Silver ion water generator

Abstract

To provide a silver ion water generator capable of suppressing the circulation of foreign matters between a pair of electrodes.SOLUTION: There is provided a silver ion water generator which comprises a pair of silver-made electrodes 6 extending along a water flow passage 65 and disposed on both sides across the water flow passage 65 and is configured to generate silver ion water by dissolving silver ions from the electrodes 6 by applying a direct-current voltage between the pair of electrodes 6 while circulating raw material water along the water flow passage 65. A resin-made electrode cover 7 for covering a periphery of the pair of electrodes 6 is provided and a first groove for preventing foreign matter stagnation extending along the water flow passage 65 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the electrode cover 7, corresponding to the pair of electrodes 6 at both edges of the water flow passage 65.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a silver ion water generating device for generating silver ion water to be used for sterilization and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, silver ion water has been attracting attention for its sterilization purposes. For example, in elderly care facilities and hospitals, silver ion water with bactericidal properties is sometimes used to wash parts of the body, such as the genitals, of patients requiring care. One well-known method for generating such silver ion water is a silver ion water generator using electrolysis.

[0003] For example, the electrolysis-type silver ion water generator disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes a water-passing case having an inlet and an outlet, and a pair of silver plate electrodes are arranged parallel to each other at a distance inside the water-passing case. While water flows into the water-passing case through the inlet, a DC voltage is applied to the pair of electrodes, causing silver ions to elute through an electrolysis reaction, producing silver ion water, which then flows out from the outlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5684523 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional silver ion water generators described above, foreign matter such as silver chloride is generated by oxidation during the electrolysis reaction. If such foreign matter remains between the pair of electrodes, it may cause a short circuit between the pair of electrodes. This will prevent the electrolysis reaction from occurring, and will result in the problem of being unable to stably generate silver ion water.

[0006] This invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a silver ion water generating device that can prevent short circuits from occurring between a pair of electrodes due to foreign matter such as silver chloride, and can generate silver ion water in a stable state for a long period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises the following means.

[0008] [1] A silver ion water generating device that includes a pair of silver electrodes extending along a water passage and arranged on either side of the water passage, and that applies a DC voltage between the pair of electrodes while circulating raw water along the water passage, thereby dissolving silver ions from the electrodes and generating silver ion water, a resin electrode cover is provided to cover the periphery of the pair of electrodes; A silver ion water generating device characterized in that a first groove for preventing foreign matter from accumulating is formed on the inner surface of the electrode cover, extending along the water passage, corresponding to the space between the pair of electrodes on both side edges of the water passage.

[0009] [2] A current-carrying portion for applying current to the electrodes is provided at the downstream end of the water passage in the pair of electrodes, The silver ion water generating device described in the preceding paragraph 1, wherein a second groove for preventing foreign matter from accumulating is formed on the inner surface of the electrode cover, the second groove having a wider spacing than the narrow groove, corresponding to the space between the pair of electrodes on both side edges of the downstream end of the water passage. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the silver ion water generating device of the invention [1], first grooves for preventing the accumulation of foreign matter are formed on both side edges of the water passage on the inner circumferential surface of the electrode cover, so that foreign matter such as silver chloride generated during the electrolysis reaction is unlikely to accumulate in the first grooves, and can be limited to a small amount remaining on the bottom surface of the grooves. Therefore, foreign matter that accumulates on the inner circumferential surface of the electrode cover is blocked at the position of the first grooves, thereby reliably preventing problems such as a short circuit between the pair of electrodes due to foreign matter, allowing the electrolysis reaction to be carried out efficiently and high-quality silver ion water to be produced stably over a long period of time.

[0011] According to the silver ion water generating device of the invention [2], the second groove is formed around the conductive part where a large amount of foreign matter such as silver chloride is generated, so that foreign matter such as silver chloride is less likely to accumulate in this second groove, and it is possible to suppress accumulation to a small amount on the bottom surface of the groove. Therefore, as described above, by blocking accumulation of foreign matter at the position of the second groove, it is possible to more reliably prevent problems such as a short circuit between the pair of electrodes due to foreign matter, and it is possible to reliably generate high-quality silver ion water in an even more stable state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a silver ion water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the silver ion water generating device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the electrolysis unit in the silver ion water production device of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a replacement unit in the silver ion water production device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the replacement unit of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the replacement unit of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view showing the replacement unit of the embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the replacement unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a pair of electrode members in the replacement unit of the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the periphery of a pair of electrode members in the replacement unit of the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the electrode member in the replacement unit of the embodiment. [Figure 12] 12(a) is an enlarged view of the part surrounded by the two-dot chain line X in FIG. 11, and FIG. 12(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the part surrounded by the two-dot chain line Y in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a front cross-sectional view showing an upper case applied to the replacement unit of the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a bottom view showing the upper case of the embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an electrode applied to the electrode member in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a silver ion water generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the silver ion water generation device in a schematic form. As shown in both figures, the silver ion water generation device of this embodiment is a device that generates silver ion water using raw water such as pure water or clean water (domestic water), and is equipped with a housing 10 that covers almost the entire periphery of the device. The housing 10 is provided with a raw water storage section 1, a silver ion water generation section 3, and a silver ion water storage section 2. The raw water storage section 1 and the silver ion water generation section 3 are arranged so as to be concealed inside the housing 10, and the silver ion water storage section 2 is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside at an end of the housing 10.

[0014] A raw water tank 11 is installed in the raw water storage section 1 of the housing 10. Furthermore, the upper end of the raw water storage section 1 of the housing 10 is open, and an openable / closable lid 12 is attached to the opening so that it can be opened and closed. With the openable / closable lid 12 open, raw water can be poured into the raw water tank 11 from the upper opening and stored therein.

[0015] The silver ion water generator 3 is equipped with an electrolysis unit 31, a water supply pump 15, and a flow rate sensor 16. The upstream end of a water supply pipe 91 is connected to the lower end of the raw water tank 11, and the downstream end of the water supply pipe 91 is connected to the suction port of the water supply pump 15. The upstream end of a water supply pipe 92 is connected to the discharge port of the water supply pump 15, and the downstream end of the water supply pipe 92 is connected to the inlet of the flow rate sensor 16. The outlet of the flow rate sensor 16 is connected to the upstream end of a water supply pipe 93, and the downstream end of the water supply pipe 93 is connected to the lower end of the electrolysis unit 31, which will be described in detail later. The raw water in the raw water tank 11 is fed into the water supply pump 15 by its own weight, and the raw water is then fed to the electrolysis unit 31 via the flow rate sensor 16 by the discharge force of the water supply pump 15.

[0016] The silver ion water storage section 2 in the housing 10 is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside, and a silver ion water bottle 20 is installed in the silver ion water storage section 2 via this exposed section so as to be able to be inserted and removed. Furthermore, a nozzle 21 is provided at the upper end of the silver ion water storage section 2, and a spout 22 of the nozzle 21 is disposed corresponding to the upper opening of the silver ion water bottle 20.

[0017] The upstream end of a water supply pipe 94 is connected to the outer peripheral side of the electrolysis unit 31, and the downstream end of the water supply pipe 94 is connected to the inlet of the nozzle 21. As will be described later, silver ion water generated by the electrolysis unit 31 is sent to the nozzle 21 through the water supply pipe 94, and is dripped out from the outlet 22 of the nozzle 21 and supplied into the silver ion water bottle 20.

[0018] The upper end of the electrolysis section 31 of the housing 10 is open, and an openable / closable lid 13 is attached to the opening so that it can be opened and closed. By opening this openable / closable lid 13, the replacement unit 4 of the electrolysis section 31 can be replaced as described below.

[0019] 3 is a perspective view illustrating the electrolysis unit 31 in the silver ion water generation device of the embodiment. As shown in the figure, the electrolysis unit 31 includes a unit mounting portion 32 provided on the housing 10 side and a replacement unit 4 mounted on the unit mounting portion 32.

[0020] 4 to 10 are views showing the replacement unit 4 of this embodiment, and Fig. 11 is a view showing an electrode member 60 employed in the replacement unit 4. As shown in these figures, the replacement unit 4 includes an upper cover 41, a lead terminal member 5, a pair of electrode members 60, an upper case 80, and a lower case 85.

[0021] The pair of electrode members 60 are formed symmetrically to each other, and each electrode member 60 is composed of a strip-shaped or tape-shaped silver plate electrode 6 and a vertically split cylindrical (semi-cylindrical) resin electrode cover 7 that is provided to cover one side (outer side) of the electrode 6.

[0022] In this embodiment, the electrode 6 side of the electrode member 60 will be described as the inside (inner surface side), and the electrode cover 7 side will be described as the outside (outer surface side). In other words, the opposing surfaces of the pair of electrodes 6 will be the inner surface side (inner surface side), and the non-opposing surfaces will be the outer surface side (outer surface side).

[0023] In this embodiment, the electrode member 60 is configured as an insert-molded product in which the electrode 6 is used as an insert and is integrally coated with a resin that becomes the electrode cover 7 by molding.

[0024] The electrode 6 integrally comprises an electrode body 61 arranged vertically in the middle inside the electrode cover 7, and a current-carrying part (contact part) 62 provided at the upper end of the electrode 6 and bent outward by approximately 90°. In this embodiment, the current-carrying part 62 is configured as a bent part.

[0025] As shown in Figure 12, upper protrusions 71 that protrude upward are integrally formed on both side edges of the electrode cover 7 in a portion corresponding to the protruding corner 63 at the bending position between the electrode body 61 and the contact portion 62. These upper protrusions 71 are formed so as to cover both side ends of the protruding corner 63 of the electrode 65 from the inside; that is, the inside of both side ends of the protruding corner 63 of the electrode 65 are covered by the upper protrusions 71. In this embodiment, these upper protrusions 71 are configured as protruding corner covering portions. These upper protrusions 71 as protruding corner covering portions are positioned so as to cover the region from the bending position of the electrode 65 to part of the current-carrying portion 62, and are positioned so as to cover the periphery of both side ends of the protruding corner 63.

[0026] A horizontal installation surface is formed between the upward protrusions 71 on both sides of the electrode cover 7, and the current-carrying portion 62 of the electrode 6 is installed on this installation surface.

[0027] The electrode cover 7 is integrally formed with inward protrusions 75 that are arranged to cover both side edge portions of the electrode body 61 from the inside. In other words, the inward protrusions 75 on both sides are arranged to embrace both side edge portions of the electrode body 61. In this embodiment, the inward protrusions 75 are configured as both side covering portions.

[0028] The inner surface of the upper protrusion 71 is recessed inward to form a thick groove recess (second groove recess) 72. Furthermore, the inner surface of the inward protrusion 75 is also recessed inward to form a thin groove recess (first groove recess) 76. The thick groove recess 72 is formed to have a deeper width dimension (dimension in the inner and outer directions) than the thin groove recess 76.

[0029] In an assembled state in which the pair of electrode members 60 are mated face to face, the corresponding recesses 72 for wide grooves form wide grooves 73 as second grooves, and the corresponding recesses 76 for narrow grooves form narrow grooves 77 as first grooves that are narrower than the wide grooves 73. Furthermore, between the pair of electrode bodies 61 in the electrode cover 7, a flat water passage 65 is formed that extends in the length direction (vertical direction) of the electrode bodies 61.

[0030] In this embodiment, the outer surface of the electrode 6 is covered by the electrode cover 7, so the water passage 65 is formed only between the electrode bodies 61 of the electrode 6, and is not formed on the outside of the electrode bodies 61 or on both side edges between corresponding electrode bodies 61.

[0031] The electrode cover 7 has an open bottom center, which defines an inlet 6a. The electrode cover 7 also has an outlet 6b, which is connected to the water passage 65, between the upward protrusions 71 on both sides of the upper end of the electrode cover 7.

[0032] 10, in this embodiment, the electrode bodies 61 of a pair of electrode members 60 are arranged obliquely so as to be positioned gradually outward as they go upward, and as a result, the corresponding pair of electrode bodies 61 are arranged in a tapered shape with the distance between them gradually increasing as they go upward. As will be described later, raw water flows from the bottom to the top of the water passage 65 against its own weight, with the bottom side of the water passage 65 being the upstream side and the top side being the downstream side.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 8 and other figures, an outer peripheral protrusion 79 is formed on the outer periphery of the upper side of the electrode cover 7 of the pair of electrode members 60, continuing along the circumferential direction and protruding outward.

[0034] The lower case 85 is an integrally molded resin product and includes a cylindrical upper large diameter portion 86 provided at the upper end, and a small-diameter elongated cylindrical portion 87 integrally formed below the upper large diameter portion 86. The elongated cylindrical portion 87 has a bore formed in a shape corresponding to the lower portion of the electrode cover 7 of the pair of electrode members 60, and is formed in a tapered shape that gradually reduces in diameter toward the bottom. Furthermore, a female thread is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the upper large diameter portion 86 of the lower case 85.

[0035] The pair of electrode members 60 are inserted from the upper opening of the lower case 85 , and the lower portions of the pair of electrode covers 7 are housed in a fitted state within the elongated cylindrical portion 87 of the lower case 85 .

[0036] At the lower end of the lower case 85, an inlet 8a is formed corresponding to the inlet 6a of the pair of electrode members 60, and raw water flowing in from this inlet 8a is introduced into the water passage 65 between the pair of electrodes 6 via the inlet 6a of the electrode members 60.

[0037] 13 and 14 are diagrams showing the upper case 80. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, 13 and 14, the upper case 80 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and is made of a resin molded product having a large-diameter disk-shaped closing disk portion 81 integrally formed at the upper end.

[0038] The upper case 80 is formed so that the lower interior can accommodate the outer peripheral protrusions 79 of the pair of electrode members 60, and a male screw 82 is engraved on the outer periphery of the lower end portion in correspondence with the female screw engraved on the upper large diameter portion 86 of the lower case 85.

[0039] The lower portion of this upper case 80 fits onto the upper ends of a pair of electrode members 60 housed in the lower case 85, and the male threads 82 of the upper case 80 are screwed into the female threads of the upper end large diameter portion 86 of the lower case 85 to secure the electrode members 60 in a positioned state within the upper case 80 and the lower case 85.

[0040] In addition, an internal cylindrical portion 83 is integrally formed in the center of the blocking disk portion 81 within the upper case 80 so as to protrude downward, and this internal cylindrical portion 83 is formed with a pair of through holes 84 that correspond to the conductive portions 62 of the pair of electrodes 6 and penetrate in the vertical direction.

[0041] In addition, a through-hole outlet 8b is formed in the outer peripheral wall of the upper case 80 corresponding to the outlet 6b of the electrode member 60, and the silver ion water flowing out from the outlet 64 of the electrode member 60 is configured to flow out to the outside through the outlet 8b of the upper case 80.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a cylindrical body 56 is disposed in a state of being fitted over the portion from the inner cylindrical portion 83 of the upper case 80 to the upper end of the electrode cover 7.

[0043] 5 to 8, the lead terminal member 5 has a pair of left and right conductive (metallic) lead plates 51 arranged at the upper end. Each lead plate 51 is formed in a rectangular shape (long plate) arranged from the inside toward the outside of the electrode member 60. A conductive (metallic) lead rod 52 extending downward is attached to the inner end of each lead plate 51, and an internal contact terminal 53 formed of a conductive (metallic) coil spring is arranged at the lower end of each lead rod 51.

[0044] Furthermore, outer springs 54, which are made of conductive (metallic) coil springs, are arranged to protrude downward from the outer ends of the lead plates 51. Furthermore, external contact terminals 55, which are made of conductive (metallic) rivet pins, are arranged at the lower ends of the outer springs 54.

[0045] The lead plate 51 of this lead terminal member 5 is arranged along the upper surface of the closed disc portion 81 of the upper case 80, the lead rod 52 and internal contact terminal 53 of the lead terminal member 5 are housed in the through hole 84 of the upper case 80, the lead rod 52 is arranged opposite the conductive portion 62 of the electrode 6 via the internal contact terminal 53, and the outer spring 54 and external contact terminal 55 pass through the outer peripheral edge of the closed disc portion 81 of the upper case 80, and the lower portion of the external contact terminal 55 is arranged outside the upper case 80 below the closed disc portion 81.

[0046] The top lid 41 has a drum shape with an open bottom and a closed top. The top lid 41 is disposed so as to cover the closing disc portion 81 of the upper case 80 and the lead plate portion 51 of the lead terminal member 5 from above. In this state, the top lid 41 is assembled to the upper case 80 by inserting a screw 42 through the outer peripheral edge of the closing disc portion 81 from below and screwing it into the top wall of the top lid 41. In this assembled state, the lead plate portion 51 of the lead terminal member 5 is pressed against the closing disc portion 81 of the upper case 80 by the inner surface of the top wall of the top lid 41, and the internal contact terminals 53 of the lead terminal member 5 are pressed against the current-carrying portions 62 of the electrode member 60 in a compressed state, electrically connecting the pair of lead terminal members 5 to the pair of electrode members 6.

[0047] 3, the unit mounting portion 32 provided on the housing 10 side is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with an open upper end, and the inside is formed in a shape that can accommodate the replacement unit 4 in a compatible state. The replacement unit 4 is configured to be detachably accommodated in the unit mounting portion 32 through the upper end opening.

[0048] The downstream end of the water supply pipe 93 is connected to the lower end of the unit mounting section 32, and when the replacement unit 4 is housed and mounted in the unit mounting section 32, the downstream end of the water supply pipe 93 is watertightly connected to the inlet 6a at the lower end of the electrode member 60 via the inlet 8a of the lower case 85. Then, raw water that has flowed through the water supply pipe 93 is supplied to the lower end of the water passage 65 inside the electrode member 60 via the inlets 6a and 8a, and the raw water flows from the lower side to the upper side of the water passage 5.

[0049] An external contact portion (not shown) is provided inside the unit mounting portion 32 corresponding to the external contact terminal 55 of the lead terminal member 5 of the replacement unit 4, and electricity is supplied from a power supply portion on the housing 10 side (outside) to the lead terminal member 5 and the electrodes 6 via this external contact portion, so that a DC voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes 6. Therefore, when a DC voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes 6 while raw water is circulated through the water passage 65 between the pair of electrodes 6, silver ions are eluted from one of the electrodes (anode) 6 into the raw water by an electrolytic reaction, and silver ion water is produced.

[0050] The upstream end of the water supply pipe 94 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the upper part of the unit mounting portion 32, and the outlet 6b of the electrode member 60 is watertightly connected to the upstream end of this water supply pipe 94 via the outlet 8b of the upper case 80. Silver ion water generated by flowing through the water passage 65 of the electrode member 60 is supplied to the water supply pipe 94 via the outlets 6b, 8b, and then supplied to the nozzle 21 of the silver ion water storage portion 2.

[0051] The silver ion water supplied to the nozzle 21 is extracted from the outlet 22 and stored in the silver ion water bottle 20.

[0052] The silver ion water generating device of this embodiment is equipped with a control circuit (not shown), which is configured to generate silver ion water by controlling the driving of the supply pump 15 and the supply of electricity to the electrode 6 based on output information from the flow rate sensor 16 and a current value detection sensor (not shown) to the electrode 6 in response to an operation start command from a start / stop button (not shown).

[0053] For example, when raw water is stored in the raw water tank 11 and the start / stop button is pressed, the supply pump 15 sends the raw water to the electrolysis section 31 of the silver ion water production unit 3, and electricity is applied to the electrode 6. As described above, this causes silver ions to be eluted from the electrode 6 into the raw water in the electrolysis section 31, producing silver ion water, which is then injected into the silver ion water bottle 20 of the silver ion water storage unit 2. The control circuit then stops the silver ion water production operation when it detects, based on the output information from the flow rate sensor 16, that a predetermined amount of raw water has been processed. Furthermore, pressing the start / stop button will interrupt the silver ion water production operation, even if the silver ion water production operation is in progress.

[0054] If the amount of raw water stored in the raw water tank 11 is less than the predetermined amount, the silver ion water production operation will be stopped as soon as the raw water runs out.

[0055] Furthermore, during the silver ion water production operation, the control circuit controls the flow rate of the raw water to be constant based on output information from the flow rate sensor 16, and also controls the voltage between the pair of electrodes 6 to be constant. In this way, silver ion water with a constant silver ion concentration is produced. When the electrical resistance increases and the current value decreases due to deterioration of the electrodes 6 accompanying the electrolysis reaction, the control circuit controls by increasing the voltage between the pair of electrodes 6 to promote the electrolysis reaction and ensure the amount of silver ions eluted.

[0056] The control circuit also switches between the anode and the cathode of the pair of electrodes 6 as appropriate, and controls the pair of electrodes 6 so that the degree of deterioration of each electrode is the same.

[0057] 15, in the silver ion water production device of this embodiment configured as described above, the pair of electrodes 6 are arranged in a tapered shape so that the distance between them is wider on the downstream side A3 of the water passage 65 than on the upstream side A1, and therefore deterioration (wear) of the pair of electrodes 6 progresses gradually from the narrower downstream side A3 to the wider upstream side A1. Since the progress of deterioration of the electrodes 6 can be controlled in this way, it is possible to prevent unevenness or variation in the degree of deterioration due to the influence of the surface condition of the electrodes 6, and it is possible to appropriately vary the voltage between the pair of electrodes 6 depending on the degree of deterioration of the electrodes 6, allowing silver ion water to be produced stably for a long period of time and achieving sufficient durability.

[0058] In particular, in this embodiment, as will be described in detail below, the current-carrying portion is set at the upper end (downstream end) of the electrode 6, which can further improve durability.

[0059] Specifically, in a typical silver ion water generator (electrolyzer), a pair of electrodes (silver plates) 6 are arranged parallel to each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 15 , a current-carrying unit 62 is provided at the upper end (downstream end) of the electrode 6, and raw water is passed from the lower side (upstream side A1) to the upper side (downstream side A3). Since the silver ion concentration in the raw water on the downstream side A3 is higher than that on the upstream side A1, the amount of silver ions eluting from the pair of electrodes 6 is greater on the upstream side A1 than on the downstream side A3. Therefore, the reaction generally proceeds from the upstream side A1 to the downstream side A3. In other words, deterioration, such as the generation of silver chloride and discoloration, accompanies the reaction. The deteriorated portion of the electrode 6 has high electrical resistance, making it difficult for current to flow, and silver ions are not sufficiently eluted. Therefore, once deterioration reaches the downstream end of the electrode 6, it becomes unusable and typically requires replacement.

[0060] However, in experiments and research conducted by the inventors, when a pair of electrodes 6 is arranged in parallel and electrolysis is performed as described above, the pair of electrodes 6 generally deteriorates from the upstream side A1 to the downstream side A3. However, as described above, depending on the surface condition of the electrode 6, the deterioration of the electrode 6 does not necessarily progress as expected from the upstream side A1 to the downstream side A3. In some cases, the downstream side A3 or the middle portion A2 of the electrode 6 deteriorates before the upstream side A1. This increases electrical resistance in the deteriorated area, preventing sufficient current from flowing to the upstream side A1 of the electrode 6. As a result, the elution of silver ions due to the electrolytic reaction on the upstream side A1 is insufficient. Even if a large amount of silver components remain, the appropriate amount of silver ions will not be eluted. As a result, even if a large amount of unreacted silver components remains, the electrode (silver plate) 6 cannot be efficiently and effectively utilized, and there is a risk that sufficient durability will not be achieved.

[0061] Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the pair of electrodes 6 are arranged in a tapered shape so that the distance between them gradually increases toward the downstream side (upward). As described above, the reaction between the pair of electrodes 6 progresses faster the closer the distance is. Therefore, regardless of the surface condition of the electrode 6, deterioration of the electrode 6 progresses appropriately from the upstream side A1 toward the downstream side A3, preventing a large amount of unreacted silver components from remaining on the upstream side. In this way, there is no problem such as unreacted silver components remaining more than expected, and the silver electrode 6 can be used efficiently and effectively, further improving its durability.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper end (downstream end) of the electrode 6 is bent to form the current-carrying portion 62, and the internal contact terminals 53 of the lead terminal members 5 are brought into contact with the flat horizontal surface of the current-carrying portion 62 from above at a right angle, thereby enabling stable electrical connection. This allows power to be supplied stably from the outside to each electrode 6 via the lead terminal members 5, allowing electrolysis to be carried out efficiently and smoothly, and ensuring the production of high-quality silver ion water that contains an appropriate amount of silver ions and has excellent sterilizing properties.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the internal contact terminal 53 of the lead terminal member 5 is formed of a compression coil spring, so that the internal contact terminal 53 can be reliably brought into pressure contact with the current-carrying portion 62 of the electrode 6, resulting in a more stable electrical connection. This allows electrolysis to be carried out more efficiently and smoothly, and enables the production of higher quality silver ion water.

[0064] 15, the inner surface of the protruding corner 63 between the electrode body 61 and the current-carrying portion 62 of the electrode 6 is protruding (protruding corner shape), and therefore, during electrolysis, a reaction is likely to proceed at the end B of the protruding corner 63, and there is a risk that deterioration will progress from the end B to the entire protruding corner 63. If the protruding corner 63 deteriorates severely in this way, sufficient current will not be passed to the electrode body 61, resulting in insufficient elution of silver ions and making it impossible to produce high-quality silver ion water.

[0065] 12, the electrode cover 7 covering the outer surface of the electrode 6 is provided with an upward protrusion 71 that covers the periphery of the end B of the corner 63 of the electrode 6 from the inner surface, thereby preventing deterioration of the end B of the corner 63 of the electrode 6 and effectively suppressing the progression of deterioration that spreads from the end B to the entire area of the corner 63. In this way, deterioration of the corner 63 of the electrode 6 can be suppressed, and sufficient current can be supplied from the current-carrying part 62 to the electrode body 61 side, allowing the electrolysis reaction to be carried out stably, sufficient silver ions to be eluted, and high-quality silver ion water to be efficiently produced.

[0066] 9 and 11, in this embodiment, narrow grooves 77 are formed on both side edges of the water passage 65 on the inner circumferential surface of the electrode cover 7 that covers the outer surface of the electrode 6, so that foreign matter such as oxides (silver chloride, etc.) generated during the electrolysis reaction is less likely to remain within the narrow grooves 77, and can be limited to a small amount remaining on the bottom surface of the narrow grooves 77. Therefore, foreign matter that remains and adheres to both side edges of the water passage 65 on the inner circumferential surface of the electrode cover 7 is blocked at the position of the narrow grooves 77, reliably preventing problems such as a short circuit between the pair of electrodes 6 due to foreign matter, allowing the electrolysis reaction to be carried out efficiently and high-quality silver ion water to be produced stably over a long period of time.

[0067] In other words, if the narrow grooves 77 are not formed, the path (short-circuit path) between the pair of electrodes 6 along the inner circumferential surface of the electrode cover 7 is linear and short, but if the narrow grooves 77 are formed as in this embodiment, the path (short-circuit path) between the pair of electrodes 6 along the inner circumferential surface of the electrode cover 7 is longer by the amount of the narrow grooves 77. In this way, by forming the narrow grooves 77 as in this embodiment, the short-circuit path is longer, and from this point of view, short-circuiting between the pair of electrodes 6 can be effectively prevented.

[0068] 11 and 12, a thick groove 73 is formed at the downstream end of the water passage 65 on the inner circumferential surface of the electrode cover 7, so that, as described above, silver chloride and other foreign matter are less likely to accumulate in the thick groove 73, and only a small amount accumulates on the bottom of the groove. Therefore, foreign matter that accumulates and adheres to both side edges of the water passage 65 on the inner circumferential surface of the electrode cover 7 is blocked at the position of the thick groove 73, reliably preventing problems such as a short circuit between the pair of electrodes 6 due to foreign matter, and ensuring the production of high-quality silver ion water in an even more stable state.

[0069] Furthermore, by forming this wide groove 73, the short-circuit path between the pair of electrodes 6 along the inner surface of the electrode cover 7 is lengthened even around the conductive portion, as described above, which also makes it possible to effectively prevent short circuits.

[0070] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, in this embodiment, almost the entire circumference of the pair of electrodes 6, i.e., the outer surface (non-facing surface) of the electrodes 6 and both sides between the pair of electrodes 6, are covered with an electrode cover 7, and a water passage 65 is formed only between the pair of electrodes 6, and raw water is circulated through the water passage 65.As a result, silver ions are reliably dissolved into the raw water passing through the water passage 65, and only raw water containing a sufficient amount of silver ions (silver ion water) can be discharged, thereby enabling efficient production of silver ion water.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, almost the entire outer surface (back side) of each electrode 6 is covered with a resin electrode cover 7, which effectively prevents the back side of each electrode 6 from deteriorating due to oxidation, corrosion, etc., minimizes deterioration of the electrodes 6, allows the electrolysis reaction to proceed stably for a long period of time, enables efficient production of silver ion water, and further improves durability. Note that the back side of the electrode 6 is not involved in the electrolysis reaction, so it does not adversely affect the production of silver ion water.

[0072] In particular, in this embodiment, both side edges on the inner surface of each electrode 6 are covered by the inward protrusions 75 of the electrode cover 7, so that both side edges of the electrode 6, which are prone to deterioration, can be more reliably protected and deterioration can be more reliably prevented.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electrode member 60 is constructed as an insert-molded product in which the electrode 6 is used as an insert and the resin part that becomes the electrode cover 7 is integrally molded to cover the electrode 6. This means that the electrode 6 is firmly fixed to the electrode cover 7, preventing problems such as the electrode 6 coming off the electrode cover 7 or becoming misaligned, improving the positional accuracy of the electrode 6, allowing electrolysis to be performed in a more stable state, and producing higher quality silver ion water.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, raw water flows through the water passage 65 between the pair of electrodes 6 of the electrode member 60 from bottom to top in the direction of gravity. Therefore, the raw water rises gradually and gently through the water passage 65 against its own weight. This allows the raw water to flow along the water passage 65 without turbulence, preventing problems such as the inclusion of air bubbles in the raw water. This allows the electrolysis reaction to proceed more stably, ensuring the production of high-quality silver ion water. Specifically, if air bubbles are introduced into the raw water, the flow rate sensor 16 detects a low flow rate and controls the water supply pump 15 to increase the amount of raw water delivered. This increases the amount of water flowing through the electrolysis unit 31 per unit time, potentially reducing the silver ion content in the silver ion water (e.g., below 0.5 ppm), and potentially preventing the production of desired silver ion water. However, as described above, this embodiment effectively prevents air bubbles from being introduced into the raw water, ensuring the production of high-quality silver ion water containing a predetermined amount of silver ions.

[0075] In particular, in this embodiment, the water passage 65 is arranged in a straight line along the vertical direction, which more reliably prevents turbulence in the flow of raw water and more reliably prevents air bubbles from being mixed into the raw water, allowing the electrolysis reaction to be carried out in a more stable state, and more reliably producing high-quality silver ion water.

[0076] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the silver ion water generation device of this embodiment, the raw water storage section 1, silver ion water generation section 3 (electrolysis section 31), and silver ion water storage section 2 are each formed vertically so that water flows in the up-down direction (vertical direction), and these raw water storage section 1, silver ion water generation section 3 (electrolysis section 31), and silver ion water storage section 2 are arranged horizontally side-by-side in this order, which makes it possible to achieve a space-efficient and waste-free layout, allowing for a small and compact device while maintaining an aesthetic appearance.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the water supply pump 15 and flow sensor 16 are arranged below the silver ion water generation unit 3, and the electrolysis unit 31 is arranged in the excess space above the water supply pump 15 and flow sensor 16 in the silver ion water generation unit 3, so that the various components of the silver ion water generation unit 3 can be arranged closely together, making it even smaller and more compact.

[0078] The water used as raw water is generally pure water with few impurities, but is not particularly limited to this. Other types of water, such as domestic water such as tap water, industrial water, agricultural water, distilled water, mineral water, etc., may also be used.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the pair of electrodes 6 are arranged in a tapered shape, but this is not limiting, and one electrode may be arranged along the axis and the other electrode may be arranged at an angle relative to the axis, so that the gap between the pair of electrodes is wider on the downstream side of the water passage than on the upstream side. Furthermore, the electrodes do not necessarily have to be arranged in a straight line, and may be curved partially or entirely.

[0080] In addition, in the above embodiment, the electrode 6 is formed with a bent portion for current flow, but this is not limited to this, and in the present invention, a bent portion (mounting portion) may be formed for mounting to the electrode cover.

[0081] In addition, in the above embodiment, the distance between the pair of electrodes 6 is arranged so that it is wider on the downstream side than on the upstream side, but this is not limited to this, and in the present invention, the distance between the pair of electrodes 6 may also be arranged so that it is wider on the upstream side than on the downstream side.

[0082] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the current-carrying portion 62 is set at the downstream end of the electrode 6, but in the present invention, the position of the current-carrying portion 62 on the electrode 6 is not particularly limited. For example, the current-carrying portion 62 may be set at the upstream end or intermediate portion of the electrode 6. [Industrial Applicability]

[0083] The silver ion water generating device of the present invention can be suitably used when generating silver ion water to be used for sterilization or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 6: Electrode 62: Electrical part 65: Waterway 7: Electrode cover 73: Thick groove (second groove) 77: Narrow groove (first groove)

Claims

1. A silver ion water generating device includes a pair of silver electrodes extending along a water passage and arranged on either side of the water passage, and by applying a DC voltage between the pair of electrodes while flowing raw water along the water passage, silver ions are eluted from the electrodes to generate silver ion water, a resin electrode cover is provided to cover the periphery of the pair of electrodes; A silver ion water generating device characterized in that a first groove for preventing foreign matter from accumulating is formed on the inner surface of the electrode cover, extending along the water passage, corresponding to the space between the pair of electrodes on both side edges of the water passage.

2. a current-carrying portion for applying current to the electrodes is provided at a downstream end of the water passage in the pair of electrodes; The silver ion water generating device of claim 1, wherein a second groove for preventing foreign matter from accumulating is formed on the inner surface of the electrode cover, the second groove having a wider spacing than the narrow groove, corresponding to the space between the pair of electrodes on both side edges of the downstream end of the water passage.

Images