JP2014136045A - Sterilization device and sterilization method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilization device and a sterilization method, capable of achieving strong sterilization effect.SOLUTION: A sterilization device 1 is provided with a concave insertion part 2 having an opening oriented obliquely upward, in which hands of a user are to be inserted. When a detection part arranged in the insertion part 2 detects the insertion of hands, the information is transmitted to a control part 5. The control part 5 makes control such that the rotation of fan installed at an air inlet 3 and the power supply to electrodes in duct in the device are initiated. Air is suctioned into the device, and the suctioned air is passed through discharging electrodes so as to be ionized. The ionized air is expelled from the air exhaust nozzle 21 in the insertion part 2 for sterilization of the hands.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus and a sterilization method.

  As is well known, strict hygiene management is required in the food industry and medical fields. Among these, norovirus is a target that requires particularly careful hygiene management and is strongly required to develop countermeasures. Today, norovirus food poisoning accounts for almost half of all food poisoning patients. Furthermore, the number of patients suffering from norovirus food poisoning, which has started to be confirmed since the 1990s, tends to be flat or increased, although the number of food poisoning patients caused by other pathogenic bacteria tends to decrease.

  According to the knowledge obtained today, it is difficult to take measures against norovirus. In addition to the fact that the size of norovirus is extremely small compared to other fungi, infection with a very small amount, Disinfection with a disinfecting liquid such as reverse soap or alcohol is not effective. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a more effective sterilization system than just hand washing.

  In recent years, a technique called plasma sterilization has been spreading as one of the sterilization techniques. In plasma sterilization, a predetermined voltage (high voltage) is applied between electrodes that are spaced apart to generate a discharge (for example, corona discharge) between the electrodes. As a result, the air around the discharge becomes a plasma state, and ionized gas is generated therefrom. This ionized gas has a sterilizing function, and for example, an effect such as purifying air is obtained. For example, Patent Document 1 below proposes a technique that can be easily cleaned without removing the ion generator in an apparatus that generates ions by plasma and cleans the air in the living space.

JP 2012-114042 A

  The apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an air cleaner or an air conditioner having a plasma sterilizing function. Although the sterilization function is claimed in these devices, according to the knowledge of the present inventor, even when air having a sterilization function is generated by ionization by plasma, the air is diffused, and thus the sterilization effect. Stays at a low level.

  Therefore, a strong sterilizing effect that can cope with norovirus or the like cannot be achieved in a form mounted on an air purifier or an air conditioner as described in the above document. Therefore, it is desired to develop a plasma sterilization apparatus that can achieve a strong sterilization effect that can cope with norovirus and the like.

  Therefore, in view of the above, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a sterilization apparatus and a sterilization method that can achieve a strong sterilization effect.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention detects that a sterilization target has entered the sterilization space, which is a space in which the sterilization target, which is a target to be sterilized, enters during the sterilization process. A passage formed so that a gas flows therethrough, a passage portion formed at a position where the gas delivery port faces the object to be sterilized in the sterilization space, and a spaced position in the passage A power is supplied to the electrodes provided in the electrode, a discharge is generated between the electrodes to generate plasma in the gas, and the gas passing through the discharge is sent out from the outlet. When the air blower that generates a gas flow in the passage and the detector detects that the object to be sterilized has entered the sterilization space, the air discharged from the discharge part and the air blown by the air blower are performed. And a control unit for controlling And wherein the door. According to this invention, plasma is generated by electric discharge, and sterilization is performed by blowing the air that has passed through the sterilization space where the object to be sterilized exists. Accordingly, air having a sterilizing effect is intensively blown into the sterilizing space without diffusing to other places, so that a high sterilizing effect can be realized. Further, since the control is performed so that the discharge is performed when the sterilization target is detected by the detection unit, the sterilization can be performed without an extra operation by the user, which is highly convenient. For example, it is not necessary to touch the operation button. Therefore, it is also suitable for sterilization purposes.

  The object to be sterilized is a hand, and has a size in which the hand can be inserted, and the internal space has a recess that is the sterilization space, at a position facing the hand inserted into the recess on the inner wall of the recess. It may be provided with an insertion part in which a plurality of the delivery ports are formed. According to this invention, plasma is generated by electric discharge, and sterilization is performed in such a manner that air that has passed through the plasma is blown out into the concave portion in which the hand is inserted. Therefore, air having a sterilizing effect is intensively blown out into the recess without diffusing to other places, so that a high sterilizing effect can be realized.

  The object to be sterilized is a human body, and has an internal space of a size that can be accommodated by the whole human body as the sterilization space, a door for closing the internal space, and a plurality of walls on the wall of the internal space. It is good also as providing the housing | casing in which the said delivery port was formed. According to the present invention, plasma is generated by electric discharge, and sterilization is performed in such a manner that the air that has passed through the plasma is blown out into the internal space of the housing in which a person enters. Therefore, since air having a sterilizing effect is intensively blown into the internal space of the housing without diffusing to other places, a high sterilizing effect can be realized.

  The object to be sterilized is a human body and has a shape surrounding a path space in which a person moves from above and from the left and right sides, and a plurality of the outlets are formed on the surfaces formed at the top and left and right sides. The gate portion may be provided. According to the present invention, plasma is generated by electric discharge, and sterilization is performed in such a manner that air passing through the plasma is blown out from three directions toward a path space in which a person moves. Therefore, since air having a sterilizing effect is intensively blown out from three directions without diffusing to other places, a high sterilizing effect can be realized.

  The object to be sterilized is the whole body of a person, and has a shape surrounding a path space in which the person moves from above, left and right sides, and below, and a plurality of surfaces are formed on the upper, left and right sides, and below. It is good also as providing the gate part in which the said delivery port was formed. According to the present invention, plasma is generated by electric discharge, and sterilization is performed in such a manner that air passing through the plasma is blown from four directions toward a path space in which a person moves. Therefore, since air having a sterilizing effect is intensively blown out from four directions without diffusing to other places, a high sterilizing effect can be realized.

  The sterilization target is a human hand and a whole body, has a shape surrounding a path space in which the human moves from at least the upper side and the left and right sides, and has a plurality of surfaces formed on at least the upper side and the left and right sides. The gate part in which the delivery port is formed and the gate part are arranged at positions spaced apart from each other, and have a size in which a hand can be inserted and the internal space is the sterilization space, and the concave part And an insertion portion in which a plurality of the delivery ports are formed at a position facing the hand inserted into the concave portion in the inner wall. According to the present invention, plasma is generated by electric discharge, and air that has passed through it is sterilized by blowing it from at least three directions toward the path space where the person moves, and the recess where the hand is inserted. A portion to be sterilized in a blow-out form, and sterilize in combination with them. Therefore, a high sterilizing effect can be realized by combining the air having a sterilizing effect which is blown intensively on the whole body and hands without diffusing to other places.

  The sterilization apparatus according to the present invention includes an input unit that receives an input for instructing start of sterilization, and a passage that is formed so that gas flows, and the gas outlet is opposed to the sterilization target in the sterilization space. A passage portion formed at a position, a discharge portion for supplying electric power to electrodes provided at spaced positions in the passage, causing discharge between the electrodes and generating plasma in the gas, and When the air blower that generates a gas flow in the passage portion and the input that commands the start of sterilization are received so that the gas that has passed through the discharge portion is sent out from the delivery port, And a control unit that controls to perform the discharge in the blower and the blower, and the sterilization target is the whole body of a human being, arranged at the boundary between the region requiring sanitary management and the other region, Less path space for human movement Also it has a shape surrounding the upper and the left and right sides, characterized by comprising the at least upper and left and right sides and a gate portion in which a plurality of said delivery port is formed in the formed surface in a. According to the present invention, when a person passes through the gate portion, plasma is generated by discharge, and the air that has passed through the sterilization is blown out from at least three directions toward the path space where the person moves. Since air having a sterilizing effect is intensively blown out from at least three directions without diffusing to other places, a high sterilizing effect can be realized. In addition, when a person does not pass through the gate portion, an effect of maintaining an area requiring sanitary management by an air curtain is obtained.

  Further, the sterilization method according to the present invention includes a detection step of detecting that a sterilization target is inside a sterilization space which is a space that is entered during a period during which the sterilization target is a sterilization process, and a gas It is a passage formed so as to circulate, and power is supplied to electrodes provided at spaced positions inside the passage formed at a position where the gas outlet is opposed to the object to be sterilized in the sterilization space. A discharge step that generates a plasma in the gas by causing a discharge between the electrodes, and when the detection step detects that the sterilization target has entered the sterilization space, the discharge step generates And a blowing step for generating a gas flow in the passage portion so that the gas passing through the discharge is sent out from the outlet. According to this invention, plasma is generated by electric discharge, and sterilization is performed by blowing the air that has passed through the sterilization space where the object to be sterilized exists. Accordingly, air having a sterilizing effect is intensively blown into the sterilizing space without diffusing to other places, so that a high sterilizing effect can be realized. In addition, since control is performed so that sterilization is performed when a sterilization target is detected in the detection step, sterilization can be performed without an extra operation by the user, which is highly convenient. For example, it is not necessary to touch the operation buttons. Therefore, it is also suitable for sterilization purposes.

The perspective view in 1st Embodiment of the sterilizer of this invention. AA sectional drawing of FIG. BB sectional drawing of FIG. CC sectional drawing of FIG. The perspective view in 2nd Embodiment of the sterilizer of this invention. DD sectional drawing of FIG. The perspective view in 3rd Embodiment of the sterilizer of this invention. EE sectional drawing of FIG. The figure which shows the modification of embodiment of FIG. FF sectional drawing of FIG. The figure which shows the example which has arrange | positioned the sterilizer of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are three sectional views thereof.

  The sterilization apparatus 1a shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is a plasma sterilization apparatus for the purpose of sterilizing hands (bare hands). In the sterilizing apparatus 1a, a wall portion 11 is erected in a vertical direction from a pedestal portion 10 placed on a floor or the like, and a sterilizing portion 12 is disposed thereon. In the sterilizing part 12, an insertion part 2 for inserting a hand is formed in a concave shape having an opening 20 above.

  The user inserts both hands into the insertion portion 2 from the opening 20 in a posture standing facing the device 1. The standard position where the user stands may be on the right side in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the sterilizing unit 12 is formed so as to be inclined from the horizontal direction toward the right side of the drawing (that is, the side on which the user stands), and the user inserts his / her hand into the insertion unit 2. This is a suitable shape. A large number of air jets 21 are formed in the insertion portion 2, and air (air) ionized by plasma is blown from the air jets 21 toward the hand, so that the hand is sterilized.

  The sterilization unit 12 includes a duct 22 and electrodes 23 and 24 in the duct 22. Further, the sterilizing unit 12 is formed with an inlet 3 for inhaling air and an outlet 4 for discharging air. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the air jets 21 are formed on the wall surface of the insertion portion 2 so as to be aligned in a matrix in the vertical and horizontal directions. Specifically, it is formed on the wall surface on the palm side, the wall surface on the back side of the hand, the two wall surfaces on the left and right sides of the hand, and the five wall surfaces on the fingertip side (the back side of the insertion portion 2). In FIG. 2, spaces (insertion spaces) 100 and 101 into which a hand is inserted in the insertion unit 2 are illustrated by virtual lines (dotted lines). The insertion space 100 is a space where the left hand is inserted, and the insertion space 101 is a space where the right hand is inserted. The air outlet 21 is formed at a position facing the insertion spaces 100 and 101. In the example of FIG. 4, the insertion portion 2 is formed so that the width becomes narrower from the opening 20 toward the fingertip side (back side), and the arrangement position of the air ejection port 21 also depends on this shape. The interval may be narrowed as

  The duct 22 is formed from the inlet 3 to the air outlet 21. The suction port 3 is equipped with a filter 30 and a fan 31. As the fan 31 rotates, air is sucked into the duct 22 from the suction port 3, and the air is conveyed from the suction port 3 to the air jet port 21 through the duct 22. At that time, the air flowing in passes through the filter 30, whereby dust and dust in the air are filtered.

  Electrodes 23 and 24 are the main parts of plasma sterilization. For example, the electrode 24 is a protruding electrode, and the electrode 23 is a flat plate, and is a counter electrode disposed at a position spaced from the electrode 23 and facing the electrode 23. The electrodes 23 and 24 may be arranged in a form of being alternately aligned at positions in the duct 22 near the air outlet 21 as shown in FIG. When a voltage (for example, a predetermined high voltage) is applied between the electrodes 23 and 24, a discharge (for example, corona discharge) is generated between the electrodes 23 and 24, and the air in the vicinity of the electrodes 23 and 24 is in a plasma state. It becomes.

  By this plasma, ions having a sterilizing effect (ionized air) are generated. As described above, the air flow is formed by the rotation of the fan 31 and the air outside the apparatus is sucked and ejected from the air ejection port 21, but since it passes through the arrangement positions of the electrodes 23 and 24 in the middle, Thereby, it is ejected from the air ejection port 21 in an ionized state. As a result, ionized air is ejected from the air ejection port 21 to the hands in the insertion spaces 100 and 101, and the hands are sterilized.

  The air after being sterilized by being ejected into the insertion portion 2 is discharged from the discharge port 4. A filter 40 and a fan 41 are disposed at the discharge port 4. As the fan 41 rotates, air is sucked from the insertion portion 2 and discharged from the discharge port 4. At that time, by passing through the filter 40, discharge of dust and the like outside the apparatus is suppressed.

  In addition, the device 1 a includes a control unit 5. The control unit 5 has the same structure as a normal computer. That is, a CPU that performs information processing such as various operations, a volatile storage unit (RAM) that functions as a work area of the CPU, a non-volatile storage unit that stores data and programs used for work on the CPU, and the like. Prepare. The control unit 5 controls the rotation of the fans 31 and 41 and the power supply to the electrodes 23 and 24. It is assumed that the control unit 5 and these parts are connected by a communication line. For example, the rotation speed of the fans 31 and 41 may be adjusted by the control unit 5 in accordance with, for example, a user or administrator input to an input unit (not shown). The control unit 5 may be provided with a timer (time keeping function).

  Furthermore, the apparatus 1a is provided with the detection part 50 which detects that the hand was inserted, as FIG. 4 shows. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 4, a user wears a wristband 51 with an IC tag 52 on the wrist, and the detection unit 52 is a tag reader for the IC tag 52. The installation position of the detection unit 50 may be a position where the detection unit 50 can detect the IC tag 52 when a hand is inserted to a position appropriate for sterilization.

  The sterilizer 1a under the above configuration operates as follows, for example. When the detection unit 50 detects the IC tag 52, the information is sent to the control unit 5, and the control unit 5 starts rotating the fan 31 (and the fan 41) and supplying power to the electrodes 23 and 24. To control. When the rotation of the fan 31 (and the fan 41) and the power supply to the electrodes 23 and 24 are performed for a predetermined time, the control unit 5 rotates the fan 31 (and the fan 41) and the power to the electrodes 23 and 24. Control to stop the supply. Here, the predetermined time is a time sufficient for sterilization set in advance.

  Thus, the user simply inserts the hand, and the ionized air is blown onto the hand without any other operation, so that the hand is sterilized. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the air ejection port 21 is in the vicinity of the hand inserted into the insertion portion 2, and air is ejected into the insertion portion 2 from there, so that the air is not diffused and is intensively ejected to the hand. Thus, a high bactericidal effect can be obtained. Further, the electrodes 23 and 24 are disposed in the vicinity of the air outlet 21. Accordingly, since the air is blown onto the hand immediately after being ionized, the generated ions are suppressed from disappearing before being blown onto the hand. This is also suitable for a high bactericidal effect.

  Since the IC tag 52 is used in the example of FIG. 4, sterilization history management, alarm processing, and the like can be performed by storing user ID (identification) data in the IC tag 52. This point will be described later.

  Instead of using the IC tag 52 and the wristband 51, the detection unit 50 may simply detect the presence of a hand. In that case, the detection unit 50 may be a known so-called proximity switch (capacitance proximity switch, ultrasonic proximity switch, or the like) that detects the presence or absence of an object without contact. And what is necessary is just to arrange | position the detection part 50 in the bottom face part side of the insertion part 2 so that the fingertip inserted deeply enough in the insertion part 2 may be detected.

  The detection unit 50 may be a detection unit that performs so-called biometric authentication without using the IC tag 52 or the wristband 51. In this case, the sterilized person is surely specified, which is suitable for management of the sterilization history (described later). The sterilization apparatus 1a is sterilized by inserting a bare hand in the above description and FIG. 4, but the sterilization apparatus 1a may be used not only for sterilization of a bare hand but also for sterilization with a glove attached to a hand. . In this case, there is an advantage that sterilization can be performed without removing the gloves from the hand. In that case, the IC tag 52 may be attached to the glove.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described. In this embodiment, a human enters the sealed space to perform plasma sterilization. In FIGS. 5 and 6 (and FIGS. 7 to 9 described later) and FIGS. 1 to 4, the parts having the same reference numerals may be the parts having the same function, and redundant description is omitted.

  Specifically, the sterilizing apparatus 1 b of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a housing 13 having a door 14. The housing 13 is sized to accommodate a person in a standing posture, and the person enters the interior by opening the door 14. Humans may be in a standing posture after entering the interior. By closing the door 14, the internal space of the housing 13 is sealed (FIG. 6 shows a state in which the door 14 is closed).

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a large number of air jets 21 are formed on the inner wall surface of the housing 13 (specifically, five surfaces including three side surfaces, a ceiling surface, and a floor surface). In the case of FIG. 6, the suction port 3 is formed on the back surface (surface opposite to the door 14) of the housing 13, and the filter 30 and the fan 31 are disposed. In a duct 22 formed from the suction port 3 to the air jet port 21, electrodes 23 and 24 for plasma sterilization are disposed in the vicinity of the air jet port 21. In addition, the device 1 b includes a detection unit 50 and a control unit 5 on the inner wall surface of the housing 13.

  Under the above configuration, the sterilizer 1b operates, for example, as follows. In the apparatus 1b, when a person enters the housing 13 and the detection unit 50 detects the person (or the IC tag 52), the information is sent to the control unit 5. Further, a sensor for detecting the closing of the door 14 may be arranged (not shown), and door closing information by the sensor may be sent to the control unit 5. When receiving the detection information and door closing information from the detection unit 50, the control unit 5 controls the rotation of the fan 31 and the supply of power to the electrodes 23 and 24.

  When the rotation of the fan 31 (and the fan 41) and the power supply to the electrodes 23 and 24 are performed for a predetermined time, the control unit 5 rotates the fan 31 (and the fan 41) and the power to the electrodes 23 and 24. Control to stop the supply. As a result, the user only enters the sterilization apparatus 1b and sterilization is performed without any other operation. When the door 14 is closed, the internal space of the housing 13 is sealed, so that the ionized air ejected by the above control is jetted to the human body without diffusing outside the housing, and a high sterilizing effect can be realized.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described. In this embodiment, sterilization is performed by ejecting air ionized from the horizontal direction or upward direction of the path space toward a human body in a movement path of a human such as a hallway of a building.

  Specifically, the sterilizer 1c shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a gate shape including two columnar portions 15 and a ceiling portion 16 bridged by them. The gate shape is large enough for a person with a standing posture to pass through. In a basic usage pattern, a person stops in a gate-shaped internal space and receives air to be sterilized. Therefore, a large number of air jets 21 are formed in the gate-shaped internal space, that is, the inner side surface of the columnar portion 15 and the lower surface of the ceiling portion 16.

  In the case of FIG. 7, the suction port 3 is formed in the upper corner of the gate shape, and the filter 30 (and the fan 31) is disposed therein. In a duct 22 formed from the suction port 3 to the air jet port 21, electrodes 23 and 24 for plasma sterilization are disposed in the vicinity of the air jet port 21. In addition, the device 1 c includes a detection unit 50 and a control unit 5 on the inner side surface of the columnar unit 15.

  Under such a configuration, the sterilizer 1c operates, for example, as follows. In the device 1 c, when a person enters the gate-shaped internal space (below the ceiling portion 16) and the detection unit 50 detects a human (or IC tag 52), the information is sent to the control unit 5. When receiving the detection information from the detection unit 50, the control unit 5 controls the rotation of the fan 31 and the power supply to the electrodes 23 and 24 to start. When the rotation of the fan 31 (and the fan 41) and the power supply to the electrodes 23 and 24 are performed for a predetermined time, the control unit 5 rotates the fan 31 (and the fan 41) and the power to the electrodes 23 and 24. Control to stop the supply.

  In this way, the user only comes under the sterilizer 1c, and sterilization is started without any other operation. The air ejected from the air ejection port 21 may be ejected so strongly as to form an air curtain in the gate-shaped internal space. Thereby, the ionized air ejected by the above control is effectively ejected from three directions to the human body before diffusing to the outside of the gate shape, and a high sterilizing effect can be realized.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sterilizing apparatus 1c may be arranged such that the upper and side surfaces of the gate shape are in contact with the ceiling and side walls of the hallway. In this case, since humans always pass under the apparatus 1c, it is suitable for situations where sterilization is to be surely performed.

  7 and 8 may be modified as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, for example. In this example, air is also ejected from the floor side. Specifically, the apparatus 1d in FIG. 9 includes a floor portion 17 in addition to the columnar portion 15 and the ceiling portion 16 similar to those in FIG. In the example of FIG. 9, the floor portion 17 includes a horizontal surface formed in the center and inclined surfaces formed to be inclined on both sides (front side and back side). The air ejection port 21 is formed in an annular shape without a break across the horizontal surface of the floor portion 17, the left and right columnar portions 15, and the inner wall of the ceiling portion 16. Therefore, since ionized air is ejected from all directions up, down, left, and right when viewed from a human being sterilized, a high sterilization effect can be realized.

  FIG. 11 also shows an embodiment in which the sterilizers 1a, 1c (or 1d) are combined. In this embodiment, for example, when the door shown on the left is a toilet door, a person who has left the toilet sterilizes the whole body with the sterilizer 1c (or 1d), and further sterilizes hands and fingers with the device 1a. A double sterilization effect can be realized. The device 1c (or 1d) may be a separate device from the building as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, or may be incorporated in the building. In the latter case, an air outlet 21 is formed on the ceiling or side wall of the hallway, and a duct or the like is provided outside the hallway.

  Note that the apparatus 1c (1d) may not be configured to start sterilization when a human is detected as described above, but may be configured to always form an air curtain or an air barrier by continuously ejecting ionized air from the air ejection port 21. . Here, the term “always” may mean 24 hours a day. For example, when it is installed in a company, it may mean “always within a predetermined period, such as always during work hours”. At that time, for example, a switch for receiving an input for starting sterilization may be provided. When the switch is turned on, the air may be constantly ejected until the switch is turned off. The installation location of the device 1c (1d) is not limited to the hallway or the like, and may be a boundary between the sanitary area and the non-hygienic area. As a result, when a person passes, in addition to achieving a high sterilizing effect on the human body by blowing air intensively as described above, a sanitary area is maintained by an air curtain (air barrier) even during a period when the person does not pass. The effect is achieved.

  In the sterilization apparatus of the present invention, processing such as alarm and sterilization history management may be performed. Details will be described below.

  The sterilization apparatus 1a (1b, 1c, 1d) cannot detect the sterilization target (hand or human body) or the IC tag 52 before the predetermined time ends after the sterilization (that is, the ejection of air) is started. If the opening of the door is detected, the controller 5 may notify (warn) that the sterilization is still insufficient. For this notification, the control unit 5 may include a notification unit such as a voice output unit (for example, a speaker) or a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) and perform a notification process to that effect by voice output or display. Thereby, it can avoid that a user accidentally finishes sterilization earlier than predetermined time.

  In this case, the shortage of the sterilization time may be calculated, and if the sterilization is resumed immediately after that, the shortage may be sterilized. Specifically, before the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of sterilization (that is, the ejection of air), the detection unit 50 cannot detect the sterilization target (hand or human body) or the IC tag 52, or the door is opened. Once detected, the ejection of air is once terminated, and how much actual sterilization time is insufficient from a predetermined time is calculated. Thereafter, when the object to be sterilized or the IC tag 52 can be detected again, or when the door is closed, the ejection of air may be resumed for the calculated shortage time. As a result, if the user mistakenly tries to finish sterilization early, it is only necessary to sterilize the shortage immediately afterwards, so that a rational system can be obtained.

  An example of sterilization history management using the IC tag 52 is as follows. In the following example, it is assumed that a plurality of users use the sterilizer 1a (1b, 1c, 1d), and an IC tag 52 storing a unique ID is distributed to each user.

  When the sterilization is performed for a predetermined time after the ID of the IC tag 52 is read in the sterilization apparatus 1a (1b, 1c, 1d), the control unit 5 includes the date and time when the sterilization is performed in association with the ID. Store in the sex storage. Thereby, the sterilization date for every user is memorized. The stored sterilization date may be stored by overwriting the latest date every time sterilization is performed, or all (or a recent predetermined number of times) sterilization date may be stored. In the former case, the storage capacity can be saved. In the latter case, an objective sterilization record proof for a third party can be created.

  Further, an alarm may be issued to a user who has not been sterilized for too long. Specifically, the upper limit value of the sterilization interval is determined in advance, and the sterilization date and time that the control unit 5 stores that there is a user whose elapsed time from the most recent sterilization date and time exceeds the upper limit value. If it discriminate | determines with reference to this record, it will notify that user concerned. The notification process may be performed by voice output or display by the voice output unit or display unit as described above. Thereby, an appropriate sterilization habit can be established.

  As described above, the sterilization apparatus 1a can be used not only for sterilization of bare hands but also for sterilization of gloves worn on the hand. In the case of glove sterilization, the unused time of the gloves may be excluded from the calculation of the sterilization date interval. That is, for example, in a situation where gloves are distributed for each worker in a work place or the like, the absence time (time when gloves are not used) of each worker can be input to the control unit 5 so that the latest sterilization can be performed. In the calculation process of the elapsed time from the date and time, the absence time is excluded. This enables fine sterilization management.

  Moreover, you may notify the discard of the glove which passed the expiration date. Specifically, the first sterilization date and time for each glove is stored, and if the elapsed time from that time exceeds a predetermined value, a notification that the expiration date has been exceeded is given. The notification means may be a voice output or a display as described above. As a result, it is possible to avoid a hygienic problem such as a glove that has expired due to breakage during use.

  The above embodiments may be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist of the claims. For example, the arrangement position and number of the air jets 21 and the shape of the duct 22 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 (or other figures) are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to them. The IC tag may be any tag that can identify individual users, such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code.

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Sterilizer 2 Insertion part 15 Columnar part (gate part)
16 Ceiling (gate)
22 Duct (passage)
23, 24 Electrode (discharge part)
50 detector

In order to solve the above problems, the sterilization apparatus according to the present invention functions as a sterilization space inserted during a period in which a hand or gloved hand to be sterilized is subjected to sterilization . Opening for insertion of bare hands or hands wearing gloves, side wall surrounding all sides of inserted bare hands or gloves wearing hands, and back wall on the back side of inserted hands or gloves wearing hands A concave portion that is a concave space, a detection portion that detects that a bare hand or a gloved hand has entered the concave portion , and all the side wall surfaces and back wall surfaces so that gas can circulate In the inside of the passage portion , which is a passage formed along the path , the one pole and the other pole are alternately arranged in parallel to the side wall surface or the back wall surface of the recess. A power supply with multiple pairs of electrodes And parts, so as to connect between the internal and the electrode portion of the recess, and a plurality of delivery ports formed in dispersed locations over the entire surface of the side wall surface and inner wall surface of the concave portion, the electrode portion A discharge part for supplying electric power to cause discharge between the electrodes to generate plasma in the gas, and a gas in the passage part so that the gas passing through the discharge part is sent out from the outlet. When the blower that generates a flow and the detection unit detects that a bare hand or a hand wearing gloves has entered the inside of the recess , control is performed so that the discharge at the discharge unit and the blower at the blower are performed. And a control unit.

Claims (8)

A detection unit for detecting that the sterilization target has entered the interior of the sterilization space, which is a space that is entered during the period in which the sterilization target is the target for sterilization,
A passage formed so that gas circulates, and a passage portion formed at a position where the outlet of the gas faces the object to be sterilized in the sterilization space;
A discharge unit that supplies electric power to electrodes provided at spaced positions in the passage, and generates a plasma in the gas by causing a discharge between the electrodes;
A blower unit that generates a gas flow in the passage unit so that the gas that has passed through the discharge unit is sent out from the outlet;
When the detection unit detects that the sterilization target has entered the inside of the sterilization space, a control unit that controls the discharge in the discharge unit and the blowing in the blowing unit;
A sterilization apparatus comprising: The object to be sterilized is a hand,
An insertion having a size into which a hand can be inserted, an internal space having a concave portion which is the sterilization space, and a plurality of the delivery ports formed at positions facing the concave portion on the inner wall of the concave portion The sterilizer of Claim 1 provided with the part. The object to be sterilized is the whole human body,
A housing having an internal space of a size that can be accommodated by the whole human body as the sterilization space, a door for closing the internal space, and a plurality of the outlets formed on the wall surface of the internal space The sterilizer of Claim 1 provided with. The object to be sterilized is the whole human body,
2. A gate portion having a shape surrounding a path space in which a person moves from above and from the left and right sides, and having a plurality of the outlets formed on the upper and left and right sides. The sterilizer described in 1. The object to be sterilized is the whole human body,
It has a shape that surrounds a path space in which humans move from above, from the left and right sides, and from below, and has a gate portion in which a plurality of the outlets are formed on the surfaces formed at the top, left and right sides, and below. The sterilizer according to claim 1. The sterilization target is a human hand and whole body,
A gate portion having a shape surrounding a path space in which a person moves from at least the upper side and the left and right sides, and a plurality of the outlets formed on surfaces formed at least on the upper side and the left and right sides;
It is arranged at a position separated from the gate part, has a size in which a hand can be inserted, and has an inner space having a recess which is the sterilization space, and faces the hand inserted into the recess in the inner wall of the recess. An insertion portion in which a plurality of the delivery ports are formed at a position to perform,
The sterilizer of Claim 1 provided with. An input unit for receiving an input for instructing start of sterilization;
A passage formed so that gas flows, and a passage portion formed at a position where the gas delivery port faces the object to be sterilized in the sterilization space;
A discharge unit that supplies electric power to electrodes provided at spaced positions in the passage, and generates a plasma in the gas by causing a discharge between the electrodes;
A blower unit that generates a gas flow in the passage unit so that the gas that has passed through the discharge unit is sent out from the outlet;
When the input unit receives an input for instructing start of sterilization, a control unit that controls the discharge in the discharge unit and the blowing in the blowing unit;
The sterilization target is a whole human body,
It is arranged at the boundary between the area requiring hygiene management and the other area, and has a shape surrounding the path space where the person moves from at least the upper side and the left and right sides, and is formed at least at the upper side and the left and right sides. A gate portion in which a plurality of delivery ports are formed on the surface,
A sterilization apparatus comprising: A detection step of detecting that a sterilization target has entered the interior of the sterilization space, which is a space that is entered during a period in which the sterilization target is a target to be sterilized;
It is a passage that is formed so that gas flows, and power is supplied to an electrode provided at a spaced position inside the passage that is formed at a position where the gas outlet is opposed to the object to be sterilized in the sterilization space. A discharge step for generating a plasma in the gas by causing a discharge between the electrodes;
When the detection step detects that the sterilization target has entered the inside of the sterilization space, a gas flow is generated in the passage so that the gas that has passed the discharge generated by the discharge step is sent out from the delivery port. Generating a blowing step;
A sterilization method comprising:

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