JPH08182986A - Water purifying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a water purifying device capable of accurately judging the exchange time of various filtration means and surely executing purifying operation in the purifying device for purifying water with the filtration means, particularly capable of preventing the deterioration of the filtration means for filtering by recycling water containing impurities after filtration. CONSTITUTION: It is detected by a water supply detecting sensor 10S that the liquid level of a water storage tank 100, into which the water containing the impurities except water filtered by a precipitation filter 3, a carbon filter 4 and an RO cartridge constituting the filtration means in returned, reaches equal to or below a water supply level, the number of times of the cases at the time of reaching the liquid level equal to or below the supply level is counted by a counter 14 and, when the counted number of times reaches a prescribed number, the filtration operation in the filtration means is controlled to be stopped. Accordingly, the water containing the impurities is previously prevented from excessively being returned and passed through the filtration means and the deterioration of the filtration means is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water purifying device for purifying water by a filtering means, and more particularly to a water purifying device capable of preventing deterioration of the filtering means for recirculating and filtering water containing impurities after filtration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is US Pat. No. 5,296,148 as a water purifier of this type. This conventional water purification device is shown in FIG.
Is shown as an overall schematic diagram. In the figure, the conventional water purifier has an electric pump 2 that pressurizes the water stored in the water storage tank 100 and supplies it to the subsequent stage, a settling filter 3 that precipitates and removes impurities of the supplied water, and A first monitor 6 for detecting the water quality of the water from the settling filter 3, and a carbon filter 4 such as activated carbon which is disposed on the rear side of the first monitor 6 and which adsorbs and removes odors and fine impurities.
A reverse osmosis membrane (RO) cartridge 5 for filtering the water from the carbon filter 4, and the RO cartridge 5
A second monitor 7 for detecting the water quality of the water from the above, and a control system 1 for controlling the drive of the electric pump 2 and for instructing the replacement of the RO cartridge 5.

The control system 1 includes a full water detection sensor 10F and a water supply detection sensor 10 arranged in a water tank 100.
S, the detection result of the drainage detection sensor 10D, and the switch SW
The electric pump 2 is driven and controlled based on the closing state of the cartridge, and the replacement display lamp L3 for instructing the replacement of the RO cartridge 5 is turned on by comparing the detection results of the first and second monitors 6 and 7. It is a configuration that allows it.

Next, the operation of the conventional device based on the above configuration will be described. First, when water is supplied to the water tank 100, the full water detection sensor 10F detects full water and the control system 1
Output to. When the operator turns on the switch SW in such a state, the control system 1 drives the electric pump 2 to supply the water from the water storage tank 100 to the sedimentation filter 3, the carbon filter 4, and the RO cartridge 5 on the rear side. The first monitor 6 detects the water quality of the water in which the impurities are precipitated by the precipitation filter 3, and outputs the detection result to the control system 1.

The water from the settling filter 3 is filtered by the carbon filter 4 and further purified by the RO cartridge 5 into pure water, which is poured into the water receiving container 9 from the faucet 8 to be provided to the operator. The second monitor 7 detects the quality of pure water from the RO cartridge 5 and outputs the detection result to the control system 1.

The control system 1 detects the reverse osmosis capacity from the RO cartridge 5 based on the detection results output from the first and second monitors 6 and 7, and turns on the replacement indicator lamp L3 based on the detection result. Then, the operator can judge the replacement time of the second monitor 7.

When the water level in the water storage tank 100 is gradually lowered by the water purifying operation and falls below the water supply level, the water supply detection sensor 10S detects this and outputs it to the control system 1. The control system 1 controls to stop the electric pump 2 based on the detection result. Based on the detection result from the water supply detection sensor 10S, the operator recharges the water tank 100 to replenish the water by lighting L2. By this water supply, the full water detection sensor 10F detects that the water level is full. The control system 1 can control the drive of the electric pump 2 on condition that the switch SW is turned on, and can provide the operator with pure water as in the above operation.

[0008]

Since the conventional water purifier is constructed as described above, the RO cartridge 5
In order to determine the service life (replacement time) of the RO cartridge 5, the detection results of the first and second monitors 6 and 7 provided before and after the RO cartridge 5 must be compared and calculated by the control system 1. The water quality has various properties such as soft water and hard water depending on the area, and the RO cartridge 5 is replaced due to the detection error of the first and second monitors 6 and 7 and the calculation error in the comparison calculation of the control system 1. There is a problem that the time cannot be accurately judged. In order to accurately determine the replacement time, the first and second monitors 6 and 7 must be configured with ultra-sensitive sensors, and it is more difficult to accurately execute the arithmetic processing of the control system 1. Since it must be composed of an arithmetic circuit with high computing capacity, the entire device will be expensive and it will be practical as a simple water purification device for general households even if it can handle industrial equipment like semiconductor factory It becomes poor in sex.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a water purifying apparatus which can accurately determine the replacement time of various filtering means and can surely perform a purifying operation. .

[0010]

A water purification apparatus according to the present invention supplies water stored in a water tank to a filtering means via a pump to purify the water, and provides water purified by the filtering means. In a water purifier that returns filtered water to the water storage tank, a water level detection means for detecting that the water stored in the water storage tank is below a predetermined water level for purification, and the water level detection means is below a predetermined water level. The present invention is provided with an integrating means for integrating the number of times that it is detected, and a controlling means for stopping the filtering operation by the filtering means when the integrating means reaches a preset number.

Further, in the water purifying apparatus according to the present invention, if necessary, the integrating means integrates the number of detections only when the level detecting means detects that the level is below a predetermined level due to the driving of the pump. . Further, the water purifying apparatus according to the present invention discharges all the water stored in the water tank when the control means stops the filtering operation, as necessary.

Further, the water purifying apparatus according to the present invention resets the integrated value of the integrating means each time all the water stored in the water storage tank is discharged, if necessary. Furthermore, the water purifying apparatus according to the present invention cumulatively adds the integrated values of the integrating means before and after discharging all the water stored in the water tank, and the addition result reaches the set additional value. In this case, the replacement of the filtering means is instructed.

[0013]

In the present invention, the water level detecting means detects that the water level of the water tank in which the water containing impurities other than the water filtered by the filtering means is refluxed is below the predetermined water level. When the accumulated number reaches a predetermined number, the control means stops the filtering operation of the filtering means, so that the water containing impurities is excessively refluxed. It is possible to prevent the filter from passing through in advance, and prevent deterioration of the filter.

Further, in the present invention, when the water level detecting means detects that the water level has become lower than or equal to the predetermined water level due to the driving of the pump, the integrating means is adapted to integrate the number of detections. Since it is possible to integrate by excluding the decrease, it is possible to minimize the operations of discharging and supplying water in the water tank.

Further, in the present invention, when the control means stops the filtering operation, all the water in the water storage tank is discharged, so that the filtering means does not filter the water containing impurities excessively, and the It is possible to prevent deterioration and continuously maintain the filtration capacity. Further, in the present invention, since the integrated value of the integrating means is reset every time all the water in the water storage tank is discharged, when new water is supplied to the water storage tank, filtration of the new water is performed. The state can be detected.

Further, in the present invention, the integrated value of the integrating means is cumulatively added, and when the addition result reaches the set additional value, the replacement of the filtering means is instructed. The quality of the pure water to be filtered can always be kept high.

[0017]

【Example】

(Embodiment of the present invention) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a control system in the water purification apparatus described in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the water purification apparatus described in FIG.

In each of the above figures, the water purifying apparatus according to this embodiment is similar to the conventional apparatus shown in FIG.
An electric pump 2, a settling filter 3, a carbon filter 4 and an RO cartridge 5 are provided in common, and the configuration of a control system 1 for controlling the driving or stopping of the electric pump 2 is different.

The control system 1 is supplied with water until the switch judgment unit 10 for judging the closed state of the switch SW for activating the apparatus main body and the water level "L" of the water storage tank 100 reach the full level "F". Whether or not there is a full water detection sensor 10F based on the detection result of the full water completion determination unit 11, and the use area for detecting the use area of purified water based on the detection results of the full water detection sensor 10F and the water supply detection sensor 10S Detection unit 12 and the water supply detection sensor 1
An AND circuit 13 that outputs an output pulse by obtaining each AND condition of the detection result of 0S and the drive command of the electric pump 2
And a counter 14 that integrates the output pulses from the AND circuit 13 and resets the integrated value according to the detection result of the drainage detection sensor 10D, and when the integrated value of the counter 14 is "3" and the use area A discharge detection unit 15 that detects the discharge time of the water stored in the water tank 100 when the detection unit 12 determines that the water is in the usage region, an output signal of the discharge detection unit 15, and the switch determination unit. 10
And a drive control unit 16 that controls the drive of the electric pump 2 based on the determination result of 1.

On the side wall of the water storage tank 100, a full water detection sensor 10F is provided at the uppermost step (full water level "F"), a water supply detection sensor 10S is provided at the middle step (water level "S"), and a lowermost step (drainage level). The drainage detection sensor 10D is provided in "D"), and the common electrode GN (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface.
This is a configuration in which D is provided. Water is supplied to the water storage tank 100, and depending on whether the water level “L” is located at the full water level “F”, the water supply level “S”, or the drainage level “D”, the common electrode GND and the full water detection sensor 10F. The water level "L" is detected in the energized state with the water supply detection sensor 10S or the drainage detection sensor 10D.
In addition to the detection of the water level "L" by the electrical communication, each of the levels "F", "S", and "D" is configured to detect the water level "L" by an optical position detector. You can also

Next, the operation of the apparatus of the present embodiment based on the above configuration will be described. First, the control system 1 of this apparatus is initialized (step 1), and the switch determination unit 10 of this control system 1 determines whether or not the switch SW is turned on (step 2). When the switch determination unit 10 determines that the switch SW is in the closed state, the control system 1 turns on the power lamp L0 (step 3).

Here, as a premise, it is assumed that water is supplied to the water storage tank 100 by an operator as in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. The water supply to the water storage tank 100 is full, and the full water detection sensor 10F detects the full water level "F", and the detection result is output to supply water.

With the power lamp L0 lit, the discharge detection unit 15 determines whether the integrated value is "3" or not based on the output from the counter 14 of the control system 1 (step 4). When this integrated value is not "3", that is, when the integrated value is determined to be "0", "1", or "2", the water supply detection sensor 10S detects the water supply level "S" based on the result. Then, the usage area detector 12 determines whether the water level "L" is equal to or lower than the water supply level "S" (step 5).

When the use area detector 12 determines that the water level "L" is not lower than the water supply level "S", the discharge detector 15 causes the drive controller 1 to operate according to the result of the determination.
The drive signal is output to 6. The drive control unit 16 controls the electric pump 2 in the drive state based on the drive signal and the closing signal from the switch determination unit 10 (step 6).
By driving the electric pump 2, pure water is discharged from the faucet 8 to the water receiving container 9 and provided (step 7).

In this way, the water tank 100 is provided by providing pure water.
The water level "L" of the water gradually decreases, but the water level detection sensor 10S detects this water level "L", and based on this detection result, the usage area detector 12 determines whether the water level is "S" or less. If it is determined that the water supply level is not lower than "S", pure water can be provided (step 5,
6, 7).

When it is determined in step 5 that the water level "L" is below the water supply level "S", the control system 1 turns on the water supply lamp L2 and controls the electric pump 2 to a stopped state (step 8). . In the control of the electric pump 2, a signal indicating that it is not the used area is output from the used area detecting unit 12 based on the detection result of the water supply detecting sensor 10S.
The discharge detection unit 15 outputs a stop signal from the drive control unit 16 to stop the electric pump 2.

Further, the detection result from the water supply detection sensor 10S is output to the AND circuit 13, and the AND circuit 1
When the logical product condition of 3 is satisfied, the output pulse is output to the counter 14 and integrated (+1) (step 9). The operator replenishes the water tank 100 with water by means of the water supply indicator lamp L2 turned on in step 8 (step 10).

By this water supply, the water level "L" in the water storage tank 100
Is increased to reach the full water level “F” by the full water detection sensor 10F, and the full water completion determination unit 11 determines based on the detection result (step 11). This water level "L"
Until the water level becomes higher than the full level "F"
2 can be lit continuously to display the water supply status to the operator.

When it is determined in step 11 that the water level "L" is higher than the full water level "F",
The water supply indicator lamp L2 is turned off and the power lamp L0 is also turned off (step 12). The operator can determine that the water supply is sufficient by turning off the water supply display lamp L2. Also, the power lamp L0
By turning off the switch SW, the switch determination unit 10 does not determine whether the switch SW is turned on unless the switch SW is turned on again. That is, the switch SW
By turning on the power again, the faucet 8
The operator can confirm the state in which the water receiving container 9 is properly placed underneath.

In this way, provision of pure water (step 2,
~, 7) and water supply to the water tank 100 (step 8,
~, 12) can be repeated. If the discharge detection unit 15 determines that the integrated value of the counter 14 is “3” in step 4, the discharge detection unit 15 outputs a stop signal to the drive control unit 16 to output the electric pump. 2 is stopped, and the control system 1 turns off the power lamp L0 (step 1
4) Also, the drainage indicator lamp L3 is turned on (step 15).

If the power lamp L0 also serves as an electricity display for the main body, the above step 14 is not necessary. The operator confirms that the drainage indicator lamp L3 is lit, and the operator
All the water stored in 00 is discharged (step 16).
The drainage detection sensor 10D detects the drainage level "D" by discharging all the water, and resets the integrated value "3" of the counter 14 to "0" (step 17). In this way, when the electric pump 2 is driven to reduce the amount of water in the water storage tank 100 to reach the water supply level “S” three times, all the water stored in the water storage tank 100 is discharged. Therefore, the deterioration of the carbon filter 4, particularly the RO cartridge 5, can be suppressed as much as possible.

(Other Embodiments of the Present Invention) In the above embodiment, the precipitation filter 3, the carbon filter 4 and the R filter are used.
Although three types of O cartridge 5 are connected in series,
It can also be applied to a water purification apparatus configured by connecting a single type of cartridge or a plurality of cartridges in parallel.

In the above embodiment, the electric conduction pump 2 is used.
When the water level "L" is changed to the water supply level "S" by driving three times, all the water in the water storage tank 100 is discharged. However, in consideration of the characteristics of the filter and the like that configure the device, It is also possible to preset an arbitrary plurality of times and discharge all the water in the water storage tank 100 at the set number of times.

Further, a drainage counter for integrating the detection results of the drainage detection sensor 10D is provided, and filters such as the sedimentation filter 3, the carbon filter 4 or the RO cartridge 5 are individually or arbitrarily combined based on the integrated value of the drainage counter. It may be configured to display the replacement. Further, the full water detection sensor 10F may be configured to turn on the full water display lamp L1 when the full water level "F" of the water storage tank 100 is detected.

[0035]

As described above, in the present invention, the water level detecting means detects that the water level of the water tank in which water containing impurities other than the water filtered by the filtering means is refluxed is below the predetermined water level. Since the number of times when the water level is lower than or equal to the predetermined water level is integrated by the integrating means, and the control means stops the filtering operation of the filtering means when the number of times of integration reaches the predetermined number, the water containing impurities It can be prevented in advance that the water will be excessively refluxed and will pass through the filtering means, and it is possible to prevent deterioration of the filtering means. Further, in the present invention, when the water level detecting means detects that the water level has become lower than or equal to the predetermined water level by driving the pump, the integrating means is adapted to integrate the number of times of detection, so that the water level may be decreased due to factors other than filtration. Since it can be excluded and added up, there is an effect that the operations of discharging and supplying water from the water storage tank can be minimized. Further, in the present invention, when the control means stops the filtering operation, all the water in the water storage tank is discharged, so that the filtration means does not filter the water containing impurities excessively, and the deterioration of the filtration means is prevented. In addition, it has the effect that the filtration capacity can be continuously maintained. Further, in the present invention, since the integrated value of the integrating means is reset every time all the water in the water storage tank is discharged, when new water is supplied to the water storage tank, filtration of the new water is performed. It has an effect that the state can be detected. Further, in the present invention, the integrated value of the integrating means is cumulatively added, and when the result of the addition reaches the set additional value, the replacement of the filtering means is instructed. It has an effect that the quality of pure water can be always kept high.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a water purification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a control system for a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the water purifying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a conventional water purifier.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control System 2 Electric Pump 3 Sedimentation Filter 4 Carbon Filter 5 RO Cartridge 6 First Monitor 7 Second Monitor 8 Faucet 9 Water Receiving Container 10 Switch Judgment Section 10F Full Water Detection Sensor 10S Water Supply Detection Sensor 10D Discharge Detection Sensor 11 Full Water Completion Judgment unit 12 Use area detection unit 13 AND circuit 14 Counter 15 Ejection time detection unit 16 Drive control unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. The water stored in the water storage tank is supplied to a filtering means via a pump to purify the water, the water purified by the filtering means is provided, and the filtered water is returned to the water storage tank for reflux. In the water purifying device, the water level detection means for detecting that the water stored in the water storage tank is below a predetermined water level that can be purified, and the number of times that the water level detection means is detected below the predetermined water level. A water purifying apparatus comprising: an integrating means for integrating, and a controlling means for stopping the filtering operation by the filtering means when the integrating means and the number of times of integration reach a preset number of times. 2. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the accumulating unit integrates the number of detections only when the level detecting unit detects that the level is below a predetermined level by driving the pump. Water purification device to be. 3. The water purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the control means stops the filtering operation, all the water stored in the water storage tank is discharged. . 4. The water purification apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the integrated value of the integrating means is reset every time all the water stored in the water tank is discharged. 5. The water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein cumulative values of integrating means before and after discharging all the water stored in the water tank are cumulatively added, and the addition is performed. A water purifier characterized by instructing replacement of the filtering means when a result reaches a set addition value.