JP6975789B2 - UV irradiation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ultraviolet irradiation device that sterilizes the inner surface of a sterilized object such as a container by irradiating it with ultraviolet rays.

Companies that handle food and beverage or medical containers will lose their credibility from society if they cause food poisoning or medical accidents due to insufficient sterilization of the containers. For this reason, these containers and the like require reliable sterilization in developed countries where safety is important.

At present, as a device for reliably sterilizing a container, an ultraviolet irradiation device that irradiates the container with ultraviolet rays is adopted. The ultraviolet irradiation device has the advantage that the container to be sterilized is less likely to deteriorate compared to the gamma ray irradiation device and the electron beam irradiation device, which are the same dry sterilization devices, but the irradiation time is slightly longer due to sterilization. There is a disadvantage. As a conventional ultraviolet irradiation device, as shown in FIG. 23, a device in which an ultraviolet light source 102 is arranged at 90 ° intervals on the outer circumference of a light source support 103 having a circular cross section has been proposed (for example, Patent Document). 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-78895

By the way, the ultraviolet irradiation device described in Patent Document 1 targets the inner surface of the preform P shown in FIG. 23 for sterilization, but the circular inner surface of the preform P has a non-uniform distance from the ultraviolet light source 102. Therefore, the irradiated ultraviolet rays are also non-uniform. In particular, when the inner surface of the square container 90 shown in FIG. 24 is subject to sterilization, the inner surface thereof has a remarkably non-uniform distance from the ultraviolet light source 102, so that the irradiated ultraviolet light also becomes remarkably non-uniform, and the ultraviolet light source 102 Irradiation at the corner 91, which is the farthest point from the above, becomes extremely small.

When the container is sterilized with an ultraviolet irradiation device, the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays is set based on the place where the irradiation is the smallest. Therefore, if the irradiation of ultraviolet rays is extremely uneven on the inner surface of the container, the irradiation time becomes long. In addition, various problems occur, such as the occurrence of places where extra irradiation is applied.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultraviolet irradiation device capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays more uniformly.

In order to solve the above problems, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the first invention is an ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted into a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. hand,
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source .
The irradiation amount increasing mechanism is a power control unit that supplies higher power to the ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container than other ultraviolet light sources .

In order to solve the above problems, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the second invention is an ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. hand,
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source.
The irradiation dose increasing mechanism
A power control unit that supplies lower power than other UV light sources to the UV light source closest to the cold spot in the square container.
An angle adjusting unit that sets the ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container to the angle at which the irradiation center of the ultraviolet rays from these ultraviolet light sources hits the cold spot, and
A protrusion that brings the ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container closer to the inside of the square container than other ultraviolet light sources.
Is .

In order to solve the above problems, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the third invention is an ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. hand,
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source.
The square container is a paper pack in which the paper is partially overlapped to form a square shape, and the step formed on the paper is also a cold spot.
The irradiation amount increasing mechanism increases the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source even on the step .

In order to solve the above problems, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the fourth invention is an ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. hand,
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
An irradiation amount increasing mechanism that increases the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source to the cold spot,
An ON / OFF control unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays in order from an ultraviolet light source inserted inside the square container and / or stops irradiation of ultraviolet rays in order from ultraviolet rays discharged to the outside of the square container. To prepare .

In order to solve the above problems, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the fifth invention is an ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted into a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. hand,
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
An irradiation amount increasing mechanism that increases the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source to the cold spot,
A speed control unit for controlling the speed at which the ultraviolet light source is inserted into and exits from the inside of the square container is provided.
The speed control unit starts to insert the ultraviolet light source from the time when the ultraviolet light source is inserted into the inside of the square container until it is completely inserted, and / or the ultraviolet light source starts to move out of the square container. The speed of the exit from the beginning to the end of the process, and the speed of the insertion and exit of the ultraviolet light source during the switching from the insertion to the exit are reduced .

In order to solve the above problems, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the sixth invention is an ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted into a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. hand,
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source.
The irradiation amount increasing mechanism is an angle adjusting unit that makes an ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container an angle at which the irradiation center of ultraviolet rays from these ultraviolet light sources hits the cold spot.
In the angle adjusting portion, the shape of the cross-sectional view at the portion of the light source support in which the ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot is arranged is different from the shape of the cross-sectional view at the cold spot .

In order to solve the above problems, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the seventh invention is an ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. hand,
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source.
The irradiation amount increasing mechanism is an angle adjusting unit that makes an ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container an angle at which the irradiation center of ultraviolet rays from these ultraviolet light sources hits the cold spot.
In the angle adjusting unit, at least one of the ultraviolet light sources that irradiates the irradiation center of ultraviolet rays for each cold spot faces the cold spot .

In order to solve the above problems, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the eighth aspect of the invention is an ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted into a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. hand,
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source.
The portion of the square container that is not easily irradiated with the ultraviolet rays is an unevenness and / or a step.
The irradiation amount increasing mechanism is a protrusion that brings the ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container closer to the cold spot in the square container than other ultraviolet light sources .

According to the ultraviolet irradiation device, since the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the cold spot of the square container are increased by the irradiation amount increasing mechanism, the inner surface of the square container can be more uniformly irradiated with the ultraviolet rays.

It is a perspective view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the square container which is the object of sterilization thereof. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA which is a cross-sectional view of FIG. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention, and the square container which is the object of sterilization thereof. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, and the square container which is the object of sterilization thereof. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention, and the square container which is the object of sterilization thereof. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and the square container which is the object of the sterilization. It is a perspective view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the paper pack which is the object of sterilization thereof. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and the paper pack which is the object of sterilization thereof. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and the paper pack which is the object of sterilization thereof. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the state which the ultraviolet light source of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus has begun to be inserted into the inside of a paper pack. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the state which the ultraviolet light source of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus is further inserted into the inside of a paper pack. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the state which the ultraviolet light source of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus is inserted into the inside of a paper pack. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention, and the paper pack of the gable top which a cap can be attached to the drinking spout which is the object of sterilization. It is sectional drawing which shows the boundary between the foil which seals a straw hole as a step of a paper pack, and the periphery thereof. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the angle adjustment part. It is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 14 which adopted the convex lens as the translucent body of the angle adjustment part. It is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 16 which adopted a cylindrical lens as a translucent body of an angle adjustment part. FIG. 18 is a view of FIG. 18 viewed from the Y direction. FIG. 18 is a view of FIG. 18 viewed from the X direction. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 19 when the angle adjustment part is an ultraviolet reflective film. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 12 when a lens of a special shape is adopted. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the conventional ultraviolet irradiation apparatus and the preform which is the object of sterilization thereof. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the state which applied the conventional ultraviolet irradiation apparatus to a square container.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, the ultraviolet irradiation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, this ultraviolet irradiation device 1 is inserted into a square container 90 having a corner portion 91, and the inner surface of the square container 90 is sterilized by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. The square container 90 may have a corner portion 91, and as an example, a square container 90 having a quadrangular cross section is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Of course, the square container may be a polygon having a triangular cross section or a pentagon or more. Further, even if the cross section of the square container is not polygonal (even if it is circular), for example, if it is a cylinder having a bottom, the cross section has a corner at the boundary between the bottom and the side. Is not limited to polygons. In the first embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the square container 90 will be described as having a rectangular cross section.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 includes 12 ultraviolet light sources 2 (2a, 2b) in a cross-sectional view. The number (12 pieces) of these ultraviolet light sources 2 in the cross-sectional view is designed to be larger than the number (4 pieces) of the corner portions 91 in the cross-sectional view of the square container 90. That is, the number of these ultraviolet light sources 2 in the cross-sectional view is not limited to 12, and it is sufficient if the number is equal to or greater than the number in the cross-sectional view of the square container 90. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ultraviolet light source 2 is arranged around the outer periphery of the light source support 3 included in the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 so as to irradiate the inner surface of the square container 90 with ultraviolet rays.

Here, in the square container 90, a portion that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays is a cold spot. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, such a portion is only the corner portion 91. Of course, if the square container 90 has a portion other than the corner portion 91 that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays, such a portion is also a cold spot.

The ultraviolet irradiation device 1 is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a at the corner portion 91 which is a cold spot. That is, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 is intended to increase the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the cold spot and to irradiate the inner surface of the square container 90 with the ultraviolet rays more uniformly than the conventional ultraviolet irradiation device. Specifically, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 according to the first embodiment has four corners closest to the cold spots (four corner portions 91 in the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2) in the square container 90. It is an inclined portion 41 (an example of an angle adjusting portion) that makes the ultraviolet light source 2a an angle at which the irradiation center 20 of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light sources 2a hits the cold spot. Since these inclined portions 41 are formed on the light source support 3, the light source support 3 has a shape in which four corners in a quadrangle are cut off by an isosceles right triangle as shown in FIG. That is, it is an octagon. The portion of the quadrangle in which the four corners are cut off (specifically, the base of the isosceles right triangle) becomes the inclined portion 41, and the ultraviolet light source 2a is arranged in each of the four inclined portions 41. The irradiation center 20 of the ultraviolet light source 2a arranged on the inclined portion 41 is directed to the corner portion 91 (not limited to a strict angle but includes a realistic error).

As described above, according to the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the first embodiment, the inclined portion 41 (an example of the angle adjusting portion) which is the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 is used to reach the corner portion 91 which is a cold spot of the square container 90. Since the amount of ultraviolet rays to be irradiated increases, the inner surface of the square container 90 can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays more uniformly.

[Embodiment 2]
Hereinafter, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the first embodiment in the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4. Hereinafter, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 different from that of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the same components, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same configurations as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 according to the second embodiment is directed to the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to the cold spot (four corners 91 in the example of FIG. 3) in the square container 90. , A power control unit 42 that supplies higher power than the other ultraviolet light sources 2b from the power source 10. The power control unit 42 causes the output of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to the cold spot to be higher than the output from the other ultraviolet light sources 2b. Therefore, the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the corners 91, which are the cold spots of the square container 90, increase. The power control unit 42 outputs the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to the cold spot and the ultraviolet rays from the other ultraviolet light sources 2b so that the ultraviolet rays radiated to the inner surface of the square container 90 become more uniform. It controls the difference with.

As described above, according to the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the second embodiment, the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the corner portion 91 which is the cold spot of the square container 90 by the power control unit 42 which is the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 increase. Therefore, the inner surface of the square container 90 can be more uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

[Embodiment 3]
Hereinafter, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the third embodiment is different from the ultraviolet irradiation devices 1 according to the first and second embodiments in the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4. Hereinafter, the irradiation dose increasing mechanism 4 different from the above-described first and second embodiments will be described, and the same configurations as those of the first and second embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. ..

As shown in FIG. 4, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 according to the third embodiment uses the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to the cold spots (four corners 91 in the example of FIG. 4) in the square container 90. , A protruding portion 43 that is closer to the inner surface of the square container 90 than the other ultraviolet light source 2b. Since these protrusions 43 are formed on the light source support 3, the light source support 3 has a quadrangle 43 smaller than the quadrangle added to each of the four corners of the quadrangle as shown in FIG. It is a shape. These small quadrangles 43 serve as protrusions 43, and two ultraviolet light sources 2a are arranged in each of the four protrusions 43.

The protrusion 43 causes the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to the cold spot to approach the inner surface of the square container 90. Therefore, the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the corners 91, which are the cold spots of the square container 90, increase. The height of the protrusion 43 is designed so that the ultraviolet rays radiated to the inner surface of the square container 90 are more uniform.

As described above, according to the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the third embodiment, the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the corner portion 91, which is the cold spot of the square container 90, are increased by the protrusion portion 43, which is the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4. Therefore, the inner surface of the square container 90 can be more uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

[Embodiment 4]
Hereinafter, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the first to third embodiments, the inclined portion 41 (an example of the angle adjusting portion), the power control unit 42, and the protruding portion 43 have been described as the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4, respectively, but even if some of them are combined. Well, or all may be combined. A combination of the inclined portion 41 (an example of the angle adjusting portion), the power control unit 42, and the protruding portion 43 in the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 will be described as the fourth embodiment. Hereinafter, the same configurations as those of the first to third embodiments will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 according to the fourth embodiment is an inclined portion 41 (an example of an angle adjusting portion), a power control unit 42, and a protruding portion 43.

The light source support 3 has a shape in which the four corners of the quadrangle are projected toward the corners 91 of the square container 90, respectively. The tip surfaces of these four protruding points serve as the inclined portion 41, and the four protruding points themselves serve as the protruding portion 43. Ultraviolet light sources 2a are arranged on the tip surfaces of these four protruding portions. The irradiation center 20 of the ultraviolet light source 2a arranged at these four projecting points is directed to the corner portion 91 (not limited to the exact corner but including a realistic error).

The power control unit 42 supplies electric power higher than that of the other ultraviolet light sources 2b to the ultraviolet light sources 2a arranged at the four protruding locations from the power source 10. The power control unit 42 causes the ultraviolet light sources 2a arranged at the four protruding locations to be higher than the outputs from the other ultraviolet light sources 2b. Therefore, the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the corners 91, which are the cold spots of the square container 90, increase.

The power control unit 42 controls the output of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light sources 2a and 2b so that the ultraviolet rays radiated to the inner surface of the square container 90 become more uniform, and the height of the protruding portions 43 is designed. Will be done.

In the fourth embodiment, the case where the square container 90 has a bottom portion will also be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the square container 90 has a bottom portion 92 and a side portion 93, and a corner portion 91 (not limited to an exact angle but a realistic error) is obtained at the boundary between the bottom portion 92 and the side portion 93. Including) is formed. These corners 91 are also cold spots.

The irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 according to the fourth embodiment also increases the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a to the corner portion 91 formed at the boundary between the bottom portion 92 and the side portion 93 of the square container 90. It is a thing. The irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 shown in FIG. 6 is an inclined portion 41 (an example of an angle adjusting portion) and a power control unit 42.

As described above, according to the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the fourth embodiment, the square container 90 is provided by the inclined portion 41 (an example of the angle adjusting portion), the power control unit 42, and the protruding portion 43, which are the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4. Since the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the corner portion 91, which is the cold spot of the above, are increased, the ultraviolet rays can be more uniformly irradiated to the inner surface of the square container 90.

Hereinafter, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the embodiment in which the first to fourth embodiments are shown more specifically will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the configurations different from those of the first to fourth embodiments will be described, and the same configurations as those of the first to fourth embodiments will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the square container 90 whose inner surface is sterilized by the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the present embodiment is a paper pack 90 having a square shape in which papers are partially overlapped with each other. The paper pack 90 has a step 94 formed by overlapping papers, and such a step 94 also becomes a cold spot. Further, the paper pack 90 has a rectangular cross-sectional view and has four corner portions 91 (cold spots) in the cross-sectional view.

The ultraviolet irradiation device 1 includes an ultraviolet light source 2 (2a, 2b) having a larger number of cold spots than the paper pack 90, a light source support 3 in which these ultraviolet light sources 2 are arranged around the outside, and the light source support. It is provided with a heat exchanger 5 connected to 3 and a cooling mechanism 6 for cooling the ultraviolet light source 2 and its vicinity. The arrangement of the ultraviolet light sources 2 is 4 rows in the axial direction of the paper pack 90 and 14 columns in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the paper pack 90. These ultraviolet light sources 2 are regularly arranged around the outer periphery of the light source support 3 in the row direction and the column direction. Further, since the performance of the ultraviolet light source 2 is significantly deteriorated when the temperature becomes high, the light source support 3 and the heat exchanger 5 make it easy for heat to escape. Specifically, the light source support 3 in which the light source 2 is arranged and the heat exchanger 5 connected to the light source support 3 are made of a material having a high thermal conductivity (for example, a material having a thermal conductivity of aluminum or higher). It is composed of metal). Further, the heat exchanger 5 has a fin portion 51 that increases the surface area in order to effectively dissipate the heat transmitted from the ultraviolet light source 2 transmitted through the light source support 3. The cooling mechanism 6 cools the ultraviolet light source 2 by, for example, a water cooling method, and although not shown, a refrigerant circulation path formed inside the light source support 3 along the ultraviolet light source 2 and the refrigerant. It has a refrigerant circulator that circulates a liquid refrigerant (for example, water) in the circulation path. Of course, the cooling mechanism 6 may be limited to a liquid-cooled type as long as it cools the ultraviolet light source 2, and may be an air-cooled type or a method using a Pertier element.

Here, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 will be described in detail. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view and FIG. 9 shows a vertical cross-sectional view in a state where the ultraviolet light source 2 is inserted inside the paper pack 90. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner surface of the paper pack 90 has a step 94 formed by overlapping and joining both ends of the paper, and as shown in FIG. 9, the paper is folded back. There is a step 94 formed by overlapping. Each step 94 is a cold spot together with the corner portion 91. In this embodiment, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 is at least an inclined portion 41 and a protruding portion 43. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the light source support 3 has an inclined portion 41 formed at a portion corresponding to the corner portion 91 of the paper pack 90, and a protruding portion at a portion corresponding to the step 94. 43 and the inclined portion 41 are formed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 has an insertion / exit mechanism 7 for inserting and exiting the ultraviolet light source 2 together with the light source support 3 into the paper pack 90 and the ultraviolet light source. 2. A control unit 8 for controlling a cooling mechanism 6 and an insertion / exit mechanism 7 is provided. The insertion / exit mechanism 7 may be any as long as it is such that the ultraviolet light source 2 is inserted into the inside of the paper pack 90 and exits from the inside. For example, the insertion / exit mechanism 7 is arranged inside the main body portion 71 and the main body portion 71. It has an actuator (not shown), a moving portion 72 that reciprocates in the axial direction of the paper pack 90 by the actuator, and a sensor (not shown) that detects the relative position between the ultraviolet light source 2 and the paper pack 90.

The control unit 8 controls the power control unit 42, the ON / OFF control unit 82 that controls ON / OFF of the power supplied to the ultraviolet light source 2, and the cooling of the ultraviolet light source 2 by the cooling mechanism 6. It has a cooling control unit 86 and a speed control unit 87 that controls the speed of the moving unit 72 in the insertion / exit mechanism 7. Further, the control unit 8 receives data on the relative positions of the ultraviolet light source 2 and the paper pack 90 from the sensor of the insertion / exit mechanism 7, and this data is input by the ON / OFF control unit 82 and the speed control unit 87. Be shared.

The ON / OFF control unit 82 turns off the ultraviolet light source 2 while it is outside the paper pack 90, and the ultraviolet light source 2 inserted inside the paper pack 90 as shown in the order of FIGS. 10 to 12. It is turned on (irradiates ultraviolet rays) in order from the beginning. Further, as shown in the order of FIGS. 12 to 10, the ON / OFF control unit 82 may be turned off (not irradiated with ultraviolet rays) in order from the ultraviolet light source 2 exiting the outside of the paper pack 90. Of course, the ON / OFF control unit 82 has a function of turning on (irradiating ultraviolet rays) in order from the ultraviolet light source 2 inserted inside the paper pack 90, and from the ultraviolet light source 2 exiting the outside of the paper pack 90. It may be provided with both a function of turning off (not irradiating ultraviolet rays) in order.

The speed control unit 87 indicates the speed of insertion between the time when the ultraviolet light source 2 is inserted into the paper pack 90 and the time when the ultraviolet light source 2 is completely inserted, and / or the ultraviolet light source 2 is the paper pack 90. The speed of exiting from the beginning to exit from the inside and the speed of insertion and exit during the switching of the ultraviolet light source 2 from insertion to exit are reduced. In other words, in the speed control unit 87, the ultraviolet light source 2 is located near the opening of the paper pack 90 inside the paper pack 90, and the ultraviolet light source 2 is near the bottom 92 inside the paper pack 90. At the position of, the speed is lowered. This is because, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, at the position near the opening of the paper pack 90 on the inner surface of the paper pack 90, the UV light source 2 is controlled from the other position by the control by the ON / OFF control unit 82. This is because the irradiation of ultraviolet rays is small. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the bottom portion 92 on the inner surface of the paper pack 90 has a corner portion 91 (cold spot) formed at the boundary between the bottom portion 92 and the side portion 93 of the paper pack 90, and the paper. This is because there is a step 94 (cold spot) formed by overlapping the paper of the pack 90 by folding back, so that it is necessary to increase the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a.

Next, the operation of the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, the ultraviolet light source 2 is turned off by the ON / OFF control unit 82 while being outside the paper pack 90, and is directed toward the paper pack 90 by the speed control unit 87. It moves together with the moving unit 72.

Then, as shown in the order of FIGS. 10 to 12, when the ultraviolet light source 2 is inserted into the inside of the paper pack 90, the ultraviolet light source 2 inserted into the inside of the paper pack 90 by the ON / OFF control unit 82 is sequentially inserted. As it is turned on, the speed of movement is lowered by the speed control unit 87. By turning on the ultraviolet light source 2 inserted inside the paper pack 90 in order, the extra irradiation of turning on the ultraviolet light source 2 outside the paper pack 90 is omitted, and this causes extra irradiation. The generation of heat generated is also suppressed, and the deterioration of the performance of the ultraviolet light source 2 is also suppressed. Further, by reducing the speed, ultraviolet rays are sufficiently irradiated even at a position near the opening of the paper pack 90 on the inner surface of the paper pack 90.

After that, the ultraviolet light source 2 is inserted toward the inner part of the paper pack 90 with the speed returned by the speed control unit 87 while being turned on by the ON / OFF control unit 82. When the ultraviolet light source 2 reaches the vicinity of the bottom portion 92 of the paper pack 90, the speed is reduced again by the speed control unit 87. Then, the movement of the ultraviolet light source 2 is switched from insertion to exit while the speed is kept low. By lowering the speed, as shown in FIG. 9, the corner portion 91 formed at the boundary between the bottom portion 92 and the side portion 93 of the paper pack 90 and the paper of the paper pack 90 are folded and formed so as to overlap each other. The step 94 is also sufficiently irradiated with ultraviolet rays. When the ultraviolet light source 2 moves away from the vicinity of the bottom portion 92 of the paper pack 90, the speed is returned again by the speed control unit 87.

Next, as shown in the order of FIGS. 12 to 10, when the ultraviolet light source 2 is ejected to the outside of the paper pack 90, the ultraviolet light source 2 is ejected to the outside of the paper pack 90 by the ON / OFF control unit 82 in order. As it is turned off, the speed of movement is reduced by the speed control unit 87. By turning off the ultraviolet light source 2 that has exited to the outside of the paper pack 90 in order, the extra irradiation of turning on the ultraviolet light source 2 outside the paper pack 90 is omitted, and this causes extra irradiation. The generation of generated heat is also suppressed, and the deterioration of the performance of the ultraviolet light source 2 is also suppressed. Further, by reducing the speed, ultraviolet rays are sufficiently irradiated even at a position near the opening of the paper pack 90 on the inner surface of the paper pack 90.

If the speed of the ultraviolet light source 2 is adjusted by the speed control unit 87 and the shape of the light source support 3 (inclined portion 41 and the protruding portion 43) alone does not irradiate the inside of the paper pack 90 with ultraviolet rays so uniformly. The output of each of the ultraviolet light sources 2a and 2b may be controlled by the power control unit 42.

As described above, according to the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the corner portion 91 and the step portion which are the cold spots of the paper pack 90 are formed by the inclined portion 41, the power control unit 42 and the protruding portion 43 which are the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4. Since the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the 94 are increased, the inner surface of the paper pack 90 can be irradiated with the ultraviolet rays more uniformly.

Further, since only the ultraviolet light source 2 inside the paper pack 90 is turned on by the ON / OFF control unit 82, the irradiation of excess ultraviolet rays is suppressed, which leads to power saving and the generation of excess heat is suppressed. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the performance of the ultraviolet light source 2.

Further, since the speed of the ultraviolet light source 2 is appropriately controlled by the speed control unit 87, the inner surface of the paper pack 90 can be more uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays even in the axial direction.

By the way, in the first embodiment, the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to one corner 91 is described as one, but as shown in FIG. 13, the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to one corner 91 is two. It may be an individual. In this case, the irradiation center 20 in which these two ultraviolet light sources 2a are combined is directed to the corner portion 91.

Further, in the second and third embodiments, the arrangement of the square container 90 in the ultraviolet light source 2 in the axial direction is not described, and in the first and fourth embodiments and the embodiment, the arrangement of the ultraviolet light source 2 in the axial direction is not described. Is shown as being the same, but is not limited to this. For example, the arrangement of the ultraviolet light sources 2 in the axial direction may be different in a staggered arrangement. Specifically, the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 may be used in a certain cross-sectional view, and the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 may be used in a cross-sectional view in a row adjacent to the arrangement. Further, in a certain cross-sectional view, the arrangement may be such that only the ultraviolet light source 2a with the irradiation center 20 directed to the corner portion 91 in FIG. 2 is left, that is, only the ultraviolet light source 2a corresponding to the cold spot is left.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments 2 and 4, the power control unit 42 supplies the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to the cold spot in the square container 90 with higher power than the other ultraviolet light sources 2b from the power source 10. As described above, the power source 10 may supply electric power lower than that of the other ultraviolet light sources 2b. In this case, the inclined portion 41 (an example of the angle adjusting portion) and the protruding portion 43 as shown in FIG. 5, the inclined portion 41 (an example of the angle adjusting portion) as shown in FIG. 6, or the protruding portion 43 is indispensable. Will be. In this case, the ultraviolet light source 2 may have only the ultraviolet light source 2a arranged on the inclined portion 41 and / or the protruding portion 43 in a certain cross-sectional view. With such a configuration, the output of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a closest to the cold spot and the output of ultraviolet rays from the other ultraviolet light sources 2b are made so that the ultraviolet rays radiated to the inner surface of the square container 90 become more uniform. The difference between them is controlled.

Further, in the first to fourth embodiments and the examples, it has been described that the ultraviolet light source 2 having a larger number than the number of cold spots is arranged on the single light source support 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if the ultraviolet light sources 2 are arranged on the plurality of light source supports 3 and the ultraviolet light sources 2 arranged on the respective light source supports 3 are less than the number of cold spots, they are arranged as the whole of the plurality of light source supports 3. It suffices if the number of ultraviolet light sources 2 is larger than the number of cold spots. As a specific example, there are two light source supports 3, and only the ultraviolet light source 2a corresponding to the cold spot is arranged on one light source support 3 (the number of ultraviolet light sources 2a is the same as that of the cold spot), and the other light source. The support 3 may be configured such that only the ultraviolet light source 2b corresponding to other than the cold spot is arranged (the ultraviolet light source 2b is not more than the number of cold spots). Each light source support 3 is provided with a heat exchanger 5, a cooling mechanism 6, an insertion / exit mechanism 7, and a control unit 8 as shown in FIG. 7. Further, the light source support 3 in which only the ultraviolet light source 2a corresponding to the cold spot is arranged is removable with respect to the heat exchanger 5 shown in FIG. 7 so as to be compatible with various square containers 90. May be good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the ON / OFF control unit 82 that is separate from the power control unit 42 has been described, but the power control unit 42 may also have the function of the ON / OFF control unit 82, and the ON / OFF control unit may be provided. The unit 82 may have the function of the power control unit 42. As an example in which the ON / OFF control unit 82 has the function of the power control unit 42, the ON / OFF control unit 82 controls the duty ratio of the power supplied to the ultraviolet light source 2, that is, the ON time and the OFF time. By controlling the ratio with, it becomes possible to control the electric power supplied to the ultraviolet light source 2. By setting the power supplied from the ON / OFF control unit 82 to the ultraviolet light source 2 to a pulse having a pulse width of several msec to several tens of msec, the efficiency of sterilization is higher than when the same power is continuously supplied. improves. The ON / OFF control by the ON / OFF control unit 82 may be performed at the same timing or at different timings for all the ultraviolet light sources 2.

Further, in the first to fourth embodiments and the examples, the square container 90 and the paper pack 90 having a relatively simple shape have been described for the sake of simplicity, but the complicated shape as shown in FIG. 14 has been described. It may be a square container 90. The square container 90 shown in FIG. 14 is a paper pack 90 having a gable top (gable roof type) and to which a cap 99 can be attached to a drinking spout. Even in the case of a square container 90 having such a complicated shape, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 (an angle adjusting unit such as an inclined portion 41, a power control unit 42, and / or a protruding portion 43) causes ultraviolet rays on the inner surface thereof. Can be irradiated more uniformly.

Further, in the above embodiment, as the step 94 formed on the paper pack 90, the step 94 formed by overlapping the papers has been described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, but the step 94 is not limited to such a step 94. .. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the step 94 formed at the boundary between the foil 97 (not limited to paper) that seals the straw hole 96 and its surroundings is also a cold spot, and the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 (not limited to paper). In FIG. 15, as an example, the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a is increased by the inclined portion 41 and the protruding portion 43).

In addition, as an example of the angle adjusting portion, the inclined portion 41 has been described with reference to FIG. 2, but the inclined portion 41 is not limited to the inclined portion 41, and the angle is such that the irradiation center 20 of the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a hits the cold spot. Just do it. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the angle adjusting unit may be a translucent body 44 that refracts at an angle at which the irradiation center 20 of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2a hits a cold spot.

The material of the translucent body 44 may be any material that transmits ultraviolet rays, and is, for example, quartz, sapphire, calcium fluoride, or an ultraviolet-transmitting resin. Further, in the translucent body 44, a lens or the like is adopted in addition to the prism as shown in FIG. The lens used depends on the shape of the cold spot that irradiates ultraviolet rays.

For example, when ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the step 94 by the circular cap 99 as shown in FIG. 14, the lens to be adopted is preferably the convex lens 45 shown in FIG. 17 because the object to be irradiated is circular. Since the irradiated ultraviolet rays are uniformly condensed by the convex lens 45, the ultraviolet rays corresponding to the shape of the step 94 by the cap 99 are sufficiently irradiated.

For example, when ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the step 94 of the foil 97 that seals the straw hole 96 as shown in FIG. 16, since the object to be irradiated is linear, the lenses to be adopted are shown in FIGS. 18 to 20. The cylindrical lens 46 shown is preferable. The cylindrical lens 46 collects ultraviolet rays in one direction (X direction shown in FIGS. 18 and 19), but emits ultraviolet rays in a direction orthogonal to the one direction (Y direction shown in FIGS. 18 and 20). Do not collect light. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, since the irradiated ultraviolet rays are condensed in the X direction to form a linear shape in the Y direction, the ultraviolet rays corresponding to the shape of the step 94 by the foil 97 are sufficiently irradiated. The ultraviolet reflective film 48 shown in FIG. 21 may be used instead of the translucent body 44 such as the cylindrical lens 46. The ultraviolet reflective film 48 is arranged so as to collect ultraviolet rays in the X direction. As a result, similarly to the cylindrical lens 46, the irradiated ultraviolet rays are focused in the X direction to form a linear shape in the Y direction, so that the ultraviolet rays corresponding to the shape of the step 94 by the foil 97 are sufficiently irradiated.

Generally, a cylindrical lens has a semi-cylindrical shape (hog-backed shape), that is, a shape in which two adjacent parallel sides of a rectangular parallelepiped are curved surfaces. A lens having a curved surface on only one of these two sides may be adopted. As shown in FIG. 22, such a lens 47 is provided on the ultraviolet light source 2b in the row closest to the heat exchanger 5 with the curved surface 47r facing the heat exchanger 5. As a result, the spread of ultraviolet rays to the original side inserted into the paper pack 90 is suppressed, so that when the power is not controlled by the ON / OFF control unit 82, the ultraviolet rays leaking from the opening of the paper pack 90 are reduced.

Further, in the first to fourth embodiments and the embodiments, as the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4, the angle adjusting unit (including the inclined portion 41, the translucent body 44 and the ultraviolet reflecting film 48), the power control unit 42 and the protruding portion 43 are used. However, these are only examples, and any cold spot may be used as long as it increases the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 2. That is, the irradiation amount increasing mechanism 4 increases the irradiation of the cold spot with ultraviolet rays as compared with the case without it.

Further, the above-described embodiments 1 to 4 and the examples are exemplary in all respects and are not limiting. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims. Of the configurations described in the first to fourth embodiments and the embodiments, the configurations other than those described as the first invention in the "means for solving the problem" are arbitrary configurations, and are appropriately deleted and modified. It is possible.

Claims (8)

An ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source .
The dose increase mechanism, to the nearest UV light sources in the cold spot in the squared container, ultraviolet irradiation device you being a power control unit that supplies electric power higher than the other UV sources. An ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source .
The irradiation dose increasing mechanism
A power control unit that supplies lower power than other UV light sources to the UV light source closest to the cold spot in the square container.
An angle adjusting unit that sets the ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container to the angle at which the irradiation center of the ultraviolet rays from these ultraviolet light sources hits the cold spot, and
A protrusion that brings the ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container closer to the inside of the square container than other ultraviolet light sources.
UV irradiation device you wherein a is. An ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source .
The square container is a paper pack in which the paper is partially overlapped to form a square shape, and the step formed on the paper is also a cold spot.
The dose increased mechanisms, ultraviolet irradiation devices you characterized in that in the step is intended to increase the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source. An ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
The light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged and the light source support
An irradiation amount increasing mechanism that increases the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source to the cold spot ,
An ON / OFF control unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays in order from an ultraviolet light source inserted inside the square container and / or stops irradiation of ultraviolet rays in order from ultraviolet rays discharged to the outside of the square container. An ultraviolet irradiation device characterized by being provided. An ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
An irradiation amount increasing mechanism that increases the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source to the cold spot ,
A speed control unit for controlling the speed at which the ultraviolet light source is inserted into and exits from the inside of the square container is provided.
The speed control unit starts to insert the ultraviolet light source from the time when the ultraviolet light source is inserted into the inside of the square container until it is completely inserted, and / or the ultraviolet light source starts to move out of the square container. all speed of the exit in until it is exited, and, ultraviolet, characterized in der Rukoto that the ultraviolet light source to reduce the speed, of the insertion and exit between the switch to exit from the insertion from Irradiation device. An ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source .
The irradiation amount increasing mechanism is an angle adjusting unit that makes an ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container an angle at which the irradiation center of ultraviolet rays from these ultraviolet light sources hits the cold spot.
Wherein the angle adjusting unit, the nearest UV light sources in the cold spot shape of cross section at the portion of a light source disposed support ultraviolet irradiation device you being different from the shape of the cross section of the cold spot. An ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source .
The irradiation amount increasing mechanism is an angle adjusting unit that makes an ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container an angle at which the irradiation center of ultraviolet rays from these ultraviolet light sources hits the cold spot.
Wherein the angle adjusting unit, the out of the ultraviolet light source directing a radiation center of the ultraviolet each cold spot ultraviolet irradiation device characterized in that at least one facing the cold spot. An ultraviolet irradiation device that is inserted inside a square container having corners and sterilizes the inner surface of the square container by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.
An ultraviolet light source having a larger number of cold spots than the portion of the square container that is difficult to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the corner portion.
With the light source support on which the ultraviolet light source is arranged,
The cold spot is provided with an irradiation amount increasing mechanism for increasing the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source .
The portion of the square container that is not easily irradiated with the ultraviolet rays is an unevenness and / or a step.
The ultraviolet irradiation device is characterized in that the irradiation amount increasing mechanism is a protrusion that brings an ultraviolet light source closest to the cold spot in the square container closer to the cold spot in the square container than other ultraviolet light sources.

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