Water Server

Abstract

To provide a water server capable of reducing the frequency of phenomena from conventional water servers, the phenomena being ones in which a valve mechanism that can adjust passage of beverage water is stuck and unable to shift to an open state.SOLUTION: A water server comprises: flow channels R1 to R3 for passing beverage water; valve mechanisms V1 to V3 capable of opening / closing the flow channels R1 to R3; a time measurement section 5 that measures a closed state time period when any one of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 is in a closed state; and a control section 50 that opens / closes the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 in a case in which the closed state time period measured by the time measurement section 5 exceeds a predetermined time period.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a water server that supplies drinking water from a drinking water bottle to a cold water tank or a hot water tank for cooling or heating, and discharges the cooled or heated drinking water from a water outlet at the front of the housing. This water server is formed with a flow path that guides drinking water from the cold water tank and the hot water tank to the water outlet, and is provided with an electromagnetic valve (hereinafter referred to as a valve mechanism) that can adjust the passage of drinking water on the flow path, and provides or stops providing drinking water to a user by opening and closing the valve mechanism (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-178360 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in such a water server configuration, if the valve mechanism is not used for a certain period of time, the valve mechanism may become stuck and become difficult to open, making it difficult to dispense drinking water.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a water server that can reduce the phenomenon in which the valve mechanism that adjusts the passage of drinking water becomes stuck and cannot be opened more than in the past. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The water server according to the present invention includes a flow path for drinking water to flow, a valve mechanism capable of opening and closing the flow path, a time measurement means for measuring a time during which the valve mechanism is in a closed state, and a control means for opening and closing the valve mechanism when the time during which the valve mechanism is in a closed state measured by the time measurement means exceeds a predetermined time. The flow paths are a plurality of flow paths for different temperatures through which drinking water of different temperatures flows, and a flow path for water outlet that is arranged downstream of the plurality of flow paths for different temperatures in the drinking water flow direction and is also used for outletting drinking water from the plurality of flow paths for different temperatures, the valve mechanism is a plurality of valve mechanisms for different temperatures capable of opening and closing each of the plurality of flow paths for different temperatures, and a valve mechanism for water outlet that is capable of opening and closing the flow path for water outlet, and when the closed state time of one valve mechanism of the plurality of valve mechanisms for different temperatures exceeds the predetermined time, the control means opens and closes the one valve mechanism when driving the other valve mechanisms for different temperatures out of the plurality of valve mechanisms for different temperatures to an open state. .

[0007] According to the water server of the present invention, the control means opens and closes the valve mechanism when the closed state time exceeds a predetermined time, so that the valve mechanism opens after a certain period of time, reducing the possibility of the valve mechanism becoming stuck due to a long period of time in the closed state. As a result, it is possible to reduce the phenomenon in which the valve mechanism, which is capable of adjusting the passage of drinking water, becomes stuck and cannot be switched to the open state more than in the past. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a phenomenon in which a valve mechanism capable of adjusting the passage of drinking water becomes stuck and is unable to switch to an open state, more than in the past. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a water server according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1A is a schematic diagram of the inside of the water server, FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the valve body of the valve mechanism is in contact with a valve seat, and FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the valve body of the valve mechanism is separated from the valve seat. [Diagram 3] 1(a) is a configuration diagram showing a part of the water server, and FIG. 1(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a part of the water server. [Figure 4] 1A is a flow chart showing the control process of the control unit, and FIG.1B through FIG.1E are conceptual diagrams showing how the control unit controls three valve mechanisms for different temperatures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The present invention will be described below along with preferred embodiments. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention. In addition, in the embodiments shown below, some configurations are omitted from illustration and description, but it goes without saying that publicly known or well-known technologies are appropriately applied to the details of the omitted technologies within the scope of no contradiction with the contents described below.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a water server 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water server 1 shown in FIG. 1 is basically composed of a housing 10 that is substantially rectangular prism-shaped when viewed from the outside, and is configured by providing a water outlet flow path R4 having a water outlet 21 on the front side of the housing 10, an operation panel 30, and a container mounting section 35. In this water server 1, a drinking water bottle B (drinking water tank) is mounted on the upper part of the housing 10. This drinking water bottle B holds, for example, natural water inside. The drinking water bottle B is not limited to being mounted on the upper part of the housing 10, and may be mounted on the lower part. The water server 1 here may include a point-of-use (POU) water purification device that is used with a water faucet to reduce contaminants in the drinking water coming out of the faucet. An example of such a water purification device is a configuration in which a drinking water bottle B is directly connected to a water faucet so that the drinking water bottle B can receive tap water, and a water purification filter cartridge is attached downstream of the drinking water bottle B. Alternatively, the water server 1 here may be a refill server that pours tap water into the drinking water bottle B and filters the poured tap water with a water purification filter.

[0012] The water outlet flow path R4 is a tubular member that functions as a flow path for discharging drinking water, and has a water outlet 21. This water outlet flow path R4 is formed with at least a part of it housed in a recess 11 that is formed so as to recess from the front surface of the housing 10 toward the rear. The operation panel 30 is an operation unit that accepts operations from the user, and allows various operations such as discharging cold water (water with a temperature less than a first predetermined temperature (e.g., 20°C)), discharging hot water (water with a temperature equal to or higher than a second predetermined temperature (e.g., 40°C)), and heating hot water.

[0013] The container placement section 35 is provided at a predetermined height below the water outlet flow path R4, on which a beverage container is placed to receive drinking water supplied from the water outlet flow path R4. A part of the container placement section 35 is fitted within the recess 11, and the other part is installed protruding forward of the housing 10. In this embodiment, the beverage container includes not only containers for drinking beverages such as cups and glasses, but also rice cookers, pots, teapots, water bottles, plastic bottles, and the like.

[0014] Fig. 2(a) is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the inside of the water server 1 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the valve body 91 of the valve mechanism V1 (V2, V3) is in contact with the valve seat 92. Fig. 2(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the valve body 91 of the valve mechanism V1 (V2, V3) is separated from the valve seat 92. Fig. 3(a) is a schematic diagram showing a part of the water server 1. Fig. 3(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a part of the internal structure of the water server 1. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the water server 1 is equipped with, inside the housing 10 (see Figure 1), a cold water tank T1 (drinking water tank), a hot water tank T2 (drinking water tank), a cold water flow path R1 (flow path for different temperatures), a room temperature water flow path R2 (flow path for different temperatures), a hot water flow path R3 (flow path for different temperatures), a cold water valve mechanism V1 (valve mechanism for different temperatures), a room temperature water valve mechanism V2 (valve mechanism for different temperatures), a hot water valve mechanism V3 (valve mechanism for different temperatures), a water outlet flow path R4, a valve mechanism V4 (valve mechanism for water outlet), and a control unit 50 (control means).

[0015] The cold water tank T1 is a tank that receives and stores drinking water from the drinking water bottle B. The cold water tank T1 is provided with a cooler G, and the room temperature drinking water introduced into the cold water tank T1 is cooled by the cooler G to become cold water.

[0016] The cold water tank T1 has a partition plate 20 that divides the inside into upper and lower parts. The partition plate 20 divides the drinking water inside the cold water tank T1 into an upper layer (room temperature water portion) that is difficult to cool by the cooler G, and a lower layer (cold water portion) that is cooled by the cooler G.

[0017] The hot water tank T2 is connected to the lower part of the cold water tank T1 through piping, and is a tank that receives and stores drinking water from the cold water tank T1. A heating mechanism such as a heater H is provided inside the hot water tank T2, and the drinking water in the hot water tank T2 is heated by the heater H to become hot water. The hot water tank T2 receives drinking water from the upper layer (room temperature water portion) of the cold water tank T1.

[0018] [Flow paths by temperature] The multiple (three) flow paths R1, R2, and R3, namely the flow path R1 for cold water, the flow path R2 for room temperature water, and the flow path R3 for hot water, which constitute part of the flow path, are flow paths for different temperatures of drinking water in the drinking water bottle B that stores drinking water, the cold water tank T1, or the hot water tank T2.

[0019] The cold water flow path R1 has an induction flow path R11 and an inclined flow path R12 that is bent on the downstream side of the induction flow path R11 and is slightly inclined from the horizontal, and is a flow path for guiding the cold water in the cold water tank T1 to the outlet flow path R4. For example, one end of the flow path R1 is connected to the cold water tank T1, and the other end is connected to the upper part of the outlet flow path R4.

[0020] The room temperature water flow path R2 is a flow path for guiding the room temperature water to the water outlet flow path R4. One end of the flow path R2 is connected to, for example, a partition plate 20 that divides the inside of the cold water tank T1 and leads to the upper part of the partition plate 20, and the other end of the flow path R2 is connected to the upper part of the water outlet flow path R4. With this configuration, the part above the partition plate 20 in the cold water tank T1 is connected to the water outlet flow path R4.

[0021] The hot water flow path R3 has an induction flow path R31 and an inclined flow path R32 that is bent at a slight angle from the horizontal downstream side of the induction flow path R31, and is a flow path for guiding the hot water in the hot water tank T2 to the outlet flow path R4. For example, one end of the flow path R3 is connected to the hot water tank T2, and the other end is connected to the upper part of the outlet flow path R4.

[0022] [Valve mechanism for different temperatures] The multiple (three) valve mechanisms V1, V2, and V3, namely, the valve mechanism V1 for cold water, the valve mechanism V2 for normal temperature water, and the valve mechanism V3 for hot water, are mechanisms that can be opened and closed to switch between passing and stopping drinking water with different temperatures inside each of the multiple flow paths R1, R2, and R3. First, the valve mechanism V1 is provided on the flow path R1 upstream of the flow path R4 for water outflow, and is arranged on one side of the three valve mechanisms V1 to V3 arranged side by side, and is a temperature-specific valve mechanism that can open and close the flow path R1 for cold water. The valve mechanism V2 is provided on the flow path R2 upstream of the flow path R4 for water outflow, and is arranged in the middle of the three valve mechanisms V1 to V3 arranged side by side, and is a temperature-specific valve mechanism that can open and close the flow path R2 for normal temperature water. The valve mechanism V3 is provided on the flow path R3 upstream of the flow path R4 for water outflow, and is arranged on the other side of the three valve mechanisms V1 to V3 arranged side by side, and is a temperature-specific valve mechanism that can open and close the flow path R3 for hot water.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2(b) and (c), each of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 has a valve body 91 and a valve seat 92. As shown in Figure 2(b), when the valve body 91 is in contact with the valve seat 92, the discharge of drinking water is stopped. Conversely, as shown in Figure 2(c), when the valve body 91 is separated from the valve seat 92, drinking water discharges as shown by the arrow. Also, solenoid valves are used as the valve mechanisms V1 to V3.

[0024] Due to the presence of these valve mechanisms V1-V3, when valve mechanism V1 is opened, cold water reaches the water outlet flow path R4 through flow path R1, and is discharged through water outlet flow path R4 from the water outlet 21. When valve mechanism V2 is opened, room temperature water reaches the water outlet flow path R4 through flow path R2, and is discharged through water outlet flow path R4 from the water outlet 21. When valve mechanism V3 is opened, hot water reaches the water outlet flow path R4 through flow path R3, and is discharged through water outlet flow path R4 from the water outlet 21.

[0025] [Floodwater flow path] The outflow flow path R4, which constitutes part of the flow path, is located downstream of the flow paths R1, R2, and R3 (multiple flow paths) in the drinking water flow direction, and is a vertically extending flow path that is also used to outflow drinking water passing through the flow paths R1, R2, and R3. The upper part of the outflow flow path R4 is connected to the end of the inclined flow path R12, the end of the inclined flow path R32, and the end of the flow path R2. The lower end of the outflow flow path R4 is the water outlet 21.

[0026] [Flood valve mechanism] The water outflow valve mechanism V4 is a valve mechanism capable of opening and closing the water outflow flow path R4. Like the valve mechanisms V1 to V3, the water outflow valve mechanism V4 can be opened and closed to switch between passing and stopping drinking water by operating a valve body 91 relative to a valve seat 92. In this way, by providing the valve mechanism V4 in addition to the valve mechanisms V1 to V3, the possibility of drinking water leakage is reduced compared to when only the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 are provided. Furthermore, a solenoid valve is used for the water outflow valve mechanism V4.

[0027] The control unit 50 controls the entire water server 1, and in particular controls the opening and closing of the temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1-V3 and the water outlet valve mechanism V4 in response to operations on the operation panel 30. The control unit 50 has a time measurement unit 5 (time measurement means). The time measurement unit 5 counts (measures) the time that each of the temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1-V3 and the water outlet valve mechanism V4 is in a closed state.

[0028] The control unit 50 sets a flag when the closed state time of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 exceeds a predetermined time (e.g., 24 hours) and opens and closes the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 for which the flag has been set instantaneously (e.g., 0.5 ms). More specifically, the control unit 50 has a first mode and a second mode, and when the closed state time exceeds a predetermined time in each mode, it sets a long-term closed flag and opens and closes the valve mechanisms V1 to V3.

[0029] The above-mentioned first mode is a mode in which the control unit 50 instantaneously opens and closes one of the multiple valve mechanisms V1 to V3 when the time that the one of the multiple valve mechanisms V1 to V3 for a temperature is in a closed state exceeds a predetermined time (e.g., a time during which drinking water is less likely to stick) and the control unit 50 drives the other temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1 to V3 to an open state. For example, when the time that the hot water valve mechanism V3 is closed exceeds a predetermined time, the control unit 50 instantaneously opens and closes the hot water valve mechanism V3 when driving at least one of the room temperature water or cold water valve mechanisms V2, V1 to an open state.

[0030] The aforementioned second mode is a mode in which, when the time that one of the multiple valve mechanisms V1 to V3 for a specific temperature is kept closed exceeds a predetermined time (e.g., a time during which drinking water is less likely to stick), the control unit 50 instantaneously opens and closes one of the valve mechanisms while keeping the valve mechanism V4 for the water outlet closed. For example, when the time period during which the hot water valve mechanism V3 is closed exceeds a predetermined time period, if there is no water outlet command from the valve mechanism V2 for room temperature water and the valve mechanism V1 for cold water, the control unit 50 instantaneously opens and closes the hot water valve mechanism V3 while keeping the water outlet valve mechanism V4 in a closed state.

[0031] After the control unit 50 transitions the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 to an open state (including the open state during the opening and closing process), it resets the count of the closed state time and starts counting the closed state time again.

[0032] Next, the opening and closing operation of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 of the water server 1 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4(a) is a flow chart showing the control process of the control unit 50. The control of the control unit 50 will be described below with reference to FIG. 4(a). Note that in FIG. 4(a), a case will be described in which one valve mechanism is the hot water valve mechanism V3 and the other valve mechanism is the normal temperature water valve mechanism V2 or the cold water valve mechanism V1. First, when the power supply of the water server 1 is turned on, the control unit 50 resets the count of the closed state time of the one valve mechanism V3 in the timer 5 (S1). The control unit 50 counts the closed state time of the one valve mechanism V3 by the timer 5 (S2). The control unit 50 judges whether the one valve mechanism V3 has been opened (S3).

[0033] When the first valve mechanism V3 is opened (S3: YES), the control unit 50 resets the count of the closed state time of the first valve mechanism V3 in the timing unit 5 again (S1). When the first valve mechanism V3 is not opened (S3: NO), it is determined whether the closed state time of the first valve mechanism V3 has exceeded a predetermined time (S4).

[0034] If the time during which the first valve mechanism V3 is in the closed state has not exceeded the predetermined time (S4: NO), the control unit 50 again counts the time during which the first valve mechanism V3 is in the closed state using the timer 5 (S2). If the time during which the first valve mechanism V3 is in the closed state has exceeded the predetermined time (S4: YES), the control unit 50 sets a long-term closed flag for the first valve mechanism V3 (S5). The control unit 50 determines whether the first mode has been selected by the user (S6).

[0035] If it is determined that the first mode has not been selected by the user (S6: NO), it is determined that the second mode has been selected by the user, and the control unit 50 determines whether the water outlet valve mechanism V4 is closed (S7).

[0036] If it is determined that the outflow valve mechanism V4 is not closed (S7: NO), the control unit 50 determines whether the outflow valve mechanism V4 is closed until it is closed (S7). If it is determined that the outflow valve mechanism V4 is closed (S7: YES), the control unit 50 opens and closes one of the valve mechanisms V3 (S8) and ends the control.

[0037] If it is determined that the first mode has been selected by the user (S6: YES), the control unit 50 determines whether there is a water discharge command for the other valve mechanism (valve mechanism V2 for room temperature water or valve mechanism V1 for cold water) in the first mode (S9).

[0038] If it is determined that there is no water outlet command to the other valve mechanism (the normal temperature water valve mechanism V2 or the cold water valve mechanism V1) (S9: NO), the control unit 50 determines whether there is a water outlet command until there is a water outlet command to the other valve mechanism (the normal temperature water valve mechanism V2 or the cold water valve mechanism V1) (S9). If it is determined that there is a water outlet command to the other valve mechanism (the normal temperature water valve mechanism V2 or the cold water valve mechanism V1) (S9: YES), the control unit 50 opens and closes one valve mechanism (S8) and ends the control. The above-mentioned control is repeated until the power is turned off.

[0039] The same applies when one valve mechanism is the valve mechanism V2 for room temperature water and the other valve mechanism is the valve mechanism V3 for hot water or the valve mechanism V1 for cold water. The same applies when one valve mechanism is the valve mechanism V1 for cold water and the other valve mechanism is the valve mechanism V2 for room temperature water or the valve mechanism V3 for hot water.

[0040] Next, referring to Figs. 4(b)-(e) in correspondence with the flowchart in Fig. 4(a), the process in which the control unit 50 controls the three temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1, V2, and V3 will be described. Figs. 4(b)-(e) are conceptual diagrams showing how the control unit 50 controls the three temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1, V2, and V3. As shown in Fig. 4(b), the control unit 50 resets (indicated as "RST" in Fig. 4, the same applies below) the counts of the three temperature-specific valve mechanisms, namely the hot water valve mechanism V3, the normal temperature water valve mechanism V2, and the cold water valve mechanism V1. This process corresponds to the process S1 in the case where one valve mechanism in Fig. 4(a) is each of the valve mechanisms V3, V2, and V1.

[0041] 4(c), when the control unit 50 switches the cold water valve mechanism V1 to an open state while the timer 5 is counting the time the cold water valve mechanism V1 is in the closed state and water is normally discharged (to normally discharge cold drinking water), the control unit 50 resets the count of the time the cold water valve mechanism V1 was in the closed state. This process corresponds to the process of S2, YES in S3, and S1 when the one valve mechanism in FIG. 4(a) is the cold water valve mechanism V1. Meanwhile, the control unit 50 continues to count the closed time of the valve mechanism V3 for hot water and the closed time of the valve mechanism V2 for room temperature water by the timing unit 5. This process corresponds to the process of S2, NO in S3, NO in S4, and S2 when one valve mechanism in Fig. 4(a) is the valve mechanism V3 for hot water and the valve mechanism V2 for room temperature water.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 4(d), when the control unit 50 determines that the hot water valve mechanism V3 and the room temperature water valve mechanism V2 have been closed for a long period of time, it sets a long-term closed flag (indicated as "FLG" in Fig. 4(d)). This process corresponds to steps S4 and S5 in the case where one valve mechanism in Fig. 4(a) is the hot water valve mechanism V3 and the room temperature water valve mechanism V2. On the other hand, the control unit 50 continues to count the closed time of the cold water valve mechanism V1, which has been closed for less time than the other valve mechanisms V3, V2 because water discharged during the process. This process corresponds to NO in S4 and S2 when the one valve mechanism in FIG. 4(a) is the cold water valve mechanism V1.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 4(e), when a room temperature water discharge command is received, the control unit 50 shifts the room temperature water valve mechanism V2 to the open state, causes normal water discharge (normal room temperature drinking water discharge), and resets the count of the closed state time. This process corresponds to the process of YES in S9 when the other valve mechanism in Fig. 4(a) is the room temperature water valve mechanism V2, and corresponds to YES in S3 and S1 when the one valve mechanism in Fig. 4(a) is the room temperature water valve mechanism V2. Meanwhile, the control unit 50 opens and closes the hot water valve mechanism V3 (at this time, water also flows out due to the instantaneous opening and closing of the valve mechanism V3) and resets the count of the closed state time. This process corresponds to the processes S8 and S1 when the first valve mechanism in FIG. 4(a) is the hot water valve mechanism V3. The control unit 50 continues to count the time that the cold water valve mechanism V1 is in the closed state. This process corresponds to the process S2 in the case where the one valve mechanism in FIG. 4(a) is the cold water valve mechanism V1.

[0044] As described above, according to the configuration of the water server 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 50 opens and closes the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 when the closed state time exceeds a predetermined time, so that the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 are opened after a certain period of time has passed, reducing the possibility that the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 will become stuck due to a long period of closed state. As a result, it is possible to reduce the phenomenon in which the valve mechanisms V1 to V3, which can adjust the passage of drinking water, become stuck and cannot be switched to an open state, more than in the past. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce poor water delivery due to the sticking of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 of the water server 1.

[0045] Furthermore, when the time that one of the plurality of temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1-V3 is closed exceeds a predetermined time, the control unit 50 opens and closes the one valve mechanism V3 when the other temperature-specific valve mechanisms V2, V1 of the plurality of valve mechanisms V1-V3 are driven to open states. With this configuration, while the one temperature-specific valve mechanism V3 is opened and closed, the other temperature-specific valve mechanisms V2, V1 are opened to allow drinking water to flow, so that the drinking water flowing due to the opening and closing of the one temperature-specific valve mechanism V3 mixes with the drinking water flowing due to the other temperature-specific valve mechanisms V2, V1 that are in the open state, and it is possible to make it less noticeable that the one temperature-specific valve mechanism V3 is opening and closing to prevent sticking and thus leaking drinking water.

[0046] Furthermore, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 50 opens and closes the temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1-V3 while keeping the water outlet valve mechanism V4 closed. With this configuration, the temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1-V3 are opened and closed while keeping the water outlet valve mechanism V4 closed, so that even though drinking water can pass through the temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1-V3 that are open and closed, it cannot pass through the water outlet valve mechanism V4 that is closed, making it less noticeable that drinking water is leaking from the temperature-specific valve mechanisms V1-V3.

[0047] The present invention has been described above based on an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and other technologies may be appropriately combined to the extent possible.

[0048] In this embodiment, the control unit 50 controls the one valve mechanism to open or close after going through the control of the first mode or the second mode, but the control may be such that the one valve mechanism opens or closes when the closed state time of the one valve mechanism exceeds a predetermined time without going through the control of the first mode or the second mode. For example, the flow may be such that the process of S9 is placed after the process of S4 in FIG. 4(a).

[0049] In this embodiment, the water server 1 is configured to include the valve mechanism V4 for water outlet, but the water server 1 may be configured not to include the valve mechanism V4 for water outlet.

[0050] In this embodiment, when the long-term closed flag of each of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 is set, the control unit 50 is configured to instantaneously open and close each of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3. However, when the long-term closed flags of all of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 are set, it may be configured to periodically open and close each of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3.

[0051] In this embodiment, the control unit 50 is configured to open and close the valve mechanisms V1 to V3 when the closed state time measured by the time measurement unit 5 exceeds a predetermined time for each of the valve mechanisms V1 to V3. However, it may not be limited to the valve mechanisms V1 to V3. That is, the control unit 50 may also be configured to open and close the valve mechanism V4 when the closed state time measured by the time measurement unit 5 exceeds a predetermined time for the valve mechanism V4.

[0052] In this embodiment, the closed state times of the cold water valve mechanism V1, the normal temperature water valve mechanism V2, and the hot water valve mechanism V3 are all determined based on the same predetermined time. However, it may not be limited to the same predetermined time. That is, the closed state times of the valve mechanism V1, the valve mechanism V2, and the valve mechanism V3 may be determined based on different predetermined times. For example, the closed state of the valve mechanism V1 may be a predetermined time m1, the closed state of the valve mechanism V2 may be a predetermined time m2, and the closed state of the valve mechanism V3 may be a predetermined time m3, and they may be set in the relationship of m1 < m2 < m3. It is also considered that the drinking water is more likely to solidify and the valve mechanism is more likely to become stuck when the temperature of the drinking water is colder than when it is warm. According to the above control, the valve mechanism can be opened and closed more frequently as the temperature of the drinking water is colder, and it is easy to suppress the sticking of the valve mechanism.

[0053] In this embodiment, the control unit 50 performs control in which the first mode or the second mode is selected by the user. However, it may be control that does not depend on the user's selection. That is, the control unit 50 may usually be fixed to the first mode. Or, the control unit 50 may usually be fixed to the second mode. In addition, the control may have both a part selected by the user and a part not selected by the user. That is, the control unit 50 may be fixed to the first mode normally and set to the second mode by the user's operation. Or, the control unit 50 may be fixed to the second mode normally and set to the first mode by the user's operation.

[0054] In this embodiment, the control unit 50 controls the multiple valve mechanisms V1, V2, V3, and V4 to open and close once, but is not limited to the above embodiment and may control the valve mechanisms to open and close multiple times.

[0055] In this embodiment, the drinking water bottle B is used. However, the configuration shown in FIG. 2 may be such that the drinking water bottle B is not used and the water faucet and the cold water tank T1 are directly connected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1: Water Server 5: Time measurement unit (time measurement means) 10: Housing 11: Recess 20: Partition plate 21: Water outlet 30: Operation panel 35: Container placement section 50: Control unit (control means) 91: Valve body 92: Valve seat B: Drinking water bottle (drinking water tank) C: Waterway H: Heater T1: Cold water tank (drinking water tank) T2: Hot water tank (drinking water tank) m1,m2,m3 :Predetermined time R1, R2, R3, R4: Flow path R11, R31: Induction flow path R12,R32: Inclined flow path V1, V2, V3, V4: Valve mechanism

Claims

[Claim 1] a flow path for drinking water to flow; a valve mechanism capable of opening and closing the flow path; a time measurement means for measuring a time during which the valve mechanism is in a closed state; a control means for opening and closing the valve mechanism when the closed state time measured by the time measuring means exceeds a predetermined time; Equipped with the flow paths are a plurality of flow paths for different temperatures through which drinking water of different temperatures flows, and a flow path for water discharge that is disposed downstream of the plurality of flow paths for different temperatures in the direction of flow of the drinking water and is used for discharging the drinking water from the plurality of flow paths for different temperatures, the valve mechanism includes a plurality of temperature-specific valve mechanisms capable of opening and closing each of the plurality of temperature-specific flow paths, and a water outflow valve mechanism capable of opening and closing the water outflow flow path, when the closed state time of one of the plurality of temperature-specific valve mechanisms exceeds the predetermined time, the control means opens or closes the one valve mechanism when driving the other temperature-specific valve mechanisms of the plurality of temperature-specific valve mechanisms to an open state. A water server that features:

Images