JP2000051324A - Sterilizing device using atmospheric pressure steam - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct sterizing processing so as to completely cover the whole periphery of an object for sterilization to simplify the constitution and improve safety without causing environmental, pollution and using a pressure vessel by providing a means for generating atmospheric pressure steam and a means for supplying the steam to an object for sterilization. SOLUTION: Atmospheric pressure steam under the atmospheric pressure is generated by an atmospheric pressure steam generator 1. For example, water stored in a vessel is heated by a heating means such as an electric heater or the like and evaporated to easily obtain atmospheric pressure steam at about 100 deg.C without the use of a pressure vessel structure or the like. The atmospheric pressure steam is reheated by a reheating device 2 formed by a heating means such as an electric heater or the like, to form superheated steam to about 120-180 deg.C. The superheated steam is sucked by a fan 3 to be supplied to plural sterilizing devices 4. Each sterilizing device 4 is formed by a vessel to be inserted with the fingers and superheated steam is supplied into the vessel so as to surround the inserted fingers. Thus, bacteria adhering to the fingers can be destroyed in a short time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizing apparatus for killing bacteria, microorganisms, pests and their eggs using normal-pressure steam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a clean room of a hospital or various factories or various laboratories or experimental facilities, a disinfecting means using chemical agents or an ultraviolet ray is used for disinfecting and disinfecting the fingers of workers or other parts of the human body. It is used. In addition, sterilization means using high-pressure steam is used to sterilize various instruments and the like.

[0003]

However, in the sterilization method using a chemical agent, the chemical treatment after use is cumbersome and causes a problem of environmental pollution. Further, in the sterilization method using ultraviolet light, since the direction of ultraviolet irradiation is limited, it is not possible to irradiate and sterilize the entire sterilization target such as a finger from the surroundings without leakage. In addition, the sterilization method using high-pressure steam requires a boiler and a pressure vessel, which requires a large-scale apparatus configuration, requires strict safety management, and requires maintenance.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned prior art, and is capable of performing a sterilization treatment so as to completely cover the entire periphery of an object to be sterilized without causing a problem of environmental pollution. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilizing apparatus capable of sterilizing bacteria (including killing microorganisms and the like) with a simple configuration without using the same.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a normal-pressure steam generating means for generating normal-pressure steam, and a steam for supplying the normal-pressure steam to an object to be sterilized. A sterilization apparatus using normal-pressure steam, comprising: a supply unit.

[0006] According to this structure, since steam at normal pressure is supplied to the object to be sterilized, the structure is simplified without the need for a pressure vessel, and safety management and maintenance are facilitated, thereby reducing costs. The heat energy can be effectively used as a bactericidal effect by keeping the heat density almost constant without causing a pressure change, and a sufficiently large bactericidal effect can be obtained. Processing is easy or unnecessary.

In addition, since the object to be sterilized is wrapped with steam, the entire object can be sterilized or killed with microorganisms and pests while the air is shut off by covering the entire object without leaking water vapor. Due to the freshness of water vapor, a bactericidal effect can be effectively exhibited. Further, since no chemical agent is used, there is no problem of environmental pollution.

[0008] In a preferred configuration example, the normal-pressure steam generating means includes water fine particle generating means for generating fine water particles, and a heater for heating the fine water particles.

According to this configuration, for example, water fine particles are generated by an oscillator using a quartz oscillator or the like or spraying, and steam is formed by heating the fine particles. In this case, since water is finely divided, heat energy can be absorbed from the entire surface of the spherical particles, and water vapor can be generated efficiently with little energy.

[0010] In a preferred application example, the object to be sterilized is a chicken egg, a cultural property, or a human body.

According to this application example, salmonella and the like can be quickly killed by the sterilization treatment of chicken eggs, and a remarkable effect on food hygiene can be obtained with a simple structure.
In addition, the pests and their eggs can be killed by sterilizing the cultural property and its facility facilities, and historical articles and the like can be protected. In addition, by sterilizing human fingers and other parts, bacteria attached to fingers and the like can be quickly killed.

[0012] In this specification, the term "sterilization" includes not only killing bacteria but also killing microorganisms and pests.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sterilizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. A normal-pressure steam generator 1 generates normal-pressure steam under atmospheric pressure. In this method, for example, water contained in a container is heated by an electric heater, a halogen lamp or other suitable heating means to evaporate the water, thereby generating water vapor. This makes it possible to easily obtain normal pressure steam at about 100 ° C. without using a pressure vessel structure or the like. The normal pressure steam at about 100 ° C. is heated by a reheater 2 comprising an electric heater, a halogen lamp or other suitable heating means,
Superheated steam of about 120 to 180 ° C. The superheated steam is sucked by the fan 3 through the branch pipe and supplied to each sterilizer 4.

The sterilizer 4 is composed of, for example, a container into which a finger is inserted. Superheated steam is supplied into the container so as to surround the inserted finger, and is filled. As a result, bacteria and bacteria adhering to the finger die in a very short time. in this case,
Since human fingers and the like have thermal inertia, even if they are wrapped in superheated steam for a short time, there is no problem such as burns. In addition, the fan 3
It is for guiding superheated steam of normal pressure into the sterilizer 4,
The power may be very small.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a normal pressure steam is generated by using a vibrator 5. First, water is atomized by an oscillation device including a vibrator 5 such as a crystal vibrator.
The water particles are heated by the heater 6. At this time, since water is spherical fine particles, it absorbs heat energy from the entire surface of the spherical particles, and turns into water vapor by effectively utilizing the heating energy. Thereby, normal pressure steam can be generated effectively with small energy. Atmospheric pressure steam thus obtained is supplied to the reheater 2 in the same manner as in the configuration of FIG.
Is heated to form superheated steam, and is sent to each sterilizer 4 by each fan 3 through the branch pipe.

The reheater 2 can be omitted by further heating the steam by the heater 6 for generating normal-pressure steam to form superheated steam.

Further, in order to atomize water, an atomizing type humidifier or other spray nozzle may be used instead of the vibrator.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the reheater 2 is incorporated into the sterilization container 7 to form an integral structure, and the generated superheated steam is filled in the sterilization container 7 as it is to perform a sterilization process. The object to be sterilized is placed in the sterilization container 7.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a hen egg is sterilized. As in the above-described embodiment, superheated steam is generated by the normal-pressure steam generator 1 and the reheater 2. The superheated steam is supplied by the fan 3 to the sterilizing section 8 on the conveyor 9. When the eggs 10 conveyed by the conveyor 9 pass through the sterilizing section 8, they are sterilized by superheated steam. This kills Salmonella and other bacteria in a very short time. The time during which the egg 10 is exposed to the superheated steam is extremely short, and does not affect the quality of the egg as a food.

In each of the above embodiments, the subject of the sterilization treatment is a human body part such as a human finger and a chicken egg. However, the present invention is not limited to these and may be applied to the sterilization treatment of tableware, medical instruments and other various articles. it can. In addition, superheated steam can kill microorganisms, pests and their eggs in a short time, so if applied to sterilization of cultural assets and their facilities, antiques, etc., it may damage historical items. And can be protected from pests and microorganisms.

[0021]

As described above, in the present invention, since steam at normal pressure is supplied to the object to be sterilized,
No need for a pressure vessel, simplifies the structure, facilitates safety management and maintenance, reduces costs, and keeps the heat density almost constant without pressure change, effectively disinfects heat energy As a result, a sufficiently large bactericidal action is obtained, and the amount of condensed water is reduced, so that the treatment of drain water becomes easy or unnecessary. Also, since the object of the sterilization process is wrapped in steam,
Sterilization or the elimination of microorganisms and pests can be achieved in a state where the whole object is covered with water vapor without leakage and the air is shut off, and the sterilization effect can be effectively exhibited due to the newness of water vapor against microorganisms and the like. . Further, since no chemical is used, there is no problem of environmental pollution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sterilization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a sterilization apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a sterilization apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a sterilization apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: normal pressure steam generator, 2: reheater, 3: fan,
4: sterilizer, 5: vibrator, 6: heater, 7: sterilizer,
8: sterilization part, 9: conveyor, 10: chicken egg.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An atmospheric pressure steam generator comprising: a normal pressure steam generating means for generating normal pressure steam; and a steam supply means for supplying the normal pressure steam to an object to be sterilized. Sterilizer. 2. The normal pressure steam generating means according to claim 1, wherein said normal pressure steam generating means comprises water fine particle generating means for generating fine water particles, and a heater for heating said fine water particles. Sterilizer. 3. The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object to be sterilized is a chicken egg, a cultural property and its facilities or a human body.