JP6840380B2 - Cylinder unit and transfer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cylinder unit and a transport device.

Conventionally, as a cylinder unit for a transport device for transporting an object to be transported such as a liquid, a gas-liquid mixture, or a solid-liquid mixture, an inner cylinder portion and an inner cylinder portion which are elastically deformable and have a tubular shape. It is known that a pressurized space forming portion for forming a pressurized space in contact with the outer peripheral surface is provided between the outer peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a cylinder unit, the inner cylinder portion has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure in the pressurizing space is minimized by discharging the pressurizing medium, and the internal pressure is maximized and minimized by supplying the pressurizing medium. It is possible to operate between the maximum pressure state, in which the inner cylinder portion expands and deforms inward in the radial direction due to the increase in the internal pressure from the pressure state, and the inner space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion contracts. It is configured in. The transport device can contract the inner space and transport the object to be transported from the inside space to the outside by setting the inner cylinder portion to the maximum pressure state by the pressure control unit.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-174139

By the way, the above-mentioned cylinder unit has an object of, for example, to induce buckling at a predetermined position on the circumference of the inner cylinder portion to achieve stable radial inward expansion and deformation of the inner cylinder portion. The optimum shape and the like required for the inner cylinder portion in the minimum pressure state differ depending on the application and the like. However, it is not preferable to manufacture the inner cylinder portion having a different shape and structure for each cylinder unit having a different purpose and application from the viewpoint of manufacturing efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the cylinder unit and the cylinder unit, which can make the shape of the inner cylinder portion during operation desired regardless of the shape and structure of the inner cylinder portion itself. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transport device.

The cylinder unit according to the present invention is
The inner cylinder, which is elastically deformable and has a tubular shape,
A pressure space forming portion for forming a pressure space in contact with the outer peripheral surface is provided between the inner cylinder portion and the outer peripheral surface.
The inner cylinder portion has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space is minimized by discharging the pressurizing medium and a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure is maximized by supplying the pressurizing medium and is from the minimum pressure state. It is possible to operate between the maximum pressure state in which the inner cylinder portion expands and deforms inward in the radial direction due to the increase in the internal pressure, and the inner space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion contracts. Yes,
It is further provided with a shape regulating portion that has a contact portion that comes into contact with the inner cylinder portion at least in the minimum pressure state and changes the shape of the inner cylinder portion to a predetermined shape by the contact portion in the minimum pressure state. It is a feature.

Further, in the cylinder unit according to the present invention,
The shape regulating portion is composed of a plate-shaped ring portion having an opening into which the inner cylinder portion is inserted.
The outer peripheral edge of the opening preferably includes the contact portion.

Further, in the cylinder unit according to the present invention, it is preferable that the ring portion is arranged between both ends of the inner cylinder portion in the pressure space in the cylinder axis direction.

Further, in the cylinder unit according to the present invention,
The ring portion is arranged at at least one of both ends of the inner cylinder portion in the tubular axis direction in the pressurized space.
It is also preferable that the opening of the ring portion is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion over the entire circumference.

Further, in the cylinder unit according to the present invention,
The pressurized space forming portion forms a plurality of the pressurized spaces separated from each other.
Each portion of the inner cylinder portion surrounded by the plurality of pressurized spaces can operate between the minimum pressure state and the maximum pressure state.
The shape regulating portion has the contact portions that come into contact with the respective portions at least in the minimum pressure state, and changes the shape of the respective portions to the predetermined shape by the contact portions in the minimum pressure state. Is preferable.

Further, the transport device according to the present invention is
The cylinder unit according to the present invention and
It is characterized by including a pressure control unit that controls the supply of the pressure medium to the pressure space and the discharge of the pressure medium from the pressure space in the cylinder unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cylinder unit and a transport device capable of obtaining a desired shape of the inner cylinder portion during operation regardless of the shape and structure of the inner cylinder portion itself.

FIG. 1 (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cylinder unit and a transport device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (b) is a perspective view showing an inner member of the cylinder unit shown in FIG. 1 (a). 1 (c) is a perspective view showing an outer member of the tubular unit shown in FIG. 1 (a). 2 (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 (a), and FIGS. 2 (b) to 2 (d) are modifications of the tubular unit shown in FIG. 1 (a), respectively. It is sectional drawing which shows according to a). FIG. 3A is a vertical sectional view showing a cylinder unit and a transport device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a ring on an inner member of the cylinder unit shown in FIG. 3A. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the part, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3A. 4 (a) is a plan view of the ring portion shown in FIG. 3 (a), and FIGS. 4 (b) to 4 (d) are planes showing a modified example of the ring portion shown in FIG. 4 (a), respectively. It is a figure. 5 (a) is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a partial cross-sectional view of the tubular unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 5 (a). Yes, FIG. 5 (c) is a perspective view showing the elastic cylinder shown in FIG. 5 (b). 6 (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cylinder unit and a transport device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (b) is a DD cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 (a). 6 (c) is a perspective view of the cylinder unit shown in FIG. 6 (a). FIG. 7 (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a pump device configured by using the single cylinder unit shown in FIG. 1 (a), and FIG. 7 (b) is a cylinder shown in FIG. 1 (a). It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the pump device which is configured by using a plurality of units. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the cylinder unit and the transport device which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. 9 (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cylinder unit and a transport device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 (b) is a perspective view showing an inner cylinder portion shown in FIG. 9 (a). 9 (c) is a perspective view showing the pressurized space forming portion shown in FIG. 9 (a).

Hereinafter, the cylinder unit and the transport device according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in this specification, the cylinder axis direction of the inner cylinder part 2 means the direction along the cylinder axis O1 of the inner cylinder part 2. Further, the cylinder axis direction of the outer cylinder portion 3 means a direction along the cylinder axis O2 of the outer cylinder portion 3. In each embodiment, the cylinder axis O1 of the inner cylinder portion 2 and the cylinder axis O2 of the outer cylinder portion 3 are the same, but these cylinder axes O1 and O2 may not be the same. Further, "joining" is not limited to adhesion by adhesive or the like and fixing by welding or the like, but also includes fixing by screws, bolts, nuts, rivets or the like, or fixing by fitting or the like.

First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cylinder unit 1a and the transport device 1A according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1A, the cylinder unit 1a according to the present embodiment includes an inner cylinder portion 2 that is elastically deformable and has a cylindrical shape. The inner cylinder portion 2 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be a cylindrical shape. Further, the cylinder unit 1a includes a pressure space forming portion 6 that forms a pressure space 5 in contact with the outer peripheral surface 4 between the cylinder unit 1a and the outer peripheral surface 4. Further, the pressurizing space 5 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder portion 2 over the entire circumference. However, the pressurized space 5 may be in contact with the outer peripheral surface 4 over only a part of the entire circumference.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (b) to 1 (c), the cylinder unit 1a is made of, for example, rubber or soft, in which a pair of flange portions 7 are integrally formed at both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the cylinder axis direction. It includes an inner member 8 made of an elastic material such as a synthetic resin, and an outer member 9 made of a rigid material such as a hard synthetic resin or metal having a cylindrical outer cylinder portion 3. As shown in FIG. 1A, the pair of flange portions 7 and the outer cylinder portion 3 are fluidly tightly joined to each other, for example, fixed to each other. Therefore, the pressurized space forming portion 6 is composed of a pair of flange portions 7 of the inner member 8 and an outer cylinder portion 3 of the outer member 9.

It is not essential that the cylinder unit 1a is composed of such an inner member 8 and an outer member 9. For example, the pair of flange portions 7 and the inner cylinder portion 2 may be configured as separate members. Further, the pair of flange portions 7 may be formed integrally with the outer member 9, and may be further formed of the same rigid material as the outer member 9. Further, the outer member 9 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or a soft synthetic resin. Further, the cylinder unit 1a may be configured by joining the outer cylinder portion 3 and the inner cylinder portion 2 so as to be in close contact with each other at both ends in the axial direction of the cylinder without providing a pair of flange portions 7. Good. In this case, the pressurized space forming portion 6 is composed of the outer cylinder portion 3. Further, in this case, it is preferable to provide a continuous peripheral groove on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 3 over the entire circumference, and by providing such a peripheral groove, the operating speed of the inner cylinder portion 2 by the pressurizing medium. Can be enhanced. Further, in this case, the outer cylinder portion 3 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be a cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the outer cylinder portion 3 has a radial rigidity that does not substantially expand and deform radially outward when the pressurizing medium is supplied to the pressurizing space 5. The outer cylinder portion 3 may be configured to be bendable and deformable in a direction orthogonal to its central axis O2. For example, the outer cylinder portion 3 may be configured such that a fiber cord woven into a sleeve shape is embedded in an elastic material such as rubber or a soft synthetic resin. According to such a configuration, the transport direction of the object to be transported can be bent in a desired direction.

The inner cylinder portion 2 has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5 is minimized by discharging the pressurizing medium, and the internal pressure is maximized by supplying the pressurizing medium, and the internal pressure is maximized by supplying the pressurizing medium. The inner cylinder portion 2 expands and deforms inward in the radial direction due to an increase in the internal pressure (see the inner cylinder portion 2 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1 (a)), and is formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion 2. It is possible to operate between the maximum pressure state in which the inner space 11 is contracted. Here, the state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5 is minimized when the inner cylinder portion 2 operates is the minimum pressure state, and the magnitude of the internal pressure in this minimum pressure state can be appropriately set. it can. Further, the state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5 is maximized when the inner cylinder portion 2 operates is the maximum pressure state, and the magnitude of the internal pressure in this maximum pressure state can be appropriately set. .. As the pressurizing medium, any fluid such as gas such as air and carbon dioxide and liquid such as water and oil may be used.

The transport device 1A is composed of the cylinder unit 1a and the pressure control unit 10. The pressure control unit 10 supplies the pressurizing medium to the pressurizing space 5 (see the downward arrow in FIG. 1A) and discharges the pressurizing medium from the pressurizing space 5 (in FIG. 1A). (See up arrow) and can be controlled. Further, the pressure control unit 10 can be composed of, for example, a pressure generation source such as a compressor, a flow path forming unit such as a pipe, and a flow path switching valve.

Further, the cylinder unit 1a includes a shape regulating unit 12. The shape regulating portion 12 has a contact portion 13 that contacts the inner cylinder portion 2 at least in the minimum pressure state, and is configured to change the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 to a predetermined shape by the contact portion 13 in the minimum pressure state. ing. Here, "changing" the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 by the contact portion 13 means "changing the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 when the contact portion 13 is not in contact with the inner cylinder portion 2". Means that. Further, the "predetermined shape" is preferably a non-cylindrical shape.

In the present embodiment, the shape regulating portion 12 is composed of four convex portions 14 provided in the pressurized space forming portion 6. The four convex portions 14 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder portion 3, and each project from the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 3 toward the inside in the radial direction of the outer cylinder portion 3. There is. In this example, the four convex portions 14 are integrally formed with the outer cylinder portion 3. The contact portion 13 composed of the tip portions thereof contacts the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the minimum pressure state. The inner cylinder portion 2, which has a cylindrical shape in the natural state before being deformed by the contact portion 13, has a star-shaped cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 2A by the shape regulating portion 12 in the minimum pressure state. It is elastically deformed to form a tubular shape including it. That is, in the minimum pressure state, the cross-sectional shape of both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the cylinder axis direction is circular, and the cross-sectional shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 gradually becomes star-shaped toward a predetermined position between both ends in the cylinder axis direction. It is deformed smoothly like this. Therefore, by changing from the minimum pressure state to the maximum pressure state, the inner cylinder portion 2 is located between the contact portions 13 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2 (a). It can be expanded and deformed starting from the four creases.

The shape regulating portion 12 is not limited to the one formed by the four convex portions 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 (c) and 2 (a). For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), it may be composed of three convex portions 15, or as shown in FIG. 2 (c), it may be composed of two convex portions 16. As shown in (c), it may be composed of one convex portion 17 or may be composed of four or more convex portions. The alternate long and short dash lines shown in FIGS. 2 (b) to 2 (d) indicate the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the maximum pressure state. When the shape regulating portion 12 is composed of a plurality of convex portions, it is preferable that the plurality of convex portions are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder portion 3. Further, when the shape regulating portion 12 is composed of a plurality of or a single convex portion, the shape of the convex portion can be changed as appropriate. Further, the material and structure of the convex portion can be changed as appropriate. The convex portion is made of the same material integrally with the outer member 9, and is therefore made of a rigid material, but may be made of an elastic material. Further, for example, a coil spring may be arranged in the radial intermediate portion of the outer cylinder portion 3 in the convex portion to urge the contact portion 13 inward in the radial direction. Further, for example, a coil spring may be arranged instead of the convex portion. As described above, the shape regulating portion 12 is not limited to a rigid body, but may be formed of an elastic body.

Further, the shape regulating portion 12 is not limited to the one formed by such a convex portion. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c) and FIG. 4 (a), in the cylinder unit 1b according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the shape regulating portion 12 is composed of the ring portion 18. The ring portion 18 has a plate shape having an opening 19 into which the inner cylinder portion 2 is inserted. The outer peripheral edge of the opening 19 includes a contact portion 20. The contact portion 20 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the minimum pressure state. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the contact portion 20 includes a portion separated from the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the maximum pressure state. The alternate long and short dash line shown in FIG. 3A shows the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the maximum pressure state. As shown in FIG. 3, the ring portion 18 is arranged between both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the tubular axis direction. The shape of the opening 19 of the ring portion 18 is not limited to the star shape shown in FIGS. 3 (b), 3 (c) and 4 (a), and is shown in, for example, FIGS. 4 (b) to 4 (c). The shape may be such that it can be changed as appropriate. The ring portion 18 is made of a rigid material such as a hard synthetic resin or a metal, but may be made of an elastic material such as a rubber or a soft synthetic resin. The ring portion 18 is configured as a separate member from the inner cylinder portion 2 and the outer cylinder portion 3, but may be provided integrally with the outer cylinder portion 3, for example. In this case, it is preferable that the ring portion 18 is appropriately provided with a through hole through which the pressure medium can pass. Further, instead of such a ring portion 18, for example, a plurality of ball-shaped members arranged at intervals (for example, equal intervals) in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder portion 2 and the plurality of ball-shaped members are penetrated. The shape regulating portion 12 may be formed by an annular member that presses the plurality of ball-shaped members against the inner cylinder portion 2 at least in a minimum pressure state. The annular member may be stretchable in the circumferential direction, such as a rubber band, or may not have such stretchability.

5 (a) to 5 (c) show the cylinder unit 1c according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the shape regulating unit 12 is composed of an elastic cylinder 21 made of an elastic material such as rubber or a soft synthetic resin. The elastic cylinder 21 included in the cylinder unit 1c according to the present embodiment has a contact portion 22 that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion 2 at least in the minimum pressure state, and the inner cylinder portion is provided by the contact portion 22 in the minimum pressure state. It is configured to change the shape of 2 into a predetermined shape (in this example, a tubular shape including a star-shaped cross-sectional shape). Then, the elastic cylinder 21 is elastically deformed together with the inner cylinder portion 2 due to the increase in the internal pressure of the pressure space 5, and the inner space 11 can be contracted. The shape, size, elasticity, etc. of the elastic cylinder 21 can be appropriately set according to the shape required for the inner cylinder portion 2. Further, the elastic tubular body 21 can be joined to the inner peripheral surface of the inner tubular portion 2 via the contact portion 22 over the entire circumference or only a part of the entire circumference. Further, the elastic cylinder 21 may have a size sufficiently larger than that of the inner cylinder portion 2 and may be press-fitted into the inner cylinder portion 2 to be assembled, thereby omitting the joining. Further, the elastic cylinder 21 may be assembled to the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder portion 2. In this case as well, the elastic tubular body 21 may be joined to the inner tubular portion 2 as necessary. The alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5B shows the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the natural state.

When the shape regulating portion 12 is provided between both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the cylindrical axis direction as in the various specific examples described above, the inner cylinder portion 2 formed in a highly versatile cylindrical shape is provided. In the minimum pressure state, the cross-sectional shape of both ends in the cylinder axis direction (cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis) is circular, and the cross-sectional shape gradually becomes a predetermined position between both ends in the cylinder axis direction. It can be elastically deformed so as to form a deformed cylindrical shape that is smoothly deformed so as to be non-circular. By deforming the inner cylinder portion 2 into such a deformed cylindrical shape, it is possible to easily expand and deform the inner cylinder portion 2 so as to contract the inner space 11 by increasing the internal pressure of the pressurizing space 5. At the same time, the operation can be stabilized so that the method of expansion and deformation is always substantially constant, and thus the transport characteristics can be stabilized. Further, since both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the direction of the cylinder axis have a circular cross-sectional shape, it can be used by directly connecting to a pipe having a cylindrical shape in general, thus ensuring convenience. be able to. It is conceivable to form the inner cylinder portion 2 into a deformed cylindrical shape as described above from the beginning, but it is better to deform the inner cylinder portion 2 into a deformed cylindrical shape by using the shape regulating portion 12 as in the present embodiment. Since the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 can be used, the manufacturing efficiency can be improved. That is, the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 during operation can be desired regardless of the shape and structure of the inner cylinder portion 2 itself. Further, by forming the shape regulating portion 12 with the ring portion 18 as described above, it is possible to facilitate the arrangement of the shape regulating portion 12 with respect to the inner cylinder portion 2.

The inner cylinder portion 2 is not limited to the one having a cylindrical shape in a natural state before being deformed by the contact portion 13 of the shape regulating portion 12. Further, the inner cylinder portion 2 may have a cylindrical shape or other tubular shape in a natural state, and may have a shape provided with a convex portion (not shown) that locally protrudes inward in the radial direction. .. For example, by arranging such a convex portion at each circumferential position where the inner cylinder portion 2 is most projected inward in the radial direction when the inner cylinder portion 2 is expanded and deformed so as to contract the inner space 11. When the maximum pressure is reached, the central portion of the inner space 11 can be easily closed by these convex portions. Further, the inner cylinder portion 2 may have, for example, a groove or a ridge extending in the direction of the cylinder axis or the like.

6 (a) to 6 (c) show the cylinder unit 1d according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the shape regulating portions 12 are provided at both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the pressurizing space 5 in the tubular axis direction, and the ring portions described above are provided. It has the same configuration as 18. That is, instead of the pair of flange portions 7 provided at both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the tubular axis direction, a pair of ring portions 23 as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C are provided. .. Each of the pair of ring portions 23 has an opening 24 into which the inner cylinder portion 2 is inserted. The outer peripheral edge of the opening 24 of the pair of ring portions 23 includes a contact portion 25, respectively. The contact portions 25 of the pair of ring portions 23 are fluidly tightly joined, for example, fixed to the outer peripheral surface 4 of the inner cylinder portion 2 over the entire circumference. The pair of ring portions 23 are integrally formed with the outer cylinder portion 3 in this example. The shape of the opening 24 of the pair of ring portions 23 is not limited to the star shape shown in FIG. 6 (b), and may be the shape shown in FIGS. 4 (b) to 4 (d) above. It can be changed as appropriate. The pair of ring portions 23 are made of a rigid material such as a hard synthetic resin or a metal, but may be made of an elastic material such as a rubber or a soft synthetic resin. The shape regulating portion 12 may be provided only on one of both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the pressurizing space 5 in the tubular axis direction. In this case as well, the shape regulating portion 12 can be composed of the ring portion 23. Further, the shape regulating portion 12 may have a shape different between one of both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the pressurizing space 5 in the tubular axis direction and the other (for example, one is substantially triangular and the other). Is a star shape, etc.). Even when the shape regulating portions 12 are provided at both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the pressurizing space 5 in the tubular axis direction as in the present embodiment, the inner cylinder portion 2 itself is not affected by the shape and structure of the inner cylinder portion 2 itself during operation. The shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 of the above can be desired. In the present embodiment, the outer cylinder portion 3 may be provided with a support portion that supports the middle portion in the cylinder axis direction of the inner cylinder portion 2. For example, by providing such a support portion on the bottom surface side of the inner cylinder portion 2, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of slack in the inner cylinder portion 2 due to the weight of the object to be transported. Further, by providing such a support portion continuously or intermittently over the entire circumference, for example, the shape of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the minimum pressure state of the middle portion in the tubular axis direction is changed to a predetermined shape (that is,). Such a support portion may be provided as an additional shape regulation portion). The shape of the support portion is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a ridge extending in the tubular axis direction or the circumferential direction, or a protrusion extending inward in the radial direction. Further, the ring portion as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be used. Further, for example, it may be a rod-shaped member (shaft or the like) extending in the direction of the cylinder axis. Further, not only on the bottom surface side of the inner cylinder portion 2, but also at any one or more places in the circumferential direction, for example, a rod-shaped member (shaft or the like) extending in the cylinder axis direction is provided as a shape regulating portion, and the inner cylinder portion 2 during operation is provided. It may be configured to have a desired shape. Such a rod-shaped member may extend, for example, in a spiral shape.

The cylinder units 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, etc. as described above (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "cylinder unit 1a, etc.") can be used, for example, to form a pump device or a mixing device. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the tubular bodies T serving as passages for the objects to be transported are connected to both ends of the inner space 11 of the tubular unit 1a and the like in the tubular axis direction, and both of these tubular bodies. A pump device can be configured by disposing a check valve V in each T, which allows the passage of the object to be transported to one side in the tubular axis direction while blocking the passage to the other side. In this case, the inner cylinder portion 2 of the cylinder unit 1a or the like is deformed so that the inner space 11 contracts due to the pressurization by the pressure control unit 10, so that the object to be conveyed is conveyed to one side in the cylinder axis direction. Can be done. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, a plurality of cylinder units 1a and the like are prepared, these are connected in the direction of the cylinder axis, and pressure is sequentially applied by providing a time difference between adjacent cylinder units 1a and the like. By doing so, the inner space 11 can be sequentially contracted to transport the object to be transported. According to the transfer by such a peristaltic motion, in particular, a solid-liquid mixture such as a slurry or a powder can be smoothly conveyed. Further, at least one of both end faces in the axial direction of the cylinder unit 1a or the like may be inclined with respect to the central axis lines O1 and O2, and various such inclined cylinder units 1a and the like may be connected and used in various ways. A shape transport path can be formed. Further, the shape of the shape regulating portion 12 may be different between the cylinder units 1a and the like to be connected (for example, one is substantially triangular and the other is star-shaped).

Further, the pump device configured as described above can also function as a mixing device because the object to be transported is crushed as the object to be transported is conveyed. That is, for example, when a solid-liquid mixture is used as the object to be transported, mixing of a solid and a liquid can be promoted, and when a plurality of types of liquids, solid-liquid mixtures, powders, etc. are used, Mixing them can be promoted. When the mixing device is configured by the tubular unit 1a or the like as described above, it is preferable that the flow path of the object to be transported forms an annular shape (that is, forms a circulation path). Alternatively, both ends of the flow path of the transported object penetrating the plurality of interconnected tubular units 1a and the like can be blocked, and the transported object can be closed at one end of the flow path and the like while both ends of the flow path are closed. It may be transported so as to reciprocate with the end portion. Further, even if a single cylinder unit 1a or the like is used and both ends of the inner cylinder portion 2 in the cylinder axis direction are closed, the substances in the inner space 11 are mixed by operating the inner cylinder portion 2. Good.

Examples of the object to be transported to the cylinder unit 1a or the like as described above include a liquid substance, a gas-liquid mixture, a solid-liquid mixture, or a fluid substance such as powder. However, the tubular unit 1a and the like can also be configured so that a rod-shaped object having a length exceeding the length of the inner space 11 can be conveyed. For example, in the cylinder unit 1a and the like, the inner cylinder portion 2 and the like have both the inner cylinder portion 2 and the outer cylinder portion 3 contractible in the direction of the cylinder axis, that is, by pressurizing the pressurizing space 5. As the outer cylinder portion 3 expands and deforms radially inward and the outer cylinder portion 3 expands and deforms radially outward, both the inner cylinder portion 2 and the outer cylinder portion 3 contract and deform in the tubular axis direction. It may be configured. As an example of such a thing, the cylinder unit 1e according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. According to the tubular unit 1e according to the present embodiment, when the pressurizing space 5 is pressurized, the length of the tubular unit 1e in the tubular axis direction can be contracted as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Therefore, if one end of the cylinder unit 1e in the cylinder axis direction is fixed, even a rod-shaped object as described above can be conveyed from one end side to the other end side of the cylinder unit 1e in the cylinder axis direction. It will be possible. Further, in the cylinder unit 1a or the like as described above, when both the inner cylinder portion 2 and the outer cylinder portion 3 are configured to have shrinkage in the direction of the cylinder axis, a highly viscous liquid is particularly advantageous. Can be transported. In order to obtain the contractility as described above, for example, one of the outer cylinder portion 3 and the inner cylinder portion 2 extends inside the elastic tubular body in the tubular axis direction of the elastic tubular body. The outer cylinder portion 3 and the inner cylinder portion 2 are formed of an elastic tubular body having a fiber reinforced structure in the axial direction of the cylinder in which the fiber cord of the above is embedded, while the other of the outer cylinder portion 3 and the inner cylinder portion 2 is an elastic tubular body having no such fiber reinforced structure. It may consist of the body. Both the outer cylinder portion 3 and the inner cylinder portion 2 may be formed of an elastic tubular body reinforced with fibers in the axial direction of the cylinder. Further, at least one of the inner cylinder portion 2 and the outer cylinder portion 3 is replaced with such an elastic tubular body reinforced with fibers in the axial direction, and a fiber cord in which the outer side of the elastic tubular body is woven into a sleeve shape is used. It may be composed of a covered elastic tubular body reinforced with sleeve-shaped fibers. On the other hand, in the cylinder unit 1a or the like described above, when the outer cylinder portion 3 is formed of a rigid body having no shrinkage as described above, the powder can be conveyed particularly advantageously. In this case, the inner cylinder portion 2 may be formed of an elastic tubular body having no fiber reinforced structure, but the elastic tubular body of the tubular axial direction fiber reinforced type or the sleeve-shaped fiber reinforced type as described above may be used. It may be composed of an elastic tubular body.

Further, the tubular units 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e and the like as described above may have a configuration having a plurality of pressurizing spaces 5. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the pressure space forming portions 26 included in the cylinder unit 1f according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention are pressed by a plurality of (two in the case of the drawing). The space 5 is formed, and each portion of the inner cylinder portion 2 surrounded by the plurality of pressurized spaces 5 can operate between the minimum pressure state and the maximum pressure state. The pressure control unit 27 can operate the inner cylinder unit 2 between the minimum pressure state and the maximum pressure state by controlling the internal pressures of the plurality of pressure spaces 5 respectively. Further, the shape regulating portion 28 has a contact portion 29 that contacts the respective portions at least in the minimum pressure state, and the contact portion 29 changes the shape of the respective portions into a predetermined shape in the minimum pressure state. is there. Specifically, the pressurized space forming portion 26 is composed of a cylindrical outer cylinder portion 3, a pair of flange portions 7 provided at both ends of the outer cylinder portion 3 in the tubular axis direction, and a pair of flange portions 7. It is provided with a partition wall portion 30 provided between them. The pair of flange portions 7 and the partition wall portion 30 may be integrally formed with the outer cylinder portion 3. The pair of flange portions 7 and the partition wall portion 30 are fluidly tightly joined to, for example, fixed to the inner cylinder portion 2. According to such a cylinder unit 1f, the object to be transported can be conveyed in the same manner as in the case of the pump device including the plurality of cylinder units 1a shown in FIG. 7B. In addition, in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the convex portion 14 is shown as the shape regulating portion 28, but instead of the convex portion 14, the above-mentioned convex portions 15, 16 and 17, and the ring portion 18 and the like are described. , Elastic cylinder 21 and the like may be used. Further, the shape regulating unit 28 may be arranged between both ends in the cylinder axis direction as shown in FIG. 9A, or may be arranged at both ends in the cylinder axis direction with respect to each of the above parts. You may. Further, as in the case of the cylinder unit 1e shown in FIG. 8, even in the cylinder unit 1f, both the inner cylinder portion 2 and the outer cylinder portion 3 may be configured to have contractility in the cylinder axis direction. Good.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the above description is merely an example of the present invention, and various modifications may be made as long as the gist of the invention is not deviated. For example, the shape regulating unit may be provided both between both ends in the tubular axis direction in the pressurized space and at least one of both ends in the tubular axis direction in the pressurized space. Further, with respect to FIGS. 2, 4 and the like, various forms of shape regulating portions that deform the inner cylinder portion in the minimum pressure state are shown, but as described above, these do not necessarily have to be rigid bodies. By using an elastic body, for example, by maintaining a state in which a force is applied from the outside in the radial direction, although the inner cylinder portion is apparently hardly deformed, the inner cylinder portion can be pressed when the pressure is applied to the pressure space. It is possible to easily cause expansion and deformation inward in the radial direction, change the method of expansion and deformation (shape at the time of deformation), and of course, keep the inner space wide in the minimum pressure state, and carry and mix. Efficiency can be increased. Further, the shape and size of the pressurized space in the minimum pressure state can be variously changed. By reducing the volume of the pressurizing space, the amount of the pressurizing medium used for operating the inner cylinder portion can be reduced, and the operating speed of the inner cylinder portion can be improved. In order to reduce the volume of the pressurized space, for example, the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion may be configured to follow the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion in the minimum pressure state. .. For example, in the minimum pressure state, when the inner cylinder portion is deformed by the ring portion into a substantially triangular shape as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the outer shape of the ring portion and the shape of the outer cylinder portion around the ring portion. May also be configured to form a substantially triangular shape. With such a configuration, for example, when a plurality of transport devices are arranged in parallel, they can be arranged densely, and space can be saved. Further, in a pump device or a mixing device having a plurality of pressure spaces separated from each other, for example, a plurality of shape regulating portions shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B may be arranged in different phases. For example, the shape restricting portions shown in FIG. 4A may be arranged in adjacent pressurized spaces with their phases shifted by 45 ° from each other. According to such a configuration, the inner cylinder portion 2 can be effectively deformed, and the transport efficiency can be improved. When the shape regulating portion shown in FIG. 4B is used instead of the shape regulating portion shown in FIG. 4 (a) and the phase is shifted by 180 ° or 30 °, the powder transport speed is particularly high. Can be improved. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the phase of the shape regulating portion on one end side and the shape regulating portion on the other end side in the cylinder axis direction may be shifted by 45 ° from each other. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the shape regulating portion had a star shape, but it was changed to a substantially triangular shape as shown in FIG. 4 (b), and the phases were shifted by 180 ° or 30 ° from each other. It may be configured as such.

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f Cylinder unit 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F Conveyor 2 Inner cylinder 3 Outer cylinder (pressurized space forming part)
4 Outer peripheral surface of inner cylinder 5 Pressurized space 6, 26 Pressurized space forming part 7 Flange part (pressurized space forming part)
8 Inner member 9 Outer member 10, 27 Pressure control unit 11 Inner space 12, 28 Shape regulation unit 13, 20, 22, 25, 29 Contact part 14, 15, 16, 17 Convex part 18, 23 Ring part 19, 24 Opening Part 21 Elastic cylinder 30 Partition part (pressurized space forming part)
O1 Cylinder axis of inner cylinder O2 Cylinder axis of outer cylinder T Tube V Check valve

Claims (8)

The inner cylinder, which is elastically deformable and has a tubular shape,
A pressure space forming portion for forming a pressure space in contact with the outer peripheral surface is provided between the inner cylinder portion and the outer peripheral surface.
The inner cylinder portion has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space is minimized by discharging the pressurizing medium and a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure is maximized by supplying the pressurizing medium and is from the minimum pressure state. It is possible to operate between the maximum pressure state in which the inner cylinder portion expands and deforms inward in the radial direction due to the increase in the internal pressure, and the inner space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion contracts. Yes,
At least in the minimum pressure state, the inner cylinder portion has a contact portion that comes into contact with the inner cylinder portion, and in the minimum pressure state, the shape of the inner cylinder portion is changed from a cylindrical shape in a natural state to a non-cylindrical predetermined shape. A cylinder unit characterized by further having a shape regulating unit that changes the shape. The shape regulating portion is composed of a plate-shaped ring portion having an opening into which the inner cylinder portion is inserted.
The tubular unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral edge of the opening includes the contact portion. The cylinder unit according to claim 2, wherein the ring portion is arranged between both ends of the inner cylinder portion in the pressure space in the direction of the cylinder axis. The ring portion is arranged at at least one of both ends of the inner cylinder portion in the tubular axis direction in the pressurized space.
The cylinder unit according to claim 2, wherein the opening of the ring portion is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion over the entire circumference. The inner cylinder, which is elastically deformable and has a tubular shape,
A pressure space forming portion for forming a pressure space in contact with the outer peripheral surface is provided between the inner cylinder portion and the outer peripheral surface.
The inner cylinder portion has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space is minimized by discharging the pressurizing medium and a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure is maximized by supplying the pressurizing medium and is from the minimum pressure state. It is possible to operate between the maximum pressure state in which the inner cylinder portion expands and deforms inward in the radial direction due to the increase in the internal pressure, and the inner space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion contracts. Yes,
Shape regulation that has a contact portion that comes into contact with the inner cylinder portion at least in the minimum pressure state, and changes the shape of the inner cylinder portion from a natural shape to a predetermined shape by the contact portion in the minimum pressure state. With more parts
The shape regulating portion is composed of a plate-shaped ring portion having an opening into which the inner cylinder portion is inserted.
The outer peripheral edge of the opening includes the contact portion.
The ring portion is arranged at at least one of both ends of the inner cylinder portion in the tubular axis direction in the pressurized space.
A cylinder unit, wherein the opening of the ring portion is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion over the entire circumference. The inner cylinder, which is elastically deformable and has a tubular shape,
A pressure space forming portion for forming a pressure space in contact with the outer peripheral surface is provided between the inner cylinder portion and the outer peripheral surface.
The inner cylinder portion has a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure of the pressurizing space is minimized by discharging the pressurizing medium and a minimum pressure state in which the internal pressure is maximized by supplying the pressurizing medium and is from the minimum pressure state. It is possible to operate between the maximum pressure state in which the inner cylinder portion expands and deforms inward in the radial direction due to the increase in the internal pressure, and the inner space formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion contracts. Yes,
Shape regulation that has a contact portion that comes into contact with the inner cylinder portion at least in the minimum pressure state, and changes the shape of the inner cylinder portion from a natural shape to a predetermined shape by the contact portion in the minimum pressure state. With more parts
The shape regulating portion is composed of a plate-shaped ring portion having an opening into which the inner cylinder portion is inserted.
The outer peripheral edge of the opening includes the contact portion.
The cylinder unit is characterized in that the ring portion is arranged between both ends of the inner cylinder portion in the pressure space in the cylinder axis direction. The pressurized space forming portion forms a plurality of the pressurized spaces separated from each other.
Each portion of the inner cylinder portion surrounded by the plurality of pressurized spaces can operate between the minimum pressure state and the maximum pressure state.
The shape-regulating portion has the contact portions that come into contact with the respective portions at least in the minimum pressure state, and the contact portions change the shape of the respective portions from the shape in the natural state in the minimum pressure state. The tubular unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , which is to be changed into a predetermined shape. The cylinder unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and the cylinder unit.
A transport device including a pressure control unit that controls supply of a pressure medium to the pressure space in the cylinder unit and discharge of the pressure medium from the pressure space.

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