JP3657804B2 - Water use device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water utilization device such as an ice making machine, a beverage supply device or a beverage dispenser, and more particularly to a liquid storage tank (water tank) used in such a water utilization device, and in particular, a liquid having a water purification filter therein. It relates to storage tanks.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, despite the limited number of water sources that can supply high-quality water, the demand for water continues to increase, so water that is not of good quality can be sterilized or sterilized, It is in a state that conforms to the water quality standards and is used for drinking. However, these standards are temporary standards that assume a normal tap water source, and as such are not guaranteed to be safe. Therefore, dangers such as contamination with substances that are suspected to be carcinogenic, such as trihalomethanes. It is natural to try to defend the factor in advance.
[0003]
For this reason, even in ordinary households, water purification filters are attached to water pipes laid in the house from outdoor waterworks facilities, and water is consumed as much as possible, and water directly connected to such water pipes is also used. A beverage supply device such as an ice making machine or a tea dispenser is equipped with a water purification filter in the middle of the piping to further ensure the safety of the user.
[0004]
However, the ice making machine and the beverage supply apparatus as described above are not necessarily directly connected to the water pipe of the water supply facility, and it is difficult to install the water pipe, for example, a water pipe such as an airplane or a train. Sometimes it may be necessary to install it where it is virtually impossible. In such a case, a water use device provided with a removable cassette-type water tank that can be freely attached and detached is used, and even in such a water use device, a water purification filter has been installed.
[0005]
6 and 7 show a conventional tea machine equipped with a cassette-type water tank. The tea machine 1 has a cassette-type water tank 2 for storing raw water such as tap water, and has a front door. The water tank 2 can be taken in and out by opening and closing 3. On the other hand, a hot water supply tank 5 is fixedly disposed at an upper position inside the tea dispenser 1. The hot water supply tank 5 and the water tank 2 are connected to the replenishment pipe 7 through the pump 6 and the water purification filter device 20 at the joint portions 17 and 18, and the raw water stored in the water tank 2 is pumped up by the pump 6. It is supplied to the hot water supply tank 5 via the water purification filter device 20.
[0006]
A hot water supply port 11 provided with an electromagnetic valve 10 is provided downward in the lower front portion of the hot water supply tank 5, and a tea leaf supply unit (not shown) is provided on the side of the hot water supply port 11. A tea bowl 12 is provided so as to be movable between a position directly below the tea leaf supply section and a position directly below the hot water supply port 11. In addition, a slat-like container holder 15 for placing a cup 14 into which tea water or the like is placed is provided at a position below the hot water outlet 11. A drain tray 16 is provided on the lower surface of the container holder 15 from the front. It is installed so that it can be taken in and out.
Then, after the tea bowl 12 receives the tea leaves at a position directly below the tea leaf supply unit, the tea pot 12 returns to the position immediately below the hot water supply port 11, and when the pouring button is pressed here, the electromagnetic valve 10 is opened and the hot water supply port 11 is opened. A certain amount of hot water is discharged and passes through the tea bowl 12 to become tea water and poured into the cup 14. When the dispensing is repeated a predetermined number of times or when the reset button is artificially operated, the tea bowl 12 is reversed to the other side of FIG. Returning to the position just below, the above-described operation is repeated.
[0007]
Details of the conventional water purification filter device 20 provided in the supply pipe 7 are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. 8 and 9, the water purification filter device 20 mainly includes a hollow water purification filter 21 made of an appropriate material and a casing 22 that covers the water purification filter 21 while being separated from the periphery thereof. The casing 22 has a raw water inlet 22a on the side surface and a purified water outlet 22b on the top surface. The inlet 22a and the outlet 22b are fitted in the middle of the replenishment pipe 7 described above, and are firmly attached by hose clamps 23a and 23b so as not to leak water. For convenience of periodic replacement of the water purification filter 21, the casing 22 has a flange portion 22 c at the upper end, and a lid body 25 is screwed to the casing 22 via a packing 24. The lid 22 is formed with the outlet 22b. One side of the lid body 25 is bent upward to form an attachment portion 25 a of the water purification filter device 20.
[0008]
On the other hand, the water purification filter 21 has a smaller size than the casing 22, an annular space 26 exists between them, is made hollow, and has a space 21 a extending in the vertical direction at the center. The water purification filter 21 is placed on the bottom of the casing 22 via a packing 27 and is held between the upper and lower packings 24 and 27 by a lid 25. Accordingly, the entire amount of raw water that has entered the annular space 26 from the raw water inlet 22a passes through the water purification filter 21 in the radial direction, enters the central space 21a, and is supplied to the hot water supply tank 5 via the outlet 22b.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, in the water purification filter device 20 attached to the replenishment pipe 7 outside the water tank 2, since reliable water tightness is required over a long period of time, the number of parts for ensuring water tightness increases. Not only is the cost of the assembly increased, but the mounting position of the water purification filter device 20 is in the middle of the piping inside the tea machine, so the regular replacement work and maintenance work of the water purification filter is performed in a small place and is troublesome. It took a long time.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a water utilization device that hardly needs to worry about water leakage and that allows easy replacement of the water purification filter device itself or the water purification filter.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the present invention according to claim 1 includes a tank in which a liquid is stored, a liquid suction means extending toward the bottom of the tank, and a suction port connected to the liquid suction means. in water use device that includes a pump, to send to said liquid suction means incorporating liquid inside the tank, provided so as to communicate with the lower end opening of the liquid suction unit to the tank, water purification filters and The water purification filter apparatus which consists of a casing which covers this water purification filter is provided.
Further, according to the present invention described in 請 Motomeko 2, the water purification filter device includes a casing having a bottom and top with an opening, respectively, disposed within the casing spaced from the inner peripheral surface of the casing A lower end opening of the liquid suction means is connected to an opening at a top portion of the hollow filter and screwed into the casing, and a protrusion that extends downward and contacts the bottom portion of the tank. Is formed.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention embodied in a tea machine will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts. Further, as will be understood from the following description, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible.
[0012]
First, in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the tea machine (water utilization apparatus) 30 by one Embodiment of this invention is formed in the vertically long box shape which the upper side protruded a little to the front, and was provided in the four corners of a bottom face. A door 32 is mounted on a counter or the like (not shown) by a door 31 so that the door 32 can be opened and closed by a hinge. The door 32 is shown in an open state in FIG. 1 and in a closed state in FIG. The lower half of the tea machine main body is a storage space 34 for storing the water tank 33, and above that is a pump 36 connected to a liquid suction means (described later) extending from the water tank 33 through a suction port 36a. A hot water supply tank 35 that receives and heats raw water via (FIG. 2) is provided. A heating means (not shown) such as an electric heater is provided in the hot water supply tank 35.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, a joint part 39 having a water supply port 37 and an overflow port 38 is provided on the upper side of the peripheral surface of the hot water supply tank 35, and a water supply pipe 40 and an overflow port connected to the water supply port 37. The overflow pipe 41 connected to 39 communicates with the water tank 33 through the joint portion 42. For example, the joint portions 39 and 42 may have substantially the same structure as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-215247 of the applicant of the present application. This will be representatively described later with reference to FIG.
[0014]
In FIG. 3, a short sleeve 43 that defines a top opening 43 a is provided on the upper surface of the water tank 33 so as to protrude upward. A male screw is cut on the outer periphery of the short sleeve 43, and a tank cap 44 including a large-diameter cylindrical portion 44a and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 44b is screwed into the male screw. That is, a female screw is formed on the inner periphery of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 44 a of the tank cap 44, and this is screwed into the male screw of the short sleeve 43. The upper surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion 44b of the tank cap 44 is open, and the joint pipe 45 inserted through the opening is tightly fitted to the small diameter cylindrical portion 44b via the seal ring 46. . The joint pipe 45 constitutes the joint portion 42 described above.
[0015]
As described above, the joint pipe 45 is fitted into the small-diameter cylindrical portion 44b of the tank cap 44, and terminates in the middle of the length of the small-diameter end portion 44b, and the cylindrical upper half portion. 45b and an intermediate flange portion 45c. The upper half part 45b of the joint pipe 45 is connected to the overflow pipe 41 shown in FIG. Further, the connecting pipe 47 extends in an L shape through the flange portion 45c of the joint pipe 45 in the radial direction so as to communicate with the water supply pipe 40 shown in FIG. The connecting pipe 47 includes a horizontal part 47a and a vertical part 47b connected to the water supply pipe 40, and the vertical part 47b is spaced from the inner peripheral surface of the lower half part 45a of the joint pipe 45 and is formed in the lower half part. It extends below the end face. The connecting pipe 47 is formed integrally with the joint pipe 45.
[0016]
In FIG. 3 again, a water filter device 50 connected to the lower end of the suction hose 51 is provided in the water tank 33. A suction pipe 52 is fitted into the upper end of the suction hose 51. The upper end of the suction pipe 52 terminates at a position slightly away from the end surface of the lower half 45a of the joint pipe 45 in the axial direction as understood from FIG. In addition, since it is described in the above-mentioned patent application specification of the present applicant, only a brief description will be given here. A plurality of blades 54 are provided on the upper peripheral surface portion of the suction pipe 52 so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The tip of each blade 54 is attached to the inner periphery of the small diameter cylindrical portion 44 a of the tank cap 44. Therefore, in this embodiment, the tank cap 44 and the suction pipe 52 (and thus the water purification filter device 50 and the suction hose 51) have an integral structure. Further, the vertical portion 47 b of the connecting pipe 47 integrated with the joint pipe 45 has a lower end portion fitted to an upper end portion of the suction pipe 52 via a seal ring 55. The water supply pipe 40, the connecting pipe 47, the suction hose 51, and the suction pipe 52 described above constitute the liquid suction means.
[0017]
Next, the structure of the water purification filter apparatus 50 connected to the lower end of the suction hose 51 according to this invention is demonstrated. Referring again to FIG. 3, the water purification filter device 50 includes a substantially cylindrical casing 60, a lid 61 that is screwed into a male thread formed on the peripheral surface of the upper end of the casing 60, and an annular shape in the casing 60. And a cylindrical filter 62 accommodated leaving a space 64. An opening is formed in the upper surface of the lid 61, a neck portion 61 a surrounding the opening extends upward, and the lower end of the suction hose 51 is tightly fitted therein. A plurality of openings 65 communicating with the space 64 are formed in the bottom 60 a of the casing 60, and when the water purification filter device 50 is placed on the bottom of the water tank 33, the bottom and the casing 60 are formed. An annular protrusion 67 extending downward is formed so that a space 66 exists as shown in FIG. A hemispherical receiving portion 68 extending upward from the base end portion of the projecting portion 67 enters the hollow portion of the cylindrical filter 62 and receives and stably supports the filter 62. Instead of providing a protrusion on the bottom 60a of the casing 60, or in addition to this protrusion, a protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the bottom of the water tank 33 so that the center of the bottom of the casing 60 is supported from below. Good. Note that packings 63 a and 63 b are provided between the upper and lower end surfaces of the filter 62 and the lid and bottom of the casing 60.
[0018]
Returning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the structure of the tea machine 30 will be further described. A canister 71 for storing tea leaves or the like is provided at the upper position of the front surface of the panel 70. Below the canister 71, a tea leaf supply unit 72 having a fixed quantity drum that can be rolled up and dropped by a predetermined amount is provided, and a tea leaf supply port at the lower end thereof is covered with a shutter 73 that can be opened and closed. A hot water supply port 75 provided with an electromagnetic valve 74 is provided downward in the lower part of the front surface of the hot water supply tank 35, and a tea leaf supply unit 72 is provided on the side of the hot water supply port 75. A tea bowl 76 attached to the funnel 80 is provided so as to be rotatable between a position directly below the tea leaf supply unit and a position directly below the hot water supply port 75. In addition, a drainboard-like container holder 78 for placing a cup 77 for inserting tea water is provided below the hot water supply port 75, and a drain tray 79 can be taken in and out from the front of the container holder 78. It is installed. 81 is a tea-shell container.
[0019]
The hot water supply port 75 has a structure shown in FIG. That is, the hot water supply port 75 has a base part (which does not need to be made of metal and may be made of plastic) 75a fitted into the tip of the hot water supply pipe 74a connected to the electromagnetic valve 74, and the inside of the base part 75a. And a filter 75b with a net-like or small hole that fits into an annular recess formed in the above. Hot water supplied to the tea bowl 76 passes through the filter 75b and is poured evenly over the tea leaves in the tea bowl 76 in a shower-like manner. However, for example, if the filter 75b is clogged due to precipitation over a long period of time or the filter 75b is not properly fitted in the recess of the base part 75a for some reason, the hot water is preferably poured onto the tea leaves. It will not be.
[0020]
Next, operation | movement of the tea machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention which has the structure mentioned above is demonstrated. 1 to 3, when a tea supply switch (not shown) provided on an operation panel (not shown) in front of the door 32 is operated, the hot water in the hot water supply tank 35 passes through the electromagnetic valve 74 and the tea leaf A predetermined amount is discharged from the hot water supply port 75 toward the tea bowl 12 and poured into a cup 77. When the tea is poured out a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times), the tea bowl 76 is driven in reverse to the tea container 81, and the tea container is discarded in the tea container 81. Subsequently, in the middle of the return of the tea bowl 76 to the original position, the tea bowl 76 stops at an oblique position immediately below the tea leaf supply port, and a predetermined amount of new tea leaves are supplied into the tea bowl 76. Thereafter, the tea bowl 76 returns to the original position, and the next tea can be poured out. In addition, this tea dispenser can supply only white hot water by pressing a hot water supply button (not shown). For this function, see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-194658 of the present applicant. I want to be.
[0021]
When the operation as described above is repeated, the liquid level in the hot water supply tank 35 gradually decreases. When the liquid level reaches a predetermined level, a liquid level sensor (not shown) is activated and the pump 36 is driven. Clean water in the tank 33 is supplied into the hot water supply tank 35 until it reaches a predetermined level again. Even if the hot water supply tank 35 overflows due to a failure of a liquid level sensor (not shown), for example, the water returns to the water tank 33 via the overflow pipe 41. When the water in the water tank 33 is sent to the hot water supply tank 35 by the pump 36, the water in the water tank 33 is generated by the projection 67 formed on the bottom 60a of the casing of the water purification filter device 50 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. By the action, it flows into the space 66 formed between the bottom inner surface of the water tank 33, enters the annular space 64 between the casing 60 and the filter 62 via the opening 65 formed in the casing bottom 60a, and then the filter. It is purified by flowing 62 inward in the radial direction. When the water tank 33 is almost empty, the front door 32 ′ (FIG. 2) of the tea machine is opened, the joint portion 42 is removed, and the water tank 33 is taken out of the tea machine. At this time, the water tank 33 is in a state where the tank cap 44 and the water purification filter device 50 are connected, except for the joint portion 42 from FIG. 3 (however, there is almost no water in the water tank).
[0022]
In this state, the water tank 33 is transported to a water supply source such as tap water, the tank cap 44 is removed, and the suction hose 51 and the purified water filter device 50 are pulled out slightly, but the suction hose 51 and the purified water filter device 50 are placed in the water tank 33. Water is replenished from the opening of the short sleeve 43 with the remaining state.
[0023]
Further, when the water purification filter device 50 is to be cleaned or the internal filter 62 or the water purification filter device 50 itself is to be replaced, it can be easily understood that the tank cap 44 can be removed as described above. That is, since the opening defined by the short sleeve 43 of the water tank 33 is formed larger than the diameter of the water purification filter device 50, the water purification filter device 50 includes the tank cap 44, the joint portion 42, the suction hose 51, and the like. At the same time, it is easily taken out via the opening 43a. The storage of the water tank 33 in the tea machine is performed in the reverse procedure.
[0024]
On the other hand, as described above, when the filter 75b is clogged due to long-term use or the filter 75b is not properly fitted in the recess of the base part 75a for some reason, the hot water is placed on the tea leaves. It will not be poured properly. Therefore, it is desirable that the state of pouring from the hot water supply port 75, that is, the shower state, can be monitored periodically or arbitrarily in order to prevent such a situation from occurring or to check whether or not such a situation has occurred. Therefore, in the control circuit (not shown) for the tea dispenser according to the embodiment of the present invention, the hot water supply tank 35 can be provided by simultaneously pressing the above-described tea supply button and hot water supply button (not shown) regardless of the open / closed state of the door 32. The hot water inside can be poured or showered into the tea bowl 76 via the solenoid valve 74 and the hot water supply port 75. As a result, not only can the foreign matter adherence to the base portion 75a be prevented, but also the shower state can be easily confirmed, and tea leaves can be used effectively, so the amount of tea leaves used can be reduced and running costs can be reduced. It becomes possible to provide a savory tea.
[0025]
The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and for example, the following embodiment is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition to the form, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
(1) The present invention can be widely applied not only to tea leaves but also to beverage dispensers in general that supply powdered Japanese tea, powdered coffee, oolong tea, and the like with hot water from a tank and supply them as beverages.
(2) In addition, the present invention is not limited to the type that generates and stores hot water by heating the raw water supplied from the water tank, but conversely generates cold water by cooling the raw water in the water tank. The present invention can be similarly applied to a tank having a storage type tank.
(3) Further, the present invention is not limited to incorporating a water purification filter device inside a cassette-type tank, but also any water including an ice making machine having a tank of a type in which internal water or hot water is pumped up by a pump. It can be similarly applied to a utilization device.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As understood from the above description, according to the water utilization device of the present invention according to claim 1, the water purification filter device is provided at the lower end opening of the liquid suction means extending toward the bottom of the tank in which the liquid is stored. Therefore, not only the number of connection points between the water purification filter device and the piping is reduced, but also the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the water utilization device can be reduced.
In addition, since the water purification filter device is usually submerged in the tank, it is virtually unnecessary to take measures against liquid leakage. This makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of water utilization equipment.
Furthermore, if the water purification filter device is submerged in the tank, there will be virtually no external force acting on the water purification filter device, so there is no need to specially fix the water purification filter device. This also reduces the manufacturing cost of the water-using device, since the required parts and assembly man-hours can be reduced. Moreover, replacement | exchange or cleaning of the water purification filter apparatus itself and an internal filter is easy if it takes out a water tank from a water utilization apparatus, and performs it in the place of a large space.
[0028]
Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the protrusion is formed on the bottom of the casing of the water purification filter device, even if a water intake portion (opening) into the water purification filter device is provided on the bottom, the water intake portion is blocked. It will not be.
Moreover, in this invention of Claim 1 and 2 , since it has a water purification filter apparatus, it can prevent the adhesion of the foreign material in a hot water inlet, and especially the smell of chlorine gas generate | occur | produces strongly in a hot water tank, but it prevents by a water purification filter apparatus. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an upper half portion of a tea dispenser embodying an embodiment of the present invention with a front door opened.
2 is a schematic side view showing the overall configuration of the tea dispenser of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the water tank shown in the lower half of the tea dispenser of FIG. 2. FIG.
4 is a perspective view showing a bottom protrusion of the water purification filter device shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
5A and 5B are explanatory views showing the details of the hot water supply port shown in FIG. 2 in section.
FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a conventional tea machine.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the tea dispenser of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the water purification filter device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;
9 is a sectional view of the water purification filter device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Tea machine (water utilization apparatus), 33 ... Water tank, 35 ... Hot water supply tank, 36 ... Pump, 40 ... Water supply piping, 41 ... Overflow piping, 42 ... Joint part, 43 ... Short sleeve, 43a ... Water tank Top opening, 44 ... tank cap, 47 ... connecting pipe (liquid suction means), 50 ... water purification filter device, 51 ... suction hose (liquid suction means), 52 ... suction pipe (liquid suction means), 60 ... casing, 60a ... The bottom part of the casing, 61 ... a lid, 61a ... a neck part (the top part of the casing), 62 ... a filter, 67 ... a protrusion.

Claims (2)

A tank in which liquid is stored,
Liquid suction means extending toward the bottom of the tank;
In a water utilization device provided with a pump whose suction port is connected to the liquid suction means,
To send to said liquid suction means incorporating liquid inside the tank, provided so as to communicate with the lower end opening of the liquid suction unit to the tank, water purification filter comprising a casing which covers the water purification filter and the purifying water filter A water utilization apparatus comprising the apparatus. The water purification filter device is
A casing with a bottom and a top each having an opening;
A hollow filter disposed in the casing apart from the inner peripheral surface of the casing,
A lower end opening of the liquid suction means is connected to the top opening that is screwed into the casing,
The water utilization device according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion that extends downward and contacts the bottom of the tank is formed on the bottom of the casing.

Images