JP2009249042A - Water supplying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To well prevent bacteria or the like from entering a water tank stored in a water supplying machine body and drinking water supplied from the water tank, in relation to a water supplying machine for supplying both cold water and hot water for drinking or either of them which is installed in, for example, ordinary homes, working places, restaurants, various event halls or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The water supplying machine is equipped with a tank storing room 8 for storing the water tank 7 on the upper part of the water supplying machine body 1, and an water supplying opening 8a communicated with it and opening downward on the lower part of the tank storing room 8. A bag-like water tank 7 with an openable and closeable outlet opening 7a for pouring water is stored in the tank storing room 8, and the water tank 7 is provided with the outlet opening 7a spaced apart from the water supplying opening 8a and projecting downward on the upper part in the water supplying opening 8a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a water supply apparatus that is installed in, for example, a general household, workplace, restaurant, or various event venues and supplies drinking water such as cold water or hot water.

  As for the water supply device as described above, various configurations have been proposed so far. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, drinking water in a water tank installed in the water supply body or in the upper part of the water supply body is chilled water. The drinking water in the cold water tank is cooled by an appropriate cooling (freezing) means, and the drinking water in the hot water tank is heated by an appropriate heating means. It has been proposed to pour into a cup or the like through an open / close cock or the like for drinking.

  However, the water tank installed in the water supply body or above the water supply body is usually replaced with another water tank when the drinking water in the tank runs out, but the cold water tank and the hot water tank are not replaced. Use for a long time. In that case, since the hot water tank is sterilized by heat, there are relatively few problems, but since the cold water tank has little sterilization action, bacteria are likely to remain inside, and the bacteria are mixed in the drinking water supplied from the cold water tank. There is.

  As a method of sterilizing or sterilizing the bacteria, for example, a method of periodically circulating the drinking water in the hot water tank to the cold water tank, a method of circulating the drinking water in the cold water tank to the filter for sterilization, ozone, Although there are sterilization methods using ultraviolet rays, in any case, in order to ensure sterilization and sterilization, it is necessary to provide a large-scale drinking water circulation device, ozone generator or ultraviolet irradiation device, etc. There are problems such as an increase in manufacturing cost.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 2 below, a so-called bag-in-box containing a synthetic resin bag-shaped water tank (encapsulated bag) in which drinking water is enclosed as a cold water tank is provided in the water tank. The water supply valve is fixed so as to protrude outward from an opening formed in the cardboard box. And while accommodating the cold water tank which consists of the said bag-in-box in the refrigerator compartment of a water supply machine, the said water supply valve protrudes the outward of a refrigerator compartment from the opening part formed in the cover body (panel door) which covers the refrigerator compartment Has been proposed.

  However, as described above, the water supply valve provided in the water tank of the bag-in-box protrudes outward from the opening of the cardboard box, which is an advantage of the bag-in-box and is a double packaging of the water tank and the cardboard box. Not only is the advantage lost, but the water supply valve protruding from the cardboard box may become an obstacle during transportation, or the water supply valve may be carelessly operated to cause water leakage. In addition, the water supply valve that protrudes from the opening formed in the lid that covers the refrigerator compartment has a poor appearance, and the process of forming the opening is not only cumbersome and cumbersome, but the cost is increased. Outside air may enter the room and the refrigeration function may be impaired. In order to prevent this, the provision of a cover material, packing, or the like that can be divided as described in Patent Document 2 has a problem that the manufacturing becomes more complicated and troublesome and the cost further increases.

Japanese National Patent Publication No. 2004-102089 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-341796

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems, and it is possible to reduce as much as possible the invasion of bacteria and the like into a water tank housed in a water supply body and drinking water supplied from the water tank. It is possible to easily and inexpensively provide a water supply device with a good appearance.

  In order to achieve the above object, a water feeder according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the upper part of the main body of the water supply device has a tank storage chamber for storing a water tank, and a water supply port that opens downwardly in communication with the tank storage chamber at the bottom of the tank storage chamber, and has a water outlet for water injection that can be opened and closed. A bag-shaped water tank is housed in the tank housing chamber, and a water outlet of the water tank is provided at the upper part in the water supply port so as to protrude downwardly away from it.

  As described above, the water feeder according to the present invention accommodates a bag-shaped water tank having a water outlet for water injection that can be opened and closed in the tank housing chamber, and the water tank outlet is opened downward in the upper part of the water inlet. Since it is configured to be kept in a state, it is possible to reduce the invasion of bacteria and the like into the water tank and the drinking water supplied from the water tank as much as possible, and the outlet of the water tank is the water main body. Since it is located in the upper part of the water supply port on the side, it is not exposed to the outside and the appearance is good, and it becomes possible to provide such a water supply apparatus with a simple structure, easily and inexpensively.

The perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the water feeder by this invention. The perspective view of the state which is heating the heating pot with which the said water feeder was equipped. The perspective view of the state which accommodates a water tank in the said water feeder. The front view of the said water feeder. AA sectional drawing in FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 6. BB sectional drawing in FIG. (A) is a front view of the cooling device built in the said water feeder, (b) is the side view.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the water supply apparatus of the present embodiment includes a water supply body 1 and an electric heating pot 2 that is separate from the water supply body 1. On the bottom of the water supply main body 1 is provided a mounting table 3 on which a drinking water cup, a heating pot 2 or the like is mounted, and the mounting table 3 has the above-mentioned cup or the like when supplying cooled drinking water or the like. A water supply spot 3a for placing the heating pot 2 and the like, and a heating spot 3b for placing the heating pot 2 when heating drinking water and the like are provided.

  The heating spot 3b is provided with a power supply receptacle 4 that is fitted with a power supply plug (not shown) provided at the bottom of the heating pot 2 and supplies power to the heating pot 2. The receptacle 4 includes: Electric power is supplied from a plug 5 provided at the rear of the water supply body 1 via a power switch 6.

  In the state where the heating pot 2 is placed on the heating spot 3b of the mounting table 3 and the power supply plug at the bottom of the heating pot 2 is fitted to the energizing receptacle 4, the plug 5 is connected to an outlet (not shown). When the power switch 6 is turned on, the drinking water or the like in the pot is automatically heated by heating means such as an electric heater built in the heating pot 2. When the drinking water or the like is heated to a predetermined temperature (boiling in this embodiment), the heating means is configured to automatically stop.

  Above the mounting table 3, there is provided a tank storage chamber 8 for storing the water tank 7 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and the front lower portion of the tank storage chamber 8 extends downward from the tank storage chamber 8. A water supply port 8a that opens toward the front is provided. An opening / closing lid 9 is provided at the upper part of the tank housing chamber 8 so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction around the upper hinge portion 9a, and a locking hook 10 (see FIG. 6) provided at the front lower portion of the opening / closing lid 9. ) Is engaged with an open / close button 11 provided at the front lower portion of the tank housing chamber 8 so as to be pivotable counterclockwise in FIG. 6 and the open / close lid 9 is held closed.

  The opening / closing lid 9 is always urged to rotate in the opening direction by a spring (not shown) provided on the hinge portion 9a, and the opening / closing button 11 is always engaged with the locking hook 10 by the spring 12 shown in FIG. Is urged to rotate. With the hook 10 engaged with the open / close button 11 as shown in FIG. 6, the open / close button 11 is pushed with a finger or the like to rotate the open / close button 11 counterclockwise in FIG. Then, the engagement state of the opening / closing button 11 and the locking hook 10 is released, and the opening / closing lid 9 is configured to automatically open upward.

  In this embodiment, the water tank 7 contains a predetermined amount of drinking water (about 8 L in this embodiment) in a flexible synthetic resin bag. A water outlet 7a that can be opened and closed is provided. Although the structure of the water outlet 7a is appropriate, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the water outlet 7a is provided in the mouth member 70 provided in the front lower portion of the water tank 7, The mouth member 70 has a cylindrical body 71 made of synthetic resin provided integrally with the tank 7 and connected to the inside of the tank 7 by adhesion or the like at the front lower portion of the water tank 7, and a tip of the cylindrical body 71. A spout 72 made of synthetic resin in the shape of a cap is fitted, and a water outlet 7a having a lower end is provided at the front lower portion of the spout 72 so as to protrude downward, and the opening / closing valve 72a for opening and closing the water outlet 7a is provided above. This is a structure provided integrally with the spout 72.

  In the present embodiment, the open / close valve 72a integrated with the spout 72 is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape so as to be closely fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the mouth member 70 as shown in FIG. The on-off valve 72a is moved up and down as shown by the chain line and the solid line in the figure as shown in the figure by the chain line and the solid line. It is the structure which opens and closes the said water outlet 7a by deform | transforming.

  When the water tank 7 is accommodated in the tank accommodating chamber 8, as shown in FIG. 3, the opening / closing lid 9 is opened and the water tank 7 is inserted into the tank accommodating chamber 8 together with the mouth member 70. The opening member 70 may be moved downward along the guide groove 8b provided in the front portion of the tank housing chamber 8. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the water tank 7 is housed and disposed at a predetermined position in the tank housing chamber 8, and the water outlet 7a of the mouth member 70 is formed in the upper part of the water supply port 8a. It is positioned and held in a state of projecting downward while being spaced apart from it. At that time, the water outlet 7a is configured to be positioned immediately above the water supply spot 3a of the mounting table 3.

  In this state, when the opening / closing lid 9 is closed, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the locking hook 10 provided at the front lower portion of the opening / closing lid 9 is engaged with the opening / closing button 11 and the opening / closing lid 9 is closed. The operation lever 15 for operating the operation protrusion 72b is positioned in front of the operation protrusion 72b of the opening / closing valve 72a. Above the operation lever 15, an inclined cam 16 for rotating the lever 15 is provided, and the inclined cam 16 extends along the guide cylinder 17 via a shaft portion 16a provided integrally therewith at the upper portion thereof. It can move up and down.

  Above the inclined cam 16, a water injection button 20 as an operation member that moves the inclined cam 16 up and down via a connecting rod 18 is provided on the front upper part of the opening / closing lid 9 so as to be movable up and down. The upper part of the connecting rod 18 is connected to a substantially cylindrical recess 20a formed at the rear part (right side in FIG. 6) of the water injection button 20 by press-fitting or the like. It connects with the upper end part of the axial part 16a. Reference numerals 21 and 22 denote return springs for the inclined cam 16 and the operation lever 15, respectively.

  A finger contact recess 20b is provided at the front upper portion of the water injection button 20, and a plurality of anti-slip ridges 20c extending in the left-right direction (front-rear direction in FIG. 6) are provided in the recess 20b. Yes. When the water injection button 20 is moved downward by applying a finger to the depression 20b, the inclined cam 16 is lowered via the connecting rod 18, whereby the operating lever 15 is counterclockwise as shown by the chain line in FIG. Rotate in the direction. Then, the operating projection 72b of the opening / closing valve 72a tilts upward as shown by the chain line in FIG. 7, and the opening / closing valve 72a is deformed to the state shown by the chain line in FIG. Thus, the drinking water in the water tank 7 can be poured out from the water outlet 7a.

  It should be noted that the amount of drinking water discharged from the water outlet 7a can be controlled by adjusting the downward movement amount of the water injection button 20. When the finger or the like is released from the water injection button 20, the water injection button 20 is automatically returned to the original ascending position by the return springs 21 and 22. In the figure, 25 is a water injection lamp that is turned on when drinking water is being poured out from the water outlet 7a, and 26 is a light projection window that transmits light from the lamp.

  On the other hand, the water tank 7 accommodated in the tank accommodating chamber 8 is configured to be constantly cooled to a predetermined temperature by a cooling device 30 built in the rear portion of the water supply device 1. In the present embodiment, an absorption cooling device using ammonia as a refrigerant and helium gas as a diffusing agent is used.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the cooling device 30 includes a main unit 31, a generator 32 that evaporates liquid refrigerant, a rectifier 33 and a condenser 34 that communicate with the generator 32, and the like. Reference numeral 34a denotes a radiation fin. The main unit 31 includes an evaporator 35 that exhibits a known cooling effect, an absorber that absorbs refrigerant gas, a liquid receiver that stores liquid refrigerant, and the like. Are connected to each other by a liquid heat exchanger 36 composed of double inner and outer tubes.

  The generator 32 is provided with a heater (not shown), and the heater and the generator 32 are covered with a heat insulating material 37. Reference numeral 38 denotes a liquid pipe that guides the ammonia liquefied by the condenser 34 to the evaporator 35, and reference numeral 39 denotes a pressure equalizing pipe that connects the condenser 34 and an absorber (not shown). The heater of the generator 32 is configured so that electric power is always supplied by inserting the plug 5 into an outlet (not shown).

  The evaporator 35 in the main unit 31 is disposed below the tank housing chamber 8 so that at least a part of the evaporator 35 protrudes in a bar shape on the front side of the main unit 31 as shown in FIGS. A heat transfer member 40 made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum is interposed between the evaporator 35 and the tank housing chamber 8. In this embodiment, the heat transfer member 40 is held in close contact with the evaporator 35 so as to cover at least the upper half of the evaporator 35 as shown in FIG. In addition, the bottom surface of the water tank 7 accommodated in the tank accommodating chamber 8 is directly placed. In the figure, 41 is a heat insulating material.

  The absorption-type cooling device configured as described above is advantageous in that the refrigerant is circulated mainly by natural convection, so that noise is low, electricity consumption is low, and cooling efficiency is good. Although not shown in the drawing, a sensor for detecting the temperature of the tank 7 in contact with the water tank 7 accommodated in the storage chamber 8 is provided at the bottom of the tank storage chamber 8, and a thermostat or the like is provided. Is provided so that the drinking water in the water tank 7 is always kept at a predetermined low temperature (in the range of about 3 to 6 ° C. in this embodiment) without freezing. ing.

  By providing a water supply machine configured as described above in the workplace, home or store, etc., it can be cooled and stored so that drinking water can be supplied at all times, or it can be operated by heating the stored drinking water etc. The operation procedure and the like at that time are appropriate, but an example thereof will be described step by step.

  First, in the case of cooling and storing so that drinking water can be always supplied using the above-mentioned water supply device, by pressing the open / close button 11 provided in the front portion of the water supply body 1 from the state of FIG. In this manner, the upper lid of the tank housing chamber 8 is opened by pivoting the opening / closing lid 9 on the upper portion of the water supply body 1 upward. In this state, the water tank 7 containing drinking water is accommodated in the tank accommodating chamber 8, and the mouth member 70 of the water tank 7 is inserted into the guide groove 8 b provided in the front portion of the tank accommodating chamber 8. When the water tank 7 is moved downward, the water tank 7 is automatically accommodated and arranged at a predetermined position in the tank housing chamber 8, and the water outlet 7 a of the water tank 7 is placed in the water inlet 8 a of the water supply body 1. The upper part is positioned and held in a state of projecting downward while being spaced apart from the upper part.

  Next, when the plug 5 is inserted into an outlet (not shown) with the water tank 7 stored in the tank storage chamber 8 as described above, the heater provided in the generator 32 of the cooling device 30 is The cooling device 30 operates by generating heat, and the water tank 7 in the tank housing chamber 8 is cooled by the evaporator 35 of the main unit 31. Thereby, the drinking water in the water tank 7 is cooled, and is always maintained at a predetermined low temperature. In the present embodiment, when the temperature of the bottom of the water tank 7 is cooled to about 3 ° C., the operation of the cooling device 30 is temporarily stopped, and when the temperature of the bottom of the water tank 7 rises to about 6 ° C., the cooling is performed again. The apparatus 30 is operated so that the temperature of the drinking water in the water tank 7 is always maintained within the range of about 3 to 6 ° C.

  In that state, when a cup or the like is placed on the water supply spot 3a of the mounting table 3 of the water main body 1, and the water injection button 20 as an operation member provided on the front upper portion of the water main body 1 is moved downward with a finger or the like. The operating lever 15 rotates counterclockwise as shown by the chain line in FIG. 7 through the connecting rod 18 and the inclined cam 16, and the open / close valve 72a is shown in the chain line through the operation projection 72b. As a result, the upper part of the water outlet 7a is opened. As a result, the cooled drinking water in the water tank 7 flows out of the water outlet 7a and is injected into a cup or the like placed on the water supply spot 3a below. At that time, the water injection lamp 25 in the translucent window 26 is turned on.

  When drinking water is poured into the cup or the like from the outlet 7a of the water tank 7 as described above, the outlet 7a protrudes downward from the upper part of the water inlet 8a on the water supply body 1 side. Therefore, the drinking water flowing out from the water outlet 7a can be directly injected into a cup or the like without touching the water supply port 8a or other members. Therefore, there is no possibility that bacteria or the like are mixed into the drinking water injection or that bacteria or the like enter the water tank 7 through the water supply port 8a or other members.

  Next, when the drinking water in the water tank 7 accommodated in the tank accommodating chamber 8 is heated and drunk, the heating pot 2 is placed on the water supply spot 3a of the placing table 3, and the same operation as above is performed. The water injection button 20 as a member is moved downward with a finger or the like, the open / close valve 72a of the water tank 7 is opened via the connecting rod 18, the inclined cam 16 and the operation lever 15, and the beverage cooled from the water outlet 7a of the water tank 7 Water is poured into the heating pot 2. Next, when the heating pot 2 filled with the drinking water is placed on the heating spot 3b of the placing table 3 and the power switch 6 is turned on, a heater (not shown) built in the heating pot 2 is activated. The drinking water in the heating pot 2 can be heated. At that time, the drinking water in the heating pot 2 can be heated to a desired temperature by adjusting the heating time. Further, when the drinking water in the heating pot 2 boils, a heater (not shown) automatically stops.

  As described above, the water feeder according to the present invention accommodates the bag-shaped water tank 7 having the water outlet 7 a that can be opened and closed in the tank housing chamber 8, and the water outlet 7 a of the water tank 7 on the water feeder main body 1 side. Since it is provided at the upper part of the water supply port 8a communicating with the tank housing chamber 8 so as to protrude downward and away from it, there is little risk of bacteria entering the water tank 7, and the appearance is good. A water supply device having a simple structure and good operability can be provided easily and inexpensively, and can be effectively applied to various types of water supply devices and can also be used effectively industrially.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water supply body 2 Heating pot 3 Mounting base 3a Water supply spot 3b Heating spot 4 Receptacle for electric power feeding 5 Insertion plug 6 Power switch 7 Water tank 7a Water outlet 70 Port member 71 Cylindrical body 72 Spout 72a Open / close valve 72b Operation protrusion 8 Tank storage chamber 8a Water supply port 9 Open / close lid 9a Upper hinge 10 Locking hook 11 Open / close button 12 Spring 15 Operation lever 16 Inclined cam 17 Guide tube 18 Connecting rod 19 Screw 20 Water injection button (operation member)
21, 22 Return spring 25 Water injection lamp 26 Translucent window 30 Cooling device 31 Main unit 32 Generator 33 Rectifier 34 Condenser 35 Evaporator 36 Liquid heat exchanger 37 Heat insulating material 40 Heat transfer member 41 Heat insulating material 41

Claims (3)

  A bag-like shape having a tank storage chamber for storing a water tank in the upper part of the water supply body, and a water supply opening that opens downwardly in communication with the tank storage chamber at the lower part of the tank storage chamber, and has a water outlet for water injection that can be opened and closed The water tank is accommodated in the tank housing chamber, and the water outlet of the water tank is provided at the upper part in the water supply port so as to protrude downwardly away from the water supply port.   The water tank is provided with a water injection port member composed of a cylindrical body provided integrally therewith and a spout fitted to the tip of the cylindrical body, and a water outlet is provided in the spout of the mouth member, The water feeder according to claim 1, wherein a substantially hemispherical opening / closing valve for opening and closing the water outlet is provided integrally with the spout and protruding into the cylindrical body.   3. An operation protrusion for opening and closing the opening / closing valve is provided so as to protrude outward from the opening / closing valve, and an operation member for operating the operation protrusion is provided on the front surface of the water supply body. The water supply described.

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