JP3114492B2 - Pot type water purifier unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pot type water purifier unit in which raw water (unpurified water) such as tap water is filtered by a filter and stored in a lower container such as a pot.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Water purifiers for producing so-called "delicious" water by removing residual chlorine and the like in tap water are becoming widespread. This water purifier is mainly classified into a water purifier type and a pot type water purifier for storing purified water in a container such as a tabletop pot.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of a pot type water purifier (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 4-104881), in which a water purifier unit 14 is fitted on the upper part of a pot 12 with a grip 10. The water purifier unit 14 includes a container 16 having an opening at the center of the bottom surface, a filter case 18 attached to the bottom opening of the container 16, and a filter case 1.
8 is provided with a filter element 20 inserted in the inside 8 and a lid 22.

When water is injected into the container 16, the water is filtered through a filter element 20 by gravity filtration. The purified water accumulates in the pot 12. When the grip 10 of the pot 12 is grasped and tilted, the purified water flows out of the spout 24.

[0005]

In the above-described conventional water purifier unit, if the container 16 is used without being washed for a long period of time, there is a possibility that various bacteria may adhere to and form on the inner surface of the container 16.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

A pot-type water purifier unit according to the present invention is a pot-type water purifier unit installed above a lower container for storing purified water. A case having an outlet, a filter case arranged in the case and a filter built in the filter case, a lid mounted on the case,
A water reservoir is provided on at least one of an upper surface of the filter case and an inner surface of the case that is higher than the upper surface.

[0008]

[Action]

In the pot type water purifier unit of the present invention , the chlorine concentration in the atmosphere in the case is increased by the chlorine volatilized from the tap water stored in the concave portion. The germicidal action of chlorine suppresses the propagation of various bacteria.

[0010]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the entire configuration of a water purifier provided with a water purifier unit according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, an upper half is a plan view in a state where a lid is closed, and a lower half is It is a top view in the state where the lid was removed. The second
In the figure, a cap to be described later is not shown. Third
The figure is an exploded perspective view of the water purifier according to this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the water purifier.

The pot type water purifier unit 30 is installed above a lower cylindrical container 32 having a bottom. The pot-type water purifier unit 30 has a substantially cylindrical case 38 having an outlet 34 on the bottom surface and a receiving port 36 on the upper surface, and a filter 40 made of activated carbon fibers disposed in the case 38. , An anode 42 provided to be in contact with the filter 40 and a cathode 44 provided to be separated from the filter 40.

The case 38 is made of an antibacterial resin. A cylindrical portion 48 extends vertically in the case 38 in order to pour out water in the lower container 32, and the inside of the cylindrical portion 48 is a spout 46.

A battery casing 50 protrudes laterally from the side peripheral surface of the case 38, and a storage space for a dry battery 52 and a substrate 54 are installed in the battery casing 50. Reference numeral 56 denotes a battery cover for replacing the dry battery 52 provided in the battery casing 50. A transparent portion 58 is provided on the upper surface of the battery casing 50.
The LED 60 is provided below the.

The filter 40 is housed in a filter case 62. This filter case 62 is made of an antibacterial resin. The upper and lower surfaces of the filter case 62 are provided with openings so that water can pass therethrough. A knob 64 protrudes from the upper surface of the filter case 62, so that the filter case 62 can be picked up and taken out of the case 38. Recess for sump H ₁ is formed by the upper surface of the knob 64 is depressed.

The cathode 44 is inserted into a lower half of a small hole 62a for inserting a cathode, which penetrates a bottom surface of the filter case 62.

Reference numeral 65 denotes a lead wire for connecting the substrate 54 to the electrodes 42 and 44.

On the upper surface of the case 38, a lid 66 made of soft plastic is provided detachably. The lid 66 has an opening 67 into which the cylindrical portion 48 is inserted. A short cylindrical portion 68 into which the cylindrical portion 48 is fitted is provided upright from the upper edge of the opening 67. This cylindrical part 68
A cap 70 made of a soft plastic capable of closing the cover 66 is pivotally attached to the lid 66.

On the inner surface of the case 38, the case 38
A pair of electrodes 72 are provided to detect water poured into the inside. When water is injected into the case 38 until the electrode 72 is submerged, the electrodes 72 and 72 are turned on, and the LED is turned on.
60 is turned on.

The use of the pot-type water purifier unit 30 having such a configuration will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the lid 66 is removed from the pot type water purifier unit 30 connected to the lower container 32, and the lid 66 is disposed below the faucet 74. Pour water inside. The water poured into the case 38 passes through the filter 40, undergoes a filtration process, falls into the lower container 32, and is stored in the lower container 32.

By pouring water from the faucet 74 at a water supply speed higher than the filtration speed of the filter 40, water is accumulated in the case 38. The water level in this case 38 is
When the voltage is higher than 2, the electrodes 72 are turned on, and the LED 60 is turned on as described above. The light emission of the LED 60 is visually recognized by the user via the transparent portion 58, and the user can perceive that the water purifier unit 30 is operating.

After the required amount of water has accumulated in the lower container 32, the injection of water from the faucet 74 is stopped, and then FIG. 4 (b)
The cover 66 is put on the case 38 as shown in FIG. Further, the cap 70 is put on the cylindrical portion 68. As a result, the lower container 32 is in a sealed state, and can be stored in a refrigerator or the like as it is. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the water purifier unit 30 and the lower container 32 are separated,
The lid 66 may be directly attached to the lower container 32 and stored in a refrigerator in this state.

The diameter of the upper portion of the lower container 32 is equal to the diameter of the upper portion of the case 38, and the lid 66 can be attached to both the case 38 and the lower container 32.

In the present embodiment, the diameters of the case 38 and the lower container 32 are selected so that the lower portion of the case 38 is fitted in a watertight manner on the upper inner peripheral surface of the lower container 32. Also, a skirt portion 38a is formed from the outer peripheral surface of the case 38.
A packing 38b is provided inside the skirt portion 38a so as to be in close contact with the upper end surface of the lower container 32. For this reason, even if unpurified water overflows the case 38 when pouring water into the case 38, this water does not flow into the lower container 32.

Further, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 68 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 48 in a water-tight manner, and the cap 70 is fitted to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 68 in a water-tight manner. . For this reason, even if the container 32 falls down in the state of FIG. 4B or 4C stored in a refrigerator or the like, water does not flow out.

In this embodiment, the filter 40 is made of activated carbon fiber, and the filter 42 has an anode 42 in contact with it. Further, a cathode 44 is provided so as to be separated from the filter 40 and to be in contact with water in the filter case 62, and the anode 42 and the cathode 44 are periodically arranged between 0.5 and 2.0V. A changing voltage can be applied. Therefore, even if water remains in the filter case 62, the remaining water is electrically sterilized, and even if some time elapses between the previous use and the next use, In use, very sanitary water containing no or very little germs is supplied from the filter 40 to the lower container 32.

That is, as a result of various studies conducted by the present inventors, bacteria that are alive and metabolizing are negatively charged. Therefore, when a low voltage is applied between electrodes arranged in water, Bacteria electrophoreses and eventually reaches the anode. When the bacteria that reach the electrode touch the electrode,
The coenzymes involved in many enzymatic reactions in the cell are oxidized and reduced, and at the same time, excretion of intracellular anions occurs. This proved that the bacteria impaired their metabolic functions and died.

The effect varies depending on the voltage applied at this time, and it has been found that the effective voltage has a certain range depending on the kind of bacteria. That is, it was experimentally confirmed that the voltage at which the maximum effect was obtained was between 0.7 V and 1.5 V. More specifically, a voltage of 0.7 V to 0.8 V is appropriate for killing the bacteria with the electrode, and a voltage of about 1.5 V is preferably applied to attract the bacteria to the electrode. For this reason, in the present invention, it is preferable to apply a voltage that periodically changes from 0.5 V to 2.0 V, particularly from 0.6 V to 1.5 V, between the two electrodes 42 and 44. , Escherichia coli and general bacteria can be effectively killed.

In this embodiment, since the case 38 and the filter case 62 are made of an antibacterial resin, it is possible to suppress the germs from adhering and growing on them. Also,
Is chlorine released from the water collected in the concave portion H _1, increased chlorine concentration of the atmosphere in the case 38, bactericidal action is exhibited. This also suppresses the germs from adhering and growing on the case 38 and the filter case 62.

In the present embodiment, the upper end of the cylindrical portion 48 extends above the upper end of the side peripheral surface of the case 38. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), when water is supplied from the faucet 74 into the case 38, even if the water supply speed from the faucet 74 is excessive and the water overflows from the case 38, It does not go around the upper end of the cylindrical portion 48. That is, untreated tap water overflowing from the case 38 does not flow back through the spout 46 and fall into the lower container 32 at all.

In this embodiment, a battery casing 50 is provided on the side of the case 38 so as to project therefrom.
The battery 52 is installed in the area 0. The battery casing 50 is disposed at a position shifted laterally from above the lower container 32, and the lower end portion of the battery casing 50 is
It is located lower than the upper end of the lower container 32. Therefore, even if a liquid leaks from the dry battery 52, this liquid never enters the lower container 32.

In this embodiment, when water accumulates in the case 38, the LED 60 is turned on for a short time. The lighting time is set to 5 seconds in this embodiment, and the shortening of the lighting time makes the life of the dry battery 52 extremely long. However, in addition to such a light generating means such as an LED, a means for generating a sound such as an electronic buzzer may be used.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a pot type water purifier provided with a water purifier unit 30A according to a different embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the case 38A has the bottom cover 80 integrally provided. The bottom cover 80 covers the entire bottom surface of the case 38A and has a downward slope toward the end opposite to the spout 46, and a drop port 82 is formed at a portion opposite to the spout 46. Have. Case 38A and filter case 6
2 is made of an antibacterial resin. H ₁ indicates a concave portion.

Also in this embodiment, adhesion and propagation of various bacteria on the case 38A and the filter case 62 are suppressed.

The rest of the configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, when the cap 70 is removed from the cylindrical portion 68 and the lower container 32 is tilted, the spout 46
At this time, since the bottom cover 80 is provided, the water in the lower container 32 is removed from the filter 4.
No contact with 0. Therefore, the purified water in the lower container 32 is reliably prevented from re-contacting the filter 40.

The present embodiment is very suitable when, for example, a tea bag 84 is placed in the lower container 32, and water tea or the like is drained in the lower container 32 by the purified water filtered by the filter 40. . That is, even if the lower container 32 is tilted, the wheat tea and the like in the lower container 32 do not come into contact with the filter 40, and the filter 40 is prevented from being contaminated with the wheat tea and the like.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of a water purifier provided with a water purifier unit 30B according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of a knob portion showing an example of use.

In this embodiment, a boss 90 projects from the upper surface of the filter case 62A, and a rotating shaft 92 is pivotally mounted on the upper end of the boss 90 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. A knob 94 is pivotally attached to the rotation shaft 92 so as to be vertically rotatable. Reference numeral 96 denotes a pin for pivotally supporting the knob 94 on the rotation shaft 92. The knob 94 is provided with a circular opening 98.

Upper surface of filter case 62A and case 3
Recess of H ₂ for the basin is provided in 8 the inner surface of. These filter case 62A and case 38 are made of antibacterial resin.

The other construction is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the same reference numerals indicate the same parts.

Also in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the germs from adhering to the case 38 and the filter case 62A.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
4 is placed horizontally, and the water discharge flow rate is reduced so that the water flux 100 from the faucet 74 passes through the opening 98 so that the water is supplied into the case 38 without overflowing. The diameter of the opening 98 is selected. That is, by squeezing the water so that the water flux 100 is narrower than the opening 98, it is possible to inject the water into the case 38 without overflowing from the case 38.

In this embodiment, since the knob 94 can be rotated in the horizontal direction, it is possible to prevent the filter 40 from being exposed only to the same place. That is,
If the position of the knob 94 is changed as shown by 94a and 94b in FIG. 8, water will hit different positions of the filter 40, and local deterioration of the filter 40 will be prevented.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment, in which a ridge 104 is erected from the periphery of the opening 102 on the upper surface of the filter case 62B and surrounds the opening 102, thereby forming the filter case 62B. It forms a recess H ₃ on the upper surface. The case 38 and the filter case 62
B is made of an antibacterial resin. Thus, also in the present embodiment, adhesion and propagation of various bacteria on the case 38 and the filter case 62B are suppressed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the filter case 62B and the cylindrical portion 48 are integrally formed.
The filter case 62 is taken out of the case 38 by grasping the knob 64 and a new filter case 62 (new filter 4
0 is built in. ) Is inserted into the case 38, and the cylindrical portion 48 is also replaced with a new one. Therefore, the spout 46 with dirt accumulated on the inner peripheral surface is not used forever, which is extremely sanitary.

When the cylindrical portion 48 is integrated with the filter case 62B as in the water purifier unit 30B,
As shown in FIG. 11, it is preferable that a convex portion 48T is provided on the upper outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 48, and this convex portion 48T is brought into contact with the lower edge of the opening 67 of the lid 66.

That is, when a new filter case 62B is inserted into the case 38 when the filter is replaced, if the filter case 62B is not inserted deeply into the case 38, the cover 66 hits the projection 48T. Cannot be mounted on the case 38. Therefore, the filter case 62B
A user who has replaced the filter case 62B will insert the filter case 62B deep into the case 38 so that the lid 66 can be attached to the case 38.

As a result, the outer peripheral surface of the filter case 62B comes into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the case 38 over the entire circumference. As a result, the water poured into the case 38 is prevented from leaking from between the filter case 62B and the case 38, and the water that has passed through the filter 40 always falls into the lower container 32.

[0050] In the present embodiment constitutes a recess H ₄ for the basin by providing a ledge portion 108 on the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 48.

FIG. 12 shows a filter case 62C
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the water purifier unit configured to be surely inserted deep into the case, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in alignment with line 13-13 in FIG.

The filter case 62C of the water purifier unit 30C has a case upper 62U and a case lower 62C.
L and the case upper 62U
From above, a first cylindrical portion 110 protrudes upward. The upper end of the first cylindrical portion 110 is connected to the cylindrical portion 68 of the lid 66.
And is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 68 in a watertight manner.

From the case lower 62L, the second cylindrical portion 1
12 is erected upward, and the second cylindrical portion 112
Upper end of the first cylindrical portion 110 is fitted in a watertight manner.

In the case 38C of this embodiment, a bottom cover 80A that covers the lower side of the filter case 62C is provided integrally, and an opening 114 is provided in the bottom cover 80A. From the edge of the opening 114 to the ring portion 11
6 and the ring portion 116 is connected to the second cylindrical portion 11.
2 is fitted to the lower end.

The spout 46 is constituted by the cylindrical portions 110 and 112 and the ring portion 116.

On the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 110, a first
As shown in FIG. 3, a rib 118 extends as a vertically long convex portion, and the upper end of the rib 118 contacts the lower edge of the opening 67 of the lid 66.

If the filter case 62C is not inserted far enough into the case 38C, the lower edge of the opening 67
It hits the upper end of 8. Therefore, filter case 6
The user who has replaced the 2C inserts the filter case 62C deeply into the case 38C so that the lid 66 can be attached to the case 38C. As a result, the outer peripheral surface of the filter case 62C
It adheres to the inner peripheral surface of C.

In this embodiment, since the rib 118 is provided on the first cylindrical portion 110, the cylindrical portion 110 has high strength and rigidity. Reference numeral 120 denotes a knob provided so as to be bridged between the rib 118 and the upper surface of the case upper 62U.

[0059] In this example, a recess H ₅ for sump to the upper surface of the case upper 62U.

In this embodiment, the battery casing 50A is connected to the case 38 via the packing 122 made of an elastomer.
It is bolted to C. This battery casing 50A
, A trigger 124 is pivotally supported by a pin 126. By engaging the protrusion 124a on the front surface of the upper end of the trigger 124 with the flange 128 on the outer periphery of the upper end of the lower container 32,
The case 38 </ b> C can be securely engaged with the lower container 32.

The upper end of the trigger 124 is urged to the left in FIG. 12 by the spring piece 124b provided on the rear surface of the upper portion of the trigger 124 abutting on the battery casing 50A.

By pushing the lower end of the trigger 124 to the left in FIG. 12, the projection 124a comes off the flange 128, and the case 38C can be removed from the lower container 32.

In this embodiment, the bottom cover 80A has
A drop port 82A is provided at a position opposite to the opening 114 in the diameter direction. 82B is a drop port 82A
The small cover portion covers the lower side of the opening 114 and is provided so as to have a downward slope in a direction opposite to the opening 114 (to the right in FIG. 12).

The drop port 82A is open toward the inner peripheral wall of the lower container 32 and is close to the inner peripheral wall of the lower container 32. For this reason, the clean water flowing from the outlet 34 through the filter 40 onto the small cover portion 82B is
It can be poured from the drop opening 82A to the inner peripheral surface of the lower container 32. As a result, water from the drop port 82A flows down the inner peripheral surface of the lower container 32 and flows down gently. That is, it is possible to prevent the water from the falling port 82A from directly dropping onto the water surface in the lower container 32 and generating a loud noise.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the case and the filter case are made of an antibacterial resin, and the case and the filter case are combined with chlorine from the tap water in the concave portions H ₄ and H ₅ . Adherence and propagation of various bacteria on the plant are suppressed.

[0066]

As described above, in the pot type water purifier unit of the present invention , adhesion and propagation of various bacteria in the unit are suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall vertical sectional view of a water purifier including a water purifier unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a water purifier provided with the water purifier unit according to the embodiment, wherein an upper half is a plan view with a lid attached, and a lower half is a plan view with a lid removed.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the water purifier according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a usage example of the water purifier according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a usage state of a water purifier including a water purifier unit according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a water purifier including a water purifier unit according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a knob of the water purifier unit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another usage example of the knob portion.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a water purifier provided with a pot-type water purifier unit according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a water purifier including a pot-type water purifier unit according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a main part of a water purifier including a water purifier unit 30C.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

30, 30A, 30B, 30C Water purifier unit 32 Lower container 34 Outflow port 36 Inlet port 38, 38A Case 40 Filter 46 Spout port 48 Cylindrical part 48T Convex part 62, 62A, 62B, 62C Filter case 64, 94 Knob 66 Lid 67 opening 80,80A bottom cover 82,82A fall opening 110 first cylindrical part 112 second cylindrical portion 118 rib _{(protrusion) H 1, H 2, H} 3, H 4, H 5 sump recess

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1/28 B01D 35/00-35/04 B01D 35/08-35/30

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pot-type water purifier unit installed on an upper side of a lower container for storing purified water, a case having an unpurified water receiving port at an upper part and a purified water outlet at a lower part; A filter case disposed in the case, a filter built in the filter case, a lid mounted on the case, at least one of an upper surface of the filter case and an inner surface of the case higher than the upper surface. And a recess for a water reservoir provided in the water purifier.