JP7148568B2 - Temperature-controlled shipping boxes, temperature-controlled shipping cages, and temperature-controlled transportation systems - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to temperature-controlled shipping boxes, temperature-controlled shipping cages, and temperature-controlled shipping systems.

BACKGROUND ART When transporting foodstuffs and the like, courier services with a cold insulation function, cold insulation containers, and the like are used for the purpose of keeping freshness (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-090983 A

When goods are transported in a cool container, it is conceivable that the heat from the outside of the cool container is conducted to the inside of the cool container through the side wall of the cool container, and the temperature of the inner space of the cool container rises. Therefore, it is conceivable to sufficiently cool the inside of the cold-insulated container in advance to avoid affecting the freshness of the goods to be transported even if the temperature of the internal space rises during transportation. However, such a transportation method is difficult to apply to transportation goods (for example, medicines, organs, and other medical goods) that should be transported while maintaining the internal temperature of the cold-insulated container within a predetermined range. . Moreover, it is conceivable that the temperature distribution in the internal space of the cold insulation container is not uniform. From this point of view as well, it may be difficult to maintain quality when pharmaceuticals, organs, and the like are stored in cool containers and transported.

In order to solve such problems, it is possible to prepare an air conditioner separately, supply air temperature-controlled by the air conditioner to the inner space of the cold insulation container, and maintain a uniform temperature distribution in the inner space. Conceivable. However, with such a structure, the structure of the cold insulation container becomes complicated and large-scale. In addition, since electric power is required to operate the air conditioner, it is conceivable that securing a power supply during transportation may become a problem.

In one aspect, the present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can easily maintain a low-temperature environment around an object for medical use and transport it. do.

The present disclosure employs the following configurations in order to solve the problems described above.

That is, the constant-temperature transportation box according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a constant-temperature transportation box that maintains the temperature of an object used for medical purposes, has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and A pocket capable of holding a cold storage material is provided above the side surface so as to cross each of the side surfaces, and a temperature sensor is provided above the pocket on at least one of the side surfaces in the three directions. and a temperature sensor holder capable of holding the

According to this configuration, the cold storage material can be accommodated in the pocket. When the cold storage material is cooled to a predetermined temperature and installed, cold air descends from the top of the box toward the bottom of the box. Therefore, the accumulation of warm air in the upper part of the box due to the natural convection of heat inside the box is suppressed. As a result, the temperature around the medically used object inside the box is maintained at a low temperature. In addition, the upper portion of the side where the cold storage material is installed is uniformly cooled in the transverse direction. The uniformly distributed cool air in the transverse direction then descends evenly and slowly along the inner surface of the box. Therefore, the inner surface of the box is uniformly and gently cooled. As a result, the heat outside the box is conducted to the inside of the box through the side walls of the box, and the rise in the temperature inside the box is suppressed.

Moreover, according to the said structure, a temperature sensor can be accommodated in the holder for temperature sensors. Thus, if the temperature sensor can transmit measurement information to the outside of the box, the internal temperature of the box can be ascertained. As a result, it is possible to ensure the cooling state of medically used items housed in the box.

Also, in this configuration, no device such as an air conditioner is used. That is, according to this configuration, the temperature inside the box can be easily maintained at a low temperature.

Further, a constant-temperature transport container according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the constant-temperature transport box according to the one aspect described above and a frame with casters to which the constant-temperature transport box can be attached.

According to this configuration, when the constant-temperature transport box is placed in the cold storage or when the constant-temperature transport box is transported, the constant-temperature transport box can be easily moved.

Further, a constant temperature transportation system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: the constant temperature transportation box according to the one aspect, a plurality of cold storage materials held in the pockets provided on the three side surfaces, and the temperature sensor holder. an internal temperature sensor held in the .

According to this configuration, when the cold storage material is cooled to a predetermined temperature and installed, cold air descends from the top of the box toward the bottom of the box. Therefore, the accumulation of warm air in the upper part of the box due to the natural convection of heat inside the box is suppressed. As a result, the temperature around the medically used object inside the box is maintained at a low temperature. In addition, the upper portion of the side where the cold storage material is installed is uniformly cooled in the transverse direction. The uniformly distributed cool air in the transverse direction then descends evenly and slowly along the inner surface of the box. Therefore, the inner surface of the box is uniformly and gently cooled. As a result, the heat outside the box is conducted to the inside of the box through the side walls of the box, and the rise in the temperature inside the box is suppressed.

Moreover, according to the said structure, when a temperature sensor can transmit the measurement information to the exterior of a box, the internal temperature of a box can be confirmed. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the temperature-controlled transportation conditions of the medically used items housed in the box.

Moreover, according to the said structure, apparatuses, such as an air conditioner, are not used. That is, according to this configuration, the temperature inside the box can be easily maintained at a low temperature.

In addition, the constant temperature transportation system according to the above aspect may include an outside air temperature sensor that measures outside air temperature, and a holding member that holds the outside air temperature sensor around the box.

According to this configuration, if the temperature sensor for outside air can send measurement information to the outside of the box, the outside air temperature can be checked while the box is being transported. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the relationship information of the inside temperature of the box with respect to the outside air temperature. As a result, based on the acquired relational information, it becomes easy to change the number of cold storage materials installed inside the box, the initial temperature of the cold storage materials, and the like so that the internal temperature of the box becomes the desired temperature.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this disclosure, the surroundings of an object used for medical treatment can be easily maintained in a cold state and transported.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a cold insulation system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an outline of a box that constitutes a cold insulation basket. FIG. 3 shows an overview of the internal structure of the box. FIG. 4 shows an overview of the shipping flow. FIG. 5 shows an example of the internal temperature of the box when the cooler box is transported. FIG. 6 details the temperature inside the box and the outside air temperature. FIG. 7 shows an example of temperature change when a cold-insulating basket that has arrived at a destination is left without being put in the cold-storage box.

An embodiment (hereinafter also referred to as "this embodiment") according to one aspect of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present disclosure in all respects. It goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In other words, in carrying out the present disclosure, a specific configuration according to the embodiment may be adopted as appropriate. Further, in the following description, the door 5 (described later) provided on the box 2 of the cold-insulated basket is the front.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of a cold storage system 1 (an example of a “constant temperature transportation system” of the present disclosure) according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the cold insulation system 1 includes a rectangular parallelepiped box 2 (an example of a “constant temperature transport box” of the present disclosure) and a cart 3 (a “frame with casters” of the present disclosure) on which the box 2 is installed. example) and a cold storage material 13 installed inside the box 2 . A temperature sensor holder 15 is installed inside the box 2 . The carriage 3 is provided with a frame surrounding the box 2 . Further, the box 2 and the carriage 3 are referred to as a cold insulation basket (an example of a "constant temperature transportation basket" in the present disclosure) in the following description.

The cold insulation system 1 also includes a transmitter 12 . The transmitter 12 has a wireless communication module capable of wireless communication with an external device via a network, and is installed outside the box 2 . The cold storage system 1 also includes a temperature sensor capable of measuring the internal temperature of the box 2 (an example of the "internal temperature sensor" of the present disclosure, not shown). The transmitter 12 is connected to a temperature sensor and a cable fixed by a temperature sensor holder 15 (not shown). Therefore, the transmitter can transmit the internal temperature information of the box 2 acquired from the temperature sensor to the external device. Therefore, the internal temperature of the box 2 can be confirmed at a place away from the cold insulation basket. Further, inside the transmitter 12, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module is provided for acquiring its own position information from radio waves from artificial satellites.

The cold insulation system 1 also includes a temperature logger capable of measuring outside air temperature (an example of the “outside air temperature sensor” of the present disclosure) and a pocket 9 for storing the temperature logger and the like. The pocket 9 is installed on the carriage 3. The cold insulation system 1 also has a tape 17 and a binding band 18 . Then, the pocket 9 is attached to the frame of the carriage 3 with a tape 17.例文帳に追加Further, the pocket 9 is attached to the frame of the carriage 3 with a banding band 18. - 特許庁Also, the pocket 9 is provided with a wireless module capable of wirelessly communicating with an external device. Then, the measured outside air temperature information is transmitted to the external device via the wireless module. In such a case, the outside air temperature around the cold-insulating basket can be checked at a location away from the cold-insulating basket. Also, the carriage 3, the pocket 9, the tape 17 and the binding band 18 are examples of the "holding member" of the present disclosure. Note that these holding members may not be provided.

Inside the box 2, medical articles such as medicines or organs are accommodated. The internal temperature of the box 2 is kept cool by the cold storage material 13 provided inside the box 2 .

FIG. 2 shows an overview of Box 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the box 2 is provided with curl belts 4 at two locations on the top surface and four locations near the four corners on the back surface. The box 2 is fixed to the carriage 3 by hooking these curl belts 4 on the frame of the carriage 3 (see FIG. 1). The exterior and interior of the box 2 are formed of four layers of aluminum deposition sheets. Such an aluminum vapor-deposited sheet has the effect of suppressing heat conduction from the outside to the inside of the box 2 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the box 2 has a door 5 on the front and a handle 10 for opening the door 5. As shown in FIG. Two rectangular frames 11 are installed in the central portion of the door 5 so as to extend in the vertical direction. A handle 10 is attached to a frame 11, and when the handle 10 is pulled forward, the central portion of the door 5 is opened forward.

Note that the frame 11 is made of a material having a predetermined rigidity, such as polypropylene. At least a part of the two frames 11 has a structure that overlaps when the door 5 is closed. In other words, by overlapping the frames 11 having a predetermined rigidity and a high degree of flatness, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a gap between the frames 11 when the door 5 is closed. A door stop belt 8 is provided on the frame 11 . Unintentional opening and closing of the door 5 is suppressed by hooking the door stop belt 8 on a predetermined place.

Further, the box 2 is provided with a flap 6A and a flap 6B. The flap 6A covers the gap between the top surface of the box 2 and the door 5 and between the bottom surface of the box 2 and the door 5. - 特許庁Further, the flap 6B covers the gap between the left and right outer surfaces of the box 2 and the door 5 when viewed from the front.

A surface fastener 7A is provided on the back surface of the flap 6A and the front surface of the door 5 covered with the flap 6A. Similarly, hook-and-loop fasteners 7B are provided on the back surface of the flap 6B and the outer side surface of the box 2 covered by the flap 6B (only the hook-and-loop fastener 7B on the right side is shown in FIG. 2). The gap between the main body of the box 2 and the door 5 is sealed by closing the hook-and-loop fastener 7A and the hook-and-loop fastener 7B. Therefore, leakage of cool air from the inside of the box 2 to the outside is suppressed.

Further, on the surface of the door 5, there is provided a pocket 19 into which a card containing information such as the information of the articles to be accommodated and the destination of transportation can be inserted. Also, the transmitter 12 is accommodated in a pocket 16 provided on the upper surface of the box 2 .

3 shows an outline of the internal structure of the box 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in Figure 3, the box 2 is provided with a pocket 14 on its inner surface. By accommodating the cold storage material 13 inside the pocket 14, six cold storage materials 13 can be arranged side by side. More specifically, three pockets 14 are installed across each of the three inner surfaces of the box 2 . Here, the inside of the pocket 14 has a space of a size that allows the cold storage materials 13 to be arranged in the horizontal direction. Moreover, the pocket 14 is not set on the rear surface of the door 5 . Moreover, the height at which the pocket 14 is installed is higher than the central portion of the inner surface of the box 2 .

The box 2 also includes a temperature sensor holder 15 (an example of a “temperature sensor holder” in the present disclosure). The temperature sensor holder 15 is, for example, a belt, and is provided above one of the three pockets 14 . For example, four temperature sensor holders 15 are installed, and the four temperature sensor holders 15 are arranged in the horizontal direction. Then, a temperature sensor for measuring the internal temperature of the box 2 and a cable (not shown) integrated with the temperature sensor are fixed to the inner wall of the box 2 .

FIG. 4 shows an overview of the flow when medicines and the like are stored in the box 2 and transported together with the cooler basket. In addition, while the cooler basket is being transported from the departure point to the destination, the position information of the cooler basket is acquired by the GPS module provided in the transmitter 12 installed in the box 2 . Then, the acquired position information is transmitted to the external device via the network. Therefore, the position of the cold insulation basket during transportation can be confirmed.
(S101)
In step S101 of this flow, the cold storage material 13 is cooled to a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature is determined according to the object to be transported, and is -25 degrees, for example.

(S102)
In step S102, the six cold storage materials 13 cooled in step S101 are put into the pocket 14 provided inside the box 2. As shown in FIG. In addition, the medicine to be transported is placed inside the box 2 . Then, the box 2 with the door 5 opened is placed in the cold storage and left for a predetermined time. Here, the predetermined time may be, for example, about 3 hours. Also, the temperature of the cold storage is, for example, about 5 degrees. The box 2 is attached to a carriage 3 and left inside the cold storage as a cold storage basket. Further, the door 5 of the box 2 is open while the cold storage basket is housed inside the cold storage. Therefore, the temperature inside the box 2 is measured by the temperature sensor fixed by the temperature sensor holder 15 for measuring the internal temperature of the box 2 . Then, the measured internal temperature information is transmitted to the external device via the transmitter 12 . Therefore, it can be confirmed whether the cold-insulating basket left in the cold-storage box is cooled at a predetermined temperature.

(S103)
In step S103, the door 5 of the box 2 that has been placed in the cold storage for three hours in step S102 is closed. Then, a binding band is applied to the outer surface of the box 2. - 特許庁Then, it is stored as it is in a refrigerator until shipment. After that, at a predetermined time, the cold-insulating basket is taken out from the cold-storage box and shipped to the destination.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the internal temperature of the box 2 when the insulated basket containing the medicine in the box 2 is transported by vehicle and by sea. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the cooler baskets are transported by vehicle from the shipping location over a period of about one day. The cooler baskets are then shipped by sea for about three days. After that, the cold insulation basket is transported by vehicle over a period of about one day and arrives at the destination. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 5, 15 temperature loggers are installed inside the box 2 to measure the temperature inside the box 2 . A temperature logger for measuring the outside air temperature accommodated in the pocket 9 measures the outside air temperature around the box 2, and the measured outside air temperature is superimposed on the graph in FIG. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the temperatures of the cities that the vehicle passes through during the second vehicle transportation are displayed superimposed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the temperature inside the box 2 is about 5°C, which is the temperature of the cold storage before transportation, even in the case of two vehicle transportations and one ocean transportation. maintain. Moreover, although it takes about five days to arrive at the destination from the place of shipment, it can be seen that the rise in temperature inside the box 2 is suppressed.

6 shows details of the temperature inside the box 2 and the outside air temperature in the case of the second vehicle transportation in FIG. As shown in Fig. 6, in the second vehicle transportation, the temperature of the city passing through is as high as about 25 degrees (Fig. 5), and the outside temperature may rise to about 15 degrees. It can be seen that the temperature rise inside the box 2 is maintained at about 5 degrees.

Further, FIG. 7 shows an example of temperature change when the cold-insulating basket that has arrived at the destination is left without being put in the cold-storage box. As shown in FIG. 7, at the destination, the ambient temperature around the box 2 measured by the ambient temperature logger housed in the pocket 9 is as high as about 20 degrees. However, the temperature inside the box 2 is about 8 degrees even after about 5 hours have passed since the arrival at the destination, and it can be seen that the temperature rise is suppressed.

(action/effect)
According to the cold insulation system 1 as described above, the cooled cold storage material 13 is placed in the pocket 14 provided above the center in the height direction of the box 2 . Therefore, cold air descends from the top of the box 2 toward the bottom of the box 2 during transportation, promoting the generation of natural convection inside the box 2 . This prevents warm air from accumulating in the upper part of the box 2 .

Also, the inside of the pocket 14 in which the cold storage materials 13 are arranged is uniformly cooled. The three side surfaces of the box 2 in which such pockets 14 are installed are uniformly cooled in the transverse direction. Then, the cold air uniformly distributed in the transverse direction descends evenly and gently along the sides. Therefore, the sides of the box 2 are evenly and gently cooled. Therefore, the heat outside the box 2 is conducted to the inside of the box through the side wall of the box 2, and the rise in the temperature inside the box 2 is suppressed.

Such an effect is that even when the cold storage basket is transported by vehicle and by sea for about five days, the temperature around the medical products inside the box 2 is the same as the temperature of the cold storage at the shipping place. It can also be confirmed from the fact that it is maintained at about the same degree (FIGS. 5 and 6). Moreover, such an effect can be confirmed from the fact that the temperature inside the box 2 is maintained at about 5 degrees even when the outside air temperature around the box 2 rises to about 15 degrees (Fig. 6). In addition, such an effect is that even if the outside air temperature reaches a high temperature of about 20 degrees and about 5 hours have passed after arriving at the destination, the temperature inside the box 2 will be about 8 degrees. This can also be confirmed by the fact that the Therefore, the cold storage state of the medicine accommodated in the box 2 is guaranteed.

In addition, according to the cold insulation system 1 as described above, the relationship between the internal temperature of the box 2 and the outside air temperature during transportation of the cold insulation basket is stored in the pocket 9 and the measurement information of the internal temperature of the box 2. It can be confirmed by the measurement information measured by the temperature logger for measuring the outside air temperature. Therefore, based on the acquired relational information, it becomes easy to change the number of cold storage materials 13 installed inside the box 2, the initial temperature of the cold storage material, etc. so that the internal temperature of the box 2 becomes the desired temperature. .

Note that the pocket 16 for accommodating the transmitter 12 may not be provided. Further, the temperature sensor fixed by the temperature sensor holder 15 for measuring the internal temperature may have a wireless module capable of wirelessly transmitting the internal temperature information measured by itself to the outside via a network. Also, the temperature logger installed in the pocket 9 for measuring the outside air temperature does not have to transmit the measured temperature to the external device. Also, the temperature logger may not be provided.

In addition, in the cold insulation system 1 described above, an example in which the internal temperature of the box 2 is maintained at about 2 to 8 degrees during transportation was shown, but the cold insulation system 1 maintains the internal temperature of the box 2 at, for example, 15 to 25 degrees. can also be maintained in the normal temperature range.

Further, according to the cold storage system 1 as described above, there is no device such as an air conditioner. That is, according to the cooling system 1 as described above, the temperature inside the box 2 can be easily maintained at a low temperature of about 5 degrees.

Moreover, according to the cooling system 1 as described above, the box 2 can be installed on the cart 3 . Therefore, when the box 2 is placed in a cold storage or when the box 2 is transported, the box 2 can be easily moved. Although the cold insulation system 1 includes a truck in the above embodiment, the cold insulation system 1 may not include the truck 3 .

The embodiments and modifications disclosed above can be combined.

1: Cooling system 2: Box 3: Cart 4: Curl belt 5: Door 6A: Flap 6B: Flap 7A: Hook-and-loop fastener 7B: Hook-and-loop fastener 8: Door stop belt 9: Pocket (temperature logger, signboard)
10: Handle 11: Frame 12: Transmitter 13: Cooling Material 14: Pocket 15: Temperature Sensor Holder 16: Pocket 17: Tape 18: Binding Band 19: Pocket

Claims (4)

A temperature-controlled transport box for temperature maintenance of objects used for medical purposes, comprising:
having a rectangular parallelepiped shape,
a laterally elongated rectangular pocket that is provided only above the center of the three side surfaces on the inner surface so as to traverse each of the side surfaces and that can hold a cold storage material;
a temperature sensor holder provided above the pocket on at least one of the three side surfaces and capable of holding a temperature sensor;
A second pocket provided on the upper surface and capable of accommodating a transmitter ,
Temperature-controlled transport box. A constant temperature transport box according to claim 1;
a frame on which the constant temperature transport box can be attached and which has casters;
A constant temperature transport cage, comprising: A constant temperature transport box according to claim 1;
a plurality of cold storage materials held in the pockets provided on the side surfaces in the three directions;
an internal temperature sensor held by the temperature sensor holder;
A temperature-controlled transportation system. an outside air temperature sensor for measuring the outside air temperature;
a holding member that holds the outside air temperature sensor around the box;
A temperature-controlled transport system according to claim 3 .

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