JP2016209242A - Sterilizing method, sterilizing apparatus and laundry apparatus using sterilizing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilizing method, a sterilizing apparatus and a laundry apparatus using the sterilizing method which reduce damage of specified laundry and can reduce light and heat cost and sterilizing cost.SOLUTION: A sterilizing method sterilizing and disinfecting washed laundry includes: a laundry charging step of charging the laundry into a sterilize and disinfection tank 13 which can rinse the laundry; and a medicine rinse step of charging medicine consisting of admixture water into the sterilize and disinfection tank 13 and rinsing the laundry with the medicine of an appointed condition in the sterilize and disinfection tank 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilization method, a sterilization apparatus, and a washing apparatus using the sterilization method used when washing and disinfecting designated laundry commissioned by a hospital, a clinic, or the like.

  Laundry commissioned by hospitals, clinics, etc. (underwear, towels, towels, etc.) is washed and sterilized as a so-called designated laundry (washed item) entrusted to a laundry operator operating under the Cleaning Business Act. General bacteria and Bacillus cereus adhering to the laundry are sterilized. The washing method for the designated laundry is determined by the Cleaning Business Act, and the laundry method stipulates disinfecting the designated laundry. There are a physical method and a chemical method as a disinfection method defined by the Cleaning Business Law. As the physical method, “disinfection with steam” and “disinfection with hot water” are defined. As chemical methods, “disinfection with chlorine agent”, “disinfection with surfactant”, “disinfection with chlorhexidine”, and “disinfection with gas” are defined.

As disinfection by a physical method, for example, disinfection with steam is performed by using a steam gown or the like and bringing the designated laundry after washing into contact with wet heat of 100 ° C. or more for 10 minutes or more.
Disinfection with hot water is performed by immersing the designated laundry in hot water at 80 ° C. or higher for 10 minutes or more during the washing process.
As disinfection by chemical methods, for example, disinfecting with a chlorin agent is to dip a designated laundry after washing using a powder, sodium hypochlorite, etc., and immerse it in an aqueous solution of 250 ppm or more of free chlorine at 30 ° C or more for 5 minutes or more By doing.

  The disinfecting method and disinfecting apparatus using hypochlorous acid is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this Patent Document 1, a pre-washing tank, a washing tank, a rinsing tank, and a finishing tank are continuously provided, and the designated laundry is pre-washed, washed and rinsed in each tank and finished in the finishing tank. . The designated laundry is sterilized by being sterilized with a chlorine agent such as sodium hypochlorite charged in the sterilization tank at a predetermined concentration by a method stipulated in the Cleaning Business Act.

JP 2009-119089 A

  However, if the concentration of hypochlorous acid used when disinfecting with a chlorine agent is high, the fibers of the laundry may be damaged and the laundry may be damaged. In addition, when a large amount of a disinfectant such as hypochlorous acid is used, the disinfection cost is high.

  In addition, when disinfecting with steam or hot water, it is necessary to prepare a steam pot, prepare an environment with a moist heat of 100 ° C. or higher, or prepare hot water of 80 ° C. or higher. There is a problem that costs such as utility costs are high.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization method, a sterilization apparatus, and a washing apparatus using the sterilization method that can reduce the cost of light heat and disinfection with little damage to designated laundry.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a sterilization method for sterilizing / disinfecting an object to be washed, which is in a sterilization / disinfection tank capable of rinsing the object to be cleaned. A washing object charging step for charging the object to be cleaned, and a medicine composed of slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water is charged into the sterilizing / disinfecting tank, and the object to be cleaned is predetermined in the sterilizing / disinfecting tank. And a drug rinsing step for rinsing together with the above-mentioned drug under conditions.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the medicine has a hydrogen ion index of pH 5.0 to pH 6.5 and is diluted with washing water or rinsing water. -The slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water is added so that the concentration of the mixed water in the disinfection tank is 50 ppm to 200 ppm, and the object to be washed by hypochlorous acid molecules in the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water. It is characterized by sterilizing and disinfecting.

  The invention according to claim 3 is a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing / disinfecting the washing object to be washed, the sterilizing / disinfecting tank into which the object to be washed is charged, and being put into the sterilizing / disinfecting tank, It is characterized by comprising a drug generation unit that generates a drug of slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water composed of hypochlorous acid and a slightly acidic solution.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing apparatus provided with a washing / rinsing tub for washing, rinsing and finishing an object to be washed, using the sterilization method according to the first aspect. The medicine produced by the medicine production unit is put in and sterilized while rinsing an object to be washed with the medicine in the washing / rinsing tank.

  Invention of Claim 5 is the washing apparatus of Claim 4, Comprising: The said washing and rinsing tub is provided with the washing tub, the rinsing tub, and the finishing tub continuously, The said washing tub, The objects to be cleaned are conveyed in the order of the rinsing tank and the finishing tank, the chemicals generated by the drug generation unit are put into the rinsing tanks, and sterilized while rinsing the objects to be cleaned with the drugs in the rinsing tanks. It is characterized by doing.

  According to the sterilization method of the first aspect of the present invention, a chemical agent composed of slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water is introduced into a sterilization / disinfection tank into which an object is to be washed under predetermined conditions. By rinsing the wash, the object to be washed can be sterilized and disinfected. In this case, since slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water is used as a medicine, damage to the object to be washed can be suppressed. Moreover, since it is not necessary to form an environment of high temperature and high humidity, the photothermal cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the object to be cleaned can be sterilized and disinfected at the same time, the disinfection cost can be reduced.

  According to the sterilization method of the second aspect of the present invention, the drug has a hydrogen ion index of pH 5.0 to pH 6.5, and the concentration of mixed water in the sterilization / disinfection tank is 50 ppm to 200 ppm when diluted with rinsing water. As the water mixed with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid is added, the influence on the object to be washed can be reduced, and the object to be washed is sterilized by the hypochlorous acid molecules in the water mixed with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid. Can be disinfected.

  According to the sterilization apparatus of claim 3, the chemicals in the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water composed of hypochlorous acid and a slightly acidic solution produced by the chemical production unit are charged in the sterilization / disinfection tank. Can be sterilized and disinfected by rinsing the items to be washed in the sterilizing / disinfecting tank. In this case, since slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water is used as a medicine, damage to the object to be washed can be suppressed. Further, since it is not necessary to form an environment of high temperature and high humidity, the photothermal cost can be reduced, and the sterilization cost can be reduced because the object can be sterilized and sterilized simultaneously with rinsing.

  According to the washing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the medicine produced by the medicine production unit is put into the washing / rinsing tub of the washing apparatus in which the article to be washed is put and washed, and the article to be washed is rinsed. Can disinfect and disinfect things. In this case, since slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water is used as a medicine, the object to be washed is less damaged, and the photothermal cost and the disinfection cost can be reduced.

  According to the washing apparatus of claim 5, the washing tub, the rinsing tub, and the finishing tub are provided in succession, and the washing object is conveyed and washed in the order of the washing tub, the rinsing tub, and the finishing tub. In this case, the medicine produced by the medicine production unit is put into the rinsing tank, and the object to be washed can be sterilized and disinfected while rinsing the washing object with the medicine in the rinsing tank. In this case, the laundry is less damaged, and the photothermal cost and the disinfection cost can be reduced.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the washing apparatus in which the sterilization method which concerns on this invention was used. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the chemical | medical agent production | generation unit which produces | generates the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid admixture water used for the sterilization method which concerns on this invention. It is process drawing which shows the washing | cleaning procedure of the washing apparatus in which the sterilization method which concerns on this invention was used. It is a block diagram which shows the control part of the washing apparatus in which the sterilization method which concerns on this invention was used, and the apparatus connected to this control part. It is a chart which shows the test result of the sterilization method concerning the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the comparison with the sterilization method which concerns on this invention, and another sterilization method. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the other washing apparatus in which the sterilization method which concerns on this invention was used. It is process drawing which shows the washing | cleaning procedure of the other washing apparatus in which the sterilization method which concerns on this invention was used.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
In the present embodiment, the sterilization method and sterilization apparatus 22, 66 according to the present invention has one washing tub 13, and the laundry is washed, rinsed, finished, and dried by this one washing tub 13. An embodiment used in the apparatus 10 and an embodiment used in the washing apparatus 50 in which a plurality of tanks of a washing tub, a rinsing tub, and a finishing tub are continuously provided will be described.
[Features of the embodiment]

  The sterilization method of the present embodiment is a sterilization method for sterilizing / disinfecting an object to be washed, and is in a sterilization / disinfection tank (washing tank 13, disinfection tank 59) capable of rinsing the object to be cleaned. To be washed, and a sterilizing / disinfecting tank (washing tank 13, disinfecting tank 59) with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid-mixed water (hereinafter simply referred to as “mixed water”). It consists of a chemical rinsing process in which chemicals are charged and the objects to be washed are rinsed together with chemicals in predetermined conditions in the sterilization / disinfection tanks 13 and 59.

  In addition, the drug has a hydrogen ion index of pH 5.0 to pH 6.5, diluted in washing water or rinsing water, and sterilized and disinfected (washing tank 13 and disinfecting tank 59). The mixed water is added so that the water concentration is 50 ppm to 200 ppm, and the object to be washed is sterilized and disinfected with hypochlorous acid molecules in the mixed water.

  The sterilization apparatus according to the present embodiment is a sterilization apparatus 22 or 66 for sterilizing / disinfecting an object to be washed, and a sterilization / disinfection tank (washing tank 13, disinfection tank 59) into which the object to be cleaned is placed. The medicine generating unit 12 is placed in the sterilizing / disinfecting tank (the washing tank 13 and the disinfecting tank 59) and generates a mixed water medicine composed of hypochlorous acid and a slightly acidic solution.

  The washing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a washing apparatus 10 provided with a washing tub 13 for washing, rinsing, and finishing an object to be washed. The produced medicine is charged and sterilized while rinsing the washing object with the medicine in the washing tub 13.

  Further, in the washing apparatus 50 of the present embodiment, the washing / rinsing tub is provided with a pre-wash tub 53, washing tubs 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, a disinfection tub 59, and a finishing tub 60 continuously. The washing tubs 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, the disinfection tub 59, and the finishing tub 60 are conveyed in this order, and the chemical produced by the chemical production unit 52 is put into the sterilization tub 59. It is sterilized while rinsing the item to be cleaned with a medicine.

Hereinafter, the washing | cleaning apparatus 10 and 50 in which the sterilization method which concerns on this invention and the sterilization method were used are demonstrated using drawing.
[Laundry device 10]

  As shown in FIG. 1, the washing apparatus 10 includes a batch washing dehydrator 11 and a drug generation unit 12. The batch washing and dehydrating machine 11 is a so-called large-sized washing and dehydrating machine. One washing tub 13 is rotated by a driving force of a motor (not shown) so that the washing object put in the washing tub 13 is washed with water and detergent. Laundry with. As shown in FIG. 3, the batch washing dehydrator 11 includes a single washing tub 13 and 1. Pre-washing step 14,2. Main washing step 15,3. Rinsing step 16,4. Dehydration step 17,5. Disinfection rinsing step 18,6. Dehydration step 19,7. Finishing step 20,8. The dehydration process 21 is sequentially performed.

  The article to be washed is prewashed with water in the prewashing step 14 and is finally washed with the detergent in the main washing step 15. Next, the object to be washed is rinsed and rinsed in a rinse step 16 and dehydrated in a dehydration step 17. The dehydrated article to be washed is sterilized and disinfected while rinsing in the sterilization rinsing step 18, dehydrated in the dehydration step 19, and washing is completed through the finishing step 20 and the main dehydration step 21. In the sterilization rinsing step 18, the water to be washed is sterilized and sterilized by adding the mixed water produced by the drug production unit 12 into the washing tub under predetermined conditions. In this washing apparatus 10, a sterilization apparatus 22 is configured by the washing tub 13 of the batch washing dehydrator 11 and the drug generation unit 12.

  The drug generation unit 12 supplies the mixed water into the washing tub 13 from the intermediate tank 24, the intermediate tank 24 that temporarily stores the mixed water generated by the mixed water generation apparatus 23, and the intermediate tank 24. , And a charging pump 25 to be charged. As shown in FIG. 2, the mixed water generating device 23 includes a sodium hypochlorite chemical pump unit 26 storing sodium hypochlorite, a dilute hydrochloric acid chemical pump unit 27 storing dilute hydrochloric acid, and a predetermined amount. And a mixing tank 28 in which a predetermined amount of dilute hydrochloric acid is charged and water is supplied to produce mixed water of a predetermined concentration.

  The sodium hypochlorite chemical pump unit 26 includes a tank 32 in which sodium hypochlorite is stored, and a sodium hypochlorite chemical pump that sends sodium hypochlorite from the tank 32 into the mixing tank 28. (Hereinafter referred to as “medicine pump”) 33. The dilute hydrochloric acid injection pump unit 27 is formed of a tank 34 in which dilute hydrochloric acid is stored, and a dilute hydrochloric acid injection pump (hereinafter referred to as “medical injection pump”) 35 that sends dilute hydrochloric acid from the tank 34 into the mixing tank 28. ing. The chemical injection pumps 33 and 35 are provided in the middle of pipelines 41 and 42 for feeding sodium hypochlorite and dilute hydrochloric acid into the mixing tank 28, respectively. These chemical injection pumps 33 and 35 are so-called metering pumps. The flow rate of sodium hypochlorite and dilute hydrochloric acid into the mixing tank 28 is known from the number of operations, and sodium hypochlorite is controlled by controlling the number of operations. The flow rate of dilute hydrochloric acid can be controlled.

  A water supply pipe 43 to which water is supplied is connected to the mixing tank 28, and a water flow meter 39 is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 43. The mixing tank 28 is connected to a transfer pipe 44 for transferring the mixed water generated in the mixing tank 28 to the intermediate tank 24. From this transfer pipe 44, the mixed water generated in the mixing tank 28 is transferred to the intermediate tank 24 with the original pressure of the water supply. Further, a pH meter 45 for detecting the hydrogen ion index of the admixed water is provided in the mixing tank 28. When mixing water, sodium hypochlorite and dilute hydrochloric acid, the pH meter 45 detects a dangerous pH value at which chlorine gas is generated. When the dangerous pH value is reached, the operation of the chemical injection pumps 33 and 35 is stopped, and the water supply into the mixing tank 28 is stopped, whereby the mixed water generating device 23 stops the generation of the mixed water.

  As an example of the production capacity of the drug production unit 12 of the present embodiment, there is a production capacity of 20 L / min of mixed water having a mixed water concentration of 200 ppm, and the sodium hypochlorite chemical injection pump unit 26 has 20 L of hypochlorous acid. There is an ability to feed sodium hypochlorite from the tank 32 storing sodium acid into the mixing tank 28 at 50 mL / min. The dilute hydrochloric acid injection pump unit 27 has a capability of supplying 50 mL / min of dilute hydrochloric acid from the tank 34 storing 20 L of dilute hydrochloric acid into the mixing tank 28. In this specification, L means liters.

  The intermediate tank 24 is made of polyethylene and has a capacity of 200 L to 500 L, and is selected according to the capacity of the batch washing dehydrator 11 used.

The input pump 25 is about 160 L / min and about 0.4 Kw. When the mixed water in the intermediate tank 24 is charged into the washing tub 13, the charging pump 25 is operated for a time corresponding to the amount to be charged.
In the following, the amount of admixed water into the washing tub 13 with respect to the capacity of the batch laundry dehydrator 11 is shown. Depending on the capacity of the batch washing dehydrator 11, there are MOX-30 to MOX-200 types. The capacity of each washing tub 13 is set to 117 L, 199 L, 213 L, 308 L, and 610 L, and when the mixing water concentration to be added to the washing tub 13 is 50 ppm, the mixing water concentration is 50 ppm. In water, 117L, 199L, 213L, 308L and 610L are added, respectively. In addition, when mixing water having a mixing water concentration of 200 ppm into the washing tub 13 of each volume, when the mixing water concentration in the washing tub 13 is 50 ppm, charging 30 L, 50 L, 55 L, 80 L, and 155 L. Then, water is added so that the amount of water in the washing tub 13 becomes 117L, 199L, 213L, 308L, and 610L, respectively. That is, the water concentration is 50 ppm by diluting with water four times.

  In the case where mixed water is generated by the mixed water generating device 23, the mixed water is generated by mixing sodium hypochlorite in the tank 32, dilute hydrochloric acid and water in the tank 34 and mixing them in the mixing tank 28. When sodium hypochlorite and dilute hydrochloric acid are introduced into the mixing tank 28 by the chemical injection pumps 33, 35, the input amount is controlled by the number of times of operation of the chemical injection pumps 33, 35, and the water input amount by the water flow meter 39. Is controlled. At this time, the hydrogen ion index is measured by the pH meter 45, and when the control unit 40 of the washing apparatus 10 reaches a dangerous pH value at which chlorine gas is generated in the mixing tank 28, for example, based on the measurement result, the chemical pump 33 , 35 is stopped, and charging of sodium hypochlorite, dilute hydrochloric acid and water into the mixing tank 28 is stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the water flow meter 39, the pH meter 45, the charging pump 25, and the chemical injection pumps 33 and 35 are connected to the control unit 40.

  And the control part 40 controls the production | generation of the mixed water by the mixed water production | generation apparatus 23, or controls the injection amount of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 on the predetermined conditions. That is, the control unit 40 generates a preset amount of mixed water, stores the generated mixed water in the intermediate tank 24, operates the input pump 25 from the intermediate tank 24 for a predetermined time, and supplies the mixed water. Put into the washing tub 13.

In this embodiment, for example, when 200 ppm of mixed water is produced, 1 cc of sodium hypochlorite (concentration 120,000 ppm) and 1 cc of dilute hydrochloric acid (concentration 80,000 ppm) are mixed with respect to 600 cc of water. As described above, the controller 40 controls the number of operations and the amount of water of the medicine injection pumps 33 and 35 according to a preset program.
Next, the sterilization method using the washing apparatus 10 will be described.

  The pre-washed, main-washed, and rinse-washed items that have been pre-washed, main-washed, and rinse-washed 16 are dehydrated in the dehydrating step 17 and then sterilized while being rinsed in the sterilizing and rinsing step 18.・ It is sterilized.

  In the sterilization rinsing step 18, the item to be washed has already been dehydrated in the washing tub 13, and a medicine composed of admixed water is introduced into the washing tub 13 in which the item to be washed has been placed. The object to be washed is rinsed in the tank 13 together with mixed water under predetermined conditions (predetermined mixed water concentration, predetermined hydrogen ion index).

  At this time, the hydrogen ion index of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 is pH 5.0 to pH 6.5 so that the mixed water concentration in the washing tub 13 is 50 ppm to 200 ppm when diluted in washing water or rinsing water. Add mixed water, disinfect and disinfect the general bacteria, Bacillus cereus, etc. adhering to the object to be washed by hypochlorous acid molecules (HOCI) in the mixed water to below the number that does not affect the human body.

  Specifically, for example, when the batch washing and dehydrating machine 11 having the MOX-30 capacity is used, the capacity of the washing tub 13 is 117 L, and therefore, the mixing water having a mixing water concentration of 50 ppm is put into the 117 L washing tub 13. . Then, after the washing object is rinsed and washed in the washing tub 13 for a predetermined time (5 to 7 minutes), it is dehydrated by the dehydration step 19. After dehydration in the dehydration step 19, the softening agent is put into the washing tub 13 in the finishing step 20 and dehydrated in the main dehydration step 21.

  Below, the test result of the sterilization effect by the batch washing dehydrator 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

Test 1. The concentration of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 was 200 ppm, and the object to be washed was toweled, washed at 60 ° C. for 10 minutes, rinsed 4 times, and then rinsed with 90 L of mixed water for 7 minutes. As a result, towel (1), ( 2) and (3) were 5.3 × 10 ³ , 4.0 × 10 ⁴ , and 43 per cm ^{2 of} general bacteria before rinsing with mixed water, that is, before washing. After disinfection and sterilization (washing) with mixed water, the number is 30 or less per 1 cm ² . It should be noted that the number of general bacteria being 30 or less per 1 cm ² means the number that does not affect the human body, and the fact that Bacillus cereus is negative means that Bacillus cereus cannot be detected. .

Test 2. The concentration of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 was 200 ppm, and the object to be washed was toweled, washed at 60 ° C. for 10 minutes, rinsed once with 120 L of mixed water, and the result was a towel (4), ( 5) and (6), the number per 1 cm ^{2 of} general bacteria before washing was 2.2 × 10 ⁶ to 2.6 × 10 ⁶ , and both were 2.2 × 10 ² , 1. 4 × 10 ² , 1.0 × 10 ² , and it was confirmed that the number was significantly reduced. In the case of Bacillus cereus, 1.1 × 10 ² , 60, and 75 before washing were all negative after washing. It has become.

Test 3. The concentration of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 was 200 ppm, and the object to be washed was toweled, washed at 50 ° C. for 10 minutes, rinsed once with 80 L of mixed water, and the result of rinsing for 5 minutes was towel (7) , (8), it was confirmed that the number of general bacteria was 2.0 x 10 ⁷ and 9.4 x 10 ⁶ per cm ² before washing, but it was greatly reduced to 30 or less and 60. In the case of Bacillus cereus, 1.1 × 10 ⁵ and 4.7 × 10 ⁴ before washing were all negative after washing.

Test 4. The concentration of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 was set to 100 ppm, and the object to be washed was toweled, washed at 50 ° C. for 10 minutes, and rinsed once with 120 L of mixed water. As a result, the towel (9), In (10) and (11), 4.3 × 10 ⁵ , 6.5 × 10 ⁵ , and 1.1 × 10 ⁵ per 1 cm ^{2 of} general bacteria before washing are all 30 or less. It was confirmed that the number of Bacillus cereus was 4.9 × 10 ² , 4.9 × 10 ² , 65 before washing, all negative after washing.

Test 5. The concentration of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 was 50 ppm, and the object to be washed was toweled, washed at 60 ° C. for 10 minutes, and rinsed once with 120 L of mixed water. As a result, the towel (12), In (13) and (14), 1.6 × 10 ⁶ , 6.1 × 10 ⁵ , and 1.1 × 10 ⁶ per 1 cm ^{2 of} general bacteria before washing are all 30 or less. It was confirmed that the number of Bacillus cereus was 1.9 × 10 ³ , 1.6 × 10 ² , 15 before washing, and all were negative after washing.

Test 6. The concentration of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 was set to 50 ppm, and the object to be washed was toweled, washed at 50 ° C. for 10 minutes, and rinsed once with 100 L of mixed water. As a result, the towel (15), (16), it was confirmed that what was 1.7 × 10 ⁷ , 2.2 × 10 ⁷ per 1 cm ^{2 of} general bacteria before washing was significantly reduced to 30 or less, In the case of Bacillus cereus, 15 and 3.1 × 10 ² before washing were all negative after washing.

Test 7. The concentration of the mixed water in the washing tub 13 was set to 30 ppm, and the object to be washed was toweled, washed at 50 ° C. for 10 minutes, and rinsed once with 80 L of mixed water. As a result, the towel (17), In (18), 5.8 × 10 ⁷ or 4.1 × 10 ⁷ per 1 cm ^{2 of} general bacteria before washing was reduced to 1.2 × 10 ⁴ or 7.6 × 10 ^3. Yes, but not less than 30. In addition, Bacillus cereus had 3.0 × 10 ⁵ and 4.8 × 10 ⁵ before washing, and 5 remained after washing, which is negative.

  From the above test results, in Test 1, when rinsing with 90 L of mixed water having a concentration of 200 ppm for 7 minutes for 7 minutes, the number of general bacteria had no effect on the human body, and no more than 30 bacteria were shown. In Test 2, when rinsing for 5 minutes with 120 L of mixed water having a mixed water concentration of 200 ppm, the result was negative for Bacillus cereus, but 30 or more general bacteria remained. When disinfection and sterilization were performed under the conditions of tests 3, 4, 5, and 6, all of the general bacteria except for the towel (8) were 30 or less, and all Bacillus cereus were negative. Moreover, under the conditions of Test 7, the number of general bacteria did not become 30 or less, and there was a case where Bacillus cereus remained.

  Therefore, by setting the mixed water concentration in the washing tub 13 from the mixed water concentration of 50 ppm which is the condition of Test 6 to the mixed water concentration of 200 ppm which is the condition of Tests 3 and 1, 30 general bacteria adhering to the washing object are obtained. The number of Bacillus cereus can be negative. The hydrogen ion index is set to pH 5.0 to pH 6.5.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the effects of the sterilization method, the sterilization device 22, and the washing device 10 according to the present embodiment are compared with the disinfection / sterilization method using hot water, the disinfection / sterilization method using hypochlorous acid, Comparison will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the disinfection / sterilization method in which the object to be cleaned (article) is immersed in warm water at 80 ° C. for 10 minutes has a high effect of disinfecting general bacteria, but has a low disinfection effect with respect to spore bacteria. . In addition, the object to be cleaned after disinfection and sterilization is odorless.

  The disinfection / sterilization method, in which the object to be washed is immersed in a solution containing hypochlorous acid (free chlorine 250 ppm) at 30 ° C. or more for 5 minutes, has a high effect of disinfecting general bacteria, but has an effect of disinfecting spores. Is low. In particular, a good sterilizing effect cannot be obtained in a short time of 5 minutes for the object to be washed. Moreover, the object to be cleaned after disinfection and sterilization has a strong chlorine odor. In addition, if the immersion time is lengthened, the fiber portion of the object to be cleaned is damaged by free chlorine, and the object to be cleaned is easily broken or discolored. In addition, when chlorine remains in the object to be washed, it has a negative effect on the human body.

  In the disinfection / sterilization method using mixed water used in the present embodiment, when the object to be washed is immersed in mixed water having a mixed water concentration of 50 ppm or more for 5 minutes, the effect of sterilizing general bacteria is high, and spore bacteria are also sterilized. The effect to do is high. The object to be cleaned after disinfection and sterilization has a mixed water concentration of about 50 ppm to 200 ppm, so there is almost no odor of chlorine, and since there is almost no chlorine remaining in the object to be cleaned, it is safe and harmless to the human body.

As described above, according to the sterilization method, the sterilization apparatus 22, and the washing apparatus 10 using the sterilization method of the present embodiment, a chlorine agent such as sodium hypochlorite having a concentration of 250 ppm is not used. The fiber of the wash (designated laundry) is not damaged, and damage such as discoloration can be reduced.
In addition, it is not necessary to prepare a moist heat environment where the steam is 100 ° C. or higher or to prepare hot water of 80 ° C. or higher, so that the photothermal cost can be reduced.
Further, since a large amount of chlorine agent such as sodium hypochlorite is not used, the cost for disinfection can be reduced.

Next, another embodiment of the washing apparatus 50 using the sterilization method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[Laundry device 50]

  As shown in FIG. 7, the washing apparatus 50 includes a continuous washing machine 51 in which a plurality of washing tubs are continuously provided, and a medicine generation unit 52. In the continuous washing machine 51, a prewash tank 53, five washing tanks 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, a disinfection tank 59, and a finishing tank 60 are continuously arranged. After washing in the washing tub 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, the bacteria are sterilized while rinsing in the disinfection tank 59. In this sterilization tank 59, the water to be washed is sterilized and sterilized by adding the mixed water produced by the medicine production unit 52 under predetermined conditions.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the continuous washing machine 51 includes a pre-washing process (standing bath) 61 in the 1.1st tank, a main washing process (pulse flow) 62 in the 2nd to 6th tanks, and 3 tanks. The temperature-raising process 63 of the sixth to sixth tanks, the sterilization rinsing process 64 of the seventh tank, and the finishing process 65 of the eighth tank are successively performed.

  The article to be washed is prewashed with water in the prewashing step 61 and then finally washed with water and detergent in the mainwashing step 62. Further, the object to be washed is heated in the temperature raising step 63 while being washed in the main washing step 62. The article to be cleaned, which has been washed and heated, is put into a seventh sterilization tank 59 and sterilized and sterilized while being rinsed. In this sterilization tank 59, the mixed water produced | generated in the chemical | medical agent production | generation unit 52 is thrown in on predetermined conditions, and it sterilizes with mixed water with the rinse of the to-be-washed | cleaned material. The article to be sterilized in the sterilization rinsing step 64 is sent into the eighth finishing tank 60 and finished with a softener or the like put into the finishing tank 60.

In the continuous washing machine 51, the amount of water that is transferred together with the items to be washed in the continuous tub is about 4 to 5 times the weight of the items to be washed when the items to be washed are towels.
Towel weight 50-60Kg,
55 kg × 4.5 times = 247.5≈250 L When 125 L of mixed water is added thereto, the concentration of mixed water in the disinfection tank 59 becomes 50 ppm.

  In addition, since the structure of the said chemical | medical agent production | generation unit 52 is the same as the chemical | medical agent production | generation unit 12 used with the washing apparatus 10, the duplicate description here is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the mixed water generation device of the drug generation unit 52 is also configured in the same manner as the mixed water generation device 23 of the drug generation unit 12 used in the washing apparatus 10, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. The capacity of the intermediate tank 24 is different. The capacity of the intermediate tank of the washing apparatus 10 of the above embodiment is 200L to 500L, but the intermediate tank 24 in the medicine generation unit 52 used in the washing apparatus 50 of the present embodiment is set to a capacity of 1000L to 2000L. ing. The capacity of the intermediate tank 24 is determined by the cycle time of the continuous washing machine 51, the amount of articles to be washed into the sterilization tank 59, or the number of mixed water generating devices 23.

  For example, when the cycle time of the continuous washing machine 51 is 2.5 minutes, 125 L (50 L × 2.5 = 125) can be generated during the cycle time with the capacity 50 L / min of the mixed water generating device 23. Since 125 L of mixed water is used every cycle, it is necessary to install one mixed water generating device 23. When it is desired to shorten the cycle to 2.5 minutes or less, for example, 2 minutes or 1.5 minutes, it can be dealt with by adding the mixed water generation device 23. In the continuous washing machine 51, the sterilization device 66 is configured by the disinfecting tank 59 of the continuous washing machine 51 and the medicine generation unit 52.

Next, the sterilization method using the continuous washing machine 51 will be described.
Pre-washing process 61 in the first pre-washing tank 53, main washing process 62 in the first, second to sixth washing tanks 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, and the third to sixth washing tanks 55, The objects to be cleaned that have undergone the temperature raising step 63 in 56, 57, 58 are transferred into the disinfection tank 59 together with the washing water. The objects to be washed transferred into the disinfecting tank 59 are sterilized and sterilized with mixed water while being rinsed.

  At this time, the amount of washing water transferred together with the article to be cleaned in the disinfection tank 59 is about 4 to 5 times the weight of the object to be cleaned. Therefore, when mixing water in the disinfection tank 59 is added, the mixing water generated by the drug generation unit 52 is input into the disinfection tank 59 so that the mixing water concentration in the disinfection tank 59 is 50 ppm. For example, in the case of a towel, if the weight of the towel transferred into the sterilization tank 59 is 50-60 kg, the amount of water transferred into the sterilization tank 59 together with the towel is about 250 L. By adding 125 L, the mixed water concentration in the disinfection tank 59 becomes 50 ppm.

  Also in the washing apparatus 50 of the present embodiment, the mixed water concentration in the sterilization tank 59 is changed from 50 ppm which is the condition of the test 6 shown in FIG. By setting, it is possible to make 30 or less general bacteria adhering to the article to be washed and negative for Bacillus cereus. The hydrogen ion index is set to pH 5.0 to pH 6.5.

  Also, in the washing apparatus 50 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the disinfection / sterilization method in which the article to be washed (article) is immersed in warm water at 80 ° C. for 10 minutes has the effect of sterilizing general bacteria. Although high, for spore bacteria, the bactericidal effect is low. In addition, the object to be cleaned after disinfection and sterilization is odorless.

  The disinfection and sterilization method, in which the object to be washed is immersed in a solution containing hypochlorous acid (free chlorine concentration 250 ppm) at 30 ° C or more for 5 minutes, is effective for sterilizing general bacteria, but sterilizing spores. The effect is low. In particular, a good sterilizing effect cannot be obtained in a short time of 5 minutes for the object to be washed. Moreover, the object to be cleaned after disinfection and sterilization has a strong chlorine odor. In addition, if the immersion time is lengthened, the fiber portion of the object to be cleaned is damaged by free chlorine, and the object to be cleaned is easily broken or discolored. In addition, when chlorine remains in the object to be washed, it has a negative effect on the human body.

  In the disinfection / sterilization method using mixed water used in the present embodiment, when the object to be washed is immersed in mixed water having a mixed water concentration of 50 ppm or more for 5 minutes, the effect of sterilizing general bacteria is high, and spore bacteria are also sterilized. The effect to do is high. The object to be cleaned after disinfection and sterilization has a mixed water concentration of about 50 ppm to 200 ppm, so there is almost no odor of chlorine, and since there is almost no chlorine remaining in the object to be cleaned, it is safe and harmless to the human body.

As described above, according to the sterilization method, the sterilization apparatus 66, and the washing apparatus 50 using the sterilization method of the present embodiment, a chlorine agent such as sodium hypochlorite having a concentration of 250 ppm is not used. The fiber of the wash (designated laundry) is not damaged, and damage such as discoloration can be reduced.
In addition, it is not necessary to prepare a moist heat environment where the steam is 100 ° C. or higher or to prepare hot water of 80 ° C. or higher, so that the photothermal cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, since no chlorine agent such as sodium hypochlorite is used, the cost for disinfection can be reduced.
In the above embodiment, dilute hydrochloric acid is used to adjust the pH value, but other acids such as carbonic acid may be used.

  By the way, in order to improve food hygiene, in recent years, acidic electrolyzed water has been used as washing water for washing food, tableware and the like. There are two types of acidic electrolyzed water, strongly acidic electrolyzed water and slightly acidic electrolyzed water. In particular, in order to produce slightly acidic electrolyzed water, chlorine is generated from the anode by electrolyzing dilute hydrochloric acid by applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode in the bathtub, and the generated chlorine reacts with the water and then reacts with water. This produces chlorous acid and hydrochloric acid. What mixed this with the hydroxide ion produced from the cathode turns into slightly acidic electrolyzed water.

  For example, when the slightly acidic electrolyzed water is used for disinfecting designated laundry, a device for electrolyzing dilute hydrochloric acid is required. In order to electrolyze dilute hydrochloric acid, an anode and a cathode are required as electrodes, and electric power for applying a voltage between these electrodes is required. Moreover, management of the pH value of the slightly acidic electrolyzed water produced | generated by electrolysis is required.

On the other hand, the mixed water generator 23 in the sterilizers 22 and 66 of the present embodiment feeds sodium hypochlorite, dilute hydrochloric acid, and water into the mixing tank 28 by the chemical injection pump units 26 and 27. Can produce miscible water (slightly acidic hypochlorous acid admixed water), and the amount of sodium hypochlorite and dilute hydrochloric acid to be used is very small compared to water, and no electric power is required for electrolysis. The disinfection cost can be greatly reduced. In addition, the entire apparatus becomes compact.
In the above-mentioned embodiment, the concentration of the mixed water is set to a range of 50 ppm to 200 ppm as a preferable concentration range, but the upper limit value of 200 ppm or more may be used, and the concentration does not damage the fibers of the washing object. If it exists, it may be 200 ppm or more.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed as described above, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can make changes without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

10, 50 Washing machine 11 Batch washing and dehydrating machine 12, 52 Drug production unit 13 Washing tank (sterilization / disinfection tank)
18 Disinfection rinsing process 22, 66 Sterilizer 23 Mixed water generator 51 Continuous washing machine 59 Disinfection tank (sterilization / disinfection tank)
64 Disinfection rinsing process

Claims (5)

A sterilization method for sterilizing and disinfecting the laundry to be washed,
A washing object charging step for charging the washed object into a sterilization / disinfection tank capable of rinsing the washed object,
A sterilization method comprising: a chemical rinsing step in which a drug composed of mixed water is put into the sterilization / disinfection tank and the object to be washed is rinsed with the drug under a predetermined condition in the sterilization / disinfection tank. .   The drug has a hydrogen ion index of pH 5.0 to pH 6.5, and the mixed water is adjusted so that the concentration of mixed water in the sterilization / disinfection tank is 50 ppm to 200 ppm in a state diluted with washing water or rinsing water. The sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization method is performed by sterilizing and disinfecting the object to be washed with hypochlorous acid molecules in the mixed water. A sterilization device for sterilizing and disinfecting the laundry to be washed,
It is composed of a sterilization / disinfection tank into which the object to be washed is charged, and a drug generation unit that is charged into the sterilization / disinfection tank and generates a mixed water drug composed of hypochlorous acid and a slightly acidic solution. A sterilizer characterized by that.   The medicine produced by the medicine production unit in the washing / rinsing tub using the sterilization method according to claim 1 is applied to a washing apparatus having a washing tub for washing, rinsing, and finishing the article to be washed. 2. The washing apparatus using the sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization method is performed by sterilizing an object to be washed with the chemical in the washing / rinsing tank.   The washing and rinsing tank includes a washing tub, a rinsing tub, and a finishing tub that are continuously provided, and the washing object is conveyed in the order of the washing tub, the rinsing tub, and the finishing tub. The washing apparatus using the sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the medicine produced by the medicine production unit is put in and sterilized while rinsing an object to be washed with the medicine in the rinsing tank.

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