JP3174477U - Water server - Google Patents

Abstract

A water server for sterilizing water without fear of damaging eyes by ultraviolet light is provided.
A water intake rod 30 penetrates from a server body into a water storage unit. Water is sent to the main body through the water intake 32. An optical unit 44 composed of the ultraviolet LED 40 and the white LED 42 is embedded in the surface of the water rod 30. The ultraviolet LED 40 and the white LED 42 are connected in series. The light of the ultraviolet LED 40 is not visible, but the white LED 42 is visible. It can be seen that ultraviolet rays are emitted. The ultraviolet LED 40 is expired at the end of its life, and disconnection of the electrical system can be confirmed by the white LED 42. Ultraviolet rays are blocked by water and storage. The light from the white LED 42 can also be used for night illumination and design.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a water server, and more particularly, to a water server having a transparent storage unit.

  Many people care about ingredients, such as foods and beverages, that they say every day. Since the health boom that came a long time ago has taken root, water servers, especially natural water, have become quite popular. Even if you do not have a water server, there are many people who buy water at convenience stores, etc., and it is thought that water servers will continue to spread.

  What users demand for natural water is a natural component not found in tap water, and the absence of residual chlorine is a natural premise, apart from whether it directly affects health. However, natural water is a concern for bacterial growth. The problem of sterilization stands out for further spread and proper operation of water servers.

  Ultraviolet rays have a bactericidal action. A water server that utilizes this to sterilize water is known. Patent Document 1 proposes a water server that bifurcates the irradiation direction of ultraviolet rays with a double-sided mirror and delivers sterilization light widely to a storage tank.

  Patent Document 2 proposes a water server in which an ultraviolet lamp is immersed in a cold water tank and an ultrasonic device is attached to the tank. Ultrasonic cavitation keeps the inner wall of the cold water tank and the surface of the quartz glass tube sealed with the ultraviolet lamp clean and maintains the bactericidal effect.

JP 2010-285177 A Utility model registration No. 3099926

  Although the sterilizing action of ultraviolet rays is highly useful, it needs to be handled with care. As is well known, looking directly at ultraviolet rays can hurt your eyes. Moreover, since ultraviolet rays are not perceived by human eyes unlike visible light, further caution is required.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a subject, The objective is to provide the water server which can utilize the germicidal action of an ultraviolet-ray, considering safety.

  The water server of the present invention includes a storage unit formed of a material that transmits visible light, and a light unit in which a visible light source and an ultraviolet light source including a component having a medium wavelength or less are connected in series. A light unit was placed at a position where the light was thrown into the storage. As a result, ultraviolet light having a sterilizing power and having a medium wavelength or less reaches the storage unit. Ultraviolet rays are almost absorbed by water. It is confirmed by visible light that ultraviolet rays are emitted.

  The sterilizing power of ultraviolet rays can be exhibited safely and appropriately.

It is a figure showing the whole water server composition concerning an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the storage part of a different type from FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of a water intake stick. It is a figure which shows typically the electricity supply circuit to an optical unit.

  The water server according to the embodiment is sterilized by applying ultraviolet light to water. This light source and a visible light source are connected in series and energized. It can be seen that ultraviolet rays are emitted by visible light. Visible light can also be used to check whether the UV light source has expired or the electrical system is disconnected. Ultraviolet rays are safe because they are blocked by water and its storage. Visible light can also be used for night lighting and design.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a water server 100 according to the embodiment. The water server 100 includes a storage unit 10 that stores water, and a main body unit 20 that adjusts the temperature of the water and provides cold water and hot water according to a user operation. The storage unit 10 is made of a transparent resin and transmits visible light. The storage unit 10 is a recycle type that is delivered by filling with water and collected when the water becomes empty, and has an appropriate strength. Although not shown, the mouth has a lid, an inner plug is embedded and sealed.

  The main body 20 has a hot water tap 22 and a cold water tap 24. A water intake rod 30 extends from the main body 20, which breaks the seal due to the weight of the storage unit 10 and pushes the inner plug into the storage unit 10. The main body 20 takes water through the water intake rod 30.

  The main body portion 20 includes a micro switch 16 that is pressed when the storage unit 10 is attached to the shoulder portion, and an LED off switch 18 for turning off the illumination function by visible light as described later. In the figure, there is a gap between the storage unit 10 and the main unit 20, but the former actually has a structure in which the latter is properly placed at a predetermined position (the same applies to FIG. 2).

  FIG. 2 shows another type of reservoir 10. The storage unit 10 includes a hard resin holder 12 and a water bag 14 filled with water and delivered. The storage unit 10 also transmits visible light. The water bag 14 is formed of a flexible material such as PET having a adjusted thickness, and is deflated with water consumption. The water bag 14 is generally a disposable type, but may be configured to be refillable with water from other water storage locations.

  The holder 12 is removed from the main body 20 when the water bag 14 is replaced, and has a skirt 12a for placing on the floor and a lid 12b for taking the water bag 14 in and out. Since the water bag 14 is relatively soft, the holder 12 serves as a support. Hereinafter, the term “storage unit 10” may be of any type shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 3 shows the details of the water intake rod 30. The tip 30a has the strength to break the seal of the storage unit 10 and push the inner plug. There is a water intake 32 at the lower part of the water intake rod 30, and the water in the storage unit 10 is guided to the main body 20 through the water intake 32 as indicated by a broken line.

  The intake rod 30 has a light unit 44 composed of an ultraviolet LED 40 and a white LED 42 and a second light unit 54 composed of a second ultraviolet LED 50 and a second white LED 52 embedded in the surface. As will be described later, the ultraviolet LED 40 and the white LED 42 are connected in series. The two optical units 44 and 54 have the same structure, and only the optical unit 44 will be described below.

  Ultraviolet rays are classified into three types: UVA (long wavelength ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 315 to 400 nm), UVB (medium wavelength ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 280 to 315 nm), and UVC (short wavelength ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 14 to 280 nm). The wavelength near 260 nm is optimal for sterilization and UVC is ideal. However, since the price of the light source is still high and there are few small ones, UVB LEDs are used as the ultraviolet LEDs 40 in this embodiment. Although the sterilizing power is lower than that of UVC, a certain sterilizing power can be obtained even with UVB by taking some time. UVB LEDs are available from several manufacturers. Of course, if a UVC LED can be stably obtained in the future, it may be used as the ultraviolet LED 40.

  On the other hand, the white LED 42 is a normal white visible light source and is widely used. Since the ultraviolet LED 40 and the white LED 42 are in series, it can be confirmed by the light of the white LED 42 whether the ultraviolet LED 40 is being sterilized.

  The light of the ultraviolet LED 40 is not visible. It is not desirable for this to pass through the storage unit 10 and be thrown into the eyes of the user. Since UVC has a weak transmission power, it can be blocked with water or resin. UVB is stronger in transmission than UVC, but can still be blocked by glass, acrylic plates, polycarbonate, polyester films, and the like. UVB can be almost blocked by a polyester film having a thickness of 50 μm, although a very thin transparent vinyl such as a food wrap is permeated to some extent. The storage unit 10 can be easily created from such materials.

  If a general-purpose product is used as the storage unit 10 and its own UVB blocking capability is not known, transparent UV cut filters from multiple manufacturers (Nitto Jushi Kogyo Co., Ltd., Teijin DuPont Film Co., Ltd., etc.) can be used. It can also be pasted. While ensuring the transparency of a PET bottle, it is possible to almost completely block light having a wavelength below UVB. In the case of the storage unit 10 in FIG. 2, it is sufficient that the ultraviolet blocking function is provided in one of the holder 12 and the water bag 14.

  It is desirable that the light of the ultraviolet LED 40 reaches the water in the storage unit 10 without any problem. The intake bar 30 is advantageous in that it is located inside the storage unit 10, but when it is at a relatively low position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is attached such that the light emitting direction of the ultraviolet LED 40 is slightly upward as shown in FIG. 3. Consider position and direction.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows an energization circuit to the optical unit 44. The control unit 60 receives switch opening / closing information from the micro switch 16 and the LED off switch 18. The microswitch 16 is turned on when the storage unit 10 is set in the main body unit 20. The LED off switch 18 is a switch that takes two positions, on and off. When the white LED 42 is on, the user presses it to turn it off.

  The optical unit 44 is placed between the power source and the ground via the power switch SW1. Both ends of the white LED 42 are bypassed via a bypass switch SW2 and a current limiting circuit (not shown).

  The control unit 60 turns on the power switch SW1 when the microswitch 16 is on. As a result, the light unit 44 is energized, and sterilization by ultraviolet rays and white light indicating it are emitted. When the micro switch 16 is off, the storage unit 10 is not exchanged or the like, so the control unit 60 turns off the power switch SW1 to stop ultraviolet rays.

  When the microswitch 16 is on, the light unit 44 continues to be energized and continues to emit white light. When the user wants to save power or turn off the light, the user pushes the LED off switch 18. The controller 60 detects this and turns on the bypass switch SW2. This stops the illumination of the white LED 42. The energization of the ultraviolet LED 40 continues.

  With the above function, the signals from the micro switch 16 and the LED off switch 18 are directly connected to the power switch SW1 and the like. In that case, the control unit 60 may be simply considered as a wiring, or may be considered as a configuration including the micro switch 16 or the LED off switch 18, which is not essential. Rather, it is important that the control unit 60 can have a higher function using a microcomputer (not shown).

  This microcomputer can perform finer control of energization while performing the above-described function depending on the state of the micro switch 16 and the LED off switch 18. Since the life of the light source depends on the total energization time or the continuous energization time, it may be energized intermittently by a microcomputer, for example.

As described above, the effect described at the beginning can be obtained by this configuration. The following is a modified example.
Any number of optical units is possible. The number of ultraviolet LEDs and white LEDs included in one light unit is also arbitrary. The visible light source need not be limited to white LEDs. Other colors may be used.
A decorative visible light LED may be provided in addition to the light unit. These may be turned on and off at all times or by a switch operation from the user irrespective of ultraviolet rays.

The light unit may be provided in addition to the water intake rod 30. For the purpose of wiring from the main body 20, it is convenient to provide it at any location in the water intake area of the storage unit 10.
The ultraviolet LED and the white LED are not necessarily connected in series. A configuration is also conceivable in which a switch such as a transistor that is turned on when a current flows through the ultraviolet LED is turned on, and a switch such as a transistor that causes a current to flow through the white LED is turned on with this switch.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Storage part, 16 Micro switch, 20 Main-body part, 30 Intake rod, 40,50 Ultraviolet LED, 42,52 White LED, 44,54 Light unit, 60 Control part, 100 Water server.

Claims (8)

A reservoir formed of a material that transmits visible light;
An optical unit in which a visible light source and an ultraviolet light source including a medium wavelength component or less are connected in series;
A water server characterized in that an optical unit is disposed at a position where ultraviolet light and visible light are thrown into the storage unit.   The water server according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit is disposed inside the storage unit.   The water server according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit is provided in a water intake area of the storage unit.   The water server according to claim 3, wherein the optical unit is provided on a water intake bar penetrating into the storage unit.   5. The water server according to claim 1, wherein energization of the optical unit is performed while the storage unit is attached to the server body. A storage section made of a material that transmits visible light and absorbs ultraviolet rays below the middle wavelength; and
A body that adjusts the temperature of the water introduced from the storage unit and provides the water according to the user operation;
An optical unit that is configured by connecting a visible light source and an ultraviolet light source including a component having a medium wavelength or less in series, and disposed in a storage unit;
A detection unit for detecting the attachment state of the storage unit to the main body,
A circuit for energizing the optical unit when the storage unit is attached to the main body,
A water server comprising: A reservoir formed of a material that transmits visible light;
An ultraviolet light source containing a component having a medium wavelength or less;
A visible light source that illuminates when the ultraviolet light source is on,
A water server comprising: an ultraviolet light source and a visible light source arranged at a position where ultraviolet light and visible light are thrown into the storage unit. A reservoir formed of a material that transmits visible light;
An ultraviolet light source arranged in a position where ultraviolet rays can be cast in the storage unit;
A detection unit for detecting whether the ultraviolet light source is covered by the storage unit; and
The water server is characterized in that the ultraviolet light source is turned on when the ultraviolet light source is covered by the storage unit.

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