstructed while the toilet lid is closing, the toilet may not be flushed.
(10) Unlike the first embodiment, in flushing after the closing operation, when at least one of the toilet lid and the toilet seat is in the upright position, toilet flushing may be performed immediately upon receiving a toilet flushing command from the remote controller.
(11) Unlike the first embodiment, when a toilet flush command is issued from the remote controller while at least one of the toilet lid and the toilet seat is being closed, the toilet flush may be executed immediately.
(12) Unlike in embodiment 1, the human body detection light-emitting unit may be turned off when the toilet lid is in the down position, or at any time between when the toilet lid is in the down position and when the operation of the deodorizing device is stopped. Furthermore, the human body detection light-emitting unit may be turned off after the operation of the deodorizing device is stopped.
(13) Unlike the first embodiment, the human body detecting light emitting unit may be configured to illuminate only the area around the toilet body or the inside of the toilet bowl.

20... Toilet bowl body, 30... Toilet bowl device, 31... Toilet seat, 32... Toilet lid, 49... Toilet lid opening/closing device, 41... Toilet bowl flushing device, 44A... First human body detection unit, 44B... Second human body detection unit, 44C... Human body detection light-emitting unit (light-emitting unit), 45... Toilet lid detection unit, 46... Deodorizing device, 47... Disinfecting device, 48... Toilet seat opening/closing device, 60... Remote controller (toilet lid operation unit), 60... Remote controller (toilet seat operation unit), 60... Remote controller (flush operation unit)

Claims (7)

A toilet lid supported so as to be rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position;
a toilet flushing device that performs toilet flushing by supplying flush water to a toilet body;
a toilet lid opening/closing device that performs a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the toilet lid from the upright state to the laid state before the toilet flushing device performs a toilet flush;
A toilet lid detection unit that detects the rotation state of the toilet lid;
Equipped with
The toilet flushing device performs toilet flushing after the toilet lid detection unit detects the toilet lid closing operation,
The toilet flushing device executes toilet flushing when the toilet lid detection unit detects an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation. A toilet lid supported so as to be rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position;
a toilet flushing device that performs toilet flushing by supplying flush water to a toilet body;
a toilet lid opening/closing device that performs a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the toilet lid from the upright state to the laid state before the toilet flushing device performs a toilet flush;
A toilet lid detection unit that detects the rotation state of the toilet lid;
Equipped with
The toilet flushing device performs toilet flushing after the toilet lid detection unit detects the toilet lid closing operation,
The toilet flushing device executes toilet flushing when a predetermined time has elapsed since the toilet lid detection unit detected an abnormality in the toilet lid closing operation. A toilet lid supported so as to be rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position;
a toilet flushing device that performs toilet flushing by supplying flush water to a toilet body;
a toilet lid opening/closing device that performs a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the toilet lid from the upright state to the laid state before the toilet flushing device performs a toilet flush;
a sterilization device that releases a sterilizing substance downward from the toilet lid in the fallen state;
a first human body detection unit that detects a user in front of a front end of the toilet body when the toilet lid is in the laid-down state;
Equipped with
the sterilization device operates after the toilet lid is in the down position, the toilet flushing device has performed toilet flushing, and the supply of flush water to the toilet body has been completed ;
The toilet lid opening and closing device is
When the first human body detection unit detects a user, a toilet lid opening operation is performed to rotate the toilet lid from the lying down state to the standing up state,
A toilet device in which the toilet lid is in the fallen state and the first human body detection unit does not perform the toilet lid opening operation even if it detects a user during the period from when the toilet flushing device starts flushing the toilet until a predetermined time has elapsed . A toilet lid supported so as to be rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position;
a toilet flushing device that performs toilet flushing by supplying flush water to a toilet body;
a toilet lid opening/closing device that performs a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the toilet lid from the upright state to the laid state before the toilet flushing device performs a toilet flush;
a light-emitting unit that illuminates at least the area around the toilet body;
Equipped with
The light emitting unit is lit at least while the toilet flushing device is flushing the toilet after the toilet lid has been placed in the down position. The toilet device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the toilet flushing device performs toilet flushing when the toilet lid detection unit detects that the toilet lid has rotated to a predetermined position before the toilet lid is placed in the downed state after the toilet lid opening/closing device has performed the toilet lid closing operation. a toilet seat supported so as to be rotatable between the upright position and the reclined position;
a toilet seat opening/closing device that rotates the toilet seat between the upright position and the reclined position;
a second human body detection unit that detects a user in front of the toilet body when the toilet seat is in the upright position;
It is equipped with
The toilet flushing device has a flushing operation unit that instructs toilet flushing,
The toilet device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein when the toilet seat and the toilet lid are in the upright position and the second human body detection unit detects a user, when the flushing operation unit is operated, the toilet seat opening/closing device does not perform the toilet seat closing operation of rotating the toilet seat from the upright position to the collapsed position, and the toilet lid opening/closing device does not perform the toilet lid closing operation, and performs toilet flushing. a first human body detector that detects a user in front of the front end of the toilet body when the toilet lid is in the laid-down state;
The toilet lid opening and closing device is
When the first human body detection unit detects a user, a toilet lid opening operation is performed to rotate the toilet lid from the lying down state to the standing up state,
A toilet device as described in any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, wherein when the toilet lid is in the laid-down state and a predetermined time has elapsed since the toilet flushing device started flushing the toilet , the toilet lid opening operation is not performed even if the first human body detection unit detects a user.