JP4383102B2 - Autoclave - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an autoclave, and more particularly to an autoclave that can freely adjust the pressure reduction rate of the internal pressure according to the type of the object to be processed and an autoclave that can freely adjust the rate of decrease of the internal temperature. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Autoclaves are used, for example, for sterilizing medical supplies and culturing fungi. A typical operating process of an autoclave for this purpose is as follows.
(1) Heat-up process by heater control, (2) Auto-clave internal temperature of 100 ° C or higher, temperature-up process with exhaust valve fully closed, (3) Sterilization by maintaining the temperature when reaching the sterilization temperature Sterilization process to be performed, (4) exhaust process, (5) heat retention process to be performed as necessary, and (6) temperature decrease process.
[0003]
In the sterilization process, the interior of the autoclave is brought to a high temperature and high pressure state. Therefore, in order to finish the work, it is necessary to go through a temperature lowering process that lowers the internal temperature together with an exhaust process that reduces the internal pressure.
In order to shorten each process time after the completion of this sterilization process, if the internal pressure of the autoclave is rapidly reduced, the object to be processed may suddenly boil, so the internal pressure of the autoclave may be gradually reduced. Has been done. In order to gradually reduce the internal pressure of the autoclave, the inside of the autoclave and the outside air are usually connected by a thin pipe.
[0004]
On the other hand, since it is necessary to seal the inside of the autoclave in the temperature raising step, it is necessary to provide a valve on the pipe connecting the inside of the autoclave and the outside air. The valve is closed in the temperature raising process, and the valve is opened in the exhaust process. Hereinafter, this valve is referred to as an “exhaust valve”.
[0005]
As the exhaust valve, a needle-type exhaust valve is generally employed. An autoclave that employs an electromagnetic valve is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-279490.
[0006]
When exhausting high-temperature and high-pressure gas inside the autoclave using the exhaust valve, the internal temperature decreases due to adiabatic expansion of the gas. To reinforce this and further accelerate the temperature decrease, the autoclave is forced from the outside using a cooling fan. Cooling is also performed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, depending on the nature of the object exposed to high temperature and high pressure for sterilization inside the autoclave, it is not preferable to reduce the pressure rapidly in the subsequent exhaust process, etc. There may be no. Similarly, there are cases where it is not preferable to rapidly decrease the temperature, and cases where there is no problem even if the temperature is rapidly decreased.
[0008]
In addition, depending on the object to be processed, it may be necessary to finely adjust the reduced pressure state after exposure to high temperature and pressure. In some cases, it is necessary to depressurize and lower the temperature of the autoclave as soon as possible to take out the object to be processed and move to the next step.
[0009]
However, the autoclave that has been used in the past cannot adjust the pressure reduction rate of the internal pressure freely depending on the type of the object to be processed, and cannot adjust the rate of decrease of the internal temperature freely.
[0010]
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to propose an autoclave capable of freely adjusting the pressure reduction rate of the internal pressure as required in order to further improve the operability of the autoclave. Moreover, this invention makes it the 2nd subject to propose the autoclave which can adjust the fall rate of internal temperature freely as needed.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first problem of the present invention described above has been solved by the autoclave according to claim 1.
In other words, instead of a needle valve or an electromagnetic valve, a type of valve that has a rotatable valve body and whose fluid resistance changes continuously according to the rotation angle of the valve body, such as a ball valve, is adopted as an exhaust valve. This problem has been solved by allowing the rotation angle of the valve body of the valve to be continuously adjusted by a motor, for example, a stepping motor.
[0012]
The autoclave according to the present invention described above is an autoclave in which the pressure reduction rate of the internal pressure can be freely adjusted by continuously adjusting the valve body of the exhaust valve by the motor.
[0013]
The second problem of the present invention described above has been solved by the autoclave according to claim 7.
That is, the autoclave according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cooling fans for cooling the can body and a fan setting switch for selecting how many cooling fans are operated.
[0014]
The autoclave according to the present invention described above is an autoclave that can freely adjust the rate of decrease in internal temperature by increasing or decreasing the number of cooling fans to be operated.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the autoclave according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of the appearance of an autoclave according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the autoclave in FIG. FIG. 3 is a conceptual enlarged view of the exhaust valve portion of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the operation panel of the autoclave shown in FIG.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the autoclave 1 includes a can body 2 and a lid body 3 that can seal the can body 2. An operation panel 4 is provided on the lid 3.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, the can body 2 is provided with a heater 5 and a temperature sensor 6 in order to increase the internal temperature while controlling the temperature. In addition, the inside of the can body 2 and the outside air are connected via a pipe 7 made of a thin pipe.
[0019]
An exhaust valve 8 is disposed in the middle of the pipe 7. The exhaust valve 8 is closed during the temperature raising process of the autoclave 1, and is opened during the exhaust process. Moreover, the 1st and 2nd cooling fan 9a, 9b for forcibly cooling the can 2 from the exterior is provided. These cooling fans 9a and 9b adjust the temperature drop rate of the can body 2 by operating and stopping as necessary.
[0020]
As shown conceptually in FIG. 3, the exhaust valve 8 is mainly composed of an exhaust valve main body 8a and a valve body 8b rotatably housed in the exhaust valve main body 8a. . Then, the motor 10 for continuously adjusting the rotation angle of the valve body 8b, the encoder 11 for detecting the rotation angle position of the motor 10, and the valve body 8b completely closes the pipe 7 so as to autoclave. 1 It is provided with a closing confirmation sensor 12 for confirming that the inside and outside air are shut off.
[0021]
The exhaust valve 8 is, for example, a ball valve in which a valve body 8b having a through hole 8c is rotatably disposed in the valve body 8a. The motor 10 is a motor that can be held at a predetermined rotational angle position and can be realized by, for example, a stepping motor. The valve body 8b is rotated by the motor 10, and when the through hole 8c of the valve body 8b is oriented in a direction parallel to the pipe 7, the pipes 7 and 7 on both sides of the exhaust valve 8 are completely connected through the through hole 8c. As the direction of the through hole 8c deviates from the parallel direction, the connection opening area between the through hole 8c and the pipes 7 and 7 on both sides decreases, and the fluid resistance increases, so that the through hole 8c extends in the direction perpendicular to the pipe 7. When facing, the connection opening area becomes zero and the communication of the pipes 7 and 7 on both sides is closed. In the following description, the connection opening area is referred to as “opening degree”.
[0022]
The closing confirmation sensor 12 is a sensor for confirming that the exhaust valve 8 is completely closed when the autoclave 1 is sealed and heated. The closing confirmation sensor 12 includes a rotating member 12a that rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft of the valve body 8b, and a proximity sensor 12b that detects that the rotating member 12a is in proximity, and the exhaust valve 8 is connected to the piping. A signal is generated when 7,7 is completely closed.
[0023]
The proximity sensor 12b can be realized as, for example, an optical proximity sensor that generates a signal when the rotating member 12a shields light. In addition, the closing confirmation sensor 12 can be realized by using a magnetic sensor or the like.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 4A, the operation panel 4 is provided with an exhaust speed setting unit 13 for adjusting the pressure reduction rate of the internal pressure of the autoclave 1 at the upper left corner, and a function key at the lower left corner. 14 is arranged. A fan operation setting unit 15 for adjusting the cooling speed of the autoclave 1 is disposed under the exhaust speed setting unit 13.
[0025]
As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4 (b), the exhaust speed setting unit 13 includes a close switch 13a and an open switch 13b that are rotation angle setting means of the exhaust valve 8, and the close switch 13a The motor 10 is rotated in the direction of decreasing the opening of the body 8b, and the open switch 13b rotates the motor 10 in the direction of increasing the opening of the valve body 8b. The exhaust speed setting unit 13 is provided with an opening degree monitor 13c that displays the opening degree of the exhaust valve 8.
[0026]
In the example shown in FIG. 4 (b), the opening degree monitor 13c is realized by five light emitting means for displaying the opening degree in six steps from 0 to 5, and the set opening degree is set to 0 by the light emitting means. The number of emitted lights is included (in the figure, the lower three light emitting means emit light to indicate that it is “third level”).
In addition, the opening degree display method of the opening degree monitor 13c is not limited to the above-described one, and may be expressed by a numerical value, for example.
[0027]
An automatic exhaust mode and a manual exhaust mode can be selected by a function key 14 arranged at the lower left corner of the operation panel 4.
In the automatic exhaust mode, the opening degree can be set in six stages from 0 to 5 by the exhaust speed setting unit 13, and in the exhaust process of the autoclave 1, exhaust is automatically performed at the set opening degree.
On the other hand, when the manual exhaust mode is selected, the opening degree can be continuously changed to an arbitrary level by appropriately pressing the close switch 13a and the open switch 13b, and the decompression speed in the exhaust process can be continuously freely set. Can be adjusted.
[0028]
The fan operation setting unit 15 includes a fan setting switch 15a and a display unit 15b. Since the autoclave 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 includes the two cooling fans 9a and 9b, the number of cooling fans to be operated is set to 0, 1 by using the fan setting switch 15a. You can select one of the two. For example, each time the fan setting switch 15a is pressed, the setting can be cyclically changed to 0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2, 0. In the display unit 15b shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4C, one light emitting unit emits light and displays that one cooling fan 9a is set to operate.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the control unit 16 of the autoclave 1 according to the present invention.
The controller 16 outputs the temperature sensor 6 that detects the temperature inside the autoclave 1, the AD converter 6 a that converts the output signal into a digital signal, and the rotational position of the valve body 8 b of the exhaust valve 8. An encoder 11, a closing confirmation sensor 12 for confirming the closing of the valve body 8b of the exhaust valve 8, a motor 10 for rotating the valve body 8b of the exhaust valve 8 to exhaust the internal gas of the autoclave 1, and the motor A motor driver 10a for controlling the motor 10, an operation panel 4 including a switch such as the closing switch 13a and a display unit such as an opening monitor 13c, a heater 5 for heating the interior of the autoclave 1, and a heating value of the heater 5. Heater control unit 5a to be controlled, two cooling fans 9a and 9b, and a fan driver for driving the cooling fans 9a and 9b And a c.
[0030]
Further, the control unit 16 receives a signal from the closing switch 13a of the operation panel 4, a signal from the opening switch 13b, a signal from the function key 14, a signal from the fan setting switch 15a, and a signal from the encoder 11. The heater 5 is controlled via the heater controller 5a based on the signal from the closing confirmation sensor 12, the motor 10 is rotated via the motor driver 10a, and the exhaust valve 8 is controlled. A microcomputer 17 is provided for controlling the cooling fans 9a and 9b via a driver 9c.
The microcomputer 17 includes a known central control unit (CPU) and auxiliary units such as a memory, an interface, and a power source for ensuring the operation of the CPU.
[0031]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the control operation of the exhaust valve 8 in the exhaust process by the control unit 16.
The exhaust process is a depressurization process performed after a sterilization process or the like performed in a state where the autoclave 1 is heated and heated to a high temperature and a high pressure with the exhaust valve 8 of the autoclave 1 closed.
[0032]
When the exhaust process starts, the control unit 16 first determines whether the mode selected by the function key 14 is the automatic exhaust mode or the manual exhaust mode.
[0033]
When the automatic exhaust mode is selected, the motor 10 is rotationally driven to the rotational angle position corresponding to the opening degree selected in advance by the exhaust speed setting unit 13, and the exhaust valve is held stationary at that position. Eight valve elements 8b are set to the set opening state, and exhaust is performed at the set opening degree. When the inside of the autoclave 1 becomes 100 ° C. or less, the motor 10 is rotationally driven so that the opening of the valve body 8b is fully opened, and the inside of the autoclave 1 and the outside air are completely communicated. As a result, the exhaust process ends, and the process proceeds to the next process, for example, the heat retaining process or the temperature lowering process.
[0034]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a temperature change in the autoclave 1 when the autoclave 1 is operated in the automatic exhaust mode.
When it becomes close to 100 ° C. in the first temperature raising step, the exhaust valve 8 is closed and the temperature rises to a set temperature (for example, 105 to 135 ° C.). Thereafter, the set temperature is maintained and the sterilization process is started. When the sterilization set time has elapsed, the exhaust process is started.
In this exhaust process, as shown in the figure, when the set opening of the exhaust valve 8 is large (when the exhaust level number is large), the internal temperature rapidly decreases, and when the set opening is small (the exhaust level number is When it is small, the internal temperature gradually decreases. The opening degree can be selected according to the type of the object to be processed and the type of processing. When the internal temperature is 100 ° C. or lower, the opening degree of the exhaust valve 8 is fully opened, and the subsequent rate of temperature decrease is the same.
[0035]
On the other hand, when the manual exhaust mode is selected in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the control unit 16 rotates in the direction in which the motor 10 increases the opening of the valve body 8b while the open switch 13b is being pressed ( For example, control is performed via the motor driver 10a so as to perform forward rotation CW). On the other hand, while the closing switch 13a is being pressed, the motor 10 is controlled via the motor driver 10a so as to rotate (for example, counter-rotate CCW) in a direction that reduces the opening of the valve body 8b. And while neither switch 13a, 13b is pushed, the said motor 10 is stopped and the valve body 8b is hold | maintained the opening degree. When the temperature inside the autoclave 1 becomes 100 ° C. or lower, as in the automatic exhaust mode, the opening of the valve body 8b is fully opened, the interior of the autoclave 1 and the outside air are completely communicated, and the exhaust process ends. The process proceeds to the next step, for example, a heat retaining step or a temperature lowering step.
[0036]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a temperature change in the autoclave 1 when the autoclave 1 is operated in the above-described manual exhaust mode.
The process is the same as in the automatic exhaust mode until the exhaust process is started. When the exhaust process is started and the internal temperature of the autoclave 1 is 100 ° C. or higher, the opening degree of the exhaust valve 8 can be continuously adjusted freely by the closed switch 13a and the open switch 13b of the exhaust speed setting unit 13. . That is, the internal temperature can be lowered rapidly by increasing the opening of the exhaust valve 8, or the internal temperature can be lowered gradually by reducing the opening of the exhaust valve 8. This opening degree adjustment should be freely selected to be optimum depending on the type of the object to be processed and the type of processing. When the internal temperature is 100 ° C. or lower, the opening degree is fully opened, so the temperature decrease rate is the same as in the automatic exhaust mode.
[0037]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of operation control of the cooling fans 9a and 9b by the control unit 16.
In the exhaust process or the temperature lowering process, when the number of cooling fans operated by the fan setting switch 15a of the operation panel 4 is set to 0, both the cooling fans 9a and 9b are stopped and the temperature inside the autoclave 1 is set. Decrease gradually. When the number of cooling fans to be operated is set to 1, only the first cooling fan 9a is operated, and the temperature inside the autoclave 1 is lowered a little faster. When the number of cooling fans to be operated is set to 2, the first and second cooling fans 9a and 9b are operated, and the temperature inside the autoclave 1 is rapidly lowered. When the temperature inside the autoclave 1 becomes 60 ° C. or lower, the operation of the cooling fan is stopped, and all the processes are completed.
[0038]
As described above, since the number of operating cooling fans can be arbitrarily set, the rate of decrease in the internal temperature of the autoclave 1 can be freely adjusted, and the autoclave can be set to a cooling rate suitable for the workpiece. Thereby, it is possible to avoid unnecessarily long time for cooling.
[0039]
Although the embodiment of the autoclave according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. It is natural to be.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention described above, the opening degree of the exhaust valve can be arbitrarily set continuously when the internal pressure is reduced in the exhaust process or the like. That is, the pressure reduction rate of the autoclave internal pressure can be set continuously.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above effect, the rate of decrease in the internal temperature of the autoclave can be changed by changing the number of cooling fans to be operated.
The autoclave that can take the measures described above is an autoclave that can freely adjust the pressure reduction rate of the internal pressure according to the type of the object to be treated, and the autoclave that can freely adjust the rate of decrease of the internal temperature. There is an effect that can provide a highly autoclave.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an autoclave according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the autoclave shown in FIG.
3 is a conceptual enlarged view showing the structure of the exhaust valve of FIG. 2. FIG.
4 is a front view showing the operation panel of the autoclave in FIG. 1, wherein (a) is the whole, (b) is an enlarged exhaust speed setting unit, and (c) is a fan operation setting unit. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a control unit of the autoclave according to the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing an example of exhaust valve operation control by the control unit of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of temperature change inside the autoclave in the automatic exhaust mode.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of temperature change inside the autoclave in the manual exhaust mode.
9 is a flowchart showing an example of operation control of a cooling fan by the control unit of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Autoclave 2 Can body 3 Cover body 4 Operation panel 5 Heater 5a Heater control part 6 Temperature sensor 6a AD converter 7 Piping 8 Exhaust valve 8a Exhaust valve body 8b Valve body 8c Through-holes 9a, 9b Cooling fan 9c Fan driver 10 Motor 10a Motor Driver 11 Encoder 12 Close confirmation sensor 12a Rotating member 12b Proximity sensor 13 Exhaust speed setting unit 13a Closed switch 13b Open switch 13c Opening monitor 14 Function key 15 Fan operation setting unit 15a Fan setting switch 15b Display unit 16 Control unit 17 Microcomputer

Claims (7)

A can body having an openable / closable lid that can be heated to high temperature and high pressure, a heater that heats the inside of the can body, a pipe that connects the inside of the can body and the outside air, and a middle part of the pipe. An autoclave including an exhaust valve is a valve of a type in which the exhaust valve has a rotatable valve body and fluid resistance changes continuously according to the rotation angle of the valve body, and the valve body of the exhaust valve The autoclave further comprising: a motor coupled to the valve for continuously adjusting the rotation angle of the valve body; and a rotation angle adjusting means for adjusting the rotation angle of the motor. The exhaust valve is a type of valve in which a through hole is provided in the valve body, the motor is a type of motor that can be held stationary at a predetermined rotational angle position, and the rotation angle adjusting means is configured to rotate the valve body. Rotation angle setting means for setting the angular position, and motor control means for rotating the rotating portion of the motor to a rotation angle corresponding to the set rotation angle position of the valve body and holding it stationary at the rotation angle position The autoclave according to claim 1, comprising: The said rotation angle setting means is provided with the closed switch which makes small the setting of the opening degree of the said exhaust valve, and the open switch which enlarges the setting of the opening degree of the said exhaust valve, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Autoclave. In the automatic exhaust mode, the valve body is rotated by the motor to the opening degree set by using the close switch and the open switch, and the opening degree is maintained and exhaust is performed. While the switch is pressed, the motor rotates the valve body in a direction that decreases the opening, and while the open switch is pressed, the motor rotates the valve body in a direction that increases the opening. The autoclave according to claim 3, wherein the motor is stopped while the opening degree of the valve body is maintained while each of the switches is not pressed, and the exhaust is performed. The autoclave according to claim 1, further comprising a closing confirmation sensor coupled to the valve body of the exhaust valve to detect that the exhaust valve is completely closed. 6. The autoclave according to claim 5, wherein the closing confirmation sensor includes a rotating member that rotates with rotation of the rotation shaft of the valve body, and a proximity sensor that detects that the rotating member is close to the rotating member. The autoclave according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cooling fans for cooling the can body, and a fan setting switch for selecting whether or not to operate each cooling fan.

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