KR101644886B1 - Unit for supplying mineral - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mineral supply unit, wherein an enriched mineral is accommodated at a certain level and an opening is formed at a bottom surface to discharge minerals, and a ceiling scene is closed, A minerals cartridge cap which is coupled to an opening of the mineral cartridge and includes an outflow hole through which the mineral flows out and an opening and closing member that selectively opens the outflow hole by lifting and lowering the mineral cartridge cap; And a pump connection pipe connected to a pump for supplying air, and a mineral cartridge accommodating portion connected to the pump connection pipe to supply the air supplied from the pump Which forms a flow path for moving to the air layer The mineral supply unit including geupgwan is provided.

Description

The mineral supply unit {UNIT FOR SUPPLYING MINERAL}

The present invention relates to a drinking water supply apparatus including a mineral supply unit for supplying minerals to produce mineral water.

Generally, a drinking water supply device is a device for supplying drinking water to a user. Such a drinking water supply device may be a stand-alone device, and it may be a part of a household appliance such as a refrigerator.

The drinking water supply device can not only supply the drinking water at normal temperature but also cool the drinking water flowing in the drinking water supply device using a cold water supply device including a refrigeration cycle or heat the drinking water with a heater, .

The drinking water may be raw water supplied from ground water or water, and raw water fed with water can be filtered by another filtering means. However, the drinking water described below is not limited to the kind of water mentioned in the meaning of drinking water.

Recently, the drinking water supply device is intended not only to provide the user with filtered purified water, cold water, or hot water, but also to provide a function number that meets various needs of the user. For example, a drinking water supply device with a mineral water supply module may be provided to provide the user with mineral water containing a predetermined amount of mineral.

Minerals are one of the five essential nutrients along with protein, fat, carbohydrates and vitamins. They are known to play an important role in biochemical (catalytic) action, bone and tooth composition in the human body.

In particular, trace elements such as calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and sodium (Na) are sufficient, but they can be considered essential minerals for metabolism.

Mineral water containing these minerals can play a supporting role in promoting health such as discharging waste accumulated in the body and promoting digestion.

And when a certain amount of mineral is contained in the drinking water, the user can feel an improved water taste in drinking.

In order to generate such mineral water, an electrolytic apparatus, a mineral filter, or a mineral cartridge containing concentrated minerals and a mineral water supply module for directly supplying liquid minerals to mineral water through a mineral supply pipe may be applied to the drinking water supply apparatus.

Mineral water supply module can be implemented in a compact size as compared with other devices and has an advantage of controlling the amount of mineral outflow for generating mineral water.

The mineral cartridge may be formed in a size and shape that is easy to mount on the drinking water supply device. The mineral cartridge may contain a predetermined amount of minerals corresponding to the number of times of the set mineral discharge or the reference mineral water production amount for generating the mineral water.

In order to discharge the minerals from the mineral cartridge, a pump may be connected to pressurize the contained minerals by supplying air into the mineral cartridge.

The air supplied to the inside of the mineral cartridge from the pump flows into the minerals in the liquid state, and then passes through minerals of a predetermined height in the form of bubbles and moves to the air layer of the ceiling.

At this time, flow noise may be generated in the process of flowing the bubbles into the liquid minerals. The greater the amount of minerals contained in the mineral cartridge, the longer the flow noise due to bubbles will be.

And, the air bubbles rupture in the air layer inside the mineral cartridge, and noise is generated.

Such noise may occur during the generation of mineral water or in the process of replenishing minerals to a mineral supply pipe after generation of mineral water, and there is a problem that the noise is inconvenient to the user.

The present invention relates to a mineral supply unit capable of preventing noise from being generated by air supplied for discharging minerals in a mineral cartridge in the process of generating mineral water, and a drinking water supply device including the mineral supply unit .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mineral supply unit including an opening through which a mineral flows out, and a mineral cartridge in which a ceiling is closed and an air layer is formed between the mineral and the ceiling, / RTI >

And the mineral supply unit may include a mineral cartridge cap which is coupled to the opening of the mineral cartridge and includes an outlet hole through which the mineral flows out and an opening and closing member that selectively opens the outlet hole by lifting and lowering.

The mineral cartridge receiving portion may include a protruding member protruding from a position corresponding to the opening and closing member, and a pump connecting pipe connected to a pump for supplying air.

The mineral supply unit is capable of preventing bubble flow noise that may be generated in the mineral cartridge by an air supply pipe connected to the pump connection pipe and forming a flow path through which the air supplied from the pump flows to the air layer.

The air supply pipe extends in the pump connection pipe adjacent to the ceiling surface and the direction in which the air flows in the air supply pipe and the flow direction of the minerals flowing out of the mineral cartridge are formed in opposite directions.

As a result, the volume of the air layer is increased by the air supplied through the air supply pipe, and a pressure is applied to the minerals contained in the mineral cartridge by an increased volume so that the minerals can be discharged.

Meanwhile, the opening / closing member may seal the outlet hole when no external force is applied, and may move to the inside of the mineral cartridge to open the outlet hole when an external force is applied.

At this time, the elevating member may be formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter smaller than the outlet hole by a predetermined length, and may be mounted on the mineral cartridge cap so as to be movable by pressure.

When the mineral cartridge cap is mounted on the mineral cartridge receiving portion by the projecting member formed in the storage space of the mineral cartridge receiving portion, the opening and closing member can be pressed to induce the movement of the opening and closing member.

That is, the protruding member presses the opening and closing member, so that the minerals can flow out into the outflow hole and can be temporarily stored in the storage space.

The mineral cartridge receiving part may include a mineral supply hole through which the mineral flows out through the storage space, and a mineral discharge pipe connected to the mineral supply hole on one side and the mineral supply pipe on the other side.

Therefore, the minerals stored in the storage space can be supplied to the mineral supply pipe through the mineral outlet pipe.

As described above, according to the mineral supply unit related to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a mineral supply unit capable of reducing noise generated in the process of discharging minerals.

Further, according to the mineral supply unit related to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a compact size mineral supply unit that is simple in structure and easy to apply to various drinking water supply apparatuses.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drinking water supply device for providing a drinking water supply device capable of preventing a user from feeling inconvenience due to noise generated to generate mineral water in a drinking water supply device have.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a drinking water supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a mineral water supply module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an exploded perspective view of a mineral supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c) are assembly flowcharts illustrating a process of assembling a mineral supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual view illustrating a mineral outflow process of a mineral supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a mineral supply unit, a mineral water supply module, and a drinking water supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are provided to explain the present invention in detail.

In addition, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. For convenience of explanation, the size and shape of each constituent member shown may be exaggerated or reduced have.

On the other hand, terms including an ordinal number such as a first or a second may be used to describe various elements, but the constituent elements are not limited by the terms, and the terms may refer to a constituent element from another constituent element It is used only for the purpose of discrimination.

Hereinafter, in defining the term, water before passing through a filter is referred to as raw water, raw water purified through a filter is referred to as an integer, and an integer containing minerals is referred to as mineral water. In addition, the rear end and the front end may refer to the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively, with respect to the forward flow direction of the fluid.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a drinking water supply apparatus to which a mineral water supply module is applied. Hereinafter, a drinking water supply apparatus to which mineral water is supplied will be described with reference to FIG.

The drawings of the attached drinking water supply device illustrate exemplary forms of the present invention, which are provided to explain the present invention in detail, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

1, the drinking water supply device 1 can convert the raw water flowing into the drinking water supply device 1 through the external water supply source 10 into the purified water via the filter part 20. [ The configuration of the filter unit 20 can be variously modified, and the filter unit 20 can be configured through a plurality of single filters. In FIG. 1, three single filters are connected in series to form the filter unit 20, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Specifically, the filter unit 20 may include a pre-carbon filter 21, a UF filter 22, and a post-carbon filter 23. Of course, other types of filters may be added in some cases.

The purified water is filtered and purified water can be discharged to the outside through the purified water pipe 30, the purified water supply valve 32 and the cock 73.

The drinking water supply device (1) can be supplied with cold water or hot water according to the demand of the user.

The hot water supplied by heating the purified water is supplied to the first branched water purification pipe 301 branched from point A of the purified water pipe 30, the heating device 51, the hot water pipe 50, the hot water supply valve 52, To be able to go out.

The chilled water supplied by cooling the purified water is supplied to the second branched purified water pipe 302 branched from the point B of the purified water pipe 30, the cooling device 41, the cold water pipe 40, the cold water supply valve 42, To be able to go out.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which purified water, cold water and hot water are discharged through a single cock 73 for convenience of explanation. However, each of the corks for leaving the purified water, the cold water and the hot water may be provided, and the constitution of the cock for the outflow is not limited to the figure, since the single coke hot water may have separate coke.

On the other hand, a cock valve 74 may be provided at a rear end of the purified water supply valve 32, the cold water supply valve 42 and the hot water supply valve 52. The cock valve 74 may be connected to the distribution pipe 60. The distribution pipe 60 may be connected to the purified water pipe 30, the cold water pipe 40, and the hot water pipe 50, respectively.

An outflow pipe 70 to which purified water, cold water or hot water can be supplied may be provided at the rear end of the cock valve 74.

Therefore, purified water, cold water or hot water can be supplied to the distribution pipe 60. When the coke 73 is opened through the single coke valve 74, purified water, cold water or hot water is selectively supplied through the outflow pipe 70 .

On the other hand, the mineral water supply module 100 for generating mineral water may be connected to the outflow pipe 70.

The mineral water supply module 100 may be connected to one side of the outflow pipe 70 through a mineral water generator 120 connected to the outflow pipe 70.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, an outflow pipe 70 positioned at the front end of the mineral water generation unit 120 and supplying purified water to the mineral water generation unit 120 is referred to as a water supply pipe 71, and a mineral water generation unit 120 (Hereinafter referred to as " discharge pipe 72 ").

That is, when the coke 73 is opened through the single coke valve 74, the water pipe 71 may be a pipe that selectively receives water, cold water or hot water and flows into the mineral water generating unit 120.

The discharge pipe 72 is a pipe through which water, cold water, hot water, or mineral water flowing in the mineral water generating unit 120 is selectively discharged to the coke 73 according to the user's selection.

The mineral water supply module 100 may include a mineral supply pipe 110 connected to the mineral water generation unit 120 to supply minerals.

 The mineral supply pipe 110 may be provided with a mineral supply valve 130 for selectively supplying minerals to the mineral water generating unit 120. And a mineral supply unit 180 including a mineral cartridge 140 containing a mineral concentrate and a pump 190 for discharging minerals by pressing the mineral cartridge 140.

Meanwhile, the minerals supplied from the mineral water supply module 100 to the mineral water generator 120 may be concentrated minerals at a high concentration.

The mineral cartridge 140 may contain a mineral concentrate mixed with minerals such as calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and sodium (Na).

For example, the mineral concentration of the mineral concentrate contained in the mineral cartridge 140 may be about 200 times the average mineral concentration contained in the purified water.

According to the experimental results, the amount of the mineral concentrate required to produce the user's preferred mineral number of the taste is an extremely small amount of 0.0006 times the integer. In order to provide the mineral water having the water taste within the allowable deviation every time, it is required that a predetermined amount of the mineral is supplied for a predetermined time.

Therefore, a predetermined minute amount of minerals must be supplied constantly for a predetermined period of time, as described above. In the mineral water supply module 100, a minute flow path portion 200 capable of supplying a trace amount of minerals is required.

The micro channel portion 200 may be formed in a cylindrical or polyhedral shape having a predetermined area and a predetermined length. The flow rate discharged from the micro channel section 200 may be determined by the area and the length if the pressure of the pump 190 to be pressurized is the same.

In order to supply a minute amount of minerals set for a predetermined time to the mineral water generating unit 120, the micro channel unit 200 is preferably formed to have a small flow cross sectional area and a predetermined length to induce a pressure loss of the liquid Do.

Specifically, when the micro channel portion 200 is formed in a cylindrical shape, the diameter may be in a range of 0.5 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

The maximum diameter of the micro channel portion 200 may be a diameter capable of supplying minerals within a predetermined allowable deviation range.

Specifically, it is preferable that the micro channel part 200 is formed to have a diameter such that the water or mineral water can be taken out within a tolerance of the tastes when the water is crossed.

That is, when the water is crossed with the mineral water, the minerals remaining in the micro channel part 200 can be minimized so that the purified water can be formed with a diameter allowing the mineral to be contained in an acceptable concentration range .

And when the mineral water crosses the water, the mineral water containing an acceptable concentration range of minerals can be formed in the diameter of the water.

It is most preferable that the minimum diameter of the micro channel portion 200 is formed to a diameter of 0.5 mm which enables molding or processing. A diameter of 0.5 mm or less is not easy to be formed or processed, and therefore, productivity may be deteriorated.

The maximum diameter of the micro channel portion 200 derived by the experiment and satisfying the above conditions may be 1.0 mm.

The numerical diameter of the micro channel portion 200 is a value derived from a water supply pipe having an outer diameter of 6.35 mm and a pump having a discharge flow rate of 0.1 ml / s to 1 ml / s, which is commonly used in the drinking water supply apparatus.

If the flow cross-sectional area of the micro channel portion 200 has a circular or polygonal shape other than a circle, it is most preferable that the micro flow channel portion 200 has a minimum machining area.

By forming the micro channel part 200 in a predetermined length range, it is possible to induce a pressure drop of minerals flowing through the micro channel part 200 and to discharge a preset amount of minerals. In addition, it is possible to reduce the influence of the pressure variable that may be generated by driving the pump 190.

Specifically, when the micro channel section 200 is formed at a lower limit value or less than a predetermined length range, a large amount of minerals may be discharged so that the pressure drop of the minerals flowing through the micro channel section 200 is small, . That is, when the micro channel portion 200 is formed short, the pressure of the minerals flowing in the mineral supply pipe 110 can not be sufficiently lowered due to the friction loss, so that the discharge flow rate may become a set value or more.

On the other hand, when the length of the micro channel part 200 is longer than the upper limit value of the predetermined length range, a pressure loss due to the friction of the minerals flowing in the micro channel part 200 is excessively generated, so that a smaller amount of mineral flow rate can be discharged.

Therefore, it is preferable that the micro flow path portion 200 is formed to have an appropriate length for discharging a fixed amount of minerals in a fixed amount. Specifically, the length of the micro channel portion 200 may be 15 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

First, the configuration of the mineral water supply module will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The mineral water supply module 100 according to the present invention includes a water supply pipe 71 for supplying purified water, a mineral supply pipe 110 for supplying minerals, and an outlet for selectively discharging mineral water containing minerals, And a pipe (72).

The mineral water supply module 100 may include a mineral supply valve 130 provided in the mineral supply pipe 110 and selectively opening and closing the mineral supply pipe 110 depending on whether mineral water is generated or not.

The mineral water supply module 100 may include a mineral water generator 120 in which the purified water supplied from the water supply pipe 71 and the minerals supplied from the mineral supply pipe 110 are mixed to generate mineral water .

The mineral water generating unit 120 includes a first connection pipe 121 connected to the water supply pipe 71, a second connection pipe 122 connected to the mineral supply pipe 110, A third connection pipe 123 may be formed.

In order to provide a mineral water having a minimal variation in concentration of the contained minerals, a fine flow path portion 200 for forming a minute supply amount of mineral supply flow path in the second connection pipe 122 may be provided. The micro channel portion 200 minimizes the deviation of the amount of minerals discharged by forming a flow path in which minute minerals flow constantly for a predetermined time.

In addition, a mineral supply unit 150 for supplying minerals may be connected to the mineral supply pipe 110.

The mineral supply unit 150 includes a mineral cartridge 140, a mineral cartridge cap 150 to be coupled with the mineral cartridge 140, and a mineral cartridge accommodating portion 150 for connecting the mineral cartridge 140 to the mineral supply pipe 110 145).

The mineral cartridge 140 may be formed in a size and shape that is easy to mount on the drinking water supply device 1. [

The mineral cartridge 140 may be formed with a predetermined volume capable of accommodating a predetermined amount of the mineral corresponding to the number of times the mineral is discharged or the reference mineral water production amount for generating the mineral water. Specifically, the mineral cartridge 140 may be formed in a predetermined volume of polyhedrons having openings at one side thereof so that the minerals may flow out.

On the other hand, the mineral cartridge 140 is required to be replaced in a predetermined cycle according to a time period in which the received minerals are exhausted or a period during which the mineral can be consumed. Therefore, it is preferable that the mineral cartridge 140 is detachably connected to the mineral cartridge receiving portion 145 so as to be easily replaced.

To this end, the mineral cartridge 140 may be provided with a mineral cartridge cap 150 coupled to one side of the mineral cartridge 140 and detachably mounted on the mineral cartridge receiving portion 145.

The mineral supply unit 150 may be connected to a pump 190 for pressurizing the inside of the mineral cartridge 140 to discharge minerals in the mineral cartridge 140 to the mineral supply pipe 110.

In the process of supplying minerals from the mineral supply unit 180 to the mineral supply pipe 110, when the mineral water generation signal is inputted, the mineral supply valve 130 is opened so that the minerals in the mineral supply pipe 110 are discharged to the mineral water generation unit 200). ≪ / RTI >

As the pressure in the mineral supply pipe 110 is lowered by the outflow of the minerals, the minerals stored in the mineral cartridge receiving part 160 can be discharged to the mineral supply pipe 110.

At the same time, the pump 190 supplies air to the mineral cartridge 140 to press the mineral contained in the mineral cartridge 140 to discharge the mineral to the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160.

The minerals discharged from the mineral cartridge 140 through the mineral cartridge cap 150 are received in the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 and can flow into the mineral supply pipe 110.

When the minerals are supplied to the mineral water generator 200 and the mineral supply valve 130 is closed, the pressure of the mineral water supply module 100 is balanced and the flow is not generated.

The mineral supply unit 180 of the present invention may include an air supply pipe 170 that forms a flow path through which the air supplied from the pump 190 flows, into the air layer formed in the mineral cartridge 140.

Air can be directly supplied to the air layer inside the mineral cartridge 140 without flowing the minerals through the air supply pipe 170, thereby preventing generation of flow noise due to rising of the bubbles.

Hereinafter, the air supply pipe formed in the mineral supply unit will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG.

First, the configuration of the mineral supply unit will be described with reference to an exploded view of the mineral supply unit of FIG.

The mineral cartridge 140, the mineral cartridge cap 150, and the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 may be coupled in a line with respect to one longitudinal center line.

That is, the mineral cartridge cap 150 to which the mineral cartridge 140 is coupled may be vertically coupled to the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160.

The mineral cartridge 140 may contain concentrated minerals at a predetermined level and may be filled with nitrogen at the time of manufacture to facilitate storage for a long time in some spaces in the mineral cartridge 140. Accordingly, when the mineral cartridge 140 is opened to bind the mineral cartridge cap 150, a predetermined amount of air can be accommodated in the space filled with nitrogen instead of nitrogen.

When the opening 141 of the mineral cartridge 140 is connected to the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 by the mineral cartridge cap 150, the air contained in the mineral cartridge 140 moves to the ceiling surface, Can be formed.

The mineral cartridge cap 150 coupled to the opening 141 of the mineral cartridge 140 includes an opening and closing member 154 that selectively discharges minerals and an outlet hole 154 that is opened by the opening and closing member 154, (156). And an air supply pipe insertion hole 157 into which the air supply pipe 170 is inserted.

The opening and closing member 154 is connected to the blocking member 151 at one side thereof and has a predetermined length so that a flat surface is formed at the other side to easily receive pressure, And may include an elevating member 152.

The blocking member 151 is formed of a rotating body corresponding to the diameter of the outlet hole 156 and is disposed inside the mineral cartridge 140 so as to block the outlet hole 156 from the inside of the mineral cartridge 140 Can be located. The blocking member 151 may be made of rubber, urethane or the like having elasticity.

The elevating member 152 may be mounted on the mineral cartridge cap 150 so as to move through the outlet hole 156 and into the mineral cartridge 140 by pressure.

Specifically, the elevating member 152 may be formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter smaller than that of the outflow hole 156 by a predetermined length. The elevating member 152 may be provided with a blocking member 151 at one end and a pressing head 1521 formed at the other end of the elevating member 152 in a plane to facilitate pressure. The pressing head 1521 may be longer than the diameter of the elevating member 152 by a predetermined length.

An elastic member 153 in a compressed state can be provided between the blocking member 151 and the pressing head 1521 in the longitudinal direction of the elevating member 152.

The elastic member 153 maintains the state in which the blocking member 151 closes the outlet hole 156 by the restoring force so that the opening of the mineral cartridge 140 141).

The elastic member 153 is compressed and the blocking member 151 moves to a predetermined height inside the mineral cartridge 140 so that the outlet hole 156 can be opened.

That is, the mineral cartridge cap 150 can open the outlet hole 156 only when the opening / closing member 154 is changed in position by the pressure, so that the mineral can be drained.

The mineral cartridge cap 150 is rotatably coupled to the mineral cartridge 140. For this purpose, the mineral cartridge cap 150 may have a coupling portion 155 and the mineral cartridge 140 may have a threaded portion 142.

Meanwhile, the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 may have a fixing portion 162 to which the mineral cartridge cap 150 is detachably mounted on the upper outer circumferential surface. The fixing portion 162 may be formed as a detachable fixing structure such as a hook. That is, the protrusion 158 is formed on the mineral cartridge cap 150, and the fixing portion of the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 is positioned at a position corresponding to the protrusion 158, And can be detachably fixed to the cartridge receiving portion 160.

The mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 may be formed with an insertion portion 161 opened to insert the mineral cartridge cap 150 into the upper side.

The insertion portion 161 is inserted into the mineral cartridge cap 150 at a predetermined height so that the outlet hole 156 of the mineral cartridge cap 150 and the opening and closing member 154 are positioned at a predetermined height, So that it can be vertically positioned.

A storage space 163 may be formed by extending a predetermined length below the insertion portion 161. Therefore, when the mineral cartridge cap 150 is inserted into the insertion portion 161, the inner bottom surface of the storage space 163 may be separated from the outlet hole 156 of the mineral cartridge cap 150 by a predetermined height.

A protruding member 164 protruding upward from a position corresponding to the opening and closing member 154 and a pump connecting pipe 165 connected to the air supply pipe 170 may be formed in the storage space 163 . The pump connection pipe 165 may be connected to the air supply pipe 170 and the other side of the pump 190 through the mineral cartridge receiving part 160 and protrude into the storage space 163.

The mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 may include a mineral outlet pipe 167 connected to the mineral supply pipe 110 to discharge minerals. The mineral outlet pipe 167 is connected to the mineral supply hole 156 formed on the bottom surface of the storage space 163 and may be formed to have a predetermined length so as to facilitate connection with the mineral supply pipe 110. [ have.

The air supply pipe 170 is connected to the pump connection pipe 165 and may form a flow path for guiding the air supplied from the pump 190 to the air layer.

The air supply pipe 170 may extend from the inner bottom surface of the storage space 163 to a predetermined height into the mineral cartridge 140. The air supply pipe 170 may be located in an air layer formed inside the mineral cartridge 140 and adjacent to the ceiling of the mineral cartridge 140.

The length of the air supply pipe 170 may be preset based on the amount of minerals contained in the mineral cartridge 140.

Meanwhile, a sealing member may be provided between the mineral cartridge 140, the mineral cartridge cap 150, and the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 to prevent the leakage of minerals. A first sealing member 181 for preventing a mineral leakage is provided between the mineral cartridge cap 150 and the mineral cartridge 140 and a second sealing member 181 is provided between the mineral cartridge 140 and the mineral cartridge 140. [ A member 182 may be provided.

Hereinafter, an assembling process of the mineral supply unit will be described with reference to the assembling flowchart of the mineral supply unit shown in Figs. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c).

First, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the air supply pipe 170 may be connected to the pump connection pipe 165 of the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160. In addition, the fixing portion 162 may be provided in the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160.

The mineral cartridge 140 and the mineral cartridge cap 150 may be coupled to the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 as shown in FIG. 4 (b).

The mineral cartridge cap 150 may be mounted on the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 such that the opening 141 of the mineral cartridge 140 forms a bottom surface and one closed side forms a top- have.

The mineral cartridge 140 may be formed with an air layer having a predetermined height between the minerals accommodated in the mineral cartridge 140 and the ceiling surface when the opening 141 is installed to form a bottom surface.

The air supply pipe 170 may be inserted into the mineral cartridge 140 through the air supply pipe insertion hole of the mineral cartridge cap 150.

In this process, the minerals may flow into the air supply pipe 170, but the minerals introduced into the air supply pipe 170 may flow out into the mineral cartridge 140 when the pump is driven.

The protrusion 158 of the mineral cartridge cap 150 is inserted into the fixing portion 162 of the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 after the air supply pipe 170 is inserted to the air layer, Can be completed.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), one end of the air supply pipe 170 may be located in the air layer inside the mineral cartridge 140.

Hereinafter, the minerals outflow process of the mineral supply unit will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

The mineral cartridge 140 of the present invention may be mounted on the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 such that the concentrated mineral is received at a predetermined level and the opening 141 through which the mineral flows out is formed on the bottom surface.

At this time, the ceiling surface of the mineral cartridge 140 may be closed to form an air layer having a predetermined height between the received minerals and the ceiling surface.

An air supply pipe 170 connected to the pump connection pipe 165 formed in the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 is inserted into the mineral cartridge 140 so that one end of the air supply pipe 170 is located in the air layer .

Therefore, the air supplied from the pump 190 flows through the air supply pipe 170 and can be guided to the air layer.

The volume of the air layer is increased by the air supplied through the air supply pipe 170 and pressure can be applied to the minerals contained in the mineral cartridge 140 by an increased volume. The minerals can be discharged to the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 through the outlet holes 156 of the mineral cartridge cap 150 by the pressure applied to the minerals.

When the mineral cartridge cap 150 is mounted on the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160, the pressing head 164 of the opening / closing member 154 is inserted into the protruding member 164 protruding from the storage space 163 1521 can contact each other. Therefore, pressure can be applied to the elevating member 154 that is vertically connected to the mineral cartridge cap 160 by the protruding member 164 fixed to the storage space 163 and protruding at a predetermined height.

As a result, the elastic member 153 is compressed and the vertical movement of the elevation member 152 can be induced. As the blocking member 151 moves into the mineral cartridge 140, the outlet hole 156 is opened so that the mineral can flow out into the storage space 163 of the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160.

The mineral stored in the mineral cartridge receiving portion 160 may flow to the mineral supply pipe 110 through the mineral discharge pipe 167.

The pump 190 is located at a predetermined height higher than the bottom surface of the mineral cartridge receiving part 160 where the pump connecting pipe 165 is formed to prevent the mineral from flowing back to the pump 190 .

The mineral supply unit 180 of the present invention does not flow the mineral of liquid contained in the mineral cartridge 140 by the air supply pipe 170 and the air can be guided to the air layer inside the mineral cartridge 140 have. Therefore, it is possible to prevent generation of flow noise due to bubbles.

In addition, there is an advantage that the inconvenience of the user can be minimized by preventing the noise generated when generating the mineral water.

 While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, The present invention may be modified in various ways. Therefore, modifications of the embodiments of the present invention will not depart from the scope of the present invention.

1: drinking water supply device 70: outflow pipe
71: water pipe 72: discharge pipe
100: Mineral water supply module 110: Mineral supply pipe
120: Mineral water generator 130: Mineral supply valve
140: Mineral cartridge 150: Mineral cartridge cap
154: opening and closing member 156: outlet hole
160: Mineral cartridge receiving portion 162:
163: Storage space 165: Pump connector
170: Air supply pipe 180: Mineral supply unit
190: pump 200: fine flow path

Claims (14)

A minerals cartridge in which condensed minerals are contained at a predetermined level and an opening is formed at the bottom to allow the minerals to flow out, and a ceiling surface is closed to form an air layer having a predetermined height between the received minerals and the ceiling scene;
A mineral cartridge cap which is coupled to an opening of the mineral cartridge and includes an outlet hole through which the mineral flows out and an opening and closing member that selectively opens the outlet hole by lifting and lowering;
And a pump connection pipe provided on the lower side of the mineral cartridge and connected to a protrusion member protruding from a position corresponding to the opening and closing member and a pump for supplying air, Receiving portion; And
And an air supply pipe connected to the pump connection pipe and forming a flow path through which the air supplied from the pump moves to the air layer,
Characterized in that the air supply pipe extends vertically in the mineral cartridge so that one end of the air supply pipe is connected to the pump connection pipe and the other end of the air supply pipe is positioned adjacent to the ceiling scene. Supply unit. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein a direction in which air flows in the air supply pipe and a direction in which the mineral flows out of the mineral cartridge are opposite to each other. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the volume of the air layer is increased by the air supplied through the air supply pipe and a pressure is applied to the mineral contained in the mineral cartridge by an increased volume to discharge the mineral. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the opening / closing member hermetically seals the outlet hole when no external force is applied, and moves to the inside of the mineral cartridge when an external force is applied to open the outlet hole. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the opening and closing member includes a blocking member for sealing the outlet hole inside the mineral cartridge,
And an elevation member connected to the blocking member at one end and extending a predetermined length through the outlet hole and having a flat surface at the other end thereof. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the elevating member is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter smaller than the outlet hole by a predetermined length, and is mounted on the mineral cartridge cap so as to be movable by pressure. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the mineral cartridge receiving portion is formed with a storage space in which the minerals flowing out from the outlet holes are temporarily stored. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the protruding member is protruded in the storage space, and when the mineral cartridge cap is mounted on the mineral cartridge receiving portion, the protruding member pressurizes the opening and closing member to induce movement of the opening and closing member. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the mineral cartridge receiving portion is formed with a mineral discharge hole through which the mineral flows out through the storage space, and a mineral discharge pipe connected to the mineral supply hole on one side and to the mineral supply pipe on the other side. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the mineral cartridge cap is rotatably coupled to the mineral cartridge such that one side of the mineral cartridge cap where the outlet hole and the opening and closing member are located closes the opening. The method according to claim 1,
A first sealing member for preventing water leakage is provided between the mineral cartridge cap and the opening of the mineral cartridge,
And a second sealing member for preventing water leakage is provided between the mineral cartridge and the mineral cartridge receiving portion. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the mineral cartridge receiving portion is formed with a fixing portion to which the mineral cartridge cap is detachably mounted. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the pump is located at a predetermined height higher than a bottom surface of the mineral cartridge receiving portion in which the pump connecting pipe is formed to prevent the mineral from flowing back to the pump.

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