JPH0794037B2 - Electrolytic ionized water generator - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolytic ion water generator, and more particularly to an electrolytic ion water for converting raw water in an electrolytic cell into ion water by energizing electrodes arranged in the electrolytic cell. It relates to a generator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of an electrolytic ionized water generator for converting raw water in an electrolytic cell into ionized water by energizing electrodes arranged in the electrolytic cell is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-20073. Technology is available. This electrolytic ionized water production device partitions the electrolytic cell with a porous partition wall to form a cathode chamber and an anode chamber, and arranges electrodes in each of these electrode chambers, and electrolyzes the raw water in the electrolytic cell to form the anode chamber. It is a device that produces alkaline ionized water with a high pH value.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional electrolytic ion water generator has the following problems. Usually, in an electrolytic ionized water generator, it is necessary to add calcium to raw water in order to obtain approval from a regulatory agency, and a calcium addition means is provided in the electrolytic cell or in the previous stage of the electrolytic cell. Since calcium powder is added to the raw water, when the raw water is electrolyzed in the electrolytic cell, calcium is precipitated in the ionic water. In such an electrolytic ion water generator, it is preferable to drain the water in the electrolytic cell when not in use for hygiene management, but when the water in the electrolytic cell is drained, the precipitated calcium is solidified in the electrolytic cell. Therefore, the electrolytic cell is filled with water even when not in use. If the electrolytic cell is filled with water when not in use, there is a problem that various bacteria and algae grow due to the environment, which is unsanitary. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyzed ionized water generator capable of maintaining cleanliness in the electrolytic cell when the electrolytic cell is not energized when not in use.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following constitution. That is, in an electrolytic ionized water generator that converts raw water in the electrolytic cell into ionized water by energizing the electrodes arranged in the electrolytic cell, an energization detection for detecting the presence or absence of energization to the electrode. A means, a time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from a specific time point, and detecting the stop of energization to the electrode through the energization detecting means, measuring an elapsed time through the time measuring means, and a predetermined time. Control means for energizing the electrodes for a certain period of time after the passage of time.

[0005]

[Operation] The operation will be described. The control means detects the stoppage of energization to the electrodes via the energization detection means, measures the elapsed time via the timekeeping means, and energizes the electrodes for a certain period of time after a predetermined time has elapsed. By this energization, chlorine gas contained in the water in the electrolytic cell is generated, and the water in the electrolytic cell can be disinfected.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic mechanical structure of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows an electric structure of a main part. In FIG. 1, 10 is a faucet, and raw water or alkaline ionized water is selected by a branch plug 12 and discharged. Raw water or alkaline ionized water can be selected by the handle 1 provided on the branch plug 12.
This can be done by rotating 4. When the raw water is selected, the raw water supplied from the water pipe (not shown) is directly discharged from the faucet 10. On the other hand, when the alkaline ionized water is selected, the raw water supplied from the water pipe (not shown) is the branch plug 1.
The alkaline ionized water, which has been electrolyzed and generated, flows into the branch plug 12 from the pipe 16e and is discharged from the faucet 10. Reference numeral 18 is a water purification tank, and raw water can flow in through the pipe 16a. The raw water that has flowed in passes through the activated carbon cartridge 20 and further through the hollow fiber membrane layer 22 to filter impurities, and
Chlorine is adsorbed and purified. The purified raw water flows out from the pipe 16b. It should be noted that all chlorine contained in the raw water is not adsorbed on the activated carbon, and a part of the chlorine passes through the water purification tank 18 while being contained in the purified raw water.

Reference numeral 24 is a thermistor, which is provided to detect the temperature of the raw water flowing through the pipe 16a. It is provided to prevent the activated carbon in the activated carbon cartridge 20 from being deteriorated when raw water having an abnormally high temperature flows into the water purification tank 18. For example, when the thermistor 24 detects that the temperature of the raw water exceeds 35 degrees, the first solenoid valve 2
6 blocks the pipe 16a. A first water pressure sensor 28 detects the water pressure of the raw water flowing through the pipe 16a. Reference numeral 30 denotes a second water pressure sensor, which detects the water pressure of the raw water flowing through the pipe 16b and the water pressure of the purified raw water introduced into the electrolytic cell 32. In addition,
As the means for detecting the water pressure, it is possible to adopt a flow rate sensor as well as the water pressure sensor. Further, by comparing the values detected by the first water pressure sensor 28 and the second water pressure sensor 30, it is possible to detect the degree of clogging of the water purification tank 18. Also in this case, the clogging of the water purification tank 18 can be detected by using a flow rate sensor in addition to the water pressure sensor.

Reference numeral 34 is a constant flow valve, which regulates the maximum value of the flow rate (or water pressure) of the purified raw water which flows through the pipe 16b and is introduced into the electrolytic cell 32. Reference numeral 36 is a calcium addition cylinder, which supplies a fixed amount of calcium powder to the purified raw water flowing through the pipe 16b. Electrodes 38 and 40 are arranged in the electrolytic cell 32 at intervals. 38 is an anode and 40 is a cathode. Pipe 16 in the electrolytic cell 32
Purified raw water is introduced from b. A DC voltage is supplied to the electrodes 38, 40 from a voltage adjusting circuit described later, and
The purified raw water inside is electrolyzed. By this electrolysis, alkaline ionized water containing OH ions is generated in the anode chamber 44 separated by the diaphragm 42, and acidic water is generated in the cathode chamber 46. The alkaline ionized water flows out of the electrolytic cell 32 via the pipe 16c. On the other hand, acid water is pipe 16
It flows out of the electrolytic cell 32 via d. In addition, pipe 1
The acidic water flowing out from 6d is used for drainage or other purposes. A second solenoid valve 48 opens and closes the pipe 16e branched from the pipe 16c.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a third solenoid valve, which is a pipe 16e.
The pipe 16c ahead of the branch point is opened and closed. Pipe 1
The tip of 6c merges with the pipe 16d. When the second electromagnetic valve 48 is opened and the third electromagnetic valve 50 is closed, the alkaline ionized water is absorbed by the pipe 16c and the pipe 16c.
If it is sent to the faucet 10 via d, and the branch tap 12 selects alkaline ionized water, the alkaline ionized water flows into the branch tap 12 from the pipe 16e and is discharged from the faucet 10. On the other hand, the second solenoid valve 48 is closed and the third solenoid valve 5
When 0 is open, the alkaline ionized water is pipe 16
It flows from c to the pipe 16d and is drained. For example, it is used in this mode when the residual water in the anode chamber 44 and the cathode chamber 46 is drained when it is reused after the use of the electrolytic ionized water generator is once stopped. It is also possible to make water in which alkaline ionized water and acidic water are mixed. At that time, the flow rate adjusting screw 52 provided in the middle of the pipe 16d can be used to adjust the flow rate of the acidic water to adjust the mixing ratio of the alkaline ionized water and the acidic water.

Next, the electric system will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 53 is a switch which is an example of the energization detecting means,
Whether or not the electrodes 38 and 40 are energized is detected. Switch 5
Whether or not the electrodes 38 and 40 are energized is determined by the state (3) (ON / OFF). In addition to the switch 53, the energization detecting means may be a device for detecting from an operating state of a voltage (or current) adjusting circuit described later. A voltage adjusting circuit 54 applies a DC voltage between the anode 38 and the cathode 40. The voltage adjusting circuit 54 adjusts the applied voltage according to an instruction from the microprocessor described later. By this adjustment, the pH value of ionized water can be adjusted. The means for adjusting the pH value is not limited to voltage adjustment and may be current adjustment. Reference numeral 55 is a timer which is an example of a time measuring means, and measures a specific time point at which the current supply to the anode 38 and the cathode 40 is stopped and the elapsed time from the time point at which the current supply is started. Instead of the timer described above, a software timer in which the control means described later detects a certain time by calculation may be used as the time counting means.

Reference numeral 56 is a microprocessor (MPU) which is a control means, and is used to control the state of the switch 53 (ON / OF).
F) is detected to detect the stop of energization of the anode 38 and the cathode 40. If the energization stop is detected, the MPU 56 measures the elapsed time from that point on through the timer 55, and when a predetermined time (eg, 1 hour) has elapsed, the voltage adjustment circuit 54
Anode 38 and cathode 40 are energized through the electrode for a fixed time (for example, 5 seconds). The MPU 56 also measures the time of re-energization with the timer 55, and when the time of re-energization reaches the predetermined time, the energization is stopped again. By repeating this operation, the anode 38 and the cathode 40 are energized every predetermined time. This energizing operation is performed as long as the power source power is supplied. The MPU 56 can be used not only as a control unit but also as a time counting unit as described above. In addition, p of alkaline ionized water
In order to maintain the H value within a predetermined range, the voltage applied to the anode 38 and the cathode 40 via the voltage adjusting circuit 54 is adjusted based on the water pressure detected by the second water pressure sensor 30 or detected by the thermistor 24. From the operation of the first solenoid valve 26 depending on the water temperature value, the relationship between the water pressure value detected by the first water pressure sensor 28 and the water pressure value detected by the second water pressure sensor 30, the water purification tank 18
The degree of clogging of the
It also controls the operation of opening and closing the solenoid valve 48 and the third solenoid valve 50.

Reference numeral 58 denotes a RAM, which detects the state of the switch 53 detected by the MPU 56, the calculation (counting) result when a software timer is used instead of the timer 55, and the first and second water pressure sensors 28 and 30. Water pressure,
The water temperature value detected by the thermistor 24, data such as the degree of clogging of the water purification tank 18, the user input, etc. are temporarily stored. 6
Reference numeral 0 denotes a ROM, which is an operating system of the MPU 56, a control program for energizing the electrodes 38 and 40 at predetermined time intervals, the predetermined time in the operation of energizing the electrodes 38 and 40 at predetermined time intervals, and energization at reenergization Control data such as time is stored in advance. With such a configuration, for example, when the switch 53 is turned off when not in use,
The MPU 56 energizes the electrodes 38 and 40 for 5 seconds every hour. When the electrodes 38 and 40 are energized, chlorine ions 64 contained in the water 62 in the electrolytic cell 32 move to the anode 38 side. By this movement, chlorine molecules are formed around the anode 38, and chlorine gas is generated from the water 62. Since chlorine has a disinfecting effect as it is used for disinfecting tap water, water 6
The bacteria in 2 can be killed. In the present embodiment, energization was performed for 5 seconds every 1 hour, but this time may be set to an appropriate value in consideration of the usage environment, the volume of the electrolytic cell 32 (100 milliliters in this embodiment) and the like. it can. It should be noted that a means for adjusting the respective times can be provided. Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. .

[0013]

When the electrolytic ionized water producing apparatus according to the present invention is used, the control means detects the stop of energization to the electrodes via the energization detecting means, and measures the elapsed time via the time measuring means,
When the predetermined time has passed, the electrodes are energized for a certain time. By this energization, chlorine gas contained in the water in the electrolytic cell is generated, and the water in the electrolytic cell can be disinfected, so when not in use,
It is possible to maintain a clean inside of the electrolytic cell when the electrolytic cell is not energized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic mechanical configuration of an electrolyzed ionized water producing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of its electrical configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 32 Electrolyzer 38 Anode 40 Cathode 53 Switch 55 Timer 56 MPU 62 Water

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electrolyzed ionized water generator for converting raw water in the electrolyzer into ionized water by energizing an electrode arranged in the electrolyzer to detect whether or not the electrode is energized. The energization detection means, a time counting means for measuring an elapsed time from a specific time point, a stop of energization to the electrode is detected through the energization detection means, and an elapsed time is measured through the time counting means. And a control means for energizing the electrodes for a certain period of time after a lapse of a predetermined period of time.