JPH09248564A - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent propagation of various bacteria at the downstream side of an absorbent. SOLUTION: In a water purifier in which water is introduced into a container 5 through a water supply pipe 3 connected with a faucet 1 of city water via a three-way cock 2 and harmful substance contained in the water is adsorbed with an adsorbent stored in the container 5 and removed, a switching valve 15 for dividing an outlet of a water discharge pipe 12 for discharging the water removed the harmful substance with the adsorbent into a water discharge port side 16 and a water discharge pipe side 17, is provided, and the switching valve 15 is switched to the water discharge pipe side 17 at a time of boiling the adsorbent and regenerating it, and boiling steam of the adsorbent is discharged through the water discharge pipe 12. Thus, pipe lines at the downstream side of the adsorbent are sterilized with high temp. steam at every time of boiling the adsorbent, and the propagation of various bacteria 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 purifier that is connected to a water supply source such as a water tap or a pump and that removes harmful substances in water such as residual chlorine by adsorbing them with an adsorbent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a piping structure of a conventional water purifier,
Particularly, in the case shown in the figure, the one in an ion water generator in which an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing water is installed in the latter stage of the water purifier is shown. In FIG. 4, a water supply pipe 3 of a water purifier connected to a faucet 1 of a water supply via a three-way cock 2 passes through a filter 4 composed of a hollow fiber membrane for removing dirt and bacteria in the water, and a container 5
Is connected to the water inlet. Although not shown, the container 5 contains an adsorbent for adsorbing and removing harmful substances such as residual chlorine and odorous components in water. In addition, at the bottom of the container 5,
A heater 6 is provided as a heating device for boiling the adsorbent therein. The three-way cock 2 can be switched between the above-mentioned water purifier side, closing and raw water outlet side for taking out tap water as it is.

A three-way valve 7 is provided at the water outlet of the container 5, a water discharge pipe 8 is connected to one of the connection ports, and an electrolytic cell 9 is connected to the end of the water discharge pipe 8. Electrolyzer 9
Is for electrolyzing water to generate alkaline water and acidic water, and the generated alkaline water and acidic water are guided by a pipe through a four-way valve 10 to a water discharge pipe 12 or a drain pipe 13 opening to a sink 11. It is designed so that it can be eaten. The four-way valve 10 discharges alkaline water and acidic water according to its switching position.
2 or the drain pipe 13 is selectively distributed, or both the alkaline water and the acidic water are guided to either the water discharge pipe 12 or the drain pipe 13 at the same time.

The other connection port of the three-way valve 7 is commonly connected to the drain pipe 13 via the exhaust pipe 14. Here, the three-way valve 7 switches the outlet of the container 5 to either the electrolytic cell 9 side or the exhaust pipe 14 side for communication, and in this case, the three-way valve 7 is composed of a thermo valve and is always connected. (Through water) communicates with the electrolytic cell 9 side. Then, as will be described later, when the adsorbent is boiled, the temperature rise of the container 5 is sensed and automatically switched, and the water outlet of the container 5 is communicated with the exhaust pipe 14 side.

Now, in the above-mentioned ion water generator,
When the faucet 1 is opened in a state where the three-way cock 2 is switched to the water purifier side, the supplied tap water passes through the filter 6 as indicated by a solid arrow, and dust and germs are removed. Next, it enters the container 5 and the residual chlorine and odorous components are adsorbed by the adsorbent to become fresh water. This clear water is sent to the electrolytic cell 9 via the three-way valve 7, and is decomposed therein into alkaline water and acidic water. One of these generated water is taken out from the water discharge pipe 12 and used, and the other is discharged from the drain pipe 13 according to the purpose.
When it is desired to take out fresh water as it is, the energization of the electrolytic cell 9 is stopped and all the water is taken out from the water discharge pipe 12. Also, once all the water that had accumulated at the start of water flow was drained 1
Discharge from 3.

By the way, the activity of the adsorbent decreases with the passage of time. In that case, the adsorbent such as activated carbon is boiled to evaporate the moisture in the adsorbent so that the adsorbed harmful substances are mixed with water vapor. It is possible to reproduce by releasing it to Therefore, the water supply is stopped at an appropriate time and the heater 6 is energized to boil the adsorbent in the container 5. that time,
The generated water vapor containing harmful substances is guided to the exhaust pipe 14 by the three-way valve 7 which is automatically switched by detecting the temperature rise of the container 5, and is discharged from the drain pipe 13 as shown by the broken line arrow.

[0007]

In the above-mentioned conventional water purifier, since the chlorine content has been removed from the water that has passed through the adsorbent, various bacteria are easily proliferated in a water state where the water flow has stopped, and It is conceivable that the bacteria may move to the wall of the pipe and propagate there, and as a result, water contaminated by the bacteria may be discharged. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the growth of bacteria on the downstream side of the adsorbent container of the water purifier.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention stores an adsorbent in a container equipped with a heating device and removes harmful substances contained in water introduced from a water supply source through a water supply pipe. After adsorbing to the adsorbent and removing it, the water is discharged through a water discharge pipe, while the adsorbent is boiled using the heating device at an appropriate time, and the adsorbed harmful substance is discharged together with water vapor. In the water purifier configured as described above, a switching valve that divides the outlet of the water discharge pipe into a water discharge side and a drainage side is provided, and while the adsorbent is boiling, the changeover valve is switched to the drainage side so that water vapor is discharged through the water discharge pipe. Shall be By discharging the steam during the boiling of the adsorbent through the water discharge pipe in this manner, every time the adsorbent is boiled, the pipes and parts on the downstream side are disinfected with high-temperature steam, and the growth of bacteria is suppressed.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in an ionized water generator similar to the conventional example of FIG. 1 is different from FIG. 2 in that the three-way valve 7 and the exhaust pipe 14 are omitted and the water outlet of the container 5 is connected only to the electrolytic cell 9 by the water discharge pipe 8 and the outlet is connected to the water discharge pipe 12. The other structure is the same as that of the conventional example of FIG. 4 in that a switching valve 15 that is divided into a water discharge side and a water discharge side is provided, and a water discharge port 16 and a drain pipe 17 are connected to the respective connection ports. In FIG. 1, the switching valve 15 is switched to the water discharge port 16 side when water is passed, and the four-way valve 10 is switched to a desired position to take out alkaline water, acidic water, or fresh water.

On the other hand, when the adsorbent is boiled, the switching valve 15 is switched to the drain port 17 side while the faucet 1 is closed and the water supply is stopped, and the four-way valve 10 is connected to the water discharge pipe 12 by both pipes from the electrolytic cell 9. The heater 6 is energized by switching to a position where it can communicate. As a result, the water vapor generated by the boiling of the adsorbent is discharged from the discharge port 17 through the water discharge pipe 8, the electrolytic cell 9, its outlet pipe, the four-way valve 10, the water discharge pipe 12 and the switching valve 15 as shown by the broken line arrow. It In the meantime, high temperature steam flushes and disinfects the piping on the downstream side of the adsorbent and the electrolytic cell 9. When the regeneration of the adsorbent is completed, the heater 6 is stopped, the faucet 1 is opened, and the four-way valve 10 and the switching valve 15 are left at the switching positions for a suitable time, for example, about 3 minutes, and water is discharged together with the steam. Clean the adherence of harmful substances.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the above-mentioned boiling and regenerating work of the adsorbent is automated. In FIG. 2, the four-way valve 10 and the switching valve 15 are both electromagnetic valves, and a water passage sensor 18 for detecting the presence or absence of water passage is added in the middle of the water supply pipe 3. Four-way valve 10 and switching valve 1
The switching operation of 5 is controlled by the control unit 19 together with the energization of the heater 7. Hereinafter, the control flow of the control unit 19 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 3, for example, once a day, it is checked whether the regeneration time of the adsorbent has come (step S1), and when the regeneration time comes, the operation mode is set to the regeneration mode and the normal push button operation is prohibited (step S1). S2), the four-way valve 10 is switched to a position where both pipes from the electrolytic cell 9 communicate with the water discharge pipe 16, and the switching valve 15
Is switched to the drainage side and fixed (step S3).

Then, the heater 6 is turned on (step S
4) It is checked whether or not the time required for the moisture contained in the adsorbent to evaporate sufficiently, for example, 2 hours has elapsed (step S
5). After 2 hours, the heater 6 is turned off to stop boiling (step S6). After that, when the water passage sensor 18 detects that the faucet 1 is opened and water is passed (step S7), the four-way valve 10 and the switching valve 15 are maintained at the same positions and brought into contact with water vapor containing harmful substances. Electrolyzer 9
And pipes are washed (step S8). Then, it is checked whether or not a sufficient time for cleaning, for example, 3 minutes has elapsed (step S9). After 3 minutes have elapsed, the operation mode is returned to the water discharge mode, and the desired water is operated by the push button operation of the operation panel (not shown). The regeneration process is completed so that (clean water, alkaline water, acidic water) can be taken out (step S
10).

[0013]

According to the present invention, since the boiling vapor of the adsorbent, which has been conventionally discharged from the drain pipe as it is, can be utilized for the disinfection of the downstream of the adsorbent, the chlorine content is removed while the water purifier is stopped. Danger of the growth of bacteria in the water is prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a piping system diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a piping system diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the water purifier of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a piping system diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Faucet 2 3-way cock 3 Water supply pipe 4 Filter 5 Adsorbent container 6 Heater 8 Water discharge pipe 9 Electrolyzer 10 Four-way valve 12 Water discharge pipe 13 Discharge pipe 15 Switching valve 16 Water discharge port 17 Drain pipe

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Murahashi 2-1, 1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture Totoki Equipment Co., Ltd. (72) Tomoaki Yamaura, Nakajima, Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 2 No. 1-1 No. 1 Totoki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masakazu Oshima 1-1 No. Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An adsorbent is housed in a container equipped with a heating device, and after removing harmful substances contained in water introduced from a water supply source through a water supply pipe by adsorbing and removing the adsorbent, the water discharge pipe. In the water purifier in which the adsorbent is boiled using the heating device at an appropriate time to discharge the adsorbed harmful substances together with the steam, the outlet of the water discharge pipe is connected to the discharge side. Provided with a switching valve that is divided into the drain side and switching the switching valve to the drain side during the boiling of the adsorbent,
A water purifier characterized in that steam is discharged through the water discharge pipe.