JP7362118B2 - steam sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a steam sterilizer that kills microorganisms such as bacteria using high-temperature, high-pressure steam.

A steam sterilizer sterilizes an object to be sterilized, such as medical equipment, by keeping the inside of a chamber in a sealed state and filling the chamber with high-pressure steam. A conventional steam sterilizer is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-182379 (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-182379

In the above document, a water supply solenoid valve is connected via piping between a chamber that stores objects to be sterilized and a water storage tank, and the water supply solenoid valve is configured to be able to control water supply from the water storage tank to the chamber. , it is stated.

When a water supply solenoid valve is provided in a water supply path that supplies water from a water storage tank to a chamber, if the water supply solenoid valve malfunctions, water in the water storage tank may be drawn into the chamber, which is under negative pressure after sterilization. If the chamber door is opened in this state, water drawn into the chamber may overflow from the door opening.

The present disclosure proposes a steam sterilizer that can prevent liquid in a liquid storage tank from flowing into a chamber even if a liquid supply solenoid valve fails.

According to the present disclosure, a steam sterilizer includes a chamber capable of storing an object to be sterilized and a heater that heats a liquid supplied into the chamber, and sterilizes the object to be sterilized with vapor of the liquid generated by heating the heater. is proposed. A steam sterilizer includes a liquid storage tank that stores liquid to be supplied into a chamber, and a liquid supply path that supplies liquid from the liquid storage tank to the chamber. The liquid supply path has a rising portion that rises above the liquid level in the liquid storage tank when the liquid is full. The liquid supply path has an atmosphere opening part where the liquid supply path is opened to the atmosphere.

In the above-mentioned steam sterilizer, the atmosphere opening part may be provided in the rising part, or may be provided in the liquid supply path closer to the chamber than the rising part.

In the above-mentioned steam sterilizer, the atmosphere opening part may communicate with the gas phase part in the liquid storage tank.

In the above-mentioned steam sterilizer, the liquid supply path opens into the chamber at the position of the liquid level in the chamber when the amount of liquid required for sterilization of the object to be sterilized is supplied into the chamber. Good too.

The steam sterilizer described above may include a sensor that detects the flow of liquid in the liquid supply path.

In the steam sterilizer described above, the sensor may detect the flow of liquid from the reservoir to the chamber and the flow of liquid from the chamber to the reservoir.

According to the steam sterilizer according to the present disclosure, even if the liquid supply solenoid valve fails, it is possible to suppress the liquid in the liquid storage tank from flowing into the chamber.

It is a system diagram showing a schematic structure of a steam sterilizer of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a steam sterilizer. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a liquid supply process for supplying liquid to a chamber. FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing the operation of each device of the steam sterilizer while liquid is being supplied from the liquid storage tank to the chamber. It is a system diagram showing operation of each device of a steam sterilizer when liquid which overflowed from a chamber flows into a liquid storage tank. It is a system diagram showing a schematic structure of a steam sterilizer in a modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described based on the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are given the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[composition]
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a schematic configuration of a steam sterilizer 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the steam sterilizer 1 of the embodiment includes a chamber 10 that can accommodate an object 100 to be sterilized, typically a medical instrument such as gauze or a scalpel. The chamber 10 includes an openable/closeable lid 11. The opening/closing lid 11 is attached to the side of the chamber 10. By opening the lid 11, it becomes possible to carry the object 100 into and out of the chamber 10. By closing the opening/closing lid 11, the interior of the chamber 10 is maintained in a sealed state.

A sterilization heater 12 is installed at the inner bottom of the chamber 10. Sterilization heater 12 is arranged to extend along the bottom surface of chamber 10. Sterilization heater 12 heats water supplied into chamber 10 to generate steam. The steam sterilizer 1 sterilizes the object 100 to be sterilized with steam generated by heating the sterilization heater 12 .

Water is an example of a liquid that may be provided within chamber 10 for sterilization. The water may be purified water (tap water), well water, distilled water or purified water. The liquid supplied into the chamber 10 is not limited to water, and may be an aqueous solution such as physiological saline.

Above the sterilization heater 12, a mounting table 13 on which the object to be sterilized 100 can be placed is provided substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the chamber 10.

A drying heater 14 is attached to the ceiling surface of the chamber 10. After the object 100 to be sterilized is sterilized in the chamber 10, a drying process is performed to dry the inside of the chamber 10. During the drying process, by starting the drying heater 14 and heating the air in the chamber 10, it is possible to reduce the humidity in the chamber 10 and perform the drying process efficiently.

A temperature sensor 16 for detecting the temperature inside the chamber 10 is attached to the inner surface of the chamber 10 facing the opening/closing lid 11 . Temperature sensor 16 measures the temperature of the gas within chamber 10 .

The steam sterilizer 1 includes a liquid storage tank 20. The liquid storage tank 20 stores water supplied into the chamber 10 . Water discharged from chamber 10 returns to reservoir 20 . The liquid storage tank 20 stores water discharged from the chamber 10. The internal space of the liquid storage tank 20 includes a liquid phase portion 21 in which water exists and a gas phase portion 22 in which air exists. The inside of the liquid storage tank 20 is not sealed, and the gas phase section 22 is maintained at atmospheric pressure.

The chamber 10 and the liquid storage tank 20 are communicated with each other by a liquid supply path 30, a drainage path 40, and an exhaust path 70. The liquid supply path 30 is a path for supplying water from the liquid storage tank 20 to the chamber 10. The exhaust path 40 is a path for exhausting water and steam from the chamber 10 to the liquid storage tank 20. The exhaust path 70 is a path for exhausting gases such as water vapor and air from the chamber 10 to the liquid storage tank 20.

One end of the liquid supply path 30 is connected to a water intake at the bottom of the liquid storage tank 20 and communicates with the liquid phase portion 21 within the liquid storage tank 20 . The other end of the liquid supply path 30 is connected to an overflow pipe 52 in the chamber 10 and communicates with the internal space of the chamber 10 . The liquid supply path 30 includes a first liquid supply pipe 31 and a second liquid supply pipe 34. The liquid supply path 30 also includes a liquid supply pump 32 , a liquid supply solenoid valve 33 , and a liquid flow sensor 54 . The first liquid supply pipe 31 connects the liquid storage tank 20 and the liquid flow sensor 54 . The second liquid supply pipe 34 connects the liquid flow sensor 54 and the overflow pipe 52.

The liquid supply pump 32 is provided in the first liquid supply pipe 31 that forms the upstream side of the liquid supply path 30 (the side closer to the liquid storage tank 20). The liquid supply pump 32 supplies water into the chamber 10 by transferring water in a direction in which it flows from the liquid storage tank 20 toward the chamber 10 .

The liquid supply solenoid valve 33 is provided in a second liquid supply pipe 34 on the downstream side of the liquid supply path 30 (the side closer to the chamber 10). The liquid supply electromagnetic valve 33 is disposed downstream of the liquid supply path 30 with respect to the liquid supply pump 32, and opens and closes the liquid supply path 30. The liquid supply solenoid valve 33 is provided so as to be switchable between an open state in which water can flow from the liquid storage tank 20 to the chamber 10 and a closed state in which water flow from the liquid storage tank 20 to the chamber 10 is prohibited. .

The liquid level LL shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 indicates the height of the liquid level in the liquid storage tank 20 when the liquid is full. The liquid level LL is set so that an exhaust path 70 (described later) is located below an outlet connected to the liquid storage tank 20, that is, a safety valve 76. Full liquid in the embodiment refers to a state in which the maximum amount of water allowed to be stored in the liquid storage tank 20 is supplied. A gas phase portion 22 exists in the liquid storage tank 20 even when the liquid is full. Therefore, full liquid does not mean a state in which the entire internal space of the liquid storage tank 20 is filled with water. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid level LL is located below the ceiling surface of the liquid storage tank 20.

The liquid supply path 30 has a rising portion 38 that rises above the liquid level LL. The member surrounded by the two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 1 constitutes the rising portion 38. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the connection portion between the liquid flow sensor 54 and the liquid flow sensor 54 of the first liquid supply pipe 31 and its vicinity, the connection portion of the second liquid supply pipe 34 with the liquid flow sensor 54, and The vicinity thereof is included in the rising portion 38.

The liquid flow sensor 54 does not necessarily have to be included in the rising portion 38. For example, the liquid flow sensor 54 may be arranged closer to the liquid storage tank 20 than the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 and below the liquid level LL. In this case, a part of the second liquid supply pipe 34 constitutes the rising part 38, and the first liquid supply pipe 31 does not constitute the rising part 38. Also, for example, the liquid flow sensor 54 may be located closer to the chamber 10 than the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 and below the liquid level LL. In this case, a part of the first liquid supply pipe 31 constitutes the rising part 38, and the second liquid supply pipe 34 does not constitute the rising part 38.

An atmospheric release pipe 35 is connected to the first liquid supply pipe 31 . One end of the atmosphere open pipe 35 communicates with the first liquid supply pipe 31 . The other end of the atmosphere open pipe 35 communicates with the gas phase section 22 within the liquid storage tank 20 . The other end of the atmosphere opening pipe 35 is open to the atmosphere at normal pressure within the gas phase section 22 . The liquid supply path 30, more specifically, the first liquid supply pipe 31, is opened to the atmosphere via an atmosphere opening pipe 35. The atmosphere opening pipe 35 corresponds to the atmosphere opening part in the embodiment. The atmosphere release pipe 35 is connected to a portion of the first liquid supply pipe 31 that is included in the rising portion 38 . In the example shown in FIG. 1, the atmosphere opening section is provided in the rising section 38.

One end of the atmosphere open pipe 35 may communicate with the liquid flow sensor 54 . The other end of the atmosphere opening pipe 35 may be open without communicating with the liquid storage tank 20.

Overflow pipe 52 is a tubular member. An overflow tube 52 is located within the chamber 10 . The overflow pipe 52 is connected to the second liquid supply pipe 34. The overflow pipe 52 rises upward from the bottom surface of the chamber 10. The liquid supply path 30 is connected to the chamber 10 at a position of the liquid level in the chamber 10 when the amount of water necessary for sterilizing the object 100 to be sterilized is supplied into the chamber 10 via the overflow pipe 52. It is open inward.

The overflow pipe 52 is not limited to the configuration rising from the bottom surface of the chamber 10, but may be provided on the side surface of the chamber 10. The overflow pipe 52 may not be provided in the chamber 10, and the liquid supply path 30 (second liquid supply pipe 34) may be connected to the side surface of the chamber 10 and open to the side surface of the chamber 10. If the liquid supply path 30 opens into the chamber 10 at the position of the liquid level in the chamber 10 when the amount of water necessary for sterilization of the object to be sterilized 100 is supplied into the chamber 10, It may have any configuration.

The liquid flow sensor 54 detects the flow of water within the liquid supply path 30. The liquid flow sensor 54 may be, for example, a sensor equipped with a float unit that is moved by the flow of water passing through the liquid flow sensor 54. Alternatively, the liquid flow sensor 54 may be an electrode type level sensor, a capacitance sensor, an optical sensor, or the like.

The exhaust path 40 includes an exhaust pipe 41 and an exhaust solenoid valve 43. The exhaust pipe 41 is a path through which water and steam discharged from the chamber 10 flow. One end of the exhaust pipe 41 is connected to the bottom of the chamber 10. The other end of the exhaust pipe 41 is connected to the gas phase section 22 within the liquid storage tank 20 .

The exhaust pipe 41 is provided with an exhaust solenoid valve 43 . The exhaust solenoid valve 43 opens and closes the exhaust route 40. The exhaust electromagnetic valve 43 is provided so as to be switchable between an open state in which fluid can flow from the chamber 10 toward the liquid storage tank 20 and a closed state in which fluid flow from the chamber 10 to the liquid storage tank 20 is prohibited. ing.

The exhaust path 70 includes an exhaust pipe 71, an exhaust electromagnetic valve 74, and a safety valve 76. One end of the exhaust pipe 71 is connected to the chamber 10. The other end of the exhaust pipe 71 is connected to a safety valve 76. The exhaust pipe 71 is provided with an exhaust electromagnetic valve 74 . The exhaust electromagnetic valve 74 opens and closes the exhaust path 70. The exhaust electromagnetic valve 74 is provided so as to be switchable between an open state in which fluid can flow from the chamber 10 toward the liquid storage tank 20 and a closed state in which the flow of fluid from the chamber 10 to the liquid storage tank 20 is prohibited. There is.

The safety valve 76 is provided in the gas phase section 22 of the liquid storage tank 20. When the pressure within the chamber 10 increases excessively, the safety valve 76 opens, and the gas within the chamber 10 is discharged into the liquid storage tank 20 via the exhaust pipe 71 and the safety valve 76 in this order. This reduces the pressure within the chamber 10 and maintains the pressure within the chamber 10 within an appropriate range.

The steam sterilizer 1 also includes an air supply path 60 for feeding air into the chamber 10. The air supply path 60 includes an air supply pipe 61 connected to the chamber 10 at one end, an air filter 62 attached to the other end of the air supply pipe 61, an air pump 63 and an air supply solenoid valve provided in the middle of the air supply pipe 61. 64. The air filter 62 functions as an air intake port into the air supply pipe 61. Air taken in via the air filter 62 flows inside the air supply pipe 61. The air pump 63 generates a flow of air from the air filter 62 toward the chamber 10 to supply air into the chamber 10 .

The air supply solenoid valve 64 is provided in the middle of the air supply pipe 61 on the downstream side (the side closer to the chamber 10) with respect to the air pump 63. The air supply solenoid valve 64 opens and closes the air supply path 60. The air supply solenoid valve 64 is provided so as to be switchable between an open state in which air can flow into the chamber 10 via the air supply path 60 and a closed state in which air flow from the air pump 63 to the chamber 10 is prohibited. ing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the steam sterilizer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the steam sterilizer 1 includes a control section 80 that controls the operation of the steam sterilizer 1. The control unit 80 is electrically connected to the temperature sensor 16 and the liquid flow sensor 54. The control unit 80 receives input of a detected value related to the internal temperature of the chamber 10 from the temperature sensor 16 . The control unit 80 receives input from the liquid flow sensor 54 of a detected value related to the presence or absence of water flow in the liquid supply path 30 .

The control section 80 also has an input section 81. An operator who operates the steam sterilizer 1 inputs set values such as sterilization temperature, sterilization time, and drying time to the control unit 80 from the input unit 81 . The control unit 80 further includes a timer 82 that measures a predetermined time. The timer 82 is used to control the sterilization time and drying time of the object to be sterilized 100, and is also used to control the timing of water supply into the chamber 10.

The control unit 80 controls the sterilization heater 12 , the drying heater 14 , the exhaust solenoid valve 74 , the liquid supply solenoid valve 33 , the air supply solenoid valve 64 , the exhaust solenoid valve 43 , and the Control signals are output to each device included in the steam sterilizer 1, such as the liquid pump 32 and the air pump 63. By appropriately operating each device in response to a control signal from the control unit 80, the steam sterilizer 1 reliably sterilizes the object 100 to be sterilized.

In this embodiment, the liquid supply solenoid valve 33, the exhaust solenoid valve 43, the air supply solenoid valve 64, and the exhaust solenoid valve 74 all maintain a closed state in an off (non-energized) state and open in an on (energized) state. , a normally closed solenoid valve.

[motion]
The operation of the steam sterilizer 1 having the above configuration will be explained below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the liquid supply process for supplying liquid to the chamber 10. According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the operation of the steam sterilizer 1 in the water supply process among the steps for sterilizing the object 100 to be sterilized by the steam sterilizer 1 will be described in detail.

An operator using the steam sterilizer 1 turns on the power to the steam sterilizer 1 and starts the steam sterilizer 1 before starting water supply. The operator opens the lid 11 of the chamber 10, places the object 100 to be sterilized on the mounting table 13, and stores the object 100 in the chamber 10. The operator may store the object to be sterilized 100 in the chamber 10 before turning on the power of the steam sterilizer 1.

By switching the steam sterilizer 1 from power off to power on, the exhaust electromagnetic valve 74 is turned on and placed in an open state (step S1). By opening the exhaust electromagnetic valve 74, the internal space of the chamber 10 and the gas phase portion 22 in the liquid storage tank 20 communicate with each other via the exhaust pipe 71. Thereby, the internal space of the chamber 10 is adjusted to the same atmospheric pressure as the liquid storage tank 20. By keeping the air pressure inside the chamber 10 and the outside pressure constant, the lid 11 of the chamber 10 can be opened and closed easily.

In the water supply process, the liquid supply solenoid valve 33 is switched from OFF to ON to be in an open state, and the liquid supply pump 32 is activated (Step S2). Transfer of water by the liquid supply pump 32 is started, and water is supplied from the liquid storage tank 20 to the chamber 10. FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing the operation of each device in the steam sterilizer 1 while liquid is being supplied from the liquid storage tank 20 to the chamber 10.

Water flowing from the liquid storage tank 20 into the liquid supply path 30 and flowing toward the chamber 10 via the liquid supply path 30 passes through the liquid flow sensor 54 . The liquid flow sensor 54 detects the flow of water from the liquid storage tank 20 toward the chamber 10 and switches from off to on.

Next, it is determined whether the liquid flow sensor 54 is on for a predetermined period of time (step S3). This predetermined time is determined as an estimated time during which an amount of water greater than the amount required for sterilization can be supplied into the chamber 10. Until the predetermined time has elapsed, the determination in step S3 is NO, and the determination in step S3 is repeated. During this time, water continues to be supplied from the liquid storage tank 20 to the chamber 10.

In step S3, if a predetermined period of time has elapsed and it is determined that the liquid flow sensor 54 has been on for a predetermined period of time (YES in step S3), the liquid supply pump 32 is stopped (step S4). As a result, the water transfer by the liquid supply pump 32 is stopped.

Next, it is determined whether the liquid flow sensor 54 is turned off (step S5). While the liquid flow sensor 54 is on, water is flowing from the liquid storage tank 20 toward the chamber 10. The determination in step S5 is repeated until the liquid flow sensor 54 is turned off, during which time the steam sterilizer 1 is on standby.

If it is determined that the liquid flow sensor 54 is turned off (YES in step S5), this means that the flow of water from the liquid storage tank 20 toward the chamber 10 has stopped. Then, the exhaust electromagnetic valve 74 is switched from on to off to be in a closed state (step S6).

The overflow pipe 52 opens into the chamber 10 at the level of the liquid in the chamber 10 when an amount of water necessary for sterilization is supplied into the chamber 10. By supplying water to the chamber 10 for the predetermined time in step S3, more water than the required amount is stored in the chamber 10. When the flow of water toward the chamber 10 is stopped, the liquid level in the chamber 10 is above the opening of the overflow pipe 52, and excess water is stored in the chamber 10. This excess water must be drained from chamber 10 before heating within chamber 10 can begin.

Then, air supply to the chamber 10 is started. The air supply solenoid valve 64 is switched from OFF to ON and becomes open. Air pump 63 is activated (step S7). By supplying air to chamber 10, excess water within chamber 10 is evacuated (overflowed) from chamber 10.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram showing the operation of each device of the steam sterilizer 1 when the liquid overflowing from the chamber 10 flows into the liquid storage tank 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the water overflowing from the chamber 10 flows into the liquid supply path 30 from the overflow pipe 52, and flows through the liquid supply path 30 in the opposite direction to the water supply to the chamber 10 shown in FIG. , and is returned to the liquid storage tank 20 via the atmosphere open pipe 35.

Water flowing from the chamber 10 into the liquid supply path 30 and flowing toward the liquid storage tank 20 via the liquid supply path 30 passes through the liquid flow sensor 54 . The liquid flow sensor 54 detects the flow of water from the chamber 10 toward the liquid storage tank 20 and switches from off to on.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of air supply to the chamber 10, it is determined whether the liquid flow sensor 54 is on (step S8). If the liquid flow sensor 54 remains off even after air is supplied to the chamber 10 (NO in step S8), it is determined that a sufficient amount of water is not being supplied into the chamber 10, and the air is supplied to the chamber 10. The solenoid valve 64 is switched from on to off and is in a closed state. Air pump 63 is stopped (step S10). Then, the process returns to step S1, and water is supplied to the chamber 10 again.

When the liquid flow sensor 54 detects the flow of water discharged from the chamber 10 and turns on (YES in step S8), it is determined whether the liquid flow sensor 54 turns off. (Step S9). While the liquid flow sensor 54 is on, water is flowing from the chamber 10 toward the liquid storage tank 20. The determination in step S9 is repeated until the liquid flow sensor 54 is turned off. The discharge of water from the chamber 10 continues until the amount of water in the chamber 10 reaches the amount required for sterilization, that is, until the liquid level in the chamber 10 falls to the position of the opening of the overflow pipe 52. be done.

If it is determined that the liquid flow sensor 54 is turned off (YES in step S9), this means that the flow of water from the chamber 10 toward the liquid storage tank 20 has stopped. The air supply solenoid valve 64 is switched from on to off and closed, and the air pump 63 is stopped (step S11). As a result, the supply of air to the chamber 10 is stopped. The liquid supply solenoid valve 33 is switched from on to off to be in a closed state (step S12). Through these steps, the water supply process for supplying the amount of water necessary for sterilization into the chamber 10 is completed.

Thereafter, a heating process for heating the inside of the chamber 10 is started for sterilization. The exhaust electromagnetic valve 74 is switched from OFF to ON to be in an open state. In this state, the sterilization heater 12 is activated and heating of the water in the chamber 10 is started. The air in the chamber 10 is forced out of the chamber 10 by the generated water vapor and is discharged to the liquid storage tank 20 via the exhaust path 70. When the chamber 10 is filled with water vapor at a predetermined temperature and pressure, the exhaust electromagnetic valve 74 is closed and the internal space of the chamber 10 is sealed. The object to be sterilized 100 is sterilized by maintaining the inside of the chamber 10 at high temperature and pressure for a predetermined period of time.

After the object 100 to be sterilized is sterilized in the chamber 10, the water vapor remaining in the chamber 10 is exhausted to the outside of the chamber 10 via the exhaust path 40. Next, a drying process is performed to dry the inside of the chamber 10. Thereafter, the operator using the steam sterilizer 1 can open the lid 11 and take out the object 100 to be sterilized from the chamber 10 after the sterilization process.

[Modified example]
FIG. 6 is a system diagram showing a schematic configuration of the steam sterilizer 1 in a modified example. In the description of the embodiments so far, an example has been described in which the atmosphere release pipe 35 is connected to the first liquid supply pipe 31 and the atmosphere release pipe 35 is provided in the rising portion 38. The atmosphere release pipe 35 does not necessarily have to be provided at the rising portion 38. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the atmosphere opening pipe 35 may be connected to the second liquid supply pipe 34. The atmosphere opening part where the liquid supply path 30 is opened to the atmosphere may be provided in the liquid supply path 30 closer to the chamber 10 than the rising part 38 .

[Action and effect]
Although some portions overlap with the above description, the characteristic configuration and effects of the steam sterilizer 1 of the embodiment will be summarized as follows. Note that although reference numbers are attached to the configurations of the embodiments, these are merely examples.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the steam sterilizer 1 of the embodiment includes a liquid storage tank 20 for storing liquid to be supplied into the chamber 10, and a liquid storage tank 20 for storing liquid to be supplied into the chamber 10. A liquid supply path 30 is provided. The liquid supply path 30 has a rising portion 38 that rises above a liquid level LL indicating the height of the liquid level in the liquid storage tank 20 when the liquid is full. The liquid supply path 30 has an atmosphere opening pipe 35 in which the liquid supply path 30 is opened to the atmosphere.

Since the liquid supply path 30 has both the rising part 38 and the atmosphere opening pipe 35, even if the liquid supply solenoid valve 33 provided in the liquid supply path 30 breaks down, the liquid inside the liquid storage tank 20 will be maintained. Water is inhibited from flowing beyond the rising portion 38. Even when the inside of the chamber 10 becomes negative pressure after the sterilization process, water in the liquid storage tank 20 is prevented from flowing into the chamber 10 over the rising portion 38. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which water overflows when the opening/closing lid 11 of the chamber 10 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 1, the atmosphere opening pipe 35 may be provided at the rising portion 38 of the liquid supply path 30. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the atmosphere opening pipe 35 may be provided in the liquid supply path 30 closer to the chamber 10 than the rising portion 38. In order to suppress the water in the liquid storage tank 20 from flowing into the chamber 10, the atmosphere opening pipe 35 may be provided closer to the liquid storage tank 20 than the rising part 38, but if the water surface in the liquid storage tank 20 is If the position is higher than the atmosphere release pipe 35, water will flow from the liquid storage tank 20 to the atmosphere release pipe 35, and a flow of water will flow out from the atmosphere release pipe 35. By providing the atmosphere release pipe 35 at the rising portion 38 or closer to the chamber 10 than the riser portion 38, such outflow of water from the atmosphere release pipe 35 can be avoided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the atmosphere opening pipe 35 communicates with the gas phase section 22 within the liquid storage tank 20. In this way, the water flowing out from the atmosphere open pipe 35 can be collected into the liquid storage tank 20, so there is no need for a container to receive the flowing water, and the structure of the steam sterilizer 1 is simplified. can do.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the liquid supply path 30 communicates with an overflow pipe 52 within the chamber 10. As shown in FIGS. The overflow pipe 52 opens into the chamber 10 at a position of the liquid level in the chamber 10 when an amount of water necessary for sterilizing the object 100 to be sterilized is supplied into the chamber 10 . By providing the liquid supply path 30 with the function of an overflow path through which water is discharged from the chamber 10 at the time of overflow, there is no need to provide an overflow path separate from the liquid supply path 30. Since the configuration of the steam sterilizer 1 can be simplified, it is possible to reduce the cost of the steam sterilizer 1 and to downsize the steam sterilizer 1 by saving space.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the steam sterilizer 1 includes a liquid flow sensor 54. Liquid flow sensor 54 detects the flow of liquid within liquid supply path 30 . It can be determined from the detection result of the liquid flow sensor 54 whether or not water is flowing in the liquid supply path 30 when water is supplied from the liquid storage tank 20 to the chamber 10 . If the liquid flow sensor 54 remains off during water supply, it can be determined that no water flow is occurring in the liquid supply path 30, and therefore, it is assumed that the amount of water stored in the liquid storage tank 20 is insufficient. Errors can be quickly output to prompt workers to replenish water. The time during which the operation of the steam sterilizer 1 remains stopped when there is no water in the liquid storage tank 20 can be shortened, and the time required for sterilization processing can be shortened.

As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid flow sensor 54 detects the flow of water from the liquid storage tank 20 toward the chamber 10. When water is supplied, the detection result of the liquid flow sensor 54 can be used to determine whether the amount of water stored in the liquid storage tank 20 is insufficient. As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid flow sensor 54 detects the flow of water from the chamber 10 toward the liquid storage tank 20. At the time of overflow, the detection result of the liquid flow sensor 54 can be used to determine whether the amount of water in the chamber 10 has reached a predetermined amount required for sterilization. Since one liquid flow sensor 54 can serve as both a sensor for detecting the flow of water during water supply and a sensor for detecting the flow of water during overflow, the configuration of the steam sterilizer 1 can be simplified.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered restrictive. The scope of this invention is indicated by the claims rather than the above description, and it is intended that equivalent meanings to the claims and all changes within the scope are included.

1 steam sterilizer, 10 chamber, 11 opening/closing lid, 12 sterilization heater, 13 mounting table, 14 drying heater, 16 temperature sensor, 20 liquid storage tank, 21 liquid phase section, 22 gas phase section, 30 liquid supply path, 31 1 liquid supply pipe, 32 liquid supply pump, 33 liquid supply solenoid valve, 34 second liquid supply pipe, 35 atmospheric release pipe, 38 rising part, 40 steam exhaust route, 41 exhaust pipe, 43 exhaust solenoid valve, 52 overflow Pipe, 54 Liquid flow sensor, 60 Air supply route, 61 Air supply pipe, 62 Air filter, 63 Air pump, 64 Air supply solenoid valve, 70 Exhaust route, 71 Exhaust pipe, 74 Exhaust solenoid valve, 76 Safety valve, 80 Control unit, 81 Input section, 82 timer, 100 object to be sterilized, LL liquid level.

Claims (6)

A chamber capable of storing objects to be sterilized;
a heater that heats the liquid supplied into the chamber,
In a steam sterilizer that sterilizes the object to be sterilized with the vapor of the liquid generated by heating the heater,
a liquid storage tank that stores the liquid supplied into the chamber;
a liquid supply path for supplying the liquid from the liquid storage tank to the chamber,
The liquid supply path has a rising part that rises above the liquid level in the liquid storage tank when the liquid is full, the liquid supply path has an atmosphere opening part that is opened to the atmosphere, and the atmosphere opening part A steam sterilizer , wherein one end communicates with the liquid supply path and the other end opens the liquid supply path to the atmosphere . The steam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the atmosphere opening part is provided in the rising part or in the liquid supply path closer to the chamber than the rising part. The steam sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the atmosphere opening part communicates with a gas phase part in the liquid storage tank. The liquid supply path opens into the chamber at a position of a liquid level in the chamber when an amount of the liquid necessary for sterilizing the object to be sterilized is supplied into the chamber. The steam sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The steam sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a sensor that detects the flow of the liquid in the liquid supply path. The steam sterilizer according to claim 5, wherein the sensor detects a flow of the liquid from the liquid storage tank to the chamber and a flow of the liquid from the chamber to the liquid storage tank.

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