JPH03268733A - Drying and sterillizing device for foot wiping mat - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow bacteria to perish and to prevent them from propagating on a foot wiping mat and infecting to a user by irradiating with ultraviolet rays in order to sterillize bacteria stuck to the foot wiping mat due to usage by a germ carrier, before the next user uses it. CONSTITUTION:A foot wiping mat 1 made of cloth is placed on a heating element 3 fixed to a rack base 2, and on the end part of the rack base 2, a stand 4 having an ultraviolet lamp 5 is provided. To the heating element 3 and a radiation ray lamp 5, electric power is fed through a power source cord 6. As for the radiation ray lamp 5, for instance, an ultraviolet lamp 5A is used. The ultraviolet lamp 5A is turned on only for a certain time after confirming a fact that a user goes away from on this device by a sensor (not shown in the figure). In the case the temperature of the foot wiping mat 1 heated by the heating element 3 is high to such an extent that sterillization can be executed, the heating element 3 is served also as a sterillizing mechanism, therefore, the ultraviolet lamp 5A and the stand 4 can be omitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field] The present invention relates to a device for sterilizing foot wiping mats for wiping moisture from wet feet.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, there was no dedicated equipment for drying or sterilizing single-wipe mats, and the mats relied on natural drying outside of usage hours or sterilization using sunlight.

In addition to foot-wiping mats, there is known a device that dries the inside of shoes and at the same time sterilizes them with chemicals, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-299203.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Foot wiping mats, which are used by multiple people at public baths and pools, have the property of absorbing and storing moisture that adheres to users' feet. Furthermore, they are often blessed with moderate temperature conditions, creating conditions suitable for bacterial growth. Therefore,
Bacteria that fall onto the mat from a user's feet are likely to grow on the mat and land on the feet of subsequent users. Contact infection mediated by these mats is said to be the main infection route for foot skin diseases caused by bacteria such as M. alba. Even if bathtub water or pool water is sterilized, its effectiveness extends to the foot wiping mat, and in many cases there is no L1.1゜This conventional technology does not dry, sterilize, and keep warm the inside of shoes. There is a mention of things to do, but there is no mention of things other than shoes, including foot-wiping mats. Furthermore, whereas shoes are used by the same person, foot-wiping mats are used by many people, so prevention of skin disease infections becomes a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for sterilizing a foot-wiping mat in order to prevent bacterial infection through the foot-wiping mat.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, a sterilizing device is provided that sterilizes bacteria adhering to the foot wiping mat due to use by a carrier before the mat is used by the next user. Sterilization equipment uses ultraviolet rays and high heat sources.

There are those that use chemicals or gas agents, and those that use electrochemical methods.

[Effect]

The sterilizer kills bacteria attached to the foot wiping mat, preventing them from breeding on the mat and infecting the user.

The mat exchanging device outputs dry and sterilized mats L7 depending on the number of users or the elapsed time, and stores used mats inside the device instead.

〔Example〕

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

A foot-wiping mat made of cloth is placed on a heating element 3 fixed to a pedestal 2. A stand 4 with an ultraviolet lamp 5 is provided at the end of the pedestal 2. Electric power is sent to the heating element 3 and the radiant light 5 via a power cord 6.

The heating element is energized for either of the following periods:

(b) A certain period of time after the user is detected by a sensor (not shown).

(b) Moisture contained in the foot wiping mat is monitored by a sensor (not shown) until the mat is dry; 3. Sufficient insulation must be achieved, such as by using a ceramic heater.

Furthermore, if the surface of the heating element 3 is at a high temperature, there is a risk of burns if the skin comes into direct contact with it, so it is necessary to keep the maximum temperature within a range where there is no risk of burns.

For example, an ultraviolet lamp 5A is used as the radiation lamp 5.

The ultraviolet light 5A is turned on only for a certain period of time after a sensor (not shown) confirms that the user has left the device. This is because direct exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays may cause damage such as sunburn. In addition, the intensity of the ultraviolet light must not be too strong because even if it is not direct light, reflected light may hit the skin. If the temperature of the foot wiping mat 1 heated by the heating element 3 is high enough for sterilization, the heating element 3 also serves as a sterilization mechanism, so the ultraviolet lamp 5A and the stand 4 can be omitted. .

According to this embodiment, drying and sterilization of the foot wiping mat can be accomplished using simple and inexpensive equipment. Additionally, since there are no moving parts, there are fewer failures and high reliability. moreover,
Even if you don't have a dedicated foot wiping mat, you can use conventional commercially available products as long as the size is the same.

Mats made at home can also be dried and sterilized. Additionally, the mat can be easily replaced and washed. .

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

In FIG. 1, a stand 4 is provided at the end of the pedestal 2, in which an infrared light 5B is provided instead of the ultraviolet light fi 5A. Alternatively, the foot-wiping mat 1 made of cloth is placed on a heating element 3 fixed to a pedestal 2. Electric power is sent to the heating element 3 and the infrared light 5B via a power cord 6.

The power supply to the heating element or infrared light 5B is the same as in the first embodiments (a), (b), and (d).

The infrared light 5B is turned on after a sensor (not shown) confirms that the user has left the device, or only for a certain amount of time. This is because direct application of infrared rays to the skin may cause injuries such as burns. If the temperature of the foot wiping mat 1 heated by the heating element 3 is high enough to sterilize, the heating element 3
Since this also serves as a sterilization mechanism, the infrared light 5B and the stand 4 can be omitted.

A third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

The annular foot wiping mat 13 is shaped like a belt conveyor. The top of the screen 9 is an exposed area, and the user's feet can come into contact with the mat 13. The utilized mat is moved to the left in FIG. 1 by a drive mechanism, and the direction of movement is reversed by a reversing device 8, passing under a screen 9 and entering the inside of the main body 12. The mat inside the main body 12 is guided by a freely rotating guide roller 10b and wound around the sprocket 10a. The sprocket 10a is made of a net-like material or a cage type made of disks and rods, and has a structure that does not impede the flow of air. In particular, the mat 13 is coated with an organic compound disinfectant that is harmless to the human body, or is provided with a disinfectant generator 14A.

When a sensor (not shown) detects that the user has climbed onto the mat 13 and left the mat 13, the motor 11 rotates the sprocket 10a via the belt. As a result, the mat 13 rotates and stops at a position where the front and back sides are approximately reversed. The disinfectant generator operates manually or automatically at the same time as the movement of the mat 13 starts, and stops after a certain period of time. If a person tries to stand on the mat 13 while it is moving, the sensor detects this and stops the movement. Also.

Even if it cannot be stopped due to a failure of the sensor or control device, slippage will occur between the mat 13 and the sprocket 10a, which may pose a danger to people riding on the motor 11.
There is no need to worry about overloading.

However, if the mat 13 is coated with a disinfectant, the disinfectant generator 14A is not necessary.

According to this embodiment, since the sterilizing area and the exposed area of the mat are separated, there is no need to worry about spraying the sterilizing agent directly onto the skin. Further, it is possible to secure a sufficient amount of disinfectant and time for disinfection. In addition, the parts of the mat that the previous user touched are turned over to the back side to sterilize them, and at the same time, the next user can wipe their feet on the front side. Therefore, it is possible to handle even when there are many users.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

In Figure 2, sterilization methods include aerobic and anaerobic (CH2).

Using a gas sterilizer such as CH2O, etc., manually or
Alternatively, the same effect as in the previous embodiment can be obtained by providing a gas sterilizer generator 14B that automatically generates a gas sterilizer. Note that the basic structure and operation of this embodiment are the same as those of the previous embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

The basic structure and operation of this embodiment are the same as those shown in FIG. 2, so a description thereof will be omitted. The sterilization means 14 uses an electrochemical method, which will be explained below.

(a) A liquid is provided in the main body 12, and sterilization is performed by a device 14C that generates organic compounds such as chlorine compounds and peroxides by applying DC and AC voltages in the liquid.

(b) Electrodes 16 are provided on both sides of the mat housed in the main body 12, and sterilization is carried out by generating a pulsed electric field and using it, or by generating a shock wave by generating a spark discharge and using it.

The above sterilization means can provide the same effect as shown in FIG. 2.

As another example, if the structure of this device is devised, it can also be applied to sterilize ordinary household towels, clothes, etc., regardless of the sterilization of foot wiping mats for baths.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, bacteria attached to the foot-wiping mat can be sterilized in a short time, so that the foot-wiping mat can be sufficiently sterilized in a room where a plurality of people use the foot-wiping mat.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the spread of bacteria that causes skin diseases, such as leukemia bacteria, through contact via the foot wiping mat, from a previous user who is able to carry the bacteria to a subsequent user.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 are cross-sectional views of a first embodiment of the present invention. 1... Mat, 2... Frame, 3... Heating element, 4...
...stand, 5...radiant light, 6...power cord, 8...inverter. 9... Screen shield, 10a... Sprocket, 10b/ Guide roller, 1... Motor, 12... Main body. 13... Ma figure 0b figure figure figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A foot-wiping mat drying and sterilizing device equipped with a sterilization function, characterized in that an ultraviolet irradiation method is used as a means for sterilizing bacteria attached to the mat. 2. A foot wiping mat with a drying sterilizing device according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing means uses a high heat source such as a heating element or infrared rays. 3. The foot wiping mat drying and sterilizing device according to claim 1, wherein a sterilizing agent is used as the sterilizing means. 4. The foot wiping mat drying and sterilizing device according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing means uses a gas sterilizing agent. 5. The foot wiping mat drying and sterilizing device according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing means uses an electrochemical method.