JPH0692394A - Liquid supplying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a countermeasure against bacteria to inexpensively feed sterile liquid by providing a freely deformable liquid storage container and providing a means for applying pressure to the storage container to suppress bacteria multiplication. CONSTITUTION:A freely removable liquid storage container 1 and a lid 2 for taking out water are provided, while a liquid feed tube 3 from the storage container 1 to the lid 2 is provided so that it can be freely connected and disconnected from the container 1, and a press-feeding means for applying supply pressure from the storage container 1 to the lid 2 is provided. The press-feeding means is provided as a pressure applying means for applying pressure to the storage container 1 while the container 1 is provided as a freely deformable one. The pressure applying means houses the storage container 1 so that it can be freely removed and put in, and it comprises a storage vessel 4 which is sealed with the storage container housed and an air supplying device 5 for press-feeding air into the storage vessel 4. Then a liquid contact face is subjected to antibacterial treatment. As an antibacterial means, antibacterial agent may be mixed into a resin material when a member constituting the liquid contact face is of a synthetic resin material.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid supply device capable of easily taking out a drink liquid such as water or juice, especially natural water, and more specifically, a detachable liquid storage container and a liquid take-out device. And a pump for supplying a liquid supply pipe from the liquid storage container to the plug so as to be connectable to and separable from the liquid storage container, and provided with a pumping means for applying a supply pressure from the liquid storage container to the plug to the liquid. Related to existing things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a liquid supply apparatus of this type, in order to configure the pressure feeding means, a liquid supply pipe from a liquid storage container to a stopper is equipped with a liquid supply pump.

[0003]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional technique, although the positional relationship between the liquid storage container and the stopper can be freely set, the provision of the liquid supply pump for that purpose causes the free chlorine to be contained. When a liquid having no sterilizing ability, such as natural water, mineral water, or fresh water, is used as a liquid supply target, it is difficult to maintain a hygienic liquid supply. In other words, when targeting a liquid that does not have bactericidal ability, if the liquid does not change, or if there is a very small amount of the liquid retention area, it is inevitable that the bacteria will grow and the grown bacteria will be fed. It will be mixed in the liquid. Therefore, in order to perform hygienic aseptic liquid supply, some kind of antibacterial measures is required. Generally, as a antibacterial measure, a means for sterilizing by incorporating an ultraviolet germicidal lamp, or membrane filtration using an ultrafiltration membrane, etc. Means to sterilize by incorporating the device are adopted. However, implementing the measures against each bacterium has the following drawbacks. In the case of sterilizing means by ultraviolet irradiation, the effective irradiation distance that can be sterilized by ultraviolet irradiation is short, and since the range of sterilization is limited, in order to perform reliable sterilization, near the liquid supply path, and It is necessary to install an ultraviolet germicidal lamp over the entire length of the liquid supply channel, and as a result,
In order to guarantee sterilization, not only a very large number of UV germicidal lamps are required, but it is often not possible to arrange such UV germicidal lamps physically, which is not versatile. However, even if it can be implemented, it is very expensive. In the case of the sterilization method by membrane filtration, the sterilization performance depends on the performance of the membrane, so a high-performance membrane, that is, an expensive membrane is required to ensure reliable sterilization Since the membrane becomes more resistant to liquid supply, a high-performance liquid supply pump, that is, an expensive liquid supply pump is required, and as a result, the cost is very high for reliable sterilization. On the other hand, the flow path structure of the liquid supply pump is more complicated than that of pipes, etc., and it is easy to form a large number of minute recesses or the like that become the above-mentioned retention parts in the liquid supply pump. Thus, the number of joints of the liquid supply pipes, where O-rings, packings, etc. are arranged, and which form the small gaps that serve as the above-mentioned retaining portions, increases.
As described above, according to the conventional technique, since the liquid supply pump is provided, it is unavoidable to increase the accumulating portion, which is a growth portion of the bacteria, and if left as it is, the bacteria will be produced in a short time. It grew and mixed a large amount of bacteria in the liquid supply. Therefore, in the case of the conventional technique, due to the presence of the liquid supply pump, the amount of growth of the bacteria is large, so that more strict measures against bacteria are required, resulting in a significant increase in cost.
An object of the present invention is to prevent bacterial growth by facilitating bacterial growth so that sterile liquid supply can be performed at low cost.

[0004]

The liquid supply device according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the pressure feeding means, a deformable container is provided as the liquid storage container and the liquid storage container is pressurized. The point is that a pressure means is provided. The liquid supply apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the pressurizing means is configured to accommodate the liquid storage container so that the liquid storage container can be freely taken in and out, and is sealed in a liquid storage container accommodating state. A storage container and an air supply device for supplying air under pressure to the storage container are provided. The liquid supply device according to the third invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first and second inventions, the liquid supply pipe is equipped with a heater for heating the liquid. The liquid supply apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect, the storage container is provided with a cooling coil for cooling the stored storage container. The liquid supply device according to the fifth invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first to fourth inventions, in the connecting means for connecting the liquid storage container and the liquid supply pipe, a male and female pluggable male and female connectable and separable from each other. One of the connecting devices is provided in the liquid storage container, and the other is provided in the liquid supply pipe, and the connection device is connected to the connection device on the liquid supply pipe side by the insertion connection to the connection device on the liquid storage container side. It is equipped with an operation tool that opens the liquid supply hole of the tool. The liquid supply device according to the sixth invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first to fifth inventions, the liquid contact surface is made antibacterial.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the liquid in the liquid storage container is pushed out to the liquid supply pipe by deforming the liquid storage container by pressurizing it. Therefore, the liquid is pumped from the liquid storage container to the stopper. Due to the installation of the means, it is possible to suppress the growth of bacteria without increasing the liquid retention area. According to the second aspect, since the air is indirectly pressurized, the liquid container is not damaged due to the pressurization, and the air is not directly in contact with the liquid in the container. According to the third aspect, the liquid can be heated and supplied. According to the fourth invention, the liquid can be cooled and supplied. According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the liquid supply hole of the liquid storage container is opened and the liquid supply pipe is communicated with the liquid storage container only by inserting and connecting the liquid supply pipe side connector to the liquid storage container side connector. Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily perform connection and communication accompanying the replacement of the liquid storage container. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even if bacteria such as air or fingers adhere to the mouth of the stopper, the bacteria can be killed by contact with the antibacterial liquid contact surface and the growth of bacteria can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent so-called reverse contamination in which bacteria invade from the stopper and spread inside.

[0006]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the growth of bacteria can be suppressed, the measures against bacteria for sterilization can be simplified and the sterile liquid can be supplied at a low cost. Particularly, according to claim 2, it is safe, and according to claim 3, it is suitable for supplying the heating liquid, and according to claim 4, it is suitable for supplying the cooling liquid. This is preferable, and according to claim 5, replacement of the liquid storage container can be performed with good workability. According to claim 6,
Sterilization can be performed more reliably.

[0007]

EXAMPLE A liquid supply device is mainly used for supplying water such as natural water and mineral water.
A device for water, that is, a water supply device will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, the water supply device includes a cold water supply unit A.
And a hot water supply unit B. The basic structure of both is the same. The basic structure is such that a water storage container (liquid storage container) 1 that can be detached and a stopper 2 for taking out water are provided, and a water supply pipe (liquid supply pipe) 3 from the water storage container 1 to the stopper 2 is attached to the water storage container 1. It is configured so as to be freely connectable and separable, and is provided with a pressure feeding means for applying a supply pressure from the water storage container 1 to the stopper 2 to water. The pumping means is configured by providing a deformable one as the water storage container 1, and providing a pressurizing means for pressurizing the water storage container 1. The pressurizing means accommodates the water storage container 1 so that the water storage container 1 can be freely taken in and out, and includes a storage container 4 that is sealed in the storage container storage state and an air supply device 5 that pressurizes and supplies air into the storage container 4. Is configured. The storage container 4 is composed of a main body 4A for accommodating the water storage container 1 and a lid 4B capable of swingingly opening and closing a container opening / closing opening in the upper portion of the main body 4A.
Between B and B, packing 10 for sealing is provided. Reference numeral 11 is a lock fitting for fixing the lid body 4B to the closed position. The air supply device 5 is an electric air compressor 5A that operates based on the pressure gauge P.
And an air supply pipe 5B for supplying the pressurized air resulting therefrom to the inside of the storage container 4 from the mouthpiece 5a equipped on the lid 4B. One air compressor 5A is shared by the cold water supply unit A and the hot water supply unit B. 5b is a safety valve. As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting means between the water storage container 1 and the water supply pipe 3 is one of the male and female connectors 8A and 8B (female type) shown in FIG. ) To the water reservoir 1 and the other to the water supply pipe 3, respectively, and a male connector 8B on the water supply pipe 3 side
In addition, an operating tool 9 for opening the water supply hole 8a of the female connecting tool 8A in connection with the female connecting tool 8A on the water storage container 1 side is configured. In detail,
The connecting tools 8A, 8B and the operating tool 9 are synthetic resin products, and the water supply hole 8a of the female connecting tool 8A is closed by the water blocking film 12 until connection, as shown in FIG. As shown in (b) of FIG. 2, the water blocking film 12 is opened only when the male connecting tool 8B is connected and the water blocking film 12 is pierced by the operating tool 9. That is, the female connector 8A
Is integrally formed with the water blocking film 12. The male connector 8B has a hole 4a formed in the storage container 4.
Is connected to the connector 8A of the water storage container 1 housed in the storage container 4 at the insertion tip thereof, and the female connector 8A is inserted into the female connector 8A when the female connector 8A is inserted. The insertion amount is regulated by elastically engaging with the formed circumferential groove 8b, and a plurality of circumferentially-preventing retaining projections 8c that prevent the retaining and a nut that is screwed into the boss portion 4A around the hole 4a of the storage container 4 are provided. A hole 4a is formed in the end surface of the boss portion 4A by 13
And a fixing flange 8d that is pressed and fixed in a closed state, and a packing 14 is provided between the flange 8d and the end surface of the boss portion 4A. The operation tool 9 is held by the connection tool 8B so as to be movable within a certain range in the inserting direction,
A moving force toward the insertion tip side is given by the spring 9S, and as shown in (a) of FIG. 2, the male connecting tool 8B is replaced with the female connecting tool 8A in the state of being positioned at the distal end of the moving range. Before inserting into the normal connection position, the piercing part 9a at the tip is applied to the water blocking film 12 to pierce the water blocking film 12, and as shown in (b) of FIG. The flange portion 9 is provided around the water supply hole of the tool 8A.
When b comes into contact with the male connector 8B, the male connector 8B moves backward against the force of the spring 9S. And
By being located at the tip, the water passage is blocked by closely adhering to the water passage shutoff sheet portion 8e of the male connector 8B, and by moving backward, the water passage is separated from the seat portion 8e. It is equipped with a packing 15 for opening. 16 is
It is an O-ring that seals between the two connecting tools 8A and 8B. Then, the cold water supply unit A includes the main body 4 of the storage container 4.
A has a double wall structure, and a cooling coil 7 for cooling the inside of the storage container 4, that is, the stored water storage container 1 between the walls.
Is configured to supply cooling water, and the hot water supply unit B is provided with a heater 6 (sheath heater or the like) for heating water between the water supply pipe 3 and the plug 2. , Configured to supply hot water. The cooling coil 7 includes a compressor 17, a condenser 18, and a liquid receiver 1
9, an evaporator 20, an accumulator 21, a compressor 17, and a coil of the evaporator 20 of a heat pump that causes a refrigerant to flow in the order described, except for the evaporator 20 of the heat pump, and the air compressor 5A as a drive source. , Are collectively accommodated in the case 22. In addition, in this water supply device, the water of the water storage container 1, the water supply pipe 3, the plug 2, the connecting tools 8A and 8B, the operating tool 9, and the heater 6 is contacted so as to kill the bacteria by contact and prevent the bacterial growth. The surface, that is, the water contact surface is made antibacterial. As the antibacterial means, when the member constituting the water contact surface is made of a thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic resin material, a means for mixing an antibacterial agent into the material resin can be mentioned. In the case of using a material, there may be mentioned a means for applying an antibacterial agent-containing resin coating to the entire surface of the member or the surface portion to be the water contact surface. The antibacterial agent is one that kills bacteria by contact with bacteria, and those in which the exchange groups of ion exchangers such as synthetic zeolite and ion exchange resins are exchanged with metal ions such as silver ions, and insoluble inorganic substances are silver. It carries ions. The content of the antibacterial agent for expressing the antibacterial property is 0.5 to 6 of the weight of the resin when the antibacterial agent is a synthetic zeolite in which silver ions are bound.
%. As a means for containing a predetermined amount of the antibacterial agent in the resin, a resin having a content (for example, 15%) larger than the predetermined amount is prepared, and a resin containing no antibacterial agent is added to the resin to obtain a predetermined amount. It is desirable to use a dispersant, a lubricant and the like together in order to surely exhibit the antibacterial activity of the surface by sufficiently dispersing it on the surface of the resin molded product.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, the cold water supply and the hot water supply can be performed. However, the present invention, when only the cold water supply is performed, only when the hot water supply is performed, or
It can be applied to both cases where the temperature is not adjusted.
In the above-described embodiment, the liquid storage container 1 is pressurized with air, but the liquid storage container 1 may be pushed by a piston as the pressurizing means.

It should be noted that reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage container 2 Stopper 3 Supply pipe 4 Containment container 5 Air supply device 6 Heater 7 Cooling coil 8A connection tool 8B connection tool 8a Liquid supply hole 9 Operation tool

Front page continued (72) Inventor Jun Kawaguchi, 3-23 Dojimahama, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Takuma Co., Ltd. Bio-Process Development Center (72) Inventor Shinichi Kunisaki 1023-1, Yamazaki, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka Prefecture

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A removable storage container (1) and a stopper (2) for taking out a liquid are provided, and the storage container (1) is plugged (2).
A liquid supply pipe (3) to the liquid storage container (1) is detachably connected to the liquid storage container (1), and a pumping means for applying a supply pressure from the liquid storage container (1) to the stopper (2) to the liquid is provided. A liquid supply device, wherein the liquid storage container (1) is included in the pressure feeding means.
A liquid supply device provided with a deformable device and a pressurizing means for pressurizing the liquid storage container (1). 2. A storage container (4) for accommodating the liquid storage container (1) so that it can be freely taken out and put in, and sealed in the liquid storage container housing state, and the storage container (4). The liquid supply device according to claim 1, further comprising an air supply device (5) for supplying air under pressure. 3. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply pipe (3) is equipped with a heater (6) for heating the liquid. 4. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage container (4) is provided with a cooling coil (7) for cooling the stored liquid storage container (1). 5. Of the plug-in type male and female connectors (8A), (8B) which are connectable and separable from each other to form a connecting means between the liquid storage container (1) and the liquid supply pipe (3). One of them is equipped with the liquid storage container (1), and the other is equipped with the liquid supply pipe (3), and the liquid container (1) side connection is made to the connector (8B) of the liquid supply pipe (3) side. The operating tool (9) for opening the liquid supply hole (8a) of the connecting tool (8B) upon insertion connection to the tool (8A) is provided with the operating tool (9).
The liquid supply device described. 6. The liquid contact surface is made antibacterial,
The liquid supply device according to 3, 4, or 5.