Sterilization apparatus and sterilization method
AssigneesCanon Marketing Japan Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Elquest, Elk Corporation
InventorsYasushi Hanada, Takashi Koyama
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Abstract
It is to provide a mechanism where a sterilization process using a concentrated sterilizing agent and a sterilization process using a sterilizing agent that has not been concentrated can be switched without changing the sterilization process. In the case where the concentrated mode is received by receiving means the transfer of the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber is controlled according to a first timing, and in the case where the non-concentrated mode is received by the receiving means, the transfer of the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber is controlled according to a second timing, wherein the first timing is different from the second timing.
Claims14
A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing target objects using a sterilizing agent which is transferred to a sterilization chamber after transferring to a concentration chamber, comprising:
- transfer means for transferring a sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber;
- receiving means for receiving selection of either a concentrated mode or a non-concentrated mode via an operation unit, the concentrated mode executing sterilization by using sterilizing agent concentrated in the concentration chamber, and the non-concentrated mode executing sterilization by using sterilizing agent not concentrated in the concentration chamber;
- and
- control means for controlling the transfer means so that the transfer means transfers the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber, wherein the control means is configured to:
- (i) in the case where the concentrated mode is received by the receiving means, control the transfer of the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber according to a first timing, and
- (ii) in the case where the non-concentrated mode is received by the receiving means, control the transfer of the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber according to a second timing,
- wherein the first timing is different from the second timing.
A sterilization method for a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing target objects using a sterilizing agent which is transferred to a sterilization chamber by a transfer means for transferring a sterilizing agent, after transfer of the sterilizing agent to a concentration chamber, the method comprising:
- receiving a selection of either a concentrated mode or a non-concentrated mode via an operation unit, the concentrated mode executing sterilization by using sterilizing agent concentrated in the concentration chamber and the non-concentrated mode executing sterilization by using sterilizing agent not concentrated in the concentration chamber;
- controlling the transfer means so that the transfer means transfers the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber, such that
- in the case where the concentrated mode is received, transferring the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber according to a first timing, and
- in the case where the non-concentrated mode is received, transferring the sterilizing agent to the concentration chamber according to a second timing,
- wherein the first timing is different than the second timing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.