JP2003340443A - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the exchange time of a filter cartridge even when the filter cartridge is changed to a different kind of filter cartridge in a water purifier. <P>SOLUTION: The different kinds of filter cartridges each having a different service life can be connected to the water purifier and the exchange time of the filter cartridge is detected. The water purifier has a life end point integrated flow volume setting part 29 for identifying the filter cartridge and for setting the life end point integrated flow volume and an integrated flow volume calculation means 38 for calculating the integrated flow volume flowing in the filter cartridge. The integrated flow volume calculating means 38 has a flow volume measuring means 27 and an integrated flow volume storing circuit 41. The integrated flow volume storing circuit 41 is initialized when the life end point integrated flow volume is set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifier having a function of detecting the life of a water purification filtration cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, tap water to be consumed as drinking water contains various odors such as various bacteria and odor of chlorine, and it is widely purified to make this tap water safer and tastier. Vessels are used. This type of water purifier is classified into a stationary type, a faucet direct connection type, an undersink type, etc. according to the installation form, but most of them filter raw water flowing out from the faucet with a filter material provided in the water purifier. After that, it has a structure for discharging as purified water.

Conventionally, as a filter medium of this type, a function of removing a scent of water, mold odor, trihalomethane, etc. with an adsorbent such as activated carbon, and removing bacteria, turbidity components, etc. with a porous hollow fiber membrane. However, these are detachably attached to the water purifier main body as a filtration cartridge so that they can be replaced when the life is exhausted due to long-term use.

The activated carbon and hollow fiber membrane in this filtration cartridge purify tap water by incorporating impurities in tap water into its fine structure. Therefore, when the filtration cartridge takes in a certain amount of impurities, it cannot take in any more amount of impurities and reaches the end of its life.

The period from the time when a new filtration cartridge is replaced to the end of its service life depends on the structure of each water purifier and the environment in which it is used, so it is difficult to predict in advance the time for replacement with a new filtration cartridge. Therefore,
Conventionally, the water purifier is provided with a detecting means for detecting the integrated flow rate of the filtered water, and when the detected amount reaches a predetermined amount, the water purifier notifies the water purifier user of the time to replace the filtration cartridge. The method is widely used.

[0006]

However, the conventional water purifier as described above has the following problems. Since the detection means is compatible with only one type of preset filtration cartridge, if the amount of tap water used changes due to home renovation, etc., replace it with a filtration cartridge according to the amount used. Even if it does, the existing water purifier cannot support a new filtration cartridge, and in order to know the life of the filtration cartridge in advance, it is necessary to purchase a new water purifier that can detect the life of the filtration cartridge.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points. Even when the filtration cartridge of a different type is exchanged, the replacement time of the filtration cartridge can be detected without purchasing a new water purifier. The purpose is to provide a water purifier that can.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following constitutions. The water purifier of the present invention is a water purifier capable of connecting different kinds of filtration cartridges having different lifespans and capable of detecting the replacement time,
A filtration cartridge is identified, and a service life reaching cumulative flow rate setting unit for setting the service life reaching cumulative flow rate and a cumulative flow rate calculating means for calculating a cumulative flow rate of water flowing through the filtering cartridge are provided, and the cumulative flow rate calculating means is It has a measuring means and an integrated flow rate storage circuit, and the integrated flow rate storage circuit is initialized when the life flow reaching integrated flow rate of the filtration cartridge is set.

Therefore, according to the water purifier of the present invention, when the filtration cartridge is replaced, the service life accumulated flow rate setting unit identifies the identification unit of the filtration cartridge and sets the service life accumulated flow rate of the filtration cartridge. You can Then, the cumulative flow rate of the water that has flowed through the filtration cartridge after the lifetime reaching cumulative flow rate of the filtration cartridge is set is calculated,
When the integrated flow rate reaches the service life reached integrated flow rate, it can be detected that the replacement time of the filtration cartridge has come.

Receiving the signal measured by the flow rate measuring means,
It is also preferable to have a configuration having a measuring arithmetic circuit for calculating the flow rate of water flowing through the filtration cartridge by arithmetically processing this signal and sending the calculated flow rate value to the integrated flow rate storage circuit.
As the service life reaching cumulative flow rate setting unit, a configuration having an identification arithmetic circuit for identifying a filtration cartridge and a filtration cartridge service life setting circuit can be adopted. Further, the filtration cartridge life setting circuit can adopt a configuration in which the filtration cartridge is identified based on the result processed by the identification arithmetic circuit, and the lifetime reaching cumulative flow rate of the filtration cartridge at that time is set.

The filtration cartridge can be identified by a magnetic material or a convex portion provided on the filtration cartridge. Further, in the present invention, it is preferable to have an informing means for informing that the replacement time of the filtration cartridge has come. As a result, it is possible to easily know when it is time to replace the filtration cartridge. As the notifying means, a means for notifying that the replacement time of the filtration cartridge has come when the integrated flow rate calculated by the integrated flow rate calculation means reaches the life reaching integrated flow rate. Any of an LED, a buzzer, and a liquid crystal display can be adopted as the notification means.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a water purifier according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. here,
For example, an example of a water faucet direct connection type water purifier will be described. Figure 2
And in FIG. 3, the code | symbol 1 is a water purifier. The water purifier 1 is configured to include a water purifier main body 3 fixed to the faucet 2 and a filtration cartridge 4 detachably attached to the water purifier main body 3.

In the water purifier body 3, a flow path 5 through which raw water flows from the faucet 2, a water purifying section inflow path 6 that guides the inflowing raw water to the filtration cartridge 4, and a discharge that directly discharges the inflowing raw water. A first raw water inflow passage 8 leading to an outlet 7 and a second raw water inflow passage (not shown) leading to a discharge port 9 for discharging raw water in a shower shape are formed. A switching valve 10 is provided at a branch portion to the first raw water inflow passage 8 and the second raw water inflow passage to switch the raw water that has flowed in by rotating to flow into each of these inflow passages. Is provided with a switching lever 19 for rotating the switching valve 10.

The filtration cartridge 4 comprises a cartridge body 13 and a filter body 15 provided in the cartridge body 13 with a gap 14 therebetween. The filter body 15 filters the raw water that has flowed in from the raw water inlet 16 and has reached the filter inlet 17 via the gap 14.
The activated carbon 11 and the hollow fiber membrane 12 are housed inside. The activated carbon 11 removes the odor of musty odor, musty odor, trihalomethane, etc. of the raw water, and the hollow fiber membrane 12 removes bacteria, turbidity components, etc. in the raw water.

A water collecting part 18 for collecting the purified water filtered by the filtering part 15 is formed on the downstream side of the filtering part 15, and one end of the water collecting part 18 is opened to the water collecting part 18. A discharge path 21 having a discharge port 20 having the other end opened to the outside is formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a drain portion 22 is provided at the upper end of the gap 14. The water draining portion 22 has a function of draining water in the filtration cartridge 4 after filtration, and has an air inlet port 23 that is open to the outside and a rubber valve 24 that is arranged in the middle of the air inlet port 23. It is configured to include and.

On the other hand, the filtration cartridge 4 is provided with a magnetic body 25 (lifetime reaching cumulative flow rate identifying section) as an identifying section facing the water purifier body 3 on the joint surface with the water purifier body 3. , In the water purifier body 3 in the middle of the water purification part inflow path 6,
In addition, a filter medium life measuring device 26 is provided near the magnetic body 25. The magnetic body 25 is provided as an identification means that can identify the cumulative flow rate that has reached the end of life of the filtration cartridge 4 provided with the magnetic body 25.

As shown in FIG. 1, the filter medium life measuring device 26
Is configured to include a life detection circuit 28, an identification circuit 29 (lifetime reaching cumulative flow rate setting unit), a display circuit 30 (informing means), and a power supply circuit 31 that supplies power to these circuits. The discriminating circuit 29 discriminates the magnetic body 25 and sets the life reaching cumulative flow rate of the filtration cartridge 4.
It is composed of an identification arithmetic circuit 32 and a filter medium life setting circuit 33.

The identifying arithmetic circuit 32 processes a signal from the magnetic body 25 when the filtration cartridge 4 is attached to the water purifier body 3, and a constant current circuit 34 is provided between the filtering cartridge 4 and the power supply circuit 31. A magnetic resistance element 35 arranged via the magnetic resistance element 35 for reading information of the magnetic material 25 as a magnetic resistance, an amplifier circuit 36 for amplifying an output from the magnetic resistance element 35, and an output amplified by the amplifier circuit 36 as a reference voltage. The filter medium comparison circuit 37 for comparison is provided. The filter material life setting circuit 33 identifies the small capacity or the large capacity of the filtration cartridge 4 based on the result processed by the identification calculation circuit 32, and at the same time, calculates the life reaching cumulative flow rate of the filtration cartridge 4 at the reference life reaching integration. It is set as a flow rate.

The life detecting circuit 28 is the integrated flow rate calculating circuit 3
8 (integrated flow rate calculation means) and a life comparison circuit 39 (comparison means). The integrated flow rate calculation circuit 38 is for calculating an integrated flow rate of water flowing through the inside of the filtration cartridge 4 after the filtration cartridge 4 is attached to the water purifier main body 3, and includes a flow rate measurement means 27 and a measurement calculation circuit 40. It is composed of an integrated flow rate storage circuit 41.

The flow rate measuring means 27 measures the flow rate of the raw water flowing toward the filtration cartridge 4 through the water purifying section inflow path 6, and the measured signal is sent to the measuring arithmetic circuit 40. The measurement arithmetic circuit 40 arithmetically processes the signal sent from the flow rate measuring means 27 to calculate the flow rate of the raw water that has passed through the water purification unit inflow path 6, and the calculated flow rate value is stored in the integrated flow rate storage circuit 41. Sent.

The integrated flow rate storage circuit 41 integrates the flow rate values calculated by the measuring arithmetic circuit 40 and stores them as an integrated flow rate value. In addition, the integrated flow rate storage circuit 41
Is initialized when the filtration cartridge 4 is replaced and the cumulative flow rate for reaching the life of the filtration cartridge 4 is set in the filter material life setting circuit 33.

The life comparison circuit 39 is the integrated flow rate calculation circuit 3
The cumulative flow rate calculated in 8 is compared with the cumulative flow rate reaching the reference life of the filtration cartridge 4 set by the filter medium life setting circuit 33 and supplied from the filter medium life setting circuit 33. When the flow rate reaches the reference life reaching integrated flow rate, the signal is sent to the display circuit 30. The display circuit 30 is for displaying to the user with an LED or the like when the integrated flow rate has reached the reference life reaching integrated flow rate based on the signal from the life comparison circuit 39.

The operation of the water purifier having the above configuration will be described. First, the water purifier body 3 has a small-capacity filtration cartridge 4
Install. As a result, the identification circuit 29 operates, and the magnetic resistance element 35 reads the magnetic resistance of the magnetic body 25 provided in the filtration cartridge 4 and outputs it to the amplification circuit 36 via the constant current circuit 34. Then, the output signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 36 is sent to the filter medium comparison circuit 37, where it is compared with the reference voltage and then sent to the filter medium life setting circuit 33 as a comparison result.

The filter medium life setting circuit 33 is a filter medium comparison circuit 3.
According to the comparison result sent from 7, the filtration cartridge 4 is identified as having a small capacity, and the pre-stored cumulative service life reaching flow rate for small capacity is set as the reference service life reaching cumulative flow rate of the attached filtration cartridge 4. At the same time, the integrated flow rate value stored in the integrated flow rate storage circuit 41 of the life detection circuit 28 is initialized.

Next, in order to use purified water, the switching lever 19 is operated to rotate the switching valve 10 to a position where the raw water from the faucet 2 flows into the purified water inflow passage 6. Then, when the faucet 2 is opened, the raw water flowing from the faucet 2 through the flow path 5 flows into the gap 14 in the filtration cartridge 4 from the raw water introduction port 16 through the water purification unit inflow path 6 by the switching valve 10.

Raw water that has reached the filtration inlet 17 through the gap 14 is introduced into the filter body 15 and filtered by the activated carbon 11 and the hollow fiber membrane 12 inside to become purified water.
After that, the purified water is discharged from the water collecting portion 18 through the discharge passage 21 as the purified water from the discharge port 20.

At this time, the rubber valve 24 of the water draining portion 22 is pressed to the outside (left side in FIG. 4) of the air introducing port 23 by the water pressure of the raw water that has entered the air introducing port 23 through the gap 14. To prevent the raw water from leaking to the outside. Further, when the user stops using purified water, the supply of raw water to the gap 14 is stopped, so that the rubber valve 2
The pressure of 4 is released. As a result, air is introduced from the air introduction port 23, so that the raw water and the purified water remaining in the filter body 15 are discharged to the outside from the discharge port 20, and the inside of the filter body 15 can be kept hygienic.

On the other hand, when the raw water passes through the water purifying section inflow passage 6, the life detecting circuit 28 operates. That is, the flow rate measuring means 27 measures the flow rate of the raw water flowing toward the filtration cartridge 4 through the water purification part inflow path 6 and sends the measured signal to the measurement arithmetic circuit 40. The measurement arithmetic circuit 40 arithmetically processes this signal to calculate the flow rate of the raw water that has passed through the water purification unit inflow path 6, and sends the calculated flow rate value to the integrated flow rate storage circuit 41.

The integrated flow rate storage circuit 41 newly stores, as an integrated flow rate value, the result of integrating the already stored integrated flow rate value and the flow rate value sent from the measurement arithmetic circuit 40. Then, the life comparison circuit 39 compares the integrated flow rate value stored in the integrated flow rate storage circuit 41 with the reference life reaching integrated flow rate set in the filter medium life setting circuit 33, and the integrated flow rate value becomes the reference life. When the reaching cumulative flow rate has been reached, a signal is sent to the display circuit 30. The display circuit 30 is
Based on the signal from the life comparison circuit 39, the user is informed by an LED display that the replacement time of the filtration cartridge 4 has arrived.

On the other hand, when the raw water is used without using the purified water, by operating the switching lever 19 to rotate the switching valve 10, the raw water flowing from the faucet 2 through the flow path 5 is The raw water is introduced into the raw water inflow passage 8 or the second raw water inflow passage, and the raw water is discharged from the discharge port 7 or the discharge port 9 as it is. At this time, since the raw water is not supplied to the water purification section inflow path 6, the integrated flow rate calculation circuit 38 does not operate, and therefore the integrated flow rate storage circuit 41 continues to hold the previous integrated flow rate value.

According to the water purifier of the present embodiment, even if the filtration cartridge 4 of a different type is replaced, the identification circuit 29 can automatically set the life reaching accumulated flow rate. Further, the display circuit 30 allows the user to know when it is time to replace the filtration cartridge 4.

The specific structure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the invention is included in the present invention even if the design is changed without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the switching valve and the raw water introduction hole are directly connected, but the raw water may be taken out from the switching valve by a hose or the like and connected to a filtration cartridge arranged at another place. .

Further, although the amount of flowing water reaching the end of life of the filtration cartridge is identified by using the magnetoresistive element, the type of the filtration cartridge is more finely identified by using the Hall element utilizing the Hall effect or the detection element similar to the Hall IC. You may allow it. Even in the filtration cartridge, the amount of flowing water that reaches the end of life is not made of a magnetic material. It may be.

On the other hand, as the flow rate measuring means, a metering valve for keeping the flow rate constant is provided in the water purifying section inflow path 6, and the time during which the raw water passes through the metering valve is integrated to obtain an integrated flow rate value. It may be configured. Further, although the LED cartridge indicates that the filter cartridge has reached the end of its service life, for example, a buzzer or a liquid crystal display may be used instead of the LED to notify the user.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the amount of water used is increased or decreased, when the life reaching cumulative flow rate identifying unit is changed according to the filtration cartridge without purchasing a new water purifier, This has an excellent effect that the life reaching cumulative flow rate can be set in response to the change and the arrival of the replacement time of the filtration cartridge can be easily known.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B ′ in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A ′ in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Water Purifier 3 Water Purifier Main Body 4 Filtration Cartridge 6 Water Purification Port Inflow Path 25 Magnetic Material (Life Expiration Cumulative Flow Rate Discrimination Section, Discrimination Section) 27 Flow Rate Measuring Means 29 Discrimination Circuit (Life Expiration Cumulative Flow Rate Setting Section) 30 Display Circuit (Notification Means) ) 32 operation circuit for identification 33 filtration cartridge life setting circuit (filter material life setting circuit) 38 integrated flow rate calculation circuit (integrated flow rate calculation means) 39 life comparison circuit (comparison means) 40 measurement operation circuit 41 integrated flow rate storage circuit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4D006 GA07 HA01 KA01 KB12 KE01P                       MA01 PA01 PB06 PB24 PC52                 4D024 AA02 AB07 AB11 BA02 BB01                       BC01 CA04 CA05 CA13 CA16                       DA00 DA04 DA05 DB05

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A water purifier capable of connecting different types of filtration cartridges having different lifespans and detecting the replacement time of the filtration cartridges, which identifies the filtration cartridges and sets the lifespan accumulated flow rate setting section. And an integrated flow rate calculation means for calculating an integrated flow rate of water flowing through the filtration cartridge, wherein the integrated flow rate calculation means includes a flow rate measurement means and an integrated flow rate storage circuit, and the integrated flow rate storage circuit, A water purifier that is initialized when the cumulative flow rate that reaches the life of the filtration cartridge is set. 2. A measuring device which receives a signal measured by the flow rate measuring means, calculates the flow rate of water flowing through the filtration cartridge by processing the signal, and sends the calculated flow rate value to the integrated flow rate storage circuit. The water purifier according to claim 1, which has an arithmetic circuit. 3. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the service life reaching integrated flow rate setting unit includes an identification arithmetic circuit for identifying a filtration cartridge and a filtration cartridge service life setting circuit. 4. The filtration cartridge life setting circuit comprises:
The water purifier according to claim 3, wherein the filtration cartridge is identified based on a result processed by the identification arithmetic circuit, and a life reaching cumulative flow rate of the filtration cartridge at that time is set. 5. The identification of the filtration cartridge is performed by a magnetic material or a convex portion provided on the filtration cartridge.
The water purifier according to any one of to 4. 6. The water purifier according to claim 1, further comprising informing means for informing that the time for replacement of the filtration cartridge has come. 7. The informing means informs that the replacement time of the filtration cartridge has come when the integrated flow rate calculated by the integrated flow rate calculation means reaches the life reaching integrated flow rate. The water purifier according to 6. 8. The water purifier according to claim 6, wherein the notification means is any one of an LED, a buzzer, and a liquid crystal display.