KR20100132706A - Water purifing apparatus and washing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A water purifying apparatus, and a washing method thereof are provided to washing a flow path of the water purifying apparatus by itself. CONSTITUTION: A water purifying apparatus comprises a filter unit(110), a discharging unit(130), a washing tube(140), and a pumping unit(160). The filter unit filters water. The discharging unit discharges purified water filtered from the filter unit. The washing tube is connected to the discharging unit and a flow path of the water purifying apparatus. The pumping unit pumps the purified water to discharge the purified water to the discharging unit.

Description

WATER PURIFING APPARATUS AND WASHING METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to a water treatment apparatus capable of washing a flow path and a washing method thereof.

In general, water treatment equipment is a device that can filter the raw water to drink. The water treatment device includes a water purifier, an ionizer, and the like.

The water treatment apparatus includes a filter section for filtering raw water, and a takeout coke to collect and drink purified water filtered by the filter section. In addition, the water treatment device may be a purified water tank in which purified water is stored, a cold water tank and hot water tanks, a tank type in which some of the tanks are installed, and a direct water type in which the tanks are not installed.

The filter portion, the extraction coke and the various tanks of the water treatment device are connected by a water purification pipe so that the purified water can flow.

When the water treatment device is used for a long time, foreign matters contained in water are caught in the tanks, the extraction coke, and various water purification pipes. Therefore, the water purifier user or coordinator cleans the inside of each tank periodically or when necessary.

However, in the related art, since the flow path of the takeout cock and the various water purification pipes is formed narrow and long, the washing tool does not enter or the hands are not closed, and thus the washing cannot be performed. Therefore, even after cleaning the water treatment equipment, it was necessary to drink purified water contaminated by foreign matter caught in the cancellation cock or various water purification pipes.

An object of the water treatment device according to the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a water treatment device and a washing method thereof that can wash the flow path of the water treatment device itself.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water treatment apparatus and a method for washing the same, which can clean the flow path with water pressure and a cleaning agent.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a water treatment device capable of washing a portion of a flow path which is not touched by a hand or a cleaning tool, and a method of cleaning the same.

Water treatment device according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the filter unit for filtering water; A discharge part through which the purified water filtered by the filter part is discharged; A washing tube connected to the outlet and a flow path of the water treatment device; And a pumping unit configured to pump the purified water in the water dispensing mode to discharge the purified water to the discharge part, and to wash the flow path of the water treatment device by circulating the washing water in the flow path and the washing tube of the water treatment device in the washing mode. It includes.

One end of the washing tube may be connected to the discharge side water purification pipe of the filter part, and the other end of the washing tube may be detachably connected to the discharge part.

The washing tube includes a plurality of branched connection pipes, the branched portion of the washing tube may be a flow path switching valve is installed.

The flow path switching valve may sequentially wash the flow path of the water treatment device by a plurality of sections by flowing the wash water through a part of the connection pipe.

The flow path may include: a water purification pipe connected between the filter part and the discharge part; And a storage unit connected to the purified water pipe and storing the purified water.

The flow path may further include a drain pipe for draining the purified water to the outside.

The discharge portion may include one or more take-out cocks that are opened when the flow path is cleaned.

The washing tube may be connected to the input unit so that the cleaning agent or neutralizing agent can be added.

The extraction mode button unit and the washing mode selection unit may be further included to select the purified water extraction mode and the washing mode.

In the washing method of the water treatment device according to the present invention, in the washing mode, the flow path is washed by circulating the washing water on the flow path through the washing tube.

By switching the flow path of the washing tube it can be sequentially washed by the flow path of the water treatment device by some section.

In the cleaning mode it is possible to open all the take-out cock.

When the washing mode is performed for a predetermined time, the washing water may be neutralized by circulating after adding a neutralizing agent to the washing water.

After the wash water is neutralized, the wash water may be drained.

After the washing water is drained, purified water may be supplied to the washing water passage to clean the passage of the water treatment device.

According to this invention, there exists an effect which can wash | clean itself the flow path of a water treatment apparatus.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the flow path can be washed clean with water pressure and a cleaning agent.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that can be washed even parts that are not touched by hands or cleaning tools.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that the flow path of the water treatment device can be thoroughly cleaned without the washing dead zone.

Specific embodiments of the water treatment device according to the present invention for achieving the above object will be described.

The washing tube of the water treatment device according to the present invention is applicable to both a tank type water purifier and a direct type water purifier. In describing such a water treatment device, a tank type water purifier will be described as an example.

1 is a block diagram showing a water treatment device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the water treatment device 100 includes a filter unit 110 to filter water introduced from a water pipe 10 or a replaceable dispenser bucket.

The filter unit 110 may include a sediment filter, a pre-carbon filter, a membrane filter, a post-carbon filter, and the like.

The sediment filter is applied to the non-woven fabric to filter foreign matter and suspended matter contained in the raw water. The precarbon filter is applied with surfactant carbon to filter chlorine components, odors, etc. contained in raw water. The membrane filter filters raw water by passing through a porous membrane using cellulose fibers. The post carbon filter removes pigments and odors due to its relatively better adsorption power than the activated carbon of the precarbon filter.

The water treatment device 100 has a flow path formed so that water can flow. In this case, when the water treatment device 100 is a tank type water purifier, the flow path includes a purified water pipe 111 through which purified water flows, and a purified water storage unit 120 in which purified water filtered by the filter unit 110 is stored. Concept. In addition, when the water treatment device 100 is a direct type water purifier, the flow path may be formed of only a water pipe through which the purified water flows.

The purified water storage unit 120 is connected to the discharge side of the filter unit 110 by a purified water pipe 111. The purified water storage unit 120 includes a purified water tank 121 in which purified water filtered by the filter unit 110 is stored, a cold water tank 123 and a hot water tank in which purified water discharged from the purified water tank 121 is introduced. 125). In addition, the purified water storage unit 120 may consist of only the cold water tank 123 and the hot water tank 125 or may consist of only the cold water tank 123.

A cooling device (not shown) may be installed in the cold water tank 123, and a heater (not shown) may be installed in the hot water tank 125.

The inlet side of the purified water storage unit 120 may be provided with a water level adjusting unit 122 for measuring the water level as the purified water passes. The water level adjusting unit 122 detects the water level of the purified water tank 121 as the purified water passes, and blocks the inflow of purified water when the purified water tank 121 is full.

The purified water storage unit 120 is connected to the discharge unit 130 by a purified water pipe. The discharge part 130 includes one or more takeout cocks 131 and 132 that are opened when the flow path is cleaned.

For example, the discharge unit 130 is a cold / purified water coke 131 connected to the purified water tank 121 and the cold water tank 123, the hot water coke 132 connected to the hot water tank 125, It may include drain pipes (133, 134) for draining the purified water of the cold water tank 123 and the hot water tank 125 to the outside, respectively.

At this time, the cold / purified water cock 131, the purified water pipe connected to the purified water tank 121, and the purified water pipe connected to the cold water tank 123 may be connected to the purified water pipe connected to one. In addition, the hot water coke 132 may be connected to the purified water pipe connected to the hot water tank (125).

On the discharge side of each of the drain pipes 133 and 134, valves 143a and 144a that can be automatically opened may be installed as the connection pipes 143 and 144 of the cleaning tube 140 to be described below are coupled. Of course, instead of the discharge valves 143a and 144a of the drain pipes 133 and 134, a separate solenoid valve is installed at the inlet side of each of the drain pipes 133 and 134 under the control of a controller (not shown). May be

The cold / clean water coke 131 and the hot water coke 132 may include a lever (not shown) to manually open and close the internal flow paths of the cokes 131 and 132. At this time, when the lever is pressed, the cocks 131 and 132 are opened, and when the pressure is released, the cocks 131 and 132 are closed.

In addition, the cold / clean water coke 131 and the hot water coke 132 may include an electromagnetic valve so as to electromagnetically open and close the flow path inside the respective cocks (131, 132). The electromagnetic valve is provided with a solenoid valve. These valves are automatically opened and closed by the control unit.

The cleaning tube 140 is connected to the outlet of the discharge unit 130 and the water treatment device 100. For example, one end of the cleaning tube 140 is connected to the discharge side purified water pipe 111 of the filter unit 110, the other end of the cleaning tube 140 is detachably connected to the discharge unit 130. Can be.

The washing tube 140 may include a plurality of connection pipes 141-144 branched into a plurality of branches from the discharge side water purification pipe of the filter unit 110. At this time, the number of the connection pipe (141-144) is installed as the total number of the cock (131, 132) and the drain pipe (133, 134) of the water treatment device (100). For example, when two cocks 131 and 132 and two drain pipes 133 and 134 are installed as shown in FIG. 4, four connection pipes 141 to 144 are installed. In addition, when the cock and the drain pipe are installed one by one, two connecting pipes are installed. The number of the connection pipes 141-144 is variable depending on the number of the coke 131, 132 and the drain pipes 133, 134 installed in the water treatment device.

Connectors 141a-144a may be installed at ends of the connection pipes 141-144 so that the cocks 131, 132 and the valves 133a, 134a of the drain pipes 133, 134 can be detachably coupled to each other. . The connectors 141a-144a may be formed in a structure that can be easily separated from the cocks 131, 132 and the drain pipes 133, 134 when the connectors 141a-144a are coupled to the cocks 131, 132 and the drain pipes 133, 134. The connectors 141a-144a may be formed in various structures.

The branched portion of the cleaning tube 140 may be a flow path switching valve 150 is installed. The flow path switching valve 150 is configured to sequentially wash the flow path of the water treatment device as the washing water flows to the connection pipes of some of the plurality of connection pipes 141 to 144.

In addition, a pumping unit 160 may be installed in the discharge side water purification pipe 111 of the filter unit 110 to generate water pressure. The pumping unit 160 pumps the purified water in the purified water extraction mode. In addition, the pumping unit 160 allows the flow path of the water treatment device to be washed by circulating the wash water in the flow path and the cleaning tube 140 of the water treatment device in the washing mode. The pumping unit 160 may include an impeller and a motor.

In addition, the cleaning tube 140 may be connected to the input unit 170 so that the cleaning agent or neutralizing agent can be added. In this case, the detergent input unit in which the detergent is accommodated and the neutralizer input unit in which the neutralizing agent is accommodated may be formed integrally or separately.

Of course, the cleaning agent and the neutralizing agent may be directly added to the purified water storage unit 120 of the water treatment device 100 without installing the charging unit 170 in the cleaning tube 140.

As the cleaning agent, various chemicals may be used as long as it can clean and sterilize the surface of the flow path of the water treatment device 100. In addition, the neutralizing agent will have to be applied appropriate chemicals depending on the components of the cleaning agent.

An example of the cleaning agent may be applied to the cleaning agent described in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2006-0129670. That is, the cleaning agent includes a first cleaning liquid containing chlorine dioxide and a second cleaning liquid containing ammonium ions and hydroxide ions. According to the present invention, various cleaning agents may be applied in addition to the above-mentioned cleaning agents.

2 is a front view illustrating the configuration of an operation unit of a water treatment device.

Referring to FIG. 2, the water treatment device 100 includes an operation unit 180 including a discharge mode button part 181 and a self-cleaning mode button part 183 so as to select a discharge mode and a self-cleaning mode of the water treatment device. Can be installed.

When the extraction mode button unit 181 is selected, the water treatment device 100 is in a state capable of taking out purified water, cold water and hot water. In addition, when the self-cleaning mode button unit 183 is selected, the water treatment device 100 washes the flow path of the water treatment device 100 as the water is circulated. Therefore, since the user presses the self-cleaning mode button part after connecting the washing tube to the take-out cock, the user can wash the water treatment device whenever the user wants.

In addition, the water treatment device 100 may be provided with a display unit 185 to display the functions of the water treatment device in the self-cleaning mode and the extraction mode.

The operation of the water treatment device according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.

The water treatment device can be operated in the purified water extraction mode and the washing mode. The purified water dispensing mode refers to a state in which purified water, cold water, or hot water can be extracted through the dispensing coke. In addition, the washing mode refers to washing the flow path of the water treatment device by circulating the washing water. Hereinafter, the cleaning mode will be described.

1 is a block diagram showing a water treatment device according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a flow chart showing a washing method of the water treatment device according to the present invention.

1 and 3, the user or the manager couples the connection pipes 141-144 of the cleaning tube 140 to the blowout cocks 131 and 132 and the drain pipes 133 and 134, respectively. At this time, the connectors 141a-144a of the connection pipes 141-144 are coupled to prevent leakage from occurring at the connection portions of the take-out cocks 131, 132 and the drain pipes 133, 134.

In addition, when the input unit 170 is not installed, a user or a manager inputs a detergent into the purified water storage unit 120.

In addition, when the takeout cocks 131 and 132 are manually opened by the lever, the user or the manager presses the lever to open both the takeout cocks 131 and 132. On the other hand, when the take-off cocks 131 and 132 are electromagnetically opened and closed, when the washing mode is selected in the operation unit, the take-off cocks 131 and 132 are opened.

In addition, the washing time may be set directly by the user or the administrator through the operation unit or the washing time.

After the washing mode is set in this way, the washing mode is selected through the self-cleaning mode button unit 183 of the operation unit 180 (S11).

At this time, the control unit of the water treatment device 100 operates the pumping unit 160 and the flow path switching valve 150 (S12).

When washing water is simultaneously supplied to all the flow paths of the water treatment device 100, a partial pressure deviation of the washing water may occur depending on the flow path structure of the water treatment device 100. That is, while the water pressure of the washing water is high in some flow paths of the water treatment device 100, the water pressure of the washing water may be significantly low in other flow paths. At this time, in other flow paths where the water pressure of the washing water is significantly lower, there is a case in which a dead zone in which washing is not performed occurs.

In order to prevent the washing dead zone as described above, the washing water is flowed as follows.

The control unit controls the flow path switching valve 150 so that the washing water is circulated sequentially by some of the connecting pipes (141-144). At this time, the washing water is circulated only through the tank of some of the plurality of tanks (121, 123, 125).

Hereinafter, a case in which the cold water tank 123, the drain pipe 133 of the cold water tank, the hot water tank 125, and the drain pipe 134 of the hot water tank are washed will be described.

The controller switches the flow path switching valve 150 to operate the pumping unit 160 so that the washing water flows through the connection pipe 141 coupled to the cold / clean water cock 131. At this time, the washing water is circulated along the discharge / purification pipe 111 of the cold / purified water 131, the connecting pipe 141 and the filter unit 110 in the purified water tank 121 and cold water tank 123. Therefore, the discharge-side purified water pipe 111, the purified water tank 121, the cold water tank 123 and the cold purified water coke 131 of the filter unit 110 is cleanly washed by the water flow of the washing water and the chemical reaction of the detergent.

In addition, the flow path switching valve 150 prevents the washing water from flowing through the remaining three connection pipes 142-144 except for the connection pipe 141 connected to the cold / clean water cock 131. Therefore, no washing water flows into the hot water tank 125, the hot water coke 132, and the two drain pipes 133 and 134.

Next, the control unit switches the flow path switching valve 150 so that the washing water flows through the connection pipe 143 coupled to the drain pipe 133 of the cold water tank 123. At this time, the washing water is circulated in the purified water tank 121 and the cold water tank 123 along the drain pipe 133 of the cold water tank, the connection pipe 143 and the discharge side purified water pipe of the filter unit 110. Accordingly, the discharge-side purified water pipe 111, the purified water tank 121, the cold water tank 123, and the drain pipe 133 of the cold water tank of the filter unit 110 are washed with water flow of the washing water and a detergent.

In addition, the washing water does not flow through the remaining three connection pipes 141, 142, and 144 except for the connection pipe 143 connected to the drain pipe 133 of the cold water tank 123.

Next, the control unit switches the flow path switching valve 150 so that the washing water flows to the connection pipe 142 coupled to the hot water coke 132. At this time, the washing water is circulated along the discharge side purified water pipe 111 of the hot water cock 132, the connecting pipe 142 and the filter unit 110 in the purified water tank 121 and the hot water tank 125. Therefore, the discharge-side purified water pipe 111, the purified water tank 121, the hot water tank 125, and the hot water coke 132 of the filter unit 110 are washed by the washing water.

Next, the control unit switches the flow path switching valve 150 so that the washing water flows to the connection pipe 144 coupled to the drain pipe 134 of the hot water tank 125. At this time, the wash water is circulated along the discharge pipe 134 of the hot water tank, the connection pipe 144 and the discharge side of the filter unit 110 in the purified water tank 121 and the hot water tank 125. Therefore, the discharge-side purified water pipe 111, the purified water tank 121, the hot water tank 125, and the drain pipe 134 of the hot water tank of the filter unit 110 are washed with the washing water.

As described above, since the water treatment device allows the washing water to flow sequentially to the purified water tank 121, the cold water tank 123, the hot water tank 125, and the drain pipes 133 and 134, the water pressure deviation of the washing water on the flow path through which the washing water flows. May hardly occur. Therefore, it is possible to fundamentally prevent the washing dead zones from being generated and to clean the flow path of the water treatment device as a whole.

In addition, the water treatment device may clean not only a tank that can be touched by a human hand or a cleaning tool, but also a purified water pipe, a cock 131, 132, and a drain pipe 133, 134, which are hardly touched by a human hand or a cleaning tool.

On the other hand, the control unit determines whether the cycle washing time preset in the control unit (S13).

If it is determined that the circulation washing time has been reached, the pumping unit 160 is stopped (S14). In this case, the display unit may inform a message or / and alarm about the completion of the cleaning through the display unit and / and the buzzer.

In addition, the control unit determines whether the neutralizing agent is completed through the purified water tank 121 or the input unit 170 (S15).

In this case, when the user or the manager directly inputs the neutralizer into the purified water tank 121, it is determined that the neutralizer is completed by the user or the manager selecting the neutralization mode through the operation unit. In addition, when the inputting unit 170 automatically inputs the neutralizing agent, the control unit detects that the inputting unit 170 is operated and stopped, and determines the completion of the neutralizing agent input.

When it is determined that the neutralizing agent is completed, the pumping unit 160 is operated (S16). In this case, the flow path switching valve 150 may sequentially circulate the washing water to some of the connecting pipes of the plurality of connecting pipes (141-144) as in the washing mode. At this time, the washing water containing the neutralizing agent is circulated sequentially in the cold water tank 123, the hot water tank 125, the drain pipe (133, 134).

Therefore, when neutralizing the washing water, it is possible to minimize the pressure difference generated in the flow path of the water treatment device 100 to uniformly neutralize the cleaning agent attached to the tanks 121, 123, 125 or the water purification pipe 111 of the water treatment device as a whole. have. In addition, even in the neutralization mode of the wash water it is possible to essentially eliminate the section in which the wash water stagnated in some sections of the water treatment device 100.

When it is determined that the predetermined neutralization time has been reached (S17), the controller controls the flow path switching valve 150 to block the flow of the washing water into all the connecting pipes 141 to 144. In addition, the controller may stop the pumping unit 160.

In addition, the control unit may inform the display unit that the neutralization mode is completed.

Next, the user disassembles all the connecting tubes 141-144 of the circulation tube and puts them into the water treatment device.

When the water is switched to the drainage mode through the operation unit, the pumping unit is operated to discharge all the washing water in the flow path of the water treatment device through the discharge cocks 131 and 132 or / and the drain pipes 133 and 134 to the outside (S18).

When the drainage mode is completed (S19), the display unit may inform about the completion of the drainage mode.

When the drainage mode is completed, the pumping unit 160 is operated to supply clean water to the flow path of the water treatment device 100 and to clean the water (S19, S20, S21).

In this case, the controller may supply the purified water to all tanks 121, 123, and 125 until the purified water is completely filled, and operate the pumping unit 160 after the preset time after the purified water is filled to drain the purified water. Therefore, the neutralizing agent or the detergent remaining in the tanks 121, 123, and 125 of the water treatment device 100 may be sufficiently washed.

When the cleaning mode is completed for a predetermined time, the pumping unit is stopped (S22, S23). The control unit also displays the completion of the cleaning mode to inform that the cleaning mode is completed.

As described above, the water treatment device may wash to the part not reachable by human hands or cleaning tools by circulating the wash water. Thus, the consumer can drink clean purified water after washing the water treatment device.

In addition, since the water treatment device uses a pumping unit 160 for pumping the purified water in the extraction mode and the washing mode of the purified water in common, the water treatment device 100 by using a simple structure for connecting the washing tube 140 You can wash every corner.

The present invention can be washed to the part where the hand or the cleaning tool does not touch the inside of the water treatment device, there is a significant industrial applicability.

1 is a block diagram showing a water treatment device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an operation unit of the water treatment device of FIG. 1.

3 is a flow chart showing a washing method of the water treatment device according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: filter unit 120: purified water storage unit

121: purified water tank 123: cold water tank

125: hot water tank 130: discharge part

131, 132: coke 133, 134: drain pipe

140: washing tube 141-144: connector

150: flow path switching valve 160: pumping unit

170: inlet

Claims (15)

A filter unit for filtering water; A discharge part through which the purified water filtered by the filter part is discharged; A washing tube connected to the outlet and a flow path of the water treatment device; And A pumping unit for pumping purified water in the purified water dispensing mode to discharge the purified water to the discharge part, and in the washing mode, circulating the washing water in the flow path and the washing tube of the water treatment device to wash the flow path of the water treatment device; Water treatment equipment comprising. The method of claim 1, One end of the cleaning tube is connected to the discharge side purification pipe, The other end of the washing tube is a water treatment device, characterized in that detachably connected to the discharge. The method of claim 1, The wash tube includes a plurality of branched connections, The branched portion of the washing tube is a water treatment device, characterized in that the flow path switching valve is installed. The method of claim 3, wherein The flow path switching valve is a water treatment device characterized in that to sequentially wash the flow path of the water treatment device by a section by flowing the wash water to a portion of the connecting pipe. The method of claim 1, The flow path is: A water purification pipe connected between the filter part and the discharge part; And And a storage unit connected to the purified water pipe to store purified water. The method of claim 5, The flow path further comprises a drain pipe for draining the purified water to the outside of the reservoir. The method of claim 5, And said outlet portion comprises at least one take-out coke which is opened upon cleaning the flow path. The method of claim 1, The washing tube is a water treatment device, characterized in that the input unit is connected so that the cleaning agent or neutralizer can be added. The method of claim 1, And a draw mode button unit and a wash mode selector to select the purified water extraction mode and the washing mode. The washing method of the water treatment apparatus for washing the flow path by circulating the wash water on the flow path through the cleaning tube in the washing mode. The method of claim 10, The washing method of the water treatment device, characterized in that for sequentially washing the flow path of the water treatment device by a plurality of sections by switching the flow path of the washing tube. The method of claim 10, The washing method of the water treatment device, characterized in that to open all the take-out cock in the washing mode. The method of claim 10, If the washing mode is performed for a predetermined time, the washing method of the water treatment device, characterized in that to neutralize the wash water by circulating after adding a neutralizing agent to the wash water. The method of claim 13, The washing method of the water treatment device, characterized in that to drain the washing water after the washing water is neutralized. The method of claim 14, And after the washing water is drained, supplying purified water to the washing water flow path to clean the flow path of the water treatment device.

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