Sterilizing apparatus having automatically actuated door
AssigneeMidmark Corporation
InventorJeffrey P. Brucker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sterilizer is disclosed which includes control circuitry for automatically controlling a plurality of sterilization cycles. The control circuitry operates to control actuation of a door opening mechanism whereby a door of the sterilizer may be automatically opened a small amount at the conclusion of a sterilization cycle whereby the sterilizer may initiate a drying portion of the cycle without the assistance of an operator. In addition, a baffled water reservoir is provided such that a water filling area of the reservoir is separated from a steam recovery area of the reservoir to thereby provide efficient recovery of steam at the conclusion of a sterilization cycle.
Claims26
A sterilizing apparatus in which articles can be sterilized in a steam environment at preselected temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
- a sterilizing chamber having means defining an opening in said chamber;
- a door mounted for movement relative to said chamber between a closed position wherein said door is in sealing contact with said chamber opening and a fully open position wherein articles may be inserted into said chamber;
- control means for controlling a sterilization process;
- and
- latch and catch means mounted to said door and said chamber for movement relative to each other;
- said latch means cooperating with a first surface on said catch means to hold said door in a first stop position with said door in sealing contact with said chamber opening and said latch means cooperating with said catch means to hold said door in a second stop position spaced from said chamber opening and intermediate said fully open and closed positions of said door wherein said latch means engages a second surface on said catch means to prevent said door from moving to said fully open positions wherein said control means causes said door to be automatically released from said first stop position to said second stop position at the conclusion of said sterilization process.
A sterilizing apparatus in which articles can be sterilized in a steam environment at preselected temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
- a sterilizing chamber having means defining an opening in said chamber;
- a door mounted for engagement with said means defining said chamber opening whereby said door forms an airtight seal over said chamber opening when so engaged, said door being movable away from said opening;
- means for holding said door in engagement with said means defining said chamber opening during a sterilization process, wherein said means for holding said door includes latch and catch means, said latch means being mounted to said door and said catch means being mounted to said chamber and including first and second stop means, said latch means engaging said first stop means to hold said door in engagement with said means defining said opening in said chamber and said latch means engaging said second stop means to limit the opening of said door upon release of said latch means from said first stop means;
- means for supplying said chamber with steam including a reservoir for containing water, said reservoir having a baffle separating said reservoir into a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion including a fill spout for filling said reservoir with water and said rear portion forming a condensing cell for receiving and condensing steam from said chamber;
- control means for controlling a sterilization process, and
- release means for releasing said latch means from said first stop means and for causing said means for holding said door to release said door from said chamber opening in response to a signal from said control means at the termination of a sterilization process whereby said door moves away from said chamber opening and gas within said chamber is expelled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.