RU2495496C2 - Water vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: water vending machine has a housing, a controller, a button for selecting the type of water, a device for receiving payments, a display device, water channels for supplying source water connected to a water pipeline or a self-contained tank and connected to a prefiltration unit, having a primary filter, a carbon sorption filter, a fine filter, further connected to a reverse-osmosis unit, a magnetic converter unit, an accumulator tank and a dispenser, which includes a flow metre for the dispensed water and an electromagnetic valve; a booster pump is connected before of the reverse-osmosis unit to generate the necessary liquid pressure in the reverse-osmosis unit; after the reverse-osmosis unit there is an electrolysis cell with silver electrodes, sensors for monitoring electroconductivity of the source water and permeate, a pressure sensor at the input of the reverse-osmosis unit, a permeate level sensor in the accumulator tank, and source water and concentrate flow metres.

EFFECT: efficient water treatment.

15 cl, 1 dwg

Description

A water retail machine belongs to the field of multi-stage water purification with an automated control system, designed to provide the population with clean drinking water, water with mineral and / or vitamin additives, water with modified RedOx - potential, both for cash and non-cash payment in shopping and business centers, various production facilities, hospitals, pharmacies and in residential multi-storey buildings.

Known automatic machine for the retail portion sale of water according to patent RU No. 60759, IPC G07F 11/00, Bull. No. 3 dated January 27, 2007, consisting of: a connection to a pipe of a water supply source; a sensor for the presence of water inside the pipe of the water supply source; a filter, where the filter has replaceable cartridges for purifying water to a predetermined level, an inlet of which is connected to a pipe of a water supply source, and an outlet with a container for storing water; a pump, a water meter, a microcontroller that acts as a control device and a calculating device; an electronic unit providing reception and reading of electronic and / or magnetic cards, or reading of electronic identifiers, allowing to determine the positive balance of an asset, followed by a change in their asset; indicator panels, electromagnetic shut-off valve.

The disadvantages of this machine include the lack of a reverse osmosis filtration system providing more effective water purification, as well as the lack of a microbiological pollution prevention system in a water tank and a monitoring system and maintaining a constant quality of drinking water treatment.

A known machine for the retail portion sale of water according to the patent RU No. 69289, IPC G07F 13/00, Bull. No. 34 dated 12/10/2007, comprising a housing, a control device, a payment acceptance device, water communications for supplying the source water, a source water purification unit, a dispenser, a source water purification unit including a coarse filter, a carbon filter with a sorbent, an electromagnetic processing device water and a nanofiltration device, as well as equipped with a water disinfection device, an ion-exchange filter, a water softener, a device for normalizing the iron content in water, a device for stabilizing the pressure of the source water. This device is taken as a prototype.

The disadvantages of this machine include the lack of an automated control system that sets the optimal operating mode of the reverse osmosis unit, which ensures monitoring and maintaining a constant quality of post-treatment of drinking water, insufficiently effective use of reverse osmosis membranes, due to the lack of a system to reduce their salinity, and the lack of a system for preventing microbiological contamination in containers with water.

The technical problem solved by the invention is to provide effective water purification, expand the functionality of the machine for the retail sale of water, in order to obtain one or more types of water, with prolonged bactericidal properties, including water with mineral and / or vitamin additives and water with modified RedOx - potential, to provide more efficient operation of reverse osmosis membranes with an increase in their life until replacement or regeneration, while ensuring continuous automated th quality control of water purification and control of the machine.

The essence of the solution to the technical problem is that an automatic machine for retailing water containing an input of source water, an inlet flowmeter, an initial water conductivity sensor, a pre-filtration unit, a boost pump, a reverse osmosis unit, a permeate conductivity sensor, a storage tank with a liquid level sensor, a pump water supply from the storage tank, an ultraviolet sterilizer, a dispenser consisting of a dispensed water flow meter and an electromagnetic valve, a payment acceptance device d, an indication device, buttons for selecting the type of water being poured, and a control controller provide the filling of the required amount of permeate with a given cleaning quality when it is parsed unevenly. At the same time, the efficiency of using reverse osmosis membranes and increasing their service life until replacement or regeneration, and therefore, increased efficiency of the machine, is ensured by the use of:

- a magnetic transducer block installed directly in front of the reverse osmosis block, which reduces the precipitation of calcium carbonate and sulfate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium silicates on the membranes and stimulates their withdrawal into the drainage of the concentrate;

- an electromagnetic valve for pulse flushing of the reverse osmosis unit connected to the installation control controller, which allows for technological flushing of the membranes through the effect of water hammer.

Since for different types of reverse osmosis membranes, when the temperature of the filtered water varies in the range of 10-25 ° С, their productivity can change by 20-50%, the use of a pressure sensor supplemented by a temperature sensor for the water passing through the reverse osmosis unit provides objective control of its operation modes. Flow sensors of the conductivity of the source water and permeate allow you to constantly analyze the quality of the source and purified water and monitor the operation of the machine, including controlling the system of pulse washing of reverse osmosis membranes. Electronic flowmeters of the source water, the dispensed water and the concentrate with a duty cycle of preferably 1 pulse / 10 ml ensure accurate continuous metering of the water flow at all nodes of the water retail machine. This set of control and measuring instruments is minimally necessary and at the same time sufficient to ensure the setting of the machine, continuous automated control of the quality of water treatment and the control of a machine for retail sale of water with the ability to set and maintain treatment parameters and water flow, taking into account the quality of the source water, which installation control controller. Connecting the controller via GPRS or ETHERNET to communicate with a higher level system allows remote monitoring and control of the machine for the retail sale of water, as well as connecting the machine to processing systems that carry out settlements with users of the machine using payment and / or identification cards.

Equipment that allows you to expand the functionality of the machine for the retail sale of water, includes:

- an electrolyzer with silver electrodes connected to the installation control controller, which automatically maintains the required concentration of silver ions in the permeate, giving it prolonged bactericidal properties, which also prevents microbiological infection in the storage tank;

- a dispenser, supplemented by one or more devices for additional mineralization and / or fortification of the supplied water, as well as an electrolyzer connected to the control controller and producing catholyte (living water) and anolyte (dead water), allowing the machine to dispense a set of different types of purified and enriched water ;

- the neck of the water filling to prevent its contamination supplemented by a covering flap with an electromagnetic drive connected to the control controller;

- a place for placing containers for pouring water, equipped with an ultraviolet lamp that provides additional sterilization of containers for pouring water and a tray with a drain connected to the outlet of water to the drain;

- a drainage pump connected to the control controller, installed before the discharge of the drained water into the drain, and providing the drainage of the drained water from the machine at a remote location of the machine from the sewer network;

- a device for receiving payments, additionally equipped with a device for issuing change and additionally equipped with or replaced with a device for working with payment and / or identification cards that provide payment for dispensed water in non-cash form.

A comparative analysis of the proposed solution with the prototype shows that it contains new nodes with its connections, which can significantly expand the functionality of the machine for the retail sale of water, as well as improve the quality of water treatment and its cost-effectiveness. Thus, the claimed technical solution meets the criteria of the invention of "novelty."

When conducting an additional search for known solutions, no signs were identified that together coincided with the distinctive features of the inventive automatic machine for retail sale of water that are distinct from the prototype. Therefore, the claimed invention meets the condition of "inventive step".

The structural and functional diagram of the machine for the retail sale of water is shown in the drawing, figure 1, where are indicated:

1 - control controller;

2 - indication device;

3 - payment acceptance device;

4 - buttons for selecting the type of water being poured;

5 - connection via GPRS or ETHERNET for communication with a higher level system;

6 - input of source water;

7 - input flow meter;

8 - the electromagnetic valve;

9 - sensor conductivity of the source water;

10 - pre-filtering unit;

11 - electric control valve;

12 - booster pump;

13 - concentrate flow meter;

14 - block magnetic transducer;

15 - pressure sensor;

16 - electromagnetic valve pulse flushing reverse osmosis unit;

17 - reverse osmosis unit;

18 - permeate conductivity sensor;

19 - electrolyzer with silver electrodes;

20 - storage tank;

21 is a process valve for discharging liquid from a storage tank;

22 - liquid level sensor in the storage tank;

23 - electrolyzer generating catholyte and anolyte;

24 - discharge of drained water into the drain;

25 - drainage pump;

26 - drain pan;

27 - place for placement of containers for filling water

28 - container for filling water;

29 - a closing flap with an electromagnetic actuator;

30 - neck filling water;

31 - ultraviolet lamp for additional sterilization of containers for filling water

32 - pump for supplying water from the storage tank;

33 - electromagnetic valve dispenser for purified water;

34.l - 34.n - dispensers for additional mineralization and / or fortification of the delivered water;

35 - ultraviolet sterilizer;

36 - flow meter discharged water.

Machine for the retail sale of water, shown in the structural-functional diagram (figure 1), works as follows. Water from the water supply system through the input of the source water 6 enters the inlet flow meter 7 then through the electromagnetic valve 8, which performs the function of turning off the source water during maintenance and in emergency situations, enters the pre-filtering unit 9, which includes a set of filters specially selected in depending on the chemical composition of the source water, in particular: coarse filter, carbon sorption filter, fine filter. Between the electromagnetic valve 8 and the pre-filtering unit 9, a source water conductivity sensor 10 is connected, which makes it possible to analyze the quality of the source water. After pre-filtration, water enters the booster pump 12, which creates the necessary fluid pressure in the reverse osmosis unit 17, measured by pressure sensor 15. Between the booster pump 12 and the reverse osmosis unit 17, a magnetic transducer block 14 is connected in series, reducing clogging of the membranes of the reverse osmosis unit 17. Next, purified water (permeate), analyzed by the conductivity sensor of permeate 18, enters the electrolyzer with silver electrodes 19, providing the necessary the concentration of silver ions in the permeate, which is collected in the storage tank 20. The filling of the storage tank 20 is controlled by a liquid level sensor 22. The filtering mode of water by the reverse osmosis unit 17 is set by a control valve with an electric actuator 11, which restricts the concentrate flow through the outlet of the drained water to the drain 24, setting thereby the required percentage of permeate to concentrate. The volume of the output concentrate from the installation is controlled by a flow meter of the concentrate 13, connected in series between the output of the concentrate of the reverse osmosis unit 17 and the control valve with an electric actuator 11. The electromagnetic valve for pulse washing of the reverse osmosis unit 16 provides periodic technological washing of the reverse osmosis unit 17.

To obtain water in the machine for the retail sale of water, containers for pouring water 28 are installed in a place for placing containers for pouring water 27. Through the payment receiving device 3, the required amount of one of the types of sold water is paid, while the indicating device 2 displays the amount of the payment accepted . Next, for pouring water, one of the buttons for selecting the type of water to be poured 4 is pressed and held down, while the indicating device 2 displays the name of the selected water, the amount of paid and poured water. When the button is released, the water filling is stopped, which allows filling more than one container for water filling in one loading session 27. In one loading session, only one type of water is allowed to be filled, to ensure this after the first press of one of the buttons to select the type of water to be filled 4, control from other buttons are blocked until the filling session, i.e. full filling of paid water. When the payment acceptance device 3 is equipped with a change delivery device, the water filling session can be completed by pressing the change delivery button. When using a payment or identification card for calculating the dispensed water in non-cash form, the water filling session begins by inserting the card into the corresponding window of payment acceptance device 3, while indicating device 2 displays the amount of the current card balance. Water is poured in the same way as in cash settlements, and the completion of the water filling session is the removal of the card from the payment acceptance device 3 or until the positive balance of the card is exhausted. The counting of the poured water for all types of payment is preferably carried out with an accuracy of 50 ml, with rounding down, which is guaranteed to avoid "controversial" situations with "underfilling" of water.

Pressing one of the buttons to select the type of water to be poured 4 outside the water filling session displays the name of the selected water on the display device 2. When the button for selecting the type of water to be poured 4 is pressed during the water filling session, it turns on the water supply pump from the storage tank 30 and the permeate begins to be taken from the storage tank 20, through a series-connected water supply pump from the storage tank 30, an ultraviolet sterilizer 35, and a dispensed water flow meter 36. The pump for supplying water from the storage tank 32, equipped with protection against “dry running” and a non-return valve, provides the necessary pressure for filling the purified water into the container for filling water 28 and the bottom water into the dispensers for additional mineralization and / or fortification of the discharged water 34.l-34.n and the electrolyzer generating catholyte and anolyte 23. The ultraviolet sterilizer 35 sterilizes the permeate located in the storage tank 20, while it complements and enhances the bactericidal properties of colloidal silver introduced into the permeate in an electrolyzer with silver electrodes 19. The flow meter 36 discharges the volume of the poured water into the container for pouring water 28 through the solenoid valve of the purified water dispenser 36 or through the dispenser for additional mineralization and / or fortification of the discharged water 34.l-34.n or an electrolyzer that produces catholyte and anolyte 23, which are also equipped with solenoid valves, in accordance with the type of water selected by the pressed button 4. Water is poured into the container for pouring water 28 through the neck of the water filling 30, which, in order to prevent pollution, including intentional, is closed by a shutter with an electromagnetic actuator 29 at a time when there is no water filling. For additional sterilization of the container for pouring water 28, an ultraviolet lamp 31 is installed that illuminates only the neck of the pouring water 30, a place for placing containers for pouring water 27 and a container for pouring water 28. To prevent spillage during overfilling of the container for pouring water 28, a place for placement containers for pouring water 27 is equipped with a drain pan 26 connected by a drainage pump 25, which is installed before the discharge of water to drain 24, providing drainage of water from the machine at a remote location of the machine from the sewer constant network. Also, a process valve for discharging liquid from the storage tank 21 is connected to the drain pump 25.

The control controller of the installation 1 carries out continuous processing of data coming from sensors 9, 15, 18, 22, flow meters 7, 13, 36, and also receives control signals from devices 3, 4 and controls the actuators 2, 8, 11, 12, 16, 19, 23, 25, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34.l-34.n, 35, and its connection via GPRS or ETHERNET for communication with a higher level 5 system allows constant monitoring of the quality of the water being dispensed, the operating modes of the machine , carry out maintenance and operational control of the machine, as well as connect the machine to otsessingovym systems performing calculations with machine users using the payment and / or identification cards.

Claims (15)

1. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water, including a housing, a control controller, buttons for selecting the type of water to be poured, a payment acceptance device, an indication device, water communications for supplying source water connected to a water main or to an autonomous tank and connected to a pre-filtering unit containing a filter coarse cleaning, carbon sorption filter, fine filter, then connected to the reverse osmosis unit, magnetic transducer unit, storage tank, and a dispenser, including It includes a discharged water flow meter and an electromagnetic valve, characterized in that a booster pump is turned on in front of the reverse osmosis block, which creates the necessary liquid pressure in the reverse osmosis block, and after the reverse osmosis block, an electrolyzer with silver electrodes is installed, which provides the necessary concentration of silver ions in the permeate, which is accumulated in storage tank, sensors for monitoring the conductivity of the source water and permeate, pressure sensor at the inlet of the reverse osmosis b eye, the level sensor in the storage tank the permeate flow meters and initial water and concentrate. 2. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the pre-filtering unit includes a set of filters specially selected depending on the chemical composition of the source water, and may include a device for normalizing the iron content in water and / or a water softener . 3. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that at the output of the concentrate of the reverse osmosis unit, an electromagnetic valve for pulse washing of the reverse osmosis unit is installed, which is activated by the control controller and provides periodic technological washing of the reverse osmosis unit by means of hydraulic shock. 4. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure sensor at the inlet of the reverse osmosis unit is supplemented by a temperature sensor that allows the control controller to take into account the water temperature that affects the performance of the reverse osmosis unit. 5. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the permeate is supplied to the dispenser by a pump for supplying water from the storage tank, which is included in the control controller. 6. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that in front of the dispenser there is installed an ultraviolet sterilizer switched on by the control controller, which sterilizes the permeate located in the storage tank, while it complements and enhances the bactericidal properties of colloidal silver introduced into the permeate, in electrolyzer with silver electrodes, 7. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispenser is supplemented with one or more devices for additional mineralization and / or fortification of the dispensed water. 8. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispenser is supplemented with an electrolyzer connected to the control controller and generating catholyte (living water) and anolyte (dead water). 9. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck of the water filling to prevent its contamination is supplemented by a closing flap with an electromagnetic actuator connected to the control controller. 10. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the place for placement of containers for pouring water is equipped with an ultraviolet lamp, which provides additional sterilization of containers for pouring water. 11. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the place for placement of containers for pouring water is equipped with a tray with a drain connected to the outlet of water into the drainage. 12. The automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that before the discharge of the drained water into the drainage, a drain pump is installed that is connected to the control controller and provides drainage of the drained water from the machine at a remote location of the machine from the sewer network. 13. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for receiving payments is additionally equipped with a device for issuing change. 14. Automatic machine for the retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for receiving payments is additionally equipped with or replaced with a device for working with payment and / or identification cards, providing payment for dispensed water in non-cash form. 15. The machine for retail sale of water according to claim 1, characterized in that the machine control controller has a connection via GPRS or ETHERNET for communication with a higher level system, which allows constant monitoring of the quality of the produced water, the machine’s operating modes, maintenance and operational control of the machine, as well as connecting the machine to processing systems that perform settlements with users of the machine using payment and / or identification cards.