Rinsing and disinfecting device and method for washing and disinfecting hospital containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a rinsing and disinfecting device (10) for hospital containers, which includes a washing chamber (14) for hospital containers to be washed, which includes at least one washing nozzle (16) and a water trap (20), a water tank (26) for washwater, a cold-water connection (32) and a cold-water valve (36), a hot-water connection (38) and hot-water valve (40), a transfer duct (28) from the water tank (26) to the washing chamber (14), a pump (30) and a recirculation means (12) for circulating the washwater, a steam generator (42), a temperature sensor (44) arranged in the water tank (26) for generating a temperature measurement data, software means (46) configured to control the intake of water by means of the hot-water valve (40) and the cold-water valve (36) based on the temperature measurement data in order to adjust the temperature to a target temperature or as close to it as possible, in such a manner that a discrepancy of the temperature of the washwater from the target temperature does not exceed ±10 °C, preferably does not exceed ±5 °C, and a heating means (54) arranged in the transfer duct (28) between the pump (30) and the washing nozzle (16) for heating the circulating washwater as necessary. The invention also relates to a method for washing and disinfecting hospital containers.

Description

[0001] RINSING AND DISINFECTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR WASHING AND DISINFECTING HOSPITAL CONTAINERS

[0002] The invention relates to a rinsing and disinfecting device for hospital containers , which includes a washing chamber for hospital containers to be washed, which includes at least one washing noz zle arranged in the washing chamber for supplying washwater to the washing chamber, and a water trap arranged in the floor of the washing chamber for draining washwater from the washing chamber into a drain; a water tank for washwater, a cold-water connection for drawing cold water from a water mains network into the water tank, and a cold-water valve that controls an intake of water, a hot-water connection for drawing clean hot water from the water mains network into the water tank, and a hot- water valve that controls an intake of water, a trans fer duct from the water tank to at least one washing noz zle in the washing chamber for washwater, a pump for trans ferring washwater from the water tank to the washing noz zle via the trans fer duct , a recirculation means for circulating washwater from the washing chamber into the water tank, and a steam generator for evaporating water in order to disinfect the hospital containers that have been washed with the washwater .

[0003] The invention also relates to a method for washing and disinfecting hospital containers .

[0004] The prior-art document FI 69751 , an old patent of the Applicant from the 1980s , describes a rinsing and disinfecting device for hospital containers with which washwater can be ef ficiently circulated in order to achieve a better washing result prior to a disinfection with steam . Using circulating washwater prolongs the time of action of a detergent added to the washing process , the detergent preferably being added to the washwater in a circulation wash step . This device uses hot water from the water mains network as washwater, so that the temperature of the washwater depends entirely on the temperature of the hot water from the water mains network, nor is it possible to adj ust this temperature .

[0005] The obj ect of the invention is to provide a device and method for washing and disinfecting hospital containers that is more versatile than the devices of the prior art , with which the temperature of the washwater can be adj usted to a desired target temperature according to each washing programme . The characteristic features of a rinsing and disinfecting device according to the invention are set out in the attached patent claim 1 , while the characteristic features of a rinsing and disinfecting method according to the invention are set out in the attached patent claim 10 .

[0006] The task of the invention is to improve a rinsing and disinfecting device which rinses of f coarse waste and with which it is possible to carry out a wash with circulation water using a pump, with the following requirements :

[0007] 1 ) The floor of the washing space must always be open to a drain by way of a water trap and without moving parts , so as to allow the removal of coarse waste .

[0008] 2 ) A circulation-water operation is started with the pump and the water contained in the water tank and is independent of an amount of water in the water trap of the washing chamber . 3 ) Following rinsing episodes , any paper or other large- particle waste remaining in the washing chamber must not be carried into the water tank with the circulation water so as to cause a disruption .

[0009] The obj ect of the device according to the invention is achieved by a rinsing and disinfecting device for hospital containers , which device includes a washing chamber for hospital containers to be washed, which includes at least one washing noz zle arranged in the washing chamber for supplying washwater to the washing chamber, and a water trap arranged in the floor of the washing chamber for draining washwater from the washing chamber into a drain . In addition, the device includes a cold-water connection for drawing cold water from a water mains network into the water tank and a cold-water valve that controls an intake of water, and a hot-water connection for drawing hot water from the water mains network into the water tank and a hot-water valve that controls an intake of water . The device further includes a water tank for washwater, a trans fer duct from the water tank to at least one washing noz zle in the washing chamber for washwater, a pump for trans ferring washwater from the water tank to the washing noz zle , a recirculation means for circulating washwater from the washing chamber to the water tank, and a steam generator for evaporating water in order to disinfect the hospital containers that have been washed with the washwater . The device further includes a temperature sensor arranged in the water tank for measuring the temperature of the washwater, software means configured to control the intake of hot water by means of the hot-water control valve and the intake of cold water by means of the cold-water valve based on a measurement result so as to adj ust the temperature of the washwater let into the water tank to a target temperature or as close to it as possible , in such a manner that a deviation of the temperature of the washwater from the target temperature does not exceed ± 10 ° C, preferably does not exceed ±5 ° C, as well as a heating means arranged in the trans fer duct between the pump and the washing noz zle for heating the circulating washwater as necessary to achieve the target temperature of the washwater .

[0010] By measuring the temperature of the washwater in the water tank, the intake of hot and cold water can be adj usted by means of the cold-water and hot-water valves in such a manner that the temperature of the water let into the water tank corresponds to a selected target temperature . It is thus possible to utili ze the energy o f the incoming hot water from the water mains network, which reduces or entirely eliminates the need to heat the washwater . In addition, the fact that it is possible to adj ust the temperature of the washwater to a respectively desired target temperature allows a versatile use of di f ferent detergents in accordance with the hospital containers to be washed and regulations . For example , when detergents containing enzymes are used, the regulation of the temperature of the washwater is important for the washing result , as the proteins contained in the enzymes are very temperature-sensitive .

[0011] When drainage is ef fected by the force of gravity, a separate suction step is not required to drain the washwater .

[0012] The guiding principle of the invention is to aim to let in washwater that already has a higher temperature , which is generally merely maintained with a resistor or, where necessary, is raised slightly in cases where the required temperature is higher than the maximum temperature obtainable via the water supply . It is surprising that the disinfection device aims to use the warmest possible mains water as washwater, since it is generally known to contain bacteria . This is nevertheless possible in the rinsing and disinfecting device according to the invention, in which disinfection is ultimately achieved with steam .

[0013] The heating means allows the temperature of the circulating washwater to be kept high or the temperature of the washwater to be raised above the temperature of the hot water of the water mains network where necessary . The heating means enables a rinsing and disinfecting device that satis fies the standards EN ISO 15883- 1 and -3 , also with regard to the heating requirements for circulating washwater .

[0014] According to one embodiment , the intake of hot and cold water is controlled in such a manner that a deviation of the temperature of the washwater from a target temperature is at most 10 ° C, preferably at most 5 ° C, below the target temperature , so as to prevent a situation in which the temperature of the washwater taken in is too high, whereby energy is wasted .

[0015] The purpose of the water trap is not only to conduct water into the drain, but also to form a barrier to stop gases in the drain from entering the washing chamber and thereby, where necessary, render the closed washing chamber airtight .

[0016] In the context of the invention, a water mains network is understood to be a local water mains network of the building of the place of use of the device , which includes one water line for cold water and another water line for warm water to be heated on the building premises .

[0017] The device according to the invention is preferably used in a building with a hot water tank from which hot water can be obtained cost-ef fectively . The hot water tank can be heated, for example , by district heating, in which case the cost of heating the water may be lower than when an electric heater is used .

[0018] In the context of the invention, the trans fer duct can also be very short due to the layout of the device in cases where the water tank is directly adj acent to the washing chamber . At its shortest , the trans fer duct can consist merely in an opening between a water tank and a washing chamber that are directly adj acent to each other .

[0019] The device preferably further includes a memory and a database arranged in the memory, which database includes a plurality of di f ferent target washwater temperatures for di f ferent hospital containers , and the software means is configured to use a selected target temperature to control the intake of water . This allows the device to be used in a versatile manner for the washing of di f ferent types o f hospital containers at the optimum temperature for each type of hospital container . This temperature optimi zation makes it possible to achieve an optimal washing result , to save energy, and to use the device in a versatile manner .

[0020] The heating means is preferably a flow-through resistor . The flow resistance caused by a flow-through resistor is very low, and it does not take up space in the water tank but rather can be arranged in the trans fer duct .

[0021] The flow-through heater can be 100-500 mm long and have an output of 3-10 kW, preferably 4- 6 kW . Such a heating output is suf ficient to heat the washwater quickly . The device preferably includes a washing-chamber temperature sensor arranged in the washing chamber for determining the temperature of the circulating washwater as a second measurement data, and the software means is configured to control the heating means to heat the circulating washwater based on the second measurement data . This allows the temperature of the washwater to be monitored with accuracy during a circulation wash step and the optimum temperature to be optimi zed for this step .

[0022] Both the cold-water valve and the hot-water valve preferably include connected electric actuators for operating the valve based on the control of the software means . The cold-water valve and the hot-water valve can be , for example , electrically controlled solenoid valves .

[0023] The recirculation means preferably includes said air trap, which includes a perforated bend element formed in the water trap and a closed container formed around the bend element , a circulation duct connected to the closed container for forming a flow duct between the water trap and the water tank, wherein the circulation duct is configured to extend in part above the water trap, an air duct between the water tank and the washing chamber, and a circulation valve arranged in the air duct to prevent air circulation, which makes it possible for water to be sucked out of the water trap, through the circulation duct and into the water tank . Such a recirculation means allows the washwater in the water trap to be circulated back into the washing chamber in order to increase the time of action of the washwater and thereby improve the washing result .

[0024] The water trap preferably forms a continuously open duct to the drain . This allows coarse waste detached from the hospital containers to be washed to be continuously conducted into the drain during rinsing, which prevents waste from clogging up the washing chamber .

[0025] The device preferably includes a second water trap arranged in series with the water trap after the water trap in the direction of drainage of the washwater . This prevents odours from being sucked up from the drain when the washwater is pumped out of the water trap .

[0026] The device preferably includes a siphon system for emptying the water trap, which includes a siphon duct arranged between the water trap and the drain, a siphon air duct arranged at the highest point of the siphon duct , and a siphon air valve arranged in the s iphon air duct for enabling a siphoning action through the closing of the siphon air valve . By means of the siphon system, the water trap, which is continuously open to the drain, can be drained prior to disinfection, so that no water is left to boil in the water trap during the disinfection step .

[0027] The device according to the invention makes it possible to carry out a wash with circulation water using a pump, in such a manner that the floor of the washing chamber i s always open to the drain by way of a water trap and without moving parts , a circulation-water operation is started with the pump and the water contained in the water tank and is independent of an amount of washwater in the water trap of the washing chamber, and any paper or other large-particle waste remaining in the washing chamber following rinsing episodes does not travel with the circulation water so as to cause a disruption .

[0028] The obj ect of a method according to the invention is achieved by a method for washing and disinfecting hospital containers , in which method hospital containers to be washed are placed in a washing chamber, cold water is drawn via a cold-water connection and hot water is drawn via a hot-water connection from a water mains network, the temperature of the washwater is measured by means of a temperature sensor arranged in the water tank to generate a temperature measurement data, and the temperature measurement data and a target temperature are compared in order to detect a discrepancy . In addition, in the method, the intake of cold and hot water via the cold-water connection and the hot-water connection is adj usted using a cold-water valve and a hot-water valve via software means based on the temperature measurement data in order to adj ust the temperature of the washwater to the target temperature or as close to it as possible , in such a manner that a deviation of the temperature of the washwater from the target temperature does not exceed ± 10 ° C, preferably does not exceed ±5 ° C, and the washwater is heated to the target temperature by a heating means in cases where the target temperature cannot be achieved with the hot water supplied via the hot-water connection . Moreover, in the method, the hospital containers are washed in the washing chamber with the washwater, the washwater is drained from the washing chamber through a water trap, the rinsed hospital containers are disinfected in the washing chamber with steam, and the disinfected hospital containers are removed from the washing chamber .

[0029] With the method according to the invention, the right washing temperature of the washwater can be adj usted with great precision to a target temperature of the hospital containers to be washed in accordance with the respective washing programme in operation . The target temperature of the washwater can vary in di f ferent washing programmes depending on the hospital containers to be washed or the detergent used . In the method, the washwater is preferably heated to the target temperature by the heating means in cases where the target temperature cannot be achieved with the hot water supplied via the hot-water connection or where the washwater has cooled during circulation . It is thus possible to generate a washwater temperature that is higher than the maximum temperature of the water mains network in situations where this is required . This also allows the temperature of the circulating washwater to be maintained at an optimal level for washing results , and no new clean water needs to be pumped in to maintain the temperature .

[0030] In the method, the washwater is preferably circulated from the water trap to the water tank . It is thereby possible to maintain a continuously open connection to the drain via the water trap for waste while simultaneously circulating the washwater in order to achieve a longer time of action of the washwater . In order to recirculate the washwater, the water-trap-type bend element of the drainage pipe is always open and is made at least partially of a perforated material , most appropriately of strainer plate , at the part of the bend element that remains entirely inside the surrounding closed container, and a pipe is provided that leads from this container to the water tank .

[0031] According to one embodiment, in the method, the temperature of the washwater in the washing chamber is measured by a washingchamber temperature sensor to generate a second temperature measurement data , and the heating means is controlled by the software means to heat the circulating washwater to the target temperature based on the second temperature measurement data . It is thereby possible to observe the ef fect of the use of the heating means on the temperature of the washwater entering the washing chamber and to regulate the operation of the heating means based on the feedback principle in order to optimi ze the heating . According to one embodiment , the water intake and the heating are carried out in the following steps : the hot-water and the cold-water valves are opened fully to draw water into the water tank; the temperature of the water in the water tank is measured by means of a temperature sensor in order to produce said temperature measurement data ; the temperature measurement data is compared with a target temperature by the software means ; and, in cases where a discrepancy is detected, the hot-water valve is closed i f the measurement data is higher than the target temperature , or the cold-water valve is closed i f the measurement data is lower than the target temperature . These steps are then repeated provided that the maximum water level of the tank has not been reached, or the cold-water valve and the hot-water valve are closed when the maximum has been reached .

[0032] In the method, the water trap is preferably emptied into the drain by means o f a siphon system utili zing a siphon ef fect prior to the disinfection .

[0033] A target temperature of the washwater can be 40-70 ° C, preferably 50- 60 ° C .

[0034] In the context of the invention, hospital containers are more speci fically understood as referring to urine bottles , bedpans , containers used for handling human excreta and other containers suitable for handling coarse materials .

[0035] The invention, which is not limited to the embodiments described in the following, is explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings , wherein Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0036] Figure 2 shows steps of a method according to the invention as a block diagram,

[0037] Figure 3 shows an axonometric view of a device according to the invention with an open washing chamber and without the outer shell .

[0038] The di f ferent parts of the invention are designated in the figures by the following reference numbers :

[0039] 10 device 35 44 water-tank temperature 12 recirculation means sensor

[0040] 14 washing chamber 45 washing-chamber

[0041] 16 washing noz zle temperature sensor

[0042] 18 drain opening 46 software means

[0043] 20 air trap 40 47 computing unit 22 washing-chamber floor 48 memory

[0044] 24 drain 50 database

[0045] 26 water tank 52 closed container

[0046] 28 trans fer duct 54 heating means

[0047] 30 pump 45 56 flow-through resistor 31 water mains network 57 pressure sensor

[0048] 32 cold-water connection 58 perforated surface

[0049] 34 condenser 60 circulation duct

[0050] 35 water-level switch 61 condenser line

[0051] 36 cold-water valve 50 62 air ducts 38 hot-water connection 64 circulation valves

[0052] 40 hot-water valve 66 second water trap

[0053] 41 operating and control 68 siphon duct terminal 70 sludge separator

[0054] 42 steam generator 55 72 back-suction protection 74 auxiliary supply valve 10 84 flow switch

[0055] 76 condensate-water valve 85 auxiliary hot-water

[0056] 77 siphon valve supply line

[0057] 79 siphon air duct 86 descaling pump 78 overheating protection 88 siphon system

[0058] 80 detergent pump 15 90 basket structure

[0059] 81 detergent dispenser 92 washing-chamber door .

[0060] 82 detergent lower-limit detector

[0061] Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the rinsing and disinfecting device 10 according to the invention, wherein the basic parts of the device 10 include a washing chamber 14 into which the hospital containers to be washed are arranged, a water tank 26 for washwater, and a steam generator 42 for disinfecting washed hospital containers in the washing chamber 14 with steam . As shown in Figure 3 , the washing chamber 14 preferably includes an openable door 92 and a basket structure in which hospital containers can be arranged for washing . In terms of its basic structure , the device according to the invention can be of the type described in the prior-art document FI 69751 , with the exception of the regulation of the intake of water and the possible heating means 54 and siphoning means 68 , 77 for heating and siphoning washwater .

[0062] Water is supplied to the water tank 26 via a cold-water connection 32 and a hot-water connection 38 . This supply can be adj usted by means of a cold-water valve 36 and a hot-water valve 40 . This water supply can in turn be controlled and regulated via software means 46 . For these software means , the device preferably includes an operating and control terminal 41 , which includes a computing unit 47 and a memory 48 in which the software means 46 is stored . The central idea of the invention is to regulate the intake of cold and hot water into the water tank 26 from the cold-water connection 32 and the hot-water connection 36 by controlling and regulating the cold-water valve 36 and the hot-water valve 38 , respectively, via software means 46 . For this regulation, a water-tank temperature sensor 44 is arranged in the water tank 26 , which i s used to generate measurement data relating to the temperature of the washwater in the water tank 26 . The software means 46 is preferably provided with a database 50 in a memory 48 , in which target temperatures for detergents are stored for di f ferent hospital containers and detergents , as well as with a control for adj usting the intake of water so as to reach the target temperature . The database instructions contain rough control commands for controlling the cold-water valve and the hot-water valve so as to draw washwater at the target temperature . Since the temperature of both cold and hot water in a water mains network can vary signi ficantly depending on the usage of the water mains network, these control commands only achieve a moderate precision with regard to the temperature of the washwater . To obtain a greater precision, it is necessary to implement a feedback control based on a temperature measurement data for the washwater, based on which the intake of water is adj usted by means of the cold-water and hot-water valves so as to achieve the target . This control and regulation function is described in more detail in connection with the block diagram of Figure 2 and its steps .

[0063] A washing noz zle 16 is arranged in the washing chamber 14 , via which washing noz zle 16 washwater is fed into the washing chamber 14 by the pressure generated by the pump 30 , i . e . the circulation-water pump . The washwater supplied via the washing noz zles 16 rinses dirt and waste from the hospital containers onto the floor of the washing chamber 14 and via the drain opening 18 into the water trap 20 , from which open access to the drain 24 is preferably provided via a second water trap

[0064] 66 .

[0065] The device 10 also preferably includes a recirculation means 12 , which includes a water trap 20 that includes a perforated bend element 58 and a closed container 52 that surrounds the perforated bend element 58 , a circulation duct 60 , air ducts 62 and circulation valves 64 . Via the perforated bend element 58 , which is preferably a strainer plate , washwater can be conducted from the water trap 20 into the closed container 52 surrounding it , and from there onwards into the circulation duct 60 connected to the container 52 , in such a manner that solid waste cannot enter the circulation . The circulation duct 60 is connected to the closed container 52 to form a flow duct between the water trap 20 and the water tank 26 . The circulation duct 60 preferably conducts the washwater upwards from the water trap 20 , so that the washwater can only flow via the circulation duct into the water tank when circulation is started by the suction caused by the pump 30 , and not solely due to the force of gravity . In order to enable the circulation of the washwater through the circulation duct by the pump, it is necessary to prevent the entry of air from the water tank 26 into the washing chamber 14 via the air duct 62 . This is achieved by closing the air duct 62 by means of the circulation valve 64 arranged in the same , so that the pump 30 can suck the washwater out of the water trap 20 through the circulation duct 60 .

[0066] The device 10 pre ferably includes a heating means 54 with which washwater pumped from the water tank 26 into the washing chamber 14 can be heated in order to raise its temperature to a target temperature . A need for heating can ari se due to the target temperature of the washwater being higher than the temperature of the hot water in the water mains network, or due to a decrease in the temperature of the circulating washwater, or both . The heating means is preferably also controlled by the software means based on a washwatertemperature measurement data obtained by a temperature sensor . When necessary, the heating means is activated to trans fer heat to the washwater .

[0067] The heating means 54 is preferably at least one flow-through resistor 56 through which washwater is conducted in the trans fer duct 28 . The flow-through resistor can measure 100- 500 mm in length and have an output of 3-10 kW, preferably 4- 6 kW, so that the flow-through resistor can trans fer a suf ficiently large amount of energy to the circulating washwater to raise its temperature to the target temperature . An overheating protection is provided in connection with the flow-through resistor as a safety device .

[0068] The operation of the rinsing and disinfecting device according to the invention is as follows . A desired amount of water, e . g . 8 litres , is fed from the water mains network into the water tank 26 , from which the water is pumped by the pump 30 via the trans fer duct 28 and the washing noz zles 16 into the washing chamber 14 .

[0069] During a first rinsing step, water discharged from the washing noz zles 16 at a suitable pressure , e . g . 0 . 5 - 3 bar, and at a flow rate of 100 - 180 1 / min, rinses faeces , blood, paper and other waste from the containers to be cleaned, for example from bedpans , directly into the drain 24 via the water trap 20 . The rinsing step can subsequently be repeated i f necessary .

[0070] After the solid matter has been conducted into the drain following the rinsing step or steps , water, for example approximately 5 litres of water, is conducted from the water mains network 31 into the water tank 26 , after which the circulation valve 64 of the air duct 62 leading from the upper part of the water tank into the washing chamber 14 is closed . When the pump 30 is started, the washwater, to which detergent can be added from the detergent dispenser 81 by means of a detergent pump 80 where necessary, flows from the circulation duct 60 via the water tank 26 into the washing chamber 14 . This decreases the pressure in the water tank 26 , so that the liquid flowing from the washing chamber 14 through the perforated bend element 58 - which is preferably made of , for example , a strainer plate - via the closed container 52 is sucked back into the water tank 26 via the circulation duct 60 , from where it is recirculated at a flow rate of , for example , 100 1 / min .

[0071] The rinsed hospital containers in the washing chamber can finally be disinfected by means of the steam generator 42 connected to the water tank 26 .

[0072] In other words , the device according to the invention has four basic operating steps , namely a water intake step 200 , clearing steps 218 , circulation water steps 224 and disinfection steps 238 , which are explained in more detail in the following with reference to Figure 2 .

[0073] Water intake steps 200

[0074] Water intake steps refer to the steps of drawing water from the water mains network into the water tank . Each wash programme has its own target temperature , which is determined as a function of the hospital containers to be washed and the detergent used . The control terminal of the device has various wash programmes stored in the memory, preferably each with its own target temperature , combination of steps and duration . The first water intake step 200 is the selection of the wash programme 202 , whereby the software means retrieves the target temperature from the memory . In step 204 , the water intake is started by fully opening the hot-water and cold-water valves , so that water can flow into the water tank . In step 206 , the temperature of the water introduced into the water tank is measured by means of a water-tank temperature sensor to obtain a measurement data . In step 208 , the measured data is compared to the target temperature by the software means . In cases where a discrepancy is detected, the hot-water valve is closed i f the measurement data is higher than the target temperature , or the cold-water valve is closed i f the measurement data is lower than the target temperature , in step 210 . I f the cold-water valve or the hot-water valve is closed, it is reopened after a selected interval in step 212 . The selected interval can be , for example , 1-10 seconds , preferably 2-5 seconds . The measurement of the temperature of the washwater in the water tank and the adj ustment of the cold-water or hot-water valve are subsequently repeated, and it is determined in step 214 whether a maximum water level of the water tank has been reached . When the maximum is reached, the cold-water and hot- water valves are closed in step 216 . A volume of the water tank can be , for example , 10 litres .

[0075] Following this step, the software means decides in step 207 whether the device is to proceed either to the clearing steps or, i f these have already been performed, to the circulation water steps .

[0076] Clearing steps

[0077] After the filling of the water tank, the device can proceed to the clearing steps 218 contained in the wash programme , with which solid dirt from the hospital containers and the washing chamber is quickly cleared into the drain . This process is normally started by carrying out 1-5 clearing steps . These steps are a clearing rinse with cold water 220 and a clearing rinse with mixed water 222 . The function of these steps is identical . The only di f ference is the water chosen to fill the tank . For rinsing with cold water, the water tank of the device is filled up exclusively with cold water from the cold-water connection, while a step that uses mixed water draws both cold and hot water . In a clearing rinse , the pump is started and the water tank is emptied into the washing chamber, preferably within 6 seconds , by the pump . The washwater entering the washing chamber under pressure rinses loose dirt from the hospital containers and transports it via the water traps into the drain . During clearing steps , the air valves are open and permit the entry of replacement air into the chamber . This allows the washwater to flow freely into the open drain, as replacement air can enter the washing chamber and a negative pressure does not hold the water in the water trap .

[0078] Circulation water steps

[0079] In a second step of a normal programme after clearing, circulation water steps 224 are implemented . The hospital containers to be washed and the washing chamber are washed and rinsed by these circulation water steps . The circulation water steps are a circulation-water wash 226 and a circulation-water rinse 228 . At the beginning of each circulation water step, the water tank i s filled with water in accordance with the water intake step . When the water tank is full , the circulation valves are closed prior to the starting of the pump . This prevents air from entering the washing chamber so that the washing chamber is airtight . The washing chamber thereby acts like a pipette and prevents water from flowing into the open drain . The pump is started and sucks water out of the water trap, through the circulation duct and back into the water tank, and from there back into the pump . The washwater continues to circulate above the open drain . The water is circulated for the time set in the programme . These steps are identical with respect to the circulation water . In a circulation-water wash, detergent is preferably also supplied to the washing chamber by the detergent pump 80 visible in Figure 1 .

[0080] In the circulation water steps , the water in circulation can be heated as necessary by the heating means . Thi s heating can be controlled in steps by means of a temperature sensor arranged in the washing chamber . The temperature required in a programme step is set as the target temperature for the washing process . The duration of the circulation water step is calculated from the moment when the circulation water in the washing chamber has reached the temperature required for the step . Heating can take place in the following steps : in step 230 , the temperature of the water in the washing chamber is determined by a temperature sensor so as to generate a second measurement data ; in step 232 , the di f ference between the second measurement data and the target temperature is calculated; and, in cases where heating is needed, a required time of operation of the heating means is calculated in step 234 based on the di f ference . In step 236 , the water is preferably heated by a flow-through resistor 56 acting as the heating means 54 by supplying power to it . The flow-through resistor 56 is preferably arranged in the trans fer duct 28 after the pump 30 , as shown in Figure 1 . After heating, pumping can continue in step 237 until the end of the circulation water step .

[0081] With regard to the use of the heating means , it is alternatively also possible in some cases for the temperature of the circulation water to be raised by supplying more hot water to the water trap 20 via the auxiliary hot-water supply line 85 shown in Figure 1 , which raises the temperature of the circulating washing liquid to the target temperature . This is possible in cases where the target temperature is at least 5 ° C, preferably 10-20 ° C, lower than the temperature of the hot water available via the hot-water connection .

[0082] It is important for the circulation that no additional air should enter the washing chamber . I f there is an air leak in the washing chamber or the circulation valves are not working, the washwater will be able to flow into the drain even i f the pump is working normally . The operation of the circulation water step also requires an uninterrupted pump suction . I f the pump does not suck, the washwater will flow down the drain even i f the inlet of air has been prevented . Pump suction is disrupted by, among other things , foaming, items that have fallen onto the f loor of the washing chamber and into the water trap, or hospital containers that have not been placed properly in the machine . Filling the machine is consequently an important part of a success ful washing process . The washing chamber can include a basket structure 90 similar to the one shown in Figure 3 , in which the hospital containers to be washed are arranged in the same way as in a conventional dishwasher . Foaming is caused by the wrong type of detergent, an excessive amount of detergent , and chemicals that have spilled into the washing chamber . Foaming causes the pump to lose suction and the washwater to flow into the drain .

[0083] Disinfection :

[0084] Finally, a normal programme includes a disinfection step 238 . During disinfection, the temperature of the washing chamber and hospital containers is raised to a disinfection temperature . Normally, this temperature is over 90 ° C . At the beginning of the disinfection step, in step 240 , a steam generator starts to boil water to produce steam . The water in the steam generator can be heated with a 7 . 5 kW or 6 . 6 kW steam-generator resistor, depending on the model . A safety device is provided in the form o f an overheating protection, the sensor of which is located over the highest resistor . Heating is controlled by the washing-chamber temperature sensor . Produced steam is fed into the washing chamber in step 242 through a duct system, for example through the air duct and the trans fer duct . The operation of the steam generator is controlled in step 244 by the temperature sensor located in the washing chamber . Instead of a temperature control alone , it is also possible for the programme parameters to include other combinations of a temperature and a time interval to achieve the desired disinfection result .

[0085] It is important in the disinfection step that the steam can enter the chamber in an unobstructed manner . Most o f the steam enters the washing chamber via the following route : steam generator - water tank - air trap - washing chamber . In the circulation water steps , the water trap 20 shown in Figure 1 contains water, and it is advantageous to drain the water trap 20 at the start of the disinfection step so that steam is also able to enter the washing chamber 14 via the water trap 20 in an unobstructed manner . This operation is performed by means of a siphon . For siphoning, the water trap 20 preferably includes a thin stainless-steel pipe , into which a rubber tube of the siphon air duct 79 extends from the siphon valve 77 above . This stainless-steel pipe forms a siphon duct 68 between the water trap 20 and the lower second water trap 66 . When the siphon valve 77 is closed, air is prevented from entering the siphon duct 68 . The function of the siphon duct 68 is to drain the water trap 20 into the lower second water trap 66 . The software means closes the siphon valve 77 when the water in the washing chamber 14 is higher than the siphon duct 68 , so that a siphoning action is produced in the siphon duct 68 according to the laws of physics . The siphon empties the water trap 20 of water, so that steam can flow freely from the steam generator 42 through the water tank 26 and the water trap 20 into the washing chamber 14 . Steam additionally enters the washing chamber through the air ducts 62 via the open circulation valves 64 . It is not imperative to use a siphon for the disinfection step to work, but it improves the result and prevents dirty washwater from boiling in the water trap, which causes noise .

[0086] The device according to the invention preferably also includes a condenser 34 , which can be arranged on a rear or side wall of the washing chamber 14 . The purpose of the condenser is to condense the steam of the disinfection phase into water, so that when the washing chamber is opened to remove the clean hospital containers , large amounts of hot steam are not released towards the user . Cold water is also preferably conducted to the condenser 34 directly from the cold-water connection 32 through a condenser line 61 . The cold water binds the condensed water at the condenser 34 and transports it to the water trap 20 . The use of condensation water is not imperative .

[0087] The operating and control terminal of the device according to the invention can be implemented as an aggregate consisting of commercially available components which uses , for example , a control terminal unit from Beij er Oy to create the user interface and a programmable logic unit from Mitsubishi or Siemens GmbH to control the valves and actuators . The aforementioned computing unit and memory can be part of the programmable logic, wherein the memory contains the aforementioned software means and database .

[0088] In the context of this invention, it is understood that it is also possible to use a heating means for heating the washwater that does not form part of the invention, i . e . without the control of the cold and hot water intake based on a temperaturesensor measurement to achieve a target temperature , which control belongs to a device according to the invention . Such a rinsing and disinfecting device for hospital containers includes a washing chamber for hospital containers to be washed, which includes at least one washing noz zle arranged in the washing chamber for supplying washwater to the washing chamber, and a water trap arranged in the floor of the washing chamber for draining washwater from the washing chamber to a drain, and a water tank for washwater . In addition, the device includes a hot-water connection for drawing hot water from a water mains network into the water tank and a hot-water valve that controls an intake of water , a trans fer duct from the water tank to the washing chamber for washwater, a pump for trans ferring washwater from the water tank to the washing noz zle through the trans fer duct , a recirculation means for circulating washwater from the washing chamber to the water tank, and a steam generator for evaporating water to disinfect the hospital containers that have been washed with the washwater . What is novel about such a device is that the recirculation means include connected heating means arranged in the trans fer duct between the pump and the washing noz zle for heating the circulating washwater, where necessary, in order to achieve a target temperature of the washwater through this heating . The software means are preferably configured to control the operation of the heating means based on a measurement data generated by a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the washwater, so as to reach a target temperature .

[0089] In addition, the siphon system described in the foregoing can also be used independently from the invention in devices according to the prior art , i . e . without a control of the intake of cold and hot water based on a temperature-sensor measurement so as to reach a target temperature , which control belongs to a device according to the invention . Such a rinsing and disinfecting device for hospital containers includes a washing chamber for hospital containers to be washed, which includes at least one washing no z zle arranged in the washing chamber for supplying washwater to the washing chamber, a drain opening and a water trap arranged in the floor o f the washing chamber for draining washwater from the washing chamber to a drain, and a water tank for washwater . In addition, the device includes a hot-water connection for drawing hot water from a water mains network into the water tank and a hot-water valve that controls an intake of water , a trans fer duct from the water tank to the washing chamber for washwater, a pump for trans ferring washwater from the water tank to the washing noz zle through the trans fer duct , a recirculation means for circulating washwater from the washing chamber to the water tank, and a steam generator for evaporating water to disinfect the hospital containers that have been washed with the washwater . What is novel about such a device is that it also includes a second water trap, which is lower than the first water trap, and connected between them are a siphon duct and a siphon-duct siphon valve connected to a vertically higher point in the operating position of the device , as well as a control means that is configured to open the siphon valve during wash steps to allow the washwater to circulate , and to close the siphon valve to empty the water trap via the siphon duct after the wash steps and before the disinfection in order to form a passageway for steam from the water tank, through the water trap and into the washing chamber during disinfection .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A rinsing and disinfecting device (10) for hospital containers, which includes a washing chamber (14) for hospital containers to be washed, which includes at least one washing nozzle (16) arranged in the washing chamber (14) for supplying washwater to the washing chamber (14) , a water trap (20) arranged in the floor (22) of the washing chamber (14) for draining washwater from the washing chamber (14) into a drain (24) by the force of gravity, a water tank (26) for washwater, a cold-water connection (32) for drawing cold water from a water mains network into the water tank (26) and a cold- water valve (36) that controls an intake of water, a hot-water connection (38) for drawing hot water from the water mains network into the water tank (26) and a hot- water valve (40) that controls an intake of water, a transfer duct (28) from the water tank (26) to at least one washing nozzle (16) in the washing chamber (14) for washwater, a pump (30) for transferring washwater from the water tank (26) to the washing nozzle (16) via the transfer duct (28) , a recirculation means (12) for circulating washwater from the washing chamber (14) to the water tank (26) , and a steam generator (42) for evaporating water to disinfect the hospital containers that have been washed with the washwater, characterized in that the device (10) further includesa temperature sensor (44) arranged in the water tank (26) for measuring the temperature of the washwater and generating a temperature measurement data, software means (46) configured to control the intake of hot water by means of the hot-water valve (40) and the intake of cold water into the water tank (26) by means of the cold-water valve (36) based on the temperature measurement data so as to adjust the temperature of the washwater let into the water tank (26) to a target temperature or as close to it as possible, in such a manner that a deviation of the temperature of the washwater from the target temperature does not exceed ±10 °C, preferably does not exceed ±5 °C, and a heating means (54) arranged in the transfer duct (28) between the pump (30) and the washing nozzle (16) for heating the circulating washwater as necessary to achieve the target temperature of the washwater.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating means (54) is a flow-through resistor (56) .

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (10) includes a washing-chamber temperature sensor (45) arranged in the washing chamber (14) for determining the temperature of the circulating washwater as a second temperature measurement data, and the software means (46) is configured to control the heating means (54) to heat the circulating washwater based on the second temperature measurement data.

4. A device according to claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the device (10) further includes a memory (48) and a database (50) arranged in the memory (48) , which database (50) includes a plurality of different target washwater temperatures for different hospital containers, and the software means (46)is configured to use a selected target temperature to control the intake of water.

5. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the flow-through resistor (56) is 100-500 mm long and has an output of 3-10 kW, preferably 4-6 kW.

6. A device according to any of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the recirculation means (12) includes the water trap (20) , which includes a perforated bend element (58) formed in the water trap (20) , a closed container (52) formed around the bend element (58) , a circulation duct (60) connected to the closed container (52) for forming a flow duct between the water trap (20) and the water tank (26) , wherein the circulation duct (60) is configured to extend in part above the water trap (20) , an air duct (62) between the water tank (26) and the washing chamber (14) , and a circulation valve (64) arranged in the air duct (62) to prevent air circulation, which makes it possible for water to be sucked out the water trap (20) , through the circulation duct (60) and into the water tank (26) .

7. A device according to any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the water trap (20) forms a continuously open duct to the drain (24) .

8. A device according to any of claims 1 7, characterized in that the device (10) includes a second water trap (66) arranged in series with the water trap (20) after the water trap (20) in a direction of drainage of the washwater.

9. A device according to any of claims 1 - 8, characterized in that the device (10) includes a siphon system (88) for emptying the water trap (20) , which includes a siphon duct (68) arranged between the water trap (20) and the drain (24) , a siphon air duct (79) arranged at the highest point of the siphon duct (68) , and a siphon air valve (77) arranged in the air duct for enabling a siphoning action through the closing of the siphon air valve (77) .

10. A method for washing and disinfecting hospital containers, in which method hospital containers to be washed are placed in a washing chamber (14) , the hospital containers in the washing chamber (14) are rinsed, cold water is drawn via a cold-water connection (32) and hot water is drawn via a hot-water connection (38) from a water mains network (31) , the hospital containers in the washing chamber (14) are washed with the washwater, the washing liquid is drained from the washing chamber (14) via a water trap (20) , the rinsed hospital containers in the washing chamber (14) are disinfected with steam, and the disinfected hospital containers are removed from the washing chamber (14) , characterized in that, in the method, after rinsing the temperature of the water or washwater is measured by means of a temperature sensor (44) arranged in the water tank (26) in order to generate a temperature measurement data, the temperature measurement data and a target temperature are compared in order to detect a discrepancy, intake of cold and hot water via the cold-water connection (32) and hot-water connection (38) is adjusted usinga cold-water valve (36) and a hot-water valve (40) based on a difference detected by software means (46) in order to adjust the temperature of the washwater to the target temperature or as close to it as possible, in such a manner that a deviation of the temperature of the washwater from the target temperature does not exceed ±10 °C, preferably does not exceed ±5 °C, and the washwater is heated to the target temperature by a heating means (54) in cases where the target temperature cannot be achieved with the hot water supplied via the hot- water connection (38) .

11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the washwater is circulated from the water trap (20) to the water tank (26) .

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the water trap (20) is emptied into a drain (24) by means of a siphon system (88) utilising a siphoning action prior to the disinfection.

13. A method according to any of claims 10 - 12, characterized in that the temperature of the washwater in the washing chamber (14) is measured by a washing-chamber temperature sensor (45) as a second temperature measurement data, and the heating means (54) is controlled by the software means (46) to heat the circulating washwater to the target temperature based on the second temperature measurement data.

14. A method according to any of claims 10 - 13, characterized in that the water intake and the heating are carried out in the following steps, in which:A) the hot-water and cold-water valves are opened fully to draw water into the water tank (26) ,B) the temperature of the water in the water tank (26) is measured by means of a temperature sensor (44) to order to produce the temperature measurement data,C) the temperature measurement data is compared with a target temperature by the software means (46) , and, in cases where a discrepancy is detected o the hot-water valve (40) is closed if the measurement data is higher than the target temperature, or o the cold-water valve (36) is closed if the measurement data is lower than the target temperature,D) steps A) - C) are repeated provided that the maximum water level of the water tank (26) has not been reached, or the cold-water valve (36) and the hot-water valve (40) are closed when the maximum has been reached.

15. A method according to any of claims 1 - 14, characterized in that the target temperature of the washwater is 40-70 °C, preferably 50-60 °C.

Images