WO2018147325A1 - Beverage sterilization unit and drinking water supply device equipped with same - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a beverage sterilization unit provided with a tubular reservoir, an inflow port installed upstream of the tubular reservoir, an outflow port installed downstream of the tubular reservoir, and an ultraviolet light-emitting element installed inside the tubular reservoir. [Solution] This beverage sterilization unit is provided with a water wheel device inside a tubular reservoir, said device rotating according to the flow of a beverage from an inflow port to an outflow port, wherein the water wheel device is provided with a plurality of vane members that radially extend from the rotation center; a portion of or all of the surface of each vane member is constituted by a member that reflects ultraviolet light; a portion of at least an ultraviolet light-emitting element directly or indirectly irradiates ultraviolet light on the water wheel device; and the inner surface of a side of the tubular reservoir is constituted by a member that reflects ultraviolet light.

Description

Beverage sterilization unit and drinking water supply apparatus provided with the same

The present invention is installed in a cylindrical storage part for storing a beverage, an inlet installed on the upstream side of the cylindrical storage part, an outlet installed on the downstream side of the cylindrical storage part, and a cylindrical storage part Beverage sterilization unit comprising an ultraviolet light emitting element, and in particular, a beverage sterilization unit used for a vending machine that sells and supplies beverages such as tea and coffee, water servers, taps that supply tap water, and the like Drinking water supply device with sterilization unit

Conventionally, as a beverage sterilization unit, a system for sterilizing a fluid by including a flow cell that circulates fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port and a UV light source disposed around the flow cell is known (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

However, the above-described conventional system for sterilizing a fluid has a structure in which ultraviolet rays from a UV light source emitting point light are repeatedly reflected in the flow cell to sterilize bacteria, viruses, etc. in the fluid. There was a variation in the density distribution of the route, and there was a risk that the exit port-bacteria, virus, etc. would pass from the entrance port.

Therefore, the inventors have developed a beverage sterilization unit that provides a clean and safe beverage that is reliably sterilized as a solution to the above-described problems of the prior art (Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-153411). The beverage sterilization unit is installed on the side of the cylindrical storage part, the inlet installed upstream of the cylindrical storage part, the outlet installed downstream of the cylindrical storage part, and the cylindrical storage part. In addition to being able to sterilize beverages that pass in the vicinity of the ultraviolet light emitting element, the following specific effects can be achieved.

JP 2012-512723 A (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular)

In the beverage sterilization unit, various optical configurations are provided that reliably irradiate and reliably sterilize the ultraviolet light beam at the beverage inlet and outlet, but with respect to the inlet and outlet diameters. When the diameter of the cylindrical storage part is large, or when the flow rate of the beverage is large, the bactericidal property may not be sufficient, and there is a problem that the versatility is lacking.

In view of such circumstances, the inventors of the present invention can apply a beverage sterilization unit with high versatility that can be applied to a beverage supply apparatus including various conditions and can be sterilized to provide a clean and safe beverage. I decided to provide it.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A cylindrical reservoir, an inlet installed upstream of the cylindrical reservoir, an outlet installed downstream of the cylindrical reservoir, and an ultraviolet light emitting element installed inside the cylindrical reservoir; A beverage sterilization unit comprising:
Inside the cylindrical reservoir, a watermill device that rotates according to the flow of the beverage from the inlet to the outlet is provided, and the waterwheel device is provided with a plurality of blade members that extend radially from the rotation center, and each blade member All or part of the surface is made of a material that reflects ultraviolet rays,
At least a part of the ultraviolet light emitting element irradiates the water turbine device directly or indirectly, and the inner surface on the side of the cylindrical reservoir is composed of a member that reflects ultraviolet rays.

According to the beverage sterilization unit of the present invention, the water turbine device that rotates when the beverage flows inside the cylindrical storage portion is installed, and the blade member of the water turbine device stirs the beverage together with bacteria and the like, and the interior of the cylindrical storage portion. By making the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light emitting element installed in the diffusely reflected by the blade member, the beverage passing through the cylindrical storage portion can be uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the sterilization performance can be improved.

In the present invention, when the water turbine apparatus is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light emitting element, it is diffusely reflected by the rotating blade member, and therefore it is not difficult to adjust the position of the ultraviolet light emitting element and the angle of the irradiated light. It is advantageous in that it can correspond to the outlet. In particular, the rotation speed of the water wheel device increases in accordance with the flow rate of the beverage, and the inner surface of the cylindrical storage portion is a reflecting member, which increases the ultraviolet irradiation area and the number of times the bacteria are irradiated with ultraviolet light. In addition, it is a great feature that the number of times the bacteria are irradiated with ultraviolet rays does not decrease even when the flow rate is increased, and it is possible to provide a clean and safe beverage that is reliably sterilized. Furthermore, the present invention is advantageous in that it is less necessary to increase the diameter of the cylindrical storage portion for the purpose of reducing the flow velocity, and can easily cope with a narrow space.

Further, the diffusion lens irradiates at least one of the inlet and the outlet of the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light emitting element of the part and / or the other part of the ultraviolet light emitting element of the beverage sterilization unit. Can do.

The ultraviolet light emitting element directly irradiates at least one of the inlet and the outlet with ultraviolet rays so that the ultraviolet beam angle is increased by the diffusing lens so that the beam becomes thick and the beverage flows, so that at least one of the inlet and the outlet flows. In this way, germs that are going to pass through the direct irradiation of UV rays are sterilized intensively. As a result of considering obtaining a sufficient bactericidal effect even when the amount of bacteria is particularly large or when the flow rate is large, although a sufficient ultraviolet irradiation area and the number of times of ultraviolet irradiation of each bacterium are ensured by the watermill device described above, The water is sterilized at a stretch by a water outlet or outlet having a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical reservoir. As a result, both direct and intensive sterilization and repetitive sterilization over a wide area can be used in combination by the reflection from the above-described watermill device, and the sterilization property is further improved.

In addition, as for the ultraviolet light emitting element, there may be provided one that irradiates ultraviolet rays directly or indirectly with reflected light on the blade member of the water turbine apparatus and a plurality of elements that irradiate the outlet or the inlet. What combines the ultraviolet irradiation to a blade | wing member and the irradiation to an outflow port or an inflow port may be installed.

The beverage sterilization unit may be configured such that the part of the ultraviolet light emitting element and / or the other part of the ultraviolet light emitting element are arranged such that an optical axis of ultraviolet light emitted from the diffusion lens faces the inlet and / or the outlet. Inclination means for inclining ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting element may be provided.

Further, the ultraviolet light emitting element of the beverage sterilization unit is disposed on the side of the cylindrical storage portion,
The tilting means may be provided with a support member that tilts with respect to the side (see, for example, the tilting member 160 in the present embodiment) at the bottom of the ultraviolet light emitting element.

According to this beverage sterilization unit, the ultraviolet light emitting element that irradiates the inlet and / or outlet with ultraviolet rays is provided with an inclination means for inclining in the direction of the inlet or outlet. Specifically, it is exemplified that the bottom of the ultraviolet light emitting element is inclined with respect to the ground plane (the side wall of the cylindrical storage portion).

Further, the ultraviolet light emitting element of the beverage sterilization unit is disposed on the side of the cylindrical storage portion,
The tilting means may be a cylindrical portion that is inclined with respect to the side and in which the ultraviolet light emitting element is disposed at the bottom of the side, and an inner wall of the cylindrical portion may be formed of a member that reflects ultraviolet rays. .

In addition to the tilting means for inserting the supporting member at the bottom of the above-described ultraviolet light emitting element and directing the optical axis toward the inlet or outlet, the inside of the cylindrical portion inclined toward the outlet or inlet with respect to the cylindrical reservoir A configuration in which an ultraviolet light emitting element is disposed on the inner wall of the cylindrical portion and the inner wall of the cylindrical portion is subjected to reflection processing or the like to directly irradiate the inclined beam light toward the outlet or the inlet is exemplified.

Further, the beverage sterilization unit is provided such that an opening area of the inlet is smaller than a cross-sectional area viewed from the fluid flow direction of the cylindrical storage portion, and the ultraviolet ray covering at a part of the inlet of the ultraviolet light emitting element is covered. It is preferable that the irradiation area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical reservoir and larger than the opening area of the inflow port.

According to this beverage sterilization unit, the opening area of the inlet is provided smaller than the cross-sectional area viewed from the fluid flow direction of the cylindrical reservoir, and the ultraviolet irradiation area at the inlet of the ultraviolet light emitting element that irradiates the inlet However, since it is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical storage part and larger than the opening area of the inlet, ultraviolet rays are irradiated without gaps at the inlet, so that sterilization can be performed more reliably at the inlet. Can do.

In addition, an opening area of the outlet of the beverage sterilization unit is provided smaller than a cross-sectional area viewed from the fluid flow direction of the cylindrical storage portion, and an ultraviolet irradiation area at the outlet is the cylindrical storage. It is preferable that it is smaller than the sectional area of the portion and larger than the opening area of the outlet.

According to this beverage sterilization unit, the opening area of the outlet is provided smaller than the cross-sectional area viewed from the fluid flow direction of the cylindrical reservoir, and the ultraviolet irradiation area at the outlet of the ultraviolet light emitting element that irradiates the outlet However, since it is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical storage part and larger than the opening area of the outlet, ultraviolet rays are irradiated without gaps at the outlet, so that sterilization can be performed more reliably at the inlet. Can do.

In addition, the diffusion lens and part of the ultraviolet light emitting element of the beverage sterilization unit or the others are installed in a direction orthogonal to the fluid flow direction, and the center of the diffusion lens is the ultraviolet light emitting element. It is preferable that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the diffusion lens are directly irradiated to the inflow port.

According to this beverage sterilization unit, the diffusion lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element are installed in a direction orthogonal to the fluid flow direction, and the center of the diffusion lens is in the fluid flow direction with respect to the center of the ultraviolet light emission element. The ultraviolet light emitted from the diffusing lens that is biased upstream is directly irradiated to the inflow port, so that the ultraviolet light emitting element is inclined in the fluid flow direction with respect to the cylindrical reservoir as in the above-described example. Since it is not necessary to install, the attachment structure of the diffusing lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element with respect to the cylindrical storage portion can be simplified.

Furthermore, since the irradiation position and irradiation range at the inflow port change simply by adjusting the relative positional relationship between the diffusion lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element, the relative posture and positional relationship between the cylindrical storage portion and the diffusion lens are changed. The irradiation position and irradiation range at the inlet can be easily adjusted without doing so.

In addition, the diffusion lens and part of the ultraviolet light emitting element of the beverage sterilization unit or the others are installed in a direction orthogonal to the fluid flow direction, and the center of the diffusion lens is the ultraviolet light emitting element. The ultraviolet ray emitted from the diffusion lens may be directly irradiated to the outflow port.

According to this beverage sterilization unit, the diffusion lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element are installed in a direction orthogonal to the fluid flow direction, and the center of the diffusion lens is in the fluid flow direction with respect to the center of the ultraviolet light emission element. It is necessary to install the diffusing lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element tilted in the fluid flow direction with respect to the cylindrical storage portion because the ultraviolet rays emitted from the diffusing lens are directly irradiated to the inflow port by being shifted to the upstream side. Therefore, the attachment structure of the diffusing lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element with respect to the cylindrical storage portion can be simplified.

Furthermore, since the irradiation position and irradiation range at the inflow port change simply by adjusting the relative positional relationship between the diffusion lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element, the relative posture and positional relationship between the cylindrical storage portion and the diffusion lens are changed. The irradiation position and irradiation range at the inlet can be easily adjusted without doing so.

Moreover, it is preferable that the inner side surface of the cylindrical storage part of the beverage sterilization unit and the surface of the blade member of the water turbine device are sandblasted so as to allow irregular reflection of the ultraviolet rays.

According to the present beverage sterilization unit, the inner surface of the cylindrical reservoir is sandblasted so that ultraviolet rays can be diffusely reflected, so that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the diffusion lens are not directly irradiated to the inlet and outlet. Since the ultraviolet rays are irregularly reflected on the inner side surface of the cylindrical reservoir and indirectly irradiated to the inlet or outlet, the sterilization efficiency can be further enhanced.

In addition, it is preferable that the inner side surface of the cylindrical storage portion of the beverage sterilization unit and the surface of the blade member of the water turbine device are provided in a mirror shape that can reflect the ultraviolet rays.

According to the present beverage sterilization unit, the inner surface of the cylindrical storage portion is provided in a mirror-like shape capable of reflecting ultraviolet rays, so that the inflow port and the outflow port are directly irradiated out of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the diffusion lens. Since the ultraviolet rays that have not been reflected are reflected on the inner surface of the cylindrical reservoir and indirectly irradiated or inflow-outlet-irradiated, the sterilization efficiency can be further enhanced.

Moreover, it is preferable that the ultraviolet light emitting element of the beverage sterilization unit is a light emitting diode element.

According to the present beverage sterilization unit, since the ultraviolet light-emitting element is a light-emitting diode element, the irradiation possible time of the light-emitting diode element is longer than that of the fluorescent lamp, so that it can be sterilized for a long time.

It is preferable that the ultraviolet light emitting element emits deep ultraviolet light.

According to the present beverage sterilization unit, since the ultraviolet light emitting element emits deep ultraviolet light, deep ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm, which is so-called UV-C, is particularly excellent in sterilization effect. Can be sterilized.

Furthermore, the present invention also provides a beverage supply apparatus in which the above-described beverage sterilization unit for sterilizing water is provided on a faucet that discharges water through a pipe or on the path of the pipe.

According to the beverage sterilization unit and the beverage supply device of the present invention, the water turbine device that rotates when the beverage flows is installed inside the cylindrical storage unit, and the blade member of the water turbine device stirs the beverage together with bacteria, etc. By irregularly reflecting the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light emitting element installed inside the reservoir, the beverage passing through the cylindrical reservoir can be uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the sterilization performance can be improved.

Moreover, in the beverage sterilization unit and the beverage supply device of the present invention, ultraviolet light can be provided by directly irradiating at least one of the inflow port and the outflow port, and the sterilization is concentrated at the inflow port or the outflow port. be able to. As a result, it is possible to use both the direct and intensive sterilization and the wide and repeated sterilization effect due to the reflection from the above-described watermill device, thereby further improving the sterilization property.

It is a front fragmentary sectional view which shows the outline of the water server provided with the drink sterilization unit which is the Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the drink sterilization unit which is an Example of this invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in which another ultraviolet light emitting element is employed in the beverage sterilization unit of FIGS. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 in which another ultraviolet light emitting element is employed in the beverage sterilization unit in FIGS. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 in which another ultraviolet light emitting element is employed in the beverage sterilization unit in FIGS.

Hereinafter, representative examples of the embodiment of the beverage sterilization unit of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the beverage sterilization unit of the present invention is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and it is needless to say that the contents of the illustration and description are modified within the scope of general common sense. Each figure may be exaggerated in size, ratio, or number as necessary for easy understanding.

The beverage sterilization unit of the present invention includes a cylindrical reservoir, an inflow port installed upstream of the cylindrical reservoir, an outlet installed downstream of the cylindrical reservoir, and the cylindrical reservoir. A water turbine device that rotates in accordance with the flow of beverage from the inlet to the outlet, and the water turbine device includes a plurality of blade members that extend radially from the center of rotation. And all or part of each blade member is composed of a member that reflects ultraviolet rays, at least a part of the ultraviolet light emitting element irradiates the water turbine device directly or indirectly, and the inner side surface of the cylindrical reservoir is Although it is comprised by the member which reflects an ultraviolet-ray, as long as it provides a clean and safe drink, the specific embodiment may be what.

For example, the cylindrical storage part has a small cross-sectional area as viewed from the flow direction from the inflow port, the flow velocity is reduced, and the cross-sectional shape is any shape such as a regular circle, an ellipse, a polygon, etc. It does not matter. Furthermore, the cylindrical storage portion may be made of any material such as resin such as plastic, metal such as stainless steel, and the like. However, the inner wall is preferably made of a material that reflects ultraviolet rays. Also, the beverage may be not only water but also coffee, tea, etc. The ultraviolet light emitting element may be anything as long as it emits at least ultraviolet light. Furthermore, this drink sterilization unit can be connected to various drink discharge outlets, such as a tap, other than what is connected to the outlet of a water server.

Hereinafter, an example of a water server as a beverage supply apparatus to which a beverage sterilization unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected will be described based on FIG. 1, and the beverage sterilization unit 100 will be described based on FIGS. An example will be described.

Here, FIG. 1 is a partial front sectional view showing an outline of a water server W10 provided with a beverage sterilization unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a beverage according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an outline of the sterilization unit 100 (reference numbers are unified in the present specification), and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 in which the internal components of the beverage sterilization unit 100 in FIGS. 2 to 3 are replaced, and FIG. 5 is a beverage sterilization unit in FIGS. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in which the internal parts of FIG. 2 are replaced, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the internal parts of the beverage sterilization unit 100 in FIGS. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a water server W10 serving as a beverage supply device that connects the beverage sterilization unit 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a water container W11 that stores tap water WT1 and a purification cartridge W12 that purifies tap water WT1. And a purified water storage container W13 for storing the purified water WT2 and a water server main body W14 capable of changing the temperature of the purified water WT2. Among these, the water container W11 includes a water container body W11ba having an opening (inlet for tap water WT1) W11ba that opens upward, and a lid W11a that can open and close the opening W11ba.

An opening hole W11bd is formed in the bottom wall W11bc of the water container body W11b, and the purification cartridge W12 is fitted through the opening hole W11bd. The purified water storage container W12 is installed directly below the water container W11 above the water server body W14, and temporarily stores the purified water WT2 purified by flowing down the water passage inside the purification cartridge W12. It is configured.

The water server main body W14 includes a hot water tank W14a, a cold water tank W14b, a hot water faucet W14c, a normal temperature water faucet W14d, and a cold water faucet W14e. Among these, the hot water tank W14a is connected to the purified water storage container W13 via the first pipe W14f, and the purified water WT2 is configured to be supplied from the purified water storage container W13 to the hot water tank W14a. Furthermore, the hot water tank W14a has a heating means for heating the purified water WT2 stored therein to a predetermined temperature. Further, the hot water tank W14a is connected to a hot water faucet W14c via a pipe (not shown). By opening the hot water faucet W14c, the hot water inside the hot water tank W14a passes through the hot water faucet W14c. It is provided so that it may be supplied to.

The cold water tank W14b is connected to the purified water storage container W13 via the second pipe W14g, and beverage sterilization units 1, 100 and 200, which will be described in detail later, are provided on the path of the second pipe W14g. The sterilized purified water WT2 is supplied from the purified water storage container W13 to the cold water tank W14b. Furthermore, the cold water tank W14b has a cooling means for cooling the purified water WT2 inside.

The cold water tank W14b is connected to a cold water faucet W14e via a pipe (not shown). By opening the cold water faucet W14e, the cold water inside the cold water tank W14b passes through the cold water faucet W14e. It is provided so that it may be supplied to. In this embodiment, the beverage sterilization units 1, 100, 200 are provided on the path of the second pipe W14g, but on the path of a pipe (not shown) connecting the cold water tank W14b and the cold water faucet W14c. Beverage sterilization units 1, 100, 200 may be provided.

The normal temperature water faucet W14d is connected to the purified water storage container W13 via the third pipe W14h, and a beverage sterilization unit 1, 100, 200, which will be described in detail later, is provided on the path of the third pipe W14h. . Then, by opening the normal temperature water faucet W14d, the normal temperature water inside the purified water storage container W13 is sterilized when passing through the beverage sterilization unit 1, 100, 200, and passes through the normal temperature water faucet W14d. It is provided to be supplied to the user. Under the hot water faucet W14c to the cold water faucet W14e, a water tray W14i for receiving water spilled from the hot water faucet W14c to the cold water faucet W14e is installed. In this embodiment, the water server W10 includes both the hot water tank W14a and the cold water tank W14b. However, the water server W10 may include only one of the hot water tank W14a and the cold water tank W14b.

In the water server W10 having the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, when tap water WT1 is injected from the opening W11ba of the water container W11 using a pitcher PT or the like, the tap water WT1 is added to the bottom of the water container W11. Is introduced into the interior of the purification cartridge W12. The tap water WT1 introduced into the purification cartridge W12 is processed each time it passes through each water purification element (not shown) of the purification cartridge W12.

Then, the tap water WT1 passing through the purification cartridge W12 is discharged into the purified water storage container W13 from the lowermost purified water element container (not shown), and temporarily becomes purified water WT2 in the purified water storage container W13. It is stored in. When the cold water faucet W14e or the hot water faucet W11c is opened, the water inside the hot water tank W14a or the cold water tank W14b is discharged to the outside. At this time, the amount of water inside the hot water tank W14a and the cold water tank W14b is reduced. Along with the decrease, the purified water WT2 inside the purified water storage container W13 is supplied into the hot water tank W14a and the cold water tank W14b, respectively.

Next, the beverage sterilization unit 100 cylindrical storage part 110, its internal configuration and ultraviolet rays will be described by way of example with reference to FIGS. In the present invention, (1) means for sterilizing beverages by diffused reflection of ultraviolet rays by a water turbine device in a cylindrical reservoir, and (2) concentrated beverages by directing ultraviolet rays to the inlet and outlet to the cylindrical reservoir. As described above, a means for sterilizing the bacterium is provided. In this specification, for convenience of description of each ultraviolet light emitting element, the description of the means (2) is given priority, and then the means (1) is described.

In the above means (2), the ultraviolet light emitting element comprises: (2-1) a method of inclining the bottom of the ultraviolet light emitting element and directing ultraviolet light toward the inlet and / or outlet; and (2-2) the center of the diffusion lens emits ultraviolet light. A method of directing ultraviolet rays toward the inlet and / or outlet by shifting in the flow direction from the center of the element is exemplified.

First, the method (2-2) will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the beverage sterilization unit 100 includes a regular cylindrical tubular reservoir 110, an inflow port 111 installed on the upstream side of the tubular reservoir 110, and the cylindrical reservoir 110. An outflow port 112 installed on the downstream side, a light emitting diode element 120 as an ultraviolet light emitting element installed on the side of the cylindrical reservoir 110, and a flat lens as a diffusion lens installed on the side surface of the cylindrical reservoir 110. And a convex lens 140. Here, the “plano-convex lens” refers to a lens having a flat surface on the light emitting diode element side on which light from the light emitting diode element 120 is incident and a convex spherical surface on the side from which incident light is emitted.

Specifically, the light emitting diode element 120 is attached to the substrate 130 and has an element integrated lens 121 on the plano-convex lens 140 side. The substrate 130 is provided with the light emitting diode element 120 and is configured to supply light emitting diode element 120 power from a power source (not shown). The plano-convex lens 140 has a flat surface on the substrate 130 side and a convex spherical surface convex toward the cylindrical reservoir 110 side, and is configured to diffuse the light from the light-emitting diode element 120. Yes.

Further, the plano-convex lens 140 has an annular lens collar 141, and the plano-convex lens 140 is formed on the side of the cylindrical reservoir 110 such that the lens collar 141 contacts the cylindrical reservoir 110. The lens insertion hole 114 is fitted. In this embodiment, two sets of the light-emitting diode element 120, the plano-convex lens 140, and the substrate 130 are provided, and one plano-convex lens 140A directly irradiates the inflow port 111 with ultraviolet rays from the light-emitting diode element 120A. Is provided.

As a result, the beam angle of the point-emitting ultraviolet light of the light emitting diode element 120A is increased by the plano-convex lens 140A, the beam becomes thicker, and when the purified water WT2 flows, the ultraviolet light is surely directly irradiated at the inflow port 111 to pass through. The fungus is surely sterilized. Similarly, the other plano-convex lens 140B is provided so as to directly irradiate the outflow tube 112 with the ultraviolet rays from the light emitting diode element 120B. Thereby, when purified water WT2 flows, germs and the like which are surely directly irradiated with ultraviolet rays at the outlet 112 and attempt to pass through are sterilized intensively.

Furthermore, the opening area S1 of the inflow port 111 is provided smaller than the cross-sectional area S2 viewed from the flow direction of the cylindrical reservoir 110. Further, the ultraviolet irradiation area S3 at the inlet 111 is smaller than the cross-sectional area S2 of the cylindrical storage portion 110 and larger than the opening area S1 of the inlet 111. And the inflow port 111 is located in the ultraviolet irradiation range. Thereby, ultraviolet rays are irradiated without gaps at the inlet 111, and the ultraviolet rays are irradiated without leaking over the entire inlet 111.

Similarly, the opening area S4 of the outlet 112 is provided smaller than the cross-sectional area S2 viewed from the fluid flow direction of the cylindrical reservoir 110. Further, the ultraviolet irradiation area S5 at the outlet 112 is smaller than the cross-sectional area S2 of the cylindrical storage portion 110 and larger than the opening area S4 of the outlet 112. And the outflow port 112 is located in the ultraviolet irradiation range. Thereby, ultraviolet rays are irradiated on the entire outlet 112.

Furthermore, in the method (2-2), one plano-convex lens 140A and the light emitting diode element 120A are installed in a direction orthogonal to the fluid flow direction. Further, the center C2 of the plano-convex lens 140A is shifted to the upstream side in the fluid flow direction with respect to the center C1 of the light-emitting diode element 120A, and ultraviolet rays emitted from the plano-convex lens 140A are directly irradiated to the inflow port 111. Thereby, it is not necessary to install the plano-convex lens 140A and the light emitting diode element 120A in a direction of fluid flow with respect to the cylindrical storage portion 110.

Further, the irradiation position and irradiation range at the inflow port 111 change only by adjusting the relative positional relationship between the plano-convex lens 140A and the light emitting diode element 120A. That is, the irradiation position and irradiation range at the inflow port 111 can be easily adjusted without changing the relative posture and positional relationship between the cylindrical storage unit 110 and the plano-convex lens 140A. In addition, by loosening a screw or the like for fixing the substrate 130A, the position of the substrate 130A with respect to the cylindrical storage portion 110 can be changed and adjusted, and the position of the light emitting diode element 120A with respect to the plano-convex lens 140A can be changed and adjusted. It shall be.

Similarly, the other plano-convex lens 140B and light-emitting diode element 120B are also installed in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction, and the center C2 of the plano-convex lens 140B is downstream in the flow direction with respect to the center C1 of the light-emitting diode element 120B. Accordingly, the ultraviolet rays are emitted from the plano-convex lens 140B, and the irradiation position and the irradiation range at the outlet 112 are changed only by adjusting the relative positional relationship between the plano-convex lens 140B and the light emitting diode element 120B.

Next, the above-described method (2-1), that is, a method of inclining ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet light emitting element to direct the ultraviolet rays toward the inlet and / or outlet will be described. In this specification, two examples will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, respectively. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, as in FIG.

The beverage sterilization unit 100 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 is similar to FIGS. 2 to 3 in that the cylindrical reservoir 110, the inlet 111 installed on the upstream side of the cylindrical reservoir 110, and the cylindrical reservoir 110 are provided. Although it has the outflow port 112 installed in the downstream, and the light emitting diode element 220 as an ultraviolet light emitting element installed in the side of the cylindrical storage part 110, it inclines the ultraviolet-ray from the light emitting diode element 220 It differs in that it has physical means.

First, in the example of FIG. 4, the inclined member 160 is inserted between the bottom of the light emitting diode element 220 and the substrate 130 instead of the plano-convex lens 140 as a diffusing lens installed on the side surface of the cylindrical storage portion 110. ing. Thereby, the optical axis of the light emitting diode element 220B on the downstream side in the flow direction is directed to the outlet 112, and the optical axis of the light emitting diode element 220A on the upstream side in the flow direction is directed to the inlet 111.

The lens insertion hole 214 on the side surface of the cylindrical storage portion 110 has a cylindrical shape that is perpendicular to the flow direction and opens in the inner direction, and is formed so that the downstream cylindrical wall 213a and the upstream cylindrical wall 213b have different heights. Has been. In the light emitting diode element 220B on the downstream side in the flow direction, the height of the upstream cylindrical wall 213b is larger than the height of the downstream cylindrical wall 213a, and the angle connecting the top of the cylindrical wall 213a and the top of the cylindrical wall 213b. Is formed to be substantially the same as the inclination angle α of the inclined member 160. Above the lens insertion hole 214, a convex lens 240B (240) is disposed across the top of the cylindrical wall 213a and the top of the cylindrical wall 213b.

Similarly, in the light emitting diode element 220A on the upstream side in the flow direction, the height of the upstream cylindrical wall 213b is larger than the height of the downstream cylindrical wall 213a, and the top of the cylindrical wall 213a and the top of the cylindrical wall 213b. Is formed to be substantially the same as the inclination angle α of the inclined member 160. Above the lens insertion hole 214, a convex lens 240A (240) is disposed across the top of the cylindrical wall 213a and the top of the cylindrical wall 213b.

As a result, the ultraviolet light of point emission of the light emitting diode element 220 is condensed by the convex lens 240 into beam light having a predetermined width with a small diffusion angle, and the purified water WT2 flows through the inlet 111 and the outlet 112 when the purified water WT2 flows. Is directly irradiated. As a result, bacteria that try to pass through the inflow port 111 and the outflow port 112 are sterilized intensively and at the water's edge.

Further, in the example of FIG. 6, instead of the plano-convex lens 140 as a diffusing lens installed on the side surface of the cylindrical storage portion 110 shown in FIGS. It has a cylinder part 313 opened in the internal direction of the storage part 110. Further, the cylindrical portion 313 has an annular collar portion 341, and a lens insertion formed on the side of the cylindrical storage portion 110 so that the collar portion 341 contacts the side of the cylindrical storage portion 110. It is fitted in the hole 314. In addition, the optical axis of the cylindrical portion 313 on the downstream side in the flow direction is directed to the outflow port 112, and the optical axis of the cylindrical portion 313 on the upstream side in the flow direction is directed to the inflow port 111.

The lens insertion hole 314 on the side surface of the cylindrical storage portion 110 is formed so that the downstream cylindrical wall 313a and the upstream cylindrical wall 313b have different heights, as in the example of FIG. In the light emitting diode element 320B on the downstream side in the flow direction, the height of the upstream cylindrical wall 313b is larger than the height of the downstream cylindrical wall 313a, and the angle connecting the top of the cylindrical wall 3143 and the top of the cylindrical wall 313b. Is formed to be substantially the same as the inclination angle α of the inclined member 160 of FIG. Above the lens insertion hole 314, a flat lens 340B (340) is disposed across the top of the cylindrical wall 313a and the top of the cylindrical wall 313b. Furthermore, the inner walls of the cylindrical wall 313a and the cylindrical wall 313b are processed so that ultraviolet rays can be reflected.

Similarly, in the light emitting diode element 320A on the upstream side in the flow direction, the height of the downstream cylindrical wall 313b is larger than the height of the upstream cylindrical wall 313a, and the top of the cylindrical wall 313a and the top of the cylindrical wall 313b Is formed to be substantially the same as the inclination angle α of the inclined member 160. Above the lens insertion hole 314, a flat lens 340A (340) is disposed across the top of the cylindrical wall 313a and the top of the cylindrical wall 313b.

As a result, when the purified water WT2 flows through the purified water WT2 through the purified light WT2 when the light emitted from the light emitting diode element 320 is reflected by the cylindrical wall 313a and the cylindrical wall 313b and the inner wall of the cylindrical wall 313a. Bacteria and the like that are directly irradiated at the outlet 112 and attempt to pass through are sterilized intensively.

Next, the means (1) described above will be explained.
In the example of FIGS. 2 to 4, the means (2), that is, the means for sterilizing the beverage in a concentrated manner by directing ultraviolet rays toward the inlet 111 and the outlet 112 to the cylindrical reservoir 110 has been described. In this means, ultraviolet rays from the light emitting diode elements 120 and 220 which are ultraviolet light emitting elements are concentratedly irradiated toward the inflow port 111 and the outflow port 112, and are sterilized on the water upstream and downstream of the cylindrical flow storage unit 110. Is.

(2) In some cases, the sterilization by the means (2) may be insufficient, and a means for sterilization in the cylindrical storage part 110 is required. For example, in the example of FIGS. 2 to 3, the inner side surface 113 of the cylindrical storage portion 110 is sandblasted so that ultraviolet rays can be irregularly reflected. As a result, of the ultraviolet light emitted from the plano-convex lens 140, the ultraviolet light that has not been directly irradiated to the inflow port 111 and the outflow port 112 is irregularly reflected by the inner side surface 113 of the cylindrical storage unit 110 and the beverage in the cylindrical storage unit 110. Can be sterilized or indirectly supplemented with ultraviolet irradiation to the inlet 111 or the outlet 112, so that the sterilization efficiency can be further enhanced. In addition, although the example which performed sandblasting to the inner surface 113 of the cylindrical storage part 110 was shown, the inner surface 113 of the cylindrical storage part 110 is made into a mirror surface shape by carrying out mirror surface processing, and the inner side surface 113 reflects an ultraviolet-ray. It may be provided freely. The same applies to the examples of FIGS.

Further, in order to further improve the sterilization efficiency in the cylindrical storage part 110 or as a separate sterilization means, the means (1) is provided, and the water is diffusely reflected by the water turbine device 150 in the cylindrical storage part 110 to serve the beverage. Sterilization is exemplified.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the water turbine device 150 is additionally installed inside the cylindrical storage portion 110 shown in FIGS. 2 to 3 in a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. The water turbine device 150 is connected to the inner side surface 113 of the cylindrical storage part 110 so as to rotate in the flow direction around the rotation center (counterclockwise in FIG. 5) (the configuration of the connection is not shown). The circumference of the rotation center of the water turbine device 150 is configured by a cylindrical member 151 that is substantially circular and extends in the direction of the rotation axis in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. The cylindrical member 151 may be solid or hollow. The shape (especially the diameter) of the cylindrical member 151 is determined by the balance between the rotational force due to the flow and the durability against it, and the number and shape of the cylindrical member 151 and the number, shape, and material of the blade members 152 are determined. Designed with correlation.

The outer surface of the cylindrical member 151 is preferably formed of a reflective member. As can be seen from the arrow in FIG. 5 showing the ultraviolet rays from the light emitting diode 120, the ultraviolet rays are reflected on the surface of the cylindrical member 151 in addition to the blade member 152, and it becomes easier to promote irregular reflection in the cylindrical reservoir 110. . In that sense, it is more desirable to perform sandblasting or mirror finishing like the inner side surface 113 of the cylindrical reservoir 110 described above. Although not shown, when the surface of the cylindrical member 151 is subjected to reflection processing, groove processing on the cylindrical member 151 to be described later may be adopted as the blade member without the protruding blade member 152 as shown in FIG. .

Further, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, a plurality of blade members 152 are provided radially from the outer surface of the cylindrical member 151. The blade member 152 rotates the tube member 151 in response to the flow of the beverage in the cylindrical storage portion 110, but the blade member 152 diffuses the ultraviolet rays from the light emitting diode 120 and rotates. Since each ultraviolet ray is reflected at variously changing angles, the sterilization efficiency is improved as the rotational speed increases. In that sense, it is possible to cope with a case where the flow rate at which sterilization is insufficient by the means (2) is large.

The number of blade members 152 only needs to extend in a plurality of radial directions, and the shape thereof may be linear in the direction of the rotation center, and is inclined from the viewpoint of rotational driveability, avoidance of increased turbulence in the beverage, It may be a wave shape, a spiral shape, or the like. In addition, although the blade member 152 shown in FIG. 5 has a thin plate shape, the thickness thereof is also designed in correlation with the shape of the cylindrical member 151 and the like. When the outer surface of the cylindrical member 151 is a reflecting member, a groove is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical member 151 as another shape of the blade member 152, for example, a plurality of grooves provided in a spiral shape in the flow direction are provided. It is also conceivable to configure the groove mountain as the blade member 152.

In addition, the water turbine device 150 as the means (1) is combined with the means (2) to directly irradiate the inflow port 11 and the outflow port 112 with ultraviolet rays and to irradiate ultraviolet rays in the cylindrical reservoir 110. It is also possible to secure more complete bactericidal properties by using the above effects together. In this case, the effects (1) and (2) may be created only by the ultraviolet light emitting element 120 and the diffusing lens 140 shown in FIGS. Further, the ultraviolet light emitting device 120 and the diffusing lens 140 shown in FIGS. 2 to 3 and other ultraviolet light emitting devices for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the water turbine device 150 side inside the cylindrical storage portion 110, the inlet 111 and the outlet 112 at the center. The effects (1) and (2) may be created by combining the ultraviolet light emitting element 120 and the diffusing lens 140 shown in FIG.

The light-emitting diode elements 120 and 220 are configured to emit deep ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm, which is so-called UVC, and have excellent sterilizing effects.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Beverage sterilization unit 110 Cylindrical storage part 111 Inlet 112 Outlet 113 Inner side surface 114,214,314 Lens penetration hole 120,220,320 Light emitting diode element (ultraviolet light emitting element)
121 element-integrated lens 130 substrate 140 plano-convex lens (diffuse lens)
141 Lens collar portion 150 Water wheel device 151 Tube member 152 Blade member 160 Inclined member 213, 313 Tube portion 250 Lens spacer 251 Diode receiving hole 252 Brim holding recess 240 Convex lens 340 Flat lens 341 Brim portion S1 Inlet opening area S2 Cylindrical storage Sectional area S3 UV-irradiated area S4 at the inlet S4 Outlet opening area S5 UV-irradiated area C1 at the outlet C1 Center of the light-emitting diode element C2 Center of the plano-convex lens

Claims (14)

A cylindrical reservoir, an inlet installed upstream of the cylindrical reservoir, an outlet installed downstream of the cylindrical reservoir, and an ultraviolet light emitting element installed inside the cylindrical reservoir; A beverage sterilization unit comprising:
Inside the cylindrical reservoir, a watermill device that rotates according to the flow of the beverage from the inlet to the outlet is provided, and the waterwheel device is provided with a plurality of blade members that extend radially from the rotation center, and each blade member All or part of the surface is made of a material that reflects ultraviolet rays,
A beverage characterized in that at least a part of the ultraviolet light emitting element directly or indirectly irradiates the water turbine device, and an inner surface of a side of the cylindrical storage portion is constituted by a member that reflects ultraviolet rays. Sterilization unit. 2. The diffusion lens of the part and / or the other part of the ultraviolet light emitting element irradiates at least one of an inlet and an outlet with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light emitting element. The beverage sterilization unit described in 1. The part of the ultraviolet light emitting element and / or the other part of the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting element so that the optical axis of the ultraviolet light emitted from the diffusion lens faces the inlet and / or the outlet. The beverage sterilization unit according to claim 2, further comprising a tilting unit that tilts the beverage. The ultraviolet light emitting element is disposed on a side of the cylindrical storage portion,
The beverage sterilization unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tilting means includes a support member that is tilted with respect to the side at a bottom of the ultraviolet light emitting element. The ultraviolet light emitting element is disposed on a side of the cylindrical storage portion,
The tilting means is a cylindrical portion that is inclined with respect to the side and in which the ultraviolet light emitting element is disposed at the bottom of the side, and an inner wall of the cylindrical portion is formed of a member that reflects ultraviolet rays. The beverage sterilization unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: An opening area of the inlet is provided smaller than a cross-sectional area viewed from the fluid flow direction of the cylindrical reservoir, and an ultraviolet irradiation area at a part of the inlet of the ultraviolet light emitting element is the cylindrical reservoir. The beverage sterilization unit according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the beverage sterilization unit is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the portion and larger than an opening area of the inlet. The opening area of the outlet is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical reservoir as viewed from the fluid flow direction, and the ultraviolet irradiation area at the outlet is smaller than the sectional area of the cylindrical reservoir. The beverage sterilization unit according to claim 3, wherein the beverage sterilization unit is provided larger than an opening area of the outlet. A part or the other of the diffuser lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element is installed in a direction orthogonal to the fluid flow direction, and the center of the diffuser lens is fluid flow with respect to the center of the ultraviolet light emitting element. The beverage sterilization unit according to claim 6, wherein the beverage sterilization unit is shifted to the upstream side in the direction, and ultraviolet rays emitted from the diffusion lens are directly irradiated to the inflow port. A part or the other of the diffuser lens and the ultraviolet light emitting element is installed in a direction orthogonal to the fluid flow direction, and the center of the diffuser lens is fluid flow with respect to the center of the ultraviolet light emitting element. The beverage sterilization unit according to claim 7, wherein the beverage sterilization unit is shifted to the downstream side in the direction and is irradiated directly with ultraviolet rays emitted from the diffusion lens. The beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an inner side surface of the cylindrical storage portion and a surface of a blade member of the water turbine device are sandblasted so as to diffusely reflect the ultraviolet rays. Sterilization unit. 10. The inner surface of the cylindrical storage portion and the surface of a blade member of the water turbine device are provided in a mirror shape that can reflect the ultraviolet rays. Beverage sterilization unit. The beverage sterilization unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the ultraviolet light-emitting element is a light-emitting diode element. The beverage sterilization unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the ultraviolet light emitting element emits deep ultraviolet light. A beverage sterilization unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a beverage sterilization unit for sterilizing water is provided on a faucet that discharges water through a pipe or on a path of the pipe. A beverage supply device characterized by being.

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