WO2006038445A1

WO2006038445A1 - Dispenser for drinking water

Info

Publication number: WO2006038445A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/017016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takanobu Yamamoto
Original assignee: Suntory Limited
Priority date: 2004-10-07
Filing date: 2005-09-15
Publication date: 2006-04-13
Also published as: JP4511552B2; TW200626856A; CN101035734A; KR100975240B1; JPWO2006038445A1; CN101035734B; KR20070070171A

Abstract

The downstream ends of a branch pipe (25) branching from the downstream side of a water pouring port (23) in a bag-in-box (22) are connected to a cold water tank (26) and a hot water tank (27), respectively, which are disposed side by side. A communication pipe (28) establishing communication between the bottoms of the two tanks is provided with a solenoid on-off valve (29) for opening/closing the communication pipe. Thus, hot water heated in the hot water tank is allowed to flow from the blanch pipe into the cold water tank via a water pouring pipe by natural convection and then to circulate within the hot water tank through the communication pipe. Therefore, the use of conventional circulation pumps and the like is eliminated, so that it will become possible to attain reduction of costs of the equipments, simplification of piping arrangement, etc.

Description

Specification

Dispensa of drinking water

Technical field

The present invention relates to drinking water dispensers, and more particularly to a drinking water dispenser capable of circulating hot water in a hot water tank throughout a piping system including a cold water tank for sterilization. Background art

Conventionally, various dispensers of this type of drinking water have been provided, and as one of them, one described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

[0003] Briefly described, the dispenser is a container (back-in-box) containing potable water contained in a refrigerator and serving potable potable water via a supply pipe for drinking. In the supply pipe, a hot water tank equipped with a heater for storing drinking water and a cold water tank equipped with a cooler are disposed.

Further, the hot water tank and the cold water tank are communicated with each other by a communication pipe, and a circulation pump and a circulation electromagnetic valve are provided in the communication pipe.

[0005] Then, for example, using the dispenser at night or on holidays, the circulation solenoid valve is opened during a time zone to allow the hot water tank and the cold water tank to communicate with each other through the communication pipe, and the circulation pump Is activated to forcibly circulate the warm water in the warm water tank, which has become relatively high temperature by the heater, throughout the piping system including the cold water tank to sterilize the piping system.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11 190577

Disclosure of the invention

Problem that invention tries to solve

However, in the dispenser described in the above-mentioned publication, since the hot water pouring cock and the cold water pouring cock are positioned lower than the three-way connector, the beverage water in the hot water tank and the cold water tank is used If this happens, the water level of the drinking water in the supply piping will drop. For this reason, it is necessary to use the circulation pump to sterilize the piping system. The cost of the equipment and the control equipment itself has to be increased, and the man-hours for maintenance of the equipment will increase. In addition, the increase in the number of equipment complicates the overall piping structure, resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of manufacturing operations and an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides a drinking water dispenser that can abolish piping systems having a possibility of breeding bacteria while simplifying the piping structure while abolishing devices such as a circulation pump. For the purpose of

Means to solve the problem

[0008] The invention according to claim 1 is a dispenser for potable water for supplying potable water from a container filled with the potable water through the piping system. In the piping system, a cold water tank and a hot water tank for storing potable water respectively are provided, the cold water tank has a cooler, and the hot water tank has a heater and is branched from the downstream side of the water inlet Each downstream side of the branch passage is connected to the cold water tank and the hot water tank, and both the tanks are connected by a communication passage having an opening / closing means for opening / closing the passage, and the drinking water outlet cock is It is characterized in that it is located lower and higher than the branch passage.

According to the present invention, even if the drinking water in the cold water tank and the hot water tank is used and the level of the drinking water in the piping system is lowered, the arrangement position of the drinking water spout is the branch passage. Because it is at a higher position, the drinking water will be fully filled not only in the cold water tank and the hot water tank, but also in the branch passage.

For this reason, even if the drinking water level in the piping system falls below a predetermined level, as described above, the hot water of the hot water tank is subjected to the branch passage force to the cold water tank and the communication passage for sterilization. Can be constantly circulated into the hot water tank.

[0011] As a result, even if the drinking water level in the piping system falls below a predetermined level, it is possible to always effectively disinfect the piping system.

[0012] Also, if the level of drinking water in the piping system falls and drinking water can not be poured out from the drinking water dispensing faucet, the user can empty the drinking water in the container filled with drinking water. It can be recognized early that it has become. [0013] Furthermore, since devices such as a conventional circulating pump are not required at all, man-hours for cost and maintenance can be reduced, and the piping structure can be sufficiently simplified. Work becomes easy, and cost reduction can be achieved at this point as well.

[0014] The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the bottom side of the cold water tank and the hot water tank are communicated by the communication path.

According to the present invention, the piping structure of the device can be made simple and compact, and it is possible to distribute the hot water heated in the hot water tank to the entire piping system including the cold water tank. become.

[0016] In the invention according to claims 3 and 4, the drinking water pouring cock comprises a cold water pouring cock for pouring out the cold water tank and a hot water for pouring out the hot water tank power. Note It is characterized by being an exit cock! /.

According to these inventions, it is possible to make the piping structure of the device simple and compact in the dispenser that provides hot and cold drinking water for drinking, and the hot water heated in the hot water tank can be used. Can be distributed throughout the piping system including the cold water tank.

[0018] The invention according to claims 5 and 6 is characterized in that the drinking water pouring cock is a cold water pouring cock for pouring the cold water tanka cold water.

[0019] According to these inventions, in the dispenser for providing cold drinking water, the piping structure of the device can be made simple and compact, and the hot water heated in the hot water tank can include the cold water tank. It becomes possible to distribute the whole piping system.

[0020] The invention according to claims 7 and 8 is characterized in that the drinking water dispensing faucet is a hot water dispensing faucet for dispensing the hot water tanka.

According to these inventions, in the dispenser for providing hot drinking water for drinking, the piping structure of the device can be made simple and compact, and the hot water heated in the hot water tank can include the cold water tank. It becomes possible to distribute the whole piping system.

[0022] The invention according to claims 9 to 13 is characterized in that the volume of the hot water tank is set larger than the volume of the cold water tank.

[0023] According to these inventions, the volume of the hot water tank is larger than the volume of the cold water tank, Therefore, the large amount of high temperature hot water produced in the hot water tank can be sufficiently and promptly distributed to the entire piping system including the cold water tank. As a result, the bactericidal effect is improved.

The inventions according to claims 14 to 19 are characterized in that the hot water tank is formed longer in the upper and lower direction than the cold water tank.

According to these inventions, since the upper end of the hot water tank is set at a position higher than the upper end of the cold water tank, the heating efficiency of the hot water in the hot water tank by the heater can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a drinking water dispenser according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the dispenser for drinking water according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

That is, first, the dispenser in the first embodiment is, as shown in FIG. 1, a knock-in box 22 which is a container filled with drinking water and housed in a box-shaped refrigerator 21. The water injection pipe 24 integrally connected to the lower end portion of the back-in box 22 and having the water injection port 23 formed therein, and the downstream end of the water injection pipe 24 are branched into right and left passages. A substantially horizontal branch pipe 25 which is a branch passage, a cold water tank 26 and a hot water tank 27 to which downstream end portions of the branch pipe 25 are connected, and an inner part on the bottom 26a, 27a side of both the tanks 26 and 27. And a solenoid on-off valve 29 provided on the communicating pipe 28 for opening and closing the communicating pipe 28. In this embodiment, the drinking water in the back-in box 22 is not necessarily limited to mineral water.

The cold water tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 are arranged in parallel, and are arranged such that the heights of the bottom portions 26 a and 27 a are almost the same. The capacity is larger than that of the tank 26. In addition, on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cold water tank 26, While a cooler 30 for cooling the drinking water inside is provided, a heater heater 31 for heating the drinking water inside is provided around the lower end portion of the hot water tank 27 respectively.

In addition, the upper end of each of the cold water tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 is connected with cold water and hot water discharge pipes 32, 33, and the cold water discharge from the respective discharge pipes 32, 33. A cook 34 and a hot water pour cup 35 are provided respectively. A heater 36 is attached to the cold water discharge pipe 32. At the upper end of the hot water tank 27, an absorption pipe 37 for absorbing the heating expansion of the drinking water inside is attached substantially along the vertical direction.

Further, the electromagnetic on-off valve 29 is a one-way valve, which is opened and closed by a control current output to a controller force electromagnetic coil (not shown), and in normal use of the dispenser, the controller current is controlled. Is shut off, and the valve body closes the communication tube 28 by the spring force of the internal valve spring, and when the predetermined time period such as midnight comes, the control current output from the controller causes the communication tube 28 to open. It is getting worse.

And, the cold water outlet cock 34 and the hot water outlet cock 35 are located at the height position H force lower than the water inlet 23 of the back-in box 22 via the respective outlet pipes 32, 33 and the branch It is located higher than the pipe 25. Preferably, the upper end inside the both spouts 34, 35 is located lower than the water inlet 23, and the lower end inside the both spouts 34, 35 is positioned higher than the upper end inside the branch pipe 25 It is.

More preferably, the upper ends inside the two extraction cocks 34 and 35 are lower than the lower ends inside the refrigerator 21 and the lower ends inside the two extraction cocks 34 and 35 than the upper upper end inside the branch pipe 25. It is placed in the high!

The two extraction cocks 34 and 35 may be disposed at different height positions.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

[0036] First, during normal use of the dispenser, the drinking water in the back inlet 22 mounted on the top of the device is cooled to about 4 ° C. to 10 ° C. in the refrigerator 21 and the germs of germs propagate. As shown by the arrows, they are supplied directly and simultaneously into the cold water tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 while being divided to the left and right in the branch pipe 25 from the water injection port 23 through the branch point P as shown by the arrows.

Thereafter, in each of the tanks 26 and 27, the temperature is raised to about 4 ° C. to 10 ° C. by the cooler 30 and the heater heater 31. It may be cooled or heated to about 80 ° C. to 90 ° C. to be provided for drinking from each of the cold water pouring cocks 34 and the hot water pouring cock 35.

On the other hand, during the time when the dispenser is not used, such as at midnight, the solenoid on-off valve 29 opens the communicating pipe 28, and the operation of the cooler 30 is stopped, and the heater heater 31 is continuously operated. The potable water in the hot water tank 27 is heated at a sterilizing temperature, for example, about 49 ° C. or more for a predetermined time.

The heated hot water flows upward from the inside of the hot water tank 27 by natural convection as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG. 1, and a part thereof flows into the hot water pouring pipe 33 to draw hot water. While sterilizing each part of the faucet 35, most of it flows into the branch pipe 25 and further flows into the cold water tank 26. Here, the cooling water in the cold water tank 26 is mixed by convection to raise the drinking water to a predetermined temperature.

Further, a part of the hot water in the branch pipe 25 flows into the water injection pipe 24 to sterilize each part of the water injection pipe 24.

Thereafter, the hot water whose temperature is slightly lowered in the cold water tank 26 flows from the bottom 26 a of the cold water tank 26 into the communicating pipe 28 and returns to the hot water tank 27, where it is heated again and the cold water tank 26 kills all parts of the piping system, including 26, which have the potential to propagate.

Further, a part of the hot water in the cold water tank 26 flows into the cold water pouring pipe 32 to sterilize each part of the cold water pouring cock 34. However, in some cases, it is possible to activate the heating heater 36 to actively heat and sterilize the inside of the cold water pouring pipe 32 and each part of the cold water pouring cock 34.

In the present embodiment, since the potable water in the hot water tank 27 is maintained at about 80 ° C. to 90 ° C., the hot water tank 27, the hot water extraction pipe 33 and the hot water extraction cock 35 are always If the potable water in the hot water tank 27 is maintained at a temperature at which sterilization is not possible, for example, a temperature below about 49.degree. C., the hot water tank may be removed along with the natural convection. The hot water extraction pipe 33 and the hot water extraction cock 35 are also heat-sterilized.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the drinking water poured out from the knock-in box 22 can be simultaneously supplied to both the cold water tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 by the branch pipe 25. Since it is possible, the cold water tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 can be set at substantially the same height.

Therefore, both the hot water pouring cock 35 and the cold water pouring cock 34 can be disposed at high positions above the two tanks 26, 27, that is, at positions above the apparatus. As a result, the user's use and self-friendliness become extremely good.

Further, since the length of the apparatus in the vertical direction can be shortened and the apparatus can be made compact, the mounting height of the back-in box 22 is lowered, and the hot and cold water outlet cock 34, By raising the height of 35, the convenience of the user is improved.

Further, in this embodiment, since not only the circulating pump but also the conventional circulating pump and the control device for controlling the same are not required at all, the piping structure can be simplified.

That is, in order to sterilize the piping system, as described above, the hot water in the hot water tank 27 is transferred from the branch pipe 25 to the water injection pipe 24 and the cold water tank 26 and further through the communication pipe 28. Since the hot water is circulated to the entire piping system by natural convection, it is possible to effectively sterilize the piping system which may cause propagation of various germs of the disperser, and the piping structure can be sufficiently simplified. . Therefore, cost reduction can be achieved.

Moreover, even if the drinking water in the cold water tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 is used, and the level of the drinking water in the piping system is lowered, the arrangement positions of the hot water pouring cock 35 and the cold water pouring cock 34 Since H is at a higher position than the branch pipe 25, drinking water is always filled in both the water tank 26 and the hot water tank 27, as shown by the black spots in FIG. The situation is also satisfied.

For this reason, although it is not possible to pour cold water or warm water from each of the pouring cocks 34, 35, as described above, the hot water of the warm water tank 27 is injected from the branch pipe 25 to the sterilizing pipe 24 for sterilization. It is possible to always circulate to the cold water tank 26 and further to the hot water tank 27 through the communication pipe 28.

[0051] As a result, even if there is a shortage of potable water in the piping system, it is possible to effectively sterilize the piping system which can propagate various bacteria.

[0052] At this point, as described above, since it is not possible to dispense from each dispensing cock 34, 35, the user is empty of the drinking water in back-in box 22 by this condition. This can be recognized early. That is, it is possible to recognize the replacement time of the knock-in box 22. Further, since the volume of the hot water tank 27 is larger than the volume of the cold water tank 26, a large amount of high temperature hot water produced in the hot water tank 27 is sufficient and quick for the entire piping system including the cold water tank 26. It can be distributed to As a result, the temperature rising speed of the drinking water in the cold water tank 26 and the like becomes faster, and the sterilizing effect is improved.

Further, since the hot water tank 27 is formed to be long in the vertical direction, the convective property of the hot water in the hot water tank 27 by the heater 31 becomes good, and the heating efficiency is improved.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and since the basic structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and their specific descriptions are omitted. Do.

That is, in this embodiment, the hot water pouring cock 35 on the hot water tank 27 side in the first embodiment is abolished, and only the cold water pouring cock 34 on the cold water tank 26 side is provided. Therefore, only cold water is used as drinking water.

Then, during normal use of the dispenser, the controller power is also de-energized to the heater 31, whereby the water in the hot water tank 27 maintains a nearly normal temperature state. It is supposed to Further, the cooler 30 is operated by energization from the controller to cool the drinking water in the cooling tank 26 to a predetermined temperature. At this time, the solenoid on-off valve 29 is controlled by the controller to be in the closed state, and the communication between the cooling tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 is shut off.

[0058] Do not use a dispenser at night, etc. In the case where the heater heater 31 is energized from the set time to heat the drinking water in the hot water tank 27, while the cooler 30 is energized after the heater heater 31 Electricity is supplied for a predetermined time to cool the drinking water in the cooling tank 26. At the same time, the solenoid on-off valve 29 is opened to connect the cooling tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 via the communication pipe 28.

As described above, when the dispenser is not used, the heater heater 31 is operated to heat the drinking water in the hot water tank 27 so that the powerful hot water can be injected into the water injection pipe 23, the branch pipe 25, and the cooling tank 26, The entire piping system including the communication pipe 28 and the like is heated, and the entire piping system can be effectively sterilized.

The heating temperature is set to about 56 ° C. to 60 ° C., and the heating time is set to at least about 10 minutes. If these heating conditions are satisfied, sufficient sterilizing effect is obtained. Be However, it is possible to set the heating temperature and heating time arbitrarily depending on the length of piping and tank capacity.

At this time, the temperature difference and the density difference between the drinking water in the cooling tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 become large by operating the cooler 30 temporarily at first. The natural convection of the drinking water becomes active, and the temperature of the drinking water in the entire piping system can be quickly raised.

[0062] It is to be noted that, since the energization of the cooler 30 is only for the initial fixed time, the cooling tank 2

The temperature of the drinking water in 6 can also be raised quickly by the warm water naturally convected from the warm water tank 27.

Furthermore, when the powerful dispenser is not used, the heating heater 36 provided in the cold water discharge pipe 32 can also be operated, and the cold water discharge pipe 32 and the cold water discharge pipe 32 stagnate. It will also be possible to disinfect drinking water more effectively.

Further, in the present embodiment, the hot water outlet cock 35 is abolished, and the operation of the heater heater 31 is stopped when using the dispenser, so it goes without saying that the piping structure can be simplified. As a result, it becomes possible to curb power consumption and reduce costs.

The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and of course the same effect can be obtained.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and since the basic structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and their specific descriptions are omitted. Do.

That is, in this embodiment, the cold water pouring cock 34 on the cold water tank 26 side in the first embodiment is abolished and only the hot water pouring cock 35 on the hot water tank 27 side is provided. Therefore, only hot water is used as drinking water.

Then, during normal use of the dispenser, the power supply to the cooler 30 is shut off and the operation is stopped, so that the potable water in the cooling tank 26 maintains the normal temperature state. It is getting worse. On the other hand, the heater heater 31 is energized to maintain the drinking water in the hot water tank 27 at a predetermined high temperature.

Further, at this time, the solenoid on-off valve 29 is controlled to be closed by the controller and Communication between the return tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 is shut off.

In the case where a dispenser is not used at night, etc., while the heater heater 31 is continuously energized for a predetermined time to heat the drinking water in the hot water tank 27, the cooler 30 Only when the dispenser is not in use is it is temporarily energized to cool the drinking water in the cooling tank 26. At the same time, the solenoid on-off valve 29 is opened to connect the cooling tank 26 and the hot water tank 27 via the communication pipe 28.

The heating temperature, heating time, and the like of the drinking water in the warm water tank 27 by the heater 31 at this time are substantially the same as those in the second embodiment.

As described above, when the dispenser is not in use, the heater heater 31 is continuously operated to heat the drinking water in the warm water tank 27, whereby the powerful hot water can be injected into the water injection pipe 23, the branch pipe 25 and the branch pipe 25. The entire piping system including the cooling tank 26 and the communicating pipe 28 is heated, and the entire piping system can be effectively sterilized.

At this time, as described above, when the cooler 30 is temporarily operated initially, the temperature difference and density difference between the drinking water in the cooling tank 26 and the drinking water in the hot water tank 27 become large. The natural convection of the drinking water in the piping system becomes active, and it becomes possible to rapidly raise the temperature of the drinking water in the entire piping system.

It should be noted that, since the current flow to the cooler 30 is only for a fixed period at the beginning, the temperature of the drinking water in the cooling tank 26 is also raised rapidly by the warm water naturally produced from the warm water tank 27. be able to.

Further, in the present embodiment as well, the cold water outlet cock 34 is abolished, and since the operation of the cooler 30 is stopped when using the dispenser, it goes without saying that the piping structure can be simplified. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce the power consumption and reduce costs.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment. For example, the back import box 22 is not necessarily housed in the refrigerator 21 and may be inserted at the lower end portion of the back in box 22. A water injection pipe 24 having a water injection port 23 formed therein may be physically connected.

In this case, the height positions H of both extraction cocks 34 and 35 are equal to the water inlet 23 of the back-in box 22 via the extraction pipes 32 and 33 and higher than the branch pipe 25. position Is located in Preferably, the upper ends inside the two extraction cocks 34, 35 are equal to the water injection port 23, and the lower ends inside the two extraction cocks 34, 35 are disposed higher than the upper end inside the branch pipe 25.

For example, it is also possible to provide the above-mentioned pouring pipe 24 with a check valve which allows the flow of drinking water only in the direction from the back-in box 22 to the branch pipe 25. Hot water can be prevented from flowing into the back-in box 22.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] Water injection container filled with drinking water Roca is also a drinking water dispenser that supplies drinking water via piping system.

In the piping system, a cold water tank and a hot water tank for storing potable water respectively are provided, the cold water tank has a cooler, and the hot water tank has a heater, and branched from the downstream side of the water inlet Each downstream side of the branch passage is connected to the cold water tank and the hot water tank respectively,

The two tanks are connected by a communication passage having an opening and closing means for opening and closing the passage, and the drinking water outlet cock is disposed at a position lower than the water injection port and higher than the branch passage. Dispensa.

[2] The dispenser for drinking water according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom side of the cold water tank and the hot water tank are communicated by the communication passage.

[3] The drinking water pouring cock is characterized by being a cold water pouring cock for pouring cold water from the cold water tank, and a hot water pouring cock for pouring the hot water tank power. Dispenser for drinking water as described in.

[4] The drinking water outlet cock is characterized by being a cold water outlet cock for injecting the cold water tank power and cold water and a hot water outlet cock for discharging the hot water tank power and the hot water. Dispenser for drinking water as described in.

[5] The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the drinking water pouring cock is a cold water pouring cock for pouring the cold water tank power cold water.

[6] The drinking water dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the drinking water pouring cock is a cold water pouring cock for pouring the cold water tank power.

[7] The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the drinking water pouring cock is a hot water pouring cock for pouring the hot water tank power.

8. The drinking water dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the drinking water pouring cock is a hot water pouring cock for pouring the hot water tank power.

9. The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a volume of the hot water tank is set larger than a volume of the cold water tank.

10. The drinking water dispenser according to claim 2, wherein a volume of the hot water tank is set larger than a volume of the cold water tank.

11. The drinking water dispenser according to claim 3, wherein a volume of the hot water tank is set larger than a volume of the cold water tank.

[12] The drinking water dispenser according to claim 5, wherein a volume of the hot water tank is set larger than a volume of the cold water tank.

[13] The drinking water dispenser according to claim 7, characterized in that the volume of the hot water tank is set larger than the volume of the cold water tank.

[14] The dispenser for drinking water according to claim 1, wherein the hot water tank is formed longer in the vertical direction than the cold water tank.

[15] The dispenser for drinking water according to claim 2, wherein the hot water tank is formed longer in the vertical direction than the cold water tank.

[16] The dispenser for drinking water according to claim 3, wherein the hot water tank is formed longer in the vertical direction than the cold water tank.

[17] The dispenser for drinking water according to claim 5, wherein the hot water tank is formed longer in the vertical direction than the cold water tank.

[18] The dispenser for drinking water according to claim 7, wherein the hot water tank is formed longer in the vertical direction than the cold water tank.

[19] The dispenser for drinking water according to claim 9, characterized in that the hot water tank is formed longer in the vertical direction than the cold water tank.