JPS5940027B2 - Drying sterilization equipment for pharmaceutical containers and medical instruments - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dry sterilization device for pharmaceutical containers such as bottles, ampoules and test tubes, and medical instruments such as syringes.

Conventionally, in dry sterilization of bottles, ampoules, etc., the article to be treated is placed on a screw conveyor and a guide bar extending parallel to the screw conveyor, and the screw conveyor carries the article to be treated by the screw conveyor. The article to be treated is conveyed under the guidance of a bottom guide bar and heated from above with a heater to dry and sterilize it.

This conventional method has the disadvantage that the articles to be treated rub against the screw conveyor and the guide bar, so that when the screw conveyor is rotated at high speed, the articles become sticky, resulting in a lack of smoothness of treatment.

Also, relatively long screw conveyors (approximately 2 to 2
．． 57?2), causing runout in the rotation of the screw conveyor, and this tendency requires a longer screw conveyor when the dry sterilization process consists of a tunnel furnace.1. As a result of these, when such conventional conveying means were combined with a tunnel drying sterilization oven, ampoules etc. were often damaged in the oven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention aims to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art and provide a dry sterilization device for pharmaceutical containers and medical instruments that can smoothly and stably dry and sterilize objects to be treated.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In the drying sterilization device for pharmaceutical containers and medical instruments of the present invention, a pair of support bars that are parallel to each other in the front and back at an interval such that an article to be processed is placed between the opposing sides are substantially oriented laterally on a conveyor chain. The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of tunnel-type drying and sterilizing ovens are provided projecting from the support bar and have openings through which the support bar passes, and are disposed in the path of the support bar.

In the present invention, a large number of pairs of support bars are provided, which protrude laterally on the conveyor chain and are arranged in parallel in front and back at intervals such that the article to be processed can be placed between the opposing sides. .

Therefore, by placing the article to be processed horizontally between the opposing pairs of support bars, the article can be processed smoothly and stably without being clumpged under high-speed operation, unlike when using a screw conveyor. Can be transported.

Thus, according to the present invention, the article to be treated can be efficiently and smoothly passed through a tunnel-type drying sterilization furnace having an opening that allows the passage of the support bar. Dry sterilization can be performed stably.

In addition, in the present invention, since the drying sterilization process consists of a tunnel type furnace, thermal insulation from the outside can be improved, and together with the fact that the conveyor chain is located outside the drying sterilization furnace, temperature loss can be reduced. few.

Furthermore, the conveyor chain is outside the drying sterilization oven to avoid oxidation corrosion of the conveyor chain under high temperature,
The inside of the drying sterilization oven is kept clean.

In the present invention, when the article to be processed is an ampoule or other circular article, each support bar is rotated in the same direction as the conveyor chain travels, at least while passing through the drying sterilization oven. If the support bar is rotated, the article to be processed that is placed between the opposing support bars is rotated;
Dry sterilization can be performed equally on each part.

When the article to be processed has a head with a smaller diameter than the body (for example, an ampoule) and is placed horizontally between opposing parallel support bars, if the center of gravity is at the head, the head It is preferable to form a pedestal on the support bar to receive the support bar.

According to this, the problem that the center of gravity of the article to be processed is biased toward the small-diameter head can be overcome by the above-mentioned pedestal, and the article can be stably placed between the opposing support bars.

This stability is improved by forming a flange at the tip of the support bar, since the flange serves as a stop for the butt end of the article to be treated.

Incidentally, the flange at the tip of the support bar alone is useful for ensuring the stability of placing a general circular object to be processed.

On the other hand, when the pedestal is formed into a support bar, if the height of the pedestal is determined appropriately, it is possible to prevent the article to be processed from coming into contact with the support bar only in a point or a line, rather than in surface contact, and dry sterilization is possible. Can increase efficiency.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, and the features of the present invention will be described in further detail.

A plurality of one-to-one pairs of support bars 1, 1 are provided on a conveyor chain 2 so as to protrude laterally by means of mounting fittings 3.

The support bars 1, 1 are arranged opposite to each other at a distance such that the article to be processed can be placed between the support bars 1, 1.

The support bars 1, 1 may be fixed to the metal fittings 3, or may be rotatably mounted.

The former type is shown in FIGS. 1-3, and the latter type is shown in FIGS. 4-6, respectively.

In the latter type, rollers 4 are attached to the support bar 1, which rollers contact and rotate on the rails 5, causing the bar 1 to rotate accordingly.

The conveyor chain 2 is guided by the guide rail 6 and prevented from meandering.

The support bar 1 is formed with a pedestal 7 for supporting the head of the article to be treated and/or a flange 8 for contacting the rear end of the article to be treated, as required.

The pedestal 7 should be placed in accordance with the position of the liquid receiving part of the article to be treated, such as an ampoule or a bottle.

In FIGS. 2 and 5 showing the arrangement of the pedestal 7, the case of an ampoule and the case of a bottle are shown in duplicate.

A tunnel-type drying sterilization oven 9 is arranged in the path of the support bar 1 traveling along with said chain conveyor 2, said oven 9 having an opening 10 allowing the passage of the support bar 1 and having an upper and/or lower wall. The body is equipped with an appropriate heater 11 such as a heating wire.

Furnace 9 can be made of ceramic.

The article to be treated is placed horizontally between a pair of parallel support bars 1.1, and is passed through a tunnel-type drying sterilization oven 9 by movement of the bars 1, 1 along with a conveyor chain 2. undergo dry sterilization.

At this time, if the support bars 1, 1 are non-rotating, the article to be processed will pass through the drying sterilization oven 9 without rotating, and will pass through the oven 9 while performing contact rotation as the support bars 1, 1 rotate. pass.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a conveyor chain and support bar shown in the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the same. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a modified example of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the conveyor chain and support bar shown in the modified example, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the same. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tunnel type drying sterilization oven in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. 1 is a support bar, 2 is a conveyor chain, 3 is a metal fitting for mounting the support bar, 4 is a roller for rotating the support bar, 5 is a rail for roller contact rotation, 6 is a guide rail for the conveyor chain, 7 is a pedestal, 8 is a flange, 9 is a tunnel-type drying sterilization oven; 10 is the opening of 9;

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A large number of sets of support bars are provided which protrude laterally on the conveyor chain and are arranged in parallel in front and back at intervals such that the article to be processed is placed between the opposing sides. A drying sterilization device for pharmaceutical containers and medical instruments, characterized in that a tunnel-type drying sterilization oven having an opening that allows the support bar to pass through is arranged in the travel path of the support bar. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein each support bar rotates in the same direction as the conveyor chain runs, at least while passing through the drying sterilization oven. dry sterilizer. 3. An apparatus for drying and sterilizing pharmaceutical containers and medical instruments, in which the apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 is provided with a pedestal for receiving the head of each support bar. 4. A dry sterilization device for pharmaceutical containers and medical instruments, in which a flange is formed at the tip of each support bar to bring the rear end of the article into contact with the device according to claim 1 or 2. . 5. In the device according to claim 1 or 2, each support lever is formed with a pedestal for receiving the head of the object to be processed and a flange for contacting the rear end of the object to be processed. Drying sterilization equipment for pharmaceutical containers and medical instruments.