JP5714867B2 - Steam sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam sterilizer that is installed mainly in a hospital or the like and sterilizes an object to be sterilized such as a medical instrument under high-temperature steam.

  A lock that locks the lid closed in a steam sterilizer that seals the front opening of the chamber with a lid that is pivotally supported by a hinge on one side of the chamber. Means and this lock state detection switch are provided, and when this detection switch has not detected, there is one in which the sterilization operation cannot be started. (See Patent Document 1).

  In Patent Document 1, a lock plate that is circumferentially arranged around the front opening of the chamber and is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise on the circumference by an electric motor is provided, and the closed state is detected when the lid is closed. As a result, the lock plate is rotated in one direction by the electric motor, and the lock bar enters the lock hole of the fixed-side lock portion and the lock hole of the lid-side lock portion to hold the lid in a locked state. Is provided with a lock plate holding solenoid that is energized when the lock position detection switch detects that the lock plate is rotated and holds the lock plate in the lock position, and detects the advance of the plunger. The sterilization operation can be started by detection of the detection switch.

JP 2010-068911 A

  In Patent Document 1, as described above, the lid is held closed by the lock plate, and the lock plate is held in the locked position rotated by the lock plate holding solenoid. This is suitable for ensuring the safety of steam sterilizers. Further, since the plunger detection switch detects that the lock plate is held in the rotating position by the plunger, the sterilization operation cannot be started unless the plunger detection switch detects it. For this reason, the sterilization operation does not start unless the lid closes the front opening of the chamber and the state is maintained, so that the safety of starting the operation of the steam sterilizer is excellent.

  Thus, although the thing of patent document 1 exhibits the outstanding effect which can hold | maintain the state which the lid | cover closed with the double safety means, since the structure is complicated, simplification of a structure is desired.

  In a steam sterilizer that employs a horizontal chamber having such a front opening, the chamber is evacuated by a vacuum pump to bring the chamber into a high-temperature steam state. And in order to sterilize the to-be-sterilized material accommodated by the high temperature steam in the chamber, a packing for keeping the front opening of the chamber and the lid sealed is provided on the chamber or the lid. The lid is manually closed with the object to be sterilized in the chamber, and the inside of the chamber is evacuated by a vacuum pump from the closed lid state, so that the lid is drawn to the front opening of the chamber and the packing is sufficiently compressed. It becomes a sealed state.

  The present invention constitutes a lid interlock system that closes the opening of a chamber for sterilization with high-temperature steam, so that the operation of the steam sterilizer can be started with the lid completely closed. The present invention provides a technique capable of holding a normally closed state in which the packing is sufficiently compressed by evacuation by a lock means having a simplified structure as compared with that of Patent Document 1.

  For this reason, when the pressure switch detects that the pressure in the chamber by the vacuum pump has reached a predetermined low pressure, a lock device is provided in which the lock pin holds the lid in the normal closed state by the rotation of the motor. , A technique for maintaining a sealed state in which the lid is drawn toward the front opening of the chamber and the packing is compressed.

  The present invention also provides a lock pin for holding the lid in a normally closed state in a locked state in which both the lid-side lock member and the chamber-side lock member are locked as a motor-driven lock device. Therefore, it is possible to provide a configuration in which the operation of the motor in a locked state and a non-locked state can be performed smoothly and safely.

In the first invention, a horizontal chamber having a front opening is provided in a sterilizer body, and has a lid that is rotatably supported by a hinge portion so as to close the front opening of the chamber, and the lid is closed. A steam sterilizer for sterilizing an object to be sterilized stored in the chamber under high-temperature steam, a closure device for holding the lid in an initial closed state, and a closure for detecting an initial closed state of the lid. A lid detecting device; a lid holding device for holding the lid in a normally closed state; a vacuum pump for evacuating the chamber; and a pressure switch for detecting the pressure in the chamber. Is provided with an operating arm projecting from the lid side toward the chamber side, and a locking portion provided on the chamber side so that the operating arm is engaged and disengaged when the lid is closed and opened. The device has the actuating arm The closed state is detected by a first detection switch for detecting a closed state locked to the locking portion, and an operating portion provided so as to protrude from the lid side toward the chamber side separately from the operating arm. A second detection switch for detecting, wherein the lid holding device includes a lid side lock member provided on the lid side, a chamber side lock member provided on the chamber side, the lid side lock member, and the chamber A lock pin that holds the lid in a normally closed state in a locked state that is locked to both of the side lock members, and a motor that operates the lock pin in the locked state and the non-locked state. The vacuum pump is operated in a state where both the first detection switch and the second detection switch detect the closed state, and it is determined that the pressure in the chamber by the vacuum pump has reached a predetermined low pressure. Switch the lock pin in accordance with the rotation of the motor when the detection is characterized in that the said locking state.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the chamber side lock member includes an upper lock side and a lower lock side fixed to an outer surface of the chamber, and the lid side lock member is configured to open and close the upper lock according to opening / closing of the lid. It is fixed to the lid so as to be in a state where it is removed from between the side and the lower lock side and between the upper lock side and the lower lock side, the upper lock side, the lower lock side, The chamber side lock member has a lock hole for operating the lock pin, and the lock pin is fixed to a lock operation member that moves up and down by the rotation of the motor. The lock operation member includes the chamber side lock. Two guide pins that pass through the upper lock side and the lower lock side at a position off the member, and a guide pipe that guides the vertical movement of the two guide pins It is provided for each of the two guide pins across the lock side and the lower lock side, and the lock pin moves up and down as the guide pin slides up and down in the guide pipe. To do.

In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the motor rotates in a state where the pressure switch detects that the pressure in the chamber by the vacuum pump has reached a predetermined low pressure, and the lock actuating member is The lock pin is in the locking state that holds the lid in a normally closed state during the lowering operation, and includes a third detection switch that detects that the locking state has been reached, and is used for detection of the third detection switch. Then, the motor is stopped and the sterilization operation is started.

  In the first invention, since the vacuum pump operates in a state in which both the first detection switch and the second detection switch detect the closed state, the vacuum pump is not in a normal state where the lid is manually closed. Since it does not operate, stable operation can be secured. In addition, when the pressure switch detects that the pressure in the chamber by the vacuum pump has reached a predetermined low pressure, the lock pin is activated by the rotational operation of the motor, and the lid is held in a normally closed state. A stable sterilization operation is started in a sealed state necessary for the sterilization operation.

  In the second invention, in addition to the effects of the first invention, a lock pin that enters the chamber-side lock member and the lid-side lock member and holds the lid in the normal closed state is attached to the lock actuating member, and the rotation of the motor The lock actuating member that moves up and down by the operation has an error in the mounting state of the chamber side lock member due to the relationship that the two guide pins attached to the lock actuating member slide up and down in the guide pipe attached to the chamber side lock member. Even if there is, stable vertical movement can be achieved.

  In the third invention, in addition to the effects of the first invention or the second invention, the sterilization operation is started by detecting that the lock pin is in the normal closed state by the third detection switch. In a state where the evacuation in the chamber is poor and the lid is not surely sealed, the sterilization operation is not started, and a safe and stable operation can be obtained.

It is a front perspective view of the state which opened the door of the front lower part of the steam sterilizer concerning the present invention. It is a front perspective view of the part where the lid of the steam sterilizer concerning the present invention opened. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of each part in the initial cover state of the steam sterilizer which concerns on this invention. It is a cross-sectional top view explaining the state of the lock pin part in the normal closed state of the steam sterilizer which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of each part in the normal closed state of the steam sterilizer which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of the guide pipe holding member in which two guide pins concerning the lock device of the steam sterilizer concerning the present invention are inserted. It is a side view explaining the state of the lock pin and guide pin part in the regular closed state of the steam sterilizer concerning the present invention. It is a vertical side view which shows the relationship between the two guide pins which concern on the locking device of the steam sterilizer which concerns on this invention, and the guide pipe holding member inserted.

  The present invention provides a horizontal chamber having a front opening in a sterilizer body, and has a lid rotatably supported by a hinge part so as to close the front opening of the chamber, and the lid is closed when the lid is closed. A steam sterilizer for sterilizing an object to be sterilized stored in a chamber under high-temperature steam, a closure device for holding the lid in an initial closed state, and a lid for detecting the initial closed state of the lid A detection device; a lid holding device that holds the lid in a normally closed state; a vacuum pump that evacuates the chamber; and a pressure switch that detects the pressure in the chamber. An operating arm 31A projecting from the lid side toward the chamber side, and a locking portion 31B provided on the chamber side so that the operating arm 31A is engaged and disengaged when the lid is closed and opened. The lid detection device The first detection switch for detecting the closed state where the operation arm 31A is engaged with the engagement portion 31B, and the operation arm 31A are provided so as to protrude from the lid side toward the chamber side separately from the operation arm 31A. A second detection switch configured to detect a closed state by an operating unit, wherein the closed cover holding device normally closes the lid in a locked state in which both the lid side lock member and the chamber side lock member are locked; A lock pin that is held in a cover state; and a motor that operates the lock pin in the locked state and the non-locked state, wherein both the first detection switch and the second detection switch detect a closed state. When the vacuum switch is activated and the pressure switch detects that the pressure in the chamber by the vacuum pump has reached a predetermined low pressure, the rotation of the motor is accompanied by the rotation of the motor. The hook pin is in the locked state, and examples of the present invention will be described below.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a steam sterilizer according to the present invention. The steam sterilizer 1 is configured to be covered with an outer case 1A. Inside the outer case 1A, a horizontal substrate 2A of a base 2 that is framed in a legislative shape or a vertically long rectangular shape and a cylindrical shape with a front opening 3A. The horizontal chamber 3 is mounted in a fixed state, and a lid 4 that holds the circular front opening 3A of the chamber 3 in a sealed state is opened and closed by a hinge 5 at one side of the chamber 3 (right side in the figure). Supported as possible.

  In a state where the object to be sterilized is stored in the chamber 3 and the lid 4 seals the front opening 3A of the chamber 3, the steam sterilizer 1 is operated to bring the chamber 3 into a high temperature state and sterilize the object to be sterilized. It is. In order to make the front opening 3 </ b> A of the chamber 3 in a good sealed state by the lid 4, a packing 6 is provided on the chamber 3 or the lid 4. The illustrated one is provided with an annular packing 6 on the periphery of the back side of the lid 4, and the annular packing 6 is in close contact with the annular flange 3 </ b> A <b> 1 of the front opening 3 </ b> A of the chamber 3.

  In order to perform sterilization operation, the selection of sterilization course according to the type of material to be sterilized, setting of sterilization temperature and sterilization time, and other settings are performed. The operation panel PA is provided at the upper front of the outer case 1A.

  The base 2 is made of polypropylene with a predetermined amount of heating water used for sterilization in the chamber 3 in a portion where the door 1D at the lower front of the outer case 1A is opened, and has an internal volume of about 20 liters. About 20 liters of water and a cooling tank 9 with a capacity of about 20 liters for storing water for cooling and sealing of the vacuum pump 7 are accommodated in a freely retractable manner, and the inside of the chamber 3 is evacuated in the back side. The vacuum pump 7 to be pulled is accommodated. Reference numeral 10 denotes a slope plate for taking in and out of the pouring / draining tank 8 and the cooling tank 9, and is provided in the lower part of the base 2 so that it can be pulled out during use. For the movement of the steam sterilizer 1, casters 11 are provided at the bottom four corners of the base 2.

  The steam sterilizer 1 of the present invention includes a closing device P1 that holds the lid 4 in the initial closed state, a closing detection device S1 that detects the initial closed state of the lid 4, and the lid 4 in the normal closed state. A lid holding device P2 for holding, a vacuum pump 7 for evacuating the chamber 3, and a pressure switch 12 for detecting the pressure in the chamber 3 are provided. The lid device P1 is moved from the lid 4 side to the chamber 3 side. The operating arm 31A projecting toward the chamber 3 and a locking portion 31B provided on the chamber 3 side so that the operating arm 31A can be engaged and disengaged. The lid detecting device S1 has the operating arm 31A locked to the locking portion 31B. The second detection for detecting the closed state by the first detection switch SW1 for detecting the closed state and the operating part 32 provided so as to protrude from the lid 4 side toward the chamber 3 side separately from the operating arm 31A. With switch SW2 The lid holding device P2 includes a lock pin 35 that holds the lid 4 in a normal closed state in a latching state in which both the locking member 33 on the lid 4 side and the locking member 34 on the chamber 3 side are latched. A motor 36 that operates the lock pin 35 in the locked state and the non-locked state is provided, and the vacuum pump 7 operates in a state where both the first detection switch SW1 and the second detection switch SW2 detect the closed state. When the pressure switch 12 detects that the pressure in the chamber 3 by the vacuum pump 7 has reached a predetermined low pressure, the lock pin 35 is brought into the locked state as the motor 36 rotates.

  When sterilizing the article to be sterilized stored in the chamber 3, it is dangerous if the lid 4 is not securely closed. In the present invention, the locking device that can hold the closed state of the lid 4 by the double safety means includes the closing device P1, the closing detection device S1, and the closing device holding device P2.

  The lid 4 is opened and closed by the handle 30. The handle portion 30 is provided on the left end side of the lid support 30B fixed to the front surface of the lid 4 by welding or the like, and the right end side of the lid support 30B is supported by the hinge portion 5 so as to be openable and closable. The lid 4 can be opened and closed left and right.

  In the lid closing device P1, on the lid 4 side, an operating arm 31A protruding from the left end side of the lid support 30B toward the chamber 3 is attached to the lid support 30B by welding or the like. Further, on the chamber 3 side, a rod-like chamber side locking portion 31B is provided on which the tip locking portion 31A1 of the operating arm 31A is engaged and disengaged. In the normal state, the chamber side locking portion 31B is held by pulling the coil spring SP so as to maintain the upper position where the tip of the operating arm 31A collides when the lid 4 is closed.

  In this configuration, when the lid 4 is closed, the front end of the upper operating arm 31A enters from the hole 1A1 on the front surface of the outer case 1A and pushes the chamber side locking portion 31B. When the distal end of the operating arm 31A moves over the chamber side locking portion 31B against the coil spring SP and the chamber side locking portion 31B returns upward by pulling the coil spring SP, the operating arm The distal end locking portion 31A1 of 31A is configured to be locked to the chamber side locking portion 31B.

  The chamber side locking portion 31B and the coil spring SP are attached to the support substrate 37 of the motor 36 of the lid holding device P2, and the chamber side locking portion 31B is rotatably supported by the support substrate 37 with a shaft 38. One end of the coil spring SP is attached to the turning plate 39 and the other end is attached to the support substrate 37.

  Further, the chamber side locking portion 31B is fixed, and the operating arm 31A is biased by a spring, and the tip locking portion 31A1 of the operating arm 31A is locked to the chamber side locking portion 31B in the same manner as described above. It may be a thing. In any case, the chamber side locking portion 31B or the operating arm 31A is urged by a spring, and by closing the lid 4, the operating arm 31A gets over the chamber side locking portion 31B against the spring force. After that, the operating arm 31A may be configured to be locked to the chamber side locking portion 31B by the spring force.

  In addition, by pulling the handle portion 30 in the direction to open the lid 4, the operating arm 31A moves over the chamber side locking portion 31B against the coil spring SP force, and then the operating arm 31A moves to the chamber side locking portion 31B. The lid 4 can be opened by releasing the lock.

  The lid detection device S1 includes a first detection switch SW1 and a second detection switch SW2, and the first detection switch SW1 that detects a state (lid closed state) where the operating arm 31A is locked to the locking portion 31B is provided. In this configuration, the switching operation is performed by moving the operating arm 31A forward and backward through a spring-like auxiliary operating plate 40 attached to the support substrate 37. For this reason, by closing the lid 4 as described above, the operating arm 31A moves forward and climbs over the chamber side locking portion 31B, and then the tip locking portion 31A1 of the operating arm 31A becomes the chamber side locking portion 31B. Along with the locking operation, when the distal end of the operating arm 31A pushes the spring-like operating side 40A extending below the auxiliary operating plate 40, the operating side SW11 of the first detection switch SW1 is pressed, and the first detection switch SW1 is turned on. The auxiliary operating plate 40 provided for stabilizing the operation of pressing the first detection switch SW1 may be omitted, and the tip of the operating arm 31A may directly press the operating side SW11 of the first detection switch SW1.

  The second detection switch SW2 that detects the closed state by the operating portion 32 provided so as to protrude from the lid 4 side toward the chamber 3 side is attached to the side surface portion of the chamber 3. The upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B constituting the lock member 34 on the chamber 3 side are fixed to the side surface portion of the chamber 3 by welding so as to be in a horizontal arrangement state with a gap in the vertical position. . The second detection switch SW2 is attached to the lower surface of the lower lock side 34B by the attachment tool 42. The second detection switch SW2 has the same configuration as the first detection switch SW1. In this configuration, as described above, when the lid 4 is closed, the distal end of the operating portion 32 enters from the hole 1A2 on the front surface of the outer case 1A, the operating side of the second detection switch SW2 is pushed, and the second detection switch SW2 is turned on.

  The lid holding device P2 includes a lock member 33 on the lid 4 side, a lock member 34 on the chamber 3 side, a lock pin 35, and a motor 36. The lock member 33 on the lid 4 side is on the left end side of the lid support 30B. Is formed in a square frame shape that protrudes toward the chamber 3 side, and an adjustment screw 43 is provided at the tip thereof. When the lid 4 is closed, the lock member 33 enters from the front hole 1A3 of the outer case 1A and enters between the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B on the chamber 3 side. The lock pin 35 is fixed to the lock operation member 44 so as to move up and down in the vertical direction as the motor 36 rotates as will be described later.

  The lock member 33, the upper lock side 34A, and the lower lock side 34B are respectively formed with lock holes 45, 46, and 47 in which the lock pin 35 operates up and down. The lock holes 46 and 47 are vertically opposed positions and are formed to have a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lock pin 35. In the embodiment, the lock holes 45 are formed as square holes, and have front and rear left and right lengths L1, L2 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lock pin 35 and slightly larger than the diameters of the lock holes 46 and 47. The lock hole 45 may be a circular hole, and in this case, the lock hole 45 is formed to have a size slightly larger than the outer diameter of the lock pin 35 and slightly larger than the diameters of the lock holes 46 and 47. Such a dimensional relationship is because the vertical movement can be smoothly performed so that the lock pin 35 is in the locked state in which the upper lock side 34A, the lock member 33, and the lower lock side 34B are inserted.

  As a configuration of a lock mechanism in which the lock pin 35 moves up and down by the rotation of the motor 36, the motor 36 attached to the support substrate 37, the circular cam plate 48 that rotates by the rotation of the motor 36, and the circumferential portion of the cam plate 48 The first actuating member 49 is rotatably supported at the lower end thereof, and is pivotally connected to the upper end of the first actuating member 49, and is supported by the support portion 51 attached to the support substrate 37 of the motor 36 so as to be vertically movable. The second actuating member 50 is provided, and a lock actuating member 44 that contacts or is connected to the upper end of the second actuating member 50. In the embodiment, the lock operation member 44 is in contact with the upper end of the second operation member 50. The lower end of the supporting substrate 37 is screwed into the hole 70 of the horizontal substrate 2A through the hole 71 formed in the mounting flange 37A on the horizontal substrate 2A by the mounting flange 37A so that the lower end portion thereof is in a vertical state. The upper end is attached by a screw 73 that is screwed into a hole 72 formed on the side surface of the upper lock side 34A through a hole 74.

  The lock actuating member 44 is substantially U-shaped at the upper side 44A, the lower side 44B, and the connecting side 44C so as to sandwich the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B from above and below, and is locked to the tip of the upper side 44A. The pin 35 is fixed vertically in a downward direction. Further, two guide pins 52A and 52B penetrating the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B are fixed to the upper side 44A and the lower side 44B in a vertical state, and the two guide pins 52A and 52B It is a structure that can move smoothly. Further, the upper end of the second operating member 50 is in contact with the lower surface of the lower side 44B of the lock operating member 44. As will be described later, the second operating member 50 is lowered by the rotation of the motor 36. It is a mechanism that descends.

  Holes 53A and 53B through which the guide pins 52A and 52B pass are formed in the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B. In order for the vertical movement of the guide pins 52A and 52B to be held by the upper and lower holes 53A and the upper and lower holes 53B, the diameters of the holes 53A and 53B and the diameters of the guide pins 52A and 52B are made equal. If the guide pins 52A and 52B are held by the 53A and 53B so as to be movable up and down with almost no backlash, the lock pin 35 can be moved up and down stably by the rotation of the motor 36.

  However, the upper lock side 34 </ b> A and the lower lock side 34 </ b> B are fixed to the side surface portion of the chamber 3 by welding so that the lid 4 maintains sufficient strength for holding the front opening 3 </ b> A of the chamber 3 in a sealed state. . In this welding operation, a slight error may occur in the attachment positions of the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B. When the diameters of the holes 53A and 53B are equal to the diameters of the guide pins 52A and 52B, if this error occurs, the corresponding positions of the holes 53A and 53B are displaced, and the inside of the holes 53A and 53B is changed. The guide pins 52A and 52B cannot move up and down. In order to cope with the displacement of the corresponding positions of the holes 53A and 53B caused by the welding operation, one or both of the holes 53A of the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B are enlarged, and the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B are increased. There is a method of enlarging one or both of the holes 53B. In this case, the correspondence between the upper and lower holes 53A and the guide pins 52A and the correspondence between the upper and lower 53B and the guide pins 52B are different for each steam sterilizer 1, and the holes 53A and 53B and the guide pins 52A and 52B are different from each other. There is a concern that rattling occurs between the holes 53A and 53B, and the guide pins 52A and 52B cannot move up and down in a stable state.

  In the present invention, in view of such a point, even if the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B are fixed to the side surface portion of the chamber 3 by welding, the hole 53A, the guide pin 52A, the hole 53B, and the guide The vertical movement of the guide pins 52A and 52B can be achieved in a stable state where there is no rattling between the pins 52B.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the holes 53A and 53B are sufficiently larger than the diameters of the guide pins 52A and 52B, and the diameters of the guide pins 52A and 52B are between the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B. Guide pipes 54A and 54B having equivalent through holes 55A and 55B are attached. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide pipes 54 </ b> A and 54 </ b> B are attached across the upper side 56 </ b> A and the lower side 56 </ b> B of the guide pipe holding member 56 with the guide pins 52 </ b> A and 52 </ b> B inserted therethrough. As shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, this attachment is performed by arranging guide pipes 54A and 54B between the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B, and the entire through hole 55A within the range of the hole 53A. The holding member 56 is attached to the lock member 34 with a screw 57 in a state where the entire through hole 55B enters the range of the hole 53B. In the embodiment, the guide pipe holding member 56 is attached to the lower lock side 34 </ b> B with a screw 57.

  When the guide pipe holding member 56 is attached to the lock member 34 with the screw 57, the guide pipe holding member 56 is adjusted in the horizontal direction or the like, and the guide pins 52A and 52B are moved up and down in the guide pipes 54A and 54B. At a position where the vertical movement of 35 becomes smooth, a screw 57 is fastened and fixed to the lower lock side 34B. Further, since the lock actuating member 44 is in contact with the upper end of the second actuating member 50 without being connected, this attachment of the guide pipe holding member 56 causes the second actuating member 50 to move up and down by the rotation of the motor 36. Since the mechanism is not affected, the adjustment becomes easy. Further, since the upper end of the second operating member 50 is in contact with the lower surface of the lower side 44B of the lock operating member 44 and the two are not in a connected state, the mounting adjustment of the support substrate 37 can be performed by moving the lock operating member 44 up and down. It becomes the structure which does not exert a bad influence on.

  A third detection switch SW3 for detecting a locked state (also referred to as a lock position) in which the lock pin 35 is lowered is attached to the upper portion of the support substrate 37. When the lock pin 35 is lowered to the locked position by the rotation of the motor 36, the operating side SW31 of the third detecting switch SW3 is pushed by the upper side 44A of the locking operating member 44, and the third detecting switch SW3 is turned on. Further, when the lock pin 35 is raised to the unlocked position by the rotation of the motor 36, the pressing of the operating side SW31 of the third detecting switch SW3 by the upper side 44A of the locking operating member 44 is released, and the third detecting switch SW3 is turned OFF. It is a mechanism. The lock position is a state in which the lock member 33 on the lid 4 side is held in a state where the lid 4 is closed by the lock pin 35, and the lock pin 35 is disengaged from the lock member 33 on the lid 4 side. The lid 4 can be opened by pulling the handle 30.

  A sterilization mode for sterilizing an object to be sterilized stored in the chamber 3 will be described. First, in order to make the steam sterilizer 1 operable, the power switch 60 is turned on. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operating side SW41 of the fourth detection switch SW4 enters the recess 48A that is the cam portion of the cam plate 48 and the fourth detection switch SW4 is OFF, the motor 36 is The lock actuating member 44 is supported at the raised position via the first actuating member 49 and the second actuating member 50, and the lock pin 35 is raised to the unlocked position. This state is a state in which the lower end of the lock pin 35 does not protrude into the space between the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B, and is referred to as a standby state.

  If the standby state is not established when the power switch 60 is turned on, the operating side SW41 of the fourth detection switch SW4 is disengaged from the recess 48A and is in contact with the circumferential portion of the cam plate 48. Since the switch SW4 is ON, the motor 36 is started by the operation of the control unit, the cam plate 48 rotates, and the operation side SW41 of the fourth detection switch SW4 enters the recess 48A as shown in FIG. When the 4 detection switch SW4 is turned off, the motor 36 stops and the steam sterilizer 1 enters a standby state. This standby state is displayed by lighting the LED on the display unit 65 provided in the operation panel unit PA.

  In this standby state, an object to be sterilized is placed in the chamber 3 and the lid 4 is closed. By closing the lid 4, the operating arm 31 </ b> A is locked to the chamber side locking portion 31 </ b> B, the first detection switch SW <b> 1 is turned ON, and the second detection switch SW <b> 2 is turned ON by the operating portion 32. In this state, the LED of the display unit 65 is turned off. Furthermore, the lock member 33 on the lid 4 side enters the state between the upper lock side 34A and the lower lock side 34B. The state in which the operating arm 31A is locked to the chamber side locking portion 31B is a closed state in which the annular packing 6 is slightly pressed against the annular flange 3A1 of the front opening 3A of the chamber 3, and is in an initial closed state or This can be referred to as a temporarily closed state. This is a stage before the normal packing state where the annular packing 6 is sufficiently compressed and the front opening 3A of the chamber 3 becomes a desired completely sealed state.

  In this initial closed state or temporarily closed state, after setting the sterilization condition by the sterilization condition setting switch 61 provided on the operation panel PA, by turning ON the start switch 62 provided on the operation panel PA, Sterilization mode is commanded. The set temperature and time of the sterilization condition are respectively displayed on the upper and lower display units 63 provided on the operation panel unit PA.

  The sterilization mode starts when the first detection switch SW1 and the second detection switch SW2 are turned on and when the start switch 62 is turned on, and proceeds by the operation of the control unit. By starting the sterilization mode, the vacuum pump 7 is turned on (operated by energization), the inside of the chamber 3 is evacuated, and the inside of the chamber 3 is maintained at a predetermined low pressure state. Since the progress status of the sterilization mode is sequentially displayed on the process monitor 64 provided in the operation panel PA, the current progress status can be visually recognized.

  As described above, as the pressure in the chamber 3 is reduced by evacuation, the lid 4 is pulled toward the chamber 3 while compressing the annular packing 6, and the sealed state of the chamber 3 advances. Thus, when the pressure switch 12 detects that the inside of the chamber 3 is evacuated and the inside of the chamber 3 becomes a low pressure, for example, reaches a predetermined low pressure such as 0.07 MPa, the motor 36 is started to rotate. Accordingly, the cam plate 48 rotates, and the first operating member 49 and the second operating member 50 are lowered. As a result, the support that supported the lock operating member 44 to the unlocked position where the lock pin 35 has been lifted is released, so that the lock operating member 44 can be lowered by its own weight.

  In this case, since the compression of the annular packing 6 is not yet sufficient, when the adjustment screw 43 is not present, the lock pin 35 comes into contact with the front end portion of the lock member 33 on the lid 4 side and the lock operation member 44 is lowered. Is blocked. When the adjustment screw 43 is provided, the lock pin 35 is lowered so as to enter the lock hole 45, and the lock pin 35 comes into contact with the adjustment screw 43, so that the lock operation member 44 is prevented from descending.

  From this state, vacuuming is further performed until the pressure switch 12 detects a predetermined low pressure exceeding 0.07 MPa, so that the compression of the annular packing 6 proceeds, whereby the adjustment screw 43 together with the lock member 33 moves toward the chamber 3 side. Accordingly, the lowering prevention state of the lock pin 35 as described above is released, and the lock operation member 44 and the lock pin 35 are lowered by the weight of the lock operation member 44 and the lock pin 35 and the like.

  In this lowering operation, the guide pins 52A and 52B are guided by the guide pipes 54A and 54B, and the lock pin 35 is lowered at the tip end side of the adjusting screw 43 and fitted into the lock holes 45, 46 and 47. In this state, the lock member 35 on the lid 4 side is locked by the lock pin 35, that is, as shown in FIG. 5, the lid 4 is held in a locked state that is prevented from opening. As shown in FIG. 4, this state is a state where the tip of the adjustment screw 43 is in contact with or close to the side surface of the lock pin 35, and at least a position where the tip of the adjustment screw 43 is in contact with the side surface of the lock pin 35. This is a normal closed state in which the lid 4 is prevented from opening. The protruding length of the adjusting screw 43 is adjusted in advance at the manufacturing stage so as to be in such a normal closed state.

  In this locked state, the operating side SW31 of the third detecting switch SW3 is pushed by the upper side 44A of the locking operating member 44, so the third detecting switch SW3 is turned ON, the motor 36 is stopped, and the vacuum pump 7 is turned OFF (energized OFF). In the state where the evacuation is stopped and the pressure switch 12 detects the predetermined low pressure, the operation of the control unit moves to the next step, and the predetermined high-temperature steam atmosphere such as 121 ° C. to 134 ° C. Originally, a sterilization process of an object to be sterilized is performed. After the high temperature steam in the chamber 3 is exhausted by the completion of the predetermined sterilization process, the sterilization mode is completed through a drying process in which the chamber 3 is heated with an electric heater.

  When the pressure switch 12 detects that the pressure in the chamber 3 has increased to a predetermined pressure at which the lid 4 can be manually opened by the end of the sterilization mode, the motor 36 is started by the operation of the control unit. Then, the cam plate 48 rotates, the first operating member 49 and the second operating member 50 are raised, and the lock operating member 44 is raised. This rise is guided by the guide pipes 54A and 54B, the guide pins 52A and 52B are lowered, and the lock pin 35 is detached from the lock holes 47 and 45 along with this, and the lock member on the lid 4 side by the lock pin 35 It will be in the unlocked state where the lock | rock 33 was cancelled | released.

When the unlocked state is thus established, as shown in FIG. 3, the operating side SW41 of the fourth detection switch SW4 enters the recess 48A and the fourth detection switch SW4 is turned OFF, so the motor 36 is stopped, The steam sterilizer 1 is in a standby state waiting for the start of the next sterilization mode. This standby state is displayed by lighting the LED on the display unit 65 provided in the operation panel unit PA.

  For this reason, by pulling the handle part 30 in the direction to open the lid 4, after the operating arm 31A gets over the chamber side locking part 31B against the coil spring SP force, the operating arm 31A moves to the chamber side locking part 31B. Since the lid 4 opens the front opening 3A of the chamber 3, the object to be sterilized can be taken out.

  As described above, the lock pin 35 that enters the chamber-side lock member 34 and the lid-side lock member 33 and holds the lid in the normal closed state is attached to the lock operation member 44, and is moved up and down by the rotation operation of the motor 36. The lock actuating member 44 is configured such that the two guide pins 52A and 52B attached to the lock actuating member 44 slide up and down in the guide pipes 54A and 54B attached to the chamber side lock member 34. Even if there is an error in the mounting state of 34, stable vertical movement can be achieved.

  Further, since the fact that the lock pin 35 is in the normally closed state is detected by the third detection switch SW3, the sterilization operation is started. In a state that is not in a sealed state, the sterilization operation is not started, and a safe and stable operation can be obtained.

  The present invention is not limited to the configurations shown in the above-described embodiments, and can be applied to various forms of steam sterilizers in a horizontal chamber, and includes various forms within the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steam sterilizer 2 ... Base stand 3 ... Chamber 3A ... Front opening 3A1 ... Annular flange 4 ... Lid 5 ... Hinge part 6 ... Annular packing 7 ... Vacuum pump 8 ... Drain tank 9 ... Cooling tank 10 ... Slope plate 12 ... Pressure switch 30 .... Handle part 30B ... Lid support 31A ... Actuating arm 31B ... Chamber side locking part 32 ... ... Actuating part 33 ... Lid side lock member 34 ... Chamber Side lock member 34A ... Upper lock side 34B ... Lower lock side 35 ... Lock pin 36 ... Motor 37 ... Support substrate 37A ... Mounting flange 41 ... Screw 43 .... Adjustment screw 44 ... Lock actuating member 45 46, 47 ... Lock hole 48 ... Cam plate 49 ... First actuating member 50 ... Second actuating member 52A, 52B ... Guide pins 53A, 53B ... ··· Holes 54A and 54B ··· Guide pipes 55A and 55B ··· Through holes 56 ··· Guide pipe holding members SP · · · Coil springs SW1 · · · First detection switch SW2 ··· 2nd detection switch SW3 ... 3rd detection switch SW4 ... 4th detection switch

Claims (3)

A horizontal chamber with a front opening is provided in the body of the sterilizer, and has a lid that is pivotally supported by a hinge portion so as to close the front opening of the chamber, and is stored in the chamber with the lid closed. A steam sterilizer for sterilizing the sterilized material under high temperature steam,
A lid closing device that holds the lid in an initial closed state; a lid detection device that detects an initial lid closed state of the lid; a lid holding device that holds the lid in a normal closed state; A vacuum pump for evacuating and a pressure switch for detecting the pressure in the chamber,
The closing device includes an operating arm projecting from the lid side toward the chamber side, and a locking portion provided on the chamber side so that the operating arm is engaged and disengaged when the lid is closed and opened.
The lid detection device protrudes from the lid side toward the chamber side separately from the first detection switch for detecting a closed state in which the operation arm is locked to the locking portion. A second detection switch for detecting the closed state by the operating portion provided
The lid holding device is engaged with a lid side lock member provided on the lid side, a chamber side lock member provided on the chamber side, and both the lid side lock member and the chamber side lock member. A lock pin that holds the lid in a normally closed state in the locked state; and a motor that operates the lock pin in the locked state and the non-locked state.
The pressure switch indicates that the vacuum pump is operated in a state where both the first detection switch and the second detection switch detect the closed state, and the pressure in the chamber by the vacuum pump reaches a predetermined low pressure. The steam sterilizer is characterized in that the lock pin is brought into the locked state as the motor rotates. The chamber side lock member includes an upper lock side and a lower lock side fixed to the outer surface of the chamber, and the lid side lock member is detached from between the upper lock side and the lower lock side according to opening and closing of the lid. And is fixed to the lid so as to be in a state of entering between the upper lock side and the lower lock side,
The upper lock side, the lower lock side, and the chamber side lock member include a lock hole for operating the lock pin,
The lock pin is fixed to a lock actuating member that moves up and down by the rotation of the motor,
The lock actuating member includes two guide pins that penetrate the upper lock side and the lower lock side at a position away from the chamber side lock member,
A guide pipe for guiding the vertical movement of the two guide pins is provided for each of the two guide pins across the upper lock side and the lower lock side,
The steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the lock pin moves up and down as the guide pin slides up and down in the guide pipe. The motor rotates in a state where the pressure switch detects that the pressure in the chamber by the vacuum pump has reached a predetermined low pressure, and the lock pin is moved to the lid by the downward movement of the lock operating member. A third detection switch for detecting that the engagement state has been reached, and the motor is stopped and sterilized by the detection of the third detection switch. The steam sterilizer according to claim 2, wherein the steam sterilizer is in a start state.

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