Cleaning toilet seat device
The cleaning toilet device addresses seating detection inaccuracies by using a mechanical switch and non-seating display to ensure consistent water eruption and efficient cleaning operations.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023114450
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing toilet cleaning devices fail to accurately detect user seating, leading to inconsistent water eruption and difficulty in identifying and addressing non-detection issues, which can result in incomplete cleaning or unnecessary water usage.
A cleaning toilet device equipped with a seating detection means, including a mechanical seating switch and non-seating display method, which indicates non-detection and records usage history to ensure proper operation and maintenance.
Ensures accurate detection of user seating, prevents unnecessary water eruption, and facilitates easy identification and resolution of non-detection issues, enhancing cleaning efficiency and user experience.
Smart Images

Figure 2025011968000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a toilet seat cleaning device equipped with a seating detection means. [Background technology]
[0002] In the conventional toilet, for example, in Patent Document 1, a seat sensor, which is a mechanical seat switch, is provided on the underside of the toilet seat, and when a user sits on the toilet seat, an incoming signal is sent from the seat sensor to a control unit, and when the control unit determines that it has received a seat signal from the seat sensor, it starts a pre-flushing operation, and if it does not receive a seat signal, it does not spray cleaning water. In addition to the mechanical switch in Patent Document 1, capacitive, far-infrared, and reed switch types are also used for seat detection. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-268842 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when starting to spray cleansing water, it is assumed that the user is sitting on the toilet seat in order to avoid spraying unnecessary water, and if it is not detected that the user is sitting on the toilet seat, the system is configured so that cleansing water cannot be sprayed.
[0005] This allows cleaning water to be sprayed even when the user is seated on the toilet seat, but if for some reason the user's seating cannot be detected even though the user is seated, cleaning will not be possible.
[0006] Also, flushing may stop midway due to incompatibility with the toilet bowl, the weight of the user, or the movement of the bottom during flushing, etc. In such cases, there is also the problem that it is difficult to reproduce the phenomenon in which flush water does not spray, making it difficult to identify the cause.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat cleaning device that is capable of detecting non-detection of a person sitting on the toilet if no person is detected when an operation to start cleaning is performed. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] The toilet seat cleaning device of the present invention comprises a seating detection means for detecting a person sitting on the toilet seat, an operation means for operating the toilet seat, and a non-seated display means for displaying that no person is seated by the seating detection means, and is characterized in that when an operation is performed using the operation means to start cleaning, if no person is detected by the seating detection means, the non-seated display means displays that no person is seated, and records this usage history. Effect of the Invention
[0009] According to the toilet seat cleaning device of the present invention, if no seat is detected when the operating means for starting cleaning is operated, the non-detection of seating can be known. Also, the usage history of non-detection of seating can be checked later. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view that shows a schematic configuration example of a cleaning toilet seat device in a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toilet seat cleaning device as viewed from the bottom side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the process of attaching the main body to the toilet seat. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the main body operating section of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating the display of the non-seated display means. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration example of a cleaning toilet seat device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Hereinafter, a first preferred embodiment of a cleaning toilet seat device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. EXAMPLES
[0012] 1 to 7 show a cleaning toilet seat device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the cleaning toilet seat device 10 installed around a toilet bowl 1 in a toilet room S. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main body 11, toilet seat 12, and toilet seat cover 13 of the cleaning toilet seat device 10, viewed from below (bottom side). The toilet bowl 1 has a concave bowl part 2 with an open upper surface that receives excrement, and this bowl part 2 forms the inner surface of the toilet bowl 1. The bowl part 2 is the toilet bowl of the toilet bowl 1. The toilet seat 12 is substantially O-shaped in a plan view, and the toilet seat cover 13 is shaped to cover the toilet seat 12 and to be able to open and close a central opening 12A of the toilet seat 12. The main body 11 of the cleaning toilet seat device 10 is installed on the top of the toilet bowl 1.
[0013] The main body 11 comprises a hollow casing 15 which is the main body part, and this casing 15 comprises a main body lower surface part 16 which is attached and fixed to the upper surface of the rear part 3 of the toilet bowl 1, and a casing upper part 17 which covers the upper surface of the main body lower surface part 16 and has an open lower surface, forming an outer shell member made of synthetic resin. The toilet seat 12 and toilet seat lid 13, both made of synthetic resin, are rotatably attached to the casing 15, and the central opening 12A of the toilet seat 12 of the toilet seat lid 13 can be opened and closed freely, and by tilting the toilet seat 12 towards the toilet bowl 1 with the toilet seat lid 13 open as shown in Figure 1, a user (not shown) can sit with their buttocks on the toilet seat 12.
[0014] On the underside of the toilet seat 12, multiple convex seat legs 18 that come into direct contact with the upper surface of the toilet bowl 1 when the toilet seat 12 is tilted towards the toilet bowl 1, which is the in-use position, are arranged at intervals, and in this example, are arranged at four locations on the left and right front and the left and right rear sides. One of the toilet seat legs 18 has a built-in mechanical seat switch 19 that serves as seating detection means, and it can detect whether or not a user is seated on the toilet seat 12 depending on whether or not the seat switch 19 is pressed when the toilet seat leg 18 comes into contact with the toilet bowl 1. The seat switch 19 is provided on one of the seat legs 18 on the left or right front side in the center, and is a seating detection means that detects whether or not a person is sitting on the toilet seat 12.
[0015] Reference numeral 21 denotes a main body operation unit made of synthetic resin and provided on the side of the casing 15. As described below, the main body operation unit 21 is provided with various operation buttons including flushing buttons such as a butt button and a bidet button, and a stop button for stopping the spraying of flushing water, and user operations are input via these operation buttons. The main body operation unit 21 is also provided with a main body display unit 22 including indicator lamps such as a water pressure adjustment lamp, a hot water temperature adjustment lamp, a toilet seat temperature adjustment lamp, a deodorization lamp, and a power saving lamp, and the operating status of each part of the washing toilet seat device 10 is notified to the user by the display form of these indicator lamps.
[0016] The cleaning toilet seat device 10 is equipped with a cleaning device 23 that sprays cleaning water using a water supply pump (not shown) or the like, and this cleaning device 23 has a so-called movable cleaning nozzle 25 at the front lower part of the casing 15. The cleaning nozzle 25, which corresponds to a nozzle device, is cylindrical and extends linearly along the front-rear direction of the main body 11, and is arranged so as to be movable back and forth along the front-rear direction of the main body 11. One or more nozzles (not shown) are provided on the peripheral surface of the tip of the cleaning nozzle 25 so that cleaning liquid is efficiently sprayed toward the private parts of the user sitting on the toilet seat 12 when the cleaning nozzle 25 is advanced to a position protruding from below the toilet seat 12. In addition, a nozzle guard 26 that is convex toward the bottom of the main body 11 is formed integrally with the main body underside part 16 that forms the bottom of the casing 15 in order to protect the cleaning nozzle 25 housed in the casing 15 when the cleaning nozzle 25 is retracted to a position below the toilet seat 12. The material of the cleaning nozzle 25 is preferably stainless steel to maintain cleanliness, but other materials may be used. Although neither is shown in the present embodiment, the cleaning nozzle 25 is composed of a rear washing nozzle that sprays cleaning liquid onto a first private part of the user, and a bidet washing nozzle that sprays cleaning liquid onto a second private part different from the first private part of the user. The rear washing nozzle and the bidet washing nozzle are each movable along the same axis or separate axes. In this way, the toilet seat apparatus 10 is equipped with the cleaning device 23.
[0017] In order to supply tap water to the cleaning nozzle 25, a main water supply port 31 communicating with a water supply faucet (not shown) installed in advance in the toilet room S is provided on the rear side of the casing 15. The stopcock and the main water supply port 31 are connected by a water supply hose 32 (FIG. 1). The cleaning nozzle 25 sprays tap water as a liquid supplied from the main water supply port 31 as is, or sterilized water generated from tap water as a cleaning liquid. A sterilization device (not shown) may be further incorporated inside the casing 15 in order to generate sterilized water from tap water.
[0018] A deodorizing device 41 is built into the casing 15 to reduce and remove odors within the toilet bowl 1. The deodorizing device 41 is configured by disposing a deodorizing filter 44 and a deodorizing fan (not shown) in a deodorizing passage (not shown) between an intake port 42 provided at the front bottom of the casing 15 facing the top surface of the toilet bowl 1, and an exhaust port 43 provided at the rear of the casing 15. The deodorizing filter 44 is detachably provided inside the casing 15 facing the exhaust port 43, and can be replaced with a new deodorizing filter 44 as necessary. The deodorizing fan is disposed between the exhaust port 43 and the deodorizing filter 44, and while the deodorizing fan is operating, it sucks in odors within the toilet bowl 1 from the exhaust port 43 and forcibly sends them to the deodorizing filter 44, where the odors are removed, and odor-reduced air is discharged from the exhaust port 43.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows the main body operation unit 21, with multiple buttons 51-1 to 51-13 arranged on the upper surface of the main body operation unit 21. These multiple buttons 51-1 to 51-13 are operation means for performing operations related to the spraying of cleaning water, and among these, buttons 51-2 and 51-3 are operation means for starting cleaning. On the front side (left side in Figure 4) of the top surface of the main body operation unit 21, from front to rear, there are arranged a stop button 51-1, a buttocks button 51-2, a bidet button 51-3, and a move button 51-4, as well as a front button 51-5 and a rear button 51-6 for adjusting the nozzle position on the right side of the center, a low button 51-7 and a high button 51-8 for adjusting the water pressure on the left side of the center, a hot water temperature adjustment button 51-9 behind the high button 51-8, a toilet seat temperature adjustment button 51-10 behind the rear button 51-6, a nozzle cleaning button 51-11 behind the hot water temperature adjustment button 51-9, a deodorization button 51-12 behind the toilet seat temperature adjustment button 51-10, and a power saving button 51-13 behind the nozzle cleaning button 51-11.
[0020] In addition, a water pressure adjustment display unit 52 is provided on the top surface of the main body operating unit 21, between the low button 51-7 and the high button 51-8, and the water pressure can be adjusted in four stages from high to low by pressing the low button 51-7 and the high button 51-8. The water pressure adjustment display unit 52 has multiple (four) light-emitting units 52-1 to 52-4 that are lined up from left to right and become narrower as they go along, with the wider light-emitting units indicating that the water pressure is adjusted higher than the narrower light-emitting units. By pressing the low button 51-7 and the high button 51-8, the illuminated light-emitting units 52-1 to 52-4 move down or up and change; when the low button 51-7 is pressed, the narrower lower light-emitting unit lights up, and when the high button 51-8 is pressed, the wider upper light-emitting unit lights up.
[0021] A hot water temperature adjustment display unit 53 is provided between the high button 51-8 and the hot water temperature adjustment button 51-9, and by pressing the hot water temperature adjustment button 51-9, the hot water temperature can be adjusted in three stages from high to low. The hot water temperature adjustment display unit 53 has multiple (three) light-emitting sections 53-1 to 53-3 that are lined up from left to right and become narrower as they go along, and the wider light-emitting sections indicate that the hot water temperature is adjusted higher than the narrower light-emitting sections.
[0022] A toilet seat temperature adjustment display unit 54 is provided between the rear button 51-6 and the toilet seat temperature adjustment button 51-10, and by pressing the toilet seat temperature adjustment button 51-10, the toilet seat temperature can be adjusted to three levels from high to low.The toilet seat temperature adjustment display unit 54 has multiple (three) light-emitting elements 54-1 to 54-3 that are lined up from left to right and become narrower as they go along, and the wider light-emitting elements indicate that the temperature is adjusted higher than the narrower light-emitting elements.
[0023] Further, light-emitting display unit 55 serving as notification means is provided adjacent to deodorization button 51-12. This light-emitting display unit 55 is made of an LED or the like, and emits light when deodorization device 41 is driven. Further, light-emitting display units 56, 56 serving as notification means are provided adjacent to power-saving button 51-13. These light-emitting display units 56, 56 are made of an LED or the like, and emit light corresponding to "mode 1" and "mode 2." In this example, light-emitting units 52-1 to 52-4, 53-1 to 53-3, 54-1 to 54-3, and 56 are provided as main body display unit 22.
[0024] The light-emitting units 52-1 to 52-4, 53-1 to 53-3, 54-1 to 54-3, and 56 are turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed since they were turned on. The layout of the main body operation unit 21 and the main body display unit 22 shown in FIG. 4 is merely an example, and can be changed, added, or deleted as appropriate according to the specifications of the cleaning toilet seat device 10.
[0025] When the nozzle cleaning button 51-11 is pressed, the cleaning nozzle 25 appears and disappears, and is cleaned by the cleaning liquid. When the power saving button 51-13 is pressed, in "Mode 1", for example, the standby temperatures of the hot water temperature and the toilet seat temperature are lowered to save power, and in "Mode 2", unlike "Mode 1", the hot water heater and the toilet seat heater (not shown) are stopped for a predetermined period of time to save power. All of these controls are performed by a control means described later.
[0026] Fig. 6 illustrates the main electrical configuration of the cleansing toilet seat device 10 of this embodiment. In the figure, 61 is a control means constituted by a CPU as a calculation means, and this control means 61 is equipped with a timekeeping means (not shown) such as a timer that keeps track of various times such as the time and times related to the cleansing toilet seat device 10. 63 is a storage means such as a memory as a storage medium, which stores the electrical usage history of the toilet seat device 10. Interfaces 64-1 to 64-5 are electrically connected to the main body operation unit 21 as an operation means, the main body display unit 22 as a display means, the seating switch 19 as a seating detection means, the cleansing device 23, and the deodorizing device 41, and each of the interfaces 64-1 to 64-5 is electrically connected to the control means 61 and the storage means 63 by a path line 65.
[0027] The control means 61 performs the following control. When the seat switch 19 is off (OFF), and the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is pressed to transmit an operation signal for turning on the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, this operation signal is input to the control means 61 and the storage means 63, and the storage means 63 stores the usage history (A) based on this operation signal, and the non-seated display means displays on the toilet seat 12 that the user is not seated. In this way, the storage means 63 stores the electric signals input and output to the control means 61. In this case, since the user actually sits down and presses the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, the usage history (A) indicates that the seat switch 19 was unable to detect the user being seated. In this way, the usage history (A) is a usage history in which the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is on (ON) when the seat switch 19 is off (OFF), and is recorded when the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, which are the operating means for starting cleaning, are operated and no seating is detected by the seat switch 19, which is the seating detection means.
[0028] The water pressure adjustment display unit 52 can be used as the non-seated display means, and a display is performed in a form different from the display indicating the high and low water pressure described above. Specifically, when the seat switch 19 is off and the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is operated, as shown in Fig. 6(A) to Fig. 6(D), the light-emitting unit 52-1 having the maximum width is turned on and off, then the adjacent light-emitting unit 52-2 is turned on and off, then the adjacent light-emitting unit 52-3 is turned on and off, then the adjacent light-emitting unit 52-4 having the smallest width is turned on and off, and then the light-emitting unit 52-1 having the maximum width is turned on and off again, and these are repeated to indicate non-seated, and the light-emitting units 52-1 to 52-4 are switched on for a lighting time of, for example, about 250 ms. Note that the next light-emitting unit is turned on almost at the same time as the light-emitting unit is turned off.
[0029] As a modified example, the not-seated display may be configured to be displayed when a button other than the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is operated (pressed) when no seating is detected, and the not-seated display is not displayed when the seating switch 19 is turned on and seating is detected. In this way, if a button other than the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is used, seating detection can be checked without pressing the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, so that cleaning water will not splash even if the check is performed without a seat. In addition, the not-seated display due to an abnormality in the seating switch 19 is configured to stop displaying after a predetermined time, such as 10 seconds, has elapsed after the completion of cleaning by the second cleaning water ejection function described later, so that the not-seated display does not continue indefinitely, which is annoying. Note that 10 seconds is just an example, and any appropriate time can be set.
[0030] The control means 61 controls a first cleansing water ejection function, in which an operation signal is output by operating the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, and when this operation signal is input to the control means 61, ejection of cleansing water is started on condition that the seating switch 19 is on (seated detection state), and when a predetermined ejection time has elapsed, the cleansing water is stopped. Note that, even before the predetermined ejection time has elapsed, if the seating switch 19 is turned off (not seated state), the cleansing water is stopped. Also, other than starting ejection of cleansing water and controlling to stop the cleansing water when the predetermined ejection time has elapsed, it may be controlled to start ejection of cleansing water and continue ejection until the stop button 51-1 is pressed.
[0031] In contrast, in the second wash water jetting function which starts jetting wash water regardless of whether the seat switch 19 is on or off, any two or more of the buttons 51-1 to 51-13 serving as the operating means are pressed, and when the two or more buttons are pressed simultaneously for a predetermined start time, for example 0.3 seconds, the control means 61 outputs a command signal to the washing device 23 and wash water is jetted, and when the two or more buttons continue to be pressed simultaneously after the jetting of wash water and a predetermined jetting time, for example 15 seconds, has elapsed, the control means 61 controls so that the jetting stops even if the two or more buttons continue to be pressed. Therefore, if the operation of pressing at least one of the multiple buttons is stopped before the predetermined jetting time has elapsed, the jetting stops.
[0032] For example, the buttock button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 are pressed simultaneously for a predetermined start time to start spraying of cleansing water. In this case, the cleansing water corresponding to the button pressed first among the buttock button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 is sprayed. Also, when the buttock button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 are pressed simultaneously and spraying of cleansing water continues for a predetermined spraying time (for example, 15 seconds), the spraying stops. The predetermined spraying time is generally set to a time sufficient for buttock washing and not to make the washing time excessively long. Both the buttock button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 are operating means for starting the operation of cleaning water, and are arranged next to each other, so that they are preferable as one combination of operating means used for the second cleansing water spraying function.
[0033] In this way, wash water is sprayed by the second wash water spraying function only when multiple buttons are being operated simultaneously, so for example, if you stand up from a seated position on the toilet seat 12 during a flush, your fingers will leave the buttons, so wash water will not be sprayed while you are not seated. Also, even if you operate the second wash water spraying function to check whether wash water is actually coming out, spraying stops when you remove your finger, so wash water will not be sprayed unnecessarily.
[0034] In addition, the control means 61 can control the device to spray cleansing water corresponding to the buttock button 51-2 by pressing the buttock button 51-2 and the move button 51-4 simultaneously, and to spray cleansing water corresponding to the bidet button 51-3 by pressing the bidet button 51-3 and the move button 51-4 simultaneously.
[0035] Furthermore, in the second water jetting function, the control may be performed so that the wash water is jetted even when the buttock button 51-2, the bidet button 51-3, and the move button 51-4 are pressed simultaneously. That is, when the three buttons are pressed simultaneously for a predetermined start time, for example, 0.3 seconds, the control means 61 outputs a command signal to the wash device 23, the wash water is jetted, and when a predetermined jetting time, for example, 15 seconds, has elapsed, the control means 61 controls so that the jetting stops. Note that, after the predetermined start time has elapsed, by continuing to press the three buttons 51-2 to 51-4 simultaneously, the wash water is jetted while the buttons are being pressed simultaneously. That is, the wash water is jetted for a predetermined jetting time while a plurality of different buttons are pressed simultaneously, and the plurality of buttons may be any combination of buttons on the main body operation unit 21, but in the second water jetting function, it is preferable to operate by pressing any two or more of the buttons 51-2 to 51-13, excluding the stop button 51-1.
[0036] Moreover, when the seat switch 19 is off and the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is pressed, the lighting of the light emitting units 52-1 to 52-4 changes to indicate that the user is not seated, so that the user knows that washing water will not come out even if the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is pressed while seated, and the user can be prompted to operate the second washing water jetting function. In this case, it is preferable for the user to easily understand that the second washing water jetting function can be operated by, for example, simultaneously pressing and holding both the low button 51-7 and the high button 51-8 near the water pressure adjustment display unit 52 to enable the jetting of washing water. Moreover, since the low button 51-7 and the high button 51-8 are multiple buttons arranged within a range that can be operated with any multiple fingers of one hand, the second washing water jetting function can be operated with one hand.
[0037] Moreover, when the buttons 51-1 to 51-13 of the main body operation unit 21 are pressed, an operation signal corresponding to the button operation is output to the control means 61, and the control means 61 outputs a command signal to the main body display unit 22, the cleaning device 23, and the display units 52, 53, and 54, which are corresponding display means, based on the operation signal, and at the same time, the storage means 63 may be configured to store these operation signals and command signals, and a history of the operation signals and command signals may be stored in the storage means 63 as a usage history of the button operations. Also, the seated switch 19 may be configured to be turned on in a seated state, output a seated signal indicating the seated state to the control means 61 and the storage means 63, and the history of the seated signals may be stored in the storage means 63 as a usage history of the toilet seat 12. The usage history also includes the date and time.
[0038] As a first cleaning water jetting function, when the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, which are the cleaning start operating means, is pressed and an operation signal is input, the control means 61 judges whether or not a seated signal is being input (ON), and if the seated signal is being input, outputs a command signal to the cleaning device 23 to drive the cleaning device 23 for a predetermined jetting time, and the cleaning device 23 continuously jets cleaning water until a predetermined jetting time, which is the cleaning time, has elapsed, and if the seated signal is not input (OFF) before the predetermined jetting time has elapsed, the control means 61 controls the cleaning device 23 to output a command signal to stop the cleaning device 23 to the cleaning device 23. In this case, the control means 61 may control the cleaning device 23 to be driven for the predetermined jetting time by continuously outputting the command signal until the predetermined jetting time has elapsed, and if the seated signal is not input (OFF) during the process, the command signal from the control means 61 is stopped and the jetting of cleaning water by the cleaning device 23 is stopped.
[0039] The memory means 63 is configured to be able to store the output signals of the buttocks button 51-2 or bidet button 51-3 and the seat switch 19 associated with the operation of the first cleansing water spraying function as a usage history, and is also configured to be able to store the output signals of the buttons 51-2 to 51-13, the seat switch 19 and the control means 61 associated with the operation of the second cleansing water spraying function as a usage history, and a dedicated reading device can be connected to the memory means 63 to check the usage history.
[0040] Table 1 below shows the cases where, depending on the usage state, the seat switch 19 is on (ON) or off (OFF), the buttocks button 51-2 is on (ON) or off (OFF), the bidet button 51-3 is on (ON) or off (OFF), and the usage history is stored or not stored.
[0041] [Table 1]
[0042] From the right side, Table 1 indicates the number, the on / off state of the seat switch 19, the on / off state of the buttock button 51-2, the on / off state of the bidet button 51-3, and whether or not to store the usage history, and the rightmost column indicates remarks. Number 1 indicates that the seat switch 19 is off, the buttock button 51-2 is off, the bidet button 51-3 is off, and the usage history is not stored, and indicates a state in which the person is not seated and no button operation is performed. Number 2 indicates that the seat switch 19 is on, the buttock button 51-2 is off, the bidet button 51-3 is off, and the usage history is not stored, and indicates a state in which the person is seated. Number 3 indicates that the seat switch 19 is on, the buttock button 51-2 is on, the bidet button 51-3 is off, and the usage history is not stored, and indicates a case in which the first cleaning water ejection function is used, and cleaning water for buttock washing is ejected. Number 4 is an operation in which the seat switch 19 is on, the buttocks button 51-2 is off, the bidet button 51-3 is on, and no usage history is stored, and an operation is performed using the first cleansing water ejection function, and cleansing water for buttock washing is ejected.
[0043] Even if the seat switch 19 is on, one of the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 is on and the other is off, if there is an abnormality in the control means 61 and / or the cleansing device 23, cleansing water will not be sprayed.
[0044] In this embodiment, as shown by numbers 5 and 6 in Table 1, when the seat switch 19 is off and there is an output signal from the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, the storage means 63 is configured to store the output signal as the usage history (A) for any number of times required for failure analysis, such as the past 10 to 100 times, and as shown by numbers 7 and 8 in Table 1, the storage means 63 is configured to store the output signals from the buttons 51-2 to 51-13 associated with the operation of the second cleansing water ejection function as the usage history (B) for any number of times required for failure analysis, such as the past 10 to 100 times, and a dedicated readout device can be connected to the storage means 63 to check the usage history. Note that in Table 1, the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 are exemplified as two or more buttons in the usage history (B). In this way, the usage history (B) is a usage history when at least two of the buttons 51-1 to 51-13 are ON simultaneously, and is recorded when two or more of the buttons 51-1 to 51-13, which are a plurality of operating means, are operated simultaneously.
[0045] For example, as in the usage history (A) of numbers 5 and 6 in Table 1, if the seat switch 19 is off at the same time as the usage history by the operation signal of the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, it is possible that there is a malfunction or detection failure of the seat switch 19. In this way, when the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is on and the seat switch 19 is off, the water pressure adjustment display unit 52 displays the not seated state.
[0046] When the "not seated" state is displayed as described above, the first cleansing water ejection function, which ejects cleansing water by pressing either the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 with the seat switch 19 on, cannot eject cleansing water, so the user can select an operation using the second cleansing water ejection function, which presses two or more buttons simultaneously for cleansing. For example, if the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 are pressed simultaneously and cleansing water can be ejected, it is found that the buttocks button 51-2, the bidet button 51-3, the control means 61 and the cleansing device 23 are normal, and it is found that the cause is a malfunction or detection failure of the seat switch 19, and even if the detection failure of the seat switch 19 occurs, cleansing water can be ejected to clean the user. In this case, the usage history (B) of pressing the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 simultaneously is stored, and from this usage history (B), the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 are simultaneously turned on, and it is found that these buttons 51-2 and bidet button 51-3 are normal, and since cleansing water is sprayed, it is found that the control means 61 and the cleansing device 23 are also normal, and that the seat switch 19 has a malfunction or detection failure. If the main body operation unit 21, the main body display unit 22, the seat switch 19, the cleansing device 23, and the deodorizing device 41 operate normally, it is found that the corresponding interfaces 64-1 to 64-5 are also normal.
[0047] In addition, when using the second cleansing water injection function, for example, if the buttock button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 are pressed simultaneously and a usage history (B) in which the buttock button 51-2 is on and the bidet button 51-3 is on is stored, and cleansing water does not come out, an abnormality may be suspected in either the control means 61 or the cleansing device 23.
[0048] For this reason, as a modified example, the usage history (B) can be configured to store a command signal relating to cleaning output by the control means 61 to the cleaning device 23. In this way, if cleaning water is not dispensed by an operation using the second cleaning water jetting function, if there is a command signal from the control means 61 in the usage history (B), it is determined that the control means 61 is normal and the cleaning device 23 is broken, and if there is no command signal from the control means 61 in the usage history (B), it is determined that the control means 61 is abnormal.
[0049] The control means 61 controls so that the second cleansing water ejection function does not work if multiple buttons are pressed during the ejection of cleansing water by the first cleansing water ejection function. Specifically, after the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is pressed to eject cleansing water, the user presses one or more other buttons while still holding down the other button before a predetermined ejection time has elapsed, or the user releases the finger from the one button and presses two or more of the buttons 51-1 to 51-13. When cleansing water is ejected by the first cleansing water ejection function, the parts related to the ejection of cleansing water are normal, so there is no need for the user to press multiple buttons for cleaning, and the buttons were pressed by mistake, so the second cleansing water ejection function does not work, and the first cleansing water ejection function continues to eject cleansing water until the predetermined ejection time has elapsed, and the ejection of cleansing water stops when the predetermined ejection time has elapsed.
[0050] When the storage means 63 stores only the usage histories (A) and (B) instead of storing all the usage histories, it is possible to secure the storage capacity of the storage means 63. Furthermore, since the first cleansing water ejection function is operated before the second cleansing water ejection function is operated, if the usage history (A) includes the buttock button 51-2 being on and the bidet button 51-3 being on, it is determined that the buttock button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 are normal.
[0051] In addition, if the seat switch 19 is on, the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is on, cleansing water is sprayed, and the seat switch 19 chatters during spraying, or the user stands up and sits down again, causing the seat switch 19 to turn off and on, the usage history is stored. That is, in these cases, when the seat switch 19 is off and the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is turned on, this corresponds to the usage history (A), so if the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is pressed at the time the seat switch 19 turns off, the usage history (A) is stored. In addition, if the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is pressed after standing up and sitting down again, and the seat switch 19 is off, the usage history (A) is stored. In addition, if the seat switch 19 turns off due to chattering while the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is being pressed, the usage history (A) is stored. In addition, if the seat switch 19 turns off due to chattering while the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is being pressed, the usage history (A) is stored.
[0052] As a modified example, in the case where the on / off of the seat switch 19, the on / off of the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, and the command signal of the control means 61 are stored as the usage history, if the seat switch 19 is on and there is no usage history by the operation signal of the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, a malfunction of the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is considered, and if the seat switch 19 is on and there is a usage history by the operation signal of the buttock button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 multiple times and there is no usage history of the command signal of the control means 61 based on the operation signal, a malfunction of the control means 61 is considered. Furthermore, if the seat switch 19 is on and there is a usage history by the operation signal of the buttock button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 multiple times, and there is a usage history of the command signal of the control means 61 based on the operation signal multiple times, and no wash water comes out, it is determined that the cleansing device 23 is malfunctioning. In addition, when the toilet seat 12 is used only by men, the seat switch 19 may be on due to non-use of the bidet button 51-3, and there may be no usage history based on an operation signal of the bidet button 51-3.
[0053] As described above, the cleansing toilet seat device 10 of this embodiment is equipped with the seat switch 19 as seat detection means for detecting a person sitting on the toilet seat 12, the butt button 51-2 to the power saving button 51-13 as operating means for operating the toilet seat 12, and the water pressure adjustment display unit 52 as non-seated display means for indicating that a person is not sitting by the seat switch 19. When the butt button 51-2 and bidet button 51-3 as operating means for starting cleaning are operated, if a person is not detected as sitting by the seat switch 19, the water pressure adjustment display unit 52 will display that a person is not sitting, and a usage history (A) in which the seat switch 19 is off and the button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3 is on is recorded.
[0054] Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the reason cleaning water is not coming out due to the not-seated display is because there is an abnormality in the seating detection, and in addition, the presence or absence of an abnormality in the seating detection can be easily determined from the usage history, making it possible to carry out repairs appropriately.
[0055] In the above-mentioned cleaning toilet seat device 10, when the seat switch 19, which is a seat detection means, detects a person sitting, cleaning water is sprayed by operating the buttocks button 51-2 or bidet button 51-3, which are operating means for starting cleaning, and regardless of whether the seat switch 19 detects a person sitting, cleaning water is sprayed by simultaneously operating two or more of the multiple operating means, buttons 51-1 to 51-13, and a usage history (B) of when these two or more buttons are on is stored.
[0056] In this case, even if there is an abnormality in the seating detection, washing water can be sprayed by simultaneously operating two or more of the buttons 51-1 to 51-13, which are the multiple operating means.
[0057] In addition, if the multiple operating means are the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3, and regardless of whether or not a person is seated by the seat switch 19, the two operating means for starting the wash are operated simultaneously to spray cleansing water, and the usage history (B) is stored, then by referring to the usage history at the time of repair, it is easily determined whether the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, which are the operating buttons for the first cleansing water spraying function, is broken, or there is an abnormality in the seating detection, and repair can be carried out appropriately. Specifically, if cleansing water can be sprayed by simultaneously operating the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, the usage history (B) remains, and it is determined that the control means 61 and the cleansing device 23 are normal and there is an abnormality in the seating detection. Furthermore, if cleansing water is not sprayed when buttock button 51-2 and bidet button 51-3 are operated at the same time and there is no usage history (B), it can be determined that at least one of buttock button 51-2 and bidet button 51-3 is faulty. In this case, by looking at usage history (A), if there is a usage history of buttock button 51-2 and bidet button 51-3 being on, it can be determined that the one that is on is normal and the other that is not on is faulty.
[0058] Although cleaning water can be sprayed when a person is seated on the toilet seat 12, if for some reason the seating cannot be detected even though the person is seated, a problem occurs in which cleaning cannot be performed. This problem can occur when the cleaning stops midway due to incompatibility with the toilet seat 12, the weight of the user, or the movement of the buttocks during cleaning. In such cases, it can be difficult to reproduce the phenomenon in which cleaning water does not spray, resulting in a problem in which the cause cannot be identified, but by referring to the usage history, it can be easily determined that an abnormality has occurred in the seating detection, making it possible to carry out appropriate repairs.
[0059] In the above-mentioned cleaning toilet seat device 10, the display by the water pressure adjustment display unit 52, which is a non-seated display means, is configured to stop after a predetermined time has elapsed after the spraying of cleaning water is stopped by simultaneously operating two or more of the buttons 51-1 to 51-13, which are multiple operating means.
[0060] In this case, the non-seated display automatically stops after the wash water stops, making it unnecessary to perform an operation to stop the display.
[0061] If the water pressure adjustment display unit 52, which serves as the non-seated display means, continues to display the abnormality after the seating detection abnormality is displayed, it will be necessary to unplug the power cord to stop the display or to provide a separate means for stopping the abnormality display; however, by automatically turning off the light after a predetermined time has elapsed, the non-seated display will not continue, which can be annoying.
[0062] In the above-mentioned cleansing toilet seat device 10, the non-seated indicating means also serves as the water pressure adjustment indicating section 52, which is an indicating means relating to the cleaning water jetting operation.
[0063] In this case, without providing a dedicated display means, it is possible to display the state in which wash water is not coming out even when the buttocks button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3, which are the operating means for starting the wash, are operated in a seated state.
[0064] In addition, there is no need to provide a dedicated non-seated display means for displaying an abnormality in the seating detection, and when an abnormality occurs in the seating detection, the display is different from normal, making it possible to grasp the abnormality. Therefore, the number of displays does not increase and the operation unit does not become complicated.
[0065] The above-mentioned cleaning toilet seat device 10 uses a water force adjustment display unit 52 as a non-seated display means, and the water force adjustment display unit 52 has multiple (four) light-emitting units 52-1 to 52-4 that are aligned in the width direction and the transverse direction from one side to the other and change in width so as to become narrower, and by pressing the low button 51-7 and the high button 51-8, the light-emitting units 52-1 to 52-4 that emit light move to the other side or one side and change to display the water force, whereas in the non-seated display, when one light-emitting unit is lit once, the next light-emitting unit lights up at the same time as it goes out until a predetermined time has elapsed after the cleaning water has stopped, and by adopting a display form different from that for water force, it is possible to display both water force and non-seated.
[0066] In the following, as a modified example, when the user is seated on the toilet seat 12 and operates the buttons 51-1, 51-4 to 51-13 as the operating means other than the butt button 51-2 as the flush start operating means and the bidet button 51-3, and the seat switch 19 as the seat detection means does not detect the user being seated, the water pressure adjustment display unit 52 as the non-seated display means indicates that the user is not seated. Therefore, when a repair worker or the like checks whether the seat detection is functioning normally, the repair worker sits down fully clothed and presses the butt button 51-2 or the bidet button 51-3. When the bidet button 51-3 is operated, cleansing water may spray out, but cleansing water will not spray out when any button other than the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 is operated. If a not-seated message is displayed when any button other than the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 is operated while seated, it is determined that the seat switch 19, which serves as the seating detection means, is not functioning properly. On the other hand, during inspection, if a not-seated message is displayed when any button other than the buttocks button 51-2 and the bidet button 51-3 is operated while seated, it is determined that the seating detection is functioning properly.
[0067] In addition, when a person is seated on the toilet seat 12 and performs some operation using the operating means, if the seat switch 19, which is the seat detection means, does not detect a person sitting, the cleansing toilet seat device 10 displays a non-seated state using the water pressure adjustment display unit 52, which is the seat display means.The non-seated display means displays when a cleaning start operation is performed using the butt button 51-2 and bidet button 51-3 used for the first cleansing water spraying function when a person is not detected sitting by the seat switch 19, which is the seat detection means, so that it is possible to know that a situation exists in which cleaning is not possible by operating the butt button 51-2 and bidet button 51-3, which are the normal cleaning water spray operating units, and to recognize the need to select the operation of the second cleansing water spraying function for cleaning.
[0068] Furthermore, the operation buttons used for the second cleansing water jetting function are multiple buttons 51-1 to 51-13 arranged within a range that can be operated with any multiple fingers of one hand, so that cleansing water jetting operation can be performed with one hand. In this case, when operating with two buttons, the center distance between the two buttons is preferably 80 mm or less.
[0069] Furthermore, the second cleaning water spraying function starts spraying cleaning water after a predetermined start time has elapsed when multiple buttons 51-1 to 51-13 are operated simultaneously, so if multiple buttons are operated by mistake, spraying of cleaning water can be prevented by immediately stopping the operation of any one of the multiple fingers.
[0070] In addition, the second cleaning water spraying function stops spraying of cleaning water after a specified spraying time has elapsed, even if the button is continued to be pressed. This means that there is no need to continue pressing multiple fingers beyond the specified spraying time to continue spraying cleaning water; instead, spraying of cleaning water stops at the specified spraying time that generally provides sufficient cleaning. This prevents insufficient or excessive cleaning, and fingers do not get tired from continuing to press the button.
[0071] In addition, buttons 51-2 to 51-3 used to operate the first cleansing water spraying function and buttons 51-1 to 51-13 used to operate the second cleansing water spraying function are provided on the same main body operation unit 21 attached to the main body 11.Therefore, with an operation unit (not shown) provided separately from the main body 11, cleaning start cannot be started if the battery runs out or if there is a failure in communication using infrared communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, or WiFi. However, by providing buttons 51-1 to 51-3 used for the second cleansing water spraying function alongside the main body 11 and also on the same main body operation unit 21 as buttons 51-2 to 51-3 used for the first cleansing water spraying function, there is no need to provide a dedicated operation unit for the second cleansing water spraying function. Furthermore, if buttons 51-2 to 51-3 used for the first cleaning water spraying function are also used when using the first cleaning water spraying function, there is no need to increase the number of buttons for operation, the number of buttons on the main body operation unit 21 does not increase and the unit does not become complicated, and the main body operation unit 21 does not become larger.
[0072] Furthermore, as a modified example, in the second cleaning water spraying function for starting the spraying of cleaning water, two or more of buttons 51-1 to 51-13 serving as the operating means are pressed, and the time that two or more buttons are pressed simultaneously reaches a predetermined start time, for example 0.3 seconds, so that the control means 61 outputs a command signal to the cleaning device 23, and cleaning water is sprayed continuously until the predetermined spraying time, for example 15 seconds, has elapsed, thereby eliminating the need to continue pressing two or more buttons for the predetermined spraying time. EXAMPLES
[0073] Fig. 8 shows a cleaning toilet seat device 10 in a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, with the toilet seat cover 13 open, the toilet seat 12 is tilted toward the toilet bowl 1, allowing a user (not shown) to sit with his / her buttocks on the toilet seat 12, and whether or not the user is sitting on the toilet seat 12 is detected by a seating sensor 19A provided in the front center of the casing 15, and this seating detection means is composed of, for example, an infrared sensor that does not come into contact with the user.
[0074] In this way, the seating detection means can be an infrared seating sensor 19A that does not come into contact with the user.
[0075] As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and its modified examples, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. In the embodiment, the water pressure adjustment display unit 52 is used as the non-seated display means, but other display units 53, 54, and 55 may be used, and the non-seated display on the other display units 53, 54, and 55 may be displayed differently from the normal display. In addition, the non-seated display may be appropriately selected as long as it is different from the normal display, such as all the light-emitting units 52-1 to 52-4 flashing at the same time. Furthermore, the device may be configured to store and retain usage history other than the usage history (A) and (B). In addition, a function to warm the toilet seat 12 or to change the washing water to warm water may be added. Furthermore, various functions may be added, such as operating the device on an information terminal via WIFI. [Explanation of symbols]
[0076] 1 Toilet 19 Seat switch (seating detection means) 19A Seat sensor (seating detection means) 21 Main unit operation section (operation means) 22 Main unit display section (display means) 23 Cleaning Equipment 51-1 Stop button (operation means) 51-2 Bottom button (operation means for starting washing) 51-3 Bidet button (operation means for starting washing) 51-4 Move button (operation means) 51-5 Front button (operation means) 51-6 Rear button (operation means) 51-7 Low button (operation means) 51-8 High button (operation means) 51-9 Hot water temperature control button (operation means) 51-10 Toilet seat temperature adjustment button (operation means) 51-11 Memory button (operation means) 51-12 Cleaning / washing button (operation means) 51-13 Power saving button (operation means) 52 Water force adjustment display section (non-seating display means) 61 Control Means 63 Memory means
Claims
1. A seating detection means for detecting a seating on the toilet seat; An operating means for operating the toilet seat; a non-seated display means for displaying that no seating is detected by the seating detection means, When the operation means is operated to start cleaning, if the seating detection means does not detect a seating, the non-seated display means displays a non-seated state; This cleaning toilet seat device is characterized by recording this usage history.
2. When the seating detection means detects a seating state, the operating means for starting the washing is operated to spray washing water, 2. The toilet seat cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning water is sprayed by simultaneously operating two or more of the operating means, regardless of whether or not the seating detection means detects a seated person, and the usage history is stored.
3. 3. The toilet seat cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the indication by the non-seated indicating means is stopped a predetermined time after the cleaning water jetting is stopped by simultaneously operating the multiple operating means.
4. 4. The toilet seat cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the non-seated indicating means also serves as an indicating means for indicating an operation for spraying cleaning water.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Sanitary washing device
JP2003268842A