Toilet bowl cleaning device and toilet bowl cleaning method using the same

Abstract

To provide a toilet bowl part cleaning device capable of effectively cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl part without any blind areas, and a toilet bowl part cleaning method using the same.SOLUTION: A toilet bowl part cleaning device sprays cleaning water or disinfecting water while oscillating up and down from the cleaning nozzle part controlled in a sequence operation mode, which not only improves the efficiency of removing foreign matter from the surface of the toilet bowl part by applying a physical impact to the surface of the toilet bowl part with the cleaning water or disinfecting water oscillating up and down, but also expands the cleaning range and / or disinfecting range on the surface of the toilet bowl part, minimizes the cleaning blind area, and improves the hygiene of the toilet, and by optimizing the structure of the toilet bowl part cleaning device, it is possible to reduce product costs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for cleaning a bowl portion of a toilet, and more specifically, by spraying cleaning water or disinfectant water up and down while swinging it from a cleaning nozzle portion controlled in a sequence operation mode, and applying a physical impact to the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet, it relates to a toilet bowl portion cleaning device that can effectively clean the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet without a blind area and a toilet bowl portion cleaning method using the same.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a bidet refers to a device that sprays cleaning water from a nozzle device to the anus and / or its local area and its surroundings of a user after defecation. A bidet is provided in a toilet and includes a bidet main body in which a seat cushion and a seat cover are combined, an operation portion, and a cleaning nozzle portion that sprays cleaning water to the anus and / or its local area and its surroundings of the user.

[0003] On the other hand, the toilet (or toilet seat) provided with the bidet is a ceramic structure, and since foreign substances remain on the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet even after flushing, there is a pollution source that generates scale and the like, and thus there is also a possibility that bacteria will propagate. The propagation of bacteria causes odors, and the odor rises during defecation, making it impossible to provide a comfortable environment for the user.

[0004] In this regard, in the existing published patent publication No. 10-2017-0133053, a toilet cleaning device provided with a cleaning nozzle portion for cleaning the bowl portion provided in a housing and having injection holes is disclosed, and such a device includes lifting means and rotating means for extending and horizontally rotating the cleaning nozzle portion.

[0005] However, in the toilet flushing device described in the aforementioned existing published patent, even if the flushing nozzle is extended by a lifting mechanism and rotated horizontally by a rotating mechanism, the flushing water is sprayed directly from the spray holes of the flushing nozzle. Therefore, there are limitations to cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl with the flushing water sprayed from the spray holes of the flushing nozzle, and it is unavoidable that there will be blind areas on the surface of the toilet bowl that cannot be cleaned.

[0006] In other words, when the nozzle is extended from the tip of the bidet body and rotated horizontally, and cleaning water is sprayed from the spray hole in a direct spray manner, the cleaning water sprayed in a direct spray manner cannot provide a physical impact to the surface of the toilet bowl, and therefore cannot adequately clean solidified foreign matter and / or sources of contamination such as limescale from the surface of the toilet bowl.

[0007] Furthermore, since the cleaning nozzle simply sprays cleaning water onto the surface of the toilet bowl, and does not implement a sequence operation mode that divides the surface of the toilet bowl into an overall cleaning area or a partial cleaning area and cleans these areas sequentially, a decrease in the efficiency of removing contaminants from the surface of the toilet bowl is unavoidable. Therefore, conventionally, users have had to re-clean the surface of the toilet bowl themselves with a cleaning brush, which is inconvenient. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] Published Patent Application No. 10-2017-0133053 (Publication Date: 2017.12.05.) [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The technical problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a toilet bowl cleaning device and a toilet bowl cleaning method using the same, which not only improves the efficiency of removing foreign matter from the surface of the toilet bowl by spraying cleaning water or disinfecting water from a cleaning nozzle controlled in sequence operation mode while oscillating up and down, thereby applying a physical impact to the surface of the toilet bowl with the oscillating cleaning water or disinfecting water, but also expands the cleaning and / or disinfecting area on the surface of the toilet bowl, minimizes the blind area for cleaning, and improves the hygiene of the toilet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] As a means to solve the technical problems of the present invention, the toilet bowl cleaning device comprises a cleaning nozzle section formed on the bottom side of a bidet body coupled to a toilet bowl, which extends and rotates horizontally, with a water supply section at one end and a water outlet section at the other end, and a nozzle head formed on the water outlet side of the cleaning nozzle section, which sprays cleaning water or disinfectant water from the spray hole onto the surface of the toilet bowl, wherein the nozzle head is formed with a spray guide section that guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or disinfectant water in a zigzag pattern, thereby causing the cleaning water or disinfectant water to be sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down.

[0011] Furthermore, the cleaning nozzle portion includes a first cylindrical portion having a water supply section connected to the cleaning water supply pipeline within the bidet body and a first internal flow path, a second cylindrical portion for forming the water outlet section and having a second internal flow path communicating with the first internal flow path, and a connecting portion protruding from one end of the second cylindrical portion to guide the insertion and connection of the first cylindrical portion and having a third internal flow path communicating with the first and second internal flow paths.

[0012] Furthermore, an opening is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion, a keyway is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion, and a key for fixing the first cylindrical portion and the connecting portion is arranged in the opening and the keyway.

[0013] Furthermore, the opening is a C-shaped hole structure, and the key is a C-shaped ring structure positioned at the connecting portion via the opening.

[0014] Furthermore, a gasket groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion, and a gasket is placed in the gasket groove that is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion.

[0015] Furthermore, the water outlet section is a slot structure that communicates with the second internal flow path of the second cylindrical section and functions as an installation space into which cleaning water or disinfectant water flows, and houses the nozzle head into which it is inserted. The nozzle head has a water supply hole that communicates with the installation space, and the spray guide section is formed between the water supply hole and the spray hole.

[0016] Furthermore, the spray guide section is a ribbed block body that communicates with the water supply hole and sprays the cleaning water or disinfectant water from the spray hole while oscillating up and down, and has a drainage chamber that guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or disinfectant water in a zigzag pattern.

[0017] In another embodiment, a toilet bowl cleaning method performed by the toilet bowl cleaning device includes: step a, based on an input signal from a cleaning button, opening a water supply valve in the bidet unit to supply cleaning water; step b, if cleaning water is supplied to the bidet unit in step a, activating a hot water heater in the bidet unit to heat the cleaning water; and step c, once the cleaning water heated by the hot water heater in step b reaches a target water temperature, determining whether disinfectant water has been introduced into the cleaning nozzle or if air has been mixed in, and controlling a plurality of sequence operation modes to change the extension distance and horizontal rotation angle of the cleaning nozzle, thereby spraying the cleaning water or disinfectant water onto the surface of the bowl while oscillating it up and down, thereby applying a physical impact to the surface of the toilet bowl and achieving cleaning or disinfection.

[0018] Furthermore, the plurality of sequential operation modes in step c include an immersion mode, a washing mode, a deep washing mode, a flushing mode, and a disinfection mode, which are executed sequentially.

[0019] Furthermore, the immersion mode in step c is a mode for immersing contaminants adhering to the surface of the toilet bowl, and the immersion mode includes: a first step of extending the cleaning nozzle housed on the bottom side of the bidet body; a second step of reciprocating the cleaning nozzle extended in the first step from an initial rotation angle to a maximum rotation angle to rotate it horizontally, while simultaneously guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag pattern with the spray guide inside the nozzle head, thereby repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water onto the surface of the bowl while oscillating it up and down from the spray hole; and a third step of stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle and returning the cleaning nozzle to its initial rotation angle after repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water onto the surface of the bowl while oscillating it up and down due to the reciprocating horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle in the second step.

[0020] Furthermore, the cleaning mode in step c is a mode for removing for the first time by brushing the source of contamination on the surface of the toilet bowl that has been immersed in the immersion mode, and the cleaning mode includes a fourth step in which the extended cleaning nozzle repeatedly performs horizontal rotation at a first rotation angle and horizontal rotation at a second rotation angle smaller than the first rotation angle, and in order to divide the surface of the bowl into partial areas and repeatedly clean it, the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the spray guide part inside the nozzle head and heated cleaning water is repeatedly sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down, and a fifth step in which, when the cleaning nozzle that repeatedly sprays heated cleaning water while oscillating up and down in the fourth step reaches the maximum rotation angle by repeatedly rotating horizontally at the first and second rotation angles, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle is stopped and the cleaning nozzle is returned to the initial rotation angle.

[0021] Furthermore, the deep cleaning mode in step c is a mode for removing contaminants from the surface of the toilet bowl twice by brushing after the cleaning mode, and the deep cleaning mode is a sixth step in which the cleaning nozzle is reciprocated within a first rotation angle range to rotate horizontally, the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the spray guide part inside the nozzle head, and heated cleaning water is repeatedly sprayed from the spray hole onto the upper and lower surfaces of the bowl while oscillating up and down, and based on the sixth step, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle is stopped and the cleaning nozzle The process includes a seventh step of returning the part to its initial rotation angle, an eighth step based on the seventh step of reciprocating the cleaning nozzle part within the range of a second rotation angle to rotate it horizontally, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag pattern with the spray guide part inside the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from the spray hole onto the left and right surfaces of the bowl part while oscillating it up and down, and a ninth step based on the eighth step of stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle part and returning the cleaning nozzle part to its initial rotation angle, wherein steps 6 to 9 are repeated a predetermined number of times.

[0022] Furthermore, the flushing mode in step c is a mode for removing contaminants remaining on the surface of the toilet bowl from which the contaminants have been removed by the deep cleaning mode, and the flushing mode includes a 10th step, based on step b, in which the flushing water is heated or not heated by maintaining the operation or shutdown of the hot water heater, and an 11th step, based on step 9, in which the flushing nozzle is rotated horizontally at its maximum rotation angle, the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the spray guide in the nozzle head, and heated flushing water or unheated room-temperature flushing water is repeatedly sprayed from the spray holes onto the surface of the bowl while oscillating up and down.

[0023] Furthermore, the disinfection mode in step c is a mode for disinfecting the surface of the bowl part of the toilet from which the residual pollution source has been removed by the flushing mode. The disinfection mode is based on the tenth step. With the activation or interruption of the hot water heater maintained, the disinfection water generation unit provided in the bidet main body is activated to generate disinfection water, and the twelfth step of heating or not heating the disinfection water; based on the eleventh step, the cleaning nozzle part is horizontally rotated, and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag manner by the injection guide part in the nozzle head, and the heated disinfected water or the unheated room temperature disinfected water is repeatedly injected onto the surface of the bowl part while swinging up and down from the injection holes; based on the twelfth step, when the hot water heater is activated, after shutting off the hot water heater and the disinfection water generation unit, the fourteenth step of closing the water supply valve opened in step a.

[0024] Furthermore, in the immersion mode, the cleaning mode, and the deep cleaning mode in step c, the heated cleaning water sprayed while swinging up and down from the injection holes is warm water within the range of 35°C to 75°C.

[0025] Furthermore, in the flushing mode and the disinfection mode in step c, the heated or unheated cleaning water sprayed while swinging up and down from the injection holes is warm water or room temperature water within the range of 35°C to 75°C.

[0026] Furthermore, in the immersion mode, the flushing mode, the disinfection mode, the cleaning mode, and the deep cleaning mode in step c, when the cleaning water flows into the nozzle head, the step of mixing air through an air pump provided in the bidet main body is further included.

[0027] Furthermore, in the immersion mode, the flushing mode, and the disinfection mode in step c, the air mixing amount is the first mixing amount, and in the cleaning mode and the deep cleaning mode, the air mixing amount is controlled to be the second mixing amount larger than the first mixing amount.

[0028] Furthermore, in the disinfection mode in step c, the disinfected water generated by the disinfected water generation unit is electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis.

[0029] Furthermore, in step c, the rotation range of the cleaning nozzle unit from the initial rotation angle to the maximum rotation angle is 0° to 360°.

[0030] Furthermore, in step c, the maximum extension distance of the cleaning nozzle unit is 180 mm or less.

Effect of the Invention

[0031] As described above, in the present invention, by spraying cleaning water or disinfected water from the cleaning nozzle unit controlled in the sequence operation mode while swinging it up and down, the cleaning water or disinfected water that is swinging up and down physically impacts the surface of the bowl part of the toilet, not only improving the efficiency of removing foreign matters from the surface of the bowl part of the toilet, but also expanding the cleaning range and / or disinfection range on the surface of the bowl part of the toilet, minimizing the cleaning blind area, and improving the hygiene of the toilet. In addition, by optimizing the structure of the toilet bowl part cleaning device, the cost of the product can be saved.

[0032] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above, and for those skilled in the art, other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood from the description of the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] [Figure 1] It is a structural diagram of a toilet bowl part cleaning device used for the video main body according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] It is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the storage state of the nozzle part of the toilet bowl part cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] It is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the extended state of the nozzle part of the toilet bowl part cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] This is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] An enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure of the nozzle portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] This is an overall flowchart illustrating a method for cleaning the surface of a toilet bowl using a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] This is a flowchart for cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl in immersion mode as a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] This is a flowchart illustrating the cleaning of the surface of the toilet bowl in a sequential operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] This is a flowchart illustrating the deep wash mode, a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention, for cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl; [Figure 10] This is a flowchart illustrating the flushing mode, a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention, for cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl; [Figure 11] This is a flowchart for cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl in a disinfection mode as a sequence operation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] This graph schematically shows the rotation range from the initial rotation angle to the maximum rotation angle of the nozzle part when cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl in the immersion mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13] This graph schematically shows the horizontal rotation range of the nozzle that is extended or fully extended when cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl in the washing mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 14] This graph schematically shows the horizontal rotation range of the nozzle during or after extension when cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl in the deep wash mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 15]This graph schematically shows the rotation range from the initial rotation angle to the maximum rotation angle of the nozzle when the surface of the toilet bowl is being cleaned in the flushing mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 16] This graph schematically shows the rotation range from the initial rotation angle to the maximum rotation angle of the nozzle that is extended or fully extended when cleaning the surface of the toilet bowl in the disinfection mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] The advantages, features, and methods for realizing the present invention will become clearer with reference to the accompanying drawings and the embodiments described below. However, embodiments of the technical concept of the present invention are not limited to those shown below and can be implemented in various forms. These embodiments are merely intended to complete the content of the present invention and to fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art. Embodiments of the technical concept of the present invention are defined solely by the claims.

[0035] The terms used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the invention. Unless otherwise specified in the context, singular nouns are considered to include plural nouns.

[0036] In this specification, terms such as “including” or “having” are used to specify the presence of features, figures, steps, actions, structural elements, parts, or combinations thereof as described in the specification, and should be understood not to preemptively exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, actions, structural elements, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0037] Furthermore, embodiments described herein will be explained with reference to preferred exemplary cross-sectional and / or plan views of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to specific forms given, but include necessary form variations. For example, a region represented by a right angle may be an arc shape or a shape having a predetermined curvature. Accordingly, the regions shown in the accompanying drawings have exemplary attributes, and the forms of the regions shown in the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only to illustrate specific shapes of devices and regions, and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0038] Throughout the specification, the same symbol represents the same component. Therefore, even if a symbol is not mentioned or explained in a corresponding drawing, it can be explained by referring to the same or similar symbol in other drawings. Similarly, even if a symbol is not illustrated, it can be explained by referring to other drawings.

[0039] The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

[0040] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of the toilet bowl cleaning device used in a bidet body according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the retracted state of the nozzle of the toilet bowl cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the extended state of the nozzle of the toilet bowl cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure of the nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, in the toilet bowl cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a water supply valve (not shown) provided in a cleaning water supply pipe (not shown) connected to the bidet body 1 is used to spray cleaning water that flows in at startup or disinfectant water generated by a disinfectant water generation unit (not shown) that generates disinfectant water (electrolyzed water) by electrolysis controlled by the bidet control unit, onto the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2, either heated or unheated at room temperature, or sprayed with air supplied by an air pump, thereby removing contaminants such as foreign matter and limescale adhering to the surface of the bowl portion 2a. The toilet bowl cleaning device includes a cleaning nozzle unit 10, a nozzle head 20, and a spray guide unit 30.

[0042] Here, the washing water supply pipeline, water supply valve, hot water heater, disinfectant water generation unit, air pump, and bidet control unit (not shown) are known technologies related to those formed inside the bidet body 1 as disclosed in Published Patent Application No. 10-2023-0045330 filed by the present inventors, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted below.

[0043] As shown in Figure 2, the washing nozzle 10 is housed on the bottom side of the bidet body 1 which is connected to the toilet bowl 2, and as shown in Figure 3, it may extend and rotate horizontally simultaneously, or extend first and then rotate horizontally sequentially, and may include a first cylindrical part 11, a second cylindrical part 12, and a connecting part 13.

[0044] Here, the storage or extension and horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle section 10 are achieved by a known cylinder-type lifting means controlled by the bidet control unit and a known rotation means driven by a transmission system, as disclosed in Patent Application No. 10-2023-0039589 (filing date: 2023.03.27) pending by the present inventors; therefore, a detailed explanation thereof is omitted below.

[0045] The first cylindrical portion 11 is an L-shaped hollow cylindrical structure and is intended to form a water supply section 11a connected to a water supply pipeline (not shown) for washing water inside the bidet body 1, and has a first internal flow path U1 through which washing water flows.

[0046] The second cylindrical portion 12 is a hollow cylinder structure and is for forming a water outlet portion 12a. It communicates with the first internal flow path U1 and has a second internal flow path U2 through which cleaning water flows.

[0047] Here, the water outlet section 12a is a slot structure that communicates with the second internal flow path U2 of the second cylindrical section 12 and functions as an installation space into which cleaning water flows, and houses the nozzle head 20 into which it is inserted.

[0048] The connecting portion 13 protrudes from one end of the second cylindrical portion 12 and is for guiding the insertion and connection of the first cylindrical portion 11. A keyway 13a and a gasket groove 13b are formed on its outer circumferential surface, and it has a third internal passage U3 that communicates with the first internal passage U1 and the second internal passage U2.

[0049] On the other hand, an opening 11b may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 11, thereby allowing the key 14 to be placed in the keyway 13a via the opening 11b, and the key 14 to be used to connect and fix the first cylindrical portion 11 and the connecting portion 13.

[0050] Furthermore, the gasket groove 13b is for positioning a gasket 15 that is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 11. Thus, the opening 11b may be a C-shaped hole structure, the key 14 may be a C-shaped ring structure positioned in the key groove 13a via the opening 11b, and the gasket 15 may be an O-shaped ring structure or may be a closing ring that is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 11.

[0051] The nozzle head 20 is inserted and coupled to the water outlet 12a side formed in the slot structure as a mounting space for the cleaning nozzle 10, and is configured to spray cleaning water or disinfectant water from the spray hole 21 onto the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2. For this purpose, the nozzle head 20 not only has a water supply hole 22 that communicates with the mounting space, but a spray guide portion 30 may also be formed between the water supply hole 22 and the spray hole 21.

[0052] The spray guide portion 30 is formed on the nozzle head 20 and guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or disinfectant water in a zigzag pattern in order to spray the cleaning water or disinfectant water from the spray hole 21 while oscillating up and down.

[0053] Specifically, the spray guide section 30 is a ribbed block body and has a drainage chamber 31 that communicates with the water supply hole 22, and sprays the cleaning water or disinfectant water from the spray hole 21 while oscillating up and down. The spray guide section 30 guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or disinfectant water in a zigzag pattern by the drainage chamber 31, so when spraying the cleaning water or disinfectant water from the spray hole 21, it sprays the cleaning water or disinfectant water while oscillating up and down, thereby providing a physical impact to the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2.

[0054] As described above, in the toilet bowl cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention, a nozzle head 20, formed as an integrated or separate structure at the other end of the cleaning nozzle section 10, has a spray guide section 30 as a rib-shaped block body having a drainage chamber 31. The spray guide section 30 is configured to guide the discharge flow of cleaning water or disinfectant water introduced through the water supply hole 22 of the nozzle head 20 in a zigzag pattern. As a result, the cleaning water or disinfectant water can be sprayed from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 onto the surface of the bowl section 2a of the toilet bowl 2 while oscillating up and down. Therefore, by applying a physical impact to the surface of the bowl section 2a of the toilet bowl 2 with the cleaning water or disinfectant water oscillating up and down, contaminants such as foreign matter and limescale adhering to the surface of the bowl section 2a can be effectively removed.

[0055] On the other hand, the toilet bowl cleaning device described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 can be controlled by the bidet control unit provided in the bidet unit 1 according to the sequence operation mode. This will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 16.

[0056] First, in step a, when the bidet control unit receives an input signal from the wash button (not shown) located on the operating section of the bidet unit 1, it opens the water supply valve inside the bidet unit 1 to supply wash water.

[0057] Next, in step b, when washing water is supplied to the bidet unit 1, the bidet control unit activates or shuts off the hot water heater in the bidet unit 1 to maintain the washing water in a hot water state within the target water temperature range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or in a room temperature state.

[0058] Furthermore, in step c, once the unheated room temperature water or the washing water heated by the hot water heater reaches the target water temperature, the bidet control unit determines whether disinfectant water has been introduced into the washing nozzle unit 10 housed on the bottom side of the bidet body 1 or whether air has been mixed in, and controls a plurality of sequence operation modes to change the extension distance and horizontal rotation angle of the washing nozzle unit 10, thereby spraying the washing water or disinfectant water onto the surface of the bowl unit 2a while oscillating up and down, thereby applying a physical impact to the surface of the bowl unit 2a of the toilet bowl 2 and achieving cleaning or disinfection.

[0059] Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the sequence of operation modes controlled by the bidet control unit is executed sequentially in the order of immersion mode S10 → washing mode S20 → deep washing mode S30 → flushing mode S40 → disinfection mode S50, and each operation mode will be described in detail below.

[0060] As shown in Figure 7, the immersion mode S10 is a mode for immersing contaminants adhering to the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2, and may include a first to third step.

[0061] As shown in Figure 3, in the first step, after step b, the lifting mechanism is driven and controlled to extend the washing nozzle section 10, which is housed on the bottom side of the bidet body 1, downward.

[0062] Here, the maximum extension distance of the cleaning nozzle section 10 by the lifting mechanism may be 180 mm or less.

[0063] Next, as shown in Figure 12, in the second step, the extended cleaning nozzle section 10 is rotated horizontally by driving and controlling the rotating means, causing it to reciprocate from an initial rotation angle (e.g., 0°) to a maximum rotation angle (e.g., 360°).

[0064] In this case, the cleaning nozzle section 10 may extend and rotate horizontally simultaneously, or it may extend first and then rotate horizontally. When the cleaning nozzle section 10 rotates horizontally, the cleaning water that flows in through the water supply section 11a of the first cylindrical section 11 constituting the cleaning nozzle section 10 can be discharged from the water outlet section 12a via the first internal flow path U1, the third internal flow path U3 of the connecting section 13, and the second internal flow path U2 of the second cylindrical section 12.

[0065] Then, the cleaning water discharged as described above flows into the drain chamber 31 of the spray guide section 30 formed inside the nozzle head 20 via the water supply hole 22 of the nozzle head 20 formed in the water outlet section 12a, and the discharge flow of the cleaning water is further guided in a zigzag pattern, thereby causing the cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 to be repeatedly sprayed onto the surface of the bowl section 2a of the toilet bowl 2 while oscillating up and down, so that the contaminant source on the surface of the bowl section 2a is immersed first.

[0066] Here, the heating temperature of the washing water is limited to the range of 35°C to 75°C, but it can also be subdivided into the range of 35°C to 45°C or the range of 65°C to 75°C.

[0067] Subsequently, in the third step, the heated cleaning water is repeatedly sprayed onto the surface of the bowl portion 2a while being oscillated up and down by the reciprocating horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle portion 10, thereby immersing the contaminant source. Then, in order to execute the next operating mode, namely the cleaning mode S20, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle portion 10 is stopped, and the cleaning nozzle portion 10 is returned to its initial rotation angle to end the immersion mode S10.

[0068] As shown in Figure 8, the cleaning mode S20 is a mode for removing the source of contamination on the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2, which was immersed in the immersion mode S10, by brushing, and may include a fourth and a fifth step.

[0069] As shown in Figure 13, in the fourth step, the extended cleaning nozzle section 10 is repeatedly made to rotate horizontally at a first rotation angle (e.g., angle N) and horizontally at a second rotation angle smaller than the first rotation angle (e.g., angle N1) (N>N1), and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the drain chamber 31 of the spray guide section 30 formed in the nozzle head 20. As a result, warm cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) is repeatedly sprayed from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 onto a portion of the divided area on the surface of the bowl section 2a while oscillating up and down, thereby repeatedly cleaning the surface of the bowl section 2a.

[0070] Then, in the fifth step, when the cleaning nozzle unit, which repeatedly sprays heated cleaning water while oscillating up and down, reaches its maximum rotation angle through repeated horizontal rotation from the first rotation angle to the second rotation angle, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is stopped, and then the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is returned to its initial rotation angle to end the cleaning mode S20.

[0071] As shown in Figure 9, the deep cleaning mode S30 is a mode for removing contaminants from the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2 by brushing twice after the cleaning mode S20 has been performed, and may include steps 6 through 9.

[0072] As shown in Figure 14, in the sixth step, the cleaning nozzle section 10 housed on the bottom side of the bidet body 1 is reciprocated within a first rotation angle (for example, angle N) to rotate horizontally, and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the drain chamber 31 of the spray guide section 30 formed in the nozzle head 20, thereby causing warm cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) to be repeatedly sprayed from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 onto the upper and lower surfaces of the bowl section 2a while oscillating up and down.

[0073] Next, in the seventh step, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is stopped, and then the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is returned to its initial rotation angle.

[0074] As shown in Figure 14, in the subsequent eighth step, the cleaning nozzle section 10 is reciprocated within a second rotation angle range (for example, angle N1) to rotate horizontally, and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the drain chamber 31 of the spray guide section 30 formed in the nozzle head 20, thereby repeatedly spraying warm cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 onto the left and right surfaces of the bowl section 2a while oscillating up and down.

[0075] In the subsequent ninth step, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is stopped, and then the cleaning nozzle unit 10 is returned to its initial rotation angle. In this case, the bidet control unit can remove all sources of contamination from the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2 by repeatedly executing steps 6 through 9 a predetermined number of times.

[0076] As shown in Figure 10, the flushing mode S40 is a mode for removing contaminants remaining on the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2 from which the contaminants have been removed by the deep flush mode S30, and may include steps 10 and 11.

[0077] In the tenth step, building upon step b, the washing water is heated to a temperature of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or kept at room temperature by maintaining the operation or shutdown of the hot water heater.

[0078] As shown in Figure 15, in the subsequent 11th step, the cleaning nozzle section 10 is rotated horizontally at its maximum rotation angle, and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the first drain chamber 31 and the second drain chamber 32 of the spray guide section 30 formed in the nozzle head 20, thereby repeatedly spraying warm cleaning water heated to a range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or unheated room temperature water onto the surface of the bowl section 2a while oscillating up and down from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20, thereby removing any remaining contaminants on the surface of the bowl section 2a of the toilet bowl 2.

[0079] As shown in Figure 11, the disinfection mode S50 is a mode for disinfecting the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2 from which residual contaminants have been removed by the flushing mode S40, and may include steps 12 to 14.

[0080] In the 12th step, while the hot water heater is kept running or shut off, the disinfectant water generating unit provided in the bidet body 1 is activated to generate disinfectant water (or electrolyzed water), and the disinfectant water is heated to a temperature within the range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C), or maintained at room temperature without heating.

[0081] As shown in Figure 16, in the subsequent 13th step, the cleaning nozzle section 10, having reached its maximum extension distance, is rotated horizontally, and the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the drain chamber 31 of the spray guide section 30 formed in the nozzle head 20. As a result, disinfectant water heated to a temperature in the range of 35°C to 75°C (preferably 40°C) or unheated disinfectant water is repeatedly sprayed from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 onto the surface of the bowl section 2a while oscillating up and down, thereby cleaning the bowl section 2a of the toilet bowl 2.

[0082] In the subsequent 14th step, if the hot water heater is activated, the hot water heater and the disinfectant water generation unit are shut off, the water supply valve which was opened in step a is closed, the washing nozzle unit 10 is stored in the bottom surface of the bidet body 1, and the sequence operation mode by the bidet control unit is terminated.

[0083] On the one hand, the bidet control unit controls the sequence operation mode as follows: immersion mode S10 → washing mode S20 → deep washing mode S30 → flushing mode S40 → disinfection mode S50. When cleaning the source of contamination from the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2 with washing water or disinfection water, air may be mixed into the washing water or disinfection water via the air pump in each of the sequence operation modes. In this case, the amount of air mixed in is controlled to be a first amount in the immersion mode S10, the flushing mode S40, and the disinfection mode S50, and the amount of air mixed in is controlled to be a second amount greater than the first amount in the washing mode S20 and the deep washing mode S30, thereby improving the spray efficiency of spraying the washing water or disinfection water from the spray hole 21 of the nozzle head 20 while oscillating up and down.

[0084] On the other hand, as described above, in the sequence operation modes, specifically the immersion mode S10, the washing mode S20, the deep washing mode S30, the flushing mode S40, and the disinfection mode S50, it has been explained that the washing nozzle 10 is sprayed while oscillating up and down by horizontal rotation with the washing nozzle 10 extended. However, the invention is not limited to such literature-based descriptions, and also includes cases in which, during the process of moving the washing nozzle 10 up and down within a range of 180 mm, which is the maximum extension distance, the washing nozzle 10 is rotated horizontally at a first rotation angle, a second rotation angle, and a maximum rotation angle of 360°, with an initial rotation angle of 0° as the reference, thereby spraying the washing water or disinfectant water onto the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the toilet bowl 2 while oscillating up and down. This is to minimize the blind area of ​​washing on the surface of the bowl portion 2a.

[0085] The technical concept of the toilet bowl cleaning device and the toilet bowl cleaning method using the same according to the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings above. However, this is merely an illustrative description of an optimal embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention.

[0086] Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the invention for which protection is sought in the claims, and these modifications are also included within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0087] 1: Bidet unit 2: Toilet 2a: Bowl section 10: Cleaning nozzle section 11: First cylindrical section 11a: Water supply section 11b: Open mouth 12: Second cylindrical section 12a: Demizube 13:Connection part 13a: Keyway 13b: Gasket groove 14: Key 15: Gasket 20: Nozzle head 21: Injection hole 22: Water supply hole 30: Spray guide section 31:Drain room U1: First internal flow path U2: Second internal flow path U3: Third internal channel

Claims

1. A toilet bowl cleaning device, A washing nozzle section is formed on the bottom side of the bidet body attached to the toilet bowl, which extends and rotates horizontally, with a water supply section at one end and a water outlet section at the other end. The toilet bowl comprises a nozzle head formed on the water outlet side of the cleaning nozzle section, which sprays cleaning water or disinfectant water from the spray hole onto the surface of the toilet bowl section, The nozzle head has a water supply hole that communicates with the water outlet, and a spray guide is formed between the water supply hole and the spray hole, the spray guide includes a drain chamber, the drain chamber has a front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall and a lower wall, the drain chamber communicates with the spray hole at the front wall, the drain chamber includes a first section positioned on the opposite side of the water supply hole from the spray hole and extending toward the rear wall, and a second section and a third section extending from the rear wall toward the front wall along the upper wall and the lower wall, respectively, the drain chamber guides the discharge flow of the cleaning water or disinfectant water in a zigzag pattern so that it first passes through the first section and then through the second section and / or the third section to the spray hole, thereby causing the cleaning water or disinfectant water to be sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down.

2. The aforementioned cleaning nozzle section is The water supply section is formed in the bidet body and connected to the water supply pipeline for washing, and the first cylindrical section has a first internal flow path, A second cylindrical portion for forming the water outlet section and having a second internal flow path that communicates with the first internal flow path, The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting portion that protrudes from one end of the second cylindrical portion and guides the insertion and connection of the first cylindrical portion, and which has a third internal flow path that communicates with the first internal flow path and the second internal flow path.

3. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized in that an opening is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion, a key groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion, and a key for fixing the first cylindrical portion and the connecting portion is arranged in the opening and the key groove.

4. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that the opening is a C-shaped hole structure, and the key is a C-shaped ring structure arranged in the connecting portion via the opening.

5. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that a gasket groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion, and a gasket that is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion is arranged in the gasket groove.

6. The toilet bowl cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized in that the water outlet is a slot structure that communicates with the second internal flow path of the second cylindrical portion, functions as an installation space into which cleaning water or disinfecting water flows, and houses the nozzle head into which it is inserted.

7. A method for cleaning the bowl portion of a toilet bowl, wherein the bowl portion is cleaned using the toilet bowl cleaning device described in Claim 1, Step a, based on the input signal from the wash button, opens the water supply valve inside the bidet unit to supply wash water, If washing water is supplied to the bidet unit in step a, step b is performed to activate the hot water heater inside the bidet unit to heat the washing water, A method for cleaning a toilet bowl, comprising step c, in which, once the cleaning water heated by the hot water heater in step b reaches a target water temperature, it is determined whether disinfectant water has been introduced into the cleaning nozzle section described in claim 1 or whether air has been mixed in, and a plurality of sequence operation modes for changing the extension distance and horizontal rotation angle of the cleaning nozzle section are controlled to spray the cleaning water or disinfectant water onto the surface of the bowl section while oscillating it up and down, thereby applying a physical impact to the surface of the toilet bowl section and achieving cleaning or disinfection.

8. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 7, characterized in that the plurality of sequence operation modes in step c include an immersion mode, a washing mode, a deep washing mode, a flushing mode, and a disinfection mode, which are executed in sequence.

9. The immersion mode in step c is a mode for immersing a source of contamination adhering to the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet bowl, The aforementioned immersion mode is, The first step is to extend the cleaning nozzle section housed on the bottom side of the bidet body, In the second step, the extended cleaning nozzle section is reciprocated from an initial rotation angle to a maximum rotation angle to rotate horizontally, while the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the spray guide section inside the nozzle head, thereby repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water onto the surface of the bowl section while oscillating up and down from the spray hole. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the second step, heated cleaning water is repeatedly sprayed onto the surface of the bowl while being oscillated up and down by the reciprocating horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle, and then the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle is stopped and the cleaning nozzle is returned to its initial rotation angle.

10. The cleaning mode in step c is a mode for removing for the first time by brushing the source of contamination on the surface of the bowl portion of the toilet that has been immersed in the immersion mode, The aforementioned cleaning mode is: In the fourth step, the extended cleaning nozzle is repeatedly subjected to horizontal rotation at a first rotation angle and horizontal rotation in the opposite direction at a second rotation angle smaller than the first rotation angle, thereby dividing the surface of the bowl into partial areas and repeatedly cleaning them. This is achieved by guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag pattern using the spray guide section within the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from the spray holes while oscillating up and down. A method for cleaning a toilet bowl according to claim 9, characterized in that, in the fourth step, when the cleaning nozzle, which repeatedly sprays heated cleaning water while oscillating up and down, reaches its maximum rotation angle through repeated horizontal rotation at a first rotation angle and a second rotation angle, the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle is stopped and the cleaning nozzle is returned to its initial rotation angle.

11. The deep cleaning mode in step c is a mode for removing contaminants from the surface of the toilet bowl twice by brushing after the cleaning mode has been performed, The deep cleaning mode described above is The sixth step involves reciprocating the cleaning nozzle within a first rotation angle range to rotate it horizontally, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag pattern with the spray guide inside the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from the spray hole onto the upper and lower surfaces of the bowl while oscillating it up and down. Based on the sixth step described above, the seventh step involves stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle and then returning the cleaning nozzle to its initial rotation angle, Based on the seventh step, the eighth step involves reciprocating the cleaning nozzle within the range of the second rotation angle to rotate it horizontally, guiding the discharge flow in a zigzag pattern with the spray guide inside the nozzle head, and repeatedly spraying heated cleaning water from the spray holes onto the left and right surfaces of the bowl while oscillating it up and down. Based on the eighth step described above, the ninth step includes stopping the horizontal rotation of the cleaning nozzle and then returning the cleaning nozzle to its initial rotation angle, The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 10, characterized in that the sixth to ninth steps are repeated a predetermined number of times.

12. The flushing mode in step c is a mode for removing contaminants remaining on the surface of the toilet bowl portion from which the contaminants have been removed by the deep flush mode, The aforementioned flushing mode is, A tenth step, based on step b, involves heating or not heating the washing water by maintaining the operation or shutdown of the hot water heater, A toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 11, characterized in that it is based on the ninth step, and includes an eleventh step in which the cleaning nozzle is rotated horizontally at the maximum rotation angle, the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the spray guide inside the nozzle head, and heated cleaning water or unheated room-temperature cleaning water is repeatedly sprayed onto the surface of the bowl from the spray hole while oscillating up and down.

13. The disinfection mode in step c is a mode for disinfecting the surface of the toilet bowl from which residual contaminants have been removed by the flushing mode, The aforementioned disinfection mode is, Based on the 10th step, and while maintaining the operation or shutdown of the hot water heater, the disinfectant water generating unit provided in the bidet body is activated to generate disinfectant water, and the disinfectant water is heated or not heated in the 12th step. A thirteenth step is performed based on the eleventh step, in which the cleaning nozzle section, having reached its maximum extension distance, is rotated horizontally, the discharge flow is guided in a zigzag pattern by the spray guide section inside the nozzle head, and heated disinfectant water or unheated room-temperature disinfectant water is repeatedly sprayed from the spray hole onto the surface of the bowl section while oscillating up and down, The toilet bowl cleaning method according to 12, characterized in that, based on the 12th step, a 14th step is to shut off the hot water heater and the disinfectant water generating unit when the hot water heater is activated, and then close the water supply valve that was opened in step a.

14. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 13, characterized in that in the immersion mode, the washing mode, and the deep washing mode in step c, the heated washing water sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down is hot water in the range of 35°C to 75°C.

15. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 13, characterized in that in the flushing mode and the disinfection mode in step c, the heated or unheated cleaning water sprayed from the spray hole while oscillating up and down is hot water or room temperature water in the range of 35°C to 75°C.

16. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 13, further comprising the step in step c of the immersion mode, the washing mode, the deep washing mode, the flushing mode, and the disinfection mode, wherein when the washing water flows into the nozzle head, air is mixed in via an air pump provided in the bidet body.

17. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 16, characterized in that in the immersion mode, the flushing mode and the disinfection mode in step c, the amount of air mixed in is a first amount, and in the washing mode and the deep washing mode, the amount of air mixed in is controlled to a second amount that is greater than the first amount.

18. The method for cleaning a toilet bowl according to claim 13, characterized in that in the disinfection mode in step c, the disinfectant water generated by the disinfectant water generation unit is electrolyzed water generated by electrolysis.

19. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 13, characterized in that in step c, the rotation range from the initial rotation angle to the maximum rotation angle of the cleaning nozzle is 0° to 360°.

20. The toilet bowl cleaning method according to claim 13, characterized in that in step c, the maximum extension distance of the cleaning nozzle is 180 mm or less.

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