Hand Drying Device

Abstract

To provide a hand dryer which suppresses the occurrence of an erroneous operation.SOLUTION: A hand dryer 3 comprises: an air blower part 33 which blows out the air toward a washbowl 2 from an air blowout port 22a; a plurality of air blowout detection parts 32 which output a detection signal indicating detection of a hand when the hand inserted to a detection range in the washbowl 2 is detected; and a control part 34 which performs control of making the air blower part 33 blow out the air when the detection signal is output from the air blowout detection parts 32. The control part 34 does not perform control of making the air blower part 33 blow out the air even when the detection signal is output from the air blowout detection parts 32 during the operation of a water faucet device 4 that blows out water to the washbowl 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hand dryer. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are faucet devices that spray water from a water outlet when a detection unit detects a hand, and washbasins equipped with hand dryer devices that spray air from an air outlet when a detection unit detects a hand. In washbasins equipped with multiple detection units like this, a detection unit other than the one corresponding to the device that the user wants to operate may detect the hand, resulting in a malfunction of a device other than the one that the user wants to operate.

[0003] Patent document 1 describes how sensors with different sensing means are used for each detection unit to suppress mutual interference between the detection units, thereby suppressing malfunction of devices other than the device that the user wants to operate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 2579953 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, the positional relationship (distance between the outlets, location of the outlets) between the water outlet of the faucet device and the air outlet of the hand dryer is changed depending on the installation environment of the washbasin. For this reason, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to change the settings of the sensors used in the respective detection units and their detection ranges depending on the positional relationship between the water outlet of the faucet device and the air outlet of the hand dryer, which causes a problem of reduced workability for the worker installing the washbasin.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the problems described above, and aims to provide a hand dryer that suppresses the occurrence of malfunctions while minimizing any reduction in the workability of the worker installing the washbasin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The hand dryer according to the present disclosure includes an air blower that blows air from an air outlet toward a washbowl, a plurality of air blowing detectors that output a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand when the air blowing detector detects a hand inserted within a detection range in the washbowl, and a control unit that controls the air blower to blow air when the air blowing detector outputs a detection signal; The air blowing detection unit is provided facing a plurality of detection directions so as to detect a hand inserted in the detection range, The control unit does not control the blower unit to blow air even if a detection signal is output from the air blowing detection unit during operation of the faucet device that blows water into the washbowl. First, when a hand is detected by the air blowing detection unit while the faucet device is in operation, the detection of the hand by the air blowing detection unit that is provided facing the detection direction of the hand is invalidated. It is characterized by the above. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The present disclosure can provide a hand dryer that suppresses the occurrence of false detection of hands while suppressing a decrease in the workability of a worker installing a washbasin. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a washstand with a hand drying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a washbasin. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 5 is a diagram showing the detection ranges of a faucet sensor and an air blowing detection unit. FIG. [Diagram 5] 13 is a diagram showing the detection ranges of the faucet sensor and the air blowing detection unit after malfunction suppression processing. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a block diagram showing the functions of a hand dryer 3 and a water faucet device 4. FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example in which a control unit of the hand dryer is configured with dedicated hardware. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which a control unit of a hand dryer is configured with a circuit including a memory and a processor. FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the hand dryer. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a front view of a washbasin with a hand drying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is a diagram showing the detection ranges of the faucet sensor, the alcohol blowing sensor, and the air blowing detection unit. FIG. [Figure 13] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the hand dryer. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram showing the detection ranges of the faucet sensor, the alcohol blowing sensor, and the air blowing detection unit after malfunction suppression processing. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A hand dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0011] First embodiment FIG. 1 is a front view of a washbasin 1 with a hand drying device (hereinafter simply referred to as washbasin 1) equipped with a hand drying device 3 in accordance with this embodiment 1, FIG. 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of washbasin 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of washbasin 1.

[0012] The washstand 1 includes a washbowl 2, a water faucet device 4 that sprays water into the washbowl 2, and a hand dryer 3 that sprays air into the washbowl 2. The washbasin 2 is formed in a concave shape that is concave in the vertical direction, and includes a water outlet nozzle 21 having a water outlet 21a for blowing out water, an air outlet nozzle 22 having an air outlet 22a for blowing out air, and a drain outlet 24 connected to a drain pipe 26. The water blown out from the water outlet 21a into the washbasin 2 and received in the washbasin 2 is drained from the drain outlet 24 into the drain pipe 26. The air blown out from the air outlet 22a blows off water adhering to the user's hands and dries them. The blown off water is then received by the washbasin 2 and drained from the drain outlet 24 into the drain pipe 26.

[0013] In this embodiment, the water outlet nozzle 21 is provided on the left side when viewed from the front of the washbasin 1, and the air outlet nozzle 22 is provided on the right side when viewed from the front of the washbasin 1, but the positions at which they are provided are not limited to this. For example, the water outlet nozzle 21 may be provided on the right side when viewed from the front of the washbasin 1, and the air outlet nozzle 22 may be provided on the left side. In addition, in this embodiment 1, the water outlet 21a is formed in the water outlet nozzle 21 provided upright on the washbasin 2, but it may be formed directly on the washbasin 2. In addition, in this embodiment 1, the air outlet 22a is formed in the air outlet nozzle 22 provided upright on the washbasin 2, but it may be formed directly on the washbasin 2.

[0014] The faucet device 4 includes a faucet sensor 42 and a water stop mechanism 43. The faucet sensor 42 is provided in the water discharge nozzle 21, detects a hand inserted into the detection range, and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand. When the faucet sensor 42 outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand, the water stop mechanism 43 switches, for example, a solenoid valve from a closed state to an open state. By switching this solenoid valve, the faucet device 4 sprays water from the water discharge port 21a toward the washbasin 2.

[0015] The hand dryer 3 includes a plurality of air blowing detection units 32, a blowing unit 33, and a control unit 34. The blowing unit 33 has a motor and a turbofan rotated by the motor. The air blowing detection unit 32 is provided in the air blowing nozzle 22, detects a hand inserted into the detection space, and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand. The control unit 34 controls the blowing unit 33 to generate air when a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand is output from the air blowing detection unit 32.

[0016] The blower 33 generates air by rotating a turbo fan, and blows the air from the air outlet 22a toward the washbasin 2. The blower 33 is housed in a housing 331. The housing 331 is formed with an air intake (not shown) through which the blower 33 takes in air from the outside of the housing 331. An air filter for preventing dust from entering is detachably provided in the air intake. For example, a mesh filter, a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, a sterilization filter, etc. can be used as the air filter. The intake side of the blower 33 is connected to the intake. The exhaust side of the blower 33 is connected to the air outlet 22a via a blower duct 332.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the detection ranges of the faucet sensor 42 and the air blowing detection unit 32. As shown in FIG. The faucet sensor 42 is, for example, an optical sensor that combines an infrared LED and a light receiving unit (a photodiode or a phototransistor). The faucet sensor 42 detects a hand inserted into the detection range K1 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand. This detection signal is output to the water stop mechanism 43 and the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3.

[0018] The air blowing detection unit 32 is, for example, an optical sensor in which an infrared LED and a light receiving unit (a photodiode or a phototransistor) are combined. When the air blowing detection unit 32 detects a hand inserted in a detection range in the washbasin, it outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand. In the first embodiment, the air blowing detection unit 32 has three air blowing detection units 32a-c. The air blowing detection units 32a-c are provided in a row in the left-right direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22. The air blowing detection unit 32a has a detection range K2a in the lower left direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22, that is, in the direction in which the water blowing nozzle 21 (water blowing outlet 21a) is provided. The air blowing detection unit 32b has a detection range K2b in the downward direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22. The air blowing detection unit 32c has a detection range K2c in the lower right direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22. That is, the air blowing detection units 32a to 32c are provided facing different detection directions.

[0019] Incidentally, when the washbasin 1 is installed, a part of the detection range K2 of the air blowing detection unit 32 (specifically, the detection range K2a of the air blowing detection unit 32a) may overlap with the detection range K1 of the faucet sensor 42. If a hand is inserted into the overlapping detection range, a device other than the device the user wants to operate will be operated. In order to prevent such a malfunction from occurring, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 acquires the operating status of the faucet device 4, and performs a malfunction prevention process to control the operation of the hand dryer 3 and the detection range of the air blowing detection unit 32 based on the acquired operating status of the faucet device 4. The following describes an aspect of the malfunction prevention process.

[0020] The control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 acquires a detection signal indicating detection of hands output from the faucet sensor 42 of the faucet device 4 as the operating status of the faucet device 4. Here, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 may determine that the faucet device 4 is operating during a period during which the detection signal is continuously output from the faucet sensor 42 of the faucet device 4. The control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 may also determine that the faucet device 4 is operating during a predetermined period from the timing at which the detection signal is output from the faucet sensor 42 of the faucet device 4. Note that the manner in which the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 acquires the operating information of the faucet device 4 is not limited to this. For example, the operating information of the faucet device 4 may be written to a memory (not shown) and the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 may acquire the operating status of the faucet device 4 by referring to the memory.

[0021] Even if hands are detected by any of the air blowing detectors 32a-c while the faucet device 4 is in operation, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 does not control the blowing of air. This enables the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 to reduce the possibility of a malfunction of blowing air while the faucet device 4 is in operation. In this case, the hand dryer 3 does not need to be equipped with multiple air blowing detectors 32, and only needs to be equipped with one air blowing detector 32.

[0022] Generally, air blowing detection unit 32, whose detection range is set in the direction in which water blowing nozzle 21 (water blowing outlet 21a) is provided, is likely to erroneously detect a hand inserted to operate water faucet device 4 as a hand inserted to operate hand dryer 3. To prevent such erroneous detection, when a hand is detected by any of air blowing detection units 32a-c during operation of water faucet device 4, control unit 34 of hand dryer 3 disables detection of a hand by air blowing detection unit 32 that output the detection signal. Specifically, when a hand is detected by air blowing detection unit 32 during operation of water faucet device 4, control unit 34 of hand dryer 3 disables detection of a hand by air blowing detection unit 32 provided facing the detection direction in which the hand was detected. Here, the control unit 34 of the hand drying device 3 may identify the direction (position) in which the water blowing nozzle 21 (water blowing outlet 21a) is located based on the arrangement relationship of the air blowing detection units 32 that output detection signals during operation of the faucet device 4, and may disable the detection of hands by the air blowing detection units 32 that are close to the identified direction (position).

[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the detection ranges of the faucet sensor 42 and the air blowing detection unit 32 after the malfunction suppression process. The faucet sensor 42 detects a hand inserted in the detection range K1, as before the malfunction prevention process, and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand. The air blowing detection unit 32 detects a hand inserted in the detection ranges K2b and K2c, as before the malfunction prevention process, and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand. Meanwhile, the air blowing detection unit 32 does not detect a hand in the detection range K2a corresponding to the air blowing detection unit 32a, because the detection of the hand by the air blowing detection unit 32a has been disabled by the malfunction prevention process. In this way, by performing the malfunction prevention process, the air blowing detection unit 32 suppresses overlap between the detection range K1 of the faucet sensor 42 and the detection range K2 of the air blowing detection unit 32, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the possibility of a malfunction in which the hand drying operation starts even when the faucet device 4 is in operation.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the functions of the hand dryer 3 and the water faucet device 4. As shown in FIG. As described above, the faucet device 4 includes the faucet sensor 42 and the water stop mechanism 43. The faucet sensor 42 outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand to the water stop mechanism 43 of the faucet device 4 and the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3. As described above, the hand dryer 3 includes a plurality of air blowing detection units 32a-c, the control unit 34, and the air blowing unit 33. The control unit 34 determines that the faucet device 4 is in operation during a period from the timing when a detection signal is output from the faucet sensor 42 of the faucet device 4 until a predetermined time has elapsed, or during a period during which the detection signal continues to be output, and does not control the air blowing unit 33 to blow air even if a detection signal is output from the air blowing detection unit 32.

[0025] 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example in which the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 is configured with dedicated hardware (processing circuit 34a). When realized with dedicated hardware, the processing circuit 34a is, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination of these.

[0026] 8 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which control unit 34 of hand dryer 3 is configured with a circuit including memory 34b and processor 34c that executes the program stored in memory 34b. Control unit 34 is not limited to dedicated hardware, and may be realized with a circuit including processor 34c and memory 34b. Processor 34c realizes the function of control unit 34 by reading and executing the program stored in memory 34b. Memory 34b may temporarily store data in each process performed by processor 34c.

[0027] Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the hand dryer 3. The control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 receives a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand output from the air blowing detection unit 32 (step ST91; NO). When a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand is output from any of the plurality of air blowing detection units 32 (step ST91; YES), the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 judges the operation status of the faucet device 4 based on the detection signal indicating the detection of a hand output from the faucet sensor 42 (step ST92). When the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 judges that the operation status of the faucet device 4 is not operating (step ST93; YES), the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 performs a hand drying operation in which air is blown out from the air blowing port 22a for a predetermined period of time (step ST94). On the other hand, when the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 determines that the water faucet device 4 is operating (step ST93; NO), it does not perform the hand drying operation (step ST95), and disables the detection of hands by the air blowing detection unit 32 that output the detection signal in step ST91 (step ST96). The control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 may perform the process of step ST96 only during the first operation after installation, and may reflect the result of the process in subsequent operations.

[0028] As described above, in the present embodiment, when a hand is detected by any of the plurality of air blowing detection units 32 while the water faucet device 4 is in operation, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 does not perform the hand drying operation, thereby reducing the possibility of a malfunction in which the hand drying operation starts even when the water faucet device 4 is in operation. Also, in the present embodiment, when a hand is detected by any of the plurality of air blowing detection units 32 while the water faucet device 4 is in operation, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 disables the detection of the hand by the air blowing detection unit 32 that detected the hand, thereby reducing the possibility of a malfunction in which the hand drying operation starts even when the water faucet device 4 is in operation.

[0029] Incidentally, the air blowing detection units 32a-c of the air blowing detection unit 32 are provided in a row along the left-right direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22, but the number of rows is not limited to this. For example, the air blowing detection unit 32 may have six air blowing detection units 32a-f, with the air blowing detection units 32a-c provided in the first row and the air blowing detection units 32d-f provided in the second row (the second row is behind the first row toward the air blowing nozzle 22).

[0030] Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, the washbasin 1 includes an air blowing nozzle 22 having an air blowing detection unit 32 and a water blowing nozzle 21 having a faucet sensor 42, and the detection range of the faucet sensor 42 and the detection range of the air blowing detection unit 32 partially overlap. However, the washbasin 1 of the second embodiment is different in that it includes a nozzle having a sensor for operating another device in addition to the above, and the detection range of the sensor for operating the other device and the detection range of the air blowing detection unit 32 partially overlap. In the second embodiment, the other device is described as an alcohol blowing device, but is not limited to this. For example, it may be a device that blows liquid soap instead of alcohol (liquid soap blowing device). The same reference numerals are used for functions and configurations similar to those of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0031] Fig. 10 is a front view of a washbasin 1 with a hand drying device 3 according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 11 is a plan view of the washbasin 1. The washbasin 1 includes a washbasin 2, a water faucet device 4 that sprays water into the washbasin 2, an alcohol spraying device 5 that sprays alcohol into the washbasin 2, and a hand drying device 3 that sprays air into the washbasin 2.

[0032] The alcohol blowing device 5 includes an alcohol blowing sensor 52 and a blowing mechanism 53. The alcohol blowing sensor 52 detects a hand inserted into a detection range and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand. This detection signal is output to the blowing mechanism 53 and the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3. When a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand is output from the alcohol blowing sensor 52, the blowing mechanism 53 blows alcohol from the alcohol blowing port 23a toward the washbasin 2 by, for example, operating a pump (not shown).

[0033] The washbasin 2 is formed in a concave shape that is concave in the vertical direction, and is equipped with a water blowing nozzle 21 having a water blowing outlet 21a for blowing water, an air blowing nozzle 22 having an air blowing outlet 22a for blowing air, an alcohol blowing nozzle 23 having an alcohol blowing sensor 52, and a drain outlet 24 connected to a drain pipe 26. In this embodiment, when viewed from the front direction of the washbasin 1, the water blowing nozzle 21 is provided on the left side, the alcohol blowing nozzle 23 is provided on the right side, and the air blowing nozzle 22 is provided in the center, but the positions at which the water blowing nozzle 21 and the alcohol blowing nozzle 23 are provided may be reversed.

[0034] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the detection ranges of the water faucet sensor 42, the alcohol blowing sensor 52, and the air blowing detection unit 32. As shown in FIG. The air blowing detection unit 32 of this embodiment has three air blowing detection units 32a-c. The air blowing detection units 32a-c are arranged in a row along the left-right direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22. The air blowing detection unit 32a is arranged so that the detection range K2a is the lower left direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22, that is, the direction toward which the water blowing nozzle 21 (water blowing outlet 21a) is arranged. The air blowing detection unit 32b is arranged so that the detection range K2b is the lower direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22. The air blowing detection unit 32c is arranged so that the lower right direction toward the air blowing nozzle 22, that is, the detection range K2c is the alcohol blowing nozzle 23 (alcohol blowing outlet 23a).

[0035] The faucet sensor 42 detects a hand inserted into the detection range K1 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand. This detection signal is output to the water stop mechanism 43 and the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3. The alcohol blowing sensor 52 detects a hand inserted into the detection range K3 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand. This detection signal is output to the blowing mechanism 53 and the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3.

[0036] Incidentally, when the washbasin 1 is installed, a part of the detection range K2 of the air blowing detection unit 32 (specifically, the detection range K2a of the air blowing detection unit 32a) may overlap with the detection range K1 of the faucet sensor 42. Also, a part of the detection range K2 of the air blowing detection unit 32 (specifically, the detection range K2c of the air blowing detection unit 32c) may overlap with the detection range K3 of the alcohol blowing sensor 52. If a hand is inserted into the overlapping detection range, a device other than the device that the user wants to operate will be operated. In order to suppress the occurrence of such a malfunction, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 acquires the operating status of the faucet device 4 and the alcohol blowing device 5, and performs a malfunction suppression process to control the operation of the hand dryer 3 and the detection range of the air blowing detection unit 32 based on the acquired operating status. The following describes the aspects of the malfunction suppression process.

[0037] The control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 acquires a detection signal indicating detection of hands output from the alcohol blowing sensor 52 of the alcohol blowing device 5 as the operating status of the alcohol blowing device 5. Here, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 may determine that the alcohol blowing device 5 is in operation for a period during which the detection signal is continuously output from the alcohol blowing sensor 52 of the alcohol blowing device 5. The control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 may also determine that the alcohol blowing device 5 is in operation for a predetermined period from the timing at which the detection signal is output from the alcohol blowing sensor 52 of the alcohol blowing device 5. Note that the manner in which the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 acquires the operating information of the alcohol blowing device 5 is not limited to this. For example, the operating information of the alcohol blowing device 5 may be written in a memory (not shown) or the like, and the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 may acquire the operating status of the alcohol blowing device 5 by referring to the memory.

[0038] The control unit 34 of the hand drying device 3 does not control the blowing of air even if a detection signal is output from the air blowing detection unit 32 during operation of the alcohol blowing device 5. This makes it possible for the control unit 34 of the hand drying device 3 to suppress the possibility of a malfunction of blowing air during operation of the alcohol blowing device 5.

[0039] Generally, the air blowing detection unit 32, whose detection range is set in the direction in which the alcohol blowing nozzle 23 (alcohol blowing port 23a) is provided, is likely to erroneously detect a hand inserted to operate the alcohol blowing device 5 as a hand inserted to operate the hand drying device 3. In order to suppress such erroneous detection, when a hand is detected by any of the air blowing detection units 32a to c during operation of the alcohol blowing device 5, the control unit 34 of the hand drying device 3 disables the detection of the hand by the air blowing detection unit 32 that output the detection signal. Specifically, when a hand is detected by the air blowing detection unit 32 during operation of the alcohol blowing device 5, the control unit 34 of the hand drying device 3 disables the detection of the hand by the air blowing detection unit 32 provided facing the detection direction in which the hand was detected. Here, the control unit 34 of the hand drying device 3 may identify the direction (position) in which the alcohol blowing nozzle 23 (alcohol blowing outlet 23a) is located based on the arrangement relationship of the air blowing detection units 32 previously stored in a memory or the like and the air blowing detection units 32 that output a detection signal during operation of the alcohol blowing device 5, and may disable detection of hands by the air blowing detection units 32 close to the identified direction (position).

[0040] Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation of the hand dryer 3. The control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 receives a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand output from the air blowing detection unit 32 (step ST91; NO). When a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand is output from any of the plurality of air blowing detection units 32 (step ST91; YES), the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 determines the operation status of the faucet device 4 based on the detection signal indicating the detection of a hand output from the faucet sensor 42 (step ST92). When the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 determines that the operation status of the faucet device 4 is not operating (step ST93; YES), the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 determines the operation status of the alcohol blowing device 5 based on the detection signal indicating the detection of a hand output from the alcohol blowing sensor 52 (step ST97). When the control unit 34 of the hand drying device 3 determines that the operating status of the alcohol blowing device 5 is not operating (step ST98; YES), it performs a hand drying operation in which air is blown out from the air blowing port 22a for a predetermined period of time (step ST94).

[0041] On the other hand, if the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 determines that the water faucet device 4 is operating (step ST93; NO) or that the alcohol blowing device 5 is operating (step ST98; NO), it does not perform the hand drying operation (step ST95) and disables the detection of hands by the air blowing detection unit 32 that output a detection signal in step ST91 (step ST96). Here, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 may perform the process of step ST96 only during the first operation after installation, and may reflect the result of the process in subsequent operations.

[0042] As described above, in this embodiment, when the air blowing detection unit 32 detects a hand while the water tap device 4 or the alcohol blowing device 5 is in operation, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 does not perform the hand drying operation, thereby reducing the possibility of a malfunction in which the hand drying operation starts even while the water tap device 4 or the alcohol blowing device 5 is in operation. Also, in this embodiment, when the air blowing detection unit 32 detects a hand while the water tap device 4 or the alcohol blowing device 5 is in operation, the control unit 34 of the hand dryer 3 disables the detection of the hand by the air blowing detection unit 32 that detected the hand, thereby reducing the possibility of a malfunction in which the hand drying operation starts even while the water tap device 4 or the alcohol blowing device 5 is in operation.

[0043] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the detection ranges of the faucet sensor 42, the alcohol blowing sensor 52, and the air blowing detection unit 32 after the malfunction suppression process. The faucet sensor 42 detects a hand inserted into the detection range K1 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand, just as before the malfunction prevention process. The alcohol blowing sensor 52 detects a hand inserted into the detection range K3 and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand, just as before the malfunction prevention process. The air blowing detection unit 32b detects a hand inserted into the detection range K2b and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of the hand, just as before the malfunction prevention process.

[0044] On the other hand, the air blowing detection unit 32 does not detect hands in the detection ranges K2a and K2c corresponding to the air blowing detection units 32a and 32c because the detection of hands by the air blowing detection units 32a and 32c is disabled by the malfunction prevention process. In this way, by performing the malfunction prevention process, the air blowing detection unit 32 prevents the detection range K2 of the air blowing detection unit 32 from overlapping with the detection range K1 of the water faucet sensor 42 and the detection range K3 of the alcohol blowing sensor 52, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the possibility of a malfunction in which the hand drying operation starts even when the water faucet device 4 or the alcohol blowing device 5 is in operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 washbasin, 2 washbowl, 21 water outlet, 21a water outlet, 22 air outlet, 22a air outlet, 23 alcohol outlet, 23a alcohol outlet, 24 drain, 26 drain pipe, 3 hand dryer, 32, 32a-f air outlet detection unit, 33 air blower, 331 housing, 332 air duct, 34 control unit, 34a processing circuit, 34b processor, 34c memory, 4 water faucet device, 42 water faucet sensor, 43 water stop mechanism, 5 alcohol blower, 52 alcohol blower sensor, 53 blower mechanism.

Claims

1. An air blowing unit that blows air from an air outlet toward a washbasin; an air blowing detection unit that outputs a detection signal indicating the detection of a hand inserted in a detection range in the washbasin when the air blowing detection unit detects the hand; a control unit that controls the blower unit to blow out the air when the detection signal is output from the air blowing detection unit, The air blowing detection unit is The hand detection device is provided in a plurality of detection directions so as to detect a hand inserted in the detection range, The control unit is Even if the detection signal is output from the air blowing detection unit during operation of the faucet device that blows water into the wash basin, the air blowing unit is not controlled to blow out the air, and when the hand is detected by the air blowing detection unit during operation of the faucet device, the detection of the hand by the air blowing detection unit provided facing the detection direction in which the hand was detected is invalidated. A hand drying device characterized by:

2. The control unit is The operational status of the faucet device is determined based on the detection signal indicating the detection of a hand output from a faucet sensor of the faucet device.

2. A hand dryer according to claim 1.

3. The control unit is Even if the detection signal is output from the air blowing detection unit during operation of the alcohol blowing device that blows alcohol into the washbowl or the liquid soap blowing device that blows liquid soap into the washbowl, the control unit does not control the blowing unit to blow air.

2. A hand dryer according to claim 1.

4. The air blowing detection unit is The hand detection device is provided in a plurality of detection directions so as to detect a hand inserted in the detection range, The control unit is When the hand is detected by the air blowing detection unit during operation of the alcohol blowing device or the liquid soap blowing device, the detection of the hand by the air blowing detection unit provided facing the detection direction in which the hand is detected is invalidated.

4. A hand dryer according to claim 3.

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