JP3726368B2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus that performs sterilization while continuously conveying a large number of articles, and more particularly to a sterilization apparatus that sterilizes the surface of an article with a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide vapor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sterilization apparatuses that perform sterilization while continuously conveying a large number of articles are known. For example, a “food sterilization method and apparatus using hydrogen peroxide” described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-7669 is configured as follows. That is, spare chambers (front chamber 3, rear chamber 4) are provided before and after the sterilization chamber 2, respectively, and the entrance door 14 is provided between the front chamber 3 and the sterilization chamber 2 and between the sterilization chamber 2 and the rear chamber 4, respectively. Opened and closed by the exit door 15. The sterilization chamber 2, the front chamber 3, and the rear chamber 4 have conveyors 7, 16, and 17, respectively. These three conveyors (16, 7, and 17 in order from the upstream side) sandwich the entrance door 14 and the exit door 15. Connected continuously. Furthermore, doors 20 and 21 for feeding and sending are provided at the inlet of the front chamber 3 and the outlet of the rear chamber 4, respectively.
[0003]
In the conventional configuration, the conveyors 7, 16, and 17 are disposed in the respective chambers 2, 3, and 4 partitioned by the doors 14, 15, 20, and 21, respectively. The spray-permeable containers, for example, the net basket 6 and the food 5 Is conveyed continuously on the conveyors 7, 16, and 17, and the door is opened by the net cage 6 on which the food 5 is placed, and is sent to the next chamber. Therefore, the entrance door 20 and the entrance door 14 provided before and after the front chamber 3 may open simultaneously (the state shown in the drawing of the publication), and the exit door 15 provided before and after the rear chamber 4. In some cases, the delivery door 21 may be opened at the same time. In such a case, the hydrogen peroxide mist in the sterilization chamber 2 flows out from the front chamber 3 or the rear chamber 4 to the outside.
[0004]
Therefore, in the configuration of the sterilization apparatus described in the above publication, the exhaust pipe 22 is connected to the front chamber 3 and the rear chamber 4, respectively, so that the hydrogen peroxide flowing into the front chamber 3 and the rear chamber 4 is removed with an appropriate catalyst. It is made to discharge | emit into the processing machine which consists of tanks 23, such as mixed water.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional configuration, the hydrogen peroxide that has flowed out into the front chamber 3 and the rear chamber 4 is discharged and processed by the processing machine. As described above, it is possible to prevent hydrogen peroxide from leaking outside to some extent by exhausting the interior of the front chamber 3 and the rear chamber 4 as described above, but it is possible to obtain a strong sterilizing power at a low concentration. In a configuration in which sterilization is performed by spraying hydrogen peroxide in a gaseous form so that it can be performed, the doors 20 and 14 provided at the inlet and outlet of the front chamber 3 or the inlet of the rear chamber 4 When the doors 15 and 21 provided at the outlet are opened at the same time, there is a problem that hydrogen peroxide cannot be prevented from flowing out through the front chamber 3 or the rear chamber 4.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object thereof is to provide a sterilization apparatus capable of preventing leakage of sterilizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide vapor flowing out from the sterilization section into the sealed chamber before and after the sterilization section. To do.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Of the present invention In the sterilization apparatus, an article supply unit is arranged in an article supply unit in which a conveyor that continuously conveys articles is arranged, and a sealed chamber that is continuously provided in the article supply unit. First A delivery unit; and the article supply unit. First A first shutter that opens and closes between the delivery units, and an article on the conveyor of the article supply unit. First A first transfer means for placing on the article placement table of the delivery section; First A conveyor that continuously conveys the article is disposed in a sealed chamber that is continuously provided on the downstream side of the delivery unit, and is conveyed by the conveyor. Be done A sterilization unit for sterilizing the article; A sterilization gas supply means for supplying a sterilization gas to the sterilization unit; A second shutter that opens and closes between the delivery unit and the sterilization unit; First A second transfer means for holding the article on the article mounting table of the delivery section and placing the article on the conveyor of the sterilization section; A second delivery unit in which an article placement table is disposed in a sealed chamber continuously provided downstream of the sterilization unit; a third shutter that opens and closes between the sterilization unit and the second delivery unit; Third transfer means for holding the article on the conveyor of the sterilization unit and placing it on the article mounting table of the second delivery unit, and a conveyor that is provided downstream of the second delivery unit and continuously conveys the article An aeration unit that is disposed and removes sterilization gas adhering to the article, a fourth shutter that opens and closes between the second delivery unit and the aeration unit, and an article on the article placement table of the second delivery unit. 4th transfer means to hold and place on the conveyor of the aeration section It is equipped with.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing the overall configuration of a sterilization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This sterilization apparatus includes a microwave heating device 2 and an article supply unit in order from the upstream side (left side in FIG. 1). 4, a first delivery unit 6, a sterilization unit 8, a second delivery unit 10, an aeration unit 12, a third delivery unit 14 and a discharge unit 16, and an article (for example, a resin container such as an infusion bag) ) Is continuously sterilized with a sterilizing gas such as hydrogen peroxide vapor.
[0010]
The microwave heating device 2 includes a microwave oscillator 18, and heats an article carried into the device 2 from the outside (sterilization preparation chamber) and conveyed by the conveyor 20, thereby causing a predetermined temperature (for example, , 36 ° C.) and dehumidifying. By heating and dehumidifying the article, sterilization with hydrogen peroxide vapor, which will be described later, is effectively performed. A supply unit hand 22 (not shown in FIG. 1) is provided on the downstream side of the microwave heating apparatus 2, and the article conveyed by the conveyance conveyor 20 is grasped from above, and microwave heating is performed. Delivered to the article supply unit 4 provided continuously downstream of the apparatus 2.
[0011]
The article supply unit 4 includes a conveyor 24 that continuously conveys articles, and conveys articles delivered from the microwave heating device 2 by the supply unit hand 22 toward the next first delivery unit 6. To do. Compressed air is fed into the article supply unit 4 via a dehumidifying device 26 and a heater 28 to keep the article heated by the microwave heating device 2 warm. A first article transfer device 30 (not shown in FIG. 1 with the shape omitted) is provided near the downstream in the article supply unit 4 and can be moved up and down and can be moved back and forth toward the downstream side. The article on the conveyor 24 is held and sent to the first delivery unit 6. As will be described later, since the hydrogen peroxide vapor slightly leaks from the first delivery section 6 side when the article is carried into the first delivery section 6, this article supply section 4 is The catalyst is removed and exhausted outside the room.
[0012]
The first delivery unit 6 to the third delivery unit 14 are isolator units, each of which is configured as a sealed chamber shut off from the outside, and a movable shutter 32 that can seal the entrance and exit of each sealed chamber. , 34, 36, 37, 38, 40. In each of the first, second, and third delivery units 6, 10, and 14, article placement bases 42, 44, and 46 each including a V-shaped holder that holds an article (infusion bag) are disposed. An article held by the first article transfer device 30 disposed in the article supply unit 4 is placed on the article placement table 42 of the first delivery unit 6. When the article transfer device 30 moves and enters the first delivery unit 6, the first movable shutter 32 provided at the entrance of the first delivery unit 6 is opened, and the article transfer device 30 is moved. After the article is placed on the mounting table 42 and retracted to the supply unit 4 side, the shutter 32 is closed to seal the inlet. It should be noted that when the outlet shutter (second shutter) 34 is opened, hydrogen peroxide vapor flows into the first delivery unit 6 from the sterilization unit 8, and this hydrogen peroxide is removed by the catalyst. It is designed to be exhausted outside.
[0013]
Also in the sterilization unit 8 disposed on the downstream side of the first delivery unit 6, a second article transfer device 48 having the same configuration as the supply unit 4 is provided near the upstream unit. The article transfer device 48 can move up and down, and can move forward and backward toward the upstream side, contrary to the first transfer device 30 of the article supply unit 4, and in operation, the first delivery unit 6, the article on the article mounting table 42 is held, and then retracted and carried into the sterilization unit 8. The first delivery unit 6 is also provided with a movable shutter 34 at the outlet thereof, and opens and closes when the second article transfer device 48 transfers the article from the delivery unit 6 to the sterilization unit 8. The sterilization unit 8 is also composed of a sealed chamber. A hydrogen peroxide vapor generator 50 is connected to the sealed chamber, and pressurized hydrogen peroxide vapor is fed into the chamber.
[0014]
In the sterilization unit 8, a transport conveyor 52 that travels in a long section is disposed, and while the articles supplied from the article supply unit 4 through the first delivery unit 6 are continuously transported by the conveyor 52, Sterilization is performed. At the downstream end of the sterilization unit 8, a third article transfer device 54 that can be moved up and down and can move forward and backward in the same manner as the article supply unit 4 is disposed. The article that has been subjected to is transferred to the next second delivery unit 10. In the sterilization unit 8, air is circulated and stirred so that the hydrogen peroxide vapor in the sealed room has a uniform concentration.
[0015]
The second delivery unit 10 is configured in the same manner as the first delivery unit 6, and is provided with third and fourth movable shutters 36 and 37 at the entrance and exit of the sealed chamber, respectively, so as to open and close. An article placement table 44 for temporarily waiting for a plurality of articles is disposed in the sealed chamber. Further, when the third shutter 36 on the inlet side is opened, hydrogen peroxide leaked from the sterilization chamber 8 into the sealed chamber is removed by the catalyst and exhausted outside the chamber.
[0016]
An aeration unit 12 is disposed following the second delivery unit 10. Sterile air is blown into the aeration unit 12 composed of a sealed chamber through a filter 56, and the air in the sealed chamber is exhausted to the outside after removing hydrogen peroxide by a catalyst. The hydrogen peroxide adhering to the article is removed by the sterilization process in the section 8. A long article conveyance conveyor 58 is disposed in the aeration section 12, and aeration is performed while articles are conveyed by the conveyor 58. Similar to the sterilization unit 8, fourth and fifth article transfer devices 60 and 62 are arranged at the upstream end and the downstream end of the conveyor 58 of the aeration unit 12, respectively. The loading device 60 carries the article from the second delivery unit 10 to the aeration unit 12, and the fifth transfer device 62 on the downstream side transfers the article on the conveyor 58 to the third delivery unit 14.
[0017]
A third delivery unit 14 is provided on the downstream side of the aeration unit 12. The third delivery unit 14 has the same configuration as the first and second delivery units 6 and 10. That is, the fifth and sixth movable shutters 38 and 40 are provided at the entrance and exit of the sealed chamber so as to be opened and closed, and the article mounting table 46 is disposed in the sealed chamber. The hydrogen peroxide leaking into the sealed room is removed by the catalyst and exhausted outside the room. The article placed on the article placement table 46 of the third delivery section 14 is taken out by the sixth article transfer device 64 of the discharge section 16 provided on the downstream side, and sent to the next process such as assembly.
[0018]
Next, the structure of each part of the sterilizer will be described. A supply unit hand 22 that is provided between the microwave heating device 2 and the article supply unit 4 and grips an article on the transfer conveyor 20 in the microwave heating device 2 and places the article on the conveyor 24 of the supply unit 4, As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of grippers 66 that can be opened and closed (5 each in two rows in this embodiment) are provided. 2 and the article supply unit 4 are moved forward and backward.
[0019]
Each of the plurality of grippers 66 includes a pair of grip members 66a that can be pivoted about a shaft 74 supported below the horizontal plate 72. When not operating, the upper portions of both grip members 66a are springs. The lower part is opened by being pulled by 76, and in operation, the cam 78 is lowered and inserted between the upper parts of the pair of grip members 66 a, 66 a so that the lower part is closed and the article (infusion bag) B is gripped. .
[0020]
The plate 72 to which the gripper 66 is attached is connected to the tip of the operating rod 68a of the air cylinder 68 fixed upright on the upper movable frame body 80, and moves up and down by the operation of the air cylinder 68. A plurality of elevating rods 84 are fixed between the upper surface of the plate 72 and the upper plate 82 disposed above the movable frame body 80, and are slidable in a guide tube 86 fixed through the movable frame body 80. And is adapted to guide the raising and lowering of the gripper 66 due to the operation of the cylinder 68. Shock absorbers 88 and 90 for upward (downward) and downward (upward) are attached to the movable frame body 80, and the upper and lower limits of the gripper 66 and the like are restricted and the impact during the upward and downward movements is absorbed. . Further, the slide block 92 fixed to the lower surface of the movable frame body 80 slides on a pair of shafts 94 fixed from above the downstream part of the microwave heating device 2 to above the upstream part of the supply unit 4. It fits freely and is guided when the movable frame 80 moves forward and backward in the horizontal direction from the upstream side to the downstream side.
[0021]
The conveyor 20 disposed in the microwave heating apparatus 2 includes article support tools 96 attached to an endless chain (not shown) at regular intervals, and these article support tools 96 are provided at both ends of the infusion bag B. It conveys while supporting the mouth part etc. which consist of hard resin. The conveyor 24 of the article supply unit 4 includes an article support 102 attached to the endless chain 100 that is wound around a plurality of sprockets 98 and 104 (see FIG. 4 described later) at regular intervals. In the same manner as the conveyor 20, it supports and conveys the mouths and the like on both sides of the infusion bag B. The supply unit hand 22 descends and grips the plurality of infusion bags B transported to the downstream side by the conveyor 20 of the microwave heating device 2, and then ascends from the article support 96 of the conveyor 20. Next, it moves horizontally toward the downstream side, stops above the upstream end of the conveyor 24 of the article supply unit 4 and then descends. The infusion bag B is placed on the article support tool 102 of the conveyor 24, and the gripper 66 is moved. Open and release.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 to 7, the conveyor 24 of the article supply unit 4 is hung on sprockets 98 and 104 disposed above and below the supply unit 4. A rotated endless chain 100 and an article support 102 attached to the endless chain 100 at a predetermined interval are provided. In this embodiment, three rows of endless chains 100 are arranged in parallel, and an article support 102 is attached to each side of the center endless chain 100 (100A), and articles (infusion bags) B are placed in two rows. Transport by. The lower right sprocket 104 in FIG. 4 is fixed to the drive shaft 106, and is connected to the motor 120 via the bevel gear 108, the bevel gear 110, the intermediate shaft 112, the bevel gear 114, the bevel gear 116, the rotation shaft 118, and the like. The rotation is transmitted and rotates. Further, the upper right sprocket 98 (98A) in FIG. 4 is independently supported by a short horizontal shaft 126 fixed to an upright plate 124 on an end plate 122 (see FIG. 5). ), And the driven sprocket 104 is rotated by the endless chain 100 traveling.
[0023]
The first article transfer device 30 that is provided inside the conveyor 24 of the article supply unit 4 and transfers the infusion bag B from the supply unit 4 to the next first delivery unit 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the conveyor 24 conveys the infusion bag B in two rows by the three rows of endless chains 100, and the article holders 126 are respectively disposed in the two rows of conveyance paths. ing. The infusion bag B is delivered from the supply unit 4 to the first delivery unit 6 by moving the article holder 126 up and down and moving forward and backward.
[0024]
Two slide bushes 130 are fixed vertically through an upper plate 128a (see FIG. 1) constituting the lower part of the entire sterilization apparatus, and lift rods 132 are moved up and down in the slide bushes 130, respectively. It is supported freely (see FIG. 9). A horizontal plate 134 is fixed to the upper ends of the elevating rods 132. Two horizontal guide rods 138 are arranged in parallel in the transport direction of the infusion bag B in the frame 136 fixed on the horizontal plate 134. A sliding block 140 constituting a rodless cylinder is slidably fitted to each of the guide rods 138, and moves forward and backward along the guide rod 138. In addition, two rails 142 are fixed in parallel to the upper portion of the frame 136 that supports the two guide rods 138, and one end is fixed on each of the slide blocks 140 on each of the rails 142. The slide covers 144 are respectively fitted.
[0025]
A deflection preventing roller 148 supported by a horizontal shaft 146 is attached to both sides of the rail 142 near the front end (the right end in FIG. 8) to prevent the slide cover 144 from being bent. The lower surface of the slide cover 144 is guided. Each rail 142 is provided with a direction guide roller 152 supported by the vertical shaft 150 to guide the inner surface of the side wall of the slide cover 144 that moves forward and backward (see FIGS. 8 and 10).
[0026]
A lower plate 154 is fixed to the lower ends of the lifting rods 132, and a tip of an operating rod 156a of a cylinder 156 fixed to the lower surface side of the upper plate 128a of the machine frame 128 is connected. Therefore, when the cylinder 156 is operated, the upper horizontal plate 134 and the lower lower plate 154 fixed to the upper and lower sides of the two lifting rods 132 are integrally moved up and down, and the article holder 126 is moved up and down. Downward and upward shock absorbers 158 and 160 are attached to the side wall 128b and the bottom plate 128c of the machine frame 128, respectively, to restrict the ascent and descent limits of the ascending / descending portion and absorb the impact. A bellows 162 is mounted around the lifting rod 132 between the upper plate 128 a of the machine frame 128 and the horizontal plate 134 that moves up and down, and a sliding portion between the lifting rod 132 and the slide bush 130. Prevents sterilization gas from flowing out of
[0027]
As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the first delivery unit 6 following the article supply unit 4 is a chamber 164 that is sealed from the outside, and an upstream wall 165 and a downstream side of the sealed chamber 164. The wall surface 166 is formed with an inlet (article carry-in port) 165a and an outlet (goods carry-out port) 166a. The inlet 165a and the outlet 166a are opened and closed by a first movable shutter 32 and a second movable shutter 34 that can be raised and lowered, respectively. In the sealed chamber 164, an article placement table 42 on which the infusion bag B transported from the article supply unit 4 to the sterilization unit 8 is temporarily placed is disposed.
[0028]
The first and second shutters 32 and 34 for opening and closing the inlet 165a and the outlet 166a of the sealed chamber 164 of the delivery unit 6 are the upstream side wall surface 165 provided with the inlet 165a and the downstream side wall surface provided with the outlet 166a. At a position close to 166, it is supported by a quadrangular frame body 168, which can be moved up and down, respectively. Since the first shutter 32 on the entrance side and the second shutter 34 on the exit side have the same configuration, each part other than the shutters 32 and 34 will be described with the same reference numerals. The rectangular frame body 168 includes side plates 169 on both sides, an upper plate 170 and a lower plate 171, and a bottom plate 172 below the lower plate 171, and is higher than the upper plate 170 between the side plates 169. It is supported in a suspended manner via a horizontal support shaft 174 fixed thereto.
[0029]
Two vertical axes 176 are fixed between the upper plate 170 and the lower plate 171 of the rectangular frame 168 at an interval substantially equal to the width of the inlet 165a. On both the vertical axes 176, two upper and lower lifting blocks 178 are slidably fitted. The shutters 32, 34 are fixed to the front surfaces (surfaces facing the inlet and outlet openings) of the four up / down / left / right lifting blocks 178. The shutters 32 and 34 have a width that is slightly larger than the width of the openings of the entrances 165a and 166a (see FIG. 14), and have a height that is slightly larger than the height of the opening (see FIG. 11). .
[0030]
Plates 180 are fixed to the side surfaces of the two upper and lower lifting blocks 178, and a horizontal shaft 182 is fixed between the upper ends of the plates 180 on both sides. Connected to the horizontal shaft 182 is the tip of an operating rod 184a of a cylinder 184 fixed on the top plate 167 of the sealed chamber 164 in the vertical direction. When the operating rod 184a of the cylinder 184 is extended, the shutters 32 and 34 are lowered to a position facing the openings of the entrances 165a and 166a (the state on the left side in FIG. 11). It is pulled upward from the opening portion of 166a (state on the right side in FIG. 11). The operating rod 184a of the air cylinder 184 is inserted into the sealed chamber 164 through a hole 167a formed in the top plate 167 of the sealed chamber 164, and an external atmosphere enters the sealed chamber 164 through the hole 167a. In order to avoid this, a bellows 186 is mounted around the operating rod 185a.
[0031]
The rectangular frame 168 can press the lower side thereof toward the upstream side wall surface 165 and the downstream side wall surface 166 in which the openings of the entrances 165a and 166a are formed. By pressing the lower part of the frame 168 in a state where the shutter is lowered, the shutters 32 and 34 are brought into close contact with the seal portion 188 provided on the peripheral surfaces of the openings of the entrances 165a and 166a to seal the inside of the chamber 164. Can do. Further, when the shutters 32 and 34 are raised to open the entrances 165a and 166a, the lower part of the frame 168 is retracted toward the inside of the sealed chamber 164 (separated from the wall surfaces 165 and 166), thereby releasing the shutter. The frictional force with respect to the seal part 188 when 32 and 34 move up and down can be reduced.
[0032]
FIG. 15, FIG. 12, FIG. 14, FIG. 11 and FIG. 15 showing an enlarged view of the portion Q in the configuration in which the lower part of the rectangular frame 168 moves forward and backward toward the upstream side wall surface 165 and the downstream side wall surface 166. explain. A rotating shaft 194 is rotatably supported on the upper plate 128a of the machine frame 128 constituting the bottom surface of the sealed chamber 164 of the delivery unit 6 via a bearing 192 held in the holding body 190. One end of the first lever 196 is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 194 and rotates integrally. The other end of the first lever 196 is pressed to the back side of the rectangular frame 168. The plates 198 are connected so as to be relatively rotatable. Further, one end of the second lever 200 is fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft 194 and rotates integrally, and the other end of the second lever 200 can be rotated relative to the operating rod 202a of the air cylinder 202. It is connected to. Accordingly, when the operating rod 202a of the air cylinder 202 is extended, the second lever 200, the rotating shaft 194, and the first lever 196 rotate integrally, and the pressing plate 198 is advanced to move the shutters 32 and 34 to the opening side. And is closely attached to a seal portion 188 provided around the inlet 165a or the outlet 166b. Conversely, when the operating rod 202a of the air cylinder 202 is contracted, the first and second levers 196, 200 and the rotating shaft 194 rotate in the reverse direction to the above, and the shutters 32, 34 are moved backward to open the openings of the entrances 165a, 166a. Separate from.
[0033]
Further, the upper portion of the rectangular frame 168 is always pressed toward the upstream side wall surface 165 and the downstream side wall surface 166. A vertical rotation shaft 208 rotates on the top plate 167 of the sealed chamber 164 via a bearing 206 held in the holding body 204 so as to be positioned substantially above both ends of the shutters 32 and 34. It is supported freely (see FIG. 17, which is an enlarged view of the S portion of FIGS. 11, 12, and 12). One end of each arm 210 is fixed to the upper ends of the rotation shafts 208, and each arm 210 and the rotation shaft 208 rotate integrally. On the other hand, the other ends of the arms 210 are connected to each other by a connecting member 211 so that they can be rotated relative to each other. The attached spring 212 (the spring is omitted in FIGS. 11 and 16) is always urged in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Note that the amount of movement of the connecting member 211 is restricted by hitting the stopper 213.
[0034]
Attachment plates 214 are respectively fixed to the lower end portions of the rotating shafts 208 on both sides (see FIG. 17 showing an enlarged S portion in FIG. 12). Further, the portions extending downward from the mounting plates 214 of the respective rotary shafts 208 are formed in two front-rear directions (left-right direction in FIG. 11) formed near both ends of one horizontal connecting plate 216. They are loosely fitted in the long holes 216a. Further, shafts 218 parallel to the rotation shaft 208 are fixed to portions of the mounting plates 214 on both sides near the center of the sealed chamber 164, and these shafts 218 are formed on the horizontal connecting plate 214. It is loosely fitted in the long hole 216b in the lateral direction (left-right direction in FIG. 12). A thin plate 220 is fixed below the connecting plate 214 of the rotating shaft 208 and the parallel shaft 218. Accordingly, when the connecting portion of both arms 210 is urged in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 13 by the spring 212 and the rotating shaft 208 rotates as a unit, the mounting plate 214 and the parallel shaft 218 are centered on the rotating shaft 208. Rotates. When the rotating shafts 208 on both sides are simultaneously rotated in the opposite directions, the mounting plates 214 are also rotated in the opposite directions, and the parallel shafts 218 on both sides push the connecting plate 216 toward the upstream side wall surface 165 or the downstream side wall surface 166. . Both ends of the connecting plate 216 are coupled to a horizontal support shaft 174 fixed to the uppermost part of the rectangular frame 168. Therefore, when the connecting plate 216 is pushed in the direction, the upper part of the rectangular frame 168 is pushed in the direction of the wall surfaces 165 and 166 before and after the sealed chamber 164 via the horizontal support shaft 174.
[0035]
The configuration of the delivery unit 6 described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 17 is common to the first delivery unit 6 and the second delivery unit 10. However, in the third delivery unit 14, the article mounting table 46 can be moved up and down. Yes. The third delivery unit 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. Since the configuration of the shutter unit is the same as that of the first delivery unit 6, the description thereof is omitted. The article placement table 46 of the third delivery unit 14 is provided on a support plate 222 disposed in the lateral direction, and the support plate 222 is supported on a pair of lifting rods 224. These elevating rods 224 pass through the bottom surface (upper plate of the machine frame) 128a of the sealed chamber 226 and protrude downward, and the protruding portion is fitted in the slide bush 230 attached to the fixed plate 228. Guided up and down. A lower plate 232 is fixed to the lower ends of the projecting portions of both lifting rods 224, and an operating rod 234 a of a cylinder 234 mounted on the fixed plate 228 is connected to the lower plate 232. The operation of the cylinder 234 moves the article mounting table 46 up and down. In this embodiment, since the height of the discharge portion 16 provided on the downstream side of the third delivery portion 14 is different from the height of the aeration portion 12, the article placement table 46 can be moved up and down. However, it is not always necessary to move up and down.
[0036]
The operation of the sterilization apparatus having the above configuration will be described. An operator supplies the article (infusion bag) B on the conveyor 20 of the microwave heating device 2. In this embodiment, the conveyor 20 conveys the infusion bag B in two rows. These infusion bags B are heated to a predetermined temperature and dehumidified by the microwave oscillator 18 while being conveyed by the conveyor 20.
[0037]
The infusion bag B that has reached the downstream end of the conveyor 20 of the microwave heating device 2 is carried into the article supply unit 4 by the supply unit hand 22. The supply unit hand 22 descends at a position retracted to the upstream microwave heating device 2 side, closes the gripper 66, and grips five infusion bags B each in two rows. The supply unit hand 22 rises as it is and takes out the infusion bag B from the article support 96 of the conveyor 20. Then, it advances to the downstream side (right side of FIG. 1) and moves to the upper part of the upstream part of the conveyor 24 of the article supply unit 4. At this position, the infusion bag B is placed on the support tool 102 of the conveyor 24 in which the supply unit hand 22 is lowered and continuously running.
[0038]
When the infusion bag B placed on the conveyor 24 of the article supply unit 4 is continuously conveyed and reaches the downstream side (the right side in FIGS. 4 and 6), it is arranged on the inner side of the conveyor 24 of the supply unit 4. The first article transfer device 30 is transferred to the article placement table 42 of the next first delivery section 6. The article holder 126 of the article transfer device 42 rises from below the conveyor 24 and lifts the infusion bag B on the conveyor 24. Thereafter, the article holder 126 advances in the direction of the first delivery unit 6. As the article holder 126 moves forward, the first shutter 32 on the inlet 165a side of the first delivery section 6 is opened. At this time, the second shutter 34 on the outlet 166a side of the first delivery unit 6 is closed. The article holder 126 enters the sealed chamber 164 of the first delivery section 6 from the inlet 165a opened by the first shutter 32, and descends when reaching the upper part of the article mounting table 42, and the infusion bag B held therein is removed from the article. Place on the mounting table 42. When the article holder 126 moves backward and exits from the inlet 165a, the first shutter 32 is lowered, and the lower part of the rectangular frame 168 is pushed out toward the inlet 165a so that the shutter 32 comes into close contact with the seal portion 188. Seal the inlet 165a.
[0039]
After the first shutter 32 at the entrance of the first delivery unit 6 is closed, the infusion bag B temporarily waiting on the article mounting table 42 is transferred to the second article transfer device provided in the sterilization unit 8. 48 is activated and removed. The article holder of the second article transfer device 48 moves toward the first delivery unit 6 while keeping the lowered position in the sterilization unit 8. In synchronization with this movement, the second shutter 34 on the outlet 166a side of the first delivery section 6 is raised and opened. The article holder enters the sealed chamber 164 of the first delivery section 6 through the outlet 166a, moves up after being positioned below the article placing table 42, and lifts the infusion bag B on the article placing table 42. Thereafter, the article holder holding the infusion bag B exits from the outlet 166a and moves into the sterilization unit 8. When the article holder comes out of the outlet 166a, the second shutter 34 on the outlet side is immediately closed, and the sealed chamber 164 of the delivery section 6 is sealed. One of the shutter 32 at the inlet 165a and the shutter 34 at the outlet 166a of the delivery unit 6 is always in a closed state, and both are not opened at the same time. Therefore, the supply unit 4 from the sterilization unit 8 through the first delivery unit 6 is used. Thus, a large amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the sterilization unit 8 does not flow out of the isolator unit.
[0040]
The infusion bag B taken out from the first delivery unit 6 by the article holder of the article transfer device 42 is lowered onto the conveyor 52 of the sterilization unit 8. Hydrogen peroxide vapor is supplied into the sterilization unit 8 by the hydrogen peroxide vapor generator 50, and the surface of the infusion bag B is sterilized while being conveyed by the conveyor 52.
[0041]
When the infusion bag B sterilized in the sterilization unit 8 reaches the downstream end of the conveyor 52, the third article transfer device 54 provided at this position is operated, and the infusion bag B on the conveyor 52 is operated. Is carried out to the next second delivery section 10. When the article holder of the third article transfer device 54 lifts the infusion bag B on the conveyor 52 and advances toward the second delivery section 10, the third shutter 36 on the inlet side of the second delivery section 10. Will be released. The article holder enters the second delivery section 10 from the opened entrance, and then descends to place the infusion bag B on the article placement table 44. When the article holder on which the infusion bag B is placed on the article mounting table 44 moves backward from the entrance of the second delivery section 10 toward the sterilization section 8, the third shutter 36 on the entrance side immediately descends to seal the entrance.
[0042]
A fourth article transfer device 60 is also provided on the upstream side of the aeration unit 12 installed on the downstream side of the second delivery unit 10, and the transfer device 60 is activated to operate the second delivery unit 10. The infusion bag B temporarily waiting on the article mounting table 44 is taken out. When the article holder of the article transfer device 60 moves toward the second delivery unit 10, the fourth shutter 37 on the outlet side of the second delivery unit 10 is opened. The article holder enters the sealed chamber of the second delivery section 10 and lifts and removes the infusion bag B on the article placement table 44, returns to the aeration section 12, and is transferred onto the conveyor 58. As soon as this article holder comes out of the outlet of the second delivery section 10, the fourth shutter 37 on the outlet side closes to seal the sealed chamber. Thus, in the second delivery unit 10 as well, when one shutter 36 or 37 is opened, the other shutter 36 or 37 is always closed, and a large amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor in the sterilization unit 8 is directed to the aeration unit 12 side. There is no spillage.
[0043]
In this embodiment, the first shutter 32 provided at the entrance of the first delivery unit 6 and the third shutter 36 provided at the entrance of the second delivery unit 10 are linked to each other. The second shutter 34 at the outlet and the fourth shutter 37 at the outlet of the second delivery unit 10 are opened and closed in conjunction with each other, and the inlet of the sterilization unit 8 (the outlet 166a of the first delivery unit 6) and the outlet (The inlet of the second delivery unit 10) is opened at the same time, and a large amount of hydrogen peroxide vapor does not flow out from the article supply unit 4 while maintaining the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the sterilization unit 8. The article (infusion bag) B can be continuously conveyed to the sterilization unit 8 and the aeration unit 12.
[0044]
The infusion bag B placed on the conveyor 58 of the aeration unit 12 is continuously conveyed, and aeration is performed during that time. When the infusion bag B reaches the downstream end of the conveyor 58 of the aeration unit 12, it is carried out to the third delivery unit 14 by the fifth article transfer device 62 provided at this position, and the article placement table provided therein 46. The infusion bag B placed on the article placement table 46 of the third delivery unit 14 and temporarily waiting is discharged from the third delivery unit 14 by the sixth article transfer device 64 on the discharge unit 16 side, and the next Sent to the process. At the time of transferring the third delivery unit 14 to the article placement table 46 and discharging from the third delivery unit 14, as in the case of the first and second delivery units 6, 10, the article transfer device 62, The fifth shutter 38 at the entrance and the sixth shutter 40 at the exit are opened and closed in synchronization with the movement of the 64 article holders.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As mentioned above, Book According to the invention, the article mounting table is arranged in the article supply unit in which the conveyor for continuously conveying the articles is arranged, and in the sealed chamber provided continuously in the article supply unit. First A delivery unit; and the article supply unit. First A first shutter that opens and closes between the delivery units, and an article on the conveyor of the article supply unit. First A first transfer means for placing on the article placement table of the delivery section; First A conveyor that continuously conveys the article is disposed in a sealed chamber that is continuously provided on the downstream side of the delivery unit, and is conveyed by the conveyor. Be done A sterilization unit for sterilizing the article; A sterilization gas supply means for supplying a sterilization gas to the sterilization unit; A second shutter that opens and closes between the delivery unit and the sterilization unit; First A second transfer means for holding the article on the article mounting table of the delivery section and placing the article on the conveyor of the sterilization section; A second delivery unit in which an article placement table is disposed in a sealed chamber continuously provided downstream of the sterilization unit; a third shutter that opens and closes between the sterilization unit and the second delivery unit; Third transfer means for holding the article on the conveyor of the sterilization unit and placing it on the article mounting table of the second delivery unit, and a conveyor that is provided downstream of the second delivery unit and continuously conveys the article An aeration unit that is disposed and removes sterilization gas adhering to the article, a fourth shutter that opens and closes between the second delivery unit and the aeration unit, and an article on the article placement table of the second delivery unit. 4th transfer means to hold and place on the conveyor of the aeration section The first shutter on the supply unit side and the second shutter on the sterilization unit side can be alternately opened and closed without opening them simultaneously. In addition, the third shutter on the sterilization unit side and the fourth shutter on the aeration unit side can be alternately opened and closed without opening them simultaneously. Therefore, the sterilization gas can be prevented from flowing out of the sealed chamber, and the sterilization gas concentration in the sterilization chamber can be kept constant.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a simplified overall configuration of a sterilization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a supply unit hand of the sterilizer.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing a configuration of an article supply unit of the sterilization apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 4;
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the article transfer device.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a front view of a first delivery part of the sterilizer.
12 is a side view of FIG. 11. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of FIG.
14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG.
15 is an enlarged view of a Q portion in FIG. 11;
16 is an enlarged view of an R portion in FIG. 11;
FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of an S part in FIG. 12;
FIG. 18 is a front view of a third delivery unit of the sterilizer.
FIG. 19 is a side view of FIG. 18;
[Explanation of symbols]
B article (infusion bag)
4 Goods supply department
6 delivery section (first delivery section)
8 Sterilization part
10 delivery section (second delivery section)
12 Aeration
24 Conveyor of article supply section
30 First transfer means
32 First shutter
34 Second shutter
36 Third shutter
37 4th shutter
42 article placement table (article placement table of the first delivery unit)
44 Article placement table (article placement table of the second delivery unit)
48 Second transfer means
52 Conveyor for sterilization section
54 Third transfer means
58 Aeration conveyor
60 Fourth transfer means
164 Sealed chamber (sealed chamber of the first delivery section)

Claims (1)

An article supply unit in which a conveyor for continuously conveying articles is arranged, a first delivery unit in which an article placement table is arranged in a sealed chamber continuously provided in the article supply unit, the article supply unit, A first shutter that opens and closes between one delivery unit, a first transfer unit that holds an article on a conveyor of the article supply unit and places the article on the article placement table of the first delivery unit, and the first A conveyor that continuously conveys the article is disposed in a sealed chamber that is continuously provided on the downstream side of the delivery unit, and a sterilization unit that sterilizes the article conveyed by the conveyor, and sterilization gas is supplied to the sterilization unit A sterilizing gas supply means, a second shutter that opens and closes between the first delivery unit and the sterilization unit, and an article on the article placement table of the first delivery unit are held and placed on the conveyor of the sterilization unit. and second transfer means, continuously downstream of the sterilizing unit A second delivery unit in which an article placement table is disposed, a third shutter that opens and closes between the sterilization unit and the second delivery unit, and an article on the conveyor of the sterilization unit are held in a sealed chamber provided. And a third transfer means for placing on the article mounting table of the second delivery section, and a conveyor that is provided on the downstream side of the second delivery section and continuously conveys the article, and sterilized gas adhering to the article is removed. The aeration section to be removed, the fourth shutter that opens and closes between the second delivery section and the aeration section, and the article on the article placement table of the second delivery section are held and placed on the conveyor of the aeration section A sterilizer comprising a fourth transfer means .

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