Sterilization device for tray

Abstract

To provide a sterilization device for a tray with which it is possible to simply and rapidly sterilize a tray that carries a medicine.SOLUTION: A sterilization device for a tray includes: a stage (conveyor 3) configured to mount thereon a tray 2 that stores a medicine and is transported; a lifting device 5 that raises or lowers the tray 2 between the stage and a sterilization position P2 above the stage; and a plurality of lamps 6 that are respectively disposed at positions surrounding the tray 2 moved to the sterilization position P2 so as to irradiate ultraviolet light in a UV-C wavelength region to the tray 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tray sterilization device that sterilizes trays for carrying medicines by using ultraviolet light. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when transporting injection drugs in a hospital, trays such as those described in Patent Document 1 are often used. Patent Document 1 discloses a tray from which injection drugs are dispensed by an automatic injection drug dispensing device. The injection drugs dispensed on the tray are distributed to each ward while still loaded on the tray, and prescribed to each patient. The tray is collected from the ward after the injection drug is prescribed and reused. For this reason, the tray is transported by many people from the time the injection drug is dispensed until it is reloaded into the automatic injection drug dispensing device, and therefore there is a risk of it being contaminated by various bacteria and viruses. For this reason, the tray is often manually disinfected with alcohol before it is loaded into the automatic injection drug dispensing device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-109899 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since the sterilization of the trays must be done manually one by one, there is a problem that the work is complicated and requires a lot of time.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a tray sterilization device capable of easily and quickly sterilizing trays for carrying medicines. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve this objective, the tray sterilization device of the present invention comprises a stage on which a tray containing pharmaceuticals and being transported is placed, a lifting device which raises and lowers the tray placed on the stage between a sterilization position above the stage, and a plurality of lamps which are positioned in positions surrounding the tray which has been moved to the sterilization position and which irradiate the entire outside and inside of the tray with ultraviolet light in the UV-C wavelength range.

[0007] In the tray sterilization apparatus of the present invention, a contact portion of the lifting device that comes into contact with the tray may be formed from a material that transmits the ultraviolet light.

[0008] In the present invention, in the tray sterilization apparatus, the stage may be constituted by a conveyor, and an upstream transport device provided in a tray supplying device that supplies empty trays before sterilization and that sends the trays before sterilization to the conveyor may be connected to the upstream end of the conveyor in the transport direction, and a downstream transport device provided in an apparatus that stores articles in the trays after sterilization and that receives the trays after sterilization may be connected to the downstream end of the conveyor in the transport direction.

[0009] The present invention may further comprise a setting device for setting irradiation times of the plurality of lamps.

[0010] The present invention may provide a tray sterilization apparatus, wherein the tray is formed in a box shape opening upward and has a flange protruding outward from its upper end, the contact portion being formed in a plate shape facing the flange of the tray from below, and the lifting device may include a plurality of lifting members formed in a shape extending in the vertical direction outside one and the other side of the tray and having the contact portion at their lower ends, a movable frame formed in a frame shape surrounding the plurality of lamps and connecting the upper ends of the plurality of lifting members, and an actuator for raising and lowering the movable frame.

[0011] In the present invention, in the tray sterilization apparatus, the multiple lifting members comprise multiple lifting members located on the front side of the apparatus from the tray and multiple lifting members located on the rear side of the apparatus from the tray, the multiple lifting members located on the front side of the apparatus being supported on the movable frame so as to be able to swing freely so that their lower ends move forward of the tray, and the movable frame may include an operating lever having a gripping portion on the front side of the apparatus and able to swing freely in the vertical direction, and a connecting mechanism which connects the operating lever and the lifting members on the front side of the apparatus so as to operate in conjunction with each other.

[0012] The present invention relates to a tray sterilization apparatus, which further includes a slider that rises and falls between a standby position and an elevated position in conjunction with the operation of the lifting device, and among the plurality of lamps, a lamp that irradiates ultraviolet light onto the outer bottom surface of the tray is supported by the slider, and when the slider is located at the standby position, the lamp supported by the slider is located below the stage, and when the slider is located at the elevated position, the lamp supported by the slider is located at a position a predetermined distance below the underside of the tray that has been moved to the sterilization position. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tray sterilization device capable of easily and quickly sterilizing trays for carrying medicines. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view and a front view showing a schematic configuration of a sterilization device for trays according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view for explaining the operation of the tray sterilization device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a specific structure of the sterilization device for trays. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tray. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the inside of the housing. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the frame. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of the automatic injection drug dispensing system. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the conveying section. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the conveyor and the stopper. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view of the transport section. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the transport unit and the sterilization unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a front view of the transport section and the sterilization section. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows top and bottom views of multiple lamps. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 shows front and side views of multiple lamps. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the upper lamps as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the lower lamps as viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the lower lamps as viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of some of the lower lamps and the conveyor as viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a side view showing a part of the sterilization apparatus for trays. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a side view showing a part of the sterilization apparatus for trays. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a part of the tray sterilization apparatus as seen obliquely from above and in front. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a part of the sterilization apparatus for trays, seen obliquely from above and behind. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the movable frame. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a front view showing a part of the sterilization apparatus for trays. [Diagram 25]FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a support structure for the front lifting member. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front lifting member is swung. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a part of the tray sterilization apparatus as viewed obliquely from above and in front. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the sterilization apparatus for trays. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a sterilization device for trays according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 29. (Outline of tray sterilization device) First, the schematic configuration of the tray sterilization device will be described with reference to Figs. 1(A), (B) and 2.

[0016] The tray sterilization device 1 according to this embodiment irradiates the tray, indicated by reference symbol 2 in Figures 1(A), (B) and 2, with ultraviolet light to sterilize the tray 2. The tray 2 is used for storing and transporting medicines (not shown) including injection drugs, and is placed on a conveyor 3 serving as a stage. The conveyor 3 carries the tray 2 before sterilization into the interior of a housing 4, and carries the tray 2 after sterilization out of the housing 4. The tray 2 is driven by the lifting device 5 to move up and down between a transfer position P1 on the conveyor 3 and a sterilization position P2 above the conveyor 3.

[0017] The ultraviolet light irradiated onto the tray 2 is in the UV-C wavelength range, and is irradiated onto the tray 2 that has been moved to the sterilization position P2 by multiple lamps 6. The lamps 6 are equipped with inverters 7 to achieve high-frequency lighting with high sterilization ability. In addition, reflectors 8 are provided around the lamps 6 to irradiate the tray 2 with ultraviolet light more efficiently.

[0018] The conveyor 3, the lifting device 5, the multiple lamps 6, and the reflector 8 are housed in a housing 4. The housing 4 is provided with a touch panel type display unit 9 for setting the operation of the conveyor 3 and the lamps 6, an emergency stop button switch 10, and the like. A heat exhaust fan 11 is provided on the ceiling of the housing 4.

[0019] To sterilize a tray 2 using this tray sterilization apparatus 1, first, the tray 2 is carried into the housing 4 by the conveyor 3 as shown in Fig. 2(A), and the tray 2 is raised from the conveying position P1 to the sterilization position P2 by the lifting device 5 as shown in Figs. 2(B)-(C). Then, the tray 2 at the sterilization position P2 is irradiated with ultraviolet light by the lamp 6 for a predetermined period of time, and then, as shown in Fig. 3(D), the lifting device 5 is operated to lower the tray 2 onto the conveyor 3. After sterilization is completed in this manner, the tray 2 is carried out of the housing 4 by the conveyor 3. Therefore, according to this tray sterilization apparatus 1, it is possible to sterilize the tray 2 without relying on human labor.

[0020] (Specific explanation of tray sterilization device) Next, a detailed description of the tray sterilization device according to the present invention will be given with reference to Figs. The tray sterilization apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is composed of a vertically long box-shaped housing 4 and a plurality of functional units 12-14 housed in the housing 4. The functional units 12-14 will be described later. In the following, when describing the directions of each part of the tray sterilization apparatus 1, the directions are shown as seen from the front surface 4a of the housing 4. In the housing 4 shown in Fig. 3, the surface facing diagonally downward to the left is the front surface 4a, and the surface facing diagonally downward to the right is the right side surface 4b.

[0021] The front surface 4a of the housing 4 is formed by a pair of doors 15, 16 on the left and right sides, and a front panel 17 located above these doors 15, 16. The doors 15, 16 can be opened and closed in a so-called double door style. When the doors 15, 16 are opened, the inside of the device is exposed. The front panel 17 is provided with a touch panel display unit 9 and an emergency stop button switch 10. The right side surface 4b, the left side surface 4c, and the rear surface 4d of the housing 4 are each formed by a vertical panel 18. The vertical panel 18, which is the right side surface 4b of the housing 4, has an entrance 19 for carrying in the tray 2 before sterilization. In addition, the vertical panel 18, which is the left side surface 4c of the housing 4, has an exit 20 for carrying out the tray 2 after sterilization.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, the tray 2 is formed in a box shape that opens upward. A flange 21 that protrudes outward from four side walls 2a to 2d of the tray 2 is provided at the upper end of the tray 2. An inner bottom surface 22 of the tray 2 is divided into four storage areas 22A to 22D. Each of the storage areas 22A to 22D is formed by a concave curved surface having an arc-shaped cross section extending in the front-rear direction.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 3, the upper surface 4e of the housing 4 is formed by a ceiling panel 24 having a plurality of ventilation holes 23. The lower surface 4f of the housing 4 is formed by a bottom plate 26 of a frame 25 shown in Fig. 5. The bottom plate 26 also has ventilation holes 27 (see Fig. 6). 6, the frame 25 is formed by a bottom plate 26, four pillars 28 extending upward from the bottom plate 26, and a plurality of beam members 29 extending horizontally to connect two adjacent pillars 28. The plurality of beam members 29 are composed of a plurality of first beam members 29A connecting the upper ends of the pillars 28, a plurality of second beam members 29B connecting the upper halves of the pillars 28, a plurality of third beam members 29C connecting the lower halves of the pillars 28, and the like.

[0024] Four heat exhaust fans 11 (see FIG. 5) are attached to the top of frame 25 via brackets (not shown). These fans 11 exhaust air inside housing 4 to above housing 4 through ventilation openings 23 in ceiling panel 24. The operation of these fans 11 is controlled by a control device 30 (see FIG. 28), which will be described later.

[0025] (Explanation of the automated injection drug dispensing system) The tray sterilization apparatus 1 according to this embodiment can be incorporated into an automatic injection drug dispensing system 31 shown in Fig. 7. Note that the tray sterilization apparatus 1 can also be used alone without being incorporated into the automatic injection drug dispensing system 31. The injection drug automatic dispensing system 31 is configured by arranging a plurality of devices 32 to 36 in a horizontal direction. The plurality of devices 32 to 36 are an empty tray unit 32 depicted on the far right side in Fig. 2, a tray sterilization device 1 adjacent to the left side of the empty tray unit 32, a label printer unit 33 adjacent to the left side of the tray sterilization device 1, a dispenser unit 34 adjacent to the left side of the label printer unit 33, an injection prescription printer unit 35 adjacent to the left side of the dispenser unit 34, and a completed tray unit 36 ​​adjacent to the left side of the injection prescription printer unit 35.

[0026] The empty tray unit 32 contains empty trays 2 before sterilization, and sends the trays 2 one by one to the tray sterilization device 1. The tray sterilization device 1 sterilizes the tray 2 and then sends the tray 2 to the label printer unit 33. The label printer unit 33 prints a label (not shown) indicating the contents of the injection drug and stores this label in the tray 2. After placing the label on the tray 2, the label printer unit 33 sends the tray 2 to the dispenser unit 34. The dispenser unit 34 transfers the injection drug to the tray 2 and sends the tray 2 to the injection prescription printer unit 35.

[0027] The injection prescription printer unit 35 prints injection prescriptions for the injection drugs stored in the tray 2, stores them in the tray 2, and sends the tray 2 to the completion tray unit 36. The completion tray unit 36 ​​stacks and stores the trays 2 sent from the injection prescription printer unit 35. A conveyor 3 (see FIG. 2) equivalent to that provided in the tray sterilization device 1 is used to transport the trays 2 between these units. The conveyor 3 will be described later.

[0028] (Description of tray sterilization device) The multiple functional units 12-14 housed in the housing 4 of the tray sterilization apparatus 1 are, as shown in Fig. 5, a transport unit 12 located at the bottom in the housing 4, a sterilization unit 13 located above the transport unit 12, and a control unit 14 located above the sterilization unit 13. The transport unit 12 is supported by a bottom plate 26 of a frame 25. The sterilization unit 13 is supported by a second beam member 29B and a third beam member 29C of the frame 25, etc.

[0029] (Description of the conveying section) As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the transport section 12 is configured using a conveyor 3 installed on the bottom plate 26, a stopper 41 located downstream of the conveyor 3 in the transport direction, and the like. The conveyor 3 is a belt conveyor that places the trays 2 on a front belt 42 and a rear belt 43 and transports them from the right side to the left side of the housing 4. The front belt 42 and the rear belt 43 are endless belts that are driven and rotated by a conveyor drive motor 44 (see Fig. 9). The operation of the conveyor drive motor 44 is controlled by a control device 30 (see Fig. 28) described later.

[0030] In this embodiment, the conveyor 3 corresponds to the "stage" of the present invention. A guide 45 with rollers that defines the transport path of the tray 2 is provided near the belts 42 and 43. There is a wide open space between the front belt 42 and the rear belt 43. The ventilation hole 27 in the bottom plate 26 is formed between the front belt 42 and the rear belt 43 when viewed from above. Two fans 46 are disposed in the ventilation hole 27 to send cooling air from below toward the sterilization section 13, which will be described later.

[0031] 9, a conveyor 47 provided in the empty tray unit 32 is connected to the upstream side of the conveyor 3 in the conveying direction. The conveyor 47 of the empty tray unit 32 corresponds to the "upstream conveying device" in this invention, and the empty tray unit 32 corresponds to the "tray supply device that supplies empty trays before sterilization" in this invention. A conveyor 48 of the label printer unit 33 is connected to the downstream side in the transport direction of the conveyor 3 of the tray sterilization apparatus 1. In this embodiment, the conveyor 48 of the label printer unit 33 corresponds to the "downstream transport device" of the present invention, and the label printer unit 33 corresponds to the "device for storing articles in sterilized trays" of the present invention.

[0032] The stopper 41 determines the position of the tray 2 when it is carried into the tray sterilization apparatus 1. As shown in Fig. 10, the stopper 41 has a stopper body 41a that crosses the transport path of the tray 2, which is made of the conveyor 3. The stopper body 41a has two rods 41b extending upward, and is supported by the frame 25 via these two rods 41b so as to be movable up and down. The two rods 41b each pass through a guide member 49 provided on the frame 25, and are supported by the guide member 49 so as to be movable up and down.

[0033] The upper ends of the two rods 41b are connected to each other by a rod-shaped operating member 50 (see FIG. 9) that extends in the front-rear direction. A compression coil spring 51 that urges the operating member 50 upward is provided between the operating member 50 and the guide member 49. As shown in FIG. 9, in a state in which the movement of the operating member 50 is not restricted (a state in which nothing is placed on the operating member 50), an assembly consisting of the stopper body 41a, the rod 41b, and the operating member 50 is pushed upward by the spring force of the compression coil spring 51. This upward movement of the assembly continues until a movement restricting piece 41c provided on the rod 41b abuts against the guide member 49.

[0034] Therefore, the stopper body 41a moves from the use position shown by the solid line in Fig. 10 to the retracted position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 10 by the spring force of the compression coil spring 51. When the stopper body 41a moves to the retracted position, the transport path formed by the conveyor 3 is opened, and the tray 2 can be removed. The operating member 50 is pushed from above by a movable frame 52 (see FIG. 24) of the sterilization unit 13 described later, and moves down against the spring force of the compression coil spring 51. The stopper body 41a moves from the retracted position to the usage position as the operating member 50 is pushed down by the movable frame 52.

[0035] (Explanation of the sterilization section) As shown in Figure 11, the sterilization section 13 is composed of a plurality of ultraviolet irradiation lamps 6 that irradiate the trays 2 with ultraviolet light in the UV-C wavelength range at a sterilization position P2 above the conveyor 3, and a lifting device 5 that moves the trays 2 between the transport position P1 and the sterilization position P2. (Lamp description) The ultraviolet irradiation lamps 6 (hereinafter simply referred to as lamps 6) are arranged at a plurality of positions surrounding the tray 2 that has been moved to the sterilization position P2, as shown in Figure 12, Figures 13(A) and (B), and Figures 14(A) and (B). Note that the lamps 6 are illustrated without the inverter 7. Figure 13(A) is a plan view showing all the lamps 6, Figure 13(B) is a bottom view, Figure 14(A) is a front view, and Figure 14(B) is a right side view. The lamps 6 are disposed at positions above and below the tray 2 located at the sterilization position P2, as shown in Fig. 12. The lamps 6 are turned on and off by a control device 30, which will be described later.

[0036] The lamps 6 located above the tray 2 at the sterilization position P2 (hereinafter, the lamps 6 are referred to as the upper lamps 6A) are the first to fourth lamps 6a to 6d arranged above the center of the tray 2, the fifth to seventh lamps 6e to 6g arranged above the right side of the tray 2, and the eighth to tenth lamps 6h to 6j arranged above the left side of the tray 2, as shown in Figs. 13(A), 14(A), and (B). The first and second lamps 6a and 6b irradiate ultraviolet light diagonally downward and rearward, and the third and fourth lamps 6c and 6d irradiate ultraviolet light diagonally downward and frontward. Therefore, the first to fourth lamps 6a to 6d irradiate ultraviolet light mainly toward the inner bottom surface 22 of the tray 2, the inner surface of the front side wall 2a (see Fig. 4), and the inner surface of the rear side wall 2d.

[0037] The fifth to seventh lamps 6e to 6g irradiate ultraviolet light diagonally from the upper right toward the inner bottom surface 22 of the tray 2. The eighth to tenth lamps 6h to 6j irradiate ultraviolet light diagonally from the upper left toward the inner bottom surface 22 of the tray 2. A reflector 53 (see FIG. 15) is attached to each of the first to tenth lamps 6a to 6j in order to determine the range onto which the ultraviolet light is irradiated.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 15, the first to tenth lamps 6a to 6j are supported by an upper lamp frame 54 via brackets 55 for each lamp. As shown in Fig. 5, the upper lamp frame 54 is supported by the second beam member 29B of the frame 25. As shown in Fig. 11, the upper lamp frame 54 is provided with a fan 56 (see Fig. 11) for drawing up heat generated by the first to tenth lamps 6a to 6j. The operation of the fan 56 above the lamps is controlled by a control device 30, which will be described later. A reflector 8 (see FIG. 11) is provided on the outer sides (front and rear sides, right and left sides) of the upper lamps 6A to reflect ultraviolet light toward the tray 2. The reflector 8 is supported by a third beam member 29C of the frame 25.

[0039] The lamps 6 located below the tray 2 at the sterilization position P2 (hereinafter, the lamps 6 are referred to as the lower lamps 6B) are the eleventh to twentieth lamps 6k to 6t arranged outside the four side walls 2a to 2d of the tray 2 when viewed from below, and the twenty-first lamp 6u and twenty-second lamp 6v located directly below the tray 2, as shown in FIG. 13(B). The eleventh to twentieth lamps 6k to 6t irradiate ultraviolet light onto the four side walls 2a to 2d of the tray 2 from below. The twenty-first lamp 6u and twenty-second lamp 6v irradiate ultraviolet light onto the outer bottom surface of the tray 2 from below.

[0040] As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the eleventh to twentieth lamps 6k-6t are supported via brackets 58 on a lower lamp frame 57 connected to the third beam member 29C of the frame 25. Also, a reflector 59 is provided on each of the eleventh to twentieth lamps 6k-6t to regulate the direction in which ultraviolet light is irradiated. This reflector 59 also functions as a shielding plate for blocking ultraviolet light leaking from the sterilization unit 13. The lower lamp frame 57 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape when viewed from above. The eleventh to twentieth lamps 6k to 6t are arranged along the lower lamp frame 57. When the tray 2 moves up and down, it passes through a space surrounded by the eleventh to twentieth lamps 6k to 6t.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 11, a fan 60 is disposed below the right end of the lower lamp frame 57 for blowing cooling air to the fourteenth and fifteenth lamps 6n, 6o that irradiate ultraviolet light onto the right side wall 2b of the tray 2. This fan 60 is supported by the third beam member 29C of the frame 25. In addition, a fan 61 is disposed below the left end of the lower lamp frame 57 for blowing cooling air to the nineteenth and twentieth lamps 6s, 6t that irradiate ultraviolet light onto the left side wall 2c of the tray 2. This fan 61 is also supported by the third beam member 29C of the frame 25.

[0042] Cooling air for cooling the eleventh to thirteenth lamps 6k-6m which irradiate ultraviolet light onto the front side wall 2a of the tray 2 and the sixteenth to eighteenth lamps 6p-6r which irradiate ultraviolet light onto the rear side wall 2d of the tray 2 is sent from fans 62, 63 (see FIGS. 8 and 11) provided respectively at the front and rear of the conveyor 3. The operations of the fans 60-63 are controlled by the control device 30, which will be described later.

[0043] The 21st ramp 6u and the 22nd ramp 6v are attached to a box body 64 that can be housed in the conveyor 3, as shown in Fig. 18. A gate-shaped connecting member 65 extending in the vertical direction is attached to the box body 64 on the rear side of the frame 25. The connecting member 65 is supported so as to be movable up and down by a first guide rod 66 that is provided upright on the bottom plate 26 of the frame 25 so as to extend in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the box body 64 and the connecting member 65 correspond to the "slider" as defined in the present invention.

[0044] An upper end 65a of the connecting member 65 extends horizontally in the left-right direction. As shown in Fig. 19, a convex piece 67 of the lifting device 5, which will be described later, comes into contact with this upper end 65a from below. When the convex piece 67 moves upward while in contact with the upper end 65a of the connecting member 65 from below, the connecting member 65 and the box body 64 move upward. Therefore, the box body 64 and the connecting member 65 (slider) move up and down between the lowest standby position shown in Fig. 19 and the raised position shown in Fig. 20 in conjunction with the raising and lowering operation of the tray 2.

[0045] When the box body 64 and the connecting member 65 are located at the standby position as shown in Fig. 19, the box body 64 is inserted between the front belt 42 and the rear belt 43 of the conveyor 3, and the 21st lamp 6u and the 22nd lamp 6v are positioned below the tray placement surface (stage) of the conveyor 3. On the other hand, when the box body 64 is located at the raised position as shown in Fig. 20, the 21st and 22nd lamps 6u, 6v are positioned close to the lower surface of the tray 2 that has moved to the sterilization position P2.

[0046] (Description of lifting device) The lifting device 5 includes, as a power source, an electric cylinder 71 extending vertically near the rear of the connecting member 65 in Fig. 20. The electric cylinder 71 has a main body 71a fixed to the rear end of the frame 25 in a position extending vertically, and a lifting rod 71b protruding from the upper end of the main body 71a. The lifting rod 71b moves vertically relative to the main body 71a by converting the rotation of a motor 72 (see Fig. 28) provided in the main body 71a into a reciprocating motion and transmitting it.

[0047] The upper end of the lift rod 71b contacts from below with a protrusion 73 provided at the rear end of the movable frame 52. The operation of the electric cylinder 71 is controlled by a control device 30, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the electric cylinder 71 corresponds to the "actuator" of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 23, the movable frame 52 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from above. As shown in Fig. 21 and Fig. 22, the movable frame 52 according to this embodiment is supported by a plurality of guide rods 74 extending in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides of the frame 25 so as to be able to move up and down. The guide rods 74 are supported by the second beam member 29B and the third beam member 29C of the frame 25.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 23, the movable frame 52 is formed by combining a front frame member 52a, a rear frame member 52d, a right frame member 52b, a left frame member 52c, etc. As shown in Fig. 5, the movable frame 52 according to this embodiment is formed in a shape that surrounds the upper lamps 6A (the first to tenth lamps 6a to 6j) and the upper part of the reflector 8 described above. The movable frame 52 is driven by an electric cylinder 71 to move up and down outside the lamps 6 and the reflector 8.

[0049] 23, a plurality of lifting members 76 are provided on the front frame member 52a via a connecting mechanism 75 described later. A plurality of lifting members 78 are provided on the rear frame member 52d via a support member 77 extending downward. In this embodiment, two lifting members 76 are provided on the connecting mechanism 75, and two lifting members 78 are provided on the support member 77. The front lifting member 76 is located closer to the front of the device than the tray 2, and the rear lifting member 78 is located closer to the rear of the device than the tray 2.

[0050] These lifting members 76, 78 include cylindrical rods 76a, 78a extending downward from the connecting mechanism 75 and the support member 77, relatively thin rods 76b, 78b extending downward from the lower ends of the cylindrical rods 76a, 78a, and contact plates 76c, 78c attached to the lower ends of the rods 76b, 78b. These four lifting members 76, 78 are formed in a shape that extends in the vertical direction outside the front side wall 2a (one side) and the rear side wall 2d (the other side) of the tray 2. The upper ends of these four lifting members 76, 78 are connected to each other via the connecting mechanism 75, the support member 77, and the movable frame 52.

[0051] The cylindrical rods 76a, 78a and the thin rods 76b, 78b are each made of a metal material. The contact plates 76c, 78c are contact parts that come into contact with the tray 2 and are made of a plate-like material that transmits ultraviolet light. The contact plates 76c, 78c in this embodiment are made of quartz. The contact plate 76c of the lifting member 76 and the contact plate 78c of the lifting member 78 are positioned at the same height with the rods 76b, 78b extending in the up-down direction, as shown in FIG.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 24(A), when the movable frame 52 is at the lowest position, the contact plates 76c, 78c are positioned below the flange 21 of the tray 2 and face the flange 21 from below. Therefore, when the movable frame 52 rises, the contact plates 76c, 78c come into contact with the flange 21 from below, and the flange 21 is pushed up from below, causing the tray 2 to rise. Fig. 24(A) is a front view of the left half of the lifting device 5 when the movable frame 52 is at the lowest position, and Fig. 24(B) is a front view of the left half of the lifting device 5 when the contact plates 76c, 78c come into contact with the flange 21. Fig. 24(C) is a front view of the left half of the lifting device 5 when the tray has risen to the sterilization position P2.

[0053] The movable frame 52 is driven by an electric cylinder 71 to rise and fall between a lowered position in which the contact plates 76c, 78c are lowered below the flange 21 of the tray 2 as shown in Figures 19 and 24(A) and an raised position in which the tray 2 is located between the upper lamps 6A and the lower lamps 6B in the vertical direction as shown in Figures 20 and 24(C).

[0054] As shown in Fig. 25, the connecting mechanism 75 is configured by attaching a plurality of functional parts to a pair of support pieces 79 extending downward from the front frame member 52a. The support pieces 79 are attached to the rear surface of the front frame member 52a. An upper connecting shaft 80 extending in the left-right direction is rotatably supported at the upper ends of the pair of support pieces 79. A lower connecting shaft 81 extending in the left-right direction is rotatably supported at the lower ends of the pair of support pieces 79. The upper connecting shaft 80 and the lower connecting shaft 81 are connected to each other so as to be interlocked with each other via an interlocking mechanism 83 having a transmission belt 82.

[0055] An operating lever 84 extending along the front frame member 52a is connected to the upper connecting shaft 80 so as to rotate integrally therewith. The operating lever 84 includes a connecting plate 85 having a rear end fixed to the upper connecting shaft 80 and extending forward above the front frame member 52a, a lever body 86 attached to the front end of the connecting plate 85 and extending in the left-right direction in front of the front frame member 52a, and a pair of arms 87 connecting both ends of the lever body 86 to the right frame member 52b and the left frame member 52c. The pair of arms 87 are supported by the right frame member 52b and the left frame member 52c so as to be freely rotatable. A handle 88 is provided at the center of the lever body 86 in the left-right direction as a gripping portion to be gripped by an operator (not shown).

[0056] A support plate 89 is attached to the lower connecting shaft 81 so as to rotate integrally therewith. The upper end of the front lifting member 76 is fixed to the support plate 89. With this connecting mechanism 75, when an operator grasps the handle 88 and lifts it upward, the upper connecting shaft 80 rotates relative to the support member 77, and this rotation is transmitted to the support plate 89 via the interlocking mechanism 83 and the lower connecting shaft 81.

[0057] 26, the front lifting members 76 swing about the lower connecting shaft 81 so that the lower ends of the front lifting members 76 move forward of the tray 2. That is, the multiple lifting members 76 located at the front side of the device are supported by the movable frame 52 so as to be able to swing freely so that the lower ends move forward of the tray 2. With the doors 15, 16 of the housing 4 open, the front lifting members 76 swing forward, thereby releasing the front of the conveyor 3 as shown in FIG.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 23(B), a convex piece 67 protruding rearward is provided on the rear frame member 52d of the movable frame 52. This convex piece 67 is for pulling up the gate-shaped connecting member 65 described above, and is located below the horizontal upper end portion 65a of the connecting member 65 when the movable frame 52 is in the lowered position (see Fig. 19), and contacts the connecting member 65 from below and pulls it upward as the movable frame 52 ascends.

[0059] Although not shown in detail, the convex piece 67 is configured so that its vertical position can be adjusted relative to the rear frame member 52d. By changing the vertical position of the convex piece 67 relative to the rear frame member 52d, the distance between the tray 2 positioned at the sterilization position P2 and the 21st lamp 6u and the 22nd lamp 6v can be adjusted. The left end of the rear frame member 52d and the left end of the front frame member 52a come into contact with the operating member 50 of the stopper 41 from above as the movable frame 52 descends. When the movable frame 52 descends to the lowered position with the rear frame member 52d and the front frame member 52a in contact with the operating member 50 in this manner, the compression coil spring 51 is compressed and the stopper body 41a is positioned at the use position. The right frame member 52b and the left frame member 52c of the movable frame 52 are provided with sliders 90 into which the guide rods 74 are movably fitted.

[0060] (Explanation of the control unit) As shown in Fig. 28, the control unit 14 includes a control device 30, a display unit 9, an emergency stop button switch 10, etc. When the tray sterilization apparatus 1 is incorporated in an automatic injection drug dispensing system 31, the control device 30 is configured to control the operation of the tray sterilization apparatus 1 in cooperation with other adjacent units. In controlling the tray sterilization apparatus 1, the control device 30 controls the operation of the conveyor drive motor 44, the electric cylinder motor 72, the lamp 6, the fans 11, 46, 56, 60 to 63, etc., based on signals input from the touch panel display unit 9 and the emergency stop button switch 10. When the emergency stop button switch 10 is turned on, the control device 30 stops all electrical components except the fan.

[0061] The touch panel display unit 9 is configured to allow switching between using the tray sterilization device 1 independently and using it in conjunction with the automatic injection drug dispensing system 31, and to set the direction of travel of the tray 2 transported by the conveyor 3, the lighting time of the lamp 6, etc. The lighting time of the lamp 6 is set according to the type of bacteria or virus to be sterilized. When bacteria or viruses are irradiated with ultraviolet light, it acts on the DNA within the cells, causing photoreactions such as hydration, dimer formation, and decomposition, resulting in the inactivation of the bacteria or virus.

[0062] The tray sterilization apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is configured so that the lighting time of the lamp 6 (ultraviolet light irradiation time) is set according to the bacteria or viruses to be inactivated by a touch panel display unit 9. In this embodiment, the touch panel display unit 9 corresponds to the "setting device for setting the lamp irradiation time" according to the present invention.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 28, the control device 30 has a conveyor control unit 91, an electric cylinder control unit 92, a lamp control unit 93, and a fan control unit 94. The conveyor control unit 91 switches the rotation direction of the conveyor driving motor 44 and switches between rotation and stop. When the tray sterilization device 1 is incorporated in the automatic injection drug dispensing system 31, the conveyor control unit 91 links the conveyor 3 to the conveyor 47 of the empty tray unit 32 located upstream in the conveying direction of the tray 2 and the conveyor 48 of the label printer unit 33 located downstream in the conveying direction. When the tray sterilization device 1 is used alone, it is possible to operate the conveyor driving motor 44 using the touch panel display unit 9.

[0064] The conveyor control unit 91 detects the position of the tray 2 using a tray detection sensor 95 provided on the conveyor 3, and stops the conveyor drive motor 44 so that the tray 2 stops just before it hits the stopper main body 41a. In addition, the conveyor control unit 91 operates the conveyor 3 to discharge the tray 2 out of the housing 4 after the tray 2 that has been sterilized by the lamp 6 is placed on the conveyor 3 as described below. If the tray sterilization device 1 is incorporated in the automatic injection drug dispensing system 31, the tray 2 is transported to the label printer unit 33 at this time.

[0065] After the conveyor drive motor 44 stops, the electric cylinder control unit 92 operates the electric cylinder motor 72 to raise the lift rod 71b by a predetermined length. This length is the length by which the tray 2 rises to the sterilization position P2. When the lift rod 71b rises and falls, each device of the tray sterilization apparatus 1 operates following the lift rod 71b. The operation of each device is as shown in the time chart in FIG.

[0066] When the lift rod 71b starts to rise at T1 in the time chart, the movable frame 52 also starts to rise at the same time. When the movable frame 52 rises, the stopper body 41a of the stopper 41 starts to rise so as to follow the movable frame 52 due to the spring force of the compression coil spring 51. After that, at T2, the contact plates 76c, 78c come into contact with the flange 21 of the tray 2 from below {see FIG. 24(B)}, pushing the flange 21 upward and causing the tray 2 to start to rise. Next, at T3, the protruding piece 67 of the movable frame 52 pushes up the connecting member 65 integrated with the box body 64, causing the box body 64 to start to rise.

[0067] The electric cylinder control unit 92 stops the electric cylinder motor 72 when the lift rod 71b reaches the raised position, that is, at time T5 in the time chart shown in Fig. 29. This stops the lifting operation of the tray 2 and the box body 64. The stopper 41 stops when the movement restricting piece 41c abuts against the guide member 49 as shown in Fig. 24(C), that is, at time T4 in the time chart shown in Fig. 29. When the electric cylinder motor 72 stops, the lamp control unit 93 (described later) turns on the lamp 6 to perform sterilization. After sterilization is completed (at time T6), the electric cylinder control unit 92 starts the lowering operation of the lift rod 71b, lowering the lift rod 71b to its initial position. This lowering process will be described later.

[0068] After the tray 2 has risen to the sterilization position P2, the lamp control unit 93 turns on the first to twenty-second lamps 6a to 6v for the time period set by the touch panel display unit 9. By turning on the first to twenty-second lamps 6a to 6v, ultraviolet rays are irradiated onto the entire inner and outer surfaces of the tray 2. Since the contact plates 76c, 78c in contact with the flange 21 of the tray 2 are made of a material that transmits ultraviolet rays, there is no part of the flange 21 that is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The fan control unit 94 switches between a state in which all the fans 11, 46, 56, 60-63 provided in the tray sterilization apparatus 1 operate and a state in which all the fans 11, 46, 56, 60-63 are stopped. The fan control unit 94 in this embodiment is configured to operate the fans 11, 46, 56, 60-63 at all times when the power of the tray sterilization apparatus 1 is on.

[0069] After the sterilization is completed, the electric cylinder control unit 92 lowers the lift rod 71b, and the movable frame 52 starts to lower. Then, at time T7, the movable frame 52 comes into contact with the operating member 50 of the stopper 41, and the stopper body 41a of the stopper 41 starts to lower against the spring force of the compression coil spring 51. After that, at time T8, the box body 64 lowers to the initial position in the conveyor 3, and then, at time T9, the tray 2 is placed on the conveyor 3. At this time, the stopper body 41a of the stopper 41 is biased upward by the spring force of the compression coil spring 51 and is located above the conveying path (initial position) of the conveyor 3. The electric cylinder control unit 92 temporarily stops the electric cylinder motor 72 when the tray 2 is placed on the conveyor 3.

[0070] After the tray 2 is placed on the conveyor 3, the conveyor control unit 91 operates the conveyor 3 to eject the tray 2. After the tray 2 is ejected, at time T10, the conveyor control unit 91 stops the conveyor 3. At time T10, the electric cylinder control unit 92 operates the electric cylinder motor 72 again to further lower the lift rod 71b and lower the movable frame 52 to its initial position. As the movable frame 52 descends in this manner, at time T11, the operating member 50 of the stopper 41 and the stopper body 41a return to their initial positions. Thereafter, at time T10, the stopper body 41a returns to the initial position, and at the same time, the electric cylinder control unit 92 stops the electric cylinder motor 72. When the stopper 41 returns to the initial position in this manner, the sterilization operation for one tray 2 is completed.

[0071] According to the tray sterilization apparatus 1 configured in this manner, the sterilization of the tray 2 can be performed mechanically without relying on the manual work of an operator. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a tray sterilization apparatus that can easily and quickly sterilize the tray 2 that carries medicines.

[0072] The contact parts (contact plates 76c, 78c) in this embodiment are made of a material that transmits ultraviolet light, so that the entire outer and inner surfaces of the tray 2 can be reliably irradiated with ultraviolet light, thereby providing a tray sterilization device with high sterilization reliability.

[0073] The stage in this embodiment is composed of a conveyor 3. A conveyor 47 of the empty tray unit 32 is connected to the upstream end of the conveyor 3 in the transport direction, and a conveyor 48 of the label printer unit 33 is connected to the downstream end of the conveyor 3 in the transport direction. Therefore, the tray sterilization device 1 can be incorporated into the automatic injection drug dispensing system 31 and used, so that the injection drug can be dispensed and supplied to the mechanically sterilized tray 2. This makes it possible to sterilize the tray 2 without any special effort, thereby reducing the risk of hospital infection.

[0074] The tray sterilization apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a touch panel display unit 9 (setting device) for setting the irradiation time of the multiple lamps 6. This makes it possible to change the ultraviolet irradiation time depending on the bacteria or viruses to be sterilized, thereby realizing a tray sterilization apparatus with even higher sterilization reliability.

[0075] The tray sterilization apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a lifting device 5 that lifts the flange 21 of the tray 2 to lift and lower the tray 2. This allows the bottom surface of the tray 2 to be easily irradiated with ultraviolet light, ensuring reliable sterilization. The front lifting member 76 in this embodiment is configured to swing forward by pulling up the operating lever 84. This makes it possible to remove the tray 2 carried into the device forward, or to place the tray 2 on the conveyor 3 from outside the device.

[0076] In the tray sterilization apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the 21st lamp 6u and the 22nd lamp 6v that irradiate ultraviolet light onto the outer bottom surface of the tray 2 are positioned below the tray 2 when the tray 2 is placed on the stage, and rise to a position a predetermined distance below the tray 2 when the tray 2 moves to the sterilization position P2. Therefore, the 21st lamp 6u and the 22nd lamp 6v rise and fall so as to follow the rising and falling tray 2, so that it is possible to irradiate the outer bottom surface of the tray 2 with ultraviolet light of high energy at the sterilization position P2, despite the adoption of a configuration in which the tray 2 rises and falls. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1...tray sterilization device, 2...tray, 3...conveyor (stage), 5...lifting device, 6a-6v...1st to 22nd lamps, 9...touch panel display unit (setting device), 21...flange, 47...conveyor (upstream conveying device), 48...conveyor (downstream conveying device), 52...movable frame, 64...box body (slider), 65...connecting member (slider), 71...electric cylinder (actuator), 75...connecting mechanism, 76, 78...lifting member, 76c, 78c...contact plate (contact portion), 84...operating lever.

Claims

1. a stage on which a tray containing medicines is placed; a lifting device that lifts and lowers a tray placed on the stage between the stage and a sterilization position above the stage; A tray sterilization device characterized by comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in positions surrounding the tray moved to the sterilization position and irradiating the entire outside and inside of the tray with ultraviolet light in the UV-C wavelength range.

2. The tray sterilization device according to claim 1, A sterilization device for trays, wherein a contact portion of the lifting device that comes into contact with the tray is formed from a material that transmits ultraviolet light.

3. The tray sterilization device according to claim 1, The stage is constituted by a conveyor, An upstream conveying device is connected to an upstream end of the conveyor in the conveying direction, the upstream conveying device being provided in a tray supplying device that supplies empty trays before sterilization and that sends the trays before sterilization to the conveyor; A tray sterilization device characterized in that a downstream transport device is connected to the downstream end of the conveyor in the transport direction, the downstream transport device being provided in an apparatus that stores articles in the sterilized trays and that receives the sterilized trays.

4. The tray sterilization device according to claim 1, The sterilization apparatus for trays further comprises a setting device for setting the irradiation time of the plurality of lamps.

5. The tray sterilization device according to claim 2, The tray is formed in a box shape that opens upward and has a flange that protrudes outward from an upper end thereof, The contact portion is formed in a plate shape facing the flange of the tray from below, The lifting device includes a plurality of lifting members each extending vertically on the outer side of one side and the other side of the tray, the contact portion being provided at a lower end of the lifting member; a movable frame formed in a frame shape surrounding the plurality of lamps and connecting upper ends of the plurality of lifting members to each other; and an actuator for raising and lowering the movable frame.

6. The tray sterilization device according to claim 5, the plurality of lifting members include a plurality of lifting members located on the front side of the device relative to the tray, and a plurality of lifting members located on the rear side of the device relative to the tray, a plurality of lifting members located on the front side of the device are supported by the movable frame so as to be swingable such that their lower ends move forward of the tray; The movable frame includes an operating lever having a grip portion on the front side of the device and capable of swinging up and down; a connecting mechanism for connecting the operating lever and the lifting member on the front side of the apparatus so as to move in conjunction with each other,

7. The tray sterilization device according to claim 1, moreover, a slider that moves up and down between a standby position and a raised position in response to an operation of the lifting device; Among the plurality of lamps, a lamp that irradiates an outer bottom surface of the tray with ultraviolet light is supported by the slider, When the slider is located at the standby position, the ramp supported by the slider is located below the stage; A sterilization device for trays, characterized in that when the slider is in the raised position, the lamp supported by the slider is positioned at a predetermined distance downward from the underside of the tray that has been moved to the sterilization position.

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