JP3152146B2 - Mineralized water storage container - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mineralized water storage container, and more particularly to a mineralized water storage container capable of supplying high quality drinking water by mineralizing water in addition to storing water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Mineralized water storage containers are mainly made of mineral sulphate for mineralization of water stored therein. Calcium sulfate is mainly used and auxiliary materials such as shell fossils and barley stone are appropriately added thereto. Used in combination. Activated carbon, which acts as a water purifier, is also used in a mineralizer together with a mineralizer as needed.

When a mineralization mode is set by operating a mineralization start key or the like, the mineralization water storage container operates a mineralization circulating means to circulate water contained in the inner container for a predetermined period of time to the mineralizer. Repeatedly improve the water quality.

[0004] Thus, even if tap water is stored, it can be converted into mineral water and stored to be used as delicious drinking water.

[0005]

However, if the mineralization mode always circulates water for a fixed period of time, the degree of mineralization referred to as mineralization of water gradually decreases, and even if there is a difference between persons, However, the degree of decline is perceived as a subtle difference in taste, and above all, constant water quality cannot be guaranteed. Moreover, since the operation of improving the water quality and the progress thereof are not visible, the user may have a doubt or anxiety as to whether the water quality has been improved or whether the improvement has been sufficient. Such deterioration of the mineralization function of water quality is a major problem in product reliability.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to provide a mineralized water storage container capable of maintaining the quality of mineralized water at a constant level even when the capacity of the mineralized material is reduced. It is the purpose.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an inner container for storing water, and a mineralizer for accommodating a mineralizing material for improving water quality in mineral water. In the mineralized water storage container provided with a container and a mineralization circulating means for supplying water in the inner container to the mineralizer and returning the water having passed through the mineralizer back to the inner container and circulating the same, according to the mineralization mode setting. First control means for operating the mineralization circulating means for a predetermined time, and determination means for determining a decrease in the capacity of the mineralization material of the mineralizer based on the number of repetitions of the mineralization mode or the total execution time of the mineralization mode. And a second control means for setting the predetermined time longer according to the deterioration of the capacity of the mineralized material.

In such a configuration, when the mineralization mode is set, the mineralization circulation means is operated by the first control means for a predetermined time, during which the water contained in the inner container is circulated to circulate the mineralization mode. The water quality is improved to a predetermined mineral water by the mineralizing material contained in the mineralizer through the repetition. By repeating this mineralization mode, the ability of mineralization material gradually decreases,
The degree of the decrease is determined by the determination means based on the number of repetitions or the total execution time of the mineralization mode, and the second control means determines the first control means in accordance with the determined reduction degree of the capability of the mineralized material. Since the predetermined time for operating the mineralization circulation means is set to be long, even if the capacity of the mineralization material is reduced, the water contained in the inner container is always mineralized to a certain degree by executing the mineralization mode each time, and the predetermined time is set. Quality can be guaranteed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a sub-circulation means for circulating water in the inner container through a path not passing through the mineralizer, and a sub-circulation after the mineralization circulation means operates. Fifth control means for operating the means for a predetermined time.

[0010] In this configuration, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, the fifth control means further activates the sub-circulation means for a predetermined time after the mineralization circulation means has actuated. Since the water after mineralization is circulated through the route that does not pass through the mineralizer, the water after mineralization in the inner container is more well mixed in the circulation, and even if the water in the inner container has a variation in the degree of mineralization, This can be made uniform.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The mineralized water storage container of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to some embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIGS. 1 to 8 show Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Embodiment 1 is an inner container 1 for storing water as shown in FIGS.
And a mineralizer 3 containing a mineralizer 2 for improving the quality of water, and a water purifier 4 containing a filter 11 for purifying water by filtration are provided in a body 5, and the contents thereof are circulated by a circulation pump 6. The water in the inner container 1 is supplied to the inner container 1 by supplying the water in the container 1 to the mineralizer 3, and the water passing through the mineralizer 3 is returned to the inner container 1 and circulated. After the water is supplied to the water purifier 4, the water discharged from the water purifier 4 is discharged to the outlet 9c
And discharge means 9 for sending the liquid to the outside of the container 5 through the discharge port. The inner container 1, the mineralization chamber 22 accommodating the mineralizer 3 in a detachable manner, and the water purification chamber 23 accommodating the water purifier 4 in a detachable manner are partitioned from each other, It is provided so as to be individually opened on the upper surface.

In addition, a waterfall means 101 is provided at at least one location in the water circulation path utilizing the mineralizing circulation means 7 to make the circulating water come into contact with air. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the waterfall means 101 of this embodiment is provided with a return port 7c of a return pipe 7b for returning water from the mineralizer 3 of the mineralization circulation means 7 to the inner container 1. The container 1 is opened in a normal space 100 formed in the upper part.

The mineralizer 3 of the present embodiment converts water passed through the mineralizer into a mineral by eluting a mineral component.

Although the mineralizer 3 is located outside the inner container 1, the water in the inner container 1 is converted into mineral water in the mineralizer 3 by driving the circulating pump 6 to operate the mineralizing circulating means 7. Since the material 2 is circulated repeatedly so as to pass through, the entire amount of water in the inner container 1 can be stored in the inner container 1 by improving the water quality and, in the first embodiment, mineralizing. At the same time, the water circulated for mineralization repeatedly falls through the waterfall means 101 provided in the middle of the circulation path of the circulation, so that the water falls repeatedly. As a result, the mellowness is increased like water of a clear stream such as a mountain. On the other hand, although the water purifier 4 is also located outside the inner container 1, the discharge pump 8 is driven to
When the water stored in the inner container 1 is turned into a mineral to discharge the mineralized water to the outside of the container body 5, the mineralized water in the inner container 1 is supplied to the water purifier 4 to filter the filter material 11.
After passing through the inner container 5, the mineralized water in the inner container 1 is converted into a clean water from which the fine particles, the calcium component, and other foreign substances of the water mineralized material 2 are removed. It can be discharged and used for use.

In particular, the mineralization chamber 22 for accommodating the mineralizer 3 in a detachable manner and the water purification chamber 23 for accommodating the water purifier 4 in an attachable / detachable manner, together with the inner container 1 as described above, are included in the container 5. , Which are convenient for use, which are treated as a unitary product, and which are separated from each other in the container 5 and individually opened on the upper surface of the container 5, so that the mineralizer 3 and the water purifier 4 is removed, and the water stored in the inner container 1 is separated from the mineralizer 3 and the water purifier 4 by the water level difference.
If the water level reaches the same level, it stops and leaks into the vessel 5 even if the water flows naturally through the connection port 22a and the connection ports 23a and 23b into the water purification chamber 23. It is possible to prevent the spill from overflowing out of the container body 5 and to prevent the mineralizer 3 and the water purifier 4 from being removed by the circulation operation or the discharge operation in the mineralization chamber 22 or the water purification chamber 23. Even if the water in the inner container 1 is sent through the connection port 22a and the connection ports 23a and 23b, it is possible to prevent the water from leaking into the container 5, and to prevent the capacity difference. Mineralization room 2 from which mineralizer 3 and water purifier 4 have been removed
It takes a considerable amount of time for the water to overflow from the water purifying chamber 2 and the water purifying chamber 23 to the outside of the vessel 5, and the user notices that the state corresponding to the operation cannot be obtained in the meantime, However, even if it overflows out of the case 5, the user performing the operation can immediately notice this and cope with it, so that there is no special problem.

More specifically, the vessel 5 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a container-shaped main body 14 made of synthetic resin is used.
And a synthetic resin shoulder member 30 fitted into the upper end opening of the main body 14. The shoulder member 30 is integrally formed with a fitting opening 21 of the inner container 1 having the opening 17, a mineralization chamber 22 for accommodating the mineralizer 3 and the water purifier 4, and a water purification chamber 23.

The inner container 1 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, and has an inner flange integrally formed at the lower end of the opening 21 with an outwardly directed flange 1a at the upper end as shown in FIGS. It is received from below by the seal packing 24a on the direction flange 21a, and is integrated with the inner container 1 together with the shoulder member 30 by the connection with the bottom of the main body 14 by the screw 400 via the connection fitting.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mineralizer 3 is a cylindrical body made of a synthetic resin, and a cylindrical inlet 25a for introducing water into the center at the lower end has mineralized water at the center at the upper end. The mineralized cartridge 25 is formed with a cylindrical delivery port 25b to be delivered, and the delivery port 25b
A return pipe 7b having the return port 7c is fitted and fixedly adhered thereto. Since the return pipe 7b, which has been bonded and fixed, is bent at a right angle from the delivery port 25b into an L-shape, the mineralized cartridge 2
The handle 5 can be conveniently used as a handle when attaching or detaching or handling it alone. The inlet 25a is fitted into the bottom of the mineralization chamber 22 from above, and
A connection port 22a for detachably connecting to the outward path 7a is formed. When the mineralization cartridge 25 is housed in the mineralization chamber 22 and connected to the outward path 7a, FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the return path 7b extends in a horizontal direction straight from the position immediately extending upward from the delivery port 22b of the mineralization chamber 22 to the opening 17 of the inner container 1, and the return port 7c is located in the opening 17 of the inner container 1. It is designed to open downward. A lid 27 is detachably fitted to the fitting opening 21 of the shoulder member 30.

The cartridge 25 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, as the water mineralizing material 2, antibacterial activated carbon 25e, silver impregnated treatment, etc.
g, 25 l of porcelain, 25 f of shell fossil 25j, and 25 l of calcium sulfate contained in porcelain-like case 25 k are sequentially stored, so that in addition to mineralization, antibacterial treatment and temporary purification of calcium are performed. . Calcium sulfate plays a leading role in mineralization. Therefore, a decrease in the capacity of the mineralizer 3 is determined based on the degree of decrease in calcium sulfate, the necessary time and life of the mineralization mode are determined, and when the life is reached, the entire case 25k can be easily replaced.

However, in the case where the boiling liquid is put into the inner container 1 or a boiling water container is also provided in the container 1 and the boiling liquid is supplied from there to cool and store it. When coral sand is used as the water mineralizing material 2, since it contains carbonic acid, it is possible to recover that the content liquid loses carbon dioxide gas due to boiling and becomes dull, and the water content is reduced by the waterfall. With the recovery of oxygen, mineralized, cut and delicious water is obtained.

The circulating pump 6 is provided in the middle of the outward path 7a as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, and when this works, water in the inner container 1 is discharged through the mineralizing circulating means 7 into the mineralizer 3 mounted on the mineralizer 3. 25g, 25 g of barley rice, 25 g of shell fossil
j, 25 l of calcium sulfate are sequentially permeated, added to the antibacterial and water purification treatments, and after having been eluted with minerals, are repeatedly returned to the inner container 1 and circulated. Water can be uniformly mineralized.

In the first embodiment, the mineralizer 3 converts the circulated water into mineral water using the water-quality mineralizer 2 which is a mineral component. Processing may be performed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mineralized cartridge 25 has a rounded portion 25r at the lower end, so that no corner is formed. It is possible to prevent the water that has entered the mineralization cartridge 25 from staying at the corner and not flowing while staying there, and to prevent germs from growing and becoming unsanitary over a long period of time. The upper end can also have a similar rounded shape.

The replacement of the water mineralized material 2 can be easily and promptly performed by attaching and detaching the mineralized cartridge 25 to and from the mineralization chamber 22 in which the mineralized cartridge 25 is handled as a single unit. Is also convenient. When the mineralized cartridge 25 is not disposable, it is preferable to make the cartridge 25 separable so that the water mineralized material 2 can be replaced. In addition, in order to attach and detach the mineralization cartridge 25 to and from the mineralization chamber 22, the upper part of the mineralization chamber 22 is formed as a knob space 22 b which is extended from below to the periphery, and fingers are inserted into this part to allow the mineralization in the mineralization chamber 22. The cartridge 25 can be easily picked up and removed by hand. In addition, it is easy to insert and mount the mineralized cartridge 25 into the mineralization chamber 22 by the reverse operation.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the water purifier 4 has a main body 127 having a bottom shape made of synthetic resin, and a synthetic resin lid fitted to the upper end opening of the main body 127. Body 1
28. Filter material 11 is provided in main body 127.
Having a water purification module 31 provided with a hollow fiber membrane 4a as a hollow fiber inside a water purification module body 31a made of a synthetic resin and having a concave portion 12 eccentric to one of the bottom portions of the main body 127.
7a is detachably fitted in 7a. Activated carbon room 127b which is the remaining space around this water purification module 31
Contains a purified water activated carbon 32 as another filtering material 11. Antibacterial activated carbon 25e in mineralized cartridge 25
Is the degree to which water germs do not grow in the water storage, for example, 0.3p
pm is used to remove chlorine down to about pm, whereas purified water activated carbon 32 in the water purifier 4 determines residual chlorine from tap water when the water with improved quality in the stored water is discharged. It is used to remove a standard residual chlorine value, for example, to about 0.1 to 0.2 ppm. Thus, while suppressing the growth of various germs while the water is being stored, the residual chlorine at the level of tap water can be suppressed at the discharge port 9c to minimize the influence of the odor. Also, the hollow fiber membrane 4a has a filtration mesh size of, for example, 0.1 micron, so that the final filtration extends to the removal of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli. This prevents the hollow fiber membrane 4a from being clogged at an early stage and shortening the service life.

Inside the lid 128, the inner lid 1 fitted to the inner periphery of the main body 127 and the upper end of the water purification module body 31a.
32, and a path 1 through which water flows from the upper end of the activated carbon chamber 127a to the upper end of the water purification module 31a between the lid 28 and the lid 28.
27c.

In the water purifier 4, a cylindrical inlet 4b communicating with the activated carbon chamber 31b and a cylindrical outlet 4c communicating with the water purifying module 31a are integrally formed at the bottom of the main body 127. Correspondingly, the bottom of the water purification chamber 23 is shown in FIG.
The connection ports 22a and 23b which are fitted with the introduction port 4b and the outlet port 4c and are detachably connected to the base pipe 9a and the tip pipe 9b of the discharge means 9 as shown in FIG. Are formed. When the introduction port 4b and the outflow port 4c are fitted to the connection ports 22a and 23b, the discharge means 9 is connected via the water purifier 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a discharge pump 8 is provided in the middle of the base side pipe 9a. When the discharge pump 8 is operated, the mineralized water in the inner container 1 is supplied to the activated carbon chamber 2 of the water purifier 4.
After the residual calcium is finally removed by first passing through the purified water activated carbon 32 in the inside 7a, it enters the purified water module 31a via the path 127c inside the lid 128, where the innumerable hollow fiber membranes 4a By passing through, harmful bacteria and red water components that can not be removed with activated carbon are finally removed,
The liquid is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 9c of the discharge means 9 protruding downward from the inside of the beak-shaped protrusion 5a provided on the upper front side of the rear body 5, and is used.

The filter medium 11 can be replaced easily and quickly by attaching and detaching the water purifier 4 to and from the water purifying chamber 23, and is convenient for disposal of used materials.
The water purifier 4 is not disposable in the case of the present embodiment.
It is good to replace 1 and clean water activated carbon 32. Further, in order to attach / detach the water purifier 4 to / from the water purifying chamber 23, the upper part of the water purifying chamber 23 is formed as a knob space 23b which is extended from below to the periphery. Easy to remove. Water purifier 4 by reverse work
Can be easily inserted and mounted in the water purification chamber 23. In the present embodiment, a lid cover 126 is provided on a portion of the water purifier 4 projecting into the knob space 23c, and the lid cover 126 is seated on the upward step 23d formed by the knob space 23c, It fits into a convex wall 23e formed on the inner periphery of 23d and is configured to be detachably positioned. A knob 126a is provided on the lid cover 126.
Are integrally formed.

The mineralizing cartridge 25 and the water purifier 4 are, as shown in FIGS.
a and the discharge port 9c are located on the front side of the container 5. Thus, when the discharge is stopped, the water remaining on the discharge port 9c side from the water purifier 4 of the discharge means 9 is sent out by the next discharge. However, at this time, it does not pass through the water purifier 4 and remains filtered at the previous discharge. In the first embodiment, the water purifier 4 is provided with the discharge port 9 c on the front side of the body 5.
, The passage portion in which the water at the time of the discharge remains can be shortened, and the amount of the water not discharged and remaining in the portion after the water purifier 4 can be reduced as much as possible.

Mineralization room 22 of shoulder member 30, water purification room 2
1, 2, 4, and 5, a common step edge 20 is formed adjacent to the fitting opening 21 of the inner container 1, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5. Mineralization room 2
2. A synthetic resin lid 40 common to the water purification chamber 23 is detachably fitted.

Further, the mineralization chamber 22 and the water purification chamber 2
The cover 40 covering the opening 3 is transparent. Thereby, even if water in the inner container 1 overflows into the mineralization chamber 22 or the water purification chamber 23 from which the mineralizer 3 or the water purifier 4 has been removed by the circulation operation or the discharge operation, It is easy for the operator to notice, and it is possible to respond immediately.

An operation panel 42 is provided on the upper surface of the beak-shaped protrusion 5a as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, and the operation panel 42 is made of mineral as shown in FIGS. A circulation key 43 for mode start, a discharge key 44, a plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 for displaying start, progress, and end of the mineralization mode, and a storage state in which water can be used by ending the mineralization mode. Preservation LED lamp 305 that indicates that it has become mineralized material 2
L indicates that the battery has reached the end of its service life and it is time to replace it.
An ED lamp 306, a buzzer 307, and the like are provided.

The circulating and discharging pumps 6 and 8 and the operation panel 42 are connected to a control circuit 311 shown in FIG. 6 so that operations in accordance with operations on the operation panel 42 are performed. The control circuit 311 uses a microcomputer. When the mineralization mode is set by operating the circulation key 43, the first control means 312 for operating the mineralization circulation means 7 for a predetermined time, and the mineralization of the mineralizer 3 are performed. The microcomputer has, as internal functions of the microcomputer, a discriminating unit 313 for discriminating a decrease in the performance of the material 2 and a second control unit 314 for setting the predetermined time longer according to the discrimination in the capability of the mineralized material 2 being discriminated. ing.

The microcomputer includes a plurality of LED lamps 301 to 30 for displaying a mineralization mode.
A third control means 315 for changing the display state of the display means consisting of No. 4 in accordance with the elapse of the set predetermined time and displaying the start, progress degree and end of the mineralization mode;
Further, the microcomputer also includes an internal timer 316 for measuring the passage of time and the like, and the internal timer 316 has a timer function based on a clock signal input from the outside.

The third control means 315, which is an internal function of the microcomputer, is provided with the plurality of LED lamps 3.
01 to 304 are lighted in various combinations in accordance with the progress of the mineralization mode, and the display means displays the time.
The control means 315 can count down the time displayed by the display means as time elapses. Further, this is connected to a plurality of LED lamps 301 to 3.
04 can be used together.

The microcomputer includes a plurality of Ls.
There is also provided a fourth control unit 317 for restricting the operation of the ejection unit 9 from being performed while the display unit such as the ED lamps 301 to 304 is displaying.

According to such a control circuit, when the mineralization mode is set, the mineralization circulating means 7 is operated by the first control means 312 for a predetermined time, during which the water contained in the inner container 1 is circulated. Then, the mineralizer 3 is repeatedly passed through, and the water quality is improved to a predetermined quality by the water-quality mineralizer 2 contained in the mineralizer 3. By repeating this mineralization mode, the mineralization material 2
Is gradually reduced, the degree of the reduction is determined by the determining means 313 based on the number of repetitions of the mineralization mode, the total execution time, and the like, and the second control means 314 determines the determined mineralized material 2. Since the first control means 312 sets the predetermined time for operating the mineralizing circulating means 7 to be long according to the degree of decrease in the capacity, even if the capacity of the mineralizing material 2 is reduced, the content is kept by executing the mineralization mode each time. The quality of the water stored in the vessel 1 can be constantly improved to a certain degree, and a predetermined quality can be guaranteed. FIG. 11 shows an experimental example of water hardness change when the treatment time of the mineralization mode in the first embodiment is increased each time the mineralization mode is repeated, and the treatment time is 10 minutes, 12 minutes,
By increasing the length to 15 minutes or 18 minutes, a substantially constant hardness is obtained.

At the same time, a plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304, which are display means for the mineralization mode, are controlled by the third control means 315 to start the mineralization mode depending on the start of display or the state of display. The user can be notified of the progress and end of the mineralization mode by changing the display state, and the user can execute the mineralization mode while checking the operation state of the mineralization mode, and at the same time as confirming the end, maintain a constant water quality. Of improved water can be obtained.

In particular, the third control means 315 controls the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 30 as the mineralization mode proceeds.
4 is lighted in various combinations, the degree of progress is applied to the arrangement order of the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304, and the LED lamps are sequentially turned on, or the blinking lamps are changed in the arrangement order in all lighting states, and all the lights are turned off at the end. In various lighting states such as turning on the LED lamps 301 to 304, it is possible to display more realistically.

Further, when the display means displays the time, and the third control means 315 counts down the time displayed by the display means as the time elapses, the time displayed by the display means determines the current time. The user can know the required time of the mineralization mode that is set according to the degree of deterioration of the capacity of the mineralization material 2, and the remaining time during which the mineralization mode is executed by the countdown display of this display time Because you can know
Convenient to use. Also, the user can determine when to change the mineralizing material from the length of time required for the displayed mineralizing mode.

However, in the first embodiment, the replacement time is set in advance according to the number of executions of the mineralization mode, the total execution time, and the like, and whether or not this has been reached is determined using the internal function of the microcomputer. It is determined by the means 318, and when the replacement time is reached, the replacement LED lamp 30
6 is turned on. Therefore, the user can easily know when to replace the mineralized material 2.

The microcomputer operates the discharge means 9 by operating the discharge key 44 to discharge the water in the inner container 1 to the outside by the discharge pump 8 at any time for use. The fourth function as an internal function is as follows. The control means 317 controls a plurality of LED lamps 301 to 30 as display means.
Since the operation of the ejection unit 9 is restricted so as not to be performed while the display 4 is being displayed, the operation of the ejection unit 9 is performed while the mineralization mode is displayed by the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304. It is possible to prevent water that does not have a predetermined quality from being discharged during the mineralization and is prevented from being used.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a specific example of the above-described operation control in the first embodiment.

First, in FIG. 7, the life notification process is executed, and the replacement LED lamp 306 is turned on only when the judgment of the mineralized material 2 has reached the end of life by the judgment means 318, and the life is notified. Next, an ejection process is performed, and a plurality of L
Since the ED lamps 301 to 304 are not turned on, the fourth control means 317 does not work, and when the discharge key 44 is operated, the discharge means 9 is operated to discharge the water in the inner container 1 to the outside and used. To do. Here, depending on whether or not the amount of water in the inner container 1 is reduced by half, when the half-down key (not shown) is not turned on, it is regulated as an appropriate amount, and the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 are turned on to convert the water into mineral. Indicates that the operation status is appropriate for the mode. When the half-reduction key is turned on, the operation is in a half-reduction state. Therefore, the above control is repeated, and all of the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 do not light up. To the user.

In the state where the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 are lit, the control proceeds to the next control. When the circulation key 43 is turned on, the circulation pump 6 is driven to determine that the mineralization mode is set, and the mineralization circulation means is set. Activate 7 to start mineralization mode. Here, if the circulation key 43 is operated again, it is regarded as operation stop and the circulation pump 6 is stopped,
Return to If the circulation key 43 is not operated again, the mineralization mode is continued, the set lighting time of the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 is counted down, and each time the blinking time elapses, the process proceeds to FIG. 301-
One of the LED lamps 304 is turned off one by one from the left, and the next blinking time of the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 is set until all the LED lamps 301 to 304 are turned off, and the process returns to FIG. . As described above, when all of the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 are turned off, the mineralization mode ends.

The plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 shown in FIG.
After is turned on, if there is no ON operation of the circulation key 43,
If the half life key (not shown) is not turned on, the two LED lamps 303, 3
When the circulating key 43 is turned on when the circulation key 43 is turned on, the control of the mineralization mode is started again after FIG. At this time, the execution time of the mineralization mode is reduced by half. After turning on two of the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304, the process returns to the state where there is no ON operation of the circulation key 43.

Referring to FIG. 8, a plurality of LED lamps 301 to
When all of the lights 304 are turned off, the user is notified by a buzzer 307 of the end of the mineralization mode, and the necessary items are written in the memory. Notify the user that it can be used.

Subsequently, the life notification process and the discharge control are performed, and when the circulation key 43 is turned on again, the operation is stopped, and the process returns to FIG. 6, but if there is no operation, the operation is continued and the storage time is kept. Is counted. When the count has elapsed for 6 hours, the save LED lamp 305 blinks to notify the user that the quality of the water storage has reached the limit, and repeats the life notification process and the discharge control process, and the circulation key 43 is turned on again. The operation returns when the operation is performed, and returns when there is no operation.

The following table shows a plurality of LEs compared to the above control.
A more realistic display state by D lamps 301 to 304 is shown, and the operation / cancellation ON state is indicated by a plurality of LED lamps.

[0051]

[Table 1] When the mineralization mode starts, a plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304 are notified.
The leftmost LED lamp 301 blinks while keeping all the lighting states of 04 to notify that it is the first stage of the mineralization mode. In the second stage, the leftmost LED lamp 301 is turned off, and the second LED lamp 302 from the left blinks. In the third stage, the second LE from the left
The D lamp 302 is turned off in addition to the LED lamp 301, and the third LED lamp 303 from the left blinks.
In the fourth stage, the third LED lamp 303 from the left is also LE
The light is turned off together with the D lamps 301 and 302, and the rightmost LED lamp 304 is turned on and off. When the mineralization mode ends, the plurality of LED lamps 301 to 304
Flashes and announces it. This is performed for a predetermined time. Next, the storage LED lamp 305 is turned on.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 9 and 10 show Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a sub-circulation means 402 for circulating water in the inner container 1 through a path 401 not passing through the mineralizer 3 and a sub-circulation means after the mineralization circulation means 7 operates. The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the fifth embodiment has a fifth control unit 403 as an internal function of a microcomputer for operating the circulation unit 402 for a predetermined time. The same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the auxiliary circulation means 402
The outward path 7a of the mineralization circulation means 7 and the circulation pump 6 are shared. For this common use, mineralization circulation means 7
An electromagnetic switching valve 404 is provided at a portion where the path 401 branches from the middle of the outward path 7a, and after the mineralizing and circulating means 7 operates, the fifth control means 403 connects the electromagnetic switching valve 404 to the path 4
By driving the circulating pump 6 at the same time as switching to the side 01, the water in the inner container 1 is repeatedly circulated in a path not passing through the mineralizer 3.

As described above, by the action of the fifth control means 403, the mineralized circulation means 7 is operated, and then the sub-circulation means 402 is operated for a predetermined time, so that the water after mineralization in the inner container 1 is mineralized. Since the water is circulated in a path that does not pass through the inner container 3, the water after mineralization in the inner container 1 is mixed well with the circulation, and even if the water in the inner container 1 has a variation in the degree of mineralization, it is made uniform. be able to.

[0055]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the mineralization mode is set, the mineralization circulating means is operated for a predetermined time by the first control means, during which the water contained in the inner container is circulated. Then, the mineralizer is repeatedly passed through, and the water quality is improved to a predetermined mineral water by the mineralizer contained in the mineralizer. The performance of the mineralizing material gradually decreases due to the repetition of the mineralization mode. The degree of the reduction is determined by the determination means based on the number of repetitions of the mineralization mode or the total execution time, and the second control means determines In accordance with the degree of decrease in the capacity of the mineralized material, the first control means sets the predetermined time for operating the mineralizing circulation means to be long, so that even if the capacity of the mineralized material is reduced, each time the mineralization mode is performed, By the execution, the water contained in the inner container is always mineralized to a certain degree, and a predetermined quality can be guaranteed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, the fifth control means further activates the sub-circulation means for a predetermined time after the mineralization circulation means has actuated. Since the water after mineralization in the container is circulated through a route that does not pass through the mineralizer, the water after mineralization in the inner container is mixed more well with the circulation, and the water in the inner container has a variation in the degree of mineralization. However, this can be made uniform.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mineralized water storage container according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the mineralized water storage container of FIG. 1 with a lid removed.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the internal structure of the mineralized water storage container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a mineralized portion of the mineralized water storage container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a water purification section of the mineralized water storage container of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the mineralized water storage container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of control of the control circuit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control of the control circuit of FIG. 5 continued from FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a mineralized portion and a sub-circulation portion of the mineralized water storage container according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the mineralized water storage container of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a relationship between repetition of a mineralization mode, a change in processing time, and a change in water passing hardness in the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 inner container 3 mineralizer 5 container 6 circulation pump 7 mineralization circulation means 8 discharge pump 9 discharge means 9c discharge port 42 operation panel 43 circulation key 44 discharge key 301-304 LED lamp 305 storage LED lamp 306 replacement LED lamp 307 Buzzer 311 control circuit 312 first control means 313 determination means 314 second control means 315 third control means 316 internal timer 317 fourth control means 318 determination means 401 route 402 sub-circulation means 403 fifth control means 404 Solenoid switching valve

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI C02F 1/68 520 C02F 1/68 520P 540 540A 540G 1/28 1/28 G 1/50 510 1/50 510A 520 520B 531 531E 540 540F 560 560B (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1 / 28,1 / 50,1 / 68 A47J 27/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An inner container for storing water, a mineralizer for accommodating a mineralizing material for improving water quality in mineral water,
Mineralized water storage container equipped with a mineralization circulating means that supplies water in the inner container to the mineralizer and circulates the water that passed through the mineralizer back into the inner container. First control means for operating the circulating means for a predetermined time; determining means for determining a decrease in the capacity of the mineralizing material of the mineralizer based on the number of repetitions of the mineralizing mode or the total execution time of the mineralizing mode; A second control means for setting the predetermined time longer according to a decrease in the capacity of the material; 2. A sub-circulation means for circulating water in the inner container through a path not passing through the mineralizer, and a fifth control means for operating the sub-circulation means for a predetermined time after the mineralization circulation means operates. The mineralized water storage container according to claim 1.