JPH06343956A - Ionic water forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the utility by switching a selection valve to a condition where water is discharged from a storing tank and applying a voltage of DC current with a reverse polarity to a pair of electrodes in an electrolysis tank when stopping of water supply between a water source and the electrolysis tank under a condition where the period for cleaning of the electrodes comes, is detected. CONSTITUTION:When the user stops water supply, a control circuit 21 compares the counted value for integrated electrolysis treating time with a set value and judges necessity for cleaning of electrodes. Namely, it reaches the set value or larger, it is judged to need the cleaning of the electrodes. In addition, when there exists no water supply in a specified time, a selection valve 7 is set at a position for discharging the water in a storing tank 4. The water in the storing tank 4 flows out into an electrolysis tank 10. Then, a command is applied to an electrolysis tank driving circuit 24 to load an direct current voltage under reverse polarity such as plus to the cathode of the electrolysis tank 10 and minus to the anode to perform reverse electrolytic treatment. Then, the condition is returned to the usual condition by switching the selection valve 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ion water generator which can obtain alkaline water or acidic water by electrolytically treating water supplied from a water source such as a tap water to an electrolytic cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of ionized water generator, dust, chlorine, etc. contained in the water is filtered by a filter, but the non-filterable mineral content originally contained in the water and the electrolytic treatment Calcium added to purified water for efficiency reaches the electrolytic cell while being contained in the water. With the electrolytic treatment of the water, minerals and calcium become scales and gradually adhere to the cathode.Therefore, when the accumulated water amount and accumulated time that are predetermined based on the generated amount and time of ionized water reach a pair of electrodes. A DC voltage of reverse polarity is applied to the electrodes to clean the electrodes by removing the scale from the cathode, thereby preventing the efficiency of electrolytic treatment from being lowered. Further, since the water containing the removed scale does not correspond to the target ionized water, the user is informed in advance of the fact that the electrode is to be washed, and the water including the scale is drained.

[0003]

However, in the conventional ion water generator, once the predetermined electrode cleaning timing is reached, the electrode cleaning is suddenly started regardless of the user's utilization state. A notice is given, and then the electrode cleaning is automatically started. Even if a small amount of ionized water is generated and it is used up, the electrode cleaning will start automatically. Therefore, there is a problem that it is very difficult to use because it is necessary to wait for the work to be restarted until the electrode cleaning is completed and the drainage of the water containing the scale is completed.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and stores water in a storage tank and uses the water in the storage tank when the user is not supplying the water. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use ionized water generator that does not make the user feel inconvenient by cleaning the electrodes.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, an ionized water producing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an electrolytic cell having a pair of electrodes, and a DC voltage applied to the pair of electrodes having a polarity opposite to a normal polarity. And an electrolytic drive means switchable to the polarity, by applying a direct current voltage with a normal polarity to the pair of electrodes, by electrolytic treatment of the water supplied to the electrolytic cell from a water source such as tap water, alkali Producing water or acidic water, and when the time of electrode cleaning comes, in the ion water generator adapted to apply the DC voltage of the opposite polarity to the pair of electrodes, the water source and the electrolytic cell Between the water supply detecting means for detecting whether or not the water is supplied, the storage tank for storing the water for supply to the electrolytic cell, and the selection for selecting whether or not to release the water from the storage tank. Valve and above When the water flow detecting means detects the stoppage of the water supply in the state where the time of pole cleaning has come, the selection valve is switched to the discharge state and the DC voltage of the opposite polarity is applied to the pair of electrodes. And control means for controlling the electrolysis drive means.

[0006]

According to the ionized water generator of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, before the time of the electrode cleaning comes,
By supplying water to the electrolyzer from a water source such as tap water,
A normal polarity DC voltage is applied to the pair of electrodes, and the water is electrolyzed to generate alkaline water and acidic water. Further, when the water flow detecting means detects the stop of the supply of the water in the state where the time of the electrode cleaning has come, the control means,
The selection valve is switched to the release state, and the electrolytic drive means is controlled to apply a DC voltage of opposite polarity to the pair of electrodes. By this control, the water for the storage tank is supplied to the electrolytic cell, and the water is used for cleaning the electrodes.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the flow path structure of the water for the ionized water generator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

A pressure sensor 1 for determining whether or not the water is supplied is installed in the vicinity of a supply port for the water supplied from a water source such as a water supply. The supplied water is connected by hoses so as to be supplied to a storage tank 4 located in front of and above the electrolytic cell 10 after passing through the filter 2 and the calcium addition tank 3. A hose 5 and a hose 6 at the outlet of the storage tank 4 are connected to a selection valve 7, and the selection valve 7 and the electrolytic cell 10 are connected by a hose 8.

The selection valve 7 is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, in the valve block 50, there are a flow path 51, a flow path 52, which are open to the outside and are connected to each other inside.
Flow paths 53 and 54 are provided. Each of the flow paths 51,
In the portion of the flow path connecting portion 7A inside 52, 53, 54,
A switching shaft 55 having a water passage hole 60 and a groove portion 55A is provided so that the arrangement can be switched in the horizontal direction. The flow path 54 is open to the air on the outer surface of the valve block 50.

The switching shaft 55 is the electromagnetic solenoid 5
It can be moved within the range shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) by turning on and off 6. When the solenoid 56 is not energized, it is placed at the position shown in FIG. 2A by the elastic action of the return spring 57. In this state, the flow channel 51 and the flow channel 53 are connected via the water passage hole 60, and the flow channel 52 and the flow channel 54 are closed. When the solenoid 56 is energized, the switching shaft 55 moves to the position shown in FIG. 2B against the elastic force of the return spring 57 by the magnetic force of the solenoid 56. In this state, the flow path 52 and the flow path 53 are connected via the water passage hole 60, and the flow path 51 and the flow path 54 are connected by the groove portion 55A.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electrolyzer 10 has a cathode 70, a diaphragm 71, and an anode 72 therein, and the alkaline water hose 1 is electrolyzed by passing the irrigated water.
1. The structure is such that the acidic water hose 12 is discharged to the outside of the generator. In addition, a power supply circuit 20 for electrically controlling the generator, a control circuit 21 having a CPU, etc. mounted therein, a switch for the user to set the electrolytic strength, and a water flow condition for notifying the user. An operation panel 22 having a display unit, a valve drive circuit 23 for driving the selection valve 7, and an electrolytic cell drive circuit 24 for supplying a current for applying a DC voltage having a normal polarity or an opposite polarity to the electrolytic cell 10 are provided. Has been.

The pressure sensor 1 constitutes the water flow detecting means of the present invention, and the electrolytic cell drive circuit 24 constitutes the electrolytic drive means. In addition, the control circuit 21 causes the pressure sensor 1
When the supply stop of the water is detected by the
A control means for controlling the electrolytic layer drive circuit 24 so as to switch to the position shown in (b) and to apply a DC voltage of opposite polarity to the pair of electrodes 70, 72 is constituted.

This embodiment is constructed as described above.

Next, the operation of the ionized water generator thus constructed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In a state in which water from a water source such as tap water is not passed, the valve drive circuit 23 turns off the solenoid 56 in response to a command from the control circuit 21, and the selection valve 7 is turned on as shown in FIG.
It is arranged at the position shown in (a) (step 1, hereinafter abbreviated as S1. Similarly, the following steps are also abbreviated). Next, when the water is supplied (S2), the control circuit 21 issues a command to the electrolytic cell drive circuit 24, and the cathode 7
A direct current voltage is applied with a normal polarity of 0 to minus and plus to the anode 72 to start the electrolytic treatment (S3). As a result, the water that has been passed through is electrolyzed to generate alkaline water and acidic water, and alkaline water and acidic water are discharged from the alkaline water hose 11 and the acidic water hose 12, respectively. At this time, water is stored in the storage tank 4.

After that, when the user stops the supply of water,
The electrolysis is turned off (S4), and it is determined whether electrode cleaning is necessary (S5). Normally, in this judgment, the integrated electrolysis treatment time is counted inside the control circuit 21, and if the set value is exceeded, it is judged that electrode cleaning is necessary. When cleaning the electrodes, the timer T is set to T ₀ (S6), and while T is counted down, it is determined whether or not water is passed (S7, S).
8, S9).

If water is passed, the process returns to the above-mentioned electrolytic treatment (S3). When water is not passed, the timer T = 0 and the electrode cleaning is started. First, the solenoid 5
6 is turned on (S10), and the selection valve 7 is arranged at the position shown in FIG. 2 (b). Then, the flow path 51 and the flow path 54 are connected via the groove 55A, air is introduced into the upper portion of the storage tank 4, and at the same time, the flow path 52 and the flow path 53 are connected to the water passage hole 6.
Since they are connected via 0, the water used for collecting in the storage tank 4 flows out from the flow channel 52 to the electrolytic cell 10 via the flow channel 53. The control circuit 21 issues a command to the electrolytic cell drive circuit 24 to apply a DC voltage with a positive polarity to the cathode 70 and a negative polarity to the anode 72, and start the reverse electrolysis process (electrode cleaning) (S11). After that, the solenoid 56 is turned off, and the flow path is returned to the normal state as shown in FIG. 2A (S12), and a series of electrode cleaning is completed.

That is, normally, while water is being used, water is stored in the storage tank 4, and if the electrode cleaning is judged to be necessary and not used for T ₀ minutes, the water in the storage tank 4 is used for electrode cleaning. Perform cleaning.

As described above, the inconvenience that the electrode cleaning is automatically started regardless of the usage state of the user and the work restart must be waited until the electrode cleaning is completed is eliminated.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, the use / non-use of the timer T was monitored, but it is also possible to provide a clock function and perform electrode cleaning at night when it is not normally used.

Further, although the storage tank 4 is provided in the water supply path in this embodiment, it may be provided independently regardless of this supply path.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, in the ionized water producing apparatus of the present invention, the water is stored inside the apparatus and the electrode is cleaned when the user is not supplying the water. Thus, it is possible to provide a user-friendly ionized water generation device that does not make the user feel inconvenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ionized water generator of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a selection valve of the ionized water generator.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an electrolytic cell of the ionized water generator.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the ionized water production device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pressure Sensor 4 Storage Tank 7 Selection Valve 21 Controlling Means 24 Electrolyzer Drive Circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell having a pair of electrodes, and an electrolytic drive means capable of switching a DC voltage applied to the pair of electrodes to a polarity opposite to a normal polarity, and the pair of electrodes are provided with a normal electrode. By applying a direct current voltage with polarity, alkaline water or acidic water is produced by electrolytically treating the water supplied to the electrolyzer from a water source such as tap water, and when the time for electrode cleaning comes, the pair In the ionized water generator adapted to apply the reverse polarity DC voltage to the electrode, a water flow detection means for detecting whether or not water is supplied between the water source and the electrolytic cell, and the electrolysis A storage tank that stores water for supply to the tank, a selection valve that selects whether or not to release the water from the storage tank, and the water flow detection means when the electrode cleaning time comes Supply stop And a control unit for controlling the electrolytic drive unit so as to apply the DC voltage of the opposite polarity to the pair of electrodes when the selection valve is switched to the release state. Ion water generator.