JPH1119194A - Ozone aroma steam sterilizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the concentration of oxygen in a sterilizing booth, to reduce the danger of fire occurrence under high concentration and further to prevent adverse influences upon a human body. SOLUTION: The time from the open of a solenoid valve for oxygen in a start mode to the close is set in limit value setting processing (step 202). In this limit value setting processing, the capacity of the sterilizing booth is read and based on a transform table or a transform formula preset from that capacity, the opening time is found suitably for the concentration of oxygen allowable in the sterilizing booth having the relevant capacity. Then, when it is discriminated the solenoid valve for oxygen is opened for prescribed time set by the step 202 (step 220), the solenoid valve for oxygen is closed (step 230) so that the concentration of oxygen can be prevented from rising in a space to be sterilized because of unwanted opening.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ozone fumigation sterilizer for ozone fumigation sterilization of a space to be sterilized using ozone, and more particularly, to secure the safety of oxygen concentration in the space to be sterilized. About things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of apparatus, for example,
As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-12214, while ozone is generated by an ozone generator, air in a sterilization booth that defines a space to be sterilized is sucked into a predetermined processing chamber, and the ozone is generated from the ozone generator. The ozone is mixed with ozone and returned to the inside of the sterilization booth so that the inside of the sterilization booth has a predetermined ozone concentration and ozone fumigation sterilization is possible.

[0003]

In such an ozone fumigation sterilizer, oxygen is supplied from the outside to the ozone generator, and is used as a raw material of ozone gas generated in the ozone generator. . Further, after the ozone fumigation sterilization is completed, excess ozone in the sterilization booth is returned to oxygen by the ozone decomposition catalyst provided in the ozone fumigation sterilization apparatus, and is returned to the sterilization booth again. I have. Therefore, the oxygen concentration in the sterilization booth after the end of the ozone fumigation becomes relatively higher than that in the atmosphere.

[0004] However, the conventional ozone fumigation sterilizer does not have any function for suppressing or restricting an unnecessary increase in the oxygen concentration in the sterilization booth. Therefore, for example, if there is something in the sterilization booth that consumes a large amount of ozone, or if the capacity of the ozone generator is reduced, the oxygen concentration will further increase, causing a fire in the sterilization booth. The probability of occurrence increases,
In addition, there is a problem that a worker who enters and exits the sterilization booth may be adversely affected by a human body due to exposure to an extremely high concentration of oxygen.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can control the oxygen concentration in a sterilization booth, eliminate the risk of fire occurrence at high concentrations, and suppress the adverse effect on the human body. The present invention provides an ozone fumigation sterilizer capable of performing the above. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ozone fumigation sterilizer capable of suppressing the oxygen concentration in the sterilization booth to an appropriate concentration according to the size of the sterilization booth.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ozone fumigation sterilizer for inhaling air in a space to be sterilized,
Mix ozone generated by the ozone generator, and
After humidification and returning to the sterilized space, the ozone fumigation sterilization in the sterilized space is enabled.On the other hand, when the ozone fumigation sterilization is completed, air containing ozone in the sterilized space is inhaled, and ozone decomposition is performed. To return to the space to be sterilized to reduce the ozone concentration in the space to be sterilized, and an oxygen supply path for supplying oxygen from outside to the ozone generator is provided. In an ozone fumigation sterilization device where a solenoid valve for oxygen is provided on the road,
An opening restricting means for restricting the opening time of the oxygen solenoid valve according to the operating conditions of the ozone fumigation sterilizer is provided.

In this configuration, the solenoid valve for oxygen is opened for a predetermined time in accordance with the operating conditions of the ozone fumigation and sterilization apparatus. And the solenoid valve for oxygen suitable for the operating conditions of the ozone fumigation sterilizer is driven.
In particular, it is possible to minimize the risk of fire due to an increase in oxygen concentration in the space to be sterilized, and to minimize the effect of high-concentration oxygen on the human body of workers.

[0008] The opening control means is constituted, for example, mainly of a so-called microcomputer, and sets the solenoid valve for oxygen to satisfy the preset operating conditions of the ozone fumigation sterilizer.
The present invention can be realized by an apparatus configured to execute a program for setting the open state.

In particular, it is preferable that the operating conditions of the ozone fumigation sterilizer be an oxygen concentration that is acceptable in the space to be sterilized. Under such conditions, the danger of a fire caused by the high oxygen concentration and the adverse effect on the human body can be more reliably reduced.

It is preferable that the allowable oxygen concentration in the space to be sterilized is determined according to the capacity of the space to be sterilized. Since the appropriate oxygen concentration in the space to be sterilized corresponds to the capacity of the space to be sterilized, the oxygen concentration is determined based on the relative relationship between the capacity of the space to be sterilized previously checked and the appropriate oxygen concentration. By further setting the upper limit of the opening time of the oxygen solenoid valve,
For example, even if the capacity of the space to be sterilized is changed, it is possible to cope with the change and to provide a highly versatile device.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The members, arrangements, and the like described below do not limit the present invention, and can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. First, the configuration of the ozone fumigation sterilizer S according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ozone fumigation sterilizer S according to the embodiment of the present invention is roughly divided into a sterilizer main body 1 that generates and decomposes ozone and a sterilizer booth 2 that forms a space to be sterilized. The main body 1 is communicated with the flexible hoses 3a and 3b (see FIG. 1).

The sterilizing booth 2 has columns 5a to 5b erected at four corners of a floor member 4 formed in a rectangular shape, and the upper ends of the four columns 5a to 5d are connected by connecting members 6a to 6d. The skeleton of the sterilizing booth 2 is formed by these columns 5a to 5d and the connecting members 6a to 6d. And these pillars 5a
Transparent or translucent cover 7 covers posts 5a to 5d and connecting member 6a so as to cover to 5d and connecting members 6a to 6d.
To 6d to constitute a sterilization booth 2. In addition, slits 7a and 7b are formed at appropriate positions of the cover 7 to allow the worker to enter and exit (see FIG. 1).

On the other hand, the sterilizing apparatus main body 1 has a specific structure as shown in FIG. 2 and will be described below with reference to FIG. 11 is provided, and is separated from the other space of the main body case 10 excluding the processing chamber 11. That is, the inside of the processing chamber 11 mixes and humidifies ozone to the air taken in from the sterilization booth 2 when ozone is generated.
This is a region where the ozone sucked from the sterilizing booth 2 is decomposed, and is separated from other regions of the main body case 10 because the ozone concentration is high. On the other hand, the air atmosphere space portion 12 except for the processing chamber 11 in the main body case 10 is a region exposed to the air atmosphere.

The interior of the processing chamber 11 is divided into an intake space 13 and a delivery space 16.
Is divided into a space part 14 for occurrence and a space part 15 for disassembly. A first communication opening 18a is provided in the partition wall 17a between the space for generation 14 and the space 15 for disassembly, and a partition 17b between the space for generation 14 and the delivery space 16 is provided in the partition 17a. , A second communication opening 18b is formed, and a third communication opening 18c is formed in the partition wall 17c between the delivery space 16 and the disassembling space 15, respectively. 3 communication openings 18a to 18c
Are the first damper 19a and the second damper 19, respectively.
b, it is opened and closed by a third damper 19c.

That is, the first to third dampers 19a to 19a
19c is fixed together with a connecting rod 45 extending from the motor actuator 20, and the connecting rod 45 can reciprocate by driving the motor actuator 20. Then, by the control of the motor actuator 20 by the control unit 32 described later, when ozone is generated,
The second communication opening 18b is opened by the second damper 19b, while the first communication opening 18a and the third communication opening 1 are formed by the first and third dampers 19a and 19c.
As a result of closing each of 8c, the space 14 at the time of occurrence and the sending space 16 communicate with each other.

During the ozonolysis, the first and third dampers 19a and 19c are moved to open the first and third communication openings 18a and 18c, respectively, while the second and third dampers 19a and 19c are moved to open the second and third communication openings 18c and 18c, respectively. Communication opening 18b of the second damper 1
9b, the disassembly space 15 is communicated with the delivery space 16. An air intake duct 21 a to which the flexible hose 3 a is connected is provided in the emergence space 14, and communicates with the sterilization booth 2. On the other hand, the delivery space 16 is provided with a delivery duct 21b to which the flexible hose 3b is connected, and the delivery space 1 of the delivery duct 21b is provided.
The blower opening 22a of the blower fan 22 provided in the delivery space 16 is connected to the opening on the sixth side.

When the ozone is generated, the blowing fan 2
2 operates, the air in the sterilization booth 2 is sucked into the blower fan 22 through the generation space 14 and the second communication opening 18b, and the ozone supply path 23a connected to the blower port 22a is discharged. Mixed with ozone supplied via
The air is sent to the sterilization booth 2 again by the blower fan 22. The air outlet 22a is connected to a forward hose 25a and a backward hose 25b extending from the humidifier 24 disposed in the atmosphere space 12 so that the air sucked from the forward hose 25a is The humidifier 24 provides an appropriate amount of moisture and returns the air to the air outlet 22a via the return hose 25b, thereby increasing the ozone sterilizing effect.

On the other hand, at the time of ozone decomposition, the blowing fan 22
Operation, the space portion 14 for once generated from the sterilization booth 2 is generated.
The air containing ozone sucked into the first communication opening 1
The gas flows into the disassembling space 15 through 8a. Then, the air containing ozone that has flowed into the decomposition space 15 is passed through the ozone decomposition catalyst 26 disposed in the decomposition space 15 to be subjected to ozone decomposition, and is subjected to the third connection. The air is sucked into the blower fan 22 through the passage opening 18c, and is returned to the sterilization booth 2 in the same manner as when ozone is generated.

An ozone generator 30 for generating ozone using oxygen as a raw material, a high-voltage power supply unit 31 for generating and supplying a high voltage required for the operation of the ozone generator 30, a humidifier 24 A program for controlling the operation of the ozone fumigation sterilizer S as described later is executed based on the humidifier power supply 24a for generating the power supply voltage necessary for the operation of the apparatus, and input signals from various sensors and the operation panel 33. Thus, a control unit 32 and the like for controlling the operation of the ozone fumigation sterilizer S are provided. For example, the ozone generator 30 converts oxygen to ozone by applying a high voltage from the high-voltage power supply unit 31 between discharge electrodes (not shown) and discharging the oxygen in oxygen supplied from the outside. It has a configuration. This ozone generator 30 includes:
Oxygen hose connection coupler 3 provided in main body case 10
4 is connected to the oxygen supply path 23b extending from
By connecting an oxygen cylinder (not shown) to the oxygen hose connecting coupler 34, oxygen can be supplied to the ozone generator 30. In the oxygen supply passage 23b,
The oxygen regulator 35 and the oxygen solenoid valve 36 are attached so that the amount of oxygen supplied to the ozone generator 30 can be adjusted. In particular, the oxygen solenoid valve 36
The opening / closing operation is controlled by the control unit 32 as described later.

The ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is supplied to the delivery space 16 via the ozone supply passage 23a having one end opened near the blower fan 22, as described above. The ozone supply path 23a has an ozone flow meter 3 for detecting the ozone flow rate.
8 are provided. A cooling fan 38 is provided in the main body case 10 in the vicinity of the ozone generator 30 to draw air from outside into the atmosphere space 12 and
The air in the atmosphere space 12 is exhausted to ventilate the atmosphere space 12. Further, the external air sucked by the cooling fan 38 is directly blown to the ozone generator 30, so that the ozone generator 30 is actively cooled. Note that a second ozone sensor 40b is provided near the cooling fan 38, and the processing chamber 1
Ozone leaked to the atmosphere space portion 12 from 1 or the like can be detected.

The control section 32 includes a first ozone sensor 40a, a second ozone sensor 40b provided in the decomposition space section 15, and a high-concentration ozone sensor 41 for detecting the ozone concentration in the delivery space section 16. Various information from the humidity sensor 42 for detecting the humidity of the sending space 16, the humidification water level detector 44 for detecting the water level of the humidification water tank 43, and the operation panel 33, etc. By execution, the ozone generator 30, the humidifier 24, the high-voltage power supply unit 31, the motor actuator 20, the solenoid valve for oxygen 36
And the like. The control unit 32 is mainly configured by, for example, a microcomputer represented by a so-called CPU.

Next, the overall flow of the ozone fumigation sterilization processing by the control unit 32 in the ozone fumigation sterilization apparatus S having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, for example, the apparatus is started by pressing a power switch (not shown) provided on the operation panel 33, and the control unit 3
When the control for the ozone fumigation sterilization process by the process 2 is started, first, a process as a start mode is performed (see step 100 in FIG. 3). That is, the start mode is the next ozone generation / humidification mode (20 in FIG. 3).
0)) to perform the necessary processing to prepare for the start
For example, the ozone generator 30 is turned on by turning on a high-voltage power supply unit 31 by turning on a necessary portion of various indicating instruments (not shown), starting a cooling fan 38, and supplying commercial power to the high-voltage power supply unit 31. And a process of starting supply of oxygen to the ozone generator 30 by opening the oxygen valve 36 for oxygen. Further, the second damper 19b is driven by the motor actuator 20, and the generation space portion 14 and the delivery space portion 16 are formed through the second communication opening 18b.
Are in communication with each other.

After the processing in the start mode, the processing in the ozone generation / humidification mode is performed (200 in FIG. 3).
reference). That is, in the ozone generation / humidification mode, ozone generation and humidification processing are performed (details will be described later), and the opening time of the oxygen solenoid valve 36 is confirmed as described later. .

After the ozone generation and humidification mode has been performed for a predetermined time, the mode is changed to the fumigation sterilization mode, and the fumigation sterilization in the sterilization booth 2 is performed for the predetermined time (FIG. 3).
Step 300). That is, here, the blower fan 22 and the cooling fan 38 are stopped, the second communication opening 18b is closed by the second damper 19b, and the inside of the sterilization booth 2 is set to a high ozone concentration and high humidity state. It is left for a predetermined time while being held.

After a predetermined time has passed in the sterilizing fumigation mode,
The processing as the ozonolysis / end mode is performed (see step 400 in FIG. 3). That is, here, the first and third dampers 19a and 19c are moved by the motor actuator 20 so that the first and third communication openings 18a and 18c are opened, and the blower fan 22 is started. , The air containing ozone in the sterilization booth 2 is supplied to the decomposition space 1 through the generation space 14.
Inhaled to 5. Then, the inhaled air containing ozone is passed through the ozonolysis catalyst 26 to be ozonolyzed, and a recirculation state is returned to the germicidal booth 2 by the blower fan 22 of the delivery space 16 to form a circulating state.
The ozone concentration in the interior is reduced.

When the ozone concentration detected by the first ozone sensor 40a falls below a predetermined value,
The driving of the blower fan 22 is stopped, the first communication opening 18a is driven by the first damper 19a, and the third communication opening 18c is driven by the third damper 19c.
Both are closed, and, for example, an end lamp (not shown) is turned on to end a series of ozone fumigation sterilization processing.

Next, an example of controlling the opening and closing time of the oxygen solenoid valve 36 in the ozone generation / humidification mode will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a limit value setting process for setting an upper limit of the opening time of the oxygen solenoid valve 36 is performed (see step 202 in FIG. 4). That is, the setting of the time until the oxygen solenoid valve 36 is closed in the previous step 100 until the closed state is set is set based on the operating conditions of the ozone fumigation sterilizer S. I have. The operating condition of the ozone fumigation sterilizer S is, in the embodiment of the present invention, an oxygen concentration allowable in the sterilization booth 2, and the oxygen concentration is determined based on the capacity of the sterilization booth 2. It is.

More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, first, the capacity of the sterilization booth 2 is input (see step 204 in FIG. 5). Here, sterilization booth 2
For example, there is a method of inputting a numerical input key (not shown) on the operation panel 33 so that the user reads the volume of the sterilization booth 2 by so-called key input. Further, as another input form, for example, an appropriate switch for setting the capacity of the sterilization booth 2 (for example, a logical value “1” for each bit) is provided on the operation panel 33 or an appropriate portion of the main body case 10. Or a so-called dip switch for performing setting corresponding to “0”), and the capacity of the sterilization booth 2 is determined by reading the setting state of this switch preset by the user. You may. Further, the capacity of the sterilization booth 2 may be stored in advance in a nonvolatile storage element such as a so-called ROM of a microcomputer (not shown) constituting the control unit 32, and this data may be read.

After the capacity of the sterilizing booth 2 is read as described above, the time for the capacity is calculated (see step 206 in FIG. 5). That is, for example, based on the result of previously examining the appropriate opening times of the solenoid valve for oxygen 36 with respect to various capacities of the sterilization booth 2, a conversion table between capacities and time is created,
Can be calculated by reading the time corresponding to the capacity read in step 204 by using the conversion table stored in the nonvolatile storage element.

Further, instead of using the conversion table, for example, a conversion formula may be used. That is, a conversion formula for calculating the time from the capacity of the sterilization booth 2 may be created in advance, and the time may be calculated by using this formula in step 206.

After the limit value setting process (see step 202 in FIG. 4) is performed as described above, the blower fan 22
Is started, a high voltage is applied to the ozone generator 30, the ozone generator 30 is started, and the humidifier 2
4 is applied to start the humidifier 24 (see step 210 in FIG. 4). by this,
The air in the sterilization booth 2 is sucked from the generation space 14 to the delivery space 16, and the air sucked into the delivery space 16 is sucked into the blower fan 22, where the ozone from the ozone generator 30 is removed. Is returned to the sterilization booth 2 via the air outlet 22a, the delivery duct 21b, and the flexible hose 3b, so that a so-called reflux state is formed.

Subsequently, the opening time of the solenoid valve for oxygen 36 is determined (see step 220 in FIG. 4). That is, it is determined whether or not the predetermined time set in step 202 (see FIG. 4) has elapsed since the solenoid valve 36 for oxygen was opened in the previous step 100 (see FIG. 3). If it is determined that the time has not yet elapsed, the process proceeds to step 240 described below,
If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, the oxygen solenoid valve 36 is closed (step 22 in FIG. 4).
0, 230).

Subsequently, the operation time of the ozone generation mode is determined (see step 240 in FIG. 4). That is, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time set in advance since the start of the start of the ozone generator 30 is determined. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, the process proceeds to step 220. Then, the above-described series of processing is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined operation time has elapsed, the application of the high voltage to the ozone generator 30 is stopped, and the application of the power supply voltage to the humidifier 24 is stopped. The mode ends (see step 250 in FIG. 4).

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 32 performs steps 202 and 202 shown in FIG.
By executing steps 220 and 230, the opening restriction means is realized.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By setting the opening time of the oxygen solenoid valve to be limited based on predetermined conditions, the supply amount of oxygen is limited, so that an unnecessary increase in the oxygen concentration of the space to be sterilized can be avoided. It is possible to reduce the risk of fires caused by the high oxygen concentration in the space to be sterilized, and to minimize the adverse effect on the human body due to the high oxygen concentration. A high ozone fumigation sterilizer can be provided. In particular, in the invention according to claim 3, for example, by configuring a program so as to be able to cope with various capacities of the space to be sterilized in advance, even if the capacity of the space to be sterilized is changed, It is possible to provide a versatile device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an overall configuration of an ozone fumigation sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sterilization apparatus main body constituting the ozone fumigation sterilization apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main flowchart showing a control procedure for an ozone fumigation sterilization process performed by a controller constituting the sterilization apparatus main body shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a subroutine flowchart showing an example of a specific processing procedure for an ozone generation / humidification mode in the main flowchart shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a subroutine flowchart showing an example of a specific processing procedure of a limit value setting process in the subroutine flowchart shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sterilizer main body 2 ... Sterilizer booth 10 ... Main body case 11 ... Processing chamber 12 ... Atmospheric atmosphere space part 13 ... Intake space part 14 ... Generation space part 15 ... Decomposition space part 16 ... Delivery space part 22 ... Blowing Fan 23a ... Ozone supply path 23b ... Oxygen supply path 30 ... Ozone generator 31 ... High voltage power supply unit 32 ... Control unit 36 ... Solenoid valve for oxygen

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for inhaling air in a space to be sterilized, mixing ozone generated by an ozone generator, and humidifying the mixture to return to the space to be sterilized, thereby enabling ozone fumigation sterilization in the space to be sterilized. When the ozone fumigation sterilization is completed, air containing ozone in the space to be sterilized is inhaled, ozonolysis is performed, the air is returned to the space to be sterilized, and the ozone concentration in the space to be sterilized is reduced. An ozone fumigation sterilizer having an oxygen supply path for supplying oxygen from the outside to the ozone generator, and an oxygen valve for oxygen provided in the oxygen supply path. An ozone fumigation sterilizer comprising an opening restriction means for restricting an opening time of a solenoid valve in accordance with an operating condition of the ozone fumigation sterilizer. 2. The ozone fumigation sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the operating condition of the ozone fumigation sterilizer is an oxygen concentration allowable in the space to be sterilized. 3. The ozone fumigation sterilizer according to claim 2, wherein the allowable oxygen concentration in the space to be sterilized is determined according to the capacity of the space to be sterilized.