JP2004344551A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilizer constituted so as to suppress a rise in surface temperature and capable of ensuring the starting properties of an electrodeless valve. <P>SOLUTION: The sterilizer is used in the case of a microwave generator for generating microwaves with a predetermined wavelength λ and equipped with at least one electrodeless valve 2 for housing a substance receiving the energy of microwaves to emit ultraviolet rays and a rear gas. This sterilizer is equipped with a starting assist valve 3 irradiated with microwaves and receiving the energy of microwaves to generate discharge in the valve. A metal film is formed to the inner surface of the starting assist valve 3 and the starting assist valve 3 has at least a rare gas, which is the same to the rare gas sealed in the electrodeless valve 2, sealed therein and is formed from a material transmitting the radiant light of the discharge generated in the starting assist valve 3 to the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【００５３】
表１をグラフに表すと図５となる。この結果より、始動補助バルブおよび無電極バルブの始動性には適切な範囲があることが分かる。
【００５４】
Ａ≧０．０７ …（式１）
（式１）で表される条件以外、すなわち、Ａ＜０．０７では、始動補助バルブの始動が起こりにくかった。これは封入した金属が少なく、従って金属膜が小さくなった結果、マイクロ波により加熱され放出される熱電子の量が少なく、始動するには電子の量が不足したためと考えている。
【００５５】
Ａ≦３ …（式２）
（式２）で表される条件以外、すなわち、Ａ＞３では、金属膜が始動補助バルブの内面を広く被ってしまい始動補助バルブが始動しても放射光が外に出にくくなる。このため、無電極バルブが放射光を十分に受け取ることができず、始動不良が発生する。
【００５６】
以上の結果から、図５に斜線で示した始動性が良好であった範囲を式で表すと単位表面積当たりの金属封入量Ａは（式３）で表せる。
【００５７】
０．０７≦Ａ≦３ …（式３）
この関係を成り立たせることにより、マイクロ波のエネルギーを受け始動性を改善するに必要な電子を供給できる金属膜の量と、始動補助バルブの内面が生成された金属膜により過剰に被われない金属膜の量の範囲を、始動補助バルブの表面積と封入する金属の量の関係で規定することができ、始動特性に優れた始動補助バルブを供給することができることが判明した。
【００５８】
ちなみに、バリウム以外にマグネシウム、セシウム、ナトリウム、アルミニウムの４種類の金属についても同様の実験を行ったが、いずれも（式３）の範囲にあれば同様の効果が得られることが確認されており、これらの材料のいずれかまたは組み合わせを主成分としてなる金属膜でもよい。また、始動補助バルブおよび無電極バルブの封入ガスはアルゴンで説明したが、キセノン、クリプトン、ネオン、ヘリウムから選択しても同様の効果が得られることが確認されており、これらの封入ガスのいずれかまたは組み合わせでもよい。
【００５９】
この発明の第３の実施の形態を図６に基づいて説明する。
【００６０】
気体の絶縁破壊は、電子と気体分子の衝突電離によって発生し、絶縁破壊電圧は気体の種類、気体の圧力Ｐ、電極間の距離ｄによって決まる。仮に温度を一定とし、気体の圧力をＰ、電極の間隔をｄとすると、絶縁破壊電圧Ｖｓは、
Ｖｓ＝Ｆ（Ｐ×ｄ）
となる。Ｆは比例定数である。これはパッシェンの法則として良く知られている。無電極バルブの場合、電極がないため電極間長がない。その代わりに内表面に略垂直な直線の最短直線距離（図６を参照）によって同様の関係は成立される。
【００６１】
そこで、図６に示すように、始動補助バルブ３の内表面に略垂直な直線の最短直線距離Ｄと封入する希ガスの圧力による始動性への影響をバルブの仕様を変えて実験を行った結果、上下限値が存在することが判明した。その結果の一例を述べる。同図においてＤ′は最長直線距離である。
【００６２】
用いた始動補助バルブの仕様は次の通りである。
【００６３】
金属膜の材料：バリウム
金属の封入量：５ｍｇ
ガスの種類：アルゴン
始動補助バルブのガス圧：０．７５，１，１．５，５，１０，２０，１００，２００，３００，４００ｔｏｒｒ
始動補助バルブの直径：０．４，０．６，１，１．６ｃｍ、
始動補助バルブの長手方向の長さ：０．８，１．５，３ｃｍの略円筒形
その他の基本的な構成は実施形態１で示した殺菌装置７と同様である。これらの始動補助バルブを組み込んだ殺菌装置を実施形態１で抽出した条件で始動性改善効果を確認した。得られた結果を表２に示した。表中のＢは希ガスの圧力と内表面に略垂直な直線の最短直線距離の積であり、始動補助バルブの内表面で囲まれる立体形状において、対向する内表面間を結ぶ内表面に略垂直な直線の最短直線距離をＤ（ｃｍ）、希ガスのガス圧をＰ（ｔｏｒｒ）としたときの最短直線距離Ｄ（ｃｍ）と希ガスのガス圧Ｐ（ｔｏｒｒ）の積Ｂ＝Ｄ×Ｐである。また、“○”、“×”の定義は以下の通りである。
【００６４】
○：始動補助バルブおよび無電極バルブの全てがマイクロ波の照射から１０秒以内に始動した。
【００６５】
×：始動補助バルブおよび無電極バルブの全てがマイクロ波の照射から１０秒以内に始動しなかった。
【００６６】
【表２】

【００６７】
この結果より、始動補助バルブおよび無電極バルブの始動性には適切な範囲があることが分かる。
【００６８】
Ｂ＜１２０ …（式４）
および、
Ｂ≧０．９ …（式５）
で表される範囲である。つまり、
０．９≦Ｂ＜１２０ …（式６）
の関係を成り立たせることにより、全ての始動補助バルブと無電極バルブをマイクロ波の照射から１０秒以内に始動させることができることが判明した。（式６）を満足することにより寿命末期まで始動特性に優れた始動補助バルブを供給することができる。
【００６９】
ちなみに、バリウム以外にマグネシウム、セシウム、ナトリウム、アルミニウムの４種類の金属についても同様の実験を行ったが、いずれも（式６）の範囲にあれば同様の効果が得られることが確認されており、これらの材料のいずれかまたは組み合わせを主成分としてなる金属膜でもよい。また、始動補助バルブおよび無電極バルブの封入ガスはアルゴンで説明したが、キセノン、クリプトン、ネオン、ヘリウムから選択しても同様の効果が得られることが確認されており、これらの封入ガスのいずれかまたは組み合わせでもよい。
【００７０】
なお、第２、第３の実施形態を合わせた構成にしてもよい。
【００７１】
この発明の第４の実施の形態を図７に基づいて説明する。図７は本発明の第４の実施形態の殺菌装置の断面図である。
【００７２】
図７に示すように、殺菌装置８は分割可能な２つのケース部材５ａ，５ｂにより構成された開閉自在のケース５内に無電極バルブ２と始動補助バルブ３と被処理物４を配置した。一方のケース部材５ａの支持台１２に無電極バルブ２ａと始動補助バルブ３と被処理物４が配置され、他方のケース部材５ｂの底面にも無電極バルブ２ｂが配置されている。また、始動補助バルブ３の放射光が無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂに当たる位置関係に保持されている。これ以外の構成は実施形態１の殺菌装置７と同様である。
【００７３】
このように構成した殺菌装置８を電子レンジ１（図４）の庫内に入れ電子レンジ１を動作させると、参考例で抽出した条件でも全ての無電極バルブがマイクロ波照射から１０秒以内に始動した。ちなみに、始動補助バルブ３と無電極バルブ２ａの間、および、始動補助バルブ３と無電極バルブ２ｂの間に不透明な材料で壁をつくり、始動補助バルブ３からの放射光が当たらない構造とすると、無電極バルブがマイクロ波照射から１０秒以内に始動する確率が６０％まで低下し、参考例で示した殺菌装置６とほぼ同じ程度の始動性しか得られなかった。
【００７４】
始動補助バルブ３から発せられた放射光が無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂに当たることにより、無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂは始動しやすくなり、無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂの始動不良をなくすことができる。すなわち、確実に殺菌を行うことができることが確認された。
【００７５】
この発明の第５の実施の形態を図８に基づいて説明する。図８は本発明の第５の実施形態の殺菌装置の断面図である。
【００７６】
図８に示すように、本実施形態で示す殺菌装置は、マイクロ波発生装置である電子レンジ１内に、参考例で示した殺菌装置６と、実施形態４で示した殺菌装置８を並べて配置している。ここで重要なことは、始動補助バルブ３の放射光が無電極バルブ２，２ａ，２ｂに当たる位置関係に配置することである。また殺菌装置６のケース部材５および／または殺菌装置８のケース部材５ａ，５ｂが放射光（紫外線）を通す材質である。これ以外の構成は実施形態４と同様である。
【００７７】
このように構成して電子レンジ１（図４）を動作させると、参考例で抽出した条件でも始動補助バルブ３が始動し、始動補助バルブ３から発せられた放射光が無電極バルブ２，２ａ，２ｂに当たることにより、無電極バルブ２，２ａ，２ｂは始動しやすくなり、無電極バルブ２，２ａ，２ｂの始動不良をなくすことができる。
【００７８】
この発明の第６の実施の形態を図９に基づいて説明する。図９は本発明の第６の実施形態の殺菌装置の断面図である。
【００７９】
実施形態５において、殺菌装置６のケース部材５および／または殺菌装置８のケース部材５ａ，５ｂが放射光（紫外線）を通さない材質である場合には、図９に示すように無電極バルブ２と２ｂが対向する面に窓１４を設ける。窓１４は紫外線を透過する材質とするか、もしくはケース部材を切り欠いても良い。この様にすることにより、始動補助バルブ３から発せられた放射光が無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂに当たり無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂが始動し、無電極バルブ２ｂから放射される紫外線が窓１４を通って無電極バルブ２に照射されることにより、無電極バルブ２が始動する。
【００８０】
このように、始動補助バルブ３と複数個の無電極バルブ２を配置する場合には、始動補助バルブ３から出た放射光が少なくとも１個の無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂに当たる位置関係に配置され、かつ、始動補助バルブ３から出た放射光が当たる位置関係に配置された無電極バルブ２ｂから出た放射光が連鎖的に他の無電極バルブ２に当たる位置関係に配置されることが望ましく、始動補助バルブ３から出た放射光が当たる位置関係に配置された無電極バルブ２ｂから出た放射光が他の無電極バルブ２に当たる放射光の連鎖が全ての無電極バルブ２に及ぶ位置関係に配置することが最も望ましい。
【００８１】
以上、本実施形態で述べた構成にすることにより、始動補助バルブ３から開始される放射光の連鎖による始動性の改善が全ての無電極バルブ２に及ぶため、確実に全ての無電極バルブ２を始動することが可能となり、確実に殺菌を行うことができる。
【００８２】
この発明の第７の実施の形態を図１０に基づいて説明する。図１０は本発明の第７の実施形態の殺菌装置の断面図である。
【００８３】
図１０に示すように、殺菌装置９は分割可能な２つのケース部材５ａ，５ｂにより構成された開閉自在のケース５内に無電極バルブ２と始動補助バルブ３と被処理物４を配置した。一方のケース部材５ａの支持台１２に無電極バルブ２ａと始動補助バルブ３と被処理物４が配置され、他方のケース部材５ｂの底面にも無電極バルブ２ｂが配置されている。また、始動補助バルブ３の放射光が無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂに当たる位置関係に保持されている。ここで重要なことは、始動補助バルブ３は無電極バルブ２ａに近接して配置されていることである。これ以外の構成は実施形態４と同様である。
【００８４】
このように構成して電子レンジ１（図４）を動作させると、参考例で抽出した条件でも始動補助バルブ３が始動し、始動補助バルブ３から発せられた放射光が無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂに当たることにより、無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂは始動しやすくなり、無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂの始動不良をなくすことができる。ここで、始動補助バルブ３と無電極バルブ２ａは近接して配置されているため、無電極バルブ２ａは始動補助バルブ３の放射光を減衰がほとんどない状態で受けることができるため、より確実に無電極バルブ２ａを始動させることができる。無電極バルブ２ａが始動すると、無電極バルブ２ａから放射される紫外線が他の無電極バルブに照射されることになり、始動補助バルブの効果と紫外線の効果が合わされるため、他の無電極バルブはより始動が容易になる。その結果、全ての無電極バルブを始動することが可能となり、確実に殺菌を行うことができる。なお、無電極バルブの少なくとも１個が始動補助バルブに近接して配置される構成であればよい。
【００８５】
この発明の第８の実施の形態について説明する。
【００８６】
第１の実施形態において説明した通り、始動補助バルブ３の金属膜は、バリウム、マグネシウム、セシウム、ナトリウム、アルミニウムの金属を始動補助バルブ内に封入し、加熱することにより金属を蒸発させ金属膜を製膜していた。しかしこれらの金属は大気に触れると激しく反応を生じるものもあり、また製膜に必要な温度も高い温度が必要であるなど、取扱いに若干の不便があった。
【００８７】
そこで、本実施形態として、ランプ用として市販されているバリウムゲッター（例えば、ＳＡＥＳ ＧＥＴＴＥＲＳ社（伊）製バリウムゲッターＳｔ１４シリーズなど）を用いて金属膜を形成した。バリウムゲッターを用いて金属膜を成形した以外はこれまで述べた始動補助バルブと同様の構成である。これらのバリウムゲッターは一般ランプでよく使用されており取扱いも簡単で、同種の金属と比較して製膜に必要な温度も低くて良い。例えば、バリウム金属で製膜を行う場合には電気炉で９５０℃１０分の加熱が必要であった。これに対してバリウムゲッターで製膜を行う場合には電気炉で８５０℃５分の加熱で済み、製造プロセスの簡略化が可能となった。
【００８８】
加えて金属膜をバリウムゲッターにより成形すると、バリウム金属面がゲッター効果を発揮し、始動補助バルブ内に含まれる不純ガスを吸着する。アルゴンのみ封入したバルブとバリウムゲッターによる金属膜を成形した始動補助バルブの内部に含まれる不純ガスを測定した結果、バリウムゲッターによる金属膜を成形した始動補助バルブでは不純ガスがほとんど検出されなかったのに対し、アルゴンのみを封入したバルブでは窒素と一酸化炭素の濃度が高いことが判明した（表３）。
【００８９】
【表３】

【００９０】
また、第１の実施形態で抽出した条件では金属バリウムを用いて金属膜を成形した始動補助バルブの始動が１０秒以内であったのに対し、バリウムゲッターを用いて金属膜を成形した始動補助バルブは全て５秒以内で始動した。つまり、始動時間を短縮することが可能となった。マイクロ波発生装置の動作時間が一定の場合、始動時間が短縮されるということは殺菌時間が行われる時間の割合が増えることになり、より確実に殺菌を行うことが可能となる。
【００９１】
尚、始動補助バルブの封入ガスはアルゴン、キセノン、クリプトン、ネオン、ヘリウムから選択しても同様の効果が生じることを確認しており、これらの封入ガスのいずれかまたは組み合わせでもよい。
【００９２】
この発明の第９の実施の形態について説明する。
【００９３】
これまで説明してきた始動補助バルブ３は、気密で少なくとも一部が透光性の部材からなり、内面には金属膜が形成され、希ガスが封入された構成になっていた。このように構成された始動補助バルブ３はマイクロ波が照射されることにより放電が開始された場合、封入した希ガスが発する放射光しか放出されない。希ガスはアルゴン、キセノン、クリプトン、ネオン、ヘリウムから選択されるため、可視光から赤外光は発するが紫外光はほとんど得られなかった。
【００９４】
そこで本実施形態では、始動補助バルブ３の内部にマイクロ波が照射されることにより紫外線を放出する物質を封入した。具体的な例で説明する。始動補助バルブ３は直径が０．８ｃｍ、長手方向の長さ２ｃｍ、肉厚０．１ｃｍの略円筒形の石英製で、バルブ内面にはバリウムゲッターを用いた金属膜が形成されており、水銀と１ｍｇとアルゴンが１０ｔｏｒｒ封入されている。使用した金属バリウムの量は５ｍｇとした。バリウムゲッターによる金属膜形成前に水銀を封入すると、バリウム膜の成膜時に水銀を吸着してしまい、放電空間中に所望の水銀量が得られなくなる。そこで、まずバリウムを成膜し、その後に水銀を封入するプロセスを採用した。このようにして得られた始動補助バルブはこれまでに述べた実施の形態の始動補助バルブと同等の始動性能を持つ上に、始動後は始動補助バルブからも紫外線が放射されるために、被処理物４への紫外線照射量が増加し、その結果、より確実に殺菌を行うことが可能となる。
【００９５】
尚、本実施形態では始動補助バルブの金属膜の材料としてバリウムで説明したが、マグネシウム、セシウム、ナトリウム、アルミニウムでも同様の効果が生じることを確認しており、これらの材料のいずれかまたは組み合わせを主成分としてなる金属膜でもよい。また、始動補助バルブの封入ガスはアルゴンで説明したが、キセノン、クリプトン、ネオン、ヘリウムから選択しても同様の効果が生じることを確認しており、これらの封入ガスのいずれかまたは組み合わせでもよい。更には、始動補助バルブの封入物についても水銀で説明したが紫外線を発生するものであれば他の選択肢も可能である。
【００９６】
この発明の第１０の実施の形態を図１１に基づいて説明する。図１１は本発明の第１０の実施形態の殺菌装置の断面図である。
【００９７】
図１１に示すように、殺菌装置９は分割可能な２つのケース部材５ａ，５ｂにより構成された開閉自在のケース５内に無電極バルブ２と始動補助バルブ３と被処理物４を配置した。一方のケース部材５ａの支持台１２に無電極バルブ２ａと始動補助バルブ３と被処理物４が配置され、他方のケース部材５ｂの底面にも無電極バルブ２ｂが配置されている。また、始動補助バルブ３の放射光が無電極バルブ２ａ，２ｂに当たる位置関係に保持されている。ここで重要なことは、ケース部材５ａの支持台１２に配置された始動補助バルブ３が殺菌装置９の垂直方向の中心線上に配置されていることである。また、無電極バルブ２ａは無電極バルブ２ａから被照射体に向けて放射される紫外線が始動補助バルブ３で遮られない位置に配置されている。これ以外の構成は実施形態４と同様である。尚、一般的な電子レンジは周波数が２．４５ＧＨｚのマイクロ波を用いており、底面の中央付近を中心にして水平方向および垂直方向共に２分の１波長となる約６ｃｍ毎にマイクロ波の電界強度が強く得られるように設計されている。
【００９８】
このように構成した殺菌装置９を電子レンジ１（図４）の庫内の底面の中心付近に配置する。ケース外形が略円筒形や略卵形など軸対象の形状であれば、殺菌装置を電子レンジ１の庫内中央付近に位置させることは容易である。電子レンジの庫内中央付近は先にも述べたとおり、マイクロ波が強くなるように設計されている。これにより始動補助バルブ３はマイクロ波の強い電界を得ることができるようになり、始動補助バルブ３の始動性を向上させることができる。
【００９９】
なお、始動補助バルブ３はマイクロ波発生装置の庫内の底面の中心付近または／およびこの中心より水平方向であってマイクロ波の波長の２分の１波長の自然倍数になるような位置に配置してもよい。
【０１００】
この発明の第１１の実施の形態を図１２に基づいて説明する。図１２は本発明の第１１の実施形態の殺菌装置の断面図である。
【０１０１】
図１２に示すように、殺菌装置１０は、支持台１２に配置された始動補助バルブ３が殺菌装置１０の下端から６ｃｍの高さＬになるように構成されている。先にも述べたとおり、電子レンジの庫内では底面の中央付近を中心にして水平方向および垂直方向共に２分の１波長となる約６ｃｍ毎にマイクロ波の電界強度が強く得られる領域が存在する。このため、始動補助バルブ３の設置位置を庫内底面より６ｃｍの高さに設定することにより強い電界強度を始動補助バルブ３は受けることができる。これ以外の構成は実施形態４または１０と同様である。このような構成にすることにより、始動補助バルブ３をマイクロ波による電界強度の強い領域に配置することができるため、始動が容易で、かつ、殺菌能力も高いものになる。
【０１０２】
なお、始動補助バルブは殺菌装置下端よりマイクロ波の波長の２分の１波長の自然倍数になるような高さに配置してもよい。
【０１０３】
この発明の第１２の実施の形態を図１３に基づいて説明する。図１３は本発明の第１２の実施形態の殺菌装置の一部破断斜視図である。
【０１０４】
図１３に示すように、殺菌装置１１は、略円筒形をしており、分割可能な２つのケース部材５ａ，５ｂにより構成された開閉自在のケース５内に無電極バルブ２と始動補助バルブ３と被処理物４を配置した。一方のケース部材５ａの底面に無電極バルブ２ａと始動補助バルブ３と被処理物４が配置され、他方のケース部材５ｂの底面にも無電極バルブ２ｂが配置されている。始動補助バルブ３はケース部材５ａの底面の端に配置し、始動補助バルブ３を配置した面に対向する外面には印１３が付けられている。印１３は例えば殺菌装置の品番などでも良いし、突起などの形状で表しても良い。印１３により始動補助バルブ３の位置が外見で判明できるものであればよい。これにより殺菌装置の外観を見て始動補助バルブ３の設置位置が容易に分かるため、この印１３が庫内中央になるように置けば、始動補助バルブ３は庫内底面中央近辺に配置されることになる。
【０１０５】
この場合、始動補助バルブ３をケース部材５ａの中央に設置する必要が無くなるため、無電極バルブ２ａをケース部材５ａの中央に設置することが可能となる。この様な配置にすると、被処理物４の各部位と無電極バルブ２ａの位置関係をほぼ均等にすることができるために、被処理物４への紫外線照射がむらなく行うことができる。望ましくはケース部材５ａの底面の端に配置した始動補助バルブ３と底面中央に配置した無電極バルブ２ａとの間隔がマイクロ波の２分の１波長である６ｃｍとなる構造を持つと、始動補助バルブ３および無電極バルブ２ａ共にマイクロ波による電界強度の強い領域に配置することができる。これ以外の構成は実施形態４または１０と同様である。これらにより、始動が容易で、かつ、殺菌能力も高いものになる。その結果、被処理物への紫外線の照射むらが少なくなり、より確実に殺菌を行うことができる。
【０１０６】
以上実施形態として挙げた構成とすることにより、無電極バルブの始動性能が改善され、より確実に殺菌を行うことが可能となる。
【０１０７】
【発明の効果】
この発明の請求項１記載の殺菌装置によれば、マイクロ波が照射されることによりこのマイクロ波のエネルギーを受けてバルブ内部で放電が発生する始動補助バルブを備え、始動補助バルブは、内面に金属膜が形成され、かつ、少なくとも無電極バルブに封入された希ガスと同じ種類の希ガスを内部に封入し、始動補助バルブの内部で発生する放電の放射光が外部に透過される材料で形成されたので、始動補助バルブは無電極バルブを絶縁破壊させるには足りないエネルギーしか供給されない場所に配置されても容易に放電を開始することができ、始動補助バルブが始動すると無電極バルブの始動が促進される。この際、金属膜から電子が十分に放電空間内に供給されて始動補助バルブの放電が開始し、同種のガスを封入することで無電極バルブのガスは始動補助バルブのガスから放射された光をエネルギーとして容易に受け取ることができる。このため、無電極バルブの始動を確実に行うことができ、確実に殺菌を行うことができる。
【０１０８】
請求項２では、始動補助バルブの金属膜を形成する金属の封入量をＭ（ｍｇ）、始動補助バルブの内面の表面積をＳ（ｃｍ^２）としたとき、単位表面積当たりの金属封入量Ａ＝Ｍ／Ｓ（ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２）は、０．０７≦Ａ≦３の範囲で表されるので、マイクロ波のエネルギーを受け始動性を改善するに必要な電子を供給できる金属膜の量と、始動補助バルブの内面が生成された金属膜により過剰に被われない金属膜の量の範囲を、始動補助バルブの表面積と封入する金属の量の関係で規定することができ、始動特性に優れた始動補助バルブを供給することができる。
【０１０９】
請求項３では、始動補助バルブの内表面で囲まれる立体形状において、対向する内表面間を結ぶ内表面に略垂直な直線の最短直線距離をＤ（ｃｍ）、希ガスのガス圧をＰ（ｔｏｒｒ）としたとき、最短直線距離Ｄ（ｃｍ）と希ガスのガス圧Ｐ（ｔｏｒｒ）の積Ｂ＝Ｄ×Ｐは、０．９≦Ｂ＜１２０の範囲で表されるので、寿命特性に優れた始動補助バルブを供給することができる。
【０１１０】
請求項４では、始動補助バルブの金属膜を形成する金属の封入量をＭ（ｍｇ）、始動補助バルブの内面の表面積をＳ（ｃｍ^２）としたとき、単位表面積当たりの金属封入量Ａ＝Ｍ／Ｓ（ｍｇ／ｃｍ^２）は、０．０７≦Ａ≦３の範囲で表され、かつ、始動補助バルブの内表面で囲まれる立体形状において、対向する内表面間を結ぶ内表面に略垂直な直線の最短直線距離をＤ（ｃｍ）、希ガスのガス圧をＰ（ｔｏｒｒ）としたとき、最短直線距離Ｄ（ｃｍ）と希ガスのガス圧Ｐ（ｔｏｒｒ）の積Ｂ＝Ｄ×Ｐは、０．９≦Ｂ＜１２０の範囲で表されるので、マイクロ波のエネルギーを受け始動を改善するに必要な電子を供給でき、かつ、生成された金属膜により始動補助バルブの内面が過剰に被われない始動補助バルブを供給することができ、かつ、寿命特性に優れた始動補助バルブを供給することができる。
【０１１１】
請求項５では、始動補助バルブの金属膜はバリウム、マグネシウム、セシウム、ナトリウム、アルミニウムのいずれか、または、組合せを主成分としてなる金属膜であるので、金属膜の生成を容易に行うことができ、始動性に優れた始動補助バルブを供給することができる。
【０１１２】
請求項６では、希ガスは、アルゴン、キセノン、クリプトン、ネオン、ヘリウムのいずれか、または、組合せであるので、始動性に優れた始動補助バルブを供給することができる。
【０１１３】
請求項７では、始動補助バルブの放射光が全ての無電極バルブに当たる位置関係に無電極バルブを配置したので、無電極バルブ内の希ガスが始動補助バルブからの放射光のエネルギーを受け取り励起や電離が盛んに生じるようになる。このため、マイクロ波のエネルギーが小さく始動が困難な場所に配置された無電極バルブでも放電空間に電子が供給され始動が容易になり、始動性に優れた殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【０１１４】
請求項８では、始動補助バルブの放射光が少なくとも１個の無電極バルブに当たる位置関係に配置され、かつ、始動補助バルブの放射光が当たる位置関係に配置された無電極バルブからの放射光が連鎖的に他の無電極バルブに当たる位置関係に配置したので、始動補助バルブの放射光を受けられない場所に配置された無電極バルブでも、始動補助バルブの放射光を受け始動した無電極バルブからの放射光を受け励起や電離が盛んに生じるようになり始動が容易になる。更に連鎖的に他の無電極ランプの始動も改善される。このようにマイクロ波のエネルギーが小さく始動が困難な場所に配置された無電極バルブでも放電空間に電子が供給され始動が容易になるため、始動性に優れた殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【０１１５】
請求項９では、始動補助バルブの放射光が当たる位置関係に配置された無電極バルブからの放射光が他の無電極バルブに当たる放射光の連鎖が全ての無電極バルブに及ぶようにしたので、始動補助バルブから開始される放射光の連鎖による始動性の改善が全ての無電極バルブに及ぶ。このため、確実に全ての無電極バルブを始動することが可能となり、始動性に優れた殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【０１１６】
請求項１０では、始動補助バルブの放射光が当たる位置関係に配置された無電極バルブの少なくとも１個は、始動補助バルブに近接して配置されたので、無電極バルブを確実に始動させ、始動した無電極バルブからの紫外線により他の無電極バルブを確実に始動させることが可能となり、始動性に優れた殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【０１１７】
請求項１１では、始動補助バルブの金属膜はゲッター作用を持つので、始動補助バルブの内部に混入した不純物がゲッターに吸着され、始動性に優れた殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【０１１８】
請求項１２では、マイクロ波が照射されることにより紫外線を放出する物質を始動補助バルブの内部に封入したので、始動補助バルブからも紫外線を放射することができるので始動性に優れた殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【０１１９】
請求項１３では、始動補助バルブはマイクロ波発生装置の庫内の底面の中心付近または／およびこの中心より水平方向であってマイクロ波の波長の２分の１波長の自然倍数になるような位置に配置したので、マイクロ波が強い領域に始動補助バルブを配置することができ、始動性に優れた殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【０１２０】
請求項１４では、始動補助バルブは殺菌装置下端よりマイクロ波の波長の２分の１波長の自然倍数になるような高さに配置したので、マイクロ波が強い領域に始動補助バルブを配置することができ、始動性に優れた殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【０１２１】
請求項１５では、マイクロ波発生装置は、２．４５（ＧＨｚ）のマイクロ波を発生するものであるので、一般家庭に普及している電子レンジを利用することが可能となり利便性が増すと共に、被照射面の間隔を約６（ｃｍ）間隔の比較的使いやすい殺菌装置を提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施形態の殺菌装置を示す断面図である。
【図２】参考例の殺菌装置を示す概念図である。
【図３】参考例の殺菌装置を示す断面図である。
【図４】殺菌装置をマイクロ波発生装置に収容した状態を示す概念図である。
【図５】本発明の第２の実施形態により得られる結果を表す特性図である。
【図６】本発明の第３の実施形態における無電極バルブの断面図である。
【図７】本発明の第４の実施形態の殺菌装置を示す断面図である。
【図８】本発明の第５の実施形態の殺菌装置を示す断面図である。
【図９】本発明の第６の実施形態の殺菌装置を示す断面図である。
【図１０】本発明の第７の実施形態の殺菌装置を示す断面図である。
【図１１】本発明の第１０の実施形態の殺菌装置を示す断面図である。
【図１２】本発明の第１１の実施形態の殺菌装置を示す断面図である。
【図１３】本発明の第１２の実施形態の殺菌装置を示す概念図である。
【図１４】従来例１を示す概念図である。
【図１５】従来例２を示す概念図である。
【図１６】従来例３を示す概念図である。
【図１７】従来例４を示す概念図である。
【符号の説明】
１ 電子レンジ
２，２ａ，２ｂ 無電極バルブ
３ 始動補助バルブ
４ 被処理物
５ ケース
５ａ，５ｂ ケース部材
６，７，８，９，１０，１１ 殺菌装置
１２ バルブ支持台
１３ 印
１４ 窓[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sterilizer for sterilizing an object to be processed by ultraviolet rays using a microwave generator such as a microwave oven in a general household.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a sterilization apparatus which irradiates low-pressure mercury vapor or the like with microwaves to emit ultraviolet rays, and irradiates the ultraviolet rays to an object to be sterilized to perform a sterilization process. FIG. 14 shows a sterilization method for a medical device or the like as a conventional example 1. In general, since a medical device is made of metal, it is directly housed in a microwave generator such as a microwave oven. Can not. Therefore, a glass valve 152 filled with low-pressure mercury vapor and a sterilization target 153 (medical instrument) are arranged in a container 151 filled with water, and the container 151 is housed inside the microwave oven 150. Then, the microwave oven 150 is activated to generate a microwave, and the microwave is applied to the bulb 152. Then, the mercury vapor in the bulb 152 is excited by microwave energy, and predetermined ultraviolet rays are emitted from the bulb 152, and the sterilization target 153 is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays. Note that a vent 154 is formed on a side surface of the microwave oven 150 (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
Next, FIG. 15 shows, as Conventional Example 2, a method of sterilizing a container such as a glass bottle. In a state where an elongated glass valve 161 filled with low-pressure mercury vapor is suspended inside a sterilization target 162 (a container such as a glass bottle), the sterilization target 162 is housed together with the valve 161 inside the microwave generator 160. . Then, the microwave generator 160 is activated to generate the microwave 163, the ultraviolet light 164 is emitted from the bulb 161, and the inner surface of the sterilization target 162 is sterilized (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[0004]
FIG. 16 shows, as Conventional Example 3, a method of sterilizing a contact lens. The container 172a and the lid 172a are each formed in a hollow shape with glass or the like, and low-pressure mercury vapor or the like is sealed therein. The object to be sterilized 171 (contact lens) is placed inside the container 172a, and housed inside the microwave generator 170 with the lid 172a covering the container 172a. Then, the microwave generation device 170 is activated to generate microwaves, and the container 172a and the lid 172a irradiate the inside of the sterilization target 171 with ultraviolet rays to sterilize the sterilization target 171 (for example, see Patent Document 1). 3).
[0005]
FIG. 17 shows, as Conventional Example 4, a method of sterilizing a baby bottle. A small-diameter glass tube 181 containing low-pressure mercury vapor is held by a holder 182. The holder 182 includes a locking disk 183 and a holding frame 184. The locking disk 183 is placed on the periphery of the mouth 186 of the baby bottle main body 185, and an insertion hole (shown in the drawing) through which the glass tube 181 is inserted. None) is formed. The holding frame 184 has a pair of legs 187 made of a wire, and is fixed to an upper portion and a lower end of the legs 187. It is composed of Then, by placing the locking disc 183 on the periphery of the mouth 186 of the baby bottle main body 185, the glass tube 181 is hung inside the baby bottle main body 185, and the nipple 189 is placed on the mouth 186 of the baby bottle main body 185. Attach to After accommodating the baby bottle in a microwave oven (not shown), the microwave oven is activated to generate microwaves, emit ultraviolet rays from the glass tube 181 and sterilize the inner surface of the baby bottle (for example, see Patent Document 1). 4).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-145688 A
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 10-502563
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2000-507140 A
[Patent Document 4]
JP 2002-191678 A
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it is difficult for a microwave generator to emit microwaves of uniform energy anywhere in the refrigerator, and generally has an energy distribution at intervals according to the wavelength of the microwave. For example, in the case of a household microwave oven having a microwave frequency of 2.45 GHz, a microwave to be heated is placed near the center, so that the microwave at the center is strong. Since the wavelength is 12 cm when the frequency of the microwave is 2.45 GHz, the energy distribution of the microwave is at an interval of 6 cm, which is a half wavelength. Therefore, in the case of a household microwave oven, the intensity of microwave energy in the horizontal and upward directions tends to change at intervals of 6 cm from the center of the bottom surface in the refrigerator. Further, when looking upward from the bottom surface, the microwave energy tends to be strong near the bottom surface where there is a high possibility that the object to be heated is placed.
[0008]
When the electrodeless bulb (the above-described bulb 152, bulb 161, container 172a, lid 172a, glass tube 181 and the like) is relatively large, for example, if it is larger than half the wavelength of the microwave, the energy of the microwave is absorbed. It is easy to start operation, that is, start discharge. This is because the probability that the maximum electric field of the microwave is applied increases if the size is equal to or more than a half wavelength.
[0009]
However, with such a size, the surface temperature of the electrodeless bulb rises remarkably because microwave energy is easily absorbed. For example, the temperature becomes 500 ° C. or more, which may damage the irradiated body or the irradiated body, or cause a safety problem.
[0010]
On the other hand, if the electrodeless bulb is made smaller, the above problem can be solved. However, if the electrodeless bulb is made small, for example, to a size equal to or less than half the wavelength of the microwave used, the maximum electric field of the microwave is not always applied to the electrodeless bulb. If the electrodeless bulb is disposed in a place where the microwave energy is weak, the energy required for starting the discharge in the electrodeless bulb cannot be obtained, and as a result, a problem that the starting becomes difficult tends to occur. Ensuring the startability of an electrodeless valve used in a refrigerator of a microwave generator is a very large general problem.
[0011]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing apparatus capable of suppressing a rise in surface temperature and ensuring the startability of an electrodeless valve.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a sterilization apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is used in a refrigerator of a microwave generator that generates a microwave having a predetermined wavelength λ, and is formed of a material that transmits microwaves. The object to be processed is housed inside the container, and at least one electrodeless bulb containing a substance that emits ultraviolet rays by receiving the energy of the microwave by being irradiated with the microwave and a rare gas is provided therein, A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a surface to be processed by irradiating ultraviolet rays to the surface to be processed of the object to be processed, wherein the microwave is irradiated to receive the energy of the microwave and discharge inside the bulb. A starting auxiliary valve is provided, wherein the starting auxiliary valve has a metal film formed on an inner surface thereof, and has at least the same type of rare gas sealed in the electrodeless valve. Sealed gas into emitted light of the discharge to be generated in the start-up auxiliary valve is formed of a material that is transparent to the outside.
[0013]
As described above, the starting auxiliary valve is provided with the starting auxiliary valve that receives the energy of the microwave to generate a discharge inside the bulb when irradiated with the microwave. A rare gas of the same type as the rare gas sealed in the electrode bulb is sealed inside, and the discharge auxiliary light generated inside the startup auxiliary bulb is made of a material that is transmitted to the outside. Discharge can be easily started even if the electrode valve is arranged in a place where only insufficient energy is supplied to cause dielectric breakdown. When the starting auxiliary valve starts, the start of the electrodeless valve is promoted. At this time, the electrons are sufficiently supplied from the metal film into the discharge space, and the discharge of the starting auxiliary valve is started. By filling the same type of gas, the gas of the electrodeless valve emits light emitted from the gas of the starting auxiliary valve. Can be easily received as energy. For this reason, starting of the electrodeless valve can be reliably performed, and sterilization can be reliably performed.
[0014]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 2 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of metal forming the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is M (mg), and the surface area of the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve is S (cm). ² ), The amount of metal encapsulation per unit surface area A = M / S (mg / cm ² ) Is expressed in the range of 0.07 ≦ A ≦ 3. With such a configuration, the amount of the metal film capable of supplying the electrons necessary for improving the startability by receiving the energy of the microwave and the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve are not excessively covered by the generated metal film. The range of the amount of the metal film can be defined by the relationship between the surface area of the start-up assist valve and the amount of metal to be enclosed, so that a start-up assist valve having excellent starting characteristics can be supplied.
[0015]
The sterilization device according to claim 3 is the sterilization device according to claim 1, wherein in a three-dimensional shape surrounded by the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve, the shortest straight line distance that is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface connecting the opposed inner surfaces. Is D (cm) and the gas pressure of the rare gas is P (torr), the product B = D × P of the shortest linear distance D (cm) and the gas pressure P (torr) of the rare gas is 0.9. ≦ B <120. With such a configuration, it is possible to supply a starting auxiliary valve having excellent life characteristics.
[0016]
The sterilization device according to claim 4 is the sterilization device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of metal forming the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is M (mg), and the surface area of the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve is S (cm). ² ), The amount of metal encapsulation per unit surface area A = M / S (mg / cm ² ) Is in the range of 0.07 ≦ A ≦ 3, and in a three-dimensional shape surrounded by the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve, the shortest straight line distance of a straight line substantially perpendicular to the inner surface connecting the opposing inner surfaces. Is D (cm) and the gas pressure of the rare gas is P (torr), the product B = D × P of the shortest linear distance D (cm) and the gas pressure P (torr) of the rare gas is 0.9. ≦ B <120. With such a configuration, a starting auxiliary valve that can receive electrons of microwave energy and supply electrons necessary for improving the starting and that does not excessively cover the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve with the generated metal film. It is possible to supply a starting auxiliary valve which can be supplied and has excellent life characteristics.
[0017]
A sterilization apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the sterilization apparatus according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect, wherein the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is mainly made of barium, magnesium, cesium, sodium, or aluminum, or a combination thereof. It is a metal film as a component. With such a configuration, a metal film can be easily formed, and a start-up assist valve having excellent startability can be supplied.
[0018]
The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 6 is the sterilizing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the rare gas is any one of argon, xenon, krypton, neon, and helium, or a combination thereof. With such a configuration, it is possible to supply a starting auxiliary valve having excellent startability.
[0019]
The sterilizing device according to claim 7, wherein the electrodeless valve is disposed in a positional relationship in which the radiated light of the starting auxiliary valve hits all the electrodeless valves in the sterilizing device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Was placed. With such a configuration, the rare gas in the electrodeless bulb receives the energy of the radiated light from the start-up auxiliary valve, and excitation and ionization occur actively, so that the microwave energy is small and starting is difficult. Electrons are supplied to the discharge space even with the electrodeless bulb disposed at the place, starting is facilitated, and it is possible to provide a sterilizer having excellent startability.
[0020]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 8 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the radiation of the start-up auxiliary valve is in a positional relationship in which the emitted light impinges on at least one of the electrodeless valves. The radiated light from the electrodeless bulbs arranged and arranged in a positional relationship where the radiated light of the starting auxiliary valve shines is arranged in a positional relationship where the radiated light impinges on another electrodeless bulb in a chain. With such a configuration, even if the electrodeless valve is arranged in a place where the radiation of the starting auxiliary valve cannot be received, the electrodeless bulb that has received the radiation of the starting auxiliary valve and started the radiation of the electrodeless bulb that has started the excitation or Ionization becomes active, and starting is facilitated. Furthermore, the starting of other electrodeless lamps is improved in a chain. As described above, even in an electrodeless bulb arranged in a place where the microwave energy is small and starting is difficult, electrons are supplied to the discharge space and starting is facilitated, so that it is possible to provide a sterilizing apparatus excellent in starting properties.
[0021]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 9 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein the electrodeless electrode is disposed in a positional relationship in which the starting auxiliary valve is irradiated with radiated light. The radiated light from the bulb hits another electrodeless bulb, so that the chain of the radiated light reaches all the electrodeless bulbs. With such a configuration, since the startability improvement by the chain of the radiation light started from the starting auxiliary valve extends to all the electrodeless valves, it is possible to reliably start all the electrodeless valves, It is possible to provide a sterilizer having excellent startability.
[0022]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 10 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the electrodeless bulbs arranged in a positional relationship with which the emission light of the starting assistance valve shines is the starting assistance. It was located close to the valve. With such a configuration, it is possible to reliably start the electrodeless bulb, and to reliably start other electrodeless bulbs by the ultraviolet rays from the started electrodeless bulb. Can be provided.
[0023]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 11 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve has a getter function. With such a configuration, impurities mixed in the inside of the start-up assist valve are adsorbed by the getter, and a sterilizer having excellent startability can be provided.
[0024]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 12 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, and emits ultraviolet rays when irradiated with microwaves. Material was sealed inside the starting aid valve. With such a configuration, ultraviolet light can be emitted from the start-up assist valve, so that a sterilizer with excellent startability can be provided.
[0025]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 13 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, wherein the starting auxiliary valve is the microwave generator. The microwave was placed near or at the center of the bottom surface of the inside of the container and / or in a horizontal direction from the center and at a position that is a natural multiple of half the wavelength of the microwave. With such a configuration, the start-up assist valve can be arranged in a region where microwaves are strong, and a sterilization apparatus excellent in startability can be provided.
[0026]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 14 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13; The height of the microwave is set to be a natural multiple of a half wavelength of the microwave. With such a configuration, the start-up assist valve can be arranged in a region where microwaves are strong, and a sterilization apparatus excellent in startability can be provided.
[0027]
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 15 is the sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14, wherein the microwave generator is And 2.45 (GHz) microwaves. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to use a microwave oven that is widely used in ordinary households, and convenience is increased. In addition, a relatively easy-to-use sterilizer having an interval between irradiated surfaces of about 6 (cm) is used. Can be provided.
[0028]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sterilizer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a sterilizer according to a reference example, which is a premise for explaining the present invention.
[0029]
First, a sterilization apparatus according to a reference example, which is a premise of the present invention, is described. As shown in FIG. 2, the sterilizing device 6 accommodates the electrodeless valve 2 and the object 4 in a case 5 that can be freely opened and closed, and is formed in a substantially oval shape. Here, the case 5 is composed of two dividable case members 5a and 5b having translucency, and a support member 11 of the case 5 is disposed on an outer surface of the case member 5a. Inside the case member 5a, the electrodeless bulb 2 and the workpiece 4 are installed on a substantially cylindrical support base 12, and the surface of the substantially hollow cylindrical electrodeless bulb 2 in the longitudinal direction, that is, the ultraviolet radiation surface, It is installed so as to face the workpiece 4. The support 12 is made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light so as not to hinder the irradiation of the object 4 with ultraviolet light.
[0030]
The electrodeless bulb 2 is made of a member that is airtight and at least partially transparent to ultraviolet rays. In the present embodiment, quartz having a diameter of 0.8 cm, a longitudinal length of 2 cm, and a wall thickness of 0.1 cm is used for the electrodeless bulb 2. Mercury as an ultraviolet ray generating material and argon as a buffer gas are sealed inside the electrodeless bulb 2. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the sterilizing device 6 cut in a radial direction of the electrodeless valve.
[0031]
In such a configuration, the sterilizing device 6 is put in a refrigerator of the microwave generator 1 (here, a microwave oven). FIG. 4 shows this state. When the microwave oven 1 is operated, a microwave is generated in the microwave oven 1 and irradiated to the sterilizer 6. When the electrodeless bulb 2 receives a microwave, electrons (hereafter, referred to as initial electrons) that were accidentally present inside the electrodeless bulb 2 are accelerated by an electric field generated by the microwave, and kinetic energy is obtained. Hit and ionize. When the number of electrons increases to some extent, it becomes possible to directly receive energy by microwaves and maintain discharge. In the state where the discharge is maintained, electrons are accelerated by an electric field generated by microwaves and collide with mercury atoms to ionize or excite. When the excited mercury atom returns to the ground state, it emits the energy difference between its levels as light. One excitation radiation wavelength of mercury is 254 nm, and this ultraviolet ray has a strong bactericidal action. Sterilization is performed by irradiating the object 4 with the ultraviolet rays. This time, the output of the microwave oven 1 was 500 W.
[0032]
However, in a sterilization apparatus which is rarely set to a certain state, even when the microwave oven 1 is operated, the start of the electrodeless valve 2 is delayed. The electrodeless bulb 2 is located in the microwave oven 1 at a position where the electric field strength is weak (generally, the microwave oven uses a microwave having a frequency of 2.45 GHz which is an industrial band. In this case, the wavelength is about 12 cm, and the wavelength is 1 cm). And a region where the electric field strength is high and a region where the electric field strength is low at an interval of 3/4), and no external stimulus such as vibration is given. In addition, the ambient temperature is 0 ° C. or lower. Is a case where the sterilizer is placed in a state where no light is irradiated for a long time. As described above, the discharge of the electrodeless bulb 2 starts with the initial electrons existing inside the electrodeless bulb 2. However, if the initial number of electrons originally present inside the electrodeless bulb 2 is small due to some conditions, the mercury atoms cannot be sufficiently ionized even when receiving the energy from the microwave, and as a result, discharge is unlikely to occur. . Such conditions are conditions that cannot be achieved under normal use.However, if they occur, there is a possibility that sterilization will be insufficient. It is a problem that must not be.
[0033]
Since this phenomenon has a very low probability of occurrence, it is difficult to confirm its effect even if improvement measures are applied. Therefore, conditions were extracted for increasing the probability of occurrence of this phenomenon and making it easier to compare the effects of the improvement means. The extracted conditions are as follows: "The lighting operation is performed for 300 hours in advance. After that, no light is applied to the sterilizing apparatus for 72 hours or more, the vibration from the outside is shut off, the ambient temperature is kept at 0 ° C., and then the microwave oven is Microwave irradiation is performed in a state where the electrodeless bulb is arranged at a position where the electric field strength is weak in the inside. The microwave oven output is 500 W. " The 300 hours of pre-lighting is the rated life of the sterilizer that is currently assumed. That is, by performing lighting for 300 hours, the sterilization apparatus can be brought to the end of life.
[0034]
Under these conditions, the time from the irradiation of the microwave to the start of the electrodeless valve was measured. As a result, the probability that the electrodeless valve was started within 10 seconds from the microwave irradiation was 63%. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using the extracted conditions.
[0035]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The sterilizer 7 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the starter assist valve 3 is added to the support base 12 of the case member 5a in the sterilizer 6 of the reference example, and other basic configurations are shown in the reference example. It is the same as the sterilizer 6. That is, the object 4 is used inside a case (container) 5 made of a material that transmits microwaves, which is used in a microwave oven (microwave generator) 1 that generates microwaves of a predetermined wavelength λ. And at least one electrodeless bulb 2 containing therein a substance that emits ultraviolet rays by receiving the energy of the microwaves when irradiated with the microwaves and a rare gas therein. By irradiating the surface to be treated, the surface to be treated is sterilized. In FIG. 1, the microwave oven 1 is not shown. The starting auxiliary valve 3 is made of a member that is airtight and at least partially made of a light-transmitting member, and receives microwave energy when irradiated with microwaves to generate a discharge inside the bulb. The starting auxiliary valve 3 has a metal film formed on an inner surface thereof, and at least a rare gas of the same type as the rare gas sealed in the electrodeless valve 2 is sealed therein. Is formed of a material through which the emitted light is transmitted to the outside.
[0036]
The starting auxiliary valve 3 of the present embodiment is made of quartz, and is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape having a diameter of 0.6 cm, a longitudinal length of 1.5 cm, and a wall thickness of 0.1 cm. A metal film of barium is formed on the inner surface of the start-up auxiliary valve 3, and argon is sealed at 10 torr. The starting auxiliary valve 3 is fixed to the support base 12 of the case member 5 a, and is positioned so that the radiation of the starting auxiliary valve 3 hits the electrodeless bulb 2. The metal film of barium can be formed by various methods by applying energy from the outside. In the present embodiment, barium is sealed in the start-up auxiliary valve 3 and heated by an electric furnace to evaporate the barium. The membrane was made. The amount of metal barium used was 5 mg.
[0037]
In order to confirm the effect of the embodiment of the present invention, a comparative experiment was performed on the sterilizing apparatus 7 under the conditions previously extracted. As a result, the starting auxiliary valve 3 was started within 10 seconds after the microwave irradiation, and the electrodeless valve 2 was also started immediately following the starting auxiliary valve 3. Looking at the state of starting, it was observed that the starting auxiliary valve 3 was started first, and then the electrodeless valve 2 was started.
[0038]
The mechanism by which the start-up assist valve 3 has a high startability is not clearly known, but is speculated as follows.
[0039]
Since an electrodeless bulb originally has to start discharging from initial electrons that are accidentally present inside, it is necessary to increase the number of electrons until the discharge can be maintained by ionizing mercury atoms even when microwave energy is applied. Must. If the number of initial electrons present accidentally is small or the energy of microwaves is small, dielectric breakdown is unlikely to occur or discharge cannot be maintained. For this reason, poor starting occurs.
[0040]
On the other hand, in the starting auxiliary valve, a high-frequency current flows through the metal film formed on the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve, and the metal film is rapidly heated locally. Then, thermoelectrons are emitted from the heated metal film into the discharge space. As a result of the electrons being supplied into the discharge space, the starting auxiliary valve is supplied with sufficient electrons even in places where only insufficient energy is supplied to cause dielectric breakdown of the electrodeless bulb. Can be started.
[0041]
When the start-up auxiliary valve is started in this manner, the start-up auxiliary valve emits the emitted light of the sealed rare gas. All substances have a certain energy level for each substance, and can transfer only energy corresponding to the difference between these energy levels, and ionization occurs, is excited, or is relaxed. Synchrotron radiation emits energy corresponding to a difference between levels as light when electrons raised to a higher level are relaxed to a lower level. Since the same substance has the same energy level, one can easily absorb the energy of the emitted light emitted from the other. Since the same kind of gas as the starting auxiliary valve is also sealed in the electrodeless valve, the gas of the electrodeless valve can easily receive light emitted from the gas of the starting auxiliary valve as energy, and ionization occurs actively. As a result, the starting of the electrodeless valve is facilitated.
[0042]
The above assumption is consistent with the phenomenon that the starting auxiliary valve starts earlier than the electrodeless valve.
[0043]
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the start of the electrodeless valve can be reliably performed, and the sterilization can be reliably performed.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, barium has been described as a material of the metal film of the start-up auxiliary valve. However, it has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained with magnesium, cesium, sodium, and aluminum. A metal film serving as a main component may be used. In particular, a metal having a low work function is preferable because electrons can be easily extracted. In addition, although the filling gas for the start-up assist valve and the electrodeless valve has been described with argon, it has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained by selecting from xenon, krypton, neon, and helium. Or it may be a combination. Furthermore, the enclosed material of the electrodeless bulb has been described with mercury, but there are other options as long as it generates ultraviolet rays.
[0045]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0046]
By the way, regarding the amount of the metal film formed on the inner surface of the start-up assist valve, as a result of conducting an experiment by changing the specification of the valve, it was found that upper and lower limits existed. The lower limit is the minimum amount of the metal film that can receive the energy of microwaves and supply the electrons necessary to improve the startability, and the upper limit is the amount of light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve that is blocked by the metal film and emitted outside the starting auxiliary valve. It is an amount that does not disappear. The metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is formed on the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve by externally applying energy to the metal enclosed in the starting auxiliary valve. That is, the generation amount of the metal film depends on the amount of the enclosed metal and the inner area of the starting auxiliary valve.
[0047]
Since it was found that the difference in the startability improvement effect can be expressed under the conditions extracted in the first embodiment, the influence on the startability by the surface area of the start-up auxiliary valve, the type of the metal to be sealed, and the amount of the metal to be sealed was examined. Was. An example of the result will be described.
[0048]
The specifications of the starting auxiliary valve used are as follows.
[0049]
Material of metal film: barium
Metal encapsulation amount: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 5, 10, 12.5, 14, 25 mg
Surface area of starting auxiliary valve: 1.26 to 19.1 cm ² 12 types in the range
Rare gas: Argon 10 torr
Other basic configurations are the same as those of the sterilizing apparatus 7 described in the first embodiment. The sterilization device incorporating these start-up assist valves was placed under the conditions extracted in Embodiment 1, and the effect of improving startability was confirmed. Table 1 shows the obtained results. In the table, A is the amount of metal enclosed per unit surface area, the amount of metal that forms the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is M (mg), and the surface area of the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve is S (cm). ² ) And the amount of metal enclosed A = M / S (mg / cm ² ). The definitions of "o" and "x" are as follows.
[0050]
：: All of the starting auxiliary valve and the electrodeless valve started within 10 seconds after microwave irradiation.
[0051]
X: All of the starting auxiliary valve and the electrodeless valve did not start within 10 seconds after the irradiation of the microwave.
[0052]
[Table 1]

[0053]
FIG. 5 is a graph of Table 1. From this result, it can be seen that there is an appropriate range in the startability of the starting auxiliary valve and the electrodeless valve.
[0054]
A ≧ 0.07 (Equation 1)
Except for the condition represented by (Equation 1), that is, when A <0.07, it was difficult for the start-up assist valve to start. This is thought to be because the amount of encapsulated metal was small and the metal film was thus reduced, so that the amount of thermionic electrons heated and released by the microwave was small, and the amount of electrons was insufficient for starting.
[0055]
A ≦ 3 (Formula 2)
Under conditions other than the condition represented by (Equation 2), that is, when A> 3, the metal film widely covers the inner surface of the start-up assist valve, so that even when the start-up assist valve is started, it becomes difficult for emitted light to go out. For this reason, the electrodeless bulb cannot sufficiently receive the radiated light, and poor starting occurs.
[0056]
From the above results, when the range in which the startability is good indicated by hatching in FIG. 5 is expressed by an equation, the metal encapsulation amount A per unit surface area can be expressed by (Equation 3).
[0057]
0.07 ≦ A ≦ 3 (Equation 3)
By establishing this relationship, the amount of the metal film capable of receiving the energy of the microwave and supplying the electrons necessary for improving the startability, and the metal not excessively covered by the generated metal film on the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve. The range of the amount of the film can be defined by the relationship between the surface area of the start-up assist valve and the amount of metal to be sealed, and it has been found that a start-up assist valve having excellent start-up characteristics can be supplied.
[0058]
Incidentally, in addition to barium, a similar experiment was conducted for four kinds of metals, such as magnesium, cesium, sodium, and aluminum. It has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained if any of them is within the range of (Equation 3). Alternatively, a metal film containing any or a combination of these materials as a main component may be used. In addition, although the filling gas for the start-up assist valve and the electrodeless valve has been described with argon, it has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained by selecting from xenon, krypton, neon, and helium. Or a combination.
[0059]
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0060]
The dielectric breakdown of gas occurs due to the impact ionization of electrons and gas molecules, and the dielectric breakdown voltage is determined by the type of gas, the gas pressure P, and the distance d between the electrodes. Assuming that the temperature is constant, the gas pressure is P, and the distance between the electrodes is d, the breakdown voltage Vs is
Vs = F (P × d)
It becomes. F is a proportionality constant. This is well known as Paschen's law. In the case of an electrodeless bulb, there is no electrode length because there is no electrode. Instead, a similar relationship is established by the shortest straight line distance (see FIG. 6) of a straight line substantially perpendicular to the inner surface.
[0061]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, an experiment was conducted by changing the specification of the valve by changing the shortest straight line distance D of a straight line substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve 3 and the effect of the pressure of the rare gas to be filled on the startability. As a result, it was found that upper and lower limits existed. An example of the result will be described. In the figure, D 'is the longest linear distance.
[0062]
The specifications of the starting auxiliary valve used are as follows.
[0063]
Material of metal film: barium
Metal encapsulation amount: 5mg
Gas type: argon
Gas pressure of starting auxiliary valve: 0.75, 1, 1.5, 5, 10, 20, 100, 200, 300, 400 torr
Diameter of starting auxiliary valve: 0.4, 0.6, 1, 1.6 cm,
Length of starting auxiliary valve in the longitudinal direction: 0.8, 1.5, 3 cm, approximately cylindrical
Other basic configurations are the same as those of the sterilizing apparatus 7 described in the first embodiment. The startability improving effect was confirmed under the conditions extracted in Embodiment 1 for the sterilizing apparatus incorporating these start-up assist valves. Table 2 shows the obtained results. B in the table is the product of the pressure of the rare gas and the shortest straight line distance of a straight line substantially perpendicular to the inner surface. In the three-dimensional shape surrounded by the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve, B is substantially the inner surface connecting the opposed inner surfaces. The product of the shortest straight line distance D (cm) and the gas pressure P (torr) of the rare gas when the shortest straight line distance of the vertical straight line is D (cm) and the gas pressure of the rare gas P (torr) is B = D x P. The definitions of "o" and "x" are as follows.
[0064]
：: All of the starting auxiliary valve and the electrodeless valve started within 10 seconds after microwave irradiation.
[0065]
X: All of the starting auxiliary valve and the electrodeless valve did not start within 10 seconds after the irradiation of the microwave.
[0066]
[Table 2]

[0067]
From this result, it can be seen that there is an appropriate range in the startability of the starting auxiliary valve and the electrodeless valve.
[0068]
B <120 (Equation 4)
and,
B ≧ 0.9 (Equation 5)
Is the range represented by That is,
0.9 ≦ B <120 (Equation 6)
It has been found that by satisfying the relationship, all the starting auxiliary valves and the electrodeless valves can be started within 10 seconds from the microwave irradiation. By satisfying (Equation 6), a starting auxiliary valve having excellent starting characteristics can be supplied until the end of life.
[0069]
Incidentally, in addition to barium, a similar experiment was conducted for four kinds of metals, magnesium, cesium, sodium, and aluminum. It has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained if any of them is within the range of (Equation 6). Alternatively, a metal film containing any or a combination of these materials as a main component may be used. In addition, although the filling gas for the start-up assist valve and the electrodeless valve has been described with argon, it has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained by selecting from xenon, krypton, neon, and helium. Or a combination.
[0070]
Note that the second and third embodiments may be combined.
[0071]
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a sterilization apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0072]
As shown in FIG. 7, the sterilizing apparatus 8 has an electrodeless valve 2, a start-up auxiliary valve 3, and a workpiece 4 arranged in an openable and closable case 5 composed of two case members 5a and 5b which can be divided. The electrodeless valve 2a, the auxiliary starting valve 3, and the workpiece 4 are arranged on the support base 12 of one case member 5a, and the electrodeless valve 2b is also arranged on the bottom surface of the other case member 5b. In addition, the emitted light of the starting auxiliary valve 3 is maintained in a positional relationship in which the emitted light hits the electrodeless valves 2a and 2b. Other configurations are the same as those of the sterilization apparatus 7 of the first embodiment.
[0073]
When the sterilizer 8 configured as described above is placed in the refrigerator of the microwave oven 1 (FIG. 4) and the microwave oven 1 is operated, all the electrodeless bulbs can be operated within 10 seconds from the microwave irradiation even under the conditions extracted in the reference example. Started. By the way, it is assumed that walls are made of an opaque material between the starting auxiliary valve 3 and the electrodeless valve 2a and between the starting auxiliary valve 3 and the electrodeless valve 2b so that light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve 3 does not hit. In addition, the probability that the electrodeless bulb was started within 10 seconds after microwave irradiation was reduced to 60%, and only about the same startability as that of the sterilizer 6 shown in the reference example was obtained.
[0074]
The radiated light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve 3 hits the electrodeless bulbs 2a and 2b, so that the electrodeless bulbs 2a and 2b can be easily started, and the starting failure of the electrodeless bulbs 2a and 2b can be eliminated. That is, it was confirmed that sterilization could be reliably performed.
[0075]
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a sterilization apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0076]
As shown in FIG. 8, the sterilizer shown in the present embodiment is such that the sterilizer 6 shown in the reference example and the sterilizer 8 shown in the fourth embodiment are arranged side by side in a microwave oven 1 which is a microwave generator. are doing. What is important here is that the radiated light of the starting auxiliary valve 3 is arranged in a positional relationship in which the radiated light strikes the electrodeless bulbs 2, 2a, 2b. Further, the case member 5 of the sterilizer 6 and / or the case members 5a and 5b of the sterilizer 8 are made of a material that allows radiation (ultraviolet light) to pass through. Other configurations are the same as in the fourth embodiment.
[0077]
When the microwave oven 1 (FIG. 4) is operated in such a configuration, the starting auxiliary valve 3 starts even under the conditions extracted in the reference example, and the radiated light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve 3 emits the electrodeless valves 2 and 2a. , 2b, the electrodeless valves 2, 2a, 2b can be easily started, and starting failures of the electrodeless valves 2, 2a, 2b can be eliminated.
[0078]
A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a sterilization apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
[0079]
In the fifth embodiment, when the case member 5 of the sterilizing device 6 and / or the case members 5a and 5b of the sterilizing device 8 are made of a material that does not allow radiation light (ultraviolet light) to pass through, as shown in FIG. The window 14 is provided on the surface where the and 2b face each other. The window 14 may be made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, or a case member may be cut out. In this way, the emitted light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve 3 hits the electrodeless bulbs 2a and 2b to start the electrodeless bulbs 2a and 2b, and the ultraviolet rays emitted from the electrodeless bulb 2b pass through the window 14. By irradiating the electrodeless bulb 2, the electrodeless bulb 2 is started.
[0080]
As described above, when the starting auxiliary valve 3 and the plurality of electrodeless bulbs 2 are arranged, the emitted light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve 3 is arranged in a positional relationship where the emitted light impinges on at least one of the electrodeless bulbs 2a and 2b. In addition, it is preferable that the radiated light emitted from the electrodeless bulb 2b arranged in a positional relationship where the radiated light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve 3 strikes another electrodeless bulb 2 in a chain relationship. Arranged in a positional relationship in which the radiated light emitted from the electrodeless bulb 2b hits another electrodeless bulb 2 and the chain of radiated light emitted from the electrodeless bulb 2b arranged in a positional relationship struck by all the electrodeless bulbs 2 It is most desirable to
[0081]
As described above, by adopting the configuration described in the present embodiment, since the startability by the chain of the radiation light started from the starting auxiliary valve 3 is improved to all the electrodeless bulbs 2, all the electrodeless bulbs 2 are surely provided. Can be started, and sterilization can be performed reliably.
[0082]
A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a sterilization apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
[0083]
As shown in FIG. 10, the sterilizing apparatus 9 has an electrodeless valve 2, a start-up auxiliary valve 3, and a workpiece 4 arranged in an openable and closable case 5 constituted by two case members 5a and 5b which can be divided. The electrodeless valve 2a, the auxiliary starting valve 3, and the workpiece 4 are arranged on the support base 12 of one case member 5a, and the electrodeless valve 2b is also arranged on the bottom surface of the other case member 5b. In addition, the emitted light of the starting auxiliary valve 3 is maintained in a positional relationship in which the emitted light hits the electrodeless valves 2a and 2b. What is important here is that the starting auxiliary valve 3 is disposed close to the electrodeless valve 2a. Other configurations are the same as in the fourth embodiment.
[0084]
When the microwave oven 1 (FIG. 4) is operated in such a configuration, the start-up assist valve 3 starts even under the conditions extracted in the reference example, and the radiated light emitted from the start-up assist valve 3 emits the electrodeless valves 2a and 2b. , The electrodeless valves 2a and 2b can be easily started, and starting failures of the electrodeless valves 2a and 2b can be eliminated. Here, since the starting auxiliary valve 3 and the electrodeless valve 2a are arranged close to each other, the electrodeless valve 2a can receive the radiated light of the starting auxiliary valve 3 with little attenuation, so that it is more reliable. The electrodeless valve 2a can be started. When the electrodeless bulb 2a is started, ultraviolet rays radiated from the electrodeless bulb 2a are irradiated to other electrodeless bulbs, and the effect of the starting auxiliary valve and the effect of ultraviolet rays are combined. Makes starting easier. As a result, all the electrodeless valves can be started, and sterilization can be performed reliably. In addition, what is necessary is just a structure in which at least one of the electrodeless valves is arranged close to the starting auxiliary valve.
[0085]
An eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0086]
As described in the first embodiment, the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve 3 is formed by encapsulating a metal of barium, magnesium, cesium, sodium, and aluminum in the starting auxiliary valve and heating to evaporate the metal to form a metal film. The film was being formed. However, some of these metals react violently when exposed to the atmosphere, and the film is required to be formed at a high temperature.
[0087]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a metal film is formed using a barium getter commercially available for lamps (for example, a barium getter St14 series manufactured by SAES GETTERS (Italy)). It has the same configuration as the start-up auxiliary valve described above, except that a metal film is formed using a barium getter. These barium getters are commonly used in general lamps, are easy to handle, and require lower temperatures for film formation than metals of the same type. For example, when forming a film using barium metal, heating at 950 ° C. for 10 minutes was required in an electric furnace. On the other hand, when a film was formed by using a barium getter, heating was performed at 850 ° C. for 5 minutes in an electric furnace, so that the manufacturing process could be simplified.
[0088]
In addition, when the metal film is formed by the barium getter, the barium metal surface exerts a getter effect and adsorbs the impure gas contained in the starting auxiliary valve. Impurity gas contained inside the valve filled with argon only and the starting auxiliary valve formed with a metal film using a barium getter was measured.As a result, almost no impurity gas was detected in the starting auxiliary valve formed with a metal film using a barium getter. On the other hand, it was found that the nitrogen and carbon monoxide concentrations were high in the valve containing only argon (Table 3).
[0089]
[Table 3]

[0090]
Further, under the conditions extracted in the first embodiment, the starting of the starting assist valve formed of a metal film using metal barium was within 10 seconds, whereas the starting assist valve formed of a metal film using a barium getter was used for starting. All valves started within 5 seconds. That is, the starting time can be reduced. In the case where the operation time of the microwave generator is constant, the shortening of the start-up time means that the ratio of the time during which the sterilization time is performed increases, and sterilization can be performed more reliably.
[0091]
In addition, it has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained even when the filling gas of the starting auxiliary valve is selected from argon, xenon, krypton, neon, and helium, and any of these filling gases or a combination thereof may be used.
[0092]
A ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0093]
The start-up auxiliary valve 3 described so far is air-tight and at least partly made of a light-transmitting member, has a metal film formed on the inner surface, and has a structure in which a rare gas is sealed. When discharge is started by microwave irradiation, the starting auxiliary valve 3 configured as described above emits only radiation emitted from the sealed rare gas. Since the rare gas was selected from argon, xenon, krypton, neon, and helium, infrared light was emitted from visible light, but almost no ultraviolet light was obtained.
[0094]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a substance that emits ultraviolet rays when microwaves are applied to the inside of the starting auxiliary valve 3 is sealed. A specific example will be described. The starting auxiliary valve 3 is made of substantially cylindrical quartz having a diameter of 0.8 cm, a length in a longitudinal direction of 2 cm, and a thickness of 0.1 cm, and a metal film using a barium getter is formed on the inner surface of the valve. , 1 mg and 10 torr of argon. The amount of metal barium used was 5 mg. If mercury is sealed before the metal film is formed by the barium getter, the mercury is adsorbed during the formation of the barium film, and a desired amount of mercury cannot be obtained in the discharge space. Therefore, a process in which barium is formed first and then mercury is sealed is adopted. The starting auxiliary valve obtained in this way has the same starting performance as the starting auxiliary valve of the above-described embodiments, and also emits ultraviolet rays from the starting auxiliary valve after starting. The irradiation amount of the ultraviolet light to the processing object 4 increases, and as a result, sterilization can be performed more reliably.
[0095]
In the present embodiment, barium has been described as a material of the metal film of the start-up auxiliary valve. However, it has been confirmed that the same effect can be obtained with magnesium, cesium, sodium, and aluminum. A metal film serving as a main component may be used. In addition, although the filling gas of the start-up auxiliary valve has been described with argon, it has been confirmed that the same effect occurs even when selected from xenon, krypton, neon, and helium, and any or a combination of these filling gases may be used. . Furthermore, although the filling of the starting auxiliary valve has been described with mercury, other options are possible as long as they generate ultraviolet rays.
[0096]
A tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a sterilization apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0097]
As shown in FIG. 11, the sterilizing apparatus 9 has the electrodeless valve 2, the start-up auxiliary valve 3, and the workpiece 4 arranged in an openable and closable case 5 composed of two case members 5a and 5b which can be divided. The electrodeless valve 2a, the auxiliary starting valve 3, and the workpiece 4 are arranged on the support base 12 of one case member 5a, and the electrodeless valve 2b is also arranged on the bottom surface of the other case member 5b. In addition, the emitted light of the starting auxiliary valve 3 is maintained in a positional relationship in which the emitted light hits the electrodeless valves 2a and 2b. What is important here is that the starter assist valve 3 arranged on the support base 12 of the case member 5 a is arranged on the vertical center line of the sterilizer 9. The electrodeless bulb 2a is arranged at a position where the ultraviolet rays emitted from the electrodeless bulb 2a toward the irradiation target are not blocked by the starting auxiliary bulb 3. Other configurations are the same as in the fourth embodiment. Incidentally, a general microwave oven uses a microwave having a frequency of 2.45 GHz, and the microwave electric field is generated at intervals of about 6 cm, which is a half wavelength in both the horizontal and vertical directions centering around the center of the bottom surface. It is designed to provide high strength.
[0098]
The sterilizer 9 configured as described above is disposed near the center of the bottom surface in the refrigerator of the microwave oven 1 (FIG. 4). If the outer shape of the case is an axially symmetric shape such as a substantially cylindrical shape or a substantially egg shape, it is easy to position the sterilizing apparatus near the center of the microwave oven 1. As described above, microwaves are designed to be strong near the center of the microwave oven. As a result, the starting auxiliary valve 3 can obtain a strong electric field of the microwave, and the starting performance of the starting auxiliary valve 3 can be improved.
[0099]
Note that the starting auxiliary valve 3 is disposed near the center of the bottom surface in the refrigerator of the microwave generator or / and at a position that is horizontal to the center and is a natural multiple of half the wavelength of the microwave. May be.
[0100]
An eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a sterilization apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.
[0101]
As shown in FIG. 12, the sterilization apparatus 10 is configured such that the starting auxiliary valve 3 arranged on the support base 12 has a height L of 6 cm from the lower end of the sterilization apparatus 10. As described above, in the microwave oven, there is a region where the microwave electric field intensity can be strongly obtained at about every 6 cm, which is a half wavelength in both the horizontal and vertical directions centering around the center of the bottom surface. I do. For this reason, the starting auxiliary valve 3 can receive a strong electric field strength by setting the installation position of the starting auxiliary valve 3 at a height of 6 cm from the bottom in the refrigerator. Other configurations are the same as those of the fourth or tenth embodiment. With such a configuration, the starting auxiliary valve 3 can be arranged in a region where the electric field intensity by the microwave is strong, so that the starting is easy and the sterilizing ability is high.
[0102]
The starting auxiliary valve may be arranged at a height from the lower end of the sterilizer so as to be a natural multiple of half the wavelength of the microwave.
[0103]
A twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a sterilizer according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.
[0104]
As shown in FIG. 13, the sterilizing apparatus 11 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and includes an electrodeless valve 2 and a start-up assist valve 3 in an openable and closable case 5 constituted by two splittable case members 5a and 5b. And the workpiece 4 were arranged. The electrodeless valve 2a, the auxiliary starting valve 3, and the workpiece 4 are disposed on the bottom surface of one case member 5a, and the electrodeless valve 2b is also disposed on the bottom surface of the other case member 5b. The starting auxiliary valve 3 is disposed at an end of the bottom surface of the case member 5a, and a mark 13 is provided on an outer surface facing the surface on which the starting auxiliary valve 3 is disposed. The mark 13 may be, for example, a part number of the sterilizing apparatus, or may be represented by a shape such as a protrusion. What is necessary is just to be able to visually identify the position of the starting auxiliary valve 3 by the mark 13. Thus, the installation position of the start-up assist valve 3 can be easily recognized by looking at the appearance of the sterilization apparatus. Therefore, if the mark 13 is placed at the center of the inside of the box, the start-up auxiliary valve 3 is arranged near the center of the bottom of the box. Will be.
[0105]
In this case, since the starting auxiliary valve 3 does not need to be installed at the center of the case member 5a, the electrodeless valve 2a can be installed at the center of the case member 5a. With such an arrangement, the positional relationship between each part of the processing target 4 and the electrodeless bulb 2a can be made substantially uniform, so that the processing target 4 can be evenly irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Desirably, the starting assist valve 3 has a structure in which the distance between the starting assist valve 3 disposed at the end of the bottom surface of the case member 5a and the electrodeless valve 2a disposed at the center of the bottom surface is 6 cm, which is a half wavelength of the microwave. Both the bulb 3 and the electrodeless bulb 2a can be arranged in a region where the electric field intensity by the microwave is strong. Other configurations are the same as those of the fourth or tenth embodiment. As a result, the starting is easy and the sterilizing ability is high. As a result, irradiation unevenness of the object to be treated with ultraviolet rays is reduced, and sterilization can be performed more reliably.
[0106]
With the configuration described in the above embodiment, the starting performance of the electrodeless valve is improved, and sterilization can be performed more reliably.
[0107]
【The invention's effect】
According to the sterilization apparatus of claim 1 of the present invention, the starter assist valve is provided with a start assist valve that receives the energy of the microwave when the microwave is irradiated and generates a discharge inside the bulb. A material in which a metal film is formed, and at least a rare gas of the same type as the rare gas sealed in the electrodeless bulb is enclosed therein, and a radiation emitted by the discharge generated inside the starting auxiliary bulb is transmitted to the outside. Since the starting auxiliary valve is formed, the discharge can be easily started even if the starting auxiliary valve is arranged in a place where not enough energy is supplied to cause the electrodeless valve to perform dielectric breakdown. Start is promoted. At this time, the electrons are sufficiently supplied from the metal film into the discharge space, and the discharge of the starting auxiliary valve is started. By filling the same type of gas, the gas of the electrodeless valve emits light emitted from the gas of the starting auxiliary valve. Can be easily received as energy. For this reason, starting of the electrodeless valve can be reliably performed, and sterilization can be reliably performed.
[0108]
In the second aspect, the amount of metal that forms the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is M (mg), and the surface area of the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve is S (cm). ² ), The amount of metal encapsulation per unit surface area A = M / S (mg / cm ² ) Is expressed in the range of 0.07 ≦ A ≦ 3, so that the amount of the metal film capable of receiving the energy of the microwave and supplying the electrons necessary for improving the startability and the inner surface of the start auxiliary valve are generated. The range of the amount of the metal film that is not excessively covered by the metal film can be specified by the relationship between the surface area of the starting auxiliary valve and the amount of the metal to be sealed, so that a starting auxiliary valve with excellent starting characteristics can be supplied. it can.
[0109]
According to the third aspect, in the three-dimensional shape surrounded by the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve, the shortest straight line distance substantially perpendicular to the inner surface connecting the opposed inner surfaces is D (cm), and the gas pressure of the rare gas is P ( (torr), the product B = D × P of the shortest linear distance D (cm) and the gas pressure P (torr) of the rare gas is expressed in the range of 0.9 ≦ B <120. An excellent starting auxiliary valve can be supplied.
[0110]
In claim 4, the amount of metal forming the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is M (mg), and the surface area of the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve is S (cm). ² ), The amount of metal encapsulation per unit surface area A = M / S (mg / cm ² ) Is expressed in the range of 0.07 ≦ A ≦ 3, and in a three-dimensional shape surrounded by the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve, the shortest straight line distance of a straight line substantially perpendicular to the inner surface connecting between the opposing inner surfaces. When D (cm) and the gas pressure of the rare gas are P (torr), the product B = D × P of the shortest linear distance D (cm) and the gas pressure P (torr) of the rare gas is 0.9 ≦ B Since it is expressed in the range of <120, it is possible to supply the electrons necessary for improving the starting by receiving the energy of the microwave, and the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve is not excessively covered by the generated metal film. Can be supplied, and a starting auxiliary valve having excellent life characteristics can be supplied.
[0111]
According to the fifth aspect, the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is a metal film containing any one or a combination of barium, magnesium, cesium, sodium, and aluminum, so that the metal film can be easily formed. Thus, it is possible to supply a starting auxiliary valve having excellent startability.
[0112]
According to the sixth aspect, the rare gas is any one or a combination of argon, xenon, krypton, neon, and helium. Therefore, a start-up assist valve excellent in startability can be supplied.
[0113]
According to claim 7, since the electrodeless valve is arranged in a positional relationship in which the light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve hits all the electrodeless valves, the rare gas in the electrodeless valve receives the energy of the light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve and receives the excitation light. Ionization becomes active. For this reason, even if the electrodeless bulb is placed in a place where the microwave energy is small and starting is difficult, electrons are supplied to the discharge space, and starting is facilitated, so that a sterilizing apparatus excellent in startability can be provided.
[0114]
According to claim 8, the light emitted from the electrodeless bulb arranged in a positional relationship in which the light emitted from the starting auxiliary valve hits at least one electrodeless bulb and the light emitted from the auxiliary valve in the starting position is arranged so that Since it is arranged in a positional relationship corresponding to other electrodeless bulbs in a chain, even if it is an electrodeless bulb placed in a place where it can not receive the emission light of the starting auxiliary valve, the electrodeless bulb that started by receiving the radiation of the starting auxiliary valve Excitation and ionization are actively generated by receiving the emitted light, and starting is facilitated. Furthermore, the starting of other electrodeless lamps is improved in a chain. As described above, even in an electrodeless bulb arranged in a place where the microwave energy is small and starting is difficult, electrons are supplied to the discharge space and starting is facilitated, so that it is possible to provide a sterilizing apparatus excellent in starting properties.
[0115]
According to claim 9, since the radiated light from the electrodeless bulbs arranged in a positional relationship where the radiated light of the starting auxiliary valve shines is applied to all the other electrodeless bulbs, The improvement of the startability due to the chain of the emitted light started from the starting auxiliary valve extends to all the electrodeless valves. For this reason, it is possible to reliably start all the electrodeless valves, and it is possible to provide a sterilizer having excellent startability.
[0116]
According to the tenth aspect, at least one of the electrodeless bulbs arranged in a positional relationship where the emitted light of the starting auxiliary valve shines is arranged close to the starting auxiliary valve, so that the electrodeless bulb can be reliably started and the starting is started. The other electrodeless bulbs can be reliably started by the ultraviolet rays from the electrodeless bulbs, and a sterilizer with excellent startability can be provided.
[0117]
According to the eleventh aspect, since the metal film of the start-up assist valve has a getter function, impurities mixed in the start-up assist valve are adsorbed by the getter, and a sterilizer having excellent startability can be provided.
[0118]
According to the twelfth aspect, a substance that emits ultraviolet rays when irradiated with microwaves is sealed in the inside of the starting auxiliary valve, so that ultraviolet rays can be emitted from the starting auxiliary valve. Can be provided.
[0119]
According to the thirteenth aspect, the starting auxiliary valve is located near or at the center of the bottom surface of the inside of the refrigerator of the microwave generator and / or at a position which is horizontal to the center and is a natural multiple of a half wavelength of the microwave. Since the starting auxiliary valve is disposed in the region where microwaves are strong, the starting auxiliary valve can be disposed in a region where microwaves are strong, and a sterilizing apparatus having excellent startability can be provided.
[0120]
According to claim 14, since the starting auxiliary valve is arranged at a height that is a natural multiple of half the wavelength of the microwave from the lower end of the sterilizer, the starting auxiliary valve is arranged in a region where the microwave is strong. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a sterilizer having excellent startability.
[0121]
In claim 15, since the microwave generator generates microwaves of 2.45 (GHz), it is possible to use a microwave oven that is widely used in ordinary households, thereby increasing convenience and A relatively easy-to-use sterilizer with an interval between irradiated surfaces of about 6 (cm) can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a sterilization apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a sterilization apparatus of a reference example.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a sterilization apparatus according to a reference example.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the sterilizer is housed in a microwave generator.
FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing a result obtained by the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an electrodeless valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a sterilization apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a sterilization apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a sterilization apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a sterilization apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a sterilization apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a sterilizer according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a sterilizer according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram showing Conventional Example 1.
FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing Conventional Example 2.
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing a third conventional example.
FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram showing Conventional Example 4.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 microwave oven
2,2a, 2b Electrodeless valve
3 Start auxiliary valve
4 Object to be treated
5 cases
5a, 5b case member
6,7,8,9,10,11 Sterilizer
12 Valve support
13 mark
14 windows

Claims (15)

Used inside a microwave generator that generates microwaves of a predetermined wavelength λ, and stores an object to be processed in a container formed of a material that transmits microwaves and is irradiated with microwaves. By providing at least one electrodeless bulb containing therein a substance which receives the energy of the microwave and emits ultraviolet rays and a rare gas therein, and irradiates the ultraviolet rays to the surface to be processed of the object to be processed, A sterilization apparatus for performing a sterilization process, including a start-up auxiliary valve in which discharge is generated inside the bulb by receiving the energy of the microwave by being irradiated with the microwave, and the start-up auxiliary valve has a metal film on an inner surface. A rare gas of the same kind as the rare gas formed and sealed in the electrodeless bulb is sealed therein, and discharge of discharge generated inside the starting auxiliary valve is performed. Sterilizer characterized in that the light is formed of a material that is transparent to the outside. Assuming that the amount of metal forming the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is M (mg) and the surface area of the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve is S (cm ² ), the amount of metal enclosed per unit surface area is A = M / S. (Mg / cm ² )
0.07 ≦ A ≦ 3
The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizer is represented by the following range: In the three-dimensional shape surrounded by the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve, the shortest straight line distance that is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface connecting the opposing inner surfaces is D (cm), and the gas pressure of the rare gas is P (torr). At this time, the product B = D × P of the shortest linear distance D (cm) and the gas pressure P (torr) of the rare gas is given by
0.9 ≦ B <120
The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizer is represented by the following range: Assuming that the amount of metal forming the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve is M (mg) and the surface area of the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve is S (cm ² ), the amount of metal enclosed per unit surface area is A = M / S. (Mg / cm ² )
0.07 ≦ A ≦ 3
And in the three-dimensional shape surrounded by the inner surface of the starting auxiliary valve, the shortest straight line distance substantially perpendicular to the inner surface connecting the opposed inner surfaces is D (cm), When the pressure is P (torr), the product B = D × P of the shortest linear distance D (cm) and the gas pressure P (torr) of the rare gas is as follows:
0.9 ≦ B <120
The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizer is represented by the following range: The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the metal film of the start-up assist valve is a metal film containing any one or a combination of barium, magnesium, cesium, sodium, and aluminum. The sterilizer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the rare gas is one of argon, xenon, krypton, neon, and helium, or a combination thereof. 7. The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrodeless bulbs are arranged in a positional relationship in which radiation light of the start-up auxiliary valve hits all the electrodeless bulbs. The emitted light of the starting auxiliary valve is arranged in a positional relationship of hitting at least one of the electrodeless bulbs, and the emitted light from the electrodeless bulbs arranged in a positional relationship of the emitting light of the starting auxiliary valve is chained. The sterilizer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, wherein the sterilizer is disposed in a positional relationship corresponding to another electrodeless valve. A chain of radiated light, from which the radiated light from the electrodeless valve arranged in a positional relationship to be radiated by the starting auxiliary valve irradiates other electrodeless bulbs, extends to all the electrodeless valves. The sterilizer according to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein at least one of the electrodeless bulbs arranged in a positional relationship where the emitted light of the start-up assist valve shines is arranged close to the start-up assist valve. The sterilizer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the metal film of the starting auxiliary valve has a getter function. The sterilizer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, wherein a substance that emits ultraviolet light when irradiated with microwaves is sealed in the start-up auxiliary valve. . The start-up assist valve is disposed near or at the center of the bottom surface in the refrigerator of the microwave generator and / or at a position that is horizontal to the center and is a natural multiple of half the wavelength of the microwave. The sterilizer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. 4. The starting auxiliary valve is disposed at a height from the lower end of the sterilizer so as to be a natural multiple of a half wavelength of the microwave. The sterilizer according to 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13. The said microwave generation apparatus generates a microwave of 2.45 (GHz), The 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 15. The sterilizer according to 14 above.

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