JPH09299892A - Washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress bad effects of ultrasonic vibration on attachments. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic oscillator 37 is installed at an eccentric position in one side in the bottom part 12a of a washing tank 12, so that a space S which is not opposed to the ultrasonic oscillator 37 in the aperture direction is formed in the washing tank 12. An attachment comprising a water level sensor 34, a temperature sensor 36, and a sheathed heater (a heater) 35 is installed in the space S.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning instruments used in, for example, medical dentistry.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of cleaning apparatus, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-71054, cleaning water is used for cleaning instruments (objects to be cleaned) which have been used by treatment. 2. Description of the Related Art There has been known a washing apparatus capable of washing appliances collectively by immersing it in a washing tank and then turning on the switch.

[0003] This cleaning apparatus is provided with a cleaning tank having an ultrasonic vibrator, and waves are transmitted while repeatedly compressing and depressurizing the medium liquid (washing water) according to the inherent frequency of the ultrasonic vibrator. A cavity is formed between the molecules of the medium fluid at the point of change between the pressure and the pressure, and when the cavity is crushed, impact energy is generated (cavitation force), and the attached substance is dropped by the energy.

By the way, in such a cleaning apparatus, as shown in FIG. 8, an ultrasonic transducer 50 and cleaning water 51 are used.
For example, a heater 54 for heating the cleaning water 51 to enhance the cleaning power, a temperature sensor 55 for detecting the water temperature of the cleaning water 51, or a water amount of the cleaning water 51 is provided in a cleaning tank 53 having An accessory such as the water level sensor 56 may be provided. In addition, reference numeral 57 in the drawing indicates cleaning water 51.
Is a drainage port for discharging.

[0005]

However, the auxiliary equipment, each of which is an electric component, is an ultrasonic transducer 5 having a strong cavitation force (ultrasonic force) due to space restrictions and the like.
Since the ultrasonic transducer 50 is located at the bottom of the cleaning tank 53, the drainage port 57 is connected to the cleaning tank 53 due to disconnection, failure, malfunction, etc. due to ultrasonic vibration. There was a problem that the drainage efficiency was poor because it had to be formed on the side wall.

The present invention has been made with these points in mind, and its main purpose is to provide a cleaning device which suppresses the adverse effects of ultrasonic vibrations on auxiliary equipment and has high drainage efficiency of cleaning water. It is intended to be provided.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is designed so that cleaning water is put into a cleaning tank equipped with an ultrasonic transducer and an object to be cleaned is accommodated from the opening side of the cleaning tank by ultrasonic waves. In a cleaning device that performs cleaning, a space portion that does not face the ultrasonic vibrator in the opening direction is provided in the cleaning tank by mounting the ultrasonic vibrator at the bottom of the cleaning tank at a position biased to one side. The auxiliary device of the cleaning tank is formed in this space, and the auxiliary device is composed of a sensor for detecting the state of the cleaning tank or a heater for heating the cleaning water.

Further, according to the present invention, a drain port for discharging the cleaning water is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank located in the space.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the reference numerals of the examples. By mounting the ultrasonic transducer 37 on the bottom portion 12a of the cleaning tank 12 which is biased to one side. A space S that does not face the ultrasonic transducer 37 in the opening direction is formed in the cleaning tank 12, and an accessory device including a water level sensor 34, a temperature sensor 36, and a sheath heater (heater) 35 is arranged in the space S. As a result, these accessory devices are not located on the ultrasonic transducer 37 having a strong cavitation force (ultrasonic force), and adverse effects on the accessory device such as disconnection, failure, and malfunction due to ultrasonic vibration are suppressed. Further, a drain port 32 for discharging the cleaning water W1 to the bottom part (lower part of the accessory) 12a of the cleaning tank 12 located in the space S.
By providing the, the drainage efficiency is improved.

[0010]

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

1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a cleaning apparatus according to this embodiment, and FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal mechanism of the apparatus, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of the transfer mechanism and a transfer mechanism, which will be described later, FIG. 4 is a side view showing the transfer basket set in the transfer mechanism, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the details of the operation and processing steps of the cleaning apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the cleaning apparatus according to the present embodiment is covered by a plurality of exterior covers 1 made of a thin metal plate. Above the exterior cover 1, an exterior door 2 that can be opened and closed is provided. An operation panel 5 which is located above the exterior door 2 and includes a plurality of operation switches 3 and an operation state display unit 4
And a main switch 6 located on the side of the operation panel 5 for switching on / off of the power supply.

In FIG. 2, the interior of the device is divided into an upper frame unit U1, a middle frame unit U2, and a lower frame unit U3. Each of these units U1, U2, U3 includes a metal main frame 7, 8, 9 made of a frame-shaped body.
The metal frame (object to be cleaned) 10 for dental treatment, such as a stopper, a probe, an excavator, and tweezers, which has an adhered substance such as a medicine due to a treatment, is provided on the main frame 7 among 8 and 9 (see FIG. 3), the transport mechanism 11 transports the instrument 10 transferred to the main frame 8 by the transport mechanism 11.
A cleaning tank 12 and a dipping tank 13 for carrying out the processing described later are mounted on the main frame 9, and a control box 14 for controlling each processing carried out in the tanks 12 and 13 and the transport mechanism 11 is mounted on the main frame 9. The exterior cover 1 shown in FIG.
It is fixed to the main frames 7, 8 and 9.

The transport mechanism 11 moves the metal transport basket 15 containing the instruments 10 in the vertical direction in FIG.
2), and a horizontal moving transport unit 17 that transports the vertical transport unit 16 holding the transport basket 15 in the horizontal direction in FIG.

The vertical moving transport section 16 includes a pulley 18 driven by a driving member, such as a motor (not shown).
And an endless belt 20 is provided so as to hang over a pulley 18, and a responsive member 20 a is fixed to the endless belt 20,
The response member 20a is provided so as to be vertically movable along the guide 21, and the arm 22 is fixed to the response member 20a.
The carriage 22 is held by the arm 22. Here, the carrying basket 15 and the arm 22 will be described with reference to FIGS.
More specifically, the transport basket 15 includes a frame portion 15a formed by bending and welding a stainless steel round bar so as to shape the outer shape of the transport basket 15, and the frame portion 15a.
A wire mesh portion 15b stretched through the pair, a pair of flange portions 15c projecting laterally from the frame portion 15a, and a pair of catch portions 15d formed on the frame portion 15a where the flange portion 15c is not formed. The pair of stainless steel plates 15e stretched inside the frame portion 15a in which the portion 15d is formed. On the other hand, the arm 22 is formed by bending a stainless steel round bar and has an annular shape corresponding to the outer shape of the transport basket 15. When the operator picks up the carrying basket 15 from above through the portion 15d and places it on the placing portion 22a,
As shown in FIG. 4, the flange portion 15c of the transport car 15 contacts the upper surface of the placing portion 22a, and the arm 22 receives the transport car 1.
5 is retained. At this time, the rattling portion 15d of the transport car 15 contacts the arm 22 to prevent rattling of the transport car 15, and the instrument 10 placed in the transport car 15 has the stainless steel plate 15 of the transport car 15.
The drop e is prevented by e.

As in the case of the above-mentioned vertical transport section 16, the horizontal transport section 17 is provided with a pulley 23, which is driven by a drive member such as a motor (not shown), on a bracket 24 fixed to the main frame 7. An endless belt 25 is provided so as to hang over the transfer substrate 18 of the vertical transfer section 16 and fixed to the endless belt 25.
Are movably provided in the left-right direction along a guide rail 27 provided on a back plate 26 on the back of the main frame 7.

The washing tank 12 is made of stainless steel and is formed in a box shape having an opening 28 at the upper part thereof, and is connected to a water supply pipe 29 and a water distribution pipe 30 for supplying and discharging the cleaning water W1 consisting of tap water in the tank. A port 31 and a drain port 32, an overflow port 33 for overflowing the cleaning water W1 supplied into the tank, and a water level sensor 3 for detecting the water level of the cleaning water W1 in the tank.
4. A sheath heater (heater) 35 for heating the wash water W1 to a predetermined temperature, and a temperature sensor 36 for detecting the temperature of the wash water 1.
And an ultrasonic oscillator 37 for supplying ultrasonic waves to the instrument 10, and is suspended and fixed to the main frame 8 through a flange (not shown).
The ultrasonic cleaning of the device 10 immersed in the cleaning water W1 through 1 is performed.

The ultrasonic oscillator 37 is mounted on the outer surface of the bottom 12a of the cleaning tank 12 through the vibrating plate 38 at a position biased to one side (the right side in FIG. 2). Is the opening direction of the cleaning tank 12 (the transport basket 15
A space S that does not face the ultrasonic transducer 37 in the direction (in and out) of the ultrasonic transducer 37, and the water level sensor 34, the sheath heater 35, and the temperature sensor 36 are arranged and fixed in the space S, and the water supply / drainage port 31, 32 is located at the bottom 12 a of the cleaning tank 12 located in the space S.

Immersion tank 1 installed in parallel with cleaning tank 12
Similarly to the washing tank 12, the washing tank 12 is made of stainless steel and is formed in a box shape having an opening 39 at the upper side. Water supply port 42 and drain port 43, and immersion water W in the tank
It is equipped with a water level sensor 44 for detecting the water level of No. 2, a sheath heater 45 for heating the immersion water W2 to a predetermined temperature, and a temperature sensor 46 for detecting the temperature of the immersion water, and is hung on the main frame 8 through a flange (not shown). Fixed down
The instrument 10 transported through the transport mechanism 11 is immersed in the detergent-added immersion water W2 to facilitate the removal of deposits, or the immersion water W2 containing a disinfectant is treated with the appliance 10.
Is soaked to facilitate disinfection or removal of adhered substances.

The water level sensors 34 and 44 attached to the respective tanks 12 and 13 are for detecting the water level in the tank by operating a reed switch (not shown) according to the displacement of the float.
The temperature sensor 69 is, for example, a thermocouple.

The control box 14 includes a main switch 6 and a group of operation switches 3 for selecting a mode as a setting unit (see FIG. 1).
Drive), the cleaning tank 1
2. The state of the dipping tank 13, the processing process including the processing time in each of these tanks 12, 13 and the display drive of the operating state display unit 4 are automatically controlled.
Specifically, the water supply / drainage based on the output signals of the water level sensors 34 and 44, the water temperature setting by the sheath heaters 35 and 45 based on the output signals of the temperature sensors 36 and 46, and the ultrasonic wave supply by the ultrasonic transducer 37 are performed respectively. To control.

In the case of the present embodiment, as the operation switch 3, for example, a standard mode selection switch for executing the process in the standard mode, a short mode selection switch for executing the process in the short mode, and a disinfection for executing the process in the disinfection mode. A mode selection switch is prepared for each, and details of operation and processing steps of the cleaning apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described based on FIGS. 5 to 7, taking as an example the case where each mode selection switch (operation switch 3) is selected. Will be explained.

FIG. 5 shows the standard mode. First, the exterior door 2
1 (see FIG. 1), the used device 10 is placed on the mounting portion 22a of the arm 22 of the transport mechanism 11 in the reset state shown in FIG.
Is set, and the exterior door 2 is closed (step 1).

Next, after confirming safety, the main switch 6 and the operation switch 3 for selecting the standard mode are turned on (steps 2 and 3).

As a result, the transport basket 15 becomes the transport mechanism 11
, Is automatically conveyed into the cleaning tank 12 and the cleaning tank 1 in FIG.
2 is placed at the position of the transport basket 15 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2 and automatic water supply of the wash water W1 into the wash tank 12 is started, and the device 10 is subjected to a dip rinse treatment for about 1 minute (step 4). At this time, the wash water W1 is constantly supplied and overflows from the overflow port to form a spiral,
At this time, in order to enhance the rinse effect, the transport mechanism 11
Thus, the transport car 15 is moved up and down.

Next, the water supply to the cleaning tank 12 is stopped, and the instrument 10 is ultrasonically cleaned (preliminary cleaning) for about 2 minutes while being immersed in the cleaning water W1 (step 5).

When step 5 is completed, the instrument 10 is transported by the transport mechanism 11 to the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Immersion treatment is performed (step 6). This weakens the adhesion of the deposits on the device 10 that could not be removed in step 5.

When step 6 is completed, the instrument 10 is transferred to the cleaning tank 12 by the transfer mechanism 11 and ultrasonically cleaned (main cleaning) for about 5 minutes (step 7). This removes deposits or further weakens the adhesion.

When step 7 is completed, the instrument 10 is subjected to the dip rinse treatment in the washing tank 12 for 1 minute as in step 4 (step 8). As a result, the adhered matter is successfully removed, and the process is completed (step 9) (total processing time is about 19 minutes). Note that this mode is particularly advantageous for cleaning the dental care instrument 10 with a cement or the like having a strong adhesive force.

FIG. 6 shows a shortened mode. In this mode, compared to the standard mode, there is no dipping step and only one ultrasonic cleaning step, and the total processing time is as short as 7 minutes. The processing content in is the same as in the standard mode. It should be noted that this mode is particularly advantageous for cleaning the instrument 10 having an adhered substance having a relatively weak adhesive force.

FIG. 7 shows the disinfection mode, in which there is no ultrasonic cleaning step and the instrument 10 is used in the dipping step.
Is immersed in the immersion water W2 containing a disinfectant, and the processing contents in the immersion tank 13 are the same as in the standard mode.
It should be noted that this mode is particularly advantageous when cleaning small items such as mirrors, bars and reamers for dentistry, and when disinfecting the instrument 10.

As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic vibrator 37 is attached to the bottom portion 12a of the cleaning tank 12 at a position biased to one side, whereby the ultrasonic vibration is generated in the cleaning tank 12. Space S that does not face the child 37 in the opening direction
By forming an auxiliary device including a water level sensor 34, a temperature sensor 36, and a sheath heater (heater) 35 in the space S, the auxiliary device is an ultrasonic transducer having a strong cavitation force (ultrasonic force). It is not located on the position 37, and it is possible to suppress adverse effects on the accessory device such as disconnection, failure, and malfunction due to ultrasonic vibration.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cleaning water W is added to the bottom portion (the lower part of the accessory) 12a of the cleaning tank 12 located in the space S.
By providing the drainage port 32 for discharging 1, the drainage port can be positioned at the bottom portion 12a of the cleaning tank 12 having good drainage efficiency, and the drainage efficiency can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, a flange portion 15c is formed on the transport car 15, and the transport car 15 is placed on the mounting portion 22a of the arm 22 through the flange portion 15c, whereby the transport car 15 can be set in the cleaning device. Therefore, the workability is good, and since the mounting portion 22a is held so as to surround the periphery of the transport car 15, it is possible to suppress rattling of the transport car 15 in the circumferential direction, and further The contact of the portion 15d with the arm 22 makes it possible to suppress rattling of the transport car 15 in the vertical direction,
As a result, it is possible to securely hold the transport car 15 while improving workability when setting the transport car 15 in the cleaning device.

Although the ultrasonic transducer 37 is provided on the outer surface of the bottom portion 12a of the cleaning tank 12 in this embodiment, it may be provided on the inner surface of the bottom portion 12a of the cleaning tank 12 at a position biased to one side. Further, in this embodiment, the water level sensor 3 is used as an accessory.
Although the electric devices such as 4, the temperature sensor 36, and the sheath heater 35 are arranged in the space S, other devices in which the influence of ultrasonic vibration may be concerned may be arranged. Although not shown as another embodiment, a stainless steel shield plate that covers the periphery of these accessory devices and shields ultrasonic vibrations may be provided inside the cleaning tank 12. At this time, a large number of holes are formed in the shield plate. By forming the above, it is possible to detect the state of the wash water W1 favorably while protecting the accessory device from ultrasonic vibration.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, cleaning water is introduced into a cleaning tank equipped with an ultrasonic vibrator, and an object to be cleaned is accommodated from the opening side of the cleaning tank for ultrasonic cleaning. In the apparatus, a space portion which does not face the ultrasonic vibrator in the opening direction is formed in the cleaning tank by mounting the ultrasonic vibrator on the bottom of the cleaning tank at a position biased to one side. The cavitation force (ultrasonic force) is obtained by arranging the auxiliary equipment of the cleaning tank in the space portion, and especially by the auxiliary equipment being a sensor for detecting the state of the cleaning tank or a heater for heating the cleaning water. Since the accessory is not located on the strong ultrasonic transducer, it is possible to suppress the adverse effect of the ultrasonic vibration on the accessory.

Further, according to the present invention, the drainage efficiency for draining the cleaning water can be improved by providing the drainage port for discharging the cleaning water at the bottom of the cleaning tank located in the space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a cleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an internal mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of a carrying basket and a carrying mechanism including an instrument.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the transport car set in the transport mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing processing steps in a standard mode.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing processing steps in a shortened mode.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing processing steps in a disinfection mode.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Equipment 11 Transport Mechanism 12 Cleaning Tank 13 Immersion Tank 14 Control Box 34,44 Water Level Sensor (Auxiliary Equipment) 35,45 Sheath Heater (Heater (Auxiliary Equipment)) 36,46 Temperature Sensor (Auxiliary Equipment) S Space Section W1 Cleaning Water

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 10, 1996

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning device for performing ultrasonic cleaning, in which cleaning water is put into a cleaning tank equipped with an ultrasonic vibrator, and an object to be cleaned is accommodated from an opening side of the cleaning tank for ultrasonic cleaning. By installing it at the bottom of the tank at a position biased to one side, a space is formed in the cleaning tank that does not face the ultrasonic transducer in the opening direction, and the auxiliary equipment of the cleaning tank is placed in this space. A cleaning device characterized in that 2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accessory device includes a sensor that detects a state of the cleaning tank or a heater that heats the cleaning water. 3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a drain port for discharging the cleaning water is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank located in the space.