JP4678538B2 - Automatic cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic cleaning apparatus having a pre-cleaning function and a main cleaning function in an automatic cleaning apparatus that performs toilet cleaning based on an output signal from a detection means.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an automatic cleaning device that determines the presence or absence of a user by a detection unit and supplies cleaning water for toilet cleaning by an output signal from the detection unit. Generally, it is determined that the user is in front of the automatic cleaning device and performs toilet cleaning, and a photoelectric sensor that confirms the presence of the user by light projection and reception is used as the detection means. It was.

In addition, there is one that supplies wash water for toilet flushing by detecting the urine flow radiated into the urinal rather than determining the presence or absence of a user (see, for example, Patent Document 1). )
. Here, a water level sensor is used as a detection means, and it is determined that a urine flow was detected when the water level of the sealed water rose by a water level sensor installed in the vicinity of the drain outlet, and the supply of washing water is controlled. Met.

In an automatic cleaning device that controls the supply of cleaning water by means of detection, to detect the user, perform pre-cleaning to wet the toilet surface, and to confirm that the user has finished urine and to wash urine There is also an automatic cleaning device that performs this main cleaning.
By performing pre-cleaning, the surface of the pottery inside the urinal gets wet with the washing water, so that urine can be prevented from adhering directly to the surface of the pottery. It was possible to protect the equipment of automatic cleaning equipment.

There is also a urinal cleaning device that performs preliminary cleaning when it is detected by the detection means that it is in front of the urinal and performs main cleaning when it is separated from the urinal (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-189315 JP-A 63-212275

However, in a urinal having a pre-cleaning function, for example, there is an automatic cleaning device that determines the cleaning time by detecting the presence or absence of a user using a photoelectric sensor and detecting the staying time immediately before the user's urinal. . At this time, the pre-cleaning was performed at the timing when the water was discharged immediately after detecting the presence or absence of a user approaching the urinal, and the surface of the pottery was wetted by the cleaning water before the user used the urinal. Therefore, pre-cleaning is done only to wet the pottery surface,
The water discharge was not enough to assist in the main cleaning. Moreover, since this washing | cleaning determines the amount of washing water according to the time when the user stood in front of the urinal, even when there was little urine, it wash | cleaned using a large amount of washing water.

Further, in a urinal having a pre-cleaning function, there is an automatic cleaning device that performs pre-cleaning and main cleaning by detecting a water level change in one trap by a user's urine flow using a water level sensor or the like. At this time, the pre-cleaning cannot confirm that the user is present until the urine reaches the vicinity of the drain outlet where the water level sensor is installed. Therefore, the toilet cannot be wetted when the urine is released. In addition, when a water level sensor is installed in the vicinity of a drain outlet, the water level where the water level sensor is installed fluctuates due to the attractive force that occurs when the wastewater from other toilet devices passes through the water pipe. There was also the possibility of cleaning.

As described above, with regard to the automatic cleaning apparatus having the pre-cleaning function, the pre-cleaning is mainly performed to wet the ceramic surface separately from the main cleaning for actually cleaning the urine. There was a problem of using water.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and since the main cleaning water immediately before use is used as the pre-cleaning, it becomes possible to reduce the cleaning water for the pre-cleaning, and to optimize the amount of cleaning water. An automatic cleaning device that can be supplied is provided.

Automatic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, the toilet flushing is time to clean the inside of the urinal on the basis of a signal outputted urine flow from the sensing means and said detecting means for detecting the urine flow is the flow of urine in the urinal determining the time, and a control means for opening and closing control of the valve for performing the toilet flushing, the control means, prior to washing the inside of the urinal after direct that initiated the detection of urine flow by said detecting means has a pre-cleaning function for cleaning, the the main cleaning function for the cleaning of cleaning the inside of the urinal after finishing the detection of urine flow by said detection means, said control means terminates the main cleaning after the closing operation of the valve for, when detecting the urine flow by a predetermined time, a second prohibition time for prohibiting the detection of the urine flow, the detection means immediately after the end of the second prohibition time, the before from the time of the end of the second prohibition time And determines the toilet flushing time according to the present cleaning function on the basis of urine flow detection time is the time of the signal output from the detection means.

  Here, the “second prohibition time” is a time during which urine flow detection by the detection means is prohibited for a predetermined time after the end of the main cleaning. Here, after the completion of the main cleaning, the time when the valve that had been opened for the pre-cleaning is closed is the moment when the valve is closed, and the second prohibited time is immediately after the valve is closed in the water supply pipe. This time is set so as not to detect the flow of accumulated cleaning water. For this reason, the washing water and the urine flow are not erroneously detected after the main washing. Further, in order to prevent erroneous detection of urine flow and washing water during the main washing, the control means does not perform control based on the urine flow signal during the main washing. Here, in order to prevent the control means from performing control based on the urine flow signal from the detection means during the main washing, the urine flow signal from the detection means during the main washing is ignored or during the main washing. This can be realized by various methods such as temporarily stopping the output of the detecting means.

With this configuration, when the urine flow is detected by the detection means immediately after the end of the second prohibition time, it can be determined that the user has appeared during the main cleaning after the end of urine or during the second prohibition time. In other words, since it can be determined that it is used continuously, the toilet wall surface is wet, so that it is possible to prevent urine from adhering without pre-cleaning, and it is possible to reduce the amount of pre-cleaning water. It becomes.

“Pre-washing” is a washing action in which the user cleans the inside of the urinal immediately after the user urinates the urinal. This prevents urine from adhering to the pottery. In addition, the “pre-cleaning” in which the approach of the human body is detected and the cleaning water is flowed wets the surface of the ceramic before urine reaches the surface of the ceramic, thereby preventing urine from adhering to the ceramic.
In addition, “main cleaning” is a method in which the user cleans the inside of the urinal after the urine is finished, and the cleaning is performed in a longer time than the pre-cleaning time. The timing for performing the washing includes a case where it is determined that the user has moved away from the urinal by a certain distance, and a case where an arbitrary time has elapsed after the detection of the urine flow.

In the automatic cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment, the pre-cleaning is performed simultaneously with the detection of the urine flow by the detection means. Therefore, since the washing water is discharged immediately after urine has landed on the surface of the pottery or after urination, the urine up to the end of the pre-washing can be obtained by pre-washing while having the conventional pre-washing function of wetting the pottery surface. It becomes possible to wash.
This configuration maintains the effect of preventing urine from adhering to the earthenware by pre-washing, and urine can be washed by pre-washing. Regardless of this, even if it is shorter than the predetermined washing time determined by the urine flow detection time and the use interval, it is possible to reduce the amount of washing water while maintaining the urine washing effect.

Further, in the automatic cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment, the control means has a first prohibition time for prohibiting urine flow detection for a predetermined time from the end of the precleaning, and continues at the first prohibition time and at the end of the first prohibition time. The main washing time is determined based on the detection time of the urine flow signal.
Here, the “prohibited time” refers to a time provided for prohibiting detection by the detection means during or immediately after cleaning so as not to erroneously detect urine flow and cleaning water.

The “first prohibition time” is a time during which urine flow detection by the detection means is prohibited for a predetermined time after the end of pre-washing. Here, the term “after pre-cleaning” refers to the moment when the valve that has been opened for pre-cleaning is closed, and immediately after the valve is closed, the cleaning water accumulated in the water supply pipe The flow is not detected, and the washing water and urine flow are not erroneously detected. Further, in order to prevent erroneous detection of the urine flow and the wash water during the pre-cleaning, the control means does not perform control based on the urine flow signal during the pre-cleaning. Here, in order to prevent the control means from performing control based on the urine flow signal from the detection means during the pre-washing, the urine flow signal from the detection means during the pre-washing is ignored or pre-washing is performed. This can be realized by various methods such as temporarily stopping the output of the detecting means.

With this configuration, when urine flow is detected immediately after the first prohibition time, it can be determined that urine was present during the first prohibition time. The accurate detection time of the urine flow signal can be grasped from the first prohibition time and the end of the first prohibition time, and an appropriate amount of main cleaning can be supplied.

In the automatic cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment, the control unit does not perform the main cleaning when the detection unit does not detect the urine flow after the first prohibition time.

With this configuration, when the urine flow is not detected after the first prohibition time, it can be determined that urine has ended during the pre-cleaning or during the first prohibition time. Therefore, since it can be determined that the detected urine flow rate is small, it can be determined that the pre-cleaning can be sufficiently cleaned. Therefore, since it is possible to wash urine without performing main cleaning, the amount of cleaning water for main cleaning can be reduced and the cleaning effect can be maintained.

Further, in the automatic cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment, the control means performs toilet cleaning for a predetermined time when only the pre-cleaning is performed a predetermined number of times.

Here, “toilet cleaning for a certain period of time” is toilet cleaning for cleaning when only pre-cleaning is performed an arbitrary number of times. The “certain time” is a time estimated based on the total time obtained by multiplying the first prohibited time by an arbitrary number of times, and is set to a time shorter than the total time.

Moreover, it can be judged that the urine washing only for the pre-washing has occurred is that the urine was finished during the pre-washing or the first prohibited time. Here, when the urine is finished during the pre-washing, the urine can be washed by the pre-washing. However, when the urine is finished during the first prohibited time, the time from the end of the pre-washing until the urine is finished. Your urine may not have been washed.

With this configuration, even when there is urine that has ended during the first prohibition time, it is possible to wash the urine remaining in the urinal by performing toilet cleaning for a certain period of time. It is possible to prevent adhesion of urine stones by urine.

  In the automatic cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment, the detection means is a radio wave sensor that transmits and receives radio waves and detects urine flow.

The radio wave sensor can detect a detection target through a substance other than a conductive substance such as a metal, and can detect a detection target part that is a moving object. With this configuration, it is possible to detect through the pottery, so it can be installed without specifying the installation location, and because it can detect moving objects, it can detect urine flow through the pottery. It is possible to perform toilet cleaning with the pre-cleaning function at the moment when the urine flow urinates, so pre-cleaning is possible at the moment when the urine flow urinates, and the urine flow is efficiently washed with the toilet cleaning water with the pre-cleaning function It becomes possible.

  According to the present invention, since the main cleaning water immediately before use is used as the pre-cleaning, it is possible to reduce the cleaning water for the pre-cleaning, and it is possible to provide an automatic cleaning device that can supply an optimal amount of cleaning water It becomes.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, the urinal of the present invention is
Needless to say, the automatic cleaning device of the present invention is not affected by the method of installing the toilet bowl, and is installed so as to be in direct contact with the floor surface or installed by hooking a urinal on a mounting hook attached to the wall surface. Yes.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention. The automatic cleaning device of the present invention is a urinal 1
Detection means 3 for detecting the urine flow in the inside, and control means 5 for determining the toilet cleaning time based on the urine flow signal output from the detection means 3 and for controlling the opening and closing of the valve 4 for performing toilet cleaning. It is a preparation. In the present embodiment, the detection means 3 for detecting the urine flow is installed on the upper part of the urinal 1, but the detection means 3 is installed on the back of the urinal or in the vicinity of the urinal drain. Also good. However, the detection means 3 needs to be installed in a place where the urine user can urinate and the urine flow can be reliably detected before the urine urinates on the pottery inside the urinal 1.

The control means 5 determines the toilet flushing time based on the urine flow signal obtained by the detection means 3. FIG. 2 shows a signal conversion diagram performed by the control means 5 based on the urine flow signal.
The A signal in FIG. 2 is the urine flow analog signal 7 output by the detection means. Control means 5
The signal is binarized on the basis of a preset threshold for the urinary flow analog signal 7, and the presence or absence of the urine flow is determined. The B signal in FIG. 2 is a urine flow digital signal 9 binarized based on the urine flow signal. By means of the urine flow digital signal 9, the control means 5 can recognize the urine flow detection time by one user and the interval at which the user uses the urinal device. In FIG. 2, the C value represents the urine flow detection time, and the interval time used by the D value.

The control means 5 determines that the amount of urine is large when the C value is long and sets the cleaning time to be long, and if it is short, determines that the amount of urine is small and shortens the cleaning time. Thereby, the amount of washing water according to the amount of urine can be determined, and washing with the optimum amount of washing water becomes possible. Further, when the D value is short, it can be determined that the use interval is short and the urinal is frequently used. Therefore, when the D value is short and the predetermined number of times has been reached, washing for one user is performed. The time is set to a time shorter than the washing time determined by the urine volume. Since the frequency of use is high, even if the cleaning time is set short, the next cleaning is performed immediately, so that urine can be reliably cleaned.

Conversely, when the D value is long, it can be determined that the use interval is long and the urinal usage frequency is low, so for users after the D value has reached a predetermined time or more, depending on the amount of urine Set the time longer than the determined cleaning time. Since the frequency of use is low, it is possible to reliably wash urine by lengthening the washing time, and it is possible to prevent urine from remaining and adhering to the ceramic surface.

Here, the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention has a pre-cleaning function for cleaning the toilet after the start of urine flow detection, and a main cleaning function for cleaning the toilet after the detection of the urine flow by the detecting means. Yes. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the cleaning timing / time depending on the presence or absence of the pre-cleaning function. FIG.
The urine flow detection time by the urine flow digital signal 11 is T0. When the control means 5 of the present invention determines that the cleaning time T1 is optimal for the urine flow detection time T0, there is no pre-cleaning function 1
In the case of 3, it is possible to perform cleaning with an optimal amount of cleaning water by performing the main cleaning T1 for the urine flow detection time of T0. Here, in the case of the pre-cleaning function 15, the urine flow digital signal is “
When 1 is reached, pre-cleaning is started. Since the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention performs pre-cleaning at the same time as detecting the urine flow, it can perform cleaning at the timing when the urine reaches the surface of the pottery, and can clean the urine for T2 hours during the pre-cleaning. Therefore, since the urine is washed by the pre-cleaning, the main cleaning time can be set to a cleaning time shorter than the cleaning time without the pre-cleaning function. Therefore, it is possible to use the pre-cleaning water that has been discharged for the purpose of wetting the surface of the pottery for a part of the main cleaning, so that the urine in the pottery can be cleaned even if the main cleaning time is shortened. It becomes possible.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a signal diagram with respect to the operation of the actual automatic cleaning apparatus when pre-cleaning is performed. FIG. 4 shows a urine flow digital signal 17 which is a binarized signal based on the urine flow signal, an opening / closing signal 19 of the valve 4, and an operation signal 21 of the detection means 3. Here, when the detection means 3 detects the urine flow, the control means 5 opens the valve 4 to perform the pre-cleaning, and the pre-cleaning is started. During the pre-cleaning, the control means 5 does not perform control based on the urine flow signal during pre-cleaning in order to prevent erroneous detection of the wash water and urine flow by the detection means 3. When pre-cleaning is performed for a predetermined time, the control means 5 closes the valve 4. Here, the control means 5 performs the closing operation of the valve 4, but since the wash water accumulated in the water supply pipe is supplied to the inside of the urinal, the detection means 3 is constant after the closing operation of the valve 4 by the control means 5. The urine flow detection is resumed after a lapse of time (first prohibition time). By restarting urine flow detection after the first prohibition time, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of urine flow as the wash water collected in the water supply pipe is supplied to the inside of the urinal. Only can be detected.

The control means 5 determines the main washing time based on the urine flow time detected by the detection means 3 that resumed the urine flow detection after the first prohibition time. Here, since the detection means 3 detects the urine flow after the first prohibition time, it can be determined that urine was present during the pre-cleaning time and the first prohibition time. Of these, during pre-cleaning, urine was cleaned with the cleaning water supplied to the urinal during the pre-cleaning, and there was a possibility that it was cleaned with the cleaning water accumulated inside the water supply pipe during the first prohibition time. Therefore, the control means 5 determines the main washing time based on the urine flow time after the first prohibition time. As a result, the pre-wash is used as part of the main wash, so the wash water used for the pre-wash can be used effectively, and the amount of wash water is less than the predetermined wash time determined by the urine flow time and the use interval of the urinal This makes it possible to clean urine reliably.

When the urine flow cannot be detected by the urine flow digital signal 17, the control means 5 opens the valve 4 and starts the main cleaning. As described above, the main cleaning is performed by determining the cleaning time based on the urine flow detection time after the first prohibition time. Here, during the main cleaning, similarly to the pre-cleaning, the control means 5 performs control based on the urinary flow signal during the main cleaning in order to prevent erroneous detection of the washing water and the urine flow by the detection means 3. There is nothing. After the determined cleaning time has elapsed, the control means 5 closes the valve 4. Here, after the valve 4 is closed by the control means 5, the detection means 3 resumes urine flow detection after a certain time (second prohibition time) has elapsed. By restarting urine flow detection after the second prohibition time, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of urine flow in the case where the wash water accumulated in the water supply pipe is supplied to the inside of the urinal as in the case of the previous washing. Become. The second prohibited time is
It is set longer than the first prohibition time. Since the urine flow is detected after the first prohibition time, it is possible to accurately detect the urine flow by setting the first prohibition time short.
In addition, by setting the second prohibition time longer than the first prohibition time, the output signal that can be detected when the user moves away from the urinal is separated even when the output signal becomes the same signal as the urine flow signal. Signals and urine flow signals are not erroneously detected. By performing the above operation, the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention uses the pre-cleaning as a part of the main cleaning, so that it exceeds the predetermined cleaning time determined by the urine flow detection time and the urinal usage interval. It is possible to reliably wash urine in a short main washing time and to prevent erroneous detection of urine flow and washing water.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a signal diagram for the operation of the control means 5 when the urine flow detection time is short. Here, when the urine flow signal digital signal 23 cannot be detected after the first prohibition time, the control means 5 does not open the valve 4 for performing the main cleaning. This is because it can be determined that the urine flow has disappeared during the pre-cleaning or the first prohibition time, and it can be determined that the urine during the pre-cleaning or the first prohibition time has been substantially cleaned by the pre-cleaning. Therefore, by detecting the urine flow by the detection means 3 and performing the pre-cleaning, it is possible to clean the urine without having to perform the main cleaning again after the pre-cleaning for a small amount of urine.

As described above, when the detection unit 3 cannot detect the urine flow immediately after the first prohibition time is performed a predetermined number of times, the automatic cleaning device of the present invention performs toilet cleaning for a certain time. This is because when a small amount of urine is performed several times, there is a possibility that it cannot be completely cleaned by pre-cleaning. In order to prevent urinary stones from adhering to the inside of the urinal 1 due to urine that cannot be completely cleaned. It is. By this operation, urine remaining in the urinal 1 can be reliably washed, and adhesion of urinary stones to the urinal 1 can be prevented.

Here, in this embodiment, the case where toilet cleaning is performed for a certain period of time when urine flow is not detected is described, but in addition to this, after cleaning only for pre-cleaning is performed a predetermined number of times There is also a method in which when the user uses the urinal 1, the urine that may remain in the urinal 1 is surely washed by washing longer than the normal washing time.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a signal diagram for the operation of the control means 5 when the user uses the urinal continuously. Here, after the detection of the first user's urine flow by the detection means 3, the control means 5
Opens the valve 4 to perform the main cleaning, and starts the main cleaning. During the main cleaning, the control unit 5 does not perform control based on the urine flow signal during the main cleaning in order to prevent erroneous detection of the cleaning water and the urine flow by the detection unit 3. If the next user performs urination using the urinal during the main washing for the first user's urine flow, the detection means 3 cannot detect the urine flow, and the urine after the second prohibition time for the first user. Detect the flow. At this time, the control means 5 detects the urine flow time detected after the second prohibition time for the first user, and sets the urine flow time detected after the second prohibition time for the first user after the urine flow detection. The main cleaning is performed.

This is because the next user started to urinate during the main cleaning for the first user,
5 indicates that the urine flow during the main cleaning for the first user is determined to be cleaned by the main cleaning water, and this main cleaning is used as a pre-cleaning. Thereby, it becomes possible to wash urine without performing pre-washing and with a small amount of washing water.

Next, the detection means 3 used in the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention will be described. The detection means 3 used in the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention needs to be able to detect the urine flow, and to detect the urine flow before the urine flow reaches the ceramic surface. For this reason, it is difficult to satisfy the above conditions, for example, with a water level sensor that detects the movement of the sealed water inside the drain outlet or a fine differential pressure sensor that detects the presence or absence of urine flow by a slight pressure due to urine flow. Therefore, the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention uses a radio wave sensor that detects urine flow by transmitting and receiving radio waves. Since the radio wave sensor has a property of transmitting materials other than conductive materials such as metal, it can be installed in the urinal 1 without being exposed on the surface of the pottery. Therefore, since it can be installed in a place where the urine flow can be detected before the urine flow lands on the ceramic surface, the urine flow can be reliably detected.

As described above, the installation place of the detection means 3 in the present embodiment is installed on the upper part of the urinal 1 and is installed so that the urine flow is detected immediately before urine is placed on the ceramic surface. In addition to this, it is possible to detect the urine flow before landing on the surface of the pottery by installing it on the back of the urinal 1 and radiating radio waves in the direction of the user. In addition, since the radio wave sensor can be detected through pottery as described above, it is difficult to mount a photoelectric sensor which is a conventional detection means (a urinal which is used by a user to control opening and closing of a valve). (Toilet bowl) can also be retrofitted easily because it is possible to change the control of the valve from manual control to control by detection means without machining the hole to attach the photoelectric sensor to the pottery when installing Is possible.

Next, the case where the pre-cleaning is performed based on the urine flow signal and the case where the pre-cleaning is performed based on the signal detecting the human body will be compared, and the cleaning effect on the main cleaning water amount will be described. Here, the signal that detects the human body is a signal obtained from the detection means when the human body approaches or the human body is in front of the urinal, and when the detection means can confirm that the human body is present, pre-cleaning is performed. It shows that.
The measurement location in this measurement is shown in FIG.
In this measurement, the cleaning effect was derived by the amount of residual urine in the trap 2 provided immediately before the piping, which discharges urine, washing water, and the like from the urinal to the outside. The residual urine amount was derived by measuring the electrical conductivity of the sealed water 8 stored in the trap 2.

Here, as the derived electrical conductivity is higher, the amount of urine remaining in the trap 2 is larger, and the wash water flows into the trap 2 so that the wash water and urine are replaced. The degree is lowered. Therefore, the cleaning effect is derived from the replacement rate, which is the rate at which cleaning water and urine are replaced, and the cleaning effect is determined based on the derived replacement rate. A formula for deriving the substitution rate is shown in Formula (1).

(Substitution rate) = {(A−B) / (A−C)} × 100 [%] (1)

A: Electric conductivity [S / m] of sealed water when a predetermined amount of urine is put in the sealed water
B: Electric conductivity [S / m] of the sealed water after the main cleaning for an arbitrary time
C: Electric conductivity of washing water [S / m]

In the measurement, the test was conducted on the assumption of a short time and a long time when an adult normally uses a urinal. The urine volume was set so that the total urine volume in the case of a short time was 60 ml (assuming use of about 5 seconds), and the total urine volume in the case of a long time was 210 ml (assuming use of about 16 seconds). In addition, since the urine used in this measurement is a simulated urine created based on general urine components, it is possible to derive a result close to the actual cleaning effect. Since it is possible to derive numerically as compared with a method of performing visual evaluation by color, it is possible to ensure measurement accuracy.
In this test, the setting is based on adult males. A nozzle that can discharge simulated urine at a constant flow rate / constant flow rate is provided at the waist level of adult males, and pseudo urine is released toward the back of the pottery. Is. Here, the average flow rate of general adult urine was used as the flow rate for releasing simulated urine.
FIG. 8 shows the result of the total urine volume 210 ml as the evaluation result in the above setting. From FIG. 8, as a result of the pre-cleaning based on the urinary flow signal and the pre-cleaning based on the signal detected by the human body, the cleaning time of the main cleaning necessary to obtain the same replacement rate is the pre-cleaning based on the urinary flow signal. It was confirmed that it was shorter. Therefore, in order to obtain the same cleaning effect, it is possible to obtain the cleaning effect with a shorter main cleaning time, that is, with a smaller amount of cleaning water, when the pre-cleaning based on the urine flow signal is performed. For example, in the case of a replacement rate of 90%, which is one criterion for completing the cleaning, the cleaning time is shortened by 0.5 seconds. If it is shortened by 0.5 seconds, it will save about 120 ml of water. Since the urinal is installed in a place where there are many users such as public places,
Significant water saving is possible.

Here, when the main cleaning is performed in a short time or when the main cleaning is not performed, it can be confirmed that the replacement rate varies depending on the signal used for the pre-cleaning. Therefore, even when the urine flow cannot be detected after the first prohibition time and the main cleaning is not performed, if the pre-cleaning method is based on the urine flow detection signal, the pre-cleaning is performed based on the signal detecting the human body. It is also possible to obtain a cleaning effect. Furthermore, even when toilet cleaning is performed for a certain period of time when only pre-cleaning is performed, a certain amount of cleaning effect can be obtained by pre-cleaning. Can be cleaned.
Here, from the measurement results, the difference between the urinary flow signal and the signal of detecting the human body is about 20% as the replacement rate when the total urine volume is 210 ml and the main washing is not performed, and the total urine volume is 60 ml. Even in this case, a difference of about 10% occurs, so that a large cleaning effect can be obtained when the main cleaning is not performed.

From the above results, by performing pre-cleaning based on the urine flow signal, it is possible to maintain the same cleaning effect as in the case of performing pre-cleaning based on the signal detected by the human body, and when the main cleaning time is short Since the cleaning effect can be obtained even if the amount of the cleaning water is reduced, it can be confirmed that the water saving effect is obtained.

Schematic configuration diagram of the automatic cleaning apparatus of the present invention Signal conversion diagram based on urine flow signal by control means Schematic of cleaning timing / time with and without pre-cleaning function Signal diagram for the operation of the actual automatic cleaning device when pre-cleaning is performed Signal diagram for operation of control means when urine flow detection time is short Signal diagram for the operation of the control means when the user uses the urinal continuously Electrical conductivity measurement location diagram. (A) is the figure which showed the whole automatic washing apparatus, (B) is the trap part and the elements on larger scale of its periphery. Relationship between main cleaning time and replacement rate

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Urinal 2 ... Trap part 3 ... Detection means 4 ... Valve 5 ... Control means 6 ... Ceiling surface 7 ... Urine flow analog signal 8 ... Sealed water 9, 11, 17, 23, 29 ... Urine flow digital signal 13 ... Previous Cleaning signal when there is no cleaning function 15 ... Cleaning signal when there is a pre-cleaning function 19, 25, 31 ... Valve open / close signal 33 ... Detection means operation signal

Claims (2)

Determining a urinal washing time which is a time for washing the inside of the urinal based on a detection means for detecting a urine flow which is a flow of urine in the urinal and a signal of the urine flow outputted from the detection means;
And a control means for performing opening / closing control of a valve for performing toilet cleaning,
The control means includes
A pre-cleaning function for cleaning before cleaning the inside of the urinal after direct that initiated the detection of urine flow by said detecting means,
A main cleaning function for performing main cleaning for cleaning the inside of the urinal after the detection of the urine flow by the detecting means;
The control means includes
A second prohibition time for prohibiting detection of urine flow for a predetermined time after performing the closing operation of the valve for ending the main cleaning;
When urine flow is detected by the detection means immediately after the end of the second prohibition time,
Automatic cleaning apparatus characterized by determining the toilet flushing time according to the present cleaning function on the basis of the urine flow detection time is the time of the signal output from the detection means from the time of completion of the second prohibition time. The detection means includes
The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic cleaning apparatus is a radio wave sensor that transmits and receives radio waves and detects urine flow.

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