Liquid dispenser

Abstract

Provided is a liquid dispenser capable of more reliably spraying to a predetermined position of a spray target. A liquid dispenser (1) is configured in such a manner that a detection sensor (40) detects only an object to be sprayed having a predetermined color. A paper for wiping a toilet seat of a toilet, the paper including toilet paper, is centered on a white color, so that a spray target is limited to a predetermined color, and a spray mechanism unit (30) operates to spray a liquid such as a degerming agent only when the spray target of the predetermined color (for example, the white paper such as toilet paper) enters a detection range of a detection sensor (40). The present invention suppresses liquid from being sprayed when an object to be sprayed such as toilet paper is not present in the detection range of a detection sensor (40).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid dispenser. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been provided a liquid dispenser such as a bactericide dispenser or a liquid soap dispenser installed in a toilet or the like. In particular, in recent years, the number of toilets equipped with a liquid dispenser called a toilet seat cleaner for sterilizing the surface of the toilet seat has been increasing from the viewpoint of infection control measures (see Non-Patent Document 1). There are disclosed a manual liquid dispenser and a non-contact type liquid dispenser. In the manual liquid dispenser, a bactericide is sprayed by pressing a button provided on the upper part of the toilet seat cleaner. In the non-contact type liquid dispenser, a detection sensor (for example, a light sensor) for detecting the approach of a spray object such as a user's finger or the toilet paper held is provided at a predetermined position on the housing. When the spray object is detected by the detection sensor, the liquid is automatically sprayed without contact with the device.

[0003] Regarding the manual liquid dispenser, since the liquid is sprayed by the user pressing the button, it is relatively easy to spray the bactericide onto the toilet paper by previously placing the toilet paper held in the hand at the spray part. On the other hand, regarding the non-contact liquid dispenser, sometimes when any one of the hand itself, the toilet paper held in the hand, or the cuff of the clothes being worn enters the detection range of the detection sensor, the bactericide is sprayed and adheres to something other than the toilet paper.

[0004] To solve such a problem in the non-contact type, the present applicant has proposed a liquid dispenser in which two detection sensors are provided at different positions and the liquid is sprayed only when a user's finger or the like is detected by both sensors (see Patent Document 1).

[0005] Prior Art Documents

[0006] Patent Documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-172426

[0008] Non-Patent Documents

[0009] Non-Patent Document 1: Homepage of Calmic Co., Ltd., Leasing Service, Toilet Seat Cleaner Series (Toilet Seat Cleaner) URL: https: / / www.calmic.co.jp / service / toilet_seat_cleaner / Summary of the Invention

[0010] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0011] According to the technology of Patent Document 1, it is controlled to spray the liquid filled in the container only when the approach of a user's finger or the like is detected by both sensors. Therefore, it is possible to prevent malfunction such as the liquid being sprayed when the user only intrudes into the detection range of one of the sensors (detection units). However, although it is possible to prevent spraying at an unexpected timing, there is still a problem in that it is difficult to accurately align a spray object such as toilet paper held in the hand with the spray direction of the liquid (such as a disinfectant) sprayed from the spray unit, and sometimes the liquid (such as a disinfectant) is sprayed beyond the existence range of the spray object. The reason for this can be cited as the case of the toilet seat cleaner in Non-Patent Document 1, where the sprayed liquid is a transparent disinfectant and the spray amount is a very small amount of about 0.2 to 0.5 ml. Even if the toilet paper is sprayed, it is difficult to determine whether it is in a wet state, that is, it is difficult to distinguish the spray mark. Therefore, even though the user has already sprayed the disinfectant on the toilet paper, they judge that it has not been sprayed or the spray amount is insufficient, and they misalign the position and make the sensor react again to spray. During the repeated performance of such actions, the disinfectant is accidentally sprayed on the vicinity of the cuffs and gets wet. As a result, waste of the disinfectant is also likely to occur.

[0012] The present invention has been completed in view of the above circumstances, and the problem is to provide a liquid dispenser that can more reliably spray a liquid such as a disinfectant toward a spray object such as toilet paper.

[0013] Means for Solving the Problem

[0014] In order to solve the above problem, the liquid dispenser of the present invention is characterized in that

[0015] the liquid dispenser has:

[0016] a housing;

[0017] a container that is housed in the housing and filled with a liquid;

[0018] a detection sensor that detects a spray object; and

[0019] a spray mechanism unit that includes a pump, a drive control unit that receives a detection signal of the spray object detected by the detection sensor and controls the drive of the pump, and a spray unit. The spray mechanism unit sprays the liquid from the container to the spray unit by driving the pump.

[0020] the detection sensor is set to detect the spray object of a specified color,

[0021] the drive control unit drives the pump when receiving a detection signal of the spray object of the specified color detected by the detection sensor, and the liquid is sprayed from the spray unit.

[0022] Preferably, the object to be sprayed is paper, and the detection sensor is set to detect the color of the paper.

[0023] Toilet paper and other papers used in the bathroom are mostly white. Therefore, more preferably, the detection sensor is set to detect a specified white color system.

[0024] Preferably, in the housing, the insertion part for inserting the object to be sprayed is formed in a concave shape from the front surface to the back surface side of the housing, and the insertion part has an upper wall part and a bottom wall part spaced apart from the upper wall part by a specified interval, and the spraying part is arranged on the upper wall part.

[0025] Preferably, the detection sensor is arranged on the upper wall part, and the detection distance of the detection sensor is adjusted to be within the distance to the bottom wall part. More preferably, the detection sensor is arranged on the upper wall part, and the detection distance of the detection sensor is adjusted to be less than the distance to the bottom wall part.

[0026] Preferably, upright parts that stand upward are formed on both side parts of the bottom wall part.

[0027] Preferably, the liquid dispenser has an irradiation part that lights up when the liquid is sprayed from the spraying part, so that the spraying marks of the liquid attached to the object to be sprayed can be visually recognized.

[0028] As the liquid, a disinfectant can be used. In this case, it is appropriate that the disinfectant is used for disinfecting the surface of the toilet seat in the bathroom and for use in the cubicles provided in the bathroom.

[0029] Advantages of the Invention

[0030] The liquid dispenser of the present invention has a structure in which the detection sensor only detects the object to be sprayed of a specified color. Papers for wiping the toilet seat in the bathroom, such as toilet paper, are mainly white. Therefore, by limiting the object to be sprayed to the color of the paper for wiping the toilet seat, the spraying mechanism part operates and sprays a liquid such as a disinfectant only when the object to be sprayed of a specified color (for example, white paper such as toilet paper) enters the detection range of the detection sensor. Thus, it is possible to prevent the liquid from being sprayed when the object to be sprayed such as toilet paper is not within the detection range of the detection sensor.

[0031] In addition, a structure is provided in which an insertion portion for a spraying object formed in a concave shape is provided in the outer casing and a spraying portion is provided on its upper wall portion. Thus, if the user places the spraying object in the insertion portion, the spraying object and the spraying portion can be easily and quickly opposed and arranged, and the liquid can be more reliably sprayed toward the spraying object. That is, when the user makes the spraying object correspond to the spraying portion, the user only needs to insert and place it in the placing portion, and the placing portion functions as a guide for making the spraying object correspond to the spraying portion, for example. In addition, by providing an irradiation portion that is lit when the liquid is sprayed from the spraying portion, it is easy to confirm the spraying marks of the liquid attached to the spraying object. In particular, when the spraying amount of the antibacterial agent for the toilet seat is extremely small and it is sprayed onto white paper, it is not easy to confirm the spraying marks. However, by lighting the irradiation portion, the user can more reliably confirm that the antibacterial agent has been sprayed onto the paper, and the frequency of the operation of extending the paper relative to the spraying portion again is reduced, and the waste of the antibacterial agent and the attachment of the antibacterial agent to other than the paper as the spraying object can be suppressed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the liquid dispenser according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.

[0033] Figure 2 FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the liquid dispenser according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below.

[0034] Figure 3 FIG. 8 is a front view of the liquid dispenser according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 4 FIG. 9 is a side view of the liquid dispenser according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 5 (a) of FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the placing portion, Figure 5 (b) of FIG. 10 is its front view, Figure 5 (c) of FIG. 10 is Figure 5 a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of (b) of FIG. 10.

[0037] Figure 6 (a) of FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the holding frame member as viewed from above, Figure 6 (b) of FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the holding frame member as viewed from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Figures 1 to 4FIG. 0 is a view for explaining the liquid dispenser 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the liquid dispenser 1 according to the present embodiment is, for example, installed on the wall of a single toilet cubicle, etc., and sprays a disinfectant for disinfecting the surface of the toilet seat (it should be noted that the "disinfectant" in this specification includes all agents that inhibit the growth of bacteria, such as bacteriostatic agents and fungicides). However, the type (use) of the liquid dispenser 1 is not limited to this, and it can also be a dispenser for agents that inhibit viruses, a liquid soap dispenser that sprays liquid soap, or various dispensers that spray other agents or detergents.

[0039] As Figures 1 to 4 shown in FIG. Figures 1 to 4 , the liquid dispenser 1 includes a housing 10, a container 20, a spray mechanism unit 30, a detection sensor 40, etc., and the container 20 and the spray mechanism unit 30 are housed inside the housing 10.

[0040] The housing 10 is formed with an insertion part 110 for inserting and removing the object to be sprayed. The insertion part 110 is formed in a concave shape from the front surface of the housing 10 toward the back surface side, and the lower front surface 10a and the upper front surface 10b of the housing 10 sandwiching the insertion part 110 are located in front of the inner surface (the surface closer to the back surface of the housing 10) 111 of the insertion part 110. That is, as Figure 4 shown, when viewed from the side, the insertion part 110 has a substantially U shape with openings on the front side and both side portions, and is formed in a shape such that the height of the inner surface 111 is lower than the length of the interval between the lower front surface 10a and the upper front surface 10b forming the opening on the front side. The spray part 340 described later is disposed on the upper wall part 113 forming the insertion part 110, specifically, on the upper wall part 113 closer to the inner surface 111 than the lower front surface 10a and the upper front surface 10b. In addition, the detection sensor 40 described later is also disposed near the spray part 340.

[0041] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. (a) - (c) of Figure 5 , the insertion part 110 has a bottom wall part 114 at the upper end position of the lower front surface 10a, which is located at a predetermined interval below the upper wall part 113, and the liquid sprayed from the spray part 340 disposed on the upper wall part 113 is sprayed toward the bottom wall part 114. At this time, in order to suppress the scattering of the liquid from the spaces on both side portions of the bottom wall part 114 to the outside of the bottom wall part 114, it is preferable to previously provide raised parts 115 and 116 protruding upward on both side portions of the bottom wall part 114. In addition, as described above, the height of the inner surface 111 is lower than the length of the interval between the lower front surface 10a and the upper front surface 10b forming the opening on the front side, so it is easy to insert the object to be sprayed from the front side. On the other hand, the space of the inner surface 111 becomes narrower, thereby contributing to suppressing the scattering of the liquid to the outside of the insertion part 110.

[0042] The liquid (disinfectant) sprayed from the liquid dispenser 1 is filled in the container 20. The container 20 is provided at the lower part inside the housing 10, i.e., at a position corresponding to the lower front surface 10a (refer to Figure 4 ).

[0043] The spraying mechanism unit 30 includes a pump 310, a first liquid delivery pipe 320 connecting the pump 310 and the container 20, a second liquid delivery pipe 330 connecting the pump 310 and the spraying unit 340, and a drive control unit 350 that controls the drive of the pump 310. When the drive control unit 350 receives a detection signal from a detection sensor 40 described later, it drives the pump 310. Thereby, the disinfectant in the container 20 is delivered to the spraying unit 340 through the first liquid delivery pipe 320 and the second liquid delivery pipe 330 and is sprayed. It should be noted that the spraying unit 340 has a structure with holes capable of spraying the disinfectant in fine particle form and is installed at the front end of the second liquid delivery pipe 330.

[0044] The spraying unit 340 is provided on the upper wall portion 113 of the placing portion 110 as described above. Specifically, the spraying unit 340 faces downward at the upper wall portion 113, and the disinfectant is sprayed from the spraying unit 340 toward the bottom wall portion 114 of the placing portion 110. Since the upright portions 115 and 116 are provided on both side portions of the bottom wall portion 114 as described above, scattering of the liquid to the outside of the placing portion 110 is suppressed.

[0045] The detection sensor 40 is installed near the spraying unit 340 as described above. In the present embodiment, it is provided at a position on the upper wall portion 113 adjacent to the spraying unit 340 and closer to the upper front surface 10b. The detection sensor 40 detects an object in the direction of the bottom wall portion 114 from this position on the upper wall portion 113. In addition, preferably, the detection distance is adjusted to be within the distance to the bottom wall portion 114 of the placing portion 110. Further, according to the color of the bottom wall portion 114, in order to prevent detection of the bottom wall portion 114 itself, more preferably, the detection distance is adjusted to be less than the distance to the bottom wall portion 114. Thereby, the detection range is within the range of the placing portion 110, and even if there is an object outside the liquid dispenser 1, for example, in front of the lower front surface 10a or outside both side portions of the placing portion 110, the detection sensor 40 does not detect it.

[0046] For example, although it also depends on the installation height of the liquid dispenser 1, there is a case where the position of the liquid dispenser 1 becomes relatively higher when sitting on the toilet seat. In such a case, even if the hand, forearm, thigh, etc. of the person sitting on the toilet seat move, the liquid will not be misdetected and sprayed on these parts.

[0047] The detection sensor 40 is set to detect when the spraying object is a specified color. In the present embodiment, a disinfectant for a spray toilet seat is provided in a single toilet cubicle in a bathroom, and the spraying object is paper such as toilet paper. Therefore, it is set to detect the color of paper such as toilet paper, for example, white, pink, light blue, etc. However, since toilet paper and the like are basically white, it is preferable that the detection sensor 40 is set to detect the white color system. The type of the detection sensor 40 is not limited as long as it can detect a specified color such as the white color system. It should be noted that, as the detection sensor 40 that can detect a specific color such as the white color system, for example, an optical sensor such as an infrared sensor or a color sensor can be used. For example, in the case of an infrared sensor, by adjusting the detection brightness, it can be set to not detect the skin color of a hand or the like, but only detect the white paper with a strong reflected light intensity. Thus, only when the specified white paper exists in the placing portion 110, the detection sensor 40 detects its presence and sends a detection signal to the drive control unit 350. It should be noted that preferably, on the front surface of the light receiving portion of the detection sensor 40, and also in the case of a reflection type infrared sensor using a light emitting / receiving portion having a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a lens portion 41 that cuts off light in the visible light region is provided on the front surface of the light emitting / receiving portion. This is to prevent malfunction due to reaction with bright colors such as LEDs.

[0048] On the other hand, the disinfectant sprayed from the spraying portion 340 onto the paper adheres to a range of about 3 to 6 cm in diameter, but the spraying amount is very small, only 0.2 to 0.5 ml. Therefore, even if the disinfectant is sprayed onto white paper, it is not easy to distinguish the spray mark indicating the state of being moistened by the disinfectant. Thus, in the present embodiment, an irradiation portion 360 is provided at a specified position on the upper wall portion 113 of the placing portion 110. The irradiation portion 360 uses an LED or the like that irradiates colored light such as blue, red, and green. In addition, it is preferable that the irradiation portion 360 is provided near the spraying portion 340 so that the irradiation portion 360 can irradiate the range of the disinfectant sprayed onto the paper.

[0049] It should be noted that in this specification, "white color system" means, in addition to white, colors such as off-white, pearlescent white, milky white, ivory white, pearlescent white, cherry blossom color, and pearl color, which are white color systems mostly used for paper such as toilet paper used in the bathroom.

[0050] Here, Figure 6Denotes a holding frame member 370 for supporting the spray unit 340, the irradiation unit 360, and the detection sensor 40. A lens unit 41 for the detection sensor 40 is integrally provided at the front of the holding frame member 370. The lens unit 41 has a function of shielding visible light. A spray unit placement hole 372 for supporting the spray unit 340 provided at the front end of the second liquid supply pipe 330 is formed behind the lens unit 41, and an LED placement hole 373 for arranging the LEDs constituting the irradiation unit 360 is formed adjacent to the spray unit placement hole 372. The holding frame member 370 is disposed inside the upper wall portion 113 of the insertion portion 110. The irradiation unit 360 and the detection sensor 40 can be arranged adjacent to the spray unit 340 by the holding frame member 370.

[0051] Next, the operation of the liquid dispenser 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The liquid dispenser 1 of the present embodiment is fixed to the wall portion of each compartment in the toilet. After the user enters the compartment, the toilet paper is pulled out a predetermined length and held in the hand. Next, the toilet paper held in the hand is placed in the insertion portion 110 of the liquid dispenser 1 (refer to Figure 4 ). Since the insertion portion 110 is formed in a concave shape with respect to the lower front surface 10a and the upper front surface 10b as described above, the user can easily determine the area where the spray disinfectant is applied to the entire liquid dispenser 1.

[0052] When the toilet paper is placed in the insertion portion 110, the detection sensor 40 detects its presence because the toilet paper is of a specified white color system. Moreover, the detection sensor 40 is adjusted so as to detect an object that has entered the insertion portion 110 and not to detect an object outside the range of the insertion portion 110. Therefore, for example, in the case of using the above-described reflection type infrared sensor, the detection distance of the infrared rays emitted from the light emitting / receiving portion is adjusted to be within the distance to the bottom wall portion 114, and preferably less than the distance to the bottom wall portion 114. Therefore, the presence of the toilet paper located in the insertion portion 110 can be reliably detected. The detection signal of the detection sensor 40 is sent to the drive control portion 350 of the spray mechanism portion 30. When the drive control portion 350 receives this detection signal, the pump 310 is driven. As a result, a predetermined amount of the disinfectant is sucked up from the container 20 and sent to the spray unit 340 via the first liquid supply pipe 320 and the second liquid supply pipe 330, and is sprayed from the spray unit 340.

[0053] The disinfectant is sprayed from the spray unit 340 toward the bottom wall portion 114 of the insertion unit 110. However, since the upright portions 115 and 116 are provided on both side portions of the bottom wall portion 114, scattering of the disinfectant outside the insertion unit 110 is suppressed. In addition, when the pump 310 is driven by the drive control unit 350, the irradiation unit 360 is lit. Thereby, even if the amount of the sprayed disinfectant is small, it is easy to visually recognize whether the white toilet paper is moistened, and it is possible to suppress a user from misjudging that the toilet paper is not moistened as in the past and performing an operation of reinserting the toilet paper into the insertion unit 110. Thereby, wasteful use of the disinfectant is also suppressed.

[0054] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0055] 1 Liquid dispenser

[0056] 10 Housing

[0057] 10a Lower front

[0058] 10b Upper front

[0059] 110 Insertion unit

[0060] 111 Inner surface

[0061] 113 Upper wall portion

[0062] 114 Bottom wall portion

[0063] 115, 116 Upright portions

[0064] 30 Spray mechanism unit

[0065] 310 Pump

[0066] 340 Spray unit

[0067] 350 Drive control unit

[0068] 360 Irradiation unit

[0069] 370 Holding frame member

[0070] 40 Detection sensor

[0071] 41 Lens unit.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser, characterized in that, the liquid dispenser has: a housing; a container accommodated in the housing and filled with a liquid; a detection sensor for detecting a spraying object; and a spraying mechanism unit including a pump, a drive control unit that receives a detection signal of the spraying object detected by the detection sensor and controls the drive of the pump, and a spraying unit. The spraying mechanism unit sprays the liquid by driving the pump to send the liquid from the container to the spraying unit, the detection sensor is set to detect the spraying object of a specified color, the drive control unit drives the pump when receiving a detection signal when the detection sensor detects the spraying object of the specified color, and the liquid is sprayed from the spraying unit.

2. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein, the spraying object is paper, and the detection sensor is set to detect the color of the paper.

3. The liquid dispenser according to claim 2, wherein, the color of the paper is a white system, and the detection sensor is set to detect a specified white system.

4. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein, in the housing, a placing portion for placing the spraying object is formed in a concave shape from the front surface to the back surface side of the housing, and the placing portion has an upper wall portion and a bottom wall portion spaced apart from the upper wall portion by a specified interval, and the spraying unit is provided on the upper wall portion.

5. The liquid dispenser according to claim 4, wherein, the detection sensor is disposed on the upper wall portion, and the detection distance of the detection sensor is adjusted to be within the distance to the bottom wall portion.

6. The liquid dispenser according to claim 4, wherein, the detection sensor is disposed on the upper wall portion, and the detection distance of the detection sensor is adjusted to be less than the distance to the bottom wall portion.

7. The liquid dispenser according to claim 4, wherein, upright portions rising upward are formed on both side portions of the bottom wall portion.

8. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein, the liquid dispenser has an irradiation unit that lights up when spraying the liquid from the spraying unit, so that the spraying marks of the liquid attached to the spraying object can be visually recognized.

9. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein, the liquid is a disinfectant.

10. The liquid dispenser according to claim 9, wherein, the disinfectant is used for disinfecting the surface of a toilet seat in a toilet and is provided in a single compartment of the toilet.

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