JP2017158685A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide, in a sterilizer having an automatic door opening/closing mechanism, a high-in-safety configuration which can effectively prevent a situation where the drive of the opening/closing door is continued in a state of the opening/closing door not appropriately supported due to foreign objects.SOLUTION: The sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment includes: a main body 10 in which an opening for receiving an object to be treated is formed; an opening/closing door 30 for opening/closing the opening of the main body; an arm 32 provided on the opening/closing door 30; a support base 62 for supporting the arm 32; a movement mechanism 40 for moving the opening/closing door 30 between a closing position to close the opening of the main body 10 and an open position to open the opening thereof by vertically moving the support base 62; a limit switch 65 for detecting the contact state between the arm 32 and the support base 62; and a controller 90 for controlling the movement mechanism 40 so as to stop the movement of the opening/closing door 30 when the limit switch 65 detects the non-contact state between the arm 32 and the support base 62 during the movement of the opening/closing door 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilizer including an open / close door that moves up and down.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sterilizers that have a mechanism for automatically opening and closing a door attached to an opening of a main body in which an object to be processed are accommodated are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses such a technique. Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism in which a lid supported in parallel with an L-shaped support portion moves up and down along columns on both sides of a tower in a lid automatic opening / closing device in a horizontal retort machine.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-25684

  In a structure in which the door is moved up and down, if a foreign object is caught in the movement range of the door or a member that supports the door, the drive source continues to drive even though the movement of the door is blocked by the foreign object. There was a fear. In a configuration such as Patent Document 1, the L-shaped support portion parallel moves downward while the lid supported in parallel with the L-shaped support portion is sandwiched between foreign objects, and in some cases, the lid is in a floating state. Also, it may cause a drop of the lid or a failure factor of the drive mechanism. There was room for improvement from the viewpoint of safety of the automatic opening and closing function.

  The present invention provides a highly safe configuration capable of effectively preventing a situation in which driving of an open / close door is continued in a state where the open / close door is not properly supported by a foreign object in a sterilization apparatus having an automatic door open / close mechanism. For the purpose.

  The present invention includes a main body in which an opening for accommodating an object to be processed is formed, an opening / closing door for opening / closing the opening of the main body, an arm portion provided in the opening / closing door, a support base for supporting the arm portion, By moving the support base up and down, a moving mechanism for moving the open / close door between a closed position for closing the opening of the main body and an open position for opening the opening, and a contact state between the arm portion and the support base are detected. During the movement of the contact state detection unit and the door, the movement mechanism is controlled so that the movement of the door is stopped when the contact state detection unit detects a non-contact state between the arm unit and the support base. And a sterilizer including a control unit.

  The arm portion is supported from below on the support base on both sides of the open / close door, and the moving mechanisms are disposed on both the left and right sides, respectively, and projecting positions that support the arm portion above the closed position. A shaft-like member that can be expanded and contracted in the front-rear direction between standby positions that do not contact the arm portion, and the control unit detects the non-contact state during the movement of the opening and closing door, the shaft-like member is It is preferable to move from the standby position to the protruding position.

  According to the present invention, in a sterilization apparatus having an automatic door opening / closing mechanism, a highly safe configuration that can effectively prevent a situation in which driving of the opening / closing door is continued in a state where the opening / closing door is not properly supported by a foreign object. Can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the sterilizer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship of the main body side engaging claw and door side engaging claw of this embodiment. It is a side view which shows a mode that the opening / closing door of this embodiment moves to a closed position, and engages with a main body. It is a perspective view which shows the main body side engaging claw and guide of this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the mode of the guide of this embodiment, a roller part, and a support base from the back side. It is a rear view which shows the mode of the roller part of this embodiment, and a support base. It is a side view which shows the mode of the position adjustment in the engagement position by the roller part of this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the lock pin of this embodiment act | operates. It is a block diagram which shows typically the structure which detects the state of the opening / closing door of a sterilizer. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that a lower locking device operate | moved under the arm part. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the lower locking device operate | moved in the position which overlaps with an arm part.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sterilizer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an arrangement relationship between the main body side engaging claws 15 and the door side engaging claws 35 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the open / close door 30 of the present embodiment moves to the closed position and engages with the main body 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sterilization apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a main body 10, an opening / closing door 30, and a moving mechanism 40.

  The main body 10 is a processing tank that accommodates an object to be sterilized. The main body 10 is a cylindrical container having a hollow portion 19 that is open at one end and closed at the other end. Container-packed foods such as canned foods, retort pouch foods, molded container foods, and bottled foods are stored as objects to be processed.

  A main body side flange 11 is provided around the opening of the main body 10. An annular groove 12 is formed in the main body side flange 11, and a packing member 13 is disposed in this groove. In this embodiment, the air supplied from an air supply source (not shown) allows the packing member 13 to be brought into close contact with the open / close door 30 in the closed position so that high sealing performance can be exhibited.

  On the main body side flange 11, a plurality of main body side engaging claws 15 as engaging portions that engage with the opening / closing door 30 are arranged at intervals. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body side engaging claws 15 are arranged at a total of five locations on the left and right sides, diagonally lower right, diagonally lower left, and bottom of the main body side flange 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body side engaging claw 15 is formed so as to be bent toward the radial center of the main body 10 after protruding forward from the main body side flange 11.

  The opening / closing door 30 opens and closes an opening located on the front side of the main body 10. The opening / closing door 30 has a spherical front surface. A door-side flange 31 is provided so as to surround the spherical portion of the open / close door 30.

  An arm portion 32 is fixed to the upper portion of the opening / closing door 30. The arm portion 32 is formed so as to extend horizontally from the left and right sides of the open / close door 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of door-side engagement claws 35 that engage with the main body 10 are arranged on the door-side flange 31 at intervals. The door-side engagement claws 35 of the present embodiment are disposed at the uppermost part of the door-side flange 31 and at three positions adjacent to the uppermost part, and are located on the back side of the arm part 32.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the door-side engaging claw 35 is formed so as to be bent rearward from the door-side flange 31 and then bent toward the radial center of the open / close door 30.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the moving mechanism 40 includes a drive motor 45 as a drive source, a pair of left and right lifting units 41, a pair of left and right lower locking devices 51, a pair of left and right upper locking devices 81, Is provided.

  The drive motor 45 transmits a driving force for raising and lowering the open / close door 30 to the left and right lifting parts 41 via the drive shaft 46. The elevating part 41 moves the open / close door 30 up and down by the driving force of the drive motor 45.

  Next, the guide 16 that guides the open / close door 30 to the closed position will be described. Of the plurality of main body side engaging claws 15, guides 16 are provided on the uppermost main body side engaging claws 15R and 15L. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the main body side engaging claws 15R and the guide 16 of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state of the guide 16, the roller unit 70, and the support base 62 of the present embodiment from the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a substantially triangular prism-shaped guide 16 is fixed to the upper surface of the main body side engaging claw 15R. The guide 16 has an inclined surface that approaches the main body 10 as it proceeds from top to bottom. The lower end of the inclined surface of the guide 16 is connected to the inner surface of the main body side engaging claw 15R. By the inclined surface of the guide 16, the door side flange 31 is smoothly guided to the closed position where the door side flange 31 engages with the main body side engaging claws 15 (see FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 5, two bolt mounting holes 17 are formed on the inclined surface of the guide 16. The guide 16 is fastened to the main body side engaging claws 15R (main body side engaging claws 15L) through bolts 17 by bolts (not shown). Further, the guide 16 of the present embodiment is disposed so that the rear end surface in the front-rear direction slightly overlaps the inner space of the main body side engaging claws 15R. The guide 16 fixed above the main body side engaging claw 15L has the same configuration as the guide 16 fixed to the main body side engaging claw 15R.

  A ball screw mechanism 60 that transmits the driving force of the driving motor 45 is provided inside the elevating unit 41. The ball screw mechanism 60 includes a shaft portion 61 in which a thread groove is formed, and a support base 62 that moves up and down inside the elevating portion 41. The upper surface of the support base 62 is formed flat.

  The arm portion 32 includes roller portions 70 on the left and right sides thereof. The roller part 70 protrudes downward from the arm part 32, and the bottom part thereof is supported by the support base 62. A plurality of wheels 71 are provided at the bottom of the roller unit 70 and are movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the support base 62.

  When the support base 62 with the roller unit 70 disposed on the upper surface moves up and down, the open / close door 30 which is a member integral with the arm unit 32 moves up and down. Moreover, the recessed part 72 recessed in the front direction is formed in the rear surface side of the roller part 70 of this embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a state of the roller unit 70 and the support base 62 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the support base 62 is provided with a bracket 66 that holds the limit switch 65. The limit switch 65 is a contact state detection unit for detecting the separation between the arm unit 32 including the roller unit 70 and the support base 62. In the present embodiment, the limit switch 65 and the bracket 66 are provided on the left and right support bases 62, respectively.

  As shown by the chain line in FIG. 6, when the arm part 32 is lifted from the support base 62 for some reason, the detection part of the limit switch 65 is separated from the roller part 70, and the detection signal is changed from the ON signal to the OFF signal (or OFF signal). It can be determined that an abnormal state has occurred.

  Next, a lock mechanism by the lower lock device 51 will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower locking device 51 of the present embodiment operates. The lower lock device 51 includes a lock pin 52 that retracts between the standby position and the restriction position. The lock pin 52 is configured to protrude from the main body portion by, for example, an air cylinder mechanism. The lower lock device 51 includes a proximity sensor (not shown) for detecting the push of the lock pin 52, and can detect a state in which the lock pin 52 is pushed by the proximity sensor and the movement of the door is restricted. Configured.

  As shown by the chain line in FIG. 8, the lock pins 52 of the left and right lower locking devices 51 are in a state of projecting from the standby position to the restricting position in a state where the open / close door 30 is in the closed position. Since the lock pin 52 is positioned above the arm portion 32, the lock pin 52 prevents the upward movement of the arm portion 32. That is, the open / close door 30 is locked at the closed position. The processing object is sterilized in a state where the opening / closing door 30 and the main body 10 are in close contact with each other.

  The upper lock device 81 has the same configuration as the lower lock device 51 and includes a lock pin 82 that moves from the standby position to the restriction position. When the opening / closing door 30 moves to the open position or after moving, the movement of the opening / closing door 30 away from the opening position is restricted. Further, the upper locking device 81 includes a proximity sensor (not shown) for detecting the push of the lock pin 82, and can detect a state in which the lock pin 82 is pushed out by the proximity sensor and the movement of the door is restricted. Configured.

  Next, an operation when the arm portion 32 of the open / close door 30 is not properly supported by the support base 62 will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration for detecting the state of the open / close door 30 of the sterilizer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sterilizer 1 includes a control unit 90 that performs sterilization processing of the sterilizer 1 and control of an automatic opening / closing mechanism. The control unit 90 is a computer including a CPU, a storage unit, and the like, and is electrically connected to a driving unit such as the drive motor 45, the upper lock device 81, and the lower lock device 51, and a detection unit such as a limit switch 65.

  The control unit 90 transmits a control signal to the drive motor 45 to move the door 30 up and down. When the control unit 90 of the present embodiment detects a non-contact state in which the arm unit 32 is separated from the support base 62 based on the detection signal of the limit switch 65 during the movement control of the door 30, the drive motor of the moving mechanism 40 is detected. 45 is stopped.

  As described above, the limit switch 65 is disposed on the left and right support bases 62. The control unit 90 according to the present embodiment performs control to stop the drive motor 45 when even one of the left and right limit switches 65 detects a non-contact state. Thereby, it is possible to detect an inclination state of the arm portion 32 such that only one side of the roller portions 70 on the left and right sides of the arm portion 32 is separated. The control unit 90 determines that the opening / closing door 30 is not properly supported by the support base 62 when the arm unit 32 is tilted.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower locking device 51 operates below the arm portion 32. When detecting the non-contact state, the control unit 90 next controls the lower locking devices 51 arranged on the left and right sides to move the lock pin 52 from the standby position to the protruding position.

  As shown in FIG. 10, after the support base 62 and the arm portion 32 are separated from each other and the open / close door 30 is brought into a floating state, the lock pin 52 at the protruding position is moved to the arm portion 32 (the roller portion 70) even if the door 30 is dropped. ) And the door 30 can be prevented from dropping further.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower locking device 51 is operated at a position where it overlaps the arm portion 32. As shown in FIG. 11, even if the lower surface of the arm portion 32 (roller portion 70) passes through the protruding position of the lock pin 52, if the arm portion 32 is before reaching the closed position, the lock pin 52 is operated. By doing so, the lock pin 52 can be brought into contact with the arm portion 32 to prevent the opening / closing door 30 from falling. In the example of FIG. 11, the door 30 is prevented from dropping further in such a manner that it fits into a recess formed on the back side of the arm portion 32.

  In either case, the collision of the opening / closing door 30 and the main body 10 can be prevented, and damage to the opening / closing door 30 and the main body 10 can be effectively prevented.

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
That is, the sterilization apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a main body 10 in which an opening that accommodates an object to be processed is formed, an opening / closing door 30 that opens / closes the opening of the main body, an arm portion 32 provided in the opening / closing door 30, and an arm portion. 32, a support base 62 that supports 32, a moving mechanism 40 that moves the support base 62 up and down to move the open / close door 30 between a closed position that closes the opening of the main body 10 and an open position that opens the opening, and an arm unit. When the limit switch 65 detects the non-contact state between the arm portion 32 and the support base 62 during the movement of the limit switch 65 that detects the contact state between the support base 62 and the support base 62, the movement of the door 30 is stopped. And a control unit 90 for controlling the moving mechanism 40.

  As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the drive motor 45 of the moving mechanism 40 from being driven while the open / close door 30 is floating inside. When the distance between the arm portion 32 of the opening / closing door 30 and the support base 62 is increased, the opening / closing door 30 falls and the opening / closing door 30 and the main body 10 are seriously damaged, or the arm portion 32 is appropriate for the support base 62. When the drive motor 45 continues to be driven forcibly without being supported by the motor, a large load is applied to the drive system, and a situation that causes a failure can be avoided, and the sterilizer 1 can be automatically opened and closed stably. Can do.

  The arm portion 32 is supported from below on the support base 62 on both sides of the open / close door 30, and the moving mechanisms 40 are arranged on both the left and right sides, respectively, and a protruding position and an arm that support the arm portion 32 above the closed position. A lock pin 52 that can be expanded and contracted in the front-rear direction between the standby positions that do not contact the portion 32 is provided, and the control unit 90 projects the lock pin 52 from the standby position when a non-contact state is detected while the door 30 is moving. Move to position.

  Thereby, even if the arm part 32 and the support base 62 are separated and the open / close door 30 falls, the lock pin 52 can effectively prevent the open / close door 30 and the main body 10 from colliding. For example, in the configuration in which the main body side engaging claw 15 and the door side flange 31 of the open / close door 30 are engaged, when the main body side engaging claw 15 is deformed due to the drop of the open / close door 30, the open / close door 30 and the main body 10 are sealed. Although there is a possibility that it cannot be maintained satisfactorily, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the collision between the door side flange 31 of the open / close door 30 and the main body side engaging claw 15 that is dropped by the lock pin 52 can be effectively avoided.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restrict | limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, It can change suitably.

  In the above embodiment, the limit switch 65 is configured to be arranged on the support base 62, but the number of contact state detection units, the arrangement position, and the like can be appropriately changed according to circumstances. For example, the limit switch can be arranged on the arm part side. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which provides a limit switch only in the one side of the support base 62 arrange | positioned at right and left both sides.

  In the said embodiment, although it is the structure which employ | adopts a limit switch as a contact state detection part, it is not limited to this structure. For example, the separation between the arm portion 32 and the support base 62 may be detected by an optical non-contact sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sterilizer 10 Main body 30 Opening / closing door 32 Arm part 40 Moving mechanism 52 Lock pin (shaft-shaped member)
62 Support base 65 Limit switch (contact state detector)
90 Control unit

Claims (2)

A main body in which an opening for accommodating a workpiece is formed;
An opening and closing door for opening and closing the opening of the main body;
An arm portion provided on the opening and closing door;
A support base for supporting the arm part;
A moving mechanism for moving the open / close door between a closed position for closing the opening of the main body and an open position for opening the opening by moving the support base up and down;
A contact state detection unit that detects a contact state between the arm unit and the support base;
A controller that controls the moving mechanism to stop the movement of the door when the contact state detector detects a non-contact state between the arm and the support base during the movement of the door;
A sterilizer comprising: The arm portion is supported from below on the support base on both sides of the door.
The moving mechanism is
It is arranged on both the left and right sides, and has a shaft-like member that can extend and contract in the front-rear direction between a protruding position that supports the arm part above the closed position and a standby position that does not contact the arm part,
The controller is
The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the shaft-shaped member is moved from the standby position to the protruding position when the non-contact state is detected during the movement of the open / close door.

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