Toilet bowl device

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of preventing a state in which excrement adheres to the surface of a toilet bowl from continuing.SOLUTION: A technology disclosed in the present specification relates to a toilet bowl device. The toilet bowl device may include a toilet bowl body having a toilet bowl, an acquisition section that acquires detection information indicating the presence of a person in the vicinity of the toilet bowl body, and a discharge control section that executes a first cleaning process to discharge wash water toward the surface of the toilet bowl when a prescribed condition is satisfied and the detection information is acquired after the detection information has been obtained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a toilet apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a toilet device that, in response to a user sitting on the toilet seat, executes a pre-flushing operation to wet the surface of the toilet bowl before the user uses the toilet. In response to receiving a toilet flushing command from a controller, the toilet device executes a toilet flush to supply flushing water into the toilet bowl after the user uses the toilet and expel waste from within the toilet bowl. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-147788 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the toilet device of Patent Document 1, if a toilet flush command is not sent from the controller to the toilet device promptly after using the toilet, waste may continue to adhere to the surface of the toilet bowl. If waste continues to adhere to the surface of the toilet bowl, the waste will adhere more firmly to the surface of the toilet bowl. This specification provides a technology that can prevent waste from continuing to adhere to the surface of the toilet bowl. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The toilet device disclosed in this specification may include a toilet body having a toilet bowl, an acquisition unit that acquires detection information indicating the presence of a person near the toilet body, and a discharge control unit that executes a first flushing process to discharge cleaning water toward the surface of the toilet bowl when a predetermined condition is satisfied and the detection information is acquired after the detection information is acquired. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a toilet device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the toilet body and toilet seat taken at the center in the left-right direction and perpendicular to the left-right direction. [Diagram 3] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the toilet bowl and the upper rim portion taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a discharge unit according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the discharge portion of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a discharge portion of the embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 shows a flowchart of a seated flush determination process executed by a control unit of the toilet apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] (Configuration of toilet device 10) As shown in Fig. 1, the toilet apparatus 10 is a flush toilet. The toilet apparatus 10 is fixed to a floor surface when in use. The toilet apparatus 10 may be, for example, a so-called wall-hung flush toilet that is fixed to a wall.

[0008] The toilet device 10 comprises a toilet cover 11, a toilet portion 12, a toilet seat 14, an operating device 15, a function portion 16, a reservoir 18 (see FIG. 2), an on-off valve 19, a water discharge portion 40 (see FIG. 4), a control portion 100, a seating sensor 90, a toilet cover sensor 11s, and a toilet seat sensor 14s. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the left-right direction at the center of the left-right direction of the toilet portion 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet portion 12 comprises a toilet body 20 and an upper end rim portion 30. The toilet body 20 is made of ceramic. The toilet body 20 comprises a toilet bowl 22 that receives waste. The toilet body 20 accommodates a reservoir 18 at the lower end of the toilet body 20. The reservoir 18 stores flushing water for flushing the toilet bowl 22. Water is supplied to the reservoir 18 from a water supply pipe (not shown). The on-off valve 19 switches between communication and cut-off between the clean water pipe and the reservoir 18. The functional unit 16 may have functions such as an opening and closing function for automatically opening and closing a toilet lid (not shown) in accordance with the user's actions, a local cleansing function, a hot air drying function, a deodorizing function, and the like.

[0009] The operating device 15 is attached to a wall surface of the toilet room in which the toilet apparatus 10 is placed. In a modified example, the operating device 15 may be a remote controller electrically connected to the water discharger 40 either wired or wirelessly. The operating device 15 is operated by a user to operate the toilet apparatus 10. The operating device 15 includes a large flush button 15a, a small flush button 15b, a seated flush button 15c, and a display 15d. The large flush button 15a is a button for the toilet apparatus 10 to receive an instruction from the user to execute a large flush process in which waste and the like in the toilet bowl 22 is discharged into a sewer pipe (not shown) connected to the toilet body 20. The small flush button 15b is a button for the toilet apparatus 10 to receive an instruction from the user to execute a small flush process in which less flush water than the large flush button 15a is supplied to the toilet bowl 22 to discharge waste and the like in the toilet bowl 22 into a sewer pipe (not shown) connected to the toilet body 20. The large flush button 15a and the small flush button 15b are each electrically connected to the water discharger 40. When the user operates each of the buttons 15a, 15b, flush water is discharged from the reservoir 18 via the water discharger 40 into the toilet bowl 22, and a flush process is performed according to the button operated by the user. Below, the large flush process and the small flush process are sometimes referred to as "normal flush processes", and the large flush button 15a and the small flush button 15b are sometimes referred to as "normal flush buttons".

[0010] The seating flush button 15c is a button for causing the control unit 100 to execute the seating flush determination process described below. The seating flush button 15c is electrically connected to the control unit 100. Although not shown in the figures, the operation device 15 further includes a button for operating a function unit, such as a flush function for washing the buttocks of the human body. The display 15d is a liquid crystal display, and displays various information related to the toilet apparatus 10 to the user.

[0011] In the toilet apparatus 10, the normal flush process may be performed by operating the normal flush buttons (i.e., the large flush button 15a and the small flush button 15b) or by operating a lever arranged on the toilet apparatus 10. The normal flush process may be performed without any operation by the user. For example, the normal flush process may be performed when the seat sensor 90 no longer detects the user.

[0012] The toilet lid 11 is attached to the toilet body 20 so that it can be opened and closed. The toilet lid 11 covers the toilet body 20 from above. The toilet lid 11 is electrically connected to a toilet lid sensor 11s, which detects whether the toilet lid 11 is open or not. Figure 1 shows the toilet lid 11 in an open state. The toilet lid 11 is not shown in Figures 2 to 5.

[0013] The toilet seat 14 is attached to the toilet bowl body 20 so as to be openable and closable. A user sits on the toilet seat 14. The toilet seat 14 has an opening 14a. A seating sensor 90 is disposed on the toilet seat 14. When a user sits on the toilet seat 14, the toilet seat 14 moves downward. The seating sensor 90 detects the up and down movement of the toilet seat 14, thereby detecting the user sitting and leaving the seat. In a modified example, the seating sensor 90 may be a contact sensor, an infrared sensor, a capacitance sensor, or the like, that directly detects the user. Instead of the seating sensor 90, a human presence sensor (e.g., an infrared sensor, a camera, etc.) that detects the user may also be used.

[0014] Hereinafter, the direction in which the toilet seat 14 and the functional part 16 are arranged is referred to as the front-rear direction. In the front-rear direction, the side on which the toilet seat 14 is arranged with respect to the functional part 16 is referred to as the front side of the front-rear direction, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear side. The horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction is referred to as the left-right direction. In the left-right direction, the rear side of the paper in FIG. 1 is referred to as the right side, and the front side of the paper in FIG. 1 is referred to as the left side. The left and right directions correspond to the left and right as seen by a user facing the toilet device 10. The vertical direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction is referred to as the up-down direction. In the up-down direction, the side on which the reservoir 18 is arranged with respect to the toilet body 20 is referred to as the lower side, and the opposite side is referred to as the lower side.

[0015] The toilet bowl 22 has a shape that is generally recessed downward. As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet bowl 22 has a water storage section 24 disposed at the lower end of the toilet bowl 22. The toilet body 20 has a drainage flow path 36 that communicates with the water storage section 24, and a drain outlet 34 that opens into the water storage section 24. The drainage flow path 36 is inclined upward as it proceeds from the bottom of the water storage section 24 to the back side. That is, the drainage flow path 36 extends upward from the bottom of the toilet bowl 22. As a result, before flushing water is supplied to the drainage flow path 36, flushing water is stored in the drainage flow path 36, and the drainage flow path 36 functions as a trap. The rear end 36a of the drainage flow path 36 is connected to a first drain pipe 37. The first drain pipe 37 is made of resin. The first drain pipe 37 is curved downward from the rear end 36a of the drainage flow path 36. The lower end of the first drain pipe 37 is connected to a second drain pipe 38. The second drain pipe 38 is connected to a sewer pipe (not shown).

[0016] In the toilet apparatus 10 of this embodiment, after the normal flushing process has been performed and before the seated flushing process is performed, flush water is stored in the water storage section 24 up to the position of the first water level WS1. In this embodiment, in a situation where flush water is not being supplied to the toilet bowl 22, the area below the first water level WS1 is referred to as the water storage section 24. Furthermore, when the seated flushing process is performed, flush water is stored up to the position of the second water level WS2.

[0017] An upper rim portion 30 is disposed at the upper end of the toilet bowl 22, going around the upper edge 22a of the toilet bowl 22. The upper rim portion 30 is disposed at the upper end of the toilet body 20. The upper rim portion 30 protrudes inward from the upper edge 22a so as to face the surface of the toilet bowl 22. The underside 30a of the upper rim portion 30 is disposed vertically in the up-down direction.

[0018] The toilet bowl 22 has a front surface 23, a side surface 26, and a rear surface 25. The front surface 23 is a surface of the toilet bowl 22 that is located in front of the front end of the first water surface WS1. The side surface 26 is a surface of the toilet bowl 22 that extends rearward from the rear end of the front surface 23 along both the left and right ends of the first water surface WS1. The side surface 26 extends in the rear direction of the surface of the toilet bowl 22 to a position aligned with the rear end of the first water surface WS1. The rear surface 25 is a region of the surface of the toilet bowl 22 that connects the rear ends of the side surfaces 26 on both the left and right sides along the rear end of the first water surface WS1.

[0019] The front surface 23 has a linear shape 23a that slopes backward, i.e., toward the first water surface WS1, as it proceeds downward from the upper edge 22a, and a curved shape 23b that curves downward from the lower end of the linear shape 23a toward the first water surface WS1. In the "curved shape that curves downward", in a cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction, a line segment representing a surface located between any two points of the curved shape is located below the line connecting the any two points. The linear shape 23a extends in the tangential direction of the curved shape 23b. The boundary between the linear shape 23a and the curved shape 23b is smooth and continuous without any step. The front surface 23 has a curved shape 23b that has a curved shape that curves downward in a cross section perpendicular to the front-back direction at any position in the front-back direction. The front surface 23 is similar in a cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction at any position in the left-right direction of the toilet bowl 22. The front surface 23 does not have a shape that bulges upward.

[0020] In a cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction at the center of the left-right direction of toilet bowl 22, the portion located below front surface 23 has a linear shape that slopes backward as it extends downward.

[0021] The linear shape 23a has a plane that slopes downward from the upper edge 22a toward the first water surface WS1 in a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction at any position in the front-rear direction. The curved shape 23b curves downward from the lower end of the linear shape 23a to a midpoint between the first water surface WS1 and the second water surface WS2 in a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction at any position in the front-rear direction.

[0022] The side surface 26 has different shapes in the front and rear portions in a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The front portion of the side surface 26 has a curved shape that continues from the front surface 23 and curves downward. The curved shape extends beyond the first water surface WS1 to the water pool 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the side surface 26 has a straight line shape 26a that slopes downward from the upper edge 22a toward the first water surface WS1, a curved shape 26b that curves downward at an intermediate position between the lower end of the straight line shape 26a and the first water surface WS1, and a curved shape 26c that curves upward from the lower end of the curved shape 26b to the first water surface WS1. The curved shape 26c extends beyond the first water surface WS1 to the water pool 24. The portion having the curved shape 26c is the rear portion of the toilet body 20, and the portion not having the curved shape 26c is the front portion of the toilet body 20. The boundary between the front and rear parts of the toilet body 20 may be the position of the drain outlet 34 in the front-rear direction.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, in a cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction at the center of the left-right direction of the toilet bowl 22, the rear surface 25 has a straight line shape 25a that slopes downward from the upper edge 22a toward the front, i.e., toward the first water surface WS1, a curved shape 25b that curves downward at an intermediate position between the bottom end of the straight line shape 25a and the first water surface WS1, and a curved shape 25c that curves upward from the bottom end of the curved shape 25b to the first water surface WS1. The straight line shape 25a may be parallel to the up-down direction. The rear surface 25 is located behind the rear edge of the opening 14a of the toilet seat 14. This makes it difficult for the user to see the rear surface 25.

[0024] (Configuration of the water outlet) The water discharger 40 discharges flush water in the reservoir 18 into the toilet bowl 22. As shown in Fig. 4, the water discharger 40 includes a pump 42, a connecting pipe 44, a check valve 45, a switching valve device 46, branch pipes 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, water discharge nozzles 50 and 52, a water discharge opening 54, and a spreader 60.

[0025] The pump 42 draws in the wash water in the reservoir 18 and pressurizes it. The pump 42 sends the pressurized wash water to the communicating pipe 44. The communicating pipe 44 is in communication with the pump 42. The communicating pipe 44 defines a flow path through which the wash water flows. The communicating pipe 44 is in communication with the switching valve device 46 via a check valve 45. The check valve 45 allows the wash water to flow from the pump 42 toward the switching valve device 46. The check valve 45 restricts the wash water from flowing from the switching valve device 46 toward the pump 42. This makes it possible to prevent the wash water from flowing back to the pump 42 via the communicating pipe 44. By arranging the check valve 45 closer to the pump 42 than the switching valve device 46, the number of check valves 45 can be reduced.

[0026] The switching valve device 46 connects the communication pipe 44 to at least one of the branch pipes 48a, 48b, 48c, and 48d. The communication pipe 44 and the branch pipes 48a, 48b, and 48c are each made of a resin such as a synthetic resin. The branch pipes 48a and 48c use synthetic rubber in at least one of the connection parts between the pump 42 and the water discharge nozzles 50 and 52 to improve liquid tightness. The branch pipe 48d has an upstream portion 48e extending from the pump 42 made of the same resin as the branch pipe 48a. Meanwhile, downstream of the upstream portion 48e of the branch pipe 48d, a downstream portion 48f disposed in the toilet body 20 is disposed. The downstream portion 48f is made of ceramic.

[0027] A water discharge nozzle 50 is connected to the branch pipe 48a. When the communication pipe 44 is connected to the branch pipe 48a via the switching valve device 46, flush water is discharged from the water discharge nozzle 50 into the toilet bowl 22. A spreader 60 is connected to the branch pipe 48b. When the communication pipe 44 is connected to the branch pipe 48b via the switching valve device 46, flush water is discharged from the spreader 60 into the toilet bowl 22. A water discharge nozzle 52 is connected to the branch pipe 48c. When the communication pipe 44 is connected to the branch pipe 48c via the switching valve device 46, flush water is discharged from the water discharge nozzle 52 into the toilet bowl 22. A water discharge opening 54 is connected to the branch pipe 48d. When the communication pipe 44 is connected to the branch pipe 48d via the switching valve device 46, flush water is discharged from the water discharge opening 54 into the toilet bowl 22.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the water-spouting nozzles 50, 52 and the spreader 60 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The water-spouting nozzle 50 is arranged near the upper end of the toilet bowl 22. The water-spouting nozzle 50 has an opening 50a that is long in the vertical direction. The water-spouting nozzle 52 is arranged symmetrically with the water-spouting nozzle 50. As shown in FIG. 2, the front ends of the water-spouting nozzles 50, 52 are arranged forward of the rear end of the first water surface WS1. The spreader 60 is arranged further back than the rear end of the first water surface WS1. The spreader 60 is arranged further back than the rear end of the first water surface WS1. The water-spouting nozzles 50, 52 each have an opening that extends in the vertical direction. The flushing water discharged from the water-spouting nozzles 50, 52 flows into the toilet bowl 22 located below the upper end rim portion 30. The upper end rim portion 30 is formed of a single flat plate, and flushing water does not flow inside.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the water discharge opening 54 opens into the water storage section 24. That is, the entire water discharge opening 54 is submerged in the water storage section 24. The water discharge opening 54 opens from the front side toward the drain outlet 34 on the rear side. That is, the water discharge opening 54 faces the drain outlet 34. As shown by the arrow F2 in FIG. 2, when flush water is discharged from the water discharge opening 54, the flush water from the water discharge opening 54 is discharged toward the drain outlet 34. As shown by the arrow F3, flush water from the water storage section 24, together with flush water from the water discharge opening 54, is discharged into an external sewer pipe via the drain flow path 36 and each drain pipe 37, 38. Waste in the water storage section 24 and objects floating in the water in the water storage section 24 are also discharged from the drain flow path 36 to the outside of the toilet body 20.

[0030] As shown by the arrow F1 in FIG. 6, flushing water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 50 flows near the upper end of the toilet bowl 22 along the upper rim portion 30. The flushing water flow path defined by the water discharge nozzle 50 from the branch pipe 48a is called the first rim flow path. As particularly shown by the arrow F1 in FIG. 2, flushing water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 52 flows near the upper end of the toilet bowl 22 along the upper rim portion 30. The flushing water flow path defined by the water discharge nozzle 52 from the branch pipe 48c is called the second rim flow path. The flushing water discharged from the water discharge nozzles 50, 52 flows downward from near the upper end. The flushing water discharged from the water discharge nozzles 50, 52 flows over a wide area of ​​the toilet bowl 22 from the upper end to the lower end. This makes it possible to remove dirt adhering to the side surface 26 and the front surface 23 of the toilet bowl 22 in particular. As described above, the water discharge nozzle 50 has a long opening 50a in the vertical direction, so that flushing water is discharged from the opening 50a at a relatively high flow rate. As a result, flushing water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 50 flows over the surface of the toilet bowl 22 at a high surface speed and reaches the water pool 24. This ensures that dirt adhering to the surface of the toilet bowl 22 can be removed. The flushing water discharged from the spreader 60 collides with the spreader 60 from the branch pipe 48b, spreads in the vertical and horizontal directions, and is discharged into the toilet bowl 22. The flow path of flushing water defined by the spreader 60 from the branch pipe 48b is called the spreader flow path. The flushing water discharged from the water discharge opening 54 functions as a so-called jet water discharge that discharges dirt and the like from the water pool 24. The flow path of flushing water defined by the water discharge opening 54 from the branch pipe 48d is called the jet flow path.

[0031] Figures 5 and 6 show the configuration of each part of the water discharger 40. All parts of the water discharger 40, except for the branch pipe 48d and the water discharge opening 54, are housed in the toilet body 20 at the rear side of the toilet bowl 22. In the toilet body 20, each part of the water discharger 40 is housed in a small space. In each of Figures 5 and 6, some of the configuration has been simplified to prioritize ease of viewing.

[0032] The spreader 60 is attached to the rear surface 25 at the rear side of the toilet bowl 22. The spreader 60 is inserted into a through hole penetrating the toilet body 20 and fixed to the toilet body 20. The spreader 60 protrudes from the rear surface 25 to the inside of the toilet bowl 22. The spreader 60 has one or more outlets in each of the up, down, left and right directions. Flush water flowing into the spreader 60 from the branch pipe 48b collides with the front part of the spreader 60 and spreads in the up, down and left and right directions. The collided flush water is discharged from the multiple outlets of the spreader 60 into the toilet bowl 22. This allows the flush water discharged from the spreader 60 to be discharged from the multiple outlets in multiple directions, upward, downward, left and right. This makes it easier to spread the flush water over the surface of the toilet bowl 22.

[0033] The reservoir 18 extends to the right side of the toilet body 20, close to the upper end of the toilet body 20. A water level sensor 17 is disposed at the upper end of the reservoir 18. The water level sensor 17 is equipped with a float that rises above the water surface when the water level in the reservoir 18 reaches a predetermined position, and a sensor unit that detects whether the float is floating or not. An opening / closing valve 19 is disposed at the upper end of the reservoir 18. The opening / closing valve 19 switches between communication and cut-off between the reservoir 18 and the clean water pipe.

[0034] (Processing by the control unit) As shown in Fig. 1, the control unit 100 is housed in the toilet body 20. The control unit 100 is communicatively connected to each of the water level sensor 17, the on-off valve 19, the pump 42, the switching valve device 46, the functional unit 16, the seating sensor 90, the toilet lid sensor 11s, the toilet seat sensor 14s, and the operation device 15. The control unit 100 controls the water level sensor 17, the on-off valve 19, the pump 42, the switching valve device 46, the functional unit 16, the seating sensor 90, the toilet lid sensor 11s, the toilet seat sensor 14s, and the operation device 15.

[0035] The control unit 100 includes a CPU, a memory, and a timer 102. The memory has a volatile and non-volatile storage section. The control unit 100 controls the water level sensor 17, the on-off valve 19, the pump 42, the switching valve device 46, the function section 16, the seating sensor 90, the toilet lid sensor 11s, the toilet seat sensor 14s, and the operation device 15 by the CPU executing processing according to a computer program previously stored in the memory. The timer 102 measures the elapsed time since the user sat on the toilet seat 14.

[0036] For example, in response to the user pressing the normal flush button on the operating device 15, the control unit 100 controls the pump 42 and the switching valve device 46 to supply flush water to the toilet bowl 22 from the water discharge nozzles 50, 52, the spreader 60, and the water discharge opening 54. As a result, waste in the toilet bowl 22 is discharged to the outside of the toilet body 20 by the flush water. As shown in FIG. 2, when the normal flush process is performed, flush water is stored in the water storage section 24 of the toilet bowl 22 up to the height of the first water surface WS1. The first water surface WS1 is located below the rear end 36a of the drainage flow path 36. In other words, the first water surface WS1 is located below the upper end of the drainage flow path 36 that functions as a trap. In other words, after the normal flush process is performed, the drainage flow path 36 further includes an area for storing flush water.

[0037] After the user selects the seat flush button 15c of the operating device 15, the control unit 100 executes the seat flush process when each of the conditions described in FIG. 7 is satisfied. In this embodiment, the control unit 100 controls the pump 42 and the switching valve device 46 in the seat flush process to discharge flush water from the water discharge nozzles 50, 52. In the seat flush process, the control unit 100 does not connect the communication pipe 44 and the branch pipe 48d via the switching valve device 46. In the seat flush process, the control unit 100 does not connect the communication pipe 44 and the branch pipe 48b via the switching valve device 46. In the seat flush process, the discharge of flush water from the water discharge opening 54 and the spreader 60 is restricted. As a result, the amount of flush water used in the seat flush process can be reduced compared to a configuration in which flush water is supplied to the toilet bowl 22 from the water discharge nozzles 50, 52, the spreader 60, and the water discharge opening 54 in the seat flush process. In the seated flush process, flush water is ejected onto the upper part of the surface of the toilet bowl 22 through the first and second rim flow paths (i.e., the water-discharging nozzles 50, 52), so that flush water can be supplied to the toilet bowl 22 over a wide area from the upper part of the surface of the toilet bowl 22.

[0038] After the normal flushing process is performed, the water level of the flush water is at the first water level WS1, which is located below the rear end 36a of the drainage flow path 36, so when the sitting flushing process is performed, the flush water discharged from the water discharge nozzles 50, 52 raises the water level in the water storage section 24. In other words, the volume of the flush water in the drainage flow path 36 increases due to the sitting flushing process. After the sitting flushing process is performed, the water level of the flush water stored in the toilet bowl 22 is at the second water level WS2, which is located above the first water level WS1. As a result, the next time the normal flushing process is performed, waste and the like in the water storage section 24 can be reliably discharged using the large amount of flush water that has accumulated in the drainage flow path 36 up to the second water level WS2.

[0039] (Seated cleaning judgment process) The seating wash determination process executed by the control unit 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The control unit 100 executes the process in Fig. 7 when the seating wash button 15c of the operation device 15 is selected as a trigger. This allows the user to select whether or not to perform the seating wash.

[0040] In S10, the control unit 100 monitors whether the toilet lid 11 is open. Specifically, the control unit 100 determines whether the toilet lid 11 is open based on information received from the toilet lid sensor 11s. If the control unit 100 receives information from the toilet lid sensor 11s indicating that the toilet lid 11 is open (YES in S10), it proceeds to S12.

[0041] In S12, the control unit 100 determines whether the toilet seat 14 is closed. Specifically, the control unit 100 determines whether the toilet seat 14 is open based on information received from the toilet seat sensor 14s. If the control unit 100 receives information from the toilet seat sensor 14s indicating that the toilet seat 14 is closed (YES in S12), the control unit 100 proceeds to S20. If the toilet seat 14 is open even though the toilet lid 11 is open (YES in S10), for example, it is assumed that the user is cleaning the toilet bowl 22 with the toilet lid 11 open. If the control unit 100 receives information from the toilet seat sensor 14s in S12 indicating that the toilet seat 14 is not closed (NO in S12), the control unit 100 returns to S10.

[0042] In S20, the control unit 100 determines whether or not a user is seated on the toilet seat 14. Specifically, the control unit 100 determines whether or not a user is seated on the toilet seat 14 based on information received from the seating sensor 90. When the control unit 100 receives information from the seating sensor 90 that a user is seated on the toilet seat 14 (YES in S20), the control unit 100 proceeds to S22. When the toilet lid 11 is open (YES in S10) and the toilet seat 14 is closed (YES in S12), but seating is not detected, for example, when the toilet lid 11 is opened by mistake, or when each of the sensors 11s and 14s detects erroneously, etc. When the control unit 100 receives information from the seating sensor 90 in S20 indicating that a user is not seated on the toilet seat 14 (NO in S20), the control unit 100 returns to S10.

[0043] In S22, control unit 100 starts measuring the elapsed time using timer 102. The longer the time that has passed since dirt adhered to the surface of toilet bowl 22, the more firmly the dirt adheres to the surface of toilet bowl 22. The elapsed time indicates the time that has passed since the user sat on toilet seat 14. If a long period of time passes without flushing water being supplied to the surface of toilet bowl 22, there is a possibility that dirt will remain adhered to the surface of toilet bowl 22 for a long period of time.

[0044] In S30, the control unit 100 determines whether or not selection of the normal flush button (i.e., either the large flush button 15a or the small flush button 15b) has been accepted. If the control unit 100 accepts selection of the normal flush button (YES in S30), the process proceeds to S32. If the control unit 100 does not accept selection of the normal flush button (NO in S30), the process proceeds to S40.

[0045] In S32, the control unit 100 executes the normal flushing process. Specifically, the control unit 100 controls the pump 42 and the switching valve device 46 to supply flush water to the toilet bowl 22 from the water discharge nozzles 50, 52, the spreader 60, and the water discharge opening 54. This causes waste in the toilet bowl 22 to be discharged outside the toilet apparatus 10.

[0046] Next, control unit 100 resets timer 102 in S34. When the normal flushing process is performed, it is considered that the dirt adhering to the surface of toilet bowl 22 will be removed by the normal flushing process. By resetting timer 102 when the normal flushing process is performed, the period of time that dirt has been adhering can be measured more accurately than in a configuration in which measurement of the elapsed period continues even after the normal flushing process is performed. When control unit 100 completes the process of S34, it returns to S10.

[0047] In S40, the control unit 100 determines whether the elapsed period exceeds a predetermined period. The inventors have discovered that if the state in which dirt adheres to the surface of the toilet bowl 22 continues for more than "5 minutes", the dirt adheres more firmly to the surface of the toilet bowl 22. For this reason, in this embodiment, the predetermined period is "5 minutes". The control unit 100 repeats the processes of S30 and S40 until the elapsed period exceeds 5 minutes. If the elapsed period exceeds 5 minutes, the control unit 100 proceeds to S50. The predetermined period is not limited to "5 minutes", and may be less than "5 minutes" or more than "5 minutes".

[0048] In S50, the control unit 100 again determines whether or not the user is seated on the toilet seat 14. In S50, when the control unit 100 receives information from the seat sensor 90 indicating that the user is seated on the toilet seat 14 (YES in S50), the control unit 100 proceeds to S52. In S50, when the control unit 100 receives information from the seat sensor 90 indicating that the user is not seated on the toilet seat 14 (NO in S50), the control unit 100 proceeds to S32 and executes the normal flushing process. If the user is not seated on the toilet seat 14 after the elapsed period exceeds 5 minutes (YES in S40) (NO in S50), it is assumed that the user has forgotten to select the normal flush button after using the toilet. In the toilet device 10 of this embodiment, the normal flushing process is executed in this case, so that the normal flushing process is executed reliably when the user has forgotten to select the normal flushing button.

[0049] The control unit 100 executes the sitting flush process in S52. As described above, in this embodiment, the sitting flush process is a process in which flush water is supplied to the surface of the toilet bowl 22 via the water discharge nozzles 50 and 52. This makes it possible to prevent waste from adhering to the surface of the toilet bowl 22 for more than five minutes. When S52 ends, the control unit 100 returns to S10 again. If the user continues to sit on the toilet seat 14 after the sitting flush process ends and the elapsed time exceeds "five minutes" again, the control unit 100 executes the sitting flush process again. That is, the control unit 100 repeats the sitting flush process every "five minutes" for a predetermined period as long as the user continues to sit. This makes it possible to prevent waste from adhering to the surface of the toilet bowl 22 for more than "five minutes" even if waste adheres to the surface of the toilet bowl 22 multiple times.

[0050] In this way, the toilet apparatus 10 of this embodiment executes the seated flushing process in S52 when the elapsed time exceeds 5 minutes (YES in S40) after the seating sensor 90 detects sitting (YES in S20) and when sitting is detected again (YES in S50). This makes it possible to prevent feces from remaining attached to the surface of the toilet bowl 22 while the user is sitting. This makes it possible to prevent feces from firmly adhering to the surface of the toilet bowl 22.

[0051] (Correspondence) The seating sensor 90 is an example of an "acquisition unit." An elapsed period exceeding "five minutes" is an example of a "predetermined condition." Selection of the normal flush button is an example of a "reset condition." The timer 102 is an example of a "timing unit." The seating flush button 15c is an example of an "operation unit." The seating flush process is an example of a "first flush process." The normal flush process is an example of a "second flush process." The water discharge nozzles 50, 52 are an example of a "first flow path." The downstream portion 48f is an example of a "second flow path." The first water surface WS1 is an example of a "first height." The second water surface WS2 is an example of a "second height." S52 is an example of a process executed by a "discharge control unit."

[0052] Aspects of the technology disclosed in this specification are listed below.

[0053] The first aspect is a toilet apparatus. The toilet apparatus may include a toilet body having a toilet bowl, an acquisition unit that acquires detection information indicating the presence of a person near the toilet body, and a discharge control unit that executes a first flushing process that discharges flushing water toward a surface of the toilet bowl when a predetermined condition is satisfied and the detection information is acquired after the detection information is acquired.

[0054] In a second aspect, the toilet device in the first aspect may further include a toilet seat located above the toilet body, and a seating sensor that detects when a user sits on the toilet seat. The detection information may include information indicating that the user sits on the toilet seat, which is obtained from the seating sensor.

[0055] In a third aspect, the toilet device in the second aspect may further include a toilet lid that covers an upper part of the toilet seat, and a toilet lid sensor that detects that the toilet lid is open. The detection information may include information indicating that the toilet lid is open that is obtained from the toilet lid sensor.

[0056] In a fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, the toilet apparatus may further include a timer that measures an elapsed period. When the detection information is acquired while the elapsed period is not being measured, the timer starts measuring the elapsed period since the detection information was acquired, and the predetermined condition may include the measured elapsed period exceeding a predetermined period.

[0057] In a fifth aspect, in the fourth aspect, when a reset condition is satisfied while the elapsed period is being measured, the timekeeping unit may reset the measured elapsed period and measure a new elapsed period.

[0058] In a sixth aspect, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the toilet apparatus may further include an operation unit that accepts an operation by a user. When a predetermined operation by the user is accepted, the discharge control unit may not execute the first flushing process regardless of whether the predetermined condition is satisfied.

[0059] In a seventh aspect, in any one of the first to sixth aspects above, the toilet apparatus further includes a first flow path that ejects cleaning water onto an upper portion of the surface of the toilet bowl, and in the first cleaning process, the cleaning water is ejected onto the surface via the first flow path.

[0060] In an eighth aspect, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the toilet bowl may have a water reservoir located below it. The toilet apparatus may include a first flow path that discharges flushing water onto an upper portion of the toilet bowl, and a second flow path having a discharge port at least partially submerged in the water reservoir. The discharge control unit may be capable of selectively executing the first flushing process and the second flushing process, and in the first flushing process, the flushing water may be discharged from the first flow path and the discharge of the flushing water from the second flow path may be restricted, and in the second flushing process, the flushing water may be discharged from both the first and second flow paths.

[0061] In a ninth aspect, the toilet apparatus according to the eighth aspect further comprises: The toilet may further include a drainage flow path that communicates with the toilet bowl. The drainage flow path may extend upward from a bottom of the toilet bowl. After the second flushing process is performed and before the first flushing process is performed, the surface of the flushing water may be located at a first height in the drainage flow path section, and after the first flushing process is performed, the surface of the flushing water may be located at a second height in the drainage flow path section that is located above the first height.

[0062] Specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described above in detail. These are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. Modifications of the above embodiments are listed below.

[0063] (1) The toilet apparatus 10 does not have to be equipped with a seating sensor 90. In this modification, the toilet apparatus 10 may receive information indicating the presence of a user in the vicinity of the toilet apparatus 10, for example, from an external infrared sensor. In another modification, the toilet apparatus 10 may receive information indicating the presence of a user in the vicinity of the toilet apparatus 10, from a camera installed so as to be able to capture images of the periphery of the toilet apparatus 10.

[0064] (2) The toilet apparatus 10 does not need to include the toilet lid sensor 11s. In another modification, the toilet apparatus 10 does not need to include the toilet seat sensor 14s.

[0065] (3) The predetermined condition is not limited to the elapsed time exceeding "5 minutes." In this modification, the predetermined condition may be that local cleaning of functional unit 16 is completed. In another modification, the predetermined condition may be that hot air drying of functional unit 16 is completed. In yet another modification, the predetermined condition may be that an operation of operating device 15 is received from a user. In another modification, the predetermined condition may be that the camera detects the adhesion of waste to the surface of toilet bowl 22.

[0066] (4) The control unit 100 does not have to execute the process of S32. That is, the control unit 100 does not have to reset the timer 102 even if the normal cleaning button is selected.

[0067] (5) The operation device 15 does not need to include the seating wash button 15c, and the seating wash determination process may always be executed. In another modification, the seating wash determination process may be executed as a default, and the seating wash determination process may be interrupted when the seating wash button 15c is selected.

[0068] (6) In the sitting flushing process, the control unit 100 may cause cleaning water to be discharged onto the surface of the toilet bowl 22 via the spreader 60 instead of the water discharge nozzles 50, 52. In another variation, the control unit 100 may cause cleaning water to be discharged onto the surface of the toilet bowl 22 via the water discharge nozzles 50, 52 and the spreader 60 in the sitting flushing process.

[0069] (7) The control unit 100 may execute a normal flushing process instead of the sitting flushing process at S52. In another modification, the control unit 100 may supply flush water to the toilet bowl 22 in an amount that raises the flush water level above the second water level WS2 in the sitting flushing process at S52. That is, in this modification, flush water may be discharged into the sewer pipe via the drainage flow path 36 in the sitting flushing process.

[0070] (8) The control unit 100 may store the cleaning water up to the height of the second water surface WS2 even after the normal cleaning process.

[0071] (9) The position of the water discharge opening 54 does not have to face the drain outlet 34. For example, the water discharge opening 54 may be open to the toilet bowl 22 on one of the left and right sides of the water collection section 24. A portion of the water discharge opening 54 may be located above the first water surface WS1.

[0072] The technical elements described in the specification and / or drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. The technologies illustrated in the specification and / or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives is itself technically useful. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10: toilet device, 11: toilet cover, 11s: toilet cover sensor, 12: toilet part, 14: toilet seat, 14a: opening, 14s: toilet seat sensor, 15: operation device, 15a: large flush button, 15b: small flush button 15b, 15c: seated flush button, 15d: display, 16: function part, 17: water level sensor, 18: reservoir 19: opening / closing valve, 20: toilet body, 22: toilet bowl, 22a: upper edge, 23: front surface, 23a, 25a, 26a: straight shape, 23b, 25b, 25c, 26b, 26c: curved shape, 24: water storage part, 25 : rear surface, 26: side surface, 30: upper end rim portion, 30a: lower surface, 34: drain outlet, 36: drain flow path, 36a: rear end, 37: first drain pipe, 38: second drain pipe, 40: discharge portion, 42: pump, 44: connecting pipe, 45: check valve, 46: switching valve device, 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d: branch pipe, 48e: upstream portion, 48f: downstream portion, 50, 52: discharge nozzle, 50a: opening, 54: discharge opening, 60: spreader, 90: seating sensor, 100: control portion, 102: timer, WS1: first water surface, WS2: second water surface

Claims

1. A toilet body having a toilet bowl; an acquisition unit that acquires detection information indicating the presence of a person near the toilet body; a discharge control unit that executes a first flushing process of discharging flush water toward a surface of the toilet bowl when a predetermined condition is satisfied and the detection information is acquired after the detection information is acquired; Equipped with Toilet device.

2. The toilet device further comprises: A toilet seat located above the toilet body; A seating sensor that detects when a user sits on the toilet seat; Equipped with the detection information includes information indicating that the user is sitting on the toilet seat, the information being acquired from the seating sensor; 2. The toilet apparatus of claim 1.

3. The toilet device further comprises: A toilet lid that covers the upper part of the toilet seat; a toilet lid sensor that detects whether the toilet lid is open; Equipped with The detection information includes information indicating that the toilet lid is open obtained from the toilet lid sensor.

3. The toilet apparatus of claim 2.

4. The toilet device further includes a timer unit that measures an elapsed period of time, when the detection information is acquired while the elapsed period is not being measured, the timekeeping unit starts measuring the elapsed period from when the detection information is acquired; the predetermined condition includes the measured elapsed time exceeding a predetermined time. A toilet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The toilet apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the timer unit resets the measured elapsed period and measures a new elapsed period when a reset condition is satisfied while the elapsed period is being measured.

6. The toilet device further includes an operation unit that accepts operations by a user, the discharge control unit does not execute the first cleaning process when a predetermined operation by the user is accepted, regardless of whether the predetermined condition is satisfied. A toilet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The toilet apparatus further includes a first flow path that discharges flush water onto an upper portion of the surface of the toilet bowl, In the first cleaning process, the cleaning water is discharged onto the surface through the first flow path. A toilet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The toilet bowl has a water collecting section located below it, The toilet device comprises: a first flow path that discharges flush water onto an upper portion of the toilet bowl; a second flow path having a discharge port at least a portion of which is immersed in the water reservoir; the discharge control unit is capable of selectively executing the first cleaning process and the second cleaning process, In the first cleaning process, the cleaning water is discharged from the first flow path and the discharge of the cleaning water from the second flow path is restricted; In the second cleaning process, the cleaning water is discharged from the first flow path and the second flow path. A toilet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The toilet device further comprises: A drainage passage communicating with the toilet bowl is provided, The drainage passage extends upward from the bottom of the toilet bowl, After the second cleaning process is performed and before the first cleaning process is performed, the water level of the cleaning water is located at a first height in the drainage channel portion, After the first cleaning process is performed, the water level of the cleaning water is located at a second height in the drainage channel portion, which is located above the first height.

9. A toilet apparatus according to claim 8.

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