JPH06189979A - Deposit removal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the easy removal of deposits, and higher workability and stability by lowering the adhesion of the deposits. CONSTITUTION:This deposit removal device 1 is equipped with a steam means 5 for steaming deposits adhering to a tool 2 for lowering the adhesion thereof, an ultrasonic cleaning means 6 for removing the deposits from the tool 2 lowered in adhesivity by the means 5, a rinsing means 7 for rinsing the tool 2 after removing the deposits with the means 6, a transfer means 4 for carrying the tool 2 to the means 7, and a controller 8 for setting and controlling each of the means 5, 6, 7 and 4, all housed in a casing 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adhered member typified by a metal member for removing deposits such as medicines and fillers attached to a metal member such as a medical instrument, particularly a tool used in dentistry. The present invention relates to a deposit removing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In dentistry, for example, a stopper is used when a drug is applied to a treatment area of a patient, teeth are shaved, a temporary sealing material is filled, or a crown is fixed with an adhesive. , Use various stainless steel tools such as a probe, an excavator, and tweezers. And for these tools,
Since the material used for the treatment adheres, the adhering matter is removed by a cleaning means after use to maintain a good hygiene condition.

By the way, as the above-mentioned temporary sealing material and adhesive material, cement having a strong adhesive force is generally used.
When such a material having a strong adhesive force adheres to the tool, the adhering substance is removed by an adhering substance removing means including a dedicated cleaning device.

[0004] This washer is capable of washing used tools with cement etc. collectively by treatment.
After immersing the used tool in a water tank containing tap water,
An ultrasonic cleaning device that automatically cleans when a switch is turned on is generally used.

The ultrasonic cleaner is provided with a vibrator on the outer surface of the water tank, and waves are transmitted by repeating compression and decompression in the medium liquid (tap water) according to the specific frequency generated by the vibrator, thereby compressing. A cavity is formed between molecules at the change point between
When this cavity is crushed, impact energy is generated (cavitation effect), and this energy drops adhered substances from the tool, but since the adhesive force of cement etc. is large, it cannot be completely removed with only an ultrasonic cleaner and cement etc. Remains on the tool. Therefore, the present situation is that the residue is manually scraped off with a metal brush.

Further, in order to prevent disease infection from the tool after cleaning, the tool is provided with a sterilizer called autoclave using high temperature and high pressure steam as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-2285. It is used after sterilization and disinfection.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned cleaning means, since the power of the ultrasonic cleaning device is generally low, a troublesome removal work is required manually, the workability is poor, and the cutting tool is not good. There is a problem in that there is a risk of injury due to the tool in a shape and the safety is low. Furthermore, in the case of manual washing, the adhesive strength of the cement is strong and it is not easy to drop it, so the residue is aimed at and scraped off, so it is not possible to completely remove the adhered material due to a confirmation leak, or even if the adhesive strength is strong. It also has a hygienic problem that it does not fall off and there is a risk of infection through adhered substances.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and facilitates removal of deposits to improve workability and safety, and removes deposits well to provide a sanitary tool. It is an object of the present invention to provide an adhered matter removing device for an adhered member such as a tool that can be obtained.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a steam means for steaming an adhered substance attached to a member to be adhered, and the adhered substance whose adhesive force is reduced by the steam means. And a cleaning means for removing from the adhering member.

Further, in the above construction, there is provided a sterilizing means for sterilizing the adhering member from which the adhering matter has been removed by the cleaning means, and this sterilizing means is constructed in common with the steam means.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the deposit attached to the deposit is
By being steamed in steam, its adhesive strength decreases,
The member to be attached is sterilized by being removed by washing and steamed in steam.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows an adhering matter removing device 1 according to the present embodiment. Metallic dental tools such as tweezers, stoppers, probes, and excavators with cement-based deposits 2
A rack 3 for accommodating (adhesion target member) therein, a transportation means 4 for moving the rack 3 to perform each processing step, a steam means 5 for steaming adhered substances on the tool 2, and a cleaning means for cleaning the tool 2 Ultrasonic cleaning means 6, rinsing means 7 for rinsing the tool 2, transfer means 4, steam means 5, ultrasonic cleaning means 6, and controller 8 for controlling settings of the rinsing means 7, respectively.
It is composed of a case 9 for accommodating the above-mentioned means 4, 5, 6, 7 and the controller 8, and at both ends of the case 9, an insertion door 90 and an extraction door 91 are attached, the lower ends of which are cantilevered. In addition, an insertion chamber 93 is formed between the insertion door 90 and the partition wall 92, and an extraction chamber 95 is formed between the extraction door 91 and the partition wall 94.

The conveying means 4 is a vertically moving ball screw mechanism 41.
And a horizontal movement ball screw mechanism 42. The vertical movement ball screw mechanism 41 integrally forms the rotation of the motor M1 fixed to the conveyance substrate 43 on the conveyance substrate 43 via a gear transmission mechanism, and a pair of bearing portions. The ball nut shaft 46, which is rotatably supported by 43a and 43b, transmits the ball screw shaft 44, and the rotation of the ball screw shaft 44 makes it possible to move the ball nut portion 46 to which the holding portion 45 for holding the rack 3 is fixed.
The rack 3 is provided via 46 so as to be movable in the direction of the double-headed arrow A.

Further, the lateral movement ball screw mechanism 42 is provided in the case 9
The rotation of the motor M2 fixed to the inner wall surface is integrally formed on the inner wall surface of the case 9 via the gear transmission mechanism, and is rotatably supported by the pair of bearing portions 47, 47a.
When the ball screw shaft 48 is rotated, the ball nut portion 49 connected and fixed to the transfer board 43 integrally including the vertically moving ball screw mechanism 41 is movable by the rotation of the ball screw shaft 48, and the rack 3 is provided through the ball nut portion 49. Vertical movement ball screw mechanism
41 is provided so as to be movable in the direction of the double-headed arrow B, and the tool 2 is moved together with the rack 3 from the insertion chamber 93 to the steam means 5, the ultrasonic cleaning means 6, the rinsing means 7 by the laterally moving ball screw mechanism 42 and the vertical moving ball screw mechanism 41. In addition to being movable to each space of the take-out chamber 95, each of the means 5, 6 and 7 is configured to be able to perform a predetermined processing step.

In the vertically moving ball screw mechanism 41, 44
Reference numeral a is a holding shaft for preventing the ball nut portion 46 from rotating in the axial rotation direction, and the bearing portions 43a and 43b are in contact with the upper and lower end surfaces of the ball nut portion 46, and the ball nut portion 46 is in the direction of the double arrow A. It also has a function as a stopper part that defines the upper and lower limit positions of the movement to. Further, in the laterally moving ball screw mechanism 42, 48a is a holding shaft for preventing the ball nut portion 49 from rotating in the axial rotation direction, and the bearing portions 47, 47a are in contact with the left and right end surfaces of the ball nut portion 49. It also has a function as a stopper portion that defines the upper and lower limit positions of the movement of the ball nut portion 49 in the direction of the double-headed arrow B.

The steam means 5 comprises a steam tank 51 having an opening for receiving the rack 3 and a space for accommodating the rack 3, and a steam supply mechanism 52 for supplying steam to the rack 3. 52 consists of an evaporation tank equipped with a heater inside, and accommodates water in this evaporation tank,
A steam generator 53 that heats this water with a heater to generate steam, and a supply pipe 55 that guides the steam generated by this steam generator 53 into the steam tank 51 and injects it from an injection port 54 formed at the end. And the steam supply mechanism 52,
The tool 2 is provided so that it can be cooked together with the rack 3 housed in the cooking tank 51 via the transport mechanism 4.

The ultrasonic cleaning means 6 has an opening for accommodating the rack 3, a cleaning tank 61 for accommodating cleaning water (tap water) therein, and ultrasonic waves for generating ultrasonic waves for cleaning in the cleaning water. The vibrator 62, the heating element 63 such as a sheath heater for heating the cleaning water, the cleaning water supply mechanism 64 for supplying the cleaning water into the cleaning tank 61, and the cleaning water for discharging the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 61 to the outside. It is composed of a discharge mechanism 65 and a solvent charging mechanism 66 for supplying a solvent such as a detergent to the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 61. The tool 2 is provided so that the tool 2 can be washed using the ultrasonic wave and the solvent via the steaming means 5. There is.

The cleaning water supply mechanism 64 is connected to an external water supply mechanism (not shown) to supply the cleaning water into the cleaning tank 61, and a control valve for controlling the amount of water and the water pressure passing through the water supply pipe 64a. 64b and a water supply portion 64c located at the tip of the water supply pipe 64a for supplying water, and the wash water discharge mechanism 65 includes a drain pipe 65a connected to an external drainage mechanism (not shown) and the drain pipe 65a. The cleaning water supply mechanism 64 and the cleaning water discharge mechanism 65 are provided with a drainage pump 65b for discharging the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 61 via the drain and a check valve 65c for preventing the backflow of the drainage flowing through the drainage pipe 65a. With this, it is possible to supply and drain water into the cleaning tank 61.

The solvent feeding mechanism 66 includes a solvent storage portion 66a for storing a solvent, a water supply pipe 66b for solvent supply divided from the control valve 64b of the wash water supply mechanism 64, and a solvent storage portion via the water supply pipe 66b. It is composed of a charging unit 66c for charging the cleaning water through the cleaning tank 61.

Further, a water temperature sensor 67 for detecting the temperature of the wash water contained therein and a water amount sensor 68 for detecting the water amount of the wash water are provided in the washing tank 66, and these sensors 67, 68 are provided.
Accordingly, the controller 8 controls the temperature inside the cleaning tank 61 and the water supply / drainage to / from the cleaning tank 61 to a predetermined state.

The rinsing means 7 has an opening for accommodating the rack 3 therein, a rinsing tank 71 for accommodating rinsing water (tap water) therein, and a rinsing water supply mechanism for supplying rinsing water into the rinsing tank 71. 72, a rinse water discharge mechanism 73 for discharging the rinse water in the rinse tank 71 to the outside, and a water amount sensor 74 for detecting the amount of rinse water in the rinse tank 71.

In this case, the rinse water supply mechanism 72 is shared with the cleaning water supply mechanism 64, and the rinse tank 71 side is provided with a water supply section 72a for supplying rinse water.
The water supply to the tanks 71 and 61 by the water supply units 72a and 64c is switchably provided.

The rinsing water discharge mechanism 73 includes a drain pipe 73a connected to an external drain mechanism (not shown), and the drain pipe 73a.
The rinsing water discharge mechanism 73 and the rinsing water supply mechanism are provided with a drainage pump 73b for discharging the rinsing water in the rinsing tank 71 via a and a check valve 73c for preventing the backflow of the drainage flowing through the drainage pipe 73a. 72 and rinse tank based on water volume sensor 74
Water supply and drainage to 71 is possible.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of this embodiment for explaining the controller 8. In FIG. 2, the controller 8 is
A setting unit 81 consisting of a setting circuit unit that can be operated externally,
The setting unit 81 includes a control unit 82 including a control circuit unit that controls each processing step according to the setting unit 81, and the setting unit 81 sets desired conditions according to an external switch operation, a dial operation, or the like by an operator. The control unit 82 controls the transport unit 4, the steam unit 5, the ultrasonic cleaning unit 6, and the rinsing unit 7 according to the condition setting of the setting unit 81.

Then, the control section 82 is, concretely, the transport means 4
On the other hand, the transport path and the processing time of the rack 3 in each processing step, the steam generating function of the steam generator 53 for the steam means 5, and the ultrasonic oscillator 62 for the ultrasonic cleaning means 6. Generation of ultrasonic waves, supply of solvent by solvent injection mechanism 66, water temperature of cleaning water based on water temperature sensor 67, water volume based on water volume sensor 68, and into cleaning tank 61 by cleaning water supply mechanism 64 and cleaning water discharge mechanism 65 The water supply / drainage of the rinsing means 7 is based on the water amount sensor 72 for the rinsing means 7.
The water supply / drainage into / from the rinse tank 71 by the rinse water discharge mechanism 73 and the rinse water discharge mechanism 73 is controlled to a predetermined state.

Next, the attached matter removing process using the attached matter removing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the process block diagram shown in FIG.

First, store in a predetermined storage place (step 1)
The attached tool 2 is taken out and attached to the tool 2 by using it for treatment (step 2) (step 3)
Then, the tools are grouped into several tens, for example.

Next, the tool of step 3 is set in the deposit removing device 1 (step 4), and the tool 2 is steam-cooked by the steam means 5 (step 5). At this time, the adhesive force of the adhering material is reduced due to the softening or self-disintegration of the adhering material due to steaming.

Next, the tool 2 having the adhered matter with the reduced adhesive strength is ultrasonically cleaned at a high temperature with a solvent by the ultrasonic cleaning means 6 (step 6) to remove the adhered matter from the tool 2.

Next, the tool 2 from which the deposits have been removed is rinsed with tap water by the rinsing means 7 (step 7) to wash away solvent components and the like.

After that, the tool 2 is taken out from the inside of the deposit removing device 1 (step 8) and autoclaved for autoclaving (step 9) to complete the process (step 10).

As described in detail above, in the present embodiment, in the deposit removing step, the deposit removing device having the steam means, the ultrasonic cleaning means, and the rinsing means is used, so that manual cleaning is not required. Therefore, it is possible to improve workability and safety, and in particular, it is possible to remove the adhering substance very well by reducing the adhering force of the adhering substance by the steam means.

Further, by properly removing the adhering substances, it is less likely that a person will be injured and the adhering substances will not remain, so that the risk of infection can be prevented.

In this embodiment, the ball screw mechanism is applied as the transfer means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various transfer means can be applied as long as the tool can be reliably transferred to each means. Alternatively, for example, a transport mechanism using a chain or a belt may be applied.

Although the ultrasonic cleaning means is adopted as the cleaning means in this embodiment, the cleaning means incorporated in the deposit removing device according to the present invention is not limited to the ultrasonic cleaning means, and may be, for example, a brush, a water stream, or a high-pressure jet jet. A cleaning means using, for example, may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the deposit removing device incorporates the steam means, the ultrasonic cleaning means and the rinsing means is shown, but in addition to these, high pressure steam such as an autoclave is placed in the deposit removing device. Incorporating the sterilization means used,
It is also possible to sterilize the adhered member in the adhered substance removing device to further improve workability.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a case where a pressurized steam means for steaming the tool 2 with pressurized steam is applied is shown. The same or corresponding portions as those of the example are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 4, 10 indicates a pressurized steam means,
The pressurized steam means 10 is composed of a steam supply mechanism 52 and a cooking tank 51 similar to those of the first embodiment, and an opening / closing lid 56 provided at the opening of the cooking tank 51. In this case, the cooking tank 51 is , A motor M3 having a pinion gear 57 attached to the outer wall and a rack gear 58 fixed to both ends of the opening / closing lid 56,
Gear transmission mechanism that is integrally fixed to a shaft that is supported by 51
The opening / closing lid 56 is configured to be slidable in the front depth direction in the figure by the rotation of the motor M3, and the opening / closing lid 56 is opened when the rack 3 is stored in the cooking tank 51 by the transport means 4 or taken out. The tool 2 is provided so that it can be cooked in a pressurized steam atmosphere while maintaining the airtightness in the cooking tank 51 in the state or in the closed state during accommodation. In addition,
As the opening / closing mechanism of the steam tank 51, various mechanisms can be applied as long as the tightness of the steam tank 51 can be maintained, and for example, a cantilever opening / closing door to which a hinge mechanism is applied may be used.

In addition to the ball screw mechanisms 41 and 42 that enable the rack 3 to move in the directions of the double-headed arrows A and B, the transporting means 4 of this embodiment also includes a pressurized steam means in an engaged state with the transporting means 4.
10, the rack 3 transported to each means 6.7 is separated from the transport means 4, and a horizontal moving ball screw mechanism 401 that can move the rack 3 in the front and depth direction in FIG. It is provided.

This horizontally moving ball screw mechanism 401 fixes a second transfer board 402 made of a substantially U-shaped side plate member to the ball nut portion 46 of the vertically moving ball screw mechanism 41.
The bearing board 403 formed on both end walls of the carrier substrate 402 rotatably supports both ends of the ball screw shaft 404 and the holding shaft 404 a, fixes the motor M4, and transmits the gear between the motor M3 and the ball screw shaft 404. A holding portion provided on the ball screw shaft 404 positioned inside the bearing portion 403 of the second transfer substrate 402 by connecting the motor M3 through a mechanism.
The rack 3 is provided so as to be horizontally movable in the above-mentioned direction, and the rack 3 that is conveyed by the vertical movement ball screw mechanism 41 and the horizontal movement ball screw mechanism 42 in an engaged state with the holding portion 45 is provided in each tank 51,
Horizontal movement ball screw mechanism 401 after placing on the bottom of 1, 71
The holder 45 is moved in the horizontal direction to disengage from the rack 3, and only the rack 3 is left in each of the tanks 51, 61, 71 to enable each processing.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram for explaining the controller 8 of this embodiment. In particular, in this embodiment, the operation of the horizontally moving ball screw mechanism 401 in the conveying means 4 via the motor M4 depends on each processing step. In the pressurized steam means 10, the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing lid 56 of the cooking tank 51 is controlled via the motor M3 in accordance with the processing state in the transport means 4 or the cooking tank 51.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an adhering substance removing process using the adhering substance removing device 1 according to this embodiment. After performing the processing steps from step 1 to step 4, the tool 2 is removed.
Is steamed by the pressurized steam means 10 in a steaming tank 51 in a pressurized steam atmosphere (step 11).

At this time, the deposit on the tool 2 is softened or self-disintegrates in the pressurized steam atmosphere, and the adhesive force is reduced.

Next, each processing step from step 6 to step 9 is performed to complete the process (step 10).

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment, and in particular, by applying the pressurized steam means to the deposit removing device, It is possible to further reduce the adhesive force of the adhered matter, and to remove the adhered matter better.

In each of the steam means 5 and 10 of the above-described first and second embodiments, a structure in which steam or pressurized steam is generated using water (tap water) has been shown. A compound such as alcohol may be used, or a drug may be added to water to reduce the adhesive force.

FIG. 7 is a process block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in the deposit removing apparatus 1 similar to the first and second embodiments, the steam means 5 is used as a sterilizing means. The steam means 5 and the sterilization means are provided in combination.

That is, in FIG. 5, after performing the processing steps from Step 1 to Step 4, in Step 12, the tool 2 is cooked by the steam means 5.

Next, each step from step 6 to step 7 is performed, and again in step 12, the tool 2 is sterilized by steaming with the steam means 5, and after step 8 is finished (step 10).

As described above in detail, in this embodiment, substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the steam means also serves as the sterilizing means, so that another sterilizing apparatus can be provided. It is not necessary to perform sterilization work by, and workability can be further improved.

When a sterilizing means is added to the attached matter removing device, the device can be downsized by also using the steaming means.
It is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

FIG. 8 is a process block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the pressurized steam means 10 is provided as a sterilizing means for both the pressurized steam means 10 and the sterilizing means. Is.

In this embodiment, after the tool 2 is cooked by the pressurized steam means 10 in step 13, each step from step 6 to step 7 is performed, and then in step 13, the tool 2 is pressurized by the pressurized steam means 10. It is sterilized, and after step 8, it is finished (step 10).

As described above in detail, in this embodiment, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as in the third embodiment, and in particular, the sterilization of the tool 2 is achieved by providing the pressurized steam means 10 as the sterilization means. The action can be further enhanced.

[0056]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the present invention has a steam means for steaming the adhering material attached to the adhered member, and a cleaning means for removing the adhering material whose adhesive force is lowered by the steam means from the adhered material. It is possible to provide a deposit removing device capable of easily removing deposits to improve workability and safety, and capable of removing deposits very well to obtain a hygienic adhered member. .

In addition, in the above-mentioned constitution, since there is a sterilizing means for sterilizing the adhered member from which the adhering matter has been removed by the cleaning means, and this sterilizing means is shared with the cooking means, the adhering matter It is possible to provide an adhering matter removing device that enables easy removal of the adhering member and sterilization of the adhered member, and further improve workability and safety, and at the same time reduce the size of the device and reduce the manufacturing cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a process block diagram to which FIG. 1 is applied.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a process block diagram to which FIG. 4 is applied.

FIG. 7 is a process block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a process block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 adhered matter removing device 2 tool (adhered matter) 3 rack 4 transport means 5 steam means (sterilization means) 6 ultrasonic cleaning means (cleaning means) 7 rinsing means 8 controller 9 case 10 pressurized steam means (Sterilization means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A steam unit for steaming an adhering substance attached to a member to be adhered, and a cleaning unit for removing the adhering substance whose adhesive force is reduced by the steam unit from the member to be adhered. Adhesion remover. 2. The deposit removing device according to claim 1, wherein the vapor means is a pressurized vapor means. 3. The sterilizing means for sterilizing the adhered member from which the deposit has been removed by the cleaning means, and the sterilizing means comprises the steam means. Deposit removal device.