Garbage disposal operating system

Abstract

To provide a garbage disposal operating system that allows for proper coordination between water supply and garbage disposal operation. [Solution] The operating system includes a processing chamber into which materials to be processed are introduced, a crushing mechanism for crushing the materials introduced into the processing chamber, a disposer that crushes the materials to be processed by the crushing mechanism and flows the crushed materials together with water into a drainage channel, a channel through which water supplied to the disposer flows, a detection unit for detecting the water flow in the channel, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the disposer. The control unit operates the disposer on the condition that the detection unit detects the water flow.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for operating a disposer.

Background Art

[0002] A disposer developed for the purpose of easily treating food waste discharged at home, restaurants, etc. is installed in the middle of a water flow path such as a drain provided in a kitchen sink, and is a device that crushes solid matter such as food waste introduced into the flow path. The disposer includes, for example, a treatment chamber into which food waste and the like, which are objects to be treated, are introduced, a turntable (rotating disk) provided along the bottom surface of the treatment chamber, a grinding (fixed crusher) provided along the wall surface of the treatment chamber, and a hammer (rotating crusher) attached to the turntable (rotating disk). A drain pipe (drainage flow path) for guiding drainage to the outside is connected to the treatment chamber.

[0003] During treatment, with the object to be treated introduced into the treatment chamber and water being supplied into the treatment chamber from an external faucet or the like, the turntable rotates. The object to be treated on the turntable is struck against a grinding provided on the outside in the radial direction of the turntable as viewed from the turntable by centrifugal force and is crushed. If there are lumps of the object to be treated that are not sufficiently crushed, the lumps of the object to be treated are further pounded and crushed between the hammer and the grinding. The object to be treated that has been sufficiently crushed into small pieces is discharged to the outside through the drainage flow path together with the drainage.

[0004] Disposers are roughly classified into continuous input type disposers and lid switch type disposers according to the operation method. In the use of a continuous input type disposer, for example, with water being supplied to the treatment chamber, an operation switch provided at a position separate from the disposer itself is turned on, and the operation of the disposer is started. While the disposer is operating, the object to be treated is continuously introduced into the treatment chamber through the upper opening and is treated.

[0005] In the use of a lid-switch type disposer, for example, after an appropriate amount of waste to be disposed of is placed into the processing chamber, the lid is set over the opening at the top of the processing chamber. The lid is linked to the disposer's operation switch, and when the lid is closed, the disposer starts operating. Water is also supplied to the processing chamber, and the waste inside the chamber is processed.

[0006] Examples of documents describing such disposer technologies include the following Patent Documents 1 and 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-237999 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-200559 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] In the type of garbage disposal described above, particularly in continuous feed type disposals, the operation switch for the disposal and the mechanism for supplying water to the disposal are generally separate. In other words, the disposal will operate when the operation switch is operated, regardless of whether water is being supplied to the disposal or not.

[0009] If a garbage disposal is operated without a water supply (dry run), problems such as dirt and blockages due to the inability to discharge the waste, motor overheating due to the lack of water supply as a coolant, and damage to various parts resulting from these issues can occur. Such problems can be avoided, for example, by linking the operation of the garbage disposal to a system that only starts the disposal when water is supplied.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a garbage disposal operating system that enables proper coordination between water supply and garbage disposal operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a disposer operating system is provided, comprising: a processing chamber into which a material to be processed is introduced; a crushing mechanism for crushing the material introduced into the processing chamber; a disposer that crushes the material to be processed by the crushing mechanism and flows the crushed material together with water into a drainage channel; a channel through which water supplied to the disposer flows; a detection unit for detecting the water flow in the channel; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the disposer, wherein the control unit operates the disposer on the condition that the detection unit detects the water flow.

[0012] Preferably, the disposer operating system includes a disposer channel that supplies water to the disposer only when the disposer is in operation, and a disposer operating unit that controls the supply of water to the disposer through the disposer channel.

[0013] Preferably, in the disposer operating system, the detection unit detects the water flow in the disposer's flow path.

[0014] Preferably, in the disposer operating system, the detection unit detects the water flow in the channel through which unheated water flows.

[0015] Preferably, in the disposer operating system, the control unit operates the disposer after a time interval has passed since the detection unit detected the water flow. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the operation system of the disposer according to the present invention, a detection unit detects the supply of water to the disposer, and based on this, the operation of the disposer is performed. With such a mechanism, it is possible to prevent the operation of the disposer from being performed without the supply of water. In this way, the supply of water and the operation of the disposer are appropriately interlocked.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the form of an operation system of a disposer (First Embodiment). [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the form of a disposer provided in the operation system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing an example of the form of a main part in the operation system of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing a main part of another example of the form of an operation system of a disposer (Second Embodiment).

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the form of an operation system of a disposer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a part of the equipment to be installed with a cutout.

[0019] The operation system according to the first embodiment is assumed to be applied, for example, to a cooking place such as a general household or a restaurant. FIG. 1 shows a state where the disposer and its operation system are installed around the sink in the cooking place. In the cooking place 2, which is the equipment (target equipment) for installing the operation system, a sink 4 and a faucet 6, which is a water supply unit for supplying water to the sink 4, are provided, and a disposer 10 is attached to the drain outlet 8 of the sink 4.

[0020] The configuration of the disposer 10 will be described. The disposer 10 is a continuous-feed type disposer as shown in FIG. 2, for example. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the form of the disposer 10, with a part of the device cut away and shown.

[0021] The disposer 10 includes a processing chamber 12 and a turntable 14 as a crushing mechanism for crushing the object to be processed, and crushes the object to be processed introduced into the processing chamber 12 by utilizing the rotational movement of the turntable 14.

[0022] The processing chamber 12 is a substantially cylindrical space formed inside the disposer 10, and includes a substantially circular bottom portion and a substantially cylindrical wall portion. The disposer 10 is installed in a posture where the axis of the substantially cylindrical processing chamber is along the vertical direction.

[0023] In this specification, expressions such as "along the vertical direction" or "along the horizontal plane" are used, but these do not necessarily mean only the case where the direction of a member or the like exactly coincides with or is parallel to these axes or planes. For example, it also includes cases where they are at a slightly oblique angle to each other but generally face the same direction, or cases where the angle includes a component in that direction.

[0024] A disc-shaped turntable 14 is provided at the bottom of the processing chamber 12 along the horizontal plane. A rotation drive source 16, such as a motor, is connected below the turntable 14, and the turntable 14 rotates about an axis extending along the vertical direction by the operation of the rotation drive source 16.

[0025] The wall surface of the processing chamber 12 is roughly cylindrical, and a grinding ring 18, which is a fixed crushing device, is mounted along this wall surface. The grinding ring 18 is an annular component with multiple protrusions 18a, which serve as fixed blades, protruding from its inner circumference, and forms part of the crushing mechanism. The diameter of the rotating disk 14 is set to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the circle formed by the cutting edges of the multiple protrusions 18a that protrude radially inward from the grinding ring 18. In other words, a clearance is formed between the outer circumference of the rotating disk 14 and the protrusions 18a of the grinding ring 18, so that the rotating disk 14 rotates without interfering with the grinding ring 18.

[0026] A hammer 20, which is a rotating crushing tool, is attached to the upper surface of the rotating disc 14. The hammer 20 is a component that forms part of the crushing mechanism. In this first embodiment, the hammer 20 is an oscillating hammer (swing hammer) that swings about an axis that is mounted perpendicular to the rotating disc 14.

[0027] A drainage chamber 22 is provided outside the processing chamber 12, surrounding its walls and bottom. The drainage chamber 22 is a space formed outside the processing chamber 12 and is in contact with the processing chamber 12 via its walls and bottom. A rotating disc 14 provided at the bottom of the processing chamber 12 is provided with a plurality of water passage holes 24 that penetrate the disc 14, and the processing chamber 12 and the drainage chamber 22 are in communication through these water passage holes 24. Note that in Figure 2, only a portion of the plurality of water passage holes 24 provided in the rotating disc 14 are shown.

[0028] Furthermore, the processing chamber 12 and the drainage chamber 22 are also in communication through the gap between the rotating disc 14 and the grinding ring 18. Additionally, the wall surface of the processing chamber 12 may be provided with water passages connecting the processing chamber 12 and the drainage chamber 22 (not shown in the illustration).

[0029] The drain chamber 22 is connected to the drain channel 26. That is, the processing chamber 12 is connected to the drain channel 26 via the drain chamber 22. The material to be processed, crushed in the processing chamber 12, moves with water through the water passage hole 24 to the drain chamber 22 and is discharged to the outside from the drain channel 26. The drain channel 26 may, for example, form part of the drain pipe of the sink 4 together with the processing chamber 12 and drain chamber 22 of the disposer 10, or it may be connected to a drain pipe separately provided in the sink 4. Alternatively, the processing chamber 12, drain chamber 22 and drain channel 26 of the disposer 10 may form a flow path for processing and discharging the material to be processed, separate from the drain pipe (not shown) provided in the sink 4.

[0030] In addition, the disposer 10 is equipped with elements such as a guard to prevent the spillage of processed materials and water during the crushing process, an adapter for installing the disposer 10 in various sinks and drains, and a cushioning material for vibration and sound dampening. However, elements that are not directly related to the gist of the present invention will not be explained here.

[0031] Returning to Figure 1, the operating system and configuration of the target equipment according to this first embodiment of the disposer will be described. In addition to the disposer 10 described above, the operating system according to this first embodiment includes a disposer operation unit 28 for the user to turn the disposer 10 on and off, a detection unit 30 for detecting the flow of water, and a control unit 32 for controlling the on and off operation of the disposer 10.

[0032] The disposer control unit 28 is located near the faucet 6, which is the water supply unit for the kitchen 2, and functions as a faucet to control the on / off of the water supplied to the disposer 10. Furthermore, by combining the functions of the disposer control unit 28 with those of the detection unit 30 and the control unit 32, the disposer control unit 28 functions as a switch to turn the operation of the disposer 10 on and off, as will be explained below.

[0033] The configuration of the disposer control unit 28 and the faucet 6 will be explained with reference to both Figure 1 and Figure 3. Figure 3 is a schematic conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main parts in the operating system of this first embodiment.

[0034] In this first embodiment, the faucet 6 is a mixing faucet that supplies unheated water and heated water (hot water) to the sink 4, either individually or mixed. The mixing faucet 6 comprises a valve body 6a, a main body 6b housing the valve body 6a, a handle 6c for operating the valve body 6a, and a discharge head 6d for discharging water.

[0035] The main body 6b is connected to a water supply pipe 34 that provides unheated water from an external source, a hot water supply pipe 36 that provides heated water from an external source, and a discharge channel 38 that discharges water. The discharge channel 38 is a channel that runs from the main body 6b to the discharge head 6d.

[0036] The valve body 6a, housed in the main body 6b, is positioned where the water supply pipe 34 and the hot water supply pipe 36 merge, and is located on the inlet side of the discharge channel 38. By moving at the junction of the water supply pipe 34, the hot water supply pipe 36, and the discharge channel 38, the valve body 6a switches between the following states: the channel from the water supply pipe 34 to the discharge channel 38 is open (only unheated water is discharged from the discharge head 6d); the channel from the hot water supply pipe 36 to the discharge channel 38 is open (only heated water (hot water) is discharged from the discharge head 6d); both the channels from the water supply pipe 34 to the discharge channel 38 and the channels from the hot water supply pipe 36 to the discharge channel 38 are open (water and hot water are mixed and discharged from the discharge head 6d); and both the channels from the water supply pipe 34 to the discharge channel 38 and the channels from the hot water supply pipe 36 to the discharge channel 38 are closed (neither water nor hot water is discharged from the discharge head 6d). Furthermore, when water, hot water, or both are discharged from the discharge head 6d, the flow rate of water or hot water is adjusted by adjusting the opening of the flow path.

[0037] The movement of the valve body 6a is linked to the handle 6c, and the switching of the flow path and adjustment of the flow rate described above are performed by the user operating the handle 6c.

[0038] Furthermore, in this first embodiment, the water supply pipe 34 and the discharge channel 38 are connected by a bypass pipe 40, and the disposer operation unit 28 is installed in the middle of this bypass pipe 40. In this first embodiment, the bypass pipe 40 forms a disposer channel that supplies water to the disposer 10 only when the disposer 10 is in operation. The disposer operation unit 28 operates the supply of water to the disposer 10 through the bypass pipe 40, which is the disposer channel.

[0039] The disposer operating unit 28 includes a valve body 28a positioned in the water flow path formed by the bypass pipe 40, and a handle 28b that is interlocked with the valve body 28a. The valve body 28a opens and closes the water flow path through the bypass pipe 40, and the flow path is opened and closed by operating the handle 28b to move the valve body 28a. When the bypass pipe 40 is opened by the valve body 28a, even if the flow path from the water supply pipe 34 through the main body 6b of the faucet 6 to the discharge flow path 38 is closed by the valve body 6a, water flows from the water supply pipe 34 through the bypass pipe 40 to the discharge flow path 38, and water is discharged from the discharge head 6d to the sink 4.

[0040] The water discharged into the sink 4 passes through the disposer 10 attached to the drain 8 and is discharged from the drain channel 26. In this way, the water supply pipe 34, the bypass pipe 40, the discharge channel 38, and the drain channel 26 form a channel through which the water supplied to the disposer 10 flows.

[0041] The bypass pipe 40 is provided with a detection unit 30 for detecting the water flow in the flow path within the bypass pipe 40. The detection unit 30 is, for example, a pressure gauge for detecting the pressure inside the bypass pipe 40, but any device capable of determining the presence or absence of water flow can be used for the detection unit 30. For example, the detection unit 30 may be a flow meter.

[0042] When the detection unit 30 detects a water flow, information that a water flow has been detected is input to the control unit 32 as a detection signal. The control unit 32 is a mechanism that controls the on / off operation of the disposer 10, and comprises a control board and a housing that houses the control board.

[0043] The control unit 32 is connected to a power supply port located on the wall below the sink 4, and the power cable of the garbage disposal 10 is also connected to the control unit 32. In other words, the control unit 32 is located in the path from the power supply port to the garbage disposal 10, and controls the power supply to the garbage disposal 10 from this position.

[0044] The control unit 32 normally remains in standby mode with the power supply to the disposer 10 cut off, and when certain conditions are met, it starts supplying power to the disposer 10 and operates the disposer 10. In this first embodiment, the control unit 32 operates the disposer 10 based on the detection of water flow by the detection unit 30.

[0045] When a user operates the disposer 10, the user operates the handle 28b of the disposer control unit 28 to open the flow path in the bypass pipe 40. When the flow path in the bypass pipe 40 is opened, unheated water flowing through the water supply pipe 34 flows through the bypass pipe 40 to the discharge flow path 38 and is discharged from the discharge head 6d of the faucet 6.

[0046] The water flow in the bypass pipe 40 is detected by the detection unit 30, and a detection signal is input from the detection unit 30 to the control unit 32. The control unit 32 energizes the disposer 10 in response to the input of the operation signal and the detection signal, and operates the disposer 10. Water is supplied to the disposer 10 from the water supply pipe 34 through the bypass pipe 40 and the discharge channel 38, and discharged from the discharge head 6d of the faucet 6, and this water is supplied to the processing chamber 12 together with the material to be processed (see Figure 2). The rotary drive source 16 operates, causing the turntable 14 to rotate and the material to be processed to be crushed. The crushed material, along with the water, moves to the drainage chamber 22 through the water passage holes 24 and the gap between the turntable 14 and the grinding ring 18, and is discharged to the outside through the drainage channel 26.

[0047] Here, the operation of the disposer 10 may start with a slight delay after the detection unit 30 detects the water flow. For example, after the detection signal is input from the detection unit 30 to the control unit 32, the control unit 32 may start operating the disposer 10 after a time interval of several seconds to 20 seconds. In this way, the supply of water through the bypass pipe 40 begins, and the disposer 10 starts operating with sufficient water supplied from the faucet 6, so the dry-running condition described later is less likely to occur at the start of operation.

[0048] At the end of operation, the user operates the handle 28b of the disposer control unit 28 to close the flow path in the bypass pipe 40. The water supply through the bypass pipe 40 is cut off, and the detection unit 30 detects that the water flow has stopped due to a change in pressure. The detection signal that was input from the detection unit 30 while the water flow was being detected is no longer input to the control unit 32 (or a signal indicating that the water flow has no longer been detected is input to the control unit 32). In response, the control unit 32 terminates the operation of the disposer 10 and cuts off the power supply.

[0049] Alternatively, the control unit 32 may stop the operation of the disposer 10 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of operation of the disposer 10 (timer function). In this case, the continuous operation time of the disposer 10 in one operation may be set to a specific time (for example, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, etc.), or it may be set by the user within a specific range. In a system in which the user can set the continuous operation time of the disposer 10, for example, an input operation panel and a display that shows numbers, etc., are connected to the control unit 32.

[0050] Once the user has set the continuous operating time for the disposer 10, they may use that setting to operate the disposer 10 using the timer function thereafter, or they may set the continuous operating time each time they use the disposer 10.

[0051] For example, the continuous operation time of the disposer 10 may be set to a time that is just enough to process one container's worth of food waste, depending on the capacity of the draining container (corner) used for food waste in the sink 4, or the continuous operation time may be set each time according to the amount of food waste accumulated in the container. In sinks equipped with a disposer, when food waste or other materials to be processed are generated, the materials to be processed can be put into the disposer each time, so a draining container is often not installed. In such cases, the user may arbitrarily set whether or not to use the timer function and the continuous operation time, regardless of the capacity of the container.

[0052] Here, when the operation of the disposer 10 ends due to the timer function, the water supply from the bypass pipe 40 needs to be stopped separately. The water supply may be stopped by the user operating the handle 28b of the disposer operation unit 28, or it may be stopped by the control unit 32 operating a valve in the water supply path (for example, a valve body 28a provided in the bypass pipe 40, or an on / off valve not shown provided at another location). In that case, the control unit 32 controls the opening and closing of the path by the valve, and after the control unit 32 has finished operating the disposer 10, it further operates the valve to automatically stop the water supply through the bypass pipe 40.

[0053] As described above, according to the disposer operating system of this first embodiment, the detection unit 30 detects the supply of water to the disposer 10, and the disposer 10 is operated based on this condition. This mechanism prevents dry operation, where the disposer 10 is operated without a water supply.

[0054] As mentioned above, garbage disposals are broadly classified into continuous feed type garbage disposals and lid switch type garbage disposals. The garbage disposal 10 in the operating system of the first embodiment described above is a continuous feed type garbage disposal, but in the case of a continuous feed type garbage disposal, a system that links the operation of the garbage disposal with the water supply, as in the first embodiment described above, is not known.

[0055] In a continuous-feed garbage disposal, users can continuously add waste to the disposal while it is running, supplying water from a faucet without closing the lid of the processing chamber. Therefore, for example, a user can perform tasks such as washing dishes at the sink while the garbage disposal continuously processes food waste. Furthermore, if a large amount of waste needs to be processed, it is possible to continuously process waste by adding waste up to the capacity of the processing chamber while the disposal continues to run. Thus, continuous-feed garbage disposals offer high convenience. In addition, since water is supplied from above during the processing of waste, the entire processing chamber is easily cleaned by the water, which is another advantage.

[0056] In contrast, a lid-switch type disposer, where the operation is turned on and off in conjunction with the opening and closing of the lid, can be cumbersome to operate, for example, when processing a large amount of waste, as it requires repeatedly adding the appropriate amount of waste and opening and closing the lid. Furthermore, if more waste than the appropriate amount is put into the processing chamber, unprocessed waste may remain in the chamber even after the operation has finished, and because the processing chamber is covered by the lid, there is a possibility that the waste remaining in the chamber may be overlooked.

[0057] Currently, many disposers with lid switches on the market have a timer function that automatically stops operation after 60 seconds. On the other hand, processing the amount of food waste accumulated to the full capacity of a typical drainer (corner basket) used in the sinks of average Japanese households requires approximately 90 seconds for an average disposer, and unprocessed waste remains in the processing chamber after one cycle. If this waste is overlooked, it can lead to various problems such as decay and unpleasant odors, corrosion of the machine due to oxidation, and jamming or blockage of the waste when starting the next cycle.

[0058] In addition, although it is possible to operate the disposer 10 using a timer function in the operating system of the first embodiment described above, since the disposer 10 of the first embodiment is a continuous feed type, if there is any waste to be processed remaining in the processing chamber 12 after the operation has stopped, the user can visually check for this and restart the operation.

[0059] Furthermore, in many lid-switch type garbage disposals, during operation, water is supplied to the processing chamber from a water inlet located midway through the processing chamber in terms of height, rather than from a faucet located above the sink. In this case, not much of the supplied water passes through the upper part of the processing chamber; the majority of the water flows through the area from the midpoint to the lower part of the processing chamber in terms of height.

[0060] When a large quantity of material to be processed in the processing chamber, fragments and other debris from the material inevitably tend to adhere to the upper part of the chamber. If the water flow in the upper part of the processing chamber is small, the material that adheres to the upper part of the chamber will not be easily washed away.

[0061] Of course, lid-switch type garbage disposals also have their own unique advantages. For example, in lid-switch type garbage disposals, the on / off switch is linked to the opening and closing of the lid on the main unit, making it easy to link the on / off switch on the lid to the water supply mechanism. In fact, there are already commercially available lid-switch type garbage disposals that turn on the disposal and start supplying water when the lid is closed.

[0062] Furthermore, with lid-switch type garbage disposals, the on / off switch is located on the main unit itself, so there is no need to install a separate operating switch in a different location from the garbage disposal during installation. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the operating switch being installed in an inconvenient or inappropriate location.

[0063] In conventional continuous-feed garbage disposals, the on / off operation of the disposal is not linked to the water supply, and due to user error, the disposal could start operating without water being supplied (dry operation).

[0064] If a garbage disposal is run empty, the lack of lubricant for smooth rotation of the turntable and the absence of water for transporting the waste can lead to problems such as insufficient crushing of the waste, jamming or blockage in various parts of the flow path, and insufficient cleaning of dirt accumulating on various parts of the disposal. Furthermore, since the water supplied to the disposal also serves as cooling water for the motor, if the empty operation continues for a certain period of time or longer, there is a risk of the motor overheating and seizing up.

[0065] Furthermore, with conventional continuous-feed garbage disposals, it was necessary to install a switch to control the on / off operation in a separate location from the disposal unit itself, which resulted in a complex and time-consuming installation process.

[0066] The disposer operating system according to the first embodiment described above can be said to be a system that combines the advantages of both a continuous feed type disposer and a lid switch type disposer. The operation of the disposer 10 is performed on the condition that water is supplied to the disposer 10 by the functions of the detection unit 30 and the control unit 32. In other words, the operation of the disposer 10 is always performed when water is supplied to the disposer 10, so dry running and the problems caused by it do not occur. As a result, the occurrence of malfunctions in the disposer 10 can be suppressed, the frequency of necessary maintenance can be reduced, and the durability of the disposer 10 can be increased.

[0067] Furthermore, since the disposer 10 itself is a continuous-feed type disposer, it offers greater convenience of use compared to disposers with a lid switch.

[0068] Furthermore, since turning on the disposer 10 and supplying water to the disposer 10 can be done with a single operation, which is the operation of the handle 28c of the disposer control unit 28, it is simpler compared to conventional continuous-feed disposers, which required operating a switch to turn on the disposer and a faucet to supply water.

[0069] This method is also effective because it makes it easier to supply the appropriate amount of water to the disposer 10. International standards for disposers stipulate that the water flow rate supplied to the disposer must be at least 8 liters (2 gallons) per minute. On the other hand, supplying too much water is also not appropriate. For example, users may use water stored in containers such as bowls or buckets as treated water for the disposer, but if water is supplied to the disposer all at once in this way, the balance between water supply and drainage in the disposer will be disrupted, which can cause a knocking phenomenon in which the motor and rotating disc vibrate violently.

[0070] In the operating system of the first embodiment described above, the disposer 10 will not start if water is not being supplied through the bypass pipe 40. From the user's perspective, even if water is supplied to the disposer 10 by another means when water is not being supplied from the faucet 6, the disposer 10 will not operate. Furthermore, when the disposer 10 is operating, water is always being supplied from the faucet 6. As a result, the user has no incentive to supply water using a bowl, bucket, etc., when operating the disposer 10. In this way, it is possible to prevent the user from supplying an inappropriate amount of water when operating the disposer 10.

[0071] Furthermore, the flow rate of water supplied when the bypass pipe 40 is opened can be adjusted by the inner diameter of the bypass pipe 40, the specifications of the valve body 28a, etc. This makes it possible to stably supply water at a flow rate appropriate for the operation of the disposer 10, at a rate of approximately 8 liters or more per minute. For example, a control valve or the like may be installed in the bypass pipe 40 to adjust the flow rate.

[0072] Furthermore, if the disposer 10 is started immediately after the detection unit 30 detects water flow and the control unit 32 receives a detection signal, depending on conditions such as the amount of water supplied and the distance from the faucet 6 to the disposer 10, there may be a period of dry operation until the water supplied from the faucet 6 reaches the disposer 10. Therefore, if the disposer 10 is started with a slight delay after the detection unit 30 detects water flow, the disposer 10 will start operating only after sufficient water has been supplied to it from the faucet 6, making dry operation less likely.

[0073] Lid-switch type garbage disposals also have the drawback of being prone to accidental operation. Lid-switch type garbage disposals are designed so that the operation switch is turned on by operating the lid, but when a sink with a garbage disposal attached to the drain is in use, the lid is usually covering the drain, that is, the lid is attached to the disposal's processing chamber. In this state, for example, if a strong stream of water flows in from the faucet, or if water stored in a bowl is suddenly poured in, the lid may float and rotate, triggering the operation switch and causing the garbage disposal to start unexpectedly.

[0074] In the operating system of the first embodiment described above, the handle 28c of the disposer operating unit 28, which is located outside the sink 4, functions as a switch for operating the disposer 10. Therefore, erroneous input to the switch will not occur due to water flow or other factors inside the sink 4.

[0075] Furthermore, in general, conventional lid-switch type disposers have the disadvantage that the opening of the processing chamber is covered by the lid during processing, and water is supplied directly into the processing chamber rather than from an external faucet, making it impossible to visually confirm whether or not water is being supplied to the processing chamber. In other words, with such disposers, the only way to confirm that water is being supplied during operation is by recognizing the operating sound. In contrast, in the operating system of the first embodiment described above, the supply of water to the disposer 10 can be confirmed by visually observing the position of the handle 28c of the disposer operating unit 28 and the discharge of water from the discharge head 6d, making it easy to use even for users with hearing impairments, for example.

[0076] Regarding the installation work, for example, the disposer 10 is installed in the drain 8 of the sink 4, a bypass pipe 40 is connected to the water supply pipe 34 and other water passages, the disposer operation unit 28 and detection unit 30 are attached, and the control unit 32 is installed in the power supply port. There is no need to install a switch on the kitchen wall or elsewhere to turn the disposer 10 on and off.

[0077] Conventional continuous-feed garbage disposals require a switch to be installed separately from the disposal unit. Depending on the knowledge and skills of the on-site installer, as well as the installation environment, the switch may be installed in an inappropriate location or installation may be difficult. For example, if the switch is installed far from the sink drain where the disposal unit is located, the user will have to move away from the disposal unit to start it. Alternatively, in the case of an island kitchen, for example, it may be necessary to install the switch far from the sink.

[0078] According to the first embodiment described above, since the on / off operation of the disposer 10 is linked to the water supply, the disposer operation unit 28, which is the mechanism equivalent to the operation switch of the disposer 10, is always installed near the water supply piping. As a result, the switch for the disposer 10 (the handle 28c of the disposer operation unit 28) is always located in a suitable position for operation, regardless of the installer or the site environment. With the drain 8 of the sink 4 where the disposer 10 is installed as the center, the handle 28c for operating the disposer 10 is located in a suitable position relative to a person's standing position, thus naturally achieving a layout that is optimal from the standpoint of operating the disposer 10.

[0079] As in the first embodiment described above, the mechanism in which the operation of the disposer 10 and the water supply are linked can also be expected to have the effect of suppressing the operation of the disposer 10 while heated water (hot water) is being supplied. The material to be processed, such as food waste, put into the disposer 10 may contain various types of fats. Among these fats, animal fats with high melting points, for example, remain solid at temperatures of around 20°C and melt at temperatures of around 30°C to 50°C.

[0080] When such a fatty material is placed in the processing chamber 12 of the disposer 10 and hot water at, for example, around 40°C is supplied, the fatty material is heated above its melting point by the hot water and melts, passing through the water passage 24 in liquid form and reaching the drainage channel 26 from the drainage chamber 22. If, for example, water at around 20°C is supplied to the fatty material and it cools, the solidified fatty material may be deposited in the drainage channel 26. Alternatively, even if the temperature of the supplied water is relatively high, similar deposition may occur if the piping is at a low temperature.

[0081] Conventional garbage disposals can break down and process solid fats in food. However, they have difficulty processing fats that pass through the disposal in liquid form and then solidify. Therefore, it is desirable that the water supplied to the garbage disposal during operation be unheated, room temperature water.

[0082] However, if a garbage disposal is installed in a sink equipped with a mixing faucet capable of supplying heated water (hot water), the user may accidentally operate the disposal along with supplying hot water. This type of operation is relatively unlikely to occur with lid-switch type garbage disposals, because unheated water is automatically supplied to the processing chamber when the operation starts. On the other hand, with continuous-feed type garbage disposals, operation of the water supply faucet is required in addition to operating the switch to start the disposal operation, making the above-mentioned operation more likely to occur.

[0083] According to the operating system of the first embodiment described above, the operation of the disposer 10 is started by supplying unheated water, and at that time, the user will visually see the water being supplied at the same time as the disposer 10 starts operating. The user, having visually seen the water supply, will naturally understand that there is no need to supply water to the disposer 10 by operating the handle 6c of the faucet 6. In this way, the occurrence of the user supplying heated water to the disposer 10 when operating the disposer 10 is suppressed. This effect is achieved by the detection unit 30 detecting the water flow in the passage through which unheated water flows (in this embodiment 1, the bypass pipe 40), and executing the operation of the disposer 10 based on this condition.

[0084] However, in the system described above, it is not the case that heated water (hot water) cannot be supplied when the disposer 10 is in operation. If the user operates the faucet 6 handle 6c in a way that supplies hot water from the hot water supply pipe 36, it is possible that heated water will be supplied to the disposer 10 in addition to unheated water while it is in operation.

[0085] Therefore, in order to prevent such a situation from occurring, the operating system may be equipped with a mechanism that prevents the supply of hot water from the hot water pipe 36 when the disposer 10 is in operation. For example, the following mechanism can be considered. Note that the mechanisms shown below are merely examples, and other mechanisms may be adopted as appropriate.

[0086] (1) A sensor is installed to detect the water flow in the water channel (hot water pipe 36) through which heated water is supplied. If the sensor detects a water flow, the operation of the disposer 10 is prohibited. If the disposer 10 is operating when the water flow is detected, the operation of the disposer 10 is stopped.

[0087] (2) Temperature sensors are installed in the water channels through which water supplied to the processing chamber 12 flows (for example, the discharge channel 38, the drainage channel 26, etc.), and if the temperature measured by the temperature sensors is above a threshold, the operation of the disposer 10 is prohibited or stopped.

[0088] (3) A valve is installed in the passage through which heated water is supplied (the passage in the hot water pipe 36) to close the passage. This valve is linked to the operation of the disposer operating unit 28 (operation of the valve body 28a, operation of the handle 28b), and when the passage in the bypass pipe 40 is opened, the passage in the hot water pipe 36 is opened. For example, a valve is provided that spans both the hot water pipe 36 and the bypass pipe 40, and when the bypass pipe 40 is opened by this valve, the hot water pipe 36 is closed by the same valve. Alternatively, the valves provided in the hot water pipe 36 and the bypass pipe 40 may be linked electronically or by some other mechanism.

[0089] (4) A valve is installed in the flow path through which heated water is supplied (the flow path in the hot water supply pipe 36) to close the flow path. When the detection unit 30 detects the water flow in the bypass pipe 40, the hot water supply pipe 36 is closed by the valve.

[0090] (5) A valve is installed in the flow path through which heated water is supplied (the flow path in the hot water supply pipe 36) to close the flow path. When the disposer 10 is in operation, the hot water supply pipe 36 is closed by the valve.

[0091] Figure 4 is a schematic conceptual diagram illustrating the main components of another example (second embodiment) of the operating system configuration of the disposer. The configuration of the operating system in this second embodiment is almost the same as that of the operating system in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3, but the location of the detection unit 30 is different. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the detection unit 30 was provided in the bypass pipe 40, which is the flow path for the disposer, whereas in this second embodiment, the detection unit 30 is provided in the discharge flow path 38. Accordingly, in this second embodiment, the control unit 32 (not shown in Figure 4) operates the disposer 10 (not shown in Figure 4) based on the detection of water flow in the detection unit 30, as well as the input of an operation to the disposer operation unit 28.

[0092] When the handle 28b of the disposer operation unit 28 is operated to open the flow path in the bypass pipe 40, an operation signal is input from the disposer operation unit 28 to the control unit 32. On the other hand, when the detection unit 30 detects the water flow in the discharge flow path 38, a detection signal is input to the control unit 32. When both of these signals are input, the control unit 32 starts powering the disposer 10 and starts operating the disposer 10.

[0093] When a user operates the disposer 10, the user operates the handle 28b of the disposer control unit 28 to open the flow path in the bypass pipe 40. Accordingly, an operation signal is input from the disposer control unit 28 to the control unit 32.

[0094] When the flow path in the bypass pipe 40 is opened, unheated water flowing through the water supply pipe 34 flows through the bypass pipe 40 to the discharge flow path 38 and is discharged from the discharge head 6d of the faucet 6. The water flow in the discharge flow path 38 is detected by the detection unit 30, and a detection signal is input from the detection unit 30 to the control unit 32. In response to the input of the operation signal and the detection signal, the control unit 32 energizes the disposer 10 and operates the disposer 10.

[0095] This mechanism also provides the same effects and advantages as the first embodiment described above. However, in addition to the detection of water flow by the detection unit 30, the control unit 32 needs to be aware of the operation of the disposer operation unit 28, so the electrical system configuration becomes somewhat more complex compared to the first embodiment.

[0096] Other embodiments include, for example, a configuration in which an operating switch is provided that is not linked to the water supply, similar to conventional continuous-feed disposers, and a detection unit is provided in the water flow path (for example, the water supply pipe 34, discharge flow path 38, drainage flow path 26, etc. in Figure 1) to detect water flow (illustrations are omitted). The control unit operates the disposer based on the operation of the operating switch and the detection of water flow by the detection unit.

[0097] This type of mechanism can suppress the occurrence of dry running due to misoperation. However, it does not reduce the possibility of heated water being supplied to the garbage disposal while it is running.

[0098] Furthermore, the structures, methods, etc., according to the above embodiments are not limited to those embodiments. For example, although the above embodiments described a case where the operating system is installed around a kitchen sink, a similar disposer and its operating system can be applied to various facilities and equipment where solid matter is handled together with water and where processed materials containing solid matter may be discharged. Also, the disposer is not limited to the disposer described in the above embodiments, and various forms and structures of devices can be adopted. Furthermore, the above embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 2: Target equipment (kitchen), 4: Sink 6: Water supply unit (faucet), 6a: Valve body, 6b: Main body, 6c: Handle, 6d: Discharge head 8: Drain port 10: Garbage disposal unit, 12: Processing room, 14: Turntable 16: Rotary drive source, 18: Fixed crushing tool (grinding ring), 18a: Fixed blade (protrusion) 20: Rotary crushing tool (hammer), 22: Drainage chamber, 24: Water passage, 26: Drainage channel 28: Disposal control panel, 28a: Valve body, 28b: Handle 30: Detection unit, 32: Control unit 34: Water supply pipe, 36: Hot water supply pipe, 38: Discharge channel 40: Disposal flow path (bypass pipe)

Claims

1. A disposer having a processing chamber into which the material to be processed is fed, and a crushing mechanism that crushes the material fed into the processing chamber, and which crushes the material to be processed by the crushing mechanism and discharges the crushed material together with water into a drainage channel, A channel through which water supplied to the aforementioned disposer flows, A detection unit for detecting the water flow in the aforementioned flow path, The system includes a control unit that controls the operation of the disposer, The control unit operates the disposer on the condition that the detection unit detects a water flow, and this is a disposer operating system.

2. A disposer channel that supplies water to the disposer only when the disposer is in operation, A disposer operation unit that operates the supply of water to the disposer through the aforementioned disposer flow path. A disposer operating system according to claim 1, comprising:

3. The disposer operating system according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects the water flow in the disposer's flow path.

4. The disposer operating system according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects the water flow in a channel through which unheated water flows.

5. The disposer operation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit operates the disposer at a time interval after the detection unit detects the water flow.

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