CN1162923A - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Sterilising apparatus for sterilising a container comprises an elongate light bulb (4, 18, 111) adapted to emit ultra violet light when energised by microwaves, and a shield (16, 110) substantially surrounding said bulb (4, 18, 111) and being adapted to support a container (6) so that said bulb is located within the container. The shield (16, 110) is transparent to microwaves.

Description

Cleaning equipment

The present invention relates to cleaning equipment, relate to especially and not uniquely and be suitable for dry and sterilization is used for carrying liquid, for example the equipment of the container of enamel, detergent compositions etc.

In recent years, environmental problem is concerned about day by day, is concerned about waste disposal problem especially.A specific question is the used packaging material quantity of product, and some packaging material is abandoned after buying product immediately, and product container is disposed after using product.Usually, for example supply product itself by the bottle that synthetic plastics material or glass are made with the so-called container that can dispose.As usual, this packaging stacking or burning method are disposed.These methods have some shortcomings, promptly lose material, produce the energy utilization, and relate to and seek that the problem of rubbish is gone to hold in enough places and in the intrinsic pollution problem that a large amount of placings of material miscellaneous are occurred during in a place.Also have a more long-range problem: a large amount of stacking materials is not biodegradable, thereby will keep the centuries on the ground as a kind of potential pollutant.

Proposed by provide a kind of refill to be at the expiration of a mourning period be engaged in re-using container, container is re-used several times.In order to reduce cost and the transportation problem that when empty container is transported back central factory or warehouse, occurs, refill full container at the local center that resembles retail shop and so on and just have some advantages.Relating to a problem of filling again this locality is: guarantee that container is cleaned and sterilizes, and makes new product unlikely contaminated once the container of packing into.Known method comprises, only scrubs container by buyer or shop with common water supply, purified satisfactorily and sterilizes but this method can not guarantee container, further environmental problem also occurs.

Have found that why client need not have a reason that refills full system now: they may spend at purification and drying receptacle and actual to fill the operational time more too many.One of the present invention purpose is to develop the equipment of this process of acceleration, and the time that refilling is at the expiration of a mourning period is engaged in taking is enough lacked, and utilizes this service to encourage client.

The present invention tries hard to provide a kind of can be used for small shop, even residential building, be intended to guarantee that bottle was dried and disinfectant equipment before re-using.

According to the present invention, be provided for the sterilizing equipment decontaminating apparatus of disinfecting container, this equipment comprises elongated parts, radiation has the ultraviolet light of disinfecting properties when being adapted at exciting; With a basic shield member, be fit to the described elongated member of protection and avoid physical damnification around described parts; Wherein, for the inside of disinfecting container, elongated member will be inserted in the container at least in part, and is excited.

A kind of equipment of preferred form comprises a microwave generator, be fit to generate microwave, emits ultraviolet light when this elongated member is adapted at by the operation of described microwave generator radiation, and this shield member is transparent to microwave.

In one embodiment, elongated member and the different parts that cover on every side thereof are inserted in one the case in axial mode.In a preferred embodiment, elongated member and shield member on every side thereof are installed on the sidewall of this case, and this wall is preferably relative with chamber door.In another embodiment, this case is equipped with a hinge door, and elongated member and shielding are contained on the inner surface of described door, so that when opening, obviously expose elongated member and shield member, helps a container is put into the top of shield member.Can trigger the operation of sterilizing equipment decontaminating apparatus by closing the door, connect a contact whereby, the contact starts the irradiation of ultraviolet source then.Control device can be installed, to regulate the time length of irradiation elongated member.

In exploitation of the present invention, shield member comprises a sealed tube, and this pipe is made by a kind of plastic material to ultraviolet light and microwave substantially transparent.Preferably, this equipment comprises a kind of to the inside of shield member supply air or a kind of device that resembles nitrogen and so on noble gas, is used for cooling off it when elongated member is emitted ultraviolet light.Preferably, this pipe is opening some apertures near place, its top, so that air leaves this pipe, and just enters inside at disinfecting container.Like this, air is heated by ultraviolet light, thereby assists to remove from the inside of container the granule and the moisture of foreign substance.

In an alternative type, this pipe comprises an open architecture or screen work workpiece.In this device, as long as the opening in the shield member is enough to allow microwave to penetrate the irradiation elongated member, the material of shield member just not necessarily will be to microwave.It is also conceivable that shield member can pack into, or comprise some magnetron waveguides.Because this pipe is entirely to enter in the container basically when disinfecting container, thus might make such equipment disinfection those to the opaque container of microwave.

The case that contains air hose can be installed a discharge duct that the fog dispersal device is housed, and the fog dispersal device can adopt screen type, is used for being trapped in contained water and the vapor particle of air that is discharged from the container.Preferably, this equipment also comprises a catch tray, is used to collect the moisture from container and/or the discharge of fog dispersal device.

This device can comprise a bulb support or support, and this device is positioned in the microwave oven independently, can upwards rotate so that have the article of the vessel form of an open end, and be placed on the bulb rack before connecting stove.On the other hand, this device can comprise a device that is used for hanging from article neck this device, so that it can be hung within the article down; Perhaps device that is used to catch article, so as near the average position upper support a bulb rack it.

With way of example preferred embodiments more of the present invention are described referring now to accompanying drawing, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional drawing that is placed on the UV bulb in the hollow article, is used for according to sterilizing objects of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a signal part sectional drawing according to sterilization device of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an amplification profile diagram that is used for the UV bulb of Fig. 2 equipment;

Fig. 4 A is a sectional drawing according to another sterilization device of the present invention;

Fig. 4 B is a sectional drawing according to another sterilization device of the present invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates the schematic isometric of another embodiment;

Fig. 6 illustrates the diagrammatic side view of another embodiment, is adapted at container exsiccator and the disinfector equipment that install in the workshop comprising one; With

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment with another installation site of elongated member.

With reference to Fig. 1 principle of the present invention is described, wants to hang in the disinfectant article 6 (being a bottle in this case) a microwave excitation UV bulb 4 at one.Bulb 4 is by incident microwave energy (representing with arrow 1) excitation, thus radiation UV energy (representing) to the outside with arrow 2, with the inner surface of sterilizing objects 6.Have found that the preferable range of UV energy wavelength is from 200nm to 280nm, its effective range is from 200nm to 260nm.Successfully tried out a kind of for example F300H that produces by the Fusion System company of Washington, DC ⁺The bulb of model.

Bulb 4 and article 6 can be that the insertion and the taking-up of this bulb or these bulbs are carried out automatically along one of progressive a plurality of these class bulbs of production line and article.Production line is installed some valve, preferably makes these article or these article 6 can pass in and out a conductive box before connecting the microwave source (not shown).This can guarantee to contain microwave energy in the zone of article 6, makes safety and efficient all best.

In another structure, suspended item on a resupinate position above the upright UV bulb.

In a preferred sterilization device according to the present invention, bulb 4 is being generally cylinder in shape, and approximate being same as wanted the disinfectant article height on length.Bulb 4 is equipped with a nonmetallic support, and bulb 4 vertically is fixed in the household microwave oven usually.When work, above freestanding bulb 4, lay article 6, and connect microwave oven.This can provide a kind of device that makes things convenient for of home disinfecting.

In yet another embodiment, bulb 4 is fit to insert in the baby bottle, and bulb 4 has suitable power, and effective sterilization can be provided when using with household microwave oven.Bulb 4 can or freestanding as mentioned above, perhaps be fixed on the support, it can be hung from bottleneck.

In yet another embodiment, with magnetic or fluid pressure device bulb 4 is suspended on article 6 the insides.Using this suspension arrangement is advantageous particularlies under a kind of continuous material situation that resembles continuous length pipeline and so at article 6.By using a kind of discontiguous suspension arrangement, can in microwave energy field, keep bulb 4 to stable state substantially, and can article 6 be moved past above bulb with a kind of speed of calculating by enough sterilizations are provided.

Consult Fig. 2, a kind of disinfector according to the present invention has a microwave box 8 (its part only is shown among the figure), this case is equipped with by the cooling air of pipeline 10 and the power supply by cable 12, is used to trigger a triggering bulb 14 (generally being electric arc or filament UV bulb) that is positioned at case 8 bottoms.

Cover 16, air intake pipe and bulb 18 are arranged to: air is flowed into wherein at an end of cover 16, flow through bulb 18, flow out cover 16 at its other end, and flow in the case 8.When needed, can provide additional air admission.16 pairs of microwave energies of coolant jacket and can all be substantial transparent to UV can be made of quartzy.Therefore, microwave energy can exciter bulb 18, and can be able to be arrived one and wanted the disinfectant article around cover 16 by the radiating UV that produces of bulb 18.These article are not shown among Fig. 2.

From case 8, deflate by ozone filter, and enter atmosphere with fan 20.

The microwave energy of representing to enter case 8 with arrow A.With technical known mode energy is infeeded the case 8 by a suitable waveguide and emitter from a magnetron.Case 8 is equipped with suitable interlocker, and is designed to, and microwave energy can not be overflowed from case 8.

This case is equipped with and makes disinfectant device in the article leading-in box.For example, this device can be a door or valve arrangement, and case 8 is moved down on the article on the conveyer belt, in other words, makes the article on the conveyer belt by case 8.

Make and trigger bulb 14 instantaneous radiation UV energy when microwave energy is sent into case 8, to trigger bulb 18.Elongated extension component 24 by a bulb 18 can be sent into bulb 18 to this UV.As shown in Figure 3, extension component 24 has the form of axle, and it is operated in the optical fiber mode, and energy is imported axial plane 26 from bulb 14, enters bulb 18 along axle, absorbs energy by bulb gas (or charges), enters its radiation mode to trigger bulb 18.This axle also is used for bulb 18 case 8 of packing into.Alternatively or additionally, can provide independently (preferably quartzy) optical rod 30, it is arranged to such an extent that its two ends are remained near each bulb.

Embodiment shown in Fig. 4 A is intended to be used for a kind of domestic or breadboard microwave oven.With reference to this figure, the bulb supporting comprises a mounting blocks 32, and from then on piece extends an elasticity folder 34.In this embodiment, also the axle 24 of bulb 18 is contained in the piece 32.

Folder 34 is arranged to, and clamps and support to want disinfectant article 6.Obviously as can be known, actual embodiment have mostly more than three or three around article 6 or the clip that separates of peripheral equal angles ground, but two wall 34A of clip 34 only are shown in the sectional drawing of this figure.Because it is transparent that clip 34 and piece 32 are preferably under the microwave frequency, they are generally made by plastic material.

End mounting blocks 32 at case 36.This case is around article 6, bulb 18 and clip 34.Obviously do not wish UV energy leakage that bulb 18 is emitted.The microwave oven that domestic or laboratory are used generally has a windowpane that some UV energy are passed through.In order to prevent this leakage, case 36 can be arranged to, and prevents that fire door from closing, till itself is closed.Because this case is that UV is opaque, just can prevent that the UV energy from missing during sterilizing.A kind of method that prevents that fire door from closing is to arrange the internal diameter of case 36 greater than general microwave oven, till closing case 36.Therefore, case 36 is equipped with a cover 38, and it stretches to a side of case 36 when opening.Lid 38 stretches out fully, makes case 36 too big, so that can not be assembled among the microwave oven that typical home or laboratory use.

Fig. 4 B illustrates the another kind of structure that is used for case shown in the 4A 36.In this alternative structure, case 36 has a spiral assembled cap 40; This medicated cap has an elongated member 42 that axially stretches out case 36, and to make case 36 add medicated cap 40 be oversize, so that the microwave oven used of can not pack into typical home or laboratory, till medicated cap 40 is screwed onto the end.

If microwave oven mustn't be missed by the UV energy, just do not need case 36.

Characteristics shown in Fig. 3 to 4B can be made a summary as follows:

Fig. 3

18 have the bulb of mercuri bulb fill, are used for the maximum ultraviolet light of output in 200 to 260nm sterilization UV spectral region.

The 24 quartz ends of strengthening to bulb so that install, also make the UV from the igniting bulb enter bulb.

26 2 face enters UV.

30 quartz wedges independently can be used for the UV energy is guided to main bulb from the igniting bulb.

Fig. 4 A and 4B

32 electrodeless tube faces.

Mercuri charges in 18 bulbs are used to be created in the UV energy of 200 to 260nm sterilization spectral region.

6 want the disinfectant article

36 outer containers, it is to the microwave energy substantial transparent, but can be opaque basically to UV.

34 clips are used to install article, make it and the bulb that produces UV not have inner the contact, and UV then can arrive and want disinfectant totality zone.

38 outer containers are designed to, if do not close, then this case does not connect airtight in microwave oven shell (preventing the UV leakage).

In the embodiment shown in fig. 5, disinfection unit comprises a main casing 101 that has a hinge joint side door 102, and described door has the interlock 103 that can start disinfection unit.Interlock can unclamp with a control knob 131.Door 102 constitutes the opening of case 107, and this case is positioned at main casing 101.A panel 132 also is housed on main casing, is used for disinfecting process, select correct dosage wanting the disinfectant container and will starting.In main casing, a magnetron 104 is housed, it serves as a microwave generator together to control electronic equipment 105 and power supply 106; In the present embodiment, this generator is with 2.45GH ₂Frequency generate microwave.This unit is designed to be and guarantees to meet the safe and sanitary rules, and for example the EC rule 82/499.In order to make magnetron available power net powered operation, a transformator 109 is housed.The microwave that makes generation like this then is by in the plastic window leading-in box 107.Flatly stretch out a support unit 120 from the inner face of door 102, axial hollow cylinder 110 of end bearing outside it.

Select the size of support unit 120, make at closing time hollow cylinder be usually located at the central authorities of case.In the inside of cylinder 110, the unit 111 of a sealing is housed, quartz ampoule for example, sealing unit are equipped with a kind ofly can emit the gas or the plasma of ultraviolet light, for example mercury vapour to be fit to the disinfectant frequency.Hollow cylinder 110 constitutes the shield member of a protection bulb, also has an air duct 112 around sealing unit.By suitable tubing, for example plastic material or rubber tube are to the lower end of cylinder supply compressed air or gas with a compressor and filter (not shown).Then, in this air or the gas bubbling air passage 112, rise to the upper end of cylinder again, and flow out, whereby sealing unit is cooled off by hole 122 from this; Otherwise this unit can reach sufficiently high temperature, makes the plastic containers distortion that is placed on sealing unit and hollow cylinder 110 tops.Cylinder 110 is done sturdy and durablely, is enough to prevent because container is put into the action above it and sealing unit is produced damage.

Because cylinder 110 is contained on the door, so cylinder is fully exposed, wants the disinfectant container thereby help laying when door 102 is opened, and can reduces the size of chest.Support unit 120 also is equipped with save set 121, is applicable to medicated cap or the lid of preserving container.

A catch tray 113 was housed on the end of case 107, and it is positioned at the below of hollow cylinder 110 at closing time substantially, be applicable to deposit any for example because compressed-air actuated effect and the water removed from container or the granule of fragment or other materials.

In another embodiment shown in Figure 6, the unit that disappears comprises magnetron and microwave cavity 117 that is loaded in the main casing 101 that reference first embodiment describes.Microwave cavity mainly is made of metal, and a plastic window to microwave is housed.

In this embodiment, hollow cylinder 110 is made by the plastic material that resembles PTFE and so on, and it is transparent to microwave and the ultraviolet light from 200nm to the 400nm scope, and known these wavelength have microbe killing properties.Have a plurality of holes in the upper end of hollow cylinder, those supply with the air or the gas of hollow cylinder to be applicable to discharging.

The modified model of Fig. 7 key diagram 5 apparatus shown, wherein identical parts have identical label.In this embodiment, cylinder 110 is placed to such an extent that flatly stretch out from the rear wall 134 of this case.This arrangement has its advantage: because cylinder 110 is installed near magnetron, so Circuits System is compact and simple, thereby reduce cost, and simplify and make.

Also imagine, hollow cylinder can be the structure of a kind of open frame or network type, promptly has a plurality of holes along its length direction.This embodiment can make hollow cylinder with a kind of to the opaque material of microwave.

In addition, ultraviolet source can be any common source, for example electrically excited mercury-vapour discharge lamp.

Also imagine, hollow cylinder goes for installing a microwave emitter or waveguide, makes two embodiment be applicable to that all those are to the opaque container of microwave whereby.

In operation, one must be at least will partly transparent container to microwave in two embodiment, is put into (Fig. 5 and 6) on the hollow cylinder 110 up by the upper end, perhaps flatly is put into (Fig. 7) on the cylinder.Send into the container size with panel then, and the starting disinfecting process; Go up mobile air then therebetween, enter container, remove any moisture or discrete particles whereby through hollow cylinder.Enter the microwave of sealing unit 111 simultaneously with passing container and hollow posts body wall, remove the irradiation cavity, microwave is excited gas or plasma whereby, makes it emit the ultraviolet light of wavelength between 200nm and the 400nm.The inner surface of the ultraviolet light irradiation container of emitting like this makes the container sterilization whereby.Circulation time is the magnitude in several seconds.

Claims (21)

1. the sterilizing equipment decontaminating apparatus that is used for disinfecting container, this equipment comprise an elongated member, are applicable to emit the ultraviolet light with sterilization character when being energized; With a shield member that centers on described parts basically, be applicable to that the described elongated member of protection is not subjected to physical damnification; Wherein,, put into container to elongated member at least in part for the inside of disinfecting container, and its excitation.

2. equipment according to claim 1 also comprises a microwave generator, is applicable to the generation microwave; And elongated member is applicable to that owing to emit described ultraviolet light when operation described microwave generator and irradiation, this shield member is transparent to described microwave.

3. equipment according to claim 1 and 2, wherein: elongated member is loaded in one the case in upright mode with the shield member that centers on.

4. equipment according to claim 1 and 2, wherein: on the sidewall that all is loaded on case of elongated member and the shield member that centers on.

5. equipment according to claim 4, wherein: described sidewall be with contain one case a side vis-a-vis.

6. according to any one described equipment in the claim 1 to 5, wherein, this case is equipped with the door of a hinge joint, and elongated member and shield member just are contained on the inner surface of described door, therefore when door is opened, elongated member and shield member just expose significantly, help container is placed to the top of shield member.

7. according to claim 5 or 6 described equipment, comprise switching device, be applicable to by closing the door and trigger, connect a contact whereby, thereby start the irradiation of ultraviolet source.

8. any one described equipment in requiring according to aforesaid right, wherein: control device is housed, adjustable when making the length of time of irradiation elongated member.

9. any one described equipment in requiring according to aforesaid right, wherein: shield member comprises a sealed tube of being made by a kind of plastic material, and this material is a substantial transparent to ultraviolet light and microwave.

10. any one described equipment in requiring according to aforesaid right also comprises to the feeding mechanism of shield member the inside supply air or gas, is used for cooling off it when elongated member is emitted ultraviolet light.

11. equipment according to claim 10, wherein: the end place near it that this Guan Zaiyu feeding mechanism is relative has some apertures, so that air leaves this pipe, and just enters the inside at the disinfectant container.

12. according to any one described equipment in the claim 1 to 8, wherein: this pipe comprises a unlimited frame-type workpiece or network type workpiece.

13. equipment according to claim 12, wherein: the aperture in the shield member is enough to make microwave to penetrate, and removes the irradiation elongated member.

14. according to any one described equipment in the claim 1 to 13, wherein: this shield member forms a waveguide at least in part, is used for the microwave that is generated by a magnetron.

15. according to claim 3 any one described equipment in the claim 4 to 14 when having dependence maybe, wherein: this case has an outlet exhaust duct, this exhaust duct is equipped with a mist canceller, is used for being trapped in the contained water of the air of discharging from this case and the granule of vapour.

16. equipment according to claim 15, wherein: the mist canceller comprises a silk screen.

17. according to claim 15 or 16 described equipment, also comprise a catch tray, be used to collect moisture from this case and/or the discharge of mist canceller.

18. equipment according to claim 1 also comprises a bearing or a support that is used for shield member and elongated member, this bearing or support are applicable to the case of removably putting into microwave oven.

19. equipment according to claim 18, wherein: this bearing or support are placed in the cover, and this cover is fit to removably put into the case of microwave oven.

20. equipment according to claim 1 also comprises being used for elongated member is suspended to device in the container.

21. be used for the sterilizing equipment decontaminating apparatus of disinfecting container, basically as described with reference to accompanying drawing in this patent, and as shown in the drawings.

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