Dental treatment wastewater treatment equipment

Abstract

To provide a dental treatment wastewater treatment device that can easily remove a wastewater container that temporarily stores dental treatment wastewater and improve an overall efficiency of a sediment recovery operation.SOLUTION: A dental treatment wastewater treatment device 101 includes: a connection part 11 that can be detachably connected to an opening 3 provided in the middle of a drainage path 2 for dental treatment wastewater W1 generated from a dental chair unit 1; a wastewater container 10 capable of storing dental treatment wastewater W1 flowing in through the connection part 11; and a bellows part 12 serving as volume changing means provided in the wastewater container 10 for changing a volume of the wastewater container 10. The wastewater container 10 is formed from a light-transmitting material that allows an inside of the container to be visually observed from outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dental wastewater treatment device having a function of recovering metals contained in dental treatment wastewater generated during dental treatment in a dental chair unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Various proposals have been made so far regarding technologies for recovering metals contained in dental treatment wastewater generated during dental treatment in a dental chair unit. For example, a dental treatment wastewater treatment system described in Patent Document 1 is one related to the present invention.

[0003] The dental treatment wastewater treatment system described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a vacuum tip that uses a dental suction device to suck up wastewater generated during dental treatment, including teeth, metal powder, resin cuttings, saliva, blood, pieces of meat, dirt such as medicines, and cleaning water; a sediment settling and separation recovery device that changes the flow of the wastewater and air sucked up by the vacuum tip into a downward spiral shape, causing the metal powder and tooth fragments contained in the wastewater to settle and be recovered; a separator that separates the wastewater sucked up by the sediment settling and separation recovery device into sludge and wastewater containing metal powder that has not settled and been separated; and a metal recovery device that recovers the metal powder from the wastewater separated by the separator.

[0004] The dental treatment wastewater treatment system has the advantages of being able to quickly treat a large amount of wastewater and efficiently recover metals and precious metals from the wastewater. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7055308 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the dental treatment wastewater treatment system described in Patent Document 1, when collecting sediment accumulated at the bottom of the bottle 12 of the sediment settling separation and collection device 11 that constitutes the dental treatment wastewater treatment system 11, it is necessary to detach the bottle 12 from the cap portion 13, as shown in Figure 7(c) of Patent Document 1.

[0007] At this time, the water level of the wastewater stored in the bottle 12 is located at a height near the upper edge opening of the bottle 12, as shown in Figure 7(b), so if the bottle 12 tilts during the removal operation, there is a high possibility that the wastewater will overflow from the upper edge opening of the bottle 12.

[0008] If wastewater overflows from the opening at the top edge of the bottle 12, it will scatter below and around the bottle 12, which can cause hygiene problems. For this reason, the removal of the bottle 12 must be done carefully so as not to tilt the bottle 12, which makes the work less efficient and reduces the overall efficiency of the sediment recovery process.

[0009] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a dental treatment wastewater treatment device that can easily remove the wastewater container that temporarily stores dental treatment wastewater and improve the overall work efficiency of the sediment recovery work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The dental treatment wastewater treatment device of the present invention includes a wastewater container having a connecting part detachably connected to an opening provided in the middle of a drainage path of dental treatment wastewater generated from a dental chair unit, and capable of storing dental treatment wastewater flowing in via the connecting part; and a volume changing means provided in the wastewater container for changing the volume of the wastewater container.

[0011] In the dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus, the volume changing means may be provided in the wastewater container with an elastically or plastically deformable bellows portion.

[0012] In the dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus, the wastewater container may be provided with a sliding extension / contraction section as the volume changing means.

[0013] In the dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus, the volume changing means may be provided at least in a part of the wastewater container with a flexible deformation part, a bending deformation part, or an expandable deformation part.

[0014] The dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus may be provided with an operating means for operating the volume changing means to change the volume of the wastewater container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The present invention provides a dental treatment wastewater treatment device that allows for easy removal of the wastewater container that temporarily stores dental treatment wastewater, thereby improving the overall work efficiency of the sediment recovery process. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a partially omitted front view showing a schematic configuration of a dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a partially omitted front view showing a schematic configuration of a dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus according to another embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a partially omitted front view showing a schematic configuration of a dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus according to another embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 3, with a portion omitted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, dental treatment wastewater treatment devices 101, 102, and 103 according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0018] First, the structure of a dental treatment wastewater treatment device 101 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 101 according to this embodiment has a connection part 11 detachably connected to an opening 3 provided midway through a drainage path 2 for dental treatment wastewater W1 generated from a dental chair unit 1, and is equipped with a wastewater container 10 capable of storing the dental treatment wastewater W1 flowing in via the connection part 11, and a bellows part 12 serving as a volume changing means provided in the wastewater container 10 for changing the volume of the wastewater container 10. The wastewater container 10 is made of a translucent material that allows the internal state to be visually observed from the outside, but is not limited to this.

[0019] The wastewater container 10 has a generally cylindrical shape, and is provided with a lower opening 10b at the lower part opposite to the upper opening 10a, to which a bottomed, short cylindrical sediment collection container 13 is detachably attached. The wastewater container 10 has the function of storing dental treatment wastewater W1 that flows in from the opening 3, and has a bellows portion 12 between the upper opening 10a and the lower opening 10b. The bellows portion 12 is elastically expandable and contractible in the directions of arrows Y1 and Y2 (vertical direction), and has the function of changing (increasing or decreasing) the volume of the wastewater container 10.

[0020] Here, the function of the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 101 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, when the wastewater container 10 is empty, the bellows part 12 is in a contracted state so that the length in the hanging direction (vertical direction) is minimized. When dental treatment wastewater W1 generated in the dental chair unit 1 flows into the wastewater container 10 via the drainage path 2, the opening 3, and the connection part 11, the bellows part 12 gradually elastically expands in the direction of gravity due to the weight of the dental treatment wastewater W1 stored in the wastewater container 10, and the volume of the wastewater container 10 gradually increases.

[0021] When the bellows portion 12 is extended to its elastic limit as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1, the wastewater container 10 is maintained in that state, and thereafter, the dental treatment wastewater W1 flows into the wastewater container 10 through the opening 3, causing the volume of the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 to increase. However, the stored water W2 equivalent to the increased amount overflows from the upper edge 3a of the opening 3, which is located at the boundary between the opening 3 and the drainage path 2, and flows downstream of the drainage path 2, where it is supplied to a designated wastewater treatment facility (not shown).

[0022] Precious metals and other substances contained in the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 gradually settle over time due to the difference in specific gravity with the water, and settle in the sediment collection container 13 located at the bottom. Note that most of the dental treatment wastewater W1 generated from the dental chair unit 1 is a small amount of water, about the same as a patient's mouthwash, so the dental treatment wastewater W1 flowing into the wastewater container 10 agitates the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10, causing sediment to fly up, and the dental treatment wastewater W1 flowing into the opening 3 from the drainage path 2 does not accumulate in the wastewater container 10, and does not flow out downstream of the drainage path 2 still containing precious metals and other substances.

[0023] When the amount of precious metals and other materials that have settled in the sediment collection container 13 reaches a predetermined amount or a predetermined time has passed, the use of the dental chair unit 1 is stopped, and the discharge of dental treatment wastewater W1 into the drainage path 2 is stopped. Then, the bottom of the sediment collection container 13 is lifted in the direction of arrow Y1, or other operation is performed to contract the bellows part 12 of the wastewater container 10. As a result, the volume of the wastewater container 10 decreases, and the upper part of the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 overflows via the upper edge 3a of the opening 3 and flows out to the downstream side of the drainage path 2.

[0024] After the upper portion of the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 flows out through the upper edge 3a of the opening 3, when the force lifting the bottom of the sediment collection container 13 is released, the bellows portion 12 extends in the direction of the arrow Y2 due to the weight of the stored water W2 remaining in the wastewater container 10, and as a result, the water surface position (water level WL) of the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 descends to a position away from the upper end opening 10a of the connection portion 11.

[0025] Therefore, even if the wastewater container 10 tilts or sways slightly when the upper opening 10a of the wastewater container 10 is removed from the lower edge 3b of the opening 3, the stored water W2 remaining in the wastewater container 10 will not overflow and disperse from the upper opening 10a. This makes it easy to remove the wastewater container 10, improves workability, and improves the overall work efficiency of the sediment recovery process.

[0026] After removing the wastewater container 10 from the opening 3, the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 is discarded, and the sediment collection container 13 is removed from the wastewater container 10, whereby the precious metals and the like that have settled in the sediment collection container 13 can be collected. The stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 can also be collected by a designated disposal company.

[0027] On the other hand, even before the amount of precious metals and the like precipitated in the sediment collection container 13 reaches a predetermined amount, if the discharge of the dental treatment wastewater W1 into the drainage path 2 is stopped and then the bottom of the sediment collection container 13 is lifted or another operation is performed to contract the bellows portion 12 of the wastewater container 10, the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 can be discharged from the upper edge 3a of the opening 3 to the downstream side of the drainage path 2. Therefore, if the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 is discharged from time to time by the above-mentioned operation, it is possible to prevent the stored water W2 from stagnating for a long period of time.

[0028] In addition, in the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 101, the elastically deformable bellows portion 12, which is the volume change means of the wastewater container 10, is not limited to this, so as a volume change means of the wastewater container, for example, a plastically deformable bellows portion can be provided, or a flexible deformation portion, a bending deformation portion, or an expansion and contraction deformation portion can be provided in at least a part of the wastewater container.

[0029] If a flexible deformation section, a bending deformation section or an expandable deformation section is provided in at least a part of the wastewater container, the volume can be reduced by applying external force to squeeze, fold or press a part of the wastewater container, thereby achieving the same effect as the bellows section 12 of the wastewater container 10.

[0030] Next, another embodiment of a dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus 102 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. In the components of the dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus 102 shown in Fig. 2, the components common to those of the dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus 101 shown in Fig. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 1, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 102 includes a support member 20 and a lifting rod 21 that support the bottom surface of the sediment collection container 13 that is detachably attached to the lower end opening 10b of the wastewater container 10, an operating device 22 that raises and lowers the lifting rod 21, and a control means 23 that operates the operating device 22.

[0032] By operating the control means 23 to lower or raise the lifting rod 21 and the support member 20, the bellows portion 12 of the wastewater container 10 can be extended or contracted, thereby functioning as an operating means for changing the volume of the wastewater container 10 by operating the volume changing means (bellows portion 12) of the wastewater container 10.

[0033] There are no restrictions on how the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 102 can be used. For example, after setting the support member 20, lifting rod 21, and operating device 22 so that the bellows part 12 can freely elastically extend in the direction of gravity due to the weight of the dental treatment wastewater W1 flowing into the wastewater container 10 through the opening 3, when the dental chair unit 1 is started to be used, the dental treatment wastewater W1 flows into the wastewater container 10 through the drainage path 2, opening 3, and connection part 11.

[0034] As a result, the weight of the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 increases, but since the support member 20 and the lifting rod 21 can descend due to the increase in the weight of the stored water W2, the bellows portion 12 elastically expands in the direction of gravity (arrow Y2), and the volume of the wastewater container 10 gradually increases.

[0035] When the amount of precious metals and other materials that have settled in the sediment collection container 13 reaches a predetermined amount, the use of the dental chair unit 1 is stopped, and the discharge of dental treatment wastewater W1 into the drainage path 2 is stopped. Then, the control means 23 is operated to raise the support member 20 in the direction of arrow Y1 via the lifting rod 21, which raises the bottom of the sediment collection container 13 and contracts the bellows part 12 of the wastewater container 10. As a result, the volume of the wastewater container 10 decreases, and the upper part of the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 overflows the upper edge 3a of the opening 3 and flows downstream of the drainage path 2.

[0036] After the upper portion of the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 overflows and flows out the upper edge 3a of the opening 3, the control means 23 is operated to lower the support member 20 in the direction of the arrow Y2 via the lifting rod 21, causing the bottom of the sediment collection container 13 to descend and the bellows portion 12 to extend due to the weight of the stored water W2 remaining in the wastewater container 10, and as a result, the water surface (water level) of the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 descends to a position away from the upper end opening 10a.

[0037] Therefore, even if the wastewater container 10 tilts or sways slightly when the upper opening 10a of the wastewater container 10 is removed from the lower edge 3b of the opening 3, the stored water W2 remaining in the wastewater container 10 will not overflow and disperse from the upper opening 10a. This makes it easy to remove the wastewater container 10, improves workability, and improves the efficiency of the entire sediment recovery process.

[0038] After removing the wastewater container 10 from the opening 3, the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 is discarded, and the sediment collection container 13 is removed from the wastewater container 10, whereby the precious metals and the like that have settled in the sediment collection container 13 can be collected. The stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 can also be collected by a designated disposal company.

[0039] On the other hand, even before the amount of precious metals and other substances precipitated in the sediment collection container 10 reaches a predetermined amount, if the control means 23 is operated to raise the support member 20 via the lifting rod 21 after the discharge of the dental treatment wastewater W1 into the drainage path 2 is stopped, the bottom of the sediment collection container 13 rises and the bellows portion 12 of the wastewater container 10 contracts, allowing the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 to flow out from the upper edge 3a of the opening 3. Therefore, if the stored water W2 in the wastewater container 10 is occasionally drained by the above-mentioned operation, it is possible to prevent the stored water W2 from stagnating for a long period of time.

[0040] The usage and functions of the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 102 shown in FIG. 2 are as described above, and the same excellent effects as those of the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 101 shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained.

[0041] Next, a dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus 103 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. In the components of the dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus 103 shown in Figures 3 and 4, the components common to the dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus 101 shown in Figure 1 and the dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus 102 shown in Figure 2 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in Figures 1 and 2, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 3, dental treatment wastewater treatment device 103 includes a wastewater container 24 instead of the wastewater container 10 constituting dental treatment wastewater treatment device 102 shown in Fig. 2. Wastewater container 24 is formed of a cylindrical upper container 24a and a lower container 24b. As shown in Fig. 4, the outer diameter of upper container 24a is smaller than the inner diameter of lower container 24b, and a lower end portion 24d of upper container 24a is slidably inserted into lower container 24b from an upper end portion 24e of lower container 24b, thereby forming a sliding extension / contraction portion 24c.

[0043] Gaskets 25 and 26 for maintaining airtightness are arranged between the outer periphery of the lower end 24d of the upper container 24a and the inner periphery of the lower container 24b, and between the inner periphery of the upper end 24e of the lower container 24b and the outer periphery of the upper container 24a, respectively.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, a sediment collection container 27 is removably attached to a lower end opening 24g of the lower container 24b, and an upper end opening 24f of the upper container 24a is removably connected to an opening 3 of the drainage path 2.

[0045] Furthermore, it is equipped with a support member 20 and a lifting rod 21 that support the bottom surface of the sediment collection container 27 that is detachably attached to the lower end opening 24g of the lower container 24b, an operating device 22 that raises and lowers the lifting rod 21, and a control means 23 that operates the operating device 22.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, by operating the control means 23 to lower the support member 20 in the direction of arrow Y2 or raise it in the direction of arrow Y1 via the lifting rod 21, the lower container 24b will lower or rise together with the sediment collection container 27, and the sliding extension section 24c will expand and contract in the directions of arrows Y2 and Y1 (vertical direction), thereby increasing or decreasing the volume of the wastewater container 24.

[0047] The dental treatment wastewater treatment device 103 shown in FIG. 3 is used and functions in the same way as the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 102 shown in FIG. 2, and can provide the same excellent effects as the dental treatment wastewater treatment device 102.

[0048] Note that the dental treatment wastewater treatment devices 101, 102, and 103 described based on Figures 1 to 4 are examples of dental treatment wastewater treatment devices according to the present invention, and the dental treatment wastewater treatment device according to the present invention is not limited to the dental treatment wastewater treatment devices 101, 102, and 103 described above. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] The dental treatment wastewater treatment device according to the present invention can be widely used in the field of dental care, such as dental clinics and dental hospitals equipped with dental chair units. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 dental chair unit 2 Drainage route 3 Opening 3a Upper edge 3b Lower edge 10,24 Wastewater container 10a Top opening 10b Bottom opening 11 Connection 12 Bellows 13,27 Sediment collection container 20 Support member 21 Lifting rod 22 Actuating device 23 Control Means 24a Upper vessel 24b Lower vessel 24c sliding telescopic section 24d Lower end 24e Upper end 101, 102, 103 Dental treatment wastewater treatment equipment W1 Dental treatment wastewater W2 Reservoir water WL water level

Claims

1. a wastewater container having a connecting part whose upper end opening is detachably connected to an opening provided in the middle of a drainage path of dental treatment wastewater generated from the dental chair unit, and capable of storing dental treatment wastewater flowing in via the connecting part; A dental treatment wastewater treatment device comprising: a volume change means provided on the wastewater container to change the volume of the wastewater container, which, when the upper opening of the wastewater container is separated from the lower edge of the opening, reduces the volume of the wastewater container to allow the upper portion of the stored water in the wastewater container to flow out through the upper edge of the opening, and then increases the volume of the wastewater container to lower the water level in the stored water container to a position away from the upper opening of the connection portion.

2. 2. The dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume changing means is an elastically or plastically deformable bellows portion provided in the wastewater container.

3. 2. The dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said volume changing means is a sliding extension / contraction part provided on said wastewater container.

4. 2. The dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the volume changing means is a flexible, bending or expandable portion formed on at least a part of the wastewater container.

5. 5. The dental treatment wastewater treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operating means for operating said volume changing means to change the volume of said wastewater container.

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