CN112316163A

CN112316163A - Sterilization device for water tank

Info

Publication number: CN112316163A
Application number: CN202010775941.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 谷口真司
Original assignee: Ushio Denki KK
Current assignee: Ushio Denki KK
Priority date: 2019-08-05
Filing date: 2020-08-05
Publication date: 2021-02-05
Also published as: JP2021023529A; JP7263967B2

Abstract

The invention provides a sterilization device for a water tank, which can be arranged regardless of the shape of the water tank and can irradiate harmless ultraviolet rays to a human body to perform sterilization treatment on the water tank. A water tank sterilization device for sterilizing a water tank is provided with: a housing; a mounting portion for fixing the housing; an ultraviolet light source disposed in the housing and emitting ultraviolet light having a main wavelength of 200nm to 230 nm; and an exit window for emitting ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet light source to an outside of the housing, wherein the water tank sterilizing device is fixed to the mounting portion so that at least a part of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the exit window is irradiated to a drain port of the water tank.

Description

Sterilization device for water tank

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sterilizer, and more particularly, to a sterilizer for a sink, which sterilizes the sink by irradiating ultraviolet rays to a sink in a kitchen or a commode in a toilet.

Background

Hand washing devices having a sterilization function have been known in the past. For example, as described in patent document 1 below, ultraviolet rays emitted from LEDs are irradiated on the surface of the wash bowl portion or the drain opening to sterilize the surface, and bacteria such as mold and slime are sterilized to maintain cleanliness. In the hand washing device described in patent document 1, an LED for emitting ultraviolet rays for sterilization is disposed below a top stand of a washbasin unit.

In addition, the wavelength of ultraviolet rays for sterilization is currently mainly 254 nm. This is because ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 260nm are known to exhibit high bactericidal and inactivating effects on bacteria and pathogenic bacteria.

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2001 and 95699

However, the structure of the sterilizer for a hand washer described in patent document 1 is formed as a part of the hand washer, and is not assumed to be common to all hand washers. Therefore, when a sterilization function is added to the conventional hand washer, the entire hand washer must be completely replaced.

Further, when ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 254nm are irradiated to a human body, the ultraviolet rays reach nuclei of human cells and kill cells constituting the skin or the like, which is harmful to the human body. Therefore, a sterilization device that irradiates ultraviolet rays of 254nm is provided exclusively for the purpose of sterilizing a hand washer, and when such a device is provided, it is necessary to contrive not to irradiate a human body simultaneously with irradiation of the hand washer.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water tank sterilization device that can be installed regardless of the shape of the water tank and can perform sterilization treatment of the water tank by irradiating ultraviolet rays that are harmless to the human body.

The invention relates to a water tank sterilizing device for sterilizing a water tank,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a housing;

a mounting portion for fixing the housing;

an ultraviolet light source disposed in the housing and emitting ultraviolet light having a main wavelength of 200nm to 230 nm; and

an exit window for allowing the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet ray light source to exit to the outside of the housing,

the mounting portion is fixed so that at least a part of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the exit window is irradiated to a drain port of the water tank.

The sterilization device includes an attachment portion for fixing the housing to a wall surface, an edge portion of the water tank, a faucet, or the like, and is capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays emitted from the exit window toward the drain port of the water tank. As examples of the structure of the mounting portion, a structure of screwing to a wall surface, a water tank, or the like, or a structure of holding a faucet, or the like, can be employed.

That is, the water tank to be sterilized can be additionally installed regardless of the shape and size of the water tank. In the present specification, the term "sink" refers to a sink-shaped platform provided in a kitchen or the like and having a drain channel through which water or the like flows.

In addition, the light emitted from the ultraviolet light source also includes light in a wavelength band unnecessary for sterilization, and particularly, there is light which may have adverse effects on the human body in a part of ultraviolet light in a wavelength band of 230nm to 300 nm. However, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength shorter than 230nm are effective as a sterilizing effect, and have low transmittance to the atmosphere and skin, and thus have little influence on the human body.

Further, the light emitted from the ultraviolet light source includes light in a wavelength band in which ozone is generated by absorption of oxygen and cutting of the oxygen bond when irradiated with oxygen in the air, and particularly, ultraviolet light in a wavelength band of less than 200nm has such an effect.

Ozone is also present in the air slightly, and has little effect on the human body at a very low concentration, but has an adverse effect on the human body at a high concentration. However, if the wavelength of longer than 200nm ultraviolet ray, ozone generation efficiency is low, so does not cause the human body to exert adverse effects of high concentration ozone.

For example, even when ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 207nm or 222nm are irradiated to the skin, they are absorbed in the stratum corneum of the skin tissue or in the epidermis layer at a position near the stratum corneum and do not reach the dermis, so that they have little influence on the human body and do not generate ozone at a high concentration which adversely affects the human body.

Further, the drain port of the water tub such as a hand washer is one of the sources of bacteria and the like, and if the surface of the water tub is sterilized only by ultraviolet rays, the surface is contaminated again by the bacteria and the like which have flown out from the drain port. Therefore, by adopting the above configuration, bacteria emerging from the drain opening can be sterilized, and therefore contamination by bacteria and the like can be suppressed.

The sterilization apparatus may further include:

a human detection sensor that detects presence of a finger between the housing and the water tank; and

and a control unit that turns on the ultraviolet light source when the human detection sensor detects the presence of a finger, and turns off the ultraviolet light source after a predetermined time has elapsed when the human detection sensor does not detect the presence of a finger.

As described above, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 230nm or less have little influence on the human body. Therefore, with the above configuration, the person who cleans the hands can perform safe sterilization treatment on the surfaces of the hands by ultraviolet rays while cleaning with water.

Further, since the ultraviolet light source is turned on for a predetermined time even after the person takes out his/her hand from the water tub, the water discharge opening and the surface of the water tub through which water has flowed can be sterilized, and the water discharge opening and the water tub can be kept clean.

The sterilization apparatus may further include:

a communication unit that receives a detection signal from an external device that detects that a person is present on the front surface of the water tank and transmits the detection signal; and

and a control unit that controls the ultraviolet light source to be turned off when the communication unit receives the detection signal, and controls the ultraviolet light source to be turned on when the detection signal is not received.

As described above, although ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 230nm or less are harmless to the human body, there are also people who are resistant to the irradiated ultraviolet rays. Therefore, with the above configuration, the surface of the water discharge opening or the water tank is always sterilized while the person does not use the water tank, and thus, the water tank can be kept clean, and the ultraviolet light source can be stopped from being turned on only when the person uses the water tank, thereby preventing the ultraviolet light from irradiating the human body.

The ultraviolet light source may be an excimer lamp in which a mixed gas of krypton and chlorine is sealed.

Since an excimer lamp in which a mixed gas of krypton and chlorine is sealed emits ultraviolet rays having a main wavelength of 222nm, ultraviolet rays having the above wavelength can be obtained.

Further, by using an excimer lamp as the ultraviolet light source, a stable output can be obtained immediately after lighting. Therefore, even if the ignition is turned off, the reactivation can be performed without waiting for the standby time, and therefore, the ignition can be used without waiting for the startup time.

The exit window may include a filter for blocking at least 230nm to 300nm of ultraviolet rays.

In the case of a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a main wavelength of 200nm to 230nm, the light source may include a part of components having wavelengths of 230nm to 300nm, although the radiation illuminance is low. In this case, if the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source is directly taken out from the exit window to the outside of the sterilizer, ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 230nm to 300nm, which may adversely affect the human body, may be irradiated to the human body.

As described above, even when ultraviolet rays having wavelengths of 207nm and 222nm are irradiated to the skin, they are absorbed in the stratum corneum of the skin tissue and the epidermis layer at the position near the stratum corneum, and thus they do not reach the dermis, and thus they have little influence on the human body. However, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 254nm, for example, longer than 230nm, are transmitted through the epidermis of the skin, and may damage living cells.

Therefore, by providing the filter, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of at least 230nm to 300nm are blocked, and emission of ultraviolet rays having an influence on the human body from the irradiation window of the ultraviolet irradiator can be suppressed.

When the above-described sterilization apparatus is installed, a reflection surface that reflects ultraviolet rays may be formed on the surface of the water tank that is the subject of the sterilization process.

For example, the reflective surface can be formed by coating the surface of a conventional water tank with a material such as a fluororesin.

When the reflective surface that reflects ultraviolet rays is formed on the surface of the water tank, the ultraviolet ray reflectance on the surface of the water tank is improved. When the reflectance of the surface of the water tank with respect to ultraviolet rays is increased, the ultraviolet rays are reflected on the surface of the water tank, and the ultraviolet rays also reach a region not directly irradiated with the ultraviolet rays from the exit window of the sterilization apparatus, so that the ultraviolet rays can be uniformly and efficiently irradiated to the entire water tank.

When the above-described sterilization apparatus is installed, the fluorescent portion may be formed on the surface of the water tank to be subjected to sterilization treatment so as to emit light in a visible light wavelength band by irradiation with ultraviolet light.

The fluorescent portion can be formed by, for example, coating a fluorescent agent on the surface of an existing water tank or by a sealing material containing a fluorescent agent.

Since the ultraviolet rays cannot be visually confirmed by a person, it cannot be visually confirmed whether or not the ultraviolet rays for sterilization are emitted toward the water tank. Therefore, as described above, by coating the surface of the water tank with the fluorescent agent, when the water tank is irradiated with ultraviolet light, whether the water tank is being sterilized or not, whether or not a defect has not occurred in the ultraviolet light source, and the like can be visually confirmed by the fluorescence of the visible light emitted from the fluorescent portion.

As described above, the sterilization apparatus of the present invention can construct a more effective and safer sterilization system for a water tank, and the like, by performing a process for further improving the sterilization effect and a process for confirming whether or not ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the water tank to be irradiated.

The invention has the following effects:

according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a water tank sterilization device that is installed regardless of the shape of a water tank and performs sterilization treatment of the water tank by irradiating ultraviolet rays harmless to the human body.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic overall perspective view of a water tank in a state where a sterilization device is installed.

Fig. 2 is a schematic overall perspective view showing an embodiment of the sterilization apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the sterilization apparatus of fig. 2 when viewed from the exit window side.

Fig. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sterilization device of fig. 2 viewed from the exit window side.

Fig. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sterilization apparatus without the human sensor, as viewed from the exit window side.

Fig. 5A is a partially enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the sterilization device of fig. 2 when viewed from the exit window side.

FIG. 5B is a view when the ultraviolet light source is observed in the tube axis direction.

Fig. 6A is a diagram schematically showing an operation in which external device 6 detects the presence of a person and transmits detection signal S1 to sterilization apparatus 1.

Fig. 6B is a schematic overall perspective view showing an embodiment of the sterilization apparatus.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a spectrum of ultraviolet light emitted from an excimer lamp containing krypton and chlorine as discharge gases.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a structure in which a reflection surface is formed on the surface of the bowl portion of the water tank.

Description of the symbols:

1: sterilization device

2: water tank

2 a: basin part

2 b: edge part

3: water tap

4: water outlet

5: wall surface

10: shell body

11: mounting part

12: an exit window

13: human body sensing sensor

14: ultraviolet light source

14a, 14 b: electrode for electrochemical cell

14 c: pipe body

15: power supply control unit

60: communication unit

80: reflection part

G1: gas for discharge

L1: ultraviolet ray

S1: detecting the signal

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a water tank sterilization device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the size ratio and the number in the drawings are not necessarily equal to the actual size ratio and the actual number.

Fig. 1 is a schematic overall perspective view of a water tank 2 in a state where a sterilizer 1 is installed. As shown in fig. 1, the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with respect to a structure in which the already installed water tub 2 is additionally fixed to a wall surface 5 above a faucet 3. As described above, the sterilization device 1 may be fixed to the wall surface 5, the rim 2b of the water tank 2, or the faucet.

The water tank 2 in the following description is a water tank in which a gutter-shaped bowl portion 2a attached to a wall surface 5 and having a drain port 4 through which water flows is combined with an edge portion 2 b.

Fig. 2 is a schematic overall perspective view showing an embodiment of the sterilization apparatus 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the sterilizing device 1 of fig. 2 viewed from the exit window 12 side. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the sterilizer 1 includes a housing 10, a mounting portion 11 for fixing the housing 10 to the wall surface 5, an exit window 12 for emitting ultraviolet light L1, and a human detection sensor 13.

Fig. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sterilization device 1 of fig. 2 viewed from the exit window side. As shown in fig. 4A, the ultraviolet light source 14 and the power supply control unit 15 for controlling the supply of power to the ultraviolet light source 14 are disposed inside the casing 10.

As shown in fig. 1, the housing 10 is fixed to the wall surface 5 of the upper portion of the faucet 3 by a mounting portion 11. The detailed structure of the mounting portion 11 is fixed to the wall surface 5 with screws as shown in fig. 2 in the first embodiment, but may be fixed to the edge portion 2b of the water tank 2, a faucet, or the like.

The exit window 12 is formed to emit ultraviolet light L1 toward the drain port 4 side when fixed to the wall surface 5 by the mounting portion 11. In the first embodiment, two exit windows 12 are formed, but the exit windows 12 may be formed in one, three, or more as long as at least a part of the ultraviolet light L1 is irradiated to the drain opening 4.

The motion sensor 13 is disposed to detect the presence of a finger between the housing 10 and the water tub 2. Specifically, the human body sensor 13 may be an infrared sensor, a photoelectric sensor, a pyroelectric sensor, or the like.

The power supply control unit 15 controls the supply of power to the ultraviolet light source 14 based on the signal output from the human detection sensor 13. More specifically, when a finger is inserted between the housing 10 and the water tub 2, that is, when the finger is detected between the housing 10 and the water tub 2, the human detection sensor 13 supplies power to the ultraviolet light source 14.

Thereby, ultraviolet rays are irradiated not only to the water tank 2 but also to the human fingers. Therefore, the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to the bacteria that cannot be removed by hand washing, and the fingers can be sterilized. Further, the bacteria flushed from the fingers into the water tub 2 can be immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the risk of infection in the hand washing area can be reduced by performing a sterilization treatment on the surface of the water tub.

In particular, sterilization by ultraviolet rays is effective for drug-resistant bacteria that cannot be removed by a chemical such as alcohol, and irradiation of ultraviolet rays to fingers and a water tank during hand washing enables effective sterilization of drug-resistant bacteria remaining on the fingers and the water tank, and therefore, is effective in a hospital, a food factory, or the like where serious attention is required to spread infection.

When ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the fingers, the ultraviolet light source 14 is preferably provided above the faucet 3.

Then, when the finger is pulled out from between the housing 10 and the water tank 2, that is, when the finger between the housing 10 and the water tank 2 is no longer detected, the human detection sensor 13 stops the output of the detection signal. When the output of the detection signal is stopped, the power supply control unit 15 controls the ultraviolet light source 14 to be turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed. The time from when the output of the detection signal is stopped to when the ultraviolet light source 14 is turned off is preferably set in the range of 1s to 600 s.

Fig. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view when viewed from the exit window side of the sterilization apparatus 1 in the case where the human detection sensor 13 is not provided, and as shown in fig. 4B, when the sterilization apparatus 1 does not include the human detection sensor 13, the power supply control unit 15 may control the power supply to the ultraviolet light source 14 by switching the switch SW or the like, or may constantly supply power to the ultraviolet light source 14 when connected to the power supply.

In the first embodiment, the ultraviolet light source 14 is an excimer lamp, and a detailed structure will be described with reference to fig. 5A and 5B.

Fig. 5A is a partially enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the sterilization device 1 of fig. 2 when viewed from the exit window side. Namely, the ultraviolet light source 14 is viewed from the exit window 12 side. FIG. 5B is a view when the ultraviolet light source 14 is viewed in the tube axis direction. As shown in fig. 5B, the tube 14c is supported by the electrodes 14a and 14B having the concave portions formed therein for supplying power.

When a voltage for ionizing only the discharge gas G1 is applied between the electrodes (14a, 14b), the ultraviolet light source 14 passes a current through the discharge gas G1 in the tube 14c, and emits ultraviolet light L1 in the circumferential direction around the tube axis of the tube 14 c.

At this time, when a voltage is applied between the two electrodes (14a, 14b) by the power supply control unit 15, the ultraviolet light source 14 emits the ultraviolet light L1. The ultraviolet L1 emitted from the ultraviolet light source 14 toward the exit window 12 side proceeds directly from the exit window 12 toward the water tank 2 side. However, the ultraviolet light L1 emitted from the ultraviolet light source 14 to the side opposite to the exit window 12 does not proceed to the exit window 12 side and does not exit from the exit window 12. Therefore, the reflecting member may be provided at a position opposite to the exit window 12 when viewed from the ultraviolet light source 14 so that the ultraviolet light L1 emitted toward the opposite side to the exit window 12 is directed toward the exit window 12.

Further, the electrodes (14a, 14b) supporting the ultraviolet light source 14 are disposed on the side opposite to the exit window 12 as viewed from the ultraviolet light source 14 so as not to obstruct the travel of the ultraviolet light L1 emitted from the ultraviolet light source 14. Therefore, the electrodes (14a, 14b) also preferably have a property of reflecting the ultraviolet light L1 toward the exit window 12 side.

As an example, the electrodes (14a, 14b) are preferably made of a conductive material such as aluminum, stainless steel, iron, or copper, and are processed at least on the surface facing the exit window 12 by mirror polishing.

As shown in fig. 4, the sterilizer 1 accommodates a plurality of ultraviolet light sources 14 and is supported by two electrodes (14a, 14 b). By applying a voltage between these electrodes (14a, 14b), the ultraviolet light L1 emitted from the ultraviolet light source 14 is emitted from the exit window 12 to the water tank 2.

The ultraviolet light source 14 is an excimer lamp configured by enclosing a discharge gas G1 in a tube 14c having transparency to ultraviolet light L1. The discharge gas G1 is made of a material capable of emitting ultraviolet light L1 by discharge. The discharge gas G1 contains, for example, a rare gas such as xenon, argon, neon, krypton, or a mixed gas thereof, and a halogen gas such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or a mixed gas thereof.

For example, the discharge gas G1 is a mixed gas containing krypton and chlorine. In this case, the ultraviolet light source 14 emits ultraviolet light L1 having a main wavelength of 222 nm. As another example, the discharge gas G1 is a mixed gas containing krypton and bromine. In this case, ultraviolet light L1 having a main wavelength of 207nm is emitted from the ultraviolet light source 14.

In order to obtain a sufficient sterilization effect by sterilization apparatus 1 emitting ultraviolet light L1 having a wavelength of about 200nm to 230nm, exit window 12 is preferably used as close as possible to water tub 2. More specifically, the surface of the water tank 2 or the drain port 4 is preferably arranged within 10cm of the exit window 12.

As described above with reference to fig. 2, the first embodiment is configured such that the housing 10 is fixed to the wall surface 5 by screws via the mounting portions 11. Therefore, the water tank 2 can be additionally installed by adjusting the position on the wall surface 5 regardless of the shape and size thereof. As described above, the structure of the attachment portion 11 is not limited to the structure screwed to the wall surface 5, and may be fixed to the edge portion 2b of the water tank 2 or may be fixed to a faucet or the like.

Further, according to the installed sterilization apparatus 1, since the ultraviolet light L1 emitted from the ultraviolet light source 14 is irradiated to the drain opening 4 as described above, bacteria that have emerged from the drain opening 4 can be sterilized, and contamination of the water tank 2 by bacteria that have emerged from the drain opening 4 can be suppressed.

In addition, since the ultraviolet light source 14 is an excimer lamp, as described above, a stable output is obtained immediately after lighting. Even if the ultraviolet light source 14 is turned off, the water tub 2 can be used without waiting time when a person puts his or her hand out of the water tub.

[ second embodiment ]

The configuration of the second embodiment of the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be mainly described focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

Fig. 6A is a diagram schematically showing an operation in which the external device 6 detects the presence of a person and transmits the detection signal S1 to the sterilization apparatus 1. Fig. 6B is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the sterilizer 1. As shown in fig. 6A, the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment is configured by combining an external device 6 for detecting the presence of a person on the front surface of the water tank 2. As shown in fig. 6B, the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment includes a communication unit 60 for receiving the detection signal S1.

When the communication unit 60 receives the detection signal S1, the power supply control unit 15 controls the ultraviolet light source 14 to be turned off, and when the detection signal S1 is no longer received, controls the ultraviolet light source 14 to be turned on.

With the above configuration, as described above, the water discharge port 4 and the water tank 2 are always sterilized while a person does not use the water tank 2, and the water tank 2 is kept clean, and the ultraviolet light source 14 can be stopped from being turned on only when a person uses the water tank 2, and the human body can be prevented from being irradiated with the ultraviolet light L1.

[ other embodiments ]

Other embodiments will be described below.

The sterilizer 1 according to (1) may further include a filter for shielding ultraviolet L1 of 230 to 300nm on the surface of the exit window 12 or between the exit window 12 and the ultraviolet light source 14.

When the ultraviolet light source 14 is a light source that emits ultraviolet light L1 having a main wavelength of 200nm to 230nm, the ultraviolet light L1 may contain a component having a partial wavelength of 230nm to 300nm, although the radiation illuminance is low.

For example, fig. 7 shows an example of a spectrum of ultraviolet light L1 emitted from an excimer lamp containing krypton and chlorine in discharge gas G1. As shown in FIG. 7, even in the excimer lamp whose main emission wavelength is 222nm, the emitted ultraviolet light L1 contains a wavelength of 230nm to 300nm, which may have an adverse effect on the human body, even if it is very small.

According to this configuration, even when the ultraviolet light L1 emitted from the ultraviolet light source 14 contains a wavelength component (i.e., 230nm to 300nm) that may adversely affect the human body, the ultraviolet light L1 of 200nm to 230nm for sterilization is emitted from the exit window 12, while the ultraviolet light L1 of 230nm to 300nm that may adversely affect the human body is not emitted from the exit window 12.

<2> when the sterilization apparatus 1 of the present invention is installed, a reflection surface for reflecting the ultraviolet ray L1 or a fluorescent portion may be formed on the surface of the water tank 2 to be sterilized so that light in the visible wavelength band is emitted by irradiation with the ultraviolet ray L1. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a structure in which a reflection surface 80 is formed on the surface of the bowl portion 2a of the water tub 2.

The reflecting surface 80 is formed by coating a surface of the bowl portion 2a of the conventional water tub 2 with a fluororesin, for example. As a method for forming the reflection surface 80, there is a method of coating or attaching aluminum oxide or the like on the surface. Further, as a method of forming a fluorescent portion, for example, there is a method of coating mo₂O₃：ySiO₂Eu as a component fluorescent agent, and a sealing material containing the fluorescent agent.

< 3 > the structure of the excimer lamp as the ultraviolet light source 14 described with reference to fig. 5A and 5B is merely an example. The excimer lamp may have any structure as long as it emits ultraviolet L1 that belongs to a first wavelength band having a main emission wavelength of 200nm to 230 nm. For example, the excimer lamp may have a structure (double tube structure) in which a tube body is provided concentrically and doubly, and the discharge gas G1 is sealed between an inner tube and an outer tube. As another example, the excimer lamp may have a structure in which electrodes are provided inside and outside a single tube body in which the discharge gas G1 is sealed (a single tube structure), or may have a structure in which electrodes are provided on both opposing surfaces of a tube body having a rectangular surface in which the discharge gas G1 is sealed (a flat tube structure).

The shape of the case 10 of < 4 > is not limited to the shape shown in fig. 2, and may be an appropriate shape depending on the internal structure and the structure of the mounting portion 11.

< 5 > in the case where the water tub 2 is newly manufactured and installed together with the sterilization apparatus 1, the sterilization apparatus 1 of the present invention may be formed so as to conform to the shape of the water tub 2 or formed so as to be integrated with the water tub 2.

Other device forms will be described below.

A conventional water tank sterilization device using an ultraviolet light source sterilizes/inactivates microorganisms adhering to a water tank, but does not contemplate irradiation of human fingers with ultraviolet light.

In particular, when ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 254nm, which have been used as light suitable for sterilization, are irradiated on a human body, the ultraviolet rays reach the cell nucleus of the human body, and cells constituting the skin and the like are killed, thereby causing harm to the human body. Therefore, the sterilization device for irradiating ultraviolet rays of 254nm is provided for the purpose of sterilizing only a special hand washer, and when such a device is provided, it is necessary to avoid irradiation of the human body while irradiating the hand washer.

However, in the present invention, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated not only to the water tank 2 but also to the human fingers. Therefore, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to bacteria that are not removed by hand washing, and fingers can be sterilized. Further, by immediately irradiating ultraviolet rays to bacteria washed from the fingers into the water tub and sterilizing the surface of the water tub, the risk of infection in the hand washing area can be reduced.

In particular, sterilization by ultraviolet light is effective against drug-resistant bacteria that cannot be removed by a chemical such as alcohol, and by irradiating the fingers and the water tank with ultraviolet light during hand washing, sterilization is also effective against drug-resistant bacteria remaining on the fingers and the water tank. Therefore, it is particularly effective in a hospital or a food factory where the spread of infection is a serious concern.

The structure which exhibits the above excellent effects is as follows.

A sterilizer for a sink, which can sterilize the sink, is characterized in that,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a housing;

an exit window for allowing the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet ray light source to exit to the outside of the housing;

at least a part of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the exit window is irradiated to a space where a finger of a person can be placed and the drain opening of the water tank.

Here, the "space where the fingers of the person can be arranged" preferably means a space where the fingers can be arranged when washing the hands using the sink 2, i.e., an upper space of the wash basin 2a, a space between the faucet 3 of the sink 2 and the wash basin 2a,

when the ultraviolet light is efficiently irradiated to the human fingers, the ultraviolet light source 14 is preferably installed together with the faucet 3 or above the faucet 3.

The following elements may be added to the above-described configuration.

The disclosed device is provided with:

Or comprises:

Or the ultraviolet light source is an excimer lamp filled with mixed gas of krypton and chlorine.

Or the exit window is provided with a filter for blocking at least ultraviolet rays of 230nm to 300 nm.

Claims

1. A sterilizing device for a sink is used for sterilizing the sink and is characterized in that,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a housing;

a mounting portion for fixing the housing;

2. The sterilizer according to claim 1,

the disclosed device is provided with:

3. The sterilizer according to claim 1,

the disclosed device is provided with:

4. The sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the ultraviolet light source is an excimer lamp in which a mixed gas of krypton and chlorine is sealed.

5. The sterilizer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sterilizer is a sterilizer for a water tank,

the exit window is provided with a filter for shielding at least ultraviolet rays of 230nm to 300 nm.

6. A sterilizer for a sink, which can sterilize the sink, is characterized in that,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a housing;