Toilet equipment

Abstract

To provide a toilet bowl device that facilitates control of toilet bowl washing in cooperation with a toilet cover.SOLUTION: A toilet bowl device 30 comprises: a toilet cover 32 that is rotatably supported between a rising state and a brought-down state; a toilet cover opening and closing device 49 that performs a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the toilet cover 32 in the rising state to the brought-down state; a toilet bowl washing device 41 that supplies washing water to a toilet bowl body 20 to perform toilet bowl washing; and a control part 51 that starts predetermined time measurement before a toilet lid opening / closing device 49 starts closing the toilet cover, and causes the toilet bowl washing device 41 to perform the toilet bowl washing after the predetermined time measurement is completed after the toilet cover closing operation is started.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to toilet systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a control in which flushing is initiated by the toilet flushing unit when the toilet lid opening / closing detection unit determines that the toilet lid is closed, and when a command to cancel the closing of the toilet seat or toilet lid is received, the flushing command is invalidated or flushing is initiated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6868839 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The device in Patent Document 1 requires detecting the state of the toilet seat and toilet lid and setting control according to that state, which can make control of error states, particularly when the user moves the toilet seat or toilet lid, complicated.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and has as its object to provide a toilet apparatus that simplifies the control of toilet flushing in conjunction with the toilet lid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The toilet apparatus of the present disclosure comprises a toilet lid that is supported so as to be freely rotatable between an upright position and a lying position, a toilet lid opening and closing device that performs a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the toilet lid from the upright position to the lying position, a toilet flushing device that performs a toilet flush by supplying flushing water to the toilet body, and a control unit that begins measuring a predetermined time before the toilet lid opening and closing device begins the toilet lid closing operation and causes the toilet flushing device to perform the toilet flush after measurement of the predetermined time has ended after the toilet lid closing operation began. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet room in which a toilet apparatus provided with a toilet bowl apparatus according to a first embodiment is installed. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a toilet apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 13 is an example of a flowchart when cleaning is executed after a closing operation in response to an instruction from a user. [Figure 4] 13 is an example of a timing chart when cleaning is performed after a closing operation in response to an instruction from a user. [Diagram 5] 13 is an example of a timing chart when cleaning is automatically performed after a closing operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of the toilet device 30 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the up-down direction refers to the positive direction of the X-axis shown in FIG. 1 as the upward direction, and the negative direction of the X-axis as the downward direction. The left-right direction refers to the positive direction of the Z-axis shown in FIG. 1 as the leftward direction, and the negative direction of the Z-axis as the rightward direction. The front-rear direction refers to the positive direction of the Y-axis shown in FIG. 1 as the forward direction, and the negative direction of the Y-axis as the backward direction. Specifically, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction refer to the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction, respectively, as seen by a person seated on the toilet seat 31 in a reclined state.

[0009] As shown in Fig. 1, the toilet apparatus 10 includes a toilet body 20, a toilet apparatus 30, and a remote controller 60. In the toilet apparatus 10, various functions of the toilet apparatus 30 are operated by operating the remote controller 60. The toilet apparatus 10 can perform a toilet lid closing operation in which the toilet lid 32 is rotated to a lying position before executing a toilet flush.

[0010] [Toilet body configuration] The toilet body 20 is a floor-standing flush toilet that is placed on the floor of the toilet room R. The toilet body 20 is formed with a toilet bowl 21. The toilet bowl 21 is bowl-shaped with a roughly oval opening at the top. A water reservoir (not shown) in which flush water accumulates is formed at the bottom of the toilet bowl 21. The water reservoir is connected to a drainage channel (not shown) through which the flush water is discharged.

[0011] [Toilet equipment configuration] The toilet device 30 is attached to the upper surface of the toilet body 20. The toilet device 30 has a toilet seat 31, a toilet lid 32, and a body 33. As shown in Fig. 2, the body 33 has a control unit 51, a toilet seat opening / closing device 48, a toilet lid opening / closing device 49, a toilet flushing device 41, a seating detection unit 43, a first human body detection unit 44A, a second human body detection unit 44B, a toilet lid detection unit 45, a toilet seat detection unit 42, a deodorizing device 46, a sterilizing device 47, a remote controller 60, and the like. The body 33 is detachably fixed to the toilet body 20. The body 33 supports the toilet seat 31 and the toilet lid 32 so that they can rotate freely between a fallen state and an upright state.

[0012] The toilet seat 31 is formed in a ring shape that is open on the inside. The toilet seat 31 is supported by the main body 33 so as to be freely rotatable between an upright state and a lying state. In the lying state, the toilet seat 31 is disposed so as to fit along the upper end of the toilet bowl 21 of the toilet body 20. The toilet lid 32 is supported by the main body 33 so as to be freely rotatable between an upright state and a lying state. In the lying state, the toilet lid 32 is in a closed state in which it covers the toilet seat 31 from above and closes the openings of the toilet seat 31 and the toilet bowl 21, and in the upright position, it is in an open state in which it opens the openings of the toilet seat 31 and the toilet bowl 21.

[0013] The control unit 51 is configured as, for example, a microcomputer, and has the function of controlling the discharge of flush water into the toilet body 20, the opening and closing operations of the toilet lid 32 and the toilet seat 31, the operation of the deodorizing device 46, the sterilizing device 47, etc. Based on a signal transmitted from the remote controller 60, the control unit 51 can control the discharge of flush water from the toilet body 20, the opening and closing operations of the toilet lid 32 and the toilet seat 31, the operation of the deodorizing device 46, the sterilizing device 47, etc.

[0014] The toilet seat opening and closing device 48 is composed of, for example, a motor, etc. The control unit 51 instructs the toilet seat opening and closing device 48 to execute the toilet seat closing operation based on a signal transmitted from the remote controller 60, and rotates and drives the motor of the toilet seat opening and closing device 48. In this way, the toilet seat opening and closing device 48 rotates the toilet seat 31 between the upright position and the reclined position.

[0015] The toilet lid opening / closing device 49 is composed of, for example, a motor, etc. The control unit 51 instructs the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to execute the toilet lid closing operation based on a signal transmitted from the remote controller 60, and drives the motor of the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to rotate. As a result, the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 rotates the toilet lid 32 between an upright position and a laid-down position.

[0016] The toilet flushing device 41 is a device that supplies flushing water to the toilet body 20. The toilet flushing device 41 is provided with a water supply passage that supplies flushing water such as tap water to the toilet body 20. The water supply passage is connected to the toilet bowl 21. A water supply valve is provided in the middle of the water supply passage. The water supply valve is configured as, for example, an electromagnetic valve. The water supply passage and the water supply valve are not shown. Based on a signal received from the remote controller 60, the control unit 51 instructs the toilet flushing device 41 to execute a toilet flush, opens the water supply valve of the toilet flushing device 41, opens the water supply passage, and starts supplying flushing water to the toilet body 20. The control unit 51 instructs the toilet flushing device 41 to execute a close of the water supply valve, blocks the water supply passage, and stops supplying flushing water to the toilet body 20. The toilet flushing device 41 executes a toilet flush that supplies flushing water to the toilet body 20 to flush the toilet body 20.

[0017] The seating detection unit 43 detects when a user is seated on the toilet seat 31. The seating detection unit 43 is attached to the main body 33. The seating detection unit 43 is configured with a known infrared sensor. The seating detection unit 43 is equipped with a light-emitting element (e.g., an LED, etc.) and a light-receiving element (e.g., a photodiode, etc.), not shown. The seating detection unit 43 detects that a user is seated on the toilet seat 31 by irradiating infrared light from the light-emitting element and receiving the infrared light reflected from the surface of the user seated on the toilet seat 31 with the light-receiving element. The seating detection unit 43 is configured to output a seating detection signal to the control unit 51 when it detects that a user is seated on the toilet seat 31.

[0018] The first human body detector 44A and the second human body detector 44B detect a human body located at a predetermined position (e.g., in the toilet room R) relative to the toilet apparatus 30. The first human body detector 44A and the second human body detector 44B are configured with a known infrared sensor and include a light-emitting element (e.g., an LED, etc.) and a light-receiving element (e.g., a photodiode, etc.) not shown. The first human body detector 44A and the second human body detector 44B detect the presence of a user in the toilet room R by receiving infrared rays generated by the light-emitting element and reflected by a human body located in the toilet room R with the light-receiving element.

[0019] The first human body detector 44A detects a user in front of the front end of the toilet body 20 when the toilet lid 32 is in a laid-down state. The first human body detector 44A is configured to output a first human body detection signal to the controller 51 when it detects a user.

[0020] The second human body detector 44B detects a user in front of the toilet body 20 when the toilet seat 31 is in an upright position. The second human body detector 44B is configured to output a second human body detection signal to the controller 51 upon detecting a user.

[0021] The toilet apparatus 30 is provided with a human body detection light-emitting unit 44C, which is a light-emitting unit that illuminates at least one of the periphery of the toilet body 20 and the inside of the toilet bowl 21 when the first human body detection unit 44A and the second human body detection unit 44B detect a human body located at a predetermined position (for example, in the toilet room R) relative to the toilet apparatus 30. The human body detection light-emitting unit 44C is composed of, for example, an LED. The color of the light emitted from the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C is, for example, white or incandescent color.

[0022] The toilet lid detector 45 detects the rotation state of the toilet lid 32. The toilet lid detector 45 is equipped with a known rotation detector (for example, a magnetic angle sensor that detects the direction of a magnet that rotates together with the toilet lid 32). The toilet lid detector 45 detects the difference in angle between the toilet lid 32 in the lying down state and the toilet lid 32 in the standing state. The toilet lid detector 45 is configured to detect the difference in angle between the toilet lid 32 in the lying down state and the toilet lid 32 in the standing state when the toilet lid 32 is rotated between the lying down state and the standing state by the toilet lid opening / closing device 49, and when the toilet lid 32 is manually changed between the lying down state and the standing state. The toilet lid detector 45 is configured to output a signal corresponding to the detected angle difference to the control unit 51.

[0023] The toilet seat detection unit 42 detects the rotation state of the toilet seat 31. The toilet seat detection unit 42 includes a known rotation detection means (for example, a magnetic angle sensor that detects the orientation of a magnet that rotates together with the toilet seat 31). The toilet seat detection unit 42 detects the difference in angle between the angle of the toilet seat 31 in the lying state and the angle of the toilet seat 31 in the upright state. The toilet seat detection unit 42 is configured to be able to detect the difference in angle between the angle of the toilet seat 31 in the lying state and the angle of the toilet seat 31 in the upright state when the toilet seat opening / closing device 48 rotates the toilet seat 31 between the lying state and the upright state, and when the toilet seat 31 is manually changed between the lying state and the upright state. The toilet seat detection unit 42 is configured to be able to output a signal corresponding to the detected angle difference to the control unit 51.

[0024] The deodorizing device 46 has a duct with an air intake facing the inside of the toilet bowl 21, a fan installed in the duct, and a deodorizing filter. The duct, fan, and deodorizing filter are not shown. The deodorizing device 46 draws air from the inside of the toilet bowl 21 through the air intake by rotating the fan. The drawn-in air is deodorized by passing through the deodorizing filter. The deodorized air is discharged, for example, from an exhaust port formed in the rear of the main body 33. The exhaust port is not shown. In other words, the deodorizing device 46 deodorizes odors drawn in from the space below the fallen toilet lid 32 (i.e., the space inside the toilet bowl 21).

[0025] The sterilization device 47 has a sterilization unit. The sterilization unit is not shown. The sterilization unit ionizes the air to generate positive ions and negative ions, which are sterilization substances, and these positive ions and negative ions surround bacteria and viruses floating in the air. In this way, the sterilization device 47 inactivates bacteria and viruses floating in the air. The sterilization device 47 is configured to release the positive ions and negative ions generated in the sterilization unit into the toilet bowl 21 through a release port facing the toilet bowl 21. The release port is not shown. In other words, the sterilization device 47 releases the positive ions and negative ions (sterilization substances) toward the space below the toilet lid 32 in the fallen state (i.e., the space inside the toilet bowl 21).

[0026] The sterilization device 47 is configured to perform a cyclic operation in which an operating state and a stopped state in which the operation is stopped are periodically repeated when there is no user in the toilet room R. For example, the sterilization device 47 maintains the operating state for 45 minutes and the stopped state for 15 minutes. When a user enters the toilet room R while the sterilization device 47 is in the operating state, the sterilization device 47 changes to the stopped state, and when the user leaves the toilet room R and the toilet lid 32 is closed, the sterilization device 47 starts operating from the operating state out of the operating state and the cyclic operation. The sterilization device 47 can be operated cyclically or stopped (i.e., maintained in the stopped state) by the remote controller 60.

[0027] The toilet device 30 is provided with a sterilization device light-emitting unit that turns on, blinks, or goes out depending on the operating state of the sterilization device 47. The sterilization device light-emitting unit is composed of, for example, an LED. The sterilization device light-emitting unit is not shown. The sterilization device light-emitting unit emits light of a color different from the color of light emitted from the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C (for example, bluish white, blue, etc.).

[0028] The toilet device 30 is provided with an alarm unit 50 that is made up of a buzzer, a drive unit for driving the buzzer, etc. The alarm unit 50 is controlled by a control unit 51 to emit an alarm sound.

[0029] The remote controller 60 has a function of operating various functions in the toilet apparatus 30. The remote controller 60 transmits a signal according to a user's operation to the control unit 51 of the toilet apparatus 30 as, for example, a wireless signal. The remote controller 60 is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. The remote controller 60 is attached to a wall surface of the toilet room R.

[0030] The remote controller 60 comprises a housing 60A and a plurality of operation buttons 63A. The housing 60A houses a microcomputer, a battery, etc. The plurality of operation buttons 63A are operated when a desired function of the toilet device 30 is to be operated. Each operation button 63A is assigned one of various functions in advance. For example, each operation button 63A is assigned a function to open and close the toilet lid 32, open and close the toilet seat 31, start a toilet flush, etc.

[0031] That is, the remote controller 60 transmits to the control unit 51 a command for either a toilet lid-opening operation to rotate the toilet lid 32 from a lying state to an upright state, or a toilet lid-closing operation to rotate the toilet lid 32 from an upright state to a lying state. Furthermore, the remote controller 60 transmits to the control unit 51 a command for either a toilet seat-opening operation to rotate the toilet seat 31 from a lying state to an upright state, or a toilet seat-closing operation to rotate the toilet seat 31 from an upright state to a lying state.

[0032] [About the operation of the toilet device] In the toilet apparatus 30, the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 executes a toilet lid closing operation in which the toilet lid 32 in an upright position is rotated to a lying position before the toilet flushing device 41 executes a toilet flush. In other words, the toilet apparatus 30 can supply flushing water to the toilet body 20 to flush the toilet body 20 after the toilet lid 32 executes the toilet lid closing operation (hereinafter also referred to as post-closing flushing). The toilet apparatus 30 is configured to be able to switch between post-closing flushing and supplying flushing water to the toilet body 20 to flush the toilet body 20 before the toilet lid 32 executes the toilet lid closing operation (hereinafter also referred to as pre-closing flushing) by the user operating the remote controller 60.

[0033] An example of the post-closing flushing operation in the toilet device 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 etc. First, when the user operates the operation button 63A on the remote controller 60 corresponding to an instruction to flush the toilet (step S1 in Fig. 3), the control unit 51 receives a wireless signal corresponding to the instruction to flush the toilet from the remote controller 60. Step S1 also includes the case where a predetermined time (e.g., 6 seconds) has elapsed after the seating detection unit 43 detects that the user has left the toilet seat 31 and stops outputting a seating detection signal to the control unit 51. Furthermore, step S1 also includes the case where the second human body detection unit 44B stops outputting the second human body detection signal to the control unit 51.

[0034] When the process proceeds to step S2, the control unit 51 determines whether the toilet lid 32 and the toilet seat 31 are in a reclined state based on signals from the toilet seat detection unit 42 and the toilet lid detection unit 45. When the control unit 51 determines in step S2 that at least one of the toilet lid 32 and the toilet seat 31 is not in a reclined state (No in step S2), the process proceeds to step S3.

[0035] In step S2, if the control unit 51 determines that the toilet lid 32 and the toilet seat 31 are in a laid-down state (Yes in step S2), the process proceeds to step S17. When the process proceeds to step S17, the control unit 51 operates the toilet flushing device 41 to start supplying flushing water to the toilet body 20, and ends the process in FIG.

[0036] When the process proceeds to step S3, the control unit 51 determines whether the user has left the toilet seat 31 and is not in a predetermined position relative to the toilet apparatus 30. Specifically, the control unit 51 determines whether a seating detection signal has not been output from the seating detection unit 43 and a second human body detection signal has not been output from the second human body detection unit 44B. When the control unit 51 determines in step S3 that a seating detection signal has not been output from the seating detection unit 43 and a second human body detection signal has not been output from the second human body detection unit 44B (Yes in step S3), the process proceeds to step S4.

[0037] In step S3, when the control unit 51 determines that either a seating detection signal is being output from the seating detection unit 43 or a second human body detection signal is being output from the second human body detection unit 44B (No in step S3), it proceeds to step S17.

[0038] When the process proceeds to step S4, the control unit 51 sets a timer built therein to a predetermined waiting time. The predetermined waiting time is, for example, one second. Next, when the process proceeds to step S5, the control unit 51 operates the timer to measure the predetermined waiting time (one second). If the control unit 51 determines that the predetermined waiting time has not elapsed (No in step S5), it repeats the process of step S5. If the control unit 51 determines that the predetermined waiting time has elapsed (Yes in step S5), it proceeds to step S6.

[0039] In step S6, the control unit 51 transmits a request signal to the drive unit of the notification unit 50 requesting that the buzzer be driven, and operates the drive unit of the notification unit 50 to generate a notification sound from the buzzer.

[0040] When the process proceeds to step S7, it is determined whether the generation of the alarm sound from the buzzer has been completed. For example, the drive section of the alarm section 50 is configured to output an alarm sound completion signal indicating that the generation of the alarm sound from the buzzer has been completed to the control section 51. In step S7, the control section 51 determines whether the alarm sound completion signal has been input. When the control section 51 determines that the alarm sound completion signal has been input (Yes in step S7), the process proceeds to step S8.

[0041] In step S7, if the control unit 51 determines that the alarm sound completion signal has not been input (No in step S7), the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the control unit 51 determines whether the state is either a state in which the seating detection signal is being output from the seating detection unit 43 or a state in which the second human body detection signal is being output from the second human body detection unit 44B. In step S9, if the control unit 51 determines that the state is either a state in which the seating detection signal is being output from the seating detection unit 43 or a state in which the second human body detection signal is being output from the second human body detection unit 44B (Yes in step S9), the process proceeds to step S17.

[0042] In step S9, if the control unit 51 determines that the seating detection signal is not output from the seating detection unit 43 and the second human body detection signal is not output from the second human body detection unit 44B (No in step S9), the process proceeds to step S7. Step S9 is a step for determining whether or not the user sits on the toilet seat 31 while the alarm unit 50 is generating an alarm sound.

[0043] When the process proceeds to step S8, the control unit 51 instructs the toilet lid opening and closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation. If the toilet seat 31 is also in the upright position, in step S8, the control unit 51 instructs the toilet lid opening and closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, and also instructs the toilet seat opening and closing device 48 to perform the toilet seat opening operation.

[0044] When the process proceeds to step S10, the control unit 51 determines whether the toilet lid 32 is in an upright position and the toilet seat 31 is in a reclined position based on signals input from the toilet lid detection unit 45 and the toilet seat detection unit 42. If the control unit 51 determines in step S10 that the toilet lid 32 is in an upright position and the toilet seat 31 is in a reclined position (Yes in step S10), the process proceeds to step S11. When the process proceeds to step S11, the control unit 51 sets a timer built in the control unit 51 to a predetermined time. The predetermined time is, for example, six seconds. This time (six seconds) is longer than the time required for the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to rotate the toilet lid 32 from an upright position to a reclined position.

[0045] In step S10, if the control unit 51 determines that either the toilet lid 32 is not in an upright position or the toilet seat 31 is not in a reclined position (No in step S10), the process proceeds to step S12.

[0046] When the process proceeds to step S12, the control unit 51 determines whether the toilet lid 32 is in an upright state and the toilet seat 31 is in an upright state based on signals input from the toilet lid detection unit 45 and the toilet seat detection unit 42. If the control unit 51 determines in step S12 that the toilet lid 32 is in an upright state and the toilet seat 31 is in an upright state (Yes in step S12), the process proceeds to step S13. When the process proceeds to step S13, the control unit 51 sets a timer built in thereto to a predetermined time. The predetermined time is, for example, 10 seconds. In other words, when the toilet lid 32 and the toilet seat 31 are in an upright state, this time (10 seconds) is longer than the predetermined time (6 seconds) when only the toilet lid 32 is in an upright state.

[0047] In step S12, if the control unit 51 determines that either the toilet lid 32 is not in an upright position or the toilet seat 31 is not in an upright position (No in step S12), the process proceeds to step S14. When the process proceeds to step S14, the control unit 51 sets its own built-in timer to 0 seconds and proceeds to step S17.

[0048] The process proceeds to step S15. For example, when the process proceeds from step S11 to step S15, the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 executes a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the upright toilet lid 32 to a lying down state. When the process proceeds from step S13 to step S15, the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 executes a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the upright toilet lid 32 to a lying down state, and the toilet seat opening / closing device 48 executes a toilet seat closing operation to rotate the upright toilet seat 31 to a lying down state.

[0049] When the process proceeds to step S16, the control unit 51 operates a timer to measure a predetermined time. If the toilet lid 32 is in the upright position and the toilet seat 31 is in the reclined position, the control unit 51 measures 6 seconds. If the toilet lid 32 is in the upright position and the toilet seat 31 is in the upright position, the control unit 51 measures 10 seconds.

[0050] If the control unit 51 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (No in step S16), it repeats the process of step S16. If the control unit 51 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (Yes in step S16), it proceeds to step S17.

[0051] [An example of the operation of each part of the toilet device when operating the remote controller to close and flush after sitting down to use the toilet] First, a user enters the toilet room R. Then, the first human body detector 44A detects the user and outputs a first human body detection signal to the controller 51. Then, the controller 51 causes the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to execute a toilet lid opening operation that rotates the toilet lid 32 from a lying down state to an upright state. At the same time, the controller 51 turns on the human body detection light emitting unit 44C and operates the deodorizing device 46.

[0052] Next, as shown in Fig. 4, at time T1, the user sits on the toilet seat 31. Then, the seating detection unit 43 detects that the user has sat on the toilet seat 31 and outputs a seating detection signal to the control unit 51. At this time, the control unit 51 starts playing a predetermined music in a music playback unit provided in the main body 33 based on the input of the seating detection signal. The music playback unit is not shown.

[0053] Next, at time T2, the user leaves the toilet seat 31. Then, seating detection unit 43 detects that the user has left the toilet seat 31 and stops outputting the seating detection signal. After that, at time T3, the user operates operation button 63A on remote controller 60, which corresponds to an instruction to flush the toilet (corresponding to step S1 in FIG. 3). When control unit 51 receives a wireless signal corresponding to an instruction to flush the toilet from remote controller 60, it sets its own timer to one second and starts counting one second (corresponding to steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 3). After one second has elapsed, control unit 51 operates alarm unit 50 to generate an alarm sound (corresponding to step S6 in FIG. 3).

[0054] When an alarm sound completion signal is input to the control unit 51 from the drive unit of the alarm unit 50 (corresponding to step S7 in FIG. 3), at time T4 the control unit 51 instructs the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation (corresponding to step S8 in FIG. 3). At this time, the control unit 51 sets its own timer to 6 seconds (corresponding to step S11 in FIG. 3), and then the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 performs the toilet lid closing operation (corresponding to step S15 in FIG. 3). At this time, signals corresponding to the angle of the toilet lid 32 detected by the toilet lid detection unit 45 are input to the control unit 51 one by one.

[0055] Then, the control unit 51 starts to measure six seconds (corresponding to step S16 in FIG. 3). That is, when the control unit 51 instructs the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, it starts to measure the predetermined time, and the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 performs the toilet lid closing operation. The toilet lid 32 completes changing from the upright state to the lying state by the time six seconds have passed since time T4 (i.e., before the timer finishes measuring the predetermined time). Then, the control unit 51 operates the toilet flushing device 41 to start supplying flush water to the toilet body 20 (corresponding to step S17 in FIG. 3). In this way, the toilet flushing device 41 starts to measure six seconds (predetermined time) when the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 starts the toilet lid closing operation, and performs the toilet flush after the measurement of six seconds (predetermined time) ends after the toilet lid closing operation has started and after the toilet lid closing operation has finished.

[0056] At time T5, when a predetermined time (for example, 6 seconds) has elapsed since time T2, control unit 51 stops the playback of music in the music playback unit.

[0057] At time T6 when the toilet lid 32 is in a fallen state, the control unit 51 receives a signal from the toilet lid detection unit 45 corresponding to the angle of the fallen toilet lid 32. At this time, the control unit 51 turns on the sterilization device light emitting unit and the sterilization device 47 changes to an operating state. At this time, the sterilization device 47 starts operating from the operating state of its cyclical operation.

[0058] At time T7, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the toilet flushing device 41 and stops the supply of flush water to the toilet body 20. The human body detection light-emitting unit 44C continues to be lit by the control unit 51 even after time T7 has passed. Even if the first human body detection signal is input from the first human body detection unit 44A (i.e., even if the control unit 51 detects a user in front of the front end of the toilet body 20 when the toilet lid 32 is in a fallen state), the control unit 51 does not perform the toilet lid opening operation for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) from time T6. The predetermined time (30 seconds) from time T6 is an invalid period during which the control unit 51 does not accept the first human body detection signal. This predetermined time (30 seconds) is preferably longer than the time for which the toilet flushing device 41 performs toilet flushing. In other words, the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 does not perform the toilet lid opening operation even if the first human body detection unit 44A detects a user during the period from when the toilet lid 32 is in a fallen state and the toilet flushing device 41 starts toilet flushing until the predetermined time has passed. During this inactive period, the toilet lid 32 can be manually rotated to an upright position.

[0059] The deodorizing device 46 also operates while the toilet flushing device 41 is performing a toilet flush. In other words, the deodorizing device 46 operates while the toilet lid 32 is in a down position and the toilet flushing device 41 is performing a toilet flush. The deodorizing device 46 continues to operate even after the toilet flushing device 41 has performed a toilet flush and finished supplying flush water to the toilet body 20.

[0060] When the toilet lid 32 is in a fallen state and the toilet flushing device 41 is performing a toilet flush and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20, if the user operates the operation button 63A of the remote controller 60, which corresponds to an instruction to perform the toilet lid opening operation of the toilet lid 32, the toilet lid opening and closing device 49 performs the toilet lid opening operation. Furthermore, when the toilet lid 32 is in a fallen state and the toilet flushing device 41 is performing a toilet flush and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20, the user operates the operation button 63A of the remote controller 60, which corresponds to an instruction to perform the toilet seat 31 opening operation. Then, the toilet lid opening and closing device 49 performs the toilet lid opening operation, and the toilet seat opening and closing device 48 performs the toilet seat opening operation.

[0061] Next, at time T8, a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) after time T2, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the deodorizing device 46. In other words, the deodorizing device 46 operates until a predetermined time has elapsed after the toilet flushing device 41 has finished flushing the toilet. At this time, the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C is turned off by the control unit 51. At the time the toilet lid 32 is in the downed state, it is highly likely that a user has entered the toilet room R. For this reason, by turning on the human body detection light-emitting unit 44C until time T7 and turning it off at time T8, it is possible to extend the time that at least one of the surroundings of the toilet body 20 and the inside of the toilet bowl 21 is illuminated, even if only a little, and it is possible to illuminate the area around the user's feet for a longer period of time when the toilet device 10 is used without turning on the lights provided in the toilet room R.

[0062] Next, at time T9, when a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed since time T6, the control unit 51 changes the sterilization device light-emitting unit from a lit state to a blinking state. In other words, the sterilization device 47 operates while the toilet lid 32 is in a laid-down state and the toilet flushing device 41 is performing a toilet flush and supplying flush water to the toilet body 20, and after the toilet flushing device 41 has performed a toilet flush and finished supplying flush water to the toilet body 20.

[0063] [An example of the operation of each part of the toilet device when it automatically closes and flushes after sitting down and using the toilet] First, a user enters the toilet room R. Then, the first human body detector 44A detects the user and outputs a first human body detection signal to the controller 51. Then, the controller 51 causes the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to execute the toilet lid opening operation. At the same time, the controller 51 turns on the human body detection light emitting unit 44C and operates the deodorizing device 46.

[0064] 5, at time T11, the user sits on the toilet seat 31. Then, the seating detection unit 43 detects that the user has sat on the toilet seat 31, and outputs a seating detection signal to the control unit 51. The control unit 51 causes the music playback unit to start playing predetermined music based on the input of the seating detection signal.

[0065] Next, at time T12, the user leaves the toilet seat 31. The seating detection unit 43 then detects that the user has left the toilet seat 31, and stops outputting the seating detection signal to the control unit 51. Then, at time T13, a predetermined time (e.g., 6 seconds) has passed since time T12 (corresponding to step S1 in FIG. 3), the control unit 51 sets its own timer to 1 second and starts counting 1 second (corresponding to steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 3). After 1 second has passed, the control unit 51 operates the alarm unit 50 to generate an alarm sound (corresponding to step S6 in FIG. 3).

[0066] When an alarm sound completion signal is input to the control unit 51 from the drive unit of the alarm unit 50 (corresponding to step S7 in FIG. 3), at time T14 the control unit 51 instructs the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation (corresponding to step S8 in FIG. 3). At this time, the control unit 51 sets its own timer to 6 seconds (corresponding to step S11 in FIG. 3), and then the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 performs the toilet lid closing operation (corresponding to step S15 in FIG. 3). At this time, signals corresponding to the angle of the toilet lid 32 detected by the toilet lid detection unit 45 are input to the control unit 51 one by one.

[0067] Then, the control unit 51 starts to measure six seconds (corresponding to step S16 in FIG. 3). In other words, when the control unit 51 instructs the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, it starts to measure the predetermined time, and the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 performs the toilet lid closing operation. The toilet lid 32 completes changing from the upright state to the laid-down state by the time six seconds have passed since time T14 (i.e., before the timer finishes measuring the predetermined time). The control unit 51 then operates the toilet flushing device 41 to start supplying flush water to the toilet body 20 (corresponding to step S17 in FIG. 3).

[0068] At time T13, a predetermined time (e.g., 6 seconds) after time T12, control unit 51 stops the music playback unit from playing music. The length of the predetermined time (6 seconds) from time T12 to time T13 can be changed by operating remote controller 60, for example.

[0069] At time T15 when the toilet lid 32 is in a fallen state, a signal corresponding to the angle of the fallen toilet lid 32 is input from the toilet lid detection unit 45 to the control unit 51. At this time, the control unit 51 turns on the sterilization device light emitting unit and changes the state of the sterilization device 47 to the operating state. At this time, the sterilization device 47 starts operation from the operating state of the cyclic operation.

[0070] At time T16, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the toilet flushing device 41 and stops the supply of flush water to the toilet body 20. The human body detection light-emitting unit 44C continues to be turned on by the control unit 51 even after time T16 has passed. The control unit 51 does not perform the toilet lid opening operation for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) from time T15, even if the first human body detection signal is input from the first human body detection unit 44A (i.e., even if the control unit 51 detects a user who is in front of the front end of the toilet body 20 when the toilet lid 32 is in a lying down state). The predetermined time (30 seconds) from time T15 is an invalid period during which the control unit 51 does not accept the first human body detection signal. During the invalid period, the toilet lid 32 can be lifted by the user.

[0071] Next, at time T17 when a predetermined time (for example, 60 seconds) has elapsed since time T12, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the deodorizing device 46. At this time, the control unit 51 turns off the human body detection light emitting unit 44C.

[0072] Next, at time T18, which is a predetermined time (for example, 60 seconds) after time T15, the control unit 51 changes the sterilization apparatus light-emitting unit from a lit state to a blinking state.

[0073] [An example of the operation of each part of the toilet device when operating the remote controller to close and flush after use in a standing position] First, a user enters the toilet room R. Then, the first human body detector 44A detects the user and outputs a first human body detection signal to the controller 51. Then, the controller 51 causes the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to execute the toilet lid opening operation. At the same time, the controller 51 causes the deodorizing device 46 to operate.

[0074] Next, the user operates the operation button 63A of the remote controller 60, which corresponds to an instruction to open the toilet seat. Then, the control unit 51 drives the toilet seat opening / closing device 48 to execute the toilet seat opening operation, which rotates the toilet seat 31 to an upright position. At this time, the control unit 51 starts playing a predetermined music in the music playback unit. At this time, the second human body detection unit 44B can detect a user in front of the toilet body 20 by the toilet seat 31 rotating to an upright position. A second human body detection signal is input from the second human body detection unit 44B to the control unit 51. At the same time, the first human body detection unit 44A is blocked by the toilet lid 32 and is therefore unable to detect the user, and stops outputting the first human body detection signal.

[0075] Next, the user operates operation button 63A of remote controller 60, which corresponds to an instruction to flush the toilet (corresponding to step S1 in FIG. 3). When control unit 51 receives a wireless signal corresponding to the instruction to flush the toilet from remote controller 60, it sets its own timer to one second and starts measuring one second (corresponding to steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 3). After one second has elapsed, control unit 51 operates alarm unit 50 to generate an alarm sound (corresponding to step S6 in FIG. 3).

[0076] When an alarm sound completion signal is input to control unit 51 from the drive unit of alarm unit 50 (corresponding to step S7 in FIG. 3), control unit 51 instructs toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, and also instructs toilet seat opening / closing device 48 to perform the toilet seat closing operation (corresponding to step S8 in FIG. 3). At this time, toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31 are in the upright state (Yes in step S12), so control unit 51 sets its own timer to 10 seconds (corresponding to step S13 in FIG. 3), and then toilet seat opening / closing device 48 performs the toilet seat closing operation, and toilet lid opening / closing device 49 performs the toilet lid closing operation (corresponding to step S15 in FIG. 3).

[0077] At this time, the control unit 51 receives a signal corresponding to the angle of the toilet lid 32 detected by the toilet lid detection unit 45 and a signal corresponding to the angle of the toilet seat 31 detected by the toilet seat detection unit 42 one by one. First, the toilet seat closing operation is started, and when the angle of the toilet seat 31 with respect to the horizontal direction reaches approximately 25°, the toilet lid closing operation is started. In synchronization with the start of the toilet seat closing operation, the control unit 51 starts counting 10 seconds (corresponding to step S16 in FIG. 3). In other words, the control unit 51 starts counting 10 seconds (a predetermined time) before the toilet lid closing operation is started. Then, after the toilet lid closing operation is started and the counting of 10 seconds is completed after the toilet lid closing operation is completed, the control unit 51 operates the toilet flushing device 41 to start supplying flushing water to the toilet body 20 (corresponding to step S17 in FIG. 3).

[0078] Next, the user leaves the toilet room R. This causes the second human body detection unit 44B to stop outputting the second human body detection signal to the control unit 51. When the input of the second human body detection signal stops and a predetermined time (e.g., one second) has elapsed, the control unit 51 stops the playback of music in the music playback unit.

[0079] Furthermore, when a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed after the user has left the toilet room R, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the deodorizing device 46. At the same time, the control unit 51 causes the sterilization device 47 to start operation from the operating state of the cyclic operation.

[0080] [An example of the operation of each part of the toilet device when it automatically closes and flushes after use in a standing position] First, a user enters the toilet room R. Then, the first human body detector 44A detects the user and outputs a first human body detection signal to the controller 51. Then, the controller 51 causes the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to execute the toilet lid opening operation. At the same time, the controller 51 causes the deodorizing device 46 to operate.

[0081] Next, the user operates the operation button 63A of the remote controller 60, which corresponds to an instruction to open the toilet seat 31, and the control unit 51 causes the toilet seat opening / closing device 48 to execute the toilet seat opening operation. At this time, the control unit 51 causes the music player to start playing a predetermined music. At this time, the second human body detection signal is input from the second human body detection unit 44B to the control unit 51. At the same time, the first human body detection unit 44A is blocked by the toilet lid 32 and cannot detect the user, so it stops outputting the first human body detection signal.

[0082] Next, the user leaves the toilet room R. This causes the second human body detection unit 44B to stop outputting the second human body detection signal to the control unit 51. When the input of the second human body detection signal stops (corresponding to step S1 in FIG. 3), the control unit 51 sets its own timer to one second and starts measuring one second (corresponding to steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 3). After one second has elapsed, the control unit 51 operates the alarm unit 50 to generate an alarm sound (corresponding to step S6 in FIG. 3). For example, at this time, the control unit 51 stops playing music in the music playback unit.

[0083] When an alarm sound completion signal is input from the drive unit of alarm unit 50 (corresponding to step S7 in FIG. 3), control unit 51 instructs toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, and also instructs toilet seat opening / closing device 48 to perform the toilet seat closing operation (corresponding to step S8 in FIG. 3). At this time, since toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31 are in the upright state (Yes in step S12), control unit 51 sets its own timer to 10 seconds (corresponding to step S13 in FIG. 3), and then toilet seat opening / closing device 48 performs the toilet seat closing operation, and toilet lid opening / closing device 49 performs the toilet lid closing operation (corresponding to step S15 in FIG. 3).

[0084] At this time, the control unit 51 receives a signal corresponding to the angle of the toilet lid 32 detected by the toilet lid detection unit 45 and a signal corresponding to the angle of the toilet seat 31 detected by the toilet seat detection unit 42 one by one. First, the toilet seat closing operation is started, and when the angle of the toilet seat 31 with respect to the horizontal direction reaches approximately 25°, the toilet lid closing operation is started. In synchronization with the start of the toilet seat closing operation, the control unit 51 starts counting 10 seconds (corresponding to step S16 in FIG. 3). Then, after the start of the toilet lid closing operation and the end of the 10-second count after the toilet lid closing operation has ended, the control unit 51 operates the toilet flushing device 41 to start supplying flushing water to the toilet body 20 (corresponding to step S17 in FIG. 3).

[0085] Furthermore, when a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed after the user has left the toilet room R, the control unit 51 stops the operation of the deodorizing device 46. At the same time, the control unit 51 causes the sterilization device 47 to start operation from the operating state of the cyclic operation.

[0086] According to the embodiment configured as above, the following effects are achieved.

[0087] The toilet device 30 comprises a toilet lid 32 supported so as to be freely rotatable between an upright position and a lying position, a toilet lid opening / closing device 49 that performs a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the toilet lid 32 from the upright position to the lying position, a toilet flushing device 41 that performs a toilet flush by supplying flushing water to the toilet body 20, and a control unit 51 that begins measuring a predetermined time before the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 begins the toilet lid closing operation and causes the toilet flushing device 41 to perform a toilet flush after the measurement of the predetermined time has ended after the toilet lid closing operation began.

[0088] According to this configuration, since the toilet flush is executed after the measurement of the predetermined time has ended, the internal control in the toilet device 30 can be simplified until the toilet flush is executed.

[0089] In the toilet device 30, the predetermined time is equal to or longer than the time required for the toilet lid opening / closing device 49 to rotate the toilet lid 32 from an upright position to a laid-down position. With this configuration, the toilet flushing can be started after the toilet lid 32 has reached the laid-down position.

[0090] The toilet device 30 further comprises a toilet seat 31 supported so as to be rotatable between an upright state and a lying state, and a toilet seat opening / closing device 48 which executes a toilet seat closing operation to rotate the upright toilet seat 31 to a lying state, and when the toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31 are in the upright state, the predetermined time is longer than when only the toilet lid 32 is in the upright state. With this configuration, the toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31 can be brought into the lying state with a time lag, so it is possible to prevent the toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31 from colliding when rotating into the lying state, and even in such a case, a configuration can be established in which the toilet flushing starts after the toilet lid 32 and toilet seat 31 reach the lying state.

[0091] The toilet apparatus 30 further includes a control unit 51 that instructs the toilet lid opening and closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, and when the control unit 51 instructs the toilet lid opening and closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, it starts measuring a predetermined time, and the toilet lid opening and closing device 49 starts the toilet lid closing operation. With this configuration, since the measurement of the predetermined time starts when an instruction is given to the toilet lid opening and closing device 49 to perform the toilet lid closing operation, it is possible to make it easier to complete the toilet lid closing operation within the predetermined time. Therefore, it is easier to start the toilet flushing after the toilet lid 32 has changed to a laid-down state.

[0092] The present disclosure is not limited to the first embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present disclosure. (1) Unlike the first embodiment, the notification unit may be configured with an LED, a speaker, a liquid crystal panel, or the like, or may be configured to use a combination of an LED, a speaker, a liquid crystal panel, and a buzzer. When a speaker or a liquid crystal panel is used, a message such as words or sentences can be notified to the user. Furthermore, the buzzer sound pattern and the LED light emission pattern may be changed between post-closing operation cleaning and pre-closing operation cleaning. (2) Unlike the first embodiment, the human body detection unit may be configured with other sensors, such as an ultrasonic sensor or a heat detection sensor. (3) Unlike the first embodiment, the seating detection unit may be configured using a capacitance type or a weight detection type sensor. (4) The predetermined time set on the timer of the control unit in steps S11 and S13 need only be the time required for the toilet lid to reliably change from an upright position to a laid-down position, and is not limited to 6 seconds or 10 seconds. (5) Unlike the first embodiment, the measurement of the predetermined time may start from the time when the user operates the operation button on the remote controller corresponding to the toilet flush command, when the alarm sound is generated, or when the alarm sound is completed. In other words, the measurement of the predetermined time may start before the toilet lid closing operation (toilet seat closing operation) starts. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 30... toilet device, 31... toilet seat, 32... toilet cover, 41... toilet flushing device, 48... toilet seat opening / closing device, 49... toilet cover opening / closing device, 51... control unit

Claims

1. A toilet lid supported so as to be freely rotatable between an upright position and a lying position; A toilet lid opening and closing device that executes a toilet lid closing operation to rotate the toilet lid from the upright state to the laid-down state; a toilet flushing device that performs toilet flushing by supplying flush water to a toilet body; a control unit that starts measuring a predetermined time before the toilet lid opening / closing device starts the toilet lid closing operation, and causes the toilet flushing device to execute the toilet flushing after the measurement of the predetermined time ends after the toilet lid closing operation starts; Equipped with The control unit changes the toilet lid to the laid-down state and causes the toilet flushing device to start the toilet flush, and then sets an invalid period during which a first human body detection signal for opening the toilet lid in the laid-down state is not accepted for a period longer than the time during which the toilet flushing device performs the toilet flush.

2. 2. The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is equal to or longer than the time required for the toilet lid opening / closing device to rotate the toilet lid from the upright position to the laid-down position.

3. A toilet seat supported so as to be freely rotatable between an upright position and a reclined position; a toilet seat opening / closing device that executes a toilet seat closing operation to rotate the toilet seat from the upright state to the laid-down state; Further comprising:

3. The toilet apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the toilet lid and the toilet seat are in the upright position, the predetermined time is longer than when only the toilet lid is in the upright position.

4. A toilet device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the control unit instructs the toilet lid opening / closing device to perform the toilet lid closing operation, it starts measuring the specified time, and the toilet lid opening / closing device starts the toilet lid closing operation.

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