JP2021159282A - Excrement disposal device - Google Patents

Abstract

To facilitate eliminating the necessity of cleaning a sensor for detecting a residual amount in a tank and facilitate acquiring information relating to user's excrement.SOLUTION: An excrement disposal device 10 includes: a residual amount detection unit 71 that enables non-contact detection of a residual amount in a tank 32 in multiple stages; a control unit 44 that functions as an information acquisition unit for acquiring information relating to urination on the basis of variation in the residual amount in a tank 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an excrement treatment device.

An excrement treatment device that sucks excrement such as urine through a suction tube is known. This type of excrement disposal device includes a receiver mounted in the user's crotch, a sensor provided in the receiver, and a pump built-in unit connected to the receiver via a suction tube and connected to the sensor. There is a urine collecting device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The urine collecting device described in Patent Document 1 includes an infrared sensor that detects whether or not the urine is full by passing infrared rays through a full position in a tank for collecting urine.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-233465

By the way, since the infrared sensor can detect urine in a non-contact manner, it is not necessary to clean the infrared sensor. However, in the conventional configuration, since the infrared sensor detects whether or not the tank is full, it is difficult to obtain information on the user's excretion such as the amount of urine for each urination.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it easy to eliminate the need for cleaning the sensor that detects the remaining amount of the tank and to make it easy to obtain information on the excretion of the user.

In order to achieve the above object, in an excrement treatment device that sucks a predetermined excrement and stores it in a tank, a remaining amount detecting unit that enables non-contact detection of a plurality of stages of the remaining amount in the tank, and the above-mentioned It is characterized by including an information acquisition unit that acquires information on the excrement based on a change in the remaining amount.

In the above configuration, the information acquisition unit may acquire information including at least one of the excretion amount, the excretion time, and the excretion frequency based on the change in the remaining amount. Further, in the above configuration, the remaining amount detecting unit has a detection electrode pair extending in the vertical direction and arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, and the remaining amount is based on the capacitance between the detection electrode pairs. It may be a capacitance type that makes it possible to detect.

Further, in the above configuration, within the range of the remaining amount in the tank that can be detected by using the detection electrode pair, the reference detection electrode pair whose capacitance does not change depending on the remaining amount is provided for the reference. The detection result of the detection electrode pair may be corrected based on the detection result of the detection electrode pair.

Further, in the above configuration, the detection electrode pair for reference is provided at a position above the detection electrode pair and at a position where it can be detected that the remaining amount in the tank exceeds a predetermined abnormal position. You may. Further, in the above configuration, the detection electrode pair may be arranged vertically at intervals and may have the same size as the reference detection electrode.

Further, in the above configuration, the tank and a case for accommodating the tank and the components constituting the suction path for sucking excrement into the tank are provided in a horizontal direction, and the space between the tank and the case is provided. The remaining amount detecting unit may be arranged in a horizontally vacant space that intersects the tank in the horizontal direction.

According to the present invention, it is easy to eliminate the need for cleaning the sensor that detects the remaining amount of the tank, and it is easy to obtain information on the excretion of the user.

It is a figure which shows the outline structure of the excrement treatment apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the appearance of the excrement processing unit. It is the figure which looked at the internal structure of the excrement processing unit from above. It is the figure which looked at the internal structure of the excrement processing unit from the side. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the remaining amount detection part. It is a flowchart which shows the operation about the remaining amount detection in a tank. It is a figure which shows the modification of the remaining amount detection part.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an excrement treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The excrement treatment device 10 includes a receiver 21 attached to the user, and an excrement treatment unit 31 that functions as a device main body or a pump built-in unit connected to the receiver 21 via a suction tube 36 and wiring 23. .. The excrement treatment device 10 is a device that sucks urine excreted from the user and collects it in a tank 32 provided in the excrement treatment unit 31, and is a urine collector, a suction type urine collector, or a special urine. Also called a vessel.

The receiver 21 is detachably configured on a mounting member mounted on the crotch portion of the user. The receiver 21 electrically connects to a container for collecting excrement urine, a tube connection port 21A to which the tip (corresponding to the upstream end) of the suction tube 36 is connected, a sensor 21B for detecting urine, and a sensor 21B. It includes a connected sensor connection unit 21C. The sensor 21B has a pair or a plurality of pairs of electrodes arranged at intervals, and the resistance value between the terminals is reduced by utilizing the fact that the resistance value between the electrodes becomes low when conducting through moisture. The presence or absence of water, that is, the presence or absence of urine is detected from.

The mounting member on which the receiver 21 is mounted is underwear, a supporter, a diaper, or the like that is mounted on the crotch portion of the user. However, as the mounting member, a member that can be mounted on the crotch portion of the user can be widely applied. It is also possible to integrally configure the receiver 21 and the mounting member. Further, the sensor 21B may be provided at a position where urine can be detected, and is not limited to the configuration provided at the receiver 21, and may be provided at the mounting member.

The excrement treatment unit 31 includes a tank 32, a sub tank 33, a vacuum pump 34, a filter 35, and a plurality of suction tubes 36, 37, 38 connected to these, and a suction path for sucking urine by these is provided. It is formed. The vacuum pump 34 sucks the urine collected in the receiver 21 together with the air by making the suction path vacuum. An exhaust tube 39 is connected to the exhaust port of the vacuum pump 34. In FIG. 1, the air flow is indicated by an arrow.
In the following description, when the suction tubes 36 to 38 are described separately, the suction tube 36 on the upstream side connected to the receiver 21 is described as "first tube 36", and as it goes to the downstream side, "second tube 37". , "Third tube 38". For the suction tubes 36 to 38 and the exhaust tube 39, a flexible tube such as a silicone rubber tube or a vinyl chloride tube is used. The tubes 37 to 39 arranged in the excrement treatment unit 31 may be tubes having no flexibility.

The tank 32 stores the sucked urine and is removed at an appropriate timing so that the stored urine can be disposed of at the disposal site. As shown in FIG. 1, the excrement treatment unit 31 has a tank connecting portion 40 to which the tank 32 can be attached and detached, and the tank connecting portion 40 has a downstream end of the first tube 36 and an upstream end of the second tube 37. Is connected. By connecting the tank 32 to the tank connection portion 40, the upper opening of the tank 32 is closed, the airtight state inside the tank 32 is maintained, and the inside of the tank 32 communicates with the first tube 36 and the second tube 37. do. With this configuration, a liquid such as urine that has flowed into the tank 32 via the first tube 36 is stored in the tank 32, and air above the liquid level in the tank 32 flows to the second tube 37.

The tank connection portion 40 has a protrusion 40A that projects downward toward the inside of the tank 32, and the protrusion 40A includes a float that moves up and down in response to an increase in the liquid level of urine in the tank 32, and the float. When the float moves to the predetermined upper limit position LF, a valve mechanism for blocking communication between the tank 32 and the first tube 36 is provided. With this configuration, when the liquid level in the tank 32 exceeds the upper limit position, the communication between the tank 32 and the first tube 36 is automatically cut off. In addition, in FIG. 1, as the liquid level in the tank 32, the upper limit position LF detected by the float, the abnormal position LX when the float or the valve mechanism does not operate normally, and the full water position LH in which the inside of the tank 32 is regarded as full. Are shown respectively. The full water position LH is a liquid level position where it is preferable to discard urine. The relationship is that position LH <position LF <position LX.

The excrement processing unit 31 further includes an operation unit 41, a notification unit 42, a drive unit 43, and a control unit 44. The operation unit 41 inputs various instructions from the user, the caregiver, the staff of the care facility, etc. (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as “user, etc.”), and outputs the input instructions to the control unit 44. The instructions that can be input include an instruction of an automatic operation mode in which the suction operation is automatically performed, an instruction of a manual operation mode in which the suction operation is manually performed, and the like. The automatic operation mode is an operation state in which when urine is detected by the sensor 21B, the vacuum pump 34 is operated for a predetermined time to automatically suck urine. Further, the manual operation mode is an operation state in which the vacuum pump 34 is operated / stopped according to a predetermined operation by the user or the like.

As a method for inputting an instruction, various known methods such as operation of a hardware switch, voice input, and communication can be applied. Under the control of the control unit 44, the notification unit 42 notifies the outside of various information using known devices such as a lamp, a display panel, and a voice device. The drive unit 43 drives a vacuum pump 34 that functions as a suction source under the control of the control unit 44.

The control unit 44 has a storage unit 44A that stores various data such as a control program, and functions as a computer that controls the operation of the excrement processing device 10 by executing the control program stored in the storage unit 44A. .. In the present embodiment, among the data stored in the storage unit 44A, the information related to urine can be notified to the outside by using the notification unit 42. Further, the data stored in the storage unit 44A can be output to an external device by using a communication device (not shown). A known communication interface can be widely applied to the communication device.

The control unit 44 can acquire the detection result of the sensor 21B by being connected to the sensor 21B via the wiring 23. The process executed by the control unit 44 includes suction control for selectively executing the automatic operation mode and the manual operation mode, and the remaining amount detection process described later.

The excrement processing unit 31 having this configuration includes a remaining amount detecting unit 71 that can detect the remaining amount in a plurality of stages in the tank 32 in a non-contact manner. The remaining amount detection unit 71 functions as a sensor that can detect the remaining amount in the tank 32 so that information such as the amount of urine excreted, the excretion time, and the excretion frequency can be acquired. At least the position LX can be detected. The configuration of the remaining amount detecting unit 71 will be described later, and the appearance, the inside, and the like of the excrement processing unit 31 will be described first.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of the excrement treatment unit 31, FIG. 3 is a view of the internal structure of the excrement treatment unit 31 from above, and FIG. 4 is a view of the internal structure from the side. It is a figure. In each figure, reference numeral X indicates the width direction of the excrement processing unit 31, and reference numeral Y indicates the depth direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the excrement treatment unit 31 includes a hollow box-shaped case 81 that opens upward, and a lid 82 that covers the upper opening of the case 81 so as to be openable and closable. The lid 82 has an operation panel 83. Is provided. An operator such as a hardware switch, a display panel, and the like are arranged on the operation panel 83. The operation panel 83 is provided at a position closer to one side in the depth direction Y, and when the excrement processing unit 31 is arranged near the user, for example, the operation panel 83 is oriented toward the user side for excrement. The processing unit 31 is arranged. When the operation panel 83 is mainly operated by a person other than the user, it is assumed that the excrement processing unit 31 is arranged with the operation panel 83 on the opposite side of the user.

As shown in FIG. 3, the case 81 has left and right side walls 81R and 81L, and front and rear side walls 81F and 82B, and is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the depth direction Y is shorter than the width direction X.
In this configuration, of the internal space of the case 81, one space R1 when divided into two in the depth direction Y is assigned to the space for accommodating the tank 32, and the other space R2 is a suction path component other than the tank 32. It is allocated to the space for accommodating (sub tank 33, vacuum pump 34, filter 35, etc.). A board 84 on which components corresponding to the operation unit 41, the notification unit 42, the control unit 44, and the like are mounted is arranged on the upper part of the space R2.

The tank 32 is formed in a large-capacity tank extending between the left and right side walls 81R and 81L in one space R1. The substrate 84 and the like are not arranged above the tank 32, and the tank 32 can be easily taken out upward. The tank 32 is provided with a handle 32H, and the handle 32H can be used to facilitate upward removal and the like. As shown in FIG. 4, the tank 32 is placed on the bottom plate 82T of the case 81, and the remaining amount detection unit 71 is vertically arranged in the space between the tank 32 and one of the left and right side walls 81R. .. The remaining amount detection unit 71 may be arranged in a space or the like between the tank 32 and the left and right side walls 81R.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the remaining amount detection unit 71.
The remaining amount detection unit 71 includes detection electrode pairs 71A, 71B, 71C and 71D arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction at vertical intervals, and determines the presence or absence of moisture in the vicinity of each detection electrode pair 71A to 71D. It is a capacitance type in which the capacitance between the detection electrode pair 71A to 71D changes accordingly. In the present embodiment, the control unit 44 specifies the remaining amount in the tank 32 based on the detection result of the remaining amount detecting unit 71. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the remaining amount detection unit 71 performs arithmetic processing for detecting the remaining amount based on the capacitance between each detection electrode pair 71A to 71D, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 44. You may.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this configuration, three sets of detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C are arranged vertically so as to be able to detect the remaining amount in the tank 32 from the lowest position LL to the full water position LH. Further, a detection electrode pair 71D for reference (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a reference electrode pair 71D) is arranged above the full water position LH. With this configuration, if the remaining amount in the tank 32 is equal to or less than the full water position LH, the capacitance between the reference electrode and 71D is not affected by the water content in the tank 32.

Generally, the capacitance between the detection electrode pair 71A to 71D also varies depending on environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. In this configuration, the capacitance value of each detection electrode pair 71A to 71C is corrected based on the capacitance between the reference electrode pair 71D to obtain the capacitance value excluding the influence of environmental factors. get. As a result, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the detection error of the remaining amount in the tank 32 becomes large due to the season or the like, and improve the detection accuracy of the remaining amount in the tank 32. For example, the remaining amount in the tank 32 may be detected based on the difference between the capacitance between the reference electrode pair 71D and the capacitance value of each detection electrode pair 71A to 71C.

The reference electrode pair 71D is provided at a position where it is possible to detect whether or not the remaining amount in the tank 32 is at the abnormal position LX in the tank connection portion 40 where the float or the valve mechanism does not operate normally. It is also used as an abnormality detection sensor to detect abnormalities. These detection electrode pairs 71A to 71D are formed to have the same size and have uniform capacitance change characteristics with respect to moisture, which makes it easier to more accurately identify the remaining amount in the tank 32. However, the detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C may be replaced with a single detection electrode pair, or may be replaced with a single detection electrode pair if sufficient detection accuracy can be obtained. Further, in this configuration, the case where four sets of detection electrode pairs 71A to 71D are arranged at intervals above and below is illustrated, but it may be less than four sets or five or more sets.
When the remaining amount detecting unit 71 is arranged in the space between the tank 32 and the side wall 81L, the remaining amount in the tank 32 of the remaining amount detecting unit 71 is detected from the lowest position LL to the full water position LH. At least one of the detection electrode pairs (corresponding to the detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C) can be arranged between the tank 32 and the side wall 81L. Regarding the reference electrode pair 71D, the abnormal position LX in the tank connection portion 40 may be changed to an appropriate position within a detectable range.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation related to detection of the remaining amount in the tank 32. This operation flow is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle or the like while the power of the excrement processing unit 31 is turned on.
First, the control unit 44 starts the remaining amount detection process for detecting the remaining amount in the tank 32 based on the capacitance of each detection electrode pair 71A to 71D of the remaining amount detecting unit 71 (step S11). In this case, since the control unit 44 corrects the capacitance of each of the detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C with reference to the reference electrode pair 71D, it becomes easy to detect the remaining amount in the tank 32 with high accuracy. Further, the control unit 44 also determines whether or not the remaining amount in the tank 32 is equal to or higher than the abnormal position LX based on the capacitance of the detection electrode pair 71D.

When the remaining amount in the tank 32 is equal to or higher than the abnormal position LX (step S12; YES), the control unit 44 uses the notification unit 42 to notify the operation panel 83 or the like of a failure of the float or valve mechanism. (Step S13). As a result, the user or the like can quickly respond to the failure.
When the remaining amount in the tank 32 is less than the abnormal position LX (step S12; NO), the control unit 44 determines whether or not the remaining amount in the tank 32 is the full water position LH or more, and when the remaining amount in the tank 32 is the full water position LH or more (step S12; NO). Step S14; YES), the notification unit 42 is used to perform a notification process for notifying the operation panel 83 and the like that the tank 32 is at a full water level (step S15). As a result, the user or the like can recognize that it is necessary to dispose of the urine in the tank 32.

When the remaining amount in the tank 32 is less than the full water position LH (step S14; NO), the control unit 44 proceeds to step S16 and performs an information acquisition process for acquiring information on urination. This information acquisition process is a process of acquiring information including at least one of the excretion amount, excretion time, and excretion frequency of urine and storing it in the storage unit 44A. For example, the excretion amount can be specified from the change in the remaining amount in the tank 32, and the excretion time and the excretion frequency can also be specified from the timing of the change in the remaining amount in the tank 32. The information specified in this way is stored in the storage unit 44A, and under the control of the control unit 44, the notification unit 42 is used to appropriately notify the user or the like, or the communication interface is used to output the information to an external device. It is possible to do it.

The information on urination obtained in this way is useful for the user's own health management and physical condition management, and when the user is using the nursing facility, the recording work on the urination on the nursing facility side can be reduced, or the tank. It makes it easier to manage the time to dispose of urine in 32, and contributes to the efficiency of long-term care. In addition, when the user is undergoing treatment, it can be expected to have an effect useful for diagnosing the user's physical condition and medical condition.

Although the case where the information including any of the excretion amount, the excretion time, and the excretion frequency of urine is specified and stored in the storage unit 44A has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, information indicating a time change of the remaining amount in the tank 32 (corresponding to log information that can be analyzed later) is stored in the storage unit 44A, and an information user who uses this information is stored in the storage unit 44A. The necessary information such as the amount of excretion, the excretion time, and the frequency of excretion may be specified from the information. Further, the information to be specified does not have to be limited to the information that can specify any of the excretion amount, the excretion time, and the excretion frequency, and the information obtained from the remaining amount can be widely applied, and the usage of the information, etc. It may be changed as appropriate according to the above.

As described above, the excrement treatment device 10 of the present embodiment includes a remaining amount detecting unit 71 that can detect the remaining amount in a plurality of stages in the tank 32 in a non-contact manner, and the control unit 44 controls the remaining amount. Since it functions as an information acquisition unit that acquires information on urination based on changes, it becomes easy to obtain useful information on user excretion. Since the remaining amount detecting unit 71 detects the remaining amount in the tank 32 in a non-contact manner, it becomes easy to eliminate the need for cleaning the remaining amount detecting unit 71, and it becomes easy to perform various types of maintenance.

Further, since the control unit 44 acquires information including at least one of the excretion amount, the excretion time, and the excretion frequency based on the change in the remaining amount in the tank 32, the information useful for managing the health and physical condition of the user. It becomes easier to obtain.
Further, the remaining amount detection unit 71 has detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C extending in the vertical direction and arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, and is based on the capacitance between the detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C. Since it is a capacitance type that can detect the remaining amount, it is easy to detect urine composed of substantially water with high accuracy, and it is also easy to make the remaining amount detecting unit 71 thinner.

Further, in the range of the remaining amount in the tank 32 that can be detected by using the detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C, the reference electrode pair 71D whose capacitance does not change depending on the remaining amount is provided, and the detection result of the reference electrode pair 71D. Since the detection results of the other detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C are corrected based on the above, it becomes easy to suppress the detection error due to the influence of the environment such as temperature and humidity.

Further, since the reference electrode pair 71D is provided above the other detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C and at a position where it can be detected that the remaining amount in the tank 32 exceeds the predetermined abnormal position LX. The reference electrode pair 71D can also be used as a sensor for detecting an abnormality, which is advantageous in reducing the number of parts and downsizing the device. Moreover, since the other detection electrode pairs 71A to 71C are arranged at intervals above and below and have the same size as the reference electrode pair 71D, the characteristics of these detection electrode pairs 71A to 71D are aligned, and the temperature, humidity, etc. It becomes easy to effectively suppress the detection error due to the influence of the environment.

Further, in this configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, in the case 81, the tank 32 and the suction path components (sub tank 33, vacuum pump 34, filter 35, etc.) other than the tank 32 are in a predetermined horizontal direction. It is configured to be housed side by side in the depth direction Y. Under this configuration, the remaining amount detection unit 71 is arranged in the space between the tank 32 and the case 81 that is vacant in the width direction X corresponding to the horizontal direction intersecting the tank 32 in the depth direction Y. doing. According to this configuration, in order to secure the arrangement space of the remaining amount detecting unit 71, it is possible to suppress the situation where the case 81 is enlarged in the depth direction Y, and it becomes easy to make the depth direction Y compact.

It should be noted that the above embodiment is merely an example of one aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.
For example, the configuration of the remaining amount detection unit 71 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the size, number (number of divisions), and the position of each detection electrode pair that are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction may be appropriately changed. Further, although the case of using the detection electrode pairs arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction has been described, as shown in FIG. 7, the detection electrodes arranged at intervals in the vertical direction may be used.
In FIG. 7, the remaining amount detection unit 71 is composed of a detection electrode composed of a lower detection electrode 71X and an upper detection electrode 71Y, and the widths of the detection electrodes 71X and 71Y are set to the detection electrode pairs 71A to 71D. The capacitance between the detection electrodes 71X and 71Y, which is formed wider than the above and changes due to the influence of a dielectric such as moisture and air in the tank 32, is detected. The detection electrode 71Y can also be used as a reference. By forming each of the detection electrodes 71X and 71Y wide, it becomes easy to sufficiently detect the change in capacitance due to the influence of the moisture in the tank 32. Further, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 7, there is a possibility that the number of parts can be reduced and the parts can be easily arranged.
The size, number (number of divisions) of detection electrode pairs arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and the position of each detection electrode pair when divided may be appropriately changed.

Further, the case is not limited to the case where the remaining amount detecting unit 71 is configured by the capacitance type, and another configuration may be adopted in which the remaining amount in a plurality of stages in the tank 32 is detected in a non-contact manner.
For example, as an optical type composed of a plurality of light emitting devices in which the remaining amount detection unit 71 is arranged at intervals in the vertical direction and a plurality of light receiving devices that receive light from each light emitting device via the tank 32. May be good. In this case, the light emitting device emits light having a wavelength in the near infrared region that is easily absorbed by moisture, and the light receiving device receives light including a wavelength in the near infrared region, depending on the presence or absence of moisture. The amount of light received is different, and the remaining amount in the tank 32 can be detected based on the change in the amount of light received. Further, the configuration is not limited to utilizing the absorption of light with respect to water, and a configuration may be adopted in which the remaining amount in the tank 32 is detected based on the color of excrement or an image.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the remaining amount detecting unit 71 is arranged in the space between the tank 32 and the case 81 that is vacant in the width direction X of the case 81 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. , The arrangement position of the remaining amount detection unit 71 may be changed as appropriate. For example, when it is necessary to make the width direction X of the case 81 compact, the remaining amount detection unit 71 is arranged in the space between the tank 32 and the case 81 that is vacant in the depth direction Y of the case 81. You may.

Further, although the case where the present invention is applied to the excrement treatment apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the like has been described, the configuration, structure, shape and the like of each part may be appropriately changed. For example, the case where the predetermined member having the tube connection port 21A and the sensor connection portion 21C is the receiver 21 has been illustrated, but the predetermined member is not limited to this, and the predetermined member is an underwear, a supporter, or a diaper worn in the crotch portion of the user. Appropriate members such as, etc. can be applied. Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the present invention is applied to the excrement treatment device 10 that sucks urine, and a liquid (also referred to as body fluid) consisting of at least one of urine, feces, menstrual blood, or other excrement is sucked. The present invention may be applied to an excrement treatment device.

10 Excrement disposal device 21 Receiver (predetermined member)
32 tank 33 sub tank (suction path component)
34 Vacuum pump (suction source, suction path component)
35 filter (suction path component)
36-38 Suction tube 39 Exhaust tube 42 Notification unit 44 Control unit (information acquisition unit)
71 Remaining amount detection unit 71A to 71C Detection electrode pair 71D Detection electrode pair (reference electrode pair)
81 Case LF Upper limit position LX Abnormal position LH Full water position LL Minimum position X Width direction Y Depth direction

Claims (7)

In an excrement treatment device that sucks a predetermined excrement and stores it in a tank
A remaining amount detection unit that enables non-contact detection of the remaining amount in multiple stages in the tank,
An excrement processing apparatus including an information acquisition unit that acquires information on the excrement based on the change in the remaining amount. The excrement processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires information including at least one of an excretion amount, an excretion time, and an excretion frequency based on a change in the remaining amount. The remaining amount detecting unit has detection electrode pairs extending in the vertical direction and arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, and is static so that the remaining amount can be detected based on the capacitance between the detection electrode pairs. The excrement treatment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the excrement treatment apparatus is of the capacitance type. Within the range of the remaining amount in the tank that can be detected by using the detection electrode pair, a reference detection electrode pair whose capacitance does not change depending on the remaining amount is provided.
The excrement treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detection result of the detection electrode pair is corrected based on the detection result of the detection electrode pair for reference. The reference detection electrode pair is provided at a position above the detection electrode pair and at a position where it can be detected that the remaining amount in the tank exceeds a predetermined abnormal position. The excrement treatment apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. The excrement treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the detection electrode pairs are arranged vertically at intervals and have the same size as the reference detection electrode. A case is provided in which the tank and the components constituting the suction path for sucking excrement are stored in the tank side by side in the horizontal direction.
Claim 1 is characterized in that the remaining amount detecting unit is arranged in a space between the tank and the case that is vacant in the horizontal direction intersecting the tank in the horizontal direction. 6. The excrement treatment apparatus according to any one of 6.

Images