KR102599537B1 - Water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water purifier, and more specifically, to a water purifier that is small in size, has a compact internal structure, and can rotate a water outlet through which water is dispensed.

Description

Water purifier{WATER PURIFIER}

The present invention relates to water purifiers.

In general, a water purifier is a device that filters water to remove impurities and is widely used for household purposes.

In the case of a home water purifier, it is connected to a tap water and uses a filter to remove suspended matter or harmful components contained in tap water. It is configured to purify and extract as much water as desired according to the user's operation.

A variety of such home water purifiers are being released that can purify water as well as dispense hot and cold water. And, recently, water purifiers that are small in size and can be installed in various installation environments have been developed.

Korean Patent No. 1381803 discloses a water purifier in which a water outlet is provided at the upper end of a main unit, and the water outlet can be separated from the main unit, rotated by a set angle, and then reassembled. The water purifier with this structure allows the user to change the position of the water outlet to a set position by separating and reassembling the water outlet while maintaining the position of the main body. Because it is a strip, it has the advantage of being able to be installed without being restricted by the installation space of the water purifier.

However, water purifiers according to the prior art have the following problems.

First, in order to change the position of the water outlet, there is an inconvenience in that the water outlet must be separated from the main unit, changed in position, and then reassembled. In addition, there is a problem that damage to the coupling portion may occur during the repeated separation and coupling process of the water outlet.

Second, since the water outlet pipe is connected to the water outlet unit, there is a problem that water leakage may occur if the water outlet pipe is damaged during the separation and assembly process of the water outlet unit. In addition, when the water outlet is repeatedly rotated, the water outlet pipe or the fitting to which the water outlet pipe is connected may be damaged, which may cause water leakage.

Third, the location of the water outlet is determined by the groove of the coupling hole formed in the main body unit. Therefore, there is a problem that the water outlet part can only be located at a set position where the groove is formed, and cannot be located at an arbitrary point.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that is small in size and compact so that there are few restrictions on installation space.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that compacts the overall size and shape of the water purifier by efficiently arranging components for supplying purified water, cold water, and hot water disposed inside the water purifier.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier with various options without changing parts and structure by modularizing the PCB that controls the operation of the water purifier by function and mounting it at a designated location on the control base.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can improve power consumption when cooling cold water by using an inverter type compressor.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can efficiently cool the compressor and condenser provided inside the water purifier with a compact structure.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that improves convenience of use by rotating the water outlet through which water is taken out by a simple rotation operation by the user.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can change the position of the water outlet by rotating it to suit various installation environments.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can prevent pipes from being twisted or fittings from being damaged even when the water outlet is repeatedly rotated.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can visualize the state of water taken out by a water outlet nozzle or the state of a container for receiving water by irradiating light downward.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can display operation information of the water purifier through color visualization through a dispensing button.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier in which the input of the water dispensing operation through the push operation and the status display of the water purifier can be implemented through a single dispensing button by arranging the LED so as not to interfere with the switch in contact with the dispensing button to be pressed. It's in doing.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier capable of quickly and immediately heating hot water and allowing the user to control the temperature of the discharged hot water.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that prevents the pressure inside a hot water tank from excessively increasing by discharging steam generated when hot water is heated.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that enables effective heating by spreading the water passing through the inside of the hot water tank evenly and slowing the flow rate.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier equipped with an induction heating assembly that can heat hot water inside the water purifier having a compact structure.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that compacts the internal structure of the cooling tank and allows active circulation of internal cooling water.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that reduces noise and prevents damage to the internal structure of the cooling tank by preventing ice generated from the evaporator inside the cooling tank from flowing.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that facilitates draining and resupply of cooling water filled inside a cooling tank.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can be rotated according to the rotation of the dispensing unit and placed below the dispensing unit.

The object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier capable of collecting residual water from below the discharge unit and easily processing the residual water.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water purifier that can easily convey the level of residual water collected in a tray to the user.

To achieve the object of the present invention, a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a case forming an external shape; A filter bracket provided inside the case and on which a filter and a valve are mounted; a condenser bracket provided inside the case spaced apart from the filter bracket and accommodating a condenser; a cooling tank mounted on the top of the condenser bracket and cooling the water purified by the filter; a support plate connecting the filter bracket and the cooling tank and vertically dividing a space between the filter bracket and the cooling tank; A compressor provided below the support plate; and a control assembly mounted on the upper surface of the support plate.

The filter bracket is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the water purifier and includes a condenser mounting portion that accommodates the condenser; It extends from the upper surface of the condenser mounting part and includes a tank mounting part that accommodates the lower end of the cooling tank.

In order to correspond to the internal space of the condenser mounting portion, the condenser is characterized in that the refrigerant tubes bent a plurality of times are arranged in succession to form a hexahedral shape.

The filter mounting portion on which the filter is mounted is recessed on the front of the filter bracket, and a plurality of the valves are fixedly mounted on the back of the filter bracket.

The filter bracket is characterized in that it is provided with a detachable front cover that opens and closes the filter mounting portion and forms a front exterior of the water purifier.

The condenser bracket is characterized in that a plate support portion supporting the support plate is extended.

The support plate is further equipped with an induction heating assembly that heats and supplies purified water using an induction heating method.

The induction heating assembly is combined with the control assembly and mounted on the heating assembly in a module state.

The control assembly includes a control base; an induction heating PCB mounted on one side of the control base facing the induction heating assembly and controlling the induction heating assembly; a main PCB mounted on a surface opposite to the surface on which the induction heating PCB is mounted, and controlling the compressor and the valve; It is mounted on the other side of the control base and includes a power supply PCB that supplies power to the induction heating PCB and the main PCB.

The NFC PCB capable of short-distance communication is provided at the top of the control base, and the NFC PCB is arranged to be in contact with the upper surface of the case.

The control base is characterized by being provided with a plurality of covers that respectively shield the main PCB, the induction heating PCB, and the power supply PCB.

The compressor is characterized as an inverter compressor.

In addition, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base that forms the bottom of the water purifier and has an intake port; A compressor mounted on the base; a condenser bracket mounted on the base to be spaced apart from the compressor and accommodating a condenser; a cooling tank that is mounted on the upper surface of the condenser bracket and has an evaporator therein to produce cold water; a rear cover that forms the exterior of the water purifier and has a discharge port formed at a position corresponding to the condenser bracket; and a cooling fan provided between the compressor and the condenser, and allowing air flowing through the intake port to pass through the condenser and be discharged to the discharge port.

The base is provided with a leg that extends downward and separates the bottom of the base from the ground on which the water purifier is installed, and the suction port is formed in the bottom of the base.

The compressor is characterized in that it is arranged to overlap at least a portion of the suction port.

The base is characterized in that a mounting portion protruding is formed so that the compressor is mounted spaced apart from the base.

The mounting part is characterized in that a nut to which a screw for fixing the compressor is fastened is disposed by insert injection.

The condenser bracket is formed with a condenser mounting portion that accommodates the condenser, and the condenser mounting portion has an inlet opening toward the compressor and an outlet opening toward the discharge port to guide the flow of cooling air.

The discharge port has a size corresponding to the outlet of the condenser mounting portion and is in close contact with the opening of the condenser mounting portion.

The cooling fan is characterized in that it is mounted to shield the inlet of the condenser mounting part.

A fixing member that passes through a fixing hole formed in the condenser mounting portion and is fixed to the cooling fan is further provided, and the fixing member is formed of an elastic material.

The condenser is characterized in that its exterior shape is formed in a cube shape corresponding to the condenser mounting portion.

And, a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a case forming an exterior; a circular rotator rotatably mounted inside the case; a water outlet portion that protrudes from the rotator to the outside of the case and is provided with a water outlet nozzle through which water is discharged; and an operating unit mounted on the upper surface of the case and equipped with a dispensing button for dispensing water, and connected to the rotator to rotate together with the rotation of the rotator.

The case includes a front cover that forms the front exterior of the water purifier, and the front cover is characterized by being composed of an upper cover and a lower cover that are arranged vertically and spaced apart with the rotator in between.

It extends up and down inside the case so that a filter can be mounted, and is provided with a filter bracket that supports the rotator from below. The upper surface of the filter bracket maintains contact with one side of the rotator and guides the rotation of the rotator. It is characterized in that it is provided with a rotating guide rail that has a curvature to allow.

The rotator is provided with an oil damper equipped with a pinion on a rotating shaft, and an internal gear extending along a curvature is formed on the filter bracket, and when the rotator rotates, the pinion moves along the internal gear.

A rotation connection part extending downward is provided on the lower surface of the operation unit, and the rotator is provided with a coupling ring into which the rotation connection part is inserted and coupled to each other.

A center ring is formed at the rotation center of the rotator, and a rotation pipe rotatably fitted to a connector connected to a water discharge pipe connected to the discharge nozzle is disposed on the center ring.

The rotary tube is made of a metal material and has a fitting groove into which the collet of the connector is inserted.

The operating unit is formed in a circular shape, and the upper surface of the water outlet is characterized in that it is formed to have an inclined surface that becomes lower as it approaches the water outlet.

The water outlet nozzle is characterized by forming a cold water connection part connected to a water outlet pipe through which cold water and purified water are supplied, and a hot water connection part connected to a hot water pipe through which hot water is supplied.

The water outlet unit includes a water outlet housing with an open upper surface extending from the rotator and on which the water outlet nozzle is mounted; It is characterized in that it consists of a water outlet cover that opens and closes the open upper surface of the water outlet housing.

A lighting hole is formed on the bottom of the water outlet housing, and a lighting unit that irradiates light downward through the lighting hole is provided inside the water outlet housing.

And, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a case that forms the exterior of the water purifier; a dispensing button provided in the case and operated by the user to dispensing water; a control panel PCB provided inside the case; a switch provided on the control panel PCB and turned on and off by contacting the eject button; an LED provided on the control panel PCB to radiate light toward the dispensing button, wherein at least a portion of the dispensing button is formed to allow light to pass through, and the LED emits light of different colors depending on the operating state of the water purifier. It is characterized by investigating.

The operation button includes a pressing portion that is moved by a user's pressing operation; an elastic portion cut along the circumference of the pressing portion to provide elasticity for returning the pressing portion; a contact portion protruding from one end of the pressing portion and coming into contact with the switch as the pressing portion moves; It is characterized in that it includes a rotation support part that protrudes from the other end of the pressing part facing the contact part and becomes the rotation center of the pressing part.

A light-transmitting part through which light transmits is formed in the pressing part, and the contact part is formed further outside the light-transmitting part.

A light guide extending toward the LED along the light transmitting portion to guide light from the LED toward the light transmitting portion is further formed.

The pressing portion is further provided with a button plate that shields the light transmitting portion, and the button plate is formed to allow light to pass through.

The LED is characterized in that it is located inside the light transmitting part.

The LED is characterized in that it irradiates light of different colors according to the replacement cycle of the filter.

The LEDs are provided in plural numbers and are characterized in that they radiate light of different colors.

The control panel PCB is characterized in that it is equipped with a buzzer that displays information according to the status of the water purifier through sound.

And, a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a case forming an exterior; A filter provided inside the case; It includes: an induction heating assembly that heats the purified water that has passed through the filter, wherein the induction heating assembly includes: a hot water tank through which the purified water passes; a working coil wound multiple times at a position facing the hot water tank and emitting electromagnetic force for inductively heating the hot water tank; A plurality of ferrite cores are disposed radially around the center of the working coil and prevent loss of electromagnetic force generated from the working coil; and a heating bracket mounted on surfaces opposite to the hot water tank and the working coil.

An input pipe through which purified water flows in is formed at the bottom of the hot water tank, and an output pipe through which hot water is discharged is formed at the top of the hot water tank.

A connector is connected to the input pipe, a check valve and a water supply pipe are connected to one side of the connector, and an end cap that opens and closes to drain water from the hot water tank is installed to the other side of the connector. Do it as

A connector is connected to the output pipe, a pipe through which hot water is discharged is connected to one side of the connector, and a safety pipe is connected to the other side of the connector to discharge steam inside the hot water tank by opening when the pressure of the hot water tank is above a certain pressure. Characterized in that a valve is provided.

A steam pipe for discharging steam is connected to the outlet of the safety valve, and the steam pipe extends to the outside of the water purifier so that it can be drained to the outside of the water purifier.

The induction heating assembly is characterized in that it is combined as a module with a control assembly that controls the operation of the water purifier.

The heating bracket is characterized in that it is provided with a coupling boss that extends so that it can be coupled to the control assembly in a spaced state.

The heating bracket is provided with a hot water temperature sensor that is in contact with the hot water tank and measures the temperature of the hot water tank, and a fuse that cuts off the power supply to the induction heating assembly when the hot water temperature sensor is above a set temperature. do.

The hot water tank includes a first cover that forms a surface facing the working coil and has a planar shape; It is characterized in that it includes a second cover that is joined to the first cover and a peripheral surface and has a concavo-convex shape to form a space through which water flows.

The second cover is characterized in that a plurality of protrusions are formed that extend from an inlet through which water flows in a direction to an outlet and protrude toward the first cover.

The protrusion is characterized in that it is composed of a vertical protrusion extending in the vertical direction and a horizontal protrusion extending in the horizontal direction from both ends of the vertical protrusion.

At least one of the protrusions is in contact with the first cover and is joined to each other by welding.

A mica sheet is provided on at least one of both sides of the coil to maintain a distance between the coil and the hot water tank or the ferrite core.

And, a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a case forming an exterior; A compressor mounted inside the case; A condenser bracket mounted inside the case and accommodating the condenser; and a cooling tank that is mounted on the upper surface of the condenser bracket and cools the purified water, wherein the cooling tank includes: a tank body that accommodates cooling water; a tank cover that shields the open upper surface of the tank body; a cooling coil wound in a coil shape inside the tank body and guiding purified water to pass through the inside of the tank body; an evaporator wound in a coil shape inside the tank body and cooling the cooling water above the cooling coil; and a stirrer that rotates in a central space where the cooling coil and the evaporator are wound and forces circulation of the coolant in the tank body.

A mesh member is provided inside the tank body between the cooling coil and the evaporator to partition the inside of the tank body and has a plurality of holes to allow coolant to enter and exit.

The mesh member divides the interior of the tank body upward and downward, and includes a partition portion in which an agitator hole through which the agitator passes is formed; It extends upward along the circumference of the stirrer hole, and includes an extension portion that partitions between the stirrer and the evaporator.

The mesh member is characterized in that a lower support part is formed that extends downward and is seated on the top of the cooling coil.

The mesh member may be formed with a protruding upper support portion on which the evaporator can be seated.

The mesh member is characterized by extending a fixing hook that can be fixed by pressing the top of the evaporator.

A coil support portion is formed on the bottom of the tank body, protrudes upward, supports the bottom of the cooling coil, and separates the bottom of the cooling coil from the bottom of the tank body.

The stirrer is characterized in that it extends past the evaporator to one side of the cooling coil.

The outer surfaces of the tank body and the tank cover are characterized in that they are surrounded by an insulating material.

A tank mounting portion opening upward is formed on the upper surface of the condenser bracket so that the lower portion of the cooling tank can be inserted and mounted.

The cooling tank is characterized by being provided with a drain valve that opens and closes to drain water inside the cooling tank to the outside.

A drain portion that is inclined or depressed is formed on the bottom of the cooling tank, and the drain portion communicates with the drain valve.

The drain valve is characterized in that it can be opened while a pipe for injection of coolant is connected.

The other end of the pipe for injecting the cooling water may be connected to the discharge nozzle of the water purifier, and the control unit that controls the operation of the water purifier is characterized in that it discharges a preset amount of water to fill the cooling tank.

In addition, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base forming a bottom surface and a case forming an exterior; a discharge nozzle through which purified water is discharged, and a discharge portion protruding outside the case and rotatable about the inside of the case; a rotating ring rotatably mounted on the base; and a tray detachably mounted on the rotating ring and extending to the outside of the case.

The tray includes a tray body that has an open upper surface and accommodates water dropped from the discharge nozzle; It is provided detachably on the upper surface of the tray body and is characterized by being composed of a tray cover, at least a portion of which is formed in a grill shape through which water can pass.

A plotter is accommodated inside the tray, a recess is formed in the tray body to a size that can accommodate the lower part of the plotter, and an indicating hole is formed in the tray cover to expose the top of the plotter. It is characterized by being

The floater includes a floating portion accommodated in the depression and formed of a material that floats on water; a cap coupled to the floating portion and located inside the indicating hole; It is provided below the cap and includes an indicator formed in a different color from the cap and tray cover, and when the tray is above a set water level, the indicator is exposed above the indicating hole by the rise of the floating part. It is characterized by

The depression is characterized in that it contacts the ground where the water purifier is installed.

A water collection hole is opened in the tray cover corresponding to the vertical downward direction of the water outlet nozzle.

A protruding tray coupling portion is formed on the tray, a tray mounting portion into which the tray coupling portion is inserted is formed on the rotating ring, and the tray mounting portion is exposed to the outside at the bottom of the case.

The case includes a front cover that forms a rounded front appearance, and the rear end of the base is depressed along a curvature corresponding to the front cover.

The base is characterized in that a stopper that contacts the side of the base of the rotator of the tray and limits rotation is formed in a stepped manner.

The stopper extends forward on both sides, and is characterized in that a flow prevention portion is formed into which both sides of the lower end of the tray are inserted when the tray rotates.

The base extends to have a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the rotary ring, and a rotation guide part is formed in contact with the inner surface of the rotary ring to guide the rotation of the rotary ring.

The water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following effects.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the water purifier can have a compact structure while being equipped with a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser for making cold water, as well as a cooling tank. In particular, there is an advantage in that the cooling tank is placed above the condenser, and the control assembly is placed in the space between the compressor and the cooling tank, thereby efficiently using the internal space and making the shape of the water purifier compact.

And, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the PCB that controls the operation of the water purifier is configured for each module and is mounted at a designated location on the control base. Therefore, various options can be implemented depending on the type of PCB mounted on one control base, and there is an advantage in that various models can be manufactured without changing the internal structure of the water purifier.

In addition, this control base can be placed in the space between the filter bracket and the cooling tank to further improve space efficiency, and can be installed in combination with a hot water heating unit to create hot water in the form of a module, thereby increasing productivity. Improvements in space efficiency can be expected.

In addition, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention implements a refrigeration cycle including an inverter compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser, and produces cold water through this. In order to effectively cool the inverter compressor and condenser, the condenser is placed on the inlet, the condenser is accommodated inside the condenser bracket, and the air flowing by the cooling fan is cooled evenly as it passes through the entire condenser, thereby effectively cooling the compressor and condenser. You can do it.

In addition, by forming the intake port in the base and keeping the base spaced apart from the ground, the intake port is not exposed to the outside, which has the advantage of making the appearance more beautiful and at the same time making it easier to intake outside air.

In addition, the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which the water outlet portion provided with the water outlet nozzle protrudes and can be freely rotated by the rotation of the rotator. Therefore, the user can freely change to a position that can be easily operated, thereby improving convenience of use.

In addition, since the water outlet can be moved to an appropriate location and used without being restricted by various installation environments by rotating the water outlet, convenience of use can be expected to be improved.

In addition, the operation unit is configured to rotate together when the water outlet unit is rotated, so that easy operation at the water outlet position is possible, and the status can be easily checked, thereby improving convenience of use.

In addition, the water outlet unit is equipped with a light so that the state of water dispensing by the water outlet nozzle can be easily identified, thereby further improving convenience of use.

In addition, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a rotating ring at the rotation center of the rotator, and the rotating ring is provided with a rotating pipe that is rotatably fitted to a connector connected to the water discharge pipe. In addition, the rotating pipe is made of stainless steel, which prevents the pipe from being twisted or the fitting from being damaged even when the water outlet is repeatedly rotated, thus improving durability.

In addition, the purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention not only allows water to be discharged by pressing the discharge button, but also can display status information of the water purifier by transmitting light of various colors through the discharge button. Therefore, there is an advantage in that it is possible to display information such as the replacement status of the filter and whether the water being dispensed is hot, cold, or purified water without a separate display.

In addition, the switch and LED are designed to be located in a position where they do not interfere with each other while simultaneously pressing the switch and transmitting the light from the LED on one eject button, which has the advantage of enabling operation and display of information through a single configuration. .

In addition, the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention has a structure that heats the water passing through the plate-shaped hot water tank by induction heating, so it is possible to heat the hot water while it passes through the hot water tank, allowing immediate extraction of hot water. There are possible benefits.

In addition, due to the nature of the induction heating method, heating performance can be adjusted by adjusting the output of the working coil, and thus hot water at various temperatures set by the user can be dispensed.

In addition, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a safety valve on one branched side of the output pipe of the hot water tank so that steam can be discharged through the safety valve when the pressure increases due to the generation of steam during heating of the hot water. do. Therefore, it is possible to prevent excessive pressure increase due to steam, and there is an advantage of improving hot water heating performance as well as durability of the hot water tank.

In addition, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of protrusions inside the hot water tank, and the flow path of the water flowing inside the hot water tank is branched by the protrusions to distribute water evenly throughout the hot water tank. It can flow, and the flow speed is slowed by collision with the protrusion. Accordingly, the water distributed throughout the hot water tank can be heated evenly, and there is an advantage in that more efficient heating of hot water is possible as the residence time inside the hot water tank increases due to a decrease in flow rate.

In addition, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed by winding a cooling coil through which purified water for cooling flows inside the cooling tank, winding and placing an evaporator above the cooling coil, and filling the inside with cooling water. The water passing through the cooling coil is cooled. Therefore, effective cooling of purified water is possible while compactly configuring the interior of the cooling tank.

In addition, a stirrer is disposed in the wound inner area of the cooling coil and the evaporator to further activate the circulation of the cooling water, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of purified water passing through the cooling coil.

In addition, the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a mesh member that partitions the area where the evaporator, cooling coil, and stirrer are placed inside the cooling tank. Coolant flows through the mesh member, but ice frozen in the evaporator is prevented from flowing toward the stirrer or cooling tank, which has the advantage of preventing noise or damage to the internal structure due to ice collision.

In addition, the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to discharge cooling water through a drain valve provided in the cooling tank. Therefore, the inside of the cooling tank can be kept clean, and in order to re-supply coolant inside the cooling tank, the service valve can be connected to the drain valve and the discharge nozzle and controlled to supply a preset amount of coolant. . Therefore, there is an advantage that draining and resupplying the coolant becomes easy.

In addition, the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a tray that can be rotated in accordance with the rotation of the rotating discharge unit. Therefore, even if the dispensing unit is rotated at a specific angle, a tray can be placed vertically below the container, allowing the container to be seated and remaining water to be received, thereby improving convenience of use.

Additionally, the tray cover is formed in a grill shape or a water collection hole is formed to facilitate water collection. Additionally, the tray has a detachable structure, which has the advantage of making it easy to dispose of residual water.

Additionally, a floater is formed inside the tray, and the floater rises according to the water level and is exposed to the tray cover to inform the user of the water level in the tray. In particular, when the indicator of the floater is exposed, it can effectively notify that the remaining water in the tray needs to be emptied beyond the set water level, thereby improving convenience of use.

In addition, the control method of the water purifier according to the embodiment of the present invention is to drain the coolant through the drain valve with the cooling tank assembled, connect the drain valve and the water outlet nozzle to the service pipe, and then set the coolant replacement mode. After making the change, the water extraction operation is performed. During this operation, the control unit supplies water at a set flow rate sufficient to fill the cooling tank, and returns to the normal operation mode after completion of supply at the set flow rate. Therefore, the user can replace the coolant inside the cooling tank in a simple way, and there is an advantage of keeping the inside of the cooling tank clean.

1 is a perspective view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the water purifier.
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly structure of the top cover, filter bracket, and base of the water purifier.
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the top cover and operating part of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a perspective view from below showing the operation unit and the top cover combined.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6' of Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the dispensing button of the water purifier as seen from above.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the eject button viewed from below.
Figure 9 is a diagram showing the lighting state of the switch LED of the water purifier.
Figure 10 is a diagram showing the operating state of the eject button.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the rotator of the water purifier seen from above.
Figure 12 is a head view of the rotator from below.
Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of the rotator of the water purifier.
Figure 14 is a diagram showing the flow path structure inside the rotator and the water outlet.
Figure 15 is a partial perspective view of the filter bracket of the water purifier.
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling structure of the rotator.
Figure 17 is a rear view of the arrangement of the valve mounted on the filter bracket.
Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of the water outlet of the water purifier.
Figure 19 is a cut-away perspective view of the water outlet.
Figure 20 is a perspective view of the heating and control module of the water purifier.
Figure 21 is a perspective view of the induction heating assembly of the water purifier viewed from the front.
Figure 22 is a perspective view of the induction heating assembly from the rear.
Figure 23 is an exploded perspective view of the induction heating assembly.
Figure 24 is a front view of the hot water tank.
Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25-25' of Figure 24.
Figure 26 is a perspective view of the control assembly of the water purifier.
Figure 27 is an exploded perspective view of the control assembly.
Figure 28 is a perspective view of the cooling tank of the water purifier.
Figure 29 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling tank.
Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 30-30' of Figure 28.
Figure 31 is a perspective view of the mesh member.
Figure 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 32-32' of Figure 28.
Figure 33 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the drain valve of the water purifier.
Figure 34 is an exploded perspective view showing the combined structure of the drain valve.
Figure 35 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the combined structure of the drain valve.
Figure 36 is a view showing a compressor bracket mounted on the base of the water purifier.
Figure 37 is an exploded perspective view showing the combined structure of the base and tray.
Figure 38 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly structure of the tray of the water purifier.
Figure 39 is a diagram showing the full water level of the tray.
Figure 40 is an exploded perspective view showing the combined structure of the condenser bracket, blower fan, and condenser of the water purifier.
Figure 41 is a cut-away perspective view showing the cooling air flow of the water purifier.
Figure 42 is a circuit diagram schematically showing the water flow path of the water purifier.
Figure 43 is a block diagram showing the flow of control signals of the water purifier.
Figure 44 is a perspective view showing the state of the coolant replacement operation of the water purifier.
Figure 45 is a flowchart sequentially showing the control method of the water purifier.
Figure 46 is a diagram sequentially showing the assembly process of the water purifier.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention cannot be said to be limited to the embodiments in which the idea of the present invention is presented, and other regressive inventions or other embodiments included within the scope of the present invention can be easily developed by adding, changing, or deleting other components. I can suggest.

1 is a perspective view of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. And, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the water purifier.

As shown in the drawing, the water purifier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed to be long in the front-to-back direction and narrow in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the water purifier 1 has a slim and compact overall appearance.

The external shape of the water purifier 1 may be formed by the case 10. The case 10 includes a front cover 11 that forms the front exterior, a rear cover 12 that forms the rear exterior, a base 13 that forms the lower surface, a top cover 14 that forms the upper surface, and left and right sides. It consists of side panels 15 forming both sides. The front cover 11, the cooling fan cover 12, the base 13, the top cover 14, and the pair of side panels 15 can be assembled together to form the exterior of the water purifier 1.

A water outlet 20 is disposed on the front of the water purifier 1. The water outlet 20 protrudes forward from the front cover 11, and purified water is discharged through the water outlet nozzle 25 protruding downward.

The front cover 11 may be composed of an upper cover 111 and a lower cover 112. Additionally, a rotator 21 may be rotatably disposed between the upper cover 111 and the lower cover 112.

The water outlet 20 is configured to rotate together with the rotator 21. Accordingly, the user can rotate the water outlet 20 at a desired angle depending on the installation state or installation environment of the water purifier 1. At this time, the operating unit 40 provided on the top cover 14 also has a structure that can be rotated together.

A tray 90 protrudes from the base 13 in front of the front cover 11 and may be positioned vertically below the water outlet 20 . Additionally, the tray 90 can be rotated by user manipulation and can be separated from the base 13. The tray 90 may have an upper surface formed in a grill shape so that water falling from the water outlet 20 can be stored.

Inside the case 10, a filter 34 for purifying water and a filter bracket 30 on which a plurality of valves 366, 367, and 369 are mounted are provided, and the rotator 21 rotates at the top of the filter bracket 30. Possibly installed. In addition, the manipulation unit 40 may be provided above the rotator 21, and the manipulation unit 40 may be connected to the rotator 21 and rotate together when the rotator 21 is rotated.

The base 13 is provided with a rotary ring 91 rotatably mounted, and the tray 90 is detachably provided on the rotary ring 91. Accordingly, the tray 90 can be rotated while mounted and can be positioned below the water outlet 20. And, if necessary, the tray 90 is configured to be separate and coupled from the rotating ring 91.

A compressor 51 and a condenser 52 are provided on the upper surface of the base 13. Additionally, a cooling fan 53 is provided between the compressor 51 and the condenser 52 to enable cooling of the compressor 51 and the condenser 52. The compressor 51 may be an inverter type compressor whose cooling capacity can be adjusted by varying the frequency. Therefore, cooling of purified water can be carried out efficiently, thereby reducing power consumption.

Additionally, the condenser 52 is located at the rear of the base 13 and may be located at a position corresponding to the discharge port 121 formed in the rear cover 12. The condenser 52 can be formed by bending a flat tube-type refrigerant pipe multiple times in order to efficiently use space and improve heat exchange efficiency at the same time, and is configured to be accommodated in the condenser bracket 54.

The condenser bracket 54 is formed with a condenser mounting part 541 on which the condenser 52 is fixed and a tank mounting part 542 on which a cooling tank 60 for making cold water can be mounted. The condenser mounting portion 541 forms a hexahedral space corresponding to the overall shape of the condenser 52 to accommodate the condenser 52. In addition, the condenser mounting portion 541 is formed so that the portions facing the cooling fan 53 and the discharge port 121 are open, thereby enabling effective cooling of the condenser 52.

And, the tank mounting portion 542 is formed above the condenser bracket 54, that is, above the condenser mounting portion 541. The tank mounting portion 542 is inserted into the lower end of the cooling tank 60 and fixes the cooling tank 60.

The cooling tank 60 is used to cool purified water to create cold water, and is filled with cooling water that exchanges heat with incoming purified water. Additionally, an evaporator 63 for cooling the cooling water may be accommodated inside the cooling tank 60. In addition, purified water is allowed to pass through the inside of the cooling tank so that it can be cooled.

A support plate 35 extending toward the cooling tank 60 is further provided on one side of the filter bracket 30. The support plate 35 is provided above the compressor 51 and extends from the filter bracket 30 to the condenser bracket 54 to provide a space for the heating and control module 50 to be mounted.

The heating and control module 50 may be composed of an induction heating assembly 70 for producing hot water and a control assembly 80 for controlling the operation of the water purifier 1. The induction heating assembly 70 and the control assembly 80 can be combined with each other to form a single module, and can be mounted on the support plate 35 in a combined state.

The induction heating assembly 70 is for heating purified water and is configured to heat purified water using an induction heating (IH) method. The induction heating assembly 70 can heat water immediately and at a high speed when dispensing hot water, and can heat purified water to a desired temperature and provide it to the user by controlling the output of the magnetic field. Therefore, hot water of the desired temperature can be dispensed according to the user's operation.

The control assembly 80 is for controlling the operation of the water purifier 1, and can control the compressor 51, the cooling fan 53, various valves and sensors, and the induction heating assembly 70. It is structured so that The control assembly 80 may be configured in a modular manner by combining PCBs divided into multiple parts according to function. That is, in a structure in which the water purifier 1 dispenses only cold water and purified water, the PC ratio for controlling the induction heating assembly 70 can be omitted, and in this way, at least one PC ratio can be omitted.

Hereinafter, each component of the water purifier will be examined in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly structure of the top cover, filter bracket, and base of the water purifier.

As shown in the drawing, a rotating ring 91 is mounted on the front half of the base 13, and a tray 90 is detachably coupled to the rotating ring 91. The tray 90 protrudes forward of the base 13 while being coupled to the rotating ring 91.

The filter bracket 30 includes a bottom portion 31 coupled to the base 13, a filter receiving portion 32 in which the filter 34 is accommodated, and a rotator mounting portion 33 on which the rotator 21 is mounted. ) can be composed of.

In detail, the bottom portion 31 is formed to correspond to the shape of the front end of the base 13 and is coupled to the base 13. By combining the bottom portion 31, the mounting position of the filter bracket 30 can be fixed, and the bottom shape of the filter receiving portion 32 can be formed.

The filter bracket 30 may be hooked to the base 13 in a hook manner and may be fixed with a screw fastened to the lower surface of the base 13. The bottom portion 31 may be coupled to the base 13 in the inner area of the rotary ring 91, and is configured not to interfere with the rotary ring 91 so that the tray 90 can rotate smoothly. Let it come true.

The filter receiving portion 32 extends in the vertical direction and forms a recessed space to accommodate the filter 34 when viewed from the front (left in FIG. 3). A plurality of filters 34 may be mounted on the filter receiving portion 32. The filter 34 is for purifying supplied raw water (tap water) and can be configured to combine filters with various functions.

In addition, the filter receiving portion 32 may be further provided with a filter socket 341 on which the filter 34 is mounted, and a pipe through which purified water flows is provided in the filter socket 341, The pipe may be connected to multiple valves 366, 367, and 369. Accordingly, the raw water passes through the filter 34 in turn and then heads to the valves 366, 367, and 369 for water supply.

A plurality of valves (366, 367, 369) may be provided on the rear side of the filter receiving portion (32) (opposite the surface on which the filter is mounted), and the valves (366, 367, 369) may be used for the filter 34 as well as the cooling tank ( 60) and the induction heating assembly 70, and selectively supplies purified water, cold water, and hot water to the water outlet.

A rotator mounting portion 33 is formed at the top of the filter receiving portion 32. The rotator mounting portion 33 has a semicircular shape that protrudes forward to have a predetermined curvature, and has a structure on which the rotator 21 can be seated at the top. At this time, the rotator mounting portion 33 may be formed to have a curvature corresponding to the outer surface of the rotator 21. Accordingly, the rotator 21 is configured to be rotated while seated on the rotator mounting unit 33.

Additionally, an internal gear 331 may be formed at the top of the rotator mounting portion 33. The internal gear 331 has a curvature corresponding to the rotator mounting portion 33, and is gear-coupled with the pinion gear 271, which will be described below, so that the rotator 21 can rotate smoothly.

The rotator 21 is formed in a circular shape, and a water outlet 20 protruding forward is further formed on the rotator 21. The water outlet 20 may be formed integrally with the rotator 21 and may rotate together when the rotator 21 rotates.

An upper cover 111 may be provided above the rotator 21. The upper cover 111 forms the front exterior of the water purifier 1 together with the lower cover 112 that shields the filter bracket 30 from the front. Accordingly, the upper cover 111 forms a part of the front exterior of the water purifier between the rotator 21 and the top cover 14 and is rounded.

A top cover 14 may be provided at the top of the upper cover 111. The top cover 14 forms the upper surface of the water purifier 1. And, the manipulation unit 40 is mounted on the top cover 14. The manipulation unit 40 is formed in a circular shape and is coupled to the rotator 21 so that it can be rotated together when the rotator 21 rotates. In addition, the operation unit 40 is provided with an eject button 41.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the top cover and operating part of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. And, Figure 5 is a perspective view from below of the operation unit and the top cover in a combined state. And, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6' of Figure 3.

As shown in the drawing, the top cover 14 forms the upper surface of the water purifier 1. The front and rear ends of the top cover 14 are rounded and combined with the front cover 11 and the rear cover 12, and have a shape corresponding to the top of the front cover 11 and the rear cover 12, respectively. It may be formed to have a curvature.

Also, a cover hole 141 is formed in the top cover 14. The cover hole 141 is opened in a size and shape corresponding to the manipulation unit 40 so that the manipulation unit 40 can be rotatably mounted.

A base mounting portion 142 and a base support portion 143 may be formed inside the cover hole 141 to secure the operating portion base 42 forming the lower portion of the operating portion 40.

The base mounting portion 142 may extend from the cover hole 141 toward the center of the cover hole 141, and a plurality of base mounting portions 142 may be arranged to be spaced apart at equal intervals. In addition, the base mounting portion 142 is formed in a shape with an end bent inward to press and secure the peripheral surface of the operating unit base 42.

Additionally, the base support portion 143 extends inward from the latter half of the cover hole 141. Additionally, the base support portion 143 is formed to have a downward slope toward the center of the cover hole 141 to support the operating unit base 42 from below. Additionally, a protruding protrusion 425 is further formed on the circumferential surface of the operating unit base 42 to have an inclined surface corresponding to the base support unit 143. Accordingly, the base support part 143 and the protrusion 425 can be maintained in contact with each other and a stable support state is maintained even when the manipulation unit 40 is rotated.

In addition, a step portion 144 is formed around the cover hole 141 so that the periphery of the operating unit 40 is seated. Accordingly, it is possible to additionally support the operation unit 40 and ensure that the operation unit 40 rotates stably.

The operating unit 40 may include the operating unit base 42, the operating unit PCB 43, and the operating unit cover 44. The operating unit base 42 forms the lower exterior of the operating unit 40 and is mounted in the cover hole 141 to rotatably support the operating unit 40 on the top cover 14.

The operating unit base 42 may be formed to have the same diameter as the cover hole 141. Additionally, the circumference of the operating unit base 42 may extend upward and be combined with the operating unit cover 44 to form an internal space.

Rotational connection parts 421 extending downward may be further formed on both sides of the lower surface of the operating unit base 42. The rotation connection part 421 may be coupled to the rotator 21, and may be connected to each other so that the rotator 21 and the manipulation unit 40 can be rotated together.

Inside the operating unit base 42, mounting bosses 422 and 423 may be formed to protrude for fixed mounting by screwing the operating unit PCB 43. In addition, a wire hole 424 through which a wire connected to the control panel PCB 43 enters and exits may be further formed on the bottom of the control panel base 42.

As for the mounting bosses 422 and 423 supporting the operating unit PCB 43, the mounting boss 422 located at the rear is formed to be higher than the mounting boss 423 located at the front. Accordingly, the control panel PCB 43 can be arranged at an angle so that the rear end is higher than the front end. At this time, the inclination of the operating unit PCB 43 may be formed to correspond to the inclination of the upper surface 441 of the operating unit.

The control PCB 43 is equipped with a plurality of control members for controlling the operation of the water purifier 1. The operating member may be composed of a switch or sensor, and various types of input devices capable of inputting signals through user manipulation may be used.

For example, the manipulation unit PCB 43 may be provided with a plurality of touch sensors 431. The touch sensor 431 is used to detect the user's touch, and various types of touch sensors such as resistive type, capacitive type, ultrasonic type, and infrared type can be used.

The plurality of touch sensors 431 are configured to select and manipulate various functions, such as a function to select purified water, cold water, or hot water, a function to control the temperature of hot water, and a function to control the amount of water dispensed, through the user's touch input. .

Additionally, a switch 432 may be provided on one side of the control panel PCB 43. The switch 432 is a general switch that is operated by pressing, and is pressed by operating the eject button 41. By turning the switch 432 on and off, the valves 366, 367, and 369 for discharging water can be selectively driven, and water selected from purified water, cold water, or hot water can be dispensed.

In addition, the control panel PCB 43 may be provided with a plurality of LEDs 433 and 434. The plurality of LEDs 433 and 434 are for displaying information and can display the positions or operating states of the plurality of touch sensors and switches.

In detail, a plurality of LEDs 433 and 434 include a sensor LED 433 disposed adjacent to the touch sensor 431 to display the location of the touch sensor 431 or an indication of the operating state of the water purifier 1. , It may be composed of a switch LED 434 disposed adjacent to the switch 432 to display operation information of the water purifier 1.

The control PCB 43 may be further equipped with a separate display device, and the operating state of the water purifier 1 may be output to the outside through the display device.

Additionally, a buzzer 435 may be installed on the control panel PCB 43. The buzzer 435 can output the operating status of the water purifier 1 as a voice. For example, in the event of an abnormal operation of the water purifier 1, this can be reported by outputting a sound. At this time, the sound output is a sound or beep sound with a specific pattern, so that information can be conveyed to the user. Of course, it will be possible to transmit the operating status through the buzzer 435 even in a normal operating situation rather than an abnormal operating situation.

The operating unit base 42 is coupled by the operating unit cover 44. The operation unit cover 44 forms the upper shape of the operation unit 40 and forms the appearance of the operation unit 40 exposed to the outside when the operation unit 40 is mounted on the top cover 14. do.

The lower surface of the operating unit cover 44 may be formed in a circular shape corresponding to the upper surface of the operating unit base 42, and the upper surface of the operating unit cover 44 may be formed to be inclined. That is, the operating unit cover 44 may be formed in a shape that has a low front end and a high rear end, and the upper surface 441 may be formed to have an inclination. The slope of the upper surface 441 of the control panel cover 44 is formed to correspond to the slope of the control panel PCB 43, thereby improving the operability of the touch sensor 431 and the switch 432 and improving the user's convenience and readability. Improved effects can be expected.

A plurality of sensor holes 442 are formed on the upper surface of the operation unit cover 44. The sensor hole 442 is opened at a position corresponding to the touch sensor 431. Accordingly, the user can operate the touch sensor 431 by touching the point corresponding to the sensor hole 442.

And, a button hole 443 is formed in the control panel cover 44. The button hole 443 opens so that a portion of the eject button 41 can be taken in and out, and may be located above the switch 432. In addition, a button hook portion 444 on which the eject button 41 is fixedly mounted is further formed outside the button hole 443. The button hook portion 444 may be formed in a hook shape that can be inserted into the hook hole 414 of the eject button 41. The button hook portion 444 extends through the hook hole 414, and its end is formed in a hook shape so that it can be caught and restrained. Accordingly, the eject button 41 can be mounted at an accurate position on the operating unit cover 44, and the mounting position can be maintained fixed.

The eject button 41 is disposed on the lower surface of the button hole 443. Additionally, a button plate 411 that shields the opening of the eject button 41 and is exposed to the outside may be provided on the upper surface of the eject button 41. The button plate 411 may be transparent or translucent and is formed to transmit light emitted from the switch LED 434 provided on the control panel PCB 43 at a position corresponding to the button hole 443. It can be. And a button ring 412 is provided around the button plate 411. The button ring 412 is configured to shield the space between the button plate 411 and the button hole 443.

Meanwhile, an adhesive sheet 45 is provided on the upper surface of the operating unit cover 44, and an operating panel plate 46 is provided on the upper surface of the adhesive sheet 45 to form the upper surface of the operating unit 40. Since the control panel 46 forms the exterior, it may be made of glass, high-gloss plastic, or metal. In addition, the control panel 46 may be formed of a transparent or translucent material, and allows light emitted from the sensor LED 433 adjacent to the touch sensor 431 to pass through, allowing the user to more easily identify the operating position. You can do it. If necessary, the location of the touch sensor or the user's touch operation location may be displayed on the operation panel 46 through surface processing or printing.

A hole 461 corresponding to the button plate 411 may be formed in the control panel 46, and the button plate 411 is located in the hole 461 to enable independent movement. Additionally, the control panel 46 and the button plate 411 may be formed of the same material to provide a sense of unity in appearance.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the dispensing button of the water purifier as seen from above. And Figure 8 is a perspective view of the eject button viewed from below. And, Figure 9 is a diagram showing the lighting state of the switch LED of the water purifier. And, Figure 10 is a diagram showing the operating state of the eject button.

As shown in the drawing, the eject button 41 is mounted on the lower surface of the operating unit cover 44, and hook holes 414 may be formed at four corners. The hook hole 414 has an edge extending upward and is formed so that the button hook portion 444 can be inserted and coupled to each other.

A pressing portion 413 that is pressed by the user and moves by the user's manipulation may be formed in the center of the eject button 41. The pressing portion 413 may be formed in a size corresponding to the size of the button hole 443 so that it can be located inside the button hole 443. Additionally, the pressing portion 413 protrudes upward so that at least a portion of it is located inside the button hole 443 so that the user can press it.

A light transmitting portion 4131 is formed at the center of the pressing portion 413, and the light transmitting portion 4131 may be shielded by the button plate 411. A plate rib 4132 may be formed on the outside of the light transmitting portion 4131 to allow the button plate 411 to be press-fitted.

And, a step portion 4111 that is seated on the plate rib 411 is formed around the button plate 411. In addition, an insertion portion 4112 is protruding from the button plate 411, and the insertion portion 4112 is formed in a shape corresponding to the light transmitting portion 4131 and is inserted into the light transmitting portion 4131. You can.

Additionally, a light guide 4133 extending downward along the circumference of the light transmitting portion 4131 may be further formed on the lower surface of the pressing portion 413. The light guide 4133 may extend from the light transmitting part 4131 toward the control panel PCB 43. At this time, the light guide 4133 is spaced apart from the control panel PCB 43 by a predetermined distance so as not to interfere with the control panel PCB 43 when the pressing part 413 moves.

In addition, the switch LED 434 is located on the control panel PCB 43 corresponding to the inner area of the light guide 4133. A plurality of switch LEDs 434 may be installed, and one switch LED 434 may be configured to emit light of various colors.

And, the light emitted from the switch LED 434 moves along the light guide 4133, passes through the light transmitting part 4131, and passes through the button plate 411. Therefore, the user can check the light irradiated through the dispensing button 41, and select the lifespan of the filter 34 or hot water, cold water, and purified water through the color of the light displayed through the dispensing button 41. You can check the status.

For example, when the life of the filter 34 remains, the eject button 41 lights up in blue, and when the life of the filter 34 expires and needs to be replaced, it lights up in orange. The status of the filter 34 can be immediately conveyed to the user, and the replacement cycle of the filter 34 can be notified.

An elastic part 4134 may be formed around the pressing part 413 by cutting it along the circumference of the pressing part 413. The elastic portion 4134 may be composed of a plurality of cut portions 4135, and may elastically deform and move downward from the upper surface of the eject button 41 when the pressing portion 413 is pressed, When the hand is released, the pressing part 413 can be returned to its original position by elastic restoring force.

Meanwhile, a rotation support part 4136 is formed protruding at the front end (left side in FIG. 10) of the pressing part 413, and a contact part 4137 is formed at the rear end of the pressing part 413. The rotation support portion 4136 protrudes downward and remains in contact with the base support portion 426 of the operating unit base 42 when the eject button 41 is mounted.

Therefore, no matter which position of the pressing part 413 is pressed, the pressing part 413 rotates clockwise (as seen in FIG. 9) about the rotation support part 4136. In particular, when the pressing part 413 rotates, the rotation distance of the contact part 4137, which is located in the opposite direction to the rotation support part 4136, becomes large enough to press the switch 432.

The contact part 4137 is located above the switch 432, and remains separated from the switch 432 before the pressing part 413 is pressed. Also, when the pressing part 413 is pressed, the pressing part 413 rotates about the rotation support part 4136 so that the contact part 4137 presses the switch.

Due to this structure, the contact part 4137 can accurately press the switch 432 no matter which position of the pressing part 413 the user presses. In addition, by positioning the switch 432 further outside the light transmitting portion 4131, the switch LED 434 can be positioned at the opening position of the eject button 41 and the eject button 41 Through this, the light emitted from the switch LED 434 can be transmitted.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the rotator of the water purifier seen from above. And, Figure 12 is a head view of the rotator from below. And, Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of the rotator of the water purifier. And, Figure 14 is a diagram showing the flow path structure inside the rotator and the water outlet.

As shown in the drawing, the rotator 21 includes a rotator housing 22. The rotator housing 22 has a hollow portion inside and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a short height compared to the diameter.

The rotator 21 is provided with an upper guide bracket 23 and a lower guide bracket 24 spaced apart from each other at the upper and lower inner sides of the rotator housing 22. In addition, a fastening portion 221 is protrudingly formed on the inner surface of the rotator housing 22, and fastening holes 231 and 241 are formed in the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24 at intervals in the circumferential direction. . Bolts, etc. may be inserted into the fastening portion 221 through the fastening holes 231 and 241 so that the upper and lower guide brackets 24 can be fastened to the inner surface of the rotator housing 22 to be spaced apart from each other.

In addition, a plurality of fastening hooks 237 and 247 may be formed along the circumference of the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24, and a fastening protrusion 222 may be formed on the inner surface of the rotator housing 22. there is. The fastening hooks 237 and 247 and the fastening protrusion 222 may be locked with each other, and serve as a temporary fixation when the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24 are combined.

The rotator 21 further includes rail receiving grooves 232 and 242 that are concavely formed along the circumferential direction in the upper guide bracket 23 or the lower guide bracket 24. The rail receiving grooves 232 and 242 are an upper rail receiving groove 232 that accommodates the first rotation guide rail 1111 formed in the upper cover 111, and a second rotation guide formed in the rotator mounting portion 331. It may be composed of a lower rail receiving groove 242 that accommodates the rail 331.

It protrudes upward or downward from one side of the upper rail receiving groove 232 or the lower rail receiving groove 242, or upward from one side of the upper rail receiving groove 232 and the lower rail receiving groove 242. Rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243 that protrude downward are formed.

The rotator 21 includes a circular upper center ring 234 and a lower center ring 244 disposed at the centers of the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24, respectively. An upper connection portion 235 and a lower connection portion 245 are formed to extend horizontally from the inner surfaces of the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24 to the upper center ring 234 and lower center ring 244, respectively, The upper center ring 234 and the lower center ring 244 are connected to and supported by the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24 by the upper connection part 235 and the lower connection part 245. The upper and lower connection parts 245 each have a fan shape and have a plurality of through holes therein.

The upper center ring 234 and lower center ring 244 are formed to inform the operator of the installation location of the water outlet pipe through which the discharged water flows. The upper center ring 234 and the lower center ring 244 are formed at the center of the rotator 21 and become the center of rotation when the rotator 21 rotates.

Additionally, a T connector 264 may be provided on the upper center ring 234 and the lower center ring 244. One side of the T connector 264 extends toward the water outlet 20 and is connected to a water outlet pipe 261 connected to the water outlet nozzle 25, and the other two sides each have a cold water pipe 265 connected to the upper part and a lower part. A water purification pipe 263 is connected to. At this time, the purified water pipe 263 and the cold water pipe 265 may be connected to the T connector 264 through a rotating pipe 264.

At this time, the cold water pipe 265 and the purified water pipe 263 pass through the upper center ring 234 and the lower center ring 244, respectively, and the T connector 264 connects the upper center ring 234 and the lower center ring 264. It is located in the space between the center rings (244). Therefore, the T connector 264 can always maintain a constant position without changing its position.

Meanwhile, the rotating tube 264 may be made of stainless steel. Additionally, a fitting groove 2641 may be formed along the upper and lower circumferences of the rotary tube 264. A metal collet is inserted into the fitting groove 2641 when the upper and lower ends of the rotary tube 264 are coupled with the T connector 26.

Accordingly, when the rotator 21 rotates, the T connector 26 can be rotated around the rotary pipe 264, and twisting of the pipe forming the flow path for water discharge can be prevented. In particular, the rotary tube 264 is made of stainless steel, so it is not damaged or deformed even when repeatedly rotated by the rotator 21 and combined with a collet made of metal, thereby preventing water leakage.

Meanwhile, the hot water pipe 262 connected to the hot water tank 71 and supplying hot water may be directly connected to the water outlet nozzle 25 without passing through the water outlet unit 20. Therefore, when dispensing hot water, water from the hot water tank 71 can be dispensed immediately, and the quality of hot water is improved. In other words, when using a common flow path with cold water or purified water, there is a problem in that the temperature of the cold water remaining in the flow path or the hot water initially taken out by the purified water cannot satisfy the temperature when hot water is taken out. However, when the separate hot water pipe 262 is connected to the water outlet nozzle, hot water in the hot water tank 71 can be supplied to the water outlet nozzle 25 without temperature loss.

The coupling rings 236 and 246 have circular coupling holes formed inside them, and a pair may be provided on both left and right sides. The pair of coupling rings 236 and 246 disposed on both sides may be arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line that diametrically crosses the rotation axis of the rotator 21. The coupling rings 236 and 246 may be formed on both the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24, or may be formed only on the upper guide bracket 23.

The coupling rings 236 and 246 can be coupled to the rotation connecting portion 421 on the bottom of the operating unit 40. In detail, the pair of rotation connection parts 421 can be inserted through the coupling rings 236 and 246, so that when the rotator 21 rotates, the operation unit 40 can be rotated together.

By combining the operation unit 40 and the rotator 21, when the operation unit 40 and the rotator 21 rotate together, the dispensing button 41 and the water outlet 20 also rotate together. As a result, since the dispensing button 41 and the water outlet nozzle 25 are located on the same line and rotated, the positions of the dispensing button 41 and the water outlet nozzle 25 do not need to be separately adjusted, thereby improving user operability.

Meanwhile, an oil damper 27 may be provided on the bottom of the rotator 21, that is, the lower guide bracket 24. The oil damper 27 allows the rotator 21 to rotate smoothly without the feeling of being caught when the water outlet 20 rotates, and the rotator 21 rotates at a constant speed simply by applying a certain amount of force. make it possible

The oil damper 27 is a general configuration used to keep the rotation speed constant, and its detailed description will be omitted. In addition, a pinion gear 271 is coupled to the rotation axis of the oil damper 27, and the pinion gear 271 is arranged to move along the internal gear 331 formed at the top of the filter bracket 30. do.

The pinion gear 271 is formed in a circular shape with a much smaller radius of curvature than that of the internal gear 331, and the number of teeth is also small. When the rotator 21 is mounted on the upper part of the filter bracket 30, the pinion gear 271 is located on the inner surface of the internal gear 331 and is engaged with the internal gear 331.

Figure 15 is a partial perspective view of the filter bracket of the water purifier. And, Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling structure of the rotator.

As shown in the drawing, an internal gear 331 is formed at the top of the filter bracket 30. The internal gear 331 may be formed at a constant curvature at the upper end of the rotator mounting portion 33. And, the internal gear 331 is formed to be radially spaced apart from the first rotation guide rail 332. The internal gear 331 is located adjacent to the upper outer edge of the filter bracket 30 and may be arranged concentrically with the first rotation guide rail 332. Therefore, when the rotator 21 is mounted, the internal gear 331 may be configured to mesh with the pinion gear 271.

Meanwhile, the back of the filter bracket 30 is opened backward, and the rear end of the filter bracket 30 is coupled to the front end of the side panel 15. The first rotation guide rail 332 is provided at the top of the filter bracket 30 so that the rotator 21 can be rotatably mounted in the left and right directions.

The first rotation guide rail 332 may have a semicircular curvature to guide the rotation of the rotator 21. The first rotation guide rail 332 may be formed to be fixed to the inside of the upper end of the filter bracket 30.

Additionally, a second rotation guide rail 1111 protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the upper cover 111 may be further provided. The second rotation guide rail 1111 is located above and facing the first rotation guide rail 332 and is formed in the same shape to guide the rotation of the rotator 21.

The first rotation guide rail 332 and the second rotation guide rail 1111 are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction with the rotator 21 therebetween. Therefore, by mounting the rotator 21, the upper and lower ends of the rotator 21 are coupled with the first rotation guide rail 332 and the second rotation guide rail 1111 to guide the rotation of the rotator 21. do.

The rotator 21 is a component for horizontally rotating the water outlet 20 to the left or right. The rotator 21 does not have a rotation axis at the center, but is provided with rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243 formed at a constant curvature at the center, and can slide along the rotation guide rails 332 and 1111 using the rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243. are combined together.

The difference is that the rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243 are provided on the rotator 21, and the rotation guide rails 332 and 1111 are provided on the filter bracket 30 and the upper cover 111, but the rotation guide protrusions (233,243) and the rotation guide rails (332,1111) have the same curvature and are coupled to each other to guide the rotation of the rotator (21).

In detail, for example, the rotation guide projections 233 and 243 include a lower rotation guide projection 243 protruding downward from the lower rail receiving groove 242 of the lower guide bracket 24, and an upper guide bracket 23. It may be composed of an upper rotation guide protrusion 233 that protrudes upward from the upper rail receiving groove 232.

Additionally, the ends of the rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243 have a hook shape. When the rotation guide protrusions (233,243) and the rotation guide rails (332,1111) are combined, the inner circumferential surfaces of the ends of the rotation guide protrusions (233,243) face each other and overlap with a portion of the rotation guide rails (332,1111) in the thickness direction. You can.

The rotation guide protrusions (233, 243) are formed to have the same curvature as the rotation guide rails (332, 1111) and are coupled to the rotation guide rails (332, 1111) to be able to slide in the rotation direction. In addition, when the rotation guide protrusions (233,243) and the rotation guide rails (332,1111) are combined, the rotation guide rails (332,1111) are accommodated in the rail receiving grooves (232,242) formed inside the rotation guide protrusions (233,243). One surface of the rail receiving groove (232,242) and the rotation guide rail (332,1111) overlaps in the thickness direction, and the end of the rotation guide protrusion (233,243) is formed in a hook shape and overlaps the rotation guide rail (332,1111) in the thickness direction. It's very combined.

According to this coupling structure, the water outlet 20 can be rotated stably, and the position of the water outlet nozzle 25 can be freely changed without separating the water outlet 20. In this case, there is no need to separately form a rotation axis at the center of the rotator 21.

For example, in a structure in which the water outlet 20 protrudes forward from one side of the rotator 21, even if the rotator 21 is rotated while holding the water outlet 20, the eccentric load of the water outlet 20 causes It is possible to solve the problem that the rotation of the water outlet 20 and the rotator 21 becomes unstable due to the water outlet 20 being lifted upward or downward. Additionally, the rotator 21 can be prevented from being removed by the hook shape of the rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243.

In addition, since the contact area between the rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243 and the rotation guide rails 332 and 1111 is large when the rotator 21 rotates, the eccentric load can be distributed when holding and rotating the water outlet 20, Damage such as wear and scratches caused by friction can be reduced.

The rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243 formed on the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24, respectively, are preferably made of a different material from the rotation guide rails 332 and 1111. More preferably, the rotation guide protrusions 233 and 243 may be made of engineering plastic (POM), which has excellent fatigue resistance, toughness, and wear resistance. Therefore, when the rotation guide protrusions (233,243) rotate along the rotation guide rails (332,1111), wear and noise caused by friction between the rotation guide protrusions (233,243) and the rotation guide rails (332,1111) can be reduced.

Figure 17 is a rear view of the arrangement of the valve mounted on the filter bracket.

As shown in the figure, the back of the filter bracket 30 includes temperature sensor brackets 76 and 361, a flow sensor 363, a purified water outlet valve 367, a cold water outlet valve 366, and a flow control valve ( 368) may be provided. These valves are arranged on the back of the filter bracket 30, more specifically in the area above the support plate 35, so that the space inside the water purifier 1 can be efficiently used.

First, the water supply valve 361 is connected to a pipe connected to the outlet side of the filter 34 and determines the flow of water supplied from the filter 34. Additionally, a flow sensor 363 is provided on the outlet side of the water supply valve 361 to detect the flow rate of water passing through the water supply valve 361.

The pipe connected to the outlet of the flow sensor 363 is connected to a branch pipe 364. The outlet of the branch pipe 364 is branched into a cold water side (3641) and a hot water side (3642), respectively. The pipe connected to the cold water side 3641 of the branch pipe 364 is again branched by the T connector 365 to the cold water side 3651 and the still water side 3652. The cold water side 3651 and the purified water side 3652 are connected to the cold water outlet valve 366 and the purified water outlet valve 367, respectively, so that the supply of purified water and cold water can be determined.

The purified water outlet valve 367 is connected to a purified water pipe 263, and the purified water pipe 263 is extended and connected to one side of the T connector 26 by a rotary pipe 264. In addition, the cold water outlet valve 366 is connected to the cooling tank to supply purified water to the cooling tank 60 to be cooled. Additionally, a cold water pipe 265 is connected to the outlet of the cooling tank 60, and the cold water pipe 265 is extended and connected to the other side of the T connector 26 by the rotary pipe 264.

Meanwhile, the pipe connected to the hot water side 3642 of the branch pipe 364 is connected to the flow control valve 368. The flow control valve 368 is used to control the flow rate of water supplied to the hot water tank 71. By controlling the flow rate, the temperature of the water passing through the hot water tank 71 can be heated to a certain temperature or higher. do.

In detail, if the amount of water passing through the hot water tank 71 is too large, it becomes impossible to effectively heat the water passing through the hot water tank 71 at a high speed, and in this situation, the temperature conditions of the hot water are not satisfied. Situations may arise.

Therefore, when it is desired to extract high-temperature hot water, the water can be heated by adjusting the amount of water supplied to the hot water tank 71. Additionally, even if the temperature of the supplied water is too low, the heating performance in the hot water tank 71 can be improved by reducing the amount of water flowing in.

Meanwhile, although not shown in detail, an inlet temperature sensor may be provided on either the flow rate control valve 368 or the inlet or outlet of the flow rate control valve 368, and the flow rate may be controlled by the inlet temperature sensor. The opening degree of the valve 368 may be configured to be adjusted.

The pipe connected to the outlet of the flow control valve 368 is connected to the inlet of the hot water tank 71, and the outlet of the hot water tank 71 is connected to the hot water outlet valve 369, and the hot water outlet valve 369 ) is determined by the opening and closing of the hot water. The hot water outlet valve 369 is connected to the hot water pipe 262, and the hot water pipe 262 is connected to the water outlet nozzle 25 of the water outlet unit 20 so that it can be discharged to the outside.

Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of the water outlet of the water purifier. And, Figure 19 is a cut-away perspective view of the water outlet.

As shown in the drawing, the water outlet 20 may extend from the rotator housing and communicate with the inside of the rotator housing 22 so that the water outlet pipe 261 and the hot water pipe 262 can flow in. It is structured so that

The water outlet 20 may be composed of a water outlet housing 201 and a water outlet cover 202. The water outlet housing 201 has an open upper surface, forming a space within which the water outlet pipe 261 and the hot water pipe 262 can be placed. And, the water outlet cover 202 is formed to shield the open upper surface of the water outlet housing 201.

A water outlet hole 2011 is formed on the bottom of the water outlet housing 201, and the water outlet nozzle 25 can be mounted on the water outlet hole 2011. In addition, the water outlet pipe 261 and the hot water pipe 262 connected to the water outlet nozzle 25 are guided to the inside of the rotator housing 22 through the inside of the water outlet housing 201.

The water outlet nozzle 25 includes a cold water connection part 251 and a hot water connection part 252 so that they can be independently connected to the water outlet pipe 261 and the hot water pipe 262. The cold water connection part 251 extends to penetrate one side of the water outlet nozzle 25 and is connected to the water outlet pipe 261. In addition, the hot water connection part 252 extends to penetrate the other side of the side of the water outlet nozzle 25 and is connected to the hot water pipe 262. Accordingly, cold water, purified water, and hot water can be independently discharged through the single water outlet nozzle 25.

A nozzle fixing part 253 is further formed on the other side of the water outlet nozzle 25, which can fix the water outlet nozzle 25 to the water outlet housing 201 with a screw. In addition, the water outlet nozzle 25 is formed to be open vertically to facilitate molding, and a nozzle cap 254 may be mounted on the open upper surface of the water outlet nozzle 25.

Additionally, a writing hole 2012 may be further formed on the bottom surface of the water outlet housing 201. The lighting hole 2012 allows light emitted from the lighting unit 28 provided inside the outlet housing 201 to be directed downward. In addition, a fixing protrusion 2013 on which the lighting unit 28 is fixedly mounted may be further formed on the bottom of the water outlet housing 201 adjacent to the lighting hole 2012.

The lighting unit 28 is a light housing that radiates light toward the bottom of the water outlet 20 to show the water dispensing state or check the amount of water filled in the water cup when the dispensing button 41 is operated. It may be composed of (281) and light PCB (282).

The light housing 281 is formed so that its upper surface is open, and the light PCB 282 can be mounted therein. And a housing coupling portion 2811 extending outward is formed at the rear end of the light housing 281, and the housing coupling portion 2811 is formed to engage with the fixing protrusion 2013 to form the light housing 281. This ensures that it can be fixedly installed in the correct position.

A transparent portion 2812 through which light can pass is formed in the light housing 281 at a position corresponding to the lighting hole 2012. The transparent portion 2812 may be formed by opening a portion of the light housing 281 and mounting a transparent member at the opened position, and the light housing 281 itself may be made transparent. The transparent portion 2812 is formed to protrude from the light housing 281 and is formed to be inserted into the lighting hole 2012. Therefore, the transparent part 2812, together with the housing coupling part 2811, allows the light housing 281 to be mounted at an accurate position.

A light guide 2814 is formed to extend along the periphery of the transparent portion 2812, and the light guide 2814 allows light from the LED 2821 mounted on the light PCB 282 to pass through the lighting hole 2012. We will guide you through external investigation.

Additionally, a PCB support portion 2813 may be formed to extend from the center of the light housing 281 to support the light PCB 282. The light PCB 282 is seated on the PCB support part 2813, and a screw passes through the light PCB 282 and is fastened to the PCB support part 2813 to fix the light PCB 282.

The light PCB 282 is formed in a size and shape that can shield the open upper surface of the light housing 281, and is mounted on the PCB support portion 2813. The LED 2821 is mounted on the light PCB 282, and when the light PCB 282 is mounted, the LED 2821 may be positioned at a position corresponding to the light guide 2814.

The water outlet cover 202 is seated on the top of the water outlet housing 201 and forms the upper surface of the water outlet unit 20. In addition, cover coupling portions 2021 extending downward may be formed on both ends of the outlet cover 202. The cover coupling portion 2021 may be coupled to a coupling protrusion 2014 protruding from the inner wall of the light housing 281, and the water outlet cover 202 is coupled to the water outlet housing 201. to be able to maintain.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the heating and control module of the water purifier.

As shown in the drawing, the heating and control module 50 may be configured by combining an induction heating assembly 70 and a control assembly 80. The induction heating assembly 70 and the control assembly 80 can be combined into one module and fixedly mounted on the support plate 35 as shown in FIG. 2. The heating and control module 50 may be placed in the space between the filter bracket 30 and the cooling tank 60, and is located between the top cover 14 and the support plate 35.

The induction heating assembly 70 is configured to heat purified water using an induction heating (IH) method. In addition, the induction heating assembly 70 has an external shape formed by a hot water case 10 coupled to the control assembly 80, and a hot water tank 71 and a working coil 72 are provided inside the hot water case 10. ), each configuration of the induction heating assembly 70 can be accommodated.

The control assembly 80 is for controlling the overall operation of the water purifier 1, and is for controlling the main PCB 82 for controlling the compressor 51 and various valves, and induction heating for controlling the induction heating assembly 70. The PCB 84, the power supply PCB 86 for power supply, and the NFC (Near Field Communication) PCB 88 are configured to be installed, respectively.

To this end, the control assembly 80 includes a control base 81, a first control cover 83 that shields the rear of the control base 81, a second control cover 85 that shields the front, and a side that shields the control base 81. The outer shape can be formed by the third control cover 87.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the induction heating assembly of the water purifier viewed from the front. And, Figure 22 is a perspective view of the induction heating assembly viewed from the rear. and Figure 23 is an exploded perspective view of the induction heating assembly.

As shown in the figure, the induction heating assembly 70 is configured to receive purified water that has passed through the filter 34 and heat it into hot water, and is configured to heat the purified water using an induction heating method.

The induction heating assembly 70 includes a hot water tank 71 through which purified water passes, a working coil 72 for heating the water passing through the hot water tank 71, and the working coil 72 and a hot water tank ( 71) may be configured to include a heating bracket 73 on which it is mounted.

The heating bracket 73 provides a mounting space for the hot water tank 71, the working coil 72, and the ferrite core 74. Additionally, the heating bracket 73 may be made of a resin material that is not deformed or damaged even at high temperatures.

A bracket coupling portion 731 for coupling with the control assembly 80 is formed at a corner of the heating bracket 73. There may be a plurality of bracket coupling portions 731, and the extended end of the bracket coupling portion 731 may have a different shape and may be oriented. Accordingly, the induction heating assembly 70 can have a structure that is compatible with the control assembly 80, and the induction heating assembly 70 can be mounted at an accurate position.

In addition, a border 732 having a predetermined width is formed along the edge of the heating bracket 73 to accommodate the hot water tank 71 and the working coil 72 on both sides of the heating bracket 73, respectively. It creates a space where you can

In addition, a bracket depression 733 for mounting the temperature sensor bracket 76 may be further formed in the center of one surface of the heating bracket 73 on which the hot water tank 71 is mounted. The bracket recess 733 is recessed into a corresponding shape so that the temperature sensor bracket 76 can be press-fitted. In addition, an opening 7331 is formed in the center of the bracket depression 733 through which the electric wire connected to the hot water temperature sensor 761 and the fuse 762 enters and exits.

A hot water temperature sensor 761 that measures the temperature of the hot water tank 71 may be mounted on the temperature sensor bracket 76. The hot water temperature sensor 761 measures the temperature at the center of the hot water tank 71, making it possible to determine the temperature of hot water without directly measuring the temperature of the hot water inside the hot water tank 71. Therefore, the temperature of the hot water dispensed by the hot water temperature sensor 761 is maintained in an appropriate range. In other words, it is possible to determine and control whether to add additional heating or stop heating based on the temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 761.

Additionally, a fuse 762 may be mounted on the temperature sensor bracket 76. The fuse 762 cuts off the power to the induction heating assembly 70 when the water in the hot water tank 71 is overheated.

A sensor mounting groove 763 in which the hot water temperature sensor 761 is mounted is formed on the rear side (right side in FIG. 23) of the temperature sensor bracket 76, which is in contact with the hot water tank 71. Therefore, the hot water temperature sensor 761 is in contact with the hot water tank 71 and can effectively measure the surface temperature of the hot water tank 71. Additionally, a fuse mounting groove 764 in which the fuse 762 is mounted is formed on the front of the temperature sensor bracket 76. A fuse mounting protrusion 7332 is formed in the bracket depression 733 corresponding to the fuse mounting groove 764, so that the fuse 762 can be fixed by mounting the temperature sensor bracket 76.

A working coil 72 is provided on the front of the heating bracket 73. The working coil 72 forms magnetic force lines that cause heat generation in the hot water tank 71. When current is supplied to the working coil 72, magnetic force lines are formed in the working coil 72, and these magnetic force lines affect the hot water tank 71, and the hot water tank 71 is affected by the magnetic force lines. I have a fever.

The working coil 72 is disposed in front of the heating bracket 73 and is disposed to face one of the two sides of the hot water tank 71, which has a flat shape. And, the working coil 72 is made of several strands of copper or other conductor wire, and the strands are insulated. The working coil 72 forms a magnetic field or magnetic force lines by the current applied to the working coil 72.

Therefore, the front of the hot water tank 71 facing the working coil 72 is affected by the magnetic force lines formed by the working coil 72 and generates heat. Figure 23 does not show the strands of the working coil 72 in detail, but only shows the overall outline of the working coil 72 formed by winding each strand outside the bracket depression 733.

Mica sheets 75 are provided on the front and rear sides of the working coil 72. The mica sheet 75 corresponds to the front and rear shapes of the working coil 72 and shields the entire front and rear surfaces of the working coil 72.

The mica sheet 75 has a predetermined thickness. Therefore, the hot water tank 71 and the ferrite core 74 are maintained at a certain distance from the working coil 72 so that the hot water tank 71 can effectively generate heat by the magnetic force lines formed by the working coil 72. It becomes possible. Of course, the mica sheet 75 may be provided on only one of the front and rear sides of the working coil 72, if necessary.

Additionally, a ferrite core 74 is provided on the front surface of the mica sheet 75. The ferrite core 74 is used to suppress current loss and serves as a shielding film for magnetic force lines. The working coil 72 may include a plurality of ferrite cores 74, and the plurality of ferrite cores 74 may be arranged radially with respect to the central portion of the working coil 72.

Core fixing parts 734 and 735 are formed on the heating bracket 73 to fix the ferrite core 74. The core fixing parts 734 and 735 are composed of an inner fixing part 734 and an outer fixing part 735, and are formed to protrude at a position corresponding to the position where the ferrite core 74 is disposed. The inner fixing part 734 supports the side of the circumferential surface of the ferrite core 74 that is closest to the rotation center of the working coil 72, and the outer fixing part 735 supports the inner fixing part 734. It is located on the side facing the ferrite core 74 and supports one side of the peripheral surface of the ferrite core 74. A plurality of core fixing parts 734 and 735 may be formed radially, similar to the arrangement of the ferrite core 74.

The hot water tank 71 is mounted on the rear of the heating bracket. The hot water tank 71 is configured to generate heat under the influence of magnetic force lines formed by the working coil 72. Accordingly, purified water is heated while passing through the internal space of the hot water tank 71 and becomes hot water.

Additionally, the overall shape of the hot water tank 71 may be flat and compact. And the hot water tank 71 is formed to correspond to the overall shape of the induction heating assembly 70 so that the induction heating assembly 70 is positioned between the filter bracket 30 and the cooling tank 60 in the water purifier 1. can be accommodated in space. In addition, the hot water tank 71 is formed to have a large area, so that a sufficient heating area can be secured and instantaneous heating is possible.

The hot water tank 71 is formed by joining the circumferences of a first cover 711 having a flat shape and a second cover 712 having a concavo-convex shape. Additionally, an output pipe 713 through which heated water is discharged is formed at the top of the hot water tank 71, and an input pipe 714 through which water for heating is supplied is formed at the bottom of the hot water tank 71. The output tube 713 extends laterally to have an upward slope, and the input tube 714 extends laterally to have a downward slope. Therefore, a connection space for pipes connected to the hot water tank 71 is secured and water flows easily.

A T connector 715 is connected to the output tube 713. And, a hot water pipe 262 connected to the hot water outlet valve 369 is connected to one side of the T connector 715 facing the output pipe 713. In addition, a safety valve 716 is provided on the other side of the T connector 715, that is, in the direction intersecting the output pipe 713, that is, in the direction toward the bottom of the water purifier 1.

The safety valve 716 is for discharging steam generated when heating hot water in the hot water tank 71, and prevents the pressure inside the hot water tank 71 from being excessively increased by steam. . The safety valve 716 is configured to open at a set pressure, and may have various structures to enable smooth discharge of steam inside the hot water tank 71.

The outlet of the safety valve 716 faces the bottom of the water purifier 1, and a silicone hose and an additional steam pipe 7161 are connected to the outlet of the safety valve 716. The steam pipe 7161 connected to the safety valve 716 extends to the outside of the water purifier 1 along the base 13. Therefore, when installing the water purifier 1, the steam pipe 7161 is drained into a sink or a separate container capable of draining so that steam or water generated by steam can be drained.

A T connector 717 is also connected to the input pipe 714, and an end cap 7171 is provided on one side of the T connector 717 to shield the opening on one side of the T connector 717. Additionally, a check valve 718 may be provided on one side open downward of the T connector 717. The check valve 718 is used to supply purified water to the input pipe 714, and is formed to be open in the supply direction. Therefore, when the end cap 7171 is removed while the check valve 718 is closed, the water inside the hot water tank can be discharged through the input pipe 714.

Looking at this in more detail, the water purifier 1 fills the hot water tank 71 with water and tests its heating performance before shipping. After completion of these tests, the hot water tank 71 is shipped with the water inside it completely drained.

Accordingly, the end cap 7171 is opened to completely empty the water inside the hot water tank 71 upon shipping after testing the hot water tank 71. At this time, the check valve 718 is closed, and the end cap 7171 has a structure that shields the opening of the T connector 717 connected to the input pipe 714 at the bottom of the hot water tank 71. Due to these structural characteristics, all water inside the hot water tank 71 can be discharged by its own weight when the end cap 7171 is opened.

Of course, the end cap 7171 may be configured as a valve that can be opened and closed rather than a simple stopper structure, and may be configured to empty the water inside the hot water tank 71 by operating the valve.

Figure 24 is a front view of the hot water tank. And Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25-25' of Figure 24.

As shown in the drawing, the hot water tank 71 is formed by joining the edges of the first cover 711 and the second cover 712 to each other. The edge of the first cover 711 and the edge of the second cover 712 may be joined to each other by welding or the like to maintain airtightness.

The first cover 711 has a flat shape to generate heat under the influence of magnetic force lines formed by the working coil 72. Additionally, the first cover 711 may be made of a material suitable for heat generation. The first cover 711 may be made of a stainless steel material, and preferably may be made of a 4-series stainless steel material. More preferably, the first cover 711 may be made of STS (STainless Steel, Korean Industrial Standard) 439 material.

The second cover 712 is disposed on the opposite side of the working coil 72 based on the first cover 711 and has less influence of magnetic force lines, so it has less correlation with heat generation than the first cover 711. Therefore, it is preferable that the second cover 712 is made of a material that has corrosion resistance characteristics rather than heat generation characteristics. Additionally, an output tube 713 and an input tube 714 are provided at the center of the top and bottom of the second cover 712. The output tube 713 and the input tube 714 may extend in opposite directions.

The second cover 712 includes a base surface 7121 and a protrusion 7122. The base surface 7121 and the protrusion 7122 may be formed integrally through press processing. When the second cover 712 having the base surface 7121 is partially pressed, a protrusion 7122 may be formed on the second cover 712.

The base surface 7121 faces the first cover 711 at a position spaced apart from the first cover 711, and is spaced apart from the first cover 711 to form an internal space of the hot water tank 71. . In addition, the protrusion 7122 protrudes from the base surface 7121 toward the first cover 711, and when the first cover 711 and the second cover 712 are joined, the protrusion 7122 protrudes from the first cover 712. It may be formed to be in contact with or adjacent to the cover 711. Additionally, the circumference of the protrusion 7122 may be formed to be inclined.

The protrusion 7122 is located between the input pipe 714 and the output pipe 713, and is formed in plural numbers to disperse the flow of water flowing into the input pipe 714 and discharged from the output pipe 713. The residence time inside the hot water tank 71 can be lengthened.

The protrusion 7122 may be composed of a horizontal protrusion 7124 and a vertical protrusion 7123. The vertical protrusion 7123 may extend in the same direction as the vertical longitudinal direction of the hot water tank 71. Additionally, the horizontal protrusion 7124 is formed at both ends of the vertical protrusion 7123 and extends to have a predetermined length.

A plurality of the protrusions 7122 may be arranged at regular intervals, preferably one in the center and an equal number of protrusions 7122 may be formed on both sides. In the embodiment of the present invention, it is explained as an example that three are formed, but there is no limit to the number.

Accordingly, the water flowing into the input pipe 714 is dispersed by hitting the horizontal protrusion 7124 below, flows along the vertical protrusion 7123, and then again hits the horizontal protrusion 7124 above and is dispersed. Afterwards, it is discharged to the output pipe 713. And this action occurs simultaneously in multiple protrusions 7122.

In this process, the water flowing inside the hot water tank 71 is dispersed and its residence time inside the hot water tank 71 becomes longer, allowing it to be further heated. In addition, it is evenly spread throughout the entire inside of the hot water tank 71, enabling more efficient heating of water.

Meanwhile, a welding portion 7125 is formed on at least one protrusion 7122 among the plurality of protrusions 7122. The welded portion 7125, like the protruding portion 7122, protrudes toward the first cover. The location of the welded portion 7125 may be preferably formed in the central portion of the hot water tank 71. Additionally, the welding portion 7125 and the first cover 711 may be joined to each other by welding.

The protrusions 7122 other than the welding portion 7125 are not joined to the first cover 711 by welding but are simply in contact with or adjacent to the first cover 711, while the welding portion 7125 is not connected to the first cover 711 by welding. It is combined with the first cover 711.

Therefore, the hot water tank 71 is not deformed or damaged even when the pressure inside the hot water tank 71 occurs when heating hot water, and the first cover 711 and the second cover 712 maintain their shape and are stable. The combined state can be maintained.

Figure 26 is a perspective view of the control assembly of the water purifier. And, Figure 27 is an exploded perspective view of the control assembly.

As shown in the figure, the control assembly 80 includes a control base 81, a first control cover 83 that shields the rear of the control base 81, and a second control cover 85 that shields the front. ) And the external shape can be formed by the third control cover 87 that shields the side.

The control base 81 can be equipped with the main PCB 82, the induction heating PCB 84, the power supply PCB 86, and the NFC PCB 88, which constitute the control assembly 80. Provide space.

A first mounting surface on which the main PCB 82 is mounted is formed on the rear side (right side in FIG. 27) of the control base 81. The main PCB 82 controls the overall operation of a water supply device such as the water purifier 1. For example, the main PCB 82 can control the operation of a number of valves, including the compressor 51 and the cooling fan 53.

Additionally, a first control cover 83 is provided on the first mounting surface 811 of the control base 81 on which the main PCB 82 is mounted. The main PCB 82 may be placed inside a space formed by combining the first mounting surface 811 and the first control cover 83.

A second mounting surface 812 on which the induction heating PCB 84 is mounted is formed on the front (left side in FIG. 27) of the control base 81. The induction heating PCB 84 controls the induction heating operation of the working coil 72. For example, the induction heating PCB 84 controls current to flow in the working coil 72, and the hot water tank 71 generates heat by the current supplied to the working coil 72 to heat hot water.

In addition, a second control cover 85 is provided on the second mounting surface 812 of the control base 81 on which the induction heating PCB 84 is mounted. The induction heating PCB 84 may be placed inside a space formed by combining the second mounting surface 812 and the second control cover 85.

The induction heating PCB 84 consumes a lot of power, and thus high temperature heat may be generated. In order to cool the induction heating PCB 84, a heat dissipation member 841 may be provided in the induction heating PCB 84. Additionally, a heat dissipation hole 851 may be formed in the second control cover 85 at a position corresponding to the heat dissipation member 841.

In addition, a coupling boss 852 coupled to the bracket coupling portion 731 of the induction heating assembly 70 may be further formed on the second control cover 85. The coupling boss 852 extends to a predetermined length at a position corresponding to the bracket coupling portion 731 and is coupled to the bracket coupling portion 731. The coupling boss 852 extends to a predetermined length to maintain the induction heating assembly 70 and the second control cover 85 spaced apart by a certain distance. Accordingly, the control assembly 80 is prevented from malfunctioning or being damaged by the hot water tank 71 or the induction heating assembly 70 at high temperature.

The second mounting surface 812 may form a portion of the entire front surface of the control base 81. A cable fixing portion 813 may be further formed on the front of the control base 81 above the second mounting surface 812. The cable fixing part 813 is formed by a pair of ring-shaped protrusions protruding forward, and allows wires connected to a plurality of PCBs to pass between the pair of protrusions and be fixed.

A third mounting surface 814 may be formed on a side of the second mounting surface 812. The third mounting surface 814 provides a space for the power supply PCB 86 to be mounted, and may be extended to perpendicularly intersect the front surface of the control base 81.

The power supply PCB 86 is for supplying power to the induction heating PCB 84. Since the output voltage for induction heating is very high, sufficient power must be supplied. Accordingly, a separate power supply PCB 86 may be provided to supply separate power to the induction heating PCB 84 to satisfy the output voltage for induction heating. The power supply PCB 86 provides power not only to the induction heating PCB 84 but also to the main PCB 82, and can provide auxiliary power to other configurations.

Additionally, a third control cover 87 is provided on the third mounting surface of the control base 81 on which the power supply PCB 86 is mounted. The power supply PCB 86 may be placed inside a space formed by combining the third mounting surface 814 and the third control cover 87.

Meanwhile, a fourth mounting surface 815 may be formed at the top of the control base 81. The fourth mounting surface 815 extends in the front-back direction to form a space in which the NFC PCB 88 can be mounted.

The NFC PCB 88 is for exchanging data with a terminal such as a mobile phone. Through the NFC PCB 88, usage information, operation or status information of the water purifier 1 can be transmitted to the user's terminal, and the settings of the water purifier 1 can be manipulated using the terminal. .

For example, the usage amount of purified water, cold water, and hot water can be transmitted to the terminal through the NFC PCB 88, and the daily, weekly, or monthly usage amount can also be transmitted. In addition, the user may be able to check the replacement cycle of the filter 34 or the temperature of cold water and hot water by sending a message through the terminal.

Additionally, the user will be able to set the temperature of cold and hot water through the terminal, and also set the amount of water dispensed at one time. These other settings of the water purifier 1 can be bundled so that they are automatically set by simply bringing the terminal to a specific location on the top cover 14 adjacent to the NFC PCB 88. The top cover 14 may display a location where communication connection with the NFC PCB 88 is possible, and the user can place the terminal on the corresponding location to enable communication with the NFC PCB 88. can do.

Meanwhile, the control assembly 80 may be provided with various options depending on the model of the water purifier 1. That is, the control base 81 and main PCB 82 are used as is, but when only purified water and cold water functions are used, the induction heating PCB 84 and the power supply PCB 86 may be omitted. . Also, in models in which the NFC function is omitted, the NFC PCB 88 may be omitted.

In this way, the water purifier can have a structure in which PCBs are arranged for each functional module on one control base 81. Accordingly, a PCB having a corresponding function can be installed at a designated location on the control base 81 according to the options of the water purifier 1. Therefore, the spatial structure inside the water purifier 1 can be used for common use, and various options can be selected without changing the design of the existing configuration.

Figure 28 is a perspective view of the cooling tank of the water purifier. And, Figure 29 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling tank. And Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 30-30' of Figure 29.

As shown, the cooling tank 60 is provided at the rear of the heating and control module 50, and is mounted with its lower end inserted into the condenser bracket 54. The exterior of the cooling tank 60 may be formed entirely by a tank body 61 and a tank cover 62 that covers the open upper surface of the tank body 61.

The tank body 61 is composed of an inner case 611 that forms a space filled with coolant inside, and an insulating body 612 formed on the outside of the inner case 611. The inner case 611 is formed by injection of a resin material, and the insulating body 612 may be formed by foaming a foaming liquid on the outside of the inner case 611.

In addition, the tank cover 62 is formed to shield the opening of the tank body 61 from above, and includes an inner cover 621 made of injection molding and an insulating material cover 622 surrounding the outside of the inner cover 621. ) can be composed of.

The exterior of the tank cover 62 may be formed by insulation materials 612 and 622, similar to the exterior of the tank body 61. In addition, the evaporator 63 may be introduced through the tank cover 62, and the piping of the evaporator 63 connected to the outside of the tank cover is made of an insulating material such as polyethylene (PE) foam 631. It is wrapped and insulated. At this time, a portion of the capillary tube 55 used as an expansion device can be wrapped and fixed together with the pipe of the evaporator 63.

The cooling tank 60 may be equipped with a cold water temperature sensor 601. The temperature of the cooling water measured by the cold water temperature sensor 601 serves as the basis for determining the operation of the refrigeration cycle.

For example, when the temperature of the coolant measured by the cold water temperature sensor 601 becomes higher than the first reference temperature, the refrigeration cycle of the water purifier 1 operates to lower the temperature of the coolant. And the coolant stored inside the inner case 611 is cooled by the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 63.

And, if the temperature of the cooling water measured by the cold water temperature sensor 601 is below the second reference temperature, the refrigeration cycle of the water purifier 1 stops operating. The second reference temperature is lower than the first reference temperature. The first reference temperature and the second reference temperature serve as standards for operating and stopping the refrigeration cycle, respectively. Accordingly, the coolant stored in the inner case 611 can be maintained between the first reference temperature and the second reference temperature by temperature measurement by the cold water temperature sensor 601 and operation of the refrigeration cycle.

A cooling coil 64 is accommodated in the inner space of the inner case 611. The cooling coil 64 is a flow path through which purified water passes. The cooling coil 64 is installed inside the inner case 611 and is submerged in coolant. Purified water passing through the cooling coil 64 exchanges heat with the cooling water. Accordingly, the heat contained in the purified water inside the cooling coil 64 is transferred to the coolant, and the purified water becomes cold water within a short time through heat exchange with the coolant. The cooling coil 64 may be made of a metal material such as stainless steel to promote heat exchange. In addition, the inlet portion 641 and the outlet portion 642 of the cooling coil 64 penetrate the tank cover 62 and are exposed to the outside of the cooling tank 60.

A coil support portion 6111 is provided on the bottom of the inner case 611 to support the cooling coil 64. The coil support portion 6111 protrudes from the inner bottom surface of the inner case 611 toward the cooling coil 64. The coil support portion 6111 has a groove 6112 of a size corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the cooling coil 64. The cooling coil 64 is placed in the groove 6112 of the coil support part 6111 and is supported by the coil support part 6111.

Accordingly, the cooling coil 64 may be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the inner case 611, and coolant may flow through the space between the bottom of the cooling coil 64 and the bottom of the inner case 611. This allows the cooling water to circulate smoothly and the cooling efficiency of the purified water inside the cooling coil 64 can be improved.

A mesh member 65 may be provided inside the inner case 611. The mesh member 65 may be positioned between the evaporator 63 and the cooling coil 64. The evaporator 63 may be introduced into the inner case 611 and wound into a coil-like shape, and is located higher than the cooling coil 64. In addition, the mesh member 65 is located between the evaporator 63 and the cooling coil 64, supports the evaporator 63, and has a structure that is seated on the top of the cooling coil 64.

Additionally, a gasket 66 may be provided at the top of the inner case 611 to seal the space between the tank body 61 and the tank cover 62.

Meanwhile, the inner cover 621 forming the lower surface of the tank cover 62 is equipped with a plug mounting portion 6211 on which a plug 623 is mounted and a motor 67 for operating the agitator 68. A motor mounting portion 6212 may be formed.

The plug 623 forms a part through which the piping and wires of the evaporator 63 enter and exit, and prevents direct contact between the piping of the evaporator 63 and the inner cover 621 and maintains airtightness. The plug 623 may be made of a soft material such as rubber or silicone to prevent the bent evaporator 63 pipe or wire from being damaged in the process of entering and exiting the tank cover 62.

The motor 67 is mounted on the motor mounting portion 6212 opened at the center of the inner cover 621. In addition, the motor 67 is arranged so that the rotation axis faces downward so that the stirrer 68 can be coupled below the motor 67.

The stirrer 68 can be rotated by the motor 67 and is configured to extend downward and be submerged inside the coolant. The stirrer 68 may be extended so that its lower end is positioned further below the upper end of the cooling coil 64. Therefore, when water is forced to flow by the stirrer 68, the coolant and purified water inside the cooling coil 64 can actively exchange heat.

In addition, a plurality of blades 681 are formed in the stirrer 68, and the width of the plurality of blades 681 becomes wider as it goes downward, especially from the bottom of the blade 681 toward the side. It has a protruding shape. Additionally, the lower portion of the blade 681 may be formed to be inclined in one direction. Therefore, when the stirrer 68 rotates, the water in the inner case 611 can be forced to flow downward and circulation can be actively performed inside the inner case 611.

The blade 681 is disposed to penetrate the mesh member 65, and when the blade 681 is driven, coolant may circulate while passing through the mesh member 65.

Figure 31 is a perspective view of the mesh member. And Figure 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 32-32' of Figure 28.

As shown in the drawing, the mesh member 65 may be injection-formed from a plastic material, and includes a partition 651 crossing the inside of the inner case 611 and a stirrer hole in the center of the partition 651. It may be composed of an extension portion 652 extending upward along 6511. In addition, both the partition portion 651 and the extension portion 652 may be formed in the shape of a mesh member and are formed to allow coolant to flow in and out smoothly through a plurality of holes.

The shape of the partition 651 is formed to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the inner case 611, so that the interior of the inner case 611 can be partitioned when the mesh member 65 is installed. Additionally, a plurality of partition protrusions 6512 may be formed to protrude outward around the partition 651.

And a step 6113 and a protrusion 6114 are formed on the inner surface of the inner case 611. When the mesh member 65 is installed, the partition 651 or the partition protrusion 6512 may be mounted between the step 6113 and the protrusion 6114, and the mesh member 65 may be installed between the step 6113 and the protrusion 6114. It is possible to maintain a fixed position inside the inner case 611.

A lower support portion 6513 may be formed on the lower surface of the partition portion 651. The lower support portion 6513 is intended to accommodate the upper end of the cooling coil 64, extends downward, and may have a groove 6514 into which the cooling coil 64 can be inserted. The lower support portion 6513 may be formed in plural numbers, and is located in a direction facing or intersecting each other to prevent the mesh member 65 from tilting when the mesh member 65 is mounted, and at the same time, the cooling coil ( 64) It prevents the flow of the upper part.

Additionally, an upper support portion 6521 may be formed on the upper surface of the partition portion 651. The upper support portion 6521 is intended to accommodate the lower end of the evaporator 63 wound in a coil shape, extends upward, and may have a groove 6522 into which the evaporator 63 can be inserted.

The upper support portion 6521 may extend outward from the extension portion 652 and may extend upward at the same position as the lower support portion 6513. The evaporator 63 can be seated in the correct position by the upper support part 6521 and maintain a stable mounting state without moving inside the inner case 611.

A coil guide portion may be formed on one side of the circumference of the partition 651, which is recessed inward so that the inlet portion 6516 and the outlet portion 6517 of the cooling coil 64 can be positioned. Additionally, a guide protrusion 6515 protruding outward is formed on the coil guide portion. Therefore, based on the guide protrusion 6515, the inlet portion 6516 of the cooling coil 64 may be located on one side, and the outlet portion 6517 of the cooling coil 64 may be located on the other side. And, a guide groove 6518 is formed on one side of the coil guide portion. The guide groove 6518 is formed so that the bent portion of the cooling coil 64 connected to the inlet 6516 of the cooling coil 64 can pass.

A fixing hook 6519 extending upward may be formed on one side of the upper surface of the partition 651. The fixing hook 6519 is formed to restrain the evaporator 63. The fixing hook 6519 extends upward from the outside of the wound portion of the evaporator 63, and the upper end of the fixing hook 6519 presses and restrains the uppermost part of the wound portion of the evaporator 63. . Accordingly, the evaporator 63 can be fixed inside the inner case 611 and no noise or damage due to flow is prevented.

The extension part 652 is formed along the stirrer hole 6511 in the center of the partition 651, and is formed so that the stirrer 68 can penetrate the internal space of the extension part 652. And, the extension part 652 may extend from the partition part 651 to the motor 67. In addition, the extension portion 652 is formed with a plurality of ribs 6523 extending up and down continuously spaced apart to allow coolant to pass through but to block foreign substances.

Therefore, the internal space of the inner case 611 is divided by the partition 651 and the extension part 652 into the area where the evaporator 63 is located and the lower area of the evaporator 63, that is, the cooling coil ( The area where 64) is located can be divided. In addition, the evaporator 63 in a wound state is located outside the extension part 652, and the blade 681 is located inside the extension part 652.

Meanwhile, in the process of driving the refrigeration cycle to cool the coolant, ice may be formed around the evaporator 63 by the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 63, and the coolant may be cooled by the rotation of the stirrer 68. During the circulation process, some of the ice frozen in the evaporator 63 may fall off. However, the ice around the evaporator 63 cannot pass through the mesh member 65 and is blocked. Ultimately, this prevents ice around the evaporator 63 from colliding with the stirrer 68. Therefore, the stirrer 68 can be prevented from being damaged and noise generated when ice collides can be prevented. In addition, the mesh member 65 can prevent ice from flowing and colliding with the cooling coil 64, and can prevent it from circulating and flowing inside the inner case 611 together with the coolant. There will be.

A drain valve 69 for draining coolant is provided at the bottom of the cooling tank 60. The drain valve 69 allows the coolant stored in the inner case 611 to be replaced periodically. In addition, a drainage portion 6115 is formed on the bottom of the inner case 611, at least partially inclined or depressed. And the drain part 6115 communicates with the drain valve 69 so that the coolant inside the cooling tank 60 can be smoothly drained.

The drain valve 69 is connected to the inner case 611. The drain valve 69 protrudes from the inner case 611 to form a discharge passage for the coolant filled inside the inner case 611.

A protruding drain passage portion 6116 is formed in the lower portion of the inner case 611, and the drain passage portion 6116 is connected to the drain valve 69. Since the drain valve 69 is configured to discharge the coolant to the outside of the water purifier 1, when the coolant drain flow passage portion 6116 is inserted into the drain valve 69, a flow path capable of draining the coolant stored in the inner case 611 is provided. is formed. And, the drain valve is fixed by the valve fixing part 6117. A detailed description of the drain valve 69 and the valve fixing part 6117 will be described later.

The drain valve 69 may be embedded and fixed by the insulating body 612, and an end of the drain valve 69 is exposed to the outside of the insulating body 612 to be accessible from the outside. Accordingly, the drain valve 69 can be insulated and prevent dew from forming on the outer peripheral surface of the drain valve 69.

Figure 33 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the drain valve of the water purifier. And, Figure 34 is an exploded perspective view showing the combined structure of the drain valve. And, Figure 35 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the combined structure of the drain valve.

As shown in the drawing, the inner case 611 includes a valve fixing part 6117 for fixing the position of the drain valve 69. The valve fixing portion 6117 surrounds at least a portion of the drain valve 69. The valve fixing part 6117 is formed to correspond to the external shape of the drain valve 69.

A sealing member 691 is provided inside the valve fixing part 6117. The sealing member 691 is formed to surround the connection portion between the inner case 611 and the drain valve 69. The sealing member 691 serves to connect and seal the inner case 611 and the drain valve 69. Therefore, the sealing member 691 prevents coolant from leaking through the gap formed at the connection portion between the inner case 611 and the drain valve 69.

Meanwhile, the drain valve 69 includes a valve housing 692, a valve seat 694, an elastic member 695, a first O-ring 693, and a second O-ring 696.

The valve housing 692 forms the exterior of the drain valve 69. And, the valve housing 692 has a hollow portion. The hollow part corresponds to a drain passage for draining coolant and a space for accommodating the valve seat 694, elastic member 695, etc.

The valve housing 692 is formed by combining a first housing 6921 and a second housing 6922. And the valve seat 694 is disposed inside the valve housing 692. The valve seat 694 receives a pressing operation from the user. The user's pressing operation is to open and close the drain passage of the drain valve 69.

The drain passage may be opened to drain the coolant, but may also be opened to allow the coolant to be filled in a state where the coolant is completely drained.

The first O-ring 693 seals between the valve seat 694 and the first housing 6921. In addition, the first O-ring 693 is coupled to the valve seat 694 and is in close contact with the housing by the elastic force provided by the elastic member 695. The elastic member 695 provides elastic force to bring the valve seat 694 into close contact with the first housing 6921. The elastic member 695 is supported by the second housing 6922.

The second O-ring 696 seals the connection portion between the first housing 6921 and the second housing 6922. The second O-ring 696 is made of an elastic material.

Figure 36 is a view showing a compressor bracket mounted on the base of the water purifier. And, Figure 37 is an exploded perspective view showing the combined structure of the base and tray.

As shown in the drawing, the base 13 forms the bottom surface of the water purifier 1. And the base 13 is formed so that its circumference extends upward so that it can be combined with the side panel 15, the front cover 11, and the rear cover 12.

Legs 131 protruding downward may be formed on the base 13. A plurality of legs 131 may be formed on the base 13, and the entire lower surface of the base 13 may be configured to be spaced from the ground. Therefore, external air can be easily sucked in through the lower surface of the base 13.

A rotating ring 91 is rotatably mounted on the front half of the base 13. The tray 90 is detachably coupled to one front side of the rotary ring 91 and can be connected to the rotary ring 91 and rotated in the left and right directions.

The first half of the base 13 is formed to be stepped lower than the second half of the base 13. An opening is formed between the front half of the base 13 and the lower end of the lower cover 112, and the side portion of the tray 90 is exposed to the outside through the opening, and is coupled to the rotary ring 91 and rotates left and right. Can be rotated laterally.

Additionally, the stepped portion between the front and back halves of the base 13 serves as a stopper 1301 when the tray 90 rotates. Also, when the tray 90 rotates, both sides of the tray 90 come into contact with the stopper 1301, and the rotation of the tray 90 may be restricted.

Additionally, a flow prevention portion 1302 is formed to extend forward on the stopper 1301 of the base 13 to prevent the tray 90 from moving up and down. The flow prevention portion 1302 is formed to restrain both sides of the rear end of the tray 90 when the tray 90 is rotated.

A rotation guide 132 is provided inside the base 13. The rotation guide 132 may be composed of a first rotation guide 1321 and a second rotation guide 1322 that are concentrically disposed on the base 13. The first rotation guide 1321 is disposed outside the second rotation guide 1322. The first rotation guide portion 1321 and the second rotation guide portion 1322 are formed to protrude upward from the bottom surface of the base 13 at a certain curvature and can guide the rotation of the rotary ring 91. The rotation guide 132 may be formed in a circular shape or an arc shape.

The rotation ring 91 is guided by the rotation guide 132 and rotatably mounted on the base 13, and serves to support the tray 90. The rotating ring 91 may be composed of an outer ring portion 911, an inner ring portion 912, and a ring joint portion 913.

The outer ring portion 911 forms the external framework and shape of the rotating ring 91. The outer ring portion 911 has a circular shape, and a portion of the outer ring portion 911 is in contact with the outer surface of the first rotation guide portion 1321 and is rotatably mounted along the first rotation guide portion 1321.

And, the inner ring portion 912 is disposed concentrically within the outer ring portion 911. The inner ring part 912 is made in a circular shape and contacts the outer surface of a part of the second rotation guide part 1322 and the other part, so that the movement of the water purifier and the base 13 in the forward and backward directions is restricted and the second rotation guide is guided. It is mounted to be rotatable in place as guided by the unit 1322.

The outer ring portion 911 is provided with a tray mounting portion 914 on one side for coupling with the tray 90. The tray mounting portion 914 is provided with a receiving hole 9141 of the same size and shape as the tray coupling portion 96 of the tray 90. The receiving hole 9141 is open in a direction facing the tray engaging portion 96, and the tray engaging portion 96 is inserted and coupled to the tray mounting portion 914 through the receiving hole 9141.

When the tray coupling portion 96 is inserted into the tray mounting portion 914, the tray mounting portion 914 surrounds the tray coupling portion 96 and contacts the outer surface of the tray coupling portion 96. The tray coupling portion 96 is supported so that the tray coupling portion 96 does not move in the up and down/left and right directions. However, the tray engaging portion 96 can be moved forward and backward inside the tray mounting portion 914 and thus can be inserted and extracted.

Meanwhile, a protrusion 9142 may be formed on the inside of the tray mounting portion 914. And a fastening groove 961 is formed in the tray coupling part 96, so that when the tray coupling part 96 is inserted into the inner side of the tray mounting part 914, the protrusion 9142 is connected to the fastening groove 961. It is combined to maintain the state in which the tray 90 is mounted on the rotating ring 91. Also, when the tray 90 is mounted, it is possible to easily recognize that the protrusion 9142 and the fastening groove 961 are coupled. As the tray coupling part 96 is inserted and coupled to the tray mounting part 914, the tray 90 is coupled to the rotation ring 91 and can be rotated in the left and right directions with respect to the base 13.

Meanwhile, a separation prevention protrusion 1323 is formed on the second rotation guide 1322 to prevent the rotation ring 91 from being separated from the second rotation guide 1322. The upper end of the separation prevention protrusion 1323 is shaped like a hook to be caught on the upper surface of the inner ring portion 912. Therefore, when the tray 90 is rotated, the rotation ring 91 is lifted upward, thereby preventing the rotation ring 91 from being separated from the second rotation guide 1322, and the tray 90 The rotation can be maintained stably.

In this embodiment, the front cover 11 is detachably coupled to the case 10, and a grip portion 1121 bent convexly forward is formed at the bottom of the front cover 11 (FIG. 2, 3), and an inwardly concave gripping groove 9143 is formed in the rotating ring 91 at a position corresponding to the gripping part 1121 (see FIGS. 36 and 37), so that the user can hold the gripping part 1121. After gripping the front cover 11 between the and grip grooves 9143, the front cover 11 can be separated from the case 10. At this time, remove the tray 90 and then remove the front cover 11.

Additionally, an inwardly concave gripping groove 311 may be formed in the bottom portion 31 of the filter bracket 30 at a position corresponding to the gripping portion 1121 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

A pressure reducing valve 133 may be provided in the center of the front half of the base 13. The pressure reducing valve 133 regulates the pressure of water supplied from the tap to ensure smooth purification work and to control the water pressure at the time of dispensing. The pressure reducing valve 133 is located in the inner area of the inner ring portion 912 when the rotary ring 91 is mounted, enabling efficient use of space.

A mounting portion 134 on which the compressor 51 is mounted is formed in the central portion of the base 13. The mounting portion 134 may protrude upward to support the compressor 51. Additionally, there may be four mounting units 134, which can support the four corners of the bottom of the compressor 51. Additionally, a nut is insert-injected into the mounting portion 134, and is configured to fix the compressor 51 by fastening a screw from below after the compressor 51 is seated.

A suction grill 135 is further formed in the center of the base 13. At least a portion of the suction grill 135 may be located between the mounting portions 134 and may be located below the compressor 51. Accordingly, the air sucked into the water purifier 1 can cool the compressor 51 while passing through the compressor 51. The suction grill 135 is formed in the grid shape and forms a plurality of suction ports to prevent the inflow of external foreign substances.

A condenser bracket 54 accommodating the condenser 52 is disposed behind the suction grill 135. The condenser bracket 54 is located in the latter part of the base 13. The condenser bracket 54 may be composed of a condenser mounting portion 541 fixed to the base 13 and a tank mounting portion 542 located above the condenser mounting portion 541.

A cooling fan 53 is provided on the front of the condenser mounting part 541. The cooling fan 53 sucks in outside air through the suction grill 135 to cool the compressor 51 and the condenser 52 and discharges it through the discharge port 121. And, the rear of the condenser mounting part 541 is in contact with the discharge port 121. Accordingly, the condenser 52 accommodated inside the condenser mounting portion 541 is disposed adjacent to the discharge port 121 of the water purifier 1.

A cord mounting portion 1303 to which the power cord 136 is fixed is formed at the rear end of the base 13. Additionally, a cord guide portion 1304 is formed from the cord mounting portion 1303 to the middle portion of the base 13. Accordingly, the power cord 136 can be moved along the cord guide 1304 and is connected to the control assembly 80.

And at the rear end of the base 13, a water intake pipe 360 (see FIG. 42) is formed, and a water intake pipe 360 connected to the water supply through the water intake pipe entrance 1305 is formed. This flows in. The end of the water intake pipe 360 may extend to the pressure reducing valve 133. In addition, a tube guide 3601 may be further provided in some sections where the water intake pipe 360 is bent to prevent the water intake pipe 360 from being bent. The tube guide 3601 is made of a plastic material and guides the water intake pipe 360 to prevent it from being excessively bent or folded. Such a tube guide 3601 may be further provided on the pipe through which purified water, cold water, and hot water flow.

Figure 38 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly structure of the tray of the water purifier. And, Figure 39 is a diagram showing the full water level of the tray.

As shown in the drawing, the tray 90 is composed of a tray body 92 having a storage space therein, and a tray cover 93 that is detachably coupled to cover the top of the tray body 92. You can.

A storage space is formed to be depressed downward inside the tray body 92 to store residual water therein. The edge portion of the tray body 92 may be configured to surround the edge side of the tray cover 93. Additionally, a support portion 921 that supports the lower surface of the tray cover 93 may be provided inside the tray body 92.

A depression 922 is formed on the bottom of the tray body 92. The depression 922 protrudes downward from the bottom of the tray body 92, comes into contact with the ground where the water purifier 1 is installed, and supports the bottom of the tray 90. Therefore, when the tray 90 rotates left and right, it can be supported at a constant height without sagging on the ground where the water purifier 1 is installed.

Meanwhile, the depression 922 may be formed to be the same or larger than the size of the plotter 94 so that the plotter 94 can be accommodated. Accordingly, the floater 94 can be placed inside the depression 922 to be able to go up and down depending on the water level.

The floater 94 may include a floating portion 941, an indicator 942, and a cap 943. The floating part 941 is formed to an acceptable size inside the recessed part 922, and may be made of a material that can float on water due to buoyancy.

Additionally, an indicator 942 may be placed on the top of the floating part 941 and can be fixedly mounted on the floating part 941 by the cap 943. The indicator 942 is formed in a ring shape, and may be formed in a different color from the floating portion 941, the cap 943, and the tray cover 93.

Additionally, the cap 943 forms the top of the floater 94 and forms a portion exposed to the tray cover 93. The cap 943 may be formed of an exposed portion 9431 exposed to the tray cover 93 and a penetrating portion 9432 extending downward from the exposed portion 9431. The exposed portion 9431 may be formed to have the same shape as the diameter of the indicator 942. Additionally, the penetrating portion 9432 may penetrate the indicator 942 and be inserted into the upper end of the plotter 94.

When the tray 90 is not filled with a certain amount of water, the upper surface of the cap 943 is located on the same plane as the upper surface of the tray cover 93 or is located further below. In addition, when the tray 90 is filled with a certain amount of water or reaches full water level, the floating part 941 rises due to buoyancy, and the cap 943 may also protrude further than the upper surface of the tray cover 93. There will be.

At this time, when the floating part 941 fully rises as shown in FIG. 39, the indicator 942 protrudes more upward than the upper surface of the tray cover 93. Therefore, the user can recognize the full water level when the color of the indicator 942 is identified, and can empty the stored water by separating the tray 90.

A concave portion 923 is formed concave in an arc shape on the rear surface of the tray body 92 and the rear end of the tray cover 93, so that the concave portion 923 surrounds a portion of the rotating ring 91. This can be done so that the rear end of the tray is in close contact with the rotating ring.

Additionally, protrusions 95 are formed to protrude rearward on both sides of the rear end of the tray body 92. The outer surface of the protrusion 95 extends in the same plane from one side of the tray body 92, and obscures the connection portion between the tray 90 and the rotary ring 91.

In particular, even when the tray 90 is rotated, the exterior can be formed in a shape that continues from the rounded front exterior of the water purifier. Therefore, the tray 90 can have an attractive appearance regardless of whether it rotates or not.

In order to couple the tray 90 and the rotating ring 91, the tray engaging portion 96 is formed to protrude rearward at the center of the concave portion of the tray body 92. The tray coupling portion 96 may be inserted and coupled to the tray mounting portion 914 when the tray 90 is mounted.

Meanwhile, a plurality of slits 931 are formed in the tray cover 93, so that residual water can flow into the storage space of the tray body 92 through the slits 931, and residual water can be stored inside the tray body 92. It can prevent it from jumping out.

An indicating hole 932 is further formed in the tray cover 93. The indicating hole 932 is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the cap 943 of the floater 94, and may be formed to be the same size as the cap 943. Accordingly, when the floater 94 is raised and lowered, the cap 943 moves up and down through the indicating hole 932. And when the tray 90 is full, the indicator 942 is exposed to the outside of the indicating hole 932 to display the water full status to the user.

A water collection hole 933 may be further formed in the tray cover 93. The water collection hole 933 opens vertically below the water outlet nozzle 25. Therefore, when water is dispensed without a container such as a cup placed in the tray 90, the falling water passes through the collection hole 933 and is directly collected in the tray 90.

Figure 40 is an exploded perspective view showing the combined structure of the condenser bracket, blower fan, and condenser of the water purifier. And, Figure 41 is a cut-away perspective view showing the cooling air flow of the water purifier.

As shown in the drawing, the condenser bracket 54 may have a condenser mounting portion 541 formed at the bottom and a tank mounting portion 542 formed at the top.

A bracket mounting portion 1307 is formed at the bottom of the condenser mounting portion 541. The bracket mounting portion is supported on the base, and screws are fastened to secure the condenser bracket.

The condenser mounting portion 541 is formed to be open at the front and rear, and is formed to accommodate the condenser 52 therein. Additionally, a condenser support portion 921 protruding upward is formed on the inner bottom surface of the condenser mounting portion 541. The condenser 52 is supported by the condenser support portion 921 and is spaced apart from the bottom of the condenser mounting portion, thereby facilitating heat exchange by facilitating the flow of cooling air.

The condenser 52 is formed by bending a plate-shaped tube 521 multiple times, and a continuously bent heat exchange plate 522 is disposed between the plate-shaped tubes. In addition, headers 523 that communicate with a plurality of tubes 521 are provided at both ends of the tube 521. A refrigerant pipe connected to the compressor 51 and the evaporator 63 can be connected to the header 523, and the refrigerant can be circulated through a refrigeration cycle. Accordingly, the condenser 52 is formed in an overall hexahedral shape, and is formed in a compact size so that it can be accommodated in the condenser mounting portion 541.

A fixing hole 5411 may be formed on the front of the condenser mounting part 541 into which a fixing member 543 for mounting the cooling fan 53 is inserted. The fixing holes 5411 are formed at the four corners of the front of the condenser mounting unit 541, and the fixing members 543 fix the four corners of the cooling fan 53.

The fixing member 543 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicone to absorb vibration when the cooling fan 53 is driven. The fixing member 543 may be further formed with a pair of locking portions 5431 along the circumference of the fixing member 543 so that it can be inserted into and fixed to the fixing hole 5411. In addition, the shape of the locking portion 5431 is formed so that the diameter becomes narrower toward the front, making it easy to insert and install the fixing member 543 and preventing the cooling fan 53 from being easily removed. And, the front end of the fixing member 543 is inserted into the insertion hole 531 formed at the corner of the cooling fan 53 so that the cooling fan 53 can be fixed to the front of the condenser mounting part 541.

The tank mounting portion 542 is located above the condenser mounting portion 541 and is formed in a size and shape corresponding to the cross section of the cooling tank 60 to accommodate the lower end of the cooling tank 60. In addition, the tank mounting portion 542 has a border 5421 extending upward along the circumference, and the inside of the border 5421 forms a predetermined space into which the lower part of the cooling tank 60 is inserted.

Additionally, a drain hole 5422 through which the drain valve 69 passes may be formed in the edge 5421. The drain hole 5422 is exposed when the rear cover 12 is removed. Accordingly, the drain valve 69 is exposed to the outside to enable draining or filling of coolant.

Additionally, a plate support portion 5423 that supports one end of the support plate 35 may be formed on the front of the condenser mounting portion 541, that is, above the cooling fan 53. Accordingly, the support plate 35 can be fixed at both ends to the filter bracket 30 and the condenser bracket 54, and provides a mounting space for the heating and control module 50.

Hereinafter, we will look at the water extraction process of the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above structure.

Figure 42 is a circuit diagram schematically showing the water flow path of the water purifier. And, Figure 43 is a block diagram showing the flow of control signals of the water purifier.

As shown in the drawing, the water intake pipe 360 of the water purifier 1 is connected to a water supply and receives raw water. The water intake pipe 360 is connected to the pressure reducing valve 133, and the raw water passing through the pressure reducing valve 133 is reduced to a pressure set for the operation of the water purifier 1.

Then, the depressurized raw water flows toward the filter 34 along the pipe connecting the pressure reducing valve 133 and the filter 34. The raw water that passes through the filter 34 has foreign substances removed and becomes purified water. Then, by opening the water supply valve 361, purified water passes through the water supply valve 361 along the pipe and sequentially passes through the flow rate sensor 363.

At this time, the water supply valve 361 and the flow sensor 363 may be connected to the main PCB 82, and the opening degree of the water supply valve 361 can be adjusted according to the signal transmitted from the main PCB 82. do. In addition, the flow rate detected by the flow sensor 363 is transmitted to the main PCB 82 and can be used as data necessary for controlling the water purifier.

Purified water that has passed through the flow sensor 363 may be branched into the cold water side 3641 and the hot water side 3642 through the branch pipe 364. The purified water flowing through the pipe on the cold water side (3641) is again branched into the cold water side (3651) and the purified water side (3652) by the T connector 365 and connected to the cold water outlet valve 366 and the purified water outlet valve 367, respectively. do. The purified water outlet valve 367 and the cold water outlet valve 366 are connected to the main PCB 82 to determine whether to open or close them. That is, the purified water outlet valve 367 and the cold water outlet valve 366 can be selected according to the user's settings, and the selected valve can be opened and water can be dispensed through manipulation of the outlet button 41.

Meanwhile, water passing through the cold water outlet valve 366 passes through the cooling coil 64 inside the cooling tank 60. The water flowing along the cooling coil 64 is cooled by heat exchange with the coolant inside the cooling tank 60, and for this, the coolant is cooled to maintain the set temperature.

The compressor 51 connected to the main PCB 82 is driven to cool the coolant. The operation of the compressor 51 may be determined by the cold water temperature sensor 601 provided inside the cooling tank 60. Accordingly, the cooling water can always maintain the set temperature, and for this purpose, the operation of the compressor 51 can be adjusted. The compressor 51 is an inverter compressor, and the frequency can be adjusted in response to the required load, and the cooling capacity can be adjusted. That is, the compressor 51 can be driven by inverter control and cool the cooling water with optimal efficiency.

Meanwhile, the compressor 51 may be set to a forced OFF state by the user manipulating the operation unit 40. The compressor 51 can be forcibly maintained in the off state during winter when cold water consumption is low, when power saving is necessary, or when cold water is not used.

In addition, the main PCB 82 controls the operation of the compressor 51 as well as the cooling fan 53. And, the main PCB 82 controls the driving of the motor 67. The motor 67 is driven to increase the heat exchange efficiency between the coolant and the cold water passing through the cooling coil 64, and is controlled by the main PC ratio 82. The stirrer 68 rotates by driving the motor 67, and the cooling water can be forced to convect inside the cooling tank 60, effectively cooling the purified water inside the cooling coil 64. do.

Cold water passing through the cooling tank 60 flows into the water outlet pipe 261 through the T connector 26, and cold water passing through the water outlet pipe 261 is taken out to the outside through the water outlet nozzle 25. It becomes possible.

When the purified water outlet valve 367 is opened, purified water passing through the purified water outlet valve 367 flows into the water outlet pipe 261 through the T connector 26, and passes through the water outlet pipe 261. It can be taken out to the outside through the water outlet nozzle 25.

Meanwhile, when the user selects to dispense hot water, purified water may flow to the hot water side 3642 of the branch pipe 364. The flow control valve 368 is opened by controlling the main PCB 82, and the water flowing through the flow control valve 368 is adjusted to a flow rate appropriate for heating hot water. That is, the amount of purified water supplied to the hot water tank 71 is adjusted so that the water can be heated to the temperature set by the induction heating assembly 70.

Purified water passing through the flow control valve 368 passes through the hot water tank 71. And, in the process of passing through the hot water tank 71, it can be heated to a set temperature. The hot water tank 71 can be heated by induction heating, and for this purpose, the output of the magnetic force of the working coil 72 can be adjusted by controlling the induction heating PCB 84.

In order to drive the induction heating assembly 70, a higher voltage is required than that of the main PCB 82, and to supply this high voltage, power is supplied from the power supply PCB 86 connected to the power line. The power supply PCB 86 supplies appropriate power depending on whether the induction heating assembly 70 is driven, and also supplies appropriate power to the main PCB 82.

By driving the induction heating assembly 70, the water inside the hot water tank 71 can be heated to a set temperature. The hot water outlet valve 369 may be equipped with a hot water temperature sensor. The hot water temperature sensor detects the temperature of hot water discharged after passing through the hot water tank 71 and transmits the temperature to the main PCB 82. In addition, the main PCB 82 can adjust the output of the working coil 72 based on the input hot water temperature data.

Additionally, the temperature of the hot water tank 71 itself can be sensed by the hot water temperature sensor 761 provided on the outside of the hot water tank 71. If there is a risk of a fire occurring because the hot water temperature sensor 761 rises above the set temperature, a signal can be transmitted to the main PCB 82 to short-circuit the fuse 762. Meanwhile, an Over Load Protection (OLP) 511 may be connected to the main PCB, and the OLP 511 protects the compressor 51 by blocking the power supply when an overload occurs in the compressor 51. do.

When the fuse 762 is short-circuited due to abnormal operation of the induction heating assembly 70, the power supplied from the power supply PCB 86 to the induction heating PCB 84 is cut off and the induction heating assembly 70 ) prevents overheating and damage.

The hot water heated through the hot water tank 71 by the hot water outlet valve 369 flows to the water outlet nozzle 25 through the hot water pipe 262 and can be discharged to the outside.

Meanwhile, when water is dispensed by manipulating the outlet button 41, the LED 2821 of the water outlet unit 20 may be turned on by control of the operation unit PCB 43. By turning on the LED, the lower part of the water outlet 20 can be illuminated.

In addition, the control panel PCB 43 monitors the status of the filter 34 through the lighting color of the switch LED 434 irradiated through the eject button 41 regardless of whether the eject button 41 is operated. Or, you can recognize the exchange cycle.

Additionally, the operating state or degree of operation of the water purifier 1 may be transmitted and displayed on a terminal such as a user's mobile phone through the NFC PCB 88. Additionally, information and operation signals can be transmitted to the NFC PCB 88 through the terminal, and the water purifier 1 can be driven using the transmitted information.

For example, the user can check information such as the life of the filter 34 and the usage pattern of the water purifier 1 through an app installed on the mobile phone, and the power saving mode that turns off the cold water mode of the water purifier 1 through the app. It is possible to set other operations of the water purifier (1), such as setting .

Meanwhile, while using the water purifier 1, the coolant inside the cooling tank 60 can be drained and new coolant can be filled.

Hereinafter, the coolant replacement process will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 44 is a perspective view showing the state of the coolant replacement operation of the water purifier. And, Figure 45 is a flowchart sequentially showing the control method of the water purifier.

As shown in the drawing, in order to maintain cleanliness inside the cooling tank 60, the coolant inside the cooling tank 60 must be replaced at regular intervals. To this end, the user first exposes the drain valve 69 and then opens the drain valve 69 to discharge the coolant inside the cooling tank 60 to the outside.

The user can connect to the drain valve 69 using a separately provided service pipe 2. The end of the service pipe 2 may be connected to the drain valve 69 through a coupling, and may have a structure that allows the drain valve 69 to be opened by connection. Since this structure is the same as that of a general coupling pipe, its detailed description will be omitted.

Meanwhile, after the coolant inside the cooling tank 60 is completely drained, the other end of the service pipe 2 is connected to the water outlet nozzle 25. By connecting the service pipe 2, the drain valve 69 is maintained in an open state, and the water outlet nozzle 25 can communicate with the inside of the cooling tank 60.

In this state, the user operates the operation unit 40 to set the mode of the water purifier 1 to the coolant replacement mode. In the coolant replacement mode state, the control unit (main PCB) extracts purified water to enable recharging of the coolant when the discharge button 41 is operated, and allows a preset amount of water to be supplied with a single operation. It is set. [S110]

In this set state, it is determined whether or not the eject button 41 is operated. [S120]

If the user does not operate the eject button 41 for a set period of time after selecting entry into the coolant replacement mode, the coolant replacement operation is not performed, and the main PCB 82 returns to the normal operation mode. I do it. [S130]

When the user presses the discharge button 41, purified water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 25 flows into the cooling tank 60 through the service pipe 2 to start the operation of refilling the coolant. I do it. [S140]

In a state set to the coolant replacement mode, the flow rate of purified water supplied by the flow sensor 363 is sensed, and the main PCB 82 controls the purified water outlet valve 367 to supply water at a set capacity. do. [S150]

The main PCB 82 determines the detection value transmitted from the flow sensor 363 and maintains the open water discharge valve 367 until the sensed flow rate reaches the set flow rate. The capacity set in the main PCB 82 is preset as an appropriate capacity to fill the cooling tank 60. For example, in the main PCB 82, when the discharge button 41 is operated in the coolant replacement mode, the purified water discharge valve 367 opens and the cooling coil 64 and the evaporator 63 are locked. As much as 2.4L of purified water can be supplied to the cooling tank 60. [S160]

When the flow rate detected by the flow sensor 363 reaches the set flow rate, the main PCB 82 determines that charging of the coolant is complete and closes the purified water outlet valve 367. [S170]

And, after all water at the set flow rate has been supplied, completion of coolant replacement is displayed through the operation unit 40. At this time, the completion of coolant replacement may be indicated through the color of light passing through the ejection button 41. Of course, the completion of coolant replacement may be output by the buzzer 435, and the completion of coolant replacement may also be indicated using a separate display means. [S180]

When replacement of the coolant is completed, the user separates the service pipe 2 from the drain valve 69 and the water outlet nozzle 25. Then, the control unit automatically or according to user settings releases the coolant replacement mode and switches to a general normal operation mode. The normal operation mode is a state in which a desired amount of hot and purified cold water can be dispensed through manipulation of the dispensing button 41. [S190]

Hereinafter, the assembly process of a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above structure will be examined with reference to the drawings.

Figure 46 is a diagram sequentially showing the assembly process of the water purifier.

As shown in the drawing, looking at the assembly process of the water purifier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, first, the power cord 136 and the water intake pipe 360 are placed on the base 13.

Then, the condenser 52 is placed on the condenser mounting portion 541 of the molded condenser bracket 54. Then, the cooling fan 53 is coupled to the front of the condenser mounting portion 541. The condenser bracket 54 assembled in this way is mounted on the molded base 13.

Additionally, the rotating ring 91 and the pressure reducing valve 133 are mounted on the base 13. [STEP 1]

Next, the condenser 52 is mounted on the base 13. At this time, the compressor 51 is located above the suction grill 135 formed on the base 13. Then, the piping of the compressor 51 and the condenser 52 and the dryer piping are welded to be connected to each other. [STEP 2]

Next, after the installation of the condenser 52 is completed, the cooling tank 60 is mounted on the tank mounting portion 542 of the condenser bracket 54. The cooling tank 60 has a cooling coil 64, an evaporator 63, a motor 67, a stirrer 68, a mesh member 65, etc. installed inside, and an insulating body 612 and an insulating material. It is installed with the foaming of the cover 622 completely completed.

After the cooling tank 60 is installed, pipes such as the dryer and the capillary tube 55 are welded and wires are connected. Then, to drive the refrigeration cycle, the pipes and the inside of the compressor 51 and condenser 52 are evacuated, refrigerant is injected, and then they are sealed. [STEP 3]

Next, the filter bracket 30 is mounted on the base 13. At this time, a plurality of valves are installed on the filter bracket 30, and with the installation of the filter bracket 30, the flow pipes through which water is supplied are connected to each other.

Additionally, a support plate 35 is mounted between the filter bracket 30 and the condenser bracket 54. The mounting space for the heating and control module 50 is secured by the support plate 35. [STEP 4]

Next, the heating and control module 50 is mounted on the support plate 35. The heating and control module 50 may be fixedly mounted on the support plate 35 in a state in which the induction heating assembly 70 and the control assembly 80 are combined into one module.

The heating and control module 50 may be located in the space between the filter bracket 30 and the cooling tank 60 when installed. Additionally, the top of the heating and control module 50 extends to the position of the top cover 14 so that they can come into contact with each other. Accordingly, the heating and control module 50 can be efficiently arranged in the space provided within the water purifier 1. When the installation of the heating and control module 50 is completed, the connector of the induction heating assembly 70 and the control assembly 80 is connected.

Of course, if the water purifier 1 is not a model that dispenses hot water but a model that dispenses only purified water and cold water, only the control assembly 80 can be mounted on the support plate 35. In addition, the control assembly 80 with the corresponding PCB assembled according to the optional function may be installed. [STEP 5]

Next, the rotator 21 is mounted on the top of the filter bracket 30. The water outlet unit 20 is assembled to the rotator 21, the upper guide bracket 23 and the lower guide bracket 24 are assembled to the rotator housing 22, and the water outlet pipe 261 is disposed inside. It becomes possible.

The rotator 21 is mounted on the rotator mounting portion 33 of the filter bracket 30 and is rotatably mounted. In addition, the pinion gear 271 provided on the rotator 21 is gear-engaged with the internal gear 331 at the top of the filter bracket 30, so that when the rotator 20 rotates, the pinion gear 271 It moves along the internal gear 331 to keep the rotational speed of the rotator 21 constant.

And, after mounting the rotator 21, the water outlet pipe 261 and the T connector 26 to which the cold water and purified water pipes are connected are fitted. And the end of the water outlet pipe 261 is connected to the water outlet nozzle 25. In addition, the hot water pipe 262 is also connected to the water outlet nozzle 25 to complete the piping connection.

Then, the upper cover 111 is coupled to the top of the rotator 21. Accordingly, the rotator 21 can be provided with a structure capable of stable rotation by completing vertical coupling. [STEP 6]

Next, the top cover 14 is assembled. The top cover 14 may be formed so that the manipulation unit 40 is rotatably mounted and seated on the upper surface of the upper cover 111 and the cooling tank 60.

When the top cover 14 is installed, the rotation connecting portion 421 extending from the front of the operation unit 40 is inserted into the coupling rings 236 and 246 of the rotator 21, so that the operation unit 40 and the rotator 21 are connected. are combined with each other to form a structure that can rotate together.

In addition, the operating panel PCB 43 and the main PCB 82 provided in the control assembly 80 are connected with a connector, enabling transmission of power and signals.

In this state, a filter for testing can be mounted on the filter socket of the filter bracket 30, and the test is performed after connecting the filter. After completing the test, the inspection filter is removed, residual water in the flow path is removed, and the filter 34 is assembled into the filter socket.

Then, water is injected into the hot water tank 71 and the induction heating assembly 70 is operated to test hot water heating. After completing the test, remove the end cap 7171, completely drain the remaining water inside the hot water tank 71, and then install the end cap 7171 again. [STEP 7]

Next, the rear cover 12 is fixed to the base 13 by screwing, and then the side panels 15 are screwed to both sides of the base 13 and fixed. At this time, the side panel 15 may be coupled to the top cover 14 with screws. [STEP 8]

Then, the lower cover 112 is coupled to the side panel 15 and the rotator 21 to complete the assembly of the water purifier 1. The tray 90, which is assembled separately from the lower, can be packaged and shipped together, and when installing and using the tray, the user connects the tray 90 to the rotating ring 91. [STEP 9]

Claims (23)

A case that forms the outer appearance of the water purifier, including a front cover that forms the front exterior and a top cover that forms the upper surface;
a water outlet portion protruding forward from the front cover;
It is mounted on the top cover and has a control panel disposed inclined to face forward to improve readability,
The operating unit includes a dispensing button operated by the user to dispensing water, and display means for displaying the result selected by the user and the operating state of the water purifier,
The water outlet is connected to a rotator rotatably mounted inside the case and rotates around the inside of the case,
The control unit is linked with the water outlet unit, so that when the water outlet unit rotates, it rotates together while mounted on the top cover,
A water purifier, characterized in that the operating unit is coaxially disposed above the rotator.
According to clause 1,
The control unit:
a control panel PCB provided inside the case;
a switch provided on the control panel PCB and turned on and off by contacting the eject button;
It includes an LED provided on the control panel PCB to irradiate light toward the eject button,
A water purifier, wherein at least a portion of the dispensing button is formed to allow light to pass through, and the LED emits light of different colors depending on the operating state of the water purifier.
According to claim 2,
The eject button is
a pressing unit that is moved by a user's pressing operation;
an elastic portion cut along the circumference of the pressing portion to provide elasticity for returning the pressing portion;
a contact portion protruding from one end of the pressing portion, located above the switch, and contacting the switch as the pressing portion moves;
A water purifier comprising a rotation support portion that protrudes from the other end of the pressing portion facing the contact portion and serves as a rotation center of the pressing portion.
According to claim 3,
A light transmitting portion through which light transmits is formed in the pressing portion,
A water purifier, wherein the switch and the contact portion are formed outside the light transmitting portion.
According to claim 4,
A water purifier, characterized in that a light guide is further formed on the lower surface of the pressing portion, extending toward the LED along the circumference of the light transmitting portion to guide the light of the LED toward the light transmitting portion.
According to claim 4,
The pressing portion is further provided with a button plate that shields the light transmitting portion,
A water purifier, characterized in that the button plate is formed to allow light to pass through.
According to claim 5,
The water purifier is characterized in that the LED is located inside the light transmitting part.
According to claim 2,
The LED is a water purifier characterized in that it irradiates light of different colors according to the replacement cycle of the filter.
According to claim 2,
A water purifier comprising a plurality of LEDs and emitting light of different colors.
According to clause 2,
A water purifier, characterized in that the control panel PCB is equipped with a buzzer that displays information according to the status of the water purifier through sound.
According to claim 2,
A water purifier equipped with a plurality of touch sensors in the control panel PCB.
According to clause 1,
The water outlet unit is a water purifier including an outlet nozzle through which purified water is dispensed.
According to clause 1,
The front cover is composed of an upper cover and a lower cover, and the rotator is rotatably disposed between the upper cover and the lower cover.
According to clause 13,
The rotator is a water purifier comprising a hollow rotator housing, an upper guide bracket and a lower guide bracket spaced apart from each other at an upper and lower portion of the rotator housing.
According to clause 14,
A water purifier, characterized in that a fastening protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the rotator housing, and a fastening hook is formed on the lower end of the upper guide bracket and the upper end of the lower guide bracket to be caught and restrained by the fastening protrusion.
According to clause 14,
A water purifier, characterized in that an upper center ring and a lower center ring are formed at the centers of the upper and lower guide brackets, respectively.
According to clause 16,
A water purifier, characterized in that a T connector is provided between the upper center ring and the lower center ring.
According to clause 17,
One side of the T connector extends toward the water outlet side and is connected to a water outlet pipe disposed between the upper and lower guide brackets, the upper side is connected to a cold water pipe through which cold water is supplied, and the lower side is connected to a water outlet pipe disposed between the upper and lower guide brackets. A water purifier connected to a water supply pipe.
According to clause 18,
The T connector and the cold water pipe and the purified water pipe are connected by a rotating pipe, and the T connector rotates based on the cold water pipe and the purified water pipe.
According to clause 1,
A water purifier, characterized in that a plurality of rotational connection parts are formed to protrude downward on the bottom of the operation unit, and a coupling ring into which the rotational connection parts are inserted is formed on the rotator.
According to clause 1,
A water purifier, wherein the control unit has a circular shape.
According to clause 1,
The top cover is a water purifier in which a cover hole is formed on which the operation unit is rotatably mounted.
According to clause 22,
A water purifier in which a stepped portion on which the periphery of the operating unit is seated is formed around the cover hole.

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