JPH08197073A - Mineral water production device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a mineral water production device enabling to obtain hot mineral water containing a mineral component in the inside of one storage container, and having high sanitary safety. CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with a main body case 2, a storage container 6 housed in the main body case 2, at least two circulation ports 10, 11 attached on the storage container 6, a circulation pump 12 for circulating the water in the storage container 6 through a mineral water production filter 7 connected with a circulation port in one side, a discharge port 13 formed on the storage container 6, a water feed pipe with one end connected with the discharge port 13 and having a water feed port 16 on the outside of the main body case 2 on the other end, a water feed pump for feeding mineral water from the water feed port 16 into the storage container via the water feed pipe, and a heating body 9 is installed on the lower part of the storage container 6. Thus, the hot water containing a large quantity of mineral component is produced in one storage container.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mineral water generator for converting drinking water such as tap water into water containing minerals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional mineral water generator, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a mineral water producing apparatus disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-95392. This mineral water production apparatus has a water tank 1 having an opening 2 that can be opened and closed at the top.
A tubular container 3 is attached to the central part of the inside, and below the tubular container 3, the water stored in the space portion 4 of the water tank 1 is sucked from the bottom of the water tank 1 and sent to the bottom of the upper cylindrical container 3. The submersible pump 5 is housed, and an activated carbon filter layer 6 is provided above the submersible pump 5, that is, between the submersible pump 5 and the tubular container 3.
And a water activated filtration device 7 containing porous natural stone,
The water sent by the submersible pump 5 passes through the activated carbon filter layer 6 and the water activation filtration device 7, and is again sent from the top of the cylindrical container 3 to the space 4 of the water tank 1 for circulation.
The mineral water thus obtained is taken out from the faucet 8 provided at the bottom of the water tank 1 at any time.

[0003]

In the conventional mineral water generator as described above, when it is desired to use the generated mineral water as hot water, it is necessary to transfer the mineral water to another electric water heater or the like and do not use it as hot water. It must not be done, and it was troublesome and troublesome.

Further, in general, tap water contains residual chlorine of 0.1 PPM or more in order to maintain the water quality, but this residual chlorine is removed by passing the tap water through the mineral extraction cartridge. There was a sanitary problem that various bacteria in the air invaded and easily propagated depending on the storage condition of the mineral water stored in the storage container.

[0005]

In a mineral water generator according to the present invention, a main body case, a storage container housed in the main body case, at least two circulation ports provided in the storage container, and A mineral water production filter connected to one of the circulation ports, a circulation pump connected between the two circulation ports and circulating water in the storage container via the mineral water production filter, and a circulation pump provided in the storage container. Discharge port, a water supply pipe having one end connected to the discharge port and the other end having a water supply port outside the main body case, and a water supply pump for supplying mineral water from the water supply port through the water supply pipe into the storage container And a heating element is provided below the storage container.

Further, a switching valve is provided in the water supply pipe, a second water supply pipe communicating from the switching valve to the water supply port is provided, and a hollow fiber membrane filter is arranged in the second water supply pipe. .

Further, the hollow fiber membrane filter is provided above the full water position of the storage container.

A check valve is provided on the outlet side of the hollow fiber membrane filter.

Further, the storage container is provided with a temperature sensing element for detecting the temperature of water in the storage container, and when the temperature sensing element detects a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the switching valve causes the second water supply pipe side to move. It is configured such that it is closed and the first water supply pipe is connected to the water supply pump.

Further, an ultraviolet sterilizing lamp is provided in the storage container, and the ultraviolet sterilizing lamp is adapted to be turned on in a non-operating state of the heating element.

[0011]

In the mineral water generator configured as described above, the water stored in the storage container is heated by the heating element provided in the lower part of the storage container, and this high-temperature water is passed through the mineral water generation filter. Circulate in the storage container. Then, the hot water containing the generated mineral content is sent from the discharge port through the water supply pipe to the water supply port by the water supply pump and can be taken out at any time.

When the mineral water with the heating element turned off is in the water state, the switching valve is switched to the first water supply pipe side, and the generated mineral water is taken out from the water supply port through the hollow fiber membrane filter. Also, when the mineral water with the heating element turned on is hot water, the switching valve switches to the side of the second water supply pipe that does not have a hollow fiber membrane filter, and the high-temperature mineral water is directly supplied through the second water supply pipe to the water supply port. Taken out more.

By disposing the hollow fiber membrane filter above the position of the full surface of the storage container, hot water does not enter the hollow fiber membrane filter through the water supply pipe.

Further, the check valve provided on the outlet side of the hollow fiber membrane filter is closed during the supply of hot water containing minerals to prevent the check valve from entering the hollow fiber membrane filter.

Further, a temperature sensitive element in the storage container detects the temperature of the mineral water in the storage container, and when the temperature of the mineral water reaches a predetermined value or more, a switching valve is automatically provided with a hollow fiber membrane filter which is weak against heat. Not switch the water supply route to the water supply pipe. Then, take out mineral water from the water supply port. Also, if the temperature sensing element detects the temperature of the mineral water in the storage container as room temperature, the switching valve automatically switches the water supply path to the water supply pipe provided with the hollow fiber membrane filter, and the mineral water is passed through the hollow fiber membrane filter. And pass mineral water through the water supply port.

Further, when the heating element is not operating, the ultraviolet germicidal lamp provided in the storage container is automatically turned on,
The bacteria are killed and the bacteria from the outside are sterilized to prevent the growth of mineral water in the storage container.

[0017]

1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a mineral water generator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1, in which 1 is a main body, a main body case 2 and It comprises an upper lid 3 which is attached to the upper edge of the main body case 2 by a hinge so as to be openable and closable, and an operation panel 4 having a control board inside. Reference numeral 5 denotes an inner case that is stored and fixed in the main body case 2, and 6 is a bottomed storage container that stores the water stored in the inner case 5. Inside the storage container, a filter 7 for generating mineral water and an upper portion are provided. Further, an ultraviolet germicidal lamp 8 and a heating element 9 for heating the stored water are installed on the outer bottom portion. Reference numeral 10 denotes a first circulation port having an attachment base provided with an internal thread on the upper part thereof, which is housed in the recess 10a of the storage container 6 through a packing and has a water passage fixed by a nut, and 11 denotes an upper part. The second circulation port having the water passage that is accommodated in the recess 11a through the packing and is fixed by the nut.
A circulation pump 12 having a small water supply flow rate and a high water supply pressure is connected between the circulation ports 10 and 11. Reference numeral 13 is a discharge port having an upper portion housed in the recess 13a through a packing and having a water passage fixed by a nut. 14 is a discharge port 1
A water supply pump for supplying water from 3 to the water supply pipe 15 is a water supply port for supplying mineral water supplied from the water supply pump 14 and passing through the water supply pipe 15. Reference numeral 17 is a full water scale provided in the storage container 6.

Next, FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the mineral water production filter 7.
Consists of a cylindrical main body 21 having an opening at the bottom and a bottom plate 22 that closes this opening. A mounting port 23 having a male screw on the outer periphery is projectingly provided at the center of the bottom plate 22, and a water passage is provided at the center. 24 is formed, and a check valve 25 is provided in the water passage. Then, the male screw of the mounting port 23 is screwed into the female screw of the second circulation port 11 provided in the storage container 6 and is detachably mounted.

A non-woven fabric filter 26a, an activated carbon layer 27 for removing chlorine from tap water, a support frame 28, and a non-woven fabric filter 26b are arranged in the cylindrical main body 21 from below. Reference numeral 29 denotes a barley stone layer for eluting minerals, which is laminated on the non-woven fabric filter 26b, and 30 denotes a barley stone layer 2
9 is a natural coral layer laminated on 9, 26c is a non-woven filter disposed on the natural coral layer 30, 31 is an activated carbon layer laminated on the non-woven filter 26c, and 32 is a non-woven filter 26d. Main body 21 for mounting
A support frame fixed to the top plate of the main body 21 and a plurality of water jet ports 33 provided on the top plate of the main body 21.

First, the upper lid 3 is opened, tap water is poured into the storage container 6 from the upper part to the full scale 17 and the upper lid 3 is closed, the power switch 4a of the operation panel 4 is turned on, and a desired amount of minerals is supplied. Press an operation key (not shown) for setting a timer (circulation time) so that water (see FIG. 3) can be obtained. As a result, the water in the storage container 6 is heated by the heating element 9 provided in the storage container 6, and the temperature gradually rises, and at the same time, the circulation pump 12 is operated to move the second circulation port 11 to the first circulation port 10 at the same time. After that, it is sent to the mineral water production filter 7.

Mineral water producing filter 7 as described above
The hot water in the storage container 6 from the second circulation port 11 to the water passage 24
The non-woven fabric filter 26a, the activated carbon layer 27,
The non-woven fabric filter 26b, the barley stone layer 29, the natural coral layer 30, the non-woven fabric filter 26c, and the activated carbon layer 31 are passed in this order to remove residual chlorine and impurities contained in tap water, and calcium, magnesium, sodium, Minerals such as potassium are eluted. After passing through the activated carbon layer 31, the generated hot water containing minerals is ejected from the ejection port 33 and stored in the storage container 6. The hot water containing the mineral content returned to the storage container 6 is circulated to the second circulation port 11 by the circulation pump 12. The circulation pump 1 recirculates the mineral water producing filter 7 as described above.
Repeat with 2. If the circulation pump 12 is stopped to stop the circulation of the hot water, the hot water in the mineral water production filter 7 may flow back to the second circulation port 11 side. Provided in the circulation port 11 of 2,
The water passage 24 is closed.

In this way, the hot water in the storage container 6 is sent to the mineral water production filter 7, passes through the mineral water production filter 7, is ejected from the ejection port 33 into the storage container 6, and is again mineral water production filter 7. The circulation of feeding to is repeated for 20 minutes, for example.

In this case, the mineral water of the hot water (mineral hot water) spouted from the spout 33 has a large amount of dissolved oxygen when it comes into contact with the air, so that the mineral water producing filter 7 is spouted so as to obtain a delicious and refreshing mineral hot water. It is desirable that the outlet 7a be located above the full-water scale 17.

The mineral water produced by repeating the circulation as described above is connected to the main body case 2 on the operation panel 4.
By the water supply switch 4b provided in the above, water is supplied from the discharge port 13 provided at the bottom of the storage container 6 to the water supply pipe 15 by the water supply pump 14, and the mineral water is supplied from the water supply port 16 at a constant water supply amount.

Furthermore, when the finished mineral water is not used immediately but stored, the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 8
Since it is sterilized by irradiation from, it is stored while preventing the invasion of various bacteria into the mineral water.

If the water stored in the storage container 6 is circulated through the mineral water producing filter 7 while the heating element 9 is heating the water, the time for heating the water to turn it into hot water can be shortened.
When the stored water is heated and the hot water is circulated through the mineral water producing filter 7 as in this embodiment, the higher the water temperature is, the higher the mineral temperature becomes, as shown in the graph of change in mineral elution amount with water temperature in FIG. Since the amount of the elution of the mineral is large, it is possible to generate mineral water of hot water having a higher mineral content. It is also possible to circulate the mineral water producing filter 7 in the water state and heat the completed mineral water with the heating element 9 to form hot water containing minerals.

Further, when the hot water containing the generated mineral content is stored, it can be stored in the hot water state by keeping the heating element operating.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the mineral water generator showing the second embodiment. In the figure, 1 to 17 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted. Reference numeral 15a denotes another water supply pipe that is newly provided in parallel with the water supply pipe 15 and has one end facing the inside of the operation panel 4 and opening. 39
Is a connection pipe having an upper end facing the inner side of the operation panel 4 and a lower end communicating with the water supply pipe 15, and a check valve 8 for stopping the flow from the lower end toward the upper end is provided therein. Reference numeral 40 is a temperature-sensing element provided at the bottom of the storage container 6, 41 is a switching valve whose inlet side is connected to the water supply pump 14 and whose outlet side is connected to the water supply pipe 15 and the water supply pipe 15a.
a is connected to the water pump 14, and when the temperature sensing element 40 detects a temperature lower than a certain temperature, the water supply pipe 15 is connected to the water pump 14. Reference numeral 42 denotes a hollow fiber membrane filter that is detachably connected across the water supply pipe 15a and the upper end of the connection pipe 39 inside the operation panel 4, and the detailed structure thereof is shown in FIG. In the figure, 50 is a case with an open top, and two mounting legs 51a having a water passage in the bottom,
A protrusion 51b is provided, and an O-ring 52 is attached to the outer periphery of the protrusion 51b. The inside of the case 50 is divided into a large chamber 53 and a small chamber 54, and the mounting legs 51a are attached to the chamber 53.
Further, the mounting legs 51b communicate with the chamber 54, respectively. 5
5 is a non-woven fabric covering the upper opening of the case 50, and 56 is the chamber 5
A plurality of hollow fiber membranes made of polyester or the like disposed in the upper part of the hollow fiber membrane 3 are bundled at their upper ends to form a urethane adhesive 57, for example.
Thus, the case 50 is sealed by being adhesively fixed to the inner wall of the opening. A cap 58 covers the opening of the case 50, and is fixed to the opening edge of the case 50 by, for example, ultrasonic bonding.

Hollow fiber membrane filter 4 constructed as described above
2, the mounting legs 51a and 51b are detachably attached to the water supply pipe 15a and the connection pipe 39 by the O-ring 52 so as to be kept watertight.

The operation will be described. First, on / off of the heating element 9 is selected by the heating element switch provided on the operation panel 4 for turning on / off the heating element 9. Then, the circulation pump 12 is driven as in the above-described embodiment to store the storage container 6.
The water inside is circulated in the mineral water production filter 7.
At the same time that the circulation pump 12 is driven, the temperature sensitive element 40 operates to detect the water temperature in the storage container 6. When it is detected that the water temperature is normal temperature, that is, when the heating element switch is off, the switching valve 41 switches the water supply path to the water supply pipe 15a and connects this to the water supply pump 14, so that the mineral water in the storage container 6 is Is sterilized by passing through the hollow fiber membrane filter 42 and is supplied from the water supply port 16.

Next, when the temperature sensing element 40 detects a temperature above a low temperature, that is, when the heating element switch is turned on and there is hot water in the storage container 6, the switching valve 41 connects the water supply path to the water supply pipe 15. By switching and connecting this to the water supply pump 14, the mineral water is directly supplied from the water supply port 16.

At this time, the irradiation from the ultraviolet germicidal lamp 8 is
When the temperature sensing element 40 detects that the inside of the storage container 6 is mineral water, the irradiation is automatically performed. Alternatively, the irradiation may be performed at any time by a manual operation using a switch or the like.

The hollow fiber membrane filter 42 is arranged above the full scale 17 so that mineral water does not enter the hollow fiber membrane filter 42 through the water supply pipe 15 when the water pump 14 is not operating. Since the check valve 48 is provided between the outlet side of the fiber membrane filter 42 and the water supply pipe 15, hot water containing minerals does not enter the hollow fiber membrane filter 42 from the side of the water supply pipe 15 and is thermally activated. It does not damage the weak hollow fiber membrane filter 42.

Example 3. Further, in the second embodiment, the temperature sensing element 40 and the switching valve 41 are interlocked with each other. However, when the temperature sensing element 40 is not provided and a switching switch for switching the switching valve 40 is provided and the heating element 9 is turned on, The switching valve 41 may be switched by a switching switch so as to switch to the water supply pipe 15. Further, the switching valve may be automatically switched to the water supply pipe 15 when the heating element 9 is in the ON state.

[0035]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

By providing the heating element in the storage container,
Since the water stored in the storage container can be heated in the storage container, it is possible to save the trouble of transferring it to another container to heat it and circulating hot hot water through the mineral water generation filter. Since the elution of minerals from natural coral or the like forming the mineral water producing filter is increased, hot water containing a large amount of minerals can be easily obtained in one storage container (see FIG. 7). In addition, the effect of sterilizing various bacteria can be obtained at the same time by heating with a heating element.

A hollow fiber membrane, which is weak against heat, is provided by providing a switch of a heating element and switching a two water supply pipes in tandem with ON / OFF to prevent hot water from passing through the hollow fiber membrane filter. It is possible to obtain an easy-to-use mineral water generator that can prevent the filter from being damaged by heat and can generate both hot water and mineral-containing water with the same mineral water generator.

The temperature sensing element detects the water temperature in the storage container, and the switching valve that switches the water supply pipe in conjunction with the detection result prevents hot water from passing through the hollow fiber membrane filter. The membrane filter can be protected from damage due to heat.

By arranging the hollow fiber membrane filter above the full scale, when the hot water containing the generated mineral is stored in the storage container for a long time, this hot water penetrates into the hollow fiber membrane filter, which is weak against heat, from the water supply pipe. It is possible to prevent the hollow fiber membrane filter from being damaged by heat.

By providing a check valve on the outlet side of the hollow fiber membrane filter that closes when hot water containing minerals is supplied, backflow of hot water containing minerals from the water supply pipe to the hollow fiber membrane filter is prevented, and heat is prevented. It is possible to prevent breakage of the hollow fiber membrane filter, which is very weak.

By irradiating the ultraviolet sterilizing lamp when the heating element is not operating, the sterilization of mineral water is performed by the ultraviolet sterilizing lamp instead of the sterilization by heating the heating element, and the mineral is safe and hygienic. Water can be stored.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a mineral water generator that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mineral water generator that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing changes in the number of circulations of the mineral water producing filter of the mineral water producing device according to one embodiment of the present invention and the amount of mineral elution.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a mineral water producing filter of a mineral water producing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a mineral water generator showing Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hollow fiber membrane filter in the mineral water generator showing Example 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing changes in water temperature and mineral elution amount in the storage container of the mineral water generator of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional mineral water production device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 main body, 2 main body case, 3 upper lid, 4 operation panel, 5 inner case, 6 storage container, 7 mineral water generation filter, 8 ultraviolet germicidal lamp, 9 heat generating element, 10 first circulation port, 10a recessed section, 11 second Circulation mouth, 11
a recess, 12 circulation pump, 13 discharge port, 13a
Recess, 14 water pump, 15 water pipe, 15a water pipe, 16 water inlet, 17 full scale, 21 main body, 22
Bottom plate, 23 mounting port, 24 water passage, 25 check valve,
26 non-woven fabric filter, 27 activated carbon, 28 support frame, 29 barley stone, 30 natural coral, 31 activated carbon, 15
a water supply pipe, 40 temperature sensing element, 41 switching valve, 42 hollow fiber membrane filter, 50 case, 51 mounting leg, 52
O-ring, 53 chambers, 54 chambers, 55 non-woven fabric, 56
Hollow fiber membrane, 57 urethane adhesive, 58 cap.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location C02F 1/68 L Z 540 A B D 1/44 B

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A main body case, a storage container accommodated in the main body case, and at least 2 provided in the storage container.
Two circulation ports, a mineral water production filter connected to one of the circulation ports, and a circulation pump connected between the two circulation ports and circulating water in the storage container through the mineral water production filter. A discharge port provided in the storage container, a water supply pipe having one end connected to the discharge port and the other end having a water supply port outside the main body case, and the mineral water is supplied to the storage container through the water supply pipe. A mineral water generator comprising a water supply pump for supplying water from a mouth, and a heating element provided below the storage container. 2. A water supply pipe is provided with a switching valve, a second water supply pipe communicating from the switching valve to the water supply port is provided, and a hollow fiber membrane filter is provided in the second water supply pipe. The mineral water generator according to claim 1. 3. The hollow fiber membrane filter is provided above the full-filled position of the storage container.
The described mineral water generator. 4. The mineral water generator according to claim 2, wherein a check valve is provided on the outlet side of the hollow fiber membrane filter. 5. The storage container is provided with a temperature-sensitive element for detecting the temperature of water in the storage container, and when the temperature-sensitive element detects a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the switching valve causes the second water supply pipe side to move. The mineral water generator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the mineral water generator is closed and the first water supply pipe is connected to a water supply pump. 6. An ultraviolet germicidal lamp is provided in the storage container,
2. The mineral water generator according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet germicidal lamp operates in a non-operating state of the heating element.