ES2845598T3 - Drying device and sanitary rinsing apparatus having the device - Google Patents

Abstract

A drying device comprising: an air blowing portion (20, 81) for blowing pressurized air to dry a surface to be dried by means of a jet of pressurized air whose contact area (E) to the surface to be dried is narrower than the surface to dry (F); and a movable unit (52) for moving the air blowing portion (20, 81) while blowing the jet, such that the jet blown from the air blowing portion sequentially sweeps a substantially complete surface of the surface to dry (F), wherein the mobile unit (52) includes a first mobile device (71) for moving the air blowing portion (20, 81) in a state in which a blowing direction of the jet is maintained for forming a predetermined angle with respect to a direction of movement of the air blowing portion (20, 81) and a second movable device (70) for moving the air blowing portion in a direction other than the direction of movement , wherein the mobile unit (52) includes a cyclical movement to cyclically alternate the air blowing portion (20, 81) in a fixed direction and a gradual movement to move the cyclical movement in a predetermined direction, and sweeps the contact area ( E) of the jet over practically the entire surface of the surface to be dried (F), and characterized in that a first stage is provided in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit (52) is established as a direction to the left and to the right of the surface to be dried (F), and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position forward from a center of the surface to be dried (F) towards a substantial center thereof, and a second stage in which the gradual movement is performed from a predetermined position backward from the center of the surface to be dried (F) towards the substantial center thereof, and the first stage and the second stage are executed, or because a first stage is provided in which a direction of cyclical movement of the mobile unit (52) is set as a forward and backward direction of the surface to be dried (F), and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on one side to the left. rda or to the right from a center of the surface to be dried (F) towards a substantial center thereof, and a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position elsewhere to the left or right from the center of the surface to be dried (F) towards the substantial center thereof, and the first stage and the second stage are executed.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Drying device and sanitary rinsing apparatus having the device

Technical field

The present invention relates to a drying device for drying a wet surface by blowing air and to a sanitary washing apparatus equipped therewith.

Previous technique

JP-A-200192527 refers to an air nozzle device having two motors. The features of the preamble of independent claims 1 and 14 are known from this document.

In a sanitary washing apparatus for washing the intimate parts of the human body, various functions are designed to perform the washing corresponding to the preferences of the users. The user performs the washing of the intimate parts by using the sanitary washing apparatus by using the various functions, and carries out the removal of the water droplets adhering to the intimate parts with paper, such as toilet paper. In recent years, however, a drying device has been proposed as a substitute for paper, such as toilet paper (for example, see patent document 1). Figure 21 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a conventional sanitary washing apparatus equipped with a drying device. Figure 22 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of this conventional sanitary laundering apparatus.

As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the sanitary flushing apparatus is composed of a toilet seat 2 arranged in a toilet 1, a toilet lid 3, a main body casing 4 of the sanitary flushing apparatus and a tank of wash (low tank) 9.

The main body housing 4 has a built-in hot air blowing port 7 for blowing hot air from a hot air blowing device 5; a wash water spray nozzle 8 for spraying hot water on the intimate parts of the human body; a wash water supply pump 11 for supplying hot water to this wash water spray nozzle 8; a hot water tank 12; a high pressure air accumulator 14 for accumulating the air compressed by an air compressor 13; and a solenoid valve 15 for opening and closing an outlet of the high pressure air accumulator 14.

The toilet seat 2 has a cavity 16 provided therein and air blowing nozzles 18 consisting of a plurality of holes for blowing air into this cavity 16. The solenoid valve 15 and the cavity 16 are connected by a hose of high pressure 17.

When a cleaning action is performed after a human body 10 sits on the toilet seat 2 and defecation ends, the wash water supply pump 11 is operated and hot water is sprayed from the water spray nozzle wash 8 on a surface to be washed through the hot water tank 12, and thus washes the surface to be washed. After washing, the air compressor 13 is driven by the drying action to blow high pressure air on the surface to be washed through the high pressure air accumulator 14, the solenoid valve 15, the high pressure hose 17, the cavity 16, and the air blowing nozzles 18, in order to spread or diffuse the drops of water adhering to the surface to be washed by blowing air. Next, the hot air blowing device 5 is operated to blow hot air onto the surface to be washed from the hot air blowing port 7 through an air duct 6 to thereby dry the surface to be washed.

In the conventional configuration described above, when the compressed air in the high pressure air accumulator 14 is released from the air blowing nozzles 18 provided with a plurality of holes, the water droplets on the surface to be washed dry little. time, and the high pressure air accumulator 14 and the air compressor 13 are housed in the main body casing 4.

By the way, to blow a large volume of air at once as in the conventional example, it is necessary to make the air compressor 13 or the high pressure air accumulator 14 large. Accordingly, if the capacity of the air compressor 13 is reduced and the high-pressure air accumulator 14 is enlarged, the main body casing 4 becomes unfavorably large to accommodate the high-pressure air accumulator 14. Furthermore, if the capacity of the air compressor 13 is increased, it not only increases the vibration noise, but also constitutes a cause of increased costs. Also, if the high pressure air accumulator is separated from the air compressor and installed outside the main body shell, it becomes visible, so that the appearance of the toilet is affected.

As a method to overcome these problems, if a single nozzle orifice is adopted to blow air in order to reduce the amount of air blowing at a time, it is possible to miniaturize the apparatus. With this procedure, however, the blown air area also becomes small, so there is a problem in that it is impossible to sufficiently remove the water droplets on the wet surface to be washed in a wide range, and there is a practical application problem.

Furthermore, the water droplets which were not detached from the surface to be washed by air blast from a fixed direction undesirably move to a stagnant portion of the air blast and remain attached to the surface to be washed. In addition, there is an additional problem in that the water droplets are spread to the periphery by the air jet, which enlarges the wet area.

Furthermore, an air nozzle device is proposed in order to effect movement of a predetermined place by using a three-dimensional deflector device to realize a nozzle device that is compact and low vibration and noise (Patent Document 1) . In patent document 2, a three-dimensional air blown deflector device is provided in which, in interlocking relationship with the air blow, the air nozzle is three-dimensionally deflected by two-dimensionally deflected back and forth and by two-dimensional deflection to the left and right with respect to the air blowing direction, or a blow port of the air nozzle is defective three-dimensionally sequentially counterclockwise or clockwise to deviate the blowing direction of air three-dimensionally towards the human body, and thus allows the blown air to be discharged while moving along a predetermined location. Furthermore, since the area of the discharge port of the air nozzle device can be made substantially small with respect to the area of the human body to receive the air, it is said that it is possible to substantially increase the blowing speed with a predetermined amount of air and eliminate water droplets adhering to the vicinity of intimate parts in a short time.

However, although it is not clear from the description of the configuration described above, it appears that this device deviates the blowing direction of the air three-dimensionally. However, there is a problem in the case where the actual drying action is performed by deviating the blowing direction of the air nozzle based on this description, if the focus is on the relationship between the angle in the As the blown air is applied and the surface dries, the water droplets in the peripheral portion between the water droplets after washing dry out and spread to the surrounding parts. As a result, since the area of the wet portion is enlarged, the surface to be dried is enlarged, and on the contrary, it takes time to dry.

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-58-218531

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent No. 3799850

Disclosure of the invention

Problems solved with the invention

As described above, both in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is extremely difficult to dry the surface to be dried effectively in a short time without enlarging the size of the drying device.

The present invention is devised in view of the circumstances described above, and an object of the invention is to provide a drying device that is capable of effectively drying the surface to be dried in a short time without enlarging the size of the drying device, as well as a sanitary washing apparatus equipped therewith.

Means to solve problems

The present invention according to the present application is defined in independent claims 1 and 14. Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. The drying device according to claims 1 and 14 of the invention is a drying device for drying a surface to be dried and includes, among others, a mobile unit that causes an air jet whose contact area is narrower than the surface to be dried moves forward-backward and to the left-right with respect to the surface to be dried, and moves the air jet in such a way that the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried are removed while accumulating in the central portion of this surface to dry, thus allowing the water droplets accumulated in the central portion to dry in a concentrated manner.

Furthermore, the drying device according to claim 1 of the invention includes a movable unit that makes an air jet whose contact area is narrower than the surface to be dried to move forward, backward and to the left-right with respect to to the surface to dry. When the air jet is blown onto the surface to be dried, the movable unit moves the jet contact area to the center portion while causing the jet contact area to move in a way that intertwines the forward / back action and the Left / right action of the air jet, so that the air jet can be applied to the surface to be dried in a wide range.

Namely, the drying device according to the invention is characterized by the features of the independent claims.

For example, this first mobile device moves in a forward / backward direction of the air blowing portion, and the second mobile device deflects the blowing direction of the jet.

Advantages of the invention

According to the invention, the water droplets adhered to the surface to be dried in a wide range can be dried without spreading even with a small jet of air, so that the surface to be dried can be effectively dried in a short time without enlarging the size of the drying device.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a sanitary washing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention is mounted on a toilet bowl;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a remote control device in the sanitary laundering apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a wash water spray unit in the sanitary wash apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a drying device in the sanitary washing apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a drive unit in the drying device in the sanitary washing apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a time chart illustrating the control action in the "after wash" and "dry" action in the sanitary washing apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a "backwash" state in the sanitary laundering apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state of action of a first "drying" stage in the device;

Figure 7 (c) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state of action of a second "drying" stage in the device;

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating moving patterns of an air jet on the surface to be dried in the first and second stages of "drying" in the sanitary washing apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating moving patterns of the air jet on the surface to be dried in the third and fourth stages of "drying" in the sanitary washing apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of a drying nozzle and an oscillating device of the drying device in the sanitary washing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a timing chart illustrating the control action in the "post wash" and "dry" action in the sanitary laundering apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a moving pattern of the jet of air over the surface to be "dried" in the sanitary washing apparatus shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a time chart illustrating the control action in the "post wash" and "dry" action in the sanitary laundering apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a moving pattern of the air jet over the surface to be "dried" in the sanitary washing apparatus shown in Figure 13;

Figures 15 (a) to 15 (c) are diagrams illustrating the relationship between the drying nozzle and the human body in the sanitary washing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the invention;

Figures 16 (a) to 16 (c) are diagrams illustrating the relationship between the drying nozzle and the human body in the sanitary washing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating the drying nozzle in the sanitary washing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 18 is a perspective view illustrating the drying nozzle in the sanitary washing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the drying nozzle in the sanitary washing apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the invention;

Figures 20 (a) and 20 (b) are diagrams illustrating the drying nozzle in the sanitary washing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 21 is a schematic plan view of a conventional sanitary washing apparatus equipped with a drying device; Y

Figure 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the conventional sanitary washing apparatus equipped with the drying device.

Description of reference numbers and signs

20, 81: air blowing portion (drying nozzle)

30: wash water spray unit

40: heating unit

42: hot air blow port

50: drying device

52: mobile unit (drive unit)

55: base

55R: base

70, 80: oscillation device

71: forward / reverse drive device

71R: horizontal actuation device

100: sanitary washing device

400: toilet seat

E: contact area

F: surface to dry

G: central portion

Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention

Next, a description will be given of how to practice the invention.

Before the description, a description of the concept of the invention will be given.

First of all, the drying device according to the invention is defined in independent claims 1 and 14.

According to this configuration, pressurized air can be blown over the surface to be dried in its entirety while moving sequentially over the surface to be dried in a state in which the blowing direction of the jet is maintained to form a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of movement of the air blowing portion.

The water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried dry more easily if a jet is applied with a higher air speed, but if the distance between the water droplets and the portion of air blown away, the air speed of the jet applied to the water droplets extremely diminishes, which makes it impossible to dry the water droplets. For this reason, the water droplets and the air blowing portion in terms of the distance between them should preferably be as close to each other as possible. Consequently, as the air blowing portion moves while maintaining the blowing direction of the jet as in the invention, the jet can be applied by keeping the surface to be dried and the air blowing portion at a close distance, so that the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can be effectively dried.

Furthermore, as the jet is moved over the surface to be dried to sweep, the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can dry out while moving in an arbitrary direction. For example, water droplets can accumulate in the center of the surface to be dried and can be effectively dried.

In particular, in the invention of the present application, since the pressurized air whose jet contact area becomes narrower than the surface to be dried moves sequentially over the substantially complete surface of the surface to be dried, drops of water can move in a wide range even by the reduced air jet, and the miniaturization of the drying device becomes possible.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the first movable device can move in a forward / backward direction of the air blowing portion.

By virtue of this configuration, the forward / backward direction of the air blowing portion becomes a direction along the center line in the forward / backward direction of the surface to be dried, that is, the buttocks. Accordingly, since the jet of the air blowing portion is blown over the entire surface to be dried while moving sequentially in the state in which a predetermined angle is maintained at the center line of the buttocks, the jet can be applied in the center line of the buttocks that is most likely to get wet on the surface to be dried while the surface to be dried and the air blowing portion are kept at a close distance. Therefore, the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can be effectively dried.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the second mobile device can deflect the blowing direction of the jet.

By virtue of this configuration, as regards the movement of the air blowing portion in the second mobile device, the jet can move over the entire surface to be dried through the small action of simply cyclically deflecting the blowing angle of the portion. blowing air so that the drying device can be miniaturized.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the second movable device can move in a direction other than the direction of movement in the state in which the blowing direction of the jet is maintained.

According to this configuration, since the pressurized air is blown over the entire surface to be dried while moving sequentially over the surface to be dried in the state in which both the first mobile device and the second mobile device maintain the blowing direction of the jet from the air blowing portion, the jet can be applied to the entire surface to be dried while keeping the surface to be dried and the air blowing portion at a close distance. Accordingly, the water droplets adhered to the surface to be dried can be effectively dried or the water droplets can be arbitrarily moved.

Furthermore, in the drying device described above, the second movable device can deflect the jet by rotating the air blowing portion.

By virtue of this configuration, as regards the movement of the air blowing portion in the second mobile device, the jet can move over the entire surface to be dried by the small action of simply cyclically rotating the air blowing portion, so that the second mobile device is provided with a simple configuration, which allows to achieve the miniaturization of the drying device.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the second movable device can deflect the blowing direction of the blown jet from the air blowing portion.

By virtue of this configuration, as regards the movement of the air blowing portion in the second mobile device, the jet can move over the entire surface to be dried by simply oscillating in a cyclical manner the blowing direction of the jet from the air blowing portion, for example, by using self-excited deflection of a fluid element, so that the second mobile device is provided with a simple configuration, which allows to achieve miniaturization of the drying device.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the second mobile device can move the air blowing portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first mobile device.

According to this configuration, the combination of movement of the air blowing portion by the first mobile device and the second mobile device provides a two-dimensional two-axis movement, so that the position coordinates are easily understood and the movement control is simplified. For this reason, since the combined movement of the air blowing portion becomes smooth, the removal of the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried and the movement of the water droplets in an arbitrary direction is facilitated.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the second movable device can move the air blowing portion in the form of a circular arc.

By virtue of this configuration, the second mobile device cyclically performs a reciprocating movement in the form of a fan-shaped circular arc by using, for example, a point as a fulcrum. By virtue of this action, the action of blowing pressurized air over the entire surface to be dried while moving sequentially the pressurized air in the state in which the blowing direction of the jet by the air blowing portion is maintained by both the first mobile device and the second mobile device can be realized by a relatively simple configuration. Furthermore, by virtue of this configuration, the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can be efficiently blown or moved arbitrarily.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the air blowing portion may be a rod-shaped body having an air blowing port in the vicinity of a distal end thereof, and the direction of Movement of the first mobile device may be a direction along a longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped body.

By virtue of this configuration, a projection area in the movement of the rod-shaped body can be minimized allowing the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped body to the direction of movement of the first mobile device. Accordingly, in a case where the air blowing portion is advanced or retracted towards or from a main body of the drying device with respect to the surface to be dried, the advancement or retraction can be effected with a place of minimal movement. That is, the inlet and outlet movement of the air blowing portion can be effected without problems.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the mobile unit can sweep the jet of the air blowing portion to dry the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried while collecting them in a central portion of the surface. to be dried by the jet blown from the air blowing portion.

In the event that the pressurized air jet is applied to the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried, if the jet is applied directly, the water droplets dry easily, but if the water droplets and the jet are displaced Positionally relative to each other, the water droplets simply move along the airflow and do not dry out in many cases. The jet of pressurized air that is blown on the surface to be dried has the property of spreading over the entire surface along the surface to be dried. Consequently, by changing the position of applying the air jet to the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried in a scattered manner, the direction of the air flow along the surface to be dried is changed to allow the droplets of water accumulates in the central portion of the surface to be dried.

Consequently, although scattered small water droplets do not dry out unless a strong blast of air is applied over a wide range, large accumulated water droplets can easily be dried even with a small blast of air. Also, if the water droplets accumulate in the central portion of the surface to be dried, the air jet can be applied by concentrating it in a narrow range, so that the water droplets can be effectively dried.

Furthermore, in the invention as defined in claims 1 and 14, in the drying device described above, the movable unit includes a cyclical movement to cyclically alternate the air blowing portion in a fixed direction and a gradual movement to move cyclical movement in a predetermined direction, and can sweep the jet contact area over substantially the entire surface of the surface to be dried.

The water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried dry in a linear or strip shape similar to the place of cyclical movement in a cyclical movement. As the cyclical movement is repeated while the gradual movement is carried out, the drying range is consecutively expanded and finally the water adhering to the total surface to be dried is dried.

By virtue of this configuration, as the range of motion and the range of motion angle gradually become smaller to make the contact area of the air jet closer to the central portion of the surface to be dried, the droplets of water that are spread on the surface to be dried can be dried continuously while accumulating in the central portion without stopping the air jet. Accordingly, no waste is generated in the action and the drying time can be shortened.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the movable unit gradually moves the air blowing portion from an outer periphery of the surface to be dried towards a substantial center of the surface to be dried while cyclically moving the blowing portion of air in lines substantially tangential to a circumference of a circle around a center of the surface to be dried.

By virtue of this configuration, since the air jet gradually approaches the center while undergoing a cyclical movement in a tangential direction to the outer peripheral portion of the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried, the water droplets move towards the center of the surface to be dried, and the wet area is prevented from enlarging by spreading to the outer side. Therefore, it can be swept while water droplets accumulate on the surface to dry more effectively.

Furthermore, in the invention, as defined in claim 14, in the drying device described above, the first mobile device performs the gradual movement and the second mobile device performs the cyclical movement.

By virtue of this configuration, if, for example, the direction of the gradual movement is set as the forward and backward direction, the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can easily accumulate on the surface. central portion from the front or the back, so that the water droplets on the surface to be dried can be removed more effectively.

Or alternatively, in the invention, as defined in claim 14, in the drying device described above, the first mobile device performs the cyclical movement and the second mobile device performs the gradual movement.

By virtue of this configuration, if, for example, the direction of the gradual movement is set as the direction to the left and to the right, the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can easily accumulate in the central portion from the left side. or the right side, so that water droplets on the surface to be dried can be removed more effectively.

Furthermore, in the invention, as defined in claim 1, in the drying device described above, a first stage is provided in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit is set as a direction to the left and to the left. right of the surface to be dried, and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position forward from a center of the surface to be dried towards a substantial center thereof, and a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a position predetermined back from the center of the surface to be dried towards the substantial center thereof, and the first stage and the second stage are executed.

By virtue of this configuration, as the range of motion and the range of motion angle are gradually reduced to make the contact area of the air jet closer to the central portion of the surface to be dried, it is possible to blow from the drops of water that spread on the surface to be dried continuously form, while they are collected towards the central portion without stopping the jet of air. Accordingly, no waste is generated in the action and the drying time can be shortened.

Or alternatively, in the invention, as defined in claim 1, in the drying device described above, a first stage is provided in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit is set as a forward and backward direction. of the surface to be dried, and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on a left or right side of a center of the surface to be dried towards a substantial center thereof, and a second stage in which the Gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position elsewhere to the left or right of the center of the surface to be dried towards the substantial center thereof, and the first stage and the second stage are executed.

By virtue of this configuration, the water droplets adhering to the front of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the first stage described above, while the water droplets adhering to the rear of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the second stage described above. Therefore, all the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can accumulate in the central portion from the front side and the back side.

Furthermore, in the invention, as defined in claim 14, in the drying device described above, a first stage is provided in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit is set as a direction to the left and towards the right of the surface to be dried, and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position forward from a center of the surface to be dried towards a substantial center thereof, a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a position predetermined backward from the center of the surface to be dried towards the substantial center thereof, a third stage in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit is set as a forward and backward direction of the surface to be dried, and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on one side either to the left or to the right of the center of the surface to be dried towards u n substantial center thereof, and a fourth stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on the other side to the left or right of the center of the surface to be dried towards the substantial center thereof, and the first to fourth stages are executed.

By virtue of this configuration, the water droplets adhering to the front of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the first stage described above, while the water droplets adhering to the rear of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the second stage described above. Furthermore, the water droplets adhering to one side either to the left or to the right of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the third stage described above, while the water droplets adhering to the other side towards the left or right of the center of the surface to be dried is moved to the center in the fourth stage described above. Therefore, all the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can accumulate in the central portion from the forward / backward and left / right directions.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the movable unit can move the jet contact area to the central portion while moving the jet contact area around a peripheral portion of the surface to be dried.

By virtue of this configuration, in the event that the jet of pressurized air is applied to the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried, if the jet is applied directly to the water droplets or their surroundings, the water droplets they dry easily. Consequently, as the position of applying the air jet to the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried in a scattered manner moves towards the center while causing them to move, the water droplets accumulate in the central portion. of the surface to be dried.

As a result, since the jet can be applied in a concentrated manner on the accumulated water droplets in the central portion of the surface to be dried, the water droplets can be effectively dried and miniaturization of the drying device becomes possible.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the movable unit can move the jet contact area to the central portion of the surface to be dried while moving the jet contact area around a polygonal shape made upward. by lines substantially tangential to the circumference of a circle around a center of the surface to be dried.

By virtue of this configuration, when the mobile unit moves the jet contact area to the central portion of the surface to be dried while moving the jet contact area around a polygonal shape formed by lines substantially tangential to a circumference of a circle around the center of the surface to be dried, as the contact area of the air jet approaches the center while the polygon gradually becomes smaller as it moves over the polygon from the outer peripheral portion of the surface to be dried , the water droplets move towards the center of the surface to be dried, and the wet area is prevented from enlarging by spreading to the outer side. Also, if the water droplets accumulate in the central portion of the surface to be dried, the air jet can be applied by concentrating it in a narrow range, so that the water droplets can be effectively dried.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the drying device described above, the movable unit can move the jet contact area to the central portion of the surface to be dried while moving the jet contact area around a substantial circumference of a circle. around the center of the surface to be dried.

By virtue of this configuration, since the air jet gradually approaches the center while undergoing a cyclical movement in a tangential direction to the outer peripheral portion of the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried, the water droplets move towards the center of the surface to be dried, and the wet area is prevented from enlarging by spreading to the outer side.

Furthermore, in the invention, the drying device described above may further comprise a controller for controlling the mobile unit, wherein the controller gradually moves the mobile unit from one end of the surface to be dried through a center thereof to another end thereof while causing the mobile unit to perform a cyclical movement at the end of a drying stage.

By virtue of this configuration, the water droplets remaining from a previous drying stage can be reliably dried. In addition, after the water droplets accumulate in the central portion of the surface to be dried, if the mobile unit gradually moves from one end of the surface to be dried through the center of it to the other end of it, water droplets can be easily removed.

Furthermore, in the invention, the drying device described above may further comprise a heating unit for heating air; and a hot air blowing port for blowing hot air heated by the heating unit.

By virtue of this configuration, since the water droplets are dried by blowing pressurized air on the surface to be dried from the air blowing portion, and the hot air heated by the heating unit is further blown towards the surface to be dried, the surface to be dried can be effectively dried in a short time. In addition, since the water on the surface to be dried can be removed with the hot air, it improves the comfort after drying. In addition, it is possible to avoid a feeling of cold air due to the pressurized air jet.

Furthermore, in the invention, in the above-described drying device and a sanitary washing apparatus equipped therewith, the sanitary washing apparatus may comprise a mountable toilet seat; and a wash water spray unit for spraying wash water onto the surface to be washed.

Since the washing water spray unit and the drying device are provided, it is possible to optimally set the positional relationship between the surface to be washed and the surface to be dried, so that effective drying is possible. In addition, automating the action from washing to drying is also possible and improves ease of use.

It should be noted that the washing water spray unit and the air blowing portion can be formed by one nozzle, or they can be formed by two independent nozzles and can be respectively configured to advance and reverse independently.

Furthermore, the drying device for drying a surface to be dried by means of a pressurized air jet whose contact area to the surface to be dried is narrower than the surface to be dried may comprise: an air blowing portion for blowing air under pressure; and a mobile unit for sequentially moving the contact area of the jet from the air blowing portion over a substantially complete surface of the surface to be dried, wherein the movable unit can effect movement to dry the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried by jetting the blowing portion of air while accumulating in the central portion of the surface to be dried.

In the event that the pressurized air jet is applied to the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried, if the jet is applied directly, the water droplets dry easily, but if the water droplets and the jet are displaced Positionally relative to each other, the water droplets simply move along the airflow and do not dry out in many cases. The jet of pressurized air that is blown on the surface to be dried has the property of spreading over the entire surface along the surface to be dried. Consequently, by changing the position of applying the air jet to the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried in a scattered manner, the direction of the air flow along the surface to be dried is changed to allow the droplets of water accumulates in the central portion of the surface to be dried.

Consequently, although scattered small water droplets do not dry out unless a strong blast of air is applied over a wide range, large accumulated water droplets can easily be dried even with a small blast of air. Also, if the water droplets accumulate in the central portion of the surface to be dried, the air jet can be applied by concentrating it in a narrow range, so that the water droplets can be effectively dried.

In particular, in the invention, since pressurized air whose jet contact area becomes narrower than the surface to be dried moves sequentially over the substantially entire surface of the surface to be dried, water droplets in a wide range can move even by the reduced air jet, and the miniaturization of the drying device becomes possible.

Furthermore, the mobile unit described above can move the jet contact area over a substantially complete surface of the surface to be dried by combining the cyclical movement to effect a cyclical reciprocating movement in a substantially fixed direction and a gradual movement to move the cyclical movement. in a predetermined direction. Consequently, the water droplets adhered to the surface to be dried dry in a linear or strip shape similar to the place of cyclical movement in a cyclical movement. As the cyclical movement is repeated while the gradual movement is carried out, the drying range is consecutively expanded and the water adhering to the total surface to be dried can finally be dried.

Furthermore, the mobile unit described above can effect a gradual movement from an outer periphery of the surface to be dried towards a substantial center of the surface to be dried while performing a cyclical movement in lines substantially tangential to a circumference of a circle about a center of the surface to dry. As a result, since the air jet gradually approaches the center while undergoing a cyclical movement in a tangential direction to the outer peripheral portion of the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried, the water droplets move towards the center of the surface to be dried, and the wet area is prevented from enlarging by spreading to the outer side.

Furthermore, since the direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit described above is set as the left and right direction of the drying device, and the direction of gradual movement is set as the forward and backward direction thereof, water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can easily accumulate in the central portion from the front or the rear.

In addition, since the direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit described above is set as the forward and backward direction of the drying device, and the direction of gradual movement is set as the left and right direction thereof, water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can easily accumulate on the central portion of the left side or the right side.

Furthermore, a first stage is provided in which the direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit described above is set as a left and right direction of the drying device, and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position forward. from the center of the surface to be dried towards a substantial center thereof, and a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position backward from the center of the surface to be dried towards the substantial center thereof, and the first stage and second stage run in combination. As a result, the water droplets adhering to the front of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the first stage described above, while the water droplets adhering back to the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center. in the second stage described above. Therefore, all the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can accumulate in the central portion from the front side and the back side.

Furthermore, a first stage is provided in which the direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit described above is set as the forward and left direction of the drying device, and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on one side. either to the left or to the right of the center of the surface to be dried towards a substantial center thereof, and a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position elsewhere to the left or to the right from the center of the surface to be dried towards the substantial center thereof, and the first and second stages are executed in combination. As a result, the water droplets adhering on one side to the left or right of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the first stage described above, while the water droplets adhering to the other side move towards the center in the second stage described above. Therefore, all the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can accumulate in the central portion from the left and right sides.

Furthermore, a first stage is provided in which the direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit is set as the left and right direction of the drying device, and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position towards the front of the center. from the surface to be dried towards the center, a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position back from the center of the surface to be dried towards the center, a third stage in which the direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit is set as the forward and backward direction, and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on one side to the left or right of the center of the surface to be dried towards the center, and a fourth stage in the that gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position elsewhere to the left or right of the center of the surface to be dried towards to the center, and the first to fourth stages are executed in combination. As a result, the water droplets adhering to the front of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the first stage described above, while the water droplets adhering back to the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the second stage described above. Furthermore, the water droplets adhering to one side either to the left or to the right of the center of the surface to be dried move towards the center in the third stage described above, while the water droplets adhering to the other side towards the left or right of the center of the surface to be dried is moved to the center in the fourth stage described above. Therefore, all the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried can accumulate in the central portion from the forward / backward and left / right directions.

In addition, if a stage is combined in which the direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit described above is set as the left and right direction of the drying device, the gradual movement is started from a predetermined forward position of the center of the surface to be dried towards the center, the center is passed and the gradual movement is made to a predetermined position towards the back of the center, then the air jet can be applied to all the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried, which makes it possible to dry the drops of water. Furthermore, if this step is carried out after accumulating the water droplets on the surface to be dried up to the central portion, the water droplets can dry more easily.

In addition, since the mobile unit described above is configured as a drive unit to move and / or rotate the air blowing portion, it is possible to execute the cyclical movement and the gradual movement of the mobile unit to move the contact area of the jet by the use of the single or combined drive unit to drive the air blowing portion in the forward / backward or left / right direction and a drive unit to rotate the air blowing portion in a substantially vertical direction or in a substantially horizontal direction. Therefore, it is possible to move the contact area over the entire surface to be dried.

Furthermore, since the adopted configuration is such that an oscillation device is provided for oscillating the jet of the air blowing portion in the left and right direction and a forward / reverse device for reciprocating the air blowing portion. blowing air in the forward and backward direction, it is possible to move the jet contact area in the left and right direction by the oscillating device and move it in the forward and backward direction by the forward / backward. Therefore, it is possible to move the contact area of the jet over the entire surface of the surface to be dried.

Furthermore, as the sanitary washing apparatus is composed of a mountable toilet seat, a washing water spraying unit for spraying washing water towards the intimate parts of a human body, and the drying device described above, the drops of water dries while accumulating in the central portion of the surface to be dried by moving a jet of air from the blowing portion of air back and forth and to the left and right with respect to the surface to be dried to which water droplets adhere widely due to washing. Therefore, drying can be done effectively in a short time without spreading the water droplets to the environment. Furthermore, since the water droplets can be dried even by a small jet of air, the drying device can be made compact and the entire sanitary washing apparatus can be made small.

Furthermore, since a heating unit is provided for heating a gas and a hot air blowing port for blowing the hot air heated by the heating unit, the water droplets are dried by blowing pressurized air on the surface to be dried from the air blowing portion, and further, heated air heated by the heating unit is blown to the surface to be dried, so that the surface to be dried can be effectively dried in a short time. In addition, since the water on the surface to be dried can be removed with the hot air, it improves the comfort after drying. In addition, it is possible to avoid a feeling of cold air due to the pressurized air jet.

Also, the following form is also effective.

In the invention, the drying device for drying a surface to be dried by means of a jet of pressurized air whose contact area to the surface to be dried is narrower than the surface to be dried comprises: an air blowing portion for blowing air under pressure ; and a mobile unit for sequentially moving the jet contact area from the air blowing portion over a substantially complete surface of the surface to be dried, wherein the mobile unit can effect movement to dry the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried by blasting the air blowing portion while accumulating in the central portion of the surface to be dried.

In the case where the pressurized air jet is applied to the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried, if the jet is applied directly to the water droplets or their surroundings, the water droplets dry easily. Consequently, a jet is blown with its contact area on the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried consecutively spread over the entire surface of the surface to be dried.

The water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried in a wide range can be effectively dried even by a pressurized air jet whose contact area is narrowed, and the miniaturization of the drying device is made possible.

Furthermore, particularly in the configuration described above, the movable unit can move the jet contact area to the central portion while moving the jet contact area around a peripheral portion of the surface to be dried.

As a result, as the jet contact area is caused to move from the peripheral portion of the surface to be dried and moves to the central portion while the peripheral range becomes smaller, the water droplets dry from the peripheral portion towards the central portion, and all the water droplets accumulated in the central portion can finally be dried. Therefore, it is possible to effectively dry the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried in a wide range even by a pressurized air jet whose contact area is narrowed, and the miniaturization of the drying device is made possible.

Furthermore, in the configuration described above, when the mobile unit moves the jet contact area to the central portion of the surface to be dried while moving the jet contact area around in a polygonal shape formed by lines substantially tangential to a circumference of a circle around the center of the surface to be dried, as the contact area of the air jet approaches the center while the polygon gradually becomes smaller as it moves over the polygon from the outer peripheral portion of the surface To dry, the water droplets move towards the center of the surface to be dried, and the wet area is prevented from enlarging by spreading to the outer side. Also, if the water droplets accumulate in the central portion of the surface to be dried, the air jet can be applied by concentrating it in a narrow range, so that the water droplets can be effectively dried.

Furthermore, in the configuration described above, when the mobile unit moves the jet contact area to the central portion of the surface to be dried while moving the jet contact area around a circumference of a circle around the center of the surface to drying, all the water droplets adhered to the surface to be dried can accumulate towards the central portion in such a way that they surround the water droplets and make the diameter of the circumference gradually smaller. Therefore, efficient drying can be carried out without the water droplets being scattered outside.

Furthermore, in the invention, as the sanitary washing apparatus is composed of a mountable toilet seat, a washing water spraying unit for spraying washing water towards the intimate parts of a human body, and the drying device according to With any of the above-described first to fourth aspects of the invention, a jet of pressurized air moves to the central portion as it moves from the peripheral portion of the surface to be dried relative to the surface to be dried to which it broadly adheres. water droplets due to washing. Therefore, the jet is widely spread over the entire surface of the surface to be dried, and the drying can be carried out effectively in a short time. Furthermore, since the water droplets can be dried even by a small jet of air, the drying device can be made compact and the entire sanitary washing apparatus can be made small.

Furthermore, in the configuration described above, since a heating unit for heating air and a hot air blowing port are provided for blowing hot air heated by the heating unit, the water droplets are dried by blowing pressurized air onto the surface to be dried of the air blowing portion, and further, heated air heated by the heating unit is blown to the surface to be dried. Therefore, the surface to be dried can be effectively dried in a short time. In addition, since the water on the surface to be dried can be removed with the hot air, it improves the comfort after drying. In addition, it is possible to avoid a feeling of cold air due to the pressurized air jet.

Next, a description of the embodiments of the invention will be given with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the invention is not limited by these embodiments, but is defined by the appended claims.

(First realization)

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a sanitary washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is mounted on a toilet bowl.

As shown in Figure 1, a sanitary washing apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the invention is mounted on a toilet bowl 600.

The sanitary washing apparatus 100 is composed of a main body 200, a remote control device 300, a toilet seat 400, and a lid 500.

The toilet seat 400 and the lid 500 are openably attached to the main body 200. In addition, the main body 200 is provided with a drying device 50 which includes a drying nozzle 20 which is an air blowing portion, a washing water spraying unit 30 for spraying washing water, and a heating unit 40, and a controller is incorporated. The controller in the main body 200 controls the drying device 50, the heating unit 40 and the wash water spray unit 30 based on a signal transmitted by the remote control device 300, as will be described later. Controller on main body 200 also controls a deodorizing device and the like (not shown) provided on main body 200.

The drying device 50 includes an air pump 51 for supplying pressurized air; the drying nozzle 20 to blow this pressurized air; and a drive unit 52 for driving the drying nozzle 20 to move back and forth and left and right the jet of pressurized air blown from the drying nozzle 20. The pressurized air blown from the drying device 50 has a capacity of 20 to 30 m per second in terms of the speed of the air with which it hits the surface to be dried. The pressurized air makes contact against the surface to be dried with a contact area of approximately 1 cm in diameter.

A wash nozzle portion 33 of the wash water spray unit 30 is integrally formed with the drying nozzle 20. The wash water spray unit 30 is comprised of a switch valve for opening and closing the supply of tap water to another portion other than the wash nozzle 33, a hot water heating device 31 to heat the tap water and a switching valve 32 to change the flow channel between the direction of the nozzle portion 33 and the direction of the inside of the toilet bowl 600, the drive unit 52 is used together by the drying nozzle 20.

The heating unit 40 is comprised of an air fan 41 for supplying hot air by sending air to a built-in heater and a duct 43 for introducing this hot air into a hot air blowing port 42. The configuration provided is such that the flow rate of the hot air blowing from the hot air blowing port 42 is a speed of no more than 10 m per second, which is slower than the flow rate of the pressurized air blown from the aforementioned drying device 50 , and the contact area against the surface to be dried is wide, which allows hot air to diffuse over substantially the entire surface of the surface to be dried.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the remote control device 300 shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2, the remote control device 300 has a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) 301, a plurality of adjustment switches 302, a rear switch 303, a stimulation switch 304, a stop switch 305, a bidet switch 306, a dry switch 307, and a deodorization switch 308.

The setting switch 302, the rear switch 303, the stimulation switch 304, the stop switch 305, the bidet switch 306, the drying switch 307, and the deodorization switch 308 are actuated by pressure by a user.

Accordingly, the remote control device 300 radio transmits a predetermined signal to the controller provided in the main body 200 which will be described later.

The controller in the main body 200 receives the predetermined signal transmitted by radio from the remote control device 300 and controls the wash water spray unit 30, the heating unit 40 and the drying device 50. For example, when the By pressing the rear switch 303 or the bidet switch 306, the user actuates the portion of the wash nozzle 33 on the main body 200 shown in Figure 1 to be moved to spray the wash water onto the washing surface of the human body. When the stimulation switch 304 is operated under pressure, the wash nozzle portion 33 is alternately driven back and forth by the drive unit 52 of the main body 200 shown in Figure 1 to change the wash water, and thus imparts stimulations to the intimate parts of the human body,

In addition, when the drying switch 307 is operated under pressure, the drying nozzle 20 of the drying device 50 shown in Figure 1, while being operated by the drive unit 52, blows the pressurized air supplied from the air pump 51 on the surface to be dried of the human body after washing. In this At this time, the heating unit 40 is also operated to blow hot air from the hot air blow port 42, thus applying the hot air over practically the entire surface of the surface to be dried.

When the stop switch 305 is pressed, the action of each of the wash water spray unit 30, the heating unit 40 and the drying device 50 is stopped, and the drying nozzle 20 is accommodated in the body. main 200.

In addition, when the deodorizing switch 308 is actuated by pressure, the deodorizing device (not shown) in the sanitary washing apparatus 100 removes the odor from the surrounding air.

Adjustment switch 302 includes air volume adjustment switches 302a and 302b, temperature adjustment switches 302c and 302d, and nozzle position adjustment switches 302e and 302f.

When the user operates by pressing the nozzle position adjustment switches 302e or 302f, the set position of a central portion of the drying nozzle 20 of the drying device 50 in the sanitary washing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. Figure 1. When the temperature setting switch 302c or 203d is actuated under pressure, the temperature of the hot air blown from the heating unit 40 changes. In addition, when the air volume setting switch 302a or 302b is pressed, the volume of pressurized air supplied from the air pump 51 of the drying device 50 is changed. The plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) 301 lights up. when setting switch 302 is pressed.

Next, a description will be given of the wash water spray unit 30 provided in the main body 200. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the wash water spray unit 30.

The wash water spray unit 30 shown in Figure 3 includes an on and off valve 34, the hot water heating device 31, the switching valve 32, the wash nozzle portion 33, the drive unit 52, a forward / reverse drive motor 53, a left-right drive motor 54, and a controller 150.

The controller 150 of the wash water spray unit 30 controls the action of the opening and closing valve 34, the hot water heating device 31, the switching valve 32, the forward / reverse drive motor 53 and left-right drive motor 54.

Next, a description will be given of the drying device 50 provided in the main body 200. Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the drying device 50.

The drying device 50 shown in Figure 4 includes the drying nozzle 20, the air pump 51, the drive unit 52, the controller 150, the forward / reverse drive motor 53, the left drive motor- right 54, the air fan 41, the heater 43 and the hot air blow port 42. The aforementioned drive unit 52, the forward / reverse drive motor 53, the left-right drive motor 54 and controller 150 are used in conjunction by the wash water spray unit 30 mentioned above.

Controller 150 of drying device 50 controls the action of air pump 51, forward / reverse drive motor 53, left-right drive motor 54, air fan 41, and heater 43.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of drive unit 52 in drying device 50.

The drive unit 52 shown in Figure 5 is composed of the drying nozzle 20, an oscillating device 70 for oscillating the air jet of the drying nozzle 20 in the left and right directions, a forward drive device / reverse 71 to alternately move the air jet in the forward and backward directions, and a base 55. This drive unit 52 as a mobile unit allows the contact area with respect to the surface to be dried of the pressurized air blown from the drying nozzle 20 is arbitrarily moved over the entire surface to be dried.

The drying nozzle 20 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is provided with an air nozzle orifice 21 and a wash water nozzle orifice 22 which are located in a circumferential direction of the hollow cylinder in the vicinity of its distal end. . The drying nozzle 20 is provided inside an air cavity 23 to conduct pressurized air to the air nozzle port 21 and a water cavity 24 to conduct the wash water to the wash water nozzle port. 22. That is, this drying nozzle 20 is configured to also serve as the washing nozzle portion 33.

Pressurized air from air pump 51 is connected to be supplied from an air tube 25 to air cavity 23, while flushing water from switch valve 32 is connected to be supplied from a water tube 26 to the water cavity 24. Air tube 25 and water tube 26 are formed of a soft material, such as rubber, as a bending or twisting force acts when the drying nozzle 20 is rotated or moved back and forth.

The base 55 allows the drying nozzle 20 to be inclined on its upper surface along a rail portion 56 configured such that it slopes forward, and the drying nozzle 20 is clamped as it passes through. of a guide portion 57 provided with a hole therein and arranged at a front end of the base. This guide portion 57 is formed of an excellent glidability material and is provided with an appropriate space for the drying nozzle 20 to rotate and glide smoothly. In addition, a slider 58 is provided which slides along the rail portion 56 on an upper surface of the base 55 to rotatably hold a terminal end of the drying nozzle 20. In addition, the drying nozzle 20 it is actuated along the rail portion 56 in accordance with the action of the slider 58.

The forward / reverse drive device 71 serving as a first movable device is composed of the forward / reverse drive motor 53, the slide device 58 and a threaded portion 59, and the forward / reverse drive motor 53 is disposed at a rear portion of the base 55 and is connected to rotate back and forth the threaded portion 59 disposed parallel to the rail portion 56. This threaded portion 59 is positioned through a nut portion 60 of the sliding device 58, so that the slider 58 is driven on the rail portion 56 when the threaded portion 59 is rotated. Consequently, the drying nozzle 20, which is held by the slider 58, is retracted forwardly driven. and backward along with the forward / backward rotation of the drive motor 53. Here, the forward direction denotes a direction A in Figure 5, while the backward direction denotes a direction B. The forward direction corresponds to the direction of the front side of the toilet user seated on the toilet seat 400, while the rearward direction corresponds to the direction of the rear side of the toilet user.

The oscillation device 70 that serves as a second mobile device consists of the left-right drive motor 54, an A gear 61, a B gear 62 and a C gear 63 which are arranged on the sliding device 58, the rotation of the motor The left-right drive 54 is transmitted to the drying nozzle 20 through the gear A 61, the gear B 62 and the gear C 63. Consequently, the drying nozzle 20 is rotated in correspondence with the forward or reverse rotation. rearward of the left-right drive motor 54, so that the jet of air blown from the air nozzle hole 21 rotates in the left and right C and D directions in Figure 5.

Next, a description of the control action on the controller 150 will be given with further reference to Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9. Figure 6 is a timing chart of the control action in the "wash action". back "and" drying ", and Figures 7 (a) to 7 (c) are schematic cross-sectional views of the" after washing "and" drying "states of action. Figures 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams illustrating moving patterns of a jet contact area E on the surface to be dried in the "drying" state of action.

As shown in Figure 6, at a time T0 in a state where no action is performed, the drying nozzle 20 (washing nozzle portion 33) in its backward and forward direction is arranged in a position housing at one rear end. The drying nozzle 20 in its left and right direction is angularly adjusted to a detecting position of a position sensor (not shown) to detect the position of a central portion provided on the oscillating device 70. This angle serves as an angle. center, and the jet angles of the air nozzle hole 21 and the wash water nozzle hole 22 are set in an upward direction.

At T1, when the user operates by pressing the rear switch 303 of the remote control device 300, the on-off valve 34 opens and the tap water flows to the hot water heating device 31. When a flow sensor The built-in flow switch (not shown) detects the flow of water, activation of the hot water heater 31 starts, and the heated hot water begins to be supplied. At this time, since the switching valve 32 fits into the flow channel on the side of the toilet bowl, hot water that is sufficiently heated is discharged into the toilet bowl 600.

At a time T2 when the temperature of the hot water flowing from the hot water heater 31 reaches a predetermined temperature (for example, 36 ° C), the forward / reverse drive motor 53 is driven to advance forward. the wash nozzle portion 33 to the position of the center portion (eg, 100mm forward). Then, at T3, the wash water is switched to the side of the wash nozzle portion 33 by the switching valve 32 to spray wash water on the surface of the user to be washed. The power control of the hot water heater 31 is effected by using a known PID or FF control so that the sensing temperature of the temperature sensor (not shown) for sensing the temperature of the leaving hot water is set at a set temperature (for example, 40 ° C). Furthermore, the flow rate of the wash water is set at a user reference flow rate by adjusting the opening of the switching valve 32. As for the wet state of the surface to be washed in this subsequent wash, the drops of water flows and moistens not only the central portion where the wash water is applied directly but also its peripheral portions.

At T4 in Figure 6, when the user, at the end of the subsequent wash, operates by pressing the stop switch 305 of the remote control device 300, the wash water is switched to the side of the toilet bowl 600 by the stop valve. switching 32 to stop spraying the wash water from the wash nozzle portion 33; at the same time, the activation of the hot water heating device 31 is stopped, and the forward / reverse drive motor 53 is rotated in the reverse direction to retract the washing nozzle portion 33 to the housing position. Then, at T5, the on / off valve 34 is closed to shut off the passage of water, thus completing the flushing action.

It should be noted that, although in this embodiment a description of the action is given in the subsequent wash, the fundamental sequence is similar also in the cases of bidet washing where the bidet switch 306 of the remote control device 300 is actuated by pressure and stimulation wash in which stimulation switch 304 is actuated. However, in the case of bidet washing, the position of the wash nozzle and the flow rate setting are changed to those corresponding to the bidet, while, in the case of stimulation washing, the action of carefully driving the wash nozzle portion 33 back and forth during the spray of wash water from the wash nozzle portion 33 is added.

Next, at T6, when the user actuates by pressing the drying switch 307 of the remote control device 300, the control is started to operate the air fan 41 and the heater 43 to blow hot air from the air blow port. hot 42. The temperature of the blown hot air is controlled to an appropriate temperature by subjecting the actuation amount of the heater 43 to feedback control. The hot air is then blown over practically the entire surface of the surface to be dried, that is, the user's washed surface, from the hot air blow port 42.

At this time, the air pump 51 is operated simultaneously for a short period of time (for example, 1 second), and the pressurized air is momentarily squirted out of the air nozzle hole 21 of the drying nozzle 20. This action dries the water droplets adhering to the surface of the drying nozzle 20 in a state that the drying nozzle 20 is in the receiving position, to prevent the water droplets from re-adhering to the user. It should be noted that if the pressurized air is momentarily squirted out from the air nozzle hole 21 of the drying nozzle 20 in the state that the drying nozzle 20 is in the housing position, the drying nozzle 20 dries effectively by reflected air from wall surfaces.

Subsequently, while the drying nozzle 20 is advanced forward to the forwardmost position (for example, 150 mm forward) by driving the forward / reverse drive motor 53, the left-right angle of the drying nozzle 20 is it changes angularly to an extreme right angle (for example, 50 ° C) when driving the left-right drive motor 54.

At T7, the action of the air pump 51 is initiated to initiate the blowing of compressed air from the air nozzle hole 21 with respect to the surface to be dried.

Then, in a first stage from T7 to T8, the action directions and action speeds of the left-right drive motor 54 and the forward / reverse drive motor 53 of the drive unit 52 are controlled, the nozzle dryer 20 in its forward and reverse drive is driven alternately at high speed in a predetermined range (for example, between 50mm and 150mm forward), and the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its left-right angle is simultaneously driven slowly toward the center angle from a right end angle to a predetermined right side angle (eg, between 50 ° and 20 °). In the action of this first stage, the air jet from the drying nozzle 20 gradually approaches the central portion while moving at high speed from the predetermined position on the right side of the wearer's surface to be dried in the forward directions. and back. Consequently, as shown in an action pattern P1 in Figure 8, the contact area E of the air jet gradually advances and moves towards a central portion G while undergoing a cyclical movement in which the contact area E is reciprocating at high speed in a direction tangential to a right end of a surface F to be dried, so that a zigzag path is represented as shown in the drawing. As a result, as shown in Figure 7 (b), the water droplets adhered in such a way that they spread to the right side of the surface to be dried can dry out while accumulating towards the central portion.

At T8 in Figure 6, the air pump 51 is temporarily stopped, and the left-right angle of the drying nozzle 2.0 is angularly changed to an extreme left angle (eg, -50 °). Then, at T9, the action of the air pump 51 is resumed to start blowing the compressed air.

Then, in a second stage from T9 to T10, the drying nozzle 20 in its forward and reverse drive is alternately driven at high speed in a predetermined range (for example, between 50mm and 150mm forward) thereof. so that in the first stage, and the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its left-right angle is simultaneously driven slowly towards the center angle from a left end angle to a predetermined left side angle (for example, between -50 ° and -20 °). In the action of this second stage, the air jet of the drying nozzle 20 gradually moves closer to the central portion while undergoing a cyclical movement in which the air jet moves at high speed from a distance default on the left side of the wearer's surface until dry in the forward and backward directions. Consequently, as shown in an action pattern P2 in Figure 8, the contact area E of the air jet gradually advances and moves towards the central portion G while undergoing a cyclical movement in which the contact area E is it reciprocates at high speed in a direction tangential to a left end of the surface F to be dried, so that a zigzag path is represented as shown in the drawing. As a result, as shown in Figure 7 (c), the water droplets adhered in such a way that they spread to the left side of the surface to be dried can dry out while accumulating towards the central portion.

The water droplets that remain adhered to the surface to be washed in the first stage and the second stage described above remain centered in the central portion and in the front and rear portions thereof. In this case, in a case where accumulated water droplets remain in the central portion, these water droplets are effectively dried by the hot air blown from the hot air blowing port 42.

On the buttocks of the human body, prominences are formed on both the left and right sides with respect to the central portion of the wash that includes the anus and the penis, so that when the human body sits on the toilet seat, both left sides and right are lower than the central wash portion. Accordingly, the washing water can spread out and wet both sides, and if the air jet is applied to the middle portion at the beginning during drying, the attached water droplets spread widely to the left and right, which enlarges the wet area. Efficient drying can be carried out as the water droplets on the surface to be washed are dried while preventing them from spreading to the left and right in the first stage and the second stage, as described above. As the sweep is effected by moving the air outlet hole 22 along the central portion of the wash while maintaining the blowing angle by the forward / reverse actuator 71 serving as the first movable device, the wash water droplets adhering to the back of the user can be removed so that the water droplets accumulate towards the center of the air blast, which is sequentially cyclical. Therefore, not only do the washing water droplets adhering to the surface to be washed not spread more than necessary, but the water droplet removal efficiency can be increased when the washing water droplets accumulate in one place. .

At T10, which is a second stage end time point, the drying nozzle 20 advances forward to the most advanced position. Then, in a third stage from T10 to T11, while the drying nozzle 20 in its forward and backward drive slowly retracts from the most forward position towards the central portion, the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its angle of left-right is driven at the same time alternately at high speed from the extreme right angle to the extreme left angle. In the action of this third stage, the air jet of the drying nozzle 20 gradually approaches the central portion from the predetermined position forward towards the rear while moving over the surface to be dried at high speed in the left directions. and right. Consequently, as shown in an action pattern P3 in Figure 9, the contact area E of the air jet gradually advances and moves towards the central portion G while undergoing a cyclical movement in which the contact area E is reciprocating at high speed in a direction tangential to a leading end of the surface F to be dried, so that a zigzag path is represented as shown in the drawing. As a result, the water droplets remaining on the front side of the central portion G of the surface to be dried can dry out while accumulating towards the central portion G.

At T11 in Figure 6, the air pump 51 is temporarily stopped and the forward-rear position of the drying nozzle 20 is moved to a predetermined position rearward (50mm forward). Then, at T12, the action of the air pump 51 is resumed to start blowing the compressed air.

Then, in a fourth stage from T12 to T13, while the drying nozzle 20 in its forward and backward drive slowly advances from the predetermined position back towards the central portion, the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its angle of left-right is driven at the same time alternately at high speed from the extreme right angle to the extreme left angle. In the action of this fourth stage, the air jet from the drying nozzle 20 gradually approaches the central portion from the predetermined distance at the rear towards the front side while moving over the surface to be dried at high speed in the left and right directions. Consequently, as shown in an action pattern P4 in Figure 9, the contact area E of the air jet gradually advances and moves towards the central portion G while undergoing a cyclical movement in which the contact area E oscillates at high speed in a direction tangential to a rear end of the surface F to be dried, so that a zigzag path is represented as shown in the drawing. As a result, the water droplets remaining on the back side of the central portion G of the surface to be dried can dry out while accumulating towards the central portion G.

By virtue of the first to fourth stages described above, the drops of water that remain adhered to the surface to be dried remain only in the central portion.

A description will be given of the action with respect to the water droplets that adhere to the surface to be dried in the first to fourth stages described above.

In terms of the driving direction of the air jet with respect to the surface to be dried during the action of each stage, the speed of movement in the direction substantially tangential to the central portion becomes sufficiently faster than the speed at which the jet of air moves towards the central portion. Therefore, in terms of the direction of the air flow spreading as a result of the collision with the surface to be dried, the flow components in the vertical direction to the aforementioned substantially tangential direction increase. Consequently, the water droplets adhering between the central portion and the air jet that is driven in this substantially tangential direction are, in action, pushed by the air flow in the vertical direction to the substantially tangential direction and move towards the central portion. Then, the air jet is made to gradually approach the central portion, the water droplets accumulate towards the central portion. By performing this action from the four directions, that is, to the right, to the left, to the front and back, in the first to fourth stages, the water droplets accumulate in the central portion.

At T13, the air pump 51 stops again, and the forward-back position of the drying nozzle 20 is moved to a predetermined forward position (eg, 130 mm forward). Then, at T14, the action of the air pump 51 is resumed to start blowing the compressed air.

Then, in a fifth stage from T14 to T15, while the drying nozzle 20 in its forward and backward actuation begins to retract from the predetermined forward position, the central portion is passed through and slowly retracts to a predetermined distance rearward (eg 50mm forward) to the rear of the central portion. At the same time, the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its left-right angle is alternately driven at high speed from the extreme right angle to the extreme left angle. In the action of this fifth stage, while experiencing a cyclical movement in which the air jet from the drying nozzle 20 moves over the surface to be dried at high speed in the left and right directions, the air jet from the Drying nozzle 20 gradually moves from the predetermined front position towards the rear and approaches the central portion, which passes through the central portion and gradually moves to the predetermined position at the rear. Accordingly, since the position in which the air jet is applied to the surface to be dried gradually moves from the front side through the central portion to the rear side, it is possible to completely dry the water droplets remaining on the central portion of the surface to be dried.

At T15, the air pump 51 stops and the drying nozzle 20 in its forward and backward direction moves to the rear end housing position. The drying nozzle 20 in its left and right direction returns to the center angle. Then, at T16, when the user actuates by pressing the stop switch 305 of the remote control device 300, the action of the air fan 41 and the heater 43 stops, thus completing the blowing of hot air from the blowing port. hot air 42.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the air jet from the drying nozzle 20 is blown onto the surface to be dried, hot air is blown from the hot air blow port 42 onto the surface to be dried, so that drying can be carried out more effectively, and a feeling of cold air in the air jet can be avoided.

In addition, since the post washing, bidet washing and drying are set by one nozzle, and the drive unit is also used together, it is possible to reduce the installation area of the nozzle, and since the number of parts can be small, low cost and space saving can be achieved.

In addition, since the pressurized air for drying is set to be blown from the single nozzle orifice, the flow rate of the air jet can be increased even at low flow rate, and high drying performance can be obtained even with a small capacity of the air pump. That is, since the flow rate of the jet is large, the energy with which the water droplets are extracted when the jet is applied to the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried becomes large, the water droplets can dry effectively.

It should be noted that, although in this embodiment the post wash and bidet wash are carried out through the identical nozzle orifice, but can be configured by respectively arranging individual nozzle ports in a hollow cylinder, or separate nozzles and drive units respectively they can be arranged for subsequent washing and bidet washing.

Furthermore, although in this embodiment the washing and drying are configured by a hollow cylinder, and the drive unit is used together, the washing and drying can be configured by respectively independent nozzles and drive units.

Furthermore, although in this embodiment the drying nozzle is configured by a single nozzle hole, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which pressurized air is blown from a plurality of nozzle holes, and a plurality of drying nozzles and drive units. In addition, the drying time can be shortened by driving by means of a plurality of air jets to collect the water droplets on the surface to be dried to the central portion. Furthermore, although in this embodiment the flow rate of the pressurized air is set at 20 to 30 mm per second, a velocity of not less than 10 m per second is minimally required to obtain the effect of drying the water droplets, and the size nozzle orifice and the number of holes in the nozzle Nozzle, which are adjustment factors for the extent of the jet contact area, should be selected taking into account the capacity of the air pump and the flow rate of the pressurized air.

Furthermore, although in this embodiment the entire drying nozzle is configured to be driven by the drive unit as a mobile unit, the invention is not limited thereto, and the contact area of the jet is moved by changing the blowing direction of the jet. by moving only the air nozzle orifice of the drying nozzle or only a peripheral member including the air nozzle orifice or by changing an angle thereof. Also alternatively, a configuration is conceivable, inter alia, in which a current direction change device is provided for changing the direction of the jet on the front side of the air nozzle.

Furthermore, although in this embodiment the first stage to the fifth stage are executed sequentially, each stage can be executed repeatedly or the order of the stages can be changed. Furthermore, the first and second stages can be omitted, or the third and fourth stages can be omitted.

In addition, since the drying nozzle is gradually moved from one end of the surface to be dried through the center to the other end of it while undergoing a cyclical movement at the end of the drying procedure, it is possible to reliably remove the drops of water remaining.

(Second realization)

Next, a description will be given of a sanitary washing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The sanitary washing apparatus according to the second embodiment differs from the sanitary washing apparatus according to the first embodiment in the following respects.

Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of the drying nozzle of the drying device and the oscillating device in the sanitary washing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention.

An oscillation device 80 shown in Figure 10 includes a rotating shaft portion 83 integrally connected to a proximal portion 82 of a drying nozzle 81 which is an air blowing portion, a slider 85 for supporting the shaft portion of rotation 83 rotationally about an axis 84 of the rotation shaft portion 83, a left-right drive motor 86 to rotate the rotation shaft portion 83, and an A gear 87 and a B gear 88 to transmit the torque of the left-right drive motor 86 to the rotation shaft portion 83.

The forward / reverse drive function based on the slider 85 is similar to that of the first embodiment, and the nut portion 60 is constructed in a similar manner.

In the same way as in the first embodiment, the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its internal configuration has a hollow cylindrical shape and is provided with the air nozzle orifice 21 and the washing water nozzle orifice 22 which is they meet in the circumferential direction of the hollow cylinder in the vicinity of its distal end. The drying nozzle 20 is provided therein with the air cavity (not shown) for pressurized air and the water cavity (not shown) for wash water. A difference from the first embodiment is that the proximal portion 82 of the drying nozzle 81 is integrally connected to the rotation axis portion 83, and the drying nozzle 81 alternately oscillates in a fan shape around this axis of rotation portion. rotation 83.

In the configuration described above, the actuation of the air jet to the left and to the right is effected when the position of the air nozzle hole 21 moves to predetermined positions left and right when rotating the drying nozzle 81 Up to predetermined angles the forward and reverse rotation of the left-right drive motor 86 is controlled.

Then, since a jet of air 89 is blown from the air nozzle hole 21 while maintaining substantially perpendicularity with respect to the surface to be dried, the peeling action with respect to the water droplets adhering to the surface a dry becomes high. Furthermore, since the action by which the water droplets tend to move outward from the surface to be dried can be further suppressed, the collection of the water droplets in the central portion is facilitated. Also, even if the air jet moves to the left and right, the distance until the jet is applied to the surface to be dried does not move away, so that a jet whose air flow speed is high can be applied. to the surface to be dried and the water droplet removal ability can be further improved.

(Third embodiment)

Next, a description will be given of a sanitary washing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention.

The sanitary washing apparatus according to the third embodiment differs from the sanitary washing apparatus according to the first embodiment in the following respects.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart of the control action in the "after wash" and "dry" action by the controller of the sanitary washing apparatus. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a moving pattern of the air jet contact area with respect to the surface to be dried in the "drying" state of action.

In the third embodiment, meanwhile from T7 to T13 in Figure 11, the contact area E of the air jet moves over the outer peripheral portion of the surface F to dry shown in Figure 12, sequentially in the order of m1 backward, m2 left, m3 forward, m4 right, and m5 backward, thus bringing its range of thrust gradually closer to the central portion G.

Specifically, from T7 to T8 in Figure 11, the action directions and action speeds of the left-right drive motor 54 and the forward / reverse drive motor 53 of the drive unit 52 are interconnected, and the drying nozzle 20 in its forward and reverse drive moves backwards at high speed in a predetermined range (for example 150mm to 50mm forward), while drying nozzle 20 in terms of its angle of Left-Right is actuated simultaneously slowly to the left from an extreme right angle through a predetermined angle (eg 50 ° to 45 °).

Then, from T8 to T9, the drying nozzle 20 in its forward and backward drive slowly moves forward a predetermined distance (for example, 50 mm to 55 mm forward), and the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its left-right angle are activated simultaneously to the left at high speed in a predetermined angular range (for example, 45 ° to -50 °).

Then from T9 to T10, the drying nozzle 20 moves forward at high speed in a predetermined range (for example, 55mm to 150mm forward), and the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its angle of left-right drives simultaneously slowly to the right over a predetermined angular range (eg -50 ° to -450 °).

Next, from T10 to T11, the drying nozzle 20 is slowly moved back a predetermined distance (for example, 150mm to 145mm forward), and the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its left-right angle is driven simultaneously at high speed over a predetermined angular range (eg -45 ° to 45 °).

Also, from T11 to T12, the drying nozzle 20 moves back at high speed in a predetermined range (for example, 145mm to 55mm forward), and the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its left-right angle it is simultaneously actuated slowly to the left over a predetermined angle (eg 45 ° to 40 °).

The predetermined range and the predetermined angular range are gradually made smaller while repeating the action described above, so as to make the contact area of the air jet closer to the central portion G of the surface to be dried.

With this procedure, it is possible to continuously dry the water droplets that are spread on the surface to be dried, while they accumulate towards the central portion without stopping the air pump. Accordingly, no waste is generated in the action and the drying time can be shortened.

(Fourth embodiment)

Next, a description will be given of a sanitary washing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

The sanitary washing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment differs from the sanitary washing apparatus according to the first embodiment in the following respects.

Figure 13 is a timing chart of the control action in the "after wash" and "dry" action by the controller of the sanitary washing apparatus. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a moving pattern of the air jet contact area with respect to the surface to be dried in the "drying" state of action.

In the fourth embodiment, meanwhile from T7 to T13 in Figure 13, the contact area E of the air jet moves sequentially in a clockwise direction over the outer peripheral portion of the surface F to be dried shown in the Figure 14, and its radius r gradually becomes smaller and approaches the central portion G.

Specifically, as shown by the forward / backward movement distance and the angle in the left-right direction of the drying nozzle 20 from T7 to T8 in Figure 11, the reciprocal actuation is respectively effected sinusoidally with respect to the portion. center of the surface to be dried, and adjustment is provided by setting the respective reciprocal actuation frequencies identically and by shifting the phases by 90 degrees. That is, when the forward / backward movement distance is at the position of the central portion (T7, T9), the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its angle in the left-right direction is driven to the extreme right or left. Conversely, when the angle in the left-right direction is at the center angle (T8, T10), the drying nozzle 20 in terms of its forward / back movement distance is driven at the front end or at the extreme rear. Then, the actuation is effected to make the amplitude of the reciprocating actuation gradually smaller to allow the range of motion of the jet to approach the central portion G.

According to this embodiment, since the contact area of the air jet moves in such a way as to represent a circle on the surface to be dried, the water droplets located on the inner side of this circle can dry out while accumulating towards the central portion without spreading to the outer side. Accordingly, the water droplets can be reliably removed, and there is no waste in action, so that the drying time can be shortened.

It should be noted that, although in the above-described embodiment the air jet contact area is configured to represent a circle on the surface to be dried, the air jet contact area can be moved to the central portion of the surface to be dried while it moves on a substantially polygonal shape formed by lines substantially tangential to the circumference of a circle around the center of the surface to be dried. This simplifies the configuration of the drive unit. Also, since the contact area of the air jet approaches the center while the polygon gradually gets smaller as it moves over the polygon from the outer peripheral portion of the surface to be dried, the water droplets move towards the center of the surface to be dried, and the wet area is prevented from enlarging by spreading to the outer side. Also, if the water droplets accumulate in the central portion of the surface to be dried, the air jet can be applied by concentrating it in a narrow range, so that the water droplets can be effectively dried.

(Fifth realization)

Next, a description will be given of a sanitary washing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Also in the sanitary washing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment, water droplets in a washing water bonding area A are effectively removed by sweeping the surface F to be dried by the air jet of the drying device. The sanitary washing apparatus according to this fifth embodiment differs from the sanitary washing apparatus according to the third and fourth embodiments in the following respects.

Figures 15 and 16 are diagrams illustrating the relationship between the position of the drying nozzle 20 and the contact area. Here, since the plane is similar to that of the third embodiment, the plan view will be omitted, but it is similar to Figure 12. That is, the contact area of the air jet with respect to the surface to be dried in the state drive is moved in the same way as the movement pattern shown in Figure 12. In this embodiment, however, when the air jet is controlled, the blowing direction of the drying nozzle 20 is not changed, but the The position of the drying nozzle 20 is changed so that the position of the distal end of the drying nozzle 20 is to be located immediately below the blowing position. The position of a point G in Figure 12 corresponds to Figures 15 (a) and Figure 16 (a); m1 corresponds to Figures 15 (b) and Figure 16 (c); m2 corresponds to Figures 15 (c) and Figure 16 (c); m3 corresponds to Figures 15 (c) and Figure 16 (b); and m4 corresponds to Figures 15 (b) and Figure 16 (b).

In this configuration, the arrangement provided is such that the air jet is applied substantially perpendicular to the surface to be dried, and in accordance with this configuration, the colliding air flow spreads radially around the axis of the air jet along the along the surface to be dried. By virtue of this air flowing along the surface to be dried, the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried move or spread in the opposite direction to the axis of the air jet. Consequently, as the central position of this air jet moves horizontally from the position in Figure 15 (a) and Figure 16 (a) to the position in Figure 15 (b) and Figure 16 (b) and further to the position in Figure 15 (c) and 16 (c), and sequentially in the order of m1, m2, m3, m4, and m5, as shown in Figure 12, the attached water droplets dry while move in the direction towards the central portion G, so that the drying is carried out efficiently.

However, if the air jet is not applied perpendicular to the surface to be dried but in an inclined manner, the colliding air flow spreads and centers in a direction in which the angle of spread is smoother and the diffusion radial collapses. As for this collision angle, if the angle of inclination of the perpendicularity becomes large, the spreading of the colliding air takes place only in the direction where the angle is softer and the spreading becomes small. In the case where the blowing direction of the air is applied to the surface to be dried by moving forward / backward and to the left / right, the jet of air that is applied to the surface to be dried is applied substantially perpendicular to the surface to be dried in the central portion of the air blowing port, but in a position remote from the central portion, the jet of air is applied to the surface to be dried in such a way that it is tilted outward. For this reason, there is a problem that the spreading of the jet towards the center is lost, and the adhering water droplets spread to the outer side of the surface to be dried. In this embodiment, however, such a problem is not present and the drying is performed very efficiently, as described above.

It should be noted that, in Figures 16 (a) to 16 (c), the drying nozzle is configured to tilt slightly forward to accommodate on average the angle of the surface of the buttocks of the human body. As a result, the distance between the drying nozzle and the surface to be dried of the buttocks can be substantially fixed, so that the collision speed of the air jet is not dampened and effective removal of the water droplets can be carried out.

It should be noted that the washing water binding area A refers to a range where the surface of the buttocks gets wet and scattered when the water to wash the human body, after jetting out of the washing water spraying device , spreads with its jet impulse or runs and flows along the surface of the buttocks. The surface to be dried is set to be equivalent to the bonding area of the wash water, or an area wider than that of the surface to be dried is set. Since air is thus blown from the outer peripheral portion of the surface to be dried, it is possible to prevent the water droplets from spreading to the outer side of the surface to be dried.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the air jet is configured to be constantly blown in a perpendicular direction without changing the direction of the blowing nozzle 20, drying can be carried out efficiently.

(Sixth embodiment)

Next, a description will be given of a sanitary washing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the drive unit 52 described in the first embodiment is characterized by comprising, in addition to the forward / reverse drive device 71 that serves as the first mobile device to drive the nozzle in its forward and backward direction, a device horizontal actuator 71R serving as a second movable device for actuating the nozzle to effect a substantially linear movement in a direction perpendicular to the actuating direction by this forward / reverse actuator 71.

Figure 17 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the drive unit 52 in the drying device 50. The forward / reverse drive device 71 is formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment shown in Figure 5 , and a description thereof will be omitted, and identical parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The drive unit 52 shown in Figure 17 is made up of the drying nozzle 20, the forward / reverse drive device 71 to alternately move the jet of air from the drying nozzle 20 in the forward and backward directions, the horizontal actuator 71R serving as a second movable device for actuating the nozzle so as to effect a substantially linear movement in a direction perpendicular to the actuating direction by the forward / reverse actuator 71, and a base 55R to support the forward / reverse actuator 71 and the horizontal actuator 71R. This drive unit 52 as a mobile unit allows the area of contact with respect to the surface to be dried of the pressurized air blown from the drying nozzle 20 to move in a sweeping manner over the entire surface to be dried.

In the same way as in the first embodiment described above, the drying nozzle 20 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is provided with an air nozzle orifice 21 and a wash water nozzle orifice 22 which meet in a circumferential direction of the hollow cylinder in the vicinity of its distal end. The drying nozzle 20 is provided therein with an air cavity (not shown) to conduct pressurized air to the air nozzle orifice 21 and a water cavity (not shown) to conduct washing water to the orifice of the wash water nozzle 22. That is, this drying nozzle 20 is configured to also serve as a portion of the wash nozzle.

The base 55R allows the horizontal actuator 71R to be inclined on its upper surface along the rail portion 56 configured such that it is tilted forward. The drying nozzle is configured to be driven horizontally as it slides on a horizontal drive rail 56R provided on the horizontal drive device 71R. In addition, the slider 58 that slides along the rail portion 56 is provided on the upper surface of the base 55R, and the horizontal actuator 71R is fixed to the slider 58. The horizontal actuator 71R is drives along the rail portion 56 according to the action of the slider 58. Meanwhile, when the drying nozzle 20 is slid by a slider 58R on the horizontal drive rail 56R provided on the horizontal drive device 71R, the drying nozzle 20 can also move horizontally in addition to being driven back and forth.

The forward / reverse drive device 71 serving as the first movable device is composed of the forward / reverse drive motor 53, the slide device 58 and the threaded portion 59. The horizontal drive device 71R is mounted on the slide device 58 and is configured to move integrally with the slider 58. A horizontal drive motor 53R is connected so that the slider 58R moves horizontally on the rail 56R which is arranged in an intermediate portion of the base 55R and has perpendicular to the rail portion 56. The threaded portion 59 is positioned through the nut portion 60 of the slider 58, and the slider 58 is operated to slide on the rail portion 56 as the threaded portion 59 is rotated. In addition, the drying nozzle 20 is positioned on a portion of nut 60R of slider 58R, and slider 58R is driven on rail portion 56R as horizontal drive motor 53R rotates. Accordingly, the drying nozzle 20, which is held by the sliders 58 and 58R, is retractably driven forward and backward and horizontally driven along with the rotation of the forward / reverse drive motor 53 and the feed motor. 53R horizontal drive. Here, the forward direction denotes direction A in Figure 17, while the backward direction denotes direction B. The forward direction corresponds to the direction of the front side of the toilet user sitting on the toilet seat 400, while that the rearward direction corresponds to the direction of the rear side of the toilet user. Furthermore, the horizontal direction should be understood to refer to a direction connecting C 'and D'.

Thus, longitudinal and transverse linear drive becomes possible.

(Seventh realization)

Next, a description will be given of a sanitary washing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.

This embodiment is a modification of the nozzle structure and is characterized in that the second movable device is configured to oscillate the blowing direction of the jet blown from the air blowing portion described above. That is, the drive unit 52 described in the first embodiment is provided, in addition to the forward / reverse drive device 71 which serves as the first movable device for driving the nozzle in its forward and backward direction, a fluid element 121 self-excited that makes use of the Coanda effect as a second mobile device, as shown in Figures 18 and 19. Thanks to this fluid element 121, the air jet becomes transversely mobile. Figure 18 is a perspective view of an essential portion and Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view cut along a plane that includes an air blow hole 121C. The characteristic is that the air blowing direction is rotated in the R and S directions by the self-excited fluid element 121 in directions perpendicular to the driving direction of this forward / reverse drive device 71.

Figure 18 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of an essential portion of the drive unit 52 in the drying device 50. The forward / back drive device 71 is formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment shown. in Figure 5, and is configured to move in the forward and reverse directions A and B. A description thereof will be omitted, and identical portions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this fluid element, pressurized air formed within a nozzle 120 is conveyed through an air cavity 123. The fluid element is composed by the air blow hole 121C of a fan-shaped cross-section arranged in the vicinity of a front end of this air cavity 123 and communicating with the air cavity 123, as well as a first and a second feedback hole 121A and 121B arranged symmetrically around a center of the air blow hole 121C of such that it spreads respectively from the vicinity of this air cavity 123 and opens in the vicinity of an open end of the aforementioned air blow hole 121C.

In this fluid element, the jet that is blown from the air cavity 123 into the air blow hole 121C tends to join a wall surface 120A or 120B that forms the air blow hole 121C due to the Coanda effect. In addition, the jet that is attached to the surface of the wall 120A is detached from the surface of the wall 120A by the flow of the feedback hole 121A and is attached to the surface of the wall 120B.

Meanwhile, the jet attached to the surface of the wall 120B is detached from the surface of the wall 120B by the flow of the feedback hole 121B and is reattached to the surface of the wall 120A.

Thus, the jet experiences self-excitation between wall surfaces 120A and 120B.

By using this fluid element, it is possible to move the blowing direction of the air through self-excitation without separately providing a driving source.

It should be noted that, although in this embodiment this fluid element is used as the second mobile device, this fluid element can be added to the air blow port in the first to sixth embodiments described above. This makes it possible to effect drying more efficiently.

(Eighth embodiment)

Next, a description will be given of a sanitary washing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a description will be given of the configuration for removing water droplets adhering to the nozzle.

After completing the wash, if the drying step is started with the water droplets remaining attached to the nozzle, the water droplets adhering to the nozzle are blown out along with the air blown through the air blow hole and can join to the surface to dry. In this embodiment, however, a description will be given of the sanitary washing apparatus equipped with a device for removing water droplets adhering to the nozzle.

Figure 20 (a) is a schematic diagram of the drying device 50 housed in a main housing 50C, and Figure 20 (b) is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the nozzle is dried.

After completion of the wash, the nozzle 20 is temporarily placed in a housed position, as shown in Figure 20 (b).

At this time, the air is configured to be blown out of the air blowing hole 21 in the state that the nozzle is housed in a housing that houses the nozzle 21C. This blown air is reflected by the housing that houses the nozzle 21C and a plug 90 to dry the water droplets adhering to the outer periphery of the nozzle, and thus dries the surface of the nozzle.

When the drying of the nozzle is thus completed, the shutter 90 is opened and the dry nozzle advances from the housing that houses the nozzle 21C and performs a forward and backward movement in the vicinity of the surface to be dried to thus initiate the step of drying.

Therefore, drying can be carried out efficiently.

It should be noted that this drying of the nozzle is effective not only after washing the human body, but also at the time of removal of water droplets after cleaning the nozzle.

When, for example, a person leaves the bathroom and the detection of the human body is no longer carried out by a detection unit of the human body or the like, the cleaning water passes through a water channel for cleaning the nozzle by means of a cleaning nozzle for cleaning the nozzle of the wash nozzle. The shutter 90, that is, a protection unit, protects the steering in front of the toilet bowl and prevents the cleaning water from immediately falling into the toilet bowl, and this washing water washes and removes stains around the nozzle. The water that cleaned the periphery of the nozzle 20 falls into the toilet bowl along with the stains from the opening at the end of a bent portion of the shutter 90, so that no problem occurs. In addition, the cleaning action of this nozzle can be set to be carried out without fail also after using the washing nozzle, in which case, also after defecation, effective cleaning is possible when dirty water and debris spread during defecation.

Furthermore, if on that surface of the plug 90, that is, the protection unit, which faces towards the nozzle 20, grooves are provided that serve as flow channels or ribs that allow water to run over them, to allow the flow of the washing or cleaning water, the cleaning water can be guided so that the cleaning water flows efficiently to the periphery of the nozzle.

It should be noted that, although in the first to sixth embodiments described above a description is given of the case where a nozzle is used for washing and drying, it goes without saying that a washing nozzle and a drying nozzle can be provided separately.

Industrial applicability

As described above, the drying device and the sanitary washing apparatus equipped therewith according to the invention effectively dry the drops of water and effect drying even with a small amount of air; therefore, the invention is applicable not only to the sanitary washing apparatus but also to the drying of the human body that gets wet from a shower, hand washing or the like. Furthermore, the invention is also applicable to uses in water droplet removal and drying in a washing device, such as a dishwasher, a car washer, a parts washer, and the like.

Claims (20)

1. A drying device comprising: an air blowing portion (20, 81) for blowing pressurized air to dry a surface to be dried by means of a jet of pressurized air whose contact area (E) to the surface to be dried is narrower than the surface to be dried (F) ; Y a movable unit (52) for moving the air blowing portion (20, 81) while the jet is blowing, such that the jet blown from the air blowing portion sequentially sweeps a substantially complete surface of the surface to be dried (F), wherein the mobile unit (52) includes a first mobile device (71) for moving the air blowing portion (20, 81) in a state in which a blowing direction of the jet is maintained to form a predetermined angle with relative to a direction of movement of the air blowing portion (20, 81) and a second movable device (70) for moving the air blowing portion in a different direction from the direction of movement, wherein the mobile unit (52) includes a cyclical movement to cyclically alternate the air blowing portion (20, 81) in a fixed direction and a gradual movement to move the cyclical movement in a predetermined direction, and sweeps the area of contact (E) of the jet over practically the entire surface of the surface to be dried (F), and characterized in that a first stage is provided in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit (52) is established as a direction to the left and to the right of the surface to be dried (F), and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position forward from a center of the surface to be dried (F) towards a substantial center thereof, and a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position backward from the center of the surface to be dried ( F) towards the substantial center of the same, and the first stage and the second stage are executed, or in that a first stage is provided in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit (52) is set as a forward and backward direction of the surface to be dried (F), and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on one side to the left or to the right of a center of the surface to be dried (F) towards a substantial center thereof, and a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on another side towards the left or to the right of the center of the surface to be dried (F) towards the substantial center thereof, and the first stage and the second stage are executed. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the first movable device (71) moves in a forward / reverse direction of the air blowing portion (20, 81). The drying device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second mobile device (70) deflects the blowing direction of the jet. The drying device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second mobile device (70) moves in a direction other than the direction of movement in the state in which the blowing direction is maintained. of the jet. The drying device according to claim 3, wherein the second movable device (70) deflects the jet by rotating the air blowing portion (20, 81). The drying device according to claim 3, wherein the second movable device (70) deflects the blowing direction of the blown jet from the air blowing portion (20, 81). The drying device according to claim 4, wherein the second mobile device (70) moves the air blowing portion (20, 81) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first mobile device ( 71). The drying device according to claim 4, wherein the second movable device (70) moves the air blowing portion (20, 81) in the shape of a circular arc. The drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the air blowing portion (20, 81) is a rod-shaped body having an air blowing port in the vicinity from a distal end thereof, and the direction of movement of the first movable device (71) is a direction along a longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped body. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit (52) sweeps the jet of the air blowing portion (20, 81) to dry the water droplets adhering to the surface to be dried ( F) while accumulates the water droplets to a central portion (G) of the surface to be dried (F) by the jet blown from the air blow portion (20, 81). The drying device according to claim 10, wherein the movable unit (52) gradually moves the air blowing portion (20, 81) from an outer periphery of the surface to be dried (F) towards a center of the surface to be dried (F) while the air blowing portion (20, 81) is cyclically moved in lines substantially tangential to a circumference of a circle around a center of the surface to be dried (F). The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the first mobile device (71) performs the gradual movement and the second mobile device performs the cyclical movement. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein the first mobile device (71) performs the cyclical movement and the second mobile device performs the gradual movement. 14. A drying device comprising: an air blowing portion (20, 81) for blowing pressurized air to dry a surface to be dried by means of a jet of pressurized air whose contact area (E) to the surface to be dried is narrower than the surface to be dried (F) ; Y a movable unit (52) for moving the air blowing portion (20, 81) while blowing the jet such that the jet blown from the air blowing portion sequentially sweeps a substantially complete surface of the surface to be dried ( F), wherein the mobile unit (52) includes a first mobile device (71) for moving the air blowing portion (20, 81) in a state in which a blowing direction of the jet is maintained to form a predetermined angle with relative to a direction of movement of the air blowing portion (20, 81) and a second movable device (70) for moving the air blowing portion in a different direction from the direction of movement, wherein the mobile unit (52) includes a cyclical movement to cyclically alternate the air blowing portion (20, 81) in a fixed direction and a gradual movement to move the cyclical movement in a predetermined direction, and sweeps the area of contact (E) of the jet over practically the entire surface of the surface to be dried (F), wherein the first mobile device (71) performs the gradual movement and the second mobile device performs the cyclical movement or in which the first mobile device (71) performs the cyclical movement and the second mobile device performs the gradual movement, and characterized in that a first stage is provided in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit (52) is established as a direction to the left and to the right of the surface to be dried (F), and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position forward from a center of the surface to be dried (F) towards a substantial center thereof, a second stage in which the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position backward from the center of the surface to be dried (F ) towards the substantial center thereof, a third stage in which a direction of the cyclical movement of the mobile unit (52) is established as a forward and backward direction of the surface to be dried (F), and the gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position on one side either to the left or to the right of the center of the surface to be dried (F) towards a substantial center thereof, and a fourth stage in which the movim Gradual movement is effected from a predetermined position elsewhere to the left or right of the center of the surface to be dried (F) towards the substantial center thereof, and the first to fourth steps are executed. The drying device according to claim 10, wherein the movable unit (52) moves the contact area (E) of the jet to the central portion (G) while moving the contact area (E) of the jet around a peripheral portion of the surface to be dried (F). The drying device according to claim 15, wherein the mobile unit (52) moves the contact area (E) of the jet to the central portion (G) of the surface to be dried (F) while moving the contact area (E) of the jet around a polygonal shape formed by lines substantially tangential to a circumference of a circle around a center of the surface to be dried (F). The drying device according to claim 15, wherein the mobile unit (52) moves the contact area (E) of the jet to the central portion (G) of the surface to be dried (F) while moving the contact area (E) of the jet around a substantial circumference of a circle around a center of the surface to be dried (F). The drying device according to any one of claims 10 to 17, further comprising a controller for controlling the mobile unit (52), in which the controller gradually moves the mobile unit (52) from one end of the surface to be dried (F) through a center of the same to another end of it while causing the mobile unit to perform a cyclical movement at the end of a drying stage. 19. The drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, further comprising a heating unit (40) for heating air; and a hot air blowing port (42) for blowing hot air heated by the heating unit (40). 20. A sanitary washing apparatus comprising a toilet seat (400) mounted on the drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 19; and a wash water spray unit (30) for spraying wash water towards the surface to be washed.