JP3636852B2 - Steam sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steam sterilizer that sterilizes by generating high-pressure steam inside a medical instrument inserted in a container, and more particularly to a steam sterilizer having a drying function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a steam sterilizer, generally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the sterilization process is performed by generating high-pressure steam in a sealed container 1 in a state where an object to be sterilized is contained. It has become. Therefore, the container 1 is provided with a mounting table 38 on which an object to be sterilized is mounted and a temperature sensor 34 for detecting the internal temperature, and generates high-pressure steam although not shown. A steam generating mechanism and a heating mechanism capable of heating the inside.
[0003]
Further, the container 1 is provided with a door 2 that can be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism. By opening the door 2, an object to be sterilized can be taken in and out from the opening 1a of the container 1. Further, the door 2 is provided with a packing P for sealing the container 1, and the door 2 is generally opened by mistake during a sterilization operation in a high-pressure steam generation state. In order to prevent this, a lock mechanism using a lock pin or the like is provided.
[0004]
In this type of steam sterilizer, it is necessary to sterilize with high-pressure steam and then to dry the object to be sterilized and take it out of the container 1. In this drying process, the door 2 is slightly opened. A method of heating the inside of the container 1 at the same time as releasing the vapor in the container 1 into the atmosphere by opening is widely used.
[0005]
In such a drying process after the sterilization process, a high-pressure steam sterilizer disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-322654 is known as a mechanism for opening the door small. This mechanism is applied to the lock pin on which a force in a predetermined direction is applied due to expansion of the packing inserted between the sealed container and the door by the operation of the two solenoids and the link mechanism. After applying the opposing force, the lock pin can be pulled out, then the lock pin is pulled out by the motor and cam mechanism, the door is further opened by driving another motor, and then the door is opened again by the reverse operation. Is supposed to close.
[0006]
In the high-pressure steam sterilizer having such a small opening mechanism of the door, the door is immediately closed when the drying process is finished with the door being opened small.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as described above, in the drying process, a method of heating the inside of the container at the same time as releasing the vapor in the container by slightly opening the door is adopted. The temperature is around 70 ° C.
[0008]
For this reason, if the door is immediately closed in this state, there is a problem that when the temperature in the container is lowered, water vapor remaining in the container is condensed and the dry state of the object to be sterilized is deteriorated. This problem can be solved by closing the door when the temperature in the container is sufficiently lowered after drying.
[0009]
The present invention was devised by paying attention to such points. The purpose of the present invention is to prevent the dew condensation on the sterilized material after the completion of drying, thereby improving the actual drying capacity. Is to provide.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a steam sterilizer according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a container capable of generating high-pressure steam therein and an object to be sterilized supported on the container so as to be opened and closed via a hinge mechanism. Steam sterilization having a door for taking in and out and a door automatic opening / closing mechanism for holding the container closed by the door and holding the door in a small open state with the door slightly opened In the container, after the sterilization operation is terminated due to the generation of high-pressure steam in the container, the door automatic opening / closing mechanism is controlled so that the door is in a small open state, and the temperature in the container falls below a preset constant temperature. A door opening / closing control unit that controls the door automatic opening / closing mechanism unit to lock the door again is provided.
[0011]
Further, the steam sterilizer according to claim 2 of the present invention is the one according to claim 1, wherein the constant temperature is set to a temperature at which condensation does not occur in the container even when the door is closed after completion of drying. .
[0012]
The steam sterilizer according to claim 3 of the present invention is the one according to claim 1, wherein after the sterilization operation is terminated by the generation of high-pressure steam in the container, the door automatic opening / closing mechanism is controlled to reduce the size of the door. A door opening / closing control unit is provided in which the door is opened and the door automatic opening / closing mechanism is controlled to lock the door again when a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0013]
Further, the steam sterilizer according to claim 4 of the present invention is the one according to claim 3, wherein the temperature in the container is lowered to a temperature at which no condensation occurs even if the door is closed after completion of drying. The time required is set.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of the steam sterilizer of the present invention.
[0016]
The steam sterilizer of this embodiment has the same basic configuration as the steam sterilizer illustrated in FIG. 3, and the output of the temperature sensor 34 provided inside the container 1 is used to control the operation of the entire device. And a door opening / closing control unit 32 for controlling a door automatic opening / closing mechanism unit 31 to be described later. In addition, the door opening / closing control unit 32 is led to an output of a storage unit 33 that stores data indicating a preset constant temperature. Further, the door opening / closing control unit 32 and the main control unit 36 are bidirectionally connected. The constant temperature stored in the storage unit 33 is a temperature at which condensation does not occur in the container 1 even when the door 2 is closed.
[0017]
Further, the door opening / closing control unit 32 is guided by the output of the operation input unit 37 so that the user can arbitrarily change the setting of the storage content (a constant temperature) in the storage unit 33 within a certain range. Yes. That is, for example, 40 ° C. is used as a constant temperature stored in the storage unit 33, and the setting can be changed by a user with a constant width of about ± 10 ° C.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing another embodiment of the steam sterilizer of the present invention.
[0019]
That is, the door opening / closing control unit 32 that controls the door automatic opening / closing mechanism unit 31 to be described later is connected to a timer unit 35 for measuring a predetermined time after the completion of drying in both directions. Bidirectional connection with the control unit 36 is established. The fixed time measured by the timer unit 35 is a time required for the temperature in the container 1 to drop to a temperature at which no condensation occurs even when the door 2 is closed.
[0020]
Further, the output of the operation input unit 37 is guided to the door opening / closing control unit 32, and the user can arbitrarily set and change the measurement time in the timer unit 35 within a certain range. In other words, the measurement time in the timer unit 35 can be set and changed with a constant width of about ± 5 minutes by the user, for example, with 10 minutes as a reference.
[0021]
4A and 4B show an embodiment of the automatic door opening / closing mechanism 31. FIG. 4A is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the main part of the door 2 in a sealed state (locked state), and FIG. The principal part horizontal sectional view of is shown.
[0022]
The container 1 is provided with an openable / closable door 2 in an opening 1a formed on one surface thereof.
[0023]
The door 2 is supported by a hinge mechanism (not shown) provided on one side of the opening 1a of the container 1 so as to be swingable in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. In an unlocked state in which 3 is not inserted, the container 1 can be opened at an arbitrary angle. In the closed state, the container 1 can be sealed by the packing P attached to the periphery thereof.
[0024]
The outer surface of the container 1 is provided with a lock pin insertion fitting 4 in which a through hole 4a for inserting the lock pin 3 is formed, and also for inserting the lock pin 3 on the door 2 side. Insertion hole 2a is formed. Then, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), with the door 2 closed, a lock pin 3 is inserted in communication with the holes 2a and 4a to restrict the opening operation of the door 2. It becomes a state.
[0025]
The lock pin insertion metal fitting 4 on the container 1 side is shown in FIG. 4A with respect to the container 1 by a geared motor 5 and a feed screw mechanism 6 including a screw shaft 61 and a gear 62 driven by the geared motor 5. It can be displaced in the direction indicated by B. That is, the lock pin insertion fitting 4 is fixed to the tip of a screw shaft 61 having a male screw 61 a formed on a part of the outer periphery, and the male screw 61 a of the screw shaft 61 is formed at the center of the gear 62. Screwed into the female screw 62a. The gear 62 is rotatably supported with respect to the support 63 attached to the container 1 and meshes with the small gear 64. The small gear 64 is fixed to the output shaft of the geared motor 5 fixed to the support 63 through a bracket. Reference numerals 65a and 65b in the figure are spacers for preventing the movement of the gear 62.
[0026]
In the above configuration, when the geared motor 5 is driven, the gear 62 is rotated via the small gear 64, and the female screw 62a formed at the center of the gear 62 is rotated. When the female screw 62a is rotated, the screw shaft 61 screwed into the female screw 62a is displaced in the axial direction, that is, in any direction indicated by the arrow B according to the direction of the rotation, and the lock pin insertion fitting 4 Is displaced.
[0027]
The geared motor 5 is driven and controlled at a predetermined timing by a control signal from the door opening / closing control unit 32 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0028]
Next, a series of operations in the steam sterilizer having the above-described configuration are divided into (1) operation of the steam sterilizer of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and (2) operation of the steam sterilizer of the embodiment shown in FIG. Explained.
[0029]
(1) Operation of the steam sterilizer of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, that is, in a state in which an object to be sterilized is accommodated in the container 1 and the door 2 is closed, as shown in FIG. After the door 2 is locked by being inserted into the through hole 4a of the lock pin insertion fitting 4 and the insertion hole 2a of the door 2, high-pressure steam is generated in the container 1 to perform sterilization. When the sterilization process is completed, the door opening / closing control unit 32 outputs a control signal to the geared motor 5, and the geared motor 5 is rotated in a predetermined direction while the door 2 is in a locked state. In FIG. 4A, it is moved leftward. As a result, the lower side portion of the door 2 is pushed leftward via the lock pin 3, and the door 2 rotates around the hinge mechanism of the upper edge portion of the door 2, as shown in FIG. It becomes an open state.
[0030]
By the small opening of the door 2, the residual vapor in the container 1 escapes to the atmosphere, and the object to be sterilized in the container 1 is dried by heating the inside of the container 1 in this state.
[0031]
In such a drying process, the door opening / closing control unit 32 takes in the temperature in the container 1 detected by the temperature sensor 34 and compares it with a constant temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) stored in the storage unit 33. To do. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the door opening / closing control unit 32 outputs a control signal to the geared motor 5 and rotates the geared motor 5 in the opposite direction. Then, the lock pin insertion metal fitting 4 is displaced rightward in FIG. 4A, and the door 2 is closed again via the lock pin 3.
[0032]
In this way, in the drying process after the sterilization process, it is possible to reliably prevent the condensation on the sterilized object after the drying by closing the door after the temperature in the container is lowered to a temperature at which no condensation occurs. it can. That is, the drying capacity is effectively improved.
[0033]
(2) Operation of the steam sterilizer of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, that is, in a state in which an object to be sterilized is accommodated in the container 1 and the door 2 is closed, as shown in FIG. After the door 2 is locked by being inserted into the through hole 4a of the lock pin insertion fitting 4 and the insertion hole 2a of the door 2, high-pressure steam is generated in the container 1 to perform sterilization. When the sterilization process is completed, the door opening / closing control unit 32 outputs a control signal to the geared motor 5, and the geared motor 5 is rotated in a predetermined direction while the door 2 is in a locked state. In FIG. 4A, it is moved leftward. As a result, the lower side portion of the door 2 is pushed leftward via the lock pin 3, and the door 2 rotates around the hinge mechanism of the upper edge portion of the door 2, as shown in FIG. It becomes an open state.
[0034]
In such a drying process, the door opening / closing control unit 32 outputs a control signal to the geared motor 5 and simultaneously activates the timer unit 35 to start measurement for a certain period of time. The timer unit 35 outputs an end signal to the door opening / closing control unit 32 when the measurement of the predetermined time is completed. The door opening / closing control unit 32 outputs a control signal to the geared motor 5 based on this end signal, and rotates the geared motor 5 in the opposite direction to the above to move the lock pin insertion bracket 4 to the right in FIG. The door 2 is closed in the locked state again via the lock pin 3.
[0035]
In this way, in the drying process after the sterilization process, it is possible to reliably prevent the condensation on the sterilized object after the drying by closing the door after the temperature in the container is lowered to a temperature at which no condensation occurs. it can. That is, the drying capacity is effectively improved.
[0036]
5A and 5B show another embodiment of the automatic door opening / closing mechanism 31. FIG. 5A is a horizontal sectional view of the main part of the door 2 in a sealed state (locked state), and FIG. The principal part horizontal sectional view of the open state is shown. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line bb in FIG. 5A.
[0037]
In this example, the door 2 is provided with an arrow C by a hinge mechanism (not shown) arranged along the vertical direction to the side of the opening 1a of the container 1 (the back side perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 5). It is supported so that it can swing in the direction indicated by.
[0038]
As in the example shown in FIG. 4, the container 1 is provided with a lock pin insertion metal fitting 4 in which a through hole 4 a for inserting the lock pin 3 is formed. A lock pin insertion metal fitting 2b having a through hole 2a for inserting the door 3 is provided protruding from the side surface of the door 2. As shown in FIG. 5 (A), with the door 2 closed, by inserting the lock pin 3 in communication with both the container side and door side lock pin fittings 4 and 2b, 2 can be locked. In addition, the code | symbol 3a in a figure is a metal fitting for moving the lock pin 3 up and down, and making it a locked state or an unlocked state, Comprising: It is operated by hand etc.
[0039]
The lock pin insertion metal fitting 4 on the container 1 side is connected to the container 1 by an electric cylinder 11 and a link mechanism 12 including an L-shaped link 19 driven by the electric cylinder 11. It can be displaced in the direction indicated by. That is, the lock pin insertion metal fitting 4 on the container side is fixed to one end of the rod 14 slidably supported on the bush 13 fixed to the container 1. A pin 16 extending in the horizontal direction is fixed to the other end of the rod 14 via a stopper 15. A pin 17 extending in the horizontal direction is also fixed to the side surface of the bush 13.
[0040]
Below the bush 13, the electric cylinder 11 is arranged so that the slider 11 a as an output shaft can be moved up and down, and an L-shaped link 19 is connected to the tip of the slider 11 a via a horizontal connecting pin 18. One end is rotatably mounted. The other end of the L-shaped link 19 is rotatably supported by the pin 17, and the central bent portion of the L-shaped link 19 is rotatably supported by the pin 21 at one end of the linear link 20. Has been. Further, the other end portion of the linear link 20 is rotatably supported by a pin 16.
[0041]
In the above configuration, when the electric cylinder 11 is driven and the slider 11a is displaced downward from the state shown in FIG. 5A, the L-shaped link is connected via the connecting pin 18 as shown in FIG. One end of 19 is pushed down vertically, and the L-shaped link 19 rotates around the pin 17 at the other end. As the L-shaped link 19 rotates, the linear link 20 is pulled through the pin 21. As a result, the rod 14 is displaced in the axial direction in the bush 13, and the lock pin insertion fitting 4 is displaced in the left direction in the figure. Further, when the electric cylinder 11 is driven from the state of FIG. 5B and the slider 11a is displaced upward, the lock pin insertion fitting 4 is displaced in the right direction in the figure by the operation completely opposite to the above, and FIG. Return to the state of 5 (A).
[0042]
In the link mechanism 12 described above, the pins 16, 17, and 21 that support the links 19, 20 are aligned on a horizontal straight line along the axis of the rod 14 in the sealed state of the door 2 shown in FIG. It is configured as follows. The electric cylinder 11 is driven and controlled at a predetermined timing by a control signal from the door opening / closing control unit 32, as in the example shown in FIG.
[0043]
In addition, about operation | movement of the steam sterilizer of this invention using the door automatic opening / closing mechanism part 31 of this embodiment, the electric cylinder 11 is drive-controlled instead of the geared motor 5 by the control signal from the door opening / closing control part 32. The rest of the operation is exactly the same as that described in (1) and (2) above, and thus the description of the operation is omitted here.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
The steam sterilizer according to the present invention controls the door automatic opening / closing mechanism unit after the sterilization operation is terminated by the generation of high-pressure steam in the container, makes the door a small open state, and the temperature in the container is set at a predetermined temperature. When the temperature is equal to or lower than (the temperature at which condensation does not occur in the container even when the door is closed), the door automatic opening / closing mechanism is controlled to re-lock the door. Further, the steam sterilizer of the present invention controls the door automatic opening / closing mechanism unit after the sterilization operation is terminated by the generation of high-pressure steam in the container, and opens the door in a small open state for a predetermined time (drying end). A door opening / closing controller that controls the door automatic opening / closing mechanism to lock the door again when the time required for the temperature inside the container to drop to a temperature at which condensation does not occur even if the door is closed later is provided. It is configured. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent dew condensation on the sterilized material after the drying is completed, and thus it is possible to improve the drying capacity in effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of a steam sterilizer of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing another embodiment of the steam sterilizer of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an example of a steam sterilizer targeted by the present invention.
4A and 4B show an embodiment of a door automatic opening / closing mechanism according to the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a horizontal plan view of a main part in a closed state (locked state) of the door, and FIG. FIG.
5A and 5B show another embodiment of the automatic door opening / closing mechanism according to the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a horizontal plan view of the main part in a closed state (locked state) of the door, and FIG. FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line aa in FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part taken along line bb in FIG. 5 (A). FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 1a Opening part 2 Door 31 Door automatic opening / closing mechanism part 32 Door opening / closing control part 33 Memory | storage part 34 Temperature sensor 35 Timer part 36 Main control part 37 Operation input part

Claims (4)

A container capable of generating high-pressure steam therein, a door for taking in and out an object to be sterilized supported through a hinge mechanism with respect to this container, and the container being held in a locked and closed state by this door In addition, in a steam sterilizer having a door automatic opening and closing mechanism that holds the door in a small open state slightly opened with respect to the container,
After the sterilization operation is terminated by the generation of high-pressure steam in the container, the door automatic opening / closing mechanism is controlled to make the door small open, and when the temperature in the container becomes a predetermined temperature or lower, A steam sterilizer comprising a door opening / closing control unit that controls the door automatic opening / closing mechanism unit to lock the door again.   2. The steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the constant temperature is a temperature at which condensation does not occur in the container even when the door is closed after completion of drying.   The door opening / closing control unit controls the door automatic opening / closing mechanism unit after the sterilization operation is terminated due to generation of high-pressure steam in the container, and sets the door to a small open state, when a predetermined time has elapsed. The steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the door automatic opening / closing mechanism is controlled so that the door is locked again.   The steam sterilizer according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined time is a time required for the temperature in the container to drop to a temperature at which condensation does not occur even when the door is closed after drying.

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