JP2000126582A - Apparatus for supplying functional water - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the handiness of functional water (functional solution) which is used in the form of a solution of a prescribed concentration prepared by being dissolved in a solvent (water) like a chemical such as a weakly functional water producing powdered agent is dissolved. SOLUTION: A storage part 2 for storing concentrated functional water is installed, and a concentrated functional water supply line 19 having a quantitative supply means 21 for supplying the concentrated functional water in the inside quantitatively is installed in the storage tank 2. The tip of the line 19 is connected to a water supply line 20 for diluting the concentrated functional water so that the functional water of a prescribed concentration is discharged from a faucet 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a functional water supply apparatus for easily supplying a solution having various functions, for example, a weakly acidic functional water having a bactericidal action.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The weakly acidic functional water described above is expected to be used in various fields including medical fields because of its excellent sterilizing power.

[0003] In order to obtain such weakly acidic functional water, there is a method using an electrolyzed water generator. However, since the apparatus is expensive, the initial cost is high and it is difficult to use the functional water. Thus, a disinfectant disinfectant as disclosed in JP-A-10-81610 has been developed. This is because a weakly acidic functional water can be obtained simply by dissolving a powdery drug in water. In addition, there is no harm even when used for cleaning foods, and there is no harm to the environment when the food is washed as it is. That is, unlike the case of using the electrolyzed water generator, the initial cost is not required, so that it can be easily introduced, can be used for washing and disinfecting vegetables and tableware, and can be promoted even in a small shop or a general household.

[0004] As described above, it has an unprecedented advantage, but has the disadvantage that the operation of dissolving the drug is troublesome, and it is difficult to use it in actual use. That is, for dissolution, two kinds of drugs are put into a predetermined amount of water by a predetermined amount, left for a few minutes until the water soaks into the drugs, and then stirred. For this reason, when a large amount of weakly acidic functional water is required, such as when washing floors, a large container must be made each time.When using the container, the container containing the weakly acidic functional water must be tilted or separated. I have to scoop up with the equipment.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a solution such as a weakly acidic functional water whose utilization is to be promoted as in the above-mentioned example, in a convenient manner.

Means for this purpose is to provide a storage section for storing high-concentration functional water, and to provide a concentrated functional water supply line having a fixed amount supply means for supplying a predetermined amount of internal concentrated functional water to the storage section. It is a functional water supply device in which the tip of the concentrated functional water supply line is connected to a water supply line for diluting the concentrated functional water by a predetermined factor.

It is preferable that a flow switch for detecting a water flow is provided in the water supply line, and the quantitative supply means is drive-controlled based on the detection of the flow switch.

[0008] The storage section may be provided with a concentrated water generating means for generating concentrated water. At this time, the concentrated functional water generating means includes a reservoir for accumulating water as a solvent, a circulation path for circulating liquid in the reservoir, and a chemical agent comprising powder and granules provided in order from the upper side on the circulation path. And a filtration unit having a fine mesh that allows the liquid to pass through but does not allow the granular material to pass through.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the functional water supply apparatus uses concentrated acidic functional water having a bactericidal action as the concentrated functional water.

[0010]

According to the above construction, concentrated functional water (high-concentration functional solution) is prepared in advance and stored in a storage unit, and a predetermined amount of concentrated functional water is driven by driving a quantitative supply means. From the concentrated functional water supply line to the water supply line. Then, the concentrated functional water is diluted by the water flowing through the water supply line, and becomes functional water (functional solution) having a predetermined concentration when supplied from the water supply line.

As described above, it is possible to easily obtain the required amount of water at the time of need without making the functional water each time.
Easy to use. For this reason, in addition to washing which requires a relatively large amount, such as washing of vegetables, tableware, and medical instruments, it can be used for hand washing in a toilet, for example, and the use is further expanded.

Since the concentrated water is stored in the storage part, the higher the concentration, the smaller the capacity of the storage part, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.
It can respond to the demand for large amounts of functional water.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when water is supplied from the water supply line, the flow switch detects the water supply and drives the fixed-quantity supply means to supply the concentrated functional water by a predetermined amount. The operation to get is quite simple.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the concentrated water generating means for generating the concentrated water is added to the storage section, the operation from the production of the concentrated water to the use of the concentrated water is simple and further more convenient. Increase. When the concentrated functional water generation means is configured as in claim 4, concentrated functional water can be obtained simply by circulating water and supplying a chemical to the circulating water, so that the configuration and operation are simple, and the cost is reduced. Can also be kept low.

When the acidic functional water is used as the concentrated functional water as in claim 5, it can be used not only for washing vegetables and tableware, but also for hand washing as described above, and the use can be promoted. .

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a functional water supply device 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a device). This device includes a dissolution processing section 1a and a functional water supply processing section 1b. The former dissolution processing section 1a
Is a concentrated functional water generating means, that is, a portion that dissolves a drug consisting of powder and granules to obtain functional water with a high concentration, that is, a concentrated functional water (high-concentration functional solution). This is a portion for obtaining functional water (functional solution) having a predetermined concentration by using the concentrated functional water, and these are organically combined. In this embodiment, as an example, a powdery agent for generating weakly acidic functional water (hereinafter referred to as agents A and B)
An example of obtaining a weakly acidic functional water that is effective for sterilization and disinfection will be described. The above-mentioned medicines A and B consist of two kinds, a bactericide consisting of high-grade salmon powder and the like and a PH regulator preparation consisting of succinic acid and the like.

The dissolving section 1a has a storage section 2 for storing water C as a solvent, a first pump 3 for pumping water in the storage section 2, and a circulation for returning the pumped water to the storage section 2. And a circulation path 4 in which the flowing water contains the medicines A and B.
And a filter unit 6 that allows liquid to pass through but does not pass drugs A and B made of undissolved powder and granules, in this order from the top.

The storage section 2 is a section for storing a predetermined amount of water C, and is a high-concentration solution (concentrated weakly acidic functional water D).
It is the site where the accumulation occurs. In order to obtain a high concentration solution (thin D of concentrated weak acid machine), it is necessary to mix the water C and the medicines A and B at a predetermined ratio. I have to. That is, the first liquid level detection sensor 7a is provided at the upper limit position of the predetermined amount of water C. In addition, storage section 2
A second liquid level detection sensor 7b is provided at the lower portion of the storage section 2 so as to detect that there is no concentrated weakly acidic functional water D in the storage section 2.

The medicine supply section 5 is composed of a container provided with a stopper 5c provided with an inlet 5a and an outlet 5b for water. A predetermined amount of medicine is charged into the container without touching the medicine. A vessel 8 is provided. That is, the weighing device 8 has a hopper 8a at the top as shown in FIG.
May be formed in a structure having a measuring portion 8b at the bottom. Since there are two types of medicines A and B, the hopper 8a partitions the medicine into two, and the amounts of the medicines A and B to be introduced are also different, so that the sizes of the measuring parts are also different (see FIG. 3).

The measuring section 8b includes a slider 10 inside the main body 9.
And two communication paths 11a and 11b communicating with the hopper 8a are formed in the upper part of the main body 9. The slider 10 has a measuring unit 10a immediately below the communication passages 11a and 11b, and an opening / closing plate 10b arranged below and parallel to the measuring unit 10a with a gap therebetween. The former measuring unit 10a
Are formed vertically through two measuring holes 12a, 12b which communicate with the communication passages 11a, 11b and receive a predetermined amount of medicines A, B, and also have measuring holes 12a, 1 in the opening / closing plate 10b.
One outlet 13 is formed in the portion corresponding to 2b.
The amounts of the medicines A and B are set by the diameters and lengths of the measurement holes 12a and 12b. The measuring unit 10a and the opening / closing plate 10b
A portion of the main body 9 positioned between the measuring unit 10a and the measuring unit 12a is formed with a communication hole 14a, 14b having the same diameter as the blocking hole 9a. ).

That is, in the state where the slider 10 is stored as shown in FIG. 5, the medicines A and B enter the measuring holes 12a and 12b, but are not discharged because they are blocked by the blocking portion 9a of the main body 9. However, when the slider 10 is pulled toward the user, the measuring holes 12a and 12b overlap the communication holes 14a and 14b formed in the blocking portion 9a of the main body 9 as shown in FIG. Via drug A,
B is discharged. A stopper 15 that regulates a position where the slider 10 is pulled is formed on the upper front side of the main body 9, and a stopper 5 c of the medicine supply unit 5 is provided on a lower surface of the slider 10. On the side of this plug 5c,
As shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable to provide a mounting confirmation switch 16 to detect whether or not the medicine supply unit 5 is attached or detached.
That is, even if the medicine is supplied to the medicine supply unit 5, the first pump 3 cannot be driven when the stopper 5c is not attached, so that the safety can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 8, the filtering section 6 has a structure in which a filter 18 is provided in a case 17 having an inlet 6a and an outlet 6b for water. It is preferable to provide a space between the case 17 and the filter 18 in which the powders A and B can float.

The functional water supply processing section 1b is connected to the storage section 2 with a concentrated functional water supply line 19 for discharging the concentrated concentrated weakly acidic functional water D therein.
Is connected to a water supply line 20 for supplying water as a solvent for diluting the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D by a predetermined factor.

The concentrated functional water supply line 19 is provided with a second pump 21 as a constant-quantity supply means for supplying a constant quantity of the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D so as to be able to supply a predetermined amount. In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes a check valve.

The water supply line 20 is provided with a pressure reducing valve 23 and a filter 24 from the upstream side, and is branched to form a water injection line 20a and a merge line 20b.

The water injection line 20a guides water to the reservoir 2, and is provided with a first solenoid valve 25 which opens when energized. That is, when the power is supplied, the first solenoid valve 25 is opened, and the water is injected into the storage unit 2 until the power supply is stopped.

The merging line 20b guides water to the faucet 26 at the tip of the water supply line 20, and has a second solenoid valve 27 which closes when energized. That is, when the faucet 26 is opened in a state where power is not supplied, water flows out of the faucet 26. However, in a state where power is supplied, water does not come out even if the faucet 26 is opened. Further, on the lower side of the second electromagnetic valve 27 in the merging line 20b, a quantitative valve 28 for quantitatively supplying water, a flow switch 29 for detecting a water flow, and a check valve 30 are sequentially provided. Then, the concentrated function water supply line 19 is connected to the lower side of the check valve 29 and to the upper side of the faucet 26 to be joined. Note that a plurality of faucets 26 may be provided so that the functional water can be distributed to a plurality of remote locations.

In the above configuration, for example, when a 20-fold concentrated water is used as the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D, the second pump 21 or the fixed amount The components such as the valve 28 are appropriately set.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the apparatus 1. The start switch 31 is a switch for starting the dissolving process, and the timer 32 measures the driving time of the first pump 3. The control circuit 33 is configured by sequence control, but includes a CPU and an RO storing a program.
M, a RAM for storing data necessary for operation may be built in. The first display lamp 34 is turned on under predetermined conditions described later, and indicates that the supply of weakly acidic functional water is possible. The second display lamp 35 lights up to indicate that supply of the weakly acidic functional water is impossible. The buzzer 36 notifies by sound that the storage section 2 is empty.

Hereinafter, the dissolving operation and the functional water supplying operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively.

First, the dissolution processing operation will be described. In the first step n1, in the initial state where the reservoir 2 is empty,
When the second solenoid valve 26 is turned on, that is, the water supply line 20
Is controlled so that water does not come out even if the faucet 26 is opened. This is a kind of safety device that prevents non-weakly acidic functional water from coming out as weakly acidic functional water. Further, the first display lamp 34 is turned off (turned off), and the second display lamp 35 is turned on (turned on).
Indicates that supply of weakly acidic functional water is impossible.

Next, in a second step n2, the drugs A and B are introduced by operating the drug supply section 5, and then a third step n3
The start switch 31 is turned on with. Then, in the fourth step n4, the control circuit 33 sets the mounting confirmation switch 16 to O
It is confirmed whether or not the state is N, that is, whether or not the stopper 5c is provided in the medicine supply unit 5. If confirmed, the process proceeds to the next fifth step n5. This is also one of the safety devices. In addition,
Means may be provided for notifying by voice or the like when not confirmed.

In a fifth step n5, the first solenoid valve 25
When N is applied, water is injected into the storage unit 2 through the water supply line 20 and the water supply line 20a. When the first liquid level detection switch 7a is turned on in the sixth step n6, that is, when a predetermined amount of water is injected, the control circuit 33 turns off the first solenoid valve 25 and injects water in the next seventh step n7. Is stopped, and the first pump 3 is turned on to circulate the water in the storage section 2 back to the circulation path 4, that is, the storage section 2 via the medicine supply section 5 and the filtration section 6. Also, the timer 32
Is driven to measure the driving time of the first pump 3.

The driving of the first pump 3 causes the storage 2
The water C pumped out of the container passes through the circulation path 4, enters the medicine supply section 5, and exits together with the medicines A and B. And the filtration unit 6
To reach. In the filtration part 6, only the medicines A and B dissolved in water pass through, and those not dissolved are blocked by the filter 18, and the case 1
It is exposed to flowing water while floating in the space between the filter 7 and the filter 18. During this exposure, the medicines A and B are gradually dissolved, and sequentially pass through the filtration unit 6. The solution that has exited the filtration unit 6 returns to the storage unit 2 through the circulation path 4. Since water and solution are pumped out of the reservoir 2 by the first pump 3 and circulated through the filtration unit 6, even when a thin solution is initially dissolved, when all the medicines A and B are dissolved, the concentration becomes a predetermined high concentration. , Concentrated weakly acidic functional water D is completed.

In the next eighth step n8, when the timer has counted a predetermined time, the state is ready. That is, the second
When the electromagnetic valve 27 is turned off and the faucet 26 is opened, water flows through the water supply line 20 and
The second display lamp 35 turns off (turns off), and the first display lamp 36 turns on (turns on) (ninth step n9).

Next, the operation of the functional water supply processing will be described. In the state of the ninth step n9, which is a ready state, when the faucet 26 is opened and water flows through the water supply line 20, the flow switch 29 detects the water flow. I do. In a tenth step n10, when the flow switch 29 is turned on, the control circuit 33 drives the second pump 21 in an eleventh step n11 to concentrate the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D by a predetermined amount with respect to the flowing water. Supply through supply line 19. Then, the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D is diluted by the water flowing through the merging line 20b of the water supply line 20, and becomes weakly acidic functional water (functional solution) having a predetermined concentration when supplied from the faucet 26.

When the faucet 26 is closed and the flow switch 29 is turned off in the twelfth step n12, the control circuit 33 turns off the second pump 21 to stop the supply of the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D ( 13th step n1
3). Unless the flow switch 29 is turned off in the twelfth step n12, the weakly acidic functional water can be supplied until the second liquid level detection switch 7b is turned off (fourteenth step n14).

However, when the second liquid level detection switch 7b is turned off in the fourteenth step n14,
Becomes empty, the control circuit 33 turns on the buzzer 36 to turn off the second pump 21 in the fifteenth step n15, and turns on the second solenoid valve 27 to ensure safety as in the case described above. Then, the state becomes the same as the first step n1.

As described above, first, the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D is prepared by dissolving and stored in the storage section 2.
By simply opening 6, functional acid water having a predetermined concentration can be obtained.

Therefore, the required amount of the weakly acidic functional water can be easily obtained at the required time without having to make it each time, and the usability is good. For this reason, in addition to washing which requires a relatively large amount, such as washing of vegetables, tableware, and medical instruments, it can be used for hand washing in a toilet, for example, and the use is further expanded.

Further, since the concentrated weakly acidic functional water is stored in the storage part 2, the higher the concentration, the higher the concentration of the weakly acidic functional water.
Of the device 1 can be reduced, and the size of the device 1 can be reduced. For example, it can be easily stored under a sink or provided in a relatively narrow toilet. At the same time,
Even when a large amount of weakly acidic functional water is required, such as when washing floors, it is not necessary to dissolve the drug in a large-capacity container, so that it can be easily handled.

Further, since the concentrated functional water generating means for producing the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D is additionally provided in the storage section 2, the operation from the production of the concentrated weakly acidic functional water D to its use is simple. It is even more convenient. In addition, the storage section 2 is shared by the dissolution processing section 1a and the functional water supply processing section 1b, and a part of the water supply line 20 of the functional water supply processing section 1b, the water injection line 20a, is led to the storage section 2 and the solvent is removed. Since the water can be supplied to the storage section 2, the structure of the apparatus can be simplified, which contributes to downsizing.

The concentrated functional water generating means is constructed such that concentrated weakly acidic functional water can be obtained only by circulating water and supplying the agents A and B to the circulating water. Is simple and the cost can be kept low. In addition, since foaming does not occur as compared with stirring, it is easy to use regardless of the type and use of the solution.

Further, a medicine A for producing a weakly acidic functional water,
As for B, a material that emits chlorine gas, such as mashed powder, as described above, is used. However, since it can be dissolved in a closed system, a metering input device 8 is provided and the medicines A and B are touched. Since it does not need to be used, even a medicine that requires careful handling can be safely dissolved and easily used. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the use of an excellent drug that is required to be used, such as a powder for producing a weakly acidic functional water, and to promote the use thereof. Further, since the metering input device 8 is provided as described above, the purchased medicine may be immediately placed in the hopper, and it is not necessary to pay particular attention to storage.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus 1 according to another example. In this apparatus 1, the check valve 22 in the above example is not required by using the tube pump 37 as the fixed amount supply means, and the cost is reduced. Water supply line 2
A double tube pump 38 is provided in the water injection line 20a and the merging line 20b to eliminate the check valve 30, the metering valve 28, the first solenoid valve 25, and the second solenoid valve 27 in the previous embodiment. Simplification and cost reduction. Since the other components have the same functions as those of the previous embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a functional water supply device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a weighing device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a weighing device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a weighing input device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an operation state of the metering input device.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an operation state of the metering input device.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a part of the medicine supply unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a filtration unit and an operation state thereof.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a control circuit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a dissolution processing operation.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a functional water supply processing operation.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a functional water supply device according to another example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Functional water supply apparatus 1a ... Dissolution processing part 1b ... Functional water supply processing part 2 ... Storage part 4 ... Circulation path 5 ... Chemical supply part 6 ... Filtration part 19 ... Concentrated functional water supply line 20 ... Water supply line 21 ... Second Pump (quantitative supply means) 29 ... Flow switch 37 ... Tube pump A, B ... Powder for generating weakly acidic functional water C ... Water D ... Concentrated weakly acidic functional water

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 27, 1998 (1998.10.
27)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Added

[Correction contents]

FIG.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage section for storing high-concentration functional water,
The storage section is provided with a concentrated function water supply line having a fixed amount supply means for supplying a predetermined amount of the concentrated function water therein, and a leading end of the concentrated function water supply line is used to dilute the concentrated function water by a predetermined factor. Functional water supply device connected to the water supply line. 2. A functional water supply device, wherein a flow switch for detecting a water flow is provided in the water supply line, and the fixed-quantity supply means is driven and controlled based on the detection of the flow switch. 3. The functional water supply device according to claim 1, wherein said storage section is provided with a concentrated functional water generating means for generating concentrated functional water. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said concentrated functional water generating means includes a storage section for storing water as a solvent, a circulation path for circulating a liquid in the storage section, and 4. The functional water supply device according to claim 3, wherein the device is a dissolving device having a drug supply unit for supplying a drug, and a filtration unit having a fine mesh that allows liquid to pass through but does not pass through the granular material. 5. The functional water supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein concentrated acidic functional water having a bactericidal action is used as the concentrated functional water.