JP2013127320A - Mechanical seal device, and treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and surely carry out sterilization treatment of a sliding part 20 on the atmosphere side in the same way as other sliding parts 20 in carrying out sterilization treatment of the inside of a treatment container 2 and each sliding part 20 while sliding a rotary shaft 4 by a mechanical seal device 1 in which the sliding parts 20 are arranged at two parts at least from the treatment container 2 side toward the atmosphere side along the length direction of the rotary shaft 4 on the outside of the treatment container 2 between the treatment container 2 for carrying out treatment in a sterilized state inside, and the rotary shaft 4 used with one end side thereof inserted into the treatment container 2 from the atmosphere side.SOLUTION: An airtight region 30 is provided for making airtight a region communicating with the sliding part 20 on the atmosphere side over the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft 4 on the atmosphere side of the sliding part 20, and sterilizing gas supplied to a seal fluid supply region 22 which is a region between the rotary shaft 4 and a device body 21 of the mechanical seal device 1 to sterilize each sliding part 20 is held in the airtight region 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing container for performing processing in a sterilized state, and a rotating shaft that is used by inserting one end of the processing container into the processing container. The present invention relates to a mechanical seal device and a processing device provided between the two.

  For example, as a processing apparatus for performing a stirring process on a processing liquid or the like, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the processing liquid is stored in the processing container 100 and, for example, stirring is performed from the atmosphere side of the processing container 100 to one end thereof. An apparatus is known in which a rotating shaft 101 provided with wings is inserted, and stirring is performed by rotating the rotating shaft 101 around an axis by a motor or the like connected to the other side of the rotating shaft 101. As the above stirring treatment, for example, treatment such as preparation of injection solution or chemical treatment such as cell culturing treatment or crystallization for obtaining a sterile powder is performed so that unintended bacteria are not mixed in the treatment solution. May be performed. When performing such processing in the above-described apparatus, for example, before filling the processing container 100 with the processing liquid or before filling the processing container 100 with the processing liquid and starting the processing, for example, saturated water vapor or the like Using the sterilization gas, sterilization processing is performed in the processing container 100 and the rotating shaft 101 (stirring blade). This sterilization process is performed by supplying several tens of saturated water vapor at, for example, 100 ° C. or higher in order to reliably sterilize the apparatus.

  On the other hand, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a method of sliding the rotating shaft 101 with respect to the processing container 100 and hermetically sealing the inner region of the processing container 100 and the atmospheric atmosphere in the above apparatus. Thus, for example, a technique using a mechanical seal 102 or the like is known. The mechanical seal 102 is configured by providing sliding members 103 and 104 having sliding surfaces that slide with each other along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 101 on the processing container 100 side and the rotating shaft 101 side, respectively. By rotating the sliding surfaces, the rotating shaft 101 that rotates about the axis is slid relative to the processing container 100. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 105 denotes a casing (casing) that houses these sliding members 103 and 104.

  In addition, the sliding member 103 is hermetically sealed between the processing container 100 and the atmosphere to suppress friction between the sliding members 103 and 104 and to release heat generated by the sliding. , 104 is supplied with a sealing fluid such as a sealing gas to the sliding portion 110 which is a region between the sliding surfaces. At this time, the pressure in the region to which the seal gas is supplied may be higher than the pressure in the processing container 100 so that the processing liquid or the like does not leak from the processing container 100 to the outside via the sliding portion 110. Specifically, the sliding members 103 and 104 are arranged so that, for example, two sliding portions 110 are formed along the length direction of the rotating shaft 101 to form a double mechanical seal. With respect to the seal fluid supply region 106 which is a region formed in a ring shape between the rotating shaft 101 and the housing 105 between the moving parts 110, the pressure in the processing container 100 from the seal fluid supply path 107 is The seal gas is supplied at a high pressure. Accordingly, the seal gas supplied to the seal fluid supply region 106 slightly enters the processing container 100 through the sliding portion 110 on the processing container 100 side, and also passes through the atmospheric side through the sliding portion 110 on the atmospheric side. Will be leaked.

  For this reason, in the case of the processing that is performed so that various germs are not mixed in the processing container 100 as described above, a clean gas is also used as the sealing gas. Further, the sterilization of the processing container 100 and the rotating shaft 101 is performed so that germs do not enter the processing container 100 through the inner wall surface of the region (the sealing fluid supply region 106 and the sealing fluid supply path 107) through which the seal gas flows. When the processing is performed, the saturated water vapor is supplied from the sealing fluid supply path 107 to the sealing fluid supply region 106, so that the region is also sterilized. Therefore, of the two sliding portions 110 described above, the saturated steam is generated from both the inner peripheral side (processing container 100 side) and the outer peripheral side (sealing fluid supply region 106 side) of the sliding portion 110 on the processing container 100 side. Since it is supplied, the temperature and pressure of the saturated water vapor in the sliding portion 110 are maintained, and the sterilization process is reliably performed under the same sterilization conditions as in the processing container 100.

  On the other hand, with respect to the sliding portion 110 on the atmosphere side (opposite side of the processing container 100), the atmosphere in the region where water vapor leaks from the sliding portion 110 is, for example, an atmospheric atmosphere. The saturated water vapor that leaks into the water gradually condenses as the temperature and pressure gradually decrease, so that the sterilization action is weakened. Therefore, it cannot be said that the sliding part 110 adjacent to the atmosphere side is sterilized at the same level as the sliding part 110 on the processing container 100 side.

  However, the sliding portion 110 adjacent to the atmosphere side is also in communication with the atmosphere in the processing container 100 via the sealing fluid supply region 106 and the sliding portion 110 on the processing container 100 side. In order to reliably prevent contamination of bacteria inside, it is necessary to perform sterilization treatment at the same level as the sliding portion 110 on the processing container 100 side for the sliding portion 110 on the atmosphere side. In order to perform sterilization at the same level as the sliding part 110 on the processing container 100 side with respect to the sliding part 110 on the atmosphere side, for example, when water vapor leaks from the sliding part 110 and the temperature or pressure drops. In this case, a method of increasing the temperature and pressure of water vapor supplied to the sealing fluid supply region 106 to a value higher than that necessary for sterilization is conceivable so that the temperature and pressure necessary for sterilization can be maintained. This requires extra energy for heating the water vapor, and it is necessary to provide high heat resistance to the members constituting the mechanical seal 102, leading to an increase in the cost of the apparatus. Furthermore, as described in Patent Document 3, when a heat insulating cover is provided so as to cover the entire mechanical seal, extremely large heat energy is required.

  Further, a method of arranging the mechanical seals at three locations along the length direction of the rotation shaft is also known, but the sliding portion adjacent to the atmosphere side is similarly the sliding portion 110 on the processing container 100 side. The same level of sterilization is not performed.

JP2004-263802 JP200121045 JP-A-2005-133852 (FIG. 1)

  The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object thereof is a processing container for performing processing in a sterilized state, and a rotation used by inserting one end side from the atmosphere side into the processing container. The shaft is slid by a mechanical seal device in which sliding portions are arranged at least at two locations from the processing vessel side toward the atmosphere side along the length direction of the rotation shaft. When sterilizing the inside of the processing container and each sliding part with air tightness, the sliding part on the atmosphere side can be sterilized simply and reliably in the same way as other sliding parts. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical seal device and a processing device.

The mechanical seal device of the present invention is
In the mechanical seal device provided between the processing container and the atmosphere while sliding the rotating shaft inserted into the processing container for processing in a sterilized state,
The sliding surface on the rotating shaft side, which is disposed at least at two locations spaced apart from each other in the length direction of the rotating shaft, and is provided over the entire circumference of the rotating shaft along a plane intersecting the rotating shaft. When,
A sliding surface on the casing side that is provided along the inner periphery of the casing arranged so as to cover the periphery of the rotating shaft, and slides on each sliding surface on the rotating shaft side;
In order to make the space between the casing and the rotating shaft airtight, it is provided on at least one of the pair of the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side, A biasing means biased to press the sliding surface;
A seal fluid is supplied to a space between the rotating shaft and the casing, the space between one set of the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side and the other set; A sealing fluid supply port provided in the casing for allowing the sealing fluid to flow through a gap between the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side;
A gas for sterilization is supplied to a space between one set of the sliding surfaces and the other set, and the gas is passed through a gap between the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side. A gas supply port for sterilization provided in the casing for flowing,
Of the set of the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side, it communicates with the gap between the sliding surfaces of the set located on the most downstream side in the flow direction of the seal fluid and in the flow direction of the seal fluid. An airtight member including an enclosing member that surrounds the downstream space and a seal member that seals between the enclosing member and the rotating shaft in order to make the downstream space of the gap an airtight region;
And a discharge port that opens to the airtight region and discharges the sealing fluid or sterilization gas.

The sterilizing gas is saturated steam or sterilizing gas,
The seal member is formed so that saturated water vapor is obtained by increasing the pressure in the airtight region by water vapor leaking into the airtight region from a gap between sliding surfaces communicating with the airtight region, or by using a sterilizing gas. It is preferably configured as an airtight seal member so that the gas concentration necessary for sterilization is obtained by increasing the gas concentration in the region.
It is preferable that the casing or the surrounding member is formed with a discharge port for discharging moisture condensed in the airtight region or discharging gas in the airtight region.
It is preferable that a supply port for supplying sterilization gas to the airtight region is formed in the surrounding member.

The processing apparatus of the present invention
A processing container for processing in a sterilized state;
A supply port for supplying sterilization gas into the processing container and a discharge port for discharging;
A rotating shaft whose one end is inserted into the processing container;
The mechanical seal device according to any one of the above is provided.

  The present invention provides at least a treatment container for performing treatment in a sterilized state and a rotation shaft used by inserting one end side of the treatment container from the atmosphere side along the length direction of the rotation shaft. The rotary shaft is slid by a mechanical seal device having sliding portions arranged at two locations, and the space between the processing container and the atmosphere is sealed, and the rotary shaft, the casing of the mechanical seal device, and the at least two locations are arranged. When the sterilization treatment is performed in the processing container and each sliding portion by supplying a sterilizing gas to the sealing fluid supply region which is a space surrounded by the sliding portion and is a space to which a sealing fluid is supplied, An airtight region is formed which communicates with the gap between the sliding surfaces of the sliding portion located on the most downstream side in the flow direction of the seal fluid and seals the space downstream of the gap in the flow direction of the seal fluid. It supplies a gas for sterilization through a seal fluid supply region airtight area. Therefore, the sterilization treatment can be easily and reliably performed on the sliding portion on the atmosphere side as well as the sliding portion on the processing container side.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the processing apparatus of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the mechanical seal apparatus used for said processing apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows an example of said mechanical seal apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a mode that sterilization is performed with respect to said mechanical seal apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a mode that sterilization is performed with respect to said mechanical seal apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows typically a mode that a rotating shaft is slidably supported in said mechanical seal apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other example of said mechanical seal apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the other example of said mechanical seal apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the conventional mechanical seal apparatus.

  A processing apparatus to which the mechanical seal device 1 of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. This processing apparatus is an apparatus for performing, for example, a stirring process on a processing liquid and the like, a processing container 2 for storing the processing liquid, and a stirring apparatus for stirring the processing liquid in the processing container 2 3 and a mechanical seal device 1 for sliding the rotating shaft 4 of the stirring device 3 with respect to the processing vessel 2 and making the space between the processing vessel 2 and the atmosphere airtight. Reference numerals 5 and 6 in FIG. 1 denote rotating devices such as motors provided on the upper end side and the lower end side of the rotating shaft 4 and stirring blades for stirring the processing liquid. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a bearing stacked above the mechanical seal device 1, and the bearing 8 supports the rotating shaft 4 with respect to the mechanical seal device 1. In FIG. 1, the rotating device 5 is depicted in a simplified manner.

  This treatment apparatus performs a stirring process so that unintended bacteria are not mixed in the treatment liquid, such as a chemical treatment such as a preparation process of an injection solution or a cell culture process or crystallization for obtaining a sterile powder. It is a device for performing. Therefore, as will be described later, this apparatus uses, for example, a filtered clean seal fluid such as clean air (sterile air) as the seal fluid supplied to the sliding portion 20 (seal fluid supply region 22) of the mechanical seal device 1. ) Is supplied from the air reservoir 10 through the seal fluid supply path 11 and used. A seal fluid supply path 11 extending from the air reservoir 10 toward the mechanical seal apparatus 1 branches into two lines, a first supply path 11a and a second supply path 11b, and is connected to the mechanical seal apparatus 1 and the processing container 2, respectively. Has been.

  Further, this processing apparatus is further configured to sterilize the inner region of the processing container 2, the rotating shaft 4 and the stirring blade 6 before processing the processing liquid, and further inside the mechanical seal device 1. The region (seal fluid supply path 11, sliding portion 20, and seal fluid supply region 22) communicating with the internal atmosphere is also sterilizable. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a water vapor storage part in which a sterilization gas, for example, saturated water vapor of about 120 ° C. to 130 ° C. is stored. Saturated water vapor can be supplied to the inner region of the mechanical seal device 1 and the processing container 2, respectively.

  An exhaust line 14 for exhausting gas from the inside of the processing container 2 and the internal region of the mechanical seal device 1 is connected to the second supply passage 11b and the mechanical seal device 1 (a drainage passage 33 described later), respectively. Yes. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 denotes a moisture discharge line. Each of the moisture discharge lines 15 is provided with a steam trap S for discharging condensed water in the water vapor flowing through the inside and returning the water vapor to the apparatus side. ing. Also in the supply paths 11a and 11b, moisture discharge lines 15 and 15 in which the steam and the wrap S are interposed are provided so that drain (moisture) is not supplied to the mechanical seal device 1 side and the processing container 2 side. It is connected. The moisture discharge line 15 connected to the mechanical seal device 1 and the processing container 2 is provided with a temperature detector 16 for measuring the temperature of gas or water vapor flowing through the moisture discharge line 15. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the water discharge lines 15 is installed on the lower side of the processing apparatus in order to easily discharge water.

  In FIG. 1, 17 is a pressure detection unit for measuring the pressure of gas or water vapor flowing in the supply passages 11a and 11b and the drainage passage 33, and V is for cutting off gas or water vapor. It is a valve. In FIG. 1, 2a and 2b are a supply port for supplying saturated water vapor into the processing container 2 and a discharge port for discharging drain (water) from the processing container 2, respectively, on the upper end side and the lower end side of the processing container 2, respectively. Is formed. As will be described later, the gas in the processing container 2 is exhausted from the exhaust line 14 through the supply port 2a and the second supply path 11b described above. Moreover, R1 and R2 in FIG. 1 are regulators for adjusting the pressure of clean air flowing through the seal fluid supply path 11 and the pressure of water vapor flowing through the second supply path 11b, respectively. .

  Next, the internal structure of the mechanical seal device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The mechanical seal device 1 includes a device main body 21 that is a casing formed in a ring shape so as to surround a sleeve 7 provided around the rotation shaft 4 with a gap in the circumferential direction. This is configured as a double mechanical seal in which sliding portions 20 are arranged at two locations from the processing container 2 side toward the atmosphere side along the length direction. The sliding portion 20 is a sliding in a set of a main body sliding member 24 provided on the inner peripheral side of the apparatus main body 21 and a rotary sliding member 25 provided on the rotating shaft 4 side (sleeve 7 side). A gap (gap) between the surfaces, and these sets of sliding surfaces each slide over the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 4 (surface intersecting the length direction of the rotating shaft 4), The rotating shaft 4 can be slid with respect to the apparatus main body 21.

  In this example, main body sliding members 24, 24 are arranged over the entire circumference at two upper and lower positions along the length direction of the rotating shaft 4, and the rotational sliding member 25 is interposed between these main body sliding members 24, 24. Is provided. The rotary sliding member 25 includes two pressing members 26 and 26 that are provided so as to be movable up and down, a support member 27 that is fixed to the sleeve 7 between the pressing members 26 and 26, the pressing member 26, and An elastic body, for example, an urging means 28 such as a spring, provided at a plurality of locations along the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft 4 between the support members 27, is formed on the sliding surface of the main body sliding member 24. On the other hand, the rotary shaft 4 is slid by pressing the sliding surfaces (pressing members 26) of the rotary sliding member 25 respectively. The sliding surface of the rotary sliding member 25 is disposed, for example, so as to be opposite to each other along the length direction of the rotating shaft 4. The sliding surface on the atmosphere side and the sliding surface on the processing container 2 side are arranged. Are directed to the atmosphere side and the processing container 2 side, respectively.

  A region formed in a ring shape between the two sliding portions 20, 20, the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 7, and the inner peripheral surface of the apparatus main body 21 forms a seal fluid supply region 22. The moving parts 20 and 20 partition the processing atmosphere on the processing container 2 side and the atmosphere on the air side. A seal fluid supply port 23 for supplying clean air and saturated steam is opened on the wall surface of the apparatus main body 21 on the side of the seal fluid supply region 22. An air reservoir 10 and a water vapor reservoir 12 are connected to the above-described seal fluid supply passage 11 extending laterally from the seal fluid supply port 23. Therefore, for example, when clean air or saturated water vapor is supplied to the sealing fluid supply region 22 and the internal pressure in the region 22 increases, the pressing member 26 is moved from the main body sliding member 24 against the urging force of the urging means 28. Slightly away, the internal atmosphere of the seal fluid supply region 22 communicates with the internal atmosphere of the processing vessel 2 via the sliding portion 20 on the processing vessel 2 side (lower side), and the sliding portion on the atmosphere side (upper side). 20, it communicates with the atmosphere outside the processing container 2 (airtight region 30 described later). As described above, in this example, the seal fluid supply port 23 also serves as a sterilization gas supply port.

  In addition, the mechanical seal device 1 extends in the circumferential direction upward from the upper end portion of the device main body 21 in order to hermetically block the region communicating with the seal fluid supply region 22 through the above-described sliding portion 20 on the atmosphere side. An airtight member 38 including an enclosing member 29 that extends and a pressure-resistant seal member 31 that hermetically connects the enclosing member 29 and the sleeve 7 in the circumferential direction to form an airtight region 30. I have. The pressure-resistant sealing member 31 is a sealing member made of a resin such as a ring-shaped PTFE whose central portion on the lower end side opens in a substantially rectangular shape in the circumferential direction so that the vertical cross-sectional shape is substantially U-shaped. The inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge on the side are pressed against the sleeve 7 on the inner peripheral side and the surrounding member 29 on the outer peripheral side, respectively, so that the airtight region 30 is kept airtight while sliding with the sleeve 7. It is configured. Therefore, as will be described later, when water vapor leaks from the seal fluid supply region 22 to the airtight region 30 via the atmospheric sliding portion 20, the pressure is maintained at a positive pressure in the airtight region 30 and the internal pressure gradually increases. As a result, saturated water vapor is obtained.

  A discharge port (exhaust port) 32 for discharging the moisture and clean air condensed in the airtight region 30 is formed in the atmosphere-side main body sliding member 24, and a drainage path 33 extending from the discharge port 32 is The above-described steam trap S is connected to a drainage part (steam drain) (not shown) by a moisture discharge line 15, and is connected to a gas exhaustion part (not shown) by an exhaust line 14. Therefore, among the fluid leaking from the sealing fluid supply region 22 to the airtight region 30, the water vapor condensate (liquid) used when performing sterilization is discharged from the moisture discharge line 15 in the steam trap S and water vapor (gas). ) Is held in the airtight region 30, while clean air used when the stirring process is performed is exhausted from the exhaust line 14. In addition, one end side of a discharge path 34 for discharging moisture condensed in the seal fluid supply region 22 is opened on the lower surface of the apparatus main body 21, and the steam trap S is connected to the other end side of the discharge path 34. It is connected to a drainage unit (not shown) by an intervening water discharge line 15.

  The apparatus main body 21 and the surrounding member 29 are provided with temperature measuring portions 35 and 36 for measuring the temperatures in the seal fluid supply region 22 and the airtight region 30, respectively, at a plurality of locations, for example, four locations along the circumferential direction. The water vapor temperature in these regions 22 and 30 can be measured.

  Next, the operation of the above processing apparatus will be described. First, a case will be described in which sterilization of the inner region of the processing container 2, the rotating shaft 4, the stirring blade 6, and the inner region of the mechanical seal device 1 is performed before, for example, stirring processing in this processing apparatus. First, before filling the processing container 2 with the processing liquid, the processing container 2 is hermetically sealed, and as shown in FIG. 4A, the sealing fluid is supplied from the water vapor storage section 12 via the sealing fluid supply path 11. Saturated water vapor is supplied into the supply region 22 and the processing container 2. At this time, a pressure lower than the pressure of water vapor supplied to the seal fluid supply region 22 is set in the processing container 2 by a regulator R2 interposed upstream of the second supply passage 11b within a sterilizable range of pressure. Supply saturated steam. Here, the saturated water vapor is appropriately set to, for example, about 121 ° C. or higher and 110 kPaG (gauge) or higher for temperature and pressure, respectively.

  The saturated water vapor sterilizes the inside of the sealing fluid supply path 11, the sealing fluid supply region 22, and the processing container 2. Then, as the internal pressure of the seal fluid supply region 22 increases, the pressing member 26 slightly moves toward the support member 27 as described above, and the sliding portion 20 opens to supply saturated water vapor to the seal fluid. It leaks from the region 22 to the processing container 2 and the airtight region 30 through the sliding portion 20. As for the sliding portion 20 on the processing container 2 side, saturated steam necessary for sterilization is supplied from the inner peripheral side (processing container 2 side) and the outer peripheral side (sealing fluid supply region 22 side). The temperature and pressure of the saturated water vapor are maintained, and the sliding portion 20 is sterilized.

  On the other hand, since the temperature and pressure in the airtight region 30 are lower than the sealing fluid supply region 22 for the sliding portion 20 on the atmosphere side (upper side), the saturation leaked to the airtight region 30 through the sliding portion 20. Water vapor gradually decreases in temperature and pressure, for example, condenses to become moisture. When the saturated water vapor is continuously supplied to the seal fluid supply region 22, the airtight region 30 is in an airtight state by the pressure-resistant seal member 31. The temperature and pressure gradually increase, and saturated water vapor is obtained as in the seal fluid supply region 22 as shown in FIG. The moisture generated by the condensation of water vapor in the airtight region 30 is discharged through the moisture discharge line 15 in which the steam trap S is interposed. At this time, the minimum guaranteed temperature in each of the regions 22 and 30 and the processing container 2 is measured by the temperature detection unit 16 interposed in the moisture discharge line 15, and the water vapor is saturated in each of the regions 22 and 30 and the processing container 2. It is confirmed whether or not.

  Thereafter, a predetermined sterilization time, for example, 20 minutes after the temperature detection unit 16 provided in the moisture discharge line 15 confirms that the temperature of the seal fluid supply region 22 and the airtight region 30 has reached the temperature required for the sterilization process. By continuing the supply of saturated water vapor until the above has elapsed, the sterilization of the sealing fluid supply path 11, the processing container 2, the sealing fluid supply region 22, the rotating shaft 4, the stirring blade 6 and the two sliding portions 20 is completed. become. Here, as described above, the temperature detection unit 16 is provided at a position away from the mechanical seal device 1 and the processing container 2, and the temperature of the saturated water vapor is measured by the temperature detection unit 16. It can be confirmed that saturated water vapor necessary for sterilization is securely held in the inner region and the processing container 2.

  At this time, the temperature detection unit 16 and the pressure detection unit 17 measure the temperature and pressure of the water vapor, and adjust the supply amount and supply time of the water vapor so that each part of the apparatus becomes an environment necessary for the sterilization process. It will be. When the condensate (water) remains in each of the regions 22 and 30 when the sterilization process is completed, the water is discharged through the water discharge line 15 by, for example, clean air as shown in FIG. Become. In addition, about said FIG. 4, only the one side (right side) of the mechanical seal apparatus 1 is drawn.

  Next, when the agitation process is performed in the processing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotating shaft 4 is rotated around the axis, and clean air is supplied to the seal fluid supply region 22 as a seal fluid. Also in this case, since the inner region of the seal fluid supply region 22 is maintained at a pressure higher than that in the processing container 2, clean air leaks into the processing container 2 and the airtight region 30 through the sliding portion 20. Since both the sliding parts 20 and 20 on the processing container 2 side and the airtight region 30 side are surely sterilized, contamination of germs into the processing container 2 is suppressed. At this time, the clean air leaked from the seal fluid supply region 22 to the airtight region 30 is exhausted to the exhaust line 14 via the drainage passage 33.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the rotating shaft between the processing container 2 for performing processing in a sterilized state and the rotating shaft 4 used by inserting one end side of the processing container 2 from the atmosphere side into the processing container 2. 4, the rotary shaft 4 is slid by the mechanical seal device 1 in which the sliding portions 20 are arranged at two locations along the length direction 4, and the sealing fluid is supplied to the sealing fluid supply region 22, and the processing container 2 and the atmosphere When the inside of the processing container 2 and each slidable portion 20 are sterilized, an area communicating with the sliding portion 20 on the atmosphere side is set on the rotating shaft 4 on the atmospheric side of the sliding portion 20. Since the airtight region 30 that is airtight over the circumferential direction is provided, the sterilizing gas supplied to the seal fluid supply region 22 can be kept airtight in the airtight region 30 so as to have a positive pressure. . Therefore, the sterilization process can be performed simply and reliably on the sliding part 20 on the atmosphere side as well as the sliding part 20 on the processing container 2 side. For this reason, it is not necessary to apply excessive heat energy to sterilize the sliding portion 20 on the atmosphere side, so that it is not necessary to provide the mechanical seal device 1 with excessive heat resistance or a complicated structure. Thus, the sterilization process can be performed reliably. In addition, since the air-side sliding portion 20 can be sterilized under the same sterilization conditions as the inside of the processing container 2 or the processing container 2-side sliding portion 20, the reliability of the sterilization processing for the entire apparatus is improved. It is possible to more clearly grasp the risk of contamination with various bacteria.

  Further, in forming the airtight region 30, for example, in the sterilization process using saturated water vapor, the above-described pressure-resistant seal member 31 is used instead of a seal having a low pressure resistance. Saturated water vapor can be obtained by increasing the pressure.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7, a supply port 40 for supplying saturated water vapor to the airtight region 30 may be formed in the surrounding member 29. In this case, when the upper sliding portion 20 is sterilized, when the saturated water vapor leaks from the seal fluid supply region 22 to the airtight region 30 and the temperature and pressure in the airtight region 30 increase, the supply port 40 Since the saturated water vapor is also supplied, the temperature and pressure in the airtight region 30 can be quickly increased, so that the sterilization process can be performed quickly.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the sliding portions 20 may be provided at two or more places, for example, four places along the length direction of the rotating shaft 4. And the airtight area | region 30 as stated above is formed so that the sliding part 20 of the uppermost side furthest from the processing container 2 may be covered. In this case, for example, the sealing fluid is discharged from the sealing fluid supply region 22 to the wall surface portion of the apparatus main body 21 between the second sliding portion 20 and the third sliding portion 20 from the processing container 2 side. A discharge port 41 may be formed. Thus, by providing four sliding portions 20 and forming the discharge port 41, the sealing fluid supplied from between the first and second locations from the processing container 2 side can be recovered without being released into the atmosphere. Therefore, for example, the atmosphere in the sealing fluid supply region 22 between the first place and the second place from the processing container 2 side is not easily released into the atmosphere due to the influence on the environment or the worker, for example, other than air. A combustible fluid or the like can be used as a sealing fluid supplied between the first and second locations from the processing container 2 side to make the atmosphere the same as that in the processing container 2.

  In the above example, saturated water vapor is used as the sterilizing gas, but a sterilizing gas such as hydrogen peroxide solution or ethylene oxide (EOG) gas may be used. In this case, the internal pressure of the airtight region 30 does not increase to such an extent that saturated water vapor can be obtained, or the differential pressure between the internal pressure of the airtight region 30 and the atmosphere does not increase so much. May be a hermetic seal member to the extent that the hermetic region 30 can be hermetically sealed. Even when these sterilizing gases are used, the sterilizing gas is airtight in the airtight region 30 so that the sliding portion 20 between the airtight region 30 and the seal fluid supply region 22 has a concentration necessary for sterilization. Therefore, a good sterilization process is performed.

  In addition to clean air, a sterile liquid may be used as the sealing fluid. Further, as the sliding portion 20, the mechanical seal device 1 that slides the sliding surface of the main body sliding member 24 and the sliding surface of the rotary sliding member 25 in contact with each other has been described. The present invention may be applied to the mechanical seal device 1 that holds the sliding surfaces in a non-contact state. Furthermore, instead of the temperature measuring units 35 and 36, or together with these temperature measuring units 35 and 36, a pressure measuring unit for measuring the pressure of water vapor in each of the regions 22 and 30 may be provided. Moreover, a recorder may be connected to the temperature detector 16 to record a temperature history.

In FIG. 2 described above, the sliding surfaces of the two rotary sliding members 25 are arranged so as to be opposite to each other along the length direction of the rotary shaft 4. You may arrange | position so that it may face a lower side or an upper side. Furthermore, although the processing apparatus which inserts the rotating shaft 4 from the upper side with respect to the processing container 2 was demonstrated, you may insert the rotating shaft 4 from the downward side or a side. Furthermore, although the sliding surface is formed in the sliding portion 20 so as to be orthogonal to the length direction of the rotating shaft 4, the sliding surface is symmetric with respect to the central axis of the rotating shaft 4. The sliding surface may be formed in a so-called “C” shape so as to be inclined and intersect the length direction of the rotating shaft 4.
Further, the processing liquid for processing in this processing apparatus is not limited to a liquid, but may be, for example, a liquid, slurry, powder or gas in which a particulate solid is dispersed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mechanical seal apparatus 2 Processing container 3 Stirrer 4 Rotating shaft 10 Air storage part 12 Water vapor storage part 20 Sliding part 21 Main body 22 Seal fluid supply area 23 Seal fluid supply port 24 Main body sliding member 25 Rotating sliding member 29 Member 30 Airtight region 31 Pressure-resistant seal member

Claims (4)

In the mechanical seal device provided between the processing container and the atmosphere while sliding the rotating shaft inserted into the processing container for processing in a sterilized state,
Rotating shaft side disposed at least at two locations spaced apart from each other in the length direction of the rotating shaft and provided over the entire circumference of the rotating shaft along a plane that intersects the length direction of the rotating shaft. Sliding surface of
A sliding surface on the casing side that is provided along the inner periphery of the casing arranged so as to cover the periphery of the rotating shaft, and slides on each sliding surface on the rotating shaft side;
In order to make the space between the casing and the rotating shaft airtight, it is provided on at least one of the pair of the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side, A biasing means biased to press the sliding surface;
A seal fluid is supplied to a space between the rotating shaft and the casing, the space between one set of the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side and the other set; A sealing fluid supply port provided in the casing for allowing the sealing fluid to flow through a gap between the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side;
Supplying a space saturated steam or sterilizing gas between one set and another set of the sliding surface as a gas for sterilization, the sliding surface of the gas for the sterilization rotation shaft side and a casing side of the slide A gas supply port for sterilization provided in the casing for flowing through a gap between the moving surface,
Of the set of the sliding surface on the rotating shaft side and the sliding surface on the casing side, it communicates with the gap between the sliding surfaces of the set located on the most downstream side in the flow direction of the seal fluid and in the flow direction of the seal fluid. an airtight member including a seal member for sealing between the enclosing member and the rotary shaft and the enclosure surrounding the area on the downstream side of the gap,
An opening that opens into the region and from which the sealing fluid or sterilizing gas is discharged;
A pressure detection unit for detecting the pressure of the sterilization gas in the region ,
The seal member is connected to the region so that saturated water vapor necessary for sterilization can be obtained by filling the region with water vapor that leaks into the region through a gap between sliding surfaces communicating with the region. The sterilizing gas leaking into the area from the gap between the sliding surfaces is filled with the sterilizing gas to obtain a gas concentration necessary for sterilization, and is configured as an airtight seal member Mechanical seal device.   2. The discharge port for discharging moisture condensed in the airtight region or discharging gas in the airtight region is formed in the casing or the surrounding member. The mechanical seal device described.   The mechanical seal device according to claim 1, wherein a supply port for supplying sterilization gas to the airtight region is formed in the surrounding member. A processing container for processing in a sterilized state;
A supply port for supplying sterilization gas into the processing container and a discharge port for discharging;
A rotating shaft whose one end is inserted into the processing container;
A processing apparatus comprising the mechanical seal device according to claim 1.

Images