Technical Field The present invention relates to a method and device for instantaneously producing silver ion (Ag+) water, and a shower apparatus using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for instantaneously producing silver ion (Ag+) water according to an electrolytic process, which comprises a conductive electrolytic pipe, acting as an electrolytic bath and a cathode, for allowing water as an electrolyte to pass therethrough; and an anode with a predetermined diameter and length, consisting of a silver rod, longitudinally set in the conductive electrolytic pipe such that the anode is positioned at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of the electrolytic pipe, thereby dissolving silver ions occurring at the anode in water when water passing through the electrolytic pipe, and a method of producing the silver ion water and a shower apparatus using the same.

Background Art As well known to those skilled in the art, silver ion (Ag+) water containing silver ions at a predetermined concentration has excellent germicidal and antibiotic force, and is used in various applications.

Conventional means of producing silver ion water are classified into three methods: an electrolysis, a chemical decomposition, and a pulverizing method.

The electrolysis method is superior to the chemical decomposition method, the pulverizing method, and other conventional methods in terms of ease of device production and economic efficiency, and thus is incorporated into various devices for producing the silver ion water.

For example, a conventional dip type silver ion water electrolytic device produces silver ion water according to the electrolysis method. A method of producing silver ion water using the conventional dip type device comprises the steps of filling

distilled water or refined water as an electrolyte in an electrolytic bath consisting of a box type or a cylindrical nonconductive body, dipping two 99.99 % pure silver plates or silver rods, each acting as an anode or a cathode, into the electrolyte at a predetermined interval, and applying a direct current to the anode and cathode for a predetermined period.

The conventional dip type method and device are based on the phenomenon that ionization occurs between the anode and cathode to generate silver ions (Ag+) at the anode consisting of a silver rod to dissolve silver ions in the distilled or refined water, thereby producing silver ion water containing a predetermined concentration of silver ions (Ag+).

However, the conventional dip type method is disadvantageous in that it takes long time to produce silver ion water because of the use of distilled or refined water, which have very small electrolytic materials as the electrolyte, and it is difficult to produce silver ion water in large quantities because of the physical properties of the electrolytic bath and silver rod, and the high price of distilled or refined water and silver rods. Furthermore, in the case of producing a small quantity of silver ion water, there is obtained a very little production amount of silver ion water per unit time.

For instance, production performance of silver ion water according to the conventional dip-type method and device depends on the capacity and class of the device, and is generally considered to require 20 to 60 min to treat 120 to 250 ml of water.

Additionally, because the electrolytic bath's cover is open during the procedure of filling with distilled or refined water during production of the silver ion water, the silver ion water in the electrolytic bath comes into contact with oxygen and sunlight in the atmosphere to be oxidized, that is to say, silver ions with high oxidative property are oxidized, thus significantly reducing the germicidal and antibiotic force of silver ion water after a predetermined period.

Accordingly, if the conventional dip type device does not provide a sealed structure for preventing the distilled or refined water from coming into contact with air and sunlight, silver ion water produced using the dip type device is poor in germicidal and antibiotic efficacy, and even though silver ion water is stored in a nonmetallic airtight vessel, germicidal and antibiotic efficacy of silver ion water is reduced if silver

ion water is not used as soon as it is discharged from the nonmetallic airtight vessel.

Furthermore, the conventional dip-type device has been mostly applied to domestic drinking water, functional skin lotion, and medical sterilizing water, and so when a large quantity of silver ion water such as water for washing face and body, water for crops, and industrial germicidal and antibiotic water is needed at a time an occasion demands, efficacy of silver ion water produced using the conventional dip- type device is reduced due to the long storing time because of storing silver ion water produced in small quantities over and over again. In addition, it is undesirable to store silver ion water in large quantities because when silver ion water comes into contact with metal or some synthetic resins for a long period, the oxidizing rate of silver ion water becomes high.

Disclosure of Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the conventional dip type method in which distilled or refined water is used as an electrolyte and the electrolyte does not flow and is filled in an electrolytic bath, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of instantaneously and inexpensively producing silver ion water in large quantities, comprising the steps of providing an electrolytic pipe acting as an electrolytic bath and a cathode, positioning a 99.99 % pure silver anode in the conductive electrolytic pipe such that the anode is positioned at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of the electrolytic pipe, and applying an electric current to the anode and cathode while continuously passing water through the electrolytic pipe during production of silver ion water to instantaneously produce a large quantity of silver ion water containing a predetermined concentration of silver ions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for instantaneously and inexpensively producing silver ion water with excellent germicidal and antibiotic efficacy in large quantities.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a shower apparatus, using the method and device, for instantaneously and inexpensively producing silver ion water with excellent germicidal and antibiotic efficacy in large quantities.

According to the present invention, silver ion water having excellent germicidal and antibiotic efficacy is promptly utilized before the germicidal and antibiotic efficacy of silver ion water is reduced because silver ion water is continuously produced, thereby greatly increasing use of silver ion water.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a device for instantaneously producing silver ion (Ag+) water according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view, partly broken away to show interior construction of a shower apparatus for instantaneously producing silver ion water according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a partial front sectional view of the shower apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an electrolytic unit constituting the shower apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a partial side sectional view of the shower apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along line 6-6 of Fig. 3 ; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along line 7-7 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the electric power connecting part of a silver anode constituting the shower apparatus according to the present invention ; Fig. 9 is an enlarged front sectional view of a flowing water sensing unit constituting the shower apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 10 is an enlarged side sectional view of the flowing water sensing unit constituting the shower apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 11 is an enlarged side sectional view illustrating operation of the flowing

water sensing unit constituting the shower apparatus according to the present invention; and Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the flowing water sensing unit constituting the shower apparatus according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Based on the present invention, the above objects can be accomplished by providing a method of instantaneously producing silver ion water, comprising the steps of providing a conductive electrolytic pipe of a predetermined length, acting as a cathode, for allowing water as an electrolyte to pass therethrough, and longitudinally positioning one or more anodes of a predetermined length, consisting of 99.99 % pure silver material, in the conductive electrolytic pipe such that the anode is positioned at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of the conductive electrolytic pipe. The method also includes the steps of feeding water as the electrolyte between an inside wall of the electrolytic pipe and the outside wall of the anode, and applying a direct current at a predetermined voltage to the anode and the cathode, only during flow of water in the conductive electrolytic pipe, to dissolve silver ions generated at the anode in the water.

In addition, the above objects can be accomplished by providing a device for instantaneously producing silver ion (Ag+) water, comprising a conductive and anticorrosive electrolytic pipe of a predetermined length, acting as an electrolytic bath as well as a cathode, for allowing water as an electrolyte and a raw water of silver ion water to pass therethrough. At least one silver anode of the predetermined length, consisting of 99.99 % pure silver rod or silver plate, is longitudinally set in said electrolytic pipe such that the silver anode is positioned at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of the electrolytic pipe. Further, a dielectric spacer partially supports the silver anode so as to place the silver anode at the predetermined interval from the inside wall of the electrolytic pipe, and an electric power control unit applies negative electricity to the cathode and positive electricity to the silver anode only during flow of water in the electrolytic pipe acting as the cathode.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a shower apparatus for

instantaneously producing silver ion water, comprising a base plate capable of being attached to a wall, and electrolytic pipes attached to the base plate in such a way that the electrolytic pipes are longitudinally and parallely positioned in two rows on the base plate while being immovably fixed by conductive fixing clips. At this time, each of the electrolytic pipes allows water as an electrolyte and raw water of silver ion water to pass therethrough. Each pipe comprises an anticorrosive stainless steel pipe of a predetermined length, and acts as an electrolytic bath and a cathode.

Silver anodes are longitudinally set in the electrolytic pipes such that each silver anode is positioned at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of each electrolytic pipe. The silver anode comprises 99.99 % pure silver rod or silver plate of a predetermined length. Porous dielectric tubular spacers support the silver anodes so as to place each silver anode at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of each electrolytic pipe, and an irrigation connecting pipe screwed to upper ends of the electrolytic pipes watertightly allows the electrolytic pipes to communicate with each other. The shower apparatus also includes anode-electric power connecting units, located at both upper sides of the irrigation connecting pipe, for connecting anode wires from an electric power control unit to the silver anode in the electrolytic pipe, and the electric power control unit for applying negative electricity through the fixing clips to the cathode and positive electricity to the silver anode, while maintaining a constant voltage only during flow of water in the electrolytic pipe.

A water feed spout and a water discharge spout are downwardly and partially protruded from a lower side of the base plate. At this time, the water feed spout is watertightly connected to a lower end of a first electrolytic pipe and provided with a flowing water sensing unit, and the water discharge spout is watertightly connected to a lower end of a second electrolytic pipe and a shower hose. An armor-type external cover receives above constituents of the shower apparatus, and is provided with the electric power control unit electrically connected to the flowing water sensing unit, control switches, and operational pilots connected to the electric power control unit.

The electric power control unit is positioned on a backside of such external cover, and the control switches and operational pilots are positioned on a frontside of the external cover.

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference

numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a device 20 for instantaneously producing silver ion water according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a conductive and anticorrosive electrolytic pipe of a predetermined length, comprising stainless steel and acting as an electrolytic bath and a cathode, for allowing water as an electrolyte to pass therethrough.

The electrolytic pipe comprising 18-8 based STS 304 or STS 316 stainless steel containing 18 % chromium and 8 % nickel.

Further, reference numeral 40 denotes an anode with a predetermined length, comprising 99.99 % pure silver rod or silver plate, longitudinally set in the conductive electrolytic pipe such that the anode is positioned at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of the electrolytic pipe.

Furthermore, reference numeral 50 denotes a dielectric spacer for supporting the silver anode 40 so as to place the anode at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of the electrolytic pipe 30.

In addition, an electric power control unit for supplying negative electricity to the cathode and positive electricity to the anode only during flow of water in the electrolytic pipe 30 is designated by the reference numeral 60.

According to the present invention, the device 20 for instantaneously producing silver ion water is configured such that negative and positive electricity are respectively applied to the electrolytic pipe 30 and the anode 40 by the electric power control unit 60 to ionize the silver rod of the anode 40 in flowing water.

In other words, the silver ions are dissolved in water passing through the electrolytic pipe 30 during moving of silver ions from the silver anode 40 to the cathode 30, thereby producing silver ion water containing a predetermined concentration of silver ions.

When the flow of water through the electrolytic pipe 30 is stopped, the electric power control unit 60 interrupts the supply of electric power, thus stopping ionization.

Ionization of the anode 40 gradually consumes silver materials constituting the anode 40, so another new silver anode should replace the old one at the time that the predetermined concentration of silver ions is no longer being obtained.

Therefore, the device 20 for instantaneously producing silver ion water according to the present invention has several advantages in comparison with a conventional dip type device for producing silver ion water.

In other words, the device of the present invention is advantageous in that the device of the present invention comprises the small-sized pipe type electrolytic bath, i. e. electrolytic pipe acting as the cathode, unlike the conventional device comprising a large vessel for receiving an electrolyte and two silver rods used as an anode and a cathode, thus reducing the size of the electrolytic bath and simplifying the structure of the device to improve workability and economic efficiency of the production of silver ion water.

Accordingly, the device of the present invention is applied to readily and inexpensively produce silver ion water in large quantities as well as in small quantities.

Unlike a conventional method of producing silver ion water using distilled or refined water containing little electrolytic materials and remaining stationary in the electrolytic bath, the present invention is also advantageous in that tap water containing abundant electrolytic materials is used instead of distilled or refined water, and the tap water passes through the electrolytic pipe at a predetermined speed during production of silver ion water, and so ionization of the silver anode is quickly conducted, a concentration of silver in silver ion water is readily controlled by adjusting the service voltage, and silver ion water is rapidly and inexpensively produced, thereby silver ion water with excellent germicidal and antibiotic force is swiftly obtained.

Being instantaneously produced, silver ion water with excellent germicidal and antibiotic force does not need to be stored, thus preventing efficacy of silver ion water from being reduced during storage of silver ion water and saving the equipment cost of the tank for storing silver ion water, thus use of the device of the present invention may be significantly enlarged.

To desirably increase production efficiency of silver ion water and prevent production of byproducts, it is preferable that highly purified silver, with 99.99 % or <BR> <BR> higher purity, what is called, "silver dust", is used as the anode, and tap water is used as the electrolyte.

The device of the present invention may comprise two or more electrolytic pipes 30 and anodes 40, vertically or horizontally positioned at regular intervals, with

their ends being watertightly connected to each corresponding end so as to reduce size of the device while improving production efficiency of silver ion water.

Additionally, the device of the present invention may comprise a curvilinear or spiral electrolytic pipe and anode instead of rectilinear electrolytic pipe and anode so as to reduce size of the device while improving production efficiency of silver ion water.

Further, the device of the present invention may comprise a tubular spacer for supporting the silver anode 40 so as to place the anode 40 at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of the electrolytic pipe instead of a plurality of separate spacers.

The tubular spacer has a porous structure for allowing smooth ionization between the anode and the electrolytic pipe while covering the silver anode, thus preventing a short- circuit due to severing of the joint between the electrolytic pipe and the anode when the anode snaps.

Furthermore, the device may further comprise a service voltage manually variable circuit capable of selecting multi-step service voltages previously adjusted to a predetermined set point at the user's pleasure as a means for controlling a concentration of silver ions in silver ion water.

Additionally, the device may further comprise a voltage automatically variable circuit capable of automatically correcting a service voltage by sensing an induced voltage of the silver anode of the electric power control unit as a means for preventing reduction of a concentration of silver ions in silver ion water produced per unit hour when the silver anode becomes thin after extensive use, to widen the interval between the anode and the electrolytic pipe to blunt ionization of the anode, or for automatically maintaining the concentration of silver ions in silver ion water.

Moreover, the device may further comprise a flowing water sensing device for sensing flowing water fed into the electrolytic pipe so as to supply an electric current to the anode and the electrolytic pipe only when water is fed into the electrolytic pipe at a predetermined flow rate or faster.

With reference to Figs. 2 to 12, the device 20 for instantaneously producing silver ion water according to the present invention and a shower apparatus 100 using the device are illustrated.

The shower apparatus 100 for instantaneously producing silver ion water comprises a base plate 101, comprising a nonconducting synthetic resin rectangular

plate capable of being attached to a wall, and an armor-type external cover 102 provided with control switches 61 and operational pilots 62 for the electric power control unit as a case.

A left and a right electrolytic pipe 30a and 30b, each acting as an electrolytic bath and cathode and comprising an anticorrosive and conductive stainless steel pipe, for allowing tap water as the electrolyte to pass therethrough, are attached to the base plate 100 in such a way that two electrolytic pipes are vertically positioned in two rows while being fixed by four conductive clips 91, 91a, and 91b located at upper and lower parts of electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b.

In addition, a left and a right silver anode 40a and 40b, surrounded by dielectric porous supporting tubes 51 and having a plurality of pores 52, are respectively set in the left and right electrolytic pipe 30a and 30b so as to place the anode at a predetermined interval from the inside wall of the electrolytic pipe. The supporting tube 51 is supported by cruciform-supporting portions 53 positioned at an upper, middle, and lower portion of each dielectric tube 51.

A circular groove 41 is formed around the left and right silver anode 40a and 40b, and an O-ring 42 is fitted around the upper portion of the supporting tube 51.

The lower end 54 of the supporting tube 51 is sealed, while the upper end of the supporting tube 51 is opened and a check ring 55 is fitted around the upper end and checked by a stepped prominence of the electrolytic pipe 30a and 30b.

Externally threaded parts 31 and 32 are formed at the upper and a lower ends of the electrolytic pipe 30a and 30b. The lower end of the left electrolytic pipe 30a is watertightly screwed to the upper threaded part 72 of a flowing water sensing unit 70, having a threaded inlet port 71 screwed to a water feed pipe 81, and the lower end of the right electrolytic pipe 30b is watertightly screwed to the upper portion of a discharge pipe 83, having an externally threaded discharge port 84 screwed to a shower hose 85 of a shower head 86.

Each upper portion of the left and right electrolytic pipe 30a and 30b is watertightly screwed to each externally threaded part 31 and 32 through an irrigation connecting pipe 95, consisting of nonconductive synthetic resin, provided with internally threaded parts positioned at ends thereof, and a bend-shaped left and right downward connecting pipe 98a and 98b.

The irrigation connecting pipe 95 is set on a fixing portion 103 of the base plate 101 by a fixing clip 93, and wiring portions 96a and 96b, for connecting an anode wire 65b from the electric power control unit 60 to the left and right silver anode rod 40a and 40b in the electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b, are positioned at both ends of the irrigation connecting pipe 95.

The wiring portions 96a and 96b are watertightly combined with conductive wiring caps 97a and 97b, and a conductive spring 45 is connected to lower ends of the wiring caps 97a and 97b and upper ends of the left and right silver anode rods 40a and 40b.

The wiring caps 97a and 97b are combined with power supply clips 92a and 92b for electrically connecting an anode wire 65b from the electric power control unit 60 to the wiring caps 97a and 97b.

The electric power control unit 60 connects a direct current anode electrical line 65a through a lead switch 74 of the flowing water sensing unit 70 to a control switch 61, and connects the anode electrical line 65a through the conductive fixing clips 91,91a, and 91b to the left and right electrolytic pipe 30a and 30b. In addition, a cathode electrical line 65b is connected through the control switch 61 to the silver anode rods 40a and 40b.

Turning now to Figs. 9 to 12, a detailed internal structure of the flowing water sensing unit 70 is illustrated.

The flowing water sensing unit 70 of the present invention comprises a flowing water sensing wall 76, a fixing plate 77 for supporting the flowing water sensing unit 70, a flowing water sensor 75 set to an inner wall of the flowing water sensing wall 76 in a hinged structure 78 and having a magnet 75a attached to a backside thereof, and a lead switch 74 set in the flowing water sensing wall 76.

The flowing water sensor 75 attached to an inner wall of the flowing water sensing wall 76 in a hinged structure freely rotates. Accordingly, when rotating such that the flowing water sensor 75 descends, the flowing water sensor 75 blocks an inner flow channel, and the flowing water sensor 75 rotates around the hinged structure 78 at an angle of about 90 degree so as to ascend when water is fed into the flowing water sensing unit 70 to turn the lead switch 74 on.

Reference numeral 73, not described above, denotes a water temperature

sensor exposed to an inside of a pipe of the flowing water sensing unit 70.

The operation of the shower apparatus 100 for instantaneously producing silver ion water will be described, below.

Before the shower apparatus is operated, a direct current source is connected to the electric power control unit 60, the water feed pipe 81 is connected to a faucet, and the control switch 61 is turned off to intercept electricity applied to the left and right electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b and the left and right silver anodes 40a and 40b.

When a user turns the faucet on, tap water flows through the flowing water sensing unit 70, the left electrolytic pipe 30a, the irrigation connecting pipe 95, the right electrolytic pipe 30b, and the discharge pipe 83 in sequence, and reaches the shower head 86.

The control switch is then turned on to produce silver ion water, and silver ion water thus produced is discharged through the shower head 86.

In detail, when the tap water is continuously fed into a threaded inlet port 71 of the flowing water sensing unit 70, the flowing water sensor 75 rotates around the hinged structure 78 to about 80 to 90 degrees so as to ascend to turn the lead switch 74 on.

The direct current is then applied to the left and right electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b and left and right silver anode rods 40a and 40b, and the tap water passing through the threaded inlet port 71, the left electrolytic pipe 30a, the irrigation connecting pipe 95, the right electrolytic pipe 30b, and the discharge pipe 83 in sequence, acts as the electrolyte in the left and right electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b.

In other words, ionization of the silver anode rods 40a and 40b occurs when the tap water passes between the electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b activated with negative current and the silver anode rods 40a and 40b activated with positive current, thus dissolving silver ions (Ag+) generated at the silver anode rod 40a and 40b in the tap water to produce the silver ion (Ag+) water.

When the control switch 61 is off, no direct current is applied to the left and right electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b and the left and right silver anode rods 40a and 40b to interrupt production of silver ion water.

In addition, when the feed of the tap water is interrupted, the flowing water sensor 75 of the flowing water sensing unit 70 descends due to its own weight to block

the threaded inlet port, thus separating the magnet 75a attached to the flowing water sensor 75 from the lead switch 74 to turn the lead switch 74 off, thereby interrupting the direct current applied to the shower apparatus to interrupt production of silver ion water.

According to the present invention, therefore, when a user turns the faucet on to feed the tap water into the flowing water sensing unit 70 while the control switch 61 is on, silver ion water with a predetermined concentration of silver ions is instantaneously obtained through the shower head 86.

Meanwhile, the concentration of silver ions in silver ion water may be optionally controlled by varying the voltage of the electric power.

The left and right electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b each comprise 18-8 based stainless steel with an outer diameter of 21.7 mm, an inner diameter of 16.7 mm, a thickness of 2.5 mm, and a length of 210 mm.

Additionally, the left and right silver anode rods 40a and 40b each have a diameter of 5.0 mm or so, and an interval between the silver anode rods 40a and 40b and the electrolytic pipes 30a and 30b is 5 mm or so.

Furthermore, the temperature of the tap water fed into the shower apparatus ranges from 4 to 10oC, and the direct current is applied to the shower apparatus within a voltage range of 24 to 36 V at 2 AMP or less, thereby producing silver ion water with a concentration of 1 to 3 ppm showing maximum germicidal and antibiotic efficacy.

The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be used otherwise than as specifically described.

For example, sizes and shapes of the electrolytic pipes and the silver anode rods may be modified in the case of medium-or large-capacity device, and the changing time of the silver anode rod may be checked to replace the silver anode rod with a new one or to adjust a silver content of the silver anode rod by the cathode.

As described above, a method and device for instantaneously producing silver ion water and a shower apparatus using the method and device according to the present

invention have several advantages in comparison with a conventional dip type electrolytic method and device for producing silver ion water.

In other words, firstly, the device of the present invention is advantageous in that its electrolytic bath comprises a small-sized conductive and anticorrosive electrolytic pipe acting as the cathode, thus reducing size of the electrolytic bath and simplifying the structure of the device to improve workability and economical efficiency of the production of silver ion water.

Secondly, the device according to the present invention is advantageous in that the electrolytic pipe acting as the electrolytic bath is elongated, or a plurality of electrolytic pipes are used, to produce silver ion water in the case of a medium-or large-volume device for producing silver ion water, thereby instantaneously producing silver ion water in large quantities using the device having excellent economical efficiency and a small size.

Thirdly, tap water is used instead of high price distilled or refined water to reduce the production cost of silver ion water, and because tap water does not stay in the electrolytic bath during production of silver ion water but passes through the electrolytic pipe at a predetermined speed, ionization of the silver anode is quickly conducted, a concentration of silver in silver ion water is readily controlled by adjusting a service voltage, and silver ion water is rapidly and inexpensively produced, thereby swiftly obtaining silver ion water with excellent germicidal and antibiotic force.

Fourthly, silver ion water, instantaneously produced in large quantities with excellent germicidal and antibiotic force, does not need to be stored, thus preventing efficacy of silver ion water from being reduced during storage of silver ion water and saving the equipment cost of the tank for storing silver ion water to significantly enlarge use of the device of the present invention. For example, the device of the present invention is applied to produce a large quantity of water for sterilizing foul water, a decontamination device, water for crops, medical sterilizing water, and water for washing face and body.

A fifth advantage of the device according to the present invention is that silver ion water is instantaneously, inexpensively, and continuously produced in large quantities using tap water, thus completely eliminating the reduction of germicidal and antibiotic efficacy of silver ion water, which is a main disadvantage of the conventional dip-type device, due to oxidization of silver ions according to a storing period of silver ion water.