JPH1071189A - Ultraviolet ray sterilization device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relatively uniformly irradiate the surface of a work with ultraviolet rays by connecting two reflectors whose cross section is elliptic, turning the common focus of the two reflectors to a first focus, arranging a ultraviolet ray source and positioning second focuses to symmetrical positions on both sides of the first focus. SOLUTION: The reflectors 12 mounted to the inside of this ultraviolet ray sterilization device are constituted by connecting the two reflectors whose cross section is elliptic. Also, for the reflectors 12, the ultraviolet ray source 14 is arranged to the common first focus of the two reflectors 12 whose cross section is elliptic. Further, the second focuses are positioned to the symmetrical positions on both sides of the first focus. Thus, the entire container is uniformly irradiated with reflected light from the first focus and the reflected light from the second focuses and sterilization is surely performed without degrading and discoloring the work further by excessive irradiation with the ultraviolet rays.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an improvement in an ultraviolet sterilizer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 5, for example, a conventional ultraviolet sterilizer includes a reflector 1 having an arcuate surface inside a body of an ultraviolet irradiation device. Further, an ultraviolet light source 3 housed in a water-cooled jacket 2 is arranged and configured to irradiate the surface of the work with ultraviolet light to sterilize the work surface.

[0003]

However, according to the above-mentioned ultraviolet sterilizer, about 80% of the ultraviolet light projected from the ultraviolet light source to the reflector is projected on the jacket containing the light source, so that the reflection which contributes to the sterilization is achieved. Ultraviolet rays have a disadvantage of as low as 20%. Further, according to the above-mentioned ultraviolet sterilizer, since a reflector having an arc surface is used, there is a drawback that ultraviolet rays are concentrated on a specific portion on the work surface. Further, in the ultraviolet sterilizer, since the portion having the lowest UV illuminance is used as a reference, if the UV illuminance varies on the surface of the work, there is a drawback that the UV is excessively irradiated in a specific range. If the work is made of plastic when the ultraviolet rays are excessively irradiated, there is a disadvantage that the plastic is deteriorated and discolored.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an ultraviolet sterilizer capable of irradiating the surface of a work with relatively evenly irradiated ultraviolet rays and effectively sterilizing the same. I do.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has the following structure to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is configured by connecting two reflectors each having an elliptical cross section and connecting an ultraviolet light source with a common focal point of the two reflectors as a first focal point. It is. The second focal point is located at symmetrical positions at both ends of the first focal point, and the ultraviolet illuminance on the work surface is averaged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an ultraviolet light source mounted on a water-cooled jacket is arranged according to the shape of the sterilized surface of the work.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An ultraviolet sterilizer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, reference numeral 11 denotes an ultraviolet sterilizer, which is formed, for example, in a box shape. Reference numeral 12 denotes a reflector mounted inside the ultraviolet sterilizer 11, which is formed by connecting two reflectors having an elliptical cross section. As shown in FIG. 1, the reflector 12 is configured by disposing an ultraviolet light source at a common first focal point of two reflectors having an elliptical cross section. Also, the second focal point is located at symmetrical positions at both ends of the first focal point. The reflector 12 is made of aluminum and has a mirror surface. Reference numeral 13 denotes a double-tube water-cooling jacket, which is made of, for example, quartz glass and has an outer dimension of about 23φ. Reference numeral 14 denotes an ultraviolet light source housed in the water-cooled jacket 13;
It is constructed using a straight-tube low-pressure mercury lamp of 0 watts to 400 watts. In the apparatus, the interval between the double-tube water-cooling jacket 13 and the reflector 12 is configured to be about 4 cm.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a work which is transported by a conveyor or the like in front of the ultraviolet light source, and is a container made of, for example, a plastic material, and mainly sterilizes a medical container or a food container which cannot be heated.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an ultraviolet sterilizer is arranged according to the shape of the work. The thing shown in FIG. 2 is a deep-bottom type container, in which an ultraviolet sterilizer is arranged directly above. FIG. 3 shows the case where the side of the workpiece needs to be sterilized,
An ultraviolet sterilizer is arranged on the side. The thing shown in FIG. 4 is a deformed cylindrical type, and there is a case where it is necessary to sterilize the upper and lower sides and the side surface. The ultraviolet sterilizer is arranged on the upper and lower sides and the side surface.

Next, an example of use of the above-mentioned ultraviolet sterilizer will be described. In FIG. 2, an ultraviolet sterilizer is disposed above a three-dimensional container conveyed by a conveyor or the like, and the inside of the container is sterilized. In FIG. 3, an ultraviolet sterilizer is arranged on the side of the three-dimensional container, and the outer surface of the container is sterilized with ultraviolet. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, ultraviolet sterilizers can be arranged on the top, bottom, and side surfaces of the three-dimensional container, and the inside and the outside surface of the container can be sterilized at the same time. In these UV sterilization, the reflected light from the first focus and the reflected light from the second focus are irradiated on the container as a whole on average, and the UV light is excessively irradiated, and the work is surely prevented from deteriorating and discoloring. Sterilized. For example, FIG.
In the usage example shown in (1), the ultraviolet light applied to the work is 50% of direct light and 50% of reflected light. According to the conventional ultraviolet sterilizer shown in FIG. 5, the direct light 20% and the reflected light 8
0%, and the reflected light returns to the water-cooled jacket, so that the utilization rate decreases.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is a special effect that the irradiation amount of the ultraviolet rays to the work is averaged and the ultraviolet rays can be used efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an ultraviolet sterilizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the ultraviolet sterilizer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing another embodiment of the ultraviolet sterilizer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing another embodiment of the ultraviolet sterilizer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a conventional ultraviolet sterilizer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Ultraviolet sterilizer 12 Reflector 13 Water cooling jacket 14 Ultraviolet light source 15 Work

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ultraviolet light source having two reflectors each having an elliptical cross section connected to each other, a common focal point of the two reflectors as a first focal point, and both ends of the first focal point. An ultraviolet sterilizer characterized in that the second focal point is located at a symmetrical position of (1) and that the ultraviolet illuminance on the work surface is averaged. 2. The ultraviolet sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein an ultraviolet light source mounted on a water-cooled jacket is arranged in accordance with the shape of the sterilizing surface of the workpiece.