Water server with a function to limit the amount of purified water used

Abstract

To provide a purified water server with a function for limiting a purified water usage amount, capable of stably and accurately managing the purified water usage amount.SOLUTION: A control unit 30 that controls opening and closing of a purified water pour-out electromagnetic valve 10 based on a signal from a purified water pour-out operation unit 6 calculates a purified water usage amount, which is a cumulative value of a purified water pour-out amount, based on an open-valve time of the purified water pour-out electromagnetic valve 10 until a prescribed period of time elapses. At the same time, the control unit resets the purified water usage amount to zero each time the prescribed period of time elapses, and prohibits opening of the purified water pour-out electromagnetic valve 10 when the purified water usage amount has reached a prescribed upper limit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a water server with a function for restricting the amount of water used for water purification.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, water servers have mainly been used in offices, hospitals, etc. However, in recent years, due to the increasing concern about water safety and health, water servers are becoming more popular in ordinary households. A water server generally has a replaceable water bottle, a cold water tank for introducing and storing water from the water bottle, a cooling device for cooling the water in the cold water tank, and a cold water outlet pipe for discharging the water in the cold water tank to the outside. By opening the valve for cold water discharge provided on the cold water outlet pipe, delicious cold water can be used immediately at any time, which has excellent convenience (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Here, as the replaceable water bottle, one filled with groundwater pumped up at the water intake site as raw water after undergoing heat sterilization treatment etc. (so-called natural water bottle), or one filled with tap water etc. as raw water after purification with a water purification filter at a water treatment plant (so-called RO water bottle) is used.

[0004] The water bottle for a water server usually contains around 10 liters of drinking water and has a weight of around 10 kg. In recent years, the delivery cost for this water bottle has been increasing, and the economic burden on users of water servers tends to increase.

[0005] Therefore, the inventor of the present application has proposed a water purification water server that filters and uses tap water in the home in order to solve the problem of the delivery cost of the water bottle for a water server (for example, Patent Document 2).

[0006] The water purification water server of Patent Document 2 includes a raw water tank for storing tap water in the home as raw water, a replaceable water purification filter cartridge, an electric pump for flowing the raw water in the raw water tank to the water purification filter cartridge, high-temperature and low-temperature purified water tanks for storing the purified water filtered by the water purification filter cartridge, high-temperature and low-temperature purified water discharge pipes for discharging the purified water in each of the purified water tanks to the outside, and high-temperature and low-temperature electromagnetic valves for purified water discharge provided on each of the purified water discharge pipes.

[0007] Since this water purification water server filters tap water in the home with a water purification filter cartridge for use, there is no cost for delivering water bottles, and it is possible to reduce the economic burden on users.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] In a water purification water server, it is necessary to periodically replace the water purification filter cartridge. Therefore, the operator of the water purification water server regularly delivers a replacement water purification filter cartridge to the user. When the replacement water purification filter cartridge arrives from the operator, the user removes the old water purification filter cartridge in use from the water purification water server and installs the new water purification filter cartridge received from the operator on the water purification water server. In this way, the operator of the water purification water server prevents the quality of the purified water used by the user from deteriorating by regularly delivering the replacement water purification filter cartridge to the user.

[0010] By the way, the amount of purified water used by users with a purified water server varies from user to user, and the optimal replacement timing of the purified water filter cartridge also varies from user to user. For example, users who use a purified water server with a large number of people throughout the day need to set a shorter replacement timing for the purified water filter cartridge because the amount of purified water used is large. On the other hand, users with a small number of 1 to 2 people who use the purified water server only in the morning and evening can set a longer replacement timing for the purified water filter cartridge because the amount of purified water used is small.

[0011] Taking this point into consideration, the inventor of the present application considered dividing the users of the purified water server into users with a large amount of purified water used and users with a small amount of purified water used, and making the delivery intervals of the purified water filter cartridges different for both. Specifically, for users with a large amount of purified water used as assumed, for example, the delivery interval of the replacement purified water filter cartridge is shortened so that the replacement purified water filter cartridge is delivered at an interval of once every three months. On the other hand, for users with a small amount of purified water used as assumed, for example, it was considered to extend the delivery interval of the replacement purified water filter cartridge so that the replacement purified water filter cartridge is delivered at an interval of once every six months. By doing so, users with a small amount of purified water used as assumed can reduce the delivery frequency of the replacement purified water filter cartridge, so it is possible to set a smaller economic burden than users with a large amount of purified water used.

[0012] However, when the delivery interval of the replacement purified water filter cartridge is extended for users with a small amount of purified water used as assumed, if the user uses an amount of purified water exceeding the assumption, the used purified water filter cartridge will reach its usage limit before the new replacement purified water filter cartridge arrives, and the quality of the purified water used by the user may deteriorate.

[0013] To prevent such a situation, the inventor of the present application has considered adding a function for restricting the amount of purified water used, which detects the cumulative amount of purified water used by the purified water server until a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) has elapsed, and restricts the pouring out of any further purified water until the predetermined time has elapsed when the amount of purified water used reaches a predetermined upper limit value.

[0014] Adding this function for restricting the amount of purified water used can prevent users from using an amount of purified water exceeding the assumption per a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours). Therefore, even when the delivery interval of the replacement purified water filter cartridge is extended for users who are assumed to use a small amount of purified water, it is possible to surely maintain the quality of the purified water of the purified water server until a new replacement purified water filter cartridge arrives.

[0015] Then, as the purified water server with the above-described function for restricting the amount of purified water used, the inventor of the present application has considered providing a flow rate sensor for detecting the flow rate of the electric pump that passes raw water through the purified water filter cartridge, calculating the cumulative amount of purified water used until a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) has elapsed based on the signal from the flow rate sensor, resetting the amount of purified water used to zero every time the predetermined time has elapsed, and performing control to prohibit the opening of the electromagnetic valve for pouring out purified water when the amount of purified water used calculated in this way reaches a predetermined upper limit value.

[0016] However, it has been found that if the amount of purified water used is calculated based on the signal from the flow rate sensor that detects the flow rate of the electric pump, there is a risk that the management of the amount of purified water used becomes unstable, such as the amount of purified water used based on the signal from the flow rate sensor reaching the upper limit value even though not so much purified water is actually being used.

[0017] For example, when the water level in the purified water tank is lower than the full water level, the purified water usage is reset to zero, and then the electric pump may be driven, causing the water level in the purified water tank to rise to the full water level. In this case, even if the user is not pouring out the purified water, the purified water usage based on the signal from the flow sensor will be counted for the amount of driving of the electric pump. As a result, there is a possibility that the purified water usage based on the signal from the flow sensor reaches the upper limit value even though the amount of purified water actually poured out by the user has not reached the upper limit value.

[0018] The problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a purified water server with a purified water usage limiting function that can stably and accurately manage the purified water usage.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0019] To solve the above problem, this invention provides a purified water server with a purified water usage limiting function having the following configuration. A raw water tank for storing raw water, A replaceable purified water filter cartridge, An electric pump for flowing the raw water in the raw water tank to the purified water filter cartridge, A purified water tank for storing the purified water filtered by the purified water filter cartridge, A purified water pouring pipe for pouring out the purified water in the purified water tank to the outside, A solenoid valve for purified water pouring provided in the purified water pouring pipe, A purified water pouring operation unit operated by the user, A control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve for purified water pouring based on a signal from the purified water pouring operation unit, and has, The control unit, Based on the opening time of the solenoid valve for purified water pouring, calculates the purified water usage, which is the cumulative value of the amount of poured purified water until a predetermined time elapses, and resets the purified water usage to zero every time the predetermined time elapses. Purified water usage calculation means, A water purification amount limit control means for determining whether or not the water purification amount calculated by the water purification amount calculation means has reached a predetermined upper limit value, and prohibiting the opening of the electromagnetic valve for water purification injection when it is determined that the upper limit value has been reached, and a water purification server with a water purification amount limit function having the above.

[0020] In this way, until a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) has elapsed, the water purification amount, which is the cumulative value of the water purification injection amount based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve for water purification injection, is calculated. When the water purification amount reaches a predetermined upper limit value, the opening of the electromagnetic valve for water purification injection is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a user from using an amount of water purification exceeding the assumption per predetermined time, and it becomes possible to surely maintain the quality of the water purification of the water purification server. Here, since the calculation of the water purification amount is performed based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve for water purification injection, the water purification amount is likely to match the amount of water purification actually injected by the user, and it is possible to stably and accurately manage the water purification amount.

[0021] When the water purification injection pipe discharges the water purification in the water purification tank to the outside by the self-weight of the water purification in the water purification tank, It further has a water purification tank water level sensor for detecting the water level in the water purification tank, The control unit, A water purification tank water level determination means for determining whether or not the water level of the water purification in the water purification tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined high water level based on a signal from the water purification tank water level sensor, When the water purification injection operation unit is operated and the water level of the water purification in the water purification tank determined by the water purification tank water level determination means is lower than the high water level, it is preferable to adopt a configuration further having a water purification tank non-high water level time opening prohibition control means for prohibiting the opening of the electromagnetic valve for water purification injection.

[0022] In this way, when the purified water discharge operation unit is operated, the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge opens only when the water level of the purified water in the purified water tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined high water level, and the opening of the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge is prohibited when the water level of the purified water in the purified water tank is lower than the predetermined high water level. Therefore, the accuracy of the amount of purified water used calculated based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge is improved. That is, when the purified water is discharged using the self-weight of the purified water in the purified water tank, the amount of purified water discharged from the purified water discharge pipe per unit time when the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge opens is different when the water level in the purified water tank is high and when the water level in the purified water tank is low. Therefore, if the opening of the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge is allowed regardless of the water level in the purified water tank, the accuracy of the amount of purified water used calculated based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge may decrease. Therefore, when the purified water discharge operation unit is operated, the opening of the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge is prohibited when the water level of the purified water in the purified water tank is lower than the predetermined high water level, and the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge opens only when the water level of the purified water in the purified water tank is equal to or higher than the predetermined high water level. In this way, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the amount of purified water used calculated based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge.

[0023] The purified water tank is composed of a plurality of purified water tanks that store purified water at different temperatures. The purified water discharge pipe is composed of a plurality of purified water discharge pipes that discharge purified water from the plurality of purified water tanks respectively. The plurality of purified water discharge pipes include a first purified water discharge pipe and a second purified water discharge pipe with a larger amount of purified water discharged per unit time than the first purified water discharge pipe. When the electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge includes a first electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge provided in the first purified water discharge pipe and a second electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge provided in the second purified water discharge pipe. The purified water usage calculation means preferably integrates, as the purified water usage, a value obtained by multiplying the valve opening time of the first electromagnetic valve for purified water injection by a first coefficient as the amount of purified water injected from the first purified water injection pipe, and a value obtained by multiplying the valve opening time of the second electromagnetic valve for purified water injection by a second coefficient larger than the first coefficient as the injection amount from the second purified water injection pipe.

[0024] In this way, when the first electromagnetic valve for purified water injection provided in the first purified water injection pipe is opened and when the second electromagnetic valve for purified water injection provided in the second purified water injection pipe is opened, the purified water injection amount of the purified water injected per unit time is different. However, the difference can be corrected by the difference in the magnitudes of the first coefficient and the second coefficient, and the purified water usage can be accurately calculated.

[0025] It further has a raw water tank water level sensor for detecting the water level in the raw water tank. The control unit has raw water tank water level determination means for determining whether the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference water level based on a signal from the raw water tank water level sensor, and reset immediate determination means for determining whether, when the purified water injection operation unit is operated, the operation corresponds to the injection of purified water immediately after the purified water usage is reset to zero by the purified water usage calculation means. It is preferable to adopt a configuration that further has raw water tank low water level valve opening prohibition control means for prohibiting the opening of the electromagnetic valve for purified water injection when the operation corresponds to the injection of purified water immediately after the purified water usage is reset to zero and the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank determined by the raw water tank water level determination means is lower than the reference water level.

[0026] By doing so, even when a large amount of purified water is dispensed at one time at the time of dispensing purified water immediately after the amount of purified water used is reset to zero, it is possible to prevent the water level in the purified water tank from dropping too much and the amount of purified water dispensed per unit time from becoming too small. That is, immediately after the amount of purified water used is reset to zero, it is the time when the amount of purified water that can be dispensed is the largest until it reaches a predetermined upper limit value. At this time, if a large amount of purified water is dispensed at one time with a small amount of remaining raw water in the raw water tank, the raw water tank will become empty and water supply from the raw water tank to the purified water tank will not be performed. As a result, the water level in the purified water tank may drop too much, and the amount of purified water dispensed per unit time may become too small. Therefore, when dispensing purified water immediately after the amount of purified water used is reset to zero, when the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank is less than the reference water level, the opening of the electromagnetic valve for dispensing purified water is prohibited, and the electromagnetic valve for dispensing purified water opens only when the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank is equal to or higher than the reference water level. In this way, since the water supply from the raw water tank to the purified water tank can be surely performed, even when a large amount of purified water is dispensed at one time, it is possible to prevent the water level in the purified water tank from dropping too much and the amount of purified water dispensed per unit time from becoming too small.

Effect of the Invention

[0027] In the purified water server with a purified water usage limit function of the present invention, until a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) elapses, the amount of purified water used, which is the cumulative value of the amount of purified water dispensed based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve for dispensing purified water, is calculated. When the amount of purified water used reaches a predetermined upper limit value, the opening of the electromagnetic valve for dispensing purified water is prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from using an amount of purified water exceeding the assumption per predetermined time, and it is possible to surely maintain the quality of the purified water of the purified water server. Here, since the calculation of the amount of purified water used is performed based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve for dispensing purified water, the amount of purified water used is likely to match the amount of purified water actually dispensed by the user, and it is possible to stably and accurately manage the amount of purified water used.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a water purifier water server with a water purification usage limit function according to an embodiment of the present invention. This water purifier water server puts raw water such as tap water into the raw water tank 1, filters the raw water in the raw water tank 1 with a water purification filter cartridge 2 (see FIG. 2) to generate purified water, stores the purified water in the water purification tank 3 (see FIG. 2), and discharges and uses it from the purified water outlet 4. On the front side of the housing 5, a purified water discharge operation unit 6 operated by the user is provided. The purified water discharge operation unit 6 is composed of a high-temperature purified water discharge operation unit 6a, a low-temperature purified water discharge operation unit 6b, and a normal-temperature purified water discharge operation unit 6c.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the water purification water server includes a housing 5, a raw water tank 1 for storing raw water, a replaceable water purification filter cartridge 2, a raw water pipe 7 communicating between the raw water tank 1 and the water purification filter cartridge 2, an electric pump 8 provided in the middle of the raw water pipe 7, a purified water tank 3 for storing the purified water filtered by the water purification filter cartridge 2, a purified water discharge pipe 9 for discharging the purified water in the purified water tank 3 to the outside, and a solenoid valve 10 for purified water discharge provided in the purified water discharge pipe 9.

[0031] The housing 5 has a cylindrical portion 11 extending in the vertical direction, a top plate 12 provided at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 11, and a bottom plate 13 provided at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 11. The raw water tank 1 is detachably set on the top plate 12. The top plate 12 is provided with a raw water inlet 14 at the end of the upstream side of the raw water pipe 7.

[0032] The raw water tank 1 is provided with a tank on-off valve 15. The tank on-off valve 15 cuts off the communication between the inside and the outside of the raw water tank 1 when the raw water tank 1 is lifted from the top plate 12, and is an on-off valve that communicates the inside of the raw water tank 1 with the raw water inlet 14 when the raw water tank 1 is set on the top plate 12. In addition, the top plate 12 of the housing 5 is provided with a raw water tank water level sensor 16 for detecting the water level in the raw water tank 1. As the raw water tank water level sensor 16, for example, a sensor that detects the position of a float (not shown) provided inside the raw water tank 1 so as to move up and down according to the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank 1 can be used.

[0033] The electric pump 8 sucks the raw water from the side of the raw water tank 1 and discharges the raw water to the side of the water purification filter cartridge 2, thereby transferring the raw water in the raw water pipe 7 from the side of the raw water tank 1 to the side of the water purification filter cartridge 2. The water purification filter cartridge 2 and the purified water tank 3 are connected by a purified water pipe 17, and the purified water generated by filtering through the water purification filter cartridge 2 is introduced into the purified water tank 3 through the purified water pipe 17.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the purified water tank 3 is composed of a high-temperature purified water tank 3a, a low-temperature purified water tank 3b, and a normal-temperature purified water tank 3c.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the high-temperature purified water tank 3a is arranged below the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c. The high-temperature purified water tank 3a and the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c are connected via a tank connection pipe 18, and purified water is introduced from the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c into the high-temperature purified water tank 3a through the tank connection pipe 18. A heating device 19 for heating the purified water in the high-temperature purified water tank 3a is attached to the high-temperature purified water tank 3a. The purified water in the high-temperature purified water tank 3a is maintained at a predetermined high temperature (for example, 80°C or higher) by the heating device 19.

[0036] A high-temperature purified water pouring pipe 9a is connected to the upper surface of the high-temperature purified water tank 3a. A high-temperature purified water pouring electromagnetic valve 10a is provided on the high-temperature purified water pouring pipe 9a. When the high-temperature purified water pouring electromagnetic valve 10a is opened, the purified water in the high-temperature purified water tank 3a is pushed out by the self-weight of the purified water in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c located above the high-temperature purified water tank 3a, and is poured out through the high-temperature purified water pouring pipe 9a. At this time, the same amount of purified water as the purified water poured out from the high-temperature purified water tank 3a flows from the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c into the high-temperature purified water tank 3a through the tank connection pipe 18, and the high-temperature purified water tank 3a is always kept full.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the low-temperature purified water tank 3b is also arranged below the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c. The low-temperature purified water tank 3b and the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c are connected via a tank connection pipe 20, and purified water is introduced from the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c into the low-temperature purified water tank 3b through the tank connection pipe 20. A cooling device 21 for cooling the purified water in the low-temperature purified water tank 3b is attached to the low-temperature purified water tank 3b. The purified water in the low-temperature purified water tank 3b is maintained at a predetermined low temperature (for example, 10°C or lower) by the cooling device 21.

[0038] At the bottom of the low-temperature purified water tank 3b, a low-temperature purified water discharge pipe 9b is connected. A low-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10b is provided in the low-temperature purified water discharge pipe 9b. When the low-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10b is opened, the purified water in the low-temperature purified water tank 3b is pushed out by the weight of the purified water in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c located above the low-temperature purified water tank 3b, and is discharged through the low-temperature purified water discharge pipe 9b. At this time, the same amount of purified water as the purified water discharged from the low-temperature purified water tank 3b flows from the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c into the low-temperature purified water tank 3b through the tank connection pipe 20, and the low-temperature purified water tank 3b is always kept full.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c is arranged above the low-temperature purified water tank 3b and the high-temperature purified water tank 3a. In the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c, air and purified water are stored in upper and lower layers. As shown in FIG. 5, at the bottom of the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c, a normal-temperature purified water discharge pipe 9c is connected. A normal-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10c is provided in the normal-temperature purified water discharge pipe 9c.

[0040] When the normal-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10c is opened, the purified water in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c is pushed out by its own weight and is discharged through the normal-temperature purified water discharge pipe 9c. At this time, according to the amount of purified water discharged from the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c, the water level in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c drops. Also, when purified water is discharged from the low-temperature purified water tank 3b shown in FIG. 3 or when purified water is discharged from the high-temperature purified water tank 3a, the water level in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c drops.

[0041] A purified water tank water level sensor 22 for detecting the water level in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c is provided in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c. Based on the signal from this purified water tank water level sensor 22, the electric pump 8 (see FIG. 2) is controlled. The electric pump 8 is controlled to operate when the purified water tank water level sensor 22 detects that the water level in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c is below the full water level.

[0042] As shown by the dashed line in Fig. 1, the high-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9a, the low-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9b, and the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c merge and are provided at their downstream ends so that purified water flows out from the common purified water outlet 4. The high-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9a, the low-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9b, and the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c may be provided separately from each other so that purified water flows out from separate outlets.

[0043] Here, the flow path of the purified water flowing when the purified water is discharged from the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c (the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c shown in Fig. 5) is shorter than the flow path of the purified water flowing when the purified water is discharged from the high-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9a (the high-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9a, the high-temperature purified water tank 3a, and the tank connection pipe 18 shown in Fig. 4). Therefore, the amount of purified water discharged per unit time when the purified water is discharged from the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c is larger than the amount of purified water discharged per unit time when the purified water is discharged from the high-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9a. In this example, the amount of purified water discharged per unit time from the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c is about 1.5 times the amount of purified water discharged per unit time from the high-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9a.

[0044] Similarly, the flow path of the purified water flowing when the purified water is discharged from the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c (the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c shown in Fig. 5) is shorter than the flow path of the purified water flowing when the purified water is discharged from the low-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9b (the low-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9b, the low-temperature purified water tank 3b, and the tank connection pipe 20 shown in Fig. 2). Therefore, the amount of purified water discharged per unit time when the purified water is discharged from the normal-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9c is larger than the amount of purified water discharged per unit time when the purified water is discharged from the low-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9b. Note that the amount of purified water discharged per unit time from the high-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9a and the amount of purified water discharged per unit time from the low-temperature purified water outlet pipe 9b are of the same magnitude.

[0045] The electromagnetic valves 10a for discharging purified water at high temperature, 10b for discharging purified water at low temperature, and 10c for discharging purified water at normal temperature are electromagnetic on-off valves that open when energized and close when power supply is stopped. The opening and closing of these electromagnetic valves 10a, 10b, and 10c are controlled by the control unit 30 shown in FIG. 6. A signal indicating the water level of the purified water in the purified water tank 3 is input from the purified water tank water level sensor 22 to the control unit 30, and a signal indicating the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank 1 is input from the raw water tank water level sensor 16. A signal indicating whether there has been an operation by the user to discharge purified water at high temperature is input from the high-temperature purified water discharge operation unit 6a, a signal indicating whether there has been an operation by the user to discharge purified water at low temperature is input from the low-temperature purified water discharge operation unit 6b, and a signal indicating whether there has been an operation by the user to discharge purified water at normal temperature is input from the normal-temperature purified water discharge operation unit 6c. Further, a signal for driving the electromagnetic valve 10a for discharging purified water at high temperature, the electromagnetic valve 10b for discharging purified water at low temperature, and the electromagnetic valve 10c for discharging purified water at normal temperature is output from the control unit 30.

[0046] Next, based on FIGS. 7 to 10, an example of the control of the electromagnetic valve 10 for discharging purified water (the electromagnetic valve 10a for discharging purified water at high temperature, the electromagnetic valve 10b for discharging purified water at low temperature, and the electromagnetic valve 10c for discharging purified water at normal temperature shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1) by the control unit 30 will be described.

[0047] <Calculation of purified water usage> As shown in FIG. 7, based on the valve opening time of the water purification discharge electromagnetic valve 10, the water purification usage amount, which is the cumulative value of the water purification discharge amount, is calculated until a predetermined time (24 hours in this example) elapses. Specifically, it is determined whether the high-temperature water purification discharge electromagnetic valve 10a is open (step S1). When it is determined that the high-temperature water purification discharge electromagnetic valve 10a is open, the value obtained by multiplying the valve opening time by the first coefficient (1.0 here) is integrated into the water purification usage amount as the water purification discharge amount from the high-temperature water purification discharge pipe 9a (step S2). Similarly, it is determined whether the low-temperature water purification discharge electromagnetic valve 10b is open (step S3). When it is determined that the low-temperature water purification discharge electromagnetic valve 10b is open, the value obtained by multiplying the valve opening time by the first coefficient (1.0 here) is integrated into the water purification usage amount as the water purification discharge amount from the low-temperature water purification discharge pipe 9b (step S4). Further, it is determined whether the normal-temperature water purification discharge electromagnetic valve 10c is open (step S5). When it is determined that the normal-temperature water purification discharge electromagnetic valve 10c is open, the value obtained by multiplying the valve opening time by a second coefficient (1.5 here) that is larger than the first coefficient is integrated into the water purification usage amount as the water purification discharge amount from the normal-temperature water purification discharge pipe 9c (step S6). Here, the ratio of the first coefficient to the second coefficient is set to correspond to the ratio of the water purification discharge amount per unit time of the high-temperature water purification discharge pipe 9a shown in FIG. 4 and the water purification discharge amount per unit time of the normal-temperature water purification discharge pipe 9c shown in FIG. 5. In this way, until a predetermined time (24 hours in this example) elapses, the water purification usage amount, which is the cumulative value of the water purification amounts discharged from the high-temperature water purification discharge pipe 9a, the low-temperature water purification discharge pipe 9b, and the normal-temperature water purification discharge pipe 9c shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, is calculated. Then, every time a predetermined time (24 hours in this example) elapses (step S7), the water purification usage amount is reset to zero (step S8).

[0048] <Water purification usage amount limit control> As shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether the current water purification usage amount has reached a predetermined upper limit value (step S 11 ). When it is determined that the predetermined upper limit value has been reached, the opening of the water purification discharge electromagnetic valve 10 is prohibited (step S 12) That is, when the amount of purified water used calculated as described above reaches a predetermined upper limit value (for example, the amount of purified water corresponding to 1.2 liters), if any of the electromagnetic valves 10a for injecting high-temperature purified water, 10b for injecting low-temperature purified water, and 10c for injecting normal-temperature purified water shown by the dashed line in Fig. 1 is open, it is closed. Then, even when the high-temperature purified water injection operation unit 6a, the low-temperature purified water injection operation unit 6b, and the normal-temperature purified water injection operation unit 6c are operated by the user, control is performed to prohibit the opening of the electromagnetic valves 10a for injecting high-temperature purified water, 10b for injecting low-temperature purified water, and 10c for injecting normal-temperature purified water. When the opening of the electromagnetic valve 10 for injecting purified water is prohibited, the prohibition of opening is released at the timing when a predetermined time has elapsed in Fig. 7 (step S7).

[0049] <Purified Water Tank Non-High Water Level Valve Opening Prohibition Control> As shown in Fig. 9, when the high-temperature purified water injection operation unit 6a, the low-temperature purified water injection operation unit 6b, and the normal-temperature purified water injection operation unit 6c are operated (step S 21 ), based on the signal from the purified water tank water level sensor 22 shown in Fig. 2, it is determined whether the water level of the purified water in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c is equal to or higher than a predetermined high water level (step S 22 ). The predetermined high water level can be set to a water level in the range of 80% or more of the full water level of the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c (for example, the full water level or a water level of 90% or more of the full water level). And when it is determined that the water level of the purified water in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c shown in Fig. 2 is equal to or higher than the predetermined high water level, the opening of the electromagnetic valves 10a for injecting high-temperature purified water, 10b for injecting low-temperature purified water, and 10c for injecting normal-temperature purified water is permitted. On the other hand, when it is determined that the water level of the purified water in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c shown in Fig. 2 is lower than the predetermined high water level, the opening of the electromagnetic valves 10a for injecting high-temperature purified water, 10b for injecting low-temperature purified water, and 10c for injecting normal-temperature purified water is prohibited (step S 23 ).

[0050] Here, step S 23The valve opening prohibition in [description] only prohibits the operation of the water purification injection electromagnetic valve 10 from switching from the closed state to the open state when the user operates the water purification injection operation unit 6, and does not forcibly switch the water purification injection electromagnetic valve 10 in the open state to the closed state when the water level in the normal temperature water purification tank 3c drops below a predetermined high water level. On the other hand, in step S of the water purification usage amount limit control shown in FIG. 8 12 The valve opening prohibition in [description] not only prohibits the operation of the water purification injection electromagnetic valve 10 from switching from the closed state to the open state when the user operates the water purification injection operation unit 6, but also forcibly switches the water purification injection electromagnetic valve 10 in the open state to the closed state when the water purification usage amount reaches a predetermined upper limit value.

[0051] <Valve Opening Prohibition Control at Low Water Level of Raw Water Tank> As shown in FIG. 10, when the high-temperature water purification injection operation unit 6a, the low-temperature water purification injection operation unit 6b, and the normal-temperature water purification injection operation unit 6c are operated (step S 31 ), it is determined whether the operation corresponds to the injection of purified water immediately after the purified water usage amount is reset to zero in step S8 shown in FIG. 7 (step S 32 ). Here, whether it corresponds to the injection of purified water immediately after the purified water usage amount is reset to zero may be determined by whether it corresponds to the first injection of purified water after resetting the purified water usage amount to zero in step S8 shown in FIG. 7, or may be determined by whether the accumulated purified water usage amount after resetting the purified water usage amount to zero in step S8 shown in FIG. 7 is less than a predetermined threshold value. According to this determination, when it is determined that the operation corresponds to the injection of purified water immediately after the purified water usage amount is reset to zero, based on the signal from the raw water tank water level sensor 16 shown in FIG. 2, it is determined whether the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank 1 is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference water level (step S 33)。The predetermined reference water level can be set to a water level that is half or less of the volume of the raw water tank 1. When it is determined that the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank 1 shown in FIG. 2 is equal to or higher than the predetermined reference water level, the opening of the high-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10a, the low-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10b, and the normal-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10c is permitted. On the other hand, when it is determined that the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank 1 shown in FIG. 2 is less than the predetermined reference water level, the opening of the high-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10a, the low-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10b, and the normal-temperature purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10c is prohibited (step S 34 )。

[0052] Further, the control unit 30 shown in FIG. 6 can switch between a purified water usage limit mode and a purified water usage limit release mode. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the purified water usage limit mode, until a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours) elapses, the purified water usage amount, which is the cumulative value of the purified water discharge amount based on the opening time of the purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10, is calculated. When the purified water usage amount reaches a predetermined upper limit value (in this example, the purified water usage amount corresponding to 1.2 liters), the opening of the purified water discharge electromagnetic valve 10 is prohibited. On the other hand, the purified water usage limit release mode is a mode in which such a restriction is not imposed. The switching between the purified water usage limit mode and the purified water usage limit release mode is achieved by providing a purified water usage limit release key 31 shown in FIG. 6. When the purified water usage limit release key 31 is connected to the control unit 30, the purified water usage limit release mode is entered. On the other hand, when the purified water usage limit release key 31 is not connected to the control unit 30, the purified water usage limit mode is entered.

[0053] By the way, in the above water purification water server, it is necessary to periodically replace the water purification filter cartridge 2 shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the operator of the water purification water server delivers the replacement water purification filter cartridge 2 to the user on a regular basis. When the replacement water purification filter cartridge 2 arrives from the operator, the user removes the old water purification filter cartridge 2 in use from the water purification water server and attaches the new water purification filter cartridge 2 delivered from the operator to the water purification water server. In this way, the operator of the water purification water server can prevent the quality of the purified water used by the user from deteriorating by regularly delivering the replacement water purification filter cartridge 2 to the user.

[0054] Here, the amount of purified water used by the user in the water purification water server varies depending on the user, and the optimal replacement timing of the water purification filter cartridge 2 also varies depending on the user. For example, a user who uses the water purification water server with a large number of people throughout the day needs to set a shorter replacement timing for the water purification filter cartridge 2 because the amount of purified water used is large. On the other hand, a user who uses the water purification water server with a small number of one or two people only in the morning and evening can set a longer replacement timing for the water purification filter cartridge 2 because the amount of purified water used is small.

[0055] Therefore, for users who are expected to use a large amount of purified water, the purified water usage limit release key 31 shown in FIG. 6 is provided, and the delivery interval of the replacement water purification filter cartridge 2 is shortened, for example, by delivering the replacement water purification filter cartridge 2 at intervals of once every three months. On the other hand, for users who are expected to use a small amount of purified water, the purified water usage limit release key 31 shown in FIG. 6 is not provided, and the delivery interval of the replacement water purification filter cartridge 2 is lengthened, for example, by delivering the replacement water purification filter cartridge 2 at intervals of once every six months.

[0056] By doing so, users with a low assumed amount of purified water usage can reduce the delivery frequency of the replacement purified water filter cartridge 2, making it possible to set a smaller economic burden than users with a high purified water usage.

[0057] In addition, it is possible to prevent users with a low assumed amount of purified water usage from using an amount of purified water exceeding the assumption per predetermined time, and to reliably maintain the quality of the purified water of the purified water server until a new replacement purified water filter cartridge 2 arrives. Here, since the calculation of the purified water usage is performed based on the valve opening time of the electromagnetic valve 10 for discharging purified water, the purified water usage is likely to match the amount of purified water actually discharged by the user, and it is possible to stably and accurately manage the purified water usage.

[0058] Also, when the water purification pouring operation unit 6 shown in FIG. 1 is operated, the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring opens only when the water level of the purified water in the normal temperature purified water tank 3c shown in FIG. 2 is at or above a predetermined high water level. When the water level of the purified water in the normal temperature purified water tank 3c is below the predetermined high water level, the opening of the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring is prohibited. Therefore, the accuracy of the amount of purified water used calculated based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring is high. That is, since the pouring of purified water is performed using the self-weight of the purified water in the normal temperature purified water tank 3c, the amount of purified water poured from the purified water pouring pipe 9 per unit time when the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring opens is different when the water level in the normal temperature purified water tank 3c is high and when the water level in the normal temperature purified water tank 3c is low. Therefore, if the opening of the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring is allowed regardless of the water level in the normal temperature purified water tank 3c, the accuracy of the amount of purified water used calculated based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring may decrease. Therefore, when the water purification pouring operation unit 6 is operated, when the water level of the purified water in the normal temperature purified water tank 3c is below the predetermined high water level, the opening of the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring is prohibited, and the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring opens only when the water level of the purified water in the normal temperature purified water tank 3c is at or above the predetermined high water level. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of the amount of purified water used calculated based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve 10 for water purification pouring.

[0059] Also, when the electromagnetic valves 10a and 10b for purified water pouring provided in the high-temperature and low-temperature purified water pouring pipes 9a and 9b are opened, and when the electromagnetic valve 10c for normal-temperature purified water pouring provided in the normal-temperature purified water pouring pipe 9c is opened, the amount of purified water poured per unit time, i.e., the purified water pouring amount, is different. However, this difference is corrected by the difference in the magnitudes of the first coefficient (1.0 in this example) and the second coefficient (1.5 in this example), making it possible to accurately calculate the amount of purified water used.

[0060] In addition, when the purified water is dispensed immediately after the purified water usage amount is reset to zero, even when a large amount of purified water is dispensed at once, it is possible to prevent the water level in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c shown in FIG. 2 from dropping too much and the purified water dispensing amount per unit time from becoming too small. That is, in step S8 shown in FIG. 7, immediately after the purified water usage amount is reset to zero, it is the time when the amount of purified water that can be dispensed until reaching a predetermined upper limit value is the largest. At this time, if a large amount of purified water is dispensed at once with little remaining water in the raw water tank 1 shown in FIG. 2, the raw water tank 1 will become empty and the replenishment of water from the raw water tank 1 to the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c will not be carried out. As a result, the water level in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c may drop too much, and the purified water dispensing amount per unit time may become too small. Therefore, when the purified water is dispensed immediately after the purified water usage amount is reset to zero, when the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank 1 is below the reference water level, the opening of the electromagnetic valve 10 for purified water dispensing is prohibited, and the electromagnetic valve 10 for purified water dispensing is opened only when the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank 1 is above the reference water level. In this way, the replenishment of water from the raw water tank 1 to the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c can be surely carried out. Therefore, even when a large amount of purified water is dispensed at once, it is possible to prevent the water level in the normal-temperature purified water tank 3c from dropping too much and prevent the purified water dispensing amount per unit time from becoming too small.

[0061] In the above embodiment, a purified water server corresponding to three temperatures of high temperature, low temperature, and normal temperature (the purified water tank 3, the purified water dispensing operation unit 6, the purified water dispensing pipe 9, and the electromagnetic valve 10 for purified water dispensing are respectively composed of high-temperature, low-temperature, and normal-temperature purified water tanks 3a, 3b, 3c, high-temperature, low-temperature, and normal-temperature purified water dispensing operation units 6a, 6b, 6c, high-temperature, low-temperature, and normal-temperature purified water dispensing pipes 9a, 9b, 9c, and high-temperature, low-temperature, and normal-temperature electromagnetic valves 10a, 10b, 10c) is taken as an example for explanation. However, the present invention is also applicable to a purified water server corresponding to two temperatures of high temperature and low temperature, and a purified water server corresponding only to low temperature.

[0062] Regarding the valve opening operation of the electromagnetic valve 10 for purified water discharge in the above embodiment, when the purified water discharge operation unit 6c at room temperature is operated, it is possible to control so that only the electromagnetic valve 10c for purified water discharge at room temperature opens. However, when the purified water discharge operation unit 6c at room temperature is operated, it may be controlled so that the electromagnetic valve 10c for purified water discharge at room temperature continuously opens, and at the same time, the electromagnetic valve 10b for purified water discharge at low temperature also intermittently opens. By doing so, when discharging purified water at room temperature, it becomes possible to discharge purified water whose temperature is adjusted lower than the temperature of the purified water in the purified water tank 3c at room temperature. Also in this case, it is possible to calculate the amount of purified water used based on the valve opening times of the electromagnetic valve 10c for purified water discharge at room temperature and the electromagnetic valve 10b for purified water discharge at low temperature.

[0063] Also, in the above embodiment, in order to filter the raw water in the raw water tank 1 with the purified water filter cartridge 2, an electric pump 8 is provided on the upstream side of the purified water filter cartridge 2, and the electric pump 8 is used to push water to the downstream side, so that the raw water in the raw water tank 1 flows through the purified water filter cartridge 2. The purified water server was described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a purified water server in which an electric pump 8 is provided on the downstream side of the purified water filter cartridge 2, and the electric pump 8 sucks water from the upstream side, so that the raw water in the raw water tank 1 flows through the purified water filter cartridge 2.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0064] 1 Raw water tank 2 Purified water filter cartridge 3 Purified water tank 3a High-temperature purified water tank 3b Low-temperature purified water tank 3c Normal-temperature purified water tank 6 Purified water discharge operation unit 7 Raw water pipe 8 Electric pump 9 Purified water discharge pipe 9a High-temperature purified water discharge pipe 9b Low-temperature purified water discharge pipe 9c Normal-temperature purified water discharge pipe 10 Electromagnetic valve for purified water discharge 10a Electromagnetic valve for high-temperature purified water injection 10b Electromagnetic valve for low-temperature purified water injection 10c Electromagnetic valve for normal-temperature purified water injection 16 Raw water tank water level sensor 22 Purified water tank water level sensor 30 Control unit

Claims

1. A raw water tank (1) for storing raw water, A replaceable purified water filter cartridge (2), An electric pump (8) for flowing the raw water in the raw water tank (1) to the purified water filter cartridge (2), A purified water tank (3) for storing the purified water filtered by the purified water filter cartridge (2), A purified water discharge pipe (9) for discharging the purified water in the purified water tank (3) to the outside, A solenoid valve (10) for purified water discharge provided in the purified water discharge pipe (9), A purified water discharge operation unit (6) operated by a user, A control unit (30) for controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve (10) for purified water discharge based on a signal from the purified water discharge operation unit (6), and having The control unit (30) is Based on the opening time of the electromagnetic valve (10) for purified water discharge, calculate the amount of purified water used, which is the cumulative value of the amount of purified water discharged, until a predetermined time elapses, and reset the amount of purified water used to zero every time the predetermined time elapses. The means for calculating the amount of purified water used (S １ ~S ８ ) and, The means for calculating the amount of purified water used (S １ ~S ８ ) determines whether or not the amount of purified water calculated has reached a predetermined upper limit value. When it is determined that the upper limit value has been reached, a means for restricting the use of purified water (S １１ , S １２ ) that prohibits the opening of the electromagnetic valve (10) for discharging purified water. A purified water server with a function for restricting the use of purified water having the same is provided.

2. The purified water discharge pipe (9) discharges the purified water in the purified water tank (3) to the outside by the self - weight of the purified water in the purified water tank (3), and further has A purified water tank water level sensor (22) for detecting the water level in the purified water tank (3), The control unit (30) is Purified water tank water level determination means (S that determines whether or not the water level of the purified water in the purified water tank (3) is equal to or higher than a predetermined high water level based on a signal from the purified water tank water level sensor (22) ２２ ) and When the purified water discharge operation unit (6) is operated, when the water level of the purified water in the purified water tank (3) determined by the purified water tank water level determination means (S ２２ ) is lower than the high water level, a purified water tank non-high water level valve opening prohibition control means (S ２１ , S ２３ ) that prohibits the opening of the electromagnetic valve (10) for discharging purified water. The purified water server with a purified water usage limit function according to claim 1, further comprising

3. The purified water tank (3) is composed of a plurality of purified water tanks (3a, 3b, 3c) that store purified water at different temperatures, The purified water discharge pipe (9) is composed of a plurality of purified water discharge pipes (9a, 9b, 9c) that discharge purified water from the plurality of purified water tanks (3a, 3b, 3c) respectively. The plurality of purified water discharge pipes (9a, 9b, 9c) include a first purified water discharge pipe (9a) and a second purified water discharge pipe (9c) with a larger purified water discharge amount per unit time than the first purified water discharge pipe (9a), The solenoid valve (10) for purified water discharge includes a first solenoid valve (10a) provided in the first purified water discharge pipe (9a) and a second solenoid valve (10c) provided in the second purified water discharge pipe (9c), The water purification usage calculation means (S １ ~S ８ ) integrates, as the water purification usage amount, the value obtained by multiplying the valve opening time of the first water purification injection electromagnetic valve (10a) by a first coefficient, and integrates, as the injection amount from the second water purification injection pipe (9c), the value obtained by multiplying the valve opening time of the second water purification injection electromagnetic valve (10c) by a second coefficient larger than the first coefficient into the water purification usage amount. The water purification water server with a water purification usage amount limiting function according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Further has a raw water tank water level sensor (16) for detecting the water level in the raw water tank (1), The control unit (30) is Raw water tank water level determination means (S that determines whether or not the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank (1) is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference water level based on a signal from the raw water tank water level sensor (16) ３３ ) and When the purified water discharge operation unit (6) is operated, it is determined whether the operation corresponds to the discharge of purified water immediately after the purified water usage amount is reset to zero by the purified water usage amount calculation means (S １ ~S ８ ). A reset immediately after determination means (S ３１ 、S ３２ ) and, When the purified water discharge operation unit (6) is operated, the operation corresponds to the discharge of purified water immediately after the purified water usage amount is reset to zero, and the raw water tank water level determination means (S ３３ ) when the water level of the raw water in the raw water tank (1) determined by ) is below the reference water level, a raw water tank low water level valve opening prohibition control means (S ３４ ) and further has the purified water server with a purified water usage amount limiting function according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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