JP2001037851A - Device for and method of ozone sterilization - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the ozone permeability into an object to be sterilized, preventing ozone or bacteria from spreading to outside. SOLUTION: The upstream end and the downstream end of a circulation passage 10 communicate with a sterilization room A. A pump 20 is mounted in the circulation passage 10 and a tank 30 is mounted downstream from the pump 20 in the circulation passage 10. Air in the sterilization room A is sucked by the pump 20 and forced into the tank 30, to which ozone generated in an ozone generator 40 (the source of ozone) is also fed. An open/close damper D2 is mounted in the downstream part 10c of the circulation passage 10 extending from the tank 30 to the sterilization room A. The open/close damper D2 is closed when air is sucked from the sterilization room A and opened when the pressure in the sterilization room A reaches a prescribed negative pressure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ozone sterilizing apparatus and method used for sterilizing bed mats and clothes in a medical facility, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an ozone sterilizer described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-42275 discloses a sterilization chamber for accommodating an object to be sterilized such as a bed, and a circulation passage in which an upstream end and a downstream end are connected to the sterilization chamber. And a fan provided in the circulation passage. The fan circulates air between the sterilizing chamber and the circulation passage. An ozone source is connected to the circulation passage. This ozone source ozone is added to the circulating air and supplied to the sterilization chamber,
Sterilize the object to be sterilized.

[0003]

The conventional structure disclosed in the above-mentioned publication has a problem that ozone is prevented from penetrating by air inside a bed or the like to be sterilized, and it is difficult to sterilize the inside of the sterilized object. If the sterilization chamber is suctioned and evacuated by the vacuum pump, the air inside the sterilization target is also removed, and the ozone is easily permeated. However, in such a case, there is a possibility that the bacteria adhering to the sterilization target may be released to the outside world in the exhaust gas. If ozone is present in the sterilization chamber, this ozone is also released. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to increase the permeability of ozone by setting a sterilization chamber to a negative pressure without releasing bacteria or ozone to the outside.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an ozone sterilizing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises (a) a sterilizing chamber for accommodating an object to be sterilized, and (b) a negative pressure by sucking the sterilizing chamber. A pressure pump, (c) a tank for storing the air sucked by the pump, (d) an ozone source for supplying ozone to the sterilizing chamber in the negative pressure state, and (e) air in the tank. And a reflux means for returning the water to the sterilization chamber.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a circulation passage is provided in which an upstream end and a downstream end are respectively connected to the sterilization chamber, and the pump and the tank are arranged in this circulation passage in order from the upstream side. The recirculation means comprises a passage portion downstream of the tank in the circulation passage, and opening and closing means for opening and closing the downstream passage portion.

According to a third aspect, in the first and second aspects, the ozone source supplies ozone to the tank, and the air in the tank containing the ozone passes through the recirculation means. It is supplied to a sterilization chamber in a negative pressure state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ozone sterilizing method, in which a sterilizing chamber is sucked to make a negative pressure, ozone is added to the sucked air and stored in a tank. Is supplied to the sterilization chamber in the negative pressure state.

[0008] An ozone sterilizer according to a fifth aspect of the present invention comprises:
(B) first and second sterilization chambers for accommodating sterilization targets, and (b)
A first mode in which the first sterilization chamber is suctioned to make a negative pressure, and the suctioned air is pressure-fed to the second sterilization chamber, and the second sterilization chamber is suctioned to a negative pressure,
(C) a suction and pressure feeding mechanism for sequentially and repeatedly executing the second mode of pressure feeding the sucked air to the first sterilization chamber;
An ozone source that is connected to the suction / pressure feeding mechanism and supplies ozone to the sterilization chamber on the side where the air is pressure-fed, (d) a communication path connecting the first and second sterilization chambers, and (e) the communication path. An opening / closing means for closing the passage when the first and second modes are executed and opening the passage when the modes are switched is provided.

In a sixth aspect based on the fifth aspect, the suction / pressure feeding mechanism comprises: (a) a pump for suctioning and feeding air; (b) a suction passage and a pressure feeding passage extending from the pump. (C) first and second flow paths extending from the first and second sterilization chambers, respectively, and (d) connecting the first flow path and the suction path in the first mode, A second flow passage is connected to the pressure feeding passage. In the second mode, the second flow passage is connected to the suction passage, and the first flow passage is connected to the pressure feeding passage. Switching means, wherein the ozone source is connected to any one of the suction passage, the pressure feeding passage, and the first and second flow passages.

[0010] In an ozone sterilization method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, first and second sterilization chambers are prepared, the first sterilization chamber is suctioned to a negative pressure, and ozone is added to the sucked air. A first mode in which the pressure is fed to the second sterilization chamber by the
The sterilization chamber is suctioned to a negative pressure, ozone is added to the sucked air, and the second mode in which the air is pumped to the first sterilization chamber is sequentially and repeatedly executed.
An intermediate mode in which the first and second sterilization chambers communicate with each other to have the same pressure is interposed between the second modes.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an ozone sterilizer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This sterilization apparatus includes a sterilization chamber A and an apparatus main body B. Sterilization room A
May be an airtight space, for example, a room in a building such as a medical facility may be allocated, or may be formed of a flexible and transportable bag such as a vinyl sheet. When the sterilization room A is a room in the above building, the apparatus main body B is installed in another room separated from the room by a wall.

A circulation passage 10 is provided in the apparatus main body B, and a pump 20 is interposed in the circulation passage 10 and a tank 30 is interposed downstream thereof. The upstream end and the downstream end of the circulation passage 10
And is connected to the sterilization room A.

In the circulation passage 10, a bypass passage 11 that bypasses the upstream passage portion 10a is provided in a middle portion of the passage portion 10a upstream of the pump 20, and a decomposition catalyst 50 is accommodated in the bypass passage 11. ing. At two connection portions between the upstream passage portion 10a and the bypass passage 11, a bypass damper D1 (a bypass switching unit) is provided.
These detour dampers D1 include a detour position (indicated by a phantom line in the figure) for diverting the air flow to the detour passage 11, and a direct position (indicated by a solid line in the figure) for directing the upstream passage portion 10a without detour. It is rotatable between them.

In the circulation passage 10, a passage portion 10c downstream of the tank 30 is provided with the downstream passage portion 10c.
An opening / closing damper D2 (opening / closing means) for opening / closing is provided. The downstream passage portion 10c and the opening / closing damper D2 constitute "recirculation means" in the claims.

The apparatus body B further includes an ozone generator 40.
(Ozone source). The ozone generator 40
It is connected to an oxygen cylinder 41 and receives supply of oxygen as a raw material of ozone from the oxygen cylinder 41. The injection passage 42 extending from the ozone generator 40 is connected to the intermediate passage portion 10 b between the pump 20 and the tank 30 in the circulation passage 10.
It is connected to the.

The operation of the ozone sterilizer configured as described above will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. First, a sterilization target X such as a bed mat is accommodated in the sterilization room A, and the sterilization room A is sealed. In addition, the bypass damper D1 is located at the direct passage position, and the downstream passage portion 10c is closed by the opening / closing damper D2. Then, the pump 20 and the ozone generator 40 are driven (time t ₀ ).

When the pump 20 is driven, the inside of the sterilization chamber A is sucked and a negative pressure is generated. Thereby, the air inside the sterilization target X is also sucked out. The sucked air also contains some of the bacteria adhering to the sterilization target X and the sterilization chamber A. The air containing the bacteria passes through the upstream and intermediate passage portions 10a and 10b of the circulation passage 10 and passes through the tank 30.
It is stored under pressure. Therefore, no bacteria are released to the outside world.

Ozone generated by driving the ozone generator 40 is supplied to the intermediate passage portion 10b via the injection passage 42. As a result, ozone is stored in the tank 3
It is mixed with the air inside 0 and stored here. The bacteria in the air in the tank 30 are sterilized by the ozone.

When the sterilization chamber A reaches a predetermined negative pressure (time t)
₁ ) Open the open / close damper D2. Thereby, the tank 3
Pressurized air containing ozone within 0 is supplied to the sterilization chamber A in a negative pressure state at a stretch.

As described above, since the air originally inside the sterilization target X is removed by suction, the air supplied from the tank 30 to the sterilization chamber A not only touches the surface of the sterilization target X but also , Easily penetrates inside. The ozone contained in the supply air sterilizes not only the surface of the sterilization target X but also the inside thereof. In addition, since the supply air is supplied at a stretch, it is instantaneously spread from the downstream end of the circulation passage 10 to the entire sterilization chamber A. Therefore,
Ozone also instantaneously spreads evenly throughout the sterilization chamber A, and no concentration gradient of ozone is formed in the sterilization chamber A from a side closer to the downstream end of the circulation passage 10 to a side farther away. Thereby, the whole of the sterilization target X is uniformly sterilized. Further, ozone is accumulated in the tank 30 between the times t _{0 and} t ₁ and its concentration is increased, so that a strong sterilizing effect can be obtained.

The amount of air in the entire circulation path including the circulation passage 10, the tank 30, and the sterilization chamber A is increased by the amount of ozone added from the ozone generator 40.
However, this ozone amount is extremely small compared to the volume of the entire circulation path. Therefore, when the opening / closing damper D2 is opened, the internal pressure of the sterilization chamber A rises above the atmospheric pressure, but the rise is almost negligible.

Thereafter (time t ₂ ), the opening / closing damper D2 is closed again. As a result, the air in the sterilization chamber A is sucked again and is sent to the tank 30 under pressure. At this time, the ozone in the sterilizing chamber A is also sucked and stored in the tank 30. Therefore, ozone is not released to the outside world.

The tank 30 has an ozone generator 40.
The newly generated ozone is also stored, and the ozone concentration is further increased. Then, when the sterilizing chamber A reaches a predetermined negative pressure (time t ₃ ), the opening / closing damper D2 is opened again, and pressurized air containing high-concentration ozone in the tank 30 is supplied to the sterilizing chamber A. This results in a stronger sterilization. By repeating the suction of the sterilization chamber A and the supply of the pressurized air by the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing damper D2 a plurality of times, the sterilization target is almost completely sterilized.

Thereafter (time t ₄ ), while the drive of the pump 20 continues, the ozone generator 40 is stopped, and the bypass damper D1 is switched to the bypass position. Thereby, sterilization room A
The air containing ozone is guided to the bypass passage 11, and the ozone is decomposed by the decomposition catalyst 50. At this time, the opening / closing damper D2 is kept open. As a result, air is generated in the sterilizing chamber A.
And circulate between the passages 10 and 11 without being stored in the tank 30. After decomposition operation end of the ozone (time t _5), the pump 20 is stopped to take out the sterilized from sterilization chamber A.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In these other embodiments, configurations common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 3 shows an ozone sterilizer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This device includes a reciprocating passage 10 'instead of the circulation passage 10 of the first embodiment. The tank 30 is connected to an end of the reciprocating passage 10 '. The reciprocating passage 10 'is provided with a bypass passage 12 for bypassing the pump 20, and an on-off valve V0 is provided in the bypass passage 12.

The reciprocating passage 10 'is a suction passage for the sterilizing chamber A, and together with the bypass passage 12 and the on-off valve V0 constitutes a "recirculation means" in the claims. That is, by closing the on-off valve V0 and driving the pump 20, the air in the sterilization chamber A is recirculated to the reciprocating passage 1.
It is pumped to the tank 30 through 0 '. Further, ozone is supplied from the ozone generator 40 to the tank 30. And
When the sterilization chamber A reaches a predetermined negative pressure, the pump 20 is stopped and the on-off valve V0 is opened. Thereby, the air containing ozone in the tank 30 is returned to the sterilization chamber A through the reciprocating passage 10 ′ and the bypass passage 12.

After the sterilization operation of the sterilization target X is completed, the bypass damper D1 is positioned at the bypass position. Then, the air is reciprocated between the sterilization chamber A and the tank 30 via the reciprocating passage 10 'in the same manner as in the sterilization operation. This air is supplied to the bypass passage 1 both when the air is sent to the tank 30 and when the air returns to the sterilization chamber A.
One decomposition catalyst 50 is passed. Thereby, ozone in the air is decomposed.

FIG. 4 shows an ozone sterilizing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This device, first,
It has second sterilization chambers A1 and A2, and sterilization objects X1 and X2 are stored in the respective sterilization chambers A1 and A2. These sterilization rooms A
1 and A2 communicate with each other through a communication path 13. Communication passage 13
Is provided with an opening / closing damper D3 for opening and closing it.

A first flow passage 14 extends from the first sterilization chamber A1. Similarly, a second flow passage 15 extends from the second sterilization chamber A2. These flow passages 14 and 15 are connected to a switching valve V1 (switching means) provided in the apparatus main body B, respectively. On the other hand, the suction passage 16 extends from the suction port 20a of the pump 20, and the suction passage 1
7 is extended. These suction and pressure passages 16,
Reference numeral 17 is also connected to the switching valve V1. The switching valve V1 is switchable between a first position and a second position. As shown in FIG. 4A, at the first position,
The first flow path 14 and the suction path 16 are connected, and the second flow path 15 and the pressure-feeding path 17 are connected. As shown in FIG. 4B, in the second position, the first flow path 14
And the pressure feed passage 17 and the second flow passage 1
5 and the suction passage 16 are connected. Pump 20, passage 1
4 to 17 and the switching valve V <b> 1 constitute a “suction pressure feeding mechanism” in the claims.

The bypass passage 11 is provided in the suction passage 16. Further, the injection passage 42 of the ozone generator 40 is connected to the pressure feeding passage 17.

The operation of the ozone sterilizer according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. In advance, the bypass damper D1 is positioned at the direct position, and the opening / closing damper D3 is closed. The switching valve V1 is located at the first position as shown in FIG. This state (time t ₀ ′)
Then, the pump 20 and the ozone generator 40 are driven. Thereby, the air in the first sterilization chamber A1 is sucked by the pump 20 through the first flow passage 14 and the suction passage 16, and
The sterilization chamber A1 has a negative pressure. The air sucked by the pump 20 is pressure-fed to the second sterilization chamber A2 via the pressure feeding passage 17 and the second flow passage 15. Therefore, at this time, the second sterilization chamber A2 serves as the tank 30 in the first embodiment, and has a positive pressure. The first sterilization chamber A1 is set to a negative pressure,
The step of setting the second sterilization chamber A2 to a positive pressure is referred to as a first mode M1. The air sent to the second sterilization chamber A2 includes a pressure feed passage 1
The ozone added in 7 is included. With this ozone, the sterilization target X2 in the second sterilization chamber A2 is sterilized, and ozone is stored in the second sterilization chamber A2.

When the first sterilization chamber A1 has a predetermined negative pressure (time t ₁ ′), the opening / closing damper D3 is opened, and the first and second sterilization chambers A1 and A2 are communicated via the communication passage 13. Thereby, the pressurized air containing ozone in the second sterilization chamber A2 becomes
The first and second sterilization chambers A1 and A2 are supplied at a stretch to the first sterilization chamber A1 in a negative pressure state, and have the same pressure. This stage of making the pressure the same is called an intermediate mode M3. This intermediate mode M3
In the above, the ozone in the air supplied from the second sterilization chamber A2 to the first sterilization chamber A1 penetrates deeply into the sterilization target X1, and spreads evenly throughout the sterilization target X1, thereby performing the sterilization.

Thereafter (time t ₂ ′), as shown in FIG. 4B, the opening / closing damper D3 is closed again, and the switching valve V1 is switched to the second position. As a result, the second sterilizing chamber A2 is suctioned to a negative pressure, and the suctioned air flows through the second flow passage 15, the suction passage 16, the pressure feeding passage 17, and the first flow passage 14. After that, it is sent to the first sterilization chamber A1. Therefore, at this time, the first sterilization chamber A1
Plays a role of the tank 30 in the first embodiment, and becomes positive pressure. The first sterilization chamber A1 is set to a positive pressure, and the second
The stage in which the sterilization chamber A2 is set to a negative pressure is referred to as a second mode M2. In the second mode M2, ozone newly injected into the pressure feeding passage 17 is sent into the first sterilization chamber A1, and sterilization of the sterilization target X1 proceeds, and ozone is stored in the first sterilization chamber A1.

Thereafter (time t ₃ ′), the opening / closing damper D3 is opened again to execute the intermediate mode M3. by this,
The second sterilization chamber A2 in which the pressurized air in the first sterilization chamber A1 is in a negative pressure state
And the ozone contained in the supplied air sterilizes the sterilization target X2.

As described above, the first mode M1 and the second mode M2 are sequentially and repeatedly executed with the intermediate mode M3 interposed therebetween, whereby the first and second sterilization chambers A1,
Both the sterilization targets X1 and X2 of A2 are almost completely sterilized. In addition, since ozone is supplied to one of the sterilization chambers to sterilize it (intermediate mode M3 and the subsequent first mode M1 or second mode M2), the other sterilization chamber is set at a negative pressure. 1 during the time that sterilize the sterilized X in the embodiment (time t ₁ ~t ₂₎ can not sterilization chamber a negative pressure, compared to the need is to wait, is possible to shorten the sterilizing time it can.

After the sterilization operation is completed (time t ₄ ′), the ozone generator 40 is stopped, and the bypass damper D1 is positioned at the bypass position. The opening / closing damper D3 is kept open. The switching valve V1 is
The first position or the second position may be used. When the switching valve V1 is located at the first position, the air flows through the first sterilizing chamber A1, the first flow passage 14, the suction passage 16, the pressure feeding passage 17, the second flow passage 15, and the second sterilizing chamber A2. , The communication path 13 and the first sterilization chamber A1. When the air passes through the suction passage 16, it is guided to the bypass passage 11, and the decomposition catalyst 50 decomposes ozone. Similarly, the switching valve V2 is set to the second
When it is located at the position, the air flows into the second sterilization chamber A2, the second
It circulates in the order of the flow path 15, the suction path 16, the pressure feeding path 17, the first flow path 14, the first sterilization chamber A1, the communication path 13, and the second sterilization chamber A2. Ozone is decomposed by the catalyst 50. After the ozonolysis (time t ₅ ′), the pump 20 is stopped, and the sterilization targets X1 and X2 are taken out from the first and second sterilization chambers A1 and A2.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, ozone may be directly supplied from the ozone generator 40 to the sterilization chambers A, A1, and A2. In the third embodiment, the water may be directly supplied to the sterilization chambers A1 and A2 in a negative pressure state. In the first and second embodiments, ozone may be directly supplied to the tank 30. In the first and third embodiments, the pump 20 may be stopped when the opening / closing dampers D1, D3 are opened. In that case, a check valve is provided in the intermediate passage portion 10c to prevent the backflow from the tank 30. In addition, a check valve is provided in the pressure-feeding passage 17 or the like to prevent backflow from the sterilizing chambers A1 and A2 in a pressurized state. When opening the opening / closing damper D3 in the third embodiment,
The first and second positions of the switching valve V1 may be switched. In the third embodiment, three or more sterilization chambers are provided,
These sterilization chambers may be divided into two groups, and one group may be set to a negative pressure and the other may be set to a positive pressure for each group.
The sterilization rooms forming the group may be changed for each mode.

[0038]

As described above, in the first invention,
Ozone and bacteria can be prevented from leaking to the outside, and the penetration of ozone into the sterilization target can be increased. In the second invention, the air can be circulated between the sterilizing chamber and the circulation passage. In the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the tank can be sterilized by supplying ozone to the tank. Further, by supplying the air containing ozone from the tank to the sterilizing chamber at a stretch, it is possible to prevent a concentration gradient of ozone from being formed in the sterilizing chamber, and to uniformly sterilize the entire sterilization target. Further, even if the ozone source has a small ozone generating capacity per unit time, ozone can be stored in the tank during the time of sucking the sterilizing chamber, the concentration can be increased, and a strong sterilizing effect can be obtained.
In the fifth and seventh inventions, since air sucked from the other is stored in one of the first and second sterilization chambers, there is no need to provide a separate tank. In addition, since one of the sterilization chambers is sterilized while the other is set at a negative pressure, the sterilization time can be reduced. Further, it is possible to surely sterilize the whole of the inside of the object to be sterilized evenly. In the sixth aspect, the mode can be easily switched by the switching means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ozone sterilizing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of the above device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ozone sterilizing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 (a) is a schematic configuration diagram showing an ozone sterilization apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a state where a first mode is executed. (B) It is a schematic block diagram which shows the apparatus which concerns on the said 3rd Embodiment in the state at the time of 2nd mode execution.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the device according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A sterilization room A1 first sterilization room A2 second sterilization room D2 opening / closing damper (opening / closing means) D3 opening / closing damper (opening / closing means) M1 first mode M2 second mode M3 intermediate mode V1 switching valve (switching means) X, X1, X2 Sterilization target 10 Circulation passage 10c Downstream passage 13 Communication passage 14 First flow passage 15 Second flow passage 16 Suction passage 17 Pressure passage 20 Pump 30 Tank 40 Ozone generator (ozone source)

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) a sterilization chamber for accommodating a sterilization target;
(B) a pump that sucks the inside of the sterilization chamber to make a negative pressure;
(C) a tank for storing the air sucked by the pump, (d) an ozone source for supplying ozone to the sterilizing chamber under the negative pressure, and (e) returning the air in the tank to the sterilizing chamber. An ozone sterilizer comprising a reflux means. 2. A circulating passage having an upstream end and a downstream end connected to the sterilizing chamber, respectively, wherein the pump and the tank are arranged in this circulating passage in order from the upstream side, and the reflux means comprises:
2. The ozone sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the circulation passage includes a passage portion downstream of the tank and opening / closing means for opening / closing the downstream passage portion. 3. The ozone source supplies ozone to the tank, and air in the tank containing the ozone is supplied to the sterilization chamber under the negative pressure through the reflux means. The ozone sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A sterilizing chamber is suctioned to make a negative pressure, ozone is added to the sucked air and stored in a tank, and then the air containing ozone in the tank is transferred to the sterilizing chamber in the negative pressure state. An ozone sterilization method characterized by supplying. 5. A first and second sterilization chambers for accommodating an object to be sterilized, and (b) a negative pressure by suctioning the first sterilization chamber, and using the sucked air in the second sterilization chamber. And a second mode for sequentially and repeatedly executing a first mode of pressure feeding to the second sterilization chamber and a second mode of suctioning the sucked air to the first sterilization chamber while reducing the pressure to a negative pressure. (C) an ozone source that is connected to the suction and pressure feeding mechanism and supplies ozone to a sterilization chamber on the side where the air is pressure-fed;
(D) a communication passage connecting the first and second sterilization chambers;
(E) An ozone sterilizer comprising: an opening / closing means for closing the communication path when the first and second modes are executed and opening the communication path when the modes are switched. 6. The suction / pressure feeding mechanism includes: (a) a pump for suctioning and feeding air; (b) a suction passage and a pressure feeding passage extending from the pump; and (c) the first and second pumps. (D) in the first mode, connecting the first flow passage and the suction passage, and connecting the first flow passage and the suction passage with each other. Switching means for connecting the second flow path and the suction path and connecting the first flow path and the pressure-feeding path in the second mode. The ozone sterilizing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a device is connected to one of the suction passage, the pressure feeding passage, and the first and second flow passages. 7. A first and a second sterilization chamber are prepared, and the first sterilization chamber is sucked to make a negative pressure, and ozone is added to the sucked air to be fed to the second sterilization chamber. The first mode and the second mode in which the second sterilizing chamber is suctioned to make it negative pressure, ozone is added to the suctioned air, and the second sterilizing chamber is pressure-fed to the first sterilizing chamber are sequentially and repeatedly executed. An ozone sterilization method, characterized in that an intermediate mode is provided between the first and second modes to make the first and second sterilization chambers communicate with each other to have the same pressure.