JP2003153988A - Alcohol vapor sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply a function of feeding a constant quantity of alcohol into a chamber each time to an alcohol vapor sterilizer. SOLUTION: In the alcohol vapor sterilizer, the chamber 3 in which a sterilized article is stored is sealed, a prescribed quantity of alcohol is injected into the chamber 3 and heated and pressurized, and the sterilized article stored in the chamber 3 is sterilized with the alcohol vapor. A diaphragm pump 5 is used as the injection device for injecting the prescribed quantity of alcohol into the chamber 3. The diaphragm type pump 5 can always secure a constant spouting quantity by reciprocating a diaphragm, and therefore, the prescribed quantity of alcohol can be injected into the chamber 3 by specifying the operation time of the diaphragm.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an alcohol steam sterilizer for sterilizing an object to be sterilized such as a medical instrument housed in a chamber by heating and pressurizing the object with alcohol vapor. About. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when sterilizing an object to be sterilized such as a medical instrument used repeatedly, a table-top high-pressure steam sterilizer,
Alcohol steam sterilizers and the like are used. 5 to 7 show a conventional alcohol steam sterilizer 100. FIG. The alcohol steam sterilizer 100 having the chamber 101 inside is
The lid 102, which can be opened and closed, keeps hermetically closed so that an object to be sterilized can be taken in and out. In use, the chamber 101
Inside, a predetermined amount of alcohol is injected. Sterilizer 100
Is provided with an operation knob 103 in front of the knob.
Is rotated to inject alcohol into the chamber 101. FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alcohol injection device 11.
0 is shown. The injection device 110 is provided with the sterilizer 100
Is provided with a support member 111 mounted and supported inside. A shaft 104 that is rotated by the operation knob 103 is inserted into the support member 111, and a fixed amount container 105 is attached to a distal end of the shaft 104 (FIG. 6). The shaft 104
Has one end connected to the metering container 105. The metering container 105 has a fan-shaped cross section, and the shaft 104 is inserted at the apex thereof. On the other hand, the support member 111 has:
The three pipes are connected, and the supply of alcohol is received from a connection port 106a provided at the top, and the alcohol is injected into the fixed quantity container 105 to make it full. In this state, the support 1
When the inside of the chamber 101 is pressurized, the connection ports 106b and 106c provided in
06b, passes through the flow path in the support member 111, and passes through the connection port 10
Air is exhausted from 6b (connection port). Operation knob 1
When 03 is turned to the pressurization side, the turned quantitative container 105 is located above the shaft, and the alcohol injected into the container passes through the flow path in the support material 111 by gravity,
It flows into the chamber 101 from the connection port 106b (FIG. 7). [0004] When sterilizing with the alcohol steam sterilizer configured as described above, the material to be sterilized is placed in the chamber 101.
And the lid 102 is closed and closed. At this time, the knob 103 is located on the decompression side, and the fixed amount container 105 is
04. In this state, the alcohol in the alcohol container (not shown)
The liquid is injected into the fixed quantity container 105 through a, and the container 105 is made substantially full. The metering container 105 is filled with a volume required for sterilization, for example, 40 cc of alcohol. At the time of use, first, the power is turned on and the champ is heated to warm up. Next, the knob 103 is turned to the pressure reduction side (the right in FIG.
Inject into. When injecting the alcohol injected into the fixed amount container 105 into the chamber 101, the knob 103
It turns to the pressure side (to the left in FIG. 6). As a result, the fixed amount container 105 rotates upward around the shaft 104, and the shaft 104 inserted into the identified amount container 105 is
5 (FIG. 7). Then, the fixed amount container 105
The alcohol inside passes through the pipe 106b by gravity and flows into the chamber 101. The chamber 101, which is heated by turning on the power, evaporates the liquid alcohol, and the inside of the chamber 101 is heated and pressurized, and the object to be sterilized stored in the chamber 101 is sterilized by the alcohol which has become steam. In the alcohol steam sterilizer 100 configured as described above, when the operator operates the operation knob 103, the fixed quantity container 105 rotates up and down around the shaft 104 as the axis. By this rotation, the identification amount container 105 moves above the shaft 104 serving as a flow path, or moves below the shaft 104 to receive alcohol from an alcohol tank (not shown), Alternatively, it functions to supply the received alcohol into the chamber 101. [0007] However, since the above-described operation is performed manually by picking the knob 103, the operation of the fixed amount container 105 is not stable, and a predetermined amount, for example, When about 40 cc of alcohol should be received, if the inflow state of alcohol changes, the amount of alcohol received in the fixed quantity container 105 may not be kept constant and may increase or decrease. On the other hand, when the alcohol flowing into the fixed quantity container 105 is supplied to the chamber 101, the posture at the lower position in the fixed quantity container 105 may change. Some alcohol may remain in the container. That is, as described above, in the alcohol steam sterilizer in which the supply of alcohol is performed using the quantitative container, there is a problem that the amount of alcohol supplied into the chamber 101 varies. In particular, when the supply amount of alcohol is reduced, sterilization of an object to be sterilized may be hindered.
Therefore, in the conventional alcohol steam sterilizer, there has been a demand for keeping the supply amount of the alcohol to be injected into the chamber 101 constant and reliable as described above. Further, by performing a large number of rotating operations, the sealing portion of the rotating portion is disturbed, and the alcohol leaks and contaminates the sterilizer and other devices. Because it is alcohol, it can also cause a fire. A technical object of the present invention is to provide a conventional alcohol steam sterilizer with a function of supplying a constant amount of alcohol into a chamber every time.
Another object of the present invention is to suppress the leakage of alcohol and to eliminate the cause of the contamination of the sterilizer and the cause of fire. According to the present invention, there is provided an alcohol steam sterilizer in which a chamber containing an object to be sterilized is sealed, a predetermined amount of alcohol is injected into the chamber, and the chamber is heated and pressurized. An alcohol steam sterilizer for sterilizing an object to be sterilized contained in the chamber with alcohol vapor, wherein a diaphragm pump is used as an injection device for injecting a predetermined amount of alcohol into the chamber. The diaphragm-type pump can secure a constant discharge amount by reciprocating the diaphragm, thereby sucking fluid (alcohol) into the inside of the diaphragm, and repeating the reciprocating movement of discharging the fluid (alcohol). Therefore, in the alcohol steam sterilizer of the present invention, by setting a predetermined discharge amount of the diaphragm pump in the steam chamber for a predetermined time, it is possible to accurately supply a constant amount of alcohol to the chamber each time. it can. [0010] The above-mentioned diaphragm pump pumps fluid (alcohol) into the inside of the diaphragm by repeating the reciprocating operation of pressing / extending the diaphragm, and repeats the cycle of discharging the fluid by magnetic force. Thus, a constant discharge amount can be secured. Therefore, in the alcohol steam sterilizer of the present invention, by operating the diaphragm in the steam chamber for a predetermined time, it is possible to reliably supply a constant amount of alcohol into the chamber at every use. This can also be used to supply a certain amount of water or the like used for sterilization in a general high-pressure steam sterilizer. Further, since the reciprocating motion of the diaphragm is used, there is no rotating operation and there is no rotating portion, so that there is no fear of alcohol leakage or the like, and the occurrence of dirt or fire can be prevented. Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an alcohol steam sterilizer A embodying the present invention. 2 to 4 are external views of the sterilizer of the present invention. The sterilizer A sterilizes an object to be sterilized in a high-pressure, high-temperature atmosphere of alcohol. Sterilizer body 1
Is provided with a substantially circular lid 2 that opens and closes the front, and is configured to pivotally support one side of the lid 2 to openably close an opening 3a of a chamber 3 described later. A substantially cylindrical chamber 3 for accommodating an object to be sterilized such as a medical instrument is provided substantially in the center of the sterilizer main body 1.
Is provided. The chamber 3 is a container having a circular cross-section that closes an end on the back side, and is configured such that an opening 3 a at an end on the front side is exposed to the front of the sterilizer main body 1. A bottom plate 3b on which an object to be sterilized is placed is horizontally inserted into the bottom of the chamber 3. A heater 11 is wound around the outer periphery of the chamber 3, and a heat insulating material 11a made of glass wool or the like is wound thereon (FIGS. 1 and 4). Also,
A tank 4 for storing alcohol is provided at an upper portion of the chamber 3, and a predetermined amount of alcohol is supplied into the chamber 3 by a dispensing pump 5 described later. As described above, the sterilizer A of the present invention supplies a predetermined amount of alcohol into the chamber 3 by operating the dispensing pump 5 for the alcohol stored in the tank 4. It is a pump. The diaphragm type dispensing pump forms the diaphragm using a material having good elasticity, such as rubber or silicon. This diaphragm presses and crushes, and performs a reciprocating operation of separating and increasing the internal volume by using the magnetic force of the electromagnet, and while maintaining a constant discharge flow rate, pressure-feeds the alcohol supplied from the tank 4, After passing the dispensing solenoid valve 6,
Pour into the chamber 3 from the injection pipe 7
Poured into. Here, the main structure of the alcohol steam sterilizer A of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The chamber 3 accommodating the object to be sterilized is a chamber 3 formed using a circular stainless steel or the like, and a heater 11 is provided around the chamber 3.
Is wound, and a heat insulating material made of glass wool or the like is wound therearound to cover the outside of the heater 11. On the other hand, the tank 4 for storing alcohol is
It is arranged on the upper part of the sterilizer main body 1 and is connected to the suction side port of the dispensing pump 5 via a pipe constituting the flow path 51. The dispensing pump 5 is a diaphragm pump as described above, and sucks and discharges a certain amount of alcohol while vibrating by magnetic force. The discharge port of the dispensing pump 5 is connected to a flow path 52 and is connected to the dispensing solenoid valve 6. Dispensing solenoid valve 6
Are opened and closed by electromagnetic force. When the dispensing solenoid valve 6 is opened, the alcohol fed from the dispensing pump 5 by a predetermined amount is sent to the injection pipe 7 which looks into the chamber 3, and is closed after a predetermined time elapses, so that a predetermined amount of alcohol is supplied. And supply it into the chamber 3. A flow path 53 connecting the dispensing solenoid valve 6 and the chamber 3 is branched at an intermediate portion. A flow path 54 is branched between the dispensing electromagnetic valve 6 and the chamber 3, and the flow path 54 is connected to the exhaust electromagnetic valve 8. When the exhaust electromagnetic valve 8 is opened after the sterilization is completed, the sterilized alcohol and the vaporized alcohol remaining in the chamber 3 are sent to the waste liquid tank 22 through the flow path 54. The flow path 54 is provided with a prismatic condenser 9 and a coil condenser 10 formed by winding a copper tube in a coil shape. These condensers cool the used alcohol before the waste tank 22
It is for sending inside. The waste liquid tank 22 is a tank for storing used alcohol as described above, and when filled with used alcohol, is discharged from the waste liquid coupler 22a and transferred to a processing container or the like. As described above, the waste liquid tank 22 is filled with alcohol gas having a strong pungent odor as a vapor together with the used alcohol. Therefore, in a state where the exhaust electromagnetic valve 8 is opened, it flows into the deodorizing filter 18 through the exhaust path 55, passes through the filter 18 to remove the irritating odor of alcohol, and then releases the alcohol gas to the outside air. On the other hand, the chamber 3 is provided with a side thermometer 19 for measuring the temperature in the tank and a pressure gauge 15. These are connected to the chamber 3 via the flow paths 56a and 56b. The side thermometer 19 detects the temperature inside the chamber 3 and is electrically connected to a control unit (not shown) including a microcomputer and the like. The pressure gauge 15 measures the pressure in the chamber 3 during heating and pressurization.
Like FIG. 9, it is electrically connected to a control unit (not shown). For example, in order to maintain the temperature inside the chamber 3 at a predetermined value, the control unit controls the heating by the heater 11 based on the data measured by the side thermometer 19 and maintains the temperature inside the chamber 3 at a predetermined value. Further, when the pressure in the chamber 3 rises suddenly for some reason, the overpressure switch 16 and the safety valve 17 are automatically opened, and the pressure in the chamber 3 is automatically released to release the chamber 3 and Avoid the danger that the flow path will be damaged by overpressure. As described above, the flow path 56a communicating with the chamber 3 is connected to the downstream side of the check valve (check valve). The upstream port of the check valve 14 passes through the flow path 57 and is connected to the discharge port of the deodorizing pump. Deodorizing pump 1
A sterilization filter 13 is installed at the intake port 2, and when forcibly exhausting air, the external air sucked by the deodorizing pump 12 is sterilized and then supplied to the chamber 3. Next, the operation of the alcohol evaporation sterilizer A constructed as described above will be described. When using the alcohol evaporation sterilizer A configured as described above, first, the power switch is turned ON, and the object to be sterilized is put into the chamber 3.
Press the start button. A predetermined amount of alcohol is injected into the chamber 3 by a dispensing pump. Thereafter, the heating temperature of the heater 11 attached to the outer periphery of the chamber 3 is controlled by the control unit in connection with the side thermometer 19, and is a predetermined temperature, for example, 132 ° C. + until sterilization is completed.
/ Keep within -5 ° C. This temperature control is performed until the sterilization process is completed. The above-mentioned sterilization temperature and its range may be arbitrarily changed as long as the sterilization is not hindered. The power is turned on, warm-up is started, and the object to be sterilized is stored in the chamber 3. After storing the object to be sterilized, the lid 2 is closed and the chamber 3 is closed.
Seal. When the start button is pressed after the lid is closed, the diaphragm type dispensing pump 5 operates for a predetermined time, and the alcohol supplied from the tank 4 is supplied to the chamber 3.
Inject into. At this time, the dispensing solenoid valve 6 in the flow path 53 is opened, and the exhaust solenoid valve 8 is closed. Further, the diaphragm type dispensing pump 5 sends out alcohol by reciprocating operation of the diaphragm. The diaphragm pump 5 has a characteristic of sending out a fluid without stirring.
Thereby, it becomes possible to send out the alcohol toward the chamber 3 while maintaining a rectified state. Therefore,
Since the flow of the alcohol in the flow path 53 from the diaphragm is not disturbed and flows in the flow path 53 in a stable manner, the flow rate per time is constant and very stable. Therefore, by setting the dispensing pump 5 to operate for a predetermined time, a predetermined amount of alcohol can be injected into the chamber 3 every time. When the injection of the alcohol is completed, the dispensing solenoid valve 6 and the exhaust solenoid valve 8 of the flow path 53 are both closed. As the temperature inside the chamber 3 rises due to the heating of the heater 11, the alcohol supplied into the chamber 3 evaporates as described above, and the pressure inside the chamber 3 gradually rises to a pressurized state. The above chamber 3
When the internal pressure reaches a predetermined value, for example, 138 kPa, a pressurizing pressure switch (not shown) is turned on, thereby starting a sterilization process. The sterilization step is performed, for example, for 20 minutes. At this time, when the temperature in the chamber 3 rises to 132 ° C., the heater 11 is turned off and the chamber 3 is turned off.
The heater inside is maintained, and when it falls, the heater 3 is turned on. Thereafter, the ON / OFF of the heater 11 is repeated as necessary, and the temperature in the chamber 3 is set to a predetermined range, that is, 1
Maintain between 32 ° C and 137 ° C. This temperature can be set arbitrarily within a range that does not hinder sterilization. The sterilization time is suitably 20 minutes, but may be changed as long as the sterilization is not hindered. If the pressure in the chamber 3 rises excessively during the sterilization process for some reason, the overpressure switch 16 or the safety valve 17 automatically operates to lower the pressure in the chamber. The safety valve 17 is, for example, 310
kPa, and the pressure in the chamber 3 is 310 kP
When the pressure rises above a, the valve is opened to release the alcohol gas, or the operation power is turned off, and the pressure inside the chamber is automatically reduced to protect the equipment, flow path or electric system to which the pressure is applied. is there. When the sterilization process for 20 minutes is completed, the exhaust electromagnetic valve 8 is opened, and the alcohol in the chamber 3 flows out to the waste liquid tank 22 through the flow path 54. On this occasion,
The alcohol remaining in the chamber 3 passes through the inside of the prism condenser 9 and the coil condenser 10 from the flow path 54 and is forcibly cooled like a heat sink, and is stored in the waste liquid tank 22. At this time, the capacitors 9, 10
, The alcohol that has been cooled and turned into a liquid is stored in the waste liquid tank 22. In addition, the waste liquid tank 22
The inside is filled with alcohol vapor as well as alcohol. This alcohol vapor has a pungent odor and cannot be released directly. Therefore, the irritation component is passed through the flow path 55 and passed through the deodorizing filter 18 to remove the stimulating component, and then released to the outside air. In a conventional high-pressure steam sterilizer, the amount of water used for sterilization or purified water injected into a sterilization layer is measured by a beaker or the like, or is controlled by a water level sensor or the like. On the other hand, the steam sterilizer of the present application has the advantage of eliminating the trouble of measuring with a beaker or the like and the malfunction of the water level sensor because the injection amount can be controlled by using the diaphragm type pump. .
The alcohol used in the alcohol steam sterilizer of the present invention is a mixture of 70% ethyl alcohol and 30%, for example, isopropyl alcohol, acetone,
Although a mixture of ethyl, kettle and purified water is used, if the mixture is mainly composed of ethyl alcohol, the mixture may be appropriately changed. As described above, the alcohol steam sterilizer of the present invention has an injection device for injecting a predetermined amount of alcohol into the above-described chamber, and uses a diaphragm pump as the injection device. It is characterized by the following. Diaphragm pumps are capable of supplying alcohol into the chamber while maintaining a constant water discharge rate by repeating the cycle of suctioning alcohol into the diaphragm by reciprocating the diaphragm and discharging the alcohol, and repeating the cycle of discharging the alcohol. is there. Therefore, in the alcohol steam sterilizer of the present invention, when the above-mentioned diaphragm pump is operated at a constant operation speed for a fixed time, when supplying alcohol into the chamber, a predetermined amount of alcohol is accurately supplied each time. can do. Therefore, unlike a conventional alcohol steam sterilizer, the problem that the amount of alcohol supplied into the chamber varies can be solved, and, for example, the required amount of alcohol is not supplied to the chamber and the sterilization of an object to be sterilized in the chamber is hindered. Incompetent dangers can be reliably avoided. Further, since there is no rotation operation and there is no rotation part, there is no possibility of alcohol leakage from the seal part or the like. Therefore,
There is no need to worry about dirt and fire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an alcohol steam sterilizer embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the alcohol steam sterilizer. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the alcohol steam sterilizer. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the alcohol steam sterilizer. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a conventional alcohol steam sterilizer. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an alcohol supply device of a conventional alcohol steam sterilizer. FIG. 7 is a front view of the alcohol supply device. [Description of Symbols] A: alcohol steam sterilizer 1: sterilizer body 2: lid 3, chamber 4, tank (alcohol) 5, dispensing pump 6, minute Injection solenoid valve 7 Injection pipe 8 Exhaust solenoid valve 9 Square prism condenser 10 Coil condenser 11 Heater 12 Deodorizing pump

Claims (1)

Claims 1. A chamber for accommodating an object to be sterilized is provided, the chamber is sealed, a predetermined amount of alcohol is injected, and the chamber is heated and pressurized and accommodated in the chamber. An alcohol steam sterilizer for sterilizing an object to be sterilized with alcohol vapor, wherein a diaphragm pump is used as an injection device for injecting a predetermined amount of alcohol into the chamber.