JP2011207521A - Drinking-water supplier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drinking-water supplier, which stores drinking water in a cold water tank therein, moderately refills the quantity of drinking water that is taken out of the cold water tank by a water-take-out operation, the refill coming from a water bottle side above the supplier, thereby evading the deterioration in durability of the water bottle above the supplier and the fear of occurrence of damage thereto.SOLUTION: The lowest end side of a bottle pin 12 that keeps the cold water tank and water bottle 3 above it joined in communication with each other is projected downward toward the cold water tank side. An air introducing hole 124 is formed in a penetrating manner at a position lower than the lowest end part of a recessed part 22 which becomes a receiving part for the protrusion 123, while setting of water level L1 to be set and maintained is made at a position lower than the position of the air introducing hole, with the lowest end opening 125 set for a lower position than that of the water level L1 to be set and maintained to an extent that no ingression of air is brought about. The air introducing hole is so arranged as to have a prescribed length of diameter in a manner such that water is not allowed to pass but air is allowed, thus, when the level of water lowers, air intake through the air introducing hole is brought about in a small quantity each time and in a continuous manner.

Description

  In the present invention, a drinking water container is detachably mounted on the upper side of the apparatus, drinking water is supplied from the drinking water container through the water conduit into the tank, and drinking water is supplied from the tank by opening and closing the intake valve. In particular, the present invention relates to a technology that can improve the durability of a drinking water container or avoid the occurrence of damage by gently guiding water from the drinking water container into the tank.

  Conventionally, what is called a water server or a dispenser is provided as a drinking water supply apparatus. This is because the supply of drinking water from a water bottle as a replaceable drinking water container is received in a built-in tank, and this is cooled and maintained in a cold water state. A supply of water is provided. As a structure of the receiving part of such a device and the water bottle attached to it, the water bottle is inverted from top to bottom so that the fixing pin on the device pushes the cap of the water bottle open. Those are known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, in a drinking water supply apparatus having a structure similar to that described above, it has also been proposed to use a water bottle having an air vent hole at each of a shoulder portion and a bottom portion (for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-84117 A JP 2005-335713 A

  By the way, the inventor has found that there is an inconvenience that, with the use of the drinking water supply device, sudden deformation and restoration of the drinking water container are repeated, thereby impairing durability and causing damage. .

  That is, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the drinking water container 100 has a water conduit 104 that protrudes upward from the apparatus main body 102 side by fitting the mouth part 101 into the recess 103 of the apparatus main body 102 with the top and bottom reversed. Is inserted into the mouth portion 101 of the drinking water container 100 and is in a communicating state. In this state, the drinking water in the drinking water container 100 and the drinking water in the tank 105 on the apparatus main body 102 side are continuous with each other. The tank 105 is maintained at a constant water level L1 (see FIG. 7A). When the intake valve 106 is opened and closed by the user's switch operation, drinking water is supplied from the tank 105 through the open intake valve 106 and poured into a cup (not shown). When the water level in the tank 105 is lowered from L1 to, for example, the water level L2 (see FIG. 7B) with this supply, drinking water is dropped from the drinking water container 100 through the water conduit 104 along with the drop in water level. Along with the dropping, the inside of the drinking water container 100 becomes negative pressure, and the wall portions 107, 107, 107 are dented inward and deformed. On the other hand, since the lower end opening of the water conduit 104 facing the inside of the tank 105 becomes higher than the water level L2 as the water level is lowered, if the air mass gets into the drinking water container from the lower end opening of the water conduit 104, the inner side The wall portions 107, 107, 107 of the drinking water container 100 that have been recessed are restored to the original shape at once (see FIG. 7C). Such deformation and restoration are repeated each time water is taken. For this reason, there is a possibility that the durability of the wall portion of the drinking water container that is usually formed of a synthetic resin will be weakened, or that damage such as cracks may occur in the worst case.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide drinking water containers for drinking water even if drinking water in a tank is taken in by a water intake operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a drinking water supply device that can be gradually replenished from the side of the container so as to avoid the possibility of a decrease in the durability of the drinking water container or the occurrence of damage.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the water conduit is communicated with the drinking water container placed on the apparatus main body, while the lower end side of the water conduit is communicated with the storage tank in the apparatus main body. The drinking water supply device configured such that the drinking water is supplementally supplied from the drinking water container to the storage tank through the water conduit and the inside of the storage tank is maintained at a predetermined set water level. We decided to prepare matters. That is, the water guide pipe is protruded downward with respect to the inside of the storage tank so that the lower end thereof opens below the set water level, and the protrusion of the water pipe is higher than the lower end opening and The air introduction hole is formed to penetrate into the storage tank (claim 1).

  In the case of this invention, even if the water level in the storage tank is lowered due to the user's water intake operation and the wall portion of the drinking water container is recessed inward due to negative pressure, the water level is continuously reduced little by little from the air introduction hole. Air is sucked in, and as a result, small bubbles are continuously supplied into the drinking water container. As a result, air is replaced by small bubbles that are continuously supplied, and a small amount of drinking water is continuously supplied to the drinking water container. While being replenished from the side to the storage tank side, the wall portion of the drinking water container is gradually restored based on the air replacement for each small bubble. As a result, it is possible to avoid the possibility of a decrease in the durability of the wall portion of the drinking water container and the occurrence of cracks due to rapid restoration.

  The air introduction hole in the present invention can be set to a hole diameter that allows passage of air while preventing passage of water (claim 2). By doing so, air can be sucked in a small amount continuously from the air introduction hole as described above when the water level is lowered, while the passage of water is blocked when the water level is maintained.

  Further, the air introduction hole in the present invention can be formed so as to penetrate above the set water level (Claim 3). In this way, if a water level drop occurs, the suction of air from the air introduction hole is immediately started and replenishment of drinking water is performed, while the surface of the air introduction hole is kept at rest when the set water level is maintained. A water film based on tension is formed and closed.

  As described above, according to the drinking water supply device of the present invention, even if the water level in the storage tank is lowered by the user's water intake operation and the wall portion of the drinking water container is recessed inward based on the negative pressure, Due to the lowering of the water level, a small amount of air can be continuously sucked from the air introduction hole, whereby small bubbles can be continuously supplied into the drinking water container. As a result, it is possible to continuously replenish a small amount of drinking water from the side of the drinking water container to the side of the storage tank by replacing the air by small bubbles that are continuously supplied. It is possible to restore gradually based on the air replacement for each small bubble. As a result, it is possible to avoid the possibility of a decrease in the durability of the wall portion of the drinking water container and the occurrence of cracks due to rapid restoration.

  In particular, according to claim 2, by setting the air introduction hole to have a hole diameter that allows passage of air while preventing passage of water, when the water level is lowered, a small amount from the air introduction hole as described above. While air can be continuously sucked in, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of water leakage even if the amount is small by preventing the passage of water when the set water level is maintained.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the air introduction hole is formed so as to penetrate above the set water level, so that the suction of air from the air introduction hole is immediately started if the water level is lowered. While drinking water can be replenished, a water film based on surface tension can be formed in the air introduction hole and closed when the water is kept at the set water level.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structural example of embodiment. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3. It is the elements on larger scale in the AA line of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 when the water level is lowered. FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating a main part of a drinking water supply device for explaining a conventional problem, FIG. 7A is a standby state of water intake, and FIG. 7B is a deformation of a drinking water container due to a drop in water level due to water intake. FIG. 7C shows a state where the drinking water container has been restored by air replacement.

  Hereinafter, the case where the drinking water supply apparatus of this invention is applied, for example to a water server as embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a drinking water supply apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows an example of the external configuration of the drinking water supply apparatus. In both figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing which is an exterior of the apparatus main body, 2 (shown only in FIG. 1) is a cold water tank as a storage tank, and 3 is detachably mounted on the upper side of the cold water tank 2 to the cold water tank 2. A water bottle as a drinking water container serving as a drinking water supply source of 4, 4 (appears only in FIG. 1) is a refrigeration circuit for cooling the water in the cold water tank 2, 5 (appears only in FIG. 1) through the cold water tank 2 6 (appears only in FIG. 1) is a heater for heating the water in the hot water tank 5, and 7 (appears only in FIG. 1) is to turn on / off the ultraviolet lamp 29 as a germicidal lamp. It is a controller that controls the operation of the drinking water supply device such as lighting control and water intake control. In the present embodiment, water that is intended for drinking water will be described. However, as “drinking water” applied to this drinking water supply apparatus, drinking water such as tea and juice is available in addition to water such as mineral water. Includes all liquids used in

  A connecting recess 11 for attaching the water bottle 3 is formed in the central portion of the upper surface of the housing 1. The connecting recess 11 has an inner surface shape that allows the neck portion 31 of the water bottle 3 to be fitted in an inverted state, and has a cylindrical bottle pin 12 as a water conduit that protrudes upward along its central axis (FIG. 1). See). The bottle pin 12 is inserted upward into the neck portion 31 of the water bottle 3 by fitting the neck portion 31 in the state where the top and bottom of the water bottle 3 are reversed with respect to the connection concave portion 11, so that the water bottle 3 is inserted upward. The water bottle 3 and the cold water tank 2 are communicated with each other with the inside and the cold water tank 2 being in communication with each other. The water bottle 3 is also referred to as a “gallon bottle”, and is provided in a state where water, which is a beverage, is filled and contained therein. And this water bottle 3 is mounted | worn with respect to a water server as mentioned above, and whenever the water in the mounted water bottle 3 is consumed and it becomes empty, it is replaced | exchanged for the new water bottle 3. FIG. The detailed structure of the communication connection will be described later.

  A cup storage 13 for receiving two types of cold water and hot water is formed at the middle position on the front surface of the housing 1. The cold water and hot water intake ports 281 and 521 are disposed at the upper position of the cup storage 13. Yes. An operation panel 14 for a user to perform various input operations is disposed in front of the upper position of the cup storage 13. The operation panel 14 is provided with a hot water intake switch 15 for taking out hot water and a cold water intake switch 16 for taking out cold water.

  The cold water tank 2 is a container opened upward, and a lid 21 that also serves as a light shielding plate is fitted into the upper end opening of the container via a packing or the like and sealed. A substantially central portion of the lid 21 is a recess 22 that can be fitted to the connecting recess 11 from below, and a through hole 221 through which the bottle pin 12 is inserted is formed at the center of the recess 22. Further, a baffle plate 23 that extends in the horizontal direction is disposed at a predetermined level position in the cold water tank 2, and a connection pipe 24 is connected to the central position of the baffle plate 23 so that the upstream end is opened. The downstream end of the connection pipe 24 communicates with the bottom of the hot water tank 5, and water for hot water conversion can be taken out from the cold water tank 2 through the connection pipe 24 to the hot water tank 5. Further, a cold water intake pipe 26 extends from a reservoir 25 formed in a concave shape to the bottom of the cold water tank 2 to a position above the cup storage 13 of the housing 1 and is installed on the downstream end side of the cold water intake pipe 26. When the cold water intake valve 27 is opened, the cold water in the cold water tank 2 is discharged from the cold water intake port 281. The cold water intake valve 27 is constituted by an electromagnetic open / close control valve, and is normally maintained in a closed state. When the user turns on (presses) the cold water intake switch 16, the operation signal is output. When the controller 7 is controlled to open, the chilled water is discharged from the water inlet 281. When the chilled water intake switch 16 is turned off (press release), the switching is controlled to return to the original closed state.

On the other hand, one or more (one in the illustrated example) ultraviolet lamps 29 as sterilizing lamps are installed in the cold water tank 2, and the drinking water stored therein is sterilized by irradiating the ultraviolet lamps by turning on the ultraviolet lamps 29. To be processed. The lower end portion of one ultraviolet lamp 29 is extended into the pool portion 25 so that it can illuminate the inside of the cold water intake pipe 26.
The refrigeration circuit 4 includes a cooling pipe 42 constituting an evaporator on a circulation path 41 in which a refrigerant is sealed. The cooling pipe 42 is wound around the cold water tank 2, and the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 43 is radiated by the radiator 44 to be liquefied. Heat is taken from the water and cooled to a predetermined cold water temperature range (for example, 5 ° C. to 10 ° C.). The refrigeration circuit 4 is operated by a cold-retaining operation control by the controller 7 based on the detected value of the cold water temperature in the cold water tank 2.

  The hot water tank 5 is a sealed container disposed below the cold water tank 2, and a heater 6 that is operated by the controller 7 by controlling the heat retention operation is disposed therein, so that the drinking water in the hot water tank 5 is supplied with predetermined hot water. It is designed to be heated and kept in a temperature range (for example, 80 ° C. to 90 ° C.). Water is poured into the hot water tank 5 from the inside of the cold water tank 2 through the connecting pipe 24 based on the water head difference, and the hot water tank 5 is replenished by the amount reduced by the water intake. Further, the hot water intake pipe 51 is extended from the top of the hot water tank 5 to a position above the cup storage place of the housing 1, and the hot water intake valve 52 interposed on the downstream end side of the hot water intake pipe 51 is opened. Accordingly, the hot water in the hot water tank 5 is discharged from the hot water intake port 521. This hot water intake valve 52 is also constituted by an electromagnetic opening / closing control valve, like the cold water intake valve 27, and is normally maintained in a closed state, and when the user turns on the intake switch 15 (press operation), the operation signal In response to this output, the controller 7 performs open switching control to discharge hot water from the water inlet 521, and when the water intake switch 15 is turned OFF (press release), the original closed state is switched.

  Next, the communication connection structure between the water bottle 3 and the cold water tank 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. A substantially central portion of the lid 21 constituting a part of the cold water tank 2 is a concave portion 22 that opens upward, and the concave portion 22 is supported in a state in which the coupling concave portion 11 of the bottle receiving member 10 is fitted. That is, the concave portion 22 constitutes a receiving portion of the connecting concave portion 11 of the bottle receiving member 10, and the bottle receiving member 10 is coupled to the lid 21 by means such as engagement with the connecting concave portion 11 being supported by the concave portion 22. Yes. A cylindrical bottle pin 12 is integrally formed in the connecting recess 11, and the lower end side of the bottle pin 12 is opened in a state of projecting downward by a predetermined dimension into the cold water tank 2 through the through hole 221 of the recess 22. The upper end side of the bottle pin 12 is inserted into the neck portion 31 of the water bottle 3 in the mounted state.

  A hemispherical stopper receiver 121 is formed at the upper end of the bottle pin 12 (see also FIG. 4), and a communication hole 122 is formed therethrough. In addition, an air introduction hole 124 is formed through the protrusion 123 on the lower end side of the bottle pin 12. On the other hand, a cap 32 is attached to the distal end side of the neck portion 31 of the water bottle 3, and this cap 32 is removably locked to the inner cylindrical mouth portion 321 protruding into the neck portion 31 and the mouth portion 321. And a spigot 322. Then, the water bottle 3 that originally has the neck portion 31 facing upward is reversed upside down, and the water bottle 3 is lowered toward the connecting recess 11 with the neck portion 31 facing downward. Then, after the stopper receiving part 121 of the bottle pin 12 enters the opening 321, the stopper 322 is pushed in to release the locking state with the opening 321, while the stopper 322 is attached to the stopper receiving part 121. Will be engaged. When the water bottle 3 is further lowered, the upper end side of the bottle pin 12 is further fitted into the neck 31 while the stopper 322 is held by the stopper 121, and the communication hole 122 communicates with the neck 31. Then, the water bottle 3 is placed on the bottle receiving member 10 to complete the mounting. In this state, the inside of the water bottle 3 is communicated with the inside of the cold water tank 2 through the communication hole 122 of the bottle pin 12, the inside of the bottle pin 12, and the lower end opening 125 of the protruding portion 123.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the protruding portion 123 of the bottle pin 12 is downward by a predetermined dimension from the lower end position (receiving port position) P <b> 1 of the recessed portion 22 that is the receiving portion of the connecting recessed portion 11 of the bottle receiving member 10. It is protruding. The air introduction hole 124 is formed below the receiving port position P1 of the recess 22, and the set water level L1 that is maintained at a constant water level when stationary is set lower than the position P2 of the air introduction hole 124, and is lower than the set water level L1. The lower end opening 125 of the projecting portion 123 is opened downward at the lower position (lower end opening position P3). Such a positional relationship is a preferable setting. The set water level L1 may be set to a range that is at least lower than the receiving port position P1 and higher than the lower end opening position P3. The lower end opening position P3 needs to be set at least lower than the set water level L1 to such an extent that air is not sucked into the protrusion 123 from the water surface in the set water level L1 state. If there is no restriction from the viewpoint, it is preferable to set longer.

In a state where the surface of the cold water in the cold water tank 2 is stationary at the set water level L1, the balance is maintained in the state where the drinking water in the water bottle 3 is continuous with the cold water in the cold water tank 2 through the bottle pin 12. Yes. In this state, the air introduction hole 124 opens in the air above the set water level L1, but the water film W based on the surface tension seals the air introduction hole 124 as shown in FIG. The inner drinking water is closed so as not to leak out. This is because the surface tension of the water film W is more balanced than the water pressure based on the set water level L1, and the air is sucked into the set water level L1 while sucking in air by a predetermined amount at the time of water intake described later. In the stationary state, the hole diameter D of the air introduction hole 124 is set so as to be sealed by the water film W. Such a hole diameter D may be set in the following range when the water bottle 3 is a container containing, for example, 12 liters (about 3 gallons).
0.5mm <D <5.0mm
Preferably, the hole diameter D may be set to 2.0 mm or less. The necessary setting conditions for the hole diameter D are as follows: (1) When the water level drops at the time of water intake, which will be described later, the wall of the water bottle 3 is continuously indented little by little so as not to be rapidly restored after being recessed inward due to negative pressure. (2) A hole diameter that allows passage of air but prevents passage of water, that is, it can be closed by the water film W, and the thickness of the protrusion 123 is also However, the hole diameter is larger than the minute hole that is the limit of air suction.

  According to the hole diameter setting as described above, even if the water level in the cold water tank 2 is lowered by the water intake operation by the user and the wall portion of the water bottle 3 is recessed inward due to the negative pressure, the air introduction hole is caused by the water level reduction. The water film W 124 is destroyed and air is continuously sucked in a small amount from the air introduction hole 124. As a result, small bubbles are continuously supplied into the water bottle 3. As a result, the continuously supplied small bubbles While the air is replaced minutely and a small amount of drinking water is continuously replenished from the water bottle 3 to the cold water tank 2 side, the wall portion of the water bottle 3 is loosened based on the air replacement for each small bubble. Will be restored. As a result, it is possible to avoid the possibility of a decrease in durability of the wall portion of the water bottle 3 due to a rapid restoration and the occurrence of cracks.

  Further, even when the water level in the cold water tank 2 is lowered from the set water level L1 to, for example, the water level L2 lower than the lower end opening position P3 by the user's water intake operation, an air mass enters from the lower end opening 125 of the protrusion 123. In the same manner as described above, the wall portion of the water bottle 3 can be gently restored. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the lowered water level L2 is lower than the lower end opening 125 of the projecting portion 123, the air is continuously sucked in from the air introduction hole 124. As a result of the air replacement, the cold water is continuously dropped from the lower end opening 125 at a small flow rate and supplied. As long as the cold water is continuously dropped and supplied at a relatively slow flow rate, air does not enter from the lower end opening 125, and a small amount of air from the air introduction hole 124 is stably and continuously sucked in. As a result, the wall portion of the water bottle 3 can be gently restored.

  Therefore, regardless of the amount of water intake based on the water intake operation by the user, that is, regardless of the drop in the water level in the cold water tank 2 caused by the water intake operation, a small amount of continuous air is supplied from the air introduction hole 124. While sucking in, it becomes possible to supply drinking water to the cold water tank 2 side by a small amount and continuously from the water bottle 3 by sucking the air. Then, when the water level gradually rises to the set water level L1 due to the supply to the cold water tank 2 side, the water film W forms the air introduction hole 124 based on the balance between the water pressure and the surface tension of the water in the air introduction hole 124. As a result, the supply of drinking water from the water bottle 3 to the cold water tank 2 is stopped and maintained at the set water level L1.

<Other embodiments>
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Various other embodiments are included. That is, the present invention can be applied even to configurations other than those illustrated in FIG. For example, although the thing provided also with the hot water tank 5 other than the cold water tank 2 was illustrated, you may make it comprise a drinking water supply apparatus so that only the cold water by the cold water tank 2 can be taken in by omitting the hot water tank 5. .

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the bottle pin 12 as a water conduit is integrally formed in the bottle receiving member 10, and this bottle receiving member 10 is combined with the lid | cover 21 which comprises the cold water tank 2, it is not restricted to this. The bottle receiving member may be omitted, and a bottle pin as a water conduit may be formed on the cold water tank 2 side.

1 Housing (Housing for the device body)
2 Cold water tank (storage tank)
3 Water bottle (drinking water container)
12 Bottle pin (conduit pipe)
122 communication hole 123 protrusion 124 air introduction hole 125 lower end opening

Claims (3)

While the water conduit is communicated with the drinking water container placed on the apparatus main body, the lower end side of the water conduit is communicated with the inside of the storage tank in the apparatus main body. A drinking water supply device configured to replenish and supply drinking water through a water pipe and to maintain the inside of a storage tank at a predetermined set water level,
The water conduit is protruded downward with respect to the inside of the storage tank so that the lower end thereof opens below the set water level,
In the projecting portion of the water conduit, an air introduction hole is formed so as to penetrate the storage tank above the lower end opening,
The drinking water supply apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. It is a drinking water supply apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
The said air introduction hole is a drinking water supply apparatus set to the hole diameter of the grade which can prevent passage of water while permitting passage of air. The drinking water supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
The drinking water supply device, wherein the air introduction hole is formed in the storage tank so as to penetrate above the set water level.

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