JP2009153862A - Endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus responding to models of endoscopes, automatically attached/detached with respect to a channel, washing and disinfecting by supplying liquid such as cleaning liquid and antiseptic solution and automatically brushing and cleaning within the channel. <P>SOLUTION: This endoscope 101 washing and disinfecting apparatus 1 is provided with: an apparatus body 2 equipped with a washing bath 4 in which an endoscope is mounted; a nozzle unit 70 provided so as to face a connector portion 104 of an endoscope conduit provided in the endoscope mounted in the washing bath, to which fluid within the apparatus body is supplied so that the nozzle unit advances by the pressure of the fluid, and which supplies the fluid to inside the endoscope conduit by connecting to the connector portion; and an automatic brush mechanism 80 that is provided in the apparatus main body and that carries out brushing and cleaning within the endoscope conduit by introducing a cleaning brush into the endoscope conduit through the nozzle unit and moving the cleaning brush 81 forward and rearward. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting an endoscope, and in particular, endoscope cleaning in which a nozzle for supplying a fluid to an endoscope channel is automatically attached to and detached from a connector portion of the channel. It relates to a disinfection device.

  In recent years, endoscopes are widely used in the medical field and the industrial field. Endoscopes used in the medical field include various types of treatment tools that are used to observe organs in a body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, or inserted into an insertion channel of a treatment tool as necessary. Can be treated.

  In particular, an endoscope in the medical field is used by being inserted into a body cavity for the purpose of examination and treatment, and therefore it is necessary to clean and disinfect the endoscope. When the endoscope is cleaned and disinfected, an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus is used. The endoscope is set in a cleaning tank of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus, and is cleaned, disinfected, rinsed, and drained.

  In addition, the endoscope has a plurality of pipes such as an air / water supply pipe and a forceps port. It is necessary that the cleaning liquid and the disinfecting liquid sufficiently pass through these pipe lines, that is, the channels, and that the cleaning and disinfection are surely performed.

As an instrument for cleaning the inside of the endoscope channel as described above, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning auxiliary tool capable of selectively introducing a cleaning brush into a plurality of ducts of an endoscope. Patent Document 2 discloses a coupler that can easily attach a tubular member for guiding a cleaning brush or the like into a channel to an endoscope.
JP 2002-200031 A JP 2006-55325 A

  However, in the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a user must manually attach a cleaning aid or a coupler to a base that forms an opening of each channel of an endoscope. Therefore, the user must check whether the cleaning aid or the coupler is securely and accurately connected to the endoscope.

  Further, each channel of the used endoscope has to be brushed and cleaned by a cleaning brush in terms of hygiene, and there is a problem that the user is forced to perform very complicated work.

  Furthermore, some endoscopes have different configurations in which the number of channels to be arranged and the arrangement positions of the bases of these channels are different depending on the model. Therefore, in particular, the coupler disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that a corresponding one must be prepared for each endoscope model.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is automatically attached to and detached from a channel corresponding to an endoscope model, and supplied with a liquid such as a cleaning liquid or a disinfecting liquid. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus capable of automatically brushing and cleaning the inside of a channel.

  In order to achieve the above object, an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention is disposed in an apparatus main body having a cleaning tank in which an endoscope is installed, and the endoscope installed in the cleaning tank. The endoscope conduit is provided so as to face the connector portion of the endoscope conduit, is supplied with a fluid in the apparatus main body, is advanced by the pressure of the fluid, and is connected to the connector portion. A nozzle unit that supplies the fluid into the endoscope body, and the endoscope tube that is disposed in the apparatus main body and that is moved forward and backward through the nozzle unit by introducing a cleaning brush into the endoscope pipeline. And an automatic brush mechanism for brushing and cleaning the inside of the road.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically attach and detach to / from a channel corresponding to an endoscope model, supply a liquid such as a cleaning liquid and a disinfecting liquid, and perform cleaning / disinfecting, and also automatically clean the inside of the channel by brushing. An endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus that can be realized can be realized.

  Hereinafter, an endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  1 to 10 relate to a first embodiment of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a configuration of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the pipe connection unit, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the pipe connection unit of FIG. 3 as viewed from the direction of the arrow IV, and FIG. 5 is housed in the rotating cylinder. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a rotational position detection switch for detecting the rotational position of the rotating cylinder, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pipe connection unit disposed in the cleaning tank. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 8 is a view showing the movement position of the pipe connection body of the nozzle unit by the rotation of the rotary cylinder, and FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the operation of the pipe connection unit when the endoscope has two channel connector portions. Fig. 10 shows when the endoscope has one channel connector. It is a diagram for explaining the operation of the road-connection unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 includes an apparatus body 2 that has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and a top cover 3 that covers the upper surface of the apparatus body 2. A top cover 3 as a cleaning tank cover is attached to the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown).

  A cleaning / disinfecting tank (hereinafter abbreviated as “cleaning tank”) 4 capable of storing the endoscope 101 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. The endoscope 101 housed in the cleaning tank 4 is cleaned and disinfected in accordance with a predetermined cleaning / disinfecting process in a state where the top cover 3 is closed so as to cover the cleaning tank 4 of the apparatus main body 2. In addition, the front of the apparatus main body 2 has an operation panel 8 that can set and instruct start, stop, various functions, and the like, and has various display functions.

  The endoscope 101 includes a flexible insertion portion 102 and an operation portion 103. The insertion unit 102 is provided with a channel (not shown) that is an endoscope duct. This channel is an endoscope channel for inserting a treatment instrument or the like, or performing suction, air supply, water supply, or the like.

  The insertion portion 102 is bent and stored in the cleaning tank 4. Specifically, the operation unit 103 is positioned and set between a plurality of pins 4 a provided in the cleaning tank 4. On the wall surface of the cleaning tank 4 in the vicinity of the operation unit 103 positioned and stored, the pipe connection unit 5 is provided in the apparatus main body 2 so as to be exposed. Note that a plurality of pins for positioning the insertion portion 102 in a predetermined shape may be provided in the cleaning tank 4.

  The pipe connection unit 5 has a mechanism for automatically connecting a connection pipe to which a cleaning liquid or the like is supplied to a channel port of the endoscope 101. A channel connector, which will be described later, is provided with a channel connector portion, and is an opening portion of various channels of the endoscope 101 provided in the operation unit 103. A fluid such as a cleaning liquid is supplied to a later-described nozzle connected to the channel connector portion, and a later-described cleaning brush advances and retreats. The configuration of the pipe connection unit 5 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 6 are attached to the bottom surface portion of the cleaning tank 4 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. These ultrasonic transducers 6 are vibration generating means for applying ultrasonic vibrations to the liquid being cleaned and disinfected of the endoscope 101. In the cleaning tank 4, a cleaning case 7 for inserting various buttons attached to and detached from the endoscope 101 is provided in a substantially central region where the endoscope 101 is not disposed. A heater 9 for heating the liquid in the cleaning tank 4 is provided on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 4.

  Inside the apparatus main body 2, a detergent tank 11 for storing liquid detergent, a disinfecting liquid tank 12 for storing a disinfecting liquid diluted to a predetermined concentration, an alcohol tank 13 for storing alcohol, and tap water supplied from a tap 110. A water filter 14 and an air filter 15 are disposed. The disinfectant tank 12 is fixed in the apparatus main body 2, and the detergent tank 11, the alcohol tank 13, the water filter 14, and the air filter 15 are placed on the trays 11a and 13a to 15a, respectively.

  Each of the trays 11a, 13a to 15a can be drawn forward by opening a front door (not shown) of the apparatus main body 2, and can be replenished with a predetermined liquid or exchange parts. The water tap 110 is also communicated with a water supply line disinfecting connector 6A provided on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 4 via a check valve 6a.

  On the other hand, since the disinfectant tank 12 is fixed in the apparatus main body 2, the refill of the disinfectant liquid into the disinfectant tank 12 is performed by opening the front door of the apparatus main body 2 and fixing the bottle inside the apparatus. This is done by connecting a disinfectant bottle 17 filled with a disinfectant to the connector 16. At that time, the tap water filtered by the water filter 14 is supplied to the disinfectant tank 12 through the dilution valve 18. Tap water from the tap 110 is fed into the water filter 14 by opening a valve inside the water supply valve 14A. Accordingly, the disinfecting liquid tank 12 stores the disinfecting liquid diluted to a predetermined concentration. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the trays 11a and 13a to 15a are pulled out.

  Further, a detergent nozzle 22, a disinfectant liquid nozzle 23, and a water supply / circulation nozzle 24 are disposed at the corner portion on the upper edge side of the cleaning tank 4. The detergent nozzle 22 is communicated with the detergent tank 11 via a detergent pump 27, and the disinfecting liquid nozzle 23 is communicated with the disinfecting liquid tank 12 via a chemical liquid pump 28. Further, the water supply / circulation nozzle 24 is selectively communicated with the water filter 14 and the fluid pump 30 through a three-way switching valve 29. In a state where the water supply / circulation nozzle 24 is connected to the water filter 14 side via the three-way switching valve 29, tap water filtered by the water filter 14 is discharged from the water supply / circulation nozzle 24.

  On the other hand, in a state where the water supply / circulation nozzle 24 is connected to the fluid pump 30 via the three-way switching valve 29, the water supply / circulation nozzle 24 is stored in the cleaning tank 4 taken from the circulation port 21 provided on the outer peripheral wall surface of the housing recess. Washing water or disinfecting water is discharged and circulated. Although not shown in FIG. 2, a high-pressure nozzle is connected between the water supply / circulation nozzle 24 and the three-way switching valve 29 via a high-pressure pump, and the same liquid as the water supply / circulation nozzle 24 is also connected from this high-pressure nozzle. (Tap water, washing water, etc.) are ejected by high pressure.

  Due to the liquid discharged from the high pressure nozzle and the water supply / circulation nozzle 24, a water flow is generated in the housing recess of the cleaning tank 4, and the outer surface of the endoscope 101 is cleaned and rinsed by this water flow. Further, a drain port (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface of the housing recess of the cleaning tank 4.

  In addition, the circulation port 21 communicates with a CH (channel) block 31 that is a four-way switching valve, and a CH (channel) pump 32 and cleaning water or disinfecting water are supplied to this communication path in order from the circulation port 21. A check valve 33 for preventing the pump 32 from flowing is provided. By driving the CH pump 32, the cleaning water or the disinfecting water stored in the housing recess is supplied to the CH block 31 side. The CH block 31 communicates with the air filter 15 via an air check valve 35. The air check valve 35 is configured so that liquid (tap water, washing water, disinfecting water) does not flow to the air filter 15 side. The air filter 15 communicates with the compressor 34, and compressed air from the compressor 34 is discharged to the CH block 31 side through the air filter 15.

  Further, the CH block 31 communicates with the alcohol tank 13, and an alcohol pump 13A and an alcohol valve 36 are provided in the middle of the CH block 31 from the alcohol tank 13 side. The alcohol in the alcohol tank 13 is supplied to the CH block 31 via the alcohol valve 36 by the alcohol pump 13A.

  The liquid (tap water, cleaning water, disinfecting water) supplied to the CH block 31 described above is provided on the side wall of the cleaning tank 4 via the CH block 31 and the CH (channel) valve 38 for each cleaning / disinfecting process. Sent to the pipe connection unit 5. Further, the air from the compressor 34 can also be supplied to the pipe line connecting unit 5 through the pressurizing valve 40.

  A drain port 42 is disposed on the bottom surface of the housing recess of the cleaning tank 4, and a switching valve 43 is provided at the drain port. The switching valve 43 communicates with the disinfecting liquid tank 12 and returns the disinfecting liquid stored in the housing recess of the cleaning tank 4 to the disinfecting liquid tank 12 by selectively switching the valve. Further, the switching valve 43 communicates with the external drain port 112 through the drain pipe 44a in order to discharge cleaning water, rinsing water, and the like to the outside. In the middle of the switching valve 43 and the drain pipe 44a, a drain pump 44 is provided for sucking the washing water, rinsing water and the like stored in the recess of the washing tank 4 of the washing tank 4 and sending them to the outside. The drain port 42 of the cleaning tank 4 communicates with the CH block 31 and a bypass valve 45 is provided in the middle thereof.

The disinfecting liquid stored in the disinfecting liquid tank 12 and diluted to a predetermined concentration is replaced every predetermined number of times of the disinfecting process. When the disinfecting liquid is replaced, the disinfecting liquid tank 12 communicates with the disinfecting liquid drain port 48, and the disinfecting liquid is discharged from the disinfecting liquid drain port 48 to the outside.
In addition, the various pumps, various valves, various devices, and the like described above are controlled for each process by the control unit 46 provided inside the apparatus main body 2. The control unit 46 as a control unit is supplied with power from an external outlet 111 via an electric cable via a power supply device 47.

Next, the configuration of the pipe connection unit 5 provided in the apparatus main body 2 so that the distal end portion is exposed in the cleaning tank 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the pipe connection unit 5 includes a rotating cylinder 50 that is a rotating member in which a nozzle unit 70 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, which is a cleaning nozzle, is housed so as to freely advance and retract, and the rotating cylinder 50 includes And a frame body 60 rotatably accommodated. An automatic brush mechanism 80 is connected to the pipe line connecting unit 5.

  The rotating cylinder 50 is mainly composed of a nozzle accommodating portion 51 that accommodates the nozzle unit 70 in a position eccentric from the center, a rotational position detecting portion 52, and a rotation supporting portion 53 in order from the tip. . Each component constituting the rotary cylinder 50 has an outer cylindrical shape integrally formed so as to have the same central axis O.

  Further, the rotating cylinder 50 has a spur gear-shaped worm wheel 54 on the outer peripheral portion between the rotation position detection unit 52 and the rotation support unit 53.

  The frame 60 includes a distal end frame 61 that rotatably supports and accommodates the nozzle accommodating portion 51, and a proximal end frame that is fitted and fixed behind the distal end frame 61 and accommodates the rotational position detecting portion 52 and the worm wheel 54. 62. In addition, a tube connecting portion 63 that is connected to the fluid supply tube 83 and rotatably supports and accommodates the rotation support portion 53 of the rotary cylinder 50 extends from the rear end of the base end frame 62.

  The fluid supply tube 83 is connected to the automatic brush mechanism 80. Further, the automatic brush mechanism 80 is connected to a conduit that supplies the fluid sent via the CH (channel) valve 38 and the pressurizing valve 40 to the conduit connection unit 5 shown in FIG.

  The base end frame 62 is engaged with the worm wheel 54 and has a worm gear 58 provided with a worm gear 58 having a rotation axis that does not intersect with the rotation axis of the worm wheel 54 (the central axis O of the rotary cylinder 50). A rotational position detection switch 59 such as a limit switch is disposed at a position along the outer peripheral surface of the rotational position detection unit 52.

  In other words, the rotation force of the motor 57 is transmitted to the worm wheel 54 via the worm gear 58 and rotates around the central axis O, as shown in FIG. The configuration is detected. Further, the central axis O of the rotary cylinder 50 becomes a rotation axis. Further, the rotating cylinder 50 is rotatably held so that the front surface portion of the nozzle accommodating portion 51 is exposed at the opening portion of the distal end frame 61.

  In the automatic brush mechanism 80, a replaceable cassette type cleaning brush 81 is wound and accommodated. The cleaning brush 81 is provided with a brush portion 82 at the tip, and is moved forward and backward by a forward / backward device configured by a roller, a motor, etc. (not shown) provided in the automatic brush mechanism 80, and is moved relative to the automatic brush mechanism 80. Is derived.

  The cleaning brush 81 derived from the automatic brush mechanism 80 is inserted into the nozzle unit 70 and advances and retracts in the channel of the endoscope 101 to perform brushing cleaning. Since the automatic brush mechanism 80 has a configuration that has been conventionally used, a detailed description of the configuration and operation is omitted.

Next, based on FIG. 5, the structure of the nozzle unit 70 accommodated in the nozzle accommodating part 51 is demonstrated in detail.
The nozzle unit 70 is mainly configured by a pipe connection body 71, a base 72, a spring 73, a first nozzle pipe 74, and a second nozzle pipe 75.

  The pipe connection body 71 is a non-metallic part such as a synthetic resin, and has a substantially cylindrical shape in which a so-called bowl-shaped tapered surface 71a is formed on the front surface. In the center of the pipe connection body 71, a pipe through hole is provided in the axial direction. A packing 76 formed of a substantially cylindrical elastic member is provided in the pipe through-hole so as to protrude on the front side of the pipe connection body 71.

  The base 72 has a substantially annular shape, and has a recess 72 a for accommodating the pipe connection body 71 at the front surface portion. In the recess 72a, a plurality of groove portions 72b for allowing the liquid to flow out are formed toward the outer periphery. Further, the base 72 comes into contact with the tip of the spring 73 when the nozzle unit 70 is assembled.

  The first nozzle tube 74 is a metal tube, and a distal end of the first nozzle tube 74 is brought into contact with a proximal end surface of the pipe connection body 71 and a proximal end portion of the spring 73 is brought into contact with the proximal end of the first nozzle tube 74. And a flange 74b. That is, in the nozzle unit 70, the first nozzle pipe 74 is inserted in the order of the spring 73 and the base 72, and the screw portion 74a and the pipe connection body 71 are screwed together.

  A metal second nozzle tube 75 is screwed to the base end of the first nozzle tube 74. A proximal end of the second nozzle pipe 75 has a resistor 75a having a substantially cylindrical outer diameter for receiving the fluid pressure flowing inside the nozzle accommodating portion 51. The resistor 75a is formed with a circumferential groove along the outer periphery, and an O-ring 75b is provided in the circumferential groove. The detailed configuration of the resistor 75a will be described later.

  The nozzle unit 70 configured in this way is inserted and arranged in a nozzle insertion hole 51 a formed in the nozzle housing 51. The base 72 of the nozzle unit 70 is fixed by bonding or the like to a hole opening at the tip surface of the nozzle housing portion 51.

  The nozzle insertion hole portion 51 a is formed at a position eccentric to the outer peripheral side with respect to the center of the nozzle housing portion 51, and has a hole diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter (diameter) of the resistor 75 a of the second nozzle tube 75. have.

Next, a configuration in which the rotational position of the rotary cylinder 50 around the central axis O is detected by the rotational position detection switch 59 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the rotational position detection switch 59 includes three limit switches 59a to 59c. And the rotation position detection part 52 of the rotation cylinder 50 has the some detection recessed part 52a formed in the outer peripheral part. By detecting the three limit switches 59a to 59c by the combination of the detection recesses 52a, the rotational position around the central axis O of the rotary cylinder 50 is detected.

  More specifically, the three limit switches 59a to 59c have switch terminal portions 59A to 59C that are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotational position detector 52, respectively. On the outer peripheral surface of the rotational position detection unit 52 with which the switch terminal portions 59A to 59C come into contact, there are formed detection recesses 52a combined with one to three in which the switch terminal portions 59A to 59C are engaged.

  That is, the rotational position detection switch 59 has a central axis O of the rotary cylinder 50 by a combination of binary systems by ON / OFF in which the switch terminal portions 59A to 59C of the three limit switches 59a to 59c are engaged in the detection recess 52a. Detect the rotation position around. The rotational position of the rotary cylinder 50 is set to three rotational positions described later. The rotational position of the rotary cylinder 50 can be set to a maximum of seven rotation stop positions by the three limit switches 59a to 59c and the plurality of detection recesses 52a.

  In addition, the movement stop position of the nozzle unit 70 provided in the rotary cylinder 50 is detected by the three limit switches 59a to 59c constituting the rotational position detection switch 59 and the rotational position detector 52 formed with the detection recess 52a. The detection unit is configured.

  Further, the rotational position detection switch 59 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 46 which is the control unit shown in FIG. Based on this detection signal, the control unit 46 stops driving the motor 57 and controls the rotation of the rotary cylinder 50 around the central axis O.

  In the present embodiment, the central axis of the rotary cylinder 50 is detected by detecting the detection recesses 52a combined with one to three of the outer peripheral surfaces of the rotational position detection unit 52 with the three limit switches 59a to 59c. Although the rotation position around the O is detected, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rotation position around the central axis O of the rotary cylinder 50 is detected by various detection devices such as an optical sensor. Alternatively, the rotation position of the rotary cylinder 50 around the central axis O may be detected and controlled based on the number of rotations of the motor 57.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the pipe connection unit 5 configured and assembled as described above is configured so that the front end frame 61 of the frame body 60 has a cleaning tank so that the front surface of the nozzle accommodating portion 51 of the rotary cylinder 50 is exposed. 4 is fixed at a predetermined position of the wall portion. An airtight holding member such as packing is preferably provided between the pipe connection unit 5 and the wall of the cleaning tank 4 so that the fluid in the cleaning tank 4 does not flow into the apparatus. Further, an O-ring 51 b is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the nozzle housing portion 51 so as to be slidably in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end frame 61 of the frame body 60 and keep watertight.

  The position where the pipe connection unit 5 is installed in the cleaning tank 4 is a pipe that forms the opening of the endoscope channel in a state where the operation unit 103 of the endoscope 101 is positioned by the pin 4a of the cleaning tank 4. This is a position where the front surface portion of the nozzle accommodating portion 51 faces the channel connector portion 104 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) which is a connector portion.

  The resistor 75 a provided at the base end of the second nozzle pipe 75 of the pipe connection unit 5 has an outer diameter substantially the same as the nozzle insertion hole 51 a formed in the nozzle accommodating part 51 of the rotary cylinder 50. is doing. That is, the second nozzle tube 75 is slidable in an airtight state with respect to the nozzle insertion hole 51a by the O-ring 75b provided in the resistor 75a and the outer peripheral surface of the second nozzle tube 75 itself.

  In addition, the resistor 75a has a concave portion 75c in which a conical taper surface tapering from the base end surface toward the tip end is formed. The recess 75 c communicates with the pipe line of the second nozzle pipe 75.

  The conduit of the second nozzle tube 75 communicates with the conduit of the first nozzle tube 74 and the packing 76 of the conduit connector 71. The pipe diameter φa of the second nozzle pipe 75 is set smaller than the pipe diameter φb of the tube connector pipe 56 (φa <φb).

  Further, the nozzle insertion hole 51 a formed in the nozzle housing 51 is formed in a straight line up to the middle of the rotation position detection unit 52 and then refracted in a crank shape toward the center. An open fluid supply path is formed.

  In addition, the rotation support part 53 of the rotation cylinder 50 is formed with a peripheral groove on the outer peripheral part, and an O-ring 53a is provided in the peripheral groove. The O-ring 53a comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tube connecting portion 63 and holds the tube connecting portion 63 in an airtight manner, and the rotation supporting portion 53 that rotates about the central axis O.

  Further, the rotation cylinder 50 is configured so that the nozzle accommodating portion 51 at the distal end portion is pivotally held by the distal end frame 61 and the rotation support portion 53 at the proximal end portion is pivotally held by the tube connecting portion 63, thereby rotating around the central axis O. And is accommodated in the frame 60.

  In the control in which the rotary cylinder 50 according to the present embodiment is driven to rotate around the central axis O, the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 housed in the nozzle housing portion 51 shown in FIG. It is set to stop at positions A to C. That is, since the nozzle unit 70 is disposed at an eccentric position with respect to the central axis O of the rotating cylinder 50, the pipe connection body 71 follows a circular path around the central axis O of the rotating cylinder 50. It is controlled to rotate and stop at the three positions A to C.

  In the present embodiment, the position A where the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 stops moving is the position where it has moved to the uppermost position of the rotary cylinder 50, and the position B is the position where the pipe connection body 71 passes through the rotary cylinder 50. The position C is a position moved to the lowermost position, and the position C has an angle of 90 ° with respect to the pipe connection body 71 from the position A. It is a position that has been rotated around. That is, these positions A to C are positions where the pipe connection body 71 is rotated by 90 degrees around the central axis O of the nozzle accommodating portion 51 of the rotary cylinder 50.

  Of these three positions A to C, two positions A and B at which the pipe connection body 71 is stopped are shown in FIG. 1, which will be described later, provided on the operation unit 103 of the endoscope 101. 104 (see FIG. 9) corresponds to the endoscope 101 having two, and each channel connector 104 and the pipe connection body 71 are located on the same axis and are connected to each other.

  Further, the position C at which the pipe connection body 71 is stopped moving corresponds to the endoscope 101 having one channel connector 104 (see FIG. 10) provided in the operation unit 103 of the endoscope 101. The channel connector portion 104 and the pipe connection body 71 are located on the same axis and are connected to each other.

  The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above cleans and disinfects the endoscope 101 installed in the cleaning tank 4 in accordance with a programmed predetermined cleaning / disinfecting process. Since the cleaning / disinfecting process executed by the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 is performed in the same manner as in the prior art, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Further, when the endoscope 101 to be cleaned is set in the cleaning tank 4, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 reads an RFID or the like in which model information (endoscope ID) of the endoscope 101 is stored, Alternatively, the model information (endoscope ID) of the endoscope 101 is manually input by the user. The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 recognizes the number of channel connector sections 104 (one or two in the present embodiment) provided in the operation section 103 from the model information of the endoscope 101, and controls the control section 46. Thus, the drive control of the pipe connection unit 5 is executed.

  In the following, during the cleaning / disinfecting process of the endoscope 101 by the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1, fluid, here, cleaning water, disinfecting water, rinsing water, air, or alcohol is supplied into the channel of the endoscope 101. The operation of the pipe connection unit 5 at this time will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 9, the number of channel connector sections 104 in which the model information (endoscope ID) of the endoscope 101 read or inputted by the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 is provided in the operation section 103 is shown. A case where there are two or more in the following description will be described.

  In the state where the fluid is not supplied from the apparatus main body 2 through the automatic brush mechanism 80 and the fluid supply tube 83, the pipe line connecting unit 5 has the first nozzle unit 70 as shown in FIG. The flange 74b of the nozzle tube 74 receives the urging force of the spring 73, and the first nozzle tube 74 and the second nozzle tube 75 in the nozzle accommodating portion 51 are urged in the proximal direction. At this time, the pipe connection body 71 connected to the first nozzle pipe 74 is in a state of being accommodated in a recess 72 a formed in the base 72.

  Then, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 is configured so that, in each cleaning / disinfecting process for cleaning / disinfecting the endoscope 101, the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 is connected to one channel of the endoscope 101 as shown in FIG. The connector unit 104 is moved to a position on the same axis (position A in FIG. 8). In other words, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 stops driving the motor 57 of the pipe connection unit 5 under the control of the control unit 46, so that the pipe connection body 71 is based on the detection signal of the rotational position detection switch 59. The rotation position of the rotary cylinder 50 is stopped at a position where the channel connector portion 104 and the one channel connector portion 104 coincide with each other.

  In this state, when the fluid is supplied from the inside of the apparatus main body 2 through the automatic brush mechanism 80 and the fluid supply tube 83 (see FIG. 7), the pipe line connecting unit 5 has a resistor 75a of the second nozzle pipe 75. Receives the fluid pressure, and the first nozzle tube 74 and the second nozzle tube 75 move forward against the biasing force of the spring 73. As a result, the nozzle unit 70 is pushed forward so that the first nozzle pipe 74 and the pipe connection body 71 are led out from the recess 72 a formed in the base 72.

  That is, when the fluid from the fluid supply tube 83 is sent to the pipe connection unit 5, it applies pressure to the resistor 75 a of the second nozzle pipe 75. This fluid flows into the recess 75c formed on the base end surface of the resistor 75a. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, since the pipe diameter φa of the second nozzle pipe 75 is smaller than the pipe diameter φb of the nozzle insertion hole 51 a of the nozzle accommodating part 51, the fluid is introduced into the pipe of the second nozzle pipe 75. When flowing in, the resistor 75a is applied with a force pushed forward by the fluid passing therethrough.

  Since the pressure applied to the resistor 75a by this fluid must be greater than the biasing force of the spring 73, the fluid supply pressure by various pumps and compressors and the biasing force of the spring 73 are set to a predetermined value. Yes.

  In response to the pressure of the fluid, the first nozzle tube 74 pushed forward and the pipeline connection body 71 that works together with the second nozzle tube 75 operate the endoscope 101 from within the recess 72 a formed in the base 72. Derived toward the unit 103. Then, the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 comes into contact with one channel connector part 104 of the operation part 103 and is connected by fluid pressure.

  At this time, the packing 76 provided on the pipe connection body 71 is in close contact with the opening of the channel connector 104. Therefore, the fluid flowing inside the first nozzle tube 74 and the second nozzle tube 75 is supplied into the channel disposed in the endoscope 101 via the one channel connector unit 104. Further, when the pipe connection body 71 moves forward and connects with the channel connector section 104, the tapered surface 71a formed on the front surface of the pipe connection body 71 serves as a guide surface, and the opening of the channel connector section 104 becomes Guided to the center of the pipe connection 71. Thereby, even if the predetermined positioning which adjusted the operation part 103 of the endoscope 101 to the pin 4a in the washing tank 4 has shifted a little, the connection of the pipe connection body 71 and the channel connector part 104 is performed reliably. .

  At this time, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 drives the automatic brush mechanism 80 so that the cleaning brush 81 is introduced into one channel of the endoscope 101 via the channel connector unit 104. The cleaning brush 81 is moved forward and backward in a predetermined time, and the brush portion 82 brushes and cleans one channel.

  Then, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 performs the brushing cleaning in one channel for a predetermined time, and then accommodates the cleaning brush 81 in the automatic brush mechanism 80 to provide fluid to the channel of the endoscope 101. Is temporarily stopped. Then, the pressure by the fluid to the resistor 75a disappears, and the biasing force of the spring 73 that contacts the flange 74b of the first nozzle tube 74 is received, so that the first nozzle tube 74 and the second nozzle tube 75 are moved in the proximal direction. Energized and accommodated in the nozzle accommodating portion 51 of the rotating cylinder 50. At this time, since the pipe connection body 71 connected to the first nozzle pipe 74 is interlocked to the base end side so as to be accommodated in the recess 72 a formed in the base 72, the connection with the channel connector part 104 is performed. To release.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 places the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 on the same axis as the other channel connector 104 of the endoscope 101 (see FIG. 8). Move to position B). In other words, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 stops driving the motor 57 of the pipe connection unit 5 under the control of the control unit 46, and the pipe connection body 71 and the other on the basis of the detection signal of the rotational position detection switch 59. The rotation position of the rotary cylinder 50 is stopped at a position where the channel connector portion 104 coincides with the channel connector portion 104.

  Then, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 advances the nozzle unit 70 in the same manner as the above-described one channel connector portion 104 so that the conduit connection body 71 is connected to the other channel connector portion 104. The supply of fluid to the unit 5 is controlled. Then, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 brushes and cleans the other channel of the endoscope 101 opened at the other channel connector unit 104 in a predetermined time.

  As described above, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment performs brushing cleaning / disinfecting by a single automatic brush mechanism 80 in a plurality of (herein, two) channels provided in the endoscope 101. And so on.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the number of channel connector sections 104 in which the model information (endoscope ID) of the endoscope 101 read or inputted by the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 is provided in the operation section 103 is shown. The case where the number is one will be briefly described.

  In each cleaning / disinfecting process for cleaning / disinfecting the endoscope 101, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 is configured such that the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 is connected to the channel connector unit 104 of the endoscope 101 as shown in FIG. 10. Move to a position on the same axis (position C in FIG. 8). In other words, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 stops driving the motor 57 of the pipe connection unit 5 under the control of the control unit 46, so that the pipe connection body 71 is based on the detection signal of the rotational position detection switch 59. The rotation position of the rotary cylinder 50 is stopped at a position where the channel connector portion 104 and the channel connector portion 104 coincide with each other.

  Then, as described above, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 controls the supply of fluid to the pipe connection unit 5 so that the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 is advanced and connected to the channel connector unit 104. . The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 then brushes and cleans the inside of the channel of the endoscope 101 opened at the channel connector unit 104 for a predetermined time. As described above, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can perform brushing cleaning, disinfection, and the like in one channel provided here in the endoscope 101.

  As described above, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can automatically attach and detach the nozzle unit 70 for supplying fluid into the channel when the inside of the channel of the endoscope 101 is cleaned and disinfected. By providing the pipe connection unit 5, it can be set as the structure which reduces a complicated operation | work to a user. In addition, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 moves the nozzle unit 70 to a plurality or a single channel connector unit 104 corresponding to the endoscope 101 of a model having a different number of channels by the pipe connection unit 5. It can be advanced and selectively connected.

  From the above, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment corresponds to the model of the endoscope 101, and the nozzle unit that supplies the cleaning liquid, the disinfecting liquid, and the like to the channel disposed in the endoscope 101 for each model. 70 can be selectively attached and detached automatically by the pipe line connecting unit 5, and the inside or the plurality of channels can be cleaned and disinfected together with the brushing cleaning.

  Furthermore, since the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 can be selectively connected to a plurality of channels by the pipe connection unit 5, it is only necessary to provide one automatic brush mechanism 80 for brushing and cleaning the inside of the channels. . That is, since the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 does not need to be provided with a plurality of automatic brush mechanisms 80, only the installation space for one automatic brush mechanism 80 is required, and a complicated configuration is provided by the plurality of automatic brush mechanisms 80. In addition, the cost can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the three positions A to C where the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 is rotated around the central axis O of the rotary cylinder 50 and stopped are exemplified. A maximum of seven rotation stop positions can be set by a combination of the three limit switches 59a to 59c and the plurality of detection recesses 52a. That is, the position where the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 rotates and stops to the position of each channel connector portion 104 depending on the type of the endoscope 101 may be set as appropriate.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIGS. In the following description, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is different only in the configuration of the pipe connection unit 5 of the first embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals are used for the same configuration. Detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  11 to 20 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the pipe connection unit, FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the pipe connection unit, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the inner rotating body rotates about the central axis when the inner rotating side gear of the inner rotating body meshes with the frame body side gear of the frame body in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating body. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the outer rotating body rotates 90 ° forward from the state of FIG. 13 and the inner rotating body rotates counterclockwise by 90 ° around the central axis. FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the inner rotating body rotates counterclockwise by 90 ° around the central axis, and FIG. 16 illustrates the connection of the nozzle unit of the inner rotating body by rotating the inner rotating body around the central axis. FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the body moves. FIG. 17 shows the state in which the outer rotating body rotates 90 ° from the state of FIG. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the position where the knit pipe connecting body moves, and FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the position where the outer rotating body rotates 90 ° from the state of FIG. 17 and the nozzle unit pipe connecting body moves. FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the pipe connection unit when the endoscope has two channel connector parts. FIG. 20 shows the pipe connection unit when the endoscope has one channel connector part. It is a figure for demonstrating an effect | action.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the pipe connection unit 5 according to the present embodiment is held in a box-like frame 86 fixed to the cleaning tank 4 and rotatably in the frame 86. The outer rotary body 85, the inner rotary body 84 accommodated in the position where the nozzle unit 70 is eccentric and held rotatably in the outer rotary body 85, and the outer rotary body 85 are rotated around the central axis O1. And a motor 87 as a driving source for driving.

  The outer rotator 85 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has an outer rotator-side gear 85a that meshes with the motor gear 87a of the motor 87 on the outer periphery of the base end. That is, the outer rotating body 85 is rotated about the central axis O <b> 1 by driving the motor 87.

  The inner rotator 84 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is rotatably inserted at a position eccentric from the central axis O1 of the outer rotator 85. The inner rotating body 84 has a connecting tube 84 b disposed at the base end inserted into the outer rotating body 85, and the connecting tube 84 b is connected to a fluid supply tube 83 connected to the automatic brush mechanism 80. Further, the inner rotating body 84 has an inner rotating body side gear 84 a formed on the outer peripheral portion at a position where the inner rotating body 84 is inserted into the base end surface of the frame 86. A part of the inner rotating body side gear 84 a is exposed from the outer peripheral portion of the outer rotating body 85 in a state where the inner rotating body 84 is inserted into the outer rotating body 85.

  The frame 86 is a frame-side gear that meshes with the exposed part of the inner-rotor-side gear 84a of the inner-rotary body 84 on the inner peripheral surface of the hole at the base end face portion through which the outer-rotor 85 and the inner-rotary body 84 are inserted. 86a is formed. The frame body 86 is provided with an airtight and watertight holding member such as packing (not shown) so that the rotating bodies 84 and 85 are exposed on the wall surface of the cleaning tank 4 and fixed in a state where the airtight watertightness is held. . The frame 86, the outer rotator 85, and the inner rotator 84 are provided with an airtight watertight holding member such as an O-ring (not shown) and are assembled in a state where the airtight watertightness is maintained.

  In the pipe line connecting unit 5 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the outer rotating body 85 is rotated around the central axis O1 by the motor 87. At this time, since the inner rotating body 84 is disposed at a position eccentric from the central axis O1 of the outer rotating body 85, the inner rotating body 84 moves along a circular orbit around the central axis O1, and the frame of the frame 86 Due to the meshing of the body side gear 86a and the inner rotating body side gear 84a, it rotates about its own central axis O2.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the pipe connection unit 5 rotates inward when the outer rotating body 85 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the front around the central axis O <b> 1 by the motor 87. The body 84 moves along a circular trajectory around the central axis O1. At this time, the inner rotator 84 rotates in conjunction with the inner rotator-side gear 84a in the clockwise direction around the central axis O2 by meshing with the frame-side gear 86a. That is, the inner rotator 84 rotates around the central axis O2 in the direction opposite to the rotational direction around the central axis O1 of the outer rotator 85 when the inner rotator-side gear 84a meshes with the frame-side gear 86a.

  When the outer rotating body 85 rotates around the central axis O1, the nozzle unit 70 disposed in the inner rotating body 84 is a tube disposed on the front surface of the inner rotating body 84 as shown in FIGS. The road connecting body 71 moves to positions A ′ to C ′. That is, the inner rotating body 84 rotates clockwise in conjunction with the counterclockwise rotation of the outer rotating body 85, and the position of the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 is as shown in FIGS. It moves straight up and down between positions A ′ to C ′.

  Note that the pipe connection unit 5 of the present embodiment includes the number of teeth of the outer rotating body side gear 85a of the outer rotating body 85 and the teeth with which the frame body side gear 86a of the frame body 86 and the inner rotating body side gear 84a mesh. The number is set so that the rotation amount of the outer rotator 85 and the rotation amount of the inner rotator 84 are equal.

  That is, when the outer rotating body 85 rotates 90 ° counterclockwise from the state where the pipe connecting body 71 shown in FIG. 16 is at the position A ′, the inner rotating body 84 is rotated 90 ° clockwise as shown in FIG. Rotating, the pipe connection body 71 moves to the position B ′. Then, from the state where the pipe connection body 71 shown in FIG. 17 is at the position B ′, when the outer rotating body 85 further rotates 90 ° counterclockwise, the inner rotating body 84 rotates clockwise as shown in FIG. And the pipe connection body 71 moves to the position C ′.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the pipe connection unit 5 is provided with three limit switches 59a to 59c as in the first embodiment, and the rotational position of the outer rotating body 85 is detected. Thus, the drive stop of the motor 87 is controlled. That is, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 is set by the control unit 46 so as to perform control to stop driving of the outer rotating body 85 at, for example, three positions A ′ to C ′.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 19, when the endoscope 101 is a model including two channel connector portions 104, the pipe connection unit 71 of the nozzle unit 70 moves forward and is connected. The outer rotating body 85 is controlled to rotate at two positions (for example, the positions A ′ and C ′), and the inner rotating body 84 is rotated in conjunction with the outer rotating body 85. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, when the endoscope 101 is a model including one channel connector unit 104, the pipe connection unit 71 of the nozzle unit 70 advances and is connected as shown in FIG. The rotation of the outer rotator 85 is controlled at one position (for example, the position B ′), and the inner rotator 84 is rotated in conjunction with the outer rotator 85.

  Therefore, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the configuration of the pipe connection unit 5 as described above, so that the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 is, for example, the position A ′. It can be set to move and connect on the same axis as the channel connector portion 104 of the endoscope 101 at the three movement positions of C ′. Note that, similarly to the first embodiment, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 is set by the control unit 46 so as to perform control to drive and stop the rotation of the outer rotating body 85 at seven positions at the maximum. be able to.

That is, in the first embodiment, the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 is configured to move along the circular orbit around the central axis O of the rotary cylinder 50. In the unit 5, the inner rotating body 84 rotates counterclockwise in conjunction with the forward rotation of the outer rotating body 85, and the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 moves linearly between the positions A ′ to C ′. it can.
In addition, since the configuration and operation of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  Thereby, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the same effect as that of the first embodiment, and is provided with a single channel or a plurality of channels disposed in the operation unit 103 of the endoscope 101. Even if the arrangement positions of the connector parts 104 for each model are provided on a straight line connecting the positions A ′ to C ′, the pipe connection body 71 of the nozzle unit 70 is the model of the endoscope 101. Each channel connector unit 104 can be set to move to a position where it is connected on the same axis.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIG. FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an automatic brush mechanism that is moved in two directions by a motor and a configuration in which a nozzle unit is provided in the automatic brush mechanism according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment attaches / detaches the nozzle unit 70 to / from the plurality of channel connector portions 104 of the endoscope 101 in a form different from the pipe line connecting unit 5 according to each of the above-described embodiments. It has a configuration. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiments, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  In the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 21, the nozzle unit 70 loosely arranged in the hole 4b provided in the wall of the cleaning tank 4 has two directions within the range of the hole 4b (see FIG. 21). 21 so as to be movable in the vertical direction). The nozzle unit 70 is housed in a nozzle housing tube 90, and the nozzle housing tube 90 is connected to the automatic brush mechanism 80.

  The tip portion of the nozzle housing tube 90 is disposed so as to be inserted through the bellows-like waterproof seal member 91 in a state where watertightness is maintained. Further, the waterproof seal member 91 is fixed so as to keep the hole 4b of the cleaning tank 4 watertight.

  The automatic brush mechanism 80 includes a gear groove 80a serving as a rack on the rear end surface, and the gear groove 80a meshes with a motor gear 92a of a motor 92 serving as a pinion. The automatic brush mechanism 80 includes two pin members 80b that are engaged with two rails 93 provided in the apparatus main body 2 and guided in a straight line. That is, the automatic brush mechanism 80 is moved in two directions in FIG. 20 along the two rails 93 by driving the motor 92.

  In conjunction with this, the nozzle housing tube 90 connected to the automatic brush mechanism 80 also moves in two directions, up and down in FIG. In the automatic brush mechanism 80, the driving of the motor 92 by the control unit 46 is controlled, and the nozzle unit 70 disposed in the nozzle accommodating tube 90 is here connected to each of the two channel connector units 104 of the endoscope 101. It is set to move to two positions on the same axis. In the present embodiment, the amount of movement in two directions of the automatic brush mechanism 80 in which the nozzle unit 70 is on the same axis as each of the two channel connector sections 104 is set according to the rotational speed of the motor gear 92a of the motor 92. ing.

  That is, when the nozzle unit 70 stops moving on the same axis as that of the one channel connector portion 104, the fluid is supplied to the nozzle housing tube 90 via the automatic brush mechanism 80 by the pipe connection body 71. The fluid advances under the pressure of the fluid and is connected to one of the channel connector portions 104. In the same manner, when the nozzle unit 70 stops moving on the same axis as the other channel connector portion 104, the fluid is supplied from the pipe connection body 71 to the nozzle housing pipe 90 via the automatic brush mechanism 80. As a result, the fluid advances under the pressure of the fluid and is connected to the other channel connector portion 104.

  In addition, since the configuration and operation of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the nozzle unit 70 can be connected to each channel connector unit 104 by controlling the movement of the automatic brush mechanism 80 in two directions. . Even with such a configuration, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 achieves the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments, and also has a simple mechanism for connecting the nozzle unit 70 to each channel connector 104 of the endoscope 101. It can be set as a simple structure.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIG. FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining a pipe line switching mechanism section for switching the flow paths inserted into two nozzle units according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  Further, the present embodiment is configured such that the two nozzle units 70 are individually attached to and detached from the plurality of channel connector portions 104 of the endoscope 101 by a form different from the pipe line connecting unit 5 of each of the above-described embodiments. It has become. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiments, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has two channel connector portions 104 of the endoscope 101 disposed in the cleaning tank 4, and each is located on the same axis. As described above, the two nozzle units 70 are provided on the wall surface of the cleaning tank 4 so as to be movable forward and backward in the nozzle housing tube 94. That is, the two nozzle accommodating tubes 94 that are externally attached to the two nozzle units 70 are fixed to the wall surface of the cleaning tank 4 in a watertight manner so as to extend into the apparatus main body 2.

  These two nozzle housing pipes 94 are connected so as to communicate with the pipe line switching mechanism 95 in the apparatus main body 2. The conduit switching mechanism 95 is connected to the automatic brush mechanism 80 via the fluid supply tube 83.

  The pipe switching mechanism 95 includes an outer frame 96 and a spherical ball valve 97 that is rotatably disposed in the outer frame 96. The outer frame 96 includes two flow paths 96a that communicate with the two nozzle housing tubes 94 to be connected.

  In the pipe switching mechanism 95, the ball valve 97 is rotated by a driving device (not shown) under the control of the control unit 46, and an inner channel formed in one of the two flow paths 96a of the outer frame 96 and the ball valve 97 is formed. The channel 97a can be selectively switched to communicate with the automatic brush mechanism 80 via the fluid supply tube 83.

  In other words, in the conduit switching mechanism 95, the ball valve 97 is controlled so that the one nozzle housing tube 94 and the automatic brush mechanism 80 communicate with each other, and the inner passage 97a and the one passage 96a communicate with each other. To do. Then, the fluid is supplied to the one nozzle housing tube 94 via the automatic brush mechanism 80, whereby the nozzle unit 70 advances under the pressure of the fluid and is connected to the one channel connector unit 104. Further, when the ball valve 97 of the pipe switching mechanism 95 is switched and the fluid is supplied to the other nozzle housing pipe 94 via the automatic brush mechanism 80, the nozzle unit 70 advances under the pressure of the fluid, and the other Are connected to the channel connector section 104 of FIG.

  In addition, since the configuration and operation of the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  Even with the above-described configuration, the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a simple configuration in which two nozzle units 70 can be connected to each channel connector unit 104.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIG. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing a forceps plug that is detachable to two channel connector portions provided in an operation portion of an endoscope according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  By the way, when the endoscope 101 includes the two channel connector units 104 disposed in the operation unit 103, the endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus 1 according to each of the above-described embodiments includes the nozzle unit 70 having two channels. The configuration of moving back and forth on the same axis as the connector has been described. That is, the two channel connector portions 104 of the endoscope 101 need to be arranged on the operation portion 103 in parallel.

  However, when a doctor who is a user inserts and removes a medical instrument such as a treatment instrument into two parallel channels of the endoscope 101, the channel connector portions 104 serving as insertion ports for these two channels are parallel and close to each other. Therefore, there is a problem that the insertion / extraction of the medical instrument to / from each channel connector 104 is poor and the workability is lowered.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the endoscope 101 shown in FIG. 23 is attached to the channel connector unit 104, which is attached at the time of use, and is removed by the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 of each of the above-described embodiments. The flexible forceps plug 150 will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the forceps plug 150 is made of an elastic synthetic resin such as an elastomer, and has two insertion portions 151 for inserting a medical instrument such as a treatment instrument. One end of each insertion portion 151 is opened in the forceps plug 150 and two concave portions 152 constituting the insertion port are formed. An engaging convex portion 153 a that is inserted into the concave portion 152 and tightly plugs the insertion portion 151 is formed. Two openable seal plugs 153 are provided.

  Further, on the other end side of each insertion portion 151 of the forceps plug 150, an engagement recess 151a into which the two channel connector portions 104 of the endoscope 101 are inserted and fixed is formed. That is, since the forceps plug 150 has elasticity, the engaging recess 151a is fitted into each of the two channel connector portions 104 of the endoscope 101 and is detachably fixed. At this time, each insertion portion 151 communicates with the channel of the endoscope 101 via the channel connector portion 104.

  In addition, the two insertion portions 151 have a shape in which the concave portions 152 constituting the insertion port are bent in directions away from each other by a predetermined angle θ. In other words, the openings of the recess 152 serving as the two insertion openings of the forceps plug 150 are set to face a direction having a predetermined angle θ.

  The forceps plug 150 of the present embodiment configured as described above is attached to the intraoperative endoscope 101. Then, the user inserts and removes a medical instrument such as a treatment tool into and from the two channels of the endoscope 101 via the forceps plug 150.

  At this time, the user uses the forceps plug 150 to insert / remove the medical instrument into / from one channel of the endoscope 101 (for example, in the direction of arrow α in the figure) and to insert / remove the medical instrument into / from the other channel (for example, Since it is separated by a predetermined angle θ from the arrow β direction in the figure, it can be easily inserted into and removed from each channel of the medical instrument. Therefore, the forceps plug 150 improves the insertion / extraction of the medical instrument into / from each channel. Further, when the used endoscope 101 is cleaned and disinfected by the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1, the forceps plug 150 is removed.

  As described above, the forceps plug 150 according to the present embodiment improves the workability when the user inserts and removes the medical instrument into the channel of the endoscope 101 during the operation. Further, when the user removes the forceps plug 150 from the endoscope 101, the endoscope 101 that has been used can be cleaned and disinfected by the endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiments.

  The invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention at the stage of implementation. Further, each embodiment includes inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  For example, even if several constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in each embodiment, the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved and the effects of the described invention can be obtained. A configuration in which the configuration requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

1 is a perspective view of an endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows typically the structure of an endoscope washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus similarly. The perspective view which shows the structure of a pipeline connection unit. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pipe connection unit shown in FIG. The exploded perspective view which shows the nozzle unit accommodated in a rotation cylinder. The perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the rotation position detection switch which detects the rotation position of a rotation cylinder equally. Sectional drawing of the pipe-line connection unit arrange | positioned at a washing tank same as the above. The figure which shows the movement position of the pipe-line connection body of a nozzle unit by rotation of a rotation cylinder equally. The figure for demonstrating an effect | action of a pipe line connection unit when there are two channel connector parts of an endoscope. The figure for demonstrating an effect | action of the pipeline connection unit when the channel connector part of an endoscope is one in the same. The perspective view which shows the structure of the pipeline connection unit which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing of a pipe line connection unit. The figure for demonstrating the state in which an internal rotation body rotates the center axis | shaft by interlocking with the rotation of an external rotation body, and the internal rotation side gear of an internal rotation body meshes with the frame body side gear of a frame body. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the outer rotating body rotates 90 ° forward from the state of FIG. 13 and the inner rotating body rotates counterclockwise by 90 ° around the central axis. FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a state in which the outer rotating body rotates 90 ° forward from the state of FIG. 14 and the inner rotating body rotates counterclockwise by 90 ° around the central axis. The figure for demonstrating the state to which the pipe connection body of the nozzle unit of an internal rotary body moves because an internal rotary body rotates around a central axis. FIG. 17 is a view for explaining a position where the outer rotating body rotates 90 ° from the state of FIG. 16 and the pipe connection body of the nozzle unit moves. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a position where the outer rotating body rotates 90 ° from the state of FIG. 17 and the pipe connection body of the nozzle unit moves. The figure for demonstrating an effect | action of a pipe line connection unit when there are two channel connector parts of an endoscope. The figure for demonstrating an effect | action of the pipeline connection unit when the channel connector part of an endoscope is one in the same. FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an automatic brush mechanism that moves in two directions by a motor and a configuration in which a nozzle unit is provided in the automatic brush mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the pipe line switching mechanism part which switches the flow path penetrated to two nozzle units concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the forceps stopper which can be attached or detached to two channel connector parts arrange | positioned at the operation part of an endoscope according to the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope washing | cleaning disinfection apparatus 2 ... Apparatus main body 4 ... Cleaning tank 5 ... Pipe line connection unit 8 ... Operation panel 46 ... Control part 50 ... Rotating cylinder 51 ... Nozzle accommodating part 51a ... Nozzle insertion hole 52 ... Rotation position detection Portion 52a ... Detection recess 53 ... Rotation support 54 ... Worm wheel 57 ... Motor 58 ... Worm gear 59 ... Rotation position detection switch 60 ... Frame body 61 ... Front end frame 62 ... Base end frame 70 ... Nozzle unit 71 ... Pipe connection body 75a ... resistor 80 ... automatic brush mechanism 81 ... cleaning brush 82 ... brush part 101 ... endoscope 102 ... insertion part 103 ... operation part 104 ... channel connector part

Claims (3)

An apparatus main body equipped with a cleaning tank in which an endoscope is installed;
It is provided so as to face the connector part of the endoscope conduit disposed in the endoscope installed in the cleaning tank, and the fluid in the apparatus main body is supplied to advance by the pressure of the fluid. A nozzle unit for supplying the fluid into the endoscope conduit by connecting to the connector portion;
An automatic brush mechanism that is disposed in the apparatus main body and brushes and cleans the endoscope pipeline by introducing a cleaning brush into the endoscope pipeline through the nozzle unit and moving it forward and backward, and
An endoscope cleaning / disinfecting apparatus comprising: A rotating member that is provided at an eccentric position of the nozzle unit and rotates around a central axis;
A drive source for rotating the rotation member;
A control unit that stops driving the drive source and controls the rotation position of the rotation member to a position where the nozzle unit is connected to the connector unit;
The endoscope cleaning and disinfecting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: The endoscope includes a single or a plurality of the pipeline connector parts,
Based on the unique information of the endoscope, the control unit determines whether the pipe connector part is singular or plural, and the nozzle unit is singular or plural. The internal view according to claim 2, wherein the driving source is stopped and the rotation position of the rotating member is controlled so as to move to a connection position corresponding to the pipe line connector portion. Mirror cleaning disinfection device.

Images