STERILIZER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilizer capable of improving a vacuum-reaching performance of a pressure reducing means, thereby a sterilization operating time is shortened. SOLUTION: The sterilizer performs an evacuating process whereby a high vacuum reachable pressure reducing means with vacuum reachability exceeding 15 Torr is set in an evacuating line 5 of a sterilizing tank 4 for housing a matter 3 to be sterilized and the high vacuum reachable pressure reducing means is operated housing the matter 3 to be sterilized into the sterilizing tank 4 to eliminate the air in the sterilizing tank 4, a sterilizing process whereby steam is introduced into the sterilizing tank 4 to perform sterilization, an exhaust process whereby steam is exhausted, a drying process whereby the high vacuum reachable pressure reducing means is operated to dry the matter 3 to be sterilized, and a pressure recovering process whereby pressure in the sterilizing tank 4 is recovered up to the atmospheric pressure. The degree of vacuum in the sterilizing tank 4 in the air rejecting and drying processes is heightened up to 5-15 Torr by the high vacuum reachable pressure reducing means. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT