MX2009013289A - Device for purifying a purified-water container and cap adapted to purified water expending machines. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention refers to a device for purifying demijohns or bottles and the cap thereof, which includes a cover that allows ozone to be introduced in the container and the cap.

Description

PURIFICATION DEVICE OF PLUG AND CONTAINER FOR PURIFIED WATER ADAPTED TO PURIFIED WATER VENDING MACHINES FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in the construction and operation of purified water vending machines, particularly for example vending machines of the type designed to produce and dispense relatively purified water in a container provided by the user, such as a jug or bottle of water. water of 10, 20 liters or similar, to which a device for purifying the jug or bottle and its lid has been adapted, consisting of an ozone generator and an ozone outlet nozzle directed towards the interior of the container and of its cover.

BACKGROUND Currently, the use of purified water contained in jugs or bottles of any capacity has been generalized, which has resulted in the proliferation of jugs and bottles made of polymers, which can be reused. However, this implies certain limitations, among which the most important is its washing and disinfection for reuse with the same original purpose. The washing does not always guarantee the disinfection of said containers, which is only achieved so far by the use of biocidal compositions, with their consequent risks, or by radiation, evidently much more limited, since unlike glass, polymers are highly susceptible to radiation, especially the ultraviolet, which is a very powerful biocide.

In addition to the above, the lids of the jugs and bottles normally used and always made of plastics or polymers, constitute a great environmental problem since they are not reused, since they are considered as a source of contamination of the containers, To date, no solutions have been proposed to these problems that allow the safe disinfection of the jugs and bottles, nor the reuse of the caps.

The disinfection procedures are focused on the water itself, with the purpose of purification being the most widely used disinfection methods those that use Ozone.

Ozone is the best bactericidal, germicidal, virulicidal and disinfectant, due to its great oxidizing power. Its disinfecting power is much higher than that of chlorine and after fluorine, ozone is the most effective one known. Its disinfecting action is based on the destruction of innumerable colonies and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, molds, spores ...) that cause many diseases. Its action for the elimination of odors is obtained, due to a true chemical destruction of the same, eliminating by that reaction the greater part of odors of organic origin. Thus, small concentrations of ozone eliminate the odors of tobacco, body secretions, cooking, food handling, etc. It turns the highly toxic carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide.

Ozone sterilizes the air by enriching it with oxygen. In quantities perfectly admissible for humans, it acts effectively as a bacteriostatic and fungicidal agent. In the air it decomposes easily and very quickly, under normal conditions of pressure and temperature. Therefore, it could not be packed for transport.

It has a great solubility in water, much higher than that of oxygen; therefore, it is much more stable in water than in air.

Scholars from several countries have agreed that OZONE, as a disinfectant agent, is the most effective product used by men in a preventive way, without any risk, since it eliminates odors and effectively destroys organic and inorganic contamination.

Ozone generators normally use a high voltage electric discharge, in this way the oxygen molecule is divided into 2 separate oxygen atoms. Ultraviolet light is also used as in nature when ultraviolet rays strike the upper atmosphere or when lightning creates ozone in a summer storm, Ozone decomposes slowly at room temperature and the supplementary atom is absorbed by the reducing bodies. In this way, the clean and oxidizing air of the field contains 200 to 400 mg of ozone per 100 m3. In the field, ozone is produced mainly by the photosynthetic function of green plants. On the contrary, the air of the cities, strongly loaded with reducing particles, does not contain more than 2 mg. of ozone per 100 m3. Thanks to your. radiation absorption capacity, the ozone of the. The stratosphere prevents high-frequency ultraviolet rays from reaching the ground.

Normally, it is not usually prepared pure ozone, but ionized oxygen. This is achieved by passing oxygen through an electrical effluvium resulting from the ionization of the gas. This effect is obtained with ozonizers or ozone generators.

Water Treatments Some applications of ozone to the treatment of drinking water is the sterilization of all forms of bacteria and viruses; reproduced sediments, elimination of flavors, odors and colors; oxidation of sulfonamides, cyanides and algae; elimination of trihalomethane precursors and oxidation of organic materials: for example phenols, detergents and pesticides. Ozone is such a strong germicide that only a few microorganisms per liter are needed to measure the germicidal action.

The injection of ozone into water produces the destruction of bacteria, microorganisms and other pollutants reducing to a minimum the need for residual chlorine in the water, avoiding common problems such as conjunctivitis due to viruses, sinusitis, otitis due to streptococci and staphylococci spread by mucus, enteritis by ingesting water, ezcemas by skin conditions helping to improve and heal wounds and oxygenate the skin.

Ozone is generated from air or oxygen by applying a high voltage discharge to convert part of the oxygen (02) to Ozone (03). The "ozonated" gas mixes with the water to dissolve. The most efficient disinfection is achieved with 0.4 mg / 1 sustained for 4 minutes, ie a CT (Concentration in mg / 1 for Time in minutes) of 1.6. The amount of ozone required to reach these CT values depends on the temperature of the water, the pH, the initial ozone demand and the contact system. Usually, this amount is usually between 1 and 2 mg / 1 dosing of ozone to water.

The generators consist of: a dielectric tube through which oxygen is passed, it receives a constant electric discharge (called corona effect) and it has been generated in a transformer. This fact causes the transformation of the oxygen molecule (02) from the air, into an ozone molecule (03). This gas (Ozone) is sucked by a venturi system and mixed with the water that is going to be treated.

There are small ozonizers in ABS plastic, which produce ozone electronically by high frequency which do not require special installation, are transportable and versatile in their application, which use the residential electrical network and / or the battery of a car. Other models on the market produce ozone by silent discharge of high concentration, which emits ozone through a hose with or without a porous diffuser.

There are many versions of ozone generators in the state of the art that can be adapted or modified for the purpose of the present invention, serve as an example those described in the following documents: The Mexican application PA / a / 2005/009714, entitled; MODULE FOR OZONE GENERATION; refers to a module for ozone generation whose purpose is to provide ozone to various applications in the industrial, commercial, residential and therapeutic areas of human activity. The object of this invention is to provide a module for the generation of ozone different from those that exist in the market.

In the Mexican patent number 191882, called; METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION OF OZONE AND WATER TREATMENT; refers to a method for generating ozone, which comprises the steps of: applying an alternating current voltage between a pair of electrodes to generate an electric field of the same frequency as the applied voltage; providing a liquid body with a free surface disposed opposite one of the electrodes; space the electrode on the free surface, so that the electric field forms a multitude of Taylor cones on the free surface; and passing a gaseous stream containing oxygen between the electrode and the free surface, to oxidize the oxygen on the corona discharge from the cones.

The application number 9302379; APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION OF OZONE; it is related to ozone generating devices designed to be installed in air stream ducts or other air circulation structures of room units or other buildings, includes a system of porous grids, a mesh or other support with a minimum obstruction of the Air stream has an ozone generating plate placed to release the ozone to the passing air.

Water purification plants are an excellent business, the technology of purified has evolved to the degree that now put a water purification plant has become common, there are no technological barriers to do so, what is important to know are the water conditions to purify, the quality of water to obtain, low in salts or traditional purified.

In the application: 9402642; UNIT FOR WATER PURIFICATION; mention is made of the incorporation of an ozone generator to entrain the ozone with the flow of water that enters in order to increase the destruction of the microorganisms present and to oxidise any undesirable compound.

Patent number 6,077,427 of the United States, Burrows, published on June 20, 2000, entitled: WATER VENDING MACHINE; discloses a water vending machine of the type having a water purification system to produce relatively purified water for dispensing in a container such as a water bottle. The vending machine includes an open dispensing compartment for receiving and holding the water bottle under a dispensing injector through which water is delivered in response to the machine's control panel, which is initiated by the introduction of a coin. A trap door normally closes the dispenser and prevents unauthorized access to the dispenser injector, wherein the trap door is retracted when the control panel is in operation to expose the dispensing injector, to allow water to reach the bottle.

U.S. Patent 5,587,089, Vogel, et al., Published December 24, 1996, entitled WATER PURIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM; discloses a water purification system and for the washing and filling of a container of purified water. The system includes an apparatus comprising a water inlet system, a water purification system, a container washing system, a container filling system, an auxiliary function system, a mineralization system and an ozonation system . The appliance includes compartments, where a container is washed and filled into a single compartment. The apparatus also includes a lid washing system.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a purification device for the stopper and container for purified water adapted to vending machines for purified water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick and economical way to disinfect the container for purified water and its stopper.

It is furthermore object of the present invention to provide the method of recycling container covers for purified water, which are safe and comply with the corresponding sanitary standards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.

The vending machines for producing and dispensing relatively purified water are known in the state of the art, in addition, the purified water vending machines are also known in which the user provides the container and is provided or it provides the lid of the container, said machines may include a container washing system, such machines are described for example in U.S. Patents 6, 077, 427 and 5, 587, 089.

Such vending machines typically comprise a metal cabinet containing a water purification system, for example, a reverse osmosis and / or filtration system to produce relatively purified water from a drinking water source. The vending machine cabinet typically defines an open front compartment in which a user can place a jug or bottle of water or the like under a dispensing injector.

A control panel in the cabinet of the machine which is operated by the user, together with the deposit of an appropriate payment via one or more coin slots or the like, to activate the machine that will dispense a certain volume of water depending on the selection made by the same user. Water vending machines of this type are commonly available in many shopping centers and modern facilities that provide users with a convenient and economical source of purified water for drinking and cooking, as an alternative to traditional bottled water delivery services and / or to the rental or purchase of purification systems designed for home use.

In this type of machines, the user is usually responsible for the pre-washing of the container and possibly the lid, often the machines supply caps of various sizes that correspond to the containers for water. The provided caps are usually a source of contamination.

On the other hand, the vending machines of purified water incorporate ozone generating devices, which is produced by high electrical voltages or by ultraviolet light, however said ozone is used in disinfecting the water itself and does not have a direct application to disinfection or washing of the container and its lid.

According to the present invention, there is provided a water vending machine having adapted an ozone generator, which provides ozone to disinfect the interior of the bottle or bottle and its lid, prior to filling the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows schematically the device object of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the drawings, a water vending machine, A in figure 1, contains the water purification systems (1), which is dispensed by an injector to the container B, such as a garrafon or a traditional water bottle of 10 or 20 liters. The unit (2) of the dispensing injector (4), and a control module (3), these types of vending machines are described in the aforementioned US patents.

The water dispenser injector has a cover (7) which contains the ozone injector (8), which is produced by known methods using ultraviolet light or obtained by applying a 600 Hz high voltage electric arc to 2 KHz and a voltage of 4 to 20 KV, methods known in the state of the art and which are available in the market. Said injector can be used in the same way for the disinfection of the dispensing injector of the purified water. The cover (7) also contains an indicator (11) that the container is being purified, said indicator can be luminous or by sound and is synchronized by the timer (10) that also controls the time of generation of ozone and that it is also connected to the ozone generator (9). On the cover is the duct that directs the ozone scattered by the ozone injector (8) to the cover C, which is fixed by the cover support (5) placed on the outside of the cover (7).

On the control panel (3) there is the operation start switch of the purified water vending machine and it may contain a separate switch for the purification process of the container and its lid, or it may contain a single switch that initiates all the process and the purification steps of the container and its lid and the water dispensing stage are sequenced by a sequence circuit.

The ozone generator produces an air stream with high ozone content, between 250 to 800 mg of ozone per liter of air, for a time between 5 and 30 seconds, where this current is spread directly to the container and its lid or by a porous or other known glass diffuser and used in the state of the art.

The purification device of the cap and container for purified water adapted to vending machines for purified water, works as follows: The user places his own container, which must be clean enough to receive the purified water, inside the open dispensing compartment to receive and hold the water bottle under the dispensing injector through which the water is delivered in response To the control panel of the machine, also place the lid of the container on the lid support of the device.

Select the amount of purified water you want to obtain, if the machine has a previous payment mechanism, the amount required to start the operation of the machine is placed. In case the vending machine has a separate switch for the purification of the container and its lid, you must operate the switch. The machine will start the purification process, putting into operation the ozone generator and turning on the indicator light or by sound. Once the purification process of the container and the lid has been completed, the indicator will turn off, whereby the user will activate the container filling start switch with purified water.

But if the machine has a single switch for the beginning of the process of purification of the container and its lid and of the purified water dispensing process, then the vending machine initiates the purification process and turns on the indicator, once the period of time has elapsed. purification, turn off the indicator and start the process of filling the container with purified water.

When the filling process, the user removes the lid, covers the container with its disinfected lid and removes the container.

With this process, the user will have purified water not contaminated with impurities coming from a defective washing of its container and its lid, recycling the lid as many times as possible and depending on the type of lid it has.

This and other embodiments of the device described herein can be clearly understood and reproduced by a person skilled in the art, who claim to be covered by the following claims:

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS A device for purifying the cap and container for purified water adapted to vending machines for purified water, characterized in that it comprises the water dispenser injector has a cover (7) which contains, the ozone injector (8), an indicator (11) , one or more timers (10), a duct that directs the ozone spread by the ozone injector (8) towards the lid C, a lid support (5). The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ozone is produced by known methods using ultraviolet light or obtained by the application of a high voltage electric arc of 600 Hz at 2 KHz and a voltage of 4 to 20 KV. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ozone generator is commercially available. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ozone injector is used for the disinfection of the dispensing injector of the purified water. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid support (5) is placed on the outer side of the cover (7). The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control panel (3) has an operation start switch of the purified water vending machine and may contain an independent switch for the purification process of the container and its lid, or it can contain a single switch that initiates the whole process and the purification stages of the container and its lid and the water dispensing stage are sequenced by means of a c * sequence circuit. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ozone generator produces a stream of air with a high ozone content, between 250 to 800 mg of ozone per liter of air, for a time comprised between 5 and 30 seconds, where The current is spread directly to the container and its lid or by a porous glass diffuser or another known and used in the state of the art. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator (11) is luminous. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator (11) is by means of a sound.