JPS6033946B2 - toilet bowl cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a toilet bowl cleaning device that senses the use of the toilet bowl and automatically supplies flushing water to the toilet bowl to clean it.

The purpose of this is to supply flushing water to the toilet bowl after a predetermined ignoring time based on the sensing signal of toilet use, so that the toilet bowl can be flushed cleanly and without waste, and to also detect the sensing signal again during the ignoring time. By ignoring this, the toilet is flushed all at once instead of every time it is used, resulting in a greater water-saving effect and the ability to manually supply flushing water to the toilet as needed. It is on offer. The present invention will be explained in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

The toilet bowl cleaning device is composed of a sensing part a, a control part b, an operating part c, an output part d, a driving part e, and a water supply part f. A toilet g is connected to the water supply part f, and the toilet g is supplied from the water supply part f. Water is supplied inside.

In the illustrated example, the toilet g is a urinal, and the water supply section f is constituted by a flush valve F.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a flush valve F, and a valve seat 4 is formed in a flow path connecting an inlet (not shown) connected to a water supply source and an outlet 3.

The main body 1 also has closing openings 5 facing each other with the valve seat 4 in between.
6 is open, and of these closed ports 5 and 6, the primary side 7
A lid 8 is screwed into the opening 5 of the secondary side 9, a starting village support member 10 is inserted and fixed into the opening 6 of the secondary side 9, and an electromagnet E constituting the drive section e is attached and fixed. The flash valve F and the electromagnet E are connected by fastening the flange 3 formed on the opening 6 of the flash valve F and the adapter plate 32 provided on the body 25 of the electromagnet E by screwing or other suitable means.
Both F and E are joined together.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a valve body, which is composed of a piston that slides on the inner wall of the main body 1, and constitutes a main valve 12 corresponding to the valve seat 4 from the primary side 7. Behind it, the valve body 11 and the lid 8 form a main valve 12. A pressure chamber 13 is formed by the space section.

Incidentally, an irreversible packing 14 is installed on the surface of the valve body 11 against the inner wall of the main body 1 to allow the water in the pressure chamber 13 to leak to the primary side 7, and conversely to allow the water in the primary side 7 to leak out. Leakage into the pressure chamber 13 is made impossible.

The pressure chamber 13 is formed by a small hole 15 bored at an appropriate location in the valve body 11.
A guide 33 with which the relief valve body 18 of the relief valve 17 slides, which is provided approximately at the center of the valve body 11, is in sliding contact with the primary side via the guide 33.
A relief groove 33' cut out in the inner peripheral surface, a relief valve seat 16, an insertion hole 16' bored in the center of the relief valve seat 16, and a hole bored in the approximate peripheral edge of the guide vane tube 21 of the valve body 11. It communicates with the secondary side 9 via a small passage formed by 21'.

The relief valve body 18 of the IJ leaf valve 17 is installed from the pressure chamber 13 side with respect to the relief valve seat 16, and is constantly pressed toward the relief valve seat 16 side by a spring 19. The shaft 20 is inserted into the insertion hole 1 provided in the relief valve seat 16.
6', and further extends to the secondary side 9 through a sliding hole 21'' formed in the center of the guide vane tube 21 of the valve body 11.

Further, the travel distance of this relief valve body 18 is adjusted by the screwing condition of a stroke adjustment screw 22 that is screwed into the center of the lid 8 and extends into the pressure chamber 13, thereby adjusting the relationship of the main valve 12. .

23 directly extrudes the relief valve body 18 and the valve body 11,
A starting valve that first operates the relief valve 17 and then the main valve 12 is supported by the starting valve supporting part 10 and is reciprocatably installed inside the gate 6, and its tip is connected to the relief valve body 18.
is closely opposed to the axis 20 of.

The activation village 23 is constantly pressed by a spring 24 to the side opposite to the relief valve body 18.

Note that 30 is a stop valve. The electromagnet E uses a DC electromagnet, and has a coil 26 and a fixed iron core 27 inside the body 25.
A plunger 28 is inserted in a reciprocating manner, and a push rod 29 is integrally provided with the plunger 28, and the push rod 29 extends into the opening □6 of the flush valve F, and its tip is activated. Support the rear end of Village 23.

When power is applied to this electromagnet E, the plunger 28 is attracted to the fixed iron core 27 side by the electromagnetic force of the coil 26, and the push rod 29 is advanced to push the starting village 23, thereby releasing the valve of the relief valve body 18. The shaft 20 is pushed toward the pressure chamber 13, and the relief valve body 18 is first removed from the relief valve seat 16, and the relief valve 17 is opened to allow water in the pressure chamber 13 to flow through the relief groove 33', the relief valve seat 16, and the insertion hole. 16' and the hole 21', the discharge starts gradually to the secondary side 9, and as the starting village 23 continues to move forward, the starting punch 23 applies direct pressure to the guide vane cylinder 21 of the valve body 11. Press the valve body 11 toward the chamber 13 side.
is pushed up from the valve seat 4 by the amount that the water in the pressure chamber 13 is discharged to the secondary side 9, and by the so-called dashpot effect, the opening time of the valve 12 is slowed down, and the water on the primary side 7 is Water flows out to the secondary side 9 and is discharged from the outlet 3.

When the power to the electromagnet E is cut off and the push rod 29 becomes free, the push rod 29 moves back due to the elastic force of the spring 24, and the relief valve 17 is also closed by the spring 19, and at the same time, the pressure on the primary side 7 is closed. Water enters pressure chamber 1 through small hole 15
3, the valve body 11 gradually descends, and finally the main valve 12 closes.

By using the flush valve F having the above-mentioned structure as the water supply part f, the valve body is directly pushed up by an electromagnet, so the valve can be reliably closed and can be used safely even in places with low water pressure. Due to the so-called dashpot effect, the valve opens only at a speed commensurate with the amount of water escaping from the pressure chamber, and closes slowly.Moreover, the electromagnetic plunger is used to directly strike the valve, so the plunger is attached to a fixed iron. It is possible to control instantaneous close contact with the core, thereby buffering damage and impact noise of the electromagnet and valve, and thereby having the effect of preventing water hammer.

Furthermore, since the above electromagnet uses a DC electromagnet,
As mentioned above, even if the plunger moves slowly, unlike AC electromagnets, it does not generate noise, heat, or burn out the coil, and since the plunger can be stopped even in the middle of movement, the valve can be opened easily. The valve stroke (valve stroke) can be adjusted arbitrarily, and the flow rate can be adjusted.

Note that the water supply section f is not limited to the flush valve type as described above; for example, a diaphragm may be used instead of a piston valve, and furthermore, a normal electromagnetic valve, an electrically driven valve, or a tank may be used. An electromagnetic siphon using a syringe may be used, and all that is required is a valve that is opened and closed by the operation of the drive unit e in the middle of the flow path that supplies flush water to the toilet g.

Next, the sensing part a is a photoelectric type such as a retroreflection type or a diffuse reflection type,
There are sensing methods such as electrostatic type, ultrasonic type, mat switch type, urine detection type, door switch type, etc., but here we will explain the case of using a photoelectric type, especially a sensor that changes the amount of reflected light as a sensor. do.

The main body A of the sensing section is connected to the head 3 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
4. Consisting of a support 35, a base 36, a light emitter 37, a light receiver 38, and a pilot lamp 39, the head 34 and support 35 are arranged in a vertical plane, and the branch 35 and the base 36 are arranged in a horizontal plane. It is rotatable and the projection angle can be changed freely.

The block diagram of this sensing part a and the waveforms of the main blocks are shown in the 8th section.
9 and 9, and the operation of the sensing section a will be explained below based on these figures.

The light emitting element of the light emitting circuit a-2 consisting of a light emitting diode is
It is modulated by the output of the oscillation circuit a and is projected into the space where the user of the toilet is located via the optical system.

This light beam may be infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, etc., but in this embodiment, infrared light is used. A part of the projected light is diffusely reflected by the floor, walls, etc. of the toilet, and a certain amount of the reflected light is received by the light receiving element of the light receiving circuit a-3 via the optical system and is exchanged into a certain electrical signal. (Steady state part of mouth)
This state is assumed to be the first steady state. When a user of the toilet enters this space in this state, a portion of the projected light is further reflected or absorbed by the human body), and the amount of light received by the light receiving element changes, and this amount of change is also converted into an electrical signal. be done. Since the output port of the light receiving circuit a-3 is synchronized with the output of the oscillation circuit a-1, the output of the light receiving circuit a-3 is connected to the next stage via a gate circuit (included as part of the light receiving circuit) controlled by the output of the oscillating circuit a-1. By sending the signal to the AC intensifier circuit a-4, malfunctions due to noise such as ambient light can be prevented. The electric signal from which noise has been removed by the gate circuit in the light receiving circuit a-3 is amplified in an AC amplifying circuit a-4, and further becomes a DC voltage output in a detection circuit a-5. This DC voltage output is in a steady state at a certain voltage when no one is using the toilet.
When a user of the toilet enters the space where infrared rays are projected, the projected light hits the human body, and the amount of reflected light increases (or when the projected light is absorbed and the amount of reflected light decreases), the DC voltage output increases ( When the person leaves, the amount of reflected light decreases (or increases) and returns to the original constant voltage. A discrimination circuit a-6 discriminates whether the increase or decrease in the DC voltage output C has increased or decreased, and the increased amount is sent to the increasing integrating circuit a-7 and the differential increasing circuit a-8, and the decreasing amount is sent to the increasing integrating circuit a-7 and the differential increasing circuit a-8. is sent to the integrator circuit a-7' and the differential amplification circuit a-8', and the increment or decrement is integrated in the integrator circuits a-7 and a-7'. -8, a-8' and sent to the output circuit a-9. The output circuit a-9 generates output 2 based on the signals from the differential multiplication circuits a-8 and a-8', sends the signal to the control section b, and lights up the pilot lamp 39. If there is no change for a certain period of time after the amount of received light changes (increases or decreases), that state becomes a new steady state.

As mentioned above, by using the photoelectric sensing method for the sensing part a, the sensing part a is clean and durable without malfunctioning unlike the capacitance type, and if the sensing part is of the type that changes the amount of reflected light, the sensitivity can be improved. It is highly sensitive and does not require sensitivity adjustment or optical axis alignment, nor does it require distance adjustment based on the reflectance of the target object.

Furthermore, if modulated light is used, light of other frequencies will not be accepted, and malfunctions will not occur due to lighting in the toilet, etc. Further, there is no problem even if a stationary object such as a screen is newly provided within the detection range.

Furthermore, by using invisible infrared light, the light rays are not only invisible and safe from tampering, but also do not have an adverse effect on the human eyes or skin, unlike ultraviolet light. The above-mentioned sensor a may be installed at any location such as at the entrance of the toilet, on the ceiling, on the wall, or above the toilet bowl.

Next, a door switch type sensor a will be described as an example of the sensor a other than the photoelectric type.

The one shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a proximity type door switch, in which four door magnet units 41 and reed switch units 48 are respectively attached to the wall or door frame 42 into which the door 40 is loosened. When the magnet unit 41 approaches the lead switch 43, the magnetic force of the magnet 41' of the magnet unit 41 brings the reed switch 43'' of the reed switch unit 43 into contact and turns it on. OF when separated from switch unit 43
It becomes F.

The signal is inverted using an appropriate method such as changing the voltage to high or low. Therefore, when the door 40 is opened, an ON signal (sensing signal) is sent to the control section. Note that in this case, the pilot lamp 39 is provided in the control section b. If the sensing part a is a proximity switch type like this, it will be more durable than a mechanical contact switch type that uses direct contact, even when a door switch is subject to impact, and it will also have no electrical parts exposed. There is no need to worry about tampering with external influences such as moisture. Also, unlike contact switches, there is no need for strict mounting dimensions. The control section b includes a gate circuit b-1 that removes noise and takes out only the sensing signal of a predetermined sensing section a, and a gate circuit b-1 that stores the signal and operates a timer circuit b-3.
The memory circuit b-2 and the first memory reset circuit b are activated for a time T by the signal of the first memory circuit b-2, and when the time is up, activate the T3 timer circuit d-1 of the output section d, which will be described later. T, timer circuit b-3, which sends a signal to activate -4; -2 and a first memory reset circuit b-4 which outputs a signal to erase the memory.

In this embodiment, the operating section c includes an operating switch c-1 that is integrally incorporated in the control section b and outputs an operating signal to operate the second memory circuit c-2, and an operating switch c-1 that receives an operating signal from the operating switch c-1. , the signal is memorized and the T2 timer is
A signal that activates circuit c-3 and T3 of output section d, which will be described later.
a second memory circuit c-2 that outputs a start signal for activating the timer circuit d-1 and a signal for activating the 1-memory reset circuit b-4 of the control section b; and a second memory circuit c-2.
When the signal is received, the T2 time is activated, and when the time is up, the second
Memory reset circuit c-4 An L timer circuit c-3 that issues a signal to activate, and a second memory reset circuit that receives a signal from the T2 timer circuit c-3 and issues a signal to the second memory circuit c-2 to erase its memory. c-4.

The output section d outputs an output signal to the output circuit d-2 for a period of L in response to a start signal from T of the control section b, the timer circuit b-3, or the second memory circuit c-2 of the operation section c. It is constituted by a T3 timer circuit d-1 and an output circuit d-2 which increases the output signal from the T3 timer circuit d-1 and energizes an electromagnet e constituting a driving section e.

Note that T, time, T2 time, and T3 time may be fixed, but in this embodiment, they can be adjusted as appropriate for convenience. 3
Set bait sand and T3 time to 1 second.

The drive unit e is constituted by a mechanism that opens and closes the valve body 11 of the flush valve using electromagnetic force.

The operation will be explained below. First, when the sensing part a senses the use of the toilet bowl, that is, when the door is opened, the sensing signal passes through the gate circuit b-1 of the control part b, and the first memory circuit b
-2 is entered and stored, and T activates the timer circuit b-3. When the timer circuit b-3 times up, a start signal is generated, which activates the T3 timer circuit d-1 of the output section d, activates the T3 time output circuit d-2, and drives the drive section e, causing the electromagnet E' This energizes the flash valve F and drives the first memory reset circuit b- of the control unit b.
4 to erase the memory of the first memory circuit b-2,
wait for the next sensing signal). Therefore, when the first use of the toilet bowl is detected, the first memory circuit b-2 of the control unit b
stores that sensing signal, and does not accept the next sensing signal while it is stored, so until the memory of the first memory circuit b-2 disappears, in other words, T, after time T, timer circuit b-8 The time is up and the electromagnetic flash valve F
The sensing signal is ignored until the toilet is activated, no matter how many times the toilet is used.

Therefore, the time T can be called the ignored time. By doing this, no matter how many times the toilet bowl is used from initial sensing to cleaning, that is, during the neglect period, only one flush is required. The time-up time T, (ignored time) of T, timer circuit b-3 can be set appropriately from 3 minutes (time required for normal urination) to 15 minutes, and each T, timer circuit b installed in multiple toilet bowls can be set as appropriate. -3 timers may be centrally controlled electrically, or one timer may be used for multiple toilet bowls.

Incidentally, if T, the time-up time T of the timer circuit b-3, is shorter than 3 mouse sands, if the toilet bowl is used continuously, the number of times it will be flushed will be too large, and water will be wasted.

Also, to keep the toilet bowl sanitary, it is necessary to clean it within about 15 minutes after use. Furthermore, T. Timer circuit b-3
can be started at any time based on the user's perception.

For example, it can be configured to start after sensing ends, but if the use continues without interruption, cleaning will be performed a predetermined time after the last person has finished using the device, and the time from the first use to cleaning will be may become too long, so if the detection is started immediately after sensing as in this embodiment, such a problem will not occur and the result will be better. The flushing water is supplied after a certain amount of time has elapsed after the control unit detects the use of the first toilet bowl, and even if it detects the use of other toilet bowls during that time, it is ignored. By setting the ignore time to the optimum condition according to the conditions at the site of use, it is possible to obtain a cleaning device that can cleanly clean without wasting water.

That is, the ignore time can be set short in a site where the toilet is used frequently, and set long in a site where the toilet is used less frequently or when it is desired to save water. T3 timer circuit d-1
The T3 time is set to 1 second, but it can be made longer if the water supply section f is not an electromagnetic flush valve F but, for example, an ordinary electromagnetic valve. Next, we will discuss cases in which water is dispensed without regard to human body sensing, such as when cleaning a toilet bowl.

At that time, it is performed by operating the operating section c provided in parallel with the control section b.

That is, for example, an operation switch c--, which is a self-resetting type push button switch, is turned on to generate an operation signal, thereby activating the memory circuit c-2. Second memory circuit c-2
once the operating switch c-1 is turned on, it self-retains or memorizes, starts the T2 timer circuit c-3 and generates a starting signal, and outputs the round timer circuit d- of the output section d.
1 is also activated, the T3 time output circuit d-2 is activated, energizes the electromagnet E, and drives the flash valve F. On the other hand, when the T2 timer circuit c-3 times up, it activates the second memory reset circuit c-4, erases the memory in the second memory circuit c-2, and waits for the next operation switch to be turned on. Therefore, when the first operation signal is input, the second memory circuit c-2 memorizes it and the cleaning starts, but no matter how many times the operation switch c-1 is input again while the second memory circuit c-2 is memorized, the second Memory circuit c-2 is not accepted and is not cleaned.

The T2 timer circuit c-3 times up, the second memory reset circuit c-4 operates, and the second memory circuit c
When the memory of -2 is erased and the post-operation switch c-1 is turned on, cleaning is performed again at that point. At that time, it is obvious that the second memory circuit c-2 is in the storage state. In other words, when the T2 timer circuit c-3 is operating, cleaning will not be performed even if the operation switch c-1 is turned on, so the T2 time is called the prohibition time. The reason for this is that after the prohibited time has elapsed, the cleaning will not be performed unless the operation switch c-1 is turned on again.
This is because if the operation switch c-1 is tampered with and the water is washed many times, water will be wasted.

Also, although cleaning may be started after some time after turning on the operation switch, the reason why cleaning is started immediately when the first operation switch c-1 is turned on is to enable cleaning to be carried out immediately. At the same time, this is to prevent the user from mistakenly assuming that a malfunction occurs if the process is delayed for too long, and to make it easier to detect a malfunction.

Furthermore, the prohibition time (T2 hours) for 25 to 3 times the current sand was set because in this embodiment, an electromagnetic flush valve F is used in the water supply section F, and once activated, water is flushed for approximately 10 to 15 stages for cleaning. Since the required amount of water is obtained, the operation switch c-1 is further turned on during washing to allow more water to flow, since water will be wasted. Further, the electromagnet E requires a minimum rating of 15 to 2 nitric acid.

As mentioned above, the operation part c has a prohibition time, and during that time, no matter how many times the operation switch is turned on, cleaning is not performed, and it is only cleaned when the operation switch is turned on after the prohibition time has elapsed, so water is wasted. Not at all.

Next, a case will be described in which the sensing by the sensing part a and the turning on of the operation switch c-1 overlap. First, there is the sensing of the human body,
, when the operation switch c-1 is turned on before the timer circuit b-3 times out and the start signal is generated, the second
An activation signal is generated by the memory circuit c-2, and the T3 timer circuit d-1 is activated (cleaned) and the first
The memory reset circuit b-4 is activated, the memory of the first memory circuit b-2 is erased, and the elapsed time of the timer circuit b-3 is also canceled. Therefore, if the operating part c is used for cleaning during the neglect time, generation of the activation signal by the control part b is prevented, and repeated cleaning can be prevented.

In addition, if the operation switch c-1 is turned on and cleaned, and there is a detection while the L timer circuit c-3 is operating (during the prohibited time), the T-timer circuit b-3 will operate and the detection will occur. T,
Washed after hours.

By doing this, whenever the toilet is used, the T
, and the cleaning can be performed once within the time period, and the cleaning can be performed at the time when the operation switch c-1 is turned on. Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following advantages.

■ The control unit supplies flush water to the toilet after a predetermined ignore time has elapsed based on the toilet use detection signal, and also ignores any other toilet use detection signals that occur during the ignore time. As a result, the toilet can be flushed all at once instead of every time it is used, which can be expected to have a significant water saving effect, and by operating the control panel, flushing water can be supplied to the toilet even during idle time. This is convenient when cleaning the toilet bowl, etc.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the toilet bowl cleaning device of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic explanatory diagrams of the entire device. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a photoelectric sensor is used, and FIG. This shows the state in which the part is used. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main body of the photoelectric sensor, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the same with a portion cut away. Figures 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of the door switch type sensing unit. It is an explanatory diagram. Fig. 7 is a partially cutaway sectional view of the drive unit and water supply unit, Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the photoelectric sensing unit,
Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the waveforms of the main blocks.
0 is a block diagram of the electric circuit of the entire device, and FIG. 11 is a time chart. a... Sensing section, b... Control section, c... Operating section, d... Output section, e... Drive section,
f... Water supply section, g... Toilet bowl. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 10 Figure 9 Figure 11

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sensing section that detects the use of the toilet bowl, a control section that generates an activation signal after a predetermined ignoring time based on the sensing signal and ignores new sensing signals during the ignoring time, and a control section that can be operated manually. an operating section that generates a starting signal based on the control section or the operating section, an output section that generates an output signal in response to the starting signal from the control section or the operating section, and a driving section that operates based on the output signal;
A toilet bowl cleaning device comprising a water supply section that supplies flush water to the toilet bowl in conjunction with the operation of the drive section.