JP2006199352A - Drinking water dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drinking water dispenser which supplies both cold water and warm water, enables the sterilization by heat of the interior of a built-in piping system having storage tanks, and reduces apparatus manufacturing costs. <P>SOLUTION: A cold water tank 14 is arranged below a drinking water container 6 housed in a refrigerator 4, and a warm water tank 15 is arranged below the cold water tank 14. The tanks are communicates with each other through a three-way connector 16 by a pipe 17 at the upper part of the cold water tank 14, and a pipe 18 at the upper part of the warm water tank 15 which is interposed with a warm water pump 50. An evaporator 37 is attached to the cold water tank 14 to cool drinking water W into cold water, and a heater 19 is attached to the warm water tank 15 to heat the drinking water W into warm water. An electromagnetic valve 11b which communicates with the lower part of the cold water tank 14 opens to spout the cold water from a cold water spout valve 11. An electromagnetic valve 12b which communicates with the upper part of the warm water tank 15 opens to spout the warm water from a warm water spout valve 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a dispenser that supplies drinking water, and more specifically, a dispenser that can supply cold water and hot water, while enabling disinfection by heat in a piping system including a storage tank provided in the dispenser. It is about.

As a dispenser for supplying drinking water has become more and more popular with users about drinking water, there has been a high demand for ensuring the safety of drinking water and pursuing quality in the sensuality of drinking water. To ensure the safety of drinking water, in the case of a dispenser that supplies tap water, since the tap water itself is bactericidal by chlorine added to the tap water for sterilization, the growth of microorganisms in the tap water is suppressed. It is rarely a problem. However, in the case of drinking water such as mineral water, chlorine for sterilization is not added to the drinking water, and the proliferation of microorganisms in the drinking water is an important problem.
Therefore, a refrigerator for cooling a drinking water container filled with drinking water, and two types of tanks for storing drinking water, a cold water tank having a cooling device and a hot water tank having a heating device in a piping system connected to the drinking water container. The pipe system is sterilized by forcibly circulating the hot water in the hot water tank by connecting the cold water tank and the hot water tank through a pipe with a circulation pump capable of delivering a large flow rate. There is also a dispenser for drinking water (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-190577

However, the method of performing sterilization by forcibly circulating the hot water in the hot water tank into the piping system using a large flow rate circulation pump causes a problem that the manufacturing cost of the equipment increases.
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention relates to a dispenser that can supply cold water and hot water, while enabling disinfection by heat in a piping system having a storage tank in the dispenser, and reduces the equipment manufacturing cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a drinking water dispenser that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, a drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 of the present invention is a dispenser for supplying drinking water by connecting a drinking water container to a piping system via a connecting means, and in the piping system. A drinking water dispenser having a tank for storing drinking water, the storage tank comprising a cold water tank having a cooling device and a hot water tank having a heating device, and having a device for cooling the drinking water container,
A first pipe connecting means for disposing the cold water tank below the drinking water container, further disposing the hot water tank below the cold water tank, and connecting the hot water tank and the cold water tank with the connecting means interposed therebetween; A hot water pump is arranged in the middle of the hot water tank, and the cold water tank and the lower part of the hot water tank are communicated with a second pipe having an on-off valve interposed therebetween.
Close the on-off valve, supply cold water from a cold water tank, supply hot water from a hot water tank,
Opening the on-off valve and driving the hot water pump to circulate hot water in the hot water tank from the first pipe to the cold water tank, the second pipe, and the hot water tank, thereby enabling sterilization in the piping system It is characterized by that.

A dispenser for drinking water according to claim 2 of the present invention is a dispenser for supplying drinking water by connecting a drinking water container to a piping system via connecting means, and stores drinking water in the piping system. A drinking water dispenser comprising a cold water tank having a cooling device and a hot water tank having a heating device, and having a device for cooling the drinking water container,
The cold water tank is disposed below the drinking water container, the hot water tank is disposed below the cold water tank, and the hot water tank and the cold water tank are communicated with each other through the first pipe via the connection means. The lower part of the tank and the hot water tank are communicated with a second pipe with an on-off valve interposed therebetween, and a hot water pump is disposed in a third pipe that communicates with the connecting means and the hot water tank,
Close the on-off valve, supply cold water from a cold water tank, supply hot water from a hot water tank,
By opening the on-off valve and driving the hot water pump to circulate the hot water in the hot water tank to the first pipe, the cold water tank, the second pipe, and the hot water tank through the third pipe. It is characterized by enabling sterilization in the system.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drinking water dispenser according to the first or second aspect, comprising control means having a timer for periodically driving the on-off valve and the hot water pump, wherein the control means is opened and closed. The valve is opened, and the hot water pump is driven to circulate the hot water in the hot water tank in the piping system, thereby enabling automatic sterilization in the piping system.

According to the first aspect of the invention, cold water and hot water can be supplied. On the other hand, a dispenser that can be sterilized by heat in a piping system having a storage tank in the dispenser, sends out hot water and circulates it. Since the hot water pump only needs to secure a delivery amount that assists the natural circulation of hot water, a small-capacity low-cost pump can be used, and a drinking water dispenser that can reduce equipment manufacturing costs is realized. Is possible.
According to the invention of claim 2, even if a hot water pump such as a piston-type pump that cannot flow through the interior of the drinking water supply is used, the first pipe flows through the drinking water supply. The drinking water is supplied to the hot water tank, and during the heat sterilization in the piping system, the hot water pump can be driven to forcibly send the hot water from the third piping and circulate in the piping system for sterilization. Since the possible pumps are not limited, it becomes possible to realize a drinking water dispenser capable of reducing the device manufacturing cost.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the automatic sterilization in the piping system is enabled, it is possible to automatically sterilize the piping system in the time zone when the drinking water dispenser is not operated, such as at night. become.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a dispenser for drinking water according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)
Based on FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the structure of the dispenser of the drinking water which is Embodiment 1 of this invention is demonstrated.
FIG. 1 shows an external view of a drinking water dispenser 1, and a refrigerator 4 in which a door 5 is openably / closably attached to an upper portion of a device housing 2 supported by legs 3 provided at four corners of a bottom surface. Is provided with a shelf plate 7 on which the drinking water container 6 is placed. Also, cold water and hot water are poured into a container placed on a bend stage 13 below the cold water pouring button 9 and the hot water pouring button 10 in the drinking water pouring section 8 at the lower part of the refrigerator 4. A cold water pouring valve 11 and a hot water pouring valve 12 having an electromagnetic valve are provided. Further, the equipment housing 2 accommodates a cold water tank 14, a hot water tank 15, a compressor 31 constituting a refrigeration cycle, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the drinking water dispenser 1. A cold water tank 14 is provided below a drinking water container 6 such as a BIB (bag-in-box type container) stored in the refrigerator 4, and further below the cooling water tank 14. A hot water tank 15 is arranged, and a pipe 17 is provided above the cold water tank 14 via a three-way connector (connecting means) 16 connected to the drinking water container 6, and a hot water pump 50 is provided above the hot water tank 15. 18 (the first pipe is constituted by the pipe 17 and the pipe 18). The drinking water W packed in the drinking water container 6 is guided by its own weight from the three-way connector 16 to the cold water tank 14 and the hot water tank 15, and the drinking water W is cooled by an evaporator 37 (cooling device) attached to the cold water tank 14. Cold water (eg, 2 ° C.) is used, and the drinking water W is heated by a heater 19 (heating device) attached to the hot water tank 15 to obtain hot water (eg, 90 ° C.). When the cold water pouring button 9 is pressed, the electromagnetic valve 11b communicating with the lower part of the cold water tank 14 is opened, and cold water is poured from the cold water pouring valve 11 by the dead weight of the drinking water W. When the dispensing button 10 is pressed, the electromagnetic valve 12b communicating with the upper portion of the warm water tank 15 is opened, and warm water is poured from the warm water dispensing valve 12 by the dead weight of the drinking water W. Further, a solenoid pipe 21 (open / close valve) is interposed in a pipe 20 (second pipe) branched from the vicinity of the cold water discharge valve 11 in the lower part of the cold water tank 14 to communicate with a drain pipe 22 provided in the lower part of the hot water tank 15. The drain pipe 22 is provided with a stopper 22a to allow drainage of the piping system. The solenoid valve 21 is closed when the drinking water W can be supplied.

Also, a boil prevention thermo 24 is provided that folds back in a U shape at a position higher than the drinking water container 6 so that the drinking water W does not overflow, and stops heating the heater 19 when the boiling of the drinking water W is detected at the pipe tip. The steam escape pipe 23 communicates with the upper part of the hot water tank 15. In addition, when the hot water tank 15 is detected to be blown, the heater 19 is stopped from being heated to prevent the hot water from being blown, and the temperature sensor 26 is used to detect the temperature of the hot water and output a temperature signal. 15, a temperature sensor 27 that detects the temperature of the cold water and outputs a temperature signal is provided in the cold water tank 14.
Further, 31 is a compressor, 32 is a condenser, 33 is a dryer, 34 is a capillary tube, 35 is an evaporator that cools the refrigerator 4 (for example, about 10 ° C.), and 36 is a temperature detected by detecting the temperature of the evaporator 35. An evaporator temperature sensor that outputs a signal, 38 is a header, 39 is a refrigerant pipe, and 40 is a blower for circulating the air in the refrigerator cooled by the evaporator 35. The compressor 31, the condenser 32, the dryer 33, the capillary tube 34, the evaporators 35 and 37, the header 38 and the refrigerant pipe 39 constitute a refrigeration cycle, the evaporator 35 serves as the refrigerator 4, and the evaporator 37 serves as the cold water tank 14. Works to cool.

The drinking water dispenser 1 configured in this manner can be stored safely by suppressing the proliferation of various germs in the drinking water W in the drinking water container 6 when the refrigerator 4 is cooled by the evaporator 35, and the piping system in FIG. The drinking water W flowing in the direction of the arrow and flowing into the cold water tank 14 is cooled by the evaporator 37, and when the cold water dispensing button 9 is pressed, the electromagnetic valve 11b is opened and the cold water that has been cooled appropriately is cold water. It is poured from the dispensing valve 11. The drinking water W flowing into the hot water tank 15 is heated by the heater 19, and when the hot water pouring button 10 is pressed, the electromagnetic valve 12 b is opened and the warm water warmed appropriately is poured from the hot water pouring valve 12. It is.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing the hot water pump 50 of the drinking water dispenser according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the rotating blades 53 inserted into the shaft 52 of the drive motor 51 and the drinking water W. A rotary blade cover 54 having flow holes 55 and 56 and a seal base 57 are fitted and attached to the drive motor 51, and an O-ring 59 is crimped and fixed to the rotary blade cover 54 with screws (not shown). It consists of. When the rotary blade 53 is not rotating, the drinking water W flows from the flow port 55, flows through the gap between the rotary blade 53 and the rotary blade cover 54, and flows out from the flow port 56. It is possible to flow in from the port 56, flow through the gap between the rotary blade 53 and the rotary blade cover 54, and flow out from the flow port 55. However, when drinking water W is supplied, as indicated by the arrow indicated by the dotted line in the figure The drinking water W flows in from the flow port 55 and flows out from the flow port 56. When a signal is output from the supply control unit 80 (see FIG. 4) and the drive motor 51 is driven to rotate the rotary blade 53, the drinking water W flows from the through-flow port 56 as indicated by the solid line in the figure. Then, it is forcibly sent out from the flow-through port 55.

Next, with reference to the control block diagram shown in FIG. 4, control of the drinking water dispenser according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. The reference numerals correspond to those in FIGS. The control is performed by the supply control unit 80 (control means), and counts a clock generated by a memory 81 that stores control data of each part of the dispenser 1 of drinking water and a reference clock generation unit (not shown), A timer 82 for counting the drive time of the solenoid valve 21 and the hot water pump 50 is provided. The memory 81 stores the drive time of the electromagnetic valve 21 and the hot water pump 50. The setting input unit 83 is for inputting the drive time of the solenoid valve 21 and the hot water pump 50 and the set temperatures of the refrigerator 4, the cold water tank 14, and the hot water tank 15.
In the drinking water dispenser 1 configured as described above, the drinking water W can be supplied as follows.

Based on the signal generated when the user presses the cold water pouring button 9 or the hot water pouring button 10, the supply controller 80 outputs a signal to the electromagnetic valve 11b or the electromagnetic valve 12b to supply the drinking water W. For example, when the cold water pouring button 9 is pressed, the electromagnetic valve 11b is opened and cold water is released from the cold water pouring valve 11, and when the hot water pouring button 10 is pressed, the electromagnetic valve 12b is opened and hot water is drawn from the hot water pouring valve 12. Is supplied.
When the inside of the piping system is sterilized by heating, the operation of the compressor 31 is stopped, and when the control unit 80 outputs a signal and opens the solenoid valve 21, the hot water having a low density rises and the cold water having a high density falls. Due to the convection phenomenon, as shown in FIG. 5, the hot water in the hot water tank 15 flows from the flow port 56 of the hot water pump 50 provided in the pipe 18 to the flow port 55, and flows through the three-way connector 16 and the pipe 17. The chilled water in the chilled water tank 14 is sterilized by heating through a natural circulation (convection) in the piping system from the piping 20 through the solenoid valve 21 to the hot water tank 15, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. As shown, when the hot water pump 50 is driven at a predetermined time interval (for example, driven for 5 seconds and stopped for 25 seconds), the rotary blade 53 inserted into the shaft 52 of the drive motor 51 rotates to forcibly send the hot water. The circulation rate is quickened so that. As a result, as shown in the drinking water W temperature measurement data of the three-way connector 16 part of FIG. 7, the drinking water W temperature rise in the piping system is accelerated, and the temperature of 55 ° C. or higher can be stably maintained for a long time. it can. As described above, only natural circulation with the solenoid valve 21 opened takes time for the drinking water W packed in the drinking water container 6 to convect at the three-way connector 16 and rise in temperature. When hot water is forcibly sent out at 50, the three-way connector 16 is forcibly circulated, and it has been confirmed that the temperature rise is accelerated as shown by the oblique lines in the figure. Furthermore, the hot water pump 50 that sends and circulates the hot water only needs to secure a delivery amount that assists the natural circulation of the hot water, so a small-capacity low-cost pump can be used.

Further, when the steam generated by heating the drinking water W accumulates as a layer of air in the three-way connector 16 portion, the hot water flow is obstructed, but the hot water pump 50 forcibly circulates the hot water with the delivery pressure of the rotary blades 53. Therefore, an air layer does not accumulate in the three-way connector 16 portion.
The cold water flowing through the pipe 20 and circulating to the hot water tank 15 is heated by the heater 19 and sent again by the hot water pump 50 provided in the pipe 18, flowing through the three-way connector 16 and the pipe 17, and the cold water tank 14. The supply control unit 80 that receives the temperature signal output from the temperature sensors 26 and 27 applies a voltage to the heater 19 and repeats the circulation from the pipe 20 to the hot water tank 15 during this period. Is controlled to be maintained for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes or more), the temperature (for example, 55 ° C. or more) and the time (for example, 5 minutes or more) necessary for heat sterilization are maintained to maintain the inside of the piping system or the cold water tank 14. Can be heat sterilized. When a predetermined time has elapsed, the electromagnetic valve 21 is closed and the heat sterilization operation is terminated. When the compressor 31 starts operating, the drinking water W in the cold water tank 14 is cooled by the evaporator 37 and is cooled (for example, 2 ° C.). Thus, the drinking water W in the hot water tank 15 is heated by the heater 19 and heated to the pouring hot water temperature (for example, 90 ° C.).
(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the drinking water dispenser 1 in which the hot water pump 50 is disposed in the middle of the pipe 18 that communicates the three-way connector 16 and the hot water tank 15 has been described. In the second embodiment, FIG. As shown, pipes 17 and 18 (first pipes) communicating the cold water tank 14 and the hot water tank 15 through the three-way connector 16, and the lower part of the cold water tank 14 and the hot water tank 15 through the electromagnetic valve 21. In addition to the pipe 20 (second pipe) communicating with the lower part, a pipe 61 (third pipe) communicating the three-way connector 16 and the hot water tank 15 is provided, and a hot water pump 62 is provided in the pipe 61 to provide drinking water. The dispenser 60 is configured. As a result, even if a hot water pump 62 such as a piston-type pump that cannot flow inside the drinking water W is used, the piping 18 is passed through the hot water tank 15 when the drinking water W is supplied. At the time of heat sterilization in the piping system, as shown in FIG. 9, the hot water pump 62 can be driven to forcibly send out hot water and circulate in the piping system for sterilization.

It is an external view of the dispenser of drinking water which is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the circuit structure of the dispenser of drinking water shown in FIG. It is the cross-sectional side view which showed the hot water pump of the dispenser of drinking water shown in FIG. It is a control block diagram of the dispenser of drinking water shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the heat sterilization of the dispenser of drinking water shown in FIG. It is a timing chart of the dispenser of drinking water shown in FIG. It is the hot water temperature measurement data in the connection means part of the dispenser of drinking water shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the circuit structure of the dispenser of drinking water which is Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the heat sterilization of the dispenser of drinking water shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drinking water dispenser 4 Refrigerator 6 Drinking water container 9 Cold water pouring button 10 Hot water pouring button 11 Cold water pouring valve 11b Solenoid valve 12 Hot water pouring valve 12b Solenoid valve 14 Cold water tank 15 Hot water tank 16 Three-way connector 17 Piping 18 Piping DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Heater 20 Piping 21 Solenoid valve 26 Temperature sensor 27 Temperature sensor 31 Compressor 35 Evaporator 37 Evaporator 50 Hot water pump 53 Rotor blade 55 Outflow port 56 Outflow port 60 Drinking water dispenser 61 Piping 62 Hot water pump 80 Supply control part 81 Memory 82 Timer 83 Setting input section

Claims (3)

A dispenser for connecting a drinking water container to a piping system via a connecting means and supplying drinking water, the tank comprising a tank for storing drinking water in the piping system, the storage tank having a cooling device A drinking water dispenser comprising a hot water tank having a heating device and a device for cooling the drinking water container,
A first pipe connecting means for disposing the cold water tank below the drinking water container, further disposing the hot water tank below the cold water tank, and connecting the hot water tank and the cold water tank with the connecting means interposed therebetween; A hot water pump is arranged in the middle of the hot water tank, and the cold water tank and the lower part of the hot water tank are communicated with a second pipe having an on-off valve interposed therebetween.
Close the on-off valve, supply cold water from a cold water tank, supply hot water from a hot water tank,
Opening the on-off valve and driving the hot water pump to circulate hot water in the hot water tank from the first pipe to the cold water tank, the second pipe, and the hot water tank, thereby enabling sterilization in the piping system Drinking water dispenser characterized by the above. A dispenser for connecting a drinking water container to a piping system via a connecting means and supplying drinking water, the tank comprising a tank for storing drinking water in the piping system, the storage tank having a cooling device A drinking water dispenser comprising a hot water tank having a heating device and a device for cooling the drinking water container,
The cold water tank is disposed below the drinking water container, the hot water tank is disposed below the cold water tank, and the hot water tank and the cold water tank are communicated with each other through the first pipe via the connection means. The lower part of the tank and the hot water tank are communicated with a second pipe with an on-off valve interposed therebetween, and a hot water pump is disposed in a third pipe that communicates with the connecting means and the hot water tank,
Close the on-off valve, supply cold water from a cold water tank, supply hot water from a hot water tank,
By opening the on-off valve and driving the hot water pump to circulate the hot water in the hot water tank to the first pipe, the cold water tank, the second pipe, and the hot water tank through the third pipe. A dispenser of drinking water, characterized in that sterilization in the system is possible.   A control means having a timer for periodically driving the on-off valve and the hot water pump; the control means opens the on-off valve and drives the hot water pump to circulate the hot water in the hot water tank in the piping system; The drinking water dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein automatic sterilization in the piping system is enabled.

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