WATER DISPENSER

摘要

A water dispenser is provided in which a holder is arranged at a lower level, a cold water tank is arranged at a higher level, and a raw water supply line is sterilized. The water dispenser is provided with a circulation line, upper and lower switch valves, and a heater for sterilization. The circulation line is connected at its top and bottom ends to the raw water supply line in the vicinity of the cold water tank, and in the vicinity of the holder, respectively. The switch valves are provided at upper and lower branch points, respectively. The switch vales are movable between a normal operation position in which a raw water container and the cold water tank communicate with the raw water supply line, and a sterilization operation position in which the raw water supply line communicates with the circulation line.

主权项

1. A water dispenser comprising:
a holder configured to hold a replaceable raw water container filled with drinking water and including a mouth portion; a cold water tank which is arranged at a higher level than the holder, and in which drinking water is cooled; a raw water supply line extending between the holder and the cold water tank and including a tubular joint member provided at a bottom end portion of the raw water supply line, and configured to be inserted into the mouth portion 4a of the raw water container with the raw water container held by the holder such that an interior of the cold water tank communicates with an interior of the raw water container through the raw water supply line; a pump attached to the raw water supply line; a circulation line having a top end portion connected to an upper branch point of the raw water supply line in a vicinity of the cold water tank, and a bottom end portion connected to a lower branch point of the raw water supply line in a vicinity of the holder; upper and lower switch valves provided at the upper and lower branch points, respectively, and movable between a normal operation position in which the raw water container and the cold water tank communicate with the raw water supply line, while the raw water supply line and the circulation line are disconnected from each other, and a sterilization operation position in which the raw water supply line communicates with the circulation line, while the raw water container and the cold water tank are disconnected from the raw water supply line; and a heater for sterilization configured to heat water circulated by the pump between the raw water supply line and the circulation line until the water reaches a sterilization temperature, when the upper and lower valves are in the sterilization operation position.