Cleaning equipment for radiation protection products

Abstract

The present invention provides a cleaning device that allows for easier washing of protective equipment and efficiently cleans the inner surfaces of protective equipment while it is suspended. [Solution] A cleaning device for radiation protection equipment, comprising: a cleaning chamber; a hanger section located in the cleaning chamber and extending in an extension direction intersecting the vertical direction, from which radiation protection equipment is suspended; and a spraying means for spraying cleaning liquid onto the radiation protection equipment suspended in the hanger section, wherein the spraying means includes spray nozzles positioned to be located inside the radiation protection equipment hanging down on both sides of the hanger section when viewed in the extension direction, and sprays cleaning liquid from the spray nozzles toward the inner surface of the radiation protection equipment.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning radiation protection articles represented by X-ray protective clothing as an example.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] When diagnosis or treatment using radiation is performed, medical workers and patients wear protective clothing containing a shielding material that blocks radiation. There are also other types of protection articles other than directly wearable protective clothing, such as sheets and curtains. Patent Document 1 describes a protection article using an X-ray shielding material formed into a sheet by mixing lead or a lead compound into a synthetic resin.

[0003] Radiation protection articles (hereinafter also simply referred to as protection articles) may be adhered with, for example, the sweat of a wearer, the blood or vomit of a patient, drugs used for treatment, and the like. Conventionally, in order to maintain the hygienic state of protective clothing, manual wiping work has been performed using a disinfectant such as alcohol.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0004]

PATENT DOCUMENT 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] However, the conventional manual wiping work imposes a heavy burden. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has succeeded in developing a protection article having waterproof properties that can withstand washing with water, contributing to reducing the burden on medical workers and improving the hygienic state. However, with the advent of washable protection articles, there has arisen a need for a means that can more easily wash the protection articles with water.

[0006] Furthermore, since the sheet material containing radiation shielding material is heavy, if protective equipment is simply hung on a hanger, the equipment will hang almost straight down on both sides of the hanger. As a result, it was found that there is a problem in that the cleaning solution does not easily reach the inner surface of the protective equipment when it is hanging on a hanger.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a cleaning device that allows protective equipment to be washed with water more easily and that can efficiently clean the inner surface of protective equipment while it is suspended. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a cleaning apparatus for radiation protection equipment, comprising: a cleaning chamber; a hanger section disposed in the cleaning chamber and extending in an extension direction intersecting the vertical direction, from which the radiation protection equipment is suspended; and a spraying means for spraying a cleaning solution onto the radiation protection equipment suspended in the hanger section, wherein the spraying means includes a nozzle positioned on the inside of the radiation protection equipment hanging down on both sides of the hanger section when viewed in the extension direction, and sprays the cleaning solution from the nozzle toward the inner surface of the radiation protection equipment.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a cleaning apparatus for radiation protection equipment, comprising: a cleaning chamber; a hanger section on which the radiation protection equipment is suspended, the hanger section being located in the cleaning chamber and extending in an extension direction intersecting the vertical direction; and a spraying means for spraying cleaning liquid onto the radiation protection equipment suspended in the hanger section, wherein the hanger section has an arm extending along the extension direction and a support section supported by the arm and supporting the radiation protection equipment, and the width of the support section in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the extension direction is wider than the width of the arm in the orthogonal direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a cleaning device is provided that allows protective equipment to be washed with water more easily and that can efficiently clean the inner surface of protective equipment while it is suspended. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] A perspective view of an automatic washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] A top view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) of an automatic washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] A perspective view of a washing chamber according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] A top view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) of a washing chamber according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] A perspective view of the hanger section according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] A top view (a), a front view (b), and a side view (c) of a hanger section according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] A piping diagram of an automatic cleaning machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] Perspective view (a), top view (b), front view (c), and side view (d) of the hanger section relating to a modified example. [Figure 9] Perspective view (a), top view (b), front view (c), and side view (d) of the hanger section relating to other modifications. [Figure 10] Perspective view (a), top view (b), front view (c), and side view (d) of the hanger section relating to other modifications. [Figure 11] Front view (a), top view (b), front view (c), and top view (d) of the hanger section relating to other modifications. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, an example of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] "Radiation" in the present embodiment refers to general radiation used for human body diagnosis or treatment, including X-rays, alpha rays, beta rays, gamma rays, and electron beams. Among these, diagnostic devices using X-rays are widely prevalent in medical sites, and X-ray protection supplies are widely used.

[0014] "Protective clothing" in the present embodiment refers to protective supplies worn by medical staff or patients. "Protective clothing" includes apron type, coat type, skirt type, neck guard, and protective hat. The apron type is an apron-shaped protective clothing that protects the front surface of the trunk part. The coat type is protective clothing that protects the front and back surfaces of the trunk part. The coat type includes a separate type in which a half-coat that protects the upper body and a skirt that protects the lower body are separate parts. The skirt type is a wrap-around skirt-shaped protective clothing mainly for protecting the gonads. The neck guard is a protective clothing wrapped around the neck mainly for protecting the thyroid gland. The protective hat is a protective clothing worn on the head mainly for protecting the brain. Without being limited to the specific examples listed above, "protective clothing" may be any protective article worn by a person.

[0015] "Radiation protection supplies" or "protective supplies" in the present embodiment are articles containing a radiation shielding material, and include articles other than those worn directly on the human body. That is, "protective supplies" include those worn by a person (protective clothing) and those not directly worn by a person. Examples of protective supplies other than protective clothing include covers for patients, protective curtains, and protective covers or protective cloths attached to the X-ray irradiation unit of an X-ray fluoroscopic imaging apparatus (X-ray TV apparatus).

[0016] Protective supplies are formed of a sheet material containing a radiation shielding material corresponding to the assumed type of radiation. For example, an X-ray protective garment used in X-ray diagnosis uses an X-ray shielding material formed by uniformly mixing lead or a lead compound into a synthetic resin such as rubber or vinyl chloride resin to form a sheet, or other materials having X-ray shielding ability (for example, a woven or knitted fabric made of yarn having X-ray shielding ability). The X-ray shielding material may be a lead-free material. The material of the radiation shielding material should be appropriately selected according to the application of the protective supplies and the assumed type and dose of radiation.

[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an automatic washing machine 1 as a washing apparatus for radiation protection articles according to one embodiment. Figures 2(a), (b) and (c) are a top view, a front view and a side view of the automatic washing machine 1, respectively. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the washing chamber 10. Figures 4(a), (b) and (c) are a top view, a front view and a side view of the washing chamber 10, respectively. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the hanger unit 12. Figures 6(a), (b) and (c) are a top view, a front view and a side view of the hanger unit 12, respectively. Figure 7 is a piping diagram of the automatic washing machine 1.

[0018] The automatic washing machine 1 can automatically perform the washing operation for protection articles, which includes a washing step by spraying a washing liquid (chemical liquid), a rinsing step by spraying rinsing water, and a drying step by blowing air, with the protection articles accommodated inside the washing chamber 10.

[0019] Since the automatic washing machine 1 of the present embodiment is configured to wash the entire protection article with water (full immersion washing), it is preferable that the protection articles to be loaded into the automatic washing machine 1 have waterproof properties. The automatic washing machine 1 can effectively wash, for example, protective clothing manufactured by the production method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2023-113112. However, the application target of the automatic washing machine 1 is not limited to those manufactured by the production method described in the above document, and protection articles manufactured by other production methods and having waterproof properties may also be washed.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1 and Figures 2(a) to (c), the automatic washing machine 1 includes a housing 1A, a front door 1D, a washing chamber 10, a tank unit 11 (lower tank), a hanger unit 12, and an operation unit 19. To facilitate understanding of the internal structure of the apparatus, in Figure 1, the front door 1D and the right side surface 1R of the housing 1A are illustrated in a transparent manner, and the illustration of the front door 1D and the right side surface 1R of the housing 1A is omitted in each drawing other than Figure 1.

[0021] The washing chamber 10 is an inner housing accommodated inside the housing 1A (outer housing). The washing chamber 10 forms a substantially rectangular parallelepiped space that accommodates the protection articles to be washed. The front surface of the washing chamber 10 is open toward the front side.

[0022] The front door 1D can be opened and closed between a closed position that closes the opening at the front of the washing chamber 10 and an open position that opens the opening at the front of the washing chamber 10. For example, the left end of the front door 1D is rotatably supported by the housing 1A via a hinge.

[0023] The tank section 11 is formed at the bottom of the washing chamber 10 and forms an integrated space with the washing chamber 10. The tank section 11 is a storage section for temporarily storing the cleaning solution used for cleaning protective equipment. The tank section 11 also functions as a recovery section for collecting the cleaning solution and rinse water that flows out from the protective equipment.

[0024] The operation unit 19 is located on the front of the housing 1A and includes an input unit for receiving user input and a display unit for displaying information to the user. Examples of the display unit include a liquid crystal panel that displays text or images, or an LED lamp. Examples of the input unit include physical buttons or a touch panel on the liquid crystal panel.

[0025] Furthermore, the automatic cleaning machine 1 has a control unit that controls the operation of the automatic cleaning machine 1. The control unit performs the cleaning operation by controlling, for example, the operation of the pump unit PM and the hot air blower BM (Figure 7), which will be described later, and the opening and closing of each valve V1 to V5. The control unit also controls the screen display on the operation unit 19. The control unit may be, for example, a microcontroller provided as part of the operation unit 19, or it may be a control board provided independently of the operation unit 19 and electrically connected to the operation unit 19.

[0026] Furthermore, the automatic cleaning machine 1 has an installation section 18 for installing a container 17 of the chemical solution (detergent) that will be the concentrate for the cleaning solution. By inserting a tube into the container 17 (Figure 7) installed in the installation section 18, the pump inside the automatic cleaning machine 1 can draw up the chemical solution and supply it to the tank section 11. The type of chemical solution used in the automatic cleaning machine 1 is not particularly limited, but known detergents can be used depending on the material of the surface of the protective equipment. Two or more types of chemical solutions may be used in combination. In this case, the cleaning process may be divided into two stages, using one type of chemical solution at a time. The chemical solution may be, for example, a disinfectant.

[0027] The interior of the washing chamber 10 will be explained using Figures 3 and 4(a) to (c). One or more hanger sections 12 are arranged in the upper part of the washing chamber 10. Each hanger section 12 is a part for hanging protective equipment. In this embodiment, multiple hanger sections 12 (five in the illustrated example) are arranged in a row from left to right in the washing chamber 10. The number and arrangement of the hanger sections 12 can be changed; for example, the hanger sections 12 may be arranged in two rows, one above the other. Details of each hanger section 12 will be described later.

[0028] Inside the washing chamber 10, nozzles N1 and N2 are arranged as spraying means for spraying the washing solution. Nozzle N1 is provided on the hanger section 12. The position of nozzle N1 will be described later, along with the details of the hanger section 12.

[0029] Nozzle N2 is provided in a part other than the hanger section 12 (for example, the inner wall of the washing chamber 10). Nozzle N2 is an example of a spray nozzle positioned to spray the cleaning liquid toward the outer surface of the protective equipment suspended from the hanger section 12 when viewed in the extension direction (front-to-back direction) of the hanger section 12.

[0030] As nozzles N1 and N2, known nozzles for spraying liquid (shower nozzles, spray nozzles) can be used. For example, as nozzles N1 and N2, conical nozzles such as full cone nozzles can be used. Conical nozzles can diffuse the liquid three-dimensionally in a conical or hemispherical shape. In particular, full cone nozzles are advantageous in terms of cleaning efficiency because they can spray the liquid evenly. However, the nozzles (nozzles N1 and N2) for spraying the cleaning liquid may be simple holes drilled in the outer circumference of the arm 13 of the hanger section 12 or the ceiling pipe 16, for example.

[0031] In this embodiment, the nozzles N2 are provided on ceiling pipes 16 that extend along the ceiling of the washing chamber 10. In the illustrated example, three ceiling pipes 16 are arranged in the front-to-back direction and extend parallel to each other in the left-to-right direction, with five nozzles N2 provided on each ceiling pipe 16. In other words, multiple nozzles N2 are arranged in the left-to-right direction, which is the direction of extension of the ceiling pipe 16, for each ceiling pipe 16. However, the number, position, and extension direction of the ceiling pipes 16 can be changed.

[0032] The nozzles N2 that spray the cleaning solution onto the protective equipment from the outside may be additionally placed in locations other than those shown in the illustration. For example, pipes may be added to the lower part or side walls of the cleaning chamber 10, and nozzles that spray the cleaning solution toward the inside of the cleaning chamber 10 may be attached to these pipes. Alternatively, for example, the ceiling pipe 16 may be made capable of swiveling or rotating around its central axis in the left-right direction to allow the cleaning solution to be sprayed over a wider area.

[0033] As shown in Figures 3 and 4(a) and 4(c), holes 10a and 10b are formed in the wall surface of the washing chamber 10, penetrating from the inside to the outside of the washing chamber 10. The ceiling pipe 16 protrudes into the washing chamber 10 through hole 10a provided on the right side of the washing chamber 10 and extends toward the left side of the washing chamber 10. The hanger portion 12 protrudes into the washing chamber 10 through hole 10b provided on the rear of the washing chamber 10 and extends toward the front.

[0034] (Hanger section) The details of the hanger section 12 will be explained using Figures 5 and 6(a) to (c). The hanger section 12 shown in Figures 5 and 6(a) to (c) is one of the hanger sections 12 provided in the automatic washing machine 1. The multiple hanger sections 12 in this embodiment have substantially the same configuration as the hanger section 12 described below.

[0035] The hanger section 12 includes an arm 13 (hanger arm, hanger pole, support shaft) and one or more support plates 14 as support parts for supporting protective equipment. The hanger section 12 in this embodiment includes two support plates 14A and 14B arranged at a distance from each other.

[0036] The arm 13 extends in a direction that intersects with the vertical direction (direction of gravity). In this embodiment, the arm 13 extends in the front-rear direction (i.e., in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction). In other words, the extension direction of the hanger portion 12, which is the direction from the base to the tip of the hanger portion 12 in this embodiment, is the front-rear direction. The extension direction of the hanger portion 12 is not limited to the front-rear direction. Within a range that does not hinder the hanging of protective equipment, the extension direction of the hanger portion 12 may intersect with the vertical direction at an angle. Also, the hanger portion 12 may be bent in a mountain shape, for example, when viewed from the viewpoint in Figure 4(c), with the central part protruding upward compared to the front and rear ends.

[0037] Each support plate 14 is supported by an arm 13. The upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 is located above the arm 13. When protective equipment is suspended from the hanger section 12, the protective equipment mainly comes into contact with the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14, and the weight of the protective equipment is mainly supported by the support plate 14. The upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 can be called the support surface that supports the protective equipment, or the contact surface that comes into contact with the inner surface of the suspended protective equipment.

[0038] Preferably, the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 is formed in a convex shape (an upward-convex curve) such that the central part protrudes upward compared to both ends when viewed from the viewpoint in Figure 6(c). For example, if the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 is flat when viewed from the viewpoint in Figure 6(c), water may accumulate on the upper surface of the part of the protective equipment supported by the support plate 14, making it difficult to dry. By making the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 convex as in this embodiment, water drainage can be improved. In addition, by making the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 convex, the contact pressure between the support plate 14 and the protective equipment can be distributed, and excessive bending of the protective equipment at the ends of the support plate 14 can be suppressed, which has the advantage of suppressing deterioration (cracking, etc.) of the radiation shielding material.

[0039] The upper surface 14s in the illustrated example is a mountain shape composed of essentially two surfaces, but the shape of the upper surface of the support plate 14 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figures 8(a) to (d), the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 may be trapezoidal. As shown in Figures 9(a) to (d), the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 may be arc-shaped or elliptical (i.e., a smooth curve).

[0040] The support plate 14 is wider than the arm 13. That is, the direction perpendicular to both the first direction (front-to-back direction) and the vertical direction, which are the extension directions of the arm 13 (the left-to-right direction in this embodiment), is defined as the orthogonal direction. In this case, the width W2 of the support plate 14 in the orthogonal direction is wider than the width W1 of the arm 13 in the orthogonal direction. Therefore, when protective equipment is placed on the support plate 14, the distance W3 between the inner surfaces 20a of the protective equipment becomes wider than the width W1 of the arm 13 in the second direction (Figure 6(c)).

[0041] The width W1 of the arm 13 is, for example, 22 mm, and the width W2 of the support plate 14 is, for example, 80 mm, but these values ​​are not limited to these.

[0042] The two support plates 14A and 14B are arranged in a size and spacing suitable for hanging the left and right shoulders of a protective garment (e.g., apron type or coat type) that has left and right shoulder sections. For example, the width of each support plate 14A and 14B in the front-to-back direction is about 145 mm, and the distance from the center of one support plate 14A to the center of the other support plate 14B in the front-to-back direction is about 370 mm.

[0043] The arrangement and size of the support plates 14A and 14B may be changed depending on the type and size of protective equipment expected. The number of support plates 14 placed in a single hanger section 12 may also be changed. For example, only one long support plate 14 may be provided per hanger section 12. The number and arrangement of support plates 14 may differ among multiple hanger sections 12.

[0044] (Nozzle on the hanger section) As shown in Figures 5 and 6(a) to (c), the aforementioned nozzle N1 is provided at least one location on the hanger portion 12. The nozzle N1 is an example of a spray nozzle positioned so as to hang down on both sides of the hanger portion 12 when viewed in the extension direction (front-to-back direction) of the hanger portion 12, and is located inside the protective equipment suspended from the hanger portion 12.

[0045] An internal channel 13a, which is a channel for guiding the cleaning fluid, is formed inside the hanger portion 12. In this embodiment, the arm 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the internal channel 13a is formed inside the arm 13. The nozzle N1 is attached to the outer circumference of the cylindrical arm 13 and is in communication with the internal channel 13a.

[0046] In this embodiment, nozzles N1 are arranged at two locations in the front-rear direction (Figure 6(b)). Also, in this embodiment, when viewed in the front-rear direction, which is the extension direction of the arm 13 (first direction), nozzles N1 are provided on both sides of the arm 13 in the horizontal direction (orthogonal direction, second direction) (Figure 6(c)). Therefore, in this embodiment, at least four nozzles N1 are provided for each hanger section 12. However, the number and arrangement of nozzles N1 can be changed, and for example, additional nozzles N1 may be placed on the hanger section 12.

[0047] In this embodiment, at least one nozzle N1 is positioned under each of the two support plates 14A and 14B. In other words, in the extending direction of the hanger portion 12, there is at least one nozzle N1 within the range where support plate 14A is provided, and at least one nozzle N1 within the range where support plate 14B is provided. That is, at least one spray nozzle is positioned under the first support member and under the second support member. Therefore, for example, when the left and right shoulder portions of protective clothing such as an apron are hung on the two support plates 14A and 14B, the inner surfaces of the shoulder portions can be efficiently cleaned.

[0048] As shown in Figure 6(b), each nozzle N1 is located below the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14. Also, as shown in Figure 6(c), they are positioned to overlap with the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 when viewed in the vertical direction. Here, "overlapping" when viewed in a particular direction means that when each element is projected perpendicularly onto a virtual plane perpendicular to that particular direction, the projected area of ​​one element and the projected area of ​​the other element overlap at least partially.

[0049] The support plate 14 has a hole 14h that penetrates from the bottom surface to the top surface 14s. The liquid (cleaning solution and rinsing water) released from the nozzle N1 is sprayed through the hole 14h onto the portion 20c of the protective equipment that faces the top surface 14s of the support plate 14 (Figure 6(c)). In other words, the hole 14h allows the liquid released from the nozzle N1 to reach the portion 20c of the protective equipment that is supported by the top surface 14s of the support plate 14.

[0050] It is preferable that the nozzle N1 is located inward from both ends of the support plate 14 in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the hanger portion 12 (left-right direction). This ensures sufficient distance from the nozzle N1 to the inner surface of the protective equipment hanging from the support plate 14, allowing the cleaning liquid sprayed by the nozzle N1 to cover a wide area of ​​the inner surface of the protective equipment.

[0051] Furthermore, when viewed in the vertical direction, at least a portion of the nozzle N1 may be exposed inside the hole 14h.

[0052] In this embodiment, the support plate 14 has holes 14h, which are elongated holes extending in the front-to-back direction, arranged regularly in a grid pattern with virtual rectangles as repeating units. However, the holes 14h may be, for example, round holes or arranged in a triangular grid pattern. Furthermore, the holes 14h may be through holes formed by punching a metal plate that forms the support plate 14, but if the support plate 14 is made of a mesh material with metal wires arranged in a mesh pattern, the holes 14h may be openings formed between the metal wires.

[0053] As an alternative, a groove 14g may be formed in the support plate 14 instead of a hole 14h, as shown in Figures 11(a) and (b). The groove 14g, like the hole 14h, allows the liquid discharged from the nozzle N1 to reach the portion 20c of the protective equipment that is supported on the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14.

[0054] As another modification, a plate-shaped support plate 14V oriented vertically may be used, as shown in Figures 11(c) and (d). In this modification, at least two support plates 14V are arranged so as to sandwich the nozzle N1 from both sides in the extension direction of the arm 13. The upper surface (support surface, contact surface) of the support plate 14V is the upper end face of the support plate 14V. According to this modification, the liquid discharged from the nozzle N1 can reach the portion 20c of the protective equipment that is supported by the upper surface 14s of the support plate 14 without providing a hole 14h or groove 14g in the support plate 14.

[0055] (Pipe connection) An example of the piping connection of the automatic cleaning machine 1 will be explained using Figure 7. The automatic cleaning machine 1 includes a pump unit PM, a drain pipe P1, a suction pipe P2, a forced drain pipe P3, a cleaning pipe P4, a hot air blower BM, and a blower pipe P5. Note that Figure 7 is a schematic diagram, and the extension direction of, for example, the hanger section 12 and the ceiling pipe 16 may differ from the actual dimensions.

[0056] The tank section 11 is connected to the drain pipe P1 and also to the suction side of the pump unit PM via the suction pipe P2. By opening and closing valves V1 to V5, the liquid (cleaning solution, rinse water, waste liquid) in the tank section 11 is discharged through the drain pipe P1 or the suction pipe P2. The drain pipe P1 is connected to the drainage route outside the automatic cleaning machine 1. The suction pipe P2 is connected to the water supply tap.

[0057] The discharge side of the pump unit PM branches into a forced drain pipe P3 and a cleaning pipe P4. The forced drain pipe P3 merges with the drain pipe P1 and is connected to the drainage path outside the automatic cleaning machine 1. The cleaning pipe P4 communicates with the internal flow path 13a of the hanger section 12 and the ceiling pipe 16 on which the nozzle N2 is provided. The pump unit PM can discharge liquid into either the forced drain pipe P3 or the cleaning pipe P4 by opening and closing valves V3 and V4.

[0058] By providing a drainage route via the pump unit PM, the liquid inside the tank section 11 can be discharged using drainage facilities (such as a sink) located above the tank section 11. In other words, although Figure 7 illustrates a configuration where the outlet of the forced drain pipe P3 (the end opposite to the end connected to the pump unit PM) merges with the drain pipe P1, the outlet of the forced drain pipe P3 may be moved above the bottom surface of the tank section 11. This allows the automatic cleaning machine 1 to be installed using existing drainage facilities, even in installation environments where, for example, there are no drainage facilities on the floor and drainage via the drain pipe P1 (natural drainage by gravity) is difficult.

[0059] For example, when proceeding from the washing process to the rinsing process, the waste liquid can be forcibly discharged via the forced drain pipe P3 by the pump unit PM with the valve V4 of the washing pipe P4 closed. This allows for a quicker transition to the rinsing process compared to discharging the waste liquid accumulated in the tank section 11 through the drain pipe P1. Furthermore, by sending liquid to the washing pipe P4 with the pump unit PM while the valve V3 of the forced drain pipe P3 is closed, the washing liquid accumulated in the tank section 11 can be sprayed from nozzles N1 and N2, or water supplied from the water tap can be sprayed from nozzles N1 and N2 as rinsing water.

[0060] The hot air blower BM is an example of a means of supplying air for drying protective equipment. The hot air blower BM includes a fan that takes in air from outside the device and generates an airflow, and a heater that heats the air. The air supply pipe P5 connects the hot air blower BM to an air outlet N3 located in the ceiling of the washing room 10. The air supplied from the hot air blower BM is blown downward from the air outlet N3.

[0061] In this embodiment, the air blower pipe P5 is connected to the hanger section 12 and the ceiling pipe 16 via the connecting section P6. As a result, at least a portion of the air from the hot air blower BM is also blown out from the nozzle N1 (inlet) of the hanger section 12 and the nozzle N2 (external inlet) of the ceiling pipe 16. In other words, the connecting section P6 connects the air blower to the internal flow path 13a of the hanger section 12 so that at least a portion of the air from the air blower is blown out from an inlet located inside the protective equipment. This allows the inner surface of the protective equipment suspended from the hanger section 12 to be dried efficiently.

[0062] Although drying efficiency will be reduced, a blower without a heater can also be used as the air supply means instead of the hot air blower BM.

[0063] (Operation of the automatic washing machine) An example of the procedure for using the automatic washing machine 1 is described below. The user accesses the space inside the washing chamber 10 by opening the front door 1D and hangs protective equipment on one of the hanger sections 12. In this embodiment, multiple pieces of protective equipment can be washed simultaneously by hanging one piece of protective equipment on one hanger section 12.

[0064] For example, in the case of an apron-type or coat-type protective garment 20 having left and right shoulder sections 20L and 20R as shown in Figure 7, one shoulder section is hung on one support plate 14A of the hanger section 12, and the other shoulder section is hung on the other support plate 14B. In this way, the protective garment 20 is suspended from the hanger section 12 with the inner surfaces of the shoulder sections 20L and 20R supported by the support plates 14A and 14B. In the case of protective equipment that does not have shoulder sections (for example, a drape type or a wrap-around skirt type), a part of the protective equipment can be hung on at least one of the support plates 14A and 14B, and the protective equipment can be suspended from both sides of the hanger section 12.

[0065] By closing the front door 1D, the space inside the washing chamber 10 and the tank section 11 is sealed. Next, the operating unit 19 is operated to set the execution conditions for the washing operation (for example, the washing process time, the number of rinses, the drying time), and the wash operation execution button is pressed.

[0066] In the cleaning process, a cleaning solution is prepared in the tank section 11 by mixing water and chemical solution. With valve V4 open and valve V3 closed, the pump unit PM draws in the cleaning solution and discharges it into the cleaning piping P4. The cleaning solution discharged from the pump unit PM is sprayed from the nozzles N1 on each hanger section 12 and the nozzles N2 on the ceiling pipe 16, and is sprayed onto the inner and outer surfaces of the protective clothing 20. The cleaning solution that flows off the protective clothing 20 is collected in the tank section 11 and used again for cleaning. When the cleaning process is complete, the liquid (waste liquid) accumulated in the tank section 11 is drained by opening valve V1. Alternatively, the pump unit PM may be operated with valve V4 closed and valve V3 open to forcibly drain the liquid (waste liquid) accumulated in the tank section 11.

[0067] In the rinsing process, valve V2 is opened to collect water (rinsing water) supplied from the water tap in the tank section 11. With valve V4 open and valve V3 closed, the pump unit PM sucks up the rinsing water and discharges it into the cleaning pipe P4. The rinsing water discharged from the pump unit PM is sprayed from nozzles N1 on each hanger section 12 and nozzles N2 on the ceiling pipe 16, and is sprayed onto the inner and outer surfaces of the protective clothing 20. The cleaning liquid that flows off the protective clothing 20 is collected in the tank section 11 and used again for cleaning. When the cleaning process is finished, valve V1 is opened to drain the liquid (waste liquid) accumulated in the tank section 11. Alternatively, with valve V4 closed and valve V3 open, the pump unit PM may operate to forcibly drain the liquid (waste liquid) accumulated in the tank section 11. The above rinsing process may be repeated two or more times.

[0068] In the drying process, with valve V5 open, air from the hot air blower BM is supplied into the washing chamber 10. The air from the hot air blower BM is blown out from the nozzles N1 of each hanger section 12, the nozzles N2 of the ceiling pipe 16, and the air outlets N3 in the ceiling of the washing chamber 10, allowing the protective clothing 20, including its inner surface, to be dried quickly.

[0069] Once the drying process is complete, the user is notified that the washing operation is finished, and the user can open the front door 1D and take out the washed protective garment 20.

[0070] (Summary of this embodiment) As described above, the automatic washing machine 1 of this embodiment is configured to spray washing solution onto protective equipment suspended from the hanger section 12, thereby making it easier to wash protective equipment with water.

[0071] However, since radiation shielding materials are generally heavy, simply hanging protective equipment from the hanger section 12 and spraying cleaning solution on it makes it difficult for the cleaning solution to reach the inner surface of the protective equipment while it is hanging.

[0072] The automatic cleaning machine 1 of this embodiment sprays cleaning liquid from a nozzle N1 (spray port) positioned so as to be located inside the radiation protection equipment hanging down on both sides of the hanger portion 12 when viewed in the direction of extension of the hanger portion 12, toward the inner surface of the protection equipment. This allows for efficient cleaning, including the inner surface of the protection equipment.

[0073] Furthermore, the automatic cleaning machine 1 of this embodiment has a support plate 14 (support part) that is wider than the arm 13 of the hanger part 12 in a direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the extension direction of the hanger part 12. As a result, the support plate 14 widens the gap W3 (Figure 6(c)) between the inner surfaces 20a of the protective equipment, making it easier for the cleaning liquid to reach the inner surfaces 20a. This allows for efficient cleaning, including the inner surfaces of the protective equipment.

[0074] (Other variations) In the embodiment described above, an example was explained in which a support plate 14 is attached to the arm 13 of the hanger portion 12 as a support part. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 10(a) to (d), the hanger portion 12 may be formed from a single U-shaped curved arm 13U. This hanger portion 12 does not have a support plate 14 attached to the arm 13U.

[0075] The arm 13U has a first portion 13U1 extending forward and a second portion 13U2 that is folded back from the front end of the first portion 13U1 toward the rear. An internal flow path is formed inside the arm 13U. In addition, a nozzle communicating with the internal flow path is provided on the outer circumference of at least one of the first portion 13U1 and the second portion 13U2. By shifting the vertical and horizontal positions of the first portion 13U1 and the second portion 13U2, protective equipment can be held in an expanded state in the horizontal direction, and the inner surface of the protective equipment can be efficiently cleaned.

[0076] The modified examples shown in Figures 10(a) to (d) are examples of configurations that enable efficient cleaning of protective equipment by spraying cleaning solution from nozzles located inside the protective equipment hanging down on both sides of the hanger section 12 toward the inner surface of the protective equipment, without using the support plate 14.

[0077] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment explains the case where one protective item is suspended from one hanger section 12, one protective item may be suspended from two or more hanger sections 12. In this case, the support plate 14 may be omitted, and one protective item may be suspended by suspending it across two arms 13 to widen the spacing between the inner surfaces 20a of the protective item, making it easier for the cleaning solution to reach the inner surfaces 20a. This example is an example of a configuration that enables efficient cleaning of protective items by spraying cleaning solution from nozzles located inside the protective items hanging down on both sides of the hanger section 12 toward the inner surfaces of the protective items.

[0078] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, an example was explained in which at least one nozzle is positioned inside the protective equipment hanging down on both sides of the hanger section 12. However, a configuration in which the nozzle is not positioned inside the protective equipment is also possible (for example, a configuration in which nozzle N1 is omitted and only nozzle N2 of the ceiling pipe 16 is used). Even in this case, compared to the case in which at least the support plate 14 is not provided, the protective equipment is held in a state in which the gap W3 (Figure 6(c)) of the inner surface 20a of the protective equipment is widened by the support plate 14, making it easier for the cleaning liquid from nozzle N2 to reach the inner surface 20a. For this reason, the protective equipment can be cleaned more efficiently compared to the case in which the protective equipment is hung directly on the arm 13 without providing at least the support plate 14.

[0079] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment explains a configuration in which the arm 13 of the hanger section 12 also serves as a pipe for guiding the cleaning fluid, the hanger section 12 may also have a separate pipe for guiding the cleaning fluid in addition to the arm 13. For example, the hanger section 12 may have a cylindrical pipe parallel to the arm 13 on the lower side of the non-cylindrical arm 13. In this case, by attaching a nozzle N1 as a spray port to the pipe on the lower side of the arm 13, the cleaning fluid supplied through the internal flow path of the hanger section can be sprayed from a spray port located inside the protective equipment toward the inner surface of the protective equipment. [Industrial applicability]

[0080] The technology disclosed herein can be used as an apparatus or method for cleaning radiation protection equipment, such as X-ray protective clothing. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0081] 10...Washing chamber / 12...Hanger section / 13...Arm / 13a...Flow path (internal flow path) / 14...Support section (support plate) / 14A...First support member (support plate) / 14B...Second support member (support plate) / N1...Injection means, injection port (nozzle)

Claims

1. A cleaning device for radiation protection equipment, Washing room and A hanger section is provided in the washing chamber, extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, from which the radiation protection equipment is suspended. A spraying means for spraying cleaning solution onto the radiation protection equipment suspended on the hanger portion, Equipped with, The spraying means includes a nozzle positioned so as to be located inside the radiation protection equipment hanging down on both sides of the hanger portion when viewed in the extending direction, and sprays the cleaning liquid from the nozzle toward the inner surface of the radiation protection equipment. A cleaning device for radiation protection equipment, characterized by the following features.

2. A channel is formed inside the hanger portion to guide the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid supplied through the channel is sprayed from the nozzle. A cleaning apparatus for radiation protection equipment according to feature 1.

3. The hanger portion has a cylindrical arm that extends along the extension direction and has the flow path formed inside, The aforementioned nozzle is provided on the outer circumference of the arm. The cleaning apparatus for radiation protection equipment according to feature 2.

4. The hanger portion has a support portion that is supported by the arm and supports the radiation protection equipment above the nozzle, The width of the support portion in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the extension direction is wider than the width of the arm in the orthogonal direction. The apparatus for cleaning radiation protection equipment according to feature 3.

5. The nozzle is positioned so as to overlap with the support when viewed in the vertical direction. The support portion has a hole formed in it that penetrates from the lower surface to the upper surface. The apparatus for cleaning radiation protection equipment according to feature 4.

6. The injection nozzle is located inward from the positions of both ends of the support portion in the orthogonal direction. The apparatus for cleaning radiation protection equipment according to feature 4.

7. The support portion includes a first support member that supports either the left or right shoulder portion of the protective equipment, which includes both shoulder portions, and a second support member that is spaced apart from the first support member to support the other shoulder portion. At least one of the injection nozzles is positioned below the first support member and below the second support member, A cleaning apparatus for radiation protection equipment according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

8. A means for supplying air to dry the aforementioned radiation protection equipment, A connecting portion is provided to connect the blowing means and the flow path such that at least a portion of the air from the blowing means is blown out from the nozzle, A cleaning device for radiation protection equipment according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising the above.

9. A cleaning device for radiation protection equipment, Washing room and A hanger section from which the radiation protection equipment is suspended, comprising a hanger section located in the washing room and extending in an extension direction intersecting the vertical direction, A spraying means for spraying cleaning solution onto the radiation protection equipment suspended on the hanger portion, Equipped with, The hanger portion comprises an arm extending along the extension direction and a support portion supported by the arm for supporting the radiation protection equipment. The width of the support portion in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to both the vertical direction and the extension direction is wider than the width of the arm in the orthogonal direction. A cleaning device for radiation protection equipment, characterized by the following features.

10. The support portion includes a first support member that supports either the left or right shoulder portion of the protective equipment, which includes both shoulder portions, and a second support member that is spaced apart from the first support member to support the other shoulder portion. The apparatus for cleaning radiation protection equipment according to feature 9.

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