JP3199879B2 - Automatic fluid line connection and connection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a batch production method in, for example, a multi-product small-lot production, in which a large number of fluids are used.
Dispensing and distributing an arbitrary fluid to a specific tank / container, or dispensing / distributing a specific fluid by selecting an arbitrary tank / container from a large number of tanks and containers The present invention relates to a fluid line selective connection device.

[0002]

[Prior art and its problems] In recent years, demand has been diversified and individualized, and each company has responded to the broader needs of consumers who want products that are more individual and functional than conventional general-purpose products. In order to respond, the product concept is becoming more sophisticated, differentiating, and more sophisticated, and is trying to differentiate itself from other companies in order to find new demand. In order to respond to such social trends and demands, conventional small-volume, high-volume production cannot at all respond, and at present it is necessary to rely on a multi-variety, low-volume production system. As a result, as a matter of course, various types and brands of raw materials, auxiliary raw materials, etc. are prepared and mixed at a predetermined ratio, and especially in the fields of pharmaceuticals and foods,
Each time, it becomes necessary to clean the pipes, tanks, containers, and the like.

Conventionally, in this type of field, fixed connection between tanks is common, so that the laid pipes are complicated and diversified, and the operation and maintenance management becomes very complicated. Cleaning work is very difficult, and there is a problem in quality control due to contamination. Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a multi-way switching valve that has solved the above-mentioned problem (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-73471) and has already put it to practical use.

The above-described multi-way switching valve connects a specific pipe and an arbitrary pipe among a large number of pipes arranged around the pipe with a substantially U-shaped valve body. The apparatus using the multi-way switching valve is generally large-scale, and has a problem to be solved in that the operation is slightly time-consuming.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and dispenses or distributes a selected fluid from a large number of fluids to a specific tank or container by a simple operation. Dispensing and distributing a specific fluid to any selected tank / container among many tanks / containers,
Moreover own fluid passage which enables such as cleaning and drying of the pipe
It is intended to provide a dynamic selection connection device.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, an automatic selection and connection device for a fluid conduit according to the present invention is provided.
A base with the tip of one of the pipes facing the central opening, a pedestal disposed through the base and a required space, and a position corresponding to a circumference around the one of the pipes. A pedestal in which a large number of other pipes are inserted at equal angles, a vertically movable and rotatable block having a fluid flow passage provided in the space, and a rotating and fixing means for rotating and positioning the block. And primary connection means for raising the one pipe and connecting the one pipe and the other pipe through a fluid flow passage, and further tightly connecting the one pipe and the other pipe via a block And a secondary connection means for automatically connecting any one of a large number of other pipes to one of the plurality of pipes via a fluid flow passage.

[0007]

According to the fluid line selective connection device of the present invention, the receiving side piping faces the opening formed in the center of the base, and a base is provided above the base via a space, On the mount,
A number of supply-side pipes are inserted at positions corresponding to a circumference around the receiving-side pipe, and a block is formed in which a fluid flow passage that is vertically movable and rotatable is perforated in the space. Through the fluid flow passage, by arbitrarily selecting one from a number of supply-side pipes, by communicating the selected supply-side pipes and the receiving-side pipes, for example, selected from a number of raw materials Dispensing any raw material to a specific tank, etc.
It is possible to dispense, and conversely, it is also possible to dispense and dispense a specific raw material to any selected one of a large number of tanks.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a disc-shaped base, and an opening 2 is formed in the center of the base 1; A receiving side pipe 3 which can be moved up and down from below faces 2. 4,4, ...
.. Are a plurality of legs erected on the peripheral edge of the base 1, and a disk-shaped base 5 is fixed to the top of the legs 4, 4,. A large number of supply-side pipes 6, 6, 6,... Are fitted at equal angles at positions corresponding to a circumference centered on the opening 2 at the center of the supply pipe 1.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a driving unit housing case provided with a cover 7a provided substantially at the center of the gantry 5. A rotary actuator 8 is fixed to the cover 7a of the housing case 7, and a shaft end thereof is provided. Is provided with a moving arm 9 which is vertically bent and bent at a right angle. A gear moving cylinder 10 is fixedly provided at the tip of the hanging arm 9a of the moving arm 9, and a pin extended and retracted by the gear moving cylinder 10 is provided. Reference numeral 11 extends toward the inside of the driving unit housing case 7. Also, 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a gear fixing cylinder fixed to the side wall 7b of the driving unit housing case 7;
The pin 13 extended and retracted by the extension 2 extends toward the inside of the drive unit housing case 7.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an opening formed in the center of the gantry 5. The center of the opening 14 is located on the center line of the opening 2 of the base 1. A shaft 15 erected at an end of a block 18 described later is loosely fitted to the pin 15, a gear 16 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 15, and the pin 11 is extended and retracted by the gear moving cylinder 10 described above. The pin 13 extended and retracted by the gear fixing cylinder 12
Both can mesh with the gear 16. Therefore, the pin 13 of the gear fixing cylinder 12 and the gear 16
Gear moving cylinder 1 in a state where the meshing state with
When the rotary actuator 8 is operated by engaging the pin 11 with the gear 16 and operating the rotary actuator 8, the shaft 15 rotates by a predetermined angle. Is operated to extend the pin 13 to mesh with the gear 16, to stop the gear 16 and the shaft 15 without fail, and to rotate the shaft 15, re-activate the gear fixing cylinder 12 to retract the pin 13. At least pin 13
After the engagement between the gear 16 and the gear 16 is released, the gear 16, that is, the shaft 15 is rotated by the same operation as described above.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a substantially S-shaped bent fluid flow passage formed in a cylindrical block 18 formed with a diameter approximately half that of the gantry 5 and the base 1. 17 may be formed by drilling a hole at the end of the above-mentioned columnar block 18 on the upper and lower diagonal line and mechanically opening the hole to connect the hole up and down. The formed curved tube may be placed in a mold and the curved tube may be formed in a buried state. The fluid flow passage 17 is formed in the cylindrical block 18 so that the fluid flow passage 17 is in a reinforced state and is strong, and can be easily rotated in the horizontal direction. Then, the cylindrical block 18
The upper end and the lower end of the fluid flow passage 17 located on the upper and lower diagonal lines of the pipe end 17 have the same diameter as the supply pipe 6 and the reception pipe 3, respectively.
a, 17b, and a seal member 19 is attached to the pipe ends 17a, 17b.
When the supply pipes a and 17b are connected to the supply pipe 6 and the reception pipe 3, liquid leakage does not occur.

As described above, the shaft 15 which is loosely inserted into the central opening 14 of the gantry 5 and rotated by a predetermined angle by the rotary actuator 8 is loosely fitted to the upper end of the cylindrical block 18. A pipe end 17b on the lower end side of the fluid flow passage 17 drilled in the block 18
When the cylindrical block 18 is connected to the receiving pipe 3, the cylindrical block 18 rotates the shaft 15 by a predetermined angle, and the line connecting the shaft 15 and the receiving pipe 3, that is, one end side of the cylindrical block 18. The pipe end 17a on the upper surface side of the fluid flow passage 17 is rotated around the center so that it can be selectively connected to the supply-side pipes 6, 6,. The hole is opened.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a support suspended from the bottom of the base 1. A cylinder 21 is fixedly provided inside the upper part of the support 20, and the receiving side pipe 3 is connected to the cylinder 2
Since the cylinder 21 is formed as a single shaft, when the cylinder 21 is actuated, the receiving side pipe 3 moves up and down freely. Reference numeral 22 denotes a cylinder fixed to the lower end of the support 20. A semi-arc-shaped claw 23 is attached to the rod end of the cylinder 22, and stoppers 24 are attached to both sides of the outer wall of the receiving side pipe 3. It is. Therefore, when the receiving side pipe 3 and the supply side pipe 6 are communicated with each other through the fluid flow passage 17, the cylinder 21 is actuated to raise the receiving side pipe 3, and this rise causes the upper end of the receiving side pipe 3 to be in a circle. The column-shaped block 18 is brought into close contact with the pipe end 17b on the lower surface side of the fluid flow passage 17, and the receiving side pipe 3 is raised to push up the cylindrical block 18, so that the pipe end 17a on the upper surface side of the fluid flow passage 17 is formed. Is tightly connected to the lower end of the supply-side pipe 6.

Then, a cylinder 22 fixed to the lower end of the support 20 is actuated to extend the semicircular claw 23,
The tip of the semi-circular claw 23 bites into the bottom of the stopper 24 attached to the outer wall of the receiving side pipe 3 so that the receiving side pipe 3 is further raised slightly, and the receiving side pipe 3 and the columnar block 18 are pushed up. The block pipe 18 connects the open pipe end 17a on the upper surface side of the fluid flow passage 17 formed in the block 18 to the supply pipe 6 more physically and mechanically. The reason why the stopper 24 is attached to the outer wall of the receiving side pipe 3 is that the function of the cylinder 21 is suddenly reduced due to an unexpected accident, for example, a power failure, in addition to the above-mentioned reason. This is also to prevent the connection between the side pipe 6, the fluid flow passage 17 and the receiving side pipe 3 from being incomplete and causing liquid leakage or the like beforehand.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a flexible tube connected to the rear end of the receiving pipe 3, and the flexible tube 25 communicates with a specific tank or vessel. 26
Reference numerals a and 26b denote valves attached to the supply-side pipe 6 and the reception-side pipe 3, and the rear ends of the above-mentioned many supply-side pipes 6, 6, ... are all connected to tanks and tanks for the respective raw materials. Is what is being done.

The operation of this embodiment is as described above. For example, the operation will be described. For example, a large number of raw material / sub-material tanks are arranged on the second floor, and supply-side piping communicating with each tank is provided. 6, 6,... Are fitted on the gantry 5 at a position corresponding to a circumference centered on the receiving side pipe 3 on the gantry 5, while a tank, a container, a tank, etc. for receiving a fluid Is connected to a flexible tube 25 communicating with the receiving side pipe 3, and the tip of the receiving side pipe 3 faces the opening 2 formed in the center of the base.

A supply side pipe 6 and a fluid flow passage 17 for a material / sub-material arbitrarily selected from a large number of materials / sub-materials.
When connecting to the upper pipe end 17a, first, the side wall 7b of the drive unit housing case 7 provided on the gantry 5
By operating the gear fixing cylinder 12 fixed to the
After disengagement of the pin 11 from the gear 16, the gear moving cylinder 10 fixed to the tip of the hanging part of the moving arm 9 formed by bending the shaft tip of the rotary actuator 8 at a right angle is actuated. 16 and then actuate the rotary actuator 8 to rotate the shaft 15 on which the gear 16 is fixed. With the rotation of the shaft 15,
The cylindrical block 18 integrated with the shaft 15 is rotated so that the upper pipe end 17a of the fluid flow passage 17 formed in the cylindrical block 18 faces the lower end of the selected supply pipe 6. At this time, the pin 13 is extended by operating the gear fixing cylinder 12 fixed to the side wall 7b of the driving section housing case 27 so that the cylindrical block 18 does not move so that the pin 13 and the gear 16 mesh with each other. And fix the position. Therefore, the rotation of the cylindrical block 18
Positioning, as described above, rotary actuator
8 and rotation by the operation of the rotary actuator 8
A gear 16 to be driven and a shaft 1 fixed to the gear 16
5. Also, the pin 13 and the gear of the gear fixing cylinder 12
-16 and by means to engage
It is what is done.

As described above, the gear fixing cylinder 1
2 pin 13 and gear 16 mesh with each other to form a cylindrical block
18 is positioned and fixed, and subsequently, a cylinder 21 fixedly mounted inside a support 20 suspended from the bottom surface of the base 1 is operated to raise the receiving-side pipe 3, thereby pushing up the cylindrical block 18, and receiving the pipe. 3 and the pipe end 17b at the lower end of the fluid flow path 17, the pipe end 17a at the upper end of the fluid flow path 17 and the supply-side pipe 6, and the primary connection is completed. In this connection, since the seal members 19 are respectively attached to the pipe ends 17a and 17b of the fluid flow passage 17, no liquid leakage or the like occurs. The cylinder 22 fixed to the lower end of the support 20 is actuated to extend the semi-circular claw 23, and the tip of the semi-circular claw 23 is formed by the stopper 24 attached to the outer wall of the receiving side pipe 3. mechanical and physical increased the acceptance-side pipe 3 by cutting into the bottom. Thus the upper down secondary connection has a cylindrical block 18, the supply-side pipe 6, the tube end of the fluid flow passageway 17a, 17b and the receiving side pipe 3 are completely and tightly connected respectively.

Supply side pipe 6, pipe end 1 of fluid flow passage 17
When the connection of the receiving pipes 7a and 17b is completed, the fluid selected while being measured by a flow meter (not shown) passes through the supply pipe 6, the fluid flow passage 17, and the receiving pipe 3, and then enters a specific tank. Etc., and when the dispensing is completed, the valve 26
a and 26b are closed, the cylinder 22 fixed to the lower end of the support 20 is operated to retreat the semi-circular claw 23 from the stopper 24, and the cylinder 21 lowers the receiving side pipe 3.
As described above, when the receiving side pipe 3 is lowered, the fluid flow passage 17 formed in the cylindrical block 18 is also lowered together with the cylindrical block 18, and the upper pipe end 17a of the fluid flow path 17 and the supply side pipe The connection with the lower end of 6 is released.
Subsequently, when dispensing the second selected fluid, the gear fixing cylinder 1 fixed to the side wall 7b of the driving unit housing case 7 is used.
2 to release the engagement between the pin 13 and the gear 16,
After operating the gear moving cylinder 10 fixed to the hanging arm 9a of the moving arm 9 to engage the pin 11 and the gear 16, the rotary actuator 8 is operated to operate the upper part of the fluid flow passage 17 of the cylindrical block 18. The second selected fluid can be discharged by rotating the shaft 15 so that the pipe end 17a faces the second selected fluid supply-side pipe 6, and performing the same operation as described above. It is.

As described above, the fluid flow passage 17 is bored in the cylindrical block 18 and is integrated with the block 18, and the shaft 15 is provided upright at the end of the cylindrical block 18. The columnar block 18 is rotated about the shaft 15, and the receiving side pipe 3 is connected to the fluid passage 17.
The lower pipe end 17b of the fluid passage 17 is raised by the cylinder 21 while being connected to the lower pipe end 17b.
a and the lower end of the supply pipe 6 can be tightly connected. As described above, the supply side piping 6, 6,
.. Are inserted into the gantry 5 at equal angles at positions on the gantry 5 corresponding to the circumference around the receiving side pipe 3 facing the central opening 2 of the base 1. Things,
The central opening 2 of the base 1 and the central opening 14 of the gantry 5
Are located on the same vertical line, the supply side pipes 6, 6, 6,...
Is a shaft 1 that is loosely inserted into the central opening 14 of the gantry 5 described above.
The fluid flow passage 17 and the supply-side pipe 6 can be reliably connected by rotating the rotary actuator 8 at a predetermined angle.

When the fluid flow passage 17 and the receiving pipe 3 are to be cleaned, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the supply pipe 6 communicating with the cleaning liquid tank or the pipe branched from the supply pipe 6 and communicating with the cleaning liquid tank. 17, pressure feed to the receiving side piping 3,
Washing is possible by branching the washing liquid from the flexible tube 25 to the waste liquid tank or the pipe from the flexible tube 25 and communicating with the waste liquid tank.
By blowing dry air after washing, the fluid flow passage 17 and the like can be dried.

Since the rotary actuator, each cylinder, and the opening and closing of the valves are all controlled by the central control unit, the selected raw materials are automatically stored in a specific tank or the like by reading the identification numbers of a large number of raw materials and auxiliary raw material tanks. It can be paid out and distributed. In the present embodiment, the description has been given of dispensing an arbitrary raw material or the like selected from a large number of raw materials to a specific tank or the like. Payout to any of the tanks selected
It can also be distributed.

[0023]

The fluid pipe automatic selection and connection device according to the present invention is provided with a base in which the tip of one of the pipes faces the center opening, and the base and the required space are interposed. A gantry, a gantry in which a large number of other pipes are inserted at equal angles at positions corresponding to a circumference centered on the one pipe, and an elevating / lowering piercing a fluid flow passage provided in the space. A rotatable block, rotating / fixing means for rotating and positioning the block, and primary connecting means for raising the one pipe and connecting the one pipe and the other pipe via a fluid flow passage. Comprising secondary connection means for connecting the one pipe and the other pipe more tightly via a block,
One of the many other pipes and one of the many other pipes are automatically communicated via the fluid flow path, so that any supply-side pipe selected by the rotating / fixing means is provided. The lower end of the pipe and the pipe end on the upper surface side of the fluid flow passage are fixed facing each other, and the primary connection means is operated to operate the primary connection means and the upper end of the receiving pipe and the pipe end on the lower surface side of the fluid flow passage. And the lower end of the supply-side pipe and the pipe end on the upper surface side of the fluid flow path, respectively, and further, the secondary connection means is actuated, and the receiving-side pipe and the fluid flow path are connected via the block. And the supply side pipes are tightly connected to each other, so that no liquid leakage or the like occurs, and any raw material selected from a large number of raw materials is discharged and distributed to a specific tank, or a large number of specific raw materials are discharged. Can be paid and distributed to any of the tanks selected It can also be used to clean the fluid flow passages and pipes as necessary, and is suitable for multi-product small-lot production systems that handle a large number of raw materials, auxiliary materials, additives, etc. It is a connection device and does not have any concern about contamination despite using many raw materials.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of the entire fluid line selective connection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base 2, 14 Opening part 3 One pipe (receiving pipe) 5 Stand 6 The other pipe (supply pipe) 8 Rotary actuator 10 Gear moving cylinder 11 Pin 12 Gear fixing cylinder 13 Pin 15 Shaft 16 Gear 17 Fluid flow passage 18 blocks

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-73471 (JP, A) JP-A-51-84428 (JP, A) JP-A-46-7250 (JP, A) JP-A-2-304285 (JP, A) , A) Japanese Utility Model Hei 2-16869 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Sho 57-8954 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-14209 (JP, B1) Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-40664 (JP, B2) Japanese Public Utility Model 49-3546 (JP, Y1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16K 11/00-11/24

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A base having a front end portion of one of the pipes facing a central opening portion, a pedestal disposed via the base and a required space, and a circumference centered on the one of the pipes. And a base in which a large number of other pipes are inserted at equal angles into positions corresponding to the above, a vertically movable and rotatable block in which a fluid flow passage provided in the space is provided, and the block is rotated and positioned. Rotating / fixing means, primary connecting means for raising the one pipe and connecting the one pipe and the other pipe via a fluid flow passage, and connecting the one pipe and the other pipe via a block. And a secondary connection means for further tightly connecting the selected one of a large number of other pipes and one of the plurality of other pipes via a fluid flow passage. Automatic selection connection of pipeline