JP2009083871A - Drinking water server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drinking water server that has a structure capable of suppressing production of various germs within a water pipe on the downstream side of a discharge valve used for cold water. <P>SOLUTION: In the drinking water server, a heating means 15 is provided for a water pipe 70 that is on the downstream side of a cooling water discharge valve 7 provided for a cooling water discharge pipe 6 that discharges drinking water from a cooling water tank 2. The heating means 15 is designed such that a warm water discharge pipe 10 for discharging the drinking water from a warm water tank 3 is brought close to the downstream side water pipe 70, and the downstream side water pipe 70 is heated by using the heat of the warm water discharge pipe 10. This prevents remaining moisture sticking to the inside of the conduit of the downstream side water pipe 70 from evaporating and hence condensing in the conduit. Accordingly, production of various germs is suppressed in the downstream side water pipe 70. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a drinking water server, and more particularly to a drinking water server configured to be able to take out drinking water supplied from a water bottle attached in a replaceable manner by heating or cooling and taking out from a spout.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional drinking water server. As illustrated, this type of drinking water server includes drinking water supplied from a water bottle a filled with drinking water, a hot water tank b provided with a heating device h, and a cooling device (not shown). The tank is configured to be stored in the cold water tank c, and each of these tanks is connected with an extraction pipe d, e for taking out drinking water from the tank, and is discharged to the tip of each of the extraction pipes d, e. Valves f and g are provided.

  By the way, when adopting a configuration in which drinking water is stored in the tanks b and c as described above, it is necessary to prevent germs from breeding in the tanks b and c. As shown in the figure, the drinking water supplied from the water bottle a is once dropped into the hot water tank b through the drinking water supply pipe i, subjected to heat sterilization in the hot water tank b, and then passed through the second drinking water supply pipe j. It has been proposed to supply the cold water tank c (see Patent Document 1).

Further, even when heat sterilization is performed on the drinking water supplied to the cold water tank c, germs may propagate in the cold water tank c. A lamp k is provided to sterilize the cold water tank c (see Patent Document 2), or an ultraviolet lamp is provided upstream of the cold water extraction valve g (in the discharge pipe e) (Patent Document) 3) has been proposed.
JP 2006-347556 A JP 2006-62720 A JP 2000-128292 A

  However, such a conventional configuration has the following problems, and improvements have been desired.

  That is, the sterilization in the conventional drinking water server is intended for the hot water / cold water tanks b and c and the cold water discharge pipe e as described above, and the sterilization of the drinking water spout is performed. It was not considered at all.

  Specifically, once the cold water pouring valve g is opened and drinking water is taken out, water droplets and the like remain in the water pipe m on the downstream side of the pouring valve g even after the pouring valve g is closed. Further, since the upstream side of the cold water pouring valve g is filled with cold water, the temperature of the water pipe m on the downstream side is lowered by this cold water, and condensation may occur in the water pipe m. In this way, moisture due to water droplets or condensation remaining in the water pipe m on the downstream side of the pouring valve g becomes a source of propagation of germs. Moreover, since the water pipe m on the downstream side of the pouring valve g is in contact with the outside air, there is a problem that there is a high possibility that germs will propagate.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to suppress the generation of germs in the water pipe downstream from the cold water pouring valve in the drinking water server. It is providing the drinking water server provided with the structure to obtain.

  In order to achieve the above object, the drinking water server according to the present invention is a drinking water server in which a cold water dispensing valve is provided in a cold water dispensing pipe for taking out cold water from a cold water tank, and is downstream of the cold water dispensing valve. The heating means which heats the pipe line of the downstream water pipe provided in is provided.

  That is, in the present invention, the water adhering / remaining in the pipe of the downstream water pipe can be heated / evaporated by the heating means, so that the water pipe can be in a dry state, and the generation of germs is prevented. be able to. Further, since the temperature of the downstream water pipe is prevented from lowering due to heating, it is possible to prevent dew condensation from occurring in the pipe.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heating means can be constituted by an electric heater. Further, when a drinking water server is provided with a hot water tank, a hot water pouring pipe provided for taking out drinking water from the hot water tank can also be used as the heating means. In this case, since an additional electric heater is unnecessary, an increase in power consumption can be avoided. When the hot water pouring pipe is used as a heating means, the hot water pouring pipe is arranged so as to cross at least a part of the periphery of the downstream water pipe, or in parallel with a part of the downstream water pipe. By arrange | positioning so, a downstream water pipe can be heated using the thermal radiation from a hot water extraction pipe | tube.

  As another feature of the present invention, the downstream water pipe is configured such that the cross-sectional shape of the pipe line has a long hole shape.

  That is, when the pipe is circular like normal piping, a water film is likely to be formed in the pipe, and moisture tends to remain in the pipe. Therefore, in the present invention, it is difficult to form a water film on the inner diameter of the downstream water pipe. ing.

  According to the present invention, the water adhering to and remaining in the pipe of the downstream water pipe of the cold water pouring valve can be heated and evaporated by the heating means, so that the water pipe can be dried, Can be prevented. Further, since the temperature of the downstream water pipe is prevented from lowering due to heating, it is possible to prevent dew condensation from occurring in the pipe.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the cross-sectional shape of the downstream water pipe has a long hole shape, it is difficult to form a water film on the inner diameter. Residual amount of is suppressed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a drinking water server according to the present invention. The drinking water server of the present invention is a drinking water server configured to be able to sterilize a downstream water pipe of a cold water dispensing valve provided in a pipe for taking out cold water, and as shown in FIG. A cold water tank 2, a hot water tank 3, a control unit (control unit) 4, and a heating unit 15 are provided as main units.

  The water bottle 1 is provided as a replaceable container filled with drinking water to be supplied to a drinking water server. The water bottle 1 is provided with a spout 1a for supplying drinking water filled therein to the drinking water server so as to protrude from the body portion 1b, and this spout before being attached to the drinking water server. 1a is sealed with a cap or the like. That is, the water bottle 1 is provided in a state in which the drinking water filled therein is not contaminated with various germs. Then, when attaching to the drinking water server, the sealing of the spout 1a is released, and a predetermined position of the drinking water server (specifically, a recess of the cold water tank 2 to be described later) is set so that the spout 1a faces downward. Part 2a).

  The cold water tank 2 is composed of a metal tank having a recessed portion 2a formed at the top so that the water bottle 1 can be attached. One end of a drinking water supply pipe 12 for supplying drinking water supplied from the water bottle 1 to the hot water tank 3 is provided on the bottom surface of the recessed portion 2a (details will be described later).

  The cold water tank 2 is provided with a cooling device (not shown) that cools drinking water in the tank with a refrigerant supplied from a compressor (not shown). The cooling device is controlled by the control unit 4. That is, the controller 4 determines that the temperature of the drinking water in the cold water tank 2 is a predetermined set temperature based on a temperature detection signal obtained from a temperature sensor (not shown) that measures the temperature of the drinking water in the cold water tank 2. It is comprised so that operation of a cooling device may be controlled. The cold water tank 2 is subjected to a heat retention process such as covering its periphery with a heat insulating material (not shown) so that the drinking water cooled by the cooling device does not rise due to the temperature of the outside air.

  Above the inside of the cold water tank 2, hot drinking water supplied from a second drinking water supply pipe 13, which will be described later, directly mixes with cold drinking water in the tank (drinked water cooled by a cooling device). The baffle plate 5 is disposed so that the drinking water supplied from the second drinking water supply pipe 13 and the low-temperature drinking water through a through-hole (not shown) provided in the baffle plate 5 To be mixed.

  And the cold water extraction pipe | tube 6 for taking out the drinking water in the tank 2 outside is connected to the lower part (this embodiment the bottom part of the cold water tank 2) of this cold water tank 2 of this cold water extraction pipe | tube 6. A cold water pouring valve 7 is provided at the tip. That is, the drinking water in the cold water tank 2 can be taken out by opening the cold water pouring valve 7. A downstream water pipe 70 constituting a cold water pouring spout is provided on the downstream side of the cold water pouring valve 7.

  And in this cold water tank 2, the ultraviolet lamp 8 which can irradiate an ultraviolet-ray in this tank is arrange | positioned in order to sterilize the drinking water in a tank. As shown in the figure, the ultraviolet lamp 8 is disposed so that one end of the ultraviolet lamp 8 penetrates the cold water pouring pipe 6 so as to be orthogonal to the cold water pouring pipe 6. The inside of the outlet tube 6 can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays (sterilization). Further, the other end of the ultraviolet lamp 8 is disposed so as to reach at least the baffle plate 5, and ultraviolet rays can be irradiated in a tank below the baffle plate 5 (a portion where cold water is stored).

  As the ultraviolet lamp 8, a rod-shaped lamp capable of radiating ultraviolet rays radially is used. Specifically, a so-called straight tube type lamp is preferably used as such an ultraviolet lamp, but a so-called U-tube type ultraviolet lamp may also be used. The turning on / off of the ultraviolet lamp 8 is controlled by the control unit 4.

  The hot water tank 3 is composed of a metal tank disposed below the cold water tank 2. The hot water tank 2 is provided with an electric heater 9 for heating the drinking water in the tank. The electric heater 9 is controlled by the control unit 4 in the same manner as the cooling device for the cold water tank 2. That is, the control unit 4 sets the drinking water in the hot water tank 3 to a predetermined set temperature based on a temperature detection signal obtained from a temperature sensor (not shown) that measures the temperature of the drinking water in the hot water tank 3. Thus, the on / off of the electric heater 9 is controlled.

  The hot water tank 3 is subjected to a heat retaining process such as covering the periphery thereof with a heat insulating material (not shown) so that the drinking water heated and heated by the electric heater 9 is not easily cooled by natural heat radiation.

  Further, a hot water pouring pipe 10 for taking out the drinking water in the hot water tank 3 to the outside is connected to the upper part of the hot water tank 3 (the upper surface of the hot water tank 3 in the illustrated example). A hot water discharge valve 11 is provided at the tip of 10. That is, the drinking water in the hot water tank 3 can be taken out by opening the hot water pouring valve 11.

  And in the drinking water server comprised in this way, the drinking water supplied from the water bottle 1 is once introduce | transduced into the warm water tank 3, and after heating (thermal sterilization) in this warm water tank 3, it goes to the cold water tank 2 It is configured to be supplied.

  That is, the other end of the drinking water supply pipe 12 arranged with one end facing the recessed portion 2a of the cold water tank 2 is introduced into the tank of the hot water tank 3 (particularly near the bottom of the tank) as shown in the figure. The hot water tank 3 is configured to receive drinking water from the water bottle 1 through the drinking water supply pipe 12. And the drinking water in the cold water tank 2 is poured out from the cold water extraction pipe | tube 6, or there is no drinking water downstream (the tanks 2 and 3 are empty like the time of installation of a drinking water server). Thus, the drinking water in the water bottle 1 naturally falls through the drinking water supply pipe 12 and flows into the hot water tank 3, and the drinking water in the hot water tank 3 is supplied into the cold water tank 2 through the second drinking water supply pipe 13. Is done. The second drinking water supply pipe 13 has one end connected to the upper part of the hot water tank 3 and the other end facing the upper surface of the baffle plate 5 in the cold water tank 2. Drinking water introduced into the upper surface of the baffle plate 5 of the cold water tank 2 through the water supply pipe 13 is supplied into the cold water tank 2 through a through hole (not shown) of the baffle plate 5.

  The control part 4 is a control apparatus for controlling each part of a drinking water server, Comprising: It comprises a microcomputer which is not shown in figure. The microcomputer is provided with a program for executing control for maintaining the drinking water in the cold water tank 2 and the hot water tank 3 at a predetermined set temperature by controlling the cooling device and the electric heater 9.

  Therefore, in the drinking water server having such a configuration, in the present invention, the heating means 15 for heating the pipe of the downstream water pipe 70 disposed on the downstream side of the cold water discharge valve 7 is provided. .

  In the drinking water server of the present embodiment, as the heating means 15, a hot water pouring pipe 10 for extracting drinking water from the hot water tank 3 (specifically, hot water in the hot water pouring pipe 10) is used. .

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of the heating means 15 using the hot water pouring pipe 10, FIG. 2 (a) is an external view thereof, and FIG. 2 (b) is an internal structure of the heating means 15. An example is shown, and FIG. 2 (c) shows another example of the internal structure of the heating means 15.

  As illustrated, the heating means 15 includes a case 16 provided with a cold water pouring valve 7 and a hot water pouring valve 11. The case 16 is connected to the cold water extraction pipe 6 and the hot water extraction pipe 10, and the hot water extraction pipe 10 is disposed in the case 16 so as to be close to the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water extraction valve 7. Thus, the pipe of the downstream water pipe 70 is heated using the heat of the drinking water (hot water) in the hot water extraction pipe 10.

  In addition, the hot water extraction pipe 10 and the downstream water pipe 70 in the case 16 use a member having high thermal conductivity (for example, metal) at least in a portion where both are close to each other, and heating by the hot water extraction pipe 10 is efficient. It is preferable to perform it frequently.

  FIG. 2 (b) shows an example of a configuration in which the hot water extraction pipe 10 is brought close to the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water extraction valve 7. In this example, the pipe of the hot water extraction pipe 10 is the downstream water pipe. 70 is arranged in parallel with a part of 70. Specifically, the drinking water from the cold water tank 2 is led to the cold water pouring valve 7 in the case 16 through the cold water pouring pipe 6 as shown by a one-dot chain line in the figure, and the downstream water pipe 70 is It is configured to be discharged downward through. And the drinking water from the hot water tank 3 is led into the case 16 through the hot water pouring pipe 10 as shown by a chain line in the figure, and then a part of the downstream water pipe 70 ( Piped parallel to the downwardly disposed portion) and then led to the hot water pouring valve 7. And it is comprised so that it may discharge from the downstream water pipe 110 provided in the downstream of the hot water extraction valve 11. FIG.

  Here, since the portion of the hot water pouring pipe 10 that is parallel to the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water pouring valve 7 is set upstream of the hot water pouring valve 11, hot water always stays in this portion. Then, the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water pouring valve 7 is heated.

  By the way, when the hot water pouring valve 11 is opened and hot water is taken out, high temperature hot water (for example, about 80 to 90 ° C.) in the hot water tank 3 flows through this portion. However, the evaporation of water in the pipe line is promoted. On the other hand, if the hot water pouring valve 11 continues to be closed, the temperature does not become as high as when the hot water pouring valve 11 is opened, but it is still in communication with the hot water tank 3, so The temperature of the warm water is kept at a temperature higher than room temperature (for example, about 30 to 50 ° C.). Therefore, even in this case, the downstream water pipe 70 is heated, and at least the condensation on the downstream water pipe 70 is prevented.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 2B, the tip (pour spout) of the downstream water pipe 110 on the downstream side of the hot water pour valve 11 is connected to the tip (pour spout) of the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water pour valve 7. Although it arrange | positions so that it may adjoin, it is for improving the usability of a drinking water server by arrange | positioning the spout of warm water and cold water in the vicinity. Accordingly, the design of both positions can be changed as appropriate (the same applies to the case of FIG. 2C described later).

  Next, the configuration of FIG. 2 (c) will be described. In this case, the pipes of the hot water extraction pipe 10 are arranged so as to cross at least part of the periphery of the downstream water pipe 70. Specifically, the drinking water from the cold water tank 2 is led to the cold water pouring valve 7 in the case 16 through the cold water pouring pipe 6 as shown by a one-dot chain line in the figure, and the downstream water pipe 70 is It is configured to be discharged downward through. And the drinking water from the hot water tank 3 is led into the case 16 through the hot water pouring pipe 10 as shown by a chain line in the figure, and then a part of the downstream water pipe 70 ( Pipes are wound so as to wrap around the portion disposed downward, and then guided to the hot water pouring valve 7. And it is comprised so that it may discharge from the downstream water pipe 110 provided in the downstream of the hot water extraction valve 11. FIG.

  Also in the configuration of FIG. 2 (c), the portion of the hot water pouring pipe 10 that goes around the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water pouring valve 7 is set upstream of the hot water pouring valve 11 as described above. This is the same as 2 (b). Accordingly, also in this case, the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water pouring valve 7 is always heated by the hot water pouring pipe 10.

  In addition, although the case where the hot water extraction pipe 10 makes only one turn around the downstream water pipe 70 is shown in the illustrated example, it can be configured to be wound in a coil shape a plurality of times.

Embodiment 2
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is a modification of the configuration of the heating means 15 in the first embodiment described above, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, the parts having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, an electric heater is used as the heating means 15. That is, in this embodiment, an electric heater (not shown) for heating the water pipe 70 is attached to the downstream water pipe 70. This attachment is performed by an appropriate method such as winding an electric heater around the downstream water pipe 70 or arranging an electric heater along the downstream water pipe 70.

  Of course, this electric heater may be configured to always heat the downstream water pipe 70, but is configured to be controllable by the control unit 4. For example, the electric heater 7 may be periodically or chilled. It is also possible to set to operate for a certain time after opening. Further, when the temperature heated by the electric heater is set high and low, when the water in the downstream side water pipe 70 is evaporated, the water is heated to a high temperature (for example, about 80 to 90 ° C.), and when dew condensation is prevented, the temperature is lower than that. It can also be configured to heat to (for example, about 30 to 40 ° C.).

  Thus, in the present embodiment as well, as in the above-described embodiment, the water adhering to and remaining in the pipe of the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water discharge valve 7 can be heated and evaporated by the electric heater. The inside of the tube can be kept dry to prevent generation of germs. Moreover, since it can prevent that the temperature of the downstream water pipe 70 falls by heating, it can prevent that dew condensation generate | occur | produces in a pipe line.

Embodiment 3
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the pipe of the downstream water pipe 70 of the cold water discharge valve 7 in the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above is changed. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment or the second embodiment, portions having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the shape of the conduit of the downstream water pipe 70, and FIG. 3 (a) is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which the downstream water pipe 70 is provided in the cold water injection valve 7. (b) is the figure which removed the cold water injection valve 7 in FIG.3 (a), and looked at the downstream water pipe 70 from upper direction, FIG.3 (c) is the figure which looked at the downstream water pipe 70 from diagonally downward. .

  In the drinking water server shown in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the downstream side water pipe 70 of the cold water pouring valve 7 has a long hole shape as shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (c). It is configured as follows. Specifically, as shown by reference numeral 70a, it is formed in a substantially semicircular arc shape. This is because, when the cross-sectional shape is circular as in normal piping, when the cold water pouring valve 7 is opened and closed, the drinking water remaining in the pipe becomes a thin film and closes the pipe (water Therefore, the film is formed in a long hole shape so that such a film is not formed.

  Although the illustration of the heating means 15 is omitted in FIG. 3, when an electric heater is used as the heating means 15 as in the second embodiment described above, the surface of the downstream water pipe 70 shown in the figure is electrically connected. A heater is provided. In addition, the case of heating using the hot water extraction pipe 10 as in the first embodiment is not particularly illustrated, but in this case as well, the cross-sectional shape of the pipe of the downstream water pipe 70 is the same as that shown in FIG. The shape is a long hole.

  FIG. 3 shows the case where the cold water pouring valve 7 is arranged vertically (see FIG. 3A), but the present invention is also applicable when the cold water pouring valve 7 is arranged sideways. Is possible. That is, FIG. 4 shows a case where the cold water pouring valve 7 is disposed sideways. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the downstream water pipe 70 is an elliptical shape that is not an arc as shown by reference numeral 70b in FIG. (Elongated hole shape). In addition, the effect in this case is the same as that of the case of the said FIG.

  Note that the above-described embodiments merely show preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these, and various design changes can be made within the scope thereof.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the drinking water server includes both the cold water tank 2 and the hot water tank 3 has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a drinking water server including only a cold water tank. In this case, since the downstream water pipe 70 cannot be heated using the hot water in the hot water tank 3, an electric heater is used as the heating means.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where only the heat sterilization is performed using the electric heater 9 in the hot water tank 3 has been described. For example, a separate cooling means is provided in the hot water tank 3 to rapidly lower the temperature in the tank. It is also possible to configure so that the inside of the hot water tank 3 is intermittently sterilized by alternately performing the cooling by the cooling means and the heating by the electric heater 9 by the control unit 4. . By performing intermittent sterilization in this way, it is possible to reliably sterilize spore bacteria and the like that cannot be killed only by thermal sterilization.

It is a schematic structure figure showing an example of a drinking water server concerning the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the heating means in the drinking water server, Comprising: Fig.2 (a) shows the external view, FIG.2 (b) shows an example of the internal structure of the heating means 15, and FIG. (c) shows another example of the internal structure of the heating means 15. It is explanatory drawing which shows the shape of the pipe line of the downstream water pipe in the same drinking water server, FIG.3 (a) is a perspective view which shows an example of the state by which the downstream water pipe was provided in the cold water injection valve, FIG. FIG. 3B is a view of the downstream water pipe as viewed from above with the cold water injection valve removed in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a view of the downstream water pipe as viewed obliquely from below. It is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the shape of the pipe line of the downstream water pipe in the same drinking water server, FIG.4 (a) is a perspective view which shows the external appearance, FIG.4 (b) is the downstream water pipe It is the figure which looked at from diagonally downward. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the conventional drinking water server.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water bottle 2 Cold water tank 3 Hot water tank 4 Control part 5 Baffle plate 6 Cold water pouring pipe 7 Cold water pouring valve 70 Downstream water pipe 8 Ultraviolet lamp 9 Electric heater 10 Hot water pouring pipe 11 Hot water pouring valve 12 Drinking water supply pipe 13 Second drinking water supply pipe 15 Heating means

Claims (6)

In a drinking water server provided with a cold water dispensing valve in a cold water dispensing pipe for taking out cold water from a cold water tank,
A drinking water server, characterized in that a heating means for heating a downstream water pipe line provided on the downstream side of the cold water pouring valve is provided.   The drinking water server according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit includes an electric heater.   The drinking water server according to claim 1, wherein the heating means is configured by a hot water discharge pipe for taking out drinking water from a hot water tank provided in the drinking water server.   The drinking water server according to claim 3, wherein the hot water discharge pipes are arranged so as to cross at least a part of the periphery of the downstream water pipe.   The drinking water server according to claim 3, wherein the hot water pouring pipe is disposed so as to be parallel to a part of the downstream water pipe.   The drinking water server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the downstream water pipe is configured so that a cross-sectional shape of the pipe line has a long hole shape.

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