KR20110110068A - Sterilizing apparatus and method of inner flow path in water purifier - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of sterilizing an internal flow path of a water purifier, and a method of sterilizing an internal flow path of a water purifier through a sterilization device having a sterilization module for generating sterilization water containing a sterilizing material using an electrode installed therein. A sterilizer installation step of connecting a flow path and the sterilizer; And a sterilizing water generating step of generating sterilizing water in the sterilizing module and supplying the sterilizing water to the internal flow path of the water purifier.
Therefore, by circulating the sterilizing water to sterilize the internal flow path of the water purifier thoroughly, it is possible to keep the water purifier more clean, which is very effective in hygiene management.

Description

Sterilizing Apparatus and Method of Inner Flow Path in Water Purifier

The present invention relates to a sterilizer and a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, and relates to a sterilization apparatus and a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier to sterilize the internal flow path of the water purifier.

In general, household water purifiers remove most ionic substances and microorganisms, including precipitation filters that remove fine particles and debris from tap water, sun carbon filters that absorb and remove residual chlorine or odor-causing substances, and volatile organic substances. The filter unit is composed of a combination of a reverse osmosis filter or an ultrafiltration filter for removing most contaminants except for ionic substances, and a fucarbon filter for removing odor and improving water taste. The water passed through the four stages of the filter is stored in the purified water tank, and is cooled or heated through the cold water tank or the hot water tank, and then supplied to the user.

At this time, since the storage tank is difficult to be completely sealed, bacteria or microorganisms may grow through contact with the atmosphere, leading to secondary pollution of purified water, and may also cause microorganisms to proliferate in the filter itself depending on the nature of the incoming tap water. The purified microorganisms may be leaked through the purified water, and especially when the water purifier is not used for a long time, the possibility of contamination of the purified water by bacteria and microorganisms becomes higher.

In order to solve this problem, a method of coating silver (Ag) with known antibacterial properties on activated carbon used in the carbon filter, a method of supporting a ceramic antimicrobial ball containing silver in a storage tank, UV lamp sterilizer after There has been proposed a method of installing at the rear of the carbon filter.

However, in the water purifier, an environment in which external bacteria or bacteria grow on their own may be formed, and contaminants may accumulate in the flow path if it lasts for a long time, and these pollutants are rather purified because they are multiplied by bacteria. It may pollute the water.

Therefore, since the conventional water purifier does not have a method for sterilizing the inside of the flow path, there is a limit in keeping the water purifier and the purified water clean.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed to solve the problem of the conventional water purifier sterilizer, by periodically sterilizing the internal flow path of the water purifier to minimize the environment in which bacteria can multiply and thereby double the sterilization effect of the water purifier. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sterilizer and a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, which can effectively perform hygiene management of the water purifier.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is not limited to the technical problem mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned above may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. There will be.

As one aspect for achieving the above object, the present invention is a sterilization module configured to generate sterilization water containing a sterilizing material using an electrode installed therein; And an inflow line and a drain line connecting the sterilization module and the internal water flow path to supply the sterilization water to the internal flow path of the water purifier.

Preferably, the sterilizing apparatus of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a circulating pump for applying a pressing force to supply the sterilizing water into the internal water purifier. In this case, the circulation pump may be connected to the drain line.

Also preferably, the sterilization module may be connected through the storage tank and the inlet line of the water purifier. At this time, the sterilization module may be connected via a storage tank and a plurality of inflow lines.

Preferably, the inlet line may be connected to the cock of the storage tank, it may be connected to the drain of the storage tank. In this case, a plurality of cocks are installed in the storage tank of the water purifier, and the inflow line may be connected to the plurality of cocks, respectively.

Also preferably, the drain line may be configured to include a circulation line one side is connected to the internal flow path of the water purifier to circulate the sterilizing water, the other side to discharge the sterilizing water to the outside.

On the other hand, the sterilization apparatus of the internal flow path according to an embodiment of the present invention, the operation display unit for displaying the operating state of the sterilization module; And a circulation display unit displaying a circulation state of the sterilizing water. In addition, the sterilizing apparatus of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a flushing display unit for displaying a flushing state.

Preferably, the sterilization module may be provided with a salt inlet for injecting salt into the sterilization module. In this case, the salt added to the salt inlet may include sodium chlorite.

In addition, the sterilization apparatus of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a control unit for controlling the driving of the sterilization module. In this case, the controller may be electrically connected to the sterilization module to control the operation mode of the sterilization module in a timer manner.

In another aspect, the present invention is a method for sterilizing the internal flow path of the water purifier through a sterilization device having a sterilization module for generating sterilization water containing sterilization material using an electrode installed therein, the internal flow path of the water purifier and the sterilization device A sterilizer installation step for connecting; And a sterilizing water generating step of generating sterilizing water in the sterilizing module and supplying the sterilizing water to the internal flow path of the water purifier.

In addition, the sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, after the sterilizing water generation step sterilizing water circulating between the sterilizing device and the internal flow path of the water purifier; further comprising a; Can be.

Preferably, the sterilization device installation step may be connected to the internal flow path of the sterilization module and the water purifier through the inlet line and the drain line. In this case, the sterilization module may be connected to the storage tank of the water purifier and may be connected to the storage tank via a plurality of inflow lines. In addition, the sterilization device installation step may be connected to the inlet line to the cock installed in the storage tank, it may be connected to the inlet line to the drain portion of the storage tank. In this case, a plurality of cocks are installed in the storage tank of the water purifier, and the inflow line may be connected to the plurality of cocks, respectively.

Also preferably, the sterilization apparatus is provided with a circulating pump for applying a pressing force to supply the sterilizing water to the internal flow path of the water purifier, wherein the sterilizing water generating step is generated in the sterilization module by driving the sterilization module and the circulation pump. The sterilized water can be supplied to the internal flow path of the water purifier through the circulation pump.

More preferably, the sterilizing water generating step may be performed for a predetermined time, it may display the operating state of the sterilizing module and the circulation pump.

Preferably, the sterilizing water generating step may generate sterilizing water while circulating the water contained in the internal flow path of the water purifier. Alternatively, the sterilizing water generating step may generate sterilizing water by using the salt added to the sterilizing module.

Also preferably, the sterilizing water circulation step may be performed by driving the circulation pump in a state in which driving of the sterilization module is stopped. At this time, the sterilization water circulation step may be performed for a predetermined time.

On the other hand, the sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, after the sterilizing water generation step, the sterilizing water discharge step for discharging the sterilized water contained in the internal flow path of the water purifier to the outside; may further include a. . At this time, the sterilizing water discharging step may be configured to discharge the sterilizing water accommodated in the storage tank of the water purifier to the outside.

Preferably, the sterilizing water discharge step may discharge the sterilizing water to the outside through the discharge line, it may be displayed that the sterilizing water discharge is made.

According to the sterilization apparatus of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to the present invention, by sterilizing the circulating sterilization water to thoroughly sterilize the internal flow path of the water purifier, it is possible to keep the water purifier more clean, so it is very effective in hygiene management, while using the existing water purifier system as it is. The device is installed in a water purifier to circulate the sterilized water generated by using the electrode, so there is no need for a separate device or parts, and it is possible to generate the sterilizing material by itself using the electrode without adding a separate sterilizing material. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect of easy maintenance and repair work for sterilization of the water purifier.

1 is a block diagram showing a sterilizer of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the flow path of the sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention,
3 is a state diagram showing a state in which the sterilizer according to the present invention is applied to the water purifier, that is, installed.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural forms as well, unless the phrases clearly indicate the opposite. As used herein, the term "comprising" embodies a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, and other specific characteristics, region, integer, step, operation, element, component, and / or group. It does not exclude the presence or addition of.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Commonly defined terms used are additionally interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the related technical literature and the presently disclosed contents, and are not interpreted in an ideal or very formal sense unless defined.

Embodiments of the invention described with reference to a perspective view specifically illustrate an ideal embodiment of the invention. As a result, various modifications of the drawings, for example, manufacturing methods and / or specifications, are expected. Thus, the embodiment is not limited to the specific form of the illustrated region, but includes, for example, modification of the form by manufacture. For example, areas shown or described as flat may have properties that are generally rough and / or rough and non-linear. Also, portions shown to have sharp angles may be rounded. Accordingly, the regions shown in the figures are only approximate in nature, and their forms are not intended to depict the exact form of the regions and are not intended to narrow the scope of the invention.

Referring to the sterilization apparatus of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to the present invention with reference to Figures 1 to 3, the sterilization apparatus 100 is largely the inlet line 110 and drainage line 120, the circulation pump 130, It is composed of a sterilization module 140 and the control unit 150, the sterile water generated in the sterilization module 140 is to be circulated in the internal flow path of the water purifier is installed in accordance with the present invention to sterilize the internal flow path.

That is, by using the sterilizing apparatus 100 of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to the present invention by periodically sterilizing the internal flow path of the water purifier, including the storage tank, it is possible to minimize the environment in which bacteria can grow.

Here, the sterilization water generated in the sterilization module 140 is introduced into the storage tank 200 of the water purifier, and the water contained in the storage tank 200 is connected to the sterilization module 140 and connected to the storage tank 200. Or the inlet line 110 and the drainage line 120 configured to discharge the sterilizing water to the storage tank 200 are respectively installed. In addition, the circulation pump 130 circulates the sterilizing water to apply a pressing force to the water flowing through the sterilizing device 100 so that the sterilizing water circulates the internal flow path of the water purifier.

In addition, the sterilization module 140, which is a main component of the sterilization apparatus 100, is connected to the storage tank 200 via a plurality of inflow lines 110, and the circulation connected to the drain line 120. The pump 130 is installed at one side thereof, and is capable of generating sterilizing water containing sterilizing material using a plurality of electrodes 141 installed inside the housing of the sterilizing module 140.

As described above, the sterilizing apparatus 100 of the water purifier internal flow path according to the present invention is connected to the internal flow path of the water purifier which requires sterilization treatment.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the storage tank 200 may include a cold water unit 210 and a hot water unit 220, and the cold water unit 210 may include a cold water unit coke 211 and a cold water drain. The unit 212 may be provided, and the hot water unit 220 may include a hot water unit coke 212 and a hot water drain unit 222.

When the sterilization apparatus 100 of the internal flow path of the water purifier according to the present invention is installed in the storage tank 200 of the water purifier shown in FIG. 3, the inflow line 110 may be a cold water part coke 211 or a hot water part coke 221. ) May be connected to the drain part 212 of the cold water part 210 or the drain part 222 of the hot water part 220.

The drain line 120 may have one side connected to the sterilization apparatus 100 and the other side connected to the storage tank 200.

In addition, the sterilization module 140 and the controller 150 are electrically connected to control the operation mode of the sterilization module 140 in a timer manner.

Therefore, the sterilization apparatus 100 uses the electrode 141 of the sterilization module 140 to make the sterilization water containing the sterilization material, and by injecting the sterilization water of a certain concentration into the water purifier at a predetermined flow rate in the storage tank ( 200) to sterilize the internal flow path of the water purifier.

The sterilization apparatus 100 may make sterilization materials without injecting salts separately since the sterilization material (oxidative mixture, mixed oxides) is generated when the sterilization water is made using general raw water. The sterilizing water may be injected into the storage tank 200 at a predetermined flow rate using the circulation pump 130 and then discharged through the cold water part coke 211 or the hot water part coke 221 of the water purifier for a predetermined time.

In addition, the sterilization apparatus 100 may be implemented without emptying the storage tank 200. Accordingly, sterilization water may be introduced into the purified water of the storage tank 200, and thus sterilization water may be used as the sterilization water. Since the sterilization of 200) is made of self sterilizing water, it is possible to save time when sterilizing the water purifier.

At the same time, by discharging the sterilizing water into the coke 211 of the cold water unit 210 or the coke 221 of the hot water unit 220, the inside of the coke 211 and 221 may be sterilized.

On the other hand, the drain line 120 is connected to the storage tank 200, one side thereof is composed of a circulation line (120b) for circulating the sterilization water, the other side discharge line 120a for discharging the sterilization water to the outside It consists of.

In addition, the housing of the sterilization module 140 has an operation display LED 143 indicating an operating state of the sterilization module 140, a circulation display LED 144 indicating a circulation state of sterilizing water, and flushing (water discharge). Flushing display LEDs 145 may be installed respectively. In addition, a salt inlet 142 for injecting salt into the sterilization module 140 may be formed on an upper portion of the housing of the sterilization module 140.

In addition, the sterilization apparatus 100 generates a sterilization material while circulating the water in the storage tank 200, so that no additional raw water is required.

Salt can be used to control sterilization time and flow rate. If you want to clean as well as sterilize, you can use odorless and safe sodium chlorite. That is, the sterilization apparatus 100 according to the present invention can selectively use sterilization and sterilization and cleaning.

In addition, while the operation mode of the sterilization module 140 itself is controlled by the controller 150 can be configured simply and simply by applying a timer method based on the required time.

In addition, while the sterilization module 140 is in operation, the operation display LED 143 indicating the operation of the sterilization module 140 and the circulation display LED 144 indicating the operation of the circulation pump 130 are turned on. Only about an hour, the sterilization module 140 is operated, after which the sterilization module 140 is turned off. At this time, the operation indicator LED 143 is turned off. This is to generate a sterilization material to the required concentration and it is not necessary to operate the sterilization module 140 to make sterilization water throughout the circulation.

That is, when the sterilization water is generated through the sterilization module 140 and supplied to the internal flow path of the water purifier, the sterilization module 140 and the circulation pump 130 are driven. Accordingly, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, the sterilization water generated in the sterilization module 140 is pressurized by the circulation pump 130 through the circulation line 120b of the drainage line 120 storage tank 200 The water received in the storage tank 200 is discharged into the cold water part coke 211, the hot water part coke 221, the cold water drain part 212, the hot water drain part 222, and the like and the inflow line 110. It is re-introduced into the sterilization module 140 through the generation and circulation of the sterilization water. In addition, the concentration of the sterilized water circulated due to the operation of the sterilization module 140 is gradually increased, the operation of the sterilization module 140 is stopped (OFF) when a certain time elapses after the sterilization module 140 is operated.

Even when the sterilization module 140 is off, the internal flow path of the water purifier may be sterilized or cleaned while circulating the sterilized water that has already been produced for a predetermined time. When the sterilization water circulation operation is completed, the circulation indicator LED 144 is turned off. That is, the sterilization water circulation operation is performed by operating the circulation pump 130 for a predetermined time while the sterilization module 140 is turned off, and after a predetermined time, the circulation pump 130 is also turned off.

And, the sterilized water accommodated in the storage tank 200 is drained to the outside through the discharge line 120a for discharging the sterilized water to the outside, at this time the flushing display LED (145) indicating the flushing (sterilized water discharge) is turned on ( ON).

Therefore, the sterilization apparatus 100 operated as described above is convenient to maintain and repair because only the sterilization apparatus 100 is connected to the water purifier using the existing water purifier system as it is. In addition, the sterilization material is generated through the electrodes of the sterilization module 140 without the addition of a separate sterilization material to sterilize the internal flow path of the water purifier such as the storage tank 200. As it sterilizes periodically, there is no space for biofilm to form on the inner channel wall, so there is no need to separately clean the storage tank, thereby reducing the cost of water purifier management.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, Of course.

100: sterilizer 110: inlet line
120: drain line 120a: discharge line
120b: circulation line 130: circulation pump
140: sterilization module 141: electrode
142: salt inlet 143: operation indicator LED
144: cycle display LED 145: flushing display LED
150: control unit 200: storage tank
210: cold water portion 211: cork
220: hot water unit 221: cork

Claims (19)

A method of sterilizing an internal flow path of a water purifier through a sterilization device having a sterilization module that generates sterilization water containing a sterilization material using an electrode installed therein,
A sterilizer installation step of connecting the internal flow path of the water purifier and the sterilizer; And
A sterilizing water generating step of generating sterilizing water in the sterilizing module and supplying the sterilizing water to an internal flow path of the water purifier;
Sterilization method of the internal flow path including a water purifier. The method of claim 1,
A sterilizing water circulating step of circulating the sterilizing water after the sterilizing water generation step between the sterilizing apparatus and an internal flow path of the water purifier;
Sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that it further comprises. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The sterilizing apparatus installation step is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that for connecting the internal flow path of the sterilization module and the water purifier through the inlet line and the drain line. The method of claim 3,
The sterilization module is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that connected to the storage tank of the water purifier. The method of claim 4, wherein
The sterilization module is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that connected via a storage tank and a plurality of inflow lines. The method of claim 4, wherein
The sterilizing apparatus installation step is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that for connecting the inlet line to the cock installed in the storage tank of the water purifier. The method of claim 6,
A plurality of cocks are installed in the storage tank of the water purifier,
The inlet line is sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that connected to each of the plurality of coke. The method of claim 4, wherein
Wherein the sterilization device installation step of sterilizing the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that for connecting the inlet line to the drain portion of the storage tank. The method of claim 1,
The sterilization apparatus is provided with a circulation pump for applying a pressing force to supply sterilization water to the internal flow path of the water purifier,
The sterilizing water generating step is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that for driving the sterilization module and the circulation pump to supply the sterilization water generated in the sterilization module to the internal flow path of the water purifier through the circulation pump. 10. The method of claim 9,
The sterilizing water generation step is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that performed for a predetermined time. 10. The method of claim 9,
The sterilizing water generating step is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that for displaying the operating state of the sterilization module and the circulation pump. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The sterilizing water generating step is a sterilizing method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that to generate the sterilizing water while circulating the water contained in the internal flow path of the water purifier. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The sterilizing water generating step is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that to generate sterilizing water using the salt added to the sterilization module. 10. The method of claim 9,
The sterilizing water circulation step is a sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that is performed by driving the circulation pump in a state in which the driving of the sterilization module is stopped. The method of claim 14,
Sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that the sterilizing water circulation step is performed for a predetermined time. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
A sterilizing water discharging step of discharging sterilizing water accommodated in the internal flow path of the water purifier after the sterilizing water generating step to the outside;
Sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 16,
The sterilizing water discharging step is a sterilizing method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that configured to discharge the sterilizing water accommodated in the storage tank of the water purifier to the outside. The method of claim 17,
The sterilization device installation step is connected to the storage tank of the sterilization module and the water purifier through the inlet line and the drainage line,
One side of the drain line is connected to the storage tank is composed of a circulation line for circulating sterilization water, the other side is configured to include a discharge line for discharging the sterilization water to the outside,
The sterilizing water discharge step sterilization method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that for discharging the sterilization water to the outside through the discharge line. The method of claim 16,
The sterilizing water discharging step is a sterilizing method of the internal flow path of the water purifier, characterized in that the disinfection water discharge is made.

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