Flow path switching system and water purification system

Abstract

A flow channel switching system (1, 1') comprising: a first on-off valve (10) which is disposed between a merging part (6) and a branching part (5) and in a raw water path (4); a second on-off valve (11) which is disposed in a raw-water outward path (7); and a sensor (13) for making a measurement of the condition of water flowing through the raw water path, wherein control is performed so as to open the second on-off valve and close the first on-off valve if a signal indicating that water is flowing in the raw water path is received from the sensor, then a signal indicating that no water is flowing in the raw water path is received, and then, within a predetermined period of time, a signal indicating that water is flowing again in the raw water path is received.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water purification system that uses tap water as raw water and supplies purified water as drinking water for general household or commercial use, and a flow path switching system used in the water purification system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, water purifiers that purify tap water include faucet-connected water purifiers that are directly connected to the outlet of a tap, free-standing water purifiers that are placed on top of a kitchen counter, and under-sink water purifiers that are placed under a kitchen sink. In all cases, the filter material filled in the filter cartridge for the water purifier has a limited total amount of filtered water that can be processed, so the water purifier has a function of switching between a raw water discharge state and a purified water discharge state, and the user can extend the life of the filter cartridge for the water purifier by switching to the purified water discharge state only when they want to obtain purified water. Then, when the total amount of filtered water that the filter material can process is reached, the filter cartridge for the water purifier is replaced.

[0003] In the case of under-sink water purifiers, the means for switching between the raw water discharge state and the purified water discharge state often uses a special hot and cold water mixing / combined faucet for the water purifier, as shown in Patent Document 1. Alternatively, a single faucet for the water purifier may be provided separately from the main faucet, and the faucet may be used separately for raw water use and purified water use.

[0004] On the other hand, water purification systems that do not use a water faucet for the water purifier have also been proposed. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an under-sink type water purification device that includes a raw water path made of a water pipe, a purified water path attached to the water pipe, and a solenoid valve that switches whether water is sent to either path, and that controls the solenoid valve by operating an operation unit with a touch panel.

[0005] In addition, Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose hot and cold water mixing faucets in which an under-sink water purifier is connected to an existing faucet. Specifically, in the hot and cold water mixing faucet of Patent Document 3, a check valve, a T-type pipe joint, and an electric three-way valve are provided between the lower end of the water inlet pipe of the faucet body and a stop valve that opens and closes the raw water flow path to the water inlet pipe. The T-type pipe joint is connected to the purified water outlet of the water purifier via the check valve, and the raw water inlet of the water purifier is connected to the electric three-way valve. Similarly, the hot and cold water mixing faucet disclosed in Patent Document 4 has a branch flow path in the raw water flow path, and a purified water passage is provided in this branch flow path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-142342 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-225062 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Registration No. 3027934 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-171559 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] [First issue] However, when installing a new under-sink water purifier under the kitchen sink, the existing hot and cold water mixing faucet must be removed and a special hot and cold water mixing / combination faucet for the expensive water purifier must be purchased, which is very costly. Also, there are only a few types of hot and cold water mixing / combination faucets for water purifiers, so users who are particular about design have limited options and are unable to choose a faucet with a design they like.

[0008] In contrast, the under-sink type water purification device disclosed in Patent Document 2 can use existing hot and cold water mixing faucets, so that users who are particular about design can choose a faucet not only from hot and cold water mixing / combination faucets for water purifiers, but also from hot and cold water mixing faucets that are not for water purifiers, allowing them to choose the faucet they like.

[0009] However, this requires the installation of a touch panel or push button above the sink to switch between raw water and purified water, and the construction of drilling holes in the sink to route the wiring underneath, which is costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, in order to switch to the purified water discharge state, the operation of the touch panel or push button is required in addition to the lever operation, making the operation complicated by multiple operations. Furthermore, if the sink is a drawer, there is a concern that the wiring from above the sink to below the sink may get caught in the drawer. Furthermore, the wiring gets in the way of installing the filter cartridge for the water purifier.

[0010] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a water purification system that is simple to operate and easy to use, without the need to purchase a special hot and cold water mixing / combined faucet for an expensive water purifier, and without the need for construction work such as installing a touch panel or push button or running wiring, and a flow path switching system for realizing the water purification system.

[0011] [Second issue] In addition, the hot and cold water mixing faucet devices of Patent Documents 3 and 4 require workers to connect the check valve, T-type pipe joint, motorized three-way valve, etc. in order on-site, and since the connection work takes a significant amount of time, there is a demand for improving the ease of connection. Furthermore, in recent years, there has been an increase in customer demand for more space around the sink, and there is a need to realize space saving.

[0012] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a flow path switching system that focuses on the integration of flow path switching components that are placed in the raw water flow path for supplying water from a main valve for tap water to a faucet, thereby improving connection workability and realizing space savings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] [Means for solving the first problem] [1] The flow path switching system of the present invention that solves the first problem described above is a flow path switching system used in a water purification system, a raw water channel having an inlet and an outlet; A raw water outgoing path and a purified water return path connected to the water purifier; A branching section is provided in the raw water channel and branches the raw water flowing through the raw water channel from the inlet into the raw water outbound channel; A junction section is provided between the branching section and the outlet of the raw water channel, and causes the purified water that has been purified by the water purifier and flowed through the purified water return line to merge with the raw water channel; A first on-off valve provided between the branching portion and the joining portion of the raw water channel; A second on-off valve provided in the raw water outflow line; a sensor provided between the inlet and the branching section of the raw water channel or between the junction and the outlet, the sensor measuring a state of water flowing through the raw water channel; and a control section controlling the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve based on a signal from the sensor; The control unit controls the second opening / closing valve to open and the first opening / closing valve to close when it receives from the sensor a signal indicating that water is flowing in the raw water channel, then receives a signal indicating that water is not flowing in the raw water channel, and then receives a signal indicating that water is flowing in the raw water channel again within a predetermined time.

[0014] [2] In the flow path switching system of [1] above, it is preferable that the sensor is a flow sensor that outputs a pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the flow rate of water flowing through the raw water channel, and that the signal indicating that water is flowing through the raw water channel is a pulse signal having a frequency equal to or greater than a first threshold, and that the signal indicating that water is not flowing through the raw water channel is a pulse signal having a frequency equal to or less than a second threshold.

[0015] [3] In the flow path switching system of [2] above, it is preferable that the first threshold is set to a frequency corresponding to a flow rate in the range of 1 L / min or more and 2 L / min or less, and the second threshold is set to a frequency corresponding to a flow rate in the range of 0.5 L / min or more and less than 1 L / min.

[0016] [4] The flow path switching system according to [2] or [3] above further includes a notification unit that emits sound, light, and / or vibration, and the control unit notifies the flow path switching system according to a pulse signal from the flow sensor while the second opening / closing valve is open. Water flow rate per unit time It is preferable that the control unit accumulates the water purifier replacement time, and when this accumulated value reaches or exceeds a water purifier replacement threshold, the control unit issues a signal to the notification unit prompting the user to replace the water purifier, and when the notification unit receives a signal from the control unit prompting the user to replace the water purifier, the control unit emits sound, light and / or vibration to prompt the user to replace the water purifier.

[0017] [5] The flow path switching system according to any one of [2] to [4] above further includes a notification unit that emits sound, light, and / or vibration, and the control unit detects a flow rate of the second on-off valve based on a pulse signal from the flow sensor during a period from when the second on-off valve is closed to when the second on-off valve is opened again. Water flow rate per unit time It is preferable that the control unit accumulates the amount of water discharged from the water discharger, and when the accumulated amount reaches or exceeds a threshold value for water discharge, the control unit outputs a signal to the notification unit to prompt the user to use the water purifier, and when the notification unit receives a signal from the control unit to prompt the user to use the water purifier, the control unit emits sound, light and / or vibration to prompt the user to use the water purifier.

[0018] [6] The flow path switching system according to any one of [2] to [5] above further comprises a notification unit that emits sound, light and / or vibration, and the control unit includes a battery, and the battery voltage is determined to be equal to or lower than a battery life threshold. less than When the battery level reaches this level, it is preferable that a signal be sent to the notification unit to prompt the user to replace the battery, and when the notification unit receives a signal from the control unit to prompt the user to replace the battery, it emits sound, light and / or vibration to prompt the user to replace the battery.

[0019] [7] The water purification system of the present invention which solves the first problem above comprises the flow path switching system of [1] to [6] above, and a water purifier having a raw water inlet and a purified water outlet, wherein the raw water outbound path and the purified water return path of the flow path switching system are connected to the raw water inlet and the purified water outlet of the water purifier, respectively.

[0020] [Means for solving the second problem] [8] The flow path switching system of the present invention that solves the second problem described above is a flow path switching system used in a water purification system, A raw water channel having an inlet, an outlet, a branching section and a junction section; The water purifier includes a raw water outgoing line and a purified water return line connected to the water purifier, The branching section is a section that branches the raw water flowing through the raw water channel from the inlet into the raw water outflow channel, The junction is a portion provided between the branching portion of the raw water channel and the outlet, and junctions the purified water that has been purified by the water purifier and flowed through the purified water return path with the raw water channel; a first on-off valve provided between the branching portion and the joining portion of the raw water channel; A second on-off valve is provided in the raw water outflow line, The raw water channel, the raw water outward channel, the purified water return channel, the first on-off valve, and the second on-off valve are connected and integrated without any other piping.

[0021] [9] The flow path switching system described in [8] above is The raw water channel is structured so that it can be separated at the connection section, a first flow path switching unit including a portion of a raw water channel having the inlet and the outlet, and a second flow path switching unit including a portion of a raw water channel having the branch portion and the junction portion, It is preferable that the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit are integrated by being connected to each other at the connecting portion.

[0022]

[10] The flow path switching system of the present invention that solves the second problem described above is a flow path switching system used in a water purification system, A raw water channel having an inlet, an outlet, and a junction; A raw water outgoing path and a purified water return path connected to the water purifier; a three-way valve provided in the raw water channel for branching the raw water flowing through the raw water channel from the inlet to the raw water outflow channel; The junction is a portion provided between the three-way valve and the outlet of the raw water channel, and junctions the purified water that has been purified by the water purifier and flowed through the purified water return line with the raw water channel; It is preferable that the raw water channel, the raw water outgoing channel, the purified water return channel and the three-way valve are connected and integrated without any other piping.

[0023]

[11] The flow path switching system according to

[10] above, The raw water channel is structured so that it can be separated at the connection section, a first flow path switching unit including a portion of a raw water channel having the inlet and the outlet, and a second flow path switching unit including a portion of a raw water channel having the three-way valve and the junction, It is preferable that the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit are integrated by being connected to each other at the connecting portion.

[0024]

[12] In any one of the flow path switching systems [8] to

[11] above, it is preferable that the raw water channel, the raw water outward channel, and the purified water return channel are molded from a hard resin material.

[0025]

[13] In any of the flow path switching systems [8] to

[12] above, it is preferable that the raw water channel has a straight pipe outbound path after being bent approximately 90 degrees downstream of the inlet, a U-turn path following the straight pipe outbound path, and a straight pipe return path following the U-turn path, and the straight pipe outbound path and the straight pipe return path form a double pipe that is approximately coaxial with each other.

[0026]

[14] In the flow path switching system according to any one of [8] to

[13] above, it is preferable that the inlet and the outlet are positioned so that their respective central axes form two parallel axes.

[0027]

[15] In the flow path switching system of any one of [8] to

[14] above, it is preferable that the outlet and the purified water return path are positioned so that their central axes are coaxial. Effect of the Invention

[0028] According to the flow path switching system of the present invention that solves the first problem, and the water purification system using this flow path switching system, even if an under-sink type water purifier is newly installed under the kitchen sink, it can be attached to an existing hot and cold water mixing faucet, and there is no need to purchase an expensive hot and cold water mixing / combination faucet for the water purifier, which does not require a large cost. For users who are particular about design, there is a wide selection of faucets, so they can choose a faucet with a design they like. In addition, because the state of the water flowing through the raw water channel is measured by a sensor and the on-off valve is controlled by operating the lever of an existing hot and cold water mixing faucet, there is no need to install a touch panel or push button above the sink to switch between raw water and purified water, and since raw water and purified water can be switched between simply by operating the lever of the faucet, there is no need for multiple operations to become complicated. Furthermore, there is no need to drill holes in the sink to run wiring underneath it, which saves time and money. In addition, even if the sink has a drawer, there is no need to worry about the wires running from the top of the sink to the bottom of the sink getting caught in the drawer. Furthermore, the wires do not get in the way of installing the water purifier filter cartridge.

[0029] According to the switching system of the present invention which solves the second problem, the workability of connecting to the faucet body can be improved, it can be connected to an existing faucet body, and space saving can be achieved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a flow path configuration diagram showing an example of the connection between a flow path switching system of an embodiment of the present invention and a water purifier, a water faucet, a water supply source, and a hot water supply source. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of a flow path switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3]3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3(a). [Figure 4] 1 is an example of a water purifier connected to a flow path switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is an example of a hot and cold water mixing faucet connected to a flow path switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is an example of a hot and cold water mixing faucet operating lever connected to a flow path switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit of the flow path switching system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart of a flow path switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 4 is a time chart of the operation up to purified water discharge of the flow path switching system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 4 is a time chart of an operation of switching from a purified water mode to a raw water mode in the flow path switching system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 5 is a time chart of the operation of the flow path switching system according to the embodiment of the present invention when raw water is used. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a flow path switching system according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] An embodiment of a flow path switching system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a flow path configuration diagram showing an example of a water purification system combining a flow path switching system 1 and a water purifier 16 according to the present invention, and a connection between a hot and cold water mixing valve 20, a water supply source 17, and a hot water supply source 18. The flow path switching system 1 is provided with a raw water path 4 connecting an inlet 2 and an outlet 3, and a branching section 5 is provided in the raw water path 4 to branch the raw water flowing from the inlet 2 into a raw water outward path 7. A junction section 6 is provided between the branching section 5 and the outlet 3, where a purified water return path 8 joins, and a first opening / closing valve 10 is provided between the branching section 5 and the junction section 6 to open and close the flow path based on the control of a control unit 9. The raw water outward path 7 is provided with a second opening / closing valve 11 that opens and closes based on the control of the control unit 9, and a pressure regulating valve 12 that prevents the water pressure in the piping from rising above a predetermined pressure. As the pressure regulating valve 12, a pressure regulating valve with a fixed pressure setting of, for example, 0.2 MPa or 0.1 MPa may be used, or a pressure regulating valve with a pressure setting that can be set arbitrarily may be used.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the flow path switching system 1 of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, FIG. 3(a) is an AA cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3(b) is a BB cross-sectional view of FIG. 3(a). The raw water channel 4, which communicates with the inlet 2 and the outlet 3, passes through a straight pipe outward path 30 bent at approximately 90 degrees downstream of the inlet, a U-turn path 31, and a straight pipe return path 32 after a U-turn, and then bends approximately 90 degrees to reach the outlet 3. The raw water outward path 7 branches downward from the branching point 5 of the straight pipe outward path 30, and a second opening / closing valve 11 and a pressure adjusting valve 12 are provided immediately after the branching. The purified water return path 8 joins from above at the joining point 6 of the straight pipe return path 32. The first opening / closing valve 10 is provided in the U-turn path 31 downstream of the branching point 6, and its drive unit is arranged outside the straight pipe outward path 30 and the straight pipe return path 32. The above arrangement can shorten the distance between the straight pipe outward path 30 and the straight pipe return path 32, and can also shorten the distance between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3. When installing under a kitchen sink, if the distance between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 of the flow path switching system 1 is large, connection becomes difficult, but by providing a U-turn path 31 and shortening the distance, installation becomes easier.

[0034] The straight pipe outgoing path 30 and the straight pipe return path 32 have a coaxial double pipe structure, and the straight pipe outgoing path 30 and the straight pipe return path 32 can be separated in an integrated state at a unit dividing section 33 upstream of the branching section 5 and downstream of the merging section 6. That is, it can be divided into a first flow path switching unit 34 having an inlet 2 and an outlet 3, and a second flow path switching unit 35 having a branching section 5 and a merging section 6. By being able to divide into the first flow path switching unit 34 and the second flow path switching unit 35, the inlet 2 of the first flow path switching unit 34 is connected to the water supply source 17, the outlet 3 is connected to the hot and cold water mixing valve 20, and the second flow path switching unit 35 is connected to the water purifier 16 outside the sink, and then the divided sections can be connected inside the sink, making installation easy.

[0035] The components of the first flow path switching unit 34 and the second flow path switching unit 35 are preferably manufactured by injection molding. When manufactured by injection molding, complex flow paths can be integrally formed, so that the size can be reduced. If, for example, polyphenylene sulfide containing 40% glass fiber is used as the material for injection molding, it has high mechanical strength and high chemical resistance, so that it will not be damaged by repeated water pressure loads or by being corroded by kitchen oil or detergent. However, the material is not limited to polyphenylene sulfide, and olefin resins such as modified polyphenylene ether and polyethylene, and hard resin materials such as silicone resin, vinyl acetate resin, and hard polyvinyl chloride resin can be used, and the material for injection molding is not particularly limited as long as it can maintain its function for a long time.

[0036] The inlet 2 of the first flow path switching unit 34 has a cylindrical inlet connection member 36 with a female pipe thread at one end and an O-ring attached to the other end. During installation, the female pipe thread of the inlet connection member 36 is fully screwed into the water supply source 17, and then the other end with the O-ring attached is inserted into the first flow path switching unit 34, allowing for reliable installation in a short time.

[0037] If solenoid valves are used for the first on-off valve 10 and the second on-off valve 11, the flow path can be opened and closed quickly due to their fast response, and unnecessary changes in flow rate can be suppressed. If motor-operated valves that rotate the valves using electricity are used for the first on-off valve 10 and the second on-off valve 11, the opening diameter can be made large, resulting in a large flow rate and low pressure loss. If a three-way valve is provided instead of the first on-off valve 10 and the second on-off valve 11, space can be saved. Alternatively, air-driven valves that open and close using air pressure can be used for the first on-off valve 10 and the second on-off valve 11. In the initial state, the first on-off valve 10 is open and the second on-off valve 11 is closed.

[0038] A water stop valve 14 is provided between the inlet 2 of the first flow path switching unit 34 and the unit dividing section 33. Normally, it is always open, but it can be closed if an abnormality such as a water leak occurs downstream or if the person is absent for an extended period of time. The water stop valve 14 may be used as a replacement for an existing water stop valve. If the existing water stop valve is removed, more installation space can be secured, making installation easier. The water stop valve 14 is structured so that it does not get in the way if a type that is turned by using a flathead screwdriver to close it is used. However, a type that is turned by gripping the handle to close it may also be used.

[0039] The purified water return line 8 is provided with a check valve 15 so that water does not flow from the junction 6 in the direction of the purified water return line 8. This check valve 15 and the above-mentioned pressure regulating valve 12 prevent the water purifier from being subjected to high water pressure for a long period of time, preventing damage to the water purifier and also preventing water leakage from the water purifier.

[0040] Between the junction 6 and the outlet 3, a sensor 13 is provided to measure the state of water flowing through the raw water channel 4. In this embodiment, a flow sensor 13 is provided to measure the flow rate of water. The flow sensor 13 is composed of a turbine channel 37 having a circular cross section, a rotating shaft 38 provided in the center of the turbine channel, a turbine 39 incorporating a magnet (not shown), and a Hall IC (not shown) that detects changes in the magnetic field and converts it into a voltage. The voltage output from the Hall IC becomes a pulse signal. A pulse signal having a frequency according to the flow rate of water flowing through the raw water channel 4 is sent from the flow sensor 13 to the control unit 9, and the first opening / closing valve 10 and the second opening / closing valve 11 are opened and closed based on the result of the calculation processing of the signal. The magnetic sensor that detects the magnetic field is not limited to the Hall IC, and a reed switch may be used. The flow sensor 13 may be provided between the inlet 2 and the branching unit 5, and the configuration of the flow sensor 13 in this case may be the same as that described above. A first flow sensor may be provided between the branch point 5 and the junction point 6, and a second flow sensor may be provided in the raw water outflow line 7 or the water purifier return line 8, and the respective signals may be sent to the control unit 9 for calculation processing.

[0041] Also, a pressure sensor that measures the pressure of water flowing through the raw water channel 4 can be used as the sensor 13. For example, in this embodiment, the water is allowed to flow or stopped by the hot and cold water mixing on-off valve 23 downstream of the outlet 3, so that when the hot and cold water mixing on-off valve 23 is opened, water flows out from the discharge port 21, and the water pressure in the raw water channel 4 decreases. When the hot and cold water mixing on-off valve 23 is closed, the water pressure in the raw water channel 4 increases due to the water pressure from the water supply source 17. In this way, by measuring the water pressure in the raw water channel 4, it is possible to determine whether water is flowing through the raw water channel 4. Even when a pressure sensor is used, the pressure sensor may be installed anywhere between the junction 6 and the outlet 3, or between the inlet 2 and the branching section 5.

[0042] The sensor 13 is not limited to the above-mentioned flow sensor or pressure sensor, but may be any sensor that can determine whether water is flowing through the raw water channel 4, and may be a sensor that uses a float or a sensor that detects sound or vibration.

[0043] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a flow path switching system 1' according to another embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this flow path switching system 1' and the flow path switching system 1 in Figs. 2 and 3 is the positions of the inlet, outlet, and purified water return path, and that the entire flow path switching system is not divided.

[0044] In the flow path switching system 1', the inlet 2' and the outlet 3' are in a positional relationship in which their central axes are not coaxial but are two parallel axes. By making the central axes of the two parallel axes, the distance from the inlet 2' to the outlet 3' can be made shorter than in a positional relationship in which the central axes are coaxial. The existing piping under the sink is often short in length, and if the distance from the inlet to the outlet is long, it is difficult to replace the existing piping with the flow path switching system and install it. However, with the flow path switching system 1', the distance from the inlet 2' to the outlet 3' is short, so it can be easily installed. Note that the "distance from the inlet 2' to the outlet 3'" referred to here refers to the vertical distance in FIG. 12, and does not refer to the shortest distance from the inlet 2' to the outlet 3' (the diagonal distance in FIG. 12) or the length of the flow path in the piping from the inlet 2' to the outlet 3'.

[0045] In the flow path switching system 1', the outlet 3' and the purified water return path 8' are positioned so that their central axes are coaxial. By arranging them coaxially, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss in the piping when the purified water is discharged, and the discharge flow rate of the purified water is improved.

[0046] 2 and 3, the flow path switching system 1' cannot be divided into the first flow path switching unit 34 and the second flow path switching unit 35, but is integrated as a whole. Since it cannot be divided into the first flow path switching unit and the second flow path switching unit, the above-mentioned advantages cannot be obtained, but instead the number of parts can be reduced to hold down manufacturing costs.

[0047] FIG. 4 is an example of a water purifier connected to the flow path switching system of the present invention. The water purifier 16 has a raw water inlet 41 and a purified water outlet 42, the raw water inlet 41 is connected to the raw water forward path 7 of the flow path switching system 1, and the purified water outlet 42 is connected to the purified water return path 8 of the flow path switching system 1. The water purifier 16 is composed of a water purifier main body having a raw water inlet 41 and a purified water outlet 42, and a water purifier cartridge containing a filter material. The filter material contained in the water purifier cartridge can be a combination of activated carbon, ion exchanger, and filtration membrane. If a water purifier is used in which the water purifier main body and the water purifier cartridge are connected by a bayonet mechanism and the water purifier cartridge can be replaced with a single touch, the water purifier cartridge can be easily replaced in a short time, which is convenient. If a small water purifier that can be attached to the wall under the sink is used, it is convenient because it does not get in the way of storage under the sink.

[0048] 5 and 6 are examples of a hot and cold water mixer 20 connected to a flow path switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hot and cold water mixer 20 includes a discharge port 21, an operating lever 22, and a hot and cold water mixer valve 23 that determines the hot and cold water mix ratio and opening degree based on the operation of the operating lever 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the opening degree of the valve, i.e., the flow rate, is determined based on the vertical angle of the operating lever 22. As shown in FIG. 6, the hot and cold water mixer 20 determines the hot and cold water mix ratio of the valve, i.e., the water temperature, based on the horizontal angle. The hot and cold water mixer 20 is connected to a water supply source 17 via the flow path switching system 1, and is also connected to a hot water supply source 18. That is, the water supply source 17 is connected to the inlet 2 of the flow path switching system 1, and the outlet 3 of the flow path switching system 1 is connected to the hot and cold water mixer valve 23 of the hot and cold water mixer 20.

[0049] Next, a procedure for additionally installing the flow path switching system 1 of the embodiment of the present invention to an already installed hot and cold water mixer tap will be described. The piping extending from the hot and cold water mixer tap 20 and connected to the water supply source 17 is removed, and the inlet connection member 36 is fully screwed in. At this time, the existing stop valve of the water supply source 17 may be removed. Next, the piping of the hot and cold water mixer tap 20 removed from the water supply source 17 is fully screwed in to the first flow path switching unit 34, and the end of the inlet connection member 36 with the O-ring attached is inserted into the first flow path switching unit 34 and fastened using a quick fastener 40. When screwing in and connecting, there is no need to worry about water leakage because it can be screwed in sufficiently without worrying about the installation angle. Finally, the second flow path switching unit 35 is attached to the first flow path switching unit 34. Since several parts are unitized and assembled in order, installation can be performed reliably in a short time. The pressure regulating valve 12 and the raw water outward connection member 52 at its tip are rotatable with respect to the branching section 5, making it easier to arrange the piping. If the purified water return connection member 53 is also rotatable with respect to the junction 6, it will be easier to arrange the piping. As long as it can maintain its function over the long term without leaking, there are no limitations on the connection method, and any method such as a coupler connection or clip connection can be used.

[0050] Next, an operation of discharging purified water using the flow path switching system 1 and the hot and cold water mixing faucet according to the embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described. When the operation lever 22 of the hot and cold water mixing faucet 20 is turned to the right until it stops and then pushed up, the hot and cold water mixing on-off valve 23 opens and tap water is discharged from the outlet 21. The first on-off valve 10 is open and the second on-off valve 11 is closed and remains in the initial state, so tap water flows directly into the raw water passage 4. When a signal corresponding to the amount of water is received from the sensor 13 by the control unit 9, the control unit 9 determines that water is being passed by the signal. Next, a special operation is performed in which the operation lever 22 is pushed down once and then pushed up within three seconds. Then, a signal corresponding to a special flow rate change resulting from stopping water and re-passing water within three seconds is received from the sensor 13 by the control unit 9. The control unit 9 determines that water has been stopped and re-passed within three seconds by the signal. Then, the control unit 9 opens the second on-off valve 11 and then closes the first on-off valve 10. As a result, tap water that passed through the raw water channel 4 comes out as is from the outlet 21, but the tap water passes through the branching section 5 and the raw water outward channel 7 to enter the water purifier 16, and the purified water purified by the water purifier 16 comes out from the outlet 21 through the purified water return channel 8 and the junction 6. Finally, when the operating lever 22 is pushed down, the hot and cold water mixing on-off valve 23 closes and the purified water from the outlet 21 stops. When this happens, the signal reaching the control section 9 from the sensor 13 is cut off, or only a signal corresponding to a small amount of water reaches the control section 9 from the sensor 13, so the control section 9 determines that the water has been stopped and immediately closes the second on-off valve 11 and opens the first on-off valve 10, returning to the initial state.

[0051] In this way, the control unit 9 determines whether the operating lever 22 is opened or closed based on a signal from the sensor 13, and controls the opening and closing of the first on-off valve 10 and the second on-off valve 11 in accordance with the determination.

[0052] In addition, a valve may be provided between the hot water supply source 18 and the hot water mixing valve 23, and a system may be provided to close the hot water side valve when purified water is being discharged, thereby preventing hot water from being mixed with the purified water.

[0053] Next, the control unit 9 of the flow path switching system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the control unit 9. The control unit 9 is provided with a calculation device composed of a CPU 43 and the like, and a reset switch 44, a notification unit 45, a setting switch 46, a memory 47, a first on-off valve drive circuit 48, a second on-off valve drive circuit 49, a sensor circuit 50, and a power supply 51 are connected to the calculation device. An output signal of the sensor 13 is input to the CPU 43 via the sensor circuit 50, and the first on-off valve 10 and the second on-off valve 11 are controlled to open and close via the first on-off valve drive circuit 48 and the second on-off valve drive circuit 49 based on the calculation result.

[0054] In this embodiment, a flow sensor 13 for measuring the flow rate of water is provided as the sensor 13. The flow sensor 13 has a Hall IC (not shown) that detects changes in a magnetic field and converts it into a voltage, and the voltage output from the Hall IC becomes a pulse signal. The frequency of the pulse signal increases as the water flow rate increases.

[0055] The reset switch 44 is a switch for resetting the accumulated time and the accumulated flow rate. When the accumulated time after reset reaches a predetermined time or when the accumulated flow rate reaches a predetermined flow rate, a sound, light, or vibration is emitted from the notification unit 45 to prompt the user to replace the water purifier 16. When the user replaces the water purifier 16 and operates the reset switch 44, the accumulated time and the accumulated flow rate are reset, and the accumulation of the accumulated time, i.e., the time during which water is determined to be flowing, and the accumulation of the accumulated flow rate, i.e., the signal corresponding to the flow rate, are newly started.

[0056] The setting switch 46 is a switch for setting a predetermined time and a predetermined flow rate according to the model of the water purifier. If a DIP switch is used for the setting switch 46, it will be small and space-saving, but it is not limited to a DIP switch and can be used with any water purifier that can input numbers, and a button switch is easy to operate.

[0057] Power source 51 consists of four AA batteries connected in series (not shown). C batteries or D batteries may be used, and coin-type lithium batteries may also be used, but AA batteries are preferred due to their capacity and external dimensions. An existing battery box can be used as appropriate, but a battery box equipped with a packing to prevent water or oil from entering from the outside is preferably used. Control unit 9, which is connected to power source 51 by lead wires, has the function of measuring voltage.

[0058] A transmitter may be provided in the control unit 9, and the calculation results may be notified to the user's smartphone using Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). If the accumulated time and accumulated flow rate of the water purifier are transmitted and displayed on the smartphone, the user can conveniently prepare to replace the water purifier with a new one. If the accumulated flow rate of raw water usage is transmitted and displayed on the smartphone including the estimated water bill, the user can conveniently prepare to pay. If the battery voltage is transmitted and displayed on the smartphone together with the battery capacity, the user can conveniently prepare to replace the battery with a new one. By visualizing the usage status through a specified cloud service, a more comfortable water purifier usage environment can be provided.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows the control of the control unit 9 for switching from raw water mode to purified water mode. When the power supply of the flow path switching system 1 is turned on in step S0, the flow path switching system 1 enters an operation standby state in step S1. In the operation standby state, the control unit 9 controls the first on-off valve 10 to be open and the second on-off valve 11 to be closed. That is, in the operation standby state, raw water can be discharged from the hot and cold water mixing valve 20. This state is called the raw water mode. On the other hand, a state in which purified water can be discharged from the outlet 21 is called the purified water mode.

[0060] In steps S2 to S5, the purified water mode is detected. When the frequency of the pulse signal from the sensor 13 becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold in the raw water mode (step S2), it is determined that the operation lever 22 of the hot and cold water mixing valve 20 is open and tap water is being discharged from the outlet 21. If the frequency of the pulse signal from the sensor 13 then becomes equal to or less than the second threshold (step S3), and the frequency of the pulse signal from the sensor 13 again becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold within a predetermined time (step S4) (step S5), it is determined that an operation of closing the operation lever 22 of the hot and cold water mixing valve 20 and then opening it again within a predetermined time has been performed. This operation in which the frequency of the pulse signal from the sensor 13 becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold, then becomes equal to or less than the second threshold, and then becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold again within a predetermined time is called a purified water mode switching operation.

[0061] The first threshold is preferably set to a frequency corresponding to a flow rate in the range of 1 L / min to 2 L / min, and the second threshold is preferably set to a frequency corresponding to a flow rate in the range of 0.5 L / min to less than 1 L / min. In this embodiment, the first threshold is set to 10 Hz, which is a frequency corresponding to a flow rate in the range of 1 L / min to 2 L / min, and the second threshold is set to 5 Hz, which is a frequency corresponding to a flow rate in the range of 0.5 L / min to less than 1 L / min. In addition, the predetermined time is preferably set in the range of 0.5 seconds to 3.0 seconds.

[0062] When this purification mode switching operation is detected, the control unit 9 opens the second on-off valve 11 (step S6), and then closes the first on-off valve 10 (step S7). If the frequency of the pulse signal does not become equal to or lower than the second threshold value in step 3 (NO), if the state of being equal to or lower than the second threshold value continues for a predetermined time in step 4 (NO), or if the frequency does not become equal to or higher than the first threshold value in step 5 (NO), the raw water mode is maintained.

[0063] If the first on-off valve 10 is closed in step S7 before the second on-off valve 11 is opened in step S6, or if the first on-off valve 10 is closed in step 7 and the second on-off valve 11 is closed in step 6 simultaneously, the flow rate may momentarily decrease below the first threshold, leading to a false detection that the operating lever 22 of the hot and cold water mixing valve 20 has been closed to stop the water flow. However, as described above, by first opening the second on-off valve 11 in step S6 and then closing the second on-off valve 10 in step S7, it is possible to switch from the raw water mode to the purified water mode without a false detection.

[0064] When the flow path switching system 1 switches from the raw water mode to the purified water mode, the control unit 9 causes the notification unit 45 to emit an intermittent beep sound with long intervals (notification 1) in step S8. This allows the user to recognize that the water purification system 1 has switched from the raw water mode to the purified water mode. Then, the control unit 9 starts accumulating the integrated time, i.e., the time during which water is determined to be flowing, and the integrated flow rate, i.e., the signal corresponding to the flow rate (step S9).

[0065] After confirming that the frequency of the pulse signal remains above the first threshold (step 10), when the accumulated time since switching to the purified water mode reaches or exceeds the waste water threshold (step 11), the control unit 9 causes the notification unit 45 to emit an intermittent beep sound with short intervals in step S12 (notification 2). This allows the user to recognize that the drainage of the stagnant water in the water purifier, i.e., the waste water discharge, is complete and the purified water being discharged from the hot and cold water mixing faucet 20 is drinkable.

[0066] Here, the notification unit 45 may transmit notification 2 when the integrated flow rate since switching to the purified water mode, that is, the integration of the signal corresponding to the flow rate, exceeds the waste water threshold, instead of the integrated time since switching to the purified water mode. Even if the opening degree of the operating lever 22 of the hot and cold water mixing faucet 20 changes, the accumulated water can be drained to the minimum necessary, which is economical.

[0067] Notification 1 may be a melody with a musical scale, a continuous beep, vibration, or light, instead of an intermittent sound. Notification 2 may also be a melody different from Notification 1, a continuous sound with a different pitch from Notification 1, vibration with a different frequency or amplitude from Notification 1, or light of a different color from Notification 1, instead of an intermittent sound. In either case, a conventional notification means can be appropriately selected, and sound, light, and vibration can also be used in combination. By allowing the notification means to be selected, it is possible to match the user's preferences.

[0068] If the user knows that the notification has changed from Notification 1 to Notification 2, the user can accurately recognize that the discarded water is now drinkable purified water. This can prevent the user from drinking the discarded water or throwing away the drinkable purified water.

[0069] When the frequency of the pulse signal from the sensor 13 becomes equal to or lower than the second threshold value in the purified water mode (step 14), the control lever 22 of the hot and cold water mixing valve 20 is closed, and it is determined that purified water from the outlet 21 has been stopped. The control unit 9 closes the second on-off valve 11 (step S15), and then opens the first on-off valve 10 (step S16). That is, the flow path switching system 1 switches from the purified water mode to the raw water mode.

[0070] Even if the frequency of the pulse signal does not remain equal to or higher than the first threshold value in step 10 or step 11 (NO), the control unit 9 closes the second on-off valve 11 (step S15) and then opens the first on-off valve 10 (step S16). That is, the flow path switching system 1 switches from the purified water mode to the raw water mode.

[0071] Although not shown in Fig. 8, when the accumulated time since switching to the purified water mode exceeds a predetermined time, the mode may be automatically switched to the raw water mode. At this time, the second on-off valve 11 is closed, the first on-off valve 10 is then opened, and the transmission of the notification 2 from the notification unit 45 is stopped. This allows the user to recognize that the flow path switching system 1 has switched to the raw water mode. Adding this function makes it possible to prevent purified water from being left emitting and wasting it, or to prevent the lifespan of the water purifier from being inadvertently shortened.

[0072] The integrated flow rate after resetting by operating the reset switch 44, i.e., the integration of the signal according to the flow rate, is the water purifier replacement threshold value. When it becomes more than The control unit 9 then causes the notification unit 45 to emit a sound, light, or vibration different from notification 1 and notification 2 (notification 3). This allows the user to know that the water purifier has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced. The notification unit 45 may also emit a sound, light, or vibration when more than one year has passed since the reset switch 44 was operated to reset the water purifier. This can prevent the water purifier from becoming unsanitary due to use that is extremely infrequent and for a longer period than expected.

[0073] When the control unit 9 detects that the voltage of the power source 51 has fallen below the battery life threshold, the control unit 9 causes the notification unit 45 to emit a sound, light, or vibration (notification 4) that is different from notifications 1, 2, and 3. This allows the user to know that the battery has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced.

[0074] Next, the operation of the flow path switching system 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0075] FIG. 9 is a time chart from the water stop state to the purified water discharge of the flow path switching system 1 in this embodiment. When the operation lever 22 of the hot and cold water mixing faucet 20 is closed (water stop state), the first opening and closing valve 10 is open and the second opening and closing valve 11 is closed. When the operation lever 22 of the hot and cold water mixing faucet 20 is turned to the right until it stops and then pushed up, the hot and cold water mixing opening and closing valve 23 opens and tap water is discharged from the discharge port 21. Since the first opening and closing valve 10 is open and the second opening and closing valve 11 is closed and remains in the initial state, tap water flows as it is in the raw water channel 4. When a signal corresponding to the water volume is received from the sensor 13 to the control unit 9, the control unit 9 determines that water is passing through the signal. Next, a special operation is performed in which the operation lever 22 is pushed down once and then pushed up within 3 seconds. Then, a signal corresponding to a special flow rate change caused by stopping the water and re-passing the water within 3 seconds is received from the sensor 13 to the control unit 9. The control unit 9 determines from the signal that the water was stopped and then re-passed within 3 seconds. The control unit 9 then opens the second on-off valve 11, and then closes the first on-off valve 10. As a result, tap water that passed through the raw water channel 4 previously came out of the discharge port 21 as is, but now the tap water passes through the branching section 5 and the raw water outward channel 7 into the water purifier 16, and the purified water purified by the water purifier 16 passes through the purified water return channel 8 and the junction 6 and comes out of the discharge port 21.

[0076] Fig. 10 is a time chart of the operation of switching from purified water mode to raw water mode in the flow path switching system 1 in this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 10, when the operation lever 22 is pressed down in the purified water discharge state, the hot and cold water mixing valve 23 closes and purified water from the discharge port 21 stops. When this happens, the signal from the sensor 13 to the control unit 9 is cut off, or only a signal corresponding to a small amount of water reaches the control unit 9 from the sensor 13, so the control unit 9 determines that the water has been stopped and immediately closes the second on-off valve 11 and opens the first on-off valve 10, returning to the initial state.

[0077] FIG. 11 is a time chart of the operation of the flow path switching system in this embodiment when raw water is used. As shown in FIG. 11, when the operation lever 22 is pushed up, the hot and cold water mixing valve 23 opens and tap water is discharged from the outlet 21. The first opening and closing valve 10 is open and the second opening and closing valve 11 is closed and remains in the initial state, so tap water flows as it is in the raw water path 4. When a signal according to the amount of water is received from the sensor 13, the control unit 9 determines that water is being passed by the signal. When the operation lever 22 is subsequently pushed down, the hot and cold water mixing valve 23 closes and the discharge of tap water from the outlet 21 stops. The signal from the sensor 13 also stops, so the control unit 9 determines that water is being stopped. Since the special operation of pushing down the operation lever 22 once and then pushing it up within 3 seconds is not performed, the control unit 9 determines that water has not been passed again within 3 seconds after the water was stopped, and the first opening and closing valve 10 remains open and the second opening and closing valve 11 remains closed.

[0078] As described above, by using the flow path switching system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the raw water mode and purified water mode can be switched by simply operating the operation lever of the hot and cold water mixing faucet. There is no need to purchase a special hot and cold water mixing / combined faucet for an expensive water purifier as in Patent Document 1, and the under-sink water purifier can be installed in an existing faucet. There is no need to install a touch panel for operation, a push button, or wiring as in Patent Document 2. There is no need to drill holes in an existing sink, and the under-sink water purifier can be easily installed.

[0079] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they are merely examples and should not be construed as being limiting, and may be implemented in various forms with various changes, modifications, and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. As long as the embodiment conforms to the gist of the present invention and includes the features of the present invention, it is within the scope of the present invention. EXAMPLES

[0080] <Example 1> The flow path switching system of the present invention was connected to a single-type shower mixer faucet KM5021TEC (hot and cold water mixer faucet) for a sink manufactured by KVK Corporation, an under-sink water purifier SK88 manufactured by Toray Industries, a water supply source, and a hot water supply source.

[0081] When the single lever was turned to the right until it stopped and then pushed up, tap water spurted out forcefully from the shower outlet. When the single lever was pushed down once and then pushed up 1.5 seconds later, an intermittent beeping sound with long intervals was heard, and it was realized that the flow path switching system had switched from raw water mode to purified water mode. When the mode was switched over, the flow rate was slightly reduced to 3.5 L / min, but the water did not stop. After 15 seconds, the sound changed to an intermittent beeping sound with short intervals, and it was realized that the drainage of the stagnant water in the water purifier, i.e., the discarding of the water, had been completed, and the purified water was now drinkable. When the single lever was pushed down, the purified water from the shower outlet stopped, and at the same time, the intermittent beeping sound with short intervals also stopped.

[0082] <Example 2> The flow path switching system of the present invention was connected to a free-standing water faucet K16NDSSE manufactured by KVK Corporation (a single water faucet without hot and cold water mixing function), an under-sink water purifier SK88 manufactured by Toray Industries, a water supply source, and a hot water supply source. When the rotating lever at the base of the faucet was turned to the right, tap water spurted out forcefully from the outlet. When the rotating lever was turned once to the left until it stopped, and then turned to the right after 1.5 seconds, an intermittent beeping sound with long intervals was heard, and it was realized that the flow path switching system had switched from raw water mode to purified water mode. When the flow rate switched, it reduced slightly to 3.5 L / min, but the water did not stop. After 15 seconds, the sound changed to an intermittent beeping sound with short intervals, and it was realized that the drainage of the stagnant water in the water purifier, i.e., the discarding of the water, was completed, and the purified water was drinkable. When the rotating lever was turned to the left until it stopped, the purified water stopped from the outlet, and at the same time, the intermittent beeping sound with short intervals also stopped.

[0083] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modified or revised examples within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components in the above-mentioned embodiments may be arbitrarily combined within the scope of the invention.

[0084] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2019-203685) filed on November 11, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1, 1' Stream Switching System 2, 2' inlet 3, 3' Outlet 4. Raw Waterway 5 Branch 6 Junction 7 Raw Water Outbound 8, 8' Return line for purified water 9. Control Unit 10 First opening and closing valve 11 Second opening and closing valve 12 Pressure Regulating Valve 13 Sensor (flow sensor) 14 Water stop valve 15 Check valve 16. Water Purifier 17 Water sources 18 Hot water supply source 20 Hot water mixer tap 21 Discharge port 22 Operating lever 23 Hot and cold water mixing valve 30 Straight Pipe Outbound 31 U-turn Road 32 Straight return 33 Unit division section 34 First flow path switching unit 35 Second flow path switching unit 36 Inlet connection member 37 Water turbine channel 38 Rotational Axis 39 Waterwheel 40 Quick Fastener 41 Raw Water Inlet 42 Purified water outlet 43 CPU 44 Reset Switch 45 Notification Department 46 Setting Switch 47 Memory 48 First opening and closing valve drive circuit 49 Second opening / closing valve drive circuit 50 Sensor circuit 51 Power supply 52 Raw water outward connection member 53 Return connection parts for purified water

Claims

1. A flow path switching system for use in a water purification system, comprising: a raw water channel having an inlet and an outlet; A raw water outgoing path and a purified water return path connected to the water purifier; A branching section is provided in the raw water channel and branches the raw water flowing through the raw water channel from the inlet into the raw water outflow channel; A junction section is provided between the branching section and the outlet of the raw water channel, and the purified water that has been purified by a water purifier and has flowed through the purified water return channel is junctioned with the raw water channel; A first on-off valve provided between the branching portion and the joining portion of the raw water channel; A second on-off valve provided in the raw water outflow passage; a sensor provided between the inlet and the branching portion of the raw water channel or between the junction and the outlet, the sensor measuring a state of water flowing through the raw water channel; a control unit that controls the first on-off valve and the second on-off valve based on a signal from the sensor, The control unit of the flow path switching system controls the second opening / closing valve to open and the first opening / closing valve to close when it receives a signal from the sensor indicating that water is flowing in the raw water channel, then receives a signal indicating that water is not flowing in the raw water channel, and then receives a signal indicating that water is flowing in the raw water channel again within a predetermined time.

2. The flow path switching system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a flow sensor that outputs a pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the flow rate of water flowing through the raw water channel, the signal indicating that water is flowing through the raw water channel is a pulse signal having a frequency greater than or equal to a first threshold, and the signal indicating that water is not flowing through the raw water channel is a pulse signal having a frequency less than or equal to a second threshold.

3. 3. The flow path switching system of claim 2, wherein the first threshold is set to a frequency corresponding to a flow rate in the range of 1 L / min or more and 2 L / min or less, and the second threshold is set to a frequency corresponding to a flow rate in the range of 0.5 L / min or more and less than 1 L / min.

4. Further comprising a notification unit that emits sound, light and / or vibration; The control unit integrates the water flow rate per unit time based on the pulse signal from the flow sensor while the second opening / closing valve is open, and when this integrated value becomes equal to or greater than a water purifier replacement threshold value, outputs a signal to the notification unit to prompt replacement of the water purifier; The flow path switching system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the notification unit emits sound, light and / or vibration to prompt the user to replace the water purifier when the notification unit receives a signal from the control unit to prompt the user to replace the water purifier.

5. Further comprising a notification unit that emits sound, light and / or vibration; The control unit integrates the water flow rate per unit time based on the pulse signal from the flow sensor during the period from when the second opening / closing valve is closed to when it is opened again, and when this integrated value becomes equal to or greater than a waste water threshold value, outputs a signal to the notification unit to prompt the use of the water purifier; The flow path switching system of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the notification unit emits sound, light and / or vibration to prompt use of the water purifier when it receives a signal from the control unit to prompt use of the water purifier.

6. Further comprising a notification unit that emits sound, light and / or vibration; the control unit includes a battery, and when a voltage of the battery falls below a battery life threshold, the control unit outputs a signal to the notification unit to prompt the user to replace the battery; The flow path switching system of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the notification unit emits sound, light and / or vibration to prompt battery replacement when it receives a signal from the control unit to prompt battery replacement.

7. A water purifier having a flow path switching system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a raw water inlet and a purified water outlet, A water purification system, wherein the raw water outgoing path and the purified water return path of the flow path switching system are connected to the raw water inlet and the purified water outlet of the water purifier, respectively.

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