Bathroom disinfection system

Abstract

To provide a bathroom sterilization system exhibiting high sterilization effect and enabling suppression of degradation of a member used in a bathroom.SOLUTION: A bathroom sterilization system 20 sterilizing a bathroom has: a sterilized water generating portion 48 generating sterilized water; a water ejecting device 22 having a nozzle portion 32 ejecting the sterilized water; a bathroom drying device 26 vaporizing effective components of the sterilized water ejected from a sterilized water ejecting portion; and a control device 30 controlling the water ejecting device and the bathroom drying device in such a manner that a space accumulation amount, in the bathroom 1, of the effective components of the sterilized water vaporized and / or the effective components of the atomized sterilized water is in a range from 2 μg / L to 5000 μg / L per one hour.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathroom disinfection system for disinfecting a bathroom.

Background Art

[0002] Users are highly dissatisfied with mold and dirt in the bathroom. To suppress this, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, mist-like electrolyzed water (disinfectant water) is sprayed into the bathroom from an electrolyzed water spraying device attached to the ceiling of the bathroom to disinfect the bathroom, and then, a bathroom ventilation fan that ventilates is known.

[0003] Also, as described in Patent Document 2, electrolyzed water is sprayed from an electrolyzed water spraying unit attached to the ceiling of the bathroom to suppress the occurrence of stains such as stickiness caused by yeasts growing on the floor surface of the bathroom, and further, a bathroom heating and ventilation fan that performs a drying operation and a blowing operation thereafter to effectively suppress the growth of yeasts in the bathroom is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, which are the above-mentioned conventional technologies, since the electrolyzed water (disinfectant water) is sprayed from the ceiling of the bathroom, the electrolyzed water accumulates on the visible part and cannot act on the back surface or gaps of the object to be disinfected. Therefore, in conventional devices, electrolyzed water is sprayed, and then the air in the bathroom is circulated by a ventilation fan to allow the electrolyzed water to act. However, if the mist of the sprayed electrolyzed water is fine, the electrolyzed water vaporizes during circulation, and the concentration of the active ingredients in the electrolyzed water decreases. By the time it reaches the back or crevices of the object to be disinfected, the disinfecting effect is lost. Furthermore, the mist of the electrolyzed water adheres to various parts of the bathroom, causing limescale to form and damaging the appearance.

[0006] Therefore, the inventors of the present invention diligently conducted research to solve the problems of the prior art described above. Building upon the conventional method of disinfecting bathrooms by considering factors such as the spray distance, water concentration, and water volume of disinfectant water, they discovered that by dissolving the active ingredients of the disinfectant water that vaporize after spraying—which are not used for disinfection in the conventional method—into the residual water remaining in the bathroom, the disinfectant can reach every corner of the bathroom, thereby disinfecting a wider area within the bathroom.

[0007] The inventors of this invention have further advanced their research and found the optimal range for the amount of "active ingredients in vaporized disinfectant water" and / or "active ingredients in misted disinfectant water" to be accumulated in the space when disinfecting a bathroom, making it possible to suppress the deterioration of materials used in the bathroom.

[0008] This invention was made to solve the problems of the prior art, and aims to provide a bathroom disinfection system that can disinfect over a wide area by obtaining a disinfecting effect even on parts that the disinfecting water cannot directly adhere to, and furthermore, can exhibit a high disinfecting effect while suppressing the deterioration of materials used in the bathroom. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a bathroom disinfection system for disinfecting a bathroom, comprising: a disinfection water generating unit that generates disinfection water; a disinfection water dispensing unit that dispenses disinfection water; a vaporization means for vaporizing the active ingredients of the disinfection water dispensed from the disinfection water dispensing unit; and a control unit that controls the disinfection water device and the vaporization means so that the amount of vaporized active ingredients of the disinfection water and / or the active ingredients of the misted disinfection water accumulated in the bathroom space is in the range of 2 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour. In the present invention configured as described above, disinfectant water is discharged into the bathroom by a disinfectant water device, and the active ingredients of the discharged disinfectant water are vaporized by a vaporization means. Therefore, disinfection can be achieved even in areas where disinfectant water cannot be directly applied (corners, joints, the back of counters, ceilings, upper parts of walls, storage shelves, etc.). Furthermore, in the present invention, the control unit controls the disinfectant water device and the vaporization means so that the amount of active ingredients of the vaporized disinfectant water and / or the active ingredients of the misted disinfectant water accumulated in the bathroom space is in the range of 2 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour. This allows for a high disinfection effect in the bathroom and also suppresses the deterioration of materials used in the bathroom, thus providing a disinfection effect over a long period of time.

[0010] In the present invention, preferably, the amount of gas accumulated in the bathroom space is 8.5 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour. In the present invention configured in this way, the amount of sterilization accumulated in the bathroom space is between 8.5 μg / L and 5000 μg / L per hour, thus achieving a higher sterilization effect while suppressing the deterioration of parts used in the bathroom.

[0011] In the present invention, preferably, the amount of gas accumulated in the bathroom space is 2 μg / L or more and 2500 μg / L or less per hour. In the present invention configured in this way, the amount of germs accumulated in the bathroom space is between 2 μg / L and 5000 μg / L per hour, thus exhibiting a high germicidal effect and suppressing the deterioration of bathroom components for a longer period of time.

[0012] In the present invention, preferably, the amount of gas accumulated in the bathroom space is 8.5 μg / L or more and 2500 μg / L or less per hour. In the present invention configured in this way, the amount of sterilization accumulated in the bathroom space is between 8.5 μg / L and 2500 μg / L per hour, thus exhibiting a higher sterilization effect and suppressing the deterioration of bathroom components for a longer period of time.

[0013] In the present invention, preferably, a ventilation device for ventilating the bathroom is further provided, and the control unit controls the ventilation device and the disinfectant water device so that disinfectant water is discharged from the disinfectant water discharge section of the disinfectant water device after the bathroom has been ventilated by the ventilation device. In the present invention configured in this way, the control unit controls the ventilation device and the disinfectant water device, so that the ventilation device expels excess moisture from the bathroom before discharging the disinfectant water, making it easier to create a desired amount of disinfectant water accumulated in the space.

[0014] In the present invention, preferably, the disinfectant water discharge section of the disinfectant water device discharges disinfectant water intermittently. If the spraying of the disinfectant water continues, the density of the disinfectant water in the vicinity of the disinfectant water spraying area (definition: "disinfectant water concentration" or "amount of disinfectant water dissolved in the air") will reach saturation. As a result, the vaporization efficiency of the disinfectant water will decrease. To solve this problem, in the present invention, the disinfectant water is intermittently discharged, that is, a disinfectant water OFF time (time when the disinfectant water is not sprayed) is periodically provided. By this disinfectant water OFF time, the saturated or nearly saturated air in the vicinity of the disinfectant water spraying area can be replaced, and the decrease in the vaporization efficiency of the disinfectant water can be suppressed. As a result, according to the present invention, the disinfectant water can be spread throughout the bathroom without spraying an unnecessarily large amount of disinfectant water. In addition, by intermittently discharging the disinfectant water, the disinfectant water can be saved compared to continuously spraying the disinfectant water. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress electrode wear and power consumption in the device that generates the disinfectant water.

Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the bathroom disinfection system of the present invention, disinfection can be performed in a wider range than obtaining a disinfection effect up to a part where the disinfectant water cannot directly adhere. Furthermore, a high disinfection effect can be exhibited and deterioration of members used in the bathroom can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing a bathroom in which the bathroom disinfection system according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. [Figure 2] It is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the counter in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a partial cross-sectional view of the water discharge device seen along the line III-III in FIG. 1.​​​​​​​​​​ [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a bathroom drying device of the bathroom sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7(a) shows the "state where the ventilation damper is open", and FIG. 7(b) shows the "state where the ventilation damper is closed". [Figure 8] It is a time chart showing the operation of the bathroom sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing the operation of the bathroom sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a configuration diagram and table for explaining the "sterilized water discharge operation" executed by the bathroom sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a diagram for explaining a part of the principle of the bathroom sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a method for measuring the spatial accumulation amount of the active ingredient of the sterilized water in the bathroom. [Figure 13] It is an explanatory diagram (table) showing the effect on bacteria and mold at the lower limit value of the spatial accumulation amount. [Figure 14] It is a photograph showing the test results of bacteria and mold contamination at the lower limit value of the spatial accumulation amount. [Figure 15] It is an explanatory diagram (table) showing the influence on members at the upper limit value of the spatial accumulation amount. [Figure 16] It is a photograph showing the test results of the influence on members at the upper limit value of the spatial accumulation amount.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bathroom in which the bathroom sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention is used will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the bathroom in which the bathroom sterilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the counter in FIG. 1. As shown in Figure 1, the bathroom 1 comprises a first wall 2, a second wall 4, a third wall 6, and a fourth wall 8 that form four sides of a roughly rectangular parallelepiped. A bathtub 10 is provided on the side of the second wall 4, and a washing area floor 12 is provided below the area between the fourth wall 8 and the bathtub 10. A drain 14 is provided near the bathtub 10 on this washing area floor 12, and hot water is discharged to the outside from this drain 14.

[0018] A counter 16 is provided on a part of the side of the third wall 6. Above the counter 16 on the third wall 6, a mirror, a water tap, a shower hose, etc. are provided. On the underside of the counter 16, a water dispensing device 22 is provided for dispensing disinfectant water and tap water (water), which constitute part of the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment.

[0019] A ceiling 24 is attached to the upper ends of the first wall 2 to the fourth wall 8 described above, and a bathroom drying device 26 is provided on this ceiling 24 for ventilating and drying the air inside the bathroom 1, which constitutes part of the bathroom disinfection system 20. As will be described later, this bathroom drying device 26 is a device for vaporizing the sprayed disinfectant water and corresponds to a "vaporization means". In addition, other methods and devices that can be used to vaporize the disinfectant water include applying heat or air to the disinfectant water, vaporizing it by reducing the pressure, and vaporizing it by applying ultrasound.

[0020] Furthermore, outside the bathroom 1, there is an operation panel 28 for operating the bathroom disinfection system 20 and a control device 30 for operating the water discharge device 22 and the bathroom drying device 26 mentioned above.

[0021] As a variation of this embodiment, the operation panel 28 may be formed as an operation screen displayed on the screen of an electronic device such as a smartphone or remote control. That is, the operation panel 28 may form an operation unit that receives operation input from the user via operation buttons on such an operation screen. In this case, the operation panel 28 of the electronic device such as a smartphone or remote control is electrically connected to the control unit 30 by wireless communication such as the Internet or infrared communication. In other variations, the operation panel 28 may be a voice operation unit that receives operation input from the user via voice input, or a gesture operation unit that receives operation input from the user via gesture input of the user's fingers, etc. (for example, the user's fingers, etc. are detected when the user holds their fingers, etc. over a predetermined space for a certain period of time, and this is detected as operation input and accepted).

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the counter 16 has a top plate 16a and a lower cover 16b, and is installed spaced above the washing area floor 12.

[0023] Next, the water discharge device 22 will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 6. Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the water discharge device along line III-III in Figure 1, Figure 4(a) is a front view showing the nozzle section of the water discharge device, Figure 4(b) is a cross-sectional view along line AA, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing disinfectant water being sprayed from the disinfectant water nozzle opening of the nozzle section of the water discharge device, and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing tap water being sprayed from the stagnant water nozzle opening of the nozzle section of the water discharge device.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, a water discharge device 22 is provided inside the counter 16 (between the top plate 16a and the lower cover 16b), and this water discharge device 22 is equipped with a nozzle portion 32 that protrudes downward from the lower cover 16b of the counter 16. As shown in Figure 2, the nozzle section 32 is positioned below the counter 16, spaced apart from the washing area floor 12. Furthermore, the nozzle section 32 is located near the center of the counter 16 in the lateral direction, that is, near the center of the washing area floor 12 in the lateral direction.

[0025] Returning to Figure 3, the water discharge device 22 is equipped with a first strainer 36, a first solenoid valve 38, a second solenoid valve 40, a pressure regulating valve 42, a vacuum breaker 44, a check valve 46, a disinfectant water generation unit 48, and a second strainer 50. The first strainer 36 is connected to an external water supply pipe (not shown), and downstream of the first strainer 36, the water flow path of the tap water branches into two. Note that the vacuum breaker 44 is not required.

[0026] One of the flow paths 51 downstream of the first strainer 36 is configured to supply tap water directly to the nozzle section 32 via the first solenoid valve 38. By opening the first solenoid valve 38, tap water is supplied to the nozzle section 32. The first solenoid valve 38 and the nozzle section 32 provided in this one flow path 51 spray tap water onto the washing area floor 12, forming residual water on the washing area floor 12, and thus constitute a "residual water forming means".

[0027] The other flow path 52 downstream of the first strainer 36 is connected in the following order from upstream: second solenoid valve 40, pressure regulating valve 42, vacuum breaker 44, check valve 46, disinfectant water generation unit 48, and second strainer 50, to supply disinfectant water to the nozzle unit 32.

[0028] The first solenoid valve 38 and the second solenoid valve 40 are configured to perform the operation of opening the aforementioned water channels 51 and 52 for tap water, and the operation of closing the water channels 51 and 52, respectively.

[0029] The pressure regulating valve 42 controls the pressure of the supplied tap water. This allows the flow rate of tap water supplied to the disinfectant water generation unit 48, which will be described in detail later, to be adjusted to a desired value. By adjusting the flow rate of tap water supplied to the disinfectant water generation unit 48, the flow rate of disinfectant water supplied to the nozzle unit 32 is adjusted. Alternatively, the flow rate of tap water may be adjusted by a second solenoid valve 40 instead of the pressure regulating valve 42, or in addition to the pressure regulating valve 42.

[0030] The disinfectant water generation unit 48 is an electrolytic chamber (electrolytic cell) having an anode and a cathode. The disinfectant water generation unit 48 generates disinfectant water containing hypochlorous acid by applying a voltage between the anode and cathode and electrolyzing tap water flowing between these electrodes. Since tap water contains chloride ions, hypochlorous acid is generated by electrolyzing these chloride ions. Here, the disinfectant water generation unit 48 corresponds to the "disinfectant water generation unit," and the nozzle unit 32 corresponds to the "disinfectant water discharge unit."

[0031] The first solenoid valve 38, the second solenoid valve 40, the pressure regulating valve 42, and the disinfectant water generation unit 48 are appropriately controlled by the control device 30. This allows the spraying of tap water from the nozzle unit 32 and the spraying of disinfectant water from the nozzle unit 32 to be controlled independently of each other.

[0032] Specifically, the first solenoid valve 38 and the second solenoid valve 40 open and close the tap water flow paths 51 and 52 based on signals from the control device 30. This controls the flow rate of tap water supplied to the downstream side. The disinfectant water generation unit 48 also switches the electrolysis chamber ON / OFF based on signals from the control device 30. In this way, the control device 30 can control the concentration of various components in the disinfectant water, the instantaneous flow rate (flow rate per unit time) of the tap water and disinfectant water discharged, and the total amount of disinfectant water discharged.

[0033] The disinfectant water described above is functional water that has the function of reducing bacteria, mold, and yeast, and is, for example, water containing hypochlorous acid. Tap water contains chloride ions, so hypochlorous acid is produced by electrolyzing these chloride ions. As a result, the electrolyzed water changes into a liquid containing hypochlorous acid (HOCl). This hypochlorous acid vaporizes to become disinfectant water gas (Cl2O). This dichlorine monoxide is the active ingredient in disinfectant water gas. The disinfectant water may be water containing metal ions (for example, water containing metal ions such as silver ions, copper ions, or zinc ions) or water containing ozone. For example, when tap water is electrolyzed, acid (H) is present at the cathode. +) is consumed, and the pH rises near the cathode. In other words, alkaline water is produced near the cathode. On the other hand, at the anode, alkali (OH) - As the gas is consumed, the pH decreases near the anode. In other words, acidic water is produced near the anode. By changing the flow rate in the disinfectant water generation unit 48, the concentration of components contained in the disinfectant water can be controlled. In this case, metal ions such as silver ions, copper ions, or zinc ions, or ozone (O3), are vaporized active ingredients. In addition, while the disinfectant water generation unit 48 described above generates disinfectant water by electrolysis, it is not limited to this method, and for example, disinfectant water may be generated by dissolving a disinfectant agent in tap water.

[0034] In this embodiment, "effective" in the context of the active ingredients of vaporized disinfectant water refers to, for example, a reduction rate of 10% or more of bacteria, mold, and yeast attached to the object. More specifically, vaporized disinfectant water is defined as effective when the amount of bacteria, mold, and yeast attached to the object is reduced to 90% or less by the vaporized disinfectant water.

[0035] In this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, the nozzle portion 32 is rotationally driven by an electric motor 53. The electric motor 53 is, for example, a stepping motor. The electric motor 53 is controlled by the control device 30. As a result, the rotation angle and rotation speed of the nozzle section 32 change based on signals from the control device 30, as the electric motor 53 is controlled (see Figure 10). In addition, an operation panel 28 equipped with a switch for starting the disinfection process is connected to the control device 30, allowing bathroom users to perform operations other than disinfection as needed.

[0036] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the nozzle section 32 includes a first water passage section (stagnant water passage section) 54, a second water passage section (disinfectant water passage section) 56, a stagnant water nozzle opening 58 formed in the stagnant water passage section 54, and a disinfectant water nozzle opening 60 formed in the disinfectant water passage section 56.

[0037] The tap water that has passed through the first solenoid valve 38 is supplied into the first water storage section 54 and discharged from the first nozzle opening 58. The disinfected water generated by the disinfected water generation section 48 is supplied into the second water storage section 56 and discharged from the second nozzle opening 60.

[0038] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, tap water is discharged from the stagnant water nozzle opening 58 in a vertical direction, and disinfectant water is discharged from the disinfectant water nozzle opening 60 in a vertical direction. Furthermore, the nozzle section 32 rotates around its axis by the electric motor 53, enabling the discharge of tap water and disinfectant water over a wide horizontal area.

[0039] Next, the bathroom drying device 26 installed on the ceiling 24 of the bathroom 1 will be described with reference to Figure 7. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the bathroom drying device of the bathroom disinfection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 7(a) shows the "ventilation damper open state" and Figure 7(b) shows the "ventilation damper closed state".

[0040] As shown in Figure 7, the bathroom drying device 26 comprises a housing 70, the lower part of which communicates with the interior of the bathroom 1 through an opening 72. A fan 74 is provided inside the housing 70 and rotates by an electric motor, drawing in air from inside the bathroom 1. Furthermore, an exhaust damper 76 and a heater 78 are provided downstream of the fan 74 inside the housing 70. Further downstream of the exhaust damper 76, an exhaust port 80 is provided.

[0041] As shown in Figure 7(a), when the bathroom drying device 26 ventilates the bathroom 1, the exhaust damper 76 is opened, and the air inside the bathroom 1 that has been drawn in by the fan 74 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust port 80.

[0042] Next, as shown in Figure 7(b), first, when heating the bathroom 1 before and during bathing, the exhaust damper 76 is closed, the air inside the bathroom 1 drawn in by the fan 74 is heated by the heater 78, and this heated air returns to the bathroom 1 through the opening 72. In this way, the air inside the bathroom 1 is circulated with the bathroom drying device 26, and the air inside the bathroom 1 is maintained at a desired temperature (for example, 20°C).

[0043] Even when the "disinfectant water discharge" is performed using the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7(b), the exhaust damper 76 is closed, the air inside the bathroom 1 drawn in by the fan 74 is heated by the heater 78, and this heated air returns to the bathroom 1 through the opening 72, so that the air inside the bathroom 1 is circulated between the bathroom 1 and the bathroom drying device 26. At this time, the inside of the bathroom 1 is not ventilated, so the air inside the bathroom 1 is trapped inside the bathroom 1.

[0044] Next, the "pre-washing" and "disinfectant water discharge" performed by the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a time chart showing the operation of the bathroom disinfection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the bathroom disinfection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] First, as shown in Figure 8, for 12 minutes from the start of operation, the bathroom drying device 26 ventilates the air inside the bathroom 1 (see Figure 7(a)), and in this state, the water discharge device 22 sprays water onto the washing area floor 12 of the bathroom 1 to perform a "pre-wash".

[0046] Next, after 12 minutes have elapsed since the start, the bathroom drying device 26 closes the exhaust damper 76 and stops ventilation for 34 minutes (see Figure 7(b)). In this state, the heater 78 is turned ON to warm the air in the bathroom 1 and circulate the warmed air. After 12 minutes have elapsed since the start, the water dispensing device 22 will stop dispensing water for 4 minutes and wait. Then, for 30 minutes, the water dispensing device 22 will intermittently dispense disinfectant water as shown in Figure 10, which will be described later, and then the disinfectant water dispensing will end.

[0047] When the water discharge device 22 is dispensing disinfectant water, the bathroom drying device 26 closes the exhaust damper 76 to stop ventilation, warms the air in the bathroom 1 with the heater 78, and circulates the warmed air. This circulating air causes the discharged disinfectant water to volatilize and vaporize. While the circulation of warmed air is effective in vaporizing the disinfectant water, the disinfectant water can also be vaporized by simply turning off the heater 78 and blowing air.

[0048] The bathroom drying device 26 then keeps the exhaust damper 76 closed and stops ventilation for 26 minutes, and turns off the heater 78 to circulate the air in the bathroom 1. After that, the bathtub drying device 26 opens the exhaust damper 76 and ventilates the air in the bathroom 1 for 24 hours (see Figure 7(a)), and then stops ventilation.

[0049] Next, Figure 9 illustrates the control flow performed by the bathroom disinfection system according to this embodiment. The control flow shown in Figure 9 is fundamentally the same as the explanation in Figure 8 above. In Figure 9, "S" indicates each step.

[0050] As shown in Figure 9, in S1, the switch on the control panel 26 for starting the bathroom disinfection system is turned ON. In S2, the ventilation operation by the bathtub drying device (drying device) 26 is started, and at the same time, the "pre-wash" operation by the water discharge device 22 is also started. Next, proceed to S3 and determine whether 12 minutes have elapsed. Continue operating in S2 until 12 minutes have passed.

[0051] This "pre-wash" operation by the water discharge device 22 allows the necessary amount of residual water to form on the washing area floor 12, and the active ingredients of the vaporized disinfectant water described later dissolve in this residual water, thereby obtaining a further disinfecting effect.

[0052] If it is determined that 12 minutes have elapsed in S3, the process proceeds to S4, where the ventilation operation by the drying device 26 is stopped (the exhaust damper is closed), and the "pre-wash" operation by the water discharge device 22 is also stopped.

[0053] Next, the process proceeds to S5 to determine whether the water discharge device 22 has stopped the "pre-wash" operation and waited for 4 minutes. Until 4 minutes have passed, the process proceeds to S6 to determine whether the temperature inside the bathroom is 20°C or higher. If it is not 20°C or higher, the process proceeds to S7, where the heater 78 of the drying device 26 is turned ON, and a circulation operation is performed to warm and circulate the air inside the bathroom. This operation in S7 is performed immediately after the exhaust of the drying device is stopped in S4, if the temperature inside the bathroom is not 20°C or higher. Furthermore, if it is determined in S6 that the temperature inside the bathroom is 20°C or higher, the process proceeds to S8, where the drying device performs a circulation operation to circulate the air with the exhaust damper closed.

[0054] In S5, if it is determined that the water dispensing device 22 has been waiting for 4 minutes, the process proceeds to S9, and the water dispensing device 22 starts "disinfectant water dispensing". This "disinfectant water dispensing" will be explained in detail later with reference to Figure 11.

[0055] Next, the process proceeds to S10 to determine whether 30 minutes have passed since the water discharge device 22 started "disinfectant water discharge". Until 30 minutes have passed, the process proceeds to S11 to determine whether the bathroom temperature is 20°C or higher. If it is not 20°C or higher, the process proceeds to S12, where the drying device 26 turns on the heater 78 with the exhaust damper 76 closed and performs a circulation operation to warm and circulate the air in the bathroom. This operation in S12 is performed immediately after the disinfectant water discharge by the water discharge device 22 in S9, if the bathroom temperature is not 20°C or higher. Furthermore, if it is determined in S11 that the bathroom temperature is 20°C or higher, the process proceeds to S13, where the drying device 26 performs a circulation operation to circulate the air with the exhaust damper 76 closed.

[0056] In this way, the disinfectant water discharged from the water discharge device 22 is acted upon by circulating air heated by the drying device 26, causing the disinfectant water to vaporize. The active ingredients of this vaporized disinfectant water then dissolve in the residual water remaining on the washing area floor 12, thereby improving the disinfecting effect. Furthermore, if the temperature inside the bathroom is 20°C or higher, the disinfectant water can be easily vaporized even if the heater 78 is turned OFF.

[0057] In S10, if it is determined that 30 minutes have elapsed since the start of disinfectant water discharge by the water discharge device 22, the process proceeds to S14, where the heater 78 of the drying device 26 is turned OFF and the system operates in a circulating manner with the exhaust damper 76 closed. At this time, the "disinfectant water discharge" by the water discharge device 22 is stopped.

[0058] Next, the process proceeds to S15, where it is determined whether 26 minutes have elapsed since the heater 78 of the drying device 26 was turned OFF in S14. If 26 minutes have elapsed, the process proceeds to S16, where the circulation operation of the drying device 26 with the exhaust damper 76 closed is stopped. Next, the process proceeds to S17, where the ventilation operation of the drying device 26 is continued for 24 hours with the exhaust damper 76 open. This completes the bathroom disinfection operation by the bathroom disinfection system according to this embodiment.

[0059] Next, the "disinfectant water discharge operation" performed by the water discharge device 22 will be explained with reference to Figure 10. Figure 10 is a configuration diagram and table illustrating the "disinfectant water discharge operation" performed by the bathroom disinfection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 10, disinfectant water is discharged (sprayed) from the disinfectant water nozzle opening 60 of the nozzle section 32 of the water discharge device 22 toward the washing area floor 12 of the bathroom 1. At this time, the nozzle section 32 can rotate, so it performs operations 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 in order. In operation 7, the nozzle section 32 stops, and no disinfectant water is discharged. The discharge range of the disinfectant water is from 25 degrees to 335 degrees. The angular velocity of rotation of the nozzle section 32 is slow in the central area of ​​the washing area floor 12 (operations 2 and 5) and fast in the side areas (operations 1, 3, 4, and 6), so that as much disinfectant water as possible is sprayed in the central area of ​​the washing area floor 12. Furthermore, operations 1 to 7 are performed for approximately 2.5 minutes, and this intermittent discharge operation of the water discharge device 22 is performed for 12 rotations, so disinfectant water is discharged for a total of approximately 30 minutes.

[0060] Next, with reference to Figure 11, the basic principle of the bathroom disinfection system according to this embodiment will be explained. Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a part of the principle of the bathroom disinfection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 11, conventionally, disinfectant water with chlorine concentration A was sprayed from a nozzle, and it was necessary that the disinfectant water reached the target area where it would exert its effect at a concentration B. Furthermore, the amount of water that landed at the target area and the duration of action were also important.

[0061] In this conventional technology, the disinfectant water sprayed from the nozzle would volatilize (vaporize) before reaching the destination, resulting in a decrease in the concentration of the disinfectant water. Therefore, it was necessary to consider "concentration × amount of water applied × duration of action" when spraying the disinfectant water, making it difficult to disinfect a wide area of ​​the bathroom.

[0062] Here, since the active ingredients of the disinfectant water that volatilize (vaporize) between the time the disinfectant water leaves the nozzle and the point of application are not utilized in the disinfection process, the inventors have discovered that these volatilized (vaporized) active ingredients of the disinfectant water can be utilized in the disinfection process. Specifically, the volatilized (vaporized) disinfectant water is dissolved in the residual water remaining on the washing area floor, bathtub apron, back of the counter, walls, etc., through the aforementioned "pre-washing" operation, thereby utilizing the active ingredients of the vaporized disinfectant water and enabling disinfection over a wide area.

[0063] Next, the present inventors have found that when disinfectant water is discharged into a bathroom, if the control device 30 discharges disinfectant water using the disinfectant water generation unit 48 of the water discharge device 22 and vaporizes the disinfectant water using the bathroom drying device 26, such that the amount of active ingredients of the vaporized disinfectant water and / or misted disinfectant water accumulated in the space within the bathroom 1 is in the range of 2 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour, then an excellent disinfecting effect can be obtained, and furthermore, deterioration of materials used in the bathroom can be suppressed. Furthermore, as will be described later, the inventors have also found that the spatial accumulation amount may be in the range of 8.5 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour, in the range of 2 μg / L or more and 2500 μg / L or less per hour, and even in the range of 8.5 μg / L or more and 2500 μg / L or less per hour.

[0064] Next, Figure 12 illustrates an example of a method for measuring the spatial accumulation amount of the active ingredient in the disinfectant water in the bathroom described above. First, the amount of active ingredients in the bathroom's airborne disinfectant solution can be determined by the following measurement method, which determines the amount of dissolved "active ingredients in vaporized disinfectant solution" and / or "active ingredients in misted disinfectant solution" in water. The amount of dissolved active ingredients in vaporized and / or misted disinfectant water can be measured by fluorescence intensity measurement using a fluorescent reagent for detecting reactive oxygen species (Aminophenyl Fluorescein) (commonly known as APF solution). The measurement method involves adding 1.5 ml of a solution (hereinafter referred to as "APF solution") prepared by diluting "APF reagent manufactured by Goryo Chemical Co., Ltd." 5000 times with "0.1 mol / L phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd." to a Petri dish 90 with a diameter of 22 mm and a height of 7 mm from the base.

[0065] Next, as shown in Figure 12, before operating the bathroom disinfection system 20, nine petri dish mounting fixtures 92 are attached to four walls (first wall 2, second wall 4, third wall 6, and fourth wall 8) in the bathroom, and the nine petri dishes 90 (90-1 to 90-9) mentioned above are placed on these petri dish mounting fixtures 92. Here, the second wall 4 is used as the reference plane. Four petri dishes 90-1 to 90-4 are placed on the second wall 2, second wall 4, third wall 6, and fourth wall 8, located at a height H1 (=10-15cm) from the ceiling 24 at the four corners of the ceiling 24. Four petri dishes 90-5 to 90-8 are placed in the horizontal and vertical centers of each wall 2, 4, 6, and 8. Petri dish 90-9 is placed in the horizontal center of the fourth wall 8 and at a height H2 (=5-10cm) from the washing area floor 12. If a petri dish cannot be placed in the designated location, that petri dish may be excluded from the measurement.

[0066] Next, the disinfectant water generation unit 48 of the water discharge device 22 and the bathroom drying device 28 are operated, and nine petri dishes 90 are collected after one hour. If the disinfectant water is directly mixed into a petri dish 90 and the mixture of APF solution and disinfectant water in the petri dish 90 overflows from the petri dish 90, that petri dish is excluded from the measurement.

[0067] Next, the fluorescence emission intensity in the recovered petri dish 90 is measured using a spectrofluorometer, and the amount of dissolved active ingredient in the vaporized and / or misted hypochlorous acid water is calculated from this measurement result. In this measurement method, the average value of the dissolved amount (μg) at the nine measurement points in bathroom 1 is calculated as the spatial accumulation amount (μg / L). Here, a Shimadzu RF-5300PC spectrofluorometer is used, with measurements taken at an excitation wavelength of 490 nm and an emission wavelength of 515 nm. The calibration curve is determined by directly adding hypochlorous acid water of known concentration to the APF solution and measuring the resulting emission intensity. In this embodiment, by using the measurement method described above, the amount of dissolved active ingredients in the vaporized or misted disinfectant water in the bathroom (i.e., the amount accumulated in the space) can be measured.

[0068] Next, we will explain the experimental results conducted by the inventors with reference to Figures 13 to 16. Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram (table) showing the effect on bacteria and mold at the lower limit of spatial accumulation, Figure 14 is a photograph showing the test results of bacteria and mold staining at the lower limit of spatial accumulation, Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram (table) showing the effect on the material at the upper limit of spatial accumulation, and Figure 16 is a photograph showing the test results of bacteria and mold staining at the upper limit of spatial accumulation.

[0069] First, Figure 13 shows the relationship between the amount of active ingredients in vaporized and / or misted disinfectant water accumulated in the bathroom (μg / L) and its effect on bacteria and mold. As is clear from the experimental results shown in Figure 13, when the spatial accumulation is 1 μg / L, the amount of disinfectant water discharged is small, so there is almost no effect on bacteria and mold. Next, in the spatial accumulation range of 2 μg / L to 8.4 μg / L, as indicated by (△), the effect is not large, but there is a difference compared to the cases where the spatial accumulation is 0 and 1 μg / L.

[0070] Furthermore, in the range where the spatial accumulation is 8.5 μg / L or higher, the level of contamination is below the level requiring cleaning. Thus, it was found that when the spatial accumulation is 2 μg / L or higher, there is an effect against bacterial and mold contamination, and when the spatial accumulation is 8.5 μg / L or higher, there is an even greater effect against bacterial and mold contamination.

[0071] Figure 14 shows photographs illustrating the presence of bacteria and mold on the washing area floor, the back of the counter, and the walls. When the spatial accumulation is 0 μg / L and 1 μg / L, there is no effect on the bacteria and mold, and the bacteria and mold are noticeable. In the range of spatial accumulation from 2 μg / L to 8.4 μg / L, the treatment is effective against bacteria and mold. Furthermore, it can be seen that when the spatial accumulation exceeds 8.5 μg / L, a greater effect against bacteria and mold is observed.

[0072] Next, Figure 15 shows the relationship between the amount of active ingredients in vaporized disinfectant water and / or misted disinfectant water accumulated in the bathroom (μg / L) and the effect on materials used in the bathroom. As is clear from the experimental results shown in Figure 15, in the range where the amount of spatial accumulation is less than 2500 μg / L, there is no effect on the materials (i.e., no deterioration). Next, in the range of spatial accumulation from 2500 μg / L to 5000 μg / L, as indicated by (△), the materials begin to deteriorate gradually, but not to the extent that it affects the function of the materials. Furthermore, in the range where the amount of spatial accumulation exceeds 5000 μg / L, the materials deteriorate significantly.

[0073] Figure 15 shows photographs illustrating the deterioration state of various components used in a bathroom, including a faucet cover, countersunk wood screws, and heater terminals. It can be seen that the deterioration of the components progresses as the spatial accumulation increases from 2500 μg / L to 5000 μg / L. As mentioned above, the function of the components will not be affected as long as the spatial accumulation does not exceed 5000 μg / L.

[0074] Next, the effects and benefits of the bathroom disinfection system 20 of this embodiment will be described. Firstly, in the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment, disinfectant water is discharged into the bathroom by the water discharge device 22, and the active ingredients of the discharged disinfectant water are vaporized by the bathroom drying device 26. Therefore, disinfection effects can be obtained even in areas where disinfectant water cannot be directly applied (corners, joints, the back of counters, ceilings, upper parts of walls, storage shelves, etc.). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control device 30 controls the water discharge device 22 and the bathroom drying device 26 so that the amount of active ingredients of the vaporized disinfectant water and / or the active ingredients of the misted disinfectant water accumulated in the bathroom space is in the range of 2 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour. Therefore, a high disinfection effect can be exerted in the bathroom, and furthermore, deterioration of materials used in the bathroom can be suppressed, so that the disinfection effect can be maintained for a long period of time.

[0075] Secondly, in the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment, the amount of septic gas accumulated in the bathroom 1 is 8.5 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour, so that a higher disinfection effect can be achieved and deterioration of the parts used in the bathroom can be suppressed.

[0076] Thirdly, in the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment, the amount of air accumulated in the bathroom 1 is between 2 μg / L and 2500 μg / L per hour, so it exhibits a high disinfection effect and can suppress the deterioration of parts used in the bathroom for a longer period of time.

[0077] Fourth, in the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment, the amount of septic gas accumulated in the bathroom 1 is 8.5 μg / L or more and 2500 μg / L or less per hour, so it can exhibit a higher disinfection effect and suppress the deterioration of parts used in the bathroom for a longer period of time.

[0078] Fifth, in the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment, the control device 30 controls the bathroom drying device 26 and the water discharge device 22 so that the bathroom drying device 22 removes excess moisture from the bathroom 1 before discharging the disinfecting water, making it easier to form the desired amount of disinfecting water accumulated in the space.

[0079] Sixth, if disinfectant water is continuously sprayed, the disinfectant water density (definition: "disinfectant water concentration" or "amount of disinfectant water that can dissolve in the air") near the disinfectant water spraying area will become saturated. As a result, the vaporization efficiency of the disinfectant water will decrease. To solve this, in the bathroom disinfection system 20 according to this embodiment, the water discharge device 22 intermittently discharges disinfectant water, that is, a disinfectant water OFF time (a time when disinfectant water is not sprayed) is periodically provided. This disinfectant water OFF time replaces the saturated or nearly saturated air near the disinfectant water spraying area, thereby suppressing a decrease in the vaporization efficiency of the disinfectant water. As a result, according to this embodiment, disinfectant water can be distributed throughout the bathroom without spraying an unnecessarily large amount of disinfectant water. In addition, by intermittently discharging disinfectant water, disinfectant water can be saved compared to continuously spraying disinfectant water, and furthermore, electrode wear and power consumption in the device that generates the disinfectant water can be suppressed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1 bathroom 10 Bathtubs 12 Washing area floor 14 Drain 16 counters 20 Bathroom disinfection system 22 Water discharge device 26 Bathroom drying equipment 30 Control device 32. Nozzle section (disinfectant water discharge section) 48 Sterilization water generation section 51, 52 Channels 53 Electric motor 58 Nozzle opening for stagnant water 60 Nozzle opening for disinfectant water 74 Fans 76 Exhaust damper 78 Heater 80 Outlet 90 Petri dishes

Claims

1. A bathroom disinfection system that disinfects the bathroom, A disinfectant water device comprising a disinfectant water generating unit that generates disinfectant water and a disinfectant water dispensing unit that dispenses disinfectant water, A vaporization means for vaporizing the active ingredients of the disinfectant water discharged from the disinfectant water discharge unit, A control unit operates the vaporization means while the disinfectant water device is operating, such that the amount of active ingredients of the vaporized disinfectant water and / or the misted disinfectant water accumulated in the bathroom space is in the range of 2 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour. A bathroom disinfection system characterized by having the following features.

2. The bathroom disinfection system according to claim 1, wherein the amount of gas accumulated in the bathroom space is 8.5 μg / L or more and 5000 μg / L or less per hour.

3. The bathroom disinfection system according to claim 1, wherein the amount of septic material accumulated in the bathroom space is 2 μg / L or more and 2500 μg / L or less per hour.

4. The bathroom disinfection system according to claim 1, wherein the amount of gas accumulated in the bathroom space is 8.5 μg / L or more and 2500 μg / L or less per hour.

5. Furthermore, the bathroom disinfection system according to claim 1, further comprising a ventilation device for ventilating the bathroom, wherein the control unit controls the ventilation device and the disinfectant water device so that disinfectant water is discharged from the disinfectant water discharge section of the disinfectant water device after the bathroom has been ventilated by the ventilation device.

6. The bathroom disinfection system according to claim 1, wherein the disinfectant water discharge section of the disinfectant water device discharges disinfectant water intermittently.

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