Pot type water purification unit

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a pot-type water purifier unit in which raw water (unpurified water) such as tap water is filtered with a filter and stored in a lower container such as a pot.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Water purifiers for removing residual chlorine and the like in tap water to create so-called "delicious" water are becoming widespread. This water purifier mainly includes a type that is attached to a tap and a pot type water purifier that stores purified water in a container such as a tabletop pot.

【0003】

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example of a pot-type water purifier (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-104881), in which a water purifier unit 14 is fitted on an upper portion of a pot 12 with a grip 10. The water purifier unit 14 includes a case 16 having an opening in the center of the bottom surface, a filter case 18 mounted on the bottom opening of the case 16, a filter element 20 inserted in the filter case 18, and a case 16. It is equipped with a lid 22 attached to the lid.

【0004】

When water is injected into the case 16, the water passes through the filter element 20 and is filtered by gravity filtration. Purified water collects in pot 12. When the grip 10 of the pot 12 is grasped and tilted, the purified water flows out from the spout 24.

【0005】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

The conventional water purifier unit has the following problems.

【0006】

When water is injected into the case 16 from a tap, the water discharged from the faucet directly hits the upper surface of the filter case 18, and the filter elements 20 in the filter case 18 are unevenly distributed or the filter elements 20 rub against each other. There is a risk that they will wear together and the filtration performance will deteriorate, or that the worn particles will be mixed into the filtered water (purified water).

【0007】

If the unpurified water overflows from the case 16 when the unpurified water is poured into the case 16, the unpurified water flows into the pot 12 from the spout 24.

【0008】

[Means for solving problems]

The pot-type water purifier unit according to claim 1 is the pot-type water purifier unit including a case installed on the upper side of a lower container for storing purified water and a filter installed on the lower part of the case. A part of the side surface of the case is provided with a protruding portion having a shape protruding laterally and the inside communicates with the inside of the case, and an unpurified water receiving port is provided on the upper surface of the protruding portion. It is characterized by providing a cap that covers the entrance.

【0009】

The pot-type water purifier unit according to claim 2 has a case installed above the lower container for storing purified water, a filter installed at the lower part of the case, and a lid covering the upper part of the case. In the pot-type water purifier unit, a spout that is extended in the vertical direction through the case and the lid in order to inject water from the lower container, and the upper end of which protrudes upward from the lid. A first cap attached to the upper end of the spout, an inlet for unpurified water provided on the lid, and a second cap attached to the inlet are provided. And the second cap is characterized in that it is supported by a portion of the upper surface of the lid between the spout and the inlet.

【0010】

[Action]

In the pot-type water purifier unit of the present invention, when water is poured into the case, it is filtered by a filter and the purified water flows out from the lower part of the case. This water is stored in the lower container.

【0011】

In the pot-type water purifier unit of claim 1, a protruding portion is projected from the side surface of the case, and an unpurified water receiving port is provided on the upper surface of the protruding portion. Therefore, even if tap water is vigorously injected into the receiving port from the faucet, the water once hits the lower surface of the protruding portion and then flows into the case. Therefore, water does not hit the lower filter inside the case directly. This prevents uneven distribution and wear of the filter.

【0012】

In the pot-type water purifier unit of claim 2, when the lower container to which the pot-type water purifier unit is mounted is tilted, the purified water in the lower container flows out from the inlet of the pot-type water purifier unit.

【0013】

By the way, when injecting unpurified water into this case, the cap of the receiving port is removed and the water is injected into the case from the receiving port. However, when the injection amount exceeds the furnace overspeed of the filter, the inside of the case is injected. Water accumulates in the pot, and finally water overflows from the inlet onto the lid. In this case, since the upper end of the spout is located above the lid, the overflowing unpurified water does not flow into the spout.

【0014】

Further, in the pot type water purifier unit of claim 2, when unpurified water is injected, the cap covering the inlet and the inlet is arranged so as to stand up between the inlet and the spout.

【0015】

Therefore, even if water bounces off the peripheral edge of the receiving port, it is difficult for the water to reach the spout.

【0016】

Further, even if the spout cap is open, the spout cap also stands between the inlet and the spout. Therefore, it is difficult for the water that bounces off the periphery of the inlet and the inlet to enter the spout.

【0017】

[Example]

Examples will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the overall configuration of a water purifier equipped with the water purifier unit according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, the upper half is a plan view with the lid closed, and the lower half is a plan view. It is a top view in the state which the lid is removed. In addition, in FIG. 2, the cap described later is not shown. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the water purifier according to this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a usage example of this water purifier.

【0018】

The pot-type water purifier unit 30 is installed above the bottom cylindrical lower container 32. The pot-type water purifier unit 30 has a substantially cylindrical case 38 having an outlet 34 on the bottom surface and a filter exchange port 36 on the top surface, and a filter 40 made of activated carbon fibers arranged in the case 38. An anode 42 provided so as to be in contact with the filter 40, a cathode 44 provided so as to be separated from the filter 40, and the like.

【0019】

In the case 38, a cylindrical portion 48 is extended in the vertical direction in order to pour out the water in the lower container 32, and the inside of the cylindrical portion 48 is an injection port 46.

【0020】

A protrusion 50 projects laterally from the side peripheral surface of the case 38. The inside of the protrusion 50 is vertically partitioned by a partition plate 50a, and a storage space for the dry battery 52 and a substrate 54 are installed below the protrusion 50.

【0021】

An inlet 56 for unpurified water such as tap water is provided on the upper surface of the protrusion 50, and a cap 58 is detachably attached. The cap 58 is made of soft plastic and may be pivotally attached to the case 38.

【0022】

As shown in FIG. 2, a transparent portion 59 is provided on the upper surface of the protruding portion 50, and an LED 60 is installed on the lower side of the transparent portion 59.

【0023】

The filter 40 is housed in a filter case 62. The upper surface and the lower surface of the filter case 62 are each provided with openings so that water can pass through. A knob 64 is projected from the upper surface of the filter case 62, and it is possible to pick the knob 64 and put the filter case 62 in and out of the case 38 from the filter exchange port 36.

【0024】

The cathode 44 is inserted into the lower half of the small hole 62a for inserting the cathode, which is formed through the bottom surface of the filter case 62.

【0025】

Reference numeral 65 denotes a lead wire connecting the substrate 54 and the electrodes 42 and 44.

【0026】

A lid 66 made of soft plastic is detachably provided on the upper surface of the case 38. The lid 66 includes a short cylindrical portion 68 that fits outside the cylindrical portion 48, and a cap 70 made of soft plastic capable of closing the cylindrical portion 68 is pivotally attached to the lid 66. There is.

【0027】

A pair of electrodes 72 are provided on the inner surface of the case 38 to detect the water poured into the case 38. When water is injected into the case 38 until the electrodes 72 are submerged, the electrodes 72 and 72 are conducted and the LED 60 is turned on.

【0028】

The usage of the pot-type water purifier unit 30 configured in this way will be described below.

【0029】

As shown in FIG. 4A, the cap 58 is removed from the receiving port 56, the pot-type water purifier unit 30 connected to the lower container 32 is placed below the faucet 74, and water is received from the faucet 74. Water is injected into the case 38 through the inlet 56. At this time, it is preferable that the cap 70 is also removed from the cylindrical portion 68 so that the air in the lower container 32 can escape through the spout 46.

【0030】

The water poured into the case 38 passes through the filter 40, undergoes filtration treatment, falls into the lower container 32, and is stored in the lower container 32.

【0031】

By pouring water from the faucet 74 at a water supply speed equal to or higher than the filtration speed of the filter 40, water collects in the case 38. When the water level in the case 38 becomes higher than that of the electrodes 72, the electrodes 72 and 72 are conducted and the LED 60 is turned on as described above. The light emission of the LED 60 is visually recognized by the user through the transparent portion 59, and the user can perceive that the water purifier unit 30 is operating.

【0032】

After the required amount of water has accumulated in the lower container 32, the water injection from the faucet 74 is stopped, and then the cap 58 is put on the receiving port 56 as shown in FIG. 4 (b). Further, the cap 70 is put on the cylindrical portion 68. As a result, the lower container 32 is in a sealed state, so that it can be stored in a refrigerator or the like as it is. As shown in FIG. 4 (c), the water purifier unit 30 and the lower container 32 are separated, and the lid 66 is directly attached to the lower container 32 and stored in the refrigerator in this state. good.

【0033】

The diameter of the upper part of the lower container 32 is equal to the diameter of the upper part of the case 38, and the lid 66 can be attached to both the case 38 and the lower container 32.

【0034】

In this embodiment, the diameters of the case 38 and the lower container 32 are selected so that the lower part of the case 38 fits watertightly on the upper inner peripheral surface of the lower container 32. Further, a skirt portion 38a extends from the outer peripheral surface of the case 38, and a packing 38b is provided inside the skirt portion 38a so as to be in close contact with the upper end surface of the lower container 32. Therefore, even if unpurified water overflows the case 38 when water is injected into the case 38, this water does not flow into the lower container 32.

【0035】

Further, the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 68 is watertightly fitted to the upper outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 48, and the cap 70 is configured to be watertightly fitted to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 68. Therefore, even if the container 32 falls in the state of FIG. 4 (b) or (c) stored in a refrigerator or the like, water does not flow out to the outside.

【0036】

In this embodiment, the caps 58 and 70 are pivotally supported in the portion between the inlet 56 and the spout 46. Therefore, even if the cap 70 is left open, as shown in FIG. 4A, when water is injected into the inlet 56, the water bounced off at the edge of the inlet 56 enters the inlet 46. Is prevented.

【0037】

In this embodiment, the filter 40 is made of activated carbon fiber, and the anode 42 is in contact with the filter 40. Further, a cathode 44 is provided so as to be separated from the filter 40 and to be in contact with water in the filter case 62, and the anode 42 and the cathode 44 have a voltage that changes periodically between 0.5 and 2.0 V. Can be applied. Therefore, even if water remains in the filter case 62, the residual water is electrically sterilized, and even if a certain amount of time elapses between the previous use and the next use, the next use At the time of use, extremely hygienic water containing no or almost no germs is supplied from the filter 40 to the lower container 32.

【0038】

That is, as a result of various studies by the present inventors, the bacteria that are alive and metabolizing are negatively charged. Therefore, when a low voltage is applied between the electrodes placed in the water, the bacteria in the water become negative. It electrophores and finally reaches the anode. When the bacteria that reach the electrode touch the electrode, the coenzymes involved in many intracellular enzymatic reactions are oxidized and reduced, and at the same time, intracellular anions are excreted. As a result, it was found that the bacteria impair their metabolic function and die.

【0039】

It has been found that the effect differs depending on the voltage applied at this time, and that the effective voltage varies slightly depending on the type of bacteria. That is, it was experimentally confirmed that the voltage that exerts the maximum effect is between 0.7V and 1.5V. To elaborate on this, a voltage of 0.7V to 0.8V is appropriate for killing bacteria at the electrodes, and a voltage of about 1.5V is suitable for attracting bacteria to the electrodes. Therefore, in the present invention, it is preferable to apply a voltage that periodically changes from 0.5V to 2.0V, particularly 0.6V to 1.5V, between the electrodes 42 and 44, and by doing so, Escherichia coli and general Bacteria can be effectively sterilized.

【0040】

In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 68 is projected from the upper surface of the lid 66. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, when water is supplied into the case 38 from the faucet 74, even if the water supply speed from the faucet 74 is excessive and the water overflows from the receiving port 56, this water Does not wrap around the upper end of the cylindrical portion 68. That is, the untreated tap water overflowing from the receiving port 56 does not flow back through the spout 46 and falls into the lower container 32 at all.

【0041】

In this embodiment, the projecting portion 50 is projected from the side of the case 38, and the battery 52 is installed in the projecting portion 50. The protrusion 50 is arranged at a position shifted laterally from above the lower container 32, and the lower end portion of the protrusion 50 is located below the upper end of the lower container 32. Therefore, even if a liquid leaks from the dry battery 52, this liquid does not enter the lower container 32 at all.

【0042】

In this embodiment, when water collects in the case 38, the LED 60 is turned on for a short time. This lighting time is set to 5 seconds in this embodiment, and the life of the dry battery 52 is extremely long due to the shortening of the lighting time in this way. However, in addition to such a light generating means such as an LED, a means for generating a sound such as an electronic buzzer may be used.

【0043】

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a usage state of a pot-type water purifier provided with a water purifier unit 30A according to a different embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the inside of the protrusion 80 is divided into two upper and lower chambers 84,86 by a partition plate 82. On the upper surface of the protrusion 80, a receiving port 56 is provided so as to face the upper chamber 84, and a cap 58 is attached. The cap 58 is pivotally attached to the case 38.

【0044】

A generator 90, a storage battery 92, and a circuit board 54 are provided in the lower room. The rotating shaft 90a of the generator 90 penetrates the partition plate 82 and protrudes into the upper chamber 84, and the impeller 94 is attached to the tip thereof. 96 indicates a seal and a bearing.

【0045】

When water is injected from the receiving port 56, the impeller 94 rotates and the generator 90 generates electricity. The generated power is rectified by a rectifier circuit provided on the substrate 54 and charged to the storage battery 92. A voltage is applied to the anode 42 and the cathode 44 by the power supply from the storage battery 92. In addition, LEDs (not shown in Fig. 5) are also lit.

【0046】

Other symbols in Fig. 5 indicate the same members as in Fig. 1.

【0047】

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a water purifier including the water purifier unit 30B according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of its use. In this embodiment, the lid 66A is provided with an unpurified water receiving port 98. A short cylindrical portion 100 is raised from the peripheral edge of the receiving port 98, and a cap 102 is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 100. The cap 102 and the pivotal branches 104 and 106 of the cap 70 that cover the cylindrical portion 68 are arranged in a portion between the inlet 98 and the spout 46, respectively.

【0048】

In this embodiment, the battery casing 110 is projected from the side peripheral surface of the case 38 to the side, and the dry battery 52 and the substrate 54 are installed in the battery casing 110. Reference numeral 112 is a replacement battery lid for the dry battery 52 provided in the battery casing 110. A transparent portion 114 is provided on the upper surface of the battery casing 110, and an LED 60 is installed on the lower side of the transparent portion 114.

【0049】

Other symbols in Fig. 6 indicate the same parts as in Fig. 1.

【0050】

The pot-type water purifier unit 30B configured in this way is also used by being attached to the upper end of the lower container 32 as shown in FIG.

【0051】

When creating purified water, the cap 102 is opened and the water discharged from the faucet 74 is injected into the case 38 from the receiving port 98. In this case, it is preferable to remove the cap 70 in order to improve the air release from the lower container 32.

【0052】

In this embodiment, since the pivotal branches 104, 106 of the caps 102, 70 are arranged between the inlet 98 and the spout 46, the cap 102 is the inlet 98 and the note in the usage state shown in FIG. Stand up with exit 46. Therefore, even if the water bounces off the edge of the inlet 98, the water is less likely to reach the spout 46, and unpurified water is prevented from entering the spout.

【0053】

[Effect of the invention]

In the pot-type water purifier unit of claim 1, the filter does not deteriorate due to the water force when water is injected into the case. Therefore, the life of the filter is extended, and sufficiently well-filtered purified water can be obtained.

【0054】

In the pot-type water purifier unit of claim 2, when the unpurified water is injected into the receiving port, the bounced water is prevented from flowing into the lower container, and the purified water in the lower container may be mixed with the unpurified water. Be prevented.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is the whole vertical sectional view of the water purifier provided with the water purifier unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a top view of the water purifier provided with the water purifier unit which concerns on embodiment, the upper half is a plan view with a lid attached, and the lower half is a plan view with a lid removed.

[Fig. 3]

It is an exploded perspective view of the water purifier which concerns on Example.

[Fig. 4]

It is a perspective view which shows the use example of the water purifier which concerns on Example.

[Fig. 5]

It is a vertical sectional view which shows the main part of the water purifier provided with the water purifier unit which concerns on another Example.

[Fig. 6]

It is a vertical sectional view of a main part of a water purifier provided with the water purifier unit according to still another embodiment.

[Fig. 7]

It is a perspective view which shows the use example of the water purifier unit of FIG.

[Fig. 8]

It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

30,30A, 30B Water purifier unit 32 Lower container 34 Outlet 36 Reception 38,38A case 40 filters 46 spout 56 Reception 62,62A, 62B filter case