JP2005218686A - Dry sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dry sterilizer in which a glass container 1 such as a vial and an ampule is sterilized by being heated to more than a predetermined temperature and maintenance of emission pyrometers 40, 42, and 44 is easy. <P>SOLUTION: A carrier conveyer 2 which conveys a container 1 in multiple rows is arranged within a can body 4. A hot air supply means 6 to blast hot air to the container 1 on this carrier conveyer 2, windows 34, 36, and 38 which are attached to the wall surfaces 4c, 4d, and 18 of the can body 4 and allow infrared rays generated from the heated container 1 to transmit, and the emission pyrometer 40, 42, and 44 which are installed on the exterior of the can body 4 and sense the infrared rays generated from the heated container 1 to measure the temperature of this container 1, are included. Since the emission pyrometers 40, 42, and 44 are installed on the exterior of the can body 4, confirmation of operations, maintenance, replacement, etc. are easy and maintainability is excellent. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a dry sterilizer that heats and dry sterilizes pharmaceutical containers such as vials, ampoules, and syringes, and other glass containers, and in particular, dry sterilization equipped with a thermometer that measures the temperature of the heated container. Related to the machine.

  In a dry sterilizer for drying and sterilizing glass containers for pharmaceuticals such as vials and ampoules, sterilization is performed by blowing hot air from above onto a container on a transport conveyor that runs inside the can. In order to completely sterilize the container, it is necessary to heat the container to a predetermined temperature. The container is heated to a predetermined temperature by adjusting the temperature of the hot air blown to the container, the wind speed, the internal pressure, the traveling speed of the conveyor, and the like. ing. In actual operation, parameters such as the temperature and wind speed of the hot air are measured, and compared with experimental data determined in advance, it is determined whether or not the container has been heated to a predetermined temperature. However, it is impossible to determine whether or not the container has actually reached a predetermined temperature only by managing parameters such as the temperature of the hot air and the wind speed. In view of this, a dry sterilizer that directly measures the temperature of a container heated in the can has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  The dry sterilizer described in Patent Document 1 (the name of the invention of Patent Document 1 is a high heat sterilization method) is provided with an inlet region, a drying / heating / sterilizing region, a cooling region, and an outlet region. The container to be sterilized passes through a radiation furnace constituting the drying / heating / sterilization region on a transport belt. The sterilization temperature of the glass container in the radiation furnace is continuously measured and monitored by a radiation pyrometer incorporated in the side wall of the radiation furnace.

In addition, the dry sterilizer described in Patent Document 2 (referred to as a device for sterilizing a heat-loadable packaging container in Patent Document 2) has a tunnel-shaped furnace that guides the container with a transport belt. A thermal radiation measuring device is arranged in the front wall of the furnace, and a mirror is arranged above the IR-radiator of the furnace. The mirror redirects the thermal radiation emitted upward from the container to a thermal radiometer, which determines whether the container being transported is heated to the required sterilization temperature. inspect.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 6-49057 (page 2-3, FIG. 2) JP-A-5-132039 (page 2-3, FIG. 1)

  The dry sterilizers described in the patent documents are used by incorporating a radiation thermometer directly on the wall of the furnace. However, since the radiation thermometer and the electric wire connected to it have a low heat-resistant temperature, it is impossible to directly assemble and use them as they are. Although it is possible to assemble these thermometers through insulation, it is necessary to perform an operation check once a year to check whether the radiation thermometer is operating normally. Yes, in that case the radiation thermometer must be removed. However, in a configuration in which a radiation thermometer is attached via a heat insulating material, it takes time to attach and detach, so that there is a problem that maintenance is poor.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can accurately measure the temperature of a container to be sterilized by drying in a can. Moreover, the inspection and repair for confirming the operation of a radiation thermometer are possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dry sterilizer that can be easily replaced and has excellent maintainability.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a dry sterilizer provided in a can and provided with a transport conveyor for transporting a glass container, and hot air supply means for blowing hot air on the container on the transport conveyor to heat the container. A radiation thermometer capable of detecting infrared rays in a specific wavelength range is placed outside the can body, and infrared rays in the wavelength range detected by the radiation thermometer can be transmitted among infrared rays generated from a heated container. A window formed of a different material is attached to the can body, and the temperature of the container is measured by the radiation thermometer.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the container is a pharmaceutical container such as a vial, an ampule or a syringe.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the material forming the window is barium fluoride or calcium fluoride.

  The invention described in claim 4 has a heating region for heating the container for a predetermined section, and the radiation thermometer measures the temperature of the container located at the end of the heating region.

  The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the containers are transported in a plurality of rows on a transport conveyor, and a plurality of the radiation thermometers are provided to measure the temperatures of the plurality of containers.

  The dry sterilizer of the present invention can accurately measure the temperature of a container that is dry sterilized in a can, and is very easy to check, repair, replace, etc., operation confirmation of a radiation thermometer, Excellent maintainability.

  A radiation thermometer capable of detecting infrared rays in a specific wavelength range is arranged outside the can of the dry sterilizer, and infrared rays in the wavelength range detected by the radiation thermometer among infrared rays generated from a heated container The object of measuring the temperature of the container accurately and facilitating maintenance was achieved with a simple structure in which a window made of a material that can pass through is attached to the can body.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dry sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a heating region of the dry sterilizer, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part (window mounting structure) of FIG. It is sectional drawing shown. In the dry sterilizer, a transport conveyor 2 that continuously transports a large number of containers 1 in a plurality of rows in close contact with each other is disposed, and is formed at one end of the can 4 (left end in FIG. 1). The container 1 carried in from the opening (container inlet) 4a is heated and sterilized in the heating area A while being conveyed in the can body 4, and then cooled in the cooling area B. It is discharged to the outside from the opening (container outlet) 4b formed at (the right end in FIG. 1) and sent to the next step.

  Inside the can 4, a heating area A is provided in the upstream portion and a cooling area B is provided in the downstream side. The heating area A is provided with hot air supply means 6 that blows and heats the containers 1 that are being transported by the transport conveyor 2. The hot air supply means 6 includes a hot air outlet 8 disposed above the conveyor 2 and facing downward, a heater 10 for heating air blown from the hot air outlet 8, and the hot air outlet 8 And a blower 12 provided between the heater 10 and circulating hot air. The hot air outlet 8 is provided with a HEPA filter 14 inside thereof, and purifies the hot air blown to the containers 1 on the transport conveyor 2.

  The can body 4 has, on one side wall 4c (right side in FIG. 2), a reflux passage 20 defined by a central space 16 in which the conveyor 2 is installed and an internal partition wall 18, and the hot air The hot air blown downward from the outlet 8 into the central space 16 is blown onto the containers 1 on the transport conveyor 2 to heat the containers 1, and then the container transport side 2a on the upper surface of the transport conveyor 2, and It passes through the return side 2b on the lower surface, reaches the bottom of the central space 16, enters the reflux passage 20 from the lower end of the internal partition wall 18, is heated again by the heater 10, and is sent to the outlet 8.

  Two cooling air supply means 22 and 24 are arranged in the cooling region B located on the downstream side of the heating region A. These cold air supply means 22 and 24 are similar to the air outlet 8 of the hot air supply means 6 in the heating region A, and the cold air outlets 30 and 32 having HEPA filters 26 and 28 attached therein, and these air outlets 30 and 32. A blower for supplying air and an exhaust blower for discharging the air inside the can body 4 are provided, the outside air is taken in and blown to the container 1, and the heated air is discharged outside. Yes. In this embodiment, two cold air supply means 22 and 24 are arranged, and the container 1 is cooled by blowing cold air over a section approximately twice the heating area A.

  The side walls 4c, 4d and the internal partition wall 18 of the can 4 are provided with windows 34, 36, 38 made of a fluorinated crystal, which is a material that can transmit infrared rays in a specific wavelength range. These windows 34, 36, and 38 are provided near the downstream end of the heating region A (the position indicated by the symbol S in FIG. 1), and are slightly higher than the upper surface of the container 1 that is being transported by the transport conveyor 2. Located above.

  Radiation thermometers 40, 42, and 44 are installed outside the portion of the can body 4 where the windows 34 and 36 of both side walls 4c and 4d are formed. These radiation thermometers 40, 42, and 44 set infrared rays in a specific wavelength region as measurement wavelength regions, detect infrared rays in the measurement wavelength region among infrared rays generated by substances, and adjust the temperature according to the intensity. The temperature of the material is measured by conversion. In this embodiment, the wavelengths measured by the radiation thermometers 40, 42 and 44 are set to 4.8 to 5.2 μm. The wavelength measured by the radiation thermometer is appropriately set according to the type of radiation thermometer, the nature of the substance, the temperature to be measured, the situation where the substance is placed, etc., and it is not limited to the above wavelength. Nor.

  The three radiation thermometers 40, 42, 44 are arranged so as to measure the top surface of the container 1 located at the end of the heating region A, and further, one of the containers 1 conveyed in nine rows. It arrange | positions so that the direction of each said row | line | column may be carried out so that the temperature of the container 1 (1a, 1b, 1c) of the outermost row | line | column and the center row | line | column can be measured. In this embodiment, since the hot air is circulated by the recirculation passage 20 provided on the side wall 4c side, the amount of hot air differs in the width direction of the can body 4, and this causes a slight temperature change depending on the position in the width direction. Since there is a difference, the temperature is measured at the three locations at the center and at both ends of the containers 1 conveyed in 9 rows, but it is necessary to measure the temperatures of the three containers 1 (1a, 1b, 1c). Rather, the detection position and the number of containers 1 can be appropriately set according to various situations such as the number of rows of containers 1 to be conveyed, the capability of the hot air supply means 6 and the circulation state of the hot air inside the can 4. Further, the location to be measured may be other than the top surface of the container 1. For example, the container 1 can be transported so as to be spaced forward and backward on the transport conveyor 2 and the vicinity of the bottom surface of the container 1 can be measured.

  The mounting structure of the windows 34, 36, 38 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, windows 34, 36 and 38 are respectively attached to three wall surfaces (the left and right side walls 4c and 4d and the internal partition wall 18). Since this is also the same, only one place (the window 36 on the left side wall 4d in FIG. 2) will be described. A rectangular mounting hole 48 is formed in the side wall 4d in which the heat insulating material 46 is accommodated, and a mounting member 52 enclosing the heat insulating material 50 is fixed to the inner peripheral side of the mounting hole 48. The attachment member 52 is thick on the inner side (right side in FIG. 3) of the side wall 4d and thin on the outer side, and a step portion 50a is formed therebetween. A window 36 made of a fluorinated crystal is inserted into a thin portion (the left portion in FIG. 3) located outside the mounting member 52. Further, a mounting frame 54 is fitted from the outside of the window 36 and fixed to the mounting member 52. A window 36 made of the fluorinated crystal is sandwiched and fixed between the inner side surface of the mounting frame 54 and the stepped portion 50a of the mounting member 52. Further, a sealing material 56 is mounted between the mounting frame 54 and the wall surface 4d on the outer surface side (left side in FIG. 3) to keep the inside of the can body 4 airtight.

  In this embodiment, calcium fluoride CaF2 is used as the material constituting the windows 34, 36, and 38. A window made of calcium fluoride transmits infrared rays having a wavelength of about 0.13 to 8 μm. When measuring the temperature of a glass container 1 such as a vial or ampoule with a radiation thermometer, a measurement wavelength of 4.8 μm or more is generally suitable, but ordinary glass emits infrared light having a wavelength of 2.5 μm or more. Since it absorbs, infrared rays do not reach the radiation thermometer even if ordinary glass is used for the windows 34, 36, and 38. Therefore, in this embodiment, windows 34, 36 and 38 made of calcium fluoride are used. The material of the windows 34, 36, and 38 is not limited to calcium fluoride, and barium fluoride BaF2 or the like may be used. Since the window formed of this barium fluoride transmits infrared rays having a wavelength of about 0.18 to 12 μm, it is suitable for measuring the temperature of the glass container 1. Other than the fluorinated material, any material that transmits infrared rays having a wavelength of 2.5 μm or more can be used as the windows 34, 36, and 38.

  The glass container 1 such as a vial or ampoule to be sterilized by this dry sterilizer is heated until the temperature measured by the radiation thermometers 40, 42, 44 is 300 ° C. or higher. When the container 1 having a temperature measured by the radiation thermometers 40, 42, 44 of less than 300 ° C. is detected, the operator stops the conveyor 2 and does not discharge the detected container 1 from the heating area A. At the same time, parameters such as hot air temperature and wind speed are checked to determine the subsequent operation. In addition, you may perform control which stops the conveyance conveyor 2 until it confirms that the temperature of the container 1 has reached | attained 300 degreeC.

  The operation of the dry sterilizer according to the above configuration will be described. The container 1 transported by the transport means outside the can body 4 is carried into the can body 4 from the container inlet 4a of the can body 4, and is placed on the transport conveyor 2 and transported. In this embodiment, the containers 1 are arranged in nine rows on the conveyor 2 and are conveyed in contact with the front, rear, left and right.

  Hot air supply means 6 is provided on the upstream side inside the can body 4. The hot air supply means 6 sends the air heated by the heater 10 to the HEPA filter 14 by the operation of the blower 12 for purification, and then blows out from the hot air outlet 8 and blows it onto the containers 1 on the conveyor 2. The hot air blown out from the hot air blowing port 8 is blown onto the container 1, then passes through the container transfer side 2 a on the upper surface of the transfer conveyor 2 and the return side 2 b on the lower surface, enters the reflux passage 20 from the lower side, and is again heated After returning to 10 and being heated, it is blown out from the hot air outlet 8 and circulates. The container 1 is gradually heated by being blown with hot air while being transported by the transport conveyor 2.

  When the container 1 reaches the end of the heating area A (the position indicated by the symbol S in FIG. 1), the containers 1 (1a, 1b, 1c) positioned at both ends and the center of the position S on the transport conveyor 2 The temperature is measured by radiation thermometers 40, 42, and 44 arranged toward). Infrared radiation radiated from the heated container 1 (1a, 1b, 1c) passes through the calcium fluoride windows 38, 34, 36 and is detected by the infrared sensors of the radiation thermometers 40, 42, 44. Infrared rays radiated from the glass container 1 such as a vial or an ampoule pass through the windows 34, 36, and 38 made of calcium fluoride that transmit a wavelength of about 0.13 to 8 μm, and a wavelength of 4.8 to 5.2 μm. Is detected by radiation thermometers 40, 42 and 44 which are set to measure the temperature. In the case of a normal glass window, the transmittance is high in the case of a short wavelength of 2 μm or less, but the transmittance is low in a wavelength region higher than that, and particularly opaque in the wavelength region of 5 μm or more. Although it is impossible to measure with the radiation thermometers 40, 42, and 44 of the present invention, the apparatus of this embodiment uses the windows 34, 36, and 38 made of calcium fluoride. The temperature can be measured accurately. Moreover, since the radiation thermometers 40, 42, and 44 are independently installed outside the can body 2, it is easy to perform an operation check and the like, and is excellent in maintainability.

  In this embodiment, when the temperature of the container 1 measured by the radiation thermometers 40, 42, 44 exceeds 300 ° C., it is determined that necessary sterilization has been performed, and the conveyor 2 is used as it is. Is transferred to the cooling region B and cooled. In the cooling region B, two cold air supply means 22 and 24 are provided, and cool air is blown from the cold air outlets 30 and 32 to the container 1 to cool to a predetermined temperature. The cooled container 1 is discharged outside from the container outlet 4b of the can 4 and sent to the next step.

  When the measured temperature of the container 1 does not reach 300 ° C., the conveyance conveyor 2 is stopped and parameters such as hot air temperature and wind speed are confirmed. In this case, as described above, control may be performed to stop the conveyor 2 until it is confirmed that the temperature of the container 1 exceeds 300 ° C. Alternatively, the temperature of the hot air supplied from the hot air supply means 6 It is also possible to raise.

  In the dry sterilizer configured as described above, parameters such as hot air temperature, wind speed, and internal pressure are detected at predetermined intervals, and these data are recorded. Further, since the radiation thermometers 40, 42 and 44 also detect the temperature at predetermined intervals, the temperatures are also recorded. Data recorded in this way can also be used to guarantee production quality.

  In the embodiment, the radiation thermometer 40 installed on the reflux passage 20 side measures the temperature of the container 1 through the two windows 34 and 38, and the radiation temperature on the other side (left side in FIG. 2). The totals 42 and 44 measure the temperature of the container 1 through one window 36. The number of windows is not particularly limited, and may be one or more. However, although the infrared transmittance varies depending on the number of windows, in this case, the radiation thermometers 40, 42, and 44 can perform accurate calculation by performing correction calculation processing. Moreover, in the said Example, although the three radiation thermometers 40, 42, and 44 are fixed to a fixed position, it is trying to always measure the temperature of the container 1 (1a, 1b, 1c) of the same position. Driving means may be connected to the radiation thermometers 40, 42, 44 and moved in the transport direction or width direction, or moved in both directions.

It is a longitudinal section showing the whole composition of a dry sterilizer. (Example 1) It is a cross-sectional view of the heating region of this dry sterilizer. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the principal part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

A Heating area 1 Container 2 Conveyor 4 Can body 6 Hot air supply means 34 Window 36 Window 38 Window 40 Radiation thermometer 42 Radiation thermometer 44 Radiation thermometer

Claims (5)

In a dry sterilizer that is provided in a can and includes a transport conveyor that transports a glass container, and hot air supply means that blows hot air on the container on the transport conveyor to heat the container
A radiation thermometer capable of detecting infrared rays in a specific wavelength range is disposed outside the can body, and infrared rays in a wavelength range detected by the radiation thermometer can be transmitted among infrared rays generated from a heated container. A dry sterilizer characterized in that a window formed from a material is attached to a can, and the temperature of the container is measured with the radiation thermometer.   The dry sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the container is a pharmaceutical container such as a vial, an ampule, or a syringe.   The dry sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the material forming the window is barium fluoride or calcium fluoride.   The said radiation thermometer measures the temperature of the container located in the terminal of a heating area | region while having the heating area | region which heats the said container for a predetermined area, The Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Dry sterilizer.   5. The drying according to claim 1, wherein the containers are conveyed in a plurality of rows on a conveyor, and a plurality of the radiation thermometers are provided to measure the temperatures of the plurality of containers. Sterilizer.

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