KR101621869B1

KR101621869B1 - Cock Sterilization Apparatus for Water Purifier

Info

Publication number: KR101621869B1
Application number: KR1020150135515A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 김택; 정지우
Original assignee: 주식회사 바디프랜드
Priority date: 2015-09-24
Filing date: 2015-09-24
Publication date: 2016-05-17

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cork sterilization apparatus for a water purifier capable of sterilizing water by supplying hot water to the inside and the outside of a water purifier cock and sterilizing the same without separating the cork and a cork sterilization method using the water purifier. The device is characterized in that the cork sterilizing apparatus for a water purifier according to the present invention comprises: a drain water storage cap mounted on the outside of a coke having a tubular shape with an opened upper surface and discharging cold water or hot water; A drain water storage cap disposed on the upper side of the drain water storage cap so as to surround the outside of the cock when the drain water storage cap is mounted on the cock, A sterilizing cap having at least one outlet communicating with the interior of the storage cap; And a hot water supply unit for supplying hot water through the coke while the sterilization cap and the drain water storage cap are mounted on the cock.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a Cock Sterilization Apparatus for Water Purifier,

The present invention relates to a water purifier, and more particularly, to a water purifier capable of purifying raw water and supplying cold water and hot water, hot water is supplied to a cock without removing a cock as a water intake nozzle for discharging cold water and hot water to the outside And a method of disinfecting cork using the same.

Generally, a water purifier is a device that removes impurities by physically or chemically filtering water. When classified as a type, there is a direct type that is directly connected to a faucet, and a storage type that allows water to pass through a filter in a container.

Such water purifiers can be classified into natural filtration, direct filtration, ion exchange water, distillation, or reverse osmosis, depending on the type of purification source and method.

On the other hand, such a water purifier needs to be able to clean the inside easily, though the performance of the filter for determining the water purification effect is important. Particularly, a cock, which is a water intake nozzle for discharging water exposed to the outside of the water purifier, can be easily contaminated by dirt or the splash of the drink. In fact, most water purifiers are exposed to the outside, and there is a high possibility of second pollution in the coke where water and air are in contact, and it is known that many bacteria including Escherichia coli actually breed.

In recent years, there has been proposed a method of supplying steam to the cork to sterilize the water purifier, a method of mounting an ultraviolet sterilizer or an LED sterilizer at a portion adjacent to the cork, a method of separating the cork to clean and sterilize the cork And a variety of techniques are used.

However, the method of sterilization by supplying steam to the coke not only complicates the structure of the water purifier, but also involves a concern that the user may be burned by the steam during the steam sterilization process, thereby posing a safety problem.

In addition, the sterilization method using ultraviolet ray sterilization or LEDs has a limited range of disinfection, complicates the structure of the water purifier, and increases the cost.

In addition, the method of detachably cleaning and sterilizing the cork by detachably attaching the cork has a problem that the cork is contaminated again during the process of sterilizing the cork after the sterilization by the user.

Registration No. 10-0859373 (Registered on September 12, 2008) Registration No. 10-0864779 (registered on October 15, 2008) [Patent document 10-2011-0032567 (published on March 30, 2011)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a cork which can sterilize a cork while hot water flows on the inside and outside of the cork, The present invention provides a cork sterilization apparatus for a water purifier that can easily perform sterilization with a simple configuration.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cork sterilizing apparatus for a water purifier, comprising: a drain water storage cap mounted on an outer side of a coke having a tubular shape with an opened upper surface and discharging cold water or hot water; A drain water storage cap disposed on the upper side of the drain water storage cap so as to surround the outside of the cock when the drain water storage cap is mounted on the cock, A sterilizing cap having at least one outlet communicating with the interior of the storage cap; And a hot water supply unit for supplying hot water through the coke while the sterilization cap and the drain water storage cap are mounted on the cock.

According to the present invention, the sterilization cap and the drain water storage cap are mounted on the cock, and a certain amount of hot water is supplied into the sterilization cap through the cock to sterilize the cock. Therefore, it is possible to sterilize the coke without separating the coke, and sterilization of the coke can be performed by a simple structure and operation.

In addition, when the sterilization function is performed by supplying hot water to the inside of the sterilization cap through the coke, since the hot water is discharged through the outlet at the top of the sterilization cap, the sterilization action is performed. . Therefore, the sterilizing performance can be further improved.

1 is a perspective view of a water purifier to which a cork sterilization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
2 is an exploded perspective view showing the cock sterilizing apparatus shown in Fig.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the cock sterilizing apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cork sterilizing apparatus shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a state in which the cork sterilizing apparatus is mounted on the cork, Fig. 5 is a cross- Respectively.
6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a hot water supply unit constituting the coke sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention.
7 is a perspective view showing a cork sterilizing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a cork sterilization apparatus for a water purifier according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a cork sterilizing apparatus for a water purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cylindrical shape having an opened upper surface, and is detachably attached to the outside of a cock 3 of a water purifier, A drain water storage cap 10 mounted on the inside of the drain water storage cap 10 so as to surround the outside of the cock 3 when the drain water storage cap 10 is mounted on the cock 3, And a hot water supply unit for supplying hot water for sterilization through the cock 3 in a state where the sterilization cap 20, the sterilization cap 20 and the drain water storage cap 10 are mounted on the cock 3 .

The cock 3 is installed to be exposed to the outside of the main body 1 of the water purifier and functions as a water intake nozzle for discharging purified cold water or hot water to the outside. In this embodiment, the coke 3 has a cylindrical nozzle shape, but may have various shapes, such as a conical shape whose diameter decreases toward the lower side or a polygonal shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped.

The drainage storage cap 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an opened upper surface and is detachably installed in a state where the coke 3 is hung from the lower side of the coke 3. [ The drain water storage cap 10 functions to sterilize the hot water continuously flowing in the sterilization cap 20 by storing the hot water discharged through the upper part of the sterilization cap 20. [ The drainage storage cap 10 is made of a heat-resistant material that is not deformed at a temperature of 90 ° C or more. The drainage storage cap 10 may be made of transparent glass or resin so that the internal state can be visually confirmed.

The drainage storage cap 10 and the sterilization cap 20 are mounted on the cock 3 when the sterilization operation of the cock 3 is carried out and mounted on the cock 3 when the sterilization operation of the cock 3 is not performed Separated. Of course, even when the sterilization operation of the coke 3 is not carried out, the coke 3 may be used by being attached to the coke 3 in order to prevent the coke 3 from being contaminated by external foreign substances at normal times.

In order to easily attach and detach the drainage storage cap 10 to the cock 3, a plurality of coupling protrusions 32 are formed on the upper outer surface of the cock 3 so that the drainage storage cap 10 Shaped engaging piece 11 to be engaged with the engaging protrusion 32 can be formed at the upper end of the engaging protrusion 32 '.

In this case, when the opening of the retaining piece 11 of the drainage storage cap 10 is aligned with the engaging protrusion 32 and then the drainage storage cap 10 is rotated, the engaging protrusion 32 is inserted into the retaining piece 11 The drain water storage cap 10 is engaged with the cock 3. When the drainage storage cap 10 is to be separated from the cock 3, the drainage storage cap 10 may be rotated to release the drainage storage cap 10 from the latching piece 11, So that it can be easily separated from the cock 3.

7, a spiral male thread portion 34 is formed on the upper surface of the upper portion of the cock 3, and a threaded female thread portion 34 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the discharge water storage cap 10, So that the drain water storage cap 10 can be attached to and detached from the cock 3. [0031] As shown in FIG.

Of course, various detachable coupling structures may be applied to the drainage storage cap 10 and the cock 3. Although the drainage storage cap 10 is illustrated as being removably mounted to the cock 3 in this embodiment, it is also contemplated that the sterilization cap 20, rather than the drainage storage cap 10, It may be combined.

The sterilization cap 20 has a smaller size than the drainage storage cap 10 and is formed of a cylindrical or hemispherical cylinder whose top surface is opened. The sterilization cap 20 is inserted through the opened upper surface of the drainage storage cap 10, Is coupled to the top of the cap (10). The sterilization cap 20 is also made of a heat-resistant material that is not deformed or releases harmful substances even at a temperature of 90 ° C or more, and can be made of a transparent material like the drainage storage cap 10.

At least one outlet (21) communicating with the inside of the drainage storage cap (10) is formed on the sterilization cap (20). When hot water is supplied to the sterilization cap 20 through the cock 3 and the hot water reaches the upper end of the sterilization cap 20, hot water is discharged through the outlet 21 and stored in the drain water storage cap 10 .

The upper edge of the sterilization cap 20 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the inner circumferential surface of the drain water storage cap 10 so that the gap between the inner circumferential surface of the drain water storage cap 10 and the upper edge of the sterilization cap 20 A predetermined space is formed, and this space becomes an outlet 21 through which hot water is discharged.

Also, the sterilization cap 20 and the drainage storage cap 10 may be integrally fixed to the drainage storage cap 10, but the sterilization cap 20 and the drainage storage cap 10 may be formed as separate bodies, . In this embodiment, the disinfection cap 20 and the drain water storage cap 10 are formed as individual bodies and are capable of mutual detachable coupling. To this end, the drain water storage cap 10 is provided with an L- A seat rib 22 is formed at an upper end of the sterilization cap 20 so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. The seat rib 22 is inserted into the coupling groove 12 while being inserted into the sterilization cap 20. The upper end of the engaging groove 12 is formed to open upward.

Therefore, when the seat rib 22 of the sterilizing cap 20 is aligned with the upper end of the engaging groove 12 and then the sterilizing cap 20 is lowered, the seat rib 22 slides inside the engaging groove 12, When the sterilization cap 20 is rotated when the seat rib 22 reaches the lowermost end of the engagement groove 12, the seat rib 22 is inserted into the innermost portion of the lower end of the engagement groove 12, The sterilization cap 20 is fixed to the drainage storage cap 10.

If the sterilizing cap 20 is to be separated in this state, the sterilizing cap 20 is rotated and then moved upward, as opposed to the above, so that the seat rib 22 is disengaged from the coupling groove 12, 20 can be separated from the drainage storage cap 10.

The hot water supply unit supplies hot water of about 90 ° C or more to the sterilization cap 20 through the cock 3 when the sterilization cap 20 is mounted on the cock 3, do. The hot water supply unit can be applied directly to the hot water supply unit provided inside the cold / hot water purifier. That is, in the case of the cold / warm water purifier, there is provided a cold water supply unit and a hot water supply unit which can cool or heat the purified water and discharge the water to the outside. Instead of constituting a separate hot water supply unit for generating and supplying hot water for sterilization, The hot water for sterilization can be supplied into the sterilization cap 20 by using the hot water supply unit provided in the water purifier as it is.

This hot water supply unit is installed in a water purifier, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, and is installed in a water pipe 41 for purifying raw water and a pipe 43 for connecting the water pipe 41 and the cock 3 And an instantaneous heating heater 44 for heating the water discharged from the water purification tank 41.

The hot water supply unit automatically opens the hot water valve 45 of the coke 3 and opens the instantaneous heating heater 44 when the user selects the coke sterilization mode through the input unit 2 mounted on the main body 1 of the water purifier. ) Through the cock (3).

Of course, unlike the automatic water purifier, a water purifier that manually opens the hot water valve 45 of the cock 3 may be operated by a person to operate the valve of the cock 3 to supply hot water for sterilization to the inside of the sterilizing cap 20.

A method of sterilizing a coke using the thus constructed coke sterilizing apparatus of the present invention will be described as follows.

When the user desires to sterilize the coke, the seat rib 22 of the sterilization cap 20 is aligned with the coupling groove 12 of the drainage storage cap 10 and the sterilization cap 20 is inserted into the drainage storage cap 10 And then inserted into the upper end portion and then rotated to couple the sterilization cap 20 to the drain water storage cap 10.

The upper end of the drainage storage cap 10 is pushed into the cock 3 from the lower side of the cock 3 and then the latching piece 11 on the drainage storage cap 10 is inserted into the coupling projection 32 So that the drainage storage cap 10 is mounted on the cock 3. At this time, the sterilization cap 20 surrounds the outside of the coke 3 (see Fig. 4).

When the user selects the cork sterilization mode through the input unit 2 mounted on the main body of the water purifier in a state where the sterilization cap 20 and the drain water storage cap 10 are mounted on the cork 3, The water heated by the heater 44 is instantaneously heated to be hot water and the hot water valve 45 of the cock 3 is opened to supply hot water into the sterilization cap 20 through the cock 3 do. The hot water supplied through the cock 3 is suitably about 90 캜 so as to perform a high temperature sterilizing function.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the hot water is supplied into the sterilization cap 20, the inside and the outside of the cock 3 are sterilized by hot water. At this time, when hot water is continuously supplied through the cock 3 and the hot water reaches the upper end of the sterilization cap 20, the hot water flows out and is discharged to the outside of the sterilization cap 20 through the upper outlet 21. The hot water discharged to the outside of the sterilization cap 20 drops to the lower side of the drainage storage cap 10 and is stored from the bottom of the drainage storage cap 10. Therefore, since the hot water is not stored in the sterilization cap 20 and the sterilization action is performed while continuously flowing, sterilization can be performed without causing the contaminated hot water to re-contaminate the coke 3.

When sterilization is completed through such a process, the controller closes the hot water valve 45 to stop the hot water supply. At this time, it is preferable that the controller informs the user that sterilization is completed visually or audibly through a display window or a speaker provided in the purifier body. The user then removes the drainage storage cap 10 from the cock 3 and discards the hot water inside the drainage storage cap 10.

It is desirable for the user to perform the cleaning of the coke 3 periodically. However, it is difficult to perform the coke sterilization by accurately storing the coke sterilization time performed by the user last time. Accordingly, the controller of the water purifier stores the time point at which the cork sterilization is performed. When a certain period of time has elapsed from the time when the cork sterilization has been performed, the controller informs the user visually or audibly that the cork sterilization is necessary to the user through the display window or the speaker .

As described above, the cork sterilization apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the sterilization cap 20 and the drainage storage cap 10 are mounted on the cock 3, hot water is supplied into the sterilization cap 20 through the cock 3, Sterilization is performed. Therefore, sterilization of the coke 3 can be performed without separating the coke 3, and sterilization of the coke 3 can be performed by a simple operation of mounting and separating the sterilization cap 20.

When the hot water is supplied into the sterilization cap 20 through the cock 3 to perform the sterilization function, the hot water is discharged into the drain water storage cap 10 through the discharge port 21 at the upper end of the sterilization cap 20 Since the sterilizing action is performed, the sterilization action of the coke proceeds with the hot water flowing in the sterilization cap 20. Therefore, the sterilizing performance can be further improved.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. And it is to be understood that such modified embodiments belong to the scope of protection of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

1: purifier body 2: input part
3: cock 10: drain water storage cap
11: engaging piece 12: engaging groove
14: female thread part 20: sterilization cap
21: exhaust port 22: seat rib
32: engaging projection 34:
41: water tank 44: instantaneous heating heater
45: hot water valve 46: cold water valve

Claims

A drain water storage cap which is installed on the outer side of the cock to discharge the cold water or the hot water and stores the water discharged through the cock, the upper surface being opened, the lower surface and the side surface being formed in a closed cylinder shape;
And a lower surface and a side surface of which are formed in a closed tube shape so as to be installed at an inner upper portion of the drain water storage cap so that the hot water discharged through the cock is discharged to a position And at least one outlet communicating with the inside of the drain water storage cap is formed in the upper part of the sterilization cap;
And a hot water supply unit for supplying hot water through the coke while the sterilization cap and the drain water storage cap are mounted on the coke;
Wherein when the hot water stored in the sterilization cap rises to a position where it reaches the outlet, the hot water is discharged through the outlet and stored in the lower part of the drain water storage cap.

The water purifier cork sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drain water storage cap is mounted on the cock by detaching means.

[3] The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detachment means comprises an engaging projection formed to protrude from the upper portion of the cock and an a-shaped engaging piece formed to be engaged with the engaging projection at an upper end of the discharging water storage cap Cork sterilization device of water purifier.

The water purifier according to claim 2, wherein the detachable means comprises a male screw thread portion formed in a spiral shape on an upper portion of the cock and a female screw thread portion formed in a spiral shape so as to be spirally engaged with the male screw thread portion on an inner circumferential surface of an upper end portion of the drain water storage cap. Of the cork sterilization apparatus.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sterilization cap and the drain water storage cap are made of a transparent material.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sterilization cap and the drain water storage cap are formed separately, and the upper end of the sterilization cap is detachably coupled to the upper end of the drain water storage cap.

7. The sterilizing cap according to claim 6, wherein an L-shaped coupling groove is formed at an upper end of an inner circumference of the drainage storage cap, and a seat rib inserted into the coupling groove at an upper end of the sterilization cap is protruded outward And the water is supplied to the water tank.

The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 7, wherein the discharge port is formed between an upper edge portion of the sterilization cap and an inner circumferential surface of the discharge water storage cap.

The water purifier according to claim 1, wherein the hot water supply unit includes an instantaneous heater installed in a pipe connecting the purified water passing through the purified water passing through the purified water and heating the water discharged through the purified water tank Cork sterilization device.