JP2017210256A - Water server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water server capable of efficiently killing bacteria, which are included in a beverage, by a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A water server 11 includes: a bottle 3 that has a storage space 31 for storing a beverage 2; a body part 5 in which the beverage 2 acquired from the bottle 3 is temporarily stored and from which it is taken out according to need; and an ultraviolet LED 7 that is arranged in such a manner that an ultraviolet outgoing part 71 is directed toward the storage space 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a water server that can temporarily store a beverage and take it out as needed.

  There is known a water server that replenishes drinking water by changing a bottle that is transported from a drinking water supply source and filled with drinking water (for example, Patent Document 1). Such a water server is configured to be able to sterilize bacteria contained in the stored drinking water in order to provide clean drinking water.

JP 2014-61946 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a water server capable of efficiently sterilizing bacteria contained in beverages with a simple configuration.

  In order to achieve the above object, a water server according to one aspect of the present invention temporarily stores a bottle having a storage space for storing a beverage and the beverage obtained from the bottle as necessary. A main body part to be taken out and an ultraviolet light emitting diode arranged with the ultraviolet ray emitting part facing the storage space are provided.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, bacteria contained in a beverage can be sterilized efficiently with a simple configuration.

It is a figure which shows typically schematic structure of the water server 11 by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically schematic structure of the water server 12 by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically schematic structure of the water server 13 by 3rd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: Fig.3 (a) shows the state before installing the bottle 3 in the main-body part 5, FIG.3 (b) ) Shows a state after the bottle 3 is installed in the main body 5. It is a figure which shows typically schematic structure of the water server 14 by 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically schematic structure of the water server 15 by 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically schematic structure of the water server 16 by 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram explaining the control system used for the water servers 11-16 by 1st-6th embodiment of this invention.

  The bottle storage space provided in the water server is loaded with a beverage with a sufficiently small amount of bacteria and delivered to the water server installation location. However, it may happen that the beverage taken out from the water server has a larger number of bacteria than the number originally contained in the beverage when the bottle is loaded into the storage space. For this reason, it is preferable that the water server is equipped with various sterilization apparatuses. One of the reasons that more germs are contained in the beverage taken out of the water server than the one originally contained, in order to make up the volume of the beverage taken out of the water server, etc. Introducing air. That is, the bacteria contained in the introduced air are a source of increasing bacteria in the water server.

  Therefore, the present invention focuses on this source and effectively applies ultraviolet light for sterilization to the air itself that is introduced into the bottle and contains the bacteria, and the interface between the air and the beverage present in the bottle storage space. It is configured to irradiate. Thereby, this invention can implement sterilization more simply and effectively than the sterilization apparatus provided in the conventional water server. Hereinafter, while describing an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, it is also described that the embodiment is superior to a conventional water server.

Beverages have a liquid or fluid-like appearance that is widely deserving of beverages, such as drinking water. For example, the beverage may be a substance that is mainly composed of so-called water called H ₂ O and is introduced into the body from the human mouth, or may be a broader category of substances besides this substance. Beverages can be applied to the present invention as long as they are not significantly denatured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays to become harmful or become components that greatly impair the value originally sought. .

[First Embodiment]
A water server according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the water server 11 according to this embodiment temporarily stores a bottle 3 having a storage space 31 for storing drinking water (an example of a beverage) 2 and drinking water 2 acquired from the bottle 3. A main body 5 that is stored and taken out as needed, and an ultraviolet light emitting diode (ultraviolet LED) 7 in which an ultraviolet ray emitting portion 71 is disposed toward the storage space 31 are provided. Further, the water server 11 includes a connection portion 9 that connects the bottle 3 and the main body portion 5, and the ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed in the connection portion 9. In FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 to 6 to be described later, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the emission portion are represented by a plurality of radial straight lines.

  The bottle 3 has a replaceable form that can be replaced with respect to the main body 5. The storage space 31 of the bottle 3 is filled with drinking water 2 sufficiently sterilized, for example, in a sanitary factory. Moreover, the bottle 3 is fully sterilized before the drinking water 2 is filled. For this reason, the storage space 31 of the unopened bottle 3 is filled with sufficiently sterilized drinking water 2. The bottle 3 is transported in an unopened state to a place where the main body 5 is installed and the drinking water 2 is consumed, and is exchanged for a used bottle 3. Thereby, the water server 11 can be continuously used if the bottle 3 is replaced even after the drinking water 2 filled in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 installed in the main body 5 is exhausted.

  When the drinking water 2 is attached to the main body 5, the bottle 3 is filled in a full state. However, the drinking water 2 decreases every time cold drinking water 251 and warm drinking water 252 (details will be described later) are taken out from the water server 11. Thereby, in the storage space 31, the area | region where the drinking water 2 exists and the area | region where air exists are formed. A region where air is formed in the storage space 31 is the air layer 4. The bottle 3 is disposed above the main body 5. For this reason, if the bottle 3 is arrange | positioned in the main-body part 5, the drinking water 2 will move to the main-body part 5 side with dead weight. Thereby, the air layer 4 is formed above the drinking water 2 in the storage space 31.

  If the bottle 3 has the storage space 31 which can store the drinking water 2, it can have various shapes. In addition, the bottle 3 is a material that is not greatly denatured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays and becomes a harmful substance, releases a harmful substance, or does not become a component that greatly impairs the value originally required. Is formed. Although details will be described later, the water server 11 irradiates the air layer 4 formed in the storage space 31 with ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 via the drinking water 2. For this reason, the size of the bottle 3 is defined according to at least the ultraviolet transmittance of the drinking water 2 so that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 reach the air layer 4 sufficiently. For example, the size of the bottle 3 (particularly the size in the height direction) can be increased in a linear shape or a step shape as the ultraviolet light transmittance of the drinking water 2 increases, and the ultraviolet light transmittance of the drinking water 2 decreases. It is necessary to reduce it to a line shape or a step shape.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connection part 9 has a delivery connection pipe 91 that delivers the drinking water 2 from the bottle 3 to the main body part 5. A part of the delivery connecting pipe 91 including one tip is disposed in the storage space 31. The ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed at the distal end portion of the delivery connecting pipe 91 directed to the bottle 3 side. In other words, the ultraviolet LED 7 is arranged at one end of the delivery connecting pipe 91 arranged in the storage space 31. For this reason, the ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed in the storage space 31. The delivery connecting pipe 91 is attached to the main body 5, for example. The ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed at one end portion of the delivery connecting pipe 91, thereby being disposed at a location closest to the air layer 4 in the main body portion 5. Further, the ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed with the ultraviolet emitting portion 71 facing the air layer 4. Thus, the water server 11 can irradiate the air layer 4 with the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 most efficiently and effectively by a simple configuration in which the arrangement location of the ultraviolet LED 7 and the direction of the emitting portion 71 are devised.

  The delivery connecting pipe 91 has a water feeding part 911 for feeding the drinking water 2 from the bottle 3 to the main body part 5, and a circulation part 912 for circulating air introduced into the storage space 31. The water supply unit 911 is attached to a pipe 561 provided in the main body unit 5. In addition, as a physical structure, it is also possible to comprise the water supply part 911 and the flow path 912 by combining some of them with the same piping.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 5 includes an air introduction port 53 that introduces air sent to the storage space 31, and a pipe 531 that connects the air introduction port 53 and the circulation portion 912 of the delivery connection pipe 91. Have. The pipe 531 has an internal space through which air introduced from the external space of the main body 5 through the air inlet 53 flows. The air introduction port 53 and the storage space 31 are communicated with each other via the internal space of the pipe 531 and the circulation part 912.

  The air inlet 53 is normally closed. The air introduction port 53 is in a state in which one of a cold water intake 51d (details will be described later) for taking cold drinking water 251 from the water server 11 and a hot water intake 52d (details will be described later) for taking hot drinking water 252 is open. When it becomes, it will be in an open state. The air inlet 53 is closed when a predetermined amount of air is taken in. The predetermined amount of air introduced from the air inlet 53 is equal to the volume of drinking water taken from either the cold water inlet 51d or the hot water inlet 52d. That is, the water server 11 takes in air having a volume equal to that of the drawn drinking water from the air introduction port 53 into the storage space 31, thereby piping the drinking water 2 stored in the storage space 31 from the water supply unit 911 by its own weight. Extrude to 561.

  The air that has circulated through the air introduction port 53 and the internal space of the pipe 531 passes through the circulation part 912, travels backward through the delivery connecting pipe 91, and is introduced into the storage space 31. The air introduced into the storage space 31 moves to the upper part of the storage space 31 to form the air layer 4. The drinking water 2 stored in the storage space 31 is compressed by the air layer 4 and supplied from the water supply part 911 to the main body part 5. The volume of the air layer 4 increases as the amount of drinking water taken from the water server 11 increases and the drinking water 2 stored in the storage space 31 decreases. In FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 to 6 described later, bubbles generated in the drinking water 2 when air is introduced into the bottle 3 are represented by three circles.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 5 includes a buffer reservoir 56 that is connected to a pipe 561 and temporarily stores the drinking water 2 fed from the bottle 3 as stored drinking water 256. The internal space of the pipe 561 communicates with the water storage unit 911 of the delivery connection pipe 91 and the storage space of the buffer storage unit 56 in which the stored drinking water 256 is stored. Thereby, the drinking water 2 fed from the water feeding section 911 of the delivery connecting pipe 91 and circulated through the internal space of the pipe 561 can be stored as the stored drinking water 256 in the storage space of the buffer storage section 56.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 5 has a cold water generating unit 51 that cools the stored drinking water 256 stored in the buffer storing unit 56 and generates cold drinking water 251. The cold water generation unit 51 includes a cooling device 51b that cools the stored drinking water 256 sent from the buffer storage unit 56, and a cold water storage unit 51a that stores the stored drinking water 256 cooled by the cooling device 51b as the cold drinking water 251. Have. The cold water storage unit 51 a and the buffer storage unit 56 are connected by a pipe 562. The storage space of the buffer storage unit 56 and the storage space of the cold water storage unit 51 a in which the cold drinking water 251 is stored are communicated with each other in the internal space of the pipe 562. For this reason, the chilled water generating unit 51 cools the stored drinking water 256 supplied from the storage space of the buffer storage unit 56 and circulated through the internal space of the pipe 562 with the cooling device 51b, and then cooled in the storage space of the chilled water storage unit 51a. Stored as drinking water 251.

  Moreover, the cold water production | generation part 51 has the cold water intake 51d which takes in the cold drinking water 251 to the external space of the main-body part 5, and the piping 51c which connects the cold water storage part 51a and the cold water intake 51d. The storage space of the cold water storage unit 51a and the intake port of the cold water intake port 51d serving as the outlet of the cold drinking water 251 are communicated with each other in the internal space of the pipe 51c. For this reason, the cold drinking water 251 fed from the storage space of the cold water storage part 51a and circulated through the internal space of the pipe 51c may be discharged to the external space of the main body part 5 through the intake of the cold water intake 51d. it can. Stored drinking water 256 of the same amount as the cold drinking water 251 taken from the cold water intake 51d is sent from the buffer storage unit 56 to the cold water storage unit 51a. Thereby, the water server 11 can store a substantially constant amount of cold drinking water 251 in the cold water storage unit 51a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 5 has a warm water generating unit 52 that heats the stored drinking water 256 stored in the buffer storing unit 56 and generates warm drinking water 252. The warm water generation unit 52 includes a heating device 52b that heats the stored drinking water 256 fed from the buffer storage unit 56, and a warm water storage unit 52a that stores the stored drinking water 256 heated by the heating device 52b as the warm drinking water 252. Have. The hot water storage unit 52 a and the buffer storage unit 56 are connected by a pipe 563. The storage space of the buffer storage unit 56 and the storage space of the hot water storage unit 52a in which the hot drinking water 252 is stored are communicated with each other in the internal space of the pipe 563. For this reason, the hot water generating unit 52 heats the stored drinking water 256 supplied from the storage space of the buffer storage unit 56 and circulated through the internal space of the pipe 563 by the heating device 52b, and then warms the storage space of the hot water storage unit 52a. Stored as drinking water 252.

  Moreover, the warm water production | generation part 52 has the hot water intake 52d in which the warm drinking water 252 is taken in the external space of the main-body part 5, and the piping 52c which connects the warm water storage part 52a and the warm water intake 52d. . The storage space of the hot water storage section 52a and the intake port of the hot water intake port 52d serving as the outlet of the hot drinking water 252 are communicated with each other in the internal space of the pipe 52c. For this reason, the warm drinking water 252 fed from the storage space of the hot water storage section 52a and circulated through the internal space of the pipe 52c may be discharged to the external space of the main body section 5 through the intake port of the hot water intake 52d. it can. The stored drinking water 256 of the same amount as the warm drinking water 252 taken from the hot water intake 52d is fed from the buffer storage unit 56 to the hot water storage unit 52a. Thereby, the water server 11 can store a substantially constant amount of hot drinking water 252 in the hot water storage unit 52a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 5 has a water supply pump 57 that causes the drinking water to flow, such as between the buffer reservoir 56 and the cold water storage 51 a or between the buffer reservoir 56 and the hot water storage 52 a. ing. The water supply pump 57 is provided in order to move drinking water particularly in a direction against gravity.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body unit 5 supplies power to the components provided in the main body unit 5 and the control unit 55 that comprehensively controls each component provided in the ultraviolet LED 7 and the main body unit 5. And a power source 54. Details of the control system including the control unit 55 and the power supply 54 will be described later.

  Even if the bottle 3 is filled with the main body 5 and the bottle 3 and the sufficiently sterilized drinking water 2 configured to be clean, the water server 11 can be used to drink from the cold water intake 51d and the hot water intake 52d. When water is taken in, air is introduced from the air inlet 53. Since this air contains bacteria, it is difficult for the water server 11 to prevent the bacteria from being mixed into the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 with its use. Therefore, the water server 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention sterilizes the bacteria mixed in the air introduced into the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 through the air inlet 53, and the mixed bacteria grow. Is efficiently and effectively prevented.

  The bacteria mixed in the air introduced into the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 grows in the air layer 4 and the drinking water 2 in contact with the air layer 4. Therefore, the water server 11 is adapted to sterilize bacteria existing in the storage space 31 with ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LEDs 7 using the ultraviolet LEDs 7 that are small, easy, stable, and can be turned on and off quickly.

  The ultraviolet LED 7 can irradiate ultraviolet rays onto the air layer 4 formed in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 and the surface portion of the drinking water 2 in contact with the air layer 4. Thereby, the water server 11 can sterilize the bacteria mixed in the storage space 31 or suppress the growth of the bacteria. Since the water server 11 can sterilize the bacteria mixed with air through the air inlet 53 in the bottle 3, it can prevent the bacteria from moving to the main body 5 side. Specifically, the water server 11 sterilizes the bacteria mixed in the storage space 31 at the surface of the drinking water 2 at the interface between the air layer 4 and the air layer 4 and the drinking water 2, and the bacteria on the main body 5 side. Can be prevented from spreading.

  By the way, as a reference technology, hot water produced in the water server is circulated through each pipe provided in the water server, and adheres to each pipe due to bacteria mixed in the air introduced into the storage space of the bottle. A method for sterilizing germs is known. However, in this method, it is necessary to circulate hot water through each pipe, which causes a problem that the structure of the water server becomes complicated. In addition, even if the bacteria attached to the pipe is reduced by sterilization of the pipe with hot water, if the bacteria are mixed in the drinking water itself passing through the pipe, the bacteria will reattach to the pipe and the bacteria in the pipe will grow. There is a possibility that. For this reason, in this method, it is necessary to periodically repeat the cleaning of the piping with hot water, which causes a problem that the control of the water server becomes complicated.

  In addition, as a reference technique, a method is known in which a bottle formed of a soft material is filled with drinking water so that the volume of the bottle occupied by the drinking water reduced by use does not need to be replaced by introduction of air or the like. ing. However, in this method, even if it is possible to prevent the growth of bacteria present in the drinking water stored in the plastic bottle, the drinking water temporarily stored in the non-plastic storage container provided in the main body of the water server. The problem arises that the growth of existing bacteria cannot be prevented.

  As another reference technology, the water server is equipped with an ozone generator, and ozone is poured from the ozone generator into a portion of the storage container where the drinking water is stored. A method of sterilization is known.

  As another reference technique, there is known a method of performing sterilization or the like with a filter membrane provided at an air introduction port with respect to a main introduction path of air introduced when drinking water is taken from a water server. ing.

  As another reference technique, drinking water is temporarily stored in a storage space of a container provided in the main body of the water server and also serving as a cooling function for drinking water taken from the bottle, and ultraviolet light is stored in the storage space. Is known to sterilize bacteria present in drinking water. Thereby, in this reference technology, after taking drinking water from a water server, the microbe resulting from the air which penetrates into a main part is sterilized.

  Furthermore, as another reference technique, a drinking water intake, that is, a mechanism for irradiating ultraviolet light around the drinking water outlet, is introduced from the intake by irradiating the intake with ultraviolet light. There is known a method for preventing the extraction part from being contaminated by bacteria existing in the air.

  These other reference technologies can reduce the germs generated in the water server and provide safer drinking water, but the configuration required for sterilization is complicated and more indirect effects are exhibited. Or have a problem of staying

  On the other hand, the water server 11 according to the present embodiment can be sterilized at the stage where the bacteria are mixed again into the cleanly configured bottle 3 or the sufficiently sterilized drinking water 2. For this reason, since the water server 11 can prevent the growth of bacteria on the main body part 5 side without diffusing the bacteria on the main body part 5 side, effective sterilization is possible as compared with the above-described reference technique. Thereby, the water server 11 can sterilize the drinking water 2 by irradiating a smaller amount of ultraviolet light than the above-described reference technique.

  As described above, the delivery connecting pipe 91 is provided with the water supply unit 911 and the circulation unit 912. Since the ultraviolet LED 7 is small, it is provided in the delivery connecting pipe 91 so as not to block the inlet of the water supply part 911 into which the drinking water 2 flows in and the outlet from which the air flowing through the circulation part 912 flows out into the storage space 31. Can be placed. Thereby, the water server 11 can effectively transfer the drinking water 2 from the bottle 3 to the main body 5 and effectively introduce the air layer 4 in the storage space 31 without disturbing the introduction of air from the air inlet 53 to the storage space 31. Bacteria inherent in the drinking water 2 can be sterilized. Furthermore, since the ultraviolet LED 7 is small, even if it is disposed in the delivery connecting pipe 91, it does not hinder the operation of attaching and detaching the bottle 3 to and from the main body 5.

  The water server 11 shown in FIG. 1 is schematically shown. For this reason, the shape, size, relative positional relationship and the like of each component provided in the main body 5 are not specifically shown. In order to further improve the sterilizing effect in the water server 11, the cold water intake 51d and the hot water intake 52d are desirably provided as close to the bottle 3 as possible. In addition, it is desirable that the path through which air moves from the air inlet 53 to the bottle 3 (that is, the pipe 531) is as short as possible, and the time during which the air moves is as short as possible.

  The ultraviolet LED 7 is configured to emit ultraviolet light having a wavelength in the range of 230 nm to 300 nm. The ultraviolet LED 7 may be configured to emit ultraviolet light having a wavelength in the range of 235 nm to 285 nm. Thereby, the water server 11 can make compatible the bactericidal effect and the suppression effect of ozone generation. Further, the water server 11 can be sterilized by monochromatic light or a combination of monochromatic light by the ultraviolet LED 7 instead of the mercury lamp. For this reason, even if excessive ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the ultraviolet LED 7, the water server 11 does not accompany the 185 nm emission line included in the mercury lamp. For this reason, since the water server 11 is not accompanied by generation | occurrence | production of ozone at the time of sterilization, it also becomes possible to prevent deterioration of the taste and smell of the drinking water 2 by ozone.

  As described above, the water server 11 according to the present embodiment temporarily stores the bottle 3 having the storage space 31 for storing the drinking water 2 and the drinking water 2 acquired from the bottle 3 as necessary. The main body 5 to be taken out and the ultraviolet LED 7 arranged with the ultraviolet emitting part 71 facing the storage space 31 are provided. According to the water server 11 having such a configuration, sterilization before the start of contamination by bacteria mixed in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 with the introduction of air, that is, before the bacteria grow in the drinking water 2. can do. As a result, the water server 11 can efficiently sterilize bacteria contained in the drinking water 2 with a simple configuration, and overall, the bacteria can be reduced throughout the water server 11 by using a smaller amount of ultraviolet rays. . This not only leads to longer life of the ultraviolet LED 7, but also has an effect of reducing the time during which each member of the water server 11 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays and reducing deterioration of each member.

  Further, even when the bottle 3 is not sufficiently sterilized due to defective production or the like, and the drinking water 2 is contaminated with bacteria, the water server 11 can supply the drinking water 2 when the bottle 3 is attached to the main body 5. The bacteria existing in the drinking water 2 can be sterilized by irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet LED 7. Thus, the water server 11 can be sterilized before the bacteria are diffused from the bottle 3 to the main body 5 side.

  Furthermore, the water server 11 can send clean drinking water 2 to the main body 5 side. For this reason, the water server 11 includes the storage space of the buffer storage unit 56, the storage space of the cold water storage unit 51a and the hot water storage unit 52a, the cold water intake port 51d, the hot water intake port 52d, and the piping 561 provided in the main body unit 5. It is possible to prevent bacteria from attaching to and growing in the internal spaces of 562, 563, 51c, and 52c.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain a water server 11 that is safe and inexpensive against bacteria.

[Second Embodiment]
A water server according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The water server according to the present embodiment is characterized in that an ultraviolet LED is provided in consideration of the light distribution of the ultraviolet LED. In this embodiment and third to sixth embodiments to be described later, components having the same functions and functions as the water server according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. .

  In order to effectively and efficiently irradiate the ultraviolet ray emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 onto the air layer 4 formed in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3, it is desirable to consider the light distribution of the ultraviolet ray emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the water server 12 according to the present embodiment includes an ultraviolet LED 7a and an ultraviolet LED 7b having a predetermined light distribution. In FIG. 2, the water server 12 includes two ultraviolet LEDs 7a and 7b, but may include three or more ultraviolet LEDs.

  For example, the ultraviolet LED 7a is arranged with the higher intensity of ultraviolet rays emitted from the emission portion 71a facing the air layer 4 side. Similarly, the ultraviolet LED 7b is arranged with the higher intensity of ultraviolet rays emitted from the emission part 71b facing the air layer 4 side. Thereby, the water server 12 irradiates the surface area of the drinking water 2 in the vicinity of the air layer 4 and the interface between the air layer 4 and the drinking water 2 with the ultraviolet rays emitted from the emitting portions 71a and 71b by the ultraviolet LEDs 7a and 7b over a wide range. be able to. Thereby, the water server 12 can sterilize the microbe which exists in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 efficiently and effectively.

  Moreover, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, you may provide a reflecting plate in the back side of ultraviolet LED7a, 7b. Thereby, the ultraviolet rays which circulate to the back side of the ultraviolet LEDs 7a and 7b can be reflected and applied to the air layer 4 and the like. Thereby, since the water server 12 can improve the quantity of ultraviolet rays irradiated to the air layer 4 etc., the microbe which exists in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 can be disinfected effectively and effectively. .

  As described above, the water server 12 according to the present embodiment optimizes the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the air layer 4 formed in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 in consideration of the light distribution of the ultraviolet LEDs 7a and 7b. it can. Thereby, since the water server 12 can sterilize the microbe which exists in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 with a small amount of ultraviolet rays, the same effect as the water server 11 according to the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, the water server 12 can improve the sterilization efficiency by irradiating the air layer 4 or the like with ultraviolet rays over a wide range.

[Third Embodiment]
A water server according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The water server 13 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the arrangement position of the ultraviolet LED can be changed. The water server 13 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the delivery connecting pipe is configured to move.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the case where the bottle 3 is not disposed in the main body 5 (see FIG. 3A), the delivery connecting pipe 81 provided in the connection portion 8 is connected to the bottle 3 in the main body 5. The degree of protrusion from the main body 5 is smaller than when the is disposed (see FIG. 3B). Thus, the delivery connecting pipe 81 is relative to the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 of the bottle 3 when the bottle 3 is attached to and detached from the main body 5 and when the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. It has a mechanism that can switch the general position. Thereby, the water server 13 can arrange | position ultraviolet LED7 in a preferable place according to each objective of the attachment or detachment of the bottle 3, and the ultraviolet irradiation to the storage space 31 of the bottle 3. FIG. That is, when the bottle 3 is attached / detached, the delivery connecting pipe 81 is retracted toward the main body 5, and the bottle 3 is easily attached / detached from the main body 5. Further, when the ultraviolet LED 7 is irradiated, the delivery connecting pipe 81 enters the storage space 31 of the bottle 3, and the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet LED 7 is exposed to the air layer 4 and the surface portion of the drinking water 2 near the interface between the air layer 4 and the drinking water 2. It becomes easier to irradiate. In FIG. 3, the water server 13 is configured such that the ultraviolet LED 7 moves up and down as the delivery connecting pipe 81 moves up and down. However, only the ultraviolet LED 7 may move up and down.

  The water supply part 811 provided in the delivery connection pipe 81 has the same operation and function as the water supply part 911 provided in the delivery connection pipe 91 in the first embodiment. The water supply unit 811 is connected to a pipe 561 provided in the main body unit 5. Further, the circulation part 812 provided in the delivery connection pipe 81 has the same operation and function as the circulation part 912 provided in the delivery connection pipe 91 in the first embodiment. The circulation part 812 is connected to a pipe 531 provided in the main body part 5.

  As described above, the water server 13 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the water server 11 according to the first embodiment except for the configuration of the delivery connection pipe 81, and thus is the same as the water server 11. The effect is obtained. Furthermore, since the water server 13 can arrange | position ultraviolet LED7 in an optimal place, the irradiation efficiency of the ultraviolet-ray to the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 can be improved more.

[Fourth Embodiment]
A water server according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The water server 14 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed on the outer surface side of the bottle 3.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the water server 14 includes an ultraviolet LED 7 disposed on the outer surface side of the bottle 3, more specifically, on the outer surface of the bottle 3. The ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed on the bottom surface of the bottle 3 (that is, the surface that becomes the upper side when the bottle 3 is installed on the main body 5). The ultraviolet LED 7 is arranged with the emitting portion 71 facing the bottom surface. The ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed closer to the air layer 4 formed in the storage space 31 than the drinking water 2 stored in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3.

  The water server 14 irradiates the storage space 31 with ultraviolet rays via the bottle 3. For this reason, the bottle 3 needs to be formed of a material that can transmit ultraviolet rays. Moreover, the formation material of the bottle 3 is so desirable that the transmittance | permeability of an ultraviolet-ray is high. Further, the bottle 3 may be formed of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays only in a region through which ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 are transmitted (in this example, all or part of the bottom surface of the bottle 3). Thereby, the bottle 3 can make it difficult to leak the ultraviolet rays incident on the storage space 31 to the outside of the bottle 3. This prevents inadvertent ultraviolet rays from leaking to the user side.

  The ultraviolet LED 7 may be configured not to be supplied with power from the power source 54 but to be supplied with power from a movable power source such as a battery. Thereby, the ultraviolet LED 7 can be moved together with the power supply as the bottle 3 moves.

  As described above, the water server 14 according to the present embodiment has the air layer 4 or the air layer 4 formed in the storage space 31 and the drinking water 2 even if the ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed on the outer surface of the bottle 3. Since the surface portion of the drinking water 2 in the vicinity of the interface can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the same effect as the water server 11 according to the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, the water server 14 can directly irradiate the air layer 4 with ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 without passing through the drinking water 2. The distance from the emission part 71 to the air layer 4 is short. For this reason, the intensity of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 can be reduced. Thereby, lifetime improvement of ultraviolet LED7 can be achieved.

[Fifth Embodiment]
A water server according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The water server 15 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the main body 5 includes an arrangement member 58 for arranging the ultraviolet LED 7 on the outer surface side of the bottle 3.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the main body 5 provided in the water server 15 has an arrangement member 58 for arranging the ultraviolet LED 7 on the outer surface side of the bottle 3. The arrangement member 58 supports a side part 58a extending along one side surface of the main body part 5 from the upper part of the main body part 5, and supports the ultraviolet LED 7 extending from the end of the side part 58a to the upper side of the main body part 5. Part 58b. The arrangement member 58 is formed in a pillar or wall shape.

  The support portion 58b has a direction from the one side surface of the main body 5 toward the opposite side surface facing the one side surface (x direction shown on the left side in FIG. 5), and a direction from the opposite side surface toward the one side surface (left side in FIG. 5). It may be configured to be movable in the −x direction shown in FIG. Moreover, the side part 58a may be comprised so that it can move to an up-down direction (+ z direction and -z direction shown on the left side in FIG. 5). Furthermore, the arrangement member 58 has a direction from one side of the pair of side surfaces facing each other between the one side surface and the opposite side surface to the other side (+ y direction shown on the left side in FIG. 5), and a direction from the other side to the one side (in FIG. 5). (-Y direction shown on the left side of) may be configured to be movable. Moreover, when the arrangement | positioning member 58 has a support | pillar shape, the arrangement | positioning member 58 may be comprised so that it can rotate by making the side part 58a into a rotating shaft.

  The ultraviolet LED 7 and a power source (not shown) for supplying electric power to the ultraviolet LED 7 are fixed to the support portion 58b. For this reason, ultraviolet LED7 and this power supply can change the relative arrangement position with respect to the bottle 3 installed in the main-body part 5 with the movement of the arrangement | positioning member 58. FIG. For this reason, the water server 15 can retract the ultraviolet LED 7 from above the main body 5 together with the support 58b when the bottle 3 is attached and detached. Thereby, the attachment / detachment operation | work of the bottle 3 can be performed easily. In addition, the water server 15 includes a surface portion of the drinking water 2 located in the vicinity of the interface between the air layer 4 and the drinking water 2 formed in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 from a desired position above the bottle 3. The ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 can be irradiated to the surface.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the water server 15 has an ultraviolet shielding plate 59 formed of a material that does not transmit ultraviolet rays. In FIG. 5, for easy understanding, the ultraviolet shielding plate 59 is illustrated as being disposed so as to face the arrangement member 58, but actually, the arrangement member 58 is arranged around the bottle 3. It is provided in the area that is not. Thereby, the water server 15 can prevent the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 from leaking to the person using the water server 15. Further, by forming the wall-shaped arrangement member 58 from a material that does not transmit ultraviolet rays, the water server 15 can further improve the shielding effect of ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7. The water server 15 may not have the ultraviolet shielding plate 59.

  As described above, the water server 15 according to the present embodiment has the air layer 4 or the air layer 4 formed in the storage space 31 and the drinking water 2 even if the ultraviolet LED 7 is disposed on the outer surface side of the bottle 3. Since the ultraviolet ray can be irradiated to the surface portion of the drinking water 2 located in the vicinity of the interface, the same effect as the water server 11 according to the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, since the water server 15 can directly irradiate the air layer 4 with the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 without passing through the drinking water 2, the same effect as the water server 14 according to the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

[Sixth Embodiment]
A water server according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The water server 16 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that power is supplied from a power source 54 provided in the main body 5 to the ultraviolet LED 7 disposed on the outer surface side of the bottle 3.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the water server 16 according to the present embodiment includes an ultraviolet LED 7 disposed on the bottom surface of the bottle 3. Unlike the water server 14 according to the fourth embodiment, the water server 16 does not have a power source for the ultraviolet LED 7 on the bottle 3 side. The arrangement member 58 is provided with a cable 542 for supplying power to the ultraviolet LED 7 from the power supply 54 provided in the main body 5 and a connector (not shown) to which an end of the cable 542 is connected. The ultraviolet LED 7 is provided with a connector (not shown) connectable to the connector and a cable 72. Thereby, the water server 16 can supply electric power to the ultraviolet LED 7 from the power supply 54 while detachably mounting the ultraviolet LED 7 on the main body 5. As a result, the water server 16 does not need to prepare a power source for the ultraviolet LED 7 on the bottle 3 side.

  As described above, the water server 16 according to the present embodiment can supply power to the ultraviolet LED 7 disposed on the outer surface of the bottle 3 from the power supply 54 provided in the main body 5, and thus the fourth embodiment. The same effect as the water server 14 can be obtained.

  A control system applied to the water server according to the first to sixth embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the water servers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 (hereinafter referred to as water servers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) according to the first to sixth embodiments are referred to as “water server 11”. ˜16 ”) has a drinking water take-out sensor 61, a bottle installation sensor 62, and other sensors 63. The drinking water take-out sensor 61 detects that drinking water has been taken from the cold water intake 51d and the hot water intake 52d, and transmits a detection signal to the control unit 55. The bottle installation sensor 62 detects that the bottle 3 has been installed in the main body unit 5 and transmits a detection signal to the control unit 55. The water servers 11 to 16 have, for example, an air detection opening detection sensor as the other sensor 63. The open detection sensor detects that the air introduction port 53 has been opened or that air has flowed in from the air introduction port 53, and transmits a detection signal to the control unit 55. In addition, the water servers 11 to 16 include, as other sensors 63, for example, light amount detection sensors that detect the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7. The light amount detection sensor monitors the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7 and transmits a detection signal based on the detected light amount to the control unit 55. The water servers 11 to 16 may have sensors other than the open detection sensor and the light quantity detection sensor as the other sensors 63, or may have other sensors together with the open detection sensor and the light quantity monitoring sensor. .

  The water servers 11 to 16 have an input device 100. The input device 100 is, for example, a switch operated by a general user who uses the water servers 11 to 16 to acquire drinking water or a switch operated by an inspector who checks the water servers 11 to 16 (for example, forcibly ultraviolet rays). A forced switch for causing the LED 7 to emit light).

  Further, the water servers 11 to 16 have a timer 50 that operates based on a command from the control unit 55. Further, the timer 50 counts, for example, the time when the ultraviolet LED 7 emits light based on a command from the control unit 55.

  The power supply 54 provided in the main body 5 of the water servers 11 to 16 has a current source 541. The current source 541 generates a current for driving the ultraviolet LED 7 and supplies the generated current to the ultraviolet LED 7. The current source 541 starts current supply (that is, power supply) to the ultraviolet LED 7 or stops current supply based on a command from the control unit 55.

  Even if the ultraviolet LED 7 is not always lit, the bacteria existing in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 can be sufficiently sterilized. For example, the control unit 55 causes the timer 50 to count the time during which neither the cold drinking water 251 nor the warm drinking water 252 is taken, and when the count value of the timer 50 reaches a predetermined value, the current source 541 is turned on. And Thereby, since an electric current flows into ultraviolet LED7, ultraviolet LED7 irradiates storage space 31 with an ultraviolet-ray. In this way, the water servers 11 to 16 can sufficiently reduce the level of the number of bacteria existing in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 even when drinking water is not taken for a certain period of time.

  When the ultraviolet LED 7 is on standby in an off state (light-off state), a small number of bacteria remaining in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 may grow and the number of bacteria may exceed a predetermined value. Therefore, the water servers 11 to 16 turn on the ultraviolet LED 7 (lighted state) before the number of bacteria exceeds a predetermined value. For example, it is assumed that the sterilizing power of ultraviolet rays when the ultraviolet LED 7 is turned on for a certain time is 1 / n to the 10th power. On the other hand, it is assumed that the growth from the residual bacteria remaining in the storage space 31 immediately after the ultraviolet LED 7 is switched from the on state to the off state has a magnitude of 10 m. In this case, the control unit 55 adjusts the time when the ultraviolet LED 7 is turned on and the time when the ultraviolet LED 7 is turned off to satisfy the condition of n> m, thereby preventing the bacteria from growing beyond the initial number of bacteria. it can.

  The relational expression between the ultraviolet irradiation time and the value of n relating to the bactericidal activity and the relational expression between the time when the ultraviolet irradiation is not carried out and the value of m relating to the growth of the bacteria are obtained through experiments, and these relational expressions are controlled. It is stored in a storage area (not shown) of the unit 55. Based on these relational expressions and the count value of the timer 50, the control unit 55 can cause the ultraviolet LED 7 to emit light before the number of residual bacteria remaining in the storage space 31 exceeds a predetermined value. As a result, the water servers 11 to 16 can prevent the growth of bacteria in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 and each component of the main body 5.

  When water is taken from the cold water intake 51 d or the hot water intake 52 d, air is introduced from the air introduction port 53, so that new bacteria may be mixed into the storage space 31 of the bottle 3. Therefore, the control unit 55 causes the ultraviolet LED 7 to emit light when air is introduced into the storage space 31 through the air introduction port 53. More specifically, when the detection signal is input from the drinking water take-out sensor 61, the control unit 55 turns on the current source 541 and causes the ultraviolet LED 7 to emit light. Moreover, even if a detection signal is not input from the drinking water withdrawal sensor 61, the control unit 55 turns on the current source 541 and causes the ultraviolet LED 7 to emit light when a detection signal is input from the open detection sensor of the other sensors 63. As described above, the water servers 11 to 16 turn on the ultraviolet LED 7 for a sufficient time immediately after acquiring the cold drinking water 251 and the hot drinking water 252 and then the initial number of bacteria (immediately after the bottle 3 is installed in the main body 5). Sterilize to: Thereafter, the water servers 11 to 16 can maintain the state in which the bacteria do not multiply beyond the initial number of bacteria by causing the ultraviolet LED 7 to emit light intermittently as described above.

  The control unit 55 causes the ultraviolet LED 7 to emit light when the bottle 3 is installed in the main body unit 5. More specifically, when a detection signal is input from the bottle installation sensor 62, the control unit 55 turns on the current source 541 and causes the ultraviolet LED 7 to emit light. Thereby, when the drinking water 2 stored in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 is not sufficiently sterilized, a certain sterilizing effect is obtained. In addition, a certain sterilization effect can be obtained when a situation occurs in which air or bacteria are mixed in the drinking water 2 stored in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 for some reason when the bottle 3 is installed.

  The control unit 55 may be configured to turn on the current source 541 and cause the ultraviolet LED 7 to emit light when an ultraviolet LED lighting confirmation switch provided in the input device 100 is operated. This makes it possible to sterilize the bacteria present in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 forcibly while the water servers 11 to 16 are being inspected.

  The control unit 55 is connected to a detection signal input from a light amount monitoring sensor that is provided in the other sensor 63 and monitors the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet LED 7, and the time for turning on the ultraviolet LED 7 and the time for turning it off. May be changed. For example, when a detection signal indicating that the amount of ultraviolet light has decreased is input, the control unit 55 sets the ultraviolet LED 7 so that the time for turning on the ultraviolet LED 7 becomes longer and the time for turning off the ultraviolet LED 7 becomes shorter. Control. On the other hand, when a detection signal indicating that the amount of ultraviolet light has increased is input, the control unit 55 sets the ultraviolet LED 7 so that the time for turning on the ultraviolet LED 7 is shortened and the time for turning off the ultraviolet LED 7 is lengthened. Control. Further, by using a detection signal from the light quantity monitoring sensor, the amount of light emission may be compensated by increasing the amount of current accordingly in accordance with the temporal deterioration of the light emission efficiency of the ultraviolet LED 7. Thereby, the water servers 11 to 16 can sterilize the bacteria existing in the storage space 31 of the bottle 3 efficiently and effectively.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, the main body 5 may directly supply the drinking water 2 from the bottle 3 to the cold water generation unit 51 or the hot water generation unit 52 without having the buffer storage unit 56. The main body 5 may not have the water pump 57.

  The bottle 3 may have an LED arrangement part that protrudes from the storage space 31 and arranges the ultraviolet LED 7.

2 Drinking water 3 Bottle 4 Air layer 5 Body portion 7, 7a, 7b Ultraviolet light emitting diode (ultraviolet LED)
8, 9 Connection unit 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Water server 31 Storage space 50 Timer 51 Cold water generation unit 51a Cold water storage unit 51b Cooling device 51c, 52c, 531, 561, 562, 563 Piping 51d Cold water intake 52 Hot Water Generation Unit 52a Hot Water Storage Unit 52b Heating Device 52d Hot Water Water Intake 53 Air Inlet 54 Power Supply 55 Control Unit 56 Buffer Storage Unit 57 Water Pump 58 Arrangement Member 58a Side 58b Support Unit 59 Ultraviolet Shielding Plate 61 Drinking Water Extraction Sensor 62 Bottle installation sensor 63 Other sensors 71, 71 a, 71 b Emission unit 72, 542 Cable 81, 91 Sending connection pipe 100 Input device 251 Cold drinking water 252 Hot drinking water 256 Stored drinking water 541 Current source 811, 911 Water feeding unit 812, 912 Distribution Part

Claims (13)

A bottle having a storage space for storing beverages;
A body part for temporarily storing the beverage obtained from the bottle and taking it out as needed;
A water server comprising: an ultraviolet light emitting diode disposed with an ultraviolet light emitting portion facing the storage space. A connecting portion for connecting the bottle and the main body,
The water server according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting diode is disposed in the connection portion. The connection part has a delivery connection pipe for delivering the beverage from the bottle to the main body part,
The water server according to claim 2, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting diode is disposed at a distal end portion of the delivery connecting pipe directed toward the bottle. The water server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting diode is disposed in the storage space. The water server according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting diode is disposed on an outer surface side of the bottle. The water server according to claim 5, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting diode is disposed on the outer surface. The water server according to claim 5, wherein the main body has a disposing member for disposing the ultraviolet light emitting diode on the outer surface side. The water server according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting diode is disposed closer to an air layer formed in the storage space than a beverage stored in the storage space. The water server according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an arrangement position of the ultraviolet light emitting diode is changeable. The main body has a controller that controls light emission of the ultraviolet light emitting diode,
The water server according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control unit causes the ultraviolet light-emitting diode to emit light before the number of residual bacteria remaining in the storage space exceeds a predetermined value. The main body has an inlet for introducing air;
The water server according to claim 10, wherein the control unit causes the ultraviolet light emitting diode to emit light when the air is introduced into the storage space through the introduction port. The water server according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the control unit causes the ultraviolet light emitting diode to emit light when the bottle is installed in the main body. The water server according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting diode emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength in a range of 230 nm to 300 nm.

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