JP2008183055A - Bathtub washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathtub washing device capable of preventing washing liquid from splashing outside a bathtub when a bath cover is opened and accurately detecting the opened/closed state of the bath cover even when there is the difference of brightness inside a bathroom due to the difference between the day and the night or the lighting state of an illumination or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A washing liquid discharge part 10 for discharging the washing liquid 29 to the inside of a bathtub 2 is provided on the inner surface of the bathtub 2. A suction means 15 for sucking the air inside the bathtub 2 and discharging it to the outside is provided. A pressure sensor 24 for detecting the pressure of the air inside the bathtub 2 is provided. The open/closed state of the bath cover 4 is detected from the pressure change of the air inside the bathtub 2 when sucking the air inside the bathtub 2 by the suction means 15. In the state of closing the bathtub 2 with the bath cover 4, the washing liquid 29 can be discharged from the washing liquid discharge part 10. In the state of not closing the bathtub 2 with the bath cover 4, the washing liquid can not be discharged from the washing liquid discharge part 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bathtub cleaning apparatus that discharges cleaning liquid to the inner surface of a bathtub.

  Some conventional bathtub cleaning devices have a cleaning liquid discharge section on the inner surface of the bathtub, and the cleaning liquid such as detergent is discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge section into the bathtub to clean the inner surface of the bathtub. If the cleaning liquid is discharged with the bath lid open, cleaning liquid such as detergent may splash from the bathtub into the bathroom, and the person in the bathroom may inhale it and harm health.

  Further, Patent Document 1 does not discharge cleaning liquid such as a detergent, but an optical sensor is provided on the inner surface of the bathtub, and when the illuminance on the inner surface of the bathtub is high, it is determined that the bath lid is open. There is disclosed a bathtub cleaning apparatus that is controlled so that high-temperature water for cleaning the inner surface of the bathtub is not discharged into the bathtub.

By the way, the brightness in the bathroom changes depending on the difference between day and night, the lighting state of the lighting, etc., but the open / closed state of the bath lid is detected by an optical sensor as in the bathtub cleaning device shown in Patent Document 1 above. In this case, there is a risk that the light sensor cannot detect a sufficient amount of light when the bathroom lighting is dimmed, etc., and that the bath lid is closed even though the bath lid is open. In this case, water for cleaning the bathtub is discharged into the bathtub.
JP-A-9-224860

  The present invention was invented in view of the above-described conventional problems, and can prevent the cleaning liquid from splashing outside the bathtub when the bath lid is open, such as the difference between day and night, lighting state of lighting, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bathtub cleaning device that can accurately detect the open / closed state of a bath lid even if there is a difference in brightness in the bathroom.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the bathtub cleaning apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a cleaning liquid discharge portion 10 that discharges cleaning liquid toward the inside of the bathtub 2 on the inner surface of the bathtub 2, sucks the air in the bathtub 2 and discharges it to the outside. And a pressure sensor 24 for detecting the pressure of the air in the bathtub 2, and the bath from the pressure change of the air in the bathtub 2 when the air in the bathtub 2 is sucked by the suction means 15. When the open / close state of the lid 4 is detected and the bathtub 2 is closed with the bath lid 4, the cleaning liquid can be discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge unit 10, and when the bathtub 2 is not closed with the bath lid 4, the cleaning liquid is used. A control unit 25 that disables the discharge of the cleaning liquid from the discharge unit 10 is provided. By providing the control unit 25, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from splashing outside the bathtub 2 especially when the upper opening of the bathtub 2 is not closed by the bath lid 4, and the cleaning liquid containing the detergent is in the bathroom 1. You can prevent your health from being struck by being struck. Moreover, the open / close state of the bath lid 4 can be detected based on the pressure change of the air in the bathtub 2 when the air in the bathtub 2 is sucked by the suction means 15, and the open / closed state of the bath lid 4 is detected in the brightness of the bathroom 1. It is possible to prevent mistakes due to the difference.

  Further, a bath lid 4 constituted by a plurality of lid plates 5 is provided, and a portion of the lid plate 5 placed on the peripheral edge of the upper opening of the bathtub 2 with the upper opening of the bathtub 2 closed. It is also preferable to provide sealing materials 6 and 9 made of a soft material on the lower surface and the joining surface of the cover plate 5 adjacent to the cover plate 5. A portion between the lower surface of the portion of each lid plate 5 placed on the peripheral edge of the upper opening of the bathtub 2 and the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the upper edge of the bath lid 4 can be sealed with the sealing material 6, and the adjacent lid plate The joint part of 5 can be sealed with the sealing material 9, and the space in the bathtub 2 can be made into sealed space by these. For this reason, in the state where the bath lid 4 is closed, the pressure of the air in the bathtub 2 is greatly reduced when the air in the bathtub 2 is sucked by the suction means 15. The open / closed state of the bath lid 4 can be detected more reliably.

  The suction means 15 preferably also serves as means for discharging the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid discharge section 10. The suction means 15 can also be used as a means for discharging the cleaning liquid, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 1, when a bath lid is open, it can prevent that a washing | cleaning liquid disperses outside the bathtub, and it can prevent that the washing | cleaning liquid containing a detergent sprinkles on the person who exists in a bathroom, and impairs health. Further, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the open / close state of the bath lid due to the difference in brightness in the bathroom, and the open / close state of the bath lid can be accurately detected.

  In addition, in the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, the space in the bathtub can be a sealed space, and the air in the bathtub is sucked by the suction means when the bath lid is closed. The decrease in the pressure of the air in the bathtub can be increased, and the open / closed state of the bath lid can be reliably detected.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the means for discharging the cleaning liquid by the suction means can also be used, and the cost can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram conceptually showing a bathtub cleaning apparatus according to an example of the present embodiment. A flange portion 3 is projected from the upper end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the bathtub 2 installed in the bathroom 1, and the flange portion 3 constitutes a peripheral portion of the upper opening of the bathtub 2. The peripheral part of the bath lid 4 is placed on the flange portion 3 of the bathtub 2, and the upper opening of the bathtub 2 can be closed by the bath lid 4. The bath lid 4 is composed of a plurality of (for example, two) lid plates 5, and a sealing material 6 made of a soft material such as soft rubber is attached to the lower surface of the peripheral edge of each lid plate 5. When the upper opening of the bathtub 2 is closed with the bath lid 4 constituted by the plurality of lid plates 5, the peripheral edge of each lid plate 5 is placed on the flange portion 3 of the bathtub 2 via the sealing material 6. Thus, the portion between the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the bath lid 4 and the upper surface of the flange portion 3 of the bathtub 2 is sealed over the entire circumference.

  In addition, the bath lid 4 has a splice joint structure at the joint portion between the cover plates 5 as shown in FIG. That is, a lower protrusion 7 is provided on the lower half of the end face of one of the adjacent cover plates 5, and an upper protrusion 8 is provided on the upper half of the end face of the other cover plate 5. The adjacent cover plates 5 are joined with the upper protrusion 8 of the other cover plate 5 placed on the lower protrusion 7 of the one cover plate 5. A sealing material 9 made of a soft material such as soft rubber is attached to the upper surface of the lower protrusion 7 of one of the adjacent cover plates 5 or the lower surface of the upper protrusion 8 of the other cover plate 5. ing. Accordingly, when the upper opening of the bathtub 2 is closed by the bath lid 4, the upper protrusion 8 of the other cover plate 5 is placed on the lower protrusion 7 of the other cover plate 5 via the sealing material 9. As a result, the joints of the adjacent cover plates 5 are sealed.

  Of the inner surface formed by the inner surface and the inner bottom surface of the four sides of the bathtub 2, a cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10 ′ that discharges the cleaning liquid 29 toward the bathtub 2 and water for rinsing toward the bathtub 2 are provided on the inner surface. The water spray nozzle 11 'is provided, the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10' constitutes the cleaning liquid discharge part 10, and the water spray nozzle 11 'constitutes the water discharge part 11. The cleaning liquid 29 or water to be discharged can be sprayed from the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10 'and the water spray nozzle 11'.

  The cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10 ′ is connected to a cleaning liquid tank 13 outside the bathtub 2 via a cleaning liquid supply pipe 12, and the cleaning liquid tank 13 can be supplemented with a liquid detergent or a liquid obtained by diluting the detergent with water as the cleaning liquid 29. . The end of the cleaning liquid supply pipe 12 opposite to the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10 ′ (that is, the upstream end) is introduced into the lower portion of the cleaning liquid tank 13, opens at this position, and is immersed in the cleaning liquid 29 stored in the cleaning liquid tank 13. It is done. The cleaning liquid tank 13 is connected to the blower side of the blower 15 ′ via the air supply pipe 14, and the end of the air supply pipe 14 opposite to the blower 15 ′ (that is, the downstream end) is inside the cleaning liquid tank 13. It opens at a position above the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 29 introduced and stored in the upper part. The suction side of the blower 15 ′ is connected to an air discharge port 17 provided on the inner surface of the bathtub 2 via an air suction pipe 16. An air discharge pipe 19 that is open to the atmosphere is connected to the air supply pipe 14 via a switching valve 18 that is a three-way solenoid valve. By switching the switching valve 18, the blower 15 ′ is connected to the air supply pipe 14. The delivered air can be selectively supplied to either the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10 'side (cleaning liquid tank 13 side) or the air discharge pipe 19 side. The water spray nozzle 11 'is connected to a water pipe 21 serving as a water source via a water supply pipe 20, and the water supply pipe 20 includes an on-off valve 22 consisting of an electromagnetic valve and a water supply pipe 20 in order from the upstream side. A check valve 23 is provided to prevent water from flowing back to the water pipe 21 side. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the said bathtub washing | cleaning apparatus is the hot water accumulated in the bathtub 2, for example, providing a part of the air discharge port 17 or the air suction pipe 16 in the position higher than the surface of the bath water stored in the bathtub 2 etc. Has been devised to prevent the water from flowing into the blower 15 ′ through the air supply pipe 14, and the hot water accumulated in the bathtub 2 in the same manner flows into the blower 15 ′ through the cleaning liquid supply pipe 12. Some measures have been taken to prevent this.

  The bathtub 2 is provided with a pressure sensor 24 for detecting the pressure of air in the bathtub 2, and each of the pressure sensor 24, the switching valve 18, the opening / closing valve 22, and the blower 15 ′ is behind the ceiling of the bathroom 1. Is electrically connected to the control unit 25 installed in the cable via a cable 26. An operation device 27 is provided in a room adjacent to the bathroom 1 such as a dressing room. The operation unit 27 is electrically connected to the control unit 25 via the cable 26, and the bathtub cleaning device is automatically controlled by the control unit 25 as follows by pressing the automatic cleaning button 28 provided on the operation unit 27. Is done.

  When the automatic cleaning button 28 of the operation device 27 is operated, the control unit 25 first shifts to the bath lid open / closed state detection mode. In the bath lid open / closed state detection mode, the blower 15 ′ is driven in a state where the switching valve 18 is switched to the air discharge pipe 19 side, and the air in the bathtub 2 is passed through the air discharge port 17, the air suction pipe 16 and the air discharge pipe 19. At this time, the open / close state of the bath lid 4 is detected from the pressure change of the air in the bathtub 2 when the air in the bathtub 2 is sucked by the blower 15 ′. As this detection method, either of the following two methods may be adopted.

In the first method, the pressure sensor 24 detects the pressure in the bathtub 2 every predetermined time from the start of driving the blower 15 ', and the pressure detected within the predetermined time starts driving the blower 15'. It is determined that the bath lid 4 is in a closed state when it has decreased by a predetermined value or more from the time point, and other than that, it is determined that the bath lid 4 is in an open state. Specifically, it is determined that the bathtub 2 is in a closed state when the pressure drop of the air in the bathtub 2 becomes 200 mmH ₂ O or more from the start of driving of the blower 15 ′ until 1 minute elapses.

The other is that the pressure in the bathtub 2 is detected by the pressure sensor 24 when the blower 15 'starts to be driven, and the bathtub 2 by the pressure sensor 24 is passed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the drive of the blower 15'. When the pressure detected at the time when the predetermined time has passed is reduced by a predetermined value or more than the pressure detected at the start of driving the blower 15 ', it is determined that the bath lid 4 is in a closed state, It is determined that the bath lid 4 is in an open state when it has not decreased by a predetermined value or more. Specifically, the bathtub 2 is closed when the pressure of the air in the bathtub 2 after one minute has elapsed from the start of driving the blower 15 ′ has decreased by 200 mmH ₂ O or more than that at the start of driving the blower 15 ′. Judge that there is.

  If it is determined that the bath lid 4 is open by any of the above methods in the bath lid open / closed state detection mode, the operation of the blower 15 ′ is stopped at this time, and the display unit ( The fact that the bath lid 4 is in the open state is notified by a display by a voice (not shown) and a voice generated from a voice generator (not shown). The means for notifying that the bath lid 4 is in the open state is not limited to the display unit and the sound generation unit. Further, when it is determined that the bathtub 2 is in the closed state in the bath lid open / closed state detection mode, at this time, the process proceeds to the following cleaning mode.

  The cleaning mode includes a cleaning liquid discharge mode that discharges the cleaning liquid 29, a standby mode that discharges neither the cleaning liquid 29 nor water, and a water discharge mode that discharges water. The cleaning liquid discharge mode, the standby mode, and the cleaning liquid discharge mode are in this order. Transition.

  In the cleaning liquid discharge mode, the blower 15 ′ is driven for a predetermined time while the switching valve 18 is switched to the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10 ′ side, and the air in the bathtub 2 is supplied to the air discharge port 17, the air suction pipe 16, and the air supply pipe 14. To the upper part of the cleaning liquid tank 13. As a result, the cleaning liquid 29 stored in the cleaning liquid tank 13 is pressurized to lower the liquid level, and is discharged into the bathtub 2 from the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10 ′ via the cleaning liquid supply pipe 12. Specifically, in the cleaning liquid discharge mode, the blower 15 'is driven for 3 minutes.

  When the blower 15 'is driven for the predetermined time (3 minutes) in the cleaning liquid discharge mode, the mode is shifted to the standby mode. When the standby mode is entered, the blower 15 'is stopped and the on-off valve 22 is closed, and this state is maintained for a predetermined time. Specifically, the standby mode is 10 minutes.

  When the predetermined time (10 minutes) elapses after shifting to the standby mode, the mode is shifted to the water discharge mode. In the water discharge mode, the on-off valve 22 is opened, water supplied from the water pipe 21 to the water supply pipe 20 is discharged into the bathtub 2 from the water spray nozzle 11 ′ with tap water pressure, and after a predetermined time, the on-off valve 22 is closed and washed. Exit mode. Specifically, in the water discharge mode, the on-off valve 22 is opened for 5 minutes. In the cleaning liquid discharge mode and the bath lid open / closed state detection mode, the open / close valve 22 is set to be closed, and water is not discharged into the bathtub 2 from the water spray nozzle 11 '.

  Thus, when the bathtub 2 is washed using the bathtub cleaning device, for example, after bathing, the hot water in the bathtub 2 is discharged from the drain port (not shown) of the bathtub 2 and the bathtub 2 is emptied. The automatic washing button 28 of the container 27 is operated. As a result, when it is detected that the bathtub 2 is closed by the bath lid 4 in the bath lid open / closed state detection mode as described above, the mode can be shifted to the cleaning mode. In this cleaning mode, the cleaning liquid spray nozzle is used in the cleaning liquid discharge mode. The inner surface of the bathtub 2 can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid 29 sprayed into the bathtub 2 from 10 ', and in the water discharge mode after the cleaning liquid discharge mode, the water sprayed into the bathtub 2 from the water spray nozzle 11' The cleaning liquid 29 adhering to the inner surface can be rinsed, and the cleaning liquid 29 can be discharged from the drain outlet of the bathtub 2 together with this water. At this time, since the upper opening of the bathtub 2 is closed by the bath lid 4, the cleaning liquid 29 discharged from the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10 ′ and the water discharged from the water spray nozzle 11 ′ are not scattered outside the bathtub 2. .

  In addition, when it is detected that the bathtub 2 is not closed by the bath lid 4 in the bath lid open / closed state detection mode, the cleaning mode cannot be shifted to the cleaning mode. Water does not discharge. Therefore, when the bath lid 4 is open, the cleaning liquid 29 and water can be prevented from splashing outside the bathtub 2.

  Here, the bathtub cleaning device of the present invention includes a pressure sensor 24 for detecting the pressure of the air in the bathtub 2, and the bathtub when the air in the bathtub 2 is sucked by the suction means 15 constituted by the blower 15 ′. The open / close state of the bath lid 4 is detected on the basis of the pressure change of the air in the chamber 2. For this reason, even if there is a difference in brightness in the bathroom 1 due to the difference between day and night, lighting conditions, etc., the open / close state of the bath lid 4 is not erroneously detected, and the bath lid 4 is opened and closed. The state detection can be made accurate. As a result, the control based on the open / closed state of the bath lid 4 performed by the control unit 25, that is, in the state where the bathtub 2 is closed with the bath lid 4, allows the cleaning liquid 29 to be discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge unit 10 and the bath lid. In the state where the bathtub 2 is not closed at 4, it is possible to reliably perform control to disable the discharge of the cleaning liquid 29 from the cleaning liquid discharge unit 10.

  Moreover, the bathtub cleaning apparatus of this example is provided with a bath lid 4 constituted by a plurality of lid plates 5, and the upper opening peripheral edge of the bathtub 2 of each lid plate 5 with the bath lid 4 closing the upper opening of the bathtub 2. Since the sealing material 6 is provided on the lower surface of the portion to be placed on the tub 2, when the upper opening of the bathtub 2 is closed with the bath lid 4 constituted by the plurality of lid plates 5, each lid plate 5 is interposed via the sealing material 6. The portion between the lower surface of the peripheral edge of the bath lid 4 and the upper surface of the flange portion 3 of the bathtub 2 can be hermetically sealed with the sealing material 6, and the cover plate 5 is adjacent. Since the sealing material 9 is provided on the joint surface with the lid plate 5, the joint portion between the adjacent lid plates 5 can be sealed with the sealing material 9, whereby the space in the bathtub 2 can be made a sealed space. For this reason, when the bath lid 4 is closed, the pressure of the air in the bathtub 2 decreases when the air in the bathtub 2 is sucked by the suction means 15, and the open / close state of the bath lid 4 can be detected more reliably.

  Further, since the blower 15 'constituting the suction means 15 of this example also serves as means for discharging the cleaning liquid 29 from the cleaning liquid spray nozzle 10' in the cleaning liquid discharge mode, it is separately provided for detecting the open / closed state of the bath lid 4. There is no need to provide the suction means 15 by sucking the air in the bathtub 2, and the cost can be reduced.

  The washing of the bathtub 2 by the bathtub washing device is normally performed in a state where the drain opening of the bathtub 2 is opened without attaching a drain plug or the like, and is driven in the bath lid open / closed state detection mode and the cleaning liquid discharge mode. The output of the blower 15 ′ is set to an optimum value such that the pooled water collected in the trap at the drainage destination by the drive of the blower 15 ′ does not flow back into the bathtub 2 from the drain outlet.

1 is a system configuration diagram conceptually showing a bathtub cleaning apparatus according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the junction part of lid plates same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

2 Bath 4 Bath Lid 5 Lid 6 Sealing Material 9 Sealing Material 10 Cleaning Liquid Discharge Part 15 Suction Unit 24 Pressure Sensor 25 Control Part 29 Cleaning Liquid

Claims (3)

  A cleaning liquid discharge part for discharging the cleaning liquid toward the inside of the bathtub is provided on the inner surface of the bathtub, a suction means for sucking the air in the bathtub and discharging it to the outside, and a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the air in the bathtub The opening / closing state of the bath lid is detected from a change in the pressure of the air in the bathtub when the air in the bathtub is sucked by the suction means, and the cleaning liquid is discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge section when the bathtub is closed with the bath lid. And a control unit that disables discharge of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid discharge part when the bathtub is not closed by the bath lid.   Provided with a bath lid composed of a plurality of lid plates, the lower surface of the portion of the lid plate placed on the peripheral edge of the upper opening of the bathtub with the bath lid closed with the bath lid, and adjacent to the lid plate The bathtub cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sealing material made of a soft material is provided on a joint surface with the lid plate to be performed.   The bathtub cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suction unit also serves as a unit that discharges the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid discharge unit.

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