PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilizer to heat an article to be processed by injecting steam into a processing tank, where temperature is easily controlled and temperature unevenness is prevented by agitating the article.SOLUTION: A sterilizer is equipped with a processing tank 2 to house an article to be processed, steam supply means 3 to supply steam into the processing tank 2 and heat the article to be processed, and control means to control the steam supply means 3. The steam supply means 3 includes a steam supply shutoff valve 16 to switch on and off steam supply and a steam supply valve 17 of which the opening is adjustable in series on a steam supply line 14 to the processing tank 2. In a sterilizing step to heat the article to be processed, the steam supply shutoff valve 16 is switched on and off, while the opening of the steam supply valve 17 is fixed. In a heating step followed by the sterilizing step, preferably, the opening of the steam supply valve 17 is gradually reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1COPYRIGHT: (C)2020,JPO&INPIT【課題】処理槽内に蒸気を吹き込んで被処理物を加熱する殺菌装置において、温度調整が容易でありながら、処理槽内を撹拌して温度ムラを防止する。【解決手段】被処理物が収容される処理槽２と、この処理槽２内に蒸気を供給して被処理物を加熱する給蒸手段３と、この給蒸手段３を制御する制御手段とを備える。給蒸手段３は、処理槽２内への給蒸路１４に、給蒸の有無をオンオフで切り替える給蒸遮断弁１６と、開度調整可能な給蒸弁１７とを直列に備える。被処理物を加熱する殺菌工程では、給蒸弁１７の開度を固定した状態で、給蒸遮断弁１６の開閉を切り替える。殺菌工程前の昇温工程では、給蒸弁１７の開度を段階的に小さくするのがよい。【選択図】図１
