JP2020022642A - Sterilization apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sterilization apparatus that reduces a risk that a not-sterilized article is carried out of a sterilization vessel.SOLUTION: A sterilization vessel 2 has an opening for carrying in or out a sterilization target. The opening is openable and closable with doors 4 (4A, 4B). Door monitoring means monitors an open/close state of the doors 4 of the sterilization vessel 2. After the sterilization target in the sterilization vessel 2 is sterilized, sterilization checking means promotes checking as to whether a content in the sterilization vessel 2 is sterilized or not yet sterilized when the door monitoring means detects opening of the doors 4 two times or more since the sterilization is finished. In the case of a double doors type with the carry-side door 4A and the carry-out side door 4B, after the sterilization target in the sterilization vessel 2 is sterilized, the sterilization checking means promotes checking as to whether a content in the sterilization vessel 2 is sterilized or not yet sterilized when the door monitoring means detects opening of the carry-out side door 4B two times or more since the sterilization is finished.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to various sterilizers.

  Conventionally, sterilizers include a single-door type having one door and a double-door type having two doors. In the case of the single-door type, the same door is opened and closed when the object to be sterilized is carried into and out of the sterilization tank. In the case of a double-door type, as shown in FIG. 7 of Patent Document 1 below, a carry-in side space (non-cleaning space 2) and a carry-out side space (cleaning space 1) partitioned by partition walls (3, 4). A sterilization tank (5) is interposed therebetween, and the carry-in side door (7) is opened to accommodate the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank. The sterilized object after sterilization is opened and taken out by opening the carry-out side door (6).

  In the case of the double-door type, an interlock mechanism is preferably provided to avoid contamination of the object to be sterilized after sterilization and the carry-out side space. According to the invention described in Patent Document 1, during the non-sterile operation, the carry-in door (7) can be opened only when the carry-out door (6) is closed, and after the sterilization work is completed, the carry-in door (7). Is controlled so that the discharge side door (6) can be opened only when the is closed. Further, after the sterilization operation is completed, after the carry-in side door (7) is opened, the opening of the carry-out side door (6) is disabled, and depending on the opening and closing of the carry-out side door (6), the opening of the carry-out side door (6) is prohibited. It is controlled so as not to limit.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-33795 (Claim 1, FIG. 7)

  In the case of a single-door type sterilizer, there is a possibility that an unsterile product is carried out of the sterilization tank due to some mistake. If a double door type sterilizer is equipped with an interlock mechanism, it is possible to prevent unsterilized products from being carried out. However, from the viewpoint of workability, the interlock mechanism is released (that is, the interlock mechanism is not operated). It may be operated, and in that case, there is a risk that unsterilized material will be unloaded from the unloading side door.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization apparatus in which the risk of unsterilized products being carried out of a sterilization tank is reduced.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the invention according to claim 1 has an opening for loading or unloading an object to be sterilized, and the opening can be opened and closed by a door. The sterilization tank, a door monitoring means for monitoring the opening / closing state of a door of the sterilization tank, and after the sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank, the door monitoring means detects the opening of the door after the sterilization. A sterilization apparatus comprising: a sterilization confirmation unit that prompts the user to confirm whether or not the contents in the sterilization tank have been sterilized when it is the second time or later.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the single door type or double door type sterilization apparatus, the open / closed state of the door is monitored by the door monitoring means, and after the sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank, the door is monitored. When the detection of the opening of the door by the means is the second or subsequent time after the end of the sterilization, the sterilization confirmation means can prompt confirmation of whether or not the contents in the sterilization tank have been sterilized. This can reduce the risk of un-sterilized items being carried out of the sterilization tank.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the sterilization tank is provided with a carry-in side door and a carry-out side door, and the sterilization confirming means monitors the door after sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank. 2. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detection of the opening of the carry-out side door by the means is the second or subsequent time after the end of the sterilization, it is prompted to confirm whether or not the contents in the sterilization tank have been sterilized. is there.

  According to the invention as set forth in claim 2, in the double-door type sterilizer, after the sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank is completed, the door monitoring means detects the opening of the carry-out side door from the second time after the completion of the sterilization. In this case, it is possible to prompt the user to confirm whether or not the contents in the sterilization tank have been sterilized by the sterilization confirmation means. That is, when the carry-out side door is opened, if it is not the first opening after the sterilization operation, it is possible to prompt confirmation of whether or not the contents in the sterilization tank have been sterilized. This can reduce the risk of un-sterilized items being carried out of the sterilization tank.

  Further, the invention according to claim 3 is that, after the sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank is completed, the carry-in side door or the carry-out side door is once opened and closed. An interlock mechanism that cannot be opened is provided, and the operation of the interlock mechanism can be switched. The operation is performed with the interlock mechanism released, and after the sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank is completed. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the detection of the opening of the carry-out side door by the door monitoring means is performed for the second time or more after the end of the sterilization, it is urged to confirm whether or not the contents in the sterilization tank have been sterilized. Sterilizer.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the interlock mechanism is in the effective state, the interlock mechanism prevents the unsterilized material from being carried out of the sterilization tank. Also, even when the interlock mechanism is released (invalid state), after the sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank is completed, the door monitoring means detects the opening of the carry-out side door for the second time or more after the completion of the sterilization. By prompting the user to confirm whether or not the contents in the tank have been sterilized, it is possible to prevent the unsterilized material from being carried out of the sterilization tank.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the sterilization apparatus of this invention, the risk that an unsterile thing is carried out from a sterilization tank can be reduced.

It is an outline top view showing the sterilization device of one example of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for confirming sterilization of the sterilizer of FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a sterilizer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  The sterilization apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a sterilization tank 2 in which an object to be sterilized is stored, sterilization means (not shown) for sterilizing the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank 2, operation control of the sterilization apparatus 1, A control panel 3 for inputting and outputting various settings and displays; As described below, the sterilizer 1 of the present embodiment is a double-door steam sterilizer having doors 4 (4A, 4B) before and after a sterilization tank 2 and at least steam supply means as sterilization means. Prepare.

  The sterilization tank 2 has front and rear openings, and each opening can be opened and closed by a door 4. Each door 4 is a swing door in the illustrated example, but may be a sliding door or a shutter. One door 4 is a carry-in side door 4A for putting an object to be sterilized into the sterilization tank 2, and the other door 4 is a carry-out side door 4B for taking out the sterilized object outside the sterilization tank 2. It is said. After opening the carry-in side door 4A, the object to be sterilized is accommodated in the sterilization tank 2, and with both doors 4A, 4B closed, the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank 2 is sterilized. Can be taken out. The doors 4A and 4B may be automatically opened and closed by operating the control panel 3 or the like, or may be manually opened and closed.

  The double-door sterilizer 1 is provided on a panel 5 that separates two spaces. In the illustrated example, the carry-in side space A and the carry-out side space B are separated by two panels 5. The panels 5 are arranged in parallel with a predetermined distance therebetween, and are separated by the panels 5 so that the spaces A and B do not communicate with each other. Then, a sterilization tank 2 is provided between the panels 5 so as to penetrate the panels 5, and a gap between the sterilization tank 2 and the panel 5 is sealed.

  The sterilization tank 2 has one opening directed to the loading space A and the other opening directed to the loading space B. The opening to the loading space A can be opened and closed by the loading door 4A, and the opening to the loading space B can be opened and closed by the loading door 4B. Although details will be described later, preferably, the interlock mechanism is controlled so that the doors 4A and 4B are not simultaneously opened. The carry-out side space B is a space having a higher degree of cleanliness than the carry-in side space A. Therefore, the carry-in side space A can be called a non-clean side (general side) space, and the carry-out side space B can be called a clean side (clean side) space.

  The sterilization means is designed according to the sterilization method. In the case of the steam sterilization apparatus as in this embodiment, at least a means for supplying steam to the sterilization tank 2 is provided. More specifically, in the present embodiment, a decompression means for sucking and discharging the gas in the sterilization tank 2 to the outside and decompressing the inside of the sterilization tank 2, Decompression means for restoring the pressure, steam supply means for supplying steam into the sterilization tank 2, drain discharge means for discharging condensed water of steam from the sterilization tank 2, and sterilization tank 2 pressurized by the steam supply. Means for exhausting air from the inside, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the sterilization tank 2, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the sterilization tank 2, and controlling the respective means based on detection signals from these sensors and elapsed time. Control means. When the sterilization tank 2 includes a steam jacket, the sterilization apparatus 1 further includes a means for supplying steam to the jacket and a means for discharging drain from the jacket.

  A control panel 3 is provided before and after the sterilization apparatus 1 (that is, facing the carry-in space A and the carry-out space B). The control panel 3 is provided with a common controller (not shown) as control means. ). The controller enables the sterilization operation of the object to be sterilized stored in the sterilization tank 2 to be executed. In the sterilization operation, typically, a preheating step, a pretreatment step, a sterilization step, an exhaustion step, and a drying step are sequentially performed.

  In the preheating step, steam is supplied into the jacket to heat the inside of the sterilization tank 2 and maintain it at a predetermined temperature. This heating is continued in each of the subsequent steps. In the pretreatment step, the air in the sterilization tank 2 is eliminated. In the sterilization process, steam is supplied into the sterilization tank 2 to maintain the inside of the sterilization tank 2 at a sterilization temperature for a sterilization time, thereby sterilizing the material to be sterilized in the sterilization tank 2. In the evacuation step, steam is exhausted from the pressurized sterilization tank 2 to lower the pressure in the sterilization tank 2. Further, in the drying step, the inside of the sterilization tank 2 is depressurized (or reduced) to vacuum-dry the object to be sterilized. At the end of the drying step, the pressure in the sterilization tank 2 is restored to the atmospheric pressure.

  The sterilization apparatus 1 preferably includes locking and unlocking means (for example, an electric lock) for each of the doors 4A and 4B, and the doors 4A and 4B can be locked (locked) in a closed state by the locking and unlocking means. Further, the sterilizer 1 includes a door monitoring unit that monitors the open / closed state of each door 4A, 4B. For example, the opening or closing of each door 4A, 4B is detected by a sensor such as a limit switch, and the controller grasps the open / closed state of each door 4A, 4B from the detection signal of this sensor. Alternatively, when the electric lock (locking means) of each door 4A, 4B is locked or unlocked by the controller, the controller grasps the open / closed state of each door 4A, 4B from the control signal to the electric lock.

  The sterilizer 1 preferably includes an interlock mechanism. In the present embodiment, both doors 4A and 4B are locked (that is, locked in the closed state) during the sterilization operation, and the discharge-side door 4B is unlocked after the sterilization operation is completed by the control of the controller. Is released), and once the carry-out side door 4B is opened and closed, the carry-out side door 4B is locked and the carry-in side door 4A is unlocked. Therefore, after the sterilization operation of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank 2 is completed, if the discharge side door 4B is once opened and closed, the discharge side door 4B cannot be opened until the next sterilization is completed. After the sterilization operation is completed, the carry-in side door 4B is once opened and, after closing, the carry-in side door 4A can be opened. With the start of the sterilization operation, the carry-in side door 4A cannot be opened.

  Whether or not such an interlock mechanism is operated can be switched by setting from the control panel 3. That is, the operation can be performed with the interlock mechanism enabled, and the operation can be performed with the interlock mechanism disabled (ie, in the released state). In particular, when the interlock mechanism is operated in the released state, the object to be sterilized that can be carried out from the carry-out side door 4B is not necessarily sterilized. Goods) should be encouraged to confirm whether or not the article has been sterilized.

  That is, the sterilization apparatus 1 is provided with sterilization confirmation means. The sterilization confirmation means, after the sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank 2 (that is, after the end of the sterilization operation), the door 4 (double door type) by the door monitoring means. In the case of, when the detection of the opening of the carry-out side door 4B) is the second or subsequent time after the end of the sterilization, the user can use the display on the display of the control panel 3 or the sound from the speaker to inform the user of the contents in the sterilization tank 2. Prompts you to confirm that the is sterilized. Note that the sterilization confirmation means is realized by the controller. Hereinafter, a sterilization confirmation method by the sterilization confirmation means will be specifically described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sterilization confirmation method for the sterilization apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. Here, the processing by the controller after the sterilization operation is completed with the interlock mechanism released (or in the valid state) is shown. When the interlock mechanism is operated in the released state, if the opening of the carry-out side door 4B is not the first opening after the sterilization operation after the end of the sterilization operation, attention should be paid to whether the contents in the sterilization tank 2 are not unsterile. (That is, a warning that sterilization may not have been performed) is issued.

  More specifically, after the sterilization operation is completed, if there is a command to open the unloading side door 4B (or if the door 4B is actually opened (in this case, S5 is unnecessary)) (S1), the interlock mechanism is released. A check is made as to whether or not (S2). If the interlock mechanism is valid (NO in S2), the unloading side door 4B may be opened (unlocked) (S5). On the other hand, if the interlock mechanism is released (YES in S2), it is checked whether it is the first opening after the end of the sterilization operation, and if it is the first opening (YES in S3), the discharge side door 4B is opened. (Unlock) (S5). If it is the second or subsequent release after the end of the sterilization operation (NO in S3), a notice (at least to the carry-out side) is issued to warn whether the contents in the sterilization tank 2 are not unsterile. For example, a voice guidance such as "Sterilization operation may not have been performed on the items in the tank. Check the chemical indicator etc." May be displayed. The object to be sterilized is sterilized by attaching a sterilization indicator (chemical indicator or the like) that can confirm the presence or absence of sterilization. The user who has received the notification checks the sterilization indicator and determines whether the sterilization has been completed. Can be surely grasped.

  In order to perform such a process, when the carry-out side door 4B is opened for the first time after the end of the sterilization operation, the controller registers that fact in a predetermined location. Then, this registration information is deleted (canceled) at the start of the next sterilization operation (or at the latest at the end). The sterilization confirmation by the above-mentioned sterilization confirmation means is performed after the end of the sterilization operation, and is not necessary, for example, at the time of a warm-up operation or a Bowie & Dick test.

Next, a modified example of the sterilization apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
In the above-described embodiment, the sterilizer 1 is provided with the interlock mechanism, and is configured to issue a notification at a predetermined time when the interlock mechanism is released. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the sterilizer 1 without the interlock mechanism. It is. That is, even in this case, if the opening of the carry-out side door 4B is not the first opening after the sterilization operation after the end of the sterilization operation, a notification is issued to call attention to whether the contents in the sterilization tank 2 are non-sterile. do it.

  In the above-described embodiment, the double-door sterilizer 1 is used. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a single-door sterilizer 1. The single-door sterilizer 1 has a door 4 only on the front side (front side) of the sterilization tank 2. Also in this case, similarly to the above-described sterilization confirmation guide at the time of opening the unloading side door 4B, if the door 4 is not opened for the first time after the sterilization operation after the sterilization operation is completed, the contents in the sterilization tank 2 are not opened. A notice may be issued to warn the user that the product is not sterile. Thereby, the risk that unsterilized material is carried out of the sterilization tank 2 can be reduced.

  The sterilizer 1 of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed. In particular, (a) a sterilization tank 2 having an opening for carrying in or out an object to be sterilized, the opening of which can be opened and closed by a door 4, and (b) opening and closing of the door 4 of the sterilization tank 2. A door monitoring means for monitoring the condition; and (c) when the door monitoring means detects the opening of the door 4 after the sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank 2 for the second time after the end of the sterilization, Other structures can be appropriately changed as long as the device has a sterilization confirmation means for prompting confirmation of whether or not the contents in the container have been sterilized.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, various types of conventionally known interlock mechanisms can be applied. Specifically, after the sterilization is completed, the opening of the unloading side door 4B is disabled after the opening of the unloading side door 4A, and the opening and closing of the unloading side door 4B is controlled so as not to limit the opening of the unloading side door 4B. It may be something. In this case, after the sterilization operation is completed, once the carry-in side door 4A is opened, the carry-out side door 4B cannot be opened until after the next sterilization is completed. When such an interlock mechanism is operated in a released state, if the opening of the carry-out side door 4B is not the first opening after the sterilization operation after the end of the sterilization operation, the contents in the sterilization tank 2 are not sterilized. It is only necessary to issue a notice that calls attention to whether something is a thing.

  Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a steam sterilizer is described. However, the present invention is similarly applicable to a gas sterilizer using various sterilizing gases such as ethylene oxide (EOG).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sterilizer 2 Sterilization tank 3 Control panel 4 Door 4A Carry-in side door 4B Carry-out side door 5 Panel A Carry-in side space B Carry-out side space

Claims (3)

A sterilization tank having an opening for loading or unloading the object to be sterilized, the opening being capable of being opened and closed by a door,
Door monitoring means for monitoring the open / close state of the door of the sterilization tank;
After the end of sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank, when the detection of the opening of the door by the door monitoring means is the second or subsequent time after the end of the sterilization, it is confirmed whether or not the contents in the sterilization tank have been sterilized. And a sterilization confirmation means for prompting the sterilization. The sterilization tank is provided with a carry-in door and a carry-out door,
The sterilization confirmation means, after the end of sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank, when the detection of opening of the carry-out side door by the door monitoring means is the second time or more after the end of the sterilization, the contents in the sterilization tank are The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, which prompts confirmation of whether or not the sterilization has been completed. After the end of sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank, once the carry-in side door or the carry-out side door is opened and closed, an interlock mechanism is provided that makes it impossible to open the carry-out side door until after the next sterilization is completed. ,
It is possible to switch the operation of this interlock mechanism,
Operate with the interlock mechanism released, and after the end of sterilization of the object to be sterilized in the sterilization tank, when the detection of opening of the carry-out side door by the door monitoring means is the second or later time after the end of the sterilization, the sterilization tank The sterilization apparatus according to claim 2, which prompts the user to confirm whether or not the contents in the container have been sterilized.

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