JPH11333470A - Mineral water maker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the growth of bacteria by providing a mineral water maker constituted so that hollow yarn membranes are arranged before and after a mineral dissolving device and bacteria are prevented not only from entering a mineral material but also from issuing from the mineral water maker. SOLUTION: A mineral water maker has a water purifying cartridge 2 for removing inferior components from raw water, a mineral dissolving device 4 adding mineral components, a hardness setting means 3 allowing a user to set favorable hardness, a control means 5 controlling the mineral dissolving device 4 corresponding to the set hardness to make mineral water with the set hardness and a bacteria removing means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mineral water regulator for adding mineral components to tap water, which is used for ordinary households and businesses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As interest in health has increased, water purifiers, alkali ion water purifiers, mineral water purifiers, and the like that improve the quality of raw water such as tap water and well water have become widespread.

A water purifier is mainly composed of activated carbon and hollow fiber membranes. The activated carbon removes defective components such as free chlorine dissolved in water, and the hollow fiber membranes are suspended in water such as garbage and various germs. It acts to remove the components that are present.

[0004] In addition to the function of the raw water tank, the alkali ion water tank has a function of adding minerals and a function of electrolyzing water. That is, calcium lactate, calcium glycerophosphate, or the like is added to water that has passed through the mineral layer. The water to which the mineral component has been added is further electrolyzed to process it into acidic water and alkaline water. The acidic water has an astringent effect, and the alkaline water has chronic diarrhea, indigestion,
Efficacy has been recognized against abnormal gastrointestinal fermentation, antacid, gastric acid excess, etc.

[0005] A mineral water conditioner is provided with activated carbon and a mineral-containing substance such as calcium carbonate to remove defective components dissolved in water and to further add a mineral component.

[0006]

However, the conventional alkali ion water conditioner generates alkaline ionized water after passing through the hollow fiber membrane, so that various germs generated after the hollow fiber membrane flow down. There were challenges. In addition, since mineral water is generated through the hollow fiber membrane after removing mineral water to remove various germs, defective components such as iron rust and mold odor contained in tap water and the like enter the mineral material. In the event that organic matter or the like enters, the mineral material may become a hotbed of various bacteria. In addition, since the hollow fiber membrane is arranged at the last stage, when the mineral water of high hardness is generated, the hollow fiber membrane is clogged with fine powder and the like, so that it is difficult to increase the hardness, and there is a problem that the amount of water passing is reduced. there were.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and comprises placing a hollow fiber membrane before and after a mineral dissolving device, without adding various bacteria to the mineral material, and
It is a mineral water purifier that does not come out from the mineral water purifier, and realizes a mineral water purifier that prevents various germs.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 comprises a water purification cartridge for removing defective components from raw water, a mineral dissolving device for adding mineral components, and a hardness setting means for setting a user's preferred hardness. A mineral water dispenser having control means for controlling the mineral dissolving device according to the set hardness and generating mineral water having the set hardness, and germ removing means for removing germs and the like; Passed through a water purification cartridge composed of activated carbon and hollow fiber membrane,
In addition, a mineral water dispenser is arranged so as not to enter the bait of various germs and to dispose a hollow fiber membrane after the mineral dissolving device so as not to emit various germs.

The invention described in claim 2 has at least two features.
It is a mineral water dispenser in which a germ removing means for removing germs installed for each set hardness and a switching means for switching the germ removing means for each set hardness are arranged, and the raw water is activated carbon and hollow fiber membranes. No bacteria enter the mineral dissolution device through the constructed water purification cartridge, and no food for the bacteria is entered. The mineral water conditioner is designed to increase the response speed and eliminate various bacteria.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notifying means for instructing washing of the germ removing means constituted by a hollow fiber membrane or the like, and the washing is notified by the notifying means after the mineral water is generated, whereby the hollow fiber is notified. The mineral water conditioner is designed to reduce clogging of the membrane.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the clogging of the hollow fiber membrane is reduced by changing the cleaning time by the notification means for changing the cleaning time of the germ removal means in accordance with the hardness of the generated mineral water. It is a mineral water purifier.

[0012] The invention described in claim 5 is a mineral water purifier having an informing means for changing the washing time of the germ removing means in accordance with the total flow rate of the generated mineral water.
This is to realize a mineral water conditioner that takes measures to prevent clogging of the hollow fiber membrane at the last stage.

[0013] The invention described in claim 6 is a mineral water purifier having a clock function and a notification means for instructing cleaning at regular intervals, thereby preventing clogging of the hollow fiber membrane at the final stage. This is to realize a mineral water purifier that has done.

[0014]

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. The mineral water purifier 1 of the present embodiment has a water purification cartridge 2 composed of activated carbon and hollow fiber membranes for removing chalky, musty odor, and trihalomethane from raw water such as well water and tap water, and a user-selected hardness. Hardness setting means 3 to be set
And a mineral dissolving device 4 for adding minerals, a control means 5 for controlling the amount of minerals added to the hardness specified by the hardness setting means 3, and mineral water to which minerals are added, in the event that germs are generated However, it is composed of a hollow fiber membrane 6 which is a germ removing means for removing germs and a discharge port 7 for discharging mineral water.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.
When the user sets a desired hardness in the hardness setting means 3 and opens a tap, for example, and presses a switch (not shown), the mineral water regulator 1 starts operating. That is, the mineral water conditioner 1 converts the raw water supplied from the tap into hardness setting means 3.
It is supplied as mineral water having a hardness set to.

The raw water flowing from the raw water inlet passes through the water purification cartridge 2 to remove lime, mold odor, trihalomethane, rust and the like. The purpose of this water purification cartridge 2 is
This is because defective components such as rust and organic matter enter the mineral dissolving device 4 and suppress the growth of various bacteria that feed on them. Raw water that has passed through the water purification cartridge 1 dissolves calcium, magnesium, etc. in the mineral dissolving device 4,
The control means 5 controls the desired hardness set by the hardness setting means 3 to generate mineral water. The generated mineral water passes through the hollow fiber membrane 6 and operates so that the mineral water is discharged from the discharge port.

By configuring the mineral water conditioner 1 in such a configuration, it is possible to generate mineral water that is safe and that can be adjusted with a delicious hardness.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition to the first embodiment, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 6 having different capacities according to the set hardness and a switching means 8 for switching the hollow fiber membranes according to the set hardness at the last stage.
Is provided.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.
When the user sets a desired hardness in the hardness setting means 3 and opens a tap, for example, and presses a switch (not shown), the mineral water regulator 1 starts operating. That is, the mineral water conditioner 1 converts the raw water supplied from the tap into hardness setting means 3.
It is supplied as mineral water having a hardness set to.

The raw water flowing from the raw water inlet passes through the water purification cartridge 2 to remove lime, mold odor, trihalomethane, rust and the like. The purpose of this water purification cartridge 2 is
This is because defective components such as rust and organic matter enter the mineral dissolving device 4 and suppress the growth of various bacteria that feed on them.

The raw water that has passed through the water purification cartridge 2 dissolves calcium, magnesium and the like in the mineral dissolving device 4, and the control means 5 controls the hardness to a desired hardness set by the hardness setting means 3 to generate mineral water. The generated mineral water passes through the hollow fiber membrane 6 selected by the switching means according to the hardness set by the hardness setting means 3 and operates so that the mineral generated water is discharged from the discharge port.

Due to the difference in the capacity of the hollow fiber membrane 6, the amount of water stored in the hollow fiber membrane 6 varies, and accordingly, the response time of the mineral water coming out of the discharge port 7 varies. The larger the hollow fiber membrane, the longer the residence time of the mineral water in the hollow fiber membrane, and the longer the response time tends to be. Further, in order to generate high mineral water, it is necessary to reduce the flow rate, and the response time tends to be delayed.

As described above, the response time can be shortened by changing the capacity of the hollow fiber membrane according to the quotient flow rate for each hardness according to the set hardness. Also, since mineral water with the same hardness as the set hardness always stays in the hollow fiber membrane,
Immediately, mineral water of the set hardness can be obtained.

With the mineral water conditioner 1 having such a structure, it is possible to immediately and safely produce mineral water which can be adjusted in a delicious and delicious hardness.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition to the above Example 1,
The apparatus is provided with cleaning notifying means 9 for displaying the cleaning of the hollow fiber membrane 6 at the last stage.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. The raw water that has passed through the water purification cartridge 2 is converted into mineral water to which a mineral has been added by the mineral dissolving device 4, passes through the hollow fiber membrane 6 at the final stage, and is supplied as water from the outlet 7 as mineral-producing water. When the raw water passes through the mineral dissolving device 4, fine powders such as calcium and magnesium, which are mineral materials disposed in the mineral dissolving device 4, may also flow a little together.

However, this fine powder is stopped by the hollow fiber membrane 6 and accumulated in the hollow fiber membrane 6, and the passage of the hollow fiber membrane 6 is gradually closed, so that the pressure loss increases. When the amount of fine powder stored in the hollow fiber membrane 6 is small, the rise in pressure loss of the hollow fiber membrane 6 is also small. However, when the mineral material reaches the end of its life, the mineral material itself becomes smaller and the fine powder increases, and the fine powder causes clogging of the hollow fiber membrane 6, and the flow rate flowing through the hollow fiber membrane 6 is greatly reduced. Then, as the flow rate decreases, a vicious cycle occurs in which the fine powder also easily accumulates. To prevent this, it is necessary to remove the fine powder accumulated in the hollow fiber membrane 6 as soon as possible.

The fine powder is dissolved in the raw water by passing the raw water through the hollow fiber membrane 6, and at the same time, the pressure loss of the hollow fiber membrane 6 can be reduced. It is most effective to do so. For this reason, after generating the mineral water, the washing is notified by the washing notifying means 9 for instructing the washing of the hollow fiber membrane 6, and in view of the notification, the user sets the water purification mode so that the raw water is passed through and washed. .

(Embodiment 4) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition to the above-described embodiment 1, after the mineral water set by the hardness setting means 3 is generated, the final stage hollow fiber membrane 6 is formed according to the hardness and flow rate of the mineral water set by the hardness setting means 3 and the water flow time. And a variable cleaning time notifying means 10 for displaying the cleaning time.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. After the hardness setting means 3 generates the mineral water of the indicated hardness,
Fine powders such as calcium and magnesium are accumulated in the hollow fiber membrane 6. The accumulation amount of the fine powder is proportional to the hardness, flow rate and water passage time generated. That is, when the hardness is low, the water passage time is short, and the flow rate is large, the accumulation amount of the fine powder is small.

When the hardness is high, the flow rate is low, and the water passage time is long, the amount of accumulated fine powder increases. Therefore, the clogging of the hollow fiber membrane 6 is reduced by shortening the cleaning time of the hollow fiber membrane 6 when the accumulation amount is large and shortening the cleaning time when the accumulation amount is small. And a longer life can be achieved.

According to the above embodiment, the cleaning time variable notifying means 9 displays the time. However, the display time may be changed by changing the lighting time of the display device.

(Embodiment 5) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition to the above-described Embodiment 3, after the mineral water having the hardness indicated by the hardness setting unit 3 is generated, the flow rate measuring unit 11 that measures the flow rate of the generated mineral water,
The control means 5 calculates the total flow rate from the flow rate, and calculates the total flow rate storage means 12 for storing the result, and the cleaning time of the final stage hollow fiber membrane 6 based on the total flow rate of the total flow rate storage means 12,
The control means 5 has a display means for instructing the variable cleaning time notifying means 8 on the display.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. After the hardness setting means 3 generates the specified mineral water, fine powders such as calcium and magnesium are accumulated in the hollow fiber membrane 6. The accumulated amount of the fine powder tends to change according to the total flow rate. In the early stage of the life when the total flow rate is small, the fine powder at the time of granulation is large, and in the middle period, the fine powder is small. At the end of life, when the total flow rate is large, the granulated mineral material dissolves and becomes small and the fine powder increases, and at the same time, the flow rate of water decreases, and the fine powder easily accumulates in the hollow fiber membrane 6.

Therefore, based on the total flow rate stored in the total flow rate storage means 12 for storing the total flow rate, the total flow rate is, for example, about 50
When the total flow rate is about 50 L to 300 L, the cleaning time is short, and when the total flow rate is 300 L or more, the cleaning time is lengthened. Thereby, the clogging of the hollow fiber membrane 6 can be reduced, the reduction in life due to the clogging can be reduced, and the life can be extended.

(Embodiment 6) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition to the first to fourth embodiments, a configuration is provided in which a time measuring means 13 for counting time is provided.

Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described. After the hardness setting means 3 generates the mineral water of the indicated hardness,
Fine powders such as calcium and magnesium are accumulated in the hollow fiber membrane 6. The accumulation amount of the fine powder tends to change depending on the generated mineral hardness, the flow rate, the total flow rate, and the like.
For the purpose of reducing the accumulated amount as much as possible, the clogging of the hollow fiber membrane 6 can be reduced by washing once a day at a fixed time according to the amount of generated minerals, the total flow rate, and the like. . For this reason, the time measuring means 13 having a clock function outputs a water flow instruction by the washing notifying means 8 so that washing is performed at 7:00 every morning, so that clogging of the hollow fiber membrane 6 can be reduced. In addition, the reduction in life due to clogging is reduced, and the life can be extended.

When the mineral water is used in the water purification mode after the generation of the mineral water, the washing time may be shortened accordingly.

It is better to perform the washing as soon as possible after the generation of the mineral water. However, as described above, the hardness, the flow rate, and the total flow rate of the mineral water are accumulated, and the washing time is calculated.
The washing may be performed once a day in a lump. That is, the inside of the hollow fiber membrane 6 is in a water-reserved state, and can be washed by passing water since the hollow fiber membrane 6 is not dried.

Further, by passing water before use every morning, the water accumulated in the mineral water conditioner can be drained, and at the same time, the hollow fiber membrane can be washed and the amount of waste water can be reduced.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a water purification cartridge composed of activated carbon and a hollow fiber membrane, a mineral dissolving device for controlling the amount of added minerals, and a germ removal such as a hollow fiber membrane for removing bacteria and the like are provided. The present invention realizes a mineral water purifier configured by means to prevent various bacteria.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a germ removing means for removing germs provided for at least two or more set hardnesses and a switching means for switching the germ remover for each set hardness The present invention realizes a mineral water purifier that can obtain mineral water of a set hardness immediately at any time and prevent various bacteria.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, there is provided a notifying means for instructing cleaning of the germ removing means,
It is configured to notify the washing by the notification means after the generation of the mineral water, and realizes a mineral water regulator in which clogging of the hollow fiber membrane at the final stage is prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a notifying means for changing the washing time of the germ removing means in accordance with the hardness of the generated mineral water is provided. It is intended to realize a mineral water conditioner that takes measures to prevent clogging of the hollow fiber membrane.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, there is provided a notifying means for changing a washing time of the germ removing means in accordance with the total flow rate of the generated mineral water. The present invention realizes a mineral water conditioner that takes measures to prevent clogging of the hollow fiber membrane.

The invention described in claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1-4.
In addition to any one of the above, a mineral water preparation which has a clock function and has a notification means for instructing cleaning at regular intervals, and has a countermeasure for preventing clogging of the hollow fiber membrane at the final stage. To realize the vessel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mineral water purifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mineral water purifier according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mineral water purifier according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mineral water purifier according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mineral water purifier according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mineral water purifier according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mineral water conditioner 2 Water purification cartridge 3 Hardness setting means 4 Mineral dissolving device 5 Control means 6 Hollow fiber membrane 7 Discharge port 8 Switching means 9 Washing information means 10 Washing time variable information means 11 Flow rate measuring means 12 Total flow rate storage means 13 Clock Measurement method

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI C02F 1/68 540 C02F 1/68 540D 1/28 1/28 R 1/44 1/44 B (72) Inventor Tetsuo Obata Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A water purification cartridge for removing a defective component from raw water, a mineral dissolving device for adding a mineral component, and a hardness setting means for setting a desired hardness by a user;
A mineral water dispenser having a control means for controlling a mineral dissolving device in accordance with a set hardness to generate mineral water having a set hardness, and a germ removing means for removing germs and the like. 2. The mineral water purifier according to claim 1, further comprising a germ removing means for removing germs provided for at least two or more set hardnesses and a switching means for switching the germ remover for each set hardness. 3. The mineral water conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying unit for notifying the washing of the germ removing unit, and a control unit for instructing the washing of the germ removing unit after the generation of the mineral water by the notifying unit. 4. A washing time notifying means for notifying the washing time of the germ removing means, and a control for indicating the washing time of the germ removing means by the hardness and generated flow rate of the generated mineral water after the generation of the mineral water. 2. The mineral water purifier of claim 1, comprising means. 5. A washing time notifying means for notifying a washing time, a total flow rate measuring means for measuring a total flow rate of the generated mineral water, and a washing of the germ removing means based on the measurement result of the total flow rate measuring means after the generation of the mineral water. 2. The mineral water purifier according to claim 1, further comprising control means for instructing the time by a cleaning time notification means. 6. It has a clock function, and by the clock means,
The mineral water purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising control means for instructing cleaning at predetermined intervals.