JPH067617A - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a safe and assured purified water by restraining the propagation of various bacteria in a purified water retaining part. CONSTITUTION:In a purified water retaining part located between a water purifying part and a purified water discharging port, an antibacterial part 400 in which an antibacterial material 401 that can elute disinfecting metal ions is sealed is provided to sterilize the purified water in the purified water retaining part by the sterilizing metal ions eluted from the antibacterial material 401 in the antibacterial part 400.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifier for purifying tap water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since purified water purified by activated carbon in a water purifier, that is, dechlorinated water, poses a problem of bacterial growth, antibacterial action by applying a silver compound coating to activated carbon, which is a filtering material, and hollow fiber membranes Measures to prevent bacterial loss are taken.

[0003]

However, in these methods, if there is a portion in the water purifier where the purified water after passing through the activated carbon or the hollow fiber membrane is retained, what is wrong with respect to various bacteria propagated here? There is no effect, and the presence of many bacteria will be confirmed in the initial flow water when using the water purifier. Of course, if there is no purified water retention part, such a problem does not occur, but in the case that the backwashing of the filter medium can be performed with purified water, a part to store the purified water for backwashing is absolutely necessary,
A product equipped with a backwash function using purified water will always cause problems.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier capable of suppressing the propagation of various bacteria in the water purification retention portion and obtaining safe and secure water purification. is there.

[0005]

According to the present invention, however, an antibacterial part containing an antibacterial material for eluting bactericidal metal ions is provided in the purified water retention part located between the water purification part and the purified water discharge port. It has a special feature.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the purified water accumulated in the purified water retention portion is
Since it is sterilized by the bactericidal metal ions eluted from the antibacterial material in the antibacterial part, various bacteria do not propagate. Examples of the antibacterial material include metals such as silver, copper, zinc, lead, mercury and cadmium. These metals catalyze the conversion of dissolved oxygen in water into active oxygen, which damages the surface structure of the microbial cells, and causes trace amounts of metal ions to be incorporated into the microbial cells to cause enzyme damage, which leads to the growth of miscellaneous bacteria. It is said that silver, copper, and zinc, which have relatively high safety, are suitable for water treatment, and these are ion-exchanged with zeolite or silica gel, inorganic substances such as water glass, or a ceramic carrier. It is used by being impregnated with it or supported on activated carbon. At this time, instead of directly contacting the purified water in the purified water retention part, it is necessary to spread the ionic components in the purified water through the ultrafiltration membrane and to have a temperature control function, to have an early antibacterial effect and antibacterial effect. It is preferable in terms of improving the life of the material.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. This water purifier has a switching section 1 for switching the flow of water as shown in FIG. 2 and purification of water supplied through the switching section 1. Water purification unit 3 that contains the cartridge filter 4,
It is configured to include a backwash unit 2 containing a purified water storage unit and a backwash unit.

A switching portion 1 attached to the faucet 9 by a mounting nut 11 that engages with a mounting aid 14 used according to the shape of the tip of the faucet 9 and is screwed into the main body housing 10 is shown in FIGS. As shown, the valve chamber 50 having the rotary type switching valve 5 built therein is provided.
A shower cap 12 is attached to the lower end. In the figure, reference numeral 15 is a water blocking packing in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the switching valve 5 described later, and 300 and 301 are spacers. The shower cap 12 is provided with a water discharge port 16 having a wire mesh 18 for rectification attached at the center and a large number of small holes 17 for shower-like water sprinkling at the periphery.
The water discharge port 16 and the lower end opening of the valve chamber 50 are communicated with each other through a cylindrical partition 19 provided with a radial rib 100 for straightening on the inner peripheral surface.

The valve chamber 50 having a circular cross section has an upper opening communicating with the faucet 9, a lower opening communicating with the water outlet, an opening communicating with the outer peripheral space of the partition 19, and an opening communicating with the backwash section 2. The switching valve 5 accommodated therein has an opening connected to the water purification unit 3, and the switching valve 5 housed therein selectively connects the upper opening of the valve chamber 50 with the other four openings 4
The seed communication holes 51 to 54 are provided. Further, at both axial ends of the switching valve 5, a tubular body 5 that rotates integrally with the switching valve 5 is provided.
5 and the ring 59 are attached. In the figure, 60 is a holding frame for pressing the switching valve 5, 13 is a lever attached to one end of the switching valve 5, 91 is a biasing force of a spring 92, and engages with a click hole formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ring 59. , A ball which gives clicks at a plurality of positions with respect to the rotation of the switching valve 5. Further, 93 is a ball that closes the emergency drain port formed in the flow path connecting the faucet 9 and the water purification unit 3 in a state in which it is biased by the spring 94, and the water pressure during the water flush is abnormally high. Sometimes let the water escape. Spring 9
One end of 2, 94 is received by the partition 19.

The backwash unit 2 has a piston 26 located on the same axis as the switching valve 5 in a cylinder 22 having one end connected to the main body housing 10 and the other end having a purified water discharge port 21. A valve 25 for opening and closing a passage between the cylinder 22 and the purified water outlet 21 is provided. Further, in the backwash portion 2, a projection 56, which is arranged on the outer circumference of the cylindrical body 55 which rotates integrally with the switching valve 5 and which is projected from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 55, is formed in the cam groove of the inner peripheral surface. A slide valve 57 that engages is provided. The slide valve 57 slides in the axial direction with the rotation of the tubular body 55, opens and closes a drain port 74 for draining water in the space β on the left side of the piston 26 in the drawing, and a water purification unit described later. Three
Control of the opening and closing of the discharge port 72 at. Valve 25
Is provided at one end of a valve shaft 23 that axially penetrates a support cylinder 28 fixed to the cylinder 22 and that is slidable in the axial direction. It is biased in the direction of closing the flow path between the water port 21 and the water port 21. 80, 85, 86 in the figure are O
Rings, 81 and 82 are seal packings attached to the switching valve 5, 83 is a seal packing attached to the piston 26, and 84 is a seal packing attached to the slide valve 57.

The water purifying section 3 covers the main body housing 10 by covering the back cover 2 of the case 30 composed of upper and lower two parts with a connecting cylinder extending to the back side and covering the tank cover 31 with a cartridge. It is formed so as to house the filter 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge filter 4 includes a hollow fiber membrane in a case 40 provided with an inlet 71 having a check valve 46 on one end surface thereof, an outlet 72, and an outlet 73. And a net 42 held by a filter medium 44 made of activated carbon and a net frame 41. The filter medium 45, which is made of, and is housed in the module case 200, and the net 42 held by the net frame 41 are arranged on the net 42 side of the module case 200. An open water passage is provided, and a water passage provided with a check valve that is opened only when the purified water is discharged is provided in another portion. 43 in the figure is a case 40
Is a bottom lid that closes the end face opening of the. The water that has entered the case 40 from the inflow port 71 passes through the passage 33 that is partitioned from the storage space for the filters, and then enters the storage space for the filters from the net 42 side at the other end of the case 40 to obtain the filter medium 4.
4 and, after coming into contact with the filter medium 45, it flows out from the discharge port 73.

When the switching valve 5 is set to the water stop position by the operation of the lever 13, the water flowing from the faucet 9 into the valve chamber 50 enters the cylindrical body 55 at one end of the switching valve 5 and then to the piston 26. A space β to the left of the piston 26 in the cylinder 22 in FIG. 1 is passed through a gap formed by the groove between the integral bottomed tubular portion 27 and the tubular body 55.
Meets At this point, the space between the drainage port 74 shown in FIG. 3 formed on the outer wall of the backwash unit 2 and the space β is closed by the slide valve 57, so that water is discharged from this state to the outside. There is no going. Further, at this time, since the outlet 72 and the drain 74 are connected to each other through the groove formed on the outer periphery of the slide valve 57, the water in the cartridge filter 4 is discharged from the outlet 72, the drain 74, and the case 30. It is in a state of being discharged to the outside through the drainage port 32 formed on the bottom surface of the.

When the other communication hole of the switching valve 5 is made to communicate with the faucet 9 by operating the lever 13, the water flowing from the faucet 9 has the other end opening of the communication hole at the inner surface of the main body housing 10 and the outer periphery of the partition 19. Since it faces the space between the surfaces, it flows into this space and is discharged downward through the small holes 17 of the shower head 12. Further, when the faucet 9 side and the water discharge port 16 are communicated with each other by the communication hole penetrating the switching valve 5, the water from the faucet 9 is rectified by the radial ribs 100 and the wire mesh 18 formed in the partition 19 and discharged. Water is discharged from the water outlet 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, if one end of the communication hole 52 of the switching valve 5 is communicated with the faucet 9 side,
Since the other end of the communication hole 52 is connected to the inflow port 71 of the cartridge filter 4 in the water purification unit 3 through the connection port 75 penetrating the main body housing 10, water enters the cartridge filter 4 and the filter medium 4 made of activated carbon 4
4 and then through a filter material 45 made of a hollow fiber membrane, and then through a discharge port 73 through the backwash section 2
Into the space α on the valve 25 side of the piston 26.

At this time, the valve 25 is initially biased by the spring 24 to close the purified water drainage port 21, and the cylinder 55 rotating with the switching valve 25 moves the slide valve 57 to a position where the drainage port 74 is opened. Therefore, the purified water (purified water) flowing into the space α presses the piston 26, and the water contained in the space β is discharged to the outside through the drain port 74 and the drain port 32 formed in the case 30. To discharge. The space β
The check valve 58 prevents the contained water from flowing back to the switching valve 5 side. Then, when the purified water that has flowed into the space α pushes the piston 26, as shown in the figure, the valve shaft 23 having an engaging portion with the piston 26 is pulled leftward in the figure against the spring 24. Therefore, the valve 25 is moved to open the purified water outlet 21, and as a result, the purified water is discharged from the purified water outlet 21. At this point, the discharge port 72 of the cartridge filter 4 is the piston 2
It is closed by a slide valve 57 which moves in the same direction as 6. Further, the purified water discharge port 21 is opened only when the purified water is filled in the space α which is the purified water storage part, so that the entry of dust and miscellaneous bacteria from the purified water discharge port 21 is prevented. ing.

A switching valve 5 is set at the water stop position after finishing the discharge of purified water.
When it is returned, backwashing is performed as follows. That is, the water from the faucet 9 flows into the space β in the backwash section 2 through the switching valve 5 and presses the piston 26 to press the space α.
Try to reduce the volume of. At this time, the slide valve 57 moves in association with the rotation of the cylindrical body 55 that rotates integrally with the switching valve 5, and thus the discharge port 72 and the drain port 74 are connected to each other.
Through the groove formed on the outer periphery of the. Further, the valve 25 closes the purified water outlet 21 as the piston 26 moves. Therefore, the purified water accumulated in the space α flows backward in the cartridge filter 4 through the discharge port 73 as the piston 26 moves due to the pressure of the raw water flowing into the space β from the faucet 9. Since the check valve in the cartridge filter 4 is closed during this backwashing, the filter medium 4
The water passing through 5 moves to the filter medium 44 side only through the water passage located above, and then is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 72, the drain port 74, and the drain port 32 formed on the bottom surface of the case 30. After the purified water is discharged, every time the water stopping operation is performed, backwashing with purified water is performed.

Next, the antibacterial section 400 provided in the water purification section 2 facing the space α will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the antibacterial part 400 containing the antibacterial material 401 is in contact with the space α through an ultrafiltration membrane 402 made of polyethersulfone having a pore size of 0.01 μm, and is a pipe heater 403. And a thermistor 404 and a temperature controller 405. The pipe heater 403 is heated by the temperature control unit 405 to 40 ° C. when the purified water continuously stays in the space α for 12 hours or more. The time and temperature are appropriately set according to the type of the antibacterial material 401 to be sealed, the volume of the sealed portion, etc., and are not particularly limited.

Although the antibacterial material 401 in the antibacterial part 400 does not always elute metal ions in the purified water in the space α due to the existence of the ultrafiltration membrane 401, the purified water continuously stays in the space α. When the period of time is increased, the elution of metal ions due to heating by the pipe heater 403 is promoted, and an antibacterial action on purified water is exhibited. For this reason, even if the purified water stays for a long time, the number of bacteria in the initial flow water is small, and since it does not always exert an antibacterial action on the purified water, the antibacterial material 401 The life of the product is improved.

In order to see the antibacterial action when the following metals are used as the antibacterial material, 200 l or 200
After passing 0 liter of water, close the tap and
The initial running water after leaving for 8 hours was sampled and the number of general viable bacteria was measured by a standard agar medium.
Resulted in the following: The culture conditions are 37 ° C. and 48 hours. In Comparative Example 1, the case without the antibacterial material 401 is
In Comparative Example 2, the boundary between the antibacterial part 400 and the space α is a 1 μm membrane filter, and in Comparative Example 3, the antibacterial material 401 is silver activated carbon and the temperature is kept at 20 ° C. Shows the case where silver activated carbon is wrapped in a 1 μ mesh non-woven fabric and left in a state of contacting with purified water in the space α. Antibacterial material 200l 2000l Silver activated carbon <10 <10 Silver fiber <10 90 Silver-impregnated zeolite <10 <10 Silver-impregnated fiber <10 <10 Silver-containing water glass <10 <10 Ultrafine copper fiber body <10 <10 Copper-impregnated fiber < 10 80 Copper-impregnated zeolite <10 60 Comparative example 1 12000 56000 Comparative example 2 <10 1800 Comparative example 3 80 3900 Comparative example 4 <10 4100

[0020]

As described above, in the present invention, the antibacterial part containing the antibacterial material for eluting bactericidal metal ions is provided in the purified water retention part located between the water purification part and the purified water outlet. Therefore, the purified water accumulated in the purified water retention part is sterilized by the bactericidal metal ions eluted from the antibacterial material in the antibacterial part. Therefore, bacteria can be propagated in the purified water retained in the purified water retention part. Instead, it is possible to obtain safe and secure purified water even in a water purifier provided with a purified water retention part so as to enable backwashing with purified water.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the above.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the antibacterial portion of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 400 antibacterial part 401 antibacterial material

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A water purifier characterized in that an antibacterial part enclosing an antibacterial material that elutes bactericidal metal ions is provided in a purified water retention part located between the purified water part and the purified water discharge port. 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the antibacterial section is provided with an ultrafiltration membrane that partitions the antibacterial material and the purified water in the purified water retention section. 3. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the antibacterial material is silver, copper, zinc-impregnated zeolite, non-woven fabric or fiber impregnated with silver or copper, water glass containing silver or copper. 4. The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein the antibacterial section has a temperature control function.