U.S. patent application number 13/514878 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-29 for automatic faucet.
This patent application is currently assigned to LIXIL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Nobuaki Itazu, Ryousuke Yoshitani.
Application Number | 20120297534 13/514878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44145702 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120297534 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Itazu; Nobuaki ; et
al. |
November 29, 2012 |
AUTOMATIC FAUCET
Abstract
A cylindrical water spout member is provided inside the tip
section of the water spout pipe, the optical fiber on the light
projection side and the optical fiber on the light receiving side
are passed inside the water spout pipe up to the tip section of the
water spout pipe, and the tips of the optical fibers configure a
light projection section and a light receiving section. Moreover,
fitting convex section are provided on the outer surfaces of the
tip sections of the optical fibers, and the fitting concave
sections are provided on the outer surface of the water spout
member. The tip sections of the optical fibers are fixed in a
positioned state based on the concave-convex fitting.
Inventors: |
Itazu; Nobuaki; (Koto-ku,
JP) ; Yoshitani; Ryousuke; (Koto-ku, JP) |
Assignee: |
LIXIL CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
44145702 |
Appl. No.: |
13/514878 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2010/072276 |
371 Date: |
August 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/623 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/057 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/623 |
International
Class: |
E03C 1/05 20060101
E03C001/05 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 10, 2009 |
JP |
2009-281030 |
Claims
1. An automatic faucet, in which a cylindrical water spout member
forming a water spout as a tip of a water path in a water spout
pipe is provided inside the tip section of the water spout pipe, an
optical fiber on a light projection side for guiding light from a
light emitting element and an optical fiber on a light receiving
side for guiding a reflected light from a detection target to a
light receiving element are passed inside the water spout pipe up
to the tip section of the water spout pipe, the tip of the optical
fiber on the light projection side configures a light projection
section, and the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving
side configures a light receiving section, and in which water is
discharged from the water spout based on the detection of the
detection target using an optical sensor, wherein a fitting convex
section is provided in one of an outer surface of the tip section
of each of the optical fiber on the light projection side and the
optical fiber on the light receiving side and a fiber holding
section of the outer surface of the water spout member, and a
fitting concave section corresponding to that is provided in the
other thereof, and wherein the tip sections of the optical fibers
are fixed in a positioned state based on the concave-convex fitting
of the fitting convex section and the fitting concave section.
2. The automatic faucet according to claim 1, further comprising a
cover that covers a fixing section of the tip sections of the
optical fibers to the outer surface of the water spout member.
3. An automatic faucet, in which a cylindrical water spout member
forming a water spout as a tip of a water path in a water spout
pipe is provided inside the tip section of the water spout pipe, an
optical fiber on a light projection side for guiding light from a
light emitting element and an optical fiber on a light receiving
side for guiding a reflected light from a detection target to a
light receiving element are passed inside the water spout pipe up
to the tip section of the water spout pipe, the tip of the optical
fiber on the light projection side configures a light projection
section, and the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving
side configures a light receiving section, and in which water is
discharged from the water spout based on the detection of the
detection target using an optical sensor, wherein a fitting convex
section is provided in one of an outer surface of the tip section
of each of the optical fiber on the light projection side and the
optical fiber on the light receiving side and a fiber holding
section of the cover fixed to the water spout member in a state of
covering the outer surface of the water spout member, a fitting
concave section corresponding to that is provided on the other
thereof, and wherein the tip sections of the optical fibers are
fixed in a positioned state based on a concave-convex fitting of
the fitting convex section and the fitting concave section.
4. An automatic faucet, in which a cylindrical water spout member
forming a water spout as a tip of a water path in a water spout
pipe is provided inside the tip section of the water spout pipe, an
optical fiber on a light projection side for guiding light from a
light emitting element and an optical fiber on a light receiving
side for guiding a reflected light from a detection target to a
light receiving element are passed inside the water spout pipe up
to the tip section of the water spout pipe, the tip of the optical
fiber on the light projection side configures a light projection
section, and the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving
side configures a light receiving section, respectively, and in
which water is discharged from the water spout based on the
detection of the detection target using an optical sensor, wherein
a groove as a fiber holding section holding the tip sections of the
optical fibers is provided on both of the outer surface of the
water spout member and the inner surface of the cover that covers
the outer surface in a state of facing each other, and the tip
section of the optical fiber is fitted into the grooves, and
wherein a fitting convex section is provided in one of the outer
surface of the tip sections of the optical fibers and the inner
surfaces of the grooves, a fitting concave section is provided in
the other thereof, and wherein the tip sections of the optical
fibers are fixed in a positioned state based on a concave-convex
fitting of the fitting convex section and the fitting concave
section.
5. The automatic faucet according to claim 1, wherein the tip
sections of the optical fibers are placed and fixed in a straight
line shape to be parallel to a pipe axis of the water spout
pipe.
6. An automatic faucet comprising: a water spout member that is
provided inside a tip section of a water spout pipe and forms a
water spout; a light projection section having a first optical
fiber that guides light from a light emitting element; and a light
receiving section having a second optical fiber that guides a
reflected light from a detection target to a light receiving
element, the automatic faucet discharging water from the water
spout based on the detection of the detection target using an
optical sensor, wherein the first optical fiber has a first fitting
convex section, and the second optical fiber has a second fitting
convex section, and wherein the water spout member has a first
fitting concave section fitted to the first fitting convex section
and a second fitting concave section fitted to the second fitting
convex section.
7. The automatic faucet according to claim 6, further comprising: a
cover that covers the water spout member, the cover having a third
fitting concave section which is fitted to the first fitting convex
section of the first optical fiber provided in the water spout
member, and a fourth fitting concave section which is fitted to the
second fitting convex section of the second optical fiber provided
in the water spout member.
8. An automatic faucet comprising: a water spout member that is
provided inside a tip section of a water spout pipe and forms a
water spout; a light projection section having a first optical
fiber that guides light from a light emitting element; a light
receiving section having a second optical fiber that guides a
reflected light from a detection target to a light receiving
element; and a cover that covers the water spout member, the
automatic faucet discharging water from the water spout based on
the detection of the detection target using an optical sensor,
wherein the first optical fiber has a first fitting convex section
and the second optical fiber has a second fitting convex section,
and wherein the cover has a first fitting concave section fitted to
the first fitting convex section and a second fitting concave
section fitted to the second fitting convex section.
9. A water spout unit of an automatic faucet comprising: a water
spout member that is provided inside a tip section of a water spout
pipe and forms a water spout; a light projection section having a
first optical fiber that guides light from a light emitting
element; a light receiving section having a second optical fiber
that guides a reflected light from a detection target to a light
receiving element; and a cover that covers the water spout member,
wherein the first optical fiber has a first fitting convex section,
and the second optical fiber has a second fitting convex section,
wherein the water spout member has a first fitting concave section
fitted to the first fitting convex section and a second fitting
concave section fitted to the second fitting convex section, and
wherein the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are
fixed by the water spout member and the cover.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic faucet which
automatically discharges water from a water spout based on the
detection of a detection target using an optical sensor, and
specifically, to a fixing structure of a tip section of an optical
fiber.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Now, an automatic faucet in a public toilet, a lavatory or
the like has been widely used which has an optical sensor
(hereinafter, simply referred to as a sensor) that projects light
from a light projection section provided in a tip section of a
water spout pipe and then receives the reflected light from a
detection target such as the hand of a user or the like by a light
receiving section provided in the water spout pipe to detect the
detection target, and thus automatically discharges water based on
the detection using the sensor.
[0003] Generally, the sensor determines that there is a detection
target when a light receiving amount is greater than the set
threshold value.
[0004] In such an automatic faucet, previously, in many cases, the
light projection section and the light receiving section have been
provided in the tip section of the water spout pipe.
[0005] Meanwhile, in the automatic faucet of the related art, a
light emitting element such as an LED emitting the light as the
light projection section and the light receiving element such as a
photodiode and a phototransistor as the light receiving section
have been placed in the tip section of the water spout pipe, and a
sensor circuit, which includes a light emitting drive circuit for
emitting the light using the light emitting element and a
photoelectric conversion circuit for converting the light received
by the light receiving element into an electric signal to perform
the signal processing has been provided in the tip section of the
water spout pipe in the state of being connected to the light
emitting element and the light receiving element.
[0006] For example, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2
disclose an automatic faucet which is formed by providing the light
emitting element, the light receiving element, and the sensor
including the sensor circuit in the tip section of the water spout
pipe.
[0007] However, as disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent
Literature 2, in the case of the automatic faucet provided with the
light emitting element, the light receiving element, and the sensor
including the sensor circuit in the tip section of the water spout
pipe, the shape of the tip section of the water spout pipe has been
inevitably increased in size, and there has been a problem in that
the size of the overall water spout pipe is increased along with
this and the design is degraded.
[0008] In the related art, an automatic faucet has been known in
which a sensor main body including the light emitting element and
the light receiving element is placed outside the water spout pipe,
an optical fiber on the light projection side to guide the light
from the light emitting element of the sensor main body and an
optical fiber on the light receiving side to guide the reflected
light from the detection target to the light receiving element are
passed inside an inner part of the water spout pipe up to the tip
section of the water spout pipe, so that the light projection
section is formed in the tip of the optical fiber on the light
projection side and the light receiving section is formed in the
tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving side,
respectively.
[0009] For example, Patent Literature 3 and Patent Literature 4
disclose this type of automatic faucet using optical fiber.
[0010] In this manner, in a case where the sensor main body is
placed outside the water spout pipe, the optical fibers are passed
inside the water spout pipe up to the tip section of the water
spout pipe, and the light projection section and the light
receiving section are configured in the tips of the optical fibers,
it is possible to reduce the size of the water spout pipe compared
to a case of providing the sensor main body in the tip section of
the water spout pipe.
[0011] However, in a case of configuring the light projection
section and the light receiving section in the tips of the optical
fibers passed into the water spout pipe, a fixing structure of the
tip section of each of the optical fiber on the light projection
side and the optical fiber on the light receiving side becomes a
problem.
[0012] Depending on the fixing structure, the assembling work of
the tip section of the optical fiber to the water spout pipe, and a
work when removing the tip section of the optical fiber from the
water spout pipe to perform the maintenance work become difficult,
and the tip section of the water spout pipe is increased in size
depending on the situation.
[0013] However, Patent Literature 3 and Patent Literature 4 do not
specifically disclose the fixing structure of the tip section of
the optical fiber.
REFERENCES
Patent Literature
[0014] [Patent Literature 1] JP-A-2009-133103 [0015] [Patent
Literature 2] JP-A-2002-70096 [0016] [Patent Literature 3]
JP-UM-A-3-125862 [0017] [Patent Literature 4] JP-A-5-311709
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0018] The present invention has been made based on such
background, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic faucet
which is able to easily fix and separate each tip section of the
optical fiber on the light projection side and the optical fiber on
the light receiving side for configuring the light projection
section and the light receiving section, which is able to have
satisfactory workability when assembling the tip section of the
optical fiber and workability during maintenance, and which is able
to maintain the tip section of the water spout pipe in a small
size.
Solution to Problem
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0019] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an
automatic faucet, in which a cylindrical water spout member forming
a water spout as a tip of a water path in a water spout pipe is
provided inside the tip section of the water spout pipe, an optical
fiber on a light projection side for guiding light from a light
emitting element and an optical fiber on a light receiving side for
guiding a reflected light from a detection target to a light
receiving element are passed inside the water spout pipe up to the
tip section of the water spout pipe, the tip of the optical fiber
on the light projection side configures a light projection section,
and the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving side
configures a light receiving section, and in which water is
discharged from the water spout based on the detection of the
detection target using an optical sensor, wherein a fitting convex
section is provided in one of an outer surface of the tip section
of each of the optical fiber on the light projection side and the
optical fiber on the light receiving side and a fiber holding
section of the outer surface of the water spout member, and a
fitting concave section corresponding to that is provided in the
other thereof, and wherein the tip sections of the optical fibers
are fixed in a positioned state based on the concave-convex fitting
of the fitting convex section and the fitting concave section.
[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in
the first aspect, a cover is further provided to cover a fixing
section of the tip sections of the optical fibers to the outer
surface of the water spout member.
[0021] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an
automatic faucet, in which a cylindrical water spout member forming
a water spout as a tip of a water path in a water spout pipe is
provided inside the tip section of the water spout pipe, an optical
fiber on a light projection side for guiding light from a light
emitting element and an optical fiber on a light receiving side for
guiding a reflected light from a detection target to a light
receiving element are passed inside the water spout pipe up to the
tip section of the water spout pipe, the tip of the optical fiber
on the light projection side configures a light projection section,
and the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving side
configures a light receiving section, and in which water is
discharged from the water spout based on the detection of the
detection target using an optical sensor, wherein a fitting convex
section is provided in one of an outer surface of the tip section
of each of the optical fiber on the light projection side and the
optical fiber on the light receiving side and a fiber holding
section of the cover fixed to the water spout member in a state of
covering the outer surface of the water spout member, a fitting
concave section corresponding to that is provided on the other
thereof, and wherein the tip sections of the optical fibers are
fixed in a positioned state based on a concave-convex fitting of
the fitting convex section and the fitting concave section.
[0022] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an
automatic faucet, in which a cylindrical water spout member forming
a water spout as a tip of a water path in a water spout pipe is
provided inside the tip section of the water spout pipe, an optical
fiber on a light projection side for guiding light from a light
emitting element and an optical fiber on a light receiving side for
guiding a reflected light from a detection target to a light
receiving element are passed inside the water spout pipe up to the
tip section of the water spout pipe, the tip of the optical fiber
on the light projection side configures a light projection section,
and the tip of the optical fiber on the light receiving side
configures a light receiving section, respectively, and in which
water is discharged from the water spout based on the detection of
the detection target using an optical sensor, wherein a groove as a
fiber holding section holding the tip sections of the optical
fibers is provided on both of the outer surface of the water spout
member and the inner surface of the cover that covers the outer
surface in a state of facing each other, and the tip section of the
optical fiber is fitted into the grooves, and wherein a fitting
convex section is provided in one of the outer surface of the tip
sections of the optical fibers and the inner surfaces of the
grooves, a fitting concave section is provided in the other
thereof, and wherein the tip sections of the optical fibers are
fixed in a positioned state based on a concave-convex fitting of
the fitting convex section and the fitting concave section.
[0023] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any
one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the
tip sections of the optical fibers are placed and fixed in a
straight line shape so as to be parallel to a pipe axis of the
water spout pipe.
[0024] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an
automatic faucet comprises, a water spout member that is provided
inside a tip section of a water spout pipe and forms a water spout;
a light projection section having a first optical fiber that guides
light from a light emitting element; and a light receiving section
having a second optical fiber that guides a reflected light from a
detection target to a light receiving element, the automatic faucet
discharging water from the water spout based on the detection of
the detection target using an optical sensor, wherein the first
optical fiber has a first fitting convex section, and the second
optical fiber has a second fitting convex section, and wherein the
water spout member has a first fitting concave section fitted to
the first fitting convex section and a second fitting concave
section fitted to the second fitting convex section.
[0025] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in
the sixth aspect of the present invention, a cover is further
provided to cover the water spout member, the cover having a third
fitting concave section which is fitted to the first fitting convex
section of the first optical fiber provided in the water spout
member, and a fourth fitting concave section which is fitted to the
second fitting convex section of the second optical fiber provided
in the water spout member.
[0026] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, an
automatic faucet comprising: a water spout member that is provided
inside a tip section of a water spout pipe and forms a water spout;
a light projection section having a first optical fiber that guides
light from a light emitting element; a light receiving section
having a second optical fiber that guides a reflected light from a
detection target to a light receiving element; and a cover that
covers the water spout member, the automatic faucet discharging
water from the water spout based on the detection of the detection
target using an optical sensor, wherein the first optical fiber has
a first fitting convex section and the second optical fiber has a
second fitting convex section, and wherein the cover has a first
fitting concave section fitted to the first fitting convex section
and a second fitting concave section fitted to the second fitting
convex section.
[0027] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a
water spout unit of an automatic faucet comprising: a water spout
member that is provided inside a tip section of a water spout pipe
and forms a water spout; a light projection section having a first
optical fiber that guides light from a light emitting element; a
light receiving section having a second optical fiber that guides a
reflected light from a detection target to a light receiving
element; and a cover that covers the water spout member, wherein
the first optical fiber has a first fitting convex section, and the
second optical fiber has a second fitting convex section, wherein
the water spout member has a first fitting concave section fitted
to the first fitting convex section and a second fitting concave
section fitted to the second fitting convex section, and wherein
the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are fixed by
the water spout member and the cover.
Effects of the Invention
[0028] As mentioned above, according to the first aspect of the
present invention, a fitting convex section is provided in one of
the outer surface of the tip section of each of the optical fiber
on the light projection side and the optical fiber on the light
receiving side and a fiber holding section of the outer surface of
the cylindrical water spout member forming the water spout of the
tip of the water path in the water spout pipe, a fitting concave
section corresponding to that is provided on the other thereof, and
the tip sections of the optical fibers are fixed in a positioned
state based on the concave-convex fitting of the fitting convex
section and the fitting concave section. According to the present
invention, it is easily possible to fix each tip section of the
optical fiber on the light projection side and the optical fiber on
the light receiving side to the tip section of the water spout pipe
via the water spout member by the concave-convex fitting and also
the release of the fixing is easy, and thus it is possible to
perform the work with good workability when assembling the tip
section of the optical fibers to the water spout pipe, and also the
fixing release thereof is easy, so that it is also possible to
perform the work with good workability when detaching and
maintaining the top section of the optical fibers from the water
spout pipe.
[0029] In the present invention, it is possible to directly fix the
tip section of each of the optical fiber on the light projection
side and the optical fiber on the light receiving side to the water
spout member, so that it is possible to reduce the size of the tip
section of the water spout pipe compared to case that the tip
section of the optical fiber on the light projection side including
the light projection section and the tip section of the optical
fiber on the light receiving side including the light receiving
section is assembled in advance as a unit and it is fixed in the
state of the unit to the tip section of the water spout pipe.
[0030] In the present invention, it is possible to further include
the cover that covers the fixing section of the tip sections of the
optical fibers to the outer surface of the water spout member (the
second aspect of the present invention). In this way, the tip
sections of the optical fibers can be interposed between the water
spout member and the cover, and the tip sections of the optical
fibers can be fixed more good to the water spout member.
[0031] In the present invention, a fitting convex section is
provided in one of the outer surface of the tip section of each of
the optical fiber on the light projection side and the optical
fiber on the light receiving side and a fiber holding section of
the cover fixed to the water spout member in a state of covering
the outer surface of the water spout member, a fitting concave
section corresponding to that is provided on the other thereof, and
the tip sections of the optical fibers are fixed in a positioned
state based on the concave-convex fitting of the fitting convex
section and the fitting concave section (the third aspect of the
invenion).
[0032] In this case, it is also possible to perform the work with
good workability when assembling the respective tip sections of the
optical fibers to the tip section of the water spout pipe and
maintaining, and the tip section of the water spout pipe can be
reduced in size.
[0033] In this case, the fiber holding section may be provided at
an inner surface of the cover.
[0034] In this way, the tip sections of the optical fibers can be
interposed between the cover and the water spout member, and the
tip sections of the optical fibers can be fixed more good.
[0035] In this case, the fiber holding section may be a groove and
the tip sections of the respective optical fibers can be fixed to
the groove in the fitted state.
[0036] In this way, the tip sections of the respective optical
fibers can be more easily fixed to the water spout member, and thus
can be fixed to the tip section of the water spout pipe.
[0037] In addition, binding force to the respective tip section can
be increased and the fixing strength can be increased.
[0038] Furthermore, since the tip sections of the respective
optical fibers are fitted into the inner section of the groove, so
that the light projection section and the light receiving section
can be protected in the groove, and thus the tip sections of the
respective optical fibers can be fixed into the water spout member
or the cover in the housed state, so that the tip section of the
water spout pipe can be more effectively reduced in size.
[0039] In this case, the groove can be provided, with respect to
the water spout member or the cover, in a shape extending from the
end of the water spout pipe base end side up to the end of the tip
side.
[0040] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a
groove a fiber holding section are provided on both of the outer
surface of the water spout member and the inner surface of the
cover in a state of facing each other, the tip sections of the
optical fibers are fitted into the grooves, a fitting convex
section is provided in one of the outer surface of the tip sections
of the optical fibers and the inner surfaces of the grooves, a
fitting concave section is provided in the other thereof and are
fitted by the concave-concave fitting, and the tip sections of the
optical fibers are fixed in a positioned state. Thus, according to
the claim 5, the tip sections of the respective optical fibers can
be effectively bound to the inner portions of the grooves, and it
is possible to further increase the positioning function and the
fixing function to the tip sections of the respective optical
fibers.
[0041] Furthermore, it is possible to cover the tip sections of the
respective optical fibers including the light receiving section by
the water spout member and the cover, and thus the protective
function of the respective tip section can be increased.
[0042] The tip sections of the respective optical fibers can be
placed and fixed in the straight line shape to be parallel to a
pipe axis of the water spout pipe (the fifth aspect of the present
invention).
[0043] In this way, the thickness of the water spout member and the
cover can be reduced compared to a case of obliquely fixing of the
tip sections of the optical fibers, and thus the tip section of the
water spout pipe can be reduced in size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0044] FIG. 1 is an overall view of an automatic faucet in an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a water
spout pipe in the embodiment.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a major part of a tip
section of the water spout pipe in the embodiment.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a view of a water spout unit in the
embodiment.
[0048] FIG. 5 is a view of the water spout unit in the embodiment
in a state before being assembled to the water spout pipe.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of the present
invention
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0050] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described
based on the drawings.
[0051] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 is an automatic faucet of
the present embodiment, and reference numeral 12 is a water spout
pipe in the automatic faucet 10. Herein, the water spout pipe 12 is
made of metal.
[0052] The water spout pipe 12 is installed in the form of standing
from a counter (an attachment base) 14, an upper section has a
goose neck shape that is inverted U-shaped, and a tip face thereof
extends forward and obliquely downward with respect to the
user.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water spout pipe 12 is formed
with a substantially elliptical opening 16 corresponding to the
cross-sectional shape of the water spout pipe 12 at the tip
thereof.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the water spout pipe 12 integrally has a
seating section 18 and an inserting pipe 20 extended downward from
the seating section 18 at the base end side thereof.
[0055] The inserting pipe 20 is inserted into an attachment hole 22
of the counter 14 and is projected up to the underside of the
counter 14, and a fixing nut 26 is screwed into a male screw
section 24 provided on the outer circumferential surface
thereof.
[0056] The water spout pipe 12 is attached to the counter 14 by
seating the seating section 18 on the upper surface of the counter
14, in a state of interposing the counter 14 from both sides of the
upper and lower sides via packing 28 and 30 by the seating section
18 and the fixing nut 26.
[0057] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 32 is a main body functioning
section placed under the counter 14, reference numeral 34 is a
functioning section box of the main body functioning section 32,
and an electromagnetic valve 36 is accommodated therein.
[0058] The electromagnetic valve 36 is a valve which opens and
closes a water supply path supplying water from a water supply
source pipe to a water spout 58 (FIG. 2) described later, and a
lower end of a water supply tube 38 is connected to the
electromagnetic valve 36 via a joint 40.
[0059] The water supply tube 38 is a member that forms a part of
the water supply path, is extended upward from the functioning
section box 34, and enters into the water spout pipe 12 through an
opening 42 of the base end (a lower end) of the water spout pipe
12, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0060] The water supply pipe 38 further extends the inner section
of the water spout pipe 12 up to the tip section thereof.
[0061] Additionally, in this example, since the water supply tube
38 is a tube which has flexibility, here it is formed from
polyurethane resin.
[0062] Incidentally, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 44 indicates a
stopcock.
[0063] In the inner section of the functioning section box 34, a
control section 46 including a microcomputer as a main component,
and a sensor main body 48 configuring a main component of an
optical sensor (hereinafter, easily referred to as a sensor) are
accommodated.
[0064] The control section 46 operates and controls the
electromagnetic valve 36, opens the electromagnetic valve 36 based
on the detection of the detection target using the sensor, and
closes the electromagnetic valve 36 when the sensor does not detect
the detection target.
[0065] The sensor main body 48 has a light emitting element such as
an LED that emits light (herein, infrared light), a light receiving
element such as a phototransistor, and a sensor circuit which
includes a light emitting driving circuit that performs the light
emitting using the light emitting element, and a photoelectric
conversion circuit that converts the light received by the light
receiving element into the electric signal and processes the
signal.
[0066] An optical fiber 80 (see FIG. 4) on the light projection
side is projected from the light emitting element of the sensor
main body 48, and an optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side
is extended from the light receiving element.
[0067] The optical fiber 80 on the light projection side and the
optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side are bundled into
one.
[0068] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 50 indicates a fiber optical
cord that is bundled into one.
[0069] The optical fiber 80 on the light projection side and the
optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side extended from the
sensor main body 48 enter into the water spout pipe 12 through the
opening 42 of the base end of the water spout pipe 12. And, they
are extended up to the tip end section thereof in the water spout
pipe 12.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, a water spout member 52 is housed in the
inner section of the tip section of the water spout pipe 12.
[0071] In the present example, the water spout member 52 is made of
resin (herein, POM resin (polyacetal resin)), and thus has a
substantially elliptical cylindrical shape corresponding to the
shape of the tip section of the water spout pipe 12 as a whole.
[0072] The water spout member 52 integrally includes an elliptical
insertion section 54 in the right end side of the drawings. The
insertion section 54 is pressed into the water supply tube 38, and
then the insertion section 54 is connected and fixed to the water
supply tube 38 by a band-shaped tightening member 56 that tightens
the water supply tube 38 from the outer circumferential
surface.
[0073] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the opening of the tip of the
water spout member 52 configures the water spout 58 as the tip of
the water path in the spout pipe 12, and a discharging end member
60, which causes the water flow to pass therethrough and controls
the discharging pattern of the water discharge from the water spout
58, is placed in the water spout 58.
[0074] Specifically, the discharging end member 60 has a
cylindrical shape in which a cross-sectional shape is a flattened
elliptical shape, the discharging end member 60 is inserted to be
the state of being fitted into the water spout member 52 forming
the cylindrical shape and is held in the water spout member 52 in a
position which is slightly inside of the water spout 58.
[0075] The discharging end member 60 in the present embodiment
rectifies and discharges the flow of water sent through the water
supply tube 38. That is, the discharging pattern of the water
discharge is set to the rectifying water discharge a bundle.
[0076] However, it is possible to discharge water sent through the
water supply tube 38 as foam flow mixed with air bubbles or as a
shower flow. Otherwise, the water discharge can be discharged by
other various patterns.
[0077] In the present embodiment, the discharging end member 60 and
the water spout member 52 are commonly fixed to the water spout
pipe 12 in the fixing hole 68, by the fixing member 67 shown in
FIG. 3.
[0078] The fixing member 67 is a member of a circular push button
type, and integrally has a circular outer circumferential wall
member 70, a first fitting convex section 71 standing from the
center section thereof, and a second fitting convex section 72 of a
small diameter projected upward from the upper end of the first
fitting convex section 71. The fixing member 67 is attached to the
water spout pipe 12 in the state of fitting the second fitting
convex section 72 to a fitting hole 74 of the discharging end
member 60, fitting the first fitting convex section 71 to a
penetrated fitting hole 76 of the water spout member 52, and
fitting the outer circumferential wall section 70 to the circular
fixing hole 68 of the water spout pipe 12, and thus the fixing
member 67 is fixed in the state of positioning the discharging end
member 60 and the water spout member 52 in the water spout pipe
12.
[0079] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the fixing member 67
has a pair of left and right claws 78 when viewed from front and
thus is stopped to the water spout pipe 12 by engaging the claws 78
with the edge section of the fixing hole 68.
[0080] In FIG. 4, reference numeral 62 is a light projection
section, and reference numeral 64 is a light receiving section. The
light projection section 62 and the light receiving section 64 are
constituted by the optical fiber 80 on the light projection side
and the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side,
respectively.
[0081] Furthermore, the light projection section 62 is equipped
with a lens 84 for giving directionality to the projected
light.
[0082] In the present embodiment, the sensor is configured by the
sensor main body 48 shown in FIG. 1, and the light projection
section 62 and the light receiving section 64 configured by the tip
section of the extended optical fibers 80 and 82. When the sensor
detects a detection target, normally, a hand inserted by a user,
the electromagnetic valve 36 is opened under the control using the
control section 46, and water is automatically discharged from the
water spout 58 of FIG. 3.
[0083] Meanwhile, when the user retracts their hand and is away
from the detection area by the sensor, the sensor does not detect
the hand, the electromagnetic valve 36 is closed under the control
of the control section 46, and the water discharge from the water
spout 58 is stopped.
[0084] The respective tip section of the optical fiber 80 on the
light projection side and the optical fiber 82 on the light
receiving side shown in FIG. 4 are integrally provided with an
annular fitting convex section 86 for fixing the tip sections of
the respective optical fibers 80 and 82 to the water spout member
52 in the positioned state.
[0085] On the outer surface of one water spout member 52,
specifically, on the upper surface of FIG. 4, a deep holding groove
92A as a fiber holding section of the optical fiber 80 on the light
projection side and a deep holding groove 94A as a fiber holding
section of the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side are
provided in a shape extended in the axial direction of the
respective optical fibers 80 and 82 so as to be parallel to the
pipe axis of the water spout pipe 12. Most of the respective lower
sides of the optical fibers 80 and 82 in the drawing are fitted
into the holding grooves 92A and 94A.
[0086] Herein, the respective holding grooves 92A and 94A are
extended in a straight line shape from the end of the right end in
the drawing of the water spout member 52, that is, the base end
side of the water spout pipe 12 to the left end in the drawing,
that is, the end of the tip side of the water spout pipe 12.
[0087] Moreover, the front end of the left side of the holding
groove 92A in the drawing is a light projection window 100 with a
U-like notch shape, and the front end of the left side of the
holding groove 94A in the drawing is a light receiving window 102
with a U-like notch shape.
[0088] Moreover, the light projection section 62 and the light
receiving section 64 are fitted downward into the light projection
window 100 and the light receiving window 102 in the drawing so
that the tips thereof are aligned.
[0089] The holding grooves 92A and 94A are provided with the
fitting concave section 96A and 98A corresponding to the fitting
convex sections 86 of the optical fibers 80 and 82, respectively.
The tip sections of the optical fibers 80 and 82 fitted into the
respective holding grooves 92A and 94A are axially positioned and
fixed by the concave-convex fitting between the fitting convex
section 86 and the fitting concave section 96A and 98A in the
holding grooves 92A and 94A.
[0090] That is, the respective tip section of the optical fibers 80
and 82 are positioned and fixed in the left-light direction in the
drawing perpendicular to the axes of the respective optical fibers
80 and 82 and the axial direction, by restriction using the holding
grooves 92A and 94A and the concave-convex fitting between the
fitting convex section 86 and the fitting concave sections 96A and
98A.
[0091] In FIG. 4, reference numeral 90 is a cover that covers the
outer surface of the water spout member 52, specifically, the upper
surface thereof, and the cover 90 is also made of the same resin
material as the water spout member 52.
[0092] The cover 90 is integrally formed with a pair of curved
elastic arms 104, and the cover 90 is assembled to the water spout
member 52, by elastically engaging the claws 106 of the tips of the
pair of elastic arms 104 with the corresponding engaging protrusion
108 of the water spout member 52.
[0093] In the present embodiment, on the inner surface of the cover
92, a shallow holding groove 92B for the optical fiber 80 on the
light projection side as the fiber holding section, and a shallow
holding groove 94B for the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving
side are provided in the state of vertically facing the holding
grooves 92A and 94A corresponding to the water spout member 52.
[0094] The holding grooves 92B and 94B are also formed with fitting
concave section 96B and 98B, respectively, corresponding to the
fitting convex section 86 of the optical fiber 80.
[0095] However, the fitting concave section 96B and 98B of the
cover 90 side have shallow depths compared to the fitting concave
section 96A and 98A of the water spout member 52 side.
[0096] According to the combination of the inner sides of the
holding groove 92A of the water spout member 52 side and the
holding groove 92B of the cover 90 side, continuous groove spaces
with a circular cross-sectional shape as a whole is formed
corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber 80,
as shown in FIG. 3(B).
[0097] Similarly, According to the combination of the inner sides
of the holding groove 94A of the water spout member 52 side and the
holding groove 94B of the cover 90 side, groove spaces with a
circular cross-section as a whole is formed corresponding to the
cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber 82.
[0098] That is, in the present embodiment, both of the outer
surface of the water spout member 52 and the inner surface of the
cover 90 are formed with the holding grooves as the fiber holding
section, they cooperate with each other to hold the tip sections of
the optical fibers 80 and 82 in the positioned state.
[0099] Further, the respective tip sections of the optical fiber 80
on the light projection side and the optical fiber 82 on the light
receiving side, in which most of the lower side thereof is fitted
to the deep holding grooves 92A and 94A of the water spout member
52 and a remaining upper part (a small part) is fitted to the
holding grooves 92B and 94B of the cover 90, are interposed between
the water spout member 52 and the cover 90 in the holding grooves
92A, 92B, 94A and 94B and are also restricted in a up-down
direction in FIG. 3(B). The respective tip section of the
respective fibers 80 and 82 are fixed in the positioned state in
either direction.
[0100] Therefore, the light projections section 62 and the light
receiving section 64 are correctly positioned in a set position,
and thus the detection target is precisely detected by the light
projection and the light reception.
[0101] Incidentally, the holding groove may be provided only on the
water spout member 52 side, and the respective tip section of the
optical fibers 80 and 82 may be held in the positioned state only
on the water spout member 52 side.
[0102] Additionally, each of the holding groove 92A of the water
spout member 52 side and the holding groove 92B of the cover 90
side is provided with concave section 110A and 110B for
accommodating the lens 84 of the light projections section 62,
respectively.
[0103] Further, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the water spout member 52 is
assembled inside of the tip section of the water spout pipe 12 in
the fitting state together with the cover 90, and the water spout
member 52 is fixed in the pipe axis direction of the water spout
pipe 12 and in a direction perpendicular to the pipe axis in the
fitted state, by the fixing member 67 mentioned above.
[0104] Additionally, in the present embodiment, it is possible to
consider that reference numeral 52 is a main body of the water
spout member, the water spout member is vertically divided into the
main body and the cover 90, and the tip sections of the optical
fibers 80 and 82 are interposed therebetween and are embedded into
the water spout member.
[0105] According to the present embodiment as mentioned above, the
respective tip sections of the optical fiber 80 on the light
projection side and the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving
side can be easily fixed to the tip section of the water spout pipe
12 via the water spout member 52 and also the release of the fixing
thereof is easy, and thus it is possible to perform the work with
good workability when assembling the tip sections of the optical
fibers 80 and 82 to the water spout pipe 12, and also the fixing
release thereof is easy, so that it is also possible to perform the
work with good workability when detaching and maintaining the tip
sections of the optical fibers 80 and 82 from the water spout pipe
12.
[0106] Additionally, in the present embodiment, the respective tip
section of the optical fiber 80 on the light projection side and
the optical fiber 82 on the light receiving side are independently
and directly fixed to the water spout member 52, respectively, so
that it is possible to reduce the size of the tip section of the
water spout pipe 12 compared to case that the tip section of the
optical fiber 80 on the light projection side including the light
projection section 62 and the tip section of the optical fiber 82
on the light receiving side including the light receiving section
64 are assembled in advance to configure a unit and it is fixed in
the state of the unit to the tip section of the water spout pipe
12.
[0107] Additionally, in the present embodiment, since the tip
sections of the optical fibers 80 and 82 are fixed so as to be
interposed between the water spout member 52 and the cover 90, the
tip sections of the optical fibers 80 and 82 can be firmly
fixed.
[0108] Additionally, the tip sections of the respective optical
fibers 80 and 82 can be protected in the inner section of the
holding grooves 92A, 92B, 94A and 94B, and the tip sections of the
respective optical fibers 80 and 82 can be fixed in the state of
being housed in the inner section of the water spout member 52 and
the cover 90, and thus the tip section of the water spout pipe 12
can be effectively miniaturized.
[0109] The tip sections of the respective optical fibers 80 and 82
are placed and fixed to be parallel to the pipe axis of the water
spout pipe 12, so that, as compared to a case of obliquely fixing
the tip sections of the optical fibers 80 and 82, the thickness of
the water spout member 52 and the cover 90 can be thin, and the tip
section of the water spout pipe 12 can be miniaturized.
[0110] The present embodiment has been described in detail, and but
this shows only an example.
[0111] For example, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6,
it is also possible that the holding groove on the side of the
water spout member 52 is not provided, deep holding grooves 92B and
94B are provided only on the inner surface of the cover 90 fixed to
the water spout member 52, and thus the respective tip section of
the optical fiber 80 on the light projection side and the optical
fiber 82 on the light receiving side are fitted thereto and is held
only by the cover 90 side.
[0112] Additionally, it is also possible that the holding groove is
provided on the outer surface of the cover 90, and the fiber
holding section is provided by a shape other than the groove.
[0113] Furthermore, in the embodiment mentioned above, the fitting
convex section is provided on the side of the tip section of the
optical fiber, the fitting concave section is provided on the side
of the cover of the water spout member, and they are fitted to each
other by the concave-convex fitting. However, on the contrary, it
is also possible that the fitting concave section may be provided
on the side of the tip section of the optical, and the fitting
convex section is provided on the sides of the water spout member
and the cover, and they are fitted to each other in the
concave-convex fitting.
[0114] In addition, another aspect of the present invention can be
configured by aspects added with various modifications in the scope
without departing from the gist thereof.
[0115] The present invention has been described in detail or with
reference to specific embodiments, but it will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that various modifications and alterations
can be added without departing from the gist and the scope of the
present invention.
[0116] This application claims priority to and the benefit of
Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-281030 filed on Dec. 10, 2009,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0117] 10: automatic faucet [0118] 12: water spout pipe [0119] 52:
water spout member [0120] 58: water spout [0121] 62: light
projection section [0122] 64: light receiving section [0123] 80,
82: optical fiber [0124] 86: fitting convex section [0125] 90:
cover [0126] 92A, 92B, 94A, 94B: holding groove [0127] 96A, 96B,
98A, 98B: fitting concave section
* * * * *