JP4257102B2 - Ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and cleaning method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method for efficiently cleaning an object to be cleaned such as a medical instrument.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a cleaning method using ultrasonic waves as a means for cleaning medical devices and various articles (hereinafter, referred to as objects to be cleaned) with dirt on the surface. Conventionally, as such a cleaning method, A method is known in which the object to be cleaned is immersed in the cleaning liquid stored in the container, the pressure in the cleaning container is reduced, the cleaning liquid is heated with an electric heater, and ultrasonic cleaning is applied to vibrate the cleaning liquid for cleaning (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
According to such a cleaning method, the inside of the cleaning container is decompressed and the cleaning liquid is heated, and ultrasonic vibration is applied to remove dissolved gas in the cleaning liquid, preventing vibration attenuation of the cleaning liquid due to the ultrasonic wave, and cleaning effect. Can be effectively demonstrated.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2998445 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the above-described cleaning method using ultrasonic waves, since the cleaning liquid is heated by the electric heater, it is difficult to rapidly increase the temperature of the cleaning liquid, and the time required for the temperature increase hinders shortening of the cleaning processing time. This is one of the causes. Of course, if the electric heater is increased in size, the temperature of the cleaning liquid can be increased rapidly, but there are problems in terms of structure, cost, and safety, which are not realistic. In addition, since the object to be cleaned is cleaned in a high temperature cleaning solution, the object to be cleaned is in a high temperature state immediately after cleaning, and no cooling means is provided for the object to be cleaned. There was a problem that it could not be used immediately. Further, since there is no means for drying the object to be cleaned after washing, there is a problem that it is necessary to wait for natural drying or to prepare a separate drying means.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide a drawing Ru ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and a cleaning method to shorten the cleaning time of the cleaning object by enabling rapid temperature rise of the cleaning liquid.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The ultrasonic cleaning device according to the present invention in order to achieve the object of a pressure vessel for accommodating the object to be cleaned, the outer peripheral wall portion includes et Re introducing heating medium fluid heat transfer fluid in the pressure vessel heat a heat transfer fluid introduction space forming part for transmitting to said pressure-resistant container, ultra comprises a cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid to the pressure vessel, and an ultrasonic vibrator for applying ultrasonic vibrations to the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel In the sonic cleaning device, the pressure inside the pressure vessel is reduced in the process of heating the cleaning liquid supplied in the pressure vessel containing the object to be cleaned by the heat transfer fluid introduced into the heat transfer fluid introduction space forming section. A pressure reducing means is provided .
[0008]
With this configuration, the cleaning liquid is supplied by the cleaning liquid supply means after the object to be cleaned is put in the pressure vessel, and the heat transfer fluid such as steam or hot water is heated from the outside provided on the outer peripheral wall of the pressure vessel. When supplied to the medium fluid introduction space forming part, the cleaning liquid in the pressure-resistant container is heated to a high temperature by the condensation heat transfer of the heat medium fluid such as steam or hot water supplied to the heat medium fluid introduction space forming part. At this time, if the heat transfer fluid is steam, high-temperature heating with pressurized steam is possible, the temperature of the cleaning liquid in the pressure-resistant container can be rapidly increased, and the cleaning processing time of the object to be cleaned is shortened. be able to.
[0009]
After cleaning the object to be cleaned, the supply of the heat medium fluid into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming part is stopped, the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel is discharged by the discharge means, and the pressure container is depressurized by the pressure reducing means. Moisture remaining in the container and moisture attached to the object to be cleaned evaporate at the saturation temperature, and the pressure container and the object to be cleaned are dried. By being taken away, the inside of the pressure vessel is cooled.
[0010]
In addition to the above, after cleaning the object to be cleaned, the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel is discharged by the discharge means while the supply of the heat medium fluid into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming portion is continued, and the pressure vessel is reduced by the pressure reduction means. When the inside is depressurized, the moisture remaining in the pressure vessel and the moisture attached to the object to be cleaned evaporate rapidly at the saturation temperature, and the pressure vessel and the object to be cleaned are dried in a short time. If the supply of the heat transfer fluid into the introduction space forming portion is stopped and the heat transfer fluid of the cold water is supplied into the heat transfer fluid introduction space formation portion, the inside of the pressure resistant container and the object to be cleaned are cooled.
[0011]
Further, the cooling of the pressure vessel and the object to be cleaned are finished in the pressure vessel after the drying in the pressure vessel is finished and the supply of the heating medium fluid for heating into the heating medium fluid introduction space forming part is stopped. The pressure reduction may be continued while supplying water, and in this way, the water supplied into the pressure vessel evaporates at the saturation temperature, and the stored heat in the pressure vessel is taken as latent heat, whereby the pressure vessel The inside and the object to be cleaned are cooled. When the cooling medium is supplied with the cooling water heat medium fluid into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming part, the cooling time of the inside of the pressure vessel and the object to be cleaned can be further shortened.
[0012]
Furthermore, since the heat medium fluid supplied from the outside is introduced as a means for heating the cleaning liquid in the pressure container, the heat of the heat medium fluid is transmitted to the pressure container, so that safety is high and cost performance is also high. .
[0013]
In the heat medium fluid introduction space forming part, the entire circumference or part of the pressure vessel has a double wall structure, and the heat medium fluid introduction space forming part is configured between the outer wall and the inner wall. In addition, the heat medium fluid introduction space forming portion may be configured by a pipe wound around the entire circumference or part of the pressure vessel.
[0014]
An ultrasonic cleaning method according to the present invention includes a pressure-resistant container that accommodates an object to be cleaned, and a heat medium that is provided on an outer peripheral wall of the pressure-resistant container and that introduces a heat-medium fluid and transmits heat of the heat-medium fluid to the pressure-resistant container. An ultrasonic cleaning method for an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, comprising: a fluid introduction space forming unit; a cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid into the pressure resistant container; and an ultrasonic vibrator for applying ultrasonic vibration to the cleaning liquid in the pressure resistant container. The pressure-resistant container is depressurized in the process of heating the cleaning liquid supplied in the pressure-resistant container containing the object to be cleaned by the heat medium fluid introduced into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming part. To do.
[0015]
With this configuration, the cleaning liquid is heated to a high temperature by supplying the cleaning liquid after placing the article to be cleaned in the pressure vessel and introducing the cleaning liquid from outside, for example, by a heat transfer fluid such as steam or hot water. At this time, if the heat transfer fluid is steam, high-temperature heating with pressurized steam is possible, the temperature of the cleaning liquid in the pressure-resistant container can be rapidly increased, and the cleaning processing time of the object to be cleaned is shortened. be able to. In the process of heating the cleaning liquid, the pressure inside the pressure vessel is depressurized and ultrasonic vibration is applied to the cleaning liquid, so that the dissolved gas in the cleaning liquid is removed and the vibration of the cleaning liquid is prevented from being attenuated by the ultrasonic wave, and the cleaning effect is effective. It will be demonstrated in
[0016]
After cleaning the object to be cleaned, the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel is discharged, and when the pressure vessel is depressurized, the water remaining in the pressure vessel and the water attached to the object to be evaporated evaporate at the saturation temperature. In addition, the object to be cleaned is dried, and the inside of the pressure-resistant container is cooled by taking away the retained heat in the pressure-resistant container as latent heat by the evaporation of the moisture.
[0017]
After discharging the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel, if the pressure vessel is heated with a heat transfer fluid introduced from the outside in the step of depressurizing the pressure vessel, it will adhere to moisture remaining in the pressure vessel and objects to be cleaned. Moisture is rapidly evaporated at the saturation temperature, and the inside of the pressure vessel and the object to be cleaned are dried in a short time.
[0018]
In addition, after heating the pressure vessel with a heat transfer fluid introduced from outside, the pressure vessel is depressurized and dried inside the pressure vessel, and then the heating of the pressure vessel with the heat transfer fluid introduced from the outside is stopped, By supplying water into the pressure vessel and reducing the pressure in the pressure vessel, the water supplied in the pressure vessel evaporates at the saturation temperature, and the stored heat in the pressure vessel is taken away as latent heat. Or the object to be cleaned is cooled.
[0019]
In addition, after heating the pressure vessel with a heat transfer fluid introduced from the outside and depressurizing the pressure vessel while drying the pressure vessel, a heat transfer fluid such as cold water is introduced into the pressure vessel from the outside. The inside of the pressure vessel and the object to be cleaned are cooled by the heat transfer fluid.
[0020]
In addition, after the step of depressurizing the inside of the pressure vessel and drying the inside of the pressure vessel while heating the pressure vessel with the heat transfer fluid introduced from the outside, the step of cooling the pressure vessel with the heat transfer fluid introduced from the outside is the pressure vessel When water is supplied into the pressure vessel and the pressure inside the pressure vessel is reduced, the cooling time of the inside of the pressure vessel and the object to be cleaned can be further shortened.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first example of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus of this example is provided with a pressure-resistant container 1 that accommodates an object to be cleaned and an outer peripheral wall portion of the pressure-resistant container 1. A heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit 2 that introduces a heat medium fluid that is provided and is supplied from the outside and transmits the heat of the heat medium fluid to the pressure vessel 1, a cleaning liquid supply unit 3 that supplies the cleaning liquid into the pressure vessel 1, An ultrasonic vibrator 4 that applies ultrasonic vibration to the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel 1, a discharge unit 5 that discharges the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel 1, and a pressure reduction unit 6 that depressurizes the pressure vessel 1 are configured. .
[0023]
The pressure vessel 1 includes an openable / closable lid (not shown), and the shape and size thereof are not particularly limited. In this example, the heat medium fluid introduction space forming portion 2 provided on the outer peripheral wall portion of the pressure vessel 1 has a double wall structure on the entire circumference or a part of the pressure vessel 1, and between the outer wall 1a and the inner wall 1b. The heat medium fluid introduction space forming part 2 is configured. In the heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit 2, a heat medium fluid introduction line 7 for introducing a heat medium fluid supplied from the outside into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit 2 and the heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit 2 are introduced. The heat medium fluid discharge line 8 for discharging the heat medium fluid thus formed is connected. The heat medium fluid introduction line 7 is composed of a steam introduction line 7a and a cold water introduction line 7b, and the heat medium fluid discharge line 8 is composed of a steam discharge line 8a and a cold water discharge line 8b. Solenoid valves 9, 10, 11, 12 are provided on the line.
[0024]
The cleaning liquid supply means 3 for supplying the cleaning liquid into the pressure resistant container 1 includes a water supply line 3 a and a detergent supply line 3 b, and the water supply line 3 a and the detergent supply line 3 b are connected to the pressure resistant container 1. Solenoid valves 13 and 14 are provided on the water supply line 3a and the detergent supply line 3b, respectively. Further, a steam introduction line 15 for introducing steam into the pressure resistant container 1 is connected to the pressure resistant container 1, and a solenoid valve 16 is provided in the steam introducing line 15.
[0025]
A drain line 5a is connected to the bottom of the pressure vessel 1 and constitutes a discharge means 5 for discharging the cleaning liquid and the like in the pressure vessel 1. An electromagnetic valve 17 is provided in the drain line 5a. The pressure vessel 1 is connected to a evacuation line 6a connected to a vacuum pump 18, and constitutes a pressure reducing means 6 for reducing the pressure inside the pressure vessel 1.
[0026]
The ultrasonic vibrating body 4 that applies ultrasonic vibration to the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel 1 is fixed to the bottom of the pressure vessel 1. Although not illustrated in the present example, the ultrasonic vibrator 4 has a structure in which an upper plate of a sealed case having pressure resistance and water resistance is used as a vibration plate, and a vibrator is attached to the lower surface of the upper plate.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a second example of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention. In this example, the heat medium fluid introduction space forming portion 2 provided on the outer peripheral wall portion of the pressure vessel 1 is a pressure vessel 1. The pipe 19 is wound around the entire circumference or a part thereof. The pipe 19 constituting the heat medium fluid introduction space forming part 2 of this example is composed of a steam pipe 19a and a cold water pipe 19b, and electromagnetic waves are respectively provided on the introduction side and the discharge side of the steam pipe 19a and the cold water pipe 19b. Valves 20, 21, 22, and 23 are provided.
[0028]
Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first example, the description of the first example is cited.
[0029]
Next, an embodiment of the ultrasonic cleaning method according to the present invention will be described using the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus configured as described above.
[0030]
First, the object to be cleaned is stored in a pressure vessel 1 in a basket or the like, and a cleaning liquid is supplied into the pressure vessel 1 by the cleaning liquid supply means 3. Supply of the cleaning liquid by the cleaning liquid supply means 3 is performed by opening the solenoid valves 13 and 14 and supplying a predetermined amount of water and detergent from the water supply line 3a and the detergent supply line 3b. When the cleaning liquid is supplied into the pressure vessel 1, the electromagnetic valve 9 is opened, and steam is supplied from the steam introduction line 7 a of the heat transfer fluid introduction line 7 to the heat transfer fluid introduction space forming unit 2. As a result, the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel 1 is heated to a high temperature by the condensation heat transfer of the steam supplied to the heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit 2. At this time, when the steam is pressurized steam, high-temperature heating is possible, the temperature of the cleaning liquid in the pressure-resistant vessel 1 can be rapidly increased, and the cleaning processing time of the object to be cleaned can be shortened. it can.
[0031]
In the course of the process of heating the cleaning liquid, the vacuum pump 18 constituting the decompression means 6 is driven to evacuate, the pressure vessel 1 is decompressed, and the ultrasonic vibrator 4 is energized to supply the pressure resistance. Ultrasonic vibration is applied to the cleaning liquid in the container 1. Thereby, the dissolved gas in the cleaning liquid is removed, vibration attenuation of the cleaning liquid due to ultrasonic waves is prevented, and the cleaning effect is effectively exhibited.
[0032]
When the cleaning of the object to be cleaned is completed as described above, the solenoid valve 9 is closed, the supply of steam from the steam introduction line 7a into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming portion 2 is stopped, and the solenoid valve 17 is opened to open the drain. The cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel 1 is discharged from the line 5a. When the cleaning liquid or the like in the pressure vessel 1 is discharged, the electromagnetic valve 17 is closed, and the vacuum pump 18 constituting the pressure reducing means 6 is driven to evacuate, thereby reducing the pressure in the pressure vessel 1. As a result, the moisture remaining in the pressure vessel 1 and the moisture attached to the object to be cleaned evaporate at the saturation temperature, the inside of the pressure vessel 1 and the object to be cleaned are dried, and the evaporation of the moisture causes the inside of the pressure vessel The retained heat is taken away as latent heat to cool the inside of the pressure vessel.
[0033]
In addition, after discharging the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel 1, in the step of reducing the pressure in the pressure vessel, the electromagnetic valve 9 is opened, and steam is transferred from the steam introduction line 7 a of the heat transfer fluid introduction line 7 to the heat transfer fluid introduction space forming unit 2. When the pressure vessel 1 is heated and heated, the water remaining in the pressure vessel 1 and the water attached to the object to be cleaned evaporate rapidly at the saturation temperature, and the pressure container 1 and the object to be cleaned are short. Dry in time. Thereafter, when the supply of steam into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit 2 is stopped and cold water is supplied from the cold water introduction line 7b of the heat medium fluid introduction line 7 to the heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit 2, the cold water As a result, the pressure vessel 1 and the object to be cleaned are cooled.
[0034]
Further, the pressure vessel 1 was depressurized while being heated by the steam supplied from the steam introduction line 7 a of the heat transfer fluid introduction line 7 to the heat transfer fluid introduction space forming portion 2, and the pressure release vessel 1 was dried. Thereafter, the supply of the steam is stopped, the electromagnetic valve 13 is opened, water is supplied from the water supply line 3a of the cleaning liquid supply means 3 into the pressure resistant container 1, and the pressure inside the pressure resistant container 1 is depressurized by the pressure reducing means 6. The water supplied into the pressure vessel 1 evaporates at the saturation temperature, and the retained heat in the pressure vessel 1 is taken as latent heat, whereby the pressure vessel 1 and the object to be cleaned are cooled.
[0035]
Further, the pressure vessel 1 was depressurized while being heated by the steam supplied from the steam introduction line 7 a of the heat transfer fluid introduction line 7 to the heat transfer fluid introduction space forming portion 2, and the pressure release vessel 1 was dried. Thereafter, when the supply of the steam is stopped and cold water is supplied from the cold water introduction line 7b of the heat transfer fluid introduction line 7 to the heat transfer fluid introduction space forming unit 2, the inside of the pressure vessel 1 and the object to be cleaned are cooled by the cold water. Will be.
[0036]
Further, the pressure vessel 1 was depressurized while being heated by the steam supplied from the steam introduction line 7 a of the heat transfer fluid introduction line 7 to the heat transfer fluid introduction space forming portion 2, and the pressure release vessel 1 was dried. Thereafter, the supply of the steam is stopped, and cold water is supplied from the cold water introduction line 7 b of the heat medium fluid introduction line 7 to the heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit 2 to cool the pressure vessel 1. If water is supplied from the water supply line 3a to the inside of the pressure vessel 1 and the pressure reducing means 6 is depressurized, the cooling time of the inside of the pressure vessel 1 and the object to be cleaned can be further shortened.
[0037]
As described above, the object to be cleaned can be cleaned continuously and efficiently, and the object to be cleaned after the cleaning process can be used immediately after the process. A series of operations of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus for performing the ultrasonic cleaning method according to the present invention are all automatically controlled by a computer.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the ultrasonic cleaning device and a cleaning method according to the present invention, Ru can shorten the cleaning time of the cleaning object by enabling rapid temperature rise of the cleaning liquid.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first example of an embodiment of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a second example of the embodiment of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pressure-resistant container 1a Outer wall 1b Inner wall 2 Heat transfer fluid introduction space formation part 3 Cleaning liquid supply means 3a Water supply line 3b Detergent supply line 4 Ultrasonic vibrator 5 Discharge means 5a Drain line 6 Decompression means 6a Vacuum drawing line 7 Heat transfer fluid introduction line 7a Steam introduction line 7b Cold water introduction line 8 Heat transfer fluid discharge line 8a Steam discharge line 8b Cold water discharge lines 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Solenoid valve 15 Steam introduction lines 16, 17 Solenoid valve 18 Vacuum pump 19 Pipe 19a Steam pipe 19b Cold water pipe 20, 21, 22, 23 Solenoid valve

Claims (4)

A pressure vessel for accommodating the object to be cleaned, the heat transfer fluid introduction space forming part for transmitting introduced heat of the heat medium fluid comprises et Re heat medium fluid to the outer peripheral wall of the pressure vessel to said pressure vessel, said pressure-resistant An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid into a container and an ultrasonic vibrator for applying ultrasonic vibration to the cleaning liquid in the pressure resistant container, wherein the pressure resistant container containing an object to be cleaned An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus , comprising: a decompression unit that decompresses the pressure-resistant container in a process of heating the supplied cleaning liquid by the heat medium fluid introduced into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming unit.   2. The ultrasonic cleaning according to claim 1, wherein the entire circumference or a part of the pressure vessel has a double wall structure, and the heat medium fluid introduction space forming portion is configured between the outer wall and the inner wall. apparatus.   The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat medium fluid introduction space forming portion is configured by a pipe wound around the entire circumference or part of the pressure vessel. A pressure-resistant container that accommodates an object to be cleaned, a heat-medium fluid introduction space forming unit that is provided on an outer peripheral wall of the pressure-resistant container, introduces a heat-medium fluid, and transfers heat of the heat-medium fluid to the pressure-resistant container; An ultrasonic cleaning method for an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, comprising: a cleaning liquid supply means for supplying a cleaning liquid therein; and an ultrasonic vibrator for applying ultrasonic vibration to the cleaning liquid in the pressure vessel, wherein the object to be cleaned is contained in the ultrasonic cleaning method. An ultrasonic cleaning method , wherein the pressure inside the pressure vessel is reduced in the process of heating the cleaning liquid supplied into the pressure vessel by the heat medium fluid introduced into the heat medium fluid introduction space forming part .

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