Water server

Abstract

To provide a water server capable of reducing a possibility of flowing out of remaining drinking water, and suppressing a decrease in an outflow volume.SOLUTION: A water server comprises: a drinking water tank for storing the drinking water; a drinking water channel R4 including an outflow nozzle 20 for supplying the drinking water inside the drinking water tank to a user; a first electromagnetic valve V1 provided on an upstream of the outflow nozzle 20 in the drinking water channel, capable of being opened / closed; and a second electromagnetic valve V2 provided in the outflow nozzle 20 capable being opened / closed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[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 in front of the housing. This water server has a flow path for guiding drinking water from the cold water tank and the hot water tank to the water outlet, and a valve mechanism is provided on the flow path. The valve mechanism opens and closes to provide drinking water to the user or stop the supply of drinking water (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when the supply of drinking water is stopped and the valve mechanism is closed, drinking water remains from the valve mechanism to the water outlet. Such remaining drinking water may suddenly flow out for various reasons such as impact.

[0005] Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to reduce the diameter of the water outlet (water discharge nozzle). However, if the diameter of the water discharge nozzle is reduced, the water discharge amount will decrease. If the water discharge amount decreases, it will take time to discharge a predetermined amount of water, which will cause stress to the user and lead to a decrease in convenience.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a water server capable of reducing the possibility of remaining drinking water flowing out and suppressing a decrease in the water discharge amount.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The water server according to the present invention includes a drinking water tank for storing drinking water, a drinking water flow path including a water outlet nozzle having a water outlet at the lower end for supplying the drinking water in the drinking water tank to a user and extending in the vertical direction, a first valve mechanism provided upstream of the water outlet nozzle in the drinking water flow path and capable of opening and closing operations, a second valve mechanism provided in an intermediate portion of the water outlet nozzle and capable of opening and closing operations, and a control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the first valve mechanism and the second valve mechanism. The control unit Prior to closing the first valve mechanism at the end of water discharge, the second valve mechanism is closed, keeps both the first valve mechanism and the second valve mechanism closed until there is a water discharge operation, and when there is a water discharge operation, after operating the first valve mechanism to open, operates the second valve mechanism to open.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, since it is provided with not only the first valve mechanism provided upstream of the water outlet nozzle in the drinking water flow path and capable of opening and closing operations, but also the second valve mechanism provided in the water outlet nozzle and capable of opening and closing operations, the flowing out drinking water can only be the drinking water on the downstream side of the second valve mechanism, and by suppressing the weight of the flowing out drinking water, the possibility of the drinking water flowing out during impact or the like can be reduced. Further, since the second valve mechanism is provided, it is not necessary to reduce the diameter of the water outlet nozzle, and a decrease in the water discharge amount can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a water server capable of reducing the possibility of remaining drinking water flowing out and suppressing a decrease in the water discharge amount.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in accordance with preferred embodiments. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, in the embodiments shown below, there are some places where the illustration and description of some configurations are omitted, but it goes without saying that known or well-known technologies are appropriately applied within the range where there is no contradiction with the content described below regarding the details of the omitted technologies.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a water server according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an overview of the interior of the water server 1 shown in FIG. 1. The water server 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a housing 10 having a substantially quadrangular prism shape in appearance, and a water discharge nozzle 20 having a water discharge port 21 and an operation panel 30 are provided on the front side of the housing 10. Such a water server 1 has a drinking water bottle (drinking water tank) B placed on the upper part of the housing 10. Note that the drinking water bottle B is not limited to the upper part of the housing 10 and may be built in the lower part.

[0012] The water outlet nozzle 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a cylindrical member that functions as a flow path for discharging drinking water and has a water outlet 21. This water outlet nozzle 20 is formed in a state where at least a part of it is housed in a recess 11 formed to recess rearward from the front surface of the housing 10. The operation panel 30 is an operation unit that receives operations from the user, and various operations such as an operation for discharging cold water (water at a temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature (for example, 20°C)), an operation for discharging warm water (water at a temperature of the second predetermined temperature (for example, 40°C) or higher), and an operation for heating warm water are possible.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the water server 1 includes a cold water tank (drinking water tank) T1, a warm water tank (drinking water tank) T2, and a float valve F inside the housing 10 (see FIG. 1). Further, the water server 1 includes flow paths (drinking water flow paths) R1 to R3 and a solenoid valve mechanism 40.

[0014] The cold water tank T1 is a tank that introduces and stores drinking water from the drinking water bottle B. A float valve F is provided in the cold water tank T1. When the amount of drinking water in the cold water tank T1 becomes less than a predetermined amount, the float valve F opens the water guide path C to introduce the drinking water from the drinking water bottle B into the cold water tank T1. On the other hand, when the amount of drinking water in the cold water tank T1 reaches the predetermined amount, the float valve F closes the water guide path C to prohibit the introduction of drinking water from the drinking water bottle B. As a result, the drinking water in the cold water tank T1 is maintained at a predetermined water surface height. Further, a heat exchange part (not shown) is provided in the cold water tank T1, and the normal temperature water (water at a temperature not lower than the first predetermined temperature and lower than the second predetermined temperature) introduced into the cold water tank T1 is cooled by the heat exchange part to be turned into cold water.

[0015] The warm water tank T2 is connected below the cold water tank T1 through a pipe, and introduces and stores the drinking water from the cold water tank T1. A heating mechanism such as a heater H is provided around the warm water tank T2, and the drinking water in the warm water tank T2 is heated by the heater H to be turned into warm water. Note that the cold water tank T1 has a plate member (not shown) that divides the internal drinking water into an upper layer that is difficult to be cooled by the heat exchange section and a lower layer that is cooled by the heat exchange section, and it is preferable that the warm water tank T2 introduces the drinking water from the upper layer of the cold water tank T1.

[0016] Each of the flow paths R1 to R3 constitutes a drinking water flow path for guiding drinking water to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40. Among them, the first flow path R1 is a flow path for guiding the cold water in the cold water tank T1 to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40. The first flow path R1 is connected, for example, at one end to the cold water tank T1 and at the other end to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40. Note that the cold water is guided to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40 by utilizing its own weight, but a pump may be provided.

[0017] The second flow path R2 is a flow path for guiding the warm water in the warm water tank T2 to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40. The second flow path R2 is connected, for example, at one end to the warm water tank T2 and at the other end to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40. Note that the warm water is guided to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40 by utilizing its own weight, but a pump may be provided.

[0018] The third flow path R3 is a flow path for guiding the normal temperature water to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40. The third flow path R3 is connected, for example, at one end to the water guide path C for introducing the drinking water from the drinking water bottle B into the cold water tank T1 and at the other end to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40. Note that the normal temperature water is guided to the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40 by utilizing its own weight, but a pump may be provided. Furthermore, the third flow path R3 may be connected to a portion above the plate member of the cold water tank T1 (that is, the upper layer of water can be introduced).

[0019] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a part of the water server 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the electromagnetic valve mechanism 40 includes three first electromagnetic valves (first valve mechanisms) V1 and a water outlet passage (drinking water passage) R4. Note that the three first electromagnetic valves V1 can be opened and closed by operating valve bodies (not shown).

[0020] One of the three, the left first electromagnetic valve V11 (hereinafter simply referred to as the first electromagnetic valve V11), is provided on one side among the three horizontally arranged first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 and is provided on the first flow path R1. The right first electromagnetic valve V12 (hereinafter simply referred to as the first electromagnetic valve V12) is provided on the other side among the three horizontally arranged first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 and is provided on the second flow path R2. The central first electromagnetic valve V13 (hereinafter simply referred to as the first electromagnetic valve V13) is provided in the center among the three horizontally arranged first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 and is provided on the third flow path R3.

[0021] The water outlet passage R4 is a passage that is substantially T-shaped in the front view shown in FIG. 3 and includes a first inclined passage R41, a second inclined passage R42, and a water outlet nozzle 20. The first inclined passage R41 is a passage that is slightly inclined from the horizontal so that the other end is slightly lower than one end and is connected to the first flow path R1. The second inclined passage R42 is a passage that is slightly inclined from the horizontal so that one end is slightly lower than the other end and is connected to the second flow path R2. The other end of the first inclined passage R41 and one end of the second inclined passage R42 are connected, and the third flow path R3 is connected to this connection portion. The water outlet nozzle 20 is a passage extending in the vertical direction. The upper end of this water outlet nozzle 20 is connected to the connection portion, and the lower end is the water outlet 21.

[0022] Due to such a configuration, when the first solenoid valve V11 is opened, cold water reaches the first inclined flow path R41 of the water outlet flow path R4 through the first flow path R1, and flows out from the water outlet 21 through the first inclined flow path R41 and the water outlet nozzle 20. When the first solenoid valve V12 is opened, warm water reaches the second inclined flow path R42 of the water outlet flow path R4 through the second flow path R2, and flows out from the water outlet 21 through the second inclined flow path R42 and the water outlet nozzle 20. When the first solenoid valve V13 is opened, normal temperature water reaches the water outlet nozzle 20 of the water outlet flow path R4 through the third flow path R3, and flows out from the water outlet 21 through the water outlet nozzle 20.

[0023] Here, when the first solenoid valves V11 to V13 shift from the open state to the closed state, the beverage water remains in the water outlet flow path R4. The remaining beverage water may flow out from the water outlet 21 due to various reasons such as being impacted or its own weight. Therefore, the water server 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a second solenoid valve (second valve mechanism) V2 in the water outlet nozzle 20. Similar to the first solenoid valves V11 to V13, the second solenoid valve V2 can be controlled to open and close by operating a valve body (not shown).

[0024] In this way, by providing the second solenoid valve V2 in the water outlet nozzle 20, the flowing beverage water can be only the beverage water on the downstream side of the second solenoid valve V2, and by suppressing the weight of the beverage water that can flow out, the possibility of the beverage water flowing out during impact or the like can be reduced. Further, since the second solenoid valve V2 is provided, it is not necessary to reduce the diameter of the water outlet nozzle 20, and a decrease in the water output can be suppressed.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the water server 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a control unit 50. The control unit 50 controls the entire water server 1, and particularly performs opening and closing control of the first solenoid valves V11 to V13 and the second solenoid valve V2 according to operations on the operation panel 30.

[0026] Next, the operation of the water server 1 according to the present embodiment during water discharge will be described. FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the opening and closing states of the first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 and the second electromagnetic valve V2 during water discharge of the water server 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0027] When a water discharge operation for any one of hot water, cold water, and normal temperature water is performed on the operation panel 30, the control unit 50 first causes the corresponding first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 to perform an opening operation. Next, the control unit 50 causes the second electromagnetic valve V2 to perform an opening operation. Thus, the water server 1 according to the present embodiment causes the first electromagnetic valve V1 to perform an opening operation prior to causing the second electromagnetic valve V2 to perform an opening operation at the start of water discharge.

[0028] As a result, first, by the opening operation of any one of the first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13, pressure is applied to the drinking water existing in the flow path portion from the first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 to the second electromagnetic valve V2, and then the pressurized drinking water is discharged by opening the second valve mechanism V2. For this reason, water can be discharged vigorously immediately after the start of water discharge, and an operation feeling with a snap at the start of water discharge can be obtained.

[0029] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, at the end of water discharge, the control unit 50 causes the second electromagnetic valve V2 to perform a closing operation. Next, the control unit 50 causes the corresponding first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 to perform a closing operation. Thus, the water server 1 according to the present embodiment causes the second electromagnetic valve V2 to perform a closing operation prior to causing the first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 to perform a closing operation at the end of water discharge.

[0030] As a result, first, the closing operation of the second electromagnetic valve V2 stops the water discharge of the drinking water to be sent out, and then the corresponding first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 are caused to perform a closing operation. As when the first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 and the second electromagnetic valve V2 are closed in this order, a situation where pressure is not applied to the drinking water existing in the flow path portion from the first electromagnetic valves V11 to V13 to the second electromagnetic valve V2 and the feeling of a snap at the time of water stoppage is lost is suppressed. For this reason, an operation feeling with a snap at the end of water discharge can be obtained.

[0031] Thus, according to the water server 1 according to the present embodiment, not only the first electromagnetic valve V1 provided upstream of the water outlet nozzle 20 and capable of opening and closing operations, but also the second electromagnetic valve V2 provided in the water outlet nozzle 20 and capable of opening and closing operations are provided. Therefore, the drinking water flowing out can be only the drinking water on the downstream side of the second electromagnetic valve V2, and by suppressing the weight of the drinking water that can flow out, the possibility of the drinking water flowing out during impact or the like can be reduced. Further, since the second electromagnetic valve V2 is provided, it is not necessary to reduce the diameter of the water outlet nozzle 20, and a decrease in the water output can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a water server 1 that can reduce the possibility of the remaining drinking water flowing out and suppress a decrease in the water output.

[0032] Also, prior to operating the second electromagnetic valve V2 to open at the start of water discharge, since the first electromagnetic valve V1 is operated to open, first, the drinking water existing in the flow path portion from the first electromagnetic valve V1 to the second electromagnetic valve V2 is pressurized by the opening operation of the first electromagnetic valve V1, and then the pressurized drinking water is discharged by opening the second electromagnetic valve V2. Therefore, water can be discharged vigorously immediately after the start of water discharge, and a crisp operating feeling can be obtained at the start of water discharge.

[0033] Also, prior to operating the first electromagnetic valve V1 to close at the end of water discharge, since the second electromagnetic valve V2 is operated to close, first, the water discharge of the drinking water sent out is stopped by the closing operation of the second electromagnetic valve V2, and then the first electromagnetic valve V1 is operated to close. Thus, a situation where no pressure is applied to the drinking water existing in the flow path portion from the first electromagnetic valve V1 to the second electromagnetic valve V2 and the crisp feeling at the time of stopping water cannot be obtained is suppressed when the first electromagnetic valve V1 and the second electromagnetic valve V2 are closed in this order. Therefore, a crisp operating feeling can be obtained at the end of water discharge.

[0034] As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, or other technologies may be appropriately combined within the possible range.

[0035] For example, in the water server 1 according to the present embodiment, the first solenoid valve V1 and the second solenoid valve V2 that are controlled to open and close by the control unit 50 are provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as it simply reduces the possibility of the remaining drinking water flowing out and suppresses the decrease in the water output, it may be provided with a mechanical valve mechanism that is manually opened and closed.

[0036] In addition, the water server 1 according to the present embodiment can discharge cold water, warm water, and normal temperature water. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be possible to discharge only cold water and normal temperature water.

[0037] In addition, in the water server 1 according to the present embodiment, cold water, warm water, and normal temperature water can be discharged from one water outlet nozzle 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each of them may be configured to be discharged from a different water outlet nozzle.

Explanation of Signs

[0038] 1: Water server 10: Housing 11: Concave portion 20: Water outlet nozzle 21: Water outlet 30: Operation panel 40: Solenoid valve mechanism 50: Control unit B: Drinking water bottle (drinking water tank) C: Water conduit F: Float valve H: Heater R1: First flow path (drinking water flow path) R2: Second flow path (drinking water flow path) R3: Third flow path (drinking water flow path) R4: Water outlet flow path (drinking water flow path) R41: First inclined flow path R42: Second inclined flow path T1: Cold water tank (drinking water tank) T2: Warm water tank (drinking water tank) V1, V11~V13: First solenoid valve (first valve mechanism) V2: SecondSolenoid valve (Second valve mechanism)

Claims

【Claim 1】 A drinking water tank for storing drinking water, A drinking water flow path including a water outlet nozzle having a water outlet at the lower end for supplying the drinking water in the drinking water tank to the user and extending in the vertical direction, A first valve mechanism provided upstream of the water outlet nozzle in the drinking water flow path and capable of opening and closing operations, A second valve mechanism provided in the middle part of the water outlet nozzle and capable of opening and closing operations, A control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the first valve mechanism and the second valve mechanism, and The control unit closes the second valve mechanism prior to closing the first valve mechanism at the end of water discharge, keeps both the first valve mechanism and the second valve mechanism closed until there is a water discharge operation, and opens the second valve mechanism after opening the first valve mechanism when there is a water discharge operation. A water server characterized by the above.

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