FOODS

Technical field

The present invention relates to processing water, particularly to providing alkaline water for kitchen use, and to a device and method for cleaning foods using this alkaline water.

Background

Foods such as vegetables and fruits bought in wet markets and supermarkets often contain residue of pesticide applied during the planting operation, which can lead to short and long term health problems. Soaking the foods in water can remove the dirt from the surface of the foods, however, it will take a long time to hydrolyze the pesticide residue. Scrubbing the vegetables can remove the pesticide residue in a shorter period, but too vigorous scrubbing will damage the foods.

Current solutions for removing pesticide from foods use ozone dissolved in water. Ozone gas is toxic for humans, and it may leak from the water with dissolved ozone and may be inhaled by humans. Current products of water with dissolved ozone release ozone at safe levels much lower than recommended. To address pesticide removal in the kitchen, it is necessary to use a clean and safe technology that does not add dangerous chemicals and does not release these chemicals into the environment.

Most pesticides can be hydrolyzed in alkaline water at a rate much higher than in ordinary tap water. And the alkaline water is nontoxic for humans and the environment.

Therefore, it is promising to use alkaline water to remove pesticide residue from foods. There have been automatic devices for cleaning foods. For example, WO-2009022987A1 and US- 20070056610A1 disclose fruit-vegetable washing machines. In these machines, the foods to be cleaned are placed in a container of the machine, and are cleaned by water sprays, soaking or air bubbles. However, instead of alkaline water, these machines usually use tap water. There are electrolysis devices which electrolyze tap water to provide alkaline water. In these current devices, tap water is continuously poured into a tank of the electrolysis device, electrolyzed in the tank to reach a predefined pH value and flows out of the tank. Summary of the invention

It can be seen that the current process for providing alkaline water is relatively slow due to the fact that the alkaline water is output only when it reaches the predefined pH value. Additionally, the tap water usually contains Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions, and during the electrolysis, these ions will consume some hydroxide radicals (by generating calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide which are only slightly soluble in water), thus the Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions decrease the alkalinity of the generated alkaline water. It can be seen that the electrolysis of the current devices is continuously influenced by the Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions due to the fact that the tap water with Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions is continuously poured into the device.

To better address at least one of these concerns, in a first aspect of the invention, a device for processing water contained in a container is provided. The device comprises a first unit for inputting the water from said container into said device; a second unit for generating, from the input water, a first output water with higher pH value than the input water and a second output water with lower pH value than that of the input water; and a third unit for outputting the first output water or the second output water back to said container.

In a second aspect of the invention, a method of processing water by means of a device is provided, the water being contained in a container. The method comprises the steps of inputting said water from said container into the device; generating, from the input water, a first output water with higher pH value than the input water and a second output water with lower pH value than that of the input water; and outputting the first output water or the second output water from said device back to said container.

These two aspects show that the concept of the invention is that water in the container is fed from the container to the device for increasing the alkalinity of the water or acidity of the water, and is then sent back the alkaline water or acid water back to the container

continuously. In other words, when the method is implemented repeatedly, the water is circulated between the container and the device till the alkalinity of the water or acidity of the water has been increased to a predefined level. Thus, alkaline water or acid water is provided in the container at the beginning of this process, and the alkalinity of the water or acid water in the container is increased continuously. This process accelerates the alkaline water or acid water providing process, compared to simply using tap water to provide alkaline water and acid water without water circulation. Preferably, the second unit comprises an electrolysis unit for electrolyzing said input water so as to generate said first output water with higher pH value and the second output water with lower pH value than that of the input water. In other words, the electrolysis unit generates alkaline water and acid water. If the alkaline water is output to the container, and the acid water is output to anther water tank or is directly drained out, the alkalinity of the water in the container will be increased gradually and quickly; similarly, if the acid water is output to the container, and the alkaline water is output to anther water tank or is directly drained out, the acidity of the water in the container will be increased gradually and quickly.

The concept of the invention may be used to generate alkaline water in the container; it may also be used to generate acid water in the container.

According to this preferred aspect, the negative influence of the Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions occurs only at the start of the generating process, due to the fact that the Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions are substantially consumed when the pH value of the alkalinity reaches 9 or a little bit higher. After that, there are almost no Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions in the water, thus the increase of the pH value accelerates.

According to this preferred aspect, due to the increase of the number of OH ^" in the water in the container, the conductivity of the water increases gradually. Therefore, at a fixed electrolysis voltage, the electric current becomes higher as the conductivity of the water increases. Thus the electrolysis of the water becomes more and more intense. The efficiency of the electrolysis is higher than in the traditional methods.

Since pesticides and dirt can be hydrolyzed easier in alkaline water than in tap water, in a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for cleaning foods, comprising a device according to the first aspect of the invention, and a container for containing the alkaline water and the foods to be cleaned. The apparatus integrate the device and the container into one stand alone cleaning machine; it also can be two separate parts, i.e. the container is separate from the device.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of cleaning food placed in the container, using generated alkaline water present in the container, wherein the water is processed according to the second aspect of the invention, which is generated according to the method of the second aspect of the invention.

According to the above third and fourth aspects, the foods can be placed in the container prior to or at the beginning of the water processing procedure. Due to the fact that the alkalinity of the water in the container is increased gradually, the hydrolysis procedure of the pesticide residue goes along with the procedure of providing the alkaline water. Thus, the process of cleaning food using water with a gradually increased alkalinity is shorter than the process of cleaning food using alkaline water which starts only after the alkalizing procedure is completed.

In a preferred embodiment, the container and the device is separated from each other, for example, the device is designed for cleaning food, and the container is the basin commonly installed in kitchens. Thus, in order to obtain alkaline water for cleaning foods, and to clean foods, users could simply place the foods in the basin, pour tap water into the basin, and place the device beside the basin for processing water in the basin according to the invention. This is convenient for users. Advantageously, the device further comprises a plug which is intended to be plugged into a scupper of the basin, so as to prevent water in the basin from being drained out through the scupper as the cleaning process goes along. The first unit and the third unit connect with the plug so that water is input from the basin and output to the basin through the plug. In this way, the device is more compact and visually attractive.

These and other features of the present invention will be described in detail in the embodiment part.

Brief description of the drawings

Features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments with the aid of the appended drawings. In the drawings, same or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar steps or means.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the device for processing water according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of the method of processing water, by a device, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 schematically shows the structure of the electrolysis unit;

Fig. 4 is a sketch of the device for processing water according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sketch of the device for processing water according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a sketch of the perspective view of the plug of the device according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a sketch of the front view of the plug of the device according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig.8A and 8B are sketches of a plug cooperating with a water tank and basin according to yet another embodiment of the invention;

Fig.8C and 8D are the cutaway view of the plug of Fig.8A and 8B;

Fig.8E is the cutaway view of the water tank and the plug of Fig.8A and 8B.

Detailed description of embodiments

With reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the concept of the invention will be elucidated by describing the device and the method according to embodiments of the invention.

The device 1 is for processing water and the water is contained in a container 2. The water is indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1. The device 1 comprises a first unit 10 for inputting the water from the container 2 into the device 1; a second unit 12 for generating, from the input water, a first output water with higher pH value than that of the input water and a second output water with lower pH value than that of the input water; and a third unit 14 for outputting the first output water or the second output water back to the container 2. Besides, the device 1 further comprises a micro controlling unit (MCU) (not shown in Fig. l) for controlling the first unit 10, the second unit 12, and the third unit 14.

In an embodiment, the first unit and the third unit comprise pipes and water pumps. This embodiment will be elucidated after the principle of the invention has been described. The power supply of the device can be provided by batteries or commercial electricity in the house of the user.

The water contained in the container 2 can be for example tap water from the water- supply pipe in the house of the user. In step S20, the first unit 10 inputs water from the container 2 into the device 1. The input water flows from the first unit 10 to the second unit 12 through a path inside the device 1.

In step S26, the second unit 12 generates, from the input water, a first output water with higher pH value than that of the input water and a second output water with lower pH value than that of the input water. In a preferred embodiment, the second unit 12 comprises an electrolysis unit for electrolyzing the input water so as to generate the first and second output water. The electrolysis process of water is common knowledge to those skilled in the art.

Fig. 3 shows a structure of the electrolysis unit, and the operation of the electrolysis unit will be briefly described below. The electrolysis unit comprises a power source V, a water vessel, and electrodes A and C made from platinum or other unreactive metals and connected with the anode and cathode of the power source V, respectively. A membrane separates the water segments in which the anode A and the cathode C are placed.

At the beginning of the water processing procedure, the input water is still neutral. After the input water is poured into the water vessel, it is divided into two parts flowing through the anode A and the cathode C, respectively. The power source V passes an electric current through the water via the anode A and the cathode C. The cathode C provides electrons, thus the OH ^" ions will accumulate at the cathode C and as a result alkaline water is generated. The positively charged ions in the alkaline water are metal ions such as Na ⁺ , Ca ⁺ , Mg ⁺ , which already exist in tap water. The anode A loses electrons, thus the H ⁺ ions will accumulate at the anode A and as a result acid water is generated. The negatively charged ions in the acid water are ions such as CI ^" , which already exist in tap water. The membrane separates the alkaline water and the acid water. The generated alkaline water flows out of the vessel through outlet 01 and flows to the third unit 14 through a path inside the device 1. The generated acid water flows out of the vessel through outlet 02.

A period of time after the start of the water processing procedure, the neutral input water in the container 2 becomes alkaline, because the previously generated alkaline water is output back to the container 2. The operation principle of the electrolysis unit to electrolyze alkaline water is similar to that of electrolyzing tap water. The alkaline water flows through the electrolysis unit, and the output water with higher pH value than that of the input water is generated at the cathode C, and flows out of the vessel through outlet 01. Water with lower pH value than that of the input water is generated at the anode A and flows out of the vessel through outlet 02. As the alkalinity of the input water increases, the water with lower pH value may become successively weakly acid, neutral and weakly alkaline.

The first and second output water in the invention means the water, generated from the input water by the second unit. If the first output water is sent back to the container for further electrolyzing, the first output water will always be alkaline water with pH value continuously increasing; the second output water may be acid water, weakly acid water or even weakly alkaline water depending on the alkalinity of the input water. If the second output water is sent back to the container for further electrolyzing, the second output water will always be acid water with pH value continuously decreasing; the first output water may be alkaline water, weakly alkaline water and even weakly acid water depending on the acidity of the input water.

For simplifying the description, without limiting the scope of the invention, hereinafter, the explanation will be given using the example of generating alkaline water in the container 2, i.e. the first output water with higher pH value will be output to the container from the second unit.

In step S28, the third unit 14 outputs the output water back to the container 2. The output water mixes with the water in the container 2, and increases the alkalinity of the water in the container 2.

The device 1 keeps performing the inputting step S20, the generating step S26, and the outputting step S28. With respect to water flow, water in the container 2 is continuously input to the device 1 and is sent back to the container after the input water is electrolyzed and its alkalinity increased. In other words, the water is circulated between the container 2 and the device 1. As a result, the alkalinity of the water in the container 2 becomes higher and higher, i.e. the water in the container becomes alkaline water with gradually increased alkalinity.

Using this process, the water in the container 2 can be alkaline from the start of the water processing procedure. Thus, it is fast for users.

Besides, the negative influence of the Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions occurs only at the start of the generating process, due to the fact that the Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions are consumed when the pH value of the alkalinity reaches 9 or slightly higher. After that, there are almost no Ca ⁺ and Mg ⁺ ions in the water, so that the rate of the increase of the pH value becomes faster. And due to the increase of the number of OH ^" in the water in the container, the conductivity of the water increases gradually. Therefore, the electric current becomes larger as the conductivity of the water increases, given a fixed electrolysis voltage. Thus, the electrolysis becomes more and more intense. Therefore, it accelerates the alkaline water- generating process compared to simply using tap water to generate alkaline water without circulation.

Fig.1 only shows the example of how to generate alkaline water using the method of the invention, the same method can be used for generating acid water, in that case, the outlet 02 will be connected with the third unit to output the generated acid water to the container 2, and the acid water will be circulated between the container 2 and the electrolysis unit. As a result the acidity of water in the container 2 will be increased to a predefined level with shorter time.

Preferably, for reasons of for example safety or effect, it is needed to check whether the alkalinity of the water, for example water for cleaning foods, reach to a predefined value. In such a case, in a preferred embodiment, the device 1 further comprises a detector 16. With respect to the repetitions of the steps 20, 22 and 24, after the step S20, in step S22, the detector 16 detects the pH value of the input water. The detector 16 could be a pH sensor, a pH meter or other means. In one example, the detector 16 is a pH glass electrode or a semiconductor sensor. In this case, the detector 16 could be installed in the path along which the input water is delivered to the electrolysis unit, and it measures the pH value of the input water flowing along the path.

In an altered embodiment, the detector 16 uses chemical indicators to detect the pH value of a part of the input water. The detector 16 may pollute the detected part of the input water by, for example, changing its alkalinity or adding inedible chemical substances. This part of the water should not flow back to the container 2 to avoid polluting the water in the container 2. The device 1 further comprises a fifth unit, for example a pipe P4 (not shown in the figures), for draining the detected part of the input water out of the device.

In another embodiment, the pH value detection is implemented by monitoring the electrical conductivity (EC) of the water. Electrical conductivity reflects the level of total dissolved ions in the water. For tap water in the normal case, i.e. pH around 7, the ionization ability of the water is very small. There are only few H+ and OH- ions in the water. Other ions like Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, HC03-, and CI- are dominant and contribute mainly to the conductivity of the water.

With the happening of the electrolysis, the H+ ions are drained and OH- ions are increased and contribute to the electrical conductivity of the water. Therefore, the change of EC reflects the change of pH value of the alkaline water. Thus, the pH of the alkaline water can be calculated by a function of the initial EC and the change of EC. The parameter of the EC vs. pH model is dynamically determined according to setup of the electrolysis system.

In this embodiment, the detector 16 comprises an EC sensor and a calculator for calculating the pH value according to the detected value of EC. The EC sensor comprises for example multiple electrodes and an EC meter. How to detect the EC of a solution is well known in the art therefore detailed explanation will not be given here.

In step S24, the device 1 stops or restarts the repetition of the steps S20, S26 and S28 according to the detected result. For example, when the MCU judges that the detected pH value of the input water is equal to or above a threshold, it means that the alkaline water with the predefined alkalinity has been obtained, and the MCU controls the first unit 10, the second unit 12 and the third unit 14 to stop operating. After the alkaline water has been used for a while and its alkalinity drops, when the MCU judges that the detected pH value of the input water is below a threshold, it means that the alkalinity of the alkaline water is lower than the predefined alkalinity, and the MCU 18 controls the first unit 10, the second unit 12 and the third unit 14 to restart the repetitions of the abovementioned steps S20-S26-S28.

In this preferred embodiment, the pH value is monitored to control the operation of the device 1, thus the safety of the water is guaranteed, i.e. the pH value of the water could not be so high as to harm the user's skin. It should be noted that the detection of the pH value and the controlling of the device 1 according to the detected pH value are not the necessary steps for the invention. Other embodiments such as timing can also be used to control the alkalinity of water in the container 2.

As to the second output water with lower pH value, such as acid water and weak acid water, which are generated in the step S26, it flows out of the device 1 through a third tube P3. In another embodiment, the second output water is stored in a tank T in the device, thus the second output water is obtained for later use by the user. For example, in the following embodiment of the invention for cleaning foods, since the second output collected in the tank T will be acid water, it can be used to sanitize and sterilize the foods after or before the pesticide residue of the foods has been removed by the alkaline water.

It is to be understood that when the first output water is output back to the container 2, the tank T is for storing the second output water; when the second output water is output back to the container 2, the tank T is for storing the first output water.

The above embodiments elucidate the concept of the invention. The following disclosure will elucidate more practical embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sketch of the device 1 for processing water according to one embodiment of the invention. The container 2 is a basin in the kitchen. The tap 3 has poured tap water into the basin 2. The water in the basin 2 is indicated by the wavy broken lines in Fig. 4. The first unit comprises a pump (not shown in the figures) for pumping water from the basin 2, and a first tube PI allowing the water to flow from the basin 2 to the second unit. The inlet of the first tube PI is submerged in the water in the basin 2, and the outlet of the first tube PI is connected with inlet I of the electrolysis unit. The third unit comprises a second tube P2, connected with the second unit, allowing the generated first output water or second output water to flow from the second unit to the basin 2. If the first output water, i.e. alkaline water is to be output back to the basin 2, the inlet of the second tube P2 is connected with the outlet

01 of the electrolysis unit, and the outlet of the second tube P2 is submerged in the water in the basin 2. The third tube P3, connected with said second unit 12; when the first output water is output back to the container 2 via the second tube P2, the third tube P3 allows the second output water to flow out of the device 1 ; when the second output water is output back to the container 2 via the second tube P2, the third tube P3 allows the first output water to flow out of the device 1.

The inlet of the first tube PI and the outlet of the second tube P2 preferably faces different directions, in order that the OH- ions in the water outputted from the outlet could disperse in the water in the basin and increase the alkalinity of the water in the basin as a whole, instead of being directly inputted into the device through the inlet again.

To avoid too many pipes and make the device more compact and visually attractive, the first tube PI and the second tube P2 can be bundled in a bigger pipe PO, and the first tube PI and the second tube P2 can be a little longer than the pipe PO, and extend from the pipe PO.

In a preferred embodiment on the basis of the above embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the basin 2 has, at its bottom, a scupper 21, connected with a drain pipe of the sewer in the kitchen, for draining water from the basin 2. And the device 1 further comprises a plug 11 being intended to be plugged into the scupper 21 so as to prevent water in the basin 2 from being drained out through the scupper 21 when the cleaning is going along. The first tube PI is connected with the plug 11 such that water in the basin 2 is allowed to flow from the basin

2 along a first path of the plug 11 to the first tube PI. As shown in Fig. 6, the first path starts from a hole HI in the side wall of the plug 11, extends inside the plug 11 and connects with the inlet of the first tube PI. The second tube P2 is connected with the plug 11 such that the first output water or the second output water is allowed to flow from the second tube P2 along a second path of the plug 11 to the basin. The second path starts from the outlet of the second tube P2, extends inside the plug 11 and reaches a hole H2 in the side wall of the plug 11. Preferably, the third tube P3 is connected with the plug 11 such that when the first output water is output back to the basin 2 via the second tube P2 the second output water is allowed to flow from the third tube P3 along a third path of the plug 11 to the scupper 21 or, when the second output water is output back to the basin 2 via the second tube P2 the first output water is allowed to flow from said third tube P3 along the third path of the plug 11 to the scupper 21.

Preferably, the third tube P3 is also bundled with the first tube PI and the second tube P2 in the pipe P0.

In the case that the detector 16 pollutes the detected part of the input water, the pipe P4, for draining this part of the input water out of the device, may also be bundled with the first tube PI and the second tube P2 in the pipe P0 and connected with the plug 11 such that the polluted water is allowed to flow from the pipe P4 through the hole H3 to the drain pipe of the sewer through the scupper 13. Alternatively, the pipe P4 is omitted, and the detected part of the input water mixes with the water with lower pH value and is drained out via pipe P3.

FIG.8A to FIG.8E show another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Fig.8A and 8B, the tank T for storing the first or second output water is designed to be put on the bottom of the basin 2. The device 1 also comprises a plug 82. The tank T has a hole 86 for receiving the plug 82, and the hole 86 can be in the same position with the scupper 21 of the basin 2 when the tank T is put on the bottom of the basin 2.

Preferably, the hole 86 is in the central of the tank T.

As shown in Fig.8C and 8D, the plug 82 have a hole H4, hole H5 and hole H6. The first tube PI is connected with the plug 82 such that water in the basin 2 is allowed to flow from the basin 2 through a first path 83 of the plug 82 to the first tube PI. As shown in Fig. 8D, the first path 83 starts from the hole H4 on the side wall of the plug 82, extends inside the plug 82 and connects with the inlet of the first tube PI.

The second tube P2 is connected with the plug 82 such that the first or second output water is allowed to flow from the second tube P2 through a second path 84 of the plug 82 to the basin. The second path 84 starts from the outlet of the second tube P2, extends inside the plug 82 and reaches the hole H5 on the side wall of the plug 82.

The third tube P3 is connected with plug 82 such that when the first output water is output back to the container 2 via the second tube P2 the second output water is allowed to flow from said third tube P3 along a third path 85 of the plug 82 to the tank T and when the second output water is output back to the container 2 via the second tube P2 the first output water is allowed to flow from said third tube P3 along the third path of the plug 82 to the tank T.

The third path 85 starts from the outlet of the third tube P3, extends inside the plug 82 and reaches the hole H6 on the side wall of the plug 82.

As shown in Fig.8E, the hole 86 of the tank T and the plug 82 are designed such that when the tank T is installed at the bottom of the basin 2 with its hole 86 overlapped with the scupper 21, and the plug 82 is inserted into the hole of the tank T, the water in the basin 2 are prevented from being drained to the drain pipe of the basin 2, and the water in the tank T is also prevented from being drained out of the tank T.

When begin to clean vegetables, user insert the plug 82 into the tank T, as shown in Figure 8A. The acid water pipe P3 and alkaline water pipe P2 respectively inject acid water into tank T and alkaline water into basin 2. The air in the tank T can be pressed out through air outlet.

After cleaning vegetables with alkaline water, user pulls out the plug 82 from the hole 86, the alkaline water in the basin 2 and the acid water in the tank T both flows to the scupper 21 at the same time, the alkaline water from the basin 2 and the acid water from the tank T will mix together and have neutralization effect when they meet at the scupper 21. Then, the mixed waste water can be directly discharged into the sewer, as shown in Figure 8B. As a result, the drained water as such is safe to the environment. In Fig.8 A and 8B, the lines with arrow indicate the water flow direction.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been explained hereinabove in detail, it should be noted that the above-described embodiments are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

For example, the second unit could be a box or vessel which stores sodium hydroxide powder or lye. The second unit puts the powder or lye into the input water to increase the alkalinity of the input water and obtain output water with higher pH value. It should be noted that any unit able to generate, from the input water, water with higher pH value than that of the input water, falls into the protection scope of the claims of the invention.

Those of ordinary skill in the art could understand and realize modifications to the disclosed embodiments, through studying the description, drawings and appended claims. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in a claim or in the description. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the practice of present invention, several technical features in the claim can be embodied by one component. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.