JPH0441050Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to an ultraviolet sterilizer.

(Prior art and problems) When sterilizing objects to be sterilized, such as food or other articles, before or after packaging,
Ultraviolet sterilizers are widely used. and,
In order to continuously sterilize a large number of objects to be sterilized, a device is used in which a conveyor runs through a sterilization chamber containing a built-in ultraviolet lamp. At that time, if the object to be sterilized is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays on the side that is in contact with the mounting surface of the conveyor, the object to be sterilized is conveyed by repeatedly falling over on the conveyor, so that the outer periphery of the object is Conventionally, the method of irradiating the entire surface with ultraviolet light has been taken. However, the mechanism for performing such overturning is complicated, which not only increases the cost of the device, but also requires space for the mechanism, resulting in an increase in the size of the device. Furthermore, if the product is repeatedly tipped over as described above, the product to be sterilized and its packaging may be damaged, rendering sterilization meaningless.

(Means and effects for solving the problems) The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide an ultraviolet sterilizer with a simple structure, small size, and capable of sterilizing the entire outer circumferential surface of objects to be sterilized. It is said that

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an inlet and an outlet in a sterilization chamber forming an enclosed space, and allows objects to be sterilized to pass through the sterilization chamber from the inlet to the outlet. A conveyor is disposed, and sterilizing ultraviolet lamps are disposed around the conveyor path of the objects to be sterilized, the conveyor having at least two stages in the upper and lower positions,
Each adjacent stage is connected at its end by a curved plate-shaped guide member to form one conveyance path.

According to the present invention, the object to be sterilized conveyed on the upper conveyor is irradiated with ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet lamp on its top and both sides, and then transferred to the conveyor on the lower stage. At that time, it is gently guided by a curved plate-shaped guide member, turned upside down, and brought to the lower conveyor, where the lower surface is also sterilized. In this way, the object to be sterilized is sterilized from the inlet to the outlet on its top, bottom and sides. Note that the front and rear surfaces of the object to be sterilized in the running direction of the roller conveyor are sterilized by ultraviolet rays that are irradiated when the object is carried into the sterilization chamber and further when it is carried out from the sterilization chamber.

In the present invention, if the guide member is made of an elastic material, damage to the object to be sterilized can be prevented without applying a shock to the object during reversal.

In addition, if the setting position of the guide member can be freely adjusted toward and away from the end of the conveyor, it will be possible to respond to changes in the size of the object to be sterilized and to most reliably turn it upside down according to its shape and size. It is set in a position where guidance can be provided.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example device of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of this embodiment seen from the front, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

In Figures 1 and 2, 1 is an ultraviolet sterilizer, with an inlet 2 at the top of the side and an outlet 3 at the bottom.
An opening is formed, and curtains 2A and 3A each consisting of a plurality of bands are suspended therein.
The interior is almost completely sealed and is shielded from light from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 1, inside the ultraviolet sterilizer 1, there are upper and lower conveyors that run from the entrance 2 to the back and from the back to the exit, respectively, on the surface located below the entrance 2 and the exit 3. 4 and 5 are arranged in two stages. The conveyors 4 and 5 are connected to an inlet conveyor 6 and an outlet conveyor 7 at an inlet 2 and an outlet 3, respectively.
and 6, and 5 and 7 may each be formed into one piece.

The conveyors 4 and 5 are smoothly connected in their conveyance paths by a curved guide member 8 at the end of the inner part of the apparatus, and the objects to be sterilized are turned upside down here. It's summery. The guide member 8 is made of an elastic material so as not to generate an impact that would damage the surface of the object to be sterilized, especially its packaging material, and furthermore, the guide member 8 can correspond to the size of the object to be sterilized and can be reliably moved up and down. It is preferable that the conveyor be able to move toward and away from the end of the conveyor in the lateral direction so that it can be reversed, and its position can be adjusted.

Above and to the sides of the upper conveyors 4, 5, ultraviolet lamps 9, 10 and 11, 12 for sterilization are provided at positions that ensure the conveyance space for the objects to be sterilized, respectively. It is designed to emit ultraviolet light from the side. The above ultraviolet lamp 9,
Preferably, wavelengths 10, 11, and 12 are around 260 mm, which has the strongest sterilizing effect, but are appropriately set depending on the object to be sterilized and the apparatus.

Immediately outside and close to the ultraviolet lamps 9, 10 and 11, 12, reflective plates 9A, 10A and 11A, 12A are arranged, respectively, and their ends are bent inward, so that the ultraviolet rays are It is now reflected towards the central space. that time,
It is preferable that at least one of the reflecting plates has a surface shape that diffusely reflects ultraviolet rays. In addition, the ultraviolet lamps 9A, 10A, 11A, 12A are
Each unit is detachable from the device. Furthermore, if the reflector is shaped to allow diffuse reflection, in addition to the above effects, even if the object to be sterilized has many irregularities, there will be no shadow area when irradiating ultraviolet rays, making sterilization more complete. Ru.
Note that a fan 13 is provided on the ceiling of the device 1 to ventilate the air inside the device room.

In the apparatus of this embodiment as described above, sterilization is performed as follows.

In FIG. 1, the upper conveyor 4 is driven in the direction of arrow P, and the lower conveyor 5 is driven in the direction of arrow Q. The object A1 is conveyed to a deep position by the upper conveyor 4, while the upper and side surfaces of the object A1 are irradiated with ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet lamps 9, 10 located above and on the sides. Note that the front and rear surfaces will be irradiated with ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet lamps located at the front and rear during transportation. The object to be sterilized (see A2 in the same figure) that has reached the tip of the upper conveyor 4 is guided downward by the guide member 8 located at the front, turned upside down, and delivered to the lower conveyor 5. In this way, the object to be sterilized is conveyed to the outlet 3 with its lower surface turned into an upper surface on the upper conveyor 4, and the upper surface and side surfaces are exposed to ultraviolet rays. (Figure A
3 and A4). In this way, all surfaces of the object to be sterilized are exposed to ultraviolet light and sterilized from the entrance to the exit.

Further, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamps 9, 10 and 11, 12 are reflected by the respective reflectors 9A, 12.
A, and reflected from 11A and 12A, improving the irradiation rate. The front and rear surfaces of the object to be sterilized are also sterilized by reflection from the curved portions at the front and rear ends of the reflector. In this case, if the reflecting plate is designed to diffuse reflection, even if the object to be reflected has many irregularities, there will be no shadow area when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, which is extremely effective.

(Effects of the invention) As described above, the present invention eliminates the need for a special mechanism that repeatedly overturns objects to be sterilized on the conveyor, as in the past, by configuring the conveyor into multiple upper and lower stages. By providing a guide member for vertically inverting the object, it becomes possible to irradiate the entire outer peripheral surface of the object to be sterilized with ultraviolet rays, contributing to cost reduction and miniaturization of the apparatus. Moreover, if the guide member is made of an elastic material, the object to be sterilized will not be damaged when it is turned over, and if the guide member is set so that it can move toward and away from the conveyor, it will be able to handle changes in the size of the object to be sterilized. It is possible to do the reversal with certainty.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1... Ultraviolet sterilizer, 2... Inlet, 3... Outlet, 4, 5... Conveyor, 8... Guide member, 9,
10, 11, 12... Ultraviolet light.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A conveyor that is provided with an inlet and an outlet in a sterilization chamber forming an enclosed space, and that passes through the sterilization chamber and conveys objects to be sterilized from the inlet to the outlet. , and sterilizing ultraviolet lamps are arranged around the transport path of the objects to be sterilized by the conveyor, the conveyor has at least two stages vertically, and each adjacent stage is located at the end of the conveyor. An ultraviolet sterilizer characterized in that the parts are connected by a curved plate-shaped guide member to form one conveyance path. (2) The ultraviolet sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is made of an elastic material. (3) Utility model registration claim item (1) or (2) characterized in that the setting position of the guide member can be freely adjusted toward and away from the end of the conveyor.
Ultraviolet sterilizer as described in section.