JP2018502020A - Electron beam sterilization equipment with self-generated stationary sterilization unit - Google Patents

Abstract

An electron beam sterilization facility (1) for sterilization by exposing a sterilization object (O) such as a preform (P) to an electron cloud (C) formed by an electron beam (E). An electron beam sterilization facility (1) includes an electron beam generator (3) that generates an electron cloud (C) by generating an electron beam (E), and a container (5) that accommodates the electron beam generator (3) therein. ). The electron beam sterilization facility (1) further includes an ozone generating member (2) and a driving device (7) accommodated in the container (5), and a control means (6). When the preform (P) is not sterilized, the ozone generating member (2) is disposed at a position that can promote surface interaction with the electron cloud (E), and generates secondary electrons by this surface interaction. As a result, the generation of ozone is greatly enhanced by the secondary electrons. The drive device (7) moves the ozone generating member to the above position, and the control means (6) controls the ozone inside the container (5).

Description

  The present invention relates to an electron beam sterilization facility for sterilizing containers for foods and drinks, pharmaceutical products, and the like with an electron beam.

  Prior to filling, the container material is sterilized in various ways to inactivate or destroy contained microorganisms and biological materials during mechanical container formation and transport. Each method has a different level of sterilization. As with containers, the level of sterilization of machine parts plays an important role in product safety. Product composition, container materials, storage conditions prior to consumption, and shelf life are some of the parameters to consider to identify sterilization levels and requirements for the sterilization process. Therefore, choosing the correct method of sterilization in the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries is extremely important.

  Currently, instead of using chemicals for sterilization, an apparatus using an electron beam is employed for sterilizing containers. Since the electron beam sterilization equipment provided with such a device does not use chemicals, high safety is achieved without chemicals remaining in the sterilized container.

  However, the normal electron beam sterilization equipment, like other sterilization equipment, needs to stop normal operation once every few days, and sterilize the equipment itself with chemicals as stationary sterilization (SIP). In-place sterilization is automatic sterilization without major disassembly and assembly. Therefore, strictly speaking, such electron beam sterilization equipment uses chemicals, and there is a risk of chemicals remaining in the sterilized containers or chemicals penetrating the walls of the containers. Cannot be zero.

  For this reason, at present, as an electron beam sterilization facility that does not require the use of chemicals for sterilization of the facility itself, one that uses ozone generated by an electron beam for sterilization of the facility itself has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

U.S. Pat. No. 8,373,138

The concentration of ozone required for sterilization of the equipment itself is about several thousand ppm. On the other hand, in the facility described in Patent Document 1, since the electron beam (primary electrons) is directly irradiated onto the gas, the concentration of generated ozone is only about several hundred ppm, which is insufficient. For this reason, in order to generate ozone at a concentration necessary for sterilization of the equipment itself, the intensity of the irradiated electron beam must be much higher than that required for container sterilization (normal operation). I must. When an electron beam having such an intensity is irradiated, X-rays harmful to the human body are excessively generated, and safety is lowered. For this reason, since the said equipment requires the large-scale shielding member for shielding the said excessive X-ray in order to ensure safety | security, a structure becomes complicated.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam sterilization facility that can improve safety with a simple configuration without using chemicals for sterilization of the facility itself.

In order to solve the above problems, an electron beam sterilization facility according to the first invention is an electron beam sterilization facility that sterilizes an object to be sterilized by exposing it to an electron cloud formed of an electron beam.
An electron beam generator for generating an electron cloud by generating the electron beam;
When the object to be sterilized is not sterilized, it is arranged at a position where surface interaction with the electron cloud can be promoted, secondary electrons are generated by this surface interaction, and are electrons generated as an ionized product. Are referred to as “secondary” because they are generated by other emissions (primary emissions), and ozone generating members that greatly enhance the generation of ozone by the secondary electrons,
The positional relationship between the electron beam generating device and the ozone generating member is promoted by the relative movement of the ozone generating member from the state in which the ozone generating member does not interfere with the sterilization of the object to be sterilized. A driving device to obtain a state;
A housing for housing the electron beam generating device, the ozone generating member and the driving device;
And a control means for controlling ozone inside the container.

  Further, the electron beam sterilization facility according to the second invention is the electron beam sterilization facility according to the first invention, wherein the surface that exhibits surface interaction with the electron cloud in the ozone generating member has an uneven shape and / or a through-hole. It is what you have.

  Furthermore, an electron beam sterilization facility according to a third aspect of the present invention is the electron beam sterilization facility according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising a temperature regulator that adjusts the temperature of the surface that exhibits surface interaction with the electron cloud in the ozone generation member. Is.

In addition, the electron beam sterilization facility according to the fourth invention, the sterilization object in the electron beam sterilization device according to any one of the first to third invention, has an inner surface communicating from the opening,
The electron beam generator has an inner surface electron beam generator that exposes the inner surface of the sterilization object to an electron cloud,
The inner surface electron beam generator has a nozzle that can be inserted into the opening of the sterilization object and generate an electron cloud from a transmission window at the tip,
The ozone generating member has a cup shape having a side portion and a bottom portion, and the transmission window of the nozzle can be covered inside the bottom portion.
The position where the surface interaction with the electron cloud in the ozone generating member can be promoted is a position where the inner side of the bottom covers the transmission window of the nozzle.
The drive device convects the generated ozone by moving the ozone generating member out of and relative to the nozzle.

An electron beam sterilization facility according to a fifth aspect of the invention is an outer surface in which the electron beam generator in the electron beam sterilization facility according to any one of the first to third aspects exposes the outer surface of the object to be sterilized to an electron cloud. Having an electron beam generator,
The ozone generating member has a shape that can cover the outer surface electron beam generator,
The position where the surface interaction with the electron cloud in the ozone generating member can be promoted is a position between the sterilization object whose outer surface is exposed to the electron cloud and the outer surface electron beam generator,
A fan for convection of ozone between the ozone generating member and the outer surface electron beam generator is provided.

  According to the above electron beam sterilization equipment, stationary sterilization is possible with the generated ozone without significantly increasing the intensity of the electron beam compared to normal operation, so no chemicals are used for sterilization of the equipment itself, and a simple configuration Can improve safety.

It is a schematic block diagram in the normal driving | operation with the electron beam sterilization installation which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram in the driving | operation of the stationary sterilization in the same electron beam sterilization equipment. It is a plane sectional view showing the whole composition of the electron beam sterilization equipment concerning the example of the present invention. It is a plane sectional view showing an outer surface electron beam generator and a plate member in operation of stationary sterilization in the same electron beam sterilization equipment. It is a sectional side view which shows the turning table for inner surface sterilization in the normal driving | operation with the same electron beam sterilization equipment, and an inner surface electron beam generator. It is a partially notched enlarged view which shows the lower part of the emitter in the operation | movement of the stationary sterilization in the same electron beam sterilization equipment. It is a partially notched enlarged view which shows the state in which ozone is produced | generated by the movement of the cup member in the operation | movement of the stationary sterilization in the same electron beam sterilization equipment. It is a partially notched enlarged view which shows the state which ozone convects by the movement of the cup member in the operation | movement of the stationary sterilization in the same electron beam sterilization equipment. It is a block diagram which shows the control means of the same electron beam sterilization equipment. It is a plane sectional view showing other forms of the plate member. It is an expanded sectional side view which shows the other form of the cup member.

  Hereinafter, an electron beam sterilization facility according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the technical idea of the electron beam sterilization facility will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this electron beam sterilization facility sterilizes an object to be sterilized O by exposing it to an electron cloud C formed by an electron beam E. The electron beam sterilization facility 1 includes an electron beam generator 3 that generates an electron beam E to generate an electron cloud C, an ozone generation member 2 that generates ozone by surface interaction with the electron cloud C, and the electron A driving device 7 that relatively moves the beam generating device 3 and the ozone generating member 2, and a container 5 that houses the electron beam generating device 3, the ozone generating member 2, and the driving device 7 therein. Furthermore, the electron beam sterilization facility 1 also includes a control means 6 for controlling ozone inside the container 5. The drive device 7 sets the positional relationship between the electron beam generator 3 and the ozone generating member 2 so that the sterilization object O is not disturbed when the sterilization object O is sterilized, and as shown in FIG. If not, the surface interaction can be promoted. The ozone generating member 2 generates secondary electrons by the surface interaction, and reacts oxygen contained in the gas inside the container 5 with the generated secondary electrons to make ozone, that is, generate ozone. Is. The ozone generating member 2 also promotes the generation of ozone by reacting with oxygen ions and ultraviolet rays generated by the action of the electron cloud C (for example, catalytic reaction). The material of the ozone generating member 2 is tungsten, titanium oxide, and / or zinc oxide. The material of the ozone generating member 2 may be tungsten oxide, titanium, and / or ceramic. Here, the position where the surface interaction with the electron cloud C can be promoted is within the longest flight distance of the electrons constituting the electron cloud C and the electron beam generator 3 (specifically, the following implementation) This is a position where the transmission window of the electron beam E described in the embodiment is not damaged by the electrons reflected from the ozone generating member 2. The longest flight distance of the electrons varies depending on the voltage for generating the electron beam E. For example, when the voltage is 125 kV, the longest flight distance of the electrons is about 150 mm. The position where the transmission window is not damaged by the electrons reflected from the ozone generation member 2 varies depending on the convection state between the transmission window and the ozone generation member 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electron beam sterilization facility 1 sterilizes a container or a preform P, which is an object to be sterilized O, exposed to an electron cloud C as a normal operation. Then, when it becomes necessary to sterilize the equipment itself, for example, by continuing normal operation for several days, the normal operation is switched to a stationary sterilization operation. This stationary sterilization is sterilization without disassembling the equipment itself, and is called SIP (Sterilize In Place) for short.

  In the operation of stationary sterilization, as shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 7 arranges the ozone generating member 2 at a position where the surface interaction with the electron cloud C can be promoted. Then, the electron beam generator 3 generates an electron beam E to form an electron cloud C, which promotes the surface interaction. The intensity of the electron beam E may be less than or equal to the intensity of the electron beam in normal operation. Secondary electrons are emitted from the ozone generating member 2 due to the surface interaction, and oxygen contained in the gas inside the container 5 is reacted with these secondary electrons to make ozone. Further, the electron cloud C generates oxygen ions and ultraviolet rays by the action of the gas, and the ozone generating member 2 disposed at the position reacts with the oxygen ions and ultraviolet rays (for example, catalytic reaction). Generation of the ozone is promoted. Inside the container 5, ozone is controlled by the control means 6 so as to be suitable for stationary sterilization.

  As described above, according to the electron beam sterilization facility 1, the intensity of the electron beam E can be made higher than that of a normal operation only by including the ozone generating member 2, the driving device 7 and the control means 6 which are not present in the conventional electron beam sterilization facility. Since the stationary sterilization is possible by the generated ozone without much increase, no chemicals are used for sterilization of the equipment itself, and safety can be improved with a simple configuration.

  Hereinafter, an electron beam sterilization facility 1 according to an example showing the above embodiment more specifically will be described. In the present embodiment, the sterilization object O sterilized by normal operation by the electron beam sterilization equipment 1 will be described as a preform P.

  As shown in FIG. 3 which is a plan sectional view of this electron beam sterilization facility 1, a rotating table group 10 for conveying a preform P and an outer surface electron beam for exposing the outer surface of the preform P being conveyed to an electron cloud. A generator 32, an inner surface electron beam generator (shown in FIG. 5) 33 that exposes the inner surface of the preform P being conveyed to an electron cloud, and a housing that houses the swivel table group 10 and the electron beam generators 32, 33. And a body 5.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the swivel table group 10 includes an entrance swivel table 11 that receives the preform P from the outside of the container 5, and a preform P that is received from the entrance swivel table 11 and the outer surface of the swivel table 11 is an outer surface electron beam generator. The swivel table 12 for external sterilization exposed to the electron cloud 32 and the swivel table for internal sterilization that receives the preform P from the swivel table 12 for external sterilization and exposes the inner surface thereof to the electron cloud of the internal electron beam generator 33 (FIG. 3). And an outlet turning table 14 that receives the preform P from the inner surface sterilization turning table 13 and delivers it to the outside of the container 5.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the outer surface electron beam generating device 32 sterilizes the outer surface of the preform P conveyed by the circular path to the outer surface sterilization turning table 12 by exposing it to an electron cloud. As shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface electron beam generator 33 sterilizes the inner surface of the preform P conveyed by the circular path to the inner surface sterilization turning table 13 by exposing it to an electron cloud. As will be described in detail later, a plate-shaped ozone generating member 92 (see FIG. 4) and a cup-shaped ozone generating member are disposed at positions where the surface interaction with the electron cloud C of the electron beam generators 32 and 33 can be promoted. 82 (see FIG. 6) is arranged. These ozone generating members 92 and 82 generate secondary electrons by the surface interaction, and the generated secondary electrons cause oxygen contained in the gas inside the container 5 to react with each other, that is, ozone. Is to be generated. The ozone generating members 92 and 82 also promote the generation of ozone by reacting with oxygen ions and ultraviolet rays generated by the action of the electron cloud C (for example, catalytic reaction).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the container 5 includes an introduction port 51 that receives the preform P from the outside, and a lead-out port 54 that delivers the preform P to the outside. Gates 61 and 64 are provided at the inlet 51 and the outlet 54, respectively. These gates 61 and 64 adjust the opening degree of the inlet 51 and the outlet 54 by an actuator (not shown). Fans 62 and 63 for convection of ozone are provided inside the container 5. These fans 62 and 63 are installed at a position where the ozone concentration is relatively high during stationary sterilization in order to efficiently convect ozone inside the container 5.

  The electron beam sterilization facility 1 includes a monitor 69 that monitors the concentration of oxygen and ozone inside the container 5, an oxygen supply device 65 that supplies oxygen into the container 5, and the temperatures of the ozone generation members 92 and 82. And a temperature adjuster 66 for adjusting the temperature. The monitor 69 monitors the oxygen and ozone concentrations inside the container 5 because it is necessary to make the state inside the container 5 suitable for the generation and use of ozone. The reason why oxygen is supplied into the container 5 by the oxygen supply device 65 is to increase the concentration of oxygen in the container 5 so as to efficiently generate ozone by secondary electrons. The oxygen supply unit 65 supplies not only pure oxygen but also impurities such as nitrogen in order to more efficiently generate ozone by a catalytic reaction. The temperature adjusting device 66 adjusts the temperature of the ozone generating members 92 and 82 by cooling the ozone generating members 92 and 82 that are in contact with the generated ozone, thereby preventing the generated ozone from being separated by heat. This is for the purpose of efficiently generating. In order to cool the ozone generation members 92 and 82 (at least the surface that exhibits surface interaction), the temperature adjuster 66 includes the inside of the ozone generation member 92 (see FIG. 4) and the vicinity of the ozone generation member 82 (see FIG. 6). ) Has a function of supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerant channels 93 and 83 (described later).

The electron beam sterilization facility 1 is based on the data from the monitor 69, and includes the gates 61 and 64, fans 62 and 63, an oxygen supply device 65, a temperature regulator 66, and a driving device 67 (which will be described later. A control device 70 for controlling the drive device 7 in the embodiment is provided. The gates 61 and 64, the fans 62 and 63, the oxygen supply device 65, the temperature regulator 66, and the driving device 67 are collectively referred to as control devices 61 to 67 below. The control devices 61 to 67 and the control device 70 constitute the control means 6 in the above embodiment.
Hereinafter, the ozone generation members 92 and 82 which are the gist of the present invention will be described in detail.
First, a plate-shaped ozone generating member 92 (hereinafter abbreviated as a plate member 92) will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the outer surface of the preform P is sterilized (in a normal operation), the plate member 92 is disposed at a position that does not interfere with the sterilization. As shown in FIG. When the outer surface is not sterilized (in the stationary sterilization operation), the outer surface sterilization turning table 12 and the outer surface electron beam generator 32 are disposed at a position. Such position switching is performed by a drive device (not shown) (an example of the drive device 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in FIG. 4, the plate member 92 is formed with a refrigerant flow path 93 for allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough. The coolant channel 93 cools the surface of the plate member 92 on the outer surface electron beam generator 32 side by allowing the coolant to pass therethrough. The plate member 92 exhibits surface interaction with the electron cloud C on the outer surface electron beam generator 32 side. The surface on the outer surface electron beam generator 32 side has a mesh shape or a honeycomb shape (an example of an uneven shape) in order to increase the area for the surface interaction. As shown in FIG. 4, a limited space is formed between the surface of the plate member 92 on the outer surface electron beam generator 32 side and the outer surface electron beam generator 32, and the surface of the plate member 92 with the electron cloud Due to the interaction, ozone is generated in the space. This ozone is discharged from the space by the fan 63. In other words, ozone is convected by the fan 63.

  Next, the inner surface sterilization turning table 13 on which the cup-shaped ozone generating member 82 (hereinafter abbreviated as the cup member 82) is disposed and the cup member 82 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inner surface sterilization swivel table 13 includes a swivel circular table plate 21 and grippers 8 arranged on the outer edge portion of the circular table plate 21 at this pitch. That is, the inner surface sterilization turning table 13 conveys the preform P gripped by the grippers 8 to the circular path by turning the circular table plate 21. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface sterilization turning table 13 rotates the mounting plate 22 arranged parallel to and above the circular table plate 21 and the circular table plate 21 and the mounting plate 22. And a pivot shaft 23 connected to the center. On the mounting plate 22, an emitter 34 constituting the inner surface electron beam generator 33 is disposed at a position immediately above each gripper 8. The inner surface sterilization swivel table 13 has an elevating body 24 for elevating the grippers 8. Each lifting body 24 raises the gripper 8 so that the inner surface of the preform P held by the gripper 8 is exposed to the electron cloud of the inner surface electron beam generator 33, and lowers the gripper 8 to lower the pusher 24. The reform P can be delivered to the gripper 9 of the exit turning table 14. The mounting plate 22 is provided with a driving device 67 (which is an example of the driving device 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) that can move the cup member 82. When the inner surface of the preform P is sterilized (in a normal operation), the drive device 67 retracts the cup member 82 to a position that does not interfere with the sterilization, and when the inner surface of the preform P is not sterilized (operation of stationary sterilization). The cup member 82 is moved to the vicinity of the lower end portion (tip portion) of the nozzle 36.
Next, the emitter 34, the driving device 67, and the cup member 82 constituting the inner surface electron beam generator 33 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the lower part of each emitter 34 includes a vacuum chamber 35 placed on the mounting plate 22 and having a vacuum atmosphere inside, and a cylindrical nozzle 36 extending downward from the vacuum chamber 35. The Although not shown, the vacuum chamber 35 is configured to generate a large number of electrons and accelerate downward by disposing an electron beam generating source therein. Although not shown in the figure, a large number of electrons accelerated downward, that is, the electron beam E, are formed into an elongated shape by an electron beam shaper (for example, an electrostatic lens). The elongated electron beam E has a shape that diffuses after converging inside the nozzle 36. The inside of the nozzle 36 communicates with the vacuum chamber 35 to form a vacuum atmosphere, and has a transmission window 37 that transmits an electron beam E at its lower end (tip) to form an electron cloud C. That is, the nozzle 36 emits the electron beam E from the vacuum chamber 35 from the transmission window 37 to form an electron cloud C.

As shown in FIG. 6, the driving device 67 supports the cup member 82, and can also move the cup member 82 with respect to the nozzle 36. Further, the drive device 67 is formed with a refrigerant flow path 83 for allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough. The refrigerant flow path 83 cools the surface inside the cup member 82 by allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough. On the other hand, the cup member 82 is composed of a side portion 82s and a bottom portion 82b, and exhibits surface interaction with the electron cloud C mainly inside the bottom portion 82b. In order to increase the area for surface interaction with the electron cloud C, the surface inside the bottom portion 82b has a mesh shape or a honeycomb shape (an example of a concavo-convex shape). As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cup member 82 is repeatedly moved to a position where the lower end portion (tip portion) of the nozzle 36 is covered / not covered by the withdrawal and withdrawal. The covering position is a position in which the lower end portion (tip portion) of the nozzle 36 is inserted inside the cup member 82, and the uncovered position is the lower end portion of the nozzle 36 inside the cup member 82. This is the position where the (tip portion) is not inserted. In the covering position, as shown in FIG. 7, a limited space is formed between the transmission window 37 and the bottom 82 b, and ozone is generated in the space due to surface interaction with the electron cloud C in the cup member 82. Generated. On the other hand, in the uncovered position, as shown in FIG. 8, the surrounding gas is guided by the movement and flows into the cup member 82, and ozone is discharged from the inside of the cup member 82 to the periphery by this inflow. Is done. In other words, ozone convects due to the withdrawal.
Hereinafter, the control device 70 constituting the control means 6 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 9, the control device 70 receives state data inside the container 5 from the switching unit 71 that switches between normal operation / stationary sterilization operation in the electron beam sterilization facility 1 and the monitor 69. In addition, it includes a determination unit 72 that makes a determination for making the state suitable for stationary sterilization, and an instruction unit 73 that instructs the control devices 61 to 67 based on the content determined by the determination unit 72.
Hereinafter, the operation of the electron beam sterilization facility 1 will be described.
First, a normal operation, that is, an operation for sterilizing the preform P will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the preform P is transferred from the outside of the container 5 to the inlet turning table 11 through the introduction port 51 whose opening degree is set to 100% by the gate 61, and then the outer surface sterilization turning table. 12 is passed. The preform P delivered to the outer surface sterilization turning table 12 is exposed to the electron cloud from the outer surface electron beam generator 32 and then delivered to the inner surface sterilization turning table 13. The preform P delivered to the inner surface sterilization turning table 13 is exposed to the electron cloud from the inner surface electron beam generator 33 and then delivered to the outlet turning table 14. Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the ozone generating members 92 and 82, that is, the plate member 92 and the cup member 82 are arranged at positions that do not hinder sterilization of the outer surface and the inner surface of the preform P. Thereby, not only the sterilization is not disturbed, but also generation of unnecessary ozone from the ozone generating members 92 and 82 in a normal operation is suppressed. The preform P delivered to the outlet turning table 14 is delivered to the outside of the container 5 through the outlet 54 whose opening degree is 100% by the gate 64.
Next, the operation of stationary sterilization, that is, the operation for sterilizing the equipment itself will be described.

  When the normal operation is switched to the stationary sterilization operation by the switching unit 71 shown in FIG. 9, an instruction is given to the control devices 61 to 67 and the electron beam generators 32 and 33 by the instruction unit 73 after the determination by the determination unit 72. Is done. By this instruction, the opening of the inlet 51 and the outlet 54 is reduced by the gates 61 and 64, and oxygen containing impurities such as nitrogen is supplied from the oxygen supplier 65 into the container 5. The plate member 92 and the cup member 82 (that is, the ozone generating members 92 and 82) are arranged at positions where the surface interaction with the electron cloud C can be promoted. Further, according to the above instructions, the electron beam generators 32 and 33 respectively generate the electron beam E to form the electron cloud C, and the surface interaction between the plate member 92 and the cup member 82 and the electron cloud C is promoted. Ozone is generated. Further, according to the above instruction, the fans 62 and 63 are activated, and the drive device 67 moves the cup member 82 out and out of the nozzle 36, so that the generated ozone convects. In addition, according to the above instruction, the temperature regulator 66 supplies the refrigerant to the refrigerant passages 93 and 83 to cool the plate member 92 and the cup member 82, thereby preventing the generated ozone from being separated by heat, thereby Ozone generation is efficient.

  At that time, the oxygen and ozone concentrations inside the container 5 are monitored by the monitor 69. Based on the concentration data obtained by this monitoring, the determination unit 72 determines, and based on the determination result, the instruction unit 73 adjusts the state inside the container 5 to be suitable for the generation and use of ozone. The control devices 61 to 67 and the electron beam generators 32 and 33 are controlled according to the instructions from. This control is, for example, start / stop of the oxygen supplier 65 and the electron beam generators 32 and 33.

  As described above, according to the electron beam sterilization facility 1 of the above embodiment, the stationary sterilization can be performed by the generated ozone without significantly increasing the intensity of the electron beam E as compared with the normal operation. Safety can be improved with a simple configuration without using chemicals.

  In addition, since the surface that performs surface interaction with the electron cloud C in the ozone generation members 92 and 82 is a mesh shape or a honeycomb shape (an example of the uneven shape), the area for the surface interaction is increased. Ozone can be generated efficiently, and as a result, the equipment itself can be sterilized efficiently. Of course, the surface may have an irregular shape other than a mesh shape or a honeycomb shape.

  Furthermore, since at least the surface having the surface interaction in the ozone generating members 92 and 82 is cooled by the temperature adjuster 66, the generation of ozone is efficiently performed, and as a result, the sterilization of the equipment itself can be efficiently performed.

  In addition, the monitor 69, the control devices 61 to 67, and the control device 70 make the state inside the container 5 suitable for the generation and use of ozone, so that the equipment itself can be sterilized efficiently.

  By the way, in the said Example, although it illustrated in figure that the hole (through-hole) was not formed in the plate member 92 and the cup member 82, as shown to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, holes 92h and 82h (through-hole) are respectively shown. It may be formed. These holes 92h and 82h make it easy for surrounding gas to flow into the space where ozone is generated, so ozone is efficiently convected, and as a result, the equipment itself can be sterilized efficiently.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the gates 61 and 64, the fans 62 and 63, the oxygen supply machine 65, the temperature regulator 66, and the drive device 67 were demonstrated as the control apparatuses 61-67, these are only examples, An appropriate configuration is adopted as necessary.

Further, in the above embodiment, in order to cool the plate member 92 and the cup member 82 (that is, the ozone generating members 92 and 82), the inside of the plate member 92 (see FIG. 4) and the vicinity of the cup member 82 (see FIG. 6). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other cooling means such as impingement cooling may be used.
In addition, in the said Example, although the two ozone production | generation members 92 and 82 of the plate member 92 and the cup member 82 were demonstrated, any one may be sufficient.

Claims (5)

In an electron beam sterilization facility that sterilizes an object to be sterilized by exposing it to an electron cloud formed by an electron beam,
An electron beam generator for generating an electron cloud by generating the electron beam;
Ozone that is arranged at a position that can promote surface interaction with the electron cloud when the object to be sterilized is not sterilized, generates secondary electrons by the surface interaction, and generates ozone by the secondary electrons. A generating member;
The positional relationship between the electron beam generating device and the ozone generating member is promoted by the relative movement of the ozone generating member from the state in which the ozone generating member does not interfere with the sterilization of the object to be sterilized. A driving device to obtain a state;
A housing for housing the electron beam generating device, the ozone generating member and the driving device;
An electron beam sterilization facility comprising: control means for controlling ozone inside the container.   2. The electron beam sterilization equipment according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the ozone generating member that exhibits surface interaction with the electron cloud has an uneven shape and / or a through-hole.   The electron beam sterilization equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature adjuster that adjusts a surface temperature of the ozone generating member that exhibits surface interaction with the electron cloud. The object to be sterilized has an inner surface communicating from the opening,
The electron beam generator has an inner surface electron beam generator that exposes the inner surface of the sterilization object to an electron cloud,
The inner surface electron beam generator has a nozzle that can be inserted into the opening of the sterilization object and generate an electron cloud from a transmission window at the tip,
The ozone generating member has a cup shape having a side portion and a bottom portion, and the transmission window of the nozzle can be covered inside the bottom portion.
The position where the surface interaction with the electron cloud in the ozone generating member can be promoted is a position where the inner side of the bottom covers the transmission window of the nozzle.
4. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device is configured to convect the generated ozone by moving the ozone generation member relative to the nozzle. 5. Electron beam sterilization equipment. The electron beam generator has an outer surface electron beam generator that exposes the outer surface of the sterilization object to an electron cloud,
The ozone generating member has a shape that can cover the outer surface electron beam generator,
The position where the surface interaction with the electron cloud in the ozone generating member can be promoted is a position between the sterilization object whose outer surface is exposed to the electron cloud and the outer surface electron beam generator,
The electron beam sterilization equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a fan that convects ozone between the ozone generation member and the outer surface electron beam generator.

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