KR20150055922A - An apparatus feeding functional chemicals and a water softner comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a functional agent supplying apparatus and a water softener comprising the same. The functional agent supplying apparatus comprises: a head having a hole formed in a lower portion thereof, an inlet and an outlet respectively placed on both sides, and a partition which is placed between the inlet and the outlet and divides the hole; a hollow elution unit which is connected to a lower end of a central portion of the head and has functional agents filled therein; and a housing which is extended downward from the head and placed to enclose the elution unit. The elution unit includes: a connection unit which is positioned in the center of an upper portion and connects the head and the elution unit and a bypass which is formed on one side of the outer circumference surface of the connection unit and enables the inlet and the outlet to be fluidly communicated. Moreover, the functional agents are sustained release capsules. The functional agent supplying apparatus and the water softener in accordance with the present invention can solve problems of a short life cycle of a filter and having difficulty in uniformly determining a replacement time of a filter, as the amount of functional agents eluted in accordance with a flow rate and a flow velocity passing inside a filter is not uniform in a functional agent supplying apparatus installed in a conventional water softener. The present invention is capable of supplying functional agents continuously and subsequently and to be mixed, easily determining a replacement time of the functional agents, and obtaining effects of miniaturizing the apparatus and reducing costs by supplying functional agents which are filled in the functional agent supplying apparatus as sustained release capsules having a plurality of layers or an externally annular shape.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a functional material feeder and a water softener comprising the same,

The present invention relates to a functional material feeder and a water softener including the functional material feeder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a functional material feeder that improves the structure of a functional material feeder and has a functional material filled in the functional material feeder in the form of a sustained- To a functional material feeder and a water softener capable of continuously and stably supplying functional materials to the raw water by regulating the dissolution rate, elution amount, and elution time of the material, and using the functional material.

Recently, as interest in skin beauty has increased, various water softeners have been developed.

The water softener generates soft water less irritating to the skin by removing the hardness component existing in the existing water and ground water, and provides the water softener to the user. Such water softener is very useful as a therapeutic purpose for users having bath water and skin diseases as well as skin beauty .

In recent years, water softeners for generating soft water not only merely generating soft water but also supplying various functional materials have been developed and put on the market.

Korean Patent No. 1129376 discloses a filter material that is filled with a functional material in powder form as a functional material feeder installed in a water softener.

The water softeners using the functional material feeder have a problem that the amount of the functional material eluted according to the flow rate and the flow rate passing through the filter becomes unstable and the filter life is short and it is difficult to determine the replacement time of the filter constantly.

In addition, in order to supply various types of functional materials, it is necessary to increase the number of filters themselves, thus complicating the manufacturing process, increasing the cost, and increasing the size of the device.

(Patent Literature) KR 1129376 B1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is conceived to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a functional material supply device for supplying a functional material to a water softener by filling a functional material in the form of a sustained release capsule, And a water softener comprising the functional agent feeder, wherein the functional agent is supplied to the raw water in a sequential, mixed, and continuous manner according to the number or thickness of the active agent.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a functional material feeder comprising: a head having an opening formed at a lower portion thereof, an inlet port disposed at both sides thereof, an outlet port, and a partition disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port to divide the opening; A hollow eluting portion connected to a lower end of the center of the head and filled with a functional agent therein; And a housing extending downward from the head and disposed to surround the elongated portion, wherein the elongated portion includes a connecting portion that is located at the upper center and connects the head and the elongated portion, and the connecting portion is formed at one side of the outer circumferential surface And a bypass for allowing the inlet and the outlet to be in fluid communication with each other, wherein the functional agent is a sustained-release capsule, which is saturated with raw water and flows out in the eluting portion.

Wherein the elution unit comprises: an inflow tube having an upper side of the elution unit connected to the head to introduce influent water from the inflow port; A check valve positioned at a lower end of the inflow pipe to prevent the inflow water from flowing backward; And a case having a plurality of openings and surrounding the outside of the inflow pipe.

Wherein the connection portion includes: a mesh member located inside the connection portion to uniformly diffuse the inflow water; A capillary tube positioned below the mesh member to move the inflow water to an upper portion of the connection portion; And a support member positioned below the mesh member and supporting the capillary tube.

Preferably, the sustained-release capsule has a plurality of layers or annular structures, and the plurality of layers and rings are made of different functional materials.

It is preferable that at least one of the functional agents is selected from the group consisting of wild ginseng, ginseng, and mugwort extract.

The sustained-release capsule preferably has different elution rates depending on the thickness of the plurality of layers or rings.

Preferably, the number of layers or rings is four, and the elution time per one of the plurality of layers and rings is one week.

Further, the water softener according to the present invention includes: a raw water inflow portion into which raw water flows; A functional material supplier connected to the raw water inlet through a flow path to supply the filled functional material to the raw water; And a soft water filter connected to the functional material supply device through the flow path to soften the raw water supplied with the functional material.

The water softener may further include a pretreatment filter located between the raw water inlet and the functional material feeder to filter the introduced raw water and introduce the filtered raw water into the functional material.

According to the functional material supply device and the water softener including the functional material supply device according to the present invention, the functional material can be continuously supplied by discharging the functional material in the form of a sustained-release capsule inside the functional material supply device.

In addition, by forming the functional material into a plurality of layers or annular shapes, it is possible to mix and use various types of functional materials, and sequentially supply the functional materials.

Furthermore, the dissolution rate can be easily determined, the replacement time of the capsule can be easily found, and the device can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a water softener and a flow of raw water according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a longitudinal sectional view and a raw water flow of the functional material supply device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a side view (left side of (b)) and a longitudinal sectional view (right side of (b)) of the functional material 1 filled in the functional material feeder 200 .

The functional material feeder 200 of the present invention and the constituent elements constituting the water softener including the same may be integrally used or separately used as needed. In addition, some components may be omitted depending on the usage form.

A preferred embodiment of the functional material feeder 200 and the water softener according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thicknesses of the lines and the sizes of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. Further, terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user, the operator. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be described based on the contents throughout this specification.

1. Structure of the functional material feeder 200 and the water softener including the same

First, the structure of the functional material supplier 200 and the water softener according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a water softener and the flow of raw water according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view and a raw water flow of a functional material supply device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 (a) and 3 (b) show a side view (left side) and a longitudinal sectional view (b) of a functional material 1 filled in the functional material feeder 200, Right).

The water softener according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a raw water inlet 10, a pretreatment filter 100 connected to the raw water inlet 10, a functional material supplier 200 connected to the pre-processing filter 100, A soft water filter 300 connected to the soft water filter 200 and a soft water outlet 20 connected to the soft water filter 300. The components are connected to each other through a flow path F. [

The flow path F is composed of the first flow path F1 to the fourth flow path F4. For the sake of convenience of explanation, the numbers of the flow paths referred to are made to coincide with those in the drawings.

The raw water inflow portion 10 is a portion for introducing the raw water into the water softener. Here, the term "raw water" refers to water to be softened by flowing into the water softener.

Therefore, the raw water inlet 10 is preferably connected to a water outlet (not shown) used in the home to introduce the raw water, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The pretreatment filter 100 is connected to the raw water inflow section 10 through the first flow path F1 and filters unnecessary substances such as fine suspended substances contained in the raw water introduced from the raw water inflow section 10 And the like.

The functional material feeder 200 is connected to the pretreatment filter 100 through a second flow path F2 and elutes and supplies the filled functional material 1. [

The structure and function of the functional material feeder 200 are a main part and concept of the present invention and will be described in more detail later.

The soft water filter 300 is connected to the functional material supplier 200 through the third flow path F3 and passes through the functional material supplier 200 to receive the raw water supplied with the functional material 1 to perform a softening process .

The softening process is preferably, but not limited to, using a cation exchange resin filter as a process for removing the hardness present in the raw water.

The soft water discharge unit 20 is connected to the soft water filter 300 via the fourth flow path F4 and discharges the soft water generated from the soft water filter 300 to be supplied to the user.

Hereinafter, the functional material supplier 200, which is one of the main components of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The functional material feeder 200 includes a head 210, an elongated portion 230 located under the head 210, and a housing 220 surrounding the elongated portion 230.

The head 210 has an opening 214 formed at a lower portion thereof and an inlet 211 and an outlet 212 located at both sides of the head 210 and a partition 213 disposed between the inlet 211 and the outlet 212.

The inlet 211 is disposed at one side of the head 210 and connected to the second flow path F2 to introduce raw water pretreated by the pretreatment filter 100.

The outlet 212 is disposed on the other side of the head 210 and connected to the third flow path F3 to discharge the raw water supplied from the functional material 1 to the water filter 300. [

An opening 214 through which the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 communicate with each other is located below the head 210.

The partition 213 is disposed between the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 to divide the opening 214 and guides the introduced raw water to flow downward and guides the raw water supplied with the functional material 1 upward do.

The eluting portion 230 is hollow and filled with the functional material 1 therein and has a connecting portion 231, an inflow pipe 233, and a case 235.

The connection part 231 is located on the upper part of the elution part 230 and connects the head 210 and the elution part 230. The bypass 232 and the connection part 231 are located inside the connection part 231, A support member 237, and a capillary tube 238 are provided.

The bypass 232 is formed in the outer peripheral wall of the connection portion 231 so that the inlet 211 and the outlet 212 are in fluid communication with each other and some of the introduced raw water can pass through the bypass 232.

The mesh member 236 is positioned inside the connection portion 231 in such a manner as to cover the inner end surface of the connection portion 231. [

The support member 237 is positioned close to the lower portion of the mesh member 236 and closes the inner end surface of the connection portion 231 similar to the mesh member 236 to support the capillary tube 238.

The capillary tube 238 is positioned to penetrate the support member 237 through which the eluting portion 230 and the connection portion 231 are in fluid communication.

That is, support member 237 serves to support capillary tube 238 around capillary tube 238.

The functional material 1 is filled in the eluting portion 230 and is preferably a sustained-release capsule.

Since the sustained-release capsule is a known technique in which the capsule is made to exhibit the effect of slowly releasing the drug in the solvent by applying a certain treatment to the capsule drug (here, it will be the functional material (1)), It is omitted.

However, since a method of mixing or coating a polymer polymer material is generally used, it is preferable that the capsule is processed or manufactured, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Since the functional material (1) is in the form of a sustained-release capsule, only a predetermined amount of the entire contents can be continuously eluted and used. Therefore, the functional material (1) can be used for a long period of time have.

3, a plurality of different functional materials 1A, 1B, and 1C may be arranged in a ring shape. In this case, the number of the rings It is also possible to control the amount and rate of elution of the functional agent 1 and the amount of the functional agent 1 to be mixed according to the thickness of the ring and determine the type and number of the functional agent 1 to be eluted.

Referring to (b) of Fig. 3 as another embodiment of the sustained-release capsule, one functional material 1A is arranged so as to surround the outside of the capsule as shown on the left side of Fig. 3 (b) The different functional materials 1A, 1B, and 1C are sequentially layered from the inner center of the capsule, unlike the one in which the functional materials 1A, 1B, and 1C are arranged in the ring shape in the longitudinal direction of the capsule in the above embodiment .

Therefore, the outermost functional agent 1A is sequentially eluted from the central functional agent 1C, and the elution rate can be adjusted by controlling the thickness of the functional agent layer 1. [

For example, if the thickness of the layer is adjusted so that one layer of the functional material (1) is eluted, it takes about one month when four layers are arranged. Thus, the dissolution rate of each layer and the number of layers It is possible to know the speed at which the capsules are all eluted, so that it is possible to accurately determine the replacement timing of the capsules.

Further, since the various functional materials 1 can be supplied through one sustained-release capsule, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the device.

Each of the functional materials 1A, 1B, and 1C may be any one or more of geranium, ginseng, and mugwort extract, but is not limited thereto.

The inlet pipe 233 extends from the upper side of the outlet 230 to the inside of the outlet 230 and the raw water introduced from the inlet 211 flows into the outlet 230 through the inlet 233.

In addition, a check valve 234 is provided at the lower end of the inflow pipe 233 to prevent the flow of raw water flowing backward.

The case 235 is formed to extend inward from one side of the upper portion of the leaking portion 230 and surround the inlet pipe 233 at a predetermined distance, and one or more openings may be formed in the outer peripheral wall.

The housing 220 is detachably arranged to extend downward from the head 210 and surround the outside of the elongated portion 230.

2. Operation of the functional material feeder 200 and the water softener including it

Hereinafter, the operation of the functional material feeder 200 and the water softener including the functional material feeder 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 attached hereto.

First, the raw water flowing into the raw water inflow section 10 flows into the pre-treatment filter 100 through the first flow path F1, and pre-treatment is performed by filtering the minute suspended substances in the raw water.

The pretreated raw water flows into the inlet 211 of the functional material feeder 200 through the second flow path F2.

The raw water flowing into the inlet 211 is guided by the partition 213 disposed at the center of the head 210 and moves downward. At this time, some of the raw water passes through the bypass 232 located on the outer wall of the connecting portion 231, And the other part flows into the inflow pipe 233 located above the elution unit 230.

The raw water introduced through the inlet pipe 233 is once filled into the case 235 and flows into the space under the elution unit 230 through the opening when the opening formed in the case 235 is filled up to the height at which the opening is formed.

At this time, the case 235 functions as a rectifier for preventing the raw water flowing into the inflow pipe 233 from suddenly flowing into the space of the elution unit 230.

Also, the check valve 234 located at the lower end of the inflow pipe 233 prevents the reverse flow of the raw water.

The functional material 1 filled in the eluting portion 230 is eluted into the raw water flowing into the eluting portion 230 through the opening and the functional material 1 is introduced into the raw water in the eluting portion 230 after a certain period of time, The saturation state is reached.

The raw water in the leaking portion 230 is saturated and the raw water is introduced in the opening so that the raw water level in the leaking portion 230 rises and thus the raw water saturated with the functional material 1 rises toward the capillary tube 238 side .

When the elevated water level reaches the capillary tube 238, the functional water 1 is sucked up by the functional material 1 through the capillary tube 238 and spreads uniformly through the upper mesh member 236.

The raw water diffused in a state in which the functional material 1 is saturated may be part of the raw water that has passed through the bypass 232 at the point where the bypass 232 meets the inside of the connecting portion 231, And continuously flows up to the outlet 212.

Through this process, the concentration of the functional agent (1) in the raw water can be kept constant.

The raw water including the functional material 1 flows into the soft water filter 300 through the third flow path F3 and is softened to produce soft water. The soft water that has undergone the softening process is passed through the fourth flow path F4, Flows into the soft water discharge portion 20 and flows out to the outside of the water softener to be supplied to the user.

 As described above, the functional material supplier and the water softener including the same according to the present invention may be configured such that the functional material supplier in the form of a sustained capsule is filled in the functional material supplier for supplying the functional material and the number of the layer structure or the ring structure Or a thickness of the functional material, and supplying the functional material to the raw water, thereby softening the functional material, and a water softener including the same.

Accordingly, in the functional material feeder installed in the conventional water softener, the amount of the functional material eluted according to the flow rate and the flow rate passing through the filter becomes unstable, thereby eliminating the problem that the filter life is short and the filter replacement time is not constantly determined So that the functional agent can be supplied continuously, sequentially, and mixedly.

Further, the replacement timing of the functional material can be easily found, and the effect of miniaturization and cost reduction of the device can also be obtained.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It will be understood that the invention may be varied and varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

1: Functional material
10:
20:
100: Pretreatment filter
200: Functional material feeder
210: Head
211: inlet
212: outlet
213:
214: opening
220: Housing
230:
231: Connection
232: Bypass
233: inlet pipe
234: Check valve
235: Case
236:
237: Support member
238: capillary tube
300: Training filter
F: Euro
F1 to F4: First to fourth flow paths

Claims (9)

An opening formed at a lower portion, an inlet disposed at both sides, an outlet, and a partition disposed between the inlet and the outlet to divide the opening;
A hollow eluting portion connected to a lower end of the center of the head and filled with a functional agent therein; And
And a housing extending downward from the head to surround the elution unit,
Wherein the eluting portion includes a connecting portion that is located at the upper center and connects the head and the eluting portion,
Wherein the connection portion is formed at one side of the outer circumferential surface so that the inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication with each other,
Characterized in that the functional material is a sustained-release capsule and is saturated with raw water in the eluting portion and flows out.
Functional material feeder.
The method according to claim 1,
The elution unit
An inflow pipe connected to the head at one side of the upper portion of the elution unit to receive inflow water from the inflow port;
A check valve positioned at a lower end of the inflow pipe to prevent the inflow water from flowing backward; And
Further comprising: a case having a plurality of openings and surrounding the outside of the inflow pipe;
Functional material feeder.
3. The method of claim 2,
The connecting portion
A mesh member positioned inside the connection portion to uniformly diffuse the inflow water;
A capillary tube positioned below the mesh member to move the inflow water to an upper portion of the connection portion; And
And a support member positioned below the mesh member and supporting the capillary tube.
Functional material feeder.
The method according to claim 1,
The sustained-
Characterized in that it has a plurality of layers or annular structures, said plurality of layers and said rings being made of different functional materials.
Functional material feeder.
5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the functional agent is at least one selected from the group consisting of wild ginseng, ginseng, and mugwort extract.
Functional material feeder.
5. The method of claim 4,
The sustained-
Characterized in that it has different elution rates depending on the thicknesses of said layers or said rings.
Functional material feeder.
5. The method of claim 4,
Characterized in that the number of layers or rings is four, and the number of layers and the duration of the release per ring is one week.
Functional material feeder.
A raw water inflow portion into which raw water flows;
A functional material supplier connected to the raw water inlet through a flow path to supply the filled functional material to the raw water;
A soft water filter connected to the functional material supplier through a flow path to soften the raw water supplied with the functional material; And
And a softening water outlet connected to the soft water filter through a channel and discharging the softened water to the outside,
Characterized in that the functional material feeder is a functional material feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Water softener.
9. The method of claim 8,
The water softener
Further comprising a pretreatment filter located between the raw water inlet and the functional material feeder to filter the incoming raw water and introduce the filtered raw water into the functional material feeder.
Water softener.

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