A toilet hygiene unit with automatic cleaning apparatus

Abstract: The hygiene unit is formed by a monobloc (17) including the bowl (18) and associated liftable seat (22), and a casing (19) in which is housed a washing, disinfecting and drying device (44) for the seat (22). The casing (19) is provided with an aperture (31) in which is disposed a seat back (32) for the user. The seat back (32) is displaced parallel to itself when the seat (22) is in the vertical position. For this purpose the device (44) is mounted on a carriage (46) movable vertically between the seat (22) and the seat back (32), which are thus simultaneously cleaned during a series of complete movements of the carriage (46). Further, the seat (22) is provided with a series of nozzles (65) for creating a film of water within the bowl (18) during use, and for then more thoroughly cleaning the bowl (18) by means of a high pressure jet of water.

Description: The present invention relates to a toilet hygiene unit having automatic cleaning apparatus. Different types of toilet provided with automatic cleaning apparatus, both for public toilets and for private bathrooms are known. In general, it is essential to wash the bowl in such a way to eliminate any trace of either liquid or solid excrement, and to wash and disinfect the parts which come into contact with the human body. In a known type of toilet, such as EP-A-0,274,588, there is provided apparatus for washing, disinfecting and drying the seat, which apparatus comprises a tank disposed behind the seat, closed by a vertically slidable door. This tank is divided by a vertical dividing wall carrying a series of nozzles disposed in a vertical ring of form corresponding to the seat. A mixture of water and disinfectant is first supplied through this series of nozzles. The ring shape zone further has a series of holes for the passage of hot air from a fan. In another type of toilet the seat is washed by means of a rotating double arm having two sets of nozzles at two ends. This arm is also disposed within a vertical tank positioned behind the bowl and closed by a door hinged at its upper edge. The rear edge of the toilet seat is mounted on a vertically movable carriage disposed in the tank. When the seat is lifted to the vertical position in the tank, the door automatically closes. At this point rotation of the washing arm commences and subsequently a current of hot air is generated in the tank. This known toilet has the disadvantage that the door in the vertical tank, when closed, forms the seat back of the bowl, which comes into contact with the user's body. Therefore, it cannot be washed automatically by the cleaning apparatus. The object of the invention is that of providing a toilet hygiene unit having automatic cleaning apparatus, which will be of maximum simplicity and will eliminate this and other disadvantages of known toilets. This object is achieved with the hygiene unit according to the invention which comprises a bowl provided with a flushing system and having a liftable seat and a seat back, said apparatus including at least one seat washing, disinfecting and drying device, and being characterised by the fact that the said device is operable to act simultaneously on the said seat in the vertical position and on the said seat back. According to another characteristic of the invention, the said seat is provided with a series of nozzles which are supplied during use of the said bowl to create a film of water on the inner surface of the said bowl in such a way as to inhibit the attachment thereto of organic substances. For a better understanding of the invention a preferred embodiment is described here by way of example only, with the aid of the attached drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a toilet including a hygiene unit according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic left side section of the toilet of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial right side section of the hygiene unit; Figure 4 is a partially sectioned front view of the hygiene unit; and Figure 5 is a block schematic diagram illustrating the functions of the control unit of the hygiene unit. With reference to Figure 1, the reference numeral 6 generally indicates a toilet for public or community conveniences, which comprises a floor 7, two side walls 8 and a back wall 9, advantageously provided with a glass window 11. The toilet 6 is closed by a door known per se, and therefore not illustrated, which can for example be of the type openable by money or tokens. The toilet 6 is provided with the usual attachments for water and electricity and with the usual waste pipe 12 (Figure 2) connected to the drain. The floor 7 is provided with a sump 13 for the collection of small refuse items such as cigarette ends, and liquid such as the washing water from the toilet 6. The sump 13 is covered by a floor grille 14, which allows the passage of liquids and other small refuse items into the sump 13. This latter is provided with a syphon discharge 10 for evacuation of such liquids and refuse items to the drain. The grille 14 is further provided with an edge 15 (Figure 3) carrying a series of nozzles 16 for washing the sump 13. The toilet 6 is furnished with a monobloc sanitary unit generally indicated 17, which includes a bowl 18 fixed to a casing 19 of substantially rectangular form, which houses the entire automatic cleaning apparatus of the unit and is covered by three removable panels. One of these panels indicated 20 in the drawings, is disposed above the casing 19, and is adapted to be removed to allow access to the electrical and mechanical parts for suitable connections and maintenance. The casing 19 has a plinth 21 at its end for connection to the grille 14. The plinth 21 is provided with a series of nozzles 25 (Figure 2), also provided for washing the sump 13. The bowl 18 is provided with the usual seat 22 formed as a ring or annulus on which the user is to be seated. The rear edge of the seat 22 is provided with a projection 23 (Figure 3) fixed to a hollow shaft 24 which is rotatable in a housing 26 (Figure 4) disposed within the casing 19. The shaft 26 is turned by a shaft 28 of a reversible geared motor 29 via motion transmission means comprising a lead screw and nut 27. Therefore the seat 22 can be rotated about its rear edge from the horizontal use position indicated in Figure 2 to the raised or vertical position indicated with broken lines in Figure 2. The casing 19 is provided with an aperture 31 disposed behind the bowl 18, which is normally closed by a seat back 32. Advantageously the seat back 32 can have the same shape and dimensions as the seat 22 so as to allow this latter, when raised, to lodge in the aperture 31. The seat back 32 is mounted on an articulated parallelogram linkage comprising a pair of equal arms 33 and 34 (Figure 3) pivoted onto projections 36 of the casing 19. To the arm 33 is connected an articulated link 37 which, by means of a pivot 38 is articulated to a lever 39 pivoted to another projection 41 of the casing 19. The pivot 38 is mounted on a nut 40 engaged with a screw 42, which is rotated by a reversible geared motor 43. The actuation of the geared motor 43 causes displacement of the seat back 32 parallel to itself from the use position indicated in solid outline in Figure 2 to the washing position indicated in broken outline. The automatic cleaning apparatus essentially comprises a device, generally indicated 44 (Figures 2-4) for washing, disinfecting and drying the seat 22 and the seat back 32. The device 44 is carried by a carriage 46 which is mounted on a pair of wheels 47 guided vertically in suitable guides of the casing 19. The guides are disposed in such a way as to cause the device 44 to move in the space between the seat 22 in the vertical position and the seat back 32 in the retracted position. The carriage 46 is displaced by a pair of belts 48 each of which engages two corresponding pulleys 49 and 50 disposed at the top and bottom of the casing 19. To a bracket 52 of the casing 19 is fixed a reversible geared motor 53 adapted to drive a shaft 54 rotatable in two supports 55 of the casing 19. The shaft 54 carries two wheels 56 of the same size as the pulleys 49 and 50, and each of which engages simultaneously two branches of the respective belt 48. The carriage 46 carries two rubber cleaning wipers 51 one of which faces towards the seat 22 and the other towards the seat back 32. The carriage 46 also carries two series of nozzles 57 and 58, facing in opposite directions, that is to say respectively towards the seat 22 in the vertical position and towards the seat back 32 in the retracted position. Each series of nozzles 57 and 58 is connected by flexible ducts not shown in the drawings with a water pump 61. The ducts leading to the nozzles 57 and 58 are also connected in a known way with dispensers for detergent, disinfectant and possibly deodorant. Finally, the carriage carries a motor-driven fan 59 which can possibly be connected to an air heater to dry the seat 22 and seat back 32. In the casing 19 there is also disposed a cistern, not indicated in the drawings, for the usual flushing system for the bowl 18, which is actuated by means of a manual push button 60. This can also be actuated automatically, for example, by means of an electromagnet, before washing of the bowl 18, as will be seen better hereinbelow. The After each flush, the flushing system cistern is refilled directly with water from the mains. The pump 61 is also connected, by means of a solenoid valve 63, to the nozzles 57 and 58 of the carriage 46. Another solenoid valve 64 can be actuated to connect the pump 61, via a duct not indicated, to the nozzles 16 and 25 for washing the sump 13 under the floor-grille 14. The seat 22 is provided with a series of nozzles 65 disposed on its lower surface close to the inner edge of the bowl 18. The nozzles 65 are connected to a common duct 67, connected to the hollow shaft 25, in turn connected to the pump 61 by means of two further solenoid valves 62 and 66. These can be selectively operated when the seat is disposed in the horizontal position respectively to create a film of liquid on the inner surface of the bowl 18 and to wash the bottom of the bowl 18 after the operation of the flushing system. Finally the casing 19 encloses an apparatus control unit 69 which includes a logic circuit process controller 71 (Figure 5). This controller 71 has a logical step-by-step operation and is provided with a self-diagnosis program which continuously tests for the correct performance of the preceding operation before allowing the successive one. The control unit 69 includes a series of circuits controlled by the controller 71 for controlling the various devices of the apparatus. In particular these circuits can be grouped in the following functional blocks:- a block 72 operable to indicate the entrance of a user into the toilet 6 and associated departure, for example by the use of a token device and/or a floor micro-switch; a block 73 operable to control the locking and unlocking of the door and the associated light signals; a block 74 operable to control the pump 61 and the associated valves 62-64 and 66; a block 75 operable to control the geared motor 43 for movement of the seat back 32; a block 77 operable to control the geared motor 29 for movement of the seat 22; a block 78 operable to control the geared motor 53 for driving the belts 48 for displacement of the carriage 46; and a block 79 operable to control the actuation of the electric fan 59. The operation of the hygiene unit described above is as follows:- Upon entrance of the user into the toilet 6 the block 72 sends a signal to the process controller 71 which, by means of the block 73 locks the toilet door. Further, the block 73 controls the illumination of an external warning lamp indicating that the toilet 6 is occupied. Possibly the block 73 may also control the illumination of an internal light and the starting of a fan for forced air change. Via the block 74, the controller 71 opens the valve 62 (see also Figures 2-4). This, by means of the nozzle 65, creates a film of water on the inner surface of the bowl 18, which prevents the adherence of organic substances or particles of faeces on this surface of the bowl 18 during use. After use, the user can press the manual push button 60 of the discharge system for a first cleaning of the bowl 18 by means of the flushing system. He can then use possible other sanitary equipment present in the toilet 6. When the user leaves the toilet 6 the door automatically closes and initiates a more thorough cleaning of the bowl 18, a cleaning, disinfecting and drying of the seat 22 and the seat back 32, and a washing out of the under floor sump 13. In particular, the controller 71, by means of the block 74, now causes the automatic emptying of the flushing system cistern if the push button 60 has not been operated manually. Moreover, by means of the block 74, it now starts the pump 61 and operates the solenoid valve 66 which, via the nozzles 65 of the seat 22 effects a thorough washing of the interior of the bowl 18 with a high pressure jet of water. At the end of the bowl washing phase, the controller 71, via the block 76, causes actuation of the geared motor 43. This drives the mechanism 33, 34, 37, 39 so that the seat back 32 is brought into the retracted position indicated in broken outline. Further, the block 77 puts the geared motor 29 into operation carrying the seat 22 into the vertical position. Now the seat and seat back cleaning phase starts. For this purpose the geared motor 53 is put into operation by the block 78. This now displaces the carriage 46 between the seat 22 and the seat back 32, first downwardly and then upwardly so that the rubber wipers 51 remove any possible particles of dirt. Moreover, during the downward displacement of the carriage 46 the block 74 operates the solenoid valve 63 so that the nozzles 57 and 58 wash and disinfect the seat 22 and the seat back 32. on the other hand, during the upward displacement of the carriage 46 the solenoid valve 63 is closed whilst the block 79 operates the electric fan 59 so that the seat 22 and the seat back 32 are dried. This operation can be repeated automatically a predetermined number of times, for example three times. Alternatively the process controller 71 can be programmed in such a way as to control washing during a complete descent and rise excursion of the carriage 46, disinfection during a second complete excursion and drying during a third excursion of the carriage 46. Then, via the solenoid valve 64 and the nozzles 16 and 25, the process controller 71 controls washing of the sump 13 under the grille 14. Finally, via the block 77, the controller 71 controls energisation of the geared motor 29 which causes the seat 22 to return to the horizontal rest position, and via the block 76 controls the geared motor 43 which causes the seat back 32 to return to the forward position. After these operations the controller 71, via the blocks 72 and 73, causes unlocking of the door to the toilet 6 and the associated external indication. From what has been seen above, the advantages of the hygiene unit of the invention over known units are evident. In fact the device 44 performs cleaning not only of the seat 22 and the bowl 18 but also cleaning of the seat back 32. Moreover, the bowl 18 is continually washed with water by means of the nozzles 65 of the seat 22 both during use and for the purpose of energetically washing during the flushing effected by the flushing system. Finally the monobloc 17, by means of the nozzles 16 and 25, also provides for washing of the underfloor sump 13 under the floor grille 14, and allows easy installation of the unit in the toilet cubicle 6. It is intended that the hygiene unit described can have modifications and improvements introduced thereto without departing from the ambit of the claims. For example, the nozzles of the plinth 21 can be dispensed with and the grille 14 can be separate from the casing 19. Moreover, the carriage 46 can be driven by different means, for example, by means of a linear motor. Finally the pump 61 can be of variable pressure, or else may be replaced by two low pressure pumps or by a low pressure pump and a high pressure pump.

Claims: A toilet hygiene unit having automatic cleaning apparatus, comprising a bowl (18) provided with a flushing system and having a liftable seat (22) and a seat back (32), the said apparatus including at least one device (44) for washing, disinfecting and drying the said seat (22) characterised by the fact that the said device (44) is operable to act simultaneously on the said seat (22) when disposed in a vertical position, and on the said seat back (32). A unit according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that a support structure (33,34,37,38) for the said seat back (32) is operable to displace the said seat back (32) within the said apparatus, the said device (44) being mounted on a carriage (46) movable with alternating motion between the said seat (22) when in a vertical position and the thus - displaced seat back (32). A unit according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that the said structure (33,34,37,38) includes an articulated parallelogram mechanism (33,34) which is actuated by a corresponding motor (43). A unit according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said device (44) includes two series of washing nozzles (57,58) disposed on the said carriage (46) and pointed in opposite directions to act on the said seat (22) and on the said seat back (32). A unit according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that the said carriage (46) carries two wiping cleaners (51) respectively for the said seat (22) and for the said seat back (32), and/or a fan (59) for drying the said seat (22) and the said seat back (32). A unit according to any of claims from 3 to 5, in which the said apparatus is contained in a closed casing (19), characterised by the fact that the said seat back (32) is disposed in correspondence with an aperture (31) in the said casing (19), the said device (44) being disposed within the said casing (19). A unit according to claim 6 characterised by the fact that the said seat (22) is turnable by means of a corresponding motor (29) also disposed within the said casing (19). A unit according to any of claims from 2 to 7, characterised by the fact that the said carriage 46 is fixed onto belts (48) each engaged by a pair of pulleys (49,50), the said belts (48) being displaced in synchronism by a corresponding reversible geared motor (53). A unit according to any preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the said seat (22) is provided with a series of nozzles (65) which are supplied during use of the said bowl (18) to create a film of water on the inner surface of the said bowl (18) in such a way as to prevent the attachment thereto of organic substances. A unit according to claim 9, characterised by the fact that the said nozzles (65) are operable to wash the said bowl (18) after use, pump means (61) being provided to supply the said series of nozzles (65) selectively when the said seat (22) is in the horizontal position to create the said film of water and to wash the said bowl (18). A unit according to claim 10, characterised by the fact that there are provided valve means (62,66) for selectively connecting the said pump means (61) to the said series of nozzles (65). A unit according to any preceding claim, in which the said apparatus is contained in a closed casing (19), characterised by the fact that the said unit is constituted by a prefabricated monobloc 17 which can be mounted in a toilet (6) for example for public conveniences. A unit according to claim 12, characterised by the fact that the said monobloc (17) further includes a floor grille (14) for covering a sump (13) for liquid which is outside the said bowl (18). A unit according to claims 11 and 13, characterised by the fact that on at least one edge (15,21) of the said grille (14) there is disposed a further series of nozzles (16,25) which can be supplied from the said pump means (61) by means of further valve means (64) for washing the said sump (13). A unit according to any preceding claim, characterised by the fact that the said casing (19) houses an electronic unit (69) for control of the various cleaning operations, the said unit (69) including a process controller (71) programmable in such a way as to effect the individual controls in coordination with the user entering and leaving the toilet. A unit according to claim 15, including a manual push button (60) for flushing the said flushing system, characterised by the fact that the said process controller 71 is further operable to operate the said push button (60) automatically when this has not been actuated manually, before starting at least one of the cleaning phases of the said apparatus.

Inventors: PELLECHIA ANTONIO, PELLECHIA, ANTONIO
Applicants: ACCIAI CENTRO SPA, CENTRO ACCIAI S.P.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E03D9
IPC codes: E03D9, A47K13