JP3875550B2 - Sterilization and detoxification facility - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sterilization / detoxification facility, and more particularly to a sterilization / detoxification facility capable of sterilizing a material to be sterilized in a large amount in a short period of time by electron beam irradiation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The various bacteria that cause anthrax, smallpox, plague, potulinosis, etc., which are harmful to humankind, cannot be denied.
[0003]
Anthrax, which is easy to culture, is extremely resistant to sunlight, heat, and disinfectant when in the spore state. Even smallpox virus and plague bacteria are susceptible to splash infection from person to person. If you are worried and not prepared for vaccines or antibiotics, you will be in danger.
[0004]
For this reason, if the above bacteria are encapsulated in, or attached to, mails or the like that are a global distribution mechanism, there is also a concern that the situation may become a global depression. .
[0005]
However, there are currently insufficient preparations for eradication measures for Bacillus anthracis, smallpox virus, plague bacteria, microorganisms and the like that cause these infectious diseases.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention is proposed in view of the above situation, and spread of symptoms due to bacteria such as anthrax, smallpox virus, plague bacteria, etc. in worldwide distribution mechanisms such as postal items and daily waste. We provide sterilization and detoxification facilities that can quickly and easily detoxify target mail and waste by electron beam irradiation.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The sterilization / detoxification facility according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a radiation shielding room in which an electron beam irradiation device is installed, a conveyor for the article to be sterilized connected to the radiation shielding room, and an object to be sterilized on and off the conveyor. It consists of a building with a processing room, radiation shielding room, transfer conveyor, and processing room inside, and it makes bacteria such as mail, waste, etc. detoxify quickly and in large quantities by electron beam irradiation. .
[0008]
Further, sterilization detoxification facilities an invention of claim 1, the radiation shielding chamber, constitute an electron beam irradiation position to build a shielding member made of heavy around the electron beam irradiation position in the central portion In addition to the above functions, it is safe and harmless without emitting an electron beam into the building.
[0009]
Furthermore, the sterilization / detoxification facility according to the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that the radiation shielding member is constructed in a mortar shape centered on the electron beam irradiation position. Reflected and attenuated by a shield so as not to radiate into the building.
[0010]
The sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 1 , the transport conveyor is installed in a bent state before and after the electron beam irradiation position. In addition to the above functions, the electron beam is reflected from the opening of the conveyer so as not to leak.
[0011]
The sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 3 is a radiation shielding room in which an electron beam irradiation device is installed, a conveyor for the article to be sterilized connected to the radiation shielding room, and an object to be sterilized on and off the conveyor. Consists of a building with a processing room, radiation shielding room, transfer conveyor, and processing room arranged inside. The building is equipped with an air conditioner and is equipped with a HEPA filter on the discharge side from the radiation shielding room. At the same time, it is characterized by setting the pressure in the radiation shielding room to a negative pressure than the inside and outside of the building, and bacteria such as mail and waste are detoxified quickly and in large quantities by electron beam irradiation, and killed bacteria Is removed without splashing outside.
[0012]
The sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 3 , the air conditioner receives supply of sterilized air generated in the radiation shielding room. In addition to the above functions, sterilized and cleaned air is used.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The sterilization and detoxification facility according to the present invention basically includes a radiation shielding room in which an electron beam irradiation device is installed, a conveyor for the article to be sterilized connected to the radiation shielding room, and a processing chamber for loading and unloading the article to be sterilized on the conveyor. And a radiation shield room, a transfer conveyor, and a processing room are arranged inside, and bacteria such as mail and waste are detoxified in large quantities and quickly by electron beam irradiation.
Embodiments of a sterilization / detoxification facility according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
In this embodiment, postal matter is targeted as an object to be sterilized, and Bacillus anthracis is targeted as an example of encapsulated or adhered bacteria. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Not.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a sterilization and detoxification facility according to the present invention, and is represented by a side sectional view (b) as viewed from the top (a) and FIG. 1 (a) (b)-(b). is doing.
[0016]
In the figure, a sterilization / detoxification facility 1 according to the present invention includes a radiation shielding chamber 3 in which an electron beam irradiation device 2 is installed, a conveyor 4 for a sterilized material that is conducted to the radiation shielding chamber 3, and a postal product to be sterilized from a bag. The pretreatment chamber 5 to be taken out and placed on the conveyor 4, the inspection chamber 6 for dropping sterilized mail items from the conveyor 4, and the radiation shielding chamber 3, the conveyor 4, the pretreatment chamber 5, and the inspection chamber 6 inside It is comprised from the building 7 which has arrange | positioned.
[0017]
The radiation shielding chamber 3 in which the electron beam irradiation device 2 is installed employs a strict radiation shielding structure described later. In this embodiment, “physical containment” defined in “Recombinant DNA Experiment Guidelines” and the like. The management level of P2 deals with this level.
[0018]
Moreover, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 2 is operated together with the operation control of the transfer conveyor 4 from the machine room 8 in the adjacent room, and damage such as bacteria is completely avoided.
[0019]
The conveyor 4 is made of metal and circulates at a low speed of about 20 cm per minute. The conveyor 4 reaches the inspection chamber 6 from the pretreatment chamber 5 via the electron beam irradiation position of the radiation shielding chamber 3 obliquely, and again. A circulation path returning to the pretreatment chamber 5 is configured.
[0020]
As a result, the postal matter unpacked from the packing bag in the pretreatment chamber 5 is loaded on the conveyor 4 with a thickness of 15 cm to 20 cm, enters the radiation shielding chamber 3, and is sterilized from the radiation shielding chamber 3. The mail is unloaded from the conveyor 4 in the inspection room 6.
[0021]
In the pretreatment chamber 5, 4 to 6 t / day of postal items carried by the truck 9 are carried through the front chamber A <b> 11 through the stockyard 10, but are arranged before and after the front chamber A <b> 11. The open / close doors 12, 12 ′ are connected to each other, and the open / close doors 12, 12 ′ are not opened at the same time, so that bacteria flow out from the inside of the building 7. There is nothing.
[0022]
These mechanisms are the same in the front room A13 following the inspection room 6, and both open / close doors 12 and 12 are used when moving sterilized mail items from the inside of the building 7 to an external delivery center or the like. Since 'is not released at the same time, bacteria are not allowed to flow out from the inside of the building 7.
[0023]
Also, the worker who handles the postal items changes into protective clothing in the changing room 14 and then enters the pretreatment room 5 after taking the air shower 19 in the front room A15, and in the same way when leaving the room. Since the shower 19 is returned to the changing room 14, the bacteria that may have adhered inside the building 7 will be completely removed by installing ultraviolet irradiation facilities in the air shower. There is no spill.
[0024]
In the present embodiment, contaminants are discharged by arranging the front chamber 16 attached to the pretreatment chamber 5. Since the front chamber 16 is equipped with a sterilization chamber 17, even when clothes or packing bags contaminated with bacteria are discarded outside, the communication between the pretreatment chamber 5 and the outside is cut off. Yes, bacteria etc. will be treated strictly.
[0025]
In addition, when discharging the contaminants in the front chamber 16, it is possible to treat contaminated clothes and packaging bags by chemical treatment such as hydrogen peroxide vapor, and complete the sterilization and detoxification treatment for postal items. We are trying to make it.
[0026]
The above movement flow is shown separately in FIG. 2 for workers, postal items and contaminants.
[0027]
The operator 18 changes into protective clothing in the changing room 14 and then enters the pretreatment room 5 after taking an air shower 19 in the front room A15. The postal matter 20 is carried by the truck 9. While passing through the stock yard 10, it is carried into the pretreatment chamber 5 through the front chamber A11.
[0028]
The postal matter 20 unpacked from the packing bag in the pretreatment chamber 5 is placed on the transfer conveyor 4 and carried into the radiation shielding chamber 3. The postal matter that has been irradiated with electrons on the conveyor 4 is carried out of the radiation shielding chamber 3 to the inspection chamber 6 and then transported toward the external sorting center 21 via the front chamber A13.
[0029]
Further, the contaminants 22 are discarded in the front chamber 16 through the sterilization chamber 17 provided and then to the outside 23, and the communication between the pretreatment chamber 5 and the outside 23 is cut off.
[0030]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shielding member installed at the electron beam irradiation position in the radiation shielding room, and also shows the relationship between the arranged electron beam irradiation apparatus and the transfer conveyor. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the shielding member, which is shown by a plan sectional view (a) and a side sectional view (b).
[0031]
As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, the electron beam irradiation device 2 is arranged in a form that hangs down from the central portion of the shielding member 25 installed in the radiation shielding chamber 3, and the scan horn 24 irradiated with the electron beam is The electron beam is surrounded by the shielding member 25 stacked in the periphery and constructed in a mortar shape so as not to leak from the radiation shielding chamber 3.
[0032]
The electron beam emitted from the scan horn 24 is emitted toward the postal matter on the transport conveyor 4, and covers the entire postal matter loaded with a predetermined stacked thickness of 15 cm to 20 cm on the transport conveyor 4. Sterilizing effect.
[0033]
The sterilization effect of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 2 is that the electron beam irradiated from the accelerator not only directly damages the bacterial DNA, but also indirectly because water molecules radicalized by the electron beam damage the DNA. If there is anthrax adhering to the mail, it will surely be sterilized.
[0034]
In particular, the electron beam is highly reliable because it has the advantage of increasing its dose due to the contribution of scattered electrons as it travels from the surface of the mail to the inside due to its high transmission power. It can be expected to sterilize and has the following features.
[0035]
(1) Permeability has no relation to the shape of the object and can be sterilized even after packaging.
(2) Can be sterilized in the shortest time.
(3) A large amount of processing is possible.
(4) Pre-treatment and post-treatment of the object is not necessary.
(5) There is little temperature change in the object.
(6) Excellent safety due to quick shutdown.
[0036]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view (a) and a cross-sectional side view (a) of (a)-(a) side cross-sectional views (b) for explaining in detail the shielding members installed in the radiation shielding chamber. It is side sectional drawing (b) which looked at (b)-(b) arrow.
[0037]
The shielding member 25 installed at the electron beam irradiation position in the radiation shielding room is configured to block the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiation apparatus by stacking blocks 26 made of heavy materials such as lead and iron. Has been built.
[0038]
For this purpose, the shielding member 25 is formed in a substantially square shape 27 with the electron beam irradiation position as the center. The two opposing surfaces are reinforced by the concrete wall 28 and the inner surface structure 29 is shown in the figure. Thus, it is formed in a mortar shape with the central portion set at the electron beam irradiation position as the base 30.
[0039]
The shielding member 25 is embedded in a semi-underground shape, and the conveyor 4 connected to the pretreatment chamber 5 and the inspection chamber 6 passes through the shielding member 25 from the concrete wall 28 side to form a mortar-shaped bottom. 30 is led in an inclined manner.
[0040]
That is, the transport conveyor 4 enters the concrete wall 28 on the pretreatment chamber 5 side and is guided to the gap 31 formed in the bottom 30 of the mortar shape while being bent at a predetermined angle inside the shielding member 25. Next, the transport conveyor 4 that has passed through the central position of irradiation from the electron beam irradiation device enters the inside of the shielding member 25 again and exits from the opposite concrete wall 28 to the inspection room 6 side while bending at a predetermined angle. Yes.
[0041]
As a result, the irradiation electron beam from the electron beam irradiation apparatus does not propagate linearly from the inside of the shielding member 25 to the outside, but reflects to the inner wall block 26 of the shielding member 25 to the outside of the irradiation electron beam. Leakage is reliably prevented.
[0042]
The building 7 constitutes the sterilization and detoxification facility 1 by arranging the radiation shielding room 3, the transfer conveyor 4, the pretreatment room 5, and the inspection room 6 inside. Although the radiation shielding room 3 and the building 7 in the present embodiment are constructed of exposed concrete, the building 7 can be made of steel, and in some cases, it is constructed by prefabrication. Cost can also be reduced.
[0043]
The building 7 of the sterilization and detoxification facility 1 is provided with an air conditioner 32 as schematically shown in FIG. 5. The air conditioner 32 includes a shield room air conditioner 33 that supplies and exhausts radiation to the radiation shield room 3 and a front. The processing chamber 5 and the processing chamber air conditioner 34 for supplying and exhausting air to and from the inspection chamber 6 are configured.
[0044]
The shielding room air conditioner 33 is equipped with a HEPA filter 35 and the like on the discharge side from the radiation shielding room 3, and a discharge device of the air conditioning apparatus is equipped with a heating device, so that the waste air is formed in a high temperature state. Bacteria are completely removed.
[0045]
Further, the radiation shielding chamber 3 supplied and exhausted from the shielding room air conditioner 33 has a pressure difference between the pretreatment chamber 5 and the inspection room 6 supplied and exhausted from the processing chamber air conditioner 34, and the radiation. The air pressure in the shielding chamber 3 is set to a negative pressure than the pretreatment chamber 5 and the inspection chamber 6.
[0046]
Accordingly, an air flow is always formed in the radiation shielding chamber 3 from the pretreatment chamber 5 and the inspection chamber 6, and bacteria including dead bacteria are not scattered outside the radiation shielding chamber 3 and are not scattered to the HEPA filter 35. And so on.
[0047]
Similarly, a pressure difference is also provided between the pretreatment chamber 5 and the inspection chamber 6, and the inspection chamber from the pretreatment chamber 5 side that needs to be concerned about the presence of postal matter with bacteria attached thereto. The air pressure in the inspection chamber 6 is always set to be higher than the air pressure in the pretreatment chamber 5 so that no airflow is generated in the air.
[0048]
Furthermore, other embodiment shown in FIG. 6 can also be adopted for the shielding room air conditioner.
[0049]
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment, and a shielding member 25 is installed in the radiation shielding chamber 3 as shown. As described above, the inner surface structure 29 is a mortar type, and a gap 31 is formed on the bottom side 30 thereof.
[0050]
Air that exists in the gap 31 and is circulated following the conveyor 4 is irradiated with an electron beam from the electron beam irradiation device 2 provided in the radiation shielding chamber 3 to sterilize bacteria in the air. It has become.
[0051]
However, in this sterilization process, bacteria in the air are removed by irradiating with an electron beam, and at the same time, ozone is generated in the air. Will exist.
[0052]
For this reason, in the present embodiment, ozone is removed by activated carbon or the like in the shielding room air conditioner 37 while positively receiving the supply of sterilized air generated in the radiation shielding room by the installation of the duct 36. From the shielding room air conditioner 37, the air that is sterilized and cleaned and is free from ozone damage is discharged. Further, the sterilization / detoxification facility according to the present invention can be configured in other embodiments.
[0053]
This embodiment simply configures the facility by limiting the facility configuration of the facility to the minimum necessary, while shortening the work period and reducing costs while ensuring the prescribed performance as a sterilization and detoxification facility. This is an example.
[0054]
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the sterilization / detoxification facility according to the present invention, and is a plan view (a) and a side sectional view (b) taken along arrows (b)-(b) in FIG. 7 (a). expressing.
[0055]
As shown in the figure, the sterilization and detoxification facility 40 according to this embodiment includes a radiation shielding room 3 in which an electron beam irradiation device 2 is installed, a conveyor 4 for articles to be sterilized connected to the radiation shielding room 3, and a mail to be sterilized. A pretreatment chamber 5 for removing articles from the bag and placing them on the conveyor 4; an inspection chamber 6 for dropping sterilized mail items from the conveyor 4; and a machine chamber 8, front chambers A11, 13 and front chamber A15 attached thereto. Although it is the same as that of the said embodiment, the point which equips with the changing room 14 to which is attached is the structure as a building 41 regarding the point attached to the pre-processing room 5, the inspection room 6, etc. Are different.
[0056]
In other words, in the present embodiment, the mails carried by the truck are received in the arrival room 42 instead of the stock yard, and are arranged in front and rear of the front room A11 and are linked to each open / close door 12, Bacteria are prevented from flowing out from the inside of the building 41 by the open / closed state of 12 ′.
[0057]
Similarly, in the front room A13 following the inspection room 6, the doors 12 and 12 'are linked so as not to be opened at the same time. Bacteria are not allowed to flow out from the inside of the building 41 between the shipping chambers 43 to be carried outside.
[0058]
The above configuration naturally addresses the level of “physical containment” defined in “Guidelines for Recombinant DNA Experiments” at the management level of P2, and damages such as bacteria are completely avoided. ing.
[0059]
As mentioned above, although the present invention has been described in detail based on the embodiment, the sterilization and detoxification facility according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment in any way. It is a matter of course that various changes can be made to bacteria and the like by applying those already known at the time of filing without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
The sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 1 is a radiation shielding room in which an electron beam irradiation device is installed, a conveyor for the article to be sterilized connected to the radiation shielding room, and a processing chamber for getting on / off the article to be sterilized on the conveyor. And it is composed of a building that has a radiation shielding room, a transfer conveyor, and a processing room inside, so it has the effect of detoxifying bacteria such as mail and waste in large quantities and quickly by electron beam irradiation. ing.
[0061]
Further, sterilization detoxification facilities according to claim 1, radiation shielding chamber, be composed to build a shielding member made of heavy around the electron beam irradiation position to constitute an electron beam irradiation position in the central portion Therefore, in addition to the above-described effects, the present invention has an effect of safely detoxifying without emitting an electron beam into the building.
[0062]
Furthermore, the sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 1 is characterized in that the radiation shielding member is constructed in a mortar shape centered on the electron beam irradiation position. It has the effect of being reflected by the shield so as not to radiate.
[0063]
The sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 1 , the transport conveyor is installed in a state bent before and after the electron beam irradiation position. In addition to the effect, an effect of reflecting the electron beam from the opening of the conveyor is provided.
[0064]
The sterilization and detoxification facility according to claim 3 is a radiation shielding room in which an electron beam irradiation device is installed, a conveyor for the article to be sterilized connected to the radiation shielding room, and a processing chamber for getting on and off the article to be sterilized on the conveyor. In addition, the building is composed of a radiation shielding room, a transfer conveyor, and a processing room arranged inside. The building is equipped with an air conditioner, and the radiation side from the radiation shielding room is equipped with a HEPA filter and radiation. Since the pressure in the shielding room is set to a negative pressure compared to the inside and outside of the building, bacteria such as mail and waste are detoxified in large quantities and quickly by electron beam irradiation, and killed bacteria are externalized. Has the effect of removing without splashing.
[0065]
The sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 3 , the air conditioner receives supply of sterilized air generated in the radiation shielding room. In addition to the effect, the air that has been sterilized and cleaned can be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a sterilization / detoxification facility according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of movement of a sterilization / detoxification facility according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shielding member provided in an electron beam shielding chamber. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioner provided in a sterilization-detoxifying facility. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of an air-conditioning device provided in a sterilization-detoxifying facility. Other embodiment of detoxification facility 【Explanation of symbols】
1, 40 Sterilization detoxification facility, 2 Electron beam irradiation device, 3 Radiation shielding room, 4 Transport conveyor, 5 Pretreatment room, 6 Inspection room, 7, 41 Building, 8 Machine room, 9 Truck, 10 Stockyard, 11 , 13, 15 Front room A, 12, 12 'Open / close door, 14 Changing room, 16 Front room, 17 Sterilization room, 18 Workers, 19 Air shower, 20 Mail, 21 Sorting center, 22 Contaminant, 23 External , 24 scan horn, 25 shielding member, 26 block, 27 square, 28 concrete wall, 29 inner surface structure, 30 bottom side, 31 air gap, 32 air conditioner, 33, 37 shielding room air conditioner (including ozone treatment equipment), 34 treatment Room air conditioner, 35 HEPA filter, 36 duct, 42 arrival room, 43 shipping room

Claims (4)

Radiation shielding chamber in which an electron beam irradiation device is installed, a conveyor for conveying an object to be sterilized connected to the radiation shielding chamber, a processing chamber for getting on and off the article to be sterilized, the radiation shielding chamber, the conveyor, and the processing It is composed of a building that has rooms inside .
The radiation shielding chamber comprises an electron beam irradiation position at a central part, and is constructed by constructing a radiation shielding member made of a heavy object around the electron beam irradiation position,
A sterilization / detoxification facility, wherein the radiation shielding member is constructed in a mortar shape centered on the electron beam irradiation position. The sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyor is installed in a state bent before and after the electron beam irradiation position. Radiation shielding chamber in which an electron beam irradiation device is installed, a conveyor for conveying an object to be sterilized connected to the radiation shielding chamber, a processing chamber for getting on and off the article to be sterilized, the radiation shielding chamber, the conveyor, and the processing It is composed of a building that has rooms inside .
The sterilization is characterized in that the building is provided with an air conditioner, and is equipped with a HEPA filter or the like on the discharge side from the radiation shielding room, and the pressure in the radiation shielding room is set to a negative pressure from the inside and outside of the building. Detoxification facility. The sterilization / detoxification facility according to claim 3 , wherein the air conditioner receives supply of sterilized air generated in a radiation shielding room.

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