Washing apparatus for a protection cover for an endoscope

A washing apparatus for washing a protection cover for use in an endoscope system including an endoscope having an insertion section insertable into a cavity under inspection and an operation section to which a proximal end of the insertion section is connected and a protection cover having an insertion section cover for covering said insertion section of the endoscope and an operation section cover for covering said operation section of the endoscope, said insertion section cover having an air supply conduit channel, a water supply conduit channel and a suction channel formed therein, said washing apparatus comprising:

• means for supporting said protection cover in such a posture that the distal end of the insertion section cover is directed toward the ground;
• means for containing a liquid into which said distal end of the insertion section cover is immersed;
• and
• means for automatically starting a washing operation, said washing operation being performed by supplying air through said air supply conduit channel, thereafter supplying water through said water supply conduit channel and thereafter sucking liquid through said suction channel,
• said means for automatically starting the washing operation comprising a switch provided in said supporting means for detecting a condition that the protection cover is operatively associated with said supporting means.