JP2557392Y2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

The present invention relates to viruses, molds, mites existing in the atmosphere of equipment requiring cleanliness, such as medical facilities, food manufacturing facilities, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, and biotechnology related facilities. The present invention relates to a sterilizer that sterilizes microorganisms, such as, and other dust and oil smoke by irradiating ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet radiation lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A low-pressure mercury-discharged ultraviolet radiation lamp developed by General Electric Company of the United States in 1934 is the first sterilizer. The company's Luck
ies. M. Was published in 1946, and a basic system of sterilization methods using a basic ultraviolet radiation lamp was created.

On the other hand, in Japan as well, the use of preservatives and bactericides has been restricted by regulations of food additives, and ultraviolet radiation lamps have been used to keep the environment of food manufacturing plants and the like sanitary. And its use is becoming more common. Recently, ultraviolet radiant lamps are widely used for industrial purposes, such as disinfection of treatment containers and beauty tools to combat AIDS, sterilization of washing water used in semiconductor manufacturing processes, and air and water sterilization in biotechnology related facilities. It is used.

The types of sterilizers include, for example, a holder-type sterilizer 50 as shown in FIG. 8, a wall-mounted sterilizer 51 as shown in FIG. 9, and a hanging sterilizer as shown in FIG. 52 and the like. Also, there are various shapes of the ultraviolet radiation lamp itself, for example, a spiral ultraviolet radiation lamp 53 as shown in FIG. 11, a spiral and one side supported ultraviolet radiation lamp 54, an ultraviolet radiation lamp 55 with a case, Linear ultraviolet radiation lamps 56, 57, 58, circular ultraviolet radiation lamp 59, W-shaped ultraviolet radiation lamp 60, U-shaped ultraviolet radiation lamp 61, one-sided supported ultraviolet radiation lamp 62, spherical ultraviolet A radiation lamp 63, an elliptical ultraviolet radiation lamp 64, a small-sized ultraviolet radiation lamp 65, and the like are known. The above-mentioned ultraviolet radiation lamp is installed on the ceiling surface or wall surface of the facility, and by irradiating the atmosphere in the facility with ultraviolet rays, microorganisms and the like existing in the gas are sterilized.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the present invention] However, since the atmosphere in the facility is constantly in contact with the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp of the sterilizer installed on the ceiling or wall of the facility, microorganisms and dust in the atmosphere with the passage of time. Is attached to the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp, and the transmittance of ultraviolet light on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp is reduced. For example, when the irradiation amount from an ultraviolet radiation lamp is reduced to about 70%, about 40%
This requires an excessive amount of output, which is uneconomical.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to prevent microorganisms and the like in the atmosphere from adhering to the surface of an ultraviolet radiation lamp in a sterilizer.

[0007]

The present invention irradiates ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm from an ultraviolet radiation lamp to sterilize microorganisms and the like existing in the atmosphere, and cleans the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp. It is characterized by having a nozzle for blowing air.

The ultraviolet radiation lamp is a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp. Further, a chamber for storing clean air is disposed near the ultraviolet radiation lamp, and a clean air is supplied from a nozzle formed in the chamber to the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp. Is sprayed.

[0009]

[Function] By spraying the clean air jetted from the nozzle onto the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp, it is possible to prevent microorganisms in the atmosphere from adhering to the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp.

Here, according to the International Commission on Illumination, ultraviolet rays are classified according to the wavelength region as shown in Table 1.

[0011]

[Table 1]

The action of killing microorganisms is mainly at a wavelength of 10
It is caused by irradiating ultraviolet rays in the range of 0 to 280 nm to damage DNA in microbial cells. FIG.
As shown in (1), the bactericidal action of ultraviolet rays is maximized when the wavelength range is from 250 nm to 260 nm. In the present invention, the wavelength of 100 to 280 is mainly applied to microorganisms and the like existing in an atmosphere where sterilization is required such as a medical facility.
Sterilization is performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays in the range of nm from an ultraviolet radiation lamp.

According to the low-pressure mercury discharge lamp, ultraviolet rays in the range of the strongest germicidal action can be irradiated by the ultraviolet radiation of the resonance line of mercury at 254 nm. Therefore,
The low-pressure mercury discharge lamp is preferably used in the present invention.

In general, the transmission characteristics of the glass tube constituting the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp are adjusted so that the wavelength becomes 20.
By absorbing ultraviolet radiation of 0 nm or less on the glass surface, generation of ozone is eliminated. However, if necessary, the glass tube on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp is made of quartz glass, so that ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 254 nm (sterilizing ray) is irradiated,
Ozone can also be generated by radiating ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of about 5 nm into the atmosphere.

Ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 254 nm has a bactericidal action against microorganisms, and ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 185 nm has an action of reacting oxygen in air supply to generate ozone. 254nm wavelength from ultraviolet radiation lamp
By irradiating ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of about 185 nm in addition to the nearby ultraviolet rays to generate ozone, the bactericidal effect can be further enhanced. In addition, radical oxygen is generated by the reaction between ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 254 nm and ozone, and the decomposition of all organic substances including microorganisms is promoted by a complex chemical reaction between the radical oxygen and the ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 254 nm. .

Further, since the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays necessary for sterilizing microorganisms differs depending on the kind of microorganisms, the illuminance and irradiation time of ultraviolet rays must be controlled according to the kind of microorganisms existing in the gas. Here, the sterilization line (wavelength 2
Tables 2 to 5 show the relationship between the germicidal dose (product of the illuminance of the germicidal line and the irradiation time) and the germicidal rate (1-survival rate) when irradiating various microorganisms with 54 nm mercury resonance line. The survival rate of microorganisms has an exponentially decreasing relationship with the germicidal dose. A germicidal rate of 99% is obtained with twice the germicidal dose of 90% and 99.9 with a germicidal dose of three times. %, 4 times 99.
A sterilization rate of 99% is obtained.

[0017]

[Table 2]

[0018]

[Table 3]

[0019]

[Table 4]

[0020]

[Table 5]

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a front view of a sterilization apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. The sterilizing apparatus 1 is installed on a ceiling or a wall of equipment requiring sterilization, such as a medical facility, a food manufacturing facility, a semiconductor manufacturing facility, a biotechnology-related facility, and the like.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an ultraviolet irradiation lamp for irradiating ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm, which is mounted via a bracket 3. The ultraviolet radiation lamp 2 of the embodiment is a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp, and mainly emits ultraviolet rays (sterilizing rays) having a wavelength of about 254 nm.

Above the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2, there is a chamber 4 for storing the clean air supplied from the entrance 8, and a slit nozzle 5, formed on the lower surface of the chamber 4,
Clean air is blown onto the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2 from 6,7. As shown in FIG.
6, 7 are provided over the entire length of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2,
The clean air press-fitted into the chamber 4 and blown from the slit nozzles 5, 6, 7 flows so as to envelop the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2, and blows off microorganisms, dust, and the like in the atmosphere that will adhere to the lamp surface.

According to the sterilizing apparatus described above, there is a problem that microorganisms and dust in the atmosphere do not adhere to the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2 even after a long time, and the transmittance of ultraviolet rays is reduced. Absent. Therefore, there is no need to excessively increase the output of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2, which is economical. Thus, the entire atmosphere of the medical facility or the like in which the sterilizing apparatus 1 is installed can be uniformly irradiated with the ultraviolet rays, and excellent sterilization can be performed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show L on the back of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2.
FIG. 2 is a front view and a cross-sectional view illustrating an example in which a character-shaped chamber 10 is provided. At three locations inside the L-shaped chamber 10, slit nozzles 11, 12, and 13 extending over the entire length of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2 are provided. Entrance 15
Into the chamber 10 through the slit nozzle 11,
The clean air blown from 12 and 13 flows so as to envelop the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2 to prevent microorganisms and dust in the atmosphere from adhering to the lamp surface. According to this embodiment, since the chamber 10 is formed in an L-shape and is formed so as to entirely cover the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2, it is possible to blow clean air onto the irradiation surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 2 particularly well. And there is an advantage that the transmittance of ultraviolet rays does not decrease.

5 and 6, a circular chamber 22 is provided at the base end of an ultraviolet radiation lamp 21 cantilevered by a lamp socket 20, and an annular nozzle 2 is provided in the chamber 22.
An example in which No. 3 is formed is shown. According to this embodiment, the clean air press-fitted into the chamber 22 from the inlet 24 can be blown out from the nozzle 23 and flow along the longitudinal direction of the cantilevered ultraviolet radiation lamp 21.

Although the embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, the present invention can be applied to any of the types of sterilizers shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. The present invention is also applicable to various shapes of ultraviolet radiation lamps as shown in FIG.

[0028]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, microorganisms and dust in the atmosphere do not adhere to the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp even after a long time, and there is no problem that the transmittance of ultraviolet rays is reduced. . Therefore, there is no need to excessively increase the output of the ultraviolet radiation lamp, which is economical. Thus, the entire atmosphere of a medical facility or the like in which the sterilizing device is installed can be evenly irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and good sterilization can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sterilizer.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a sterilization apparatus showing an embodiment in which slit nozzles are formed at three places inside an L-shaped chamber.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along arrows BB in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a sterilizer showing an embodiment in which an annular nozzle is formed.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a sterilization apparatus showing an embodiment in which an annular nozzle is formed.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength of ultraviolet light and the action.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a holder-type sterilizer.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a wall-mounted sterilizer.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a hanging-type sterilizer.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a shape of an ultraviolet radiation lamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sterilizer 2 Ultraviolet irradiation lamp 4 Chamber 5, 6, 7 Slit nozzle 10 L-shaped chamber 11, 12, 13 Slit nozzle 21 Cantilever supported ultraviolet radiation lamp 22 Circular chamber 23 Ring nozzle

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A wavelength of 100 to 28 from an ultraviolet radiation lamp.
A sterilizer for irradiating 0 nm ultraviolet rays to sterilize microorganisms and the like existing in the atmosphere, and having a nozzle for blowing clean air onto the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp. 2. The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet radiation lamp is a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a chamber for storing clean air is provided near the ultraviolet radiation lamp, and clean air is blown onto a surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp from a nozzle formed in the chamber. Or the sterilizer according to 2.