JPH10295789A - Ozone sterilizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a running cost and to improve the service life of an ozone resolving catalyst by improving the air tightness of a ozone resolving chamber in which the ozone resolving catalyst is provided to increase an ozone generating efficiency and ozone dissolving efficiency. SOLUTION: A branch room 5D is provided close to an air blow chamber 5E in a process chamber 5, which is surrounded by an ozone dissolving chamber 5C (5Ca to 5Cc) of U-shape. Each room is selectively communicated by opening/ closing the 1st to 3rd slide dampers 7A to 7C arranged in fine. During ozone sterilization, only the 2nd slide damper 7B is opened, air containing ozone from a ozone supply means 20 is supplied to a sterilizing booth 2 with the branch room 5D being communicated with the air blow room 5E. At this time, the ozone dissolving chamber 5C is separated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ozone sterilizer for performing ozone sterilization.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional ozone sterilizer. Generally, the ozone sterilizing apparatus 40 includes a sterilizing booth 41 that performs a sterilizing process, and a supply device 42 that supplies ozone to the sterilizing booth 41. A processing chamber 43 is provided in the supply device 42, and the ozone generated in the processing chamber 43 is sucked into the duct unit 4.
It mixes with the air sucked in from 3A and supplies it to the sterilization booth 41 via the blow-out duct part 43B. In the supply device 42, an ozone generator 44, an ultrasonic humidifier 45, a humidity detector 46, a power supply 47, a control device 48 for controlling each unit of the device, a cooling fan 49, and the like are further arranged.

[0003] Inside the processing chamber 43, a suction passage 43C, an ozone decomposition chamber 43D, a blowing passage 43E,
A communication passage 43F is provided, and a blower fan 43i is provided in the blowout passage 43E to send out an atmosphere having a required ozone concentration to the sterilization booth 41. A substantially cross-shaped first damper 43J is provided between the suction passage 43C and the communication passage 43F, and the same cross-shaped second damper 43K is provided at a position facing the ozone decomposition chamber 43D and the suction duct 43A. Each is rotatable by an actuator such as a motor.

[0004] The ultrasonic humidifier 45 includes a humidifying tank 45A.
And a humidifier power supply 45B and an ultrasonic humidifier 45C,
Fine particles of water atomized by the ultrasonic humidifier 45C are sent into the blowing passage 43E via the humidifying hose 45D. On the other hand, a high voltage is supplied to the ozone generator 44 from a high-voltage power supply 44A, and ozone is generated using oxygen supplied from the outside via an oxygen hose 44B. Ozone into the air.

[0005] The control device 48 controls each part for the following three operation modes. When ozone is generated to start sterilization in the sterilization booth 41, the first damper 43J is opened and the second damper 43J is opened.
Close the damper 43K. By driving the blower fan 43i in this state, the air in the sterilizing booth 41 flows from the suction passage 43C through the communication passage 43F to the blowout passage 4C.
It is sent to 3E. Here, a channel is formed in which the humidified air and the ozone from the ultrasonic humidifier 45 are mixed to return to the sterilization booth 41, and the ozone concentration in the sterilization booth 41 increases to a high concentration for sterilization.

After the generation of ozone, the first and second dampers 43J, 43J,
3K is opened and closed in the same manner as the above-mentioned ozone generation, and air is circulated by the blower fan 43i. The operation of the ozone generator 44 is turned off after a certain period of operation under time management.

After the sterilization process in the sterilization booth 41 is completed, the control device 48 closes the first damper 43J and opens the second damper 43K to perform an end operation. In this state, the air from the sterilization booth 41 is guided to the ozonolysis chamber 43D,
The ozone contained in the air is decomposed by the ozone decomposition catalyst 43G, and the air having the reduced ozone concentration is guided by the blower fan 43i to the blowing passage 43E and returned to the sterilization booth 41, and the ozone concentration does not affect the human body. Return to the state reduced to the environmental standard value. The ozone sensor 53 is for detecting a low concentration, and detects whether or not the concentration has become 0.1 ppm or less in the ozonolysis step. One sterilization process is performed by executing the above series of operation modes.

[0008]

However, in the structure of the processing chamber 43 as described above, the airtightness of each chamber is poor, and the efficiency of the processing chamber 43 is reduced as a whole. Each of the first and second dampers 43J and 43K has a structure in which the cross-shaped blade stops at an angular position where it comes into contact with a wall of an adjacent passage by rotation, thereby achieving airtightness with each other. If not stopped, a gap is formed and the airtightness is reduced.
Further, even if the angular position is accurate, a gap is easily generated between the opening of the wall and the blade.

For this reason, when the stop position of the second damper 43K is disturbed and the airtightness is reduced during the generation of ozone, a part of the air flow flows into the ozone decomposition chamber 43D and passes through the ozone decomposition catalyst 43G. As a result, a part of the air decomposes ozone when ozone is generated, so that the operation is performed while decomposing ozone, so that an increase in concentration is selected and the efficiency of ozone generation is reduced. Similarly, at the time of fumigation sterilization, the airtightness of the second damper 43K is reduced by contacting the ozone decomposing catalyst 43G to decompose ozone.
Frequently turns on and off, which increases running costs.

At the time of ozone generation and at the time of fumigation sterilization, a flow path from the suction passage 43C to the communication passage 43F to the discharge passage 43E is formed. The communication passage 43F communicates with the ozone decomposition chamber 43D. A problem arises in that a part of the air diverted from the flow path contacts the ozone decomposition catalyst 43G and ozone is decomposed. As described above, the conventional processing chamber 43 has a configuration in which the airtightness of the ozone decomposition chamber 43D cannot be maintained and the ozone decomposition catalyst 43G cannot be reliably isolated, thereby reducing the efficiency of ozone generation.

As a result of the above, the ozone decomposition catalyst 43G
Therefore, even if the end operation is performed and air is flown into the ozone decomposition chamber 43D, there is a problem that the time required from the start to the end of the execution increases by an amount corresponding to the capacity reduction. Furthermore, since the first and second dampers 43J and 43K are respectively driven to rotate by individual actuators, there is also a problem that a plurality of actuators are required and the cost increases.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the airtightness of an ozone decomposition chamber provided with an ozone decomposition catalyst so that both ozone generation efficiency and ozone decomposition efficiency are improved. An object of the present invention is to reduce the running cost and improve the life of the ozone decomposition catalyst. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ozone sterilizing apparatus capable of reliably switching a flow path in a processing chamber by a single actuator.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that a sterilizing booth for performing a sterilizing process, and a first process for supplying air containing ozone to the sterilizing booth. An ozone sterilization apparatus comprising a processing chamber for selectively taking in air in the sterilization booth and performing a second processing for decomposing ozone, wherein the processing chamber removes air from the sterilization booth. A receiving branch, and a blowing chamber in which blowing means for blowing air to the sterilizing booth are provided adjacent to the branch chamber and arranged.
A first opening provided in the partition between the branch chamber and the blower chamber for communicating the branch chamber and the blower chamber, and a second opening provided in a wall of the branch chamber facing the partition. Opening and
A third wall provided on the wall of the blower chamber facing the partition;
An ozone decomposition chamber for taking in the air received in the branch chamber through the second opening, decomposing it by ozonolysis, and sending it to the blower chamber through the third opening;
The first to third dampers for opening and closing the first to third openings, respectively.
The first to third dampers are configured to open and close the first opening and the second and third openings in mutually opposite states.

At the time of sterilization in the sterilization booth, the first damper is in a position where the first opening is opened, and the second and third dampers are in a position where the second and third openings are closed. As a result, the branch chamber and the blower chamber communicate with each other, and ozone can be supplied to the sterilization booth. On the other hand, at the end of sterilization, the first damper is set to a position where the first opening is closed, and the second and third dampers are set to a position where the second and third openings are opened. As a result, the communication state between the branch room and the blower room is eliminated,
The branching chamber communicates with the blowing chamber via the ozonolysis chamber, and the ozone in the sterilization booth is decomposed when passing through the ozonolysis chamber, and the ozone concentration in the sterilization booth can be reduced to a predetermined value.

According to another feature of the present invention, the first to third dampers are fixed to a coupling body, and the first to third dampers are formed by the first to third dampers by an actuator coupled to the coupling body. The opening and closing control of the opening 3 is performed simultaneously.
Since the flow path can be switched only by sliding the connecting body in a predetermined direction by the actuator, the damper and the actuator can be easily configured.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an embodiment of an ozone sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention. The ozone sterilizer 1 is a sterilization booth 2 for performing a sterilization process.
And a main unit 3 for controlling ozone in the sterilizing booth 2. In a housing 4 of the main unit 3, a processing chamber 5 and various devices necessary for ozone sterilization are provided.

The processing chamber 5 is connected to the sterilizing booth 2 via a suction duct 5A and a blowing duct 5B, and controls the ozone concentration in the sterilizing booth 2 to establish an atmosphere necessary for the sterilizing process in the sterilizing booth 2. I do. The processing chamber 5 includes an ozonolysis chamber 5C, a branch chamber 5D, and a blower chamber 5E. One side of the branch chamber 5D is adjacent to the inlet 5Ca of the ozone decomposition chamber 5C, and the other side has a blower chamber 5C.
E is provided adjacently. This ozone decomposition chamber 5C
Is formed in a substantially concave shape when viewed from the side in the figure, and three sides are formed as an inlet 5Ca, a processing unit 5Cb, and an outlet 5Cc, respectively, and the outlet 5Cc is adjacent to the other side of the blower chamber 5E. The suction duct 5A is connected to the branch chamber 5D, and the blow-out duct 5B is connected to the blower chamber 5E.

In the branch chamber 5D, a first slide damper 7 is provided in an opening M1 formed in a boundary wall W1 with the blower chamber 5E.
A is provided, and a second slide damper 7B is provided in an opening M2 formed in a boundary wall W2 with the ozone decomposition chamber 5C. In the ozone decomposition chamber 5C, a third slide damper 7C is provided in an opening M3 formed in a boundary wall W3 with the blowing chamber 5E. Each of the first to third slide dampers 7A to 7C is a push-type damper formed in a flat plate shape and dimensioned so as to securely close the openings M1 to M3 of the boundary walls W1 to W3. Connecting rod 8 fixed to connecting rod 8 having a predetermined length in the horizontal direction when viewed from above
Is a form of a linear shaft as shown in the figure, for example, and first to third slide dampers 7A to 7C are fixed to predetermined positions of the connecting rod 8, respectively. In the present embodiment, the openings M1 to M3 of the respective boundary walls W1 to W3 and the connecting rod 8 are arranged on the same linear position. This connecting rod 8
Is connected to the actuator 9 at one end, and the other end is slidably supported by a support member (not shown). The connection rod 8 is slidable in the axial direction by the operation of the actuator 9. The first to third slide dampers 7A to 7C shut off both adjacent chambers when joined to the corresponding openings, and communicate between the two chambers when separated from the corresponding openings. The actuator 9 can be constituted by a one-way electromagnetic solenoid that slides in one direction when energized, and uses a spring that returns in the opposite direction by a spring when no current is applied. In addition, it is also possible to use a motor as the actuator 9 and add a mechanism for converting rotation into slide.

As will be described in detail later, when one of the first and second slide dampers 7A and 7B provided in the branch chamber 5D is pressed against the corresponding opening and joined,
The other is a connecting rod 8 at a pitch away from the corresponding opening.
It is fixed to. Further, the second slide damper 7B and the third slide damper 7C are fixed to the connecting rod 8 so that when one is pressed against the corresponding opening and joined, the other is also pressed against the corresponding opening and joined. Has been
The ozone decomposition chamber 5C can be simultaneously shut off or communicated with the adjacent chamber.

A blower fan 10 is provided in the blower chamber 5E, and supplies the air in the blower chamber 5E to the sterilization booth 2. In addition, an ozone nozzle 11 and a humidification nozzle 12 are provided on the outlet flow path of the blower fan 10 so that ozone and moistened air can be supplied to the sterilization booth 2 by blowing air. Further, the ozone concentration in this blower chamber 5E is equal to the detector 1
4A, and the high-concentration ozone sensor 14B detects the concentration stepwise, and the humidity is detected by the humidity sensor 15.

An ozone decomposition catalyst 18 is provided in the processing section 5Cb of the ozone decomposition chamber 5C, and ozone contained in the air is decomposed by passing air through the ozone decomposition catalyst 18. A first ozone sensor 19 is provided at the inlet 5Ca, and detects the ozone concentration of the air in the sterilization booth 2 sucked through the branch chamber 5D.

Next, various devices provided in the housing 4 of the main unit 3 will be described. The ozone generation means 20 includes a coupler 20A for connecting an oxygen hose, an oxygen regulator 20B for regulating a passage amount, and an oxygen solenoid valve 20 for opening and closing control.
C, an ozone generator 20D, a high-voltage power supply 20E, an ozone hose 20F, and an ozone flow meter 20G for measuring an ozone flow rate. The ozone generator 20D generates ozone with oxygen supplied from the outside of the housing 4 and
The air is supplied to the ozone nozzle 11 of the blowing chamber 5E via F.

The humidifying means 22 includes an humidifying water tank 22A, a water supply port 22B, an ultrasonic humidifier 22C for converting water supplied from the humidifying water tank 22A into mist-like fine particles by ultrasonic waves, a humidifier power supply 22D, and an ultrasonic humidifier. A humidifying hose 22E for sending out the humidified air of the vessel 22C to the humidifying nozzle 12 of the blower chamber 5E. Water can be supplied to the humidification water tank 22A from the outside via the water supply port 22B, and the water level is detected by the water level detector 22F. A part of the water in the humidification water tank 22A is also supplied to a humidifier 22H provided in the blower chamber 5E via a supply hose 22G, and the inside of the blower chamber 5E is set to a pre-humidified state.

Excess water and the like in each part in the housing 4 is collected by the collecting means 23. The collection means 23 includes a discharge valve 23A for discharging water from the humidification water tank 22A, a discharge valve 23B for water discharged from the ultrasonic humidifier 22C, a discharge fan 2 and a discharge valve 2 for water collected in the processing chamber 5.
3C, a drain receiver 23D for storing water discharged by switching the discharge valves 23A to 23C.

The heat generated in each of the above parts provided in the housing 4 of the supply device 3 is released to the outside of the housing 4 by the cooling fan 25. Further, the ozone concentration in the housing 4 is detected by the second ozone sensor 26, and leakage of ozone from the processing chamber 5 is monitored.

The control box 28 is accommodated in a predetermined box, and controls each operation mode described later by operating an operation panel 29 provided on the housing 4. The control box 28 receives the detection signals of the above sensors, monitors the ozone concentration and the humidity, and controls the operation of the actuator 9 and the blower fan 10 according to the operation mode.

Next, a series of operations of the sterilizing apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described. When a power switch (not shown) of the operation panel 29 is turned on, and a sterilization start switch (not shown) is operated in a state where a desired sterilization target is arranged in the sterilization booth 2, the control box 28 sets in advance. Control corresponding to the sterilization process is executed.

In the sterilization start mode, the actuator 9
Is energized. Thereby, the communication rod 8 moves to the position shown in FIG. 1, and the second and third slide dampers 7B, 7C
Are joined to the corresponding openings M2 and M3, and the openings M2 and M3 are closed. At the same time, the first slide damper 7A separates from the corresponding round M1 and opens the opening M1. by this,
The branch chamber 5D of the processing chamber 5 communicates with the blower chamber 5E,
These two chambers are connected to the sterilization booth 2 via the suction duct 5A and the blow-out duct 5B. At this time,
Boundary walls W2, W3 corresponding to the entrance and exit of the ozone decomposition chamber 5C
Openings M2 and M3 of the second and third slide dampers 7B,
7C, the ozonolysis chamber 5C is isolated in the processing chamber 5.

Thereafter, by operating the blower fan 10, the air in the sterilization booth 2 is drawn into the suction duct 5A.
Circulation starts in the flow path from the branch chamber 5D to the blower chamber 5E to the blowing duct 5B. At this time, the ozone generation means 20 and the humidification means 22 are operated, and the ozone from the ozone nozzle 11 and the humidification air from the humidification nozzle 12 are mixed and sent to the sterilization booth 2, and the ozone concentration in the sterilization booth 2 is required for sterilization. To a desired concentration (for example, about 200 ppm).

Thereafter, in the fumigation sterilization mode in which the sterilization booth 2 performs a sterilization process for a specified time, the actuator 9 is maintained in an energized state, and the second and third slide dampers 7B,
7C are opened at the corresponding openings M2 and M
The ozone concentration in the sterilization booth 2 is maintained at a high level by operating the blower fan 10 with the openings M2 and M3 closed while being joined to the sterilization booth 2. During the fumigation sterilization, the ozone concentration detected and output by the high-concentration ozone sensor 14B is monitored, and the ozone generation means 20 is turned on and off to keep the ozone concentration in the sterilization booth 2 constant for a specified time. Similarly, the humidifying means 2 is provided so that the humidity in the sterilizing booth 2 is constant.
2 is turned on and off.

In the sterilization start mode and the fumigation sterilization mode, the ozone decomposition chamber 5C is provided with the second and third slide dampers 7.
Both the openings M2 and M3 serving as entrances and exits are closed by B and 7C, and the ozone decomposition chamber 5C is in a form isolated in the processing chamber 5, so that ozone air is discharged from the ozone decomposition chamber 5C. The operation efficiency in the sterilization start mode and the fumigation sterilization mode is not reduced without touching the decomposition catalyst 18.

After the specified time for fumigation sterilization,
The ozonolysis mode is executed, and the actuator 9 is turned off. As a result, the connecting rod 8 moves, and the first slide damper 7A joins the opening M1 of the boundary wall W1 to close the opening M1. At the same time, the second and third slide dampers 7
B, 7C are separated from the corresponding boundary walls W2, W3, and the opening M
2. Open M3. Then, by the operation of the blower fan 10, a flow path for the air in the sterilization booth 2 to go around the suction duct 5A, the branching chamber 5D, the ozone decomposition chamber 5C, the blowing chamber 5E, and the blowing duct 5B is formed.

In this state, the air from the sterilization booth 2 is guided to the ozone decomposition chamber 5C, and the ozone contained in the air is decomposed by the ozone decomposition catalyst 18 to form the sterilization booth 2
Then, the environmental reference value (0.1 ppm or less) is detected by the low-concentration ozone sensor 19, and the ozone concentration is reduced to a concentration that does not affect the human body. By executing the above series of steps, one sterilization process is performed in the sterilization booth 2.

Processing chamber 5 described in the above embodiment
Has been described with a configuration in which the suction duct 5A and the blow-out duct 5B are arranged at the upper position.
The suction duct 5A and the blow-out duct 5B may be arranged sideways or downward depending on the position, etc., and the processing chamber 5 may be oriented sideways or downward in the housing 4 of the main unit 3 correspondingly.

The openings formed in each of the boundary walls described in the above embodiment can be square or circular.
Correspondingly, the first to third slide dampers 7A to 7C may have a size larger than at least this opening diameter and may be configured to be freely opened and closed. Each of the first to third slide dampers 7A to 7C is formed in a flat plate shape, and can be sealed well by closing the opening only by making contact with the opening. Even if it does, the durability can be maintained.

The first to third dampers 7A to 7C are:
Since it can be opened and closed by a single actuator 9 via the connecting rod 8, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, each of the boundary walls W1 to W3
Openings M1 to M3 and first to third slide dampers 7A to 7A to
7C are arranged on the same straight line, and each damper is described as being fixed to the linear connecting rod 8. However, each of these dampers does not necessarily have to be located on a straight line, and may be slid along the direction of the straight line, and the position of the opening is not limited to the linear position. In addition, the connecting rod 8 is not limited to the linear shaft positioned on the linear position, and may be configured by an arm bent in accordance with the opening position, the arrangement position of the blower fan 10, and the like. The same operation and effect as described above can be obtained.

[0038]

According to the present invention, in a configuration in which a process for generating an ozone atmosphere for sterilization using ozone and a process for decomposing ozone after sterilization can be switched in one processing chamber, the pressing is performed. The required airtight state can be satisfactorily obtained by the type damper. As a result, the ozonolysis chamber can be isolated from other chambers during the sterilization mode by selectively opening and closing the openings by the plurality of push-in dampers, thereby preventing the air during sterilization from coming into contact with the ozonolysis catalyst. In addition, the operation efficiency during sterilization can be improved. In addition, since the ozone does not unnecessarily come into contact with the ozone decomposition catalyst, the operation efficiency at the time of ozone decomposition can be improved. In addition, since each damper is fixed to a single connecting body and the connecting body can be opened and closed to switch the flow path simply by sliding the connecting body along a predetermined linear direction by an actuator, the damper and the actuator can be easily configured. And the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an ozone sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional ozone sterilization apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ozone sterilization apparatus 2 Sterilization booth 3 Supply apparatus 5 Processing chamber 5A Suction duct 5B Blow-off duct 5C Ozone decomposition chamber 5D Branching chamber 5E Ventilation chamber 7A First slide damper 7B Second slide damper 7C Third slide damper 8 Connecting rod Reference Signs List 9 actuator 10 blower fan 18 ozone decomposition catalyst 19 low-concentration ozone sensor 20 ozone generating means 22 humidifying means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sterilization booth for performing a sterilization process, a first process for supplying air containing ozone to the sterilization booth, and a first process for taking in air in the sterilization booth and decomposing ozone. 2. An ozone sterilization apparatus comprising: a processing chamber for selectively performing the processing of No. 2; and wherein the processing chamber includes: a branch chamber for receiving air from the sterilization booth; and the sterilization booth provided adjacent to the branch chamber. A blower chamber in which a blower for sending air to the air blower is disposed; a first opening provided in the partition between the branch chamber and the blower chamber to communicate the branch chamber with the blower chamber; A second wall provided on the wall of the branch chamber facing the partition;
And a third provided on a wall of the blower chamber facing the partition.
An ozone decomposing chamber for taking in the air received in the branch chamber through the second opening, decomposing it with ozone, and sending it to the air blowing chamber through the third opening; And a first to a third damper of a push-in type for opening and closing the third opening respectively.
An ozone sterilization apparatus characterized in that the first opening and the second and third openings are opened and closed in mutually opposite states by a third damper. 2. The first to third dampers are fixed to a connector, and the actuators connected to the connector simultaneously control opening and closing of the first to third openings by the first to third dampers. 2. The ozone sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the ozone sterilization is performed.