JP6008183B2 - Supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a supply device, a water server, and a humidifier, and more particularly, to a supply device that replaces and uses a container containing a substance such as a liquid, and a water server and a humidifier using the same.

  In recent years, many people are concerned about ingredients, such as foods and beverages that they eat every day. Mineral water is also preferred for drinking water, and many people purchase mineral water at convenience stores. In some facilities, a water server that provides water from a bottle containing mineral water through a water tap is installed to make it easy to use mineral water.

  The weight of the water bottle is immediately felt when using the water server. Many bottles exceed 10 liters, and it is not easy to lift them upside down and set them in a fixed place at the top of the server. In particular, the weight of the bottle is an impediment to the spread of servers for women-only workplaces, women who live alone, and families only for elderly people. Even if you already have a server, setting up bottles is a tedious task.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a hot water / cold water device for beverages in which a water tank is placed underneath. Water is pumped up by a pump provided in the water channel.

JP 2003-72896 A

  According to the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, since it is not necessary to lift the water tank to a high position, the labor required for replacement is reduced. However, even if a pump is required to draw water from the water tank and the sanitation of the pump is sufficiently considered, the user feels resistance to drinking water via the pump. In addition, if the capacity of the water tank is large, the number of replacements is less than that of a small capacity tank, but the period until the drinking is finished tends to be extended, and it is necessary to consider a fatal problem for drinking water, which is the breeding of bacteria. There is.

  On the other hand, the water container of a humidifier often used in general households needs to be replenished with water in the container, and although it is not a beverage, it has the same problem as a water server.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a supply device that is highly convenient with respect to replenishment of water to the device, and a water server and a humidifier using the supply device.

  The supply device of the present invention includes a plurality of support structures for placing a container filled with a substance, and each of the support structures has a communication position where the substance can be introduced from the container and a blocking position where the introduction of the substance is blocked. And when any one of the support structures is in the communication position, the other support structure is in the blocking position. Here, the substance may be a liquid such as water, a liquid substance in which a solid is mixed with the liquid, or a substance other than the liquid such as a powdery substance and a granular substance. Also good.

  In addition, the support structure in the communication position moves the empty container to the blocking position when the container it supports can be considered empty (hereinafter simply referred to as “empty”). Such a support structure may move to the communication position.

  Moreover, the water server and humidifier of this invention are the water server and humidifier which respectively used the supply apparatus of this invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a supply device that reduces the burden on the user and has high convenience, and a water server and a humidifier using the supply device.

It is a figure which the structure of the water server which concerns on 1st Embodiment shows. It is a figure which shows roughly the cross-sectional structure of the water supply apparatus of FIG. It is a figure shown about the case where the height of the liquid level in a storage structure becomes predetermined height in a water supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows a mode when the switching member switches to the right side from the state of FIG. It is a figure which shows roughly the cross-sectional structure of the water supply apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure shown about the case where the height of the liquid level in a storage structure becomes predetermined height in a water supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows a mode when the switching member switches to the right side from the state of FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the water supply apparatus which is a modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows roughly the structure of the water supply apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing in the IX-IX line of the water supply apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of an example of the switching member of a water supply apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of switching of the liquid container by rotation of a switching member. It is a top view of the support structure of the water supply apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing in the XIV-XIV line | wire of FIG. It is a figure shown about the example of the liquid container from which a crushing method differs. It is a figure which shows the structure of the humidifier which concerns on 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the switching member 434 demonstrated using FIG.

  If the capacity of the bottle is reduced, it is possible for women and elderly people to replace the bottle without difficulty, but on the other hand, the period until the use of water is shortened and the frequency of replacing the bottle increases. Therefore, the present inventor has created a supply device that uses a small-capacity water bottle and can be replaced at the same level as the current situation.

  The supply device of the present invention can sequentially supply water from a plurality of small-capacity bottles, and when the water in the bottle is used up, it switches to the next bottle to supply water. When a bottle is disposed at both ends of a rod-like member that swings to the left and right around a shaft like a seesaw, one is lowered and the other is raised according to the balance. And when it falls, the mechanism which supplies water from the bottle and stops water when it goes up is provided. Furthermore, this mechanism is provided with a mechanism for fixing the movement of the seesaw until there is no water in the bottle of water supply. Thereby, after using the water of one bottle, the seesaw is unlocked, and the supply source is automatically switched to the other bottle by the principle of the seesaw.

  In the current water server, it is assumed that bottle replacement work is performed by a person, and an increase in replacement frequency leads to an increase in human work. The apparatus of the present invention incorporates a new idea of automatically switching bottles, so that the frequency of replacement of bottles as an apparatus increases, but it does not change as a human effort, but rather reduces the physical burden drastically. be able to.

  In addition, since the bottles are sequentially switched, the water in the bottle can be sealed and the freshness can be maintained until the water supply source. Furthermore, since the capacity of the bottle is small, the period from the opening to the end of use can be shortened, and the risk of bacterial growth is much smaller than that of a large capacity.

  By the seesaw principle, the bottles that have been used are up and the water is still off, so you can remove the bottles and replace them with new ones. If the bottle in the water supply bottle runs out of water, it can be continuously supplied by replacing it with a new one. Further, since the bottles to be replaced are up, it is possible to intuitively recognize the bottle to be replaced.

  For example, when you imagine a scene where you notice that there is no water in the tank when preparing for breakfast, the timing when water runs out often does not match the timing when people can spend time on replacement work. Is a big burden for users. With this device, it is sufficient to replace an empty bottle with a new bottle before the water in the bottle of water is used up. Can be exchanged.

  In this way, the inventor focuses on the weight balance according to the remaining amount of water and creates a supply device that uses the balance imbalance for the control of switching a plurality of bottles and the power source of the switching mechanism. did.

  Hereinafter, first to fifth embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
The structure of the water server 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is shown by FIG. As shown in this configuration, the water server 10 includes a water server body 12 having a faucet 14 from which cold water is mainly discharged for use by a user and a faucet 15 from which hot water is discharged. A water supply device 100 which is a liquid supply device to be supplied and a water container 11 which is a liquid container containing two waters installed in the water supply device 100 are provided. Here, the configuration of the water temperature control and the like provided to the faucets 14 and 15 is the same as the configuration of a known water server, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Here, the water container 11 is formed of a resin such as PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) and is not easily deformed even when the water in the interior is reduced.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional configuration of the water supply apparatus 100. As shown in this figure, the water supply device 100 supports the two water containers 11 on the right side and the left side, and moves the two water containers 11 between the communication position and the blocking position, The storage structure 110 stores water from the container 11 and a stop member 125 that controls the vertical movement of the water container 11 by the support structure 130. Here, the support structure 130 includes a beam 132 having a receiving portion 135 that receives the opening of the water container 11 at both ends, and one of the water containers 11 at the lower communication position and the other at the upper blocking position at the center of the beam 132. The water container 11 is installed in a direction that is a part of the beam 132 and that is a part of the beam 132 and is perpendicular to the extending direction of the beam 132 and the rotation axis of the rotation unit 133. A switching member 134 that is attached to the projecting portion 136 that extends to the side to be operated and that operates in accordance with the rotation of the beam 132, and a valve 131 that controls the water in and out of the water container 11 attached to the receiving portion 135. Have.

  In addition, the storage structure 110 includes an external supply port 112 that supplies the stored water 16 as required by the main body portion 12 and a receiving portion 135 of the water container 11 that has become a lower communication position by the operation of the support structure 130. And a protrusion 111 for opening the valve 131. Further, the stop member 125 is placed so as to float on the water 16 stored in the storage structure 110, and rises and falls according to the height of the liquid surface 121.

  FIG. 2 shows a state where water 16 is supplied from the left water container 11 to the storage structure 110. The water container 11 on the left side is in the communication position, and the valve 131 is opened by the protrusion 111. On the other hand, the water container 11 on the right side is in the blocking position, and the valve 131 is closed. When the water 16 in the storage structure 110 is discharged from the external supply port 112 and the liquid level 121 is lowered, air enters the left water container 11 and the water 16 in the water container 11 is supplied into the storage structure 110. Therefore, when there is water 16 in the left water container 11, the height of the liquid surface 121 is maintained even if the water 16 in the external supply port 112 or the storage structure 110 is discharged. . Here, the right water container 11 is filled with water 16, and the right water container 11 is heavier than the left water container 11. Since the beam 135 has a rotating part 133 in the center and has a structure like a seesaw, the support structure 130 is urged to fall to the right side. However, since the switching member 134 integrated with the support structure 130 is locked by the stop member 125, the support structure 130 remains to the left, the left water container 11 is in the communication position, and the right water container The state where 11 is in the blocking position is maintained.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a case where the water in the left water container 11 runs out of the state of FIG. 2 and the liquid surface 121 in the storage structure 110 has a predetermined height. In this case, the stopping member 125 that has locked the switching member 134 is lowered as the liquid level 121 is lowered, and the switching member 134 can move from the left side to the right side beyond the stopping member 125.

  FIG. 4 shows a state where the switching member 134 is switched to the right side from the state of FIG. As shown in this figure, the support structure 130 is switched so that the left water container 11 is in the upper blocking position and the right water container 11 is in the lower communication position. As a result, the valve 131 of the left water container 11 that has moved to the blocking position is closed to leave the protrusion 111, and the valve 131 of the right water container 11 that has moved to the communication position is opened by the right protrusion 111. . The water 16 in the right water container 11 is supplied into the storage structure 110, and as the height of the liquid level 121 rises, the stop member 125 also rises and rises to a position where the switching member 134 prevents movement to the left side. It will be. Thereafter, the left and right water containers 11 in FIG. 2 are reversed by replacing the empty left water container 11.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since the water container 11 is divided into a plurality of parts, the water container 11 is lighter than a single container, and the replacement of each water container 11 is easy. . In addition, since a plurality of pipes can be installed at the same time, the water supply apparatus 100 can also hold a capacity exceeding the conventional 10 liters. Further, since the water containers 11 are used alternately, one water container 11 becomes empty, and while the other water container 11 is being used, the water container filled with the empty water container 11 is filled. By exchanging with No. 11, water can be continuously supplied without being cut off. Moreover, since the water container 11 is switched to the next water container 11 after using up one by one, the period from opening to use up of the water is shortened, and the freshness can be maintained. Moreover, since the used water container 11 moves to the upper blocking position, the empty water container 11 can be visually recognized. In addition, the water path has a simple drop-type configuration, and is quieter and less frequent in maintenance than the case where a pump or the like is used, and can be used with confidence.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 5 schematically shows a cross-sectional configuration of a water supply device 200 according to the second embodiment. The water server in which the water supply device 200 is installed has the same configuration as the water server 10 in FIG. Here, the water container 21 to be installed is made of a resin such as a polypropylene film, a polyethylene laminate film, a vinyl chloride resin, or thin PET, and is deformed as the water in the water container 21 decreases, and finally is crushed. It becomes. That is, the water container 21 discharges the liquid inside without the entry of air from the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the water supply device 200 includes a support structure 230, a storage structure 210, and a stop member 225, as in the first embodiment. Here, similarly to the first embodiment, the support structure 230 is also attached to the beam 232 having the receiving portion 235, the rotating portion 233, and the projecting portion 236, and operates as the beam 232 rotates. 234 and a valve 231. The storage structure 210 also has an external supply port 212 and a protruding portion 211, as in the first embodiment.

  The stop member 225 has a diaphragm 226 that covers the liquid surface 221 in order to seal the water 16 in a state where air does not enter. Here, the storage structure 210, the receiving portion 235, and the diaphragm 226 are movable with respect to each other, and are joined by a flexible sealing member 243 such as rubber to seal the water 16. Here, the diaphragm 226 and the storage structure bottom surface 213 are connected by a spring 241 to prevent excessive inflow of the water 16 from the water container 21 and to move the diaphragm 226, that is, the stop member 225 up and down. . In this embodiment, the spring 241 is attached so as to connect the diaphragm 226 and the storage structure bottom surface 213, but is connected so that the diaphragm 226 is pressed against the storage structure bottom surface 213 from above. May be.

  FIG. 5 shows a state when water 16 is supplied from the left water container 21 to the storage structure 210 as in FIG. 2. The water container 21 on the left side is a communication position, and the valve 231 is opened by the protrusion 211. On the other hand, the water container 21 on the right side is in the blocking position, and the valve 231 is closed. Unlike the first embodiment, in the present embodiment, when the water 16 in the storage structure 210 is discharged from the external supply port 212, the water container 21 supplies the water 16 to the storage structure 210 while collapsing.

  Here, in FIG. 5, as in the case of FIG. 2, the right water container 21 is heavier than the left water container 21, so that the support structure 230 is biased to fall to the right. However, since the switching member 234 integrated with the support structure 230 is locked by the stop member 225, the support structure 230 remains to the left, the left water container 21 is in the communication position, and the right water container The state where 21 is in the blocking position is maintained.

  In FIG. 6, water in the left water container 21 is reduced from the state of FIG. 5, and the liquid level, which is the distance between the liquid level 221 in the storage structure 210 and the storage structure bottom surface 213, becomes a predetermined height. It is a figure shown about a case. When the water in the water container 21 on the left side decreases, the pressure of the water 16 in the storage structure 210 decreases, the force due to the pressure pushing the diaphragm 226 downward increases, compresses the spring 241 downward, and the diaphragm 226 It ’s going down. That is, the liquid level height which is the distance between the liquid level 221 and the storage structure bottom surface 213 is also reduced. Therefore, the stop member 225 integrated with the diaphragm 226 and locking the switching member 234 is also lowered, and when the liquid level reaches a predetermined height, the switching member 234 exceeds the stop member 225 from the left side. It will be ready to move to the right.

  FIG. 7 shows a state when the switching member 234 is switched to the right side of the stop member 225 from the state of FIG. As shown in this figure, the support structure 230 is switched so that the left water container 21 is in the upper blocking position and the right water container 21 is in the lower communication position. As a result, the valve 231 of the left water container 21 that has moved to the blocking position is closed to leave the protrusion 211, and the valve 231 of the right water container 21 that has moved to the communication position is opened by the right protrusion 211. . As a result, the water 16 in the storage structure 210 and the water 16 in the right water container 21 communicate with each other, and the pressure of the water 16 in the storage structure 210 increases. As the pressure of the water 16 in the storage structure 210 increases, the diaphragm 226 and the stop member 225 integrated therewith also rise to a position where the switching member 134 prevents the movement to the left. After that, as in the first embodiment, the water container 21 on the left side that has been emptied is replaced with a filled water container 21 to continuously supply water from the external supply port 212 without being cut off. Can do.

  Here, the diaphragm 226 and the spring 241 can also function as an accumulator. In this case, the spring 241 pushes down the diaphragm 226 to discharge the liquid in the storage structure 210 during a period when the supply from the water container 21 cannot be obtained, for example, when the communication position and the blocking position of the water container 21 are switched. Therefore, the pressure drop can be prevented. At this time, the effect of the accumulator can be further increased by increasing the distance between the liquid surface 221 in the storage structure 210 and the storage structure bottom surface 213. On the other hand, a separate dedicated accumulator may be provided in the storage structure 210.

  As described above, this embodiment has the same effect as that of the first embodiment. Moreover, since the water in the water container 21 is discharged to the outside of the storage structure 210 without touching the outside air, it is possible to prevent contamination of impurities and bacteria.

  FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional configuration of a water supply apparatus 300 that is a modification of the water supply apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment. Here, in the configuration of the water supply device 300, the storage structure 210 and the stop member 225 are the same as the configuration of the water supply device 200, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The support structure 330 of the water supply device 300 includes a receiving portion 335, a beam 332, a rotating portion 333, a protruding portion 336, a switching member 334, and a valve 331. Here, the receiving portion 335 and the beam 332 are not joined, the two receiving portions 335 have a rack 338, the beam 332 has a pinion 337, and the rack 338 and the pinion 337 are meshed with teeth. Thus, they operate in synchronization with each other. Therefore, the receiving part 335 is configured to be able to move up and down linearly rather than on an arc along the rotation axis of the rotation part 333. The operation is the same as that of the water supply device 200 except that the receiving portion 335 moves linearly up and down, and the description thereof is omitted. This modification also has the same effect as the second embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a top view schematically showing a water supply device 400 according to the third embodiment. The water server in which the water supply device 400 is installed has basically the same configuration as that of the water server 10 in FIG. Is different in that it is. As shown in FIG. 9, the water supply device 400 is configured such that a water container 21 (not shown) can be installed at each F position. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. As in the second embodiment, the water supply device 400 includes a support structure 430, a storage structure 410, and a stop member 425.

  As in the second embodiment, the stop member 425 has a diaphragm 426 that covers the liquid surface 421 in order to seal the water 16 in a state where air does not enter. Here, the storage structure 410, the receiving portion 435, and the stop member 425 are connected to each other by a flexible sealing member 443 that can move up and down with respect to each other and that seals the water 16. . Here, the diaphragm 426 and the storage structure bottom surface 413 are connected by a spring 441 so as to prevent excessive inflow of the water 16 from the water container 21, and the diaphragm 426, that is, the stop member 425 is configured to move up and down. .

  The support structure 430 includes four receiving portions 435 that respectively accommodate the water containers 21, four beams 432 on which the respective receiving portions 435 are placed, a rotating portion 433 that serves as a rotating shaft of the four beams 432, and a roller 436 and a switching member 434.

  The receiving part 435 has a valve 431 that controls the entry and exit of the water 16 in the water container 21 and accommodates the water container 21. Each of the four beams 432 extends in a radial manner, and each receiving portion 435 moves up and down by rotating about the rotation axis of the rotating portion 433 installed at the radially outer end, so that the receiving portion 435 is moved up and down. The water container 21 accommodated in is moved between the communication position and the blocking position. The switching member 434 is arranged in the central part of the four support structures, and has a cylindrical shape in which a cam including an inclined surface is formed in a V shape at the upper end. Is fixed. The inner end of the radially extending beam 432 is placed on the upper end of the switching member 434, and the switching member 434 rotates, whereby the height of the receiving portion 435 changes, and the communication position and the blocking position are switched. Here, in order to make the switching member 434 easily rotate under the inner end of the beam 432, a roller 436 that rolls the upper end of the switching member 434 is installed at the inner end of the beam 432. Here, when the liquid level defined by the distance between the liquid level 421 and the storage structure bottom surface 413 is higher than a predetermined height, the switching member 434 is locked by the stop member 425 having the diaphragm 426. Does not rotate. On the other hand, when the water 16 in the water container 21 is reduced and the liquid level is below a predetermined level as shown in FIG. 6 of the second embodiment, the stop member 425 is lowered and the switching member 434 is It can turn freely. The switching member 434 has a stopper 445 that is a recess in which the protruding stop member 425 is accommodated, and the switching member 434 is locked by engaging the stopper 445 and the stop member 425.

  FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an example of the switching member 434. This switching member 434 has a shape in which a double cylindrical shape is overlapped with the central axis coincident. The upper end of the outer cylindrical shape is a portion where a roller 436 provided at the inner end of the beam 432 rolls as the switching member 434 rotates. The upper end portion is formed with a V-shaped slope, and the roller 436 rolls on this portion, so that the inner end of the beam moves up and down and moves the water container 21 between the communication position and the blocking position. . A stopper 445 is provided at the lower end of the cylinder.

  FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the principle of switching the water container 21 by the rotation of the switching member 434. In FIG. 12, the side surface of the outer cylindrical portion of FIG. 11 is shown expanded, and four rollers 436 that roll along the upper end are virtually shown. In this figure, the water container 21 corresponding to the roller 436 at one position is in communication. And the water container 21 corresponding to the roller 436 of the position of 2, 3, and 4 is the interruption | blocking state. Here, the slope formed in a V shape is not a symmetrical angle, but the angle of the slope on the left side of the paper is a gentler angle. For this reason, the roller 436 at the position 2 is on the slope, but the roller 436 at the position 4 is not on the slope. Thus, when a certain water container 21 is in the communication position, the cam is formed so that the roller 436 that supports the water container 21 to be moved to the communication position next contacts the slope. Since each roller 436 is applied with a force in the lower direction of the paper due to the load of water 16 in the water container 21, the switching member 434 is moved to the left in FIG. 12 by the roller 436 at the two positions arranged on the slope. It is so energized. Accordingly, when the water 16 in the water container 21 corresponding to the roller 436 at the position 1 is reduced, the liquid level is lower than the predetermined height, and the stop member 425 is lowered, the switching member 434 12 will move to the left. The water container 21 that has been emptied and raised to the shut-off position can be continuously supplied without being cut off from the external supply port 412 by exchanging with the filled water container 21 thereafter.

  As described above, also in the present embodiment, since the water container 21 is divided into a plurality of parts, the water container 21 is lighter than one and is more easily exchanged. Moreover, since the water container 21 is used in order, even if one water container 21 becomes empty, it is possible to replace the empty water container 21 while the other water container 21 is being used. The water can be continuously supplied without being cut off. In addition, the water path has a simple drop-type configuration, and is quieter and less frequent in maintenance than the case where a pump or the like is used, and can be used with confidence. Moreover, since the water in the water container 21 is discharged to the outside of the storage structure 210 without touching the outside air, it is possible to prevent contamination of impurities and bacteria.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The top view of the support structure 530 of the water supply apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment is shown by FIG. FIG. 14 schematically shows a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. The water supply device 500 is configured to sequentially move the four water containers 21 to the lower communication position as in the third embodiment. Here, since the storage structure and the stop member of the water supply apparatus according to the present embodiment are the same as the storage structure 210 and the stop member 225 of the second embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The support structure 530 includes a substrate 538, a plate 532, a rotating portion 533, a switching member 534, a protruding portion 536, a pin 537, a receiving portion, and a valve. Here, since the configuration of the receiving portion and the valve is the same as that of the receiving portion 235 and the valve 231 of the second embodiment, description and illustration are omitted. The rotation unit 533 is installed on a substrate 538 (see FIG. 14) fixed so as to be substantially horizontal to the storage structure, and has a gimbal having two rotation axes that intersect perpendicularly in a plane parallel to the plane of the substrate 538. In the structure, the plate 532 is formed of a flat plate coupled to the substrate 538 via the rotating portion 533. As shown in the top view of FIG. 13, the plate 532 has holes 539 for holding receiving portions for receiving the water containers 21 at four positions every 90 ° with the position of the rotation shaft as the center. By rotating the rotating unit 533, one of the water containers 21 installed at four positions can be moved to the lower communication position, and the rest can be moved to the blocking position.

  The four pins 537 are installed on the substrate 538 at a position shifted from the position of the hole in which the water container 21 is disposed at every 90 ° centering on the position of the rotation axis in the visual field from the upper surface. . Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the centers of the four holes 539 are arranged so as to be on a square side formed by connecting the positions of the four pins 537. The switching member 534 is locked by the stop member and prevented from moving so that the water container 21 at the communication position does not become the blocking position when the liquid level exceeds a predetermined height. At this time, the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the switching member 534 may be a cross shape or the like.

  Here, a mechanism in which the water container 21 sequentially moves to the communication position will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, the fulcrum P0 of the plate 532, which is the rotation center of the rotation unit 533, is below the pin 537. For example, in the case where the water container 21 at position A in FIG. The plate is supported by a pin 537 at the positions P1 and P4 and a fulcrum P0. Here, if the water container 21 at the positions B, C, and D is filled with water 16, when the water 16 in the water container 21 at the position A decreases and becomes lighter, Due to the weight of the water container 21 disposed at the position, the water container 21 at the position B is urged in a direction to fall so as to be the communication position and the direction in which the water container 21 at the position D falls to be the communication position. The

  Here, considering which urging force is greater, in order for the water container 21 at the position D to be in the communication position, it is necessary to fall down with the line connecting P0 and P1 as the rotation axis, and gravity is applied from this axis. Since the distance from the position B to the water container 21 is D1, and the distance from the axis to the water container 21 at the position D is also D1, in the rotation of the axis connecting P0 and P1, the position B The water couple 21 and the couple by the water container 21 at the position D are balanced by WB · D1 = WD · D1. Here, W indicates the weight of the water container 21 filled with water.

  Similarly, in the case where the water container 21 at the position B is a communication position, it is necessary that the line connecting P0 and P2 should be tilted about the rotation axis, and from this axis to the water container 21 at the position B where gravity is applied. Is the distance D2 and the distance to the water container 21 at the position D is also D2. Therefore, in the rotation of the axis connecting P0 and P2, the water container 21 at the position B and the water container 21 at the position D are used. The couple is balanced by WB · D2 = WD · D2.

  Therefore, which water container 21 communicates is determined by the couple of water containers 21 at the position C. The water container 21 at the position C is a distance D2 with respect to the rotation axis connecting P0 and P1, and is a distance D1 with respect to the rotation axis connecting P0 and P2, so that WC · D2 <WC · D1. Accordingly, the water container 21 at the position B is urged to be in the communication position by the rotation of the rotation shaft connecting P0 and P2. Therefore, when the water in the container A is reduced and the switching member 534 is disengaged from the locking of the stop member due to a decrease in the liquid level of the storage structure, the container rotates with the rotating shaft connecting P0 and P2. , B position of the water container 21 becomes the communication position.

  After the water container 21 that has been emptied and lifted up to the shut-off position is replaced with a filled water container 21, the water container 21 falls in sequence with B, C, D, A, and becomes a communication position. Water can be continuously supplied from the external supply port 512 without being cut off. That is, also in this embodiment, the same effect as that of the third embodiment can be obtained.

  The water container 21 used in the second to fourth embodiments described above has a structure that collapses from the bottom portion on the side opposite to the side from which the liquid is discharged as the liquid is discharged, as shown in FIG. As described above, a liquid container 31 that has a bellows groove in the discharge direction and collapses in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction as the liquid inside decreases may be used.

[Fifth Embodiment]
FIG. 16 shows the configuration of the humidifier 40 according to the fifth embodiment. As shown in this configuration, the humidifier 40 includes a humidifier body 45 having a discharge port 46 for supplying moisture to external air, a water supply device 400 that is a liquid supply device of the third embodiment, and a water supply device. And a water container 11 which is a liquid container containing four waters installed at 400. Here, as a configuration for supplying moisture to the outside air of the humidifier main body 45, a steam fan type, a vaporization type, an ultrasonic type, and the like are known, but the description is omitted because it is a known configuration. .

  Also in the humidifier of this embodiment, since the water supply apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment is used, the same effect as the above-mentioned embodiment can be acquired. In this embodiment, the water supply device 400 of the third embodiment is used. However, the liquid supply device of the present invention including the water supply device of other embodiments can be used. By incorporating this supply device into the humidifier, continuous humidification is possible without increasing the capacity of the water container.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the number of liquid containers is 2 or 4, but a plurality of liquid containers other than this may be used. Further, although the liquid is water, it may be a liquid other than water, or may be a liquid substance that can be handled as a liquid by including particles that move with the liquid.

  In addition, a stop member that follows the liquid level is used, but the rotating part is operated by the motor using a sensor that detects the low liquid level and sends an electrical signal. The communication position and the blocking position may be controlled for each liquid container.

  In each of the embodiments described above, when the liquid inside the liquid container becomes empty, it may be replaced with a new liquid container filled with the liquid, or a new liquid container is added to the empty liquid container. It is good also as filling and using.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the content of the container is liquid water, but it may be a liquid other than water, or may be a liquid substance in which a solid is mixed with a liquid, In addition, it may be a substance containing powder and granular materials other than liquid. In the case of supplying a substance having low fluidity, a mechanism for improving fluidity by adding vibration to the substance may be further provided.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the switching member 434 described with reference to FIG. The stopper 490 provided on the switching member 434 is formed so that the surface in contact with the stop member 425 is an inclined surface. Thus, when the diaphragm 426 is lowered and the stop member 425 and the stopper 490 are disengaged, the switching member 434 rotates to the left side toward the paper surface. When the water is supplied from the next bottle and the diaphragm 426 is raised with the rotation, the stop member 425 comes into contact with the slope and pushes the switching member 434 up. Since the switching member 434 is fixed with respect to the axial direction of the rotating shaft, the horizontal component of the pushing-up force is applied to the left side toward the paper surface, and the rotational force of the switching member 434 can be increased.

  The cam of the switching member 434 described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 17 may be formed by providing a groove on the side surface of the cylinder.

10 water server, 11 water container, 12 water server body, 16 water, 21 water container, 45 humidifier body, 100 water supply device, 110 storage structure, 111 protrusion, 112 external supply port, 113 storage structure bottom surface, 121 liquid Surface, 125 Stop member, 130 Support structure, 131 Valve, 132 Beam, 133 Rotating part, 134 Switching member, 135 Receiving part, 136 Protruding part, 200 Water supply device, 210 Storage structure, 211 Protruding part, 212 External supply port , 213 Storage structure bottom surface, 221 Liquid surface, 225 Stop member, 226 Diaphragm, 230 Support structure, 231 Valve, 232 Beam, 233 Rotating part, 234 Switching member, 235 Receiving part, 236 Protruding part, 241 Spring, 243 Sealing Member, 300 water supply device, 331 valve, 332 beam, 333 rotating part, 334 switching member 335 receiving portion, 336 protruding portion, 337 pinion, 338 rack, 400 water supply device, 410 storage structure, 411 protrusion, 412 external supply port, 413 storage structure bottom surface, 421 liquid surface, 425 stop member, 426 diaphragm, 430 support Structure, 431 valve, 432 beam, 433 rotating part, 434 switching member, 435 receiving part, 436 roller, 441 spring, 443 sealing member, 445 stopper, 446 cylindrical shaft, 490 stopper, 530 support structure, 532 plate, 533 Rotating part, 534 switching member, 536 protruding part, 537 pin, 538 substrate, 539 hole.

Claims (2)

A plurality of support structures for placing a container filled with a substance;
Each support structure has a communication position where the substance can be introduced from the container and a blocking position where the introduction of the substance is blocked,
When any of the support structure is in the communicating position, the other support structure Ri blocking position near,
Support structure in the communicating position, when the container itself supported is ready to be regarded as empty, move the container becomes empty blocking position, to move any other support structure to the communicating position Rukoto A supply device characterized by. A support structure for mounting a plurality of containers filled with a substance;
The support structure places the container on a plane that swings about an axis, and when the container is in a low position according to the principle of a seesaw, the container valve is opened to a communication position, and when the container is in a high position, the container valve is closed. And set it to the blocking position ,
A lock mechanism that is disengaged when the container in the communication position is empty,
The locking mechanism, the lock is disengaged, the supply device separate container seesaw principle characterized that you locks again when you move to the communicating position.

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