Patents Assigned to Airex Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 12194185
    Abstract: A decontamination device configured to provide, on a short time scale, uniform decontamination of target articles without using expensive electron accelerators and to decontaminate such articles in large quantities. The device includes a device body composed of a decontamination region and an aeration region, a conveyance means for conveying an article, a mist supply means, a mist control means, and an aeration means. The mist supply means converts a decontamination agent into a corresponding mist and supplies the mist to the inside of the decontamination region. The mist control means includes vibration boards adjacent to internal wall surfaces of the decontamination region, and these boards are ultrasonically vibrated to generate sound flows from board surfaces by an ultrasound in the vertical direction. The mist inside the decontamination region is pressed by acoustic radiation to concentrate the mist on external surfaces of the article conveyed inside the decontamination region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Jun Masudome, Haruka Futamura, Yukihiro Yazaki, Tsukasa Kitano, Zhiqiang Guo, Ayumi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 12194184
    Abstract: A decontamination device devised to accomplish decontamination with a proper amount of decontamination agent by employing a mist control mechanism to concentrate a mist for decontamination on the surface of an article to be conveyed, and to reduce duration of operations such as aeration increase efficiency of decontamination, and a pass box in which the decontamination device is disposed. The device also includes a mist supply means configured to convert a chemical for decontamination into the mist, and to supply the mist to the inside of a working chamber accommodating the article. The mist control mechanism includes vibration boards adjacent to internal wall surfaces of the working chamber, which are ultrasonically vibrated to generate sound flows from board surfaces by an ultrasound in the vertical direction. The mist supplied to the inside of the chamber is pressed by acoustic radiation pressure to be concentrated on external surfaces of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Jun Masudome, Haruka Futamura, Yukihiro Yazaki, Tsukasa Kitano, Zhiqiang Guo, Ayumi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 12102727
    Abstract: A continuous decontamination-and-sterilization device possessing high efficiency, reliability, and safety of operation to treat external surfaces of a package that is conveyed to a sterile working chamber. A decontamination chamber decontaminates (with a decontamination agent) bottom and lateral external surfaces of the package conveyed by a first conveyance, with an upper surface seal portion of the package being sealed. An aeration chamber removes residue of decontamination agent from an external surface of the package while the package is conveyed by a second conveyance means. A sterilization chamber sterilizes the upper surface seal portion of the package by irradiating electron beams as the package is conveyed by a third conveyance means, with the bottom or lateral external surface of the package being supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Yoshitaka Ogata, Jun Masudome, Haruka Futamura, Tsukasa Kitano, Zhiqiang Guo
  • Publication number: 20240197941
    Abstract: An indoor decontamination device configured to supply a proper amount of a decontamination mist to each corner of a decontamination target room thereby increasing efficiency of the decontamination process by shortening work time for aeration or the like. A fine decontamination mist with a favorable decontamination efficiency is employed, and the device includes main-body and a mist discharging dispersion device. The main-body includes a drive means and a liquid supply means for a decontamination chemical solution. The mist discharging dispersion device includes a mist discharging means and a mist dispersion means. The mist discharging means converts the decontamination chemical solution to the decontamination mist and supplies it into an inside of a work room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji KAWASAKI, Daisuke KAKUDA, Kazuhiko KITAHORA, Haruka FUTAMURA, Yoshitaka OGATA
  • Publication number: 20210228753
    Abstract: The present invention provides a decontamination device capable of accomplishing a decontamination effect with a proper amount of decontamination agent supplied to a room to be decontaminated by employing a mist circulation dispersion mechanism and reducing the duration of operations such as aeration to achieve more efficient decontamination works. The decontamination device of the present invention includes a mist supply means and a mist circulation dispersion mechanism, and the mist supply means converts a chemical for decontamination into a mist for decontamination, and supplies the same to the inside of a working chamber. The mist circulation dispersion mechanism includes vibration boards disposed adjacent to internal wall surfaces of the working chamber, and the vibration boards are subjected to ultrasonic vibration to generate sound flows from board surfaces by an ultrasound in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Jun Masudome, Haruka Futamura, Yukihiro Yazaki, Tsukasa Kitano, Zhiqiang Guo, Ayumi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10744478
    Abstract: A particle control method is provided which can prevent an extremely small quantity of particles descending on a stream of a laminar flow in a clean zone through which the laminar flow flows as in a RABS or isolator device from descending to a specific position or can guide it so as to descend to the specific position by controlling movement of the particles. A particle descent position is separated away from a board surface of the oscillation board by using an acoustic radiation pressure generated by prompting ultrasonic vibration of the oscillation board disposed with a board surface substantially in parallel with a flow direction of the laminar flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: AIREX CO., LTD
    Inventor: Koji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10712267
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning-performance evaluation system that can acquire evaluation results in real time as quantitative values without such factors as the experience of evaluators causing variations in evaluations. The present invention includes: a contamination means for administering a mock contaminant to the inside of a work chamber; a waste liquid recovery means for performing a cleaning operation and recovering a cleaning waste-liquid that contains the mock contaminant; a mist generation means for generating a mist of the cleaning waste-liquid; a collection means for collecting inspection air that includes the generated mist; and a detection means for detecting the amount of the mock contaminant included in the inspection air collected by the collection means. The present invention evaluates the cleaning operation by confirming that the amount of the mock contaminant detected by the detection means is at or below a prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Haruka Hutamura, Yukihiro Yazaki, Zhiqiang Guo, Tsukasa Kitano
  • Patent number: 10426856
    Abstract: [Problem] Provided is a decontamination system which does not require large scale equipment such as large diameter ducts or anti-condensation heaters, while enabling, with respect to a plurality of rooms targeted to be decontaminated, pipelining of which distance is long for each room, the decontamination system being capable of supplying an accurate amount of decontamination gas for each room. [Solving Means] Compressed air-generating means and decontamination solution-supplying means are included, mixed gas-liquid adjusters and gas generators are respectively provided in each room targeted to be decontaminated, and a conveyance distance of gas-liquid supplying pipes which communicate with the mixed gas-liquid adjusters and the gas generators is longer than a conveyance distance of decontamination solution supplying pipes which communicate with decontamination solution-supplying means and the mixed gas-liquid adjusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Jun Masudome
  • Patent number: 10265427
    Abstract: An electron beam irradiation device which can uniformly project electron beams to the entire outer surface of a container by using a small-sized low-energy electron accelerator. When each of the side surface portions of the container is irradiated with the electron beams by supporting a bottom surface portion of the container, a position of the container is moved by the supporting portion so that a distance between each of the side surface portions of the container and an irradiation window of the electron accelerator is made substantially equal. Subsequently, when an upper surface portion and a bottom surface portion of the container are irradiated with the electron beams by holding the side surface portion of the container, the position of the container is moved by the holding portion so that the distances between the upper surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the container and the irradiation windows of the electron accelerators become substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Jun Masudome
  • Publication number: 20180344884
    Abstract: An electron beam irradiation device which can uniformly project electron beams to the entire outer surface of a container by using a small-sized low-energy electron accelerator. When each of the side surface portions of the container is irradiated with the electron beams by supporting a bottom surface portion of the container, a position of the container is moved by the supporting portion so that a distance between each of the side surface portions of the container and an irradiation window of the electron accelerator is made substantially equal. Subsequently, when an upper surface portion and a bottom surface portion of the container are irradiated with the electron beams by holding the side surface portion of the container, the position of the container is moved by the holding portion so that the distances between the upper surface portion and the bottom surface portion of the container and the irradiation windows of the electron accelerators become substantially equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Jun Masudome
  • Patent number: 9494328
    Abstract: A filter unit which has a simple structure and can ensure high-level safety in response to risk during operation of an apparatus such as an isolator device is provided. One type of filter unit includes a rectangular cylindrical body having a first wall portion provided with an air inlet portion and a second wall portion formed so as to cross the first wall portion and provided with an air discharge port portion, a filter member provided in the cylindrical body for filtering introduced air, an annular seal member surrounding an outer periphery portion of the air inlet portion, and a detachable lid body closing the air inlet portion in an airtight manner. The filter unit is connected to a work chamber such that the air inlet portion is attached so as to oppose an air outlet of the work chamber and so that the seal member abuts an outer wall portion of the work chamber in an airtight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Airex Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Minoru Miyamoto, Toshinaga Toda
  • Patent number: 9180216
    Abstract: An electron beam irradiation device which can irradiate an electron beam uniformly to an entire outer surface of an object of irradiation by using a small-sized low-energy electron accelerator with a narrow irradiation window is provided. The device has electron beam irradiation means forming an electron beam irradiation zone and gripping/moving means gripping a part of an object of irradiation and causing the object of irradiation to pass through the electron beam irradiation zone, and the whole surface of the object of irradiation can uniformly pass through the electron beam irradiation zone by combining re-gripping of the object of irradiation by two gripping mechanisms provided on the gripping/moving means, rotation of the object of irradiation by two rotation mechanisms, and movement of the object of irradiation by two moving mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Airex Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Jun Masudome
  • Patent number: 8915984
    Abstract: An isolator device having a work chamber, air supply means for supplying air of a unidirectional airflow traveling from an upper part to a lower part in the work chamber, and air discharge means for discharging air of the unidirectional airflow from a lower part of the work chamber are provided, and moreover, a bulkhead provided in parallel with a peripheral wall portion of the work chamber along the air of the unidirectional airflow and longitudinal air outlets opened along a width direction of a lower end portion in a lower part of the lower end portion of the bulkhead and attached so as to oppose an air inlet portion by a filter unit for air purification is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Airex Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Minoru Miyamoto, Toshinaga Toda
  • Patent number: 8835873
    Abstract: A continuous sterilization system is provided which reliably supports a sterilization target so that the sterilization target is not tipped over during a sterilization process and can stably ensure uniform irradiation periods on any portion of inner and outer surfaces and moreover, a portion sterilized by electron beam irradiation is not contaminated again. The continuous sterilization system is provided with a first conveying means, a first electron beam accelerator, a second conveying means, a second electron beam accelerator, and a third electron beam accelerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Airex Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Mitsuo Kamino, Norihiko Tsuji, Jun Masudome
  • Publication number: 20140027651
    Abstract: A continuous sterilization system is provided which reliably supports a sterilization target so that the sterilization target is not tipped over during a sterilization process and can stably ensure uniform irradiation periods on any portion of inner and outer surfaces and moreover, a portion sterilized by electron beam irradiation is not contaminated again. The continuous sterilization system is provided with a first conveying means, a first electron beam accelerator, a second conveying means, a second electron beam accelerator, and a third electron beam accelerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Airex Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Daisuke Kakuda, Mitsuo Kamino, Norihiko Tsuji, Jun Masudome
  • Publication number: 20130061567
    Abstract: An isolator device having a work chamber, air supply means for supplying air of a unidirectional airflow traveling from an upper part to a lower part in the work chamber, and air discharge means for discharging air of the unidirectional airflow from a lower part of the work chamber are provided, and moreover, a bulkhead provided in parallel with a peripheral wall portion of the work chamber along the air of the unidirectional airflow and longitudinal air outlets opened along a width direction of a lower end portion in a lower part of the lower end portion of the bulkhead and attached so as to oppose an air inlet portion by a filter unit for air purification is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Minoru Miyamoto, Toshinaga Toda
  • Patent number: 7161677
    Abstract: A condensation sensor detects whether hydrogen peroxide gas has condensed in a sealed space and determines the condition of a condensate film upon passage of time. The condensate film in the sealed space is controlled with the condensation sensor. The condensation sensor includes a condensate forming part with a plurality of glass plates arranged so that a direction of irradiation is substantially perpendicular to a surface direction, and the condensate forming part is disposed between a projector and a light receiver. The condensation sensor is placed inside an isolator and irradiated with laser beams. The condensate film formed on the glass plates is detected from a change in the quantity of light received by the light receiver, thus the condition of condensation on the surface of an item to be sterilized inside the isolator is presumed, and accordingly, the necessary and sufficient amount of gas introduced is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Airex Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7146746
    Abstract: A method of decontamination includes generating a decontamination gas by evaporating an aqueous solution in which the decontamination gas with a higher boiling point than water is dissolved. The decontamination gas is charged into a hermetically sealed decontamination chamber, and then condensed therein. A condensed liquid layer is formed in a form of a thin film on an outer surface of a decontamination subject in the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The condensed liquid layer is evaporated at least partially by supplying unsaturated gas into the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The unsaturated gas does not saturate in the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The decontamination gas is re-condensed after the evaporating step to re-form the condensed liquid layer, by closing supply of the unsaturated gas and re-charging the decontamination gas into the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Airex Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20060185189
    Abstract: A method of decontamination includes generating a decontamination gas by evaporating an aqueous solution in which the decontamination gas with a higher boiling point than water is dissolved. The decontamination gas is charged into a hermetically sealed decontamination chamber, and then condensed therein. A condensed liquid layer is formed in a form of a thin film on an outer surface of a decontamination subject in the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The condensed liquid layer is evaporated at least partially by supplying unsaturated gas into the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The unsaturated gas does not saturate in the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber. The decontamination gas is re-condensed after the evaporating step to re-form the condensed liquid layer, by closing supply of the unsaturated gas and re-charging the decontamination gas into the hermetically sealed decontamination chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20050111003
    Abstract: A condensation sensor detects whether hydrogen peroxide gas has condensed in a sealed space and determines the condition of a condensate film upon passage of time. The condensate film in the sealed space is controlled with the condensation sensor. The condensation sensor includes a condensate forming part with a plurality of glass plates arranged so that a direction of irradiation is substantially perpendicular to a surface direction, and the condensate forming part is disposed between a projector and a light receiver. The condensation sensor is placed inside an isolator and irradiated with laser beams. The condensate film formed on the glass plates is detected from a change in the quantity of light received by the light receiver, thus the condition of condensation on the surface of an item to be sterilized inside the isolator is presumed, and accordingly, the necessary and sufficient amount of gas introduced is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: AIREX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Kawasaki