Water purifier

Abstract

To provide a water purifier that can switch a flow path without using an operating lever, and that can make an entire device compact and improve a degree of freedom in external design.SOLUTION: A water purifier includes a raw water inlet, a water purification unit, a raw water discharge flow path, a purified water discharge flow path 15, and a flow path switching unit 16. The raw water discharge flow path discharges raw water that does not pass through the water purification unit to outside. The purified water discharge flow path 15 discharges the raw water that has passed through the water purification unit to the outside. The flow path switching unit 16 selectively connects a raw water inlet to the raw water discharge flow path and the purified water discharge flow path 15. The flow path switching unit 16 includes an input detection unit 29 and an electromagnetic valve 22. The input detection unit 29 detects a user's intention to perform a switching operation. The electromagnetic valve 22 switches the flow path in response to a detection signal from the input detection unit 29.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water purifier. [Background technology]

[0002] Many water purifiers used in ordinary households are equipped with a straight discharge flow path that discharges tap water (raw water) straight downward, a shower discharge flow path that discharges tap water in a shower-like manner, and a purified water discharge flow path that passes tap water through a water purification section (e.g., a water purification cartridge) and discharges it (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The water purifier described in Patent Document 1 includes an inlet through which tap water (raw water) flows in, and the above-mentioned straight discharge flow path, shower discharge flow path, and purified water discharge flow path. A rotary flow path switching valve is housed inside the casing of the water purifier to selectively connect the inlet to any of the straight discharge flow path, shower discharge flow path, and purified water discharge flow path. An operating lever is provided outside the casing to rotate the flow path switching valve. In this water purifier, a user can freely switch the discharge flow path to be used by gripping the operating lever and rotating it to an appropriate position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-299682 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional water purifiers described above, the operating lever for switching the flow path is located on the outside of the casing, and since it is important that the operating lever be easy for users to operate, it is formed in a relatively large size that is easy for users to grip. Therefore, when the conventional water purifier is attached to a faucet, the operating lever occupies a large area around the lower part of the faucet, which tends to narrow the working space of the user and also significantly limits the external design of the water purifier.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide a water purifier that allows the flow path to be switched without using an operating lever, thereby making the entire device more compact and improving the freedom of exterior design. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the water purifier according to the present invention employs the following configuration. That is, the water purifier of the present invention comprises a raw water inlet into which raw water flows, a water purification section that passes the raw water to purify it, a raw water discharge flow path that discharges the raw water that does not pass through the water purification section to the outside, a purified water discharge flow path that discharges the raw water that has passed through the water purification section to the outside, and a flow path switching section that selectively connects the raw water inlet to the raw water discharge flow path and the purified water discharge flow path, and the flow path switching section is characterized by comprising an input detection section that detects the user's intention to perform a switching operation, and an electromagnetic valve that switches the flow path in response to the detection signal of the input detection section.

[0008] In the water purifier with the above configuration, when the user brings their hand close to the input detection unit, the input detection unit detects the user's intention to switch the flow path, and the solenoid valve switches the flow path in response to the detection signal from the input detection unit. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, it is possible to switch the flow path even though the configuration does not have an external operating lever.

[0009] The input detection unit is preferably any one of a contact detection sensor, a non-contact proximity sensor, and a voice discrimination device.

[0010] If the input detection unit is a contact detection sensor, the user can switch the flow path by, for example, touching the input detection unit with their hand. If the input detection unit is a non-contact proximity sensor, the user can switch the flow path by, for example, bringing their hand close to the input detection unit. If the input detection unit is a voice discrimination device, the flow path can be switched in response to a command from the user, for example.

[0011] The raw water discharge flow path has a straight discharge flow path that discharges the raw water that does not pass through the water purification section in a straight manner to the outside, and a shower discharge flow path that discharges the raw water that does not pass through the water purification section in a shower-like manner to the outside, and the solenoid valve may be configured to selectively connect the raw water inlet to either the straight discharge flow path, the shower discharge flow path, or the purified water discharge flow path depending on the detection signal of the input detection section.

[0012] In this case, when the input detection unit detects the user's intention to operate, the raw water inlet is selectively connected to one of the straight discharge flow path, the shower discharge flow path, and the purified water discharge flow path. Therefore, even when raw water is discharged directly to the outside, it is possible to select the flow path to be used from the straight discharge flow path or the shower discharge flow path, further improving convenience for the user.

[0013] The solenoid valve may comprise a raw water inlet port connected to the raw water inlet, a straight discharge port connected to the straight discharge flow path, a shower discharge port connected to the shower discharge flow path, a purification side discharge port connected to the purified water discharge flow path, and a valve body that is actuated by magnetic force to selectively connect the raw water inlet port to either the straight discharge port, the shower discharge port, or the purification side discharge port.

[0014] In this case, the raw water inlet port can be selectively connected to any of the straight discharge port, shower discharge port, and purified water discharge port by operating a single valve element. This reduces the space occupied by the valve elements within the device compared to when separate valve elements are provided for opening and closing the straight discharge flow path, shower discharge flow path, and purified water discharge flow path. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire water purifier.

[0015] It is desirable that the valve body always connects any one of the straight discharge port, the shower discharge port, and the purification side discharge port to the raw water inlet port.

[0016] In this case, when raw water flows into the raw water inlet, the straight discharge port, shower discharge port, and purification-side discharge port will not all be closed at the same time. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, excessive water pressure will not act on the inside of the water purifier or on the connection between the faucet and the raw water inlet, making it possible to prevent water leaks and the like.

[0017] The raw water inlet is preferably connected to a faucet having a manual water shutoff operation section.

[0018] In this case, by shutting off the faucet with the water shutoff operating unit, it is possible to more reliably prevent excessive water pressure from acting on the inside of the water purifier and the connection between the faucet and the raw water inlet. Also, because water pressure acts on the inside of the water purifier only when the water shutoff operating unit is opened and operated during use, it is possible to more reliably prevent water leakage from the water purifier when not in use.

[0019] It is desirable that the solenoid valve be returned to its initial position where the raw water inlet and the raw water discharge flow path are connected when the inflow of raw water from the faucet to the raw water inlet is stopped.

[0020] In this case, the next time the faucet is opened by operating the water stop operation unit, it is possible to prevent water from flowing into the water purification unit unexpectedly, for example, when washing dishes, etc. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, it is possible to prevent the lifespan of the water purification unit from being shortened by unnecessary use.

[0021] It is desirable that the switching operation of the flow path by the electromagnetic valve is permitted only when the faucet is in a state where water is flowing.

[0022] In this case, when the faucet is in the stopped state, the solenoid valve cannot switch the flow path, which makes it possible to more reliably prevent water from unexpectedly flowing into the water purification section the next time the faucet is opened by operating the stop operation unit.

[0023] The water purification unit is preferably a replaceable water purification cartridge.

[0024] In this case, when the water purification section deteriorates over time, the performance of the water purification section can be easily restored by simply replacing the water purification cartridge.

[0025] The device may further include a flow rate detection unit that detects the total flow rate of purified water flowing through the water purification cartridge, and a replacement warning unit that prompts the user to replace the water purification cartridge when the total flow rate detected by the flow rate detection unit reaches a set flow rate.

[0026] In this case, if purified water flows into a new water purification cartridge at a rate greater than the set flow rate after the cartridge is first used, the cartridge's performance will deteriorate. In response to the flow rate detection result, the replacement warning unit will issue a warning urging the user to replace the cartridge. This allows the user to replace the cartridge at the appropriate time when its performance deteriorates.

[0027] The device may further include a time measurement unit that measures the total time that purified water has flowed through the water purification cartridge, and a replacement warning unit that prompts the user to replace the water purification cartridge when the total time measured by the time measurement unit reaches a set time.

[0028] In this case, if the total time since the new water purification cartridge was first used exceeds the set time, the performance of the water purification cartridge will deteriorate. At this time, the replacement warning unit will issue a warning urging replacement based on the measurement results of the time measurement unit. Therefore, the user can replace the water purification cartridge at the appropriate time when its performance deteriorates.

[0029] The replacement warning unit is preferably at least one of a warning light, a warning display device, and a warning sound generating device.

[0030] In this case, if the replacement warning unit is a warning light, the light will light up when it is time to replace the water purification cartridge, and if the replacement warning unit is a warning display device, it will visually warn the user using letters, symbols, etc. when it is time to replace the water purification cartridge. Also, if the replacement warning unit is a warning sound generator, it will sound a warning to the user when it is time to replace the water purification cartridge. Therefore, if this configuration is adopted, it is possible to reliably notify the user when it is time to replace the water purification cartridge.

[0031] The solenoid valve may be configured to disconnect the raw water inlet from the purified water discharge flow path when the replacement warning unit prompts replacement of the water purification cartridge.

[0032] In this case, when it is time to replace the water purification cartridge, the solenoid valve operates to disconnect the raw water inlet from the purified water discharge flow path, preventing water that has passed through a degraded water purification cartridge from being used as purified water by users. [Effects of the Invention]

[0033] In the water purifier of the present invention, the flow path switching unit includes an input detection unit that detects the user's intention to switch the flow path and a solenoid valve that switches the flow path in response to the detection signal from the input detection unit. This allows the flow path to be switched without using an operating lever. Therefore, when the water purifier of the present invention is adopted, it is possible to make the entire device more compact and improve the freedom of exterior design. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water purifier according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a water purifier according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0036] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a water purifier 10 of this embodiment, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the water purifier 10, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the water purifier 10. This water purifier 10 is a so-called faucet-mounted water purifier that is mainly used for home use, etc. As shown in Fig. 1, the water purifier 10 has an inlet 11 (raw water inlet) through which tap water (raw water) flows in, which can be connected to the tip of a faucet 1 (faucet spout 1a). The faucet 1 in Fig. 1 has an operating lever 1b, which is a manual water stop operating part, provided on the base side of the faucet spout 1a. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, the direction from the base side to the tip side of the faucet spout 1a of the water purifier 10 will be referred to as the "front" and the opposite side will be referred to as the "rear." Also, with regard to the water purifier 10, the surface facing the front will be referred to as the "front face," and the surface facing the rear will be referred to as the "rear face." Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear and up-to-down directions of the water purifier 10 will be referred to as the "width direction."

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the water purifier 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the water purifier 10 includes an inlet 11, a water purification cartridge 12, a straight discharge flow path 13, a shower discharge flow path 14, a purified water discharge flow path 15, and a flow path switching unit 16. Tap water flows into the inlet 11 through the faucet 1. The water purification cartridge 12 constitutes a water purification unit for purifying the tap water that flows in from the inlet 11. The straight discharge flow path 13 discharges tap water that does not pass through the water purification cartridge 12 in a straight manner to the outside (downward). The shower discharge flow path 14 discharges tap water that does not pass through the water purification cartridge 12 to the outside (downward) in a shower-like manner. The purified water discharge flow path 15 passes the tap water through the inside of the water purification cartridge 12 and then discharges it to the outside (downward). The flow path switching unit 16 selectively connects the inlet 11 to any of the above flow paths. In this embodiment, the straight discharge flow path 13 and the shower discharge flow path 14 constitute the raw water discharge flow path.

[0038] The water purifier 10 comprises a casing body 17 having a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with curved corners, and a cartridge mounting section 18 connected to the rear side of one widthwise side of the casing body 17. The casing body 17 extends elongatedly and generally horizontally in the widthwise direction. An inlet 11 opens upward on the upper surface of the central region in the widthwise direction of the casing body 17. A connecting ring 50 is detachably attached above the inlet 11 of the casing body 17 to connect the inlet 11 to the tip of the faucet 1 in a liquid-tight manner.

[0039] Additionally, a straight outlet 19, a shower outlet 20, and a purified water outlet 21 are provided on the underside of the casing body 17. The straight outlet 19 opens facing downward at a position almost directly below the inlet 11. The shower outlet 20 is made up of a plurality of fine holes that open downward and are arranged in a ring shape around the periphery of the straight outlet 19. Additionally, the purified water outlet 21 opens facing downward on the underside closer to one side of the casing body 17 in the width direction than the shower outlet 20.

[0040] An electromagnetic valve 22 constituting the flow path switching unit 16 is disposed below the inlet 11 in the casing body 17 . As shown in Figure 4, the solenoid valve 22 has an inlet port 23 (raw water inlet port), which is an inlet port, and three outlet ports, which are a straight discharge port 24, a shower discharge port 25, and a purification-side discharge port 26. The inlet port 23 is connected to the inlet 11. The straight discharge port 24 is connected to the straight discharge outlet 19 through the straight discharge flow path 13. The shower discharge port 25 is connected to the shower discharge outlet 20 through the shower discharge flow path 14. In addition, the purification-side discharge port 26 is connected to the purified water discharge outlet 21 through the purified water discharge flow path 15 and the water purification cartridge 12.

[0041] As shown in Figure 4, the solenoid valve 22 is equipped with a valve element 27 that is actuated by the magnetic force of a solenoid 22a. By switching its operating position, the valve element 27 selectively connects the inlet port 23 to one of the straight discharge port 24, the shower discharge port 25, and the purification-side discharge port 26. The solenoid valve 22 is controlled by a control device 28 (control board) that is built into the casing main body 17 near the other side in the width direction. The solenoid valve 22 also has a spring 22b for returning it to its initial position, and is configured so that the valve element 27 returns to its initial position when the solenoid 22a is turned off.

[0042] In this embodiment, the initial position of the valve element 27 is a position where the inlet port 23 and the straight discharge port 24 are connected and the inlet port 23 and the remaining discharge ports 25 and 26 are blocked. However, the initial position may also be a position of the valve element 27 where the inlet port 23 and the shower discharge port 25 are connected and the inlet port 23 and the remaining discharge ports 24 and 26 are blocked. In either case, when the valve element 27 is in the initial position, the inlet 11 communicates with the raw water discharge flow path. In the solenoid valve 22 of this embodiment, any one of the straight discharge port 24, the shower discharge port 25, and the purification side discharge port 26 is always connected to the inlet 11.

[0043] Furthermore, the specific configuration of the solenoid valve 22 is not particularly limited, and the valve body 27 may be, for example, a spool valve that slides in the axial direction in response to the magnetic force of the solenoid 22a, or a rotary valve that rotates in response to the magnetic force of the solenoid 22a.

[0044] In addition, an input detection unit 29 such as a non-contact proximity sensor (touchless switch) is attached near an appropriate position on the outer surface of the casing body 17. The input detection unit 29, together with the solenoid valve 22, constitutes the flow path switching unit 16.

[0045] The non-contact proximity sensor may be a capacitance or optical object detection sensor. The input detection unit 29 reacts when a user approaches, for example, with their hand, and outputs a detection signal to the control device 28. The control device 28 receives the detection signal and switches the operating state of the valve element 27 as appropriate. For example, the control device 28 may operate the valve element 27 so that the flow path to which the inlet 11 is connected is successively switched between the straight discharge flow path 13, the shower discharge flow path 14, the purified water discharge flow path 15, the straight discharge flow path 13, and so on, each time a detection signal is input. The input detection unit 29 does not necessarily have to be a non-contact proximity sensor as long as it is a detection means capable of detecting the user's intention to perform a switching operation. The input detection unit 29 may be, for example, a contact detection sensor (touch switch) of a resistive film type or a surface-type electrostatic capacitance type. In this case, the contact detection sensors corresponding to the three flow paths may be arranged in the form of buttons on the surface of the casing main body 17.

[0046] Furthermore, the input detection unit 29 may be a voice discrimination device that responds to human voices, etc. When the input detection unit 29 is a voice discrimination device, a configuration can be adopted in which the control device 28 selectively switches the flow path in accordance with the voice discriminated by the voice discrimination device.

[0047] 1 to 3 is formed by bulging out from one side in the width direction of the casing body 17 toward the rear side. The cartridge mounting part 18 has a connecting part (not shown) that opens on the other side in the width direction, and the water purification cartridge 12 is detachably attached to this connecting part. The water purification cartridge 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, having an inlet 12i and an outlet 12o (see FIG. 4) at one end in the axial direction. The water purification cartridge 12 is attached to the cartridge mounting part 18 so that its axial direction is parallel to the width direction of the casing body 17.

[0048] The water purification cartridge 12 contains hollow fibers as a filtration membrane and activated carbon as an adsorbent. Tap water introduced into the water purification cartridge 12 from the inlet 12i has impurities removed by the hollow fibers and activated carbon, and the purified water flows out through the outlet 12o. As shown in FIG. 4, the inlet 12i of the water purification cartridge 12 is connected to an upstream portion 15u (on the solenoid valve 22 side) of the purified water discharge flow path 15, and the outlet 12o is connected to a downstream portion 15l (on the purified water outlet 21 side) of the purified water discharge flow path 15. The purified water discharge flow path 15 is formed across the casing main body 17 and the cartridge mounting portion 18.

[0049] 4, a water flow sensor 30 is provided near the inlet 11 inside the casing body 17 to detect whether water is flowing through the faucet 1. The specific configuration of the water flow sensor 30 is not particularly limited, but for example, a sensor in which an impeller rotates in response to the flow of introduced tap water, and whether water is flowing through the sensor can be detected based on whether the impeller rotates. The detection signal from the water flow sensor 30 is input to a control device 28.

[0050] The control device 28 allows the solenoid 22a of the solenoid valve 22 to switch the flow path when a detection signal indicating "water is flowing" is input from the water flow sensor 30, and prohibits the solenoid 22a from switching the flow path when a detection signal indicating "water is flowing" is not input from the water flow sensor 30. When the switching of the flow path by the solenoid 22a is prohibited, the valve element 27 of the solenoid valve 22 is maintained in its initial position by the biasing force of the spring 22b, and the inlet 11 is connected to the straight discharge flow path 13.

[0051] 4, a flow rate detection sensor 31 is provided in the purified water discharge flow path 15 inside the casing main body 17 to detect the flow rate of purified water flowing through the water purification cartridge 12. A detection signal detected by the flow rate detection sensor 31 is input to the control device 28. When the detection signal is input from the flow rate detection sensor 31 to the control device 28, the control device 28 calculates the total flow rate (accumulated flow rate) of purified water that has flowed inside the water purification cartridge 12 since the water purification cartridge 12 began to be used. In this embodiment, the flow rate detection sensor 31 and a calculation unit (not shown) of the control device 28 constitute a flow rate detection unit that detects the total flow rate of purified water that has flowed through the water purification cartridge 12 .

[0052] The control device 28 determines whether the detected total flow rate of purified water has reached a predetermined set flow rate, and if so, outputs a command to issue a warning to the replacement warning unit. In this embodiment, a display device 32 (warning display device) is used as the replacement warning unit. The display device 32 is installed on the upper surface of the other side in the width direction of the casing main body 17. The display device 32 in this embodiment is not dedicated to displaying warnings, but is a display device that can display the current water flow mode and various other guidance displays. However, the warning display device may also be a dedicated display device intended only for displaying warnings.

[0053] In this embodiment, the display device 32 is used as the replacement warning unit, but the replacement warning unit may also be a warning light or a warning sound emitting device such as a buzzer, chime, or voice guidance. If the replacement warning unit is a warning light, the warning light will be lit to notify the user that it is time to replace the water purification cartridge 12. If the replacement warning unit is a warning sound emitting device, the user will be notified by voice that it is time to replace the water purification cartridge 12. The replacement warning unit may use a combination of these types of devices.

[0054] In this embodiment, the control device 28 determines the service life of the water purification cartridge 12 based on the total flow rate of purified water that has flowed through the water purification cartridge 12. However, the total time that the water purification cartridge 12 has been used (purified water has passed through the water purification cartridge 12) may be measured by a timer 33 (time measurement unit) of the control device 28, and when the total time measured by the timer 33 reaches a preset time, a warning may be issued from the replacement warning unit to prompt the user to replace the water purification cartridge 12.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the total flow rate of purified water detected by the flow rate detection sensor 31 reaches the set flow rate, the control device 28 controls the operation of the valve element 27 to disconnect the inlet 11 from the purified water discharge flow path 15. Specifically, the control device 28, for example, turns off the power supply to the solenoid 22a to return the valve element 27 to its initial position, thereby connecting the inlet 11 only to the straight discharge flow path 13. As a result, use of the water purification cartridge 12 is temporarily prohibited. When the life of the water purification cartridge 12 is determined by the timer 33, the inlet 11 is disconnected from the purified water discharge flow path 15 when the total usage time of the water purification cartridge 12 exceeds a set time.

[0056] As shown in Figure 4, the casing main body 17 is provided with a reset switch 34 for calculating the total flow rate of purified water flowing through the water purification cartridge 12 and resetting the time measurement of the timer 33. The reset switch 34 returns the calculated value of the total flow rate of purified water to 0 or resets the start of the total time by outputting a reset signal to the control device 28. By pressing this reset switch 34 when replacing the water purification cartridge 12 with a new one, the control device 28 can start determining the service life of the water purification cartridge 12. The reset switch 34 can be pressed when the replacement warning unit issues a warning, allowing the water purification cartridge 12 to continue to be used as is without being replaced with a new one.

[0057] As described above, in the water purifier 10 of this embodiment, the flow path switching unit 16 is configured to include the input detection unit 29 and the solenoid valve 22 that switches the flow path in response to a detection signal from the input detection unit 29. Therefore, when the user, for example, brings his / her hand close to the input detection unit 29 to cause the input detection unit 29 to detect the user's intention to perform a switching operation, the solenoid valve 22 switches the flow path in response to the detection signal from the input detection unit 29. Therefore, the water purifier 10 of this embodiment can reliably switch the flow path even though it does not have an external operating lever for switching the flow path. Therefore, when the water purifier 10 of this embodiment is adopted, the entire water purifier 10 can be made compact, and the freedom of the exterior design can be increased.

[0058] In addition, in the water purifier 10 of this embodiment, the input detection unit 29 is configured with either a contact detection sensor, a non-contact proximity sensor, or a voice discrimination device. Therefore, the user can easily switch the flow path without needing to exert a large force for operation. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, convenience for users is further improved.

[0059] In addition, the raw water discharge flow path of the water purifier 10 of this embodiment has a straight discharge flow path 13 that discharges tap water in a straight line and a shower discharge flow path 14 that discharges tap water in a shower-like manner. The solenoid valve connects the inlet 11 to any of the straight discharge flow path 13, the shower discharge flow path 14, or the purified water discharge flow path 15 in response to a detection signal from the input detection unit 29. Therefore, when the water purifier 10 of this embodiment is employed, it becomes possible to switch to a variety of discharge modes by operating the solenoid valve 22, which further improves convenience for the user. It is also possible to further increase the number of discharge flow paths so that more discharge modes can be switched than those described above.

[0060] Furthermore, in the water purifier 10 of this embodiment, the single solenoid valve 22 is equipped with an inlet port 23, a straight discharge port 24, a shower discharge port 25, a purification-side discharge port 26, and a flow path switching valve element 27. The single solenoid valve 22 is configured so that the inlet port 23 is selectively connected to one of the straight discharge port 24, the shower discharge port 25, and the purification-side discharge port 26 by operation of the valve element 27. Therefore, in order to selectively connect the inlet 11 to the straight discharge flow path 13, the shower discharge flow path 14, and the purified water discharge flow path 15, the space occupied by the valve element 27 within the device can be made smaller than when a valve element is provided individually for each flow path. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, the entire water purifier 10 can be made smaller.

[0061] Furthermore, in the water purifier 10 of this embodiment, the solenoid valve 22 does not have a switching mode in which all three discharge ports (24, 25, 26) on the discharge side are closed simultaneously. In other words, the valve body 27 of the solenoid valve 22 always connects one of the straight discharge port 24, the shower discharge port 25, and the purification-side discharge port 26 to the inlet port 23. Therefore, when tap water flows into the inlet 11, the straight discharge port 24, the shower discharge port 25, and the purification-side discharge port 26 will not all be closed simultaneously. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, excessive water pressure will not act on the inside of the water purifier 10 or on the connection between the faucet 1 and the inlet 11, making it possible to prevent water leaks and other problems caused by high water pressure.

[0062] Furthermore, the water purifier 10 of this embodiment is used with the inlet 11 connected to a faucet 1 having a manual water stop operation unit (operation lever 1b). Therefore, by stopping the water flow from the faucet 1 using the water stop operation unit (operation lever 1b), it is possible to more reliably prevent excessive water pressure from acting on the inside of the water purifier 10 and the connection between the faucet 1 and the inlet 11. Furthermore, water pressure acts inside the water purifier 10 only when the water stop operation part (operation lever 1b) is opened during use, which makes it possible to more reliably prevent water leakage from the water purifier 10 when not in use.

[0063] Furthermore, the water purifier 10 of this embodiment is provided with a water flow sensor 30 near the inlet 11. When the control device 28 determines, based on the detection result of the water flow sensor 30, that there is no inflow of tap water, the control device 28 controls the valve element 27 of the solenoid valve 22 to return to its initial position. When the valve element 27 is in its initial position, the inlet 11 is connected to the discharge passage (straight discharge flow path 13) on the raw water discharge side. This prevents purified water from unexpectedly flowing into the water purification cartridge 12 when a user opens and operates the control lever 1b of the faucet 1 to wash dishes, etc., after the water flow has been stopped by the control lever 1b. In other words, this prevents deterioration of the water purification cartridge 12 (such as the accumulation of impurities) caused by purified water flowing through the water purification cartridge 12 for purposes that do not require purified water. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, it is possible to prevent the life of the water purification cartridge 12 from being shortened due to the use of unnecessary water purification cartridges 12.

[0064] Furthermore, in the water purifier 10 of this embodiment, the control device 28 allows the solenoid valve 22 to switch the flow path only when the water flow sensor 30 detects the flow of water from the faucet 1 (when the faucet 1 is in a water-flowing state). Therefore, when the faucet 1 is in a state where water is stopped by the operating lever 1b, the solenoid valve 22 cannot switch the flow path even if the input detection unit 29 issues a signal to switch the flow path in response to a user's operation. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, it is possible to more reliably prevent purified water from unexpectedly flowing into the water purification cartridge 12 when the water flow is resumed by operating the operating lever 1b after the faucet 1 has been stopped.

[0065] Furthermore, in the water purifier 10 of this embodiment, the water purification unit that purifies tap water is configured with a replaceable water purification cartridge 12. Therefore, when the performance of the water purification unit deteriorates over time, the performance of the water purification unit can be easily restored simply by replacing the water purification cartridge 12.

[0066] Furthermore, the water purifier 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a flow rate detection unit (flow rate detection sensor 31 and a calculation unit of the control device 28) that detects the total flow rate of purified water flowing through the water purification cartridge 12, and a replacement warning unit (display device 32) that prompts the user to replace the water purification cartridge 12 when the total flow rate detected by the flow rate detection unit reaches a set flow rate. Therefore, when water flows through the water purification cartridge 12 at a rate greater than the set flow rate after starting to use a new water purification cartridge 12 and the performance of the water purification cartridge 12 deteriorates, the user can be promptly notified of this via the replacement warning unit (display device 32). Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, the user can replace the water purification cartridge 12 at an appropriate time when the performance of the water purification cartridge 12 deteriorates.

[0067] In addition, the water purifier 10 in another embodiment is equipped with a timer 33 (time measurement unit) that measures the total time that purified water has flowed through the water purification cartridge 12, and a replacement warning unit (display device 32) that prompts the user to replace the water purification cartridge 12 when the total time measured by the timer 33 reaches a set time. In this embodiment, when the total time since starting to use a new water purification cartridge 12 exceeds the set time and the performance of the water purification cartridge 12 deteriorates, the user can be promptly notified of this via the replacement warning unit (display device 32). Therefore, even when this configuration is adopted, the user can replace the water purification cartridge 12 at an appropriate time when the performance of the water purification cartridge 12 deteriorates.

[0068] In addition, the water purifier 10 of this embodiment and the other embodiment described above employs at least one of a warning light, a warning display device (display device 32), and a warning sound generator as a replacement warning unit that issues a warning to prompt replacement of the water purification cartridge 12. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, the user can be reliably notified of the timing for replacing the water purification cartridge 12.

[0069] Furthermore, in the water purifier 10 of this embodiment and the other embodiment described above, when the total flow rate detected by the flow rate detection unit reaches a set flow rate, or when the total time measured by the time measurement unit (timer 33) reaches a set time, the control device 28 controls the solenoid valve 22 to disconnect the inlet 11 from the purified water discharge flow path 15. That is, in the water purifier 10 of this embodiment, when the replacement warning unit issues a warning to prompt replacement of the water purification cartridge 12, the inlet 11 is disconnected from the purified water discharge flow path 15. Therefore, when it is time to replace the water purification cartridge 12, tap water will no longer flow from the inlet 11 to the purified water discharge flow path 15. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, it is possible to prevent water that has passed through a water purification cartridge 12 with reduced performance from being used as purified water by users.

[0070] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a replaceable water purification cartridge 12 is used as the water purification unit of the water purifier 10, but the water purification unit does not necessarily have to be a cartridge type.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the solenoid valve 22 of the flow path switching unit 16 is configured such that one valve body 27 selectively opens three ports: the straight discharge port 24, the shower discharge port 25, and the purification side discharge port 26. However, it is also possible to provide individual solenoid valves for opening and closing the straight discharge flow path 13, the shower discharge flow path 14, and the purified water discharge flow path 15, respectively.

[0072] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, tap water is introduced into the water purifier 10 from the faucet 1 as raw water, but water other than tap water, such as well water, may be introduced into the water purifier 10 as raw water. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1. Faucet 1b...Operation lever (manual water stop operation part) 10...Water purifier 11...Inlet (raw water inlet) 12...Water purification cartridge (water purification part) 13...Straight discharge flow path (raw water discharge flow path) 14...Shower discharge flow path (raw water discharge flow path) 15...Purified water discharge flow path 16...Flow path switching section 22...Solenoid valve 23...Inlet port (raw water inlet) 24...Straight discharge port 25...Shower outlet port 26...Purification side discharge port 27...Valve body 29...Input detection unit 31...Flow rate detection sensor (flow rate detection unit) 32...Display device (warning display device, replacement warning unit) 33...Timer (time measurement unit, replacement warning unit)

Claims

1. a raw water inlet into which raw water flows; a water purification unit that passes the raw water and purifies it; a raw water discharge flow path that discharges the raw water that does not pass through the water purification unit to the outside; A purified water discharge flow path that discharges the raw water that has passed through the water purification unit to the outside; a flow path switching unit that selectively connects the raw water inlet to the raw water discharge flow path and the purified water discharge flow path, The flow path switching unit is an input detection unit that detects a user's intention to perform a switching operation; a solenoid valve that switches a flow path in response to a detection signal from the input detection unit; A water purifier comprising:

2. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the input detection unit is one of a contact detection sensor, a non-contact proximity sensor, and a voice discrimination device.

3. The raw water discharge flow path is a straight discharge flow path that discharges the raw water that does not pass through the water purification unit to the outside in a straight manner; a shower discharge flow path that discharges the raw water that does not pass through the water purification unit to the outside in a shower-like manner, The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve selectively connects the raw water inlet to one of the straight discharge flow path, the shower discharge flow path, and the purified water discharge flow path in response to a detection signal from the input detection unit.

4. The solenoid valve is a raw water inlet port connected to the raw water inlet; a straight discharge port connected to the straight discharge flow path; a shower discharge port connected to the shower discharge flow path; a purification-side discharge port connected to the purified water discharge flow path; The water purifier according to claim 3, further comprising a valve body that is actuated by magnetic force to selectively connect the raw water inlet port to one of the straight discharge port, the shower discharge port, and the purification side discharge port.

5. 5. The water purifier according to claim 4, wherein the valve body always connects any one of the straight discharge port, the shower discharge port, and the purification-side discharge port to the raw water inlet port.

6. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the raw water inlet is connected to a faucet having a manual water shutoff operation part.

7. The water purifier according to claim 6, wherein the solenoid valve is returned to its initial position in which the raw water inlet and the raw water discharge flow path are connected when the inflow of raw water from the faucet to the raw water inlet stops.

8. 7. The water purifier according to claim 6, wherein the switching operation of the flow path by the electromagnetic valve is permitted only when the faucet is in a water-passing state.

9. The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the water purification unit is a replaceable water purification cartridge.

10. a flow rate detection unit that detects the total flow rate of purified water that has flowed through the water purification cartridge; The water purifier according to claim 9, further comprising a replacement warning unit that prompts replacement of the water purification cartridge when the total flow rate detected by the flow rate detection unit reaches a set flow rate.

11. a time measurement unit that measures the total time that purified water flows through the water purification cartridge; The water purifier according to claim 9, further comprising a replacement warning unit that prompts replacement of the water purification cartridge when the total time measured by the time measuring unit reaches a set time.

12. The water purifier according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the replacement warning unit is at least one of a warning light, a warning display device, and a warning sound generating device.

13. The water purifier according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the solenoid valve disconnects the raw water inlet from the purified water discharge flow path when the replacement warning unit prompts replacement of the water purification cartridge.

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