JPH06312182A - Ion water generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an ionized water generator that improves the usability for the user by cleaning the electrode without shortening the life of the electrode in the electrolytic cell. [Constitution] The conductivity sensor 4 is provided in the flow path of the water after passing through the calcium addition tank 3, and the control circuit 10 judges whether or not the electrode cleaning is necessary based on the cumulative water passage time from the previous electrode cleaning. If it is determined that the electrode cleaning is required (S2) (S2: Y), the control circuit 10 determines the presence or absence of calcium in the water based on the detected amount of the current from the conductivity sensor 4, and the calcium If it is determined that the existence of the element (S5: Y), the conventional electrode cleaning is performed, and if it is determined that calcium does not exist (S5: N), the electrode cleaning is performed at a shorter time than the conventional method.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ionized water generator capable of electrolytically treating water supplied from a water source such as a tap water in an electrolytic cell to obtain alkaline ionized water or acidic ionized water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of ionized water generator, dust and chlorine contained in water are filtered by a purification filter, but minerals not filtered by the purification filter and electrolysis treatment are made more efficient. The calcium added to the water after purification reaches the electrolytic cell while being contained in the water. Then, along with the electrolytic treatment of the water, minerals and calcium become scales and adhere to the cathode, so in order to remove them, at a predetermined timing based on the generation amount and generation time of ionized water. The polarity of the voltage automatically applied to each electrode was reversed, and the scale of the cathode was removed to prevent the efficiency of electrolytic treatment from decreasing.

Further, since the water containing the removed scale does not correspond to the ionic water intended by the user, it is necessary for the user to start removing the scale from the cathode (hereinafter referred to as electrode cleaning). A notification is given in advance to encourage the drainage of water containing the scale.

[0004]

However, in the conventional ion water generator, the start of the predetermined electrode cleaning is started regardless of the amount of scale attached to the electrode depending on the presence or absence of calcium in the water. When the timing was reached, a warning was given to start the electrode cleaning suddenly, and then the electrode cleaning was always performed for the same time.

In such a case, the user is irrespective of the amount of scale adhering to the electrode until the cleaning of the electrode is completed and the drainage of the water containing the scale is completed.
There was a problem that it was not easy to use because it had to wait until it could be used for the same time.

Further, if the electrode is washed more than necessary in a state where the amount of scale adhered is small, the electrode is deteriorated (corroded) and the life of the electrode is shortened.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an ionized water producing apparatus which performs electrode cleaning without shortening the life of the electrode and improves the usability for the user. It is an object.

[0008]

To achieve this object, the ionized water producing apparatus of the present invention detects the presence or absence of the calcium compound in the water, and the calcium adding means for adding a calcium compound to the water. Calcium detecting means, electrolytic drive means for switching the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes in the electrolytic cell between the normal polarity and the opposite polarity with its plus and minus reversed, and the above-mentioned detected by the calcium detecting means. And a control means for changing the interval for conducting the electricity of the opposite polarity or the duration of the electricity of the opposite polarity itself depending on the presence or absence of the calcium compound in the water.

[0009]

In the ionized water producing apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, the calcium adding means adds the calcium compound to the water supplied from the water source such as tap water, and the calcium detecting means detects the presence or absence of the calcium compound in the water. To detect. The electrolysis drive means switches the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes in the electrolytic cell between the normal polarity and the opposite polarity with its plus and minus reversed, and the calcium compound in the water used for detection by the calcium detection means Depending on the presence / absence, the control means changes the interval at which the reverse polarity is energized, or the reverse polarity energization time itself.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the structure of the ionized water generator of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

A pressure sensor 1 for determining whether or not the water is supplied is arranged near the water supply port of the ionized water generator. The supplied water flows into the conductivity sensor 4 after passing through the filter 2 and the calcium addition tank 3 that constitutes calcium addition means capable of adding calcium glycerophosphate. The conductivity sensor 4 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 13 are installed in the channel of the water for use, and the electrodes are configured to come into contact with the water for use. A voltage is applied and the magnitude of the current flowing at that time is detected. Then, the water that has passed through the conductivity sensor 4 flows into the electrolytic bath 5, and in the electrolytic bath 5, a positive electrode and a negative electrode are provided, where electrolytic treatment is performed, and the generated alkaline water is The alkaline water discharge hose 6 and the acidic water are discharged from the acidic water discharge hose 7, respectively.

A pressure sensor 1 and a conductivity sensor 4 are connected to the control circuit 10, and the value detected by the pressure sensor 1 and the value detected by the conductivity sensor 4 are transferred to the control circuit 1.
0 recognizes. In addition, the control circuit 10 is connected to a drive circuit 11 that switches the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes in the electrolytic cell 5 at the time of cleaning the electrodes to a polarity that is plus or minus the normal polarity in the case of electrolytic treatment. Cage, control circuit 10
Indicates to the drive circuit 11 the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrodes in the electrolytic cell 5, and controls the ON / OFF of the electrolytic treatment.

The conductivity sensor 4 constitutes calcium detecting means, the drive circuit 11 constitutes electrolytic driving means, and the control circuit 10 constitutes control means.

Next, the operation of the ionized water generator thus constructed will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

When water is supplied to the ionized water generator,
The pressure sensor 1 detects that the water is supplied, transmits it to the control circuit 10, and the control circuit 10 recognizes that the water is supplied to the ion water generator (step 1, hereinafter abbreviated as S1). The same applies to the following steps: Y). next,
The control circuit 10 determines whether or not the electrode cleaning is necessary based on the cumulative water passage time since the previous electrode cleaning (S).
2). When the electrode cleaning is not necessary (S2: N), the control circuit 10 gives a command to the drive circuit 11 to start the electrolytic treatment (S3).

When cleaning is required (S2: Y), the electrolytic treatment is turned off (S4), and then the presence or absence of calcium in the water is judged by the amount of current detected by the conductivity sensor 4 (S5). ). Since current easily flows when calcium is contained, and current does not easily flow when calcium is not contained, the amount of current for determining the presence or absence of calcium is experimentally obtained, and this is used as a criterion for determination. If it is determined that the water contains calcium (S5: Y), the electrode cleaning is performed at the conventional set time (S6), and if it is determined that calcium is not contained. (S5: N), the time is set shorter than the conventional set time (for example, half the conventional set time), and the electrode cleaning is performed (S7). When the electrode cleaning is completed, the process returns to S1 to restart the electrolytic treatment.

When the user stops passing water (S1:
N), the electrolytic treatment is turned off (S8), and the process returns to S1 to wait for the next water flow.

As described above, in the ionized water producing apparatus of this embodiment, the time for cleaning the electrodes is controlled so as to be changed depending on the presence or absence of calcium in the water, so that the amount of scale deposits on the electrodes is When the amount is small, the time for cleaning the electrode is shortened, and the usability for the user is improved. Also,
Since the electrode is not washed more than necessary, the life of the electrode can be extended.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In this embodiment, based on the cumulative water passage time,
The electrode cleaning was started at regular intervals, and the electrode cleaning time was variable depending on the presence or absence of calcium in the water.
The time for electrode cleaning itself is constant, and the interval for electrode cleaning may be variable depending on the presence or absence of calcium. For example, when calcium is present in the water, the electrode cleaning interval is performed as usual, and when calcium is not present, the electrode cleaning interval is controlled to be approximately doubled. . Alternatively, both the electrode cleaning interval and the electrode cleaning time may be variable.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above description, in the ionized water producing apparatus of the present invention, energization of opposite polarity is performed depending on the presence or absence of calcium in the water, which is detected by the calcium detecting means. Since it is controlled to change the interval, or the energizing time itself of opposite polarity,
It is possible to provide a long life of the electrode and to provide an ionized water generator that improves the usability of the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ionized water generator of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a conductivity sensor of the ionized water generator of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an outline of the operation of the ionized water generator of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Calcium addition tank 4 Conductivity sensor 10 Control circuit 11 Drive circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ion water generator capable of electrolytically treating water supplied from a water source such as tap water in an electrolytic cell to obtain alkaline ionized water or acidic ionized water, wherein calcium compound is added to the water. Addition means, calcium detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the calcium compound in the water, the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrode in the electrolytic cell is a normal polarity and its plus, the reverse polarity with the minus reversed And the electrolysis drive means for switching to, and the interval of conducting the current of the opposite polarity or the time of the current of the opposite polarity itself depending on the presence or absence of the calcium compound in the water detected by the calcium detecting means. An ionized water production apparatus comprising: