JPH10216207A - Door open/close mechanism of sterilizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce space for the opening operation of a slide door. SOLUTION: In a door open/close mechanism, the upper end of the slide door 2 is connected to the tip of an extention/contraction possible arm 3 being provided so as to be rotatable in a horizontal direction with a connecting shaft 35 on the upper surface of a sterilizing device mainbody 1 and the movement of a guide projection 22 projected in the lower end of the slide door 2 is guided by engagement with a rail 7 which is provided on a floor surface. When a sterilizing tank opening part 11 is opened, the position of the connecting shaft 35 is moved like P1 -P5 , the guide projection 22 is moved like Q1 -Q5 by the guide of the rail 7 and, in result, the slide door 2 is moved from the front of the sterilizing device mainbody 1 to the side position of it by way of direction converting process so as to be contained in parallel with the side plate of the sterilizing device mainbody 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a door opening / closing mechanism for an apparatus for disinfecting and sterilizing various medical instruments, medical materials and the like for surgery and inspection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a hospital, for example, a disinfecting cleaning solution, high-pressure hot steam, ethylene oxide (ethylene oxide) is contained in a sterilization tank containing medical instruments, medical materials, and the like contaminated by being used for medical or inspection activities. A sterilizer for sterilizing by supplying ethylene oxide (gas) is installed. As one type of such a sterilization apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, an opening of a sterilization tank at the front of the apparatus main body 101 is opened and closed by a slide door 102 that moves horizontally in parallel with the front of the apparatus main body 101. There is a sliding door 102 horizontally moved from a closed position shown by a broken line in the drawing to an open position shown by a dashed line in the drawing in order to put a medical instrument or the like to be sterilized in and out so as to be stored in a door pocket 103. Has become.

[0003]

According to the conventional door slide type sterilizer, the slide door 102 is attached to the apparatus main body 101.
Space for horizontal movement from the front to the side of the device, in other words, the
Installation space is required. For this reason, it is pointed out that a problem arises on the rear side of the door pocket 103, which causes a useless space that is difficult to use effectively.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a main technical problem thereof is that a moving space for opening a sliding door in a door sliding type sterilizer is provided. In order to effectively use a limited installation space in a hospital or the like.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The technical problems described above are:
This can be effectively solved by the present invention. That is, the door opening / closing mechanism of the sterilizer according to the present invention includes a slide door capable of closing the sterilization tank opening at the front of the sterilizer main body and being moved in a substantially horizontal direction, and a substantially horizontal pivot on the upper surface of the sterilizer main body. A longitudinally extendable arm that is provided as possible and has a free end connected to an upper portion of the door, a hydraulic cylinder that extends and contracts the arm, and a drive unit that pivots the arm in a substantially horizontal direction, When the opening of the sterilization tank is opened, the slide door is moved to a side position of the sterilizer main body by turning and expanding and contracting the arm, so as to be substantially parallel to the side plate of the sterilizer main body. For this reason, there is no need to secure a space having a size corresponding to the width of the slide door beside the sterilizer main body. The expansion and contraction of the arm is performed in order to allow the sliding door to move around one corner portion along the front plate and the back plate of the sterilizer main body.

In a further preferred construction of the present invention, the sliding door is provided with door locks which can be fitted to each other by male and female, provided on both sides of the sliding door and on both sides of the opening of the sterilizing tank in the front of the sterilizer main body. The male and female fitting operation and the fitting releasing operation of the door lock portion are performed by an arm moving the slide door in parallel with the front surface of the sterilizer main body. According to this configuration, the slide door is not required to be restrained in a sealed state with respect to the opening of the sterilization tank or another operation for releasing the restraint is required. Done.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a drive unit for rotating the arm in a substantially horizontal direction includes a gear motor and a plurality of guide gears installed on the upper surface of the sterilizer main body, a drive gear for the gear motor, and A chain is extended annularly via a guide gear and both ends are connected to the arm. With this configuration, the turning operation of the arm can be performed smoothly, and the turning operation at a slight angle for the male and female fitting operation or the disengaging operation of the door lock portion can be easily performed. it can.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a sliding door which is moved between a front position and a side position of the sterilizer main body is provided with a guide projection protruding from a lower end thereof and a rail provided on a floor surface. The movement is guided by the engagement with. With this configuration, the sliding door is smoothly moved while changing the direction between the front position and the side position of the sterilizer main body.

[0009]

1 to 5 show, as a preferred embodiment of a door opening / closing mechanism of a sterilizer according to the present invention, a moving process of a slide door together with the entire sterilizer in order. In the following description, the terms "right", "right" or "left" and "left" all represent left and right when viewed from the front, and "clockwise" or "counterclockwise". The description “clockwise” represents the turning direction when viewed from above.

First, reference numeral 1 denotes a box-shaped sterilizer main body.
It is supported on the floor via legs 16, and as shown in FIG. 4 or 5, a sterilization tank 11 is formed inside. The sterilization tank 11 is open at the front of the sterilizer main body 1, and a packing 12 is provided around the opening 11a in a protruding state. Reference numeral 2 denotes the packing 1
2 is a slide door that opens and closes the sterilization tank 11 by coming in contact with and away from the sterilization tank 11, and heat steam, sterilization gas, Pressurized air and the like are supplied and discharged.

That is, this sterilization apparatus puts various medical instruments and medical materials (hereinafter referred to as medical instruments) contaminated by medical practice for surgery or inspection into a predetermined medical instrument basket or the like. Stored in the sterilization tank 11,
After the sterilization tank 11 is sealed by the slide door 2, the medical device is sterilized by supplying hot steam or sterilization gas.

An arm 3 that can be extended and contracted in the longitudinal direction, a hydraulic cylinder 4 such as hydraulic or pneumatic that expands and contracts the arm 3, and an arm 3 that is substantially horizontally A drive unit 5 for turning the robot is provided.

The arm 3 is made expandable and contractable by a nested structure of an outer sheath 31 and an inner rod 32 slidably inserted into a longitudinally extending lumen. The proximal end of the outer sheath 31 is pivotally connected to the top plate 13 of the sterilizer main body 1 via a vertical shaft 33, and the free end of the outer sheath 31 is connected to the top plate 13.
The upper end of the inner rod 32 is supported by a pair of support rollers 34 that can roll in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. It is connected so that angular displacement is possible. Therefore, the arm 3 can be horizontally turned around the vertical axis 33 and can be expanded and contracted by sliding the inner rod 32 in the radial direction thereof, thereby moving the slide door 2 along a path described later. It is to let.

Fluid pressure cylinder 4 for extending and retracting arm 3
Is fixed on the outer sheath 31 of the arm 3, and the tip of the output rod 41 is formed on the upper surface of the outer sheath 31 and passes through the slit 31 a extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, behind the inner rod 32 of the arm 3. It is joined to the end. Therefore, by applying a fluid pressure to the fluid pressure cylinder 4 to cause the output rod 41 to protrude and retract in the axial direction of the cylinder, the arm 3
(The inner rod 32 slides with respect to the outer sheath 31).

The drive unit 5 for horizontally rotating the arm 3 around the vertical shaft 33 is provided with a gear motor 5 provided on the top plate 13 of the sterilizer main body 1 in front of and on the left side of the vertical shaft 33.
1, a first guide gear 52 also provided forward and to the right of the vertical shaft 33, a second guide gear 53 provided rearward and to the right of the vertical shaft 33, and the gear motor 51.
Drive gear 51a and the first and second guide gears 52,
An endless chain 54 is provided so as to extend through a portion 53, and a part of the endless chain 54 is connected to a lower portion of the outer sheath 31 of the arm 3. Therefore, the forward / reverse rotation of the gear motor 51 causes the endless chain 54 to move along an annular path passing through the drive gear 51a and the first and second guide gears 52 and 53, and the arm 3 connected to the endless chain 54 Are horizontally turned around the vertical axis 33.

The support roller 34 for supporting the free end of the outer sheath 31 of the arm 3 rolls on a circumference centered on the vertical axis 33. The radius of this circumference is equal to that of the first guide gear 52. The height of the lower surface of the outer sheath 31 is higher than that of the first guide gear 52. Further, a connecting portion between the endless chain 54 and the outer sheath 31 (not shown).
When the outer sheath 31 passes over the first guide gear 52 due to the turning operation of the arm 3, the engagement between the endless chain 54 and the first guide gear 52 is not impaired. The connecting portion is the first guide gear 52
Is provided so as to pass through the meshing position of the endless chain 54 in the above.

When the sterilization tank 11 is closed, the sliding door 2 is opened and closed by the left and right door locks 6A and 6B.
It is restrained in a state close to 2. The door lock 6A on the right side is provided with an opening 11a of the sterilization tank 11 in the front plate 14 of the sterilizer main body 1 as clearly shown in FIG.
A number of fitting pins 61 projecting from each of a number of fixing plates 61a provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction along the right side of the sliding door 2 and having a tip directed to the right, and the fittings 61 It is composed of a mating pin 61 and a number of locking plates 62 provided at corresponding heights and intervals. Near the rear end of each locking plate 62, a fitting hole 62a into which the fitting pin 61 can be inserted is formed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the left door lock portion 6B is attached to the front plate 14 of the sterilizer main body 1 by the sterilization tank 11.
A number of locking plates 63 are provided at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction along the left side of the opening 11a, and the left and right sides of the sliding door 2 are provided at heights and intervals corresponding to the locking plates 63, respectively. And a number of fitting pins 64 facing left. In the vicinity of the front end of each locking plate 63, a fitting hole 63a into which the fitting pin 64 can be inserted is formed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the sliding door 2 is located at an unconstrained position substantially in front of the opening 11a of the sterilizer main body 1 and has a rear surface in contact with the packing 12.
Is horizontally moved from the right side to the left side of the opening 11a, that is, in the direction of the arrow L by the turning operation of the arm 3 at the angle α.
The fitting hole 62a of the locking plate 62 that moves integrally with the sliding door 2 is inserted into the fitting pin 61 of the sterilizer main body 1 and at the same time, the left door lock portion 6B not shown in FIG. The fitting pin 64 that moves integrally is inserted into the fitting hole 63a of the locking plate 63 on the sterilization apparatus main body 1 side, whereby the locked state shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

The packing 12 is subjected to back pressure by compressed air or the like from the inside of the sterilizer 1 so that the packing 12 is closed by the door locks 6A and 6B with the opening 11a of the sterilization tank 11 closed. The sliding door 2 is forcibly pressed against the rear plate of the restricted sliding door 2. Therefore, leakage of the sterilizing gas filled in the sterilizing tank 11 can be reliably prevented.

In addition, from the sealing and restrained state of the sliding door 2 shown in FIG.
When the slide door 2 is moved in the direction of arrow R after the pressing of the slide door 2 is released, the fitting hole 62a of the locking plate 62 that moves in the direction R integrally with the slide door 2 in the right door lock portion 6A.
Is pulled out from the fitting pin 61 on the sterilizer main body 1 side, and at the same time, in the left door lock portion 6B, the fitting pin 64 that moves in the R direction integrally with the slide door 2 becomes the locking plate on the sterilizer main body 1 side. 63 is pulled out from the fitting hole 63a, whereby the restrained state by the door lock portions 6A and 6B is released.

On the lower surface of the sliding door 2, an engaging protrusion 22 protruding toward the floor is mounted near the right end thereof.
A guide roller 22a is rotatably provided on the outer periphery of the engagement protrusion 22. On the other hand, a rail 7 that guides the movement of the slide door 2 by engaging the engagement protrusion 22 is laid on the floor surface on which the sterilizer main body 1 is installed. The rail 7 includes a portion 71 extending rightward from an open end 71a located forward and to the right of the sealed / restrained position of the sliding door 2 by the door lock portions 6A and 6B, and a curved portion 7.
2 and the right side of the sterilizer main body 1 from the side plate 15
And a portion 73 extending rearward along the line.

The control of the expansion and contraction operation of the arm 3 by the fluid pressure cylinder 4, the turning operation of the arm 3 by the gear motor 51 of the drive unit 5, the application and release of the back pressure to the packing 12, the sterilization operation and the like are not shown. The various operation timings and operation amounts are sequentially controlled by the unit.

According to this embodiment, from the state shown in FIG. 1, the opening operation of the slide door 2 for storing the non-sterile medical tool (not shown) put in the medical tool basket or the like in the sterilization tank 11 is performed. Is performed as follows.

In the closed state shown in FIG. 1, the arm 3 faces the front of the sterilizer main body 1 (direction substantially parallel to the side plate 15), and the output rod 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4
With the inner rod 32 of the arm 3 in the most retracted position,
As a result, the slide door 2 is in the closed position in front of the sterilization tank opening 11a. The door lock portions 6A and 6B are provided with the fitting holes 62a of the locking plate 62 and the fitting pins 61 and the fitting pins 6a and 6b.
The sliding door 2 is restrained at the closed position by fitting the male and female members 4 and the fitting holes 63a of the locking plate 63 with each other, and the packing 12 is attached to the rear plate of the sliding door 2 by back pressure of compressed air or the like. Closely related.

From this sealed state, first, after the packing 12 is released from being pressed against the rear plate of the sliding door 2, the gear motor 51 of the driving section 5 is driven so that the driving gear 51a rotates counterclockwise. Due to the movement of the chain 54, the arm 3 turns counterclockwise with the rolling of the support roller 34. The inner rod 32 of the arm 3 is connected to the bracket 21 of the sliding door 2 by a connecting shaft 35.
The sliding door 2 is connected to the front plate 14 of the sterilizer main body 1 in a state in which the sliding door 2 is substantially parallel to the front plate 14 of the sterilizing apparatus main body 1 by turning the arm 3 as shown in FIG.
When the arm 3 pivots by an angle α from the front direction as shown in FIG. 2, the fitting hole 62a of the locking plate 62 of the door lock portion 6A is moved from the fitting pin 61 as shown in FIG. The male / female fitting state is released by being completely removed, and the male / female fitting state is similarly released from the other door lock portion 6B not shown in FIG.

Next, from the state shown in FIG. 2, by applying a fluid pressure to the fluid pressure cylinder 4, the inner rod 32 of the arm 3 is advanced (extended) together with the output rod 41,
Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the slide door 2 is separated from the opening 11a (the packing 12) of the sterilization tank 11 by a distance δ. At this time, the engagement projection 22 attached near the right end of the lower surface of the slide door 2 is connected to the open end 7 of the rail 7 on the floor surface.
1a.

Next, when the slide door 2 is moved rightward from the position shown in FIG. 3 by further pivoting the arm 3 in the counterclockwise direction, the engaging projection 22 enters the rail 7 accordingly. After that, since the movement path of the engaging projection 22 is regulated by the rail 7, the pivoting operation and the expanding / contracting operation of the arm 3 cause the sliding door 2 to undergo a direction changing process shown in FIG. Is moved to a position parallel to and close to the right side plate 15 of the sterilizer main body 1.

[0029] The transfer process of the sliding door 2 from a position shown in FIG. 3, will be described further with particular reference to FIG. 6, the slide door 2 initially is shown in the state (FIG. 3 at the position of the step S ₁ in FIG. 6 By rotating the arm 3 in the counterclockwise direction from the state), the slide door 2 is moved rightward substantially in parallel with the front plate 14 of the sterilizer main body 1. At this time, the distance between the turning center point O of the arm 3 by the vertical shaft 33 and the connecting shaft 35 connecting the center of the upper end of the sliding door 2 by the arm 3 increases with the turning in the counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the arm 3 is gradually extended with the turning.

The engagement projection 22 of the slide door 2 is
When the connecting portion moves from P ₁ to P ₂ substantially in parallel with the front plate 14 of the sterilizer main body 1, the engaging projection 22 is positioned near the open end of the rail 7. It approaches from the point to Q ₁ to the point Q ₂ in the curve section 72. Therefore, the sliding door 2 starts turning in the counterclockwise direction as shown in step S _2.

In the process in which the engaging projection 22 of the sliding door 2 moves from the point Q ₃ to the point Q ₄ almost passing through the curved portion 72 of the rail 7, the speed component of the engaging projection 22 to the right becomes zero. However, at this point, the arm 3 is in the process of extending following the turning operation in the counterclockwise direction. State Therefore, the connecting portion of the arm 3 and the slide door 2 is displaced as the P ₃ to P _4, away from the front of the sterilization apparatus body 1, as a result, the sliding door 2 is shown from step S ₃ to step S ₄ Then, the direction change is continued so as to avoid the corner A on the front right side of the sterilizer main body 1.

The engaging projection 22 of the slide door 2 moves a portion 73 extending rearward in rail 7 to the point Q _5, the arm 3 and the slide door 2 connecting portion reaches the point P ₅ of the slide door 2 is the step S After the direction is changed until the arm 3 is substantially parallel to the side plate 15 of the sterilizer main body 1 as shown in FIG. ₅ , the arm 3 starts contracting with the turning operation in the counterclockwise direction. This is because after the direction change, the distance between the pivot center point O of the arm 3 by the vertical axis 33 and the connecting portion (connection shaft 35) between the arm 3 and the slide door 2 is determined by the sliding door by the pivoting operation of the arm 3. This is because the distance becomes shorter with the retreat movement of No. 2. Then, when the slide door 2 reaches the position shown in FIG. 5, the turning and contracting operations of the arm 3 by the gear motor 51 and the fluid pressure cylinder 4 are stopped.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is only necessary to secure a door storage space of width W beside the sterilizer main body 1, and no useless space is generated. In addition, since the above-described series of operations is smoothly performed only by the expansion and contraction and turning of the arm 3 driven by the fluid pressure cylinder 4 and the gear motor 51, there is an advantage that the number of failures is small.

When the sterilization tank 11 of the sterilization apparatus main body 1 is opened, a non-sterile medical tool (not shown) placed in a medical tool basket or the like is stored in the sterilization tank 11, and after the storage, the sterilization apparatus shown in FIG.
The sterilization tank 11 is sealed with the slide door 2 as shown in FIG. The sealing operation in this case is performed through a process completely opposite to the above-described series of operations.

That is, first, the gear motor 51 of the drive unit 5
Is driven so that its drive gear 51a rotates clockwise, whereby the arm 3 is turned clockwise through the endless chain 54 and gradually extended by the fluid pressure cylinder 4. Thereby, the slide door 2 moves substantially parallel to the side plate 15 of the sterilizer main body 1 toward the front side. After the engaging projection 22 in the moving direction rear portion of the sliding door 2 has passed the point Q ₅ is
By gradually contracting the arm 3 together with the turning operation in the clockwise direction, the sliding door 2 starts turning in the clockwise direction. When the engagement projection 22 completely passes through the curved portion 72 of the rail 7, the direction change is completed, and the slide door 2 is attached to the front plate 14 of the sterilizer main body 1.
And become almost parallel.

When the sliding door 2 reaches the position shown in FIG. 3 and the engaging projection 22 reaches the outside of the open end 71a of the rail 7, once the clockwise turning operation of the arm 3 is stopped, the sliding door 2 The retracting operation of the arm 3 causes the arm 3 to move backward. 2, that is, the fitting hole 62 a of the locking plate 62 and the fitting pin 61 in the right door lock portion 6 </ b> A face each other in the left-right direction, and are not shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, when the fitting hole 63a of the locking plate 63 and the fitting pin 64 reach the position facing each other in the left-right direction also in the left door lock portion 6B, the arm 3 is turned clockwise by the angle α and the slide door 2 is rotated. Is moved in the direction of arrow L, the fitting holes 62a, 63a of the locking plates 62, 63 and the fitting pins 61, 64 are engaged with each other, and the slide door 2 is closed as shown in FIG. Be restrained by position. Then, by applying a back pressure to the packing 12 in the opening 11a and pressing the packing against the back plate of the slide door 2, the sterilization tank 11 is completely sealed.

After the sterilization tank 11 is hermetically sealed, the medical instruments housed in the sterilization tank 11 are sterilized by supplying hot steam or sterilization gas. After the sterilization is completed, necessary steps such as the sterilization gas exhaust process are performed, and then the slide door 2 is opened by the operation described above, and the sterilized medical device is carried out.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a sterilizer using a sterilizing gas. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the medical device is cleaned by spraying a high-temperature water or a disinfectant solution. -It can be applied to various sterilizers such as those that are sterilized and dried.

[0039]

According to the door opening / closing mechanism of the sterilizer according to the present invention, the following effects are realized. (1) When the sterilization tank is opened, the sliding door is set in the side position of the sterilizer main body by rotation and expansion and contraction of the arm, substantially parallel to the side plate of the sterilizer main body. It is not necessary to secure a door pocket space having a size corresponding to the lateral width of the sliding door, and it is possible to prevent useless space from being generated. (2) Since the movement of the sliding door is performed with a simple structure by turning and expanding and contracting the arm, it is hard to break down and maintenance is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a sterilization tank is closed by a slide door as a preferred embodiment of a door opening / closing mechanism of a sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a slide door is released from a restraint state or an unrestrained state in front of a sterilization apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the slide door is at a position separated from the opening of the sterilization tank toward the front side in the process of moving the slide door in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a process in which the slide door is moving while changing its direction between a front position and a side position of the sterilizer main body in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a slide door is located at a side position of a sterilizer main body in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view for explaining a movement locus of a slide door in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing a door opening / closing mechanism of a conventional sterilization apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sterilizer main body 11 Sterilization tank 11a Opening 2 Slide door 22 Engagement protrusion 3 Arm 4 Fluid pressure cylinder 5 Drive part 51 Gear motor 52,53 Guide gear 6A, 6B Door lock part 7 Rail

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A slide door capable of closing a sterilization tank opening in front of a sterilization device main body and being moved in a substantially horizontal direction, and provided on an upper surface of the sterilization device main body so as to be substantially horizontally pivotable and having a free end. A longitudinally extendable arm connected to the upper part of the door, a fluid pressure cylinder for extending and retracting the arm, and a drive unit for rotating the arm in a substantially horizontal direction, when the sterilization tank opening is opened. A door opening / closing mechanism for the sterilizer, wherein the slide door is moved to a side position of the sterilizer main body by turning and expanding / contracting the arm, and a back surface of the slide door faces a side plate of the sterilizer main body. . 2. The sterilization tank opening according to claim 1, wherein the sliding door is provided with door locks which can be fitted to each other, and are provided on both side edges of the sliding door and on both sides of the sterilization tank opening in the front of the sterilizer main body. The male and female fitting operation and the fitting releasing operation of the door lock portion are performed by an arm moving the slide door in a surface direction thereof. mechanism. 3. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit for rotating the arm in a substantially horizontal direction includes: a gear motor and a plurality of guide gears installed on an upper surface of a sterilizer main body; A chain that is annularly stretched via a guide gear and has both ends connected to the arm. 4. The slide door according to claim 1, wherein the slide door moved between a front position and a side position of the sterilization apparatus main body includes a guide protrusion projecting from a lower end of the slide door. A door opening and closing mechanism for a sterilizer, wherein the movement is guided by engagement with a rail provided on a floor surface.