JPH074588B2 - Flexible container cleaning method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a flexible container used for storing powder or granular material (hereinafter referred to as powder, etc.) and its apparatus.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PROBLEMS THEREOF Materials (vinyl chloride powder, polyolefin powder, etc.) or grains for forming resin molded products are in the form of powder or granules, but they are stored and transported. Has
Conventionally, flexible containers have been used.

As shown in FIG. 2, this flexible container C is
A tubular body 1 formed of a relatively flexible and deformable sheet material such as polyvinyl chloride or rubber,
The upper and lower ends of the body 1 are released, and the upper and lower openings 2
The a and 2b can be opened and closed by binding members 3a and 3b such as strings. This is to facilitate the work of putting the powder or the like into the flexible container C and the work of discharging the powder.

Therefore, the opening 2a on the upper end side is relatively roughly bound as shown in FIG. 3, and the opening 2b on the lower end side does not leak the stored powder or the like as shown in FIG. As you can see, they are united in a relatively fine manner.

When the flexible container C is used to store the powder W or the like, as shown in FIG. 5, the opening 2b on the lower end side remains bound, and the binding member 3a on the opening 2a on the upper end side is attached. To release the powder W and the like inside, after unwinding and opening the opening 2a, as shown in FIG. 6, untie the binding member 3b on the lower end side and open the opening 2b. The lifting members 4a and 4b provided on the upper end side are opened and hung on the hooks 5 of the crane to lift them.

Then, when this discharge is completed, the flexible container C stores the next new powder W and the like, but in this case, it must be washed in order to prevent foreign matter from entering.

As a conventional cleaning method, after the adhered powder or the like is dropped and dropped, a large number of flexible containers C are collectively put into a horizontal-type washing machine,
It is a method of washing with water. For example, 16 bags are put in a rotary tank all together, and then the rotary tank is rotated for about 30 to 40 minutes in a state of being filled with water, followed by washing with water.

However, in such a method, the flexible container C cannot be sufficiently washed, and there is a possibility that the powder or the like in the internal pre-process may remain. In order to completely remove such a residue, it is necessary to repeat washing a number of times (even if it is a resin or the like, it cannot be completely removed), which is disadvantageous in terms of cost and work efficiency. There is. In particular, it is extremely difficult to completely remove the powder or the like, because the powder or the like may be redeposited during the rinsing. Also, since the cleaning equipment is of a horizontal type, a large space is required.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the problems associated with the prior art as described above, in which the inside and outside of the flexible container can be completely washed, and the mixing of foreign matter is almost completely prevented,
An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning method and a cleaning device for a flexible container, which can perform a cleaning operation easily and quickly and is advantageous in terms of maintenance cost or space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method for cleaning a flexible container according to the present invention is a flexible container having openings at the upper and lower ends of a tubular body, the upper end opening of which is connected to an air supply part, and the lower end opening of which is slightly slack on a support plate. It is also possible that the inner surface of the flexible container is cleaned by injecting a cleaning liquid from an internal cleaning nozzle inserted into the flexible container while abutting and inflating the flexible container by introducing air from the air supply unit.

With this configuration, since the inside of the bag is cleaned by the cleaning nozzle in the state where the flexible container is inflated, foreign matter can be removed almost completely even if the flexible containers are individually cleaned.

In the method for cleaning a flexible container according to the present invention, water and / or a chemical solution may be used as the cleaning liquid, which makes it possible to deal with various powders and the like, and it is possible to completely remove foreign matter.

The cleaning of the flexible container cleaning method according to the present invention may be performed by cyclically performing water cleaning, chemical cleaning, and rinsing.

The cleaning method for a flexible container according to the present invention may be performed by attaching the flexible container to the air supply unit using a binding member for the flexible container.

A flexible container cleaning device according to the present invention includes a housing whose lower part is closed by a filter-like support plate,
An air supply portion provided in the housing and having an air outlet for mounting a flexible container at the lower end, an internal cleaning nozzle penetrating through the air outlet, and an air blown from the air supply portion. An elevating mechanism for respectively elevating and lowering the internal cleaning nozzle with respect to the expanded flexible container is provided.

According to this cleaning device, since the lower part has the housing closed by the filter-like support plate, when a flexible container is put in the inside and inflated with air,
The flexible container can be inflated easily because it is sealed with the lower end in contact with the support plate.

Further, even when cleaning is performed on the inflated flexible container, wrinkles and the like are less likely to occur on the flexible container, and it is possible to clean the details, and more complete cleaning is possible.

Further, since the apparatus itself is provided with the air supply unit, the internal cleaning nozzle, and the lifting mechanism in the housing, the entire apparatus becomes compact, which is advantageous in terms of space.

Further, if the control device controls the cleaning liquid to be sprayed from the internal cleaning nozzle after the flexible container is inflated, the cleaning work can be performed semi-automatically.
The convenience will be great.

If this control device is used to perform the washing with water, the washing with a chemical solution and the rinsing in a cycle, the convenience of the washing work will be further enhanced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a method and an apparatus for cleaning a flexible container according to the present invention will be specifically described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing a cleaning device for a flexible container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The cleaning device 10 for a flexible container C according to the present invention is
As shown in FIG. 1, it has a housing 12 whose lower part is closed by a filter-like support plate 11. The shape of the housing 12 is not particularly limited, and may have any cross-sectional shape as long as it matches the shape of the flexible container C, or may be a simple framework. Also,
As will be described in detail later, the support plate 11 limits the air flowing out from the lower opening 2b of the flexible container C, and does not allow the powder or the like stored in the flexible container C to pass therethrough, so that water, etc. Only the cleaning liquid of (4) is allowed to pass therethrough, and therefore it is preferable to use, for example, a filter made of a foamed resin filter material.

At the bottom of this housing 12, a flexible container C
A predetermined space portion 13 for storing the container is formed, and an inlet (not shown) for inserting and removing the flexible container C is opened corresponding to the space portion 13.

An air supply unit 14 is provided above the space portion 13. The air supply unit 14 has a case 15 provided so as to partition the inside of the housing 12 into upper and lower parts.
Can be moved up and down by the first lifting mechanism L ₁ . A duct 16 is provided in the case 15, and a blower 17 and a motor M are provided in the duct 16 to introduce outside air into the housing 12. However, the blower 17 and the motor M are provided outside the housing 12,
Only air may be blown out from the duct 16.

Also, the lower end of the air supply unit 14, that is, the duct 16
An air outlet 18 for attaching the flexible container C is formed at the lower end of the. This air outlet 18
It is a portion to which the upper opening 2a of the flexible container C is attached, and a flange portion (not shown) may be formed at the lower end in order to facilitate the attachment and prevent the detachment. In addition, when attaching the upper opening 2a, the above-mentioned binding member 3a may be used. Further, an elastic material that swells by fluid pressure may be attached to the outer periphery of the air outlet 18 so that the upper opening 2a of the container C can be attached.

A communication pipe 20 of an internal cleaning nozzle 19 is inserted into and suspended from the air outlet 18. The communication pipe 20 is hung down by inserting the air supply portion 14, and the internal cleaning nozzle 19 is attached to the tip thereof.
It does not matter whether it is rotatable or fixed, but in any case, it is preferable that water or the like is blown out from the entire peripheral surface thereof. The upper end of the communication pipe 20 is
An introduction pipe P ₁ for guiding the cleaning liquid is communicated therewith, but a second elevating mechanism L ₂ is also provided here, and the internal cleaning nozzle 19
Is supported so as to be vertically movable via an introduction pipe P ₁ . The second lifting mechanism L ₂ and the first lifting mechanism L ₁ are driven by, for example, a fluid pressure cylinder or a motor.
Detection members k ₁ and k ₂ for detecting the upper and lower limits are provided inside. As the detection members k ₁ and k ₂ , limit switches or reed switches may be used.

The outside of the air supply unit 14 is provided so as to surround the outer cleaning nozzle 21 over the entire circumference. In this embodiment, the external cleaning nozzle 21 has a large number of small through holes formed in the inner peripheral surface of the annular conduit 22, and the annular conduit 22 is communicated with the introduction pipe P _{1 for} introducing the cleaning liquid. This external cleaning nozzle 21 is also provided with the third lifting mechanism L ₃ , and the external cleaning nozzle 21
Is supported so that it can move up and down. The third lifting mechanism L ₃ also has the same configuration as the second lifting mechanism L ₂ and the first lifting mechanism L ₁ . These first to third lifting mechanism L ₁ ~ ₃ are respectively the controller 22 and electrically connected to the driving source are controlled.

Further, the control device 22 raises and lowers the internal cleaning nozzle 19 and the external cleaning nozzle 21 with respect to the flexible container C inflated by the air blown from the air supply unit 14, and at the same time, the internal cleaning nozzle 19 and the external cleaning nozzle 21 are washed. The cleaning water is sprayed from the nozzle 21.

In addition, the control device 22 may be provided with a control unit that performs washing with water, washing with a chemical solution and rinsing in a cycle. In this case, the conduit P ₁ needs to be connected to the washing water tank T ₁ , the rinsing water tank T ₂ , and the chemical liquid tank T ₃ if necessary through the pump P. Further, depending on the case, a rinsing water recovery tank T ₄ and a cleaning water recovery tank T ₅ for recovering water and the like that have passed through the support plate 11 may be provided. In the figure, “V” is an open / close valve.

Next, a method of cleaning the flexible container C using the above cleaning device will be described.

First, the air supply unit 14 is lowered inside the housing 12, and the flexible container C emptied at the air outlet 18 is shown.
Install the upper opening 2a. In this flexible container C, the lower opening 2b is also released.

Next, the first elevating mechanism L ₁ is operated to raise the air supply unit 14 together with the flexible container C. With this rise, the blower 17 is operated to introduce air into the flexible container C and inflate it. In this case, since the lower end of the flexible container C is in contact with the support plate 11 in a slightly loosened state even if the lower end is released, the amount of supplied air leaking to the outside is small and there is no problem.

When the expansion of the flexible container C is almost completed, the second elevating mechanism L ₂ is operated to lower the internal cleaning nozzle 19 and insert the flexible container C into the flexible container C. Then, the pump P and the valve V are operated by a signal from the control device 22, and the cleaning water is sprayed from the internal cleaning nozzle 19 and the external cleaning nozzle 21 through the conduit P1 to simultaneously clean the inner surface and the outer surface of the flexible container C.

The internal cleaning nozzle 19 and the external cleaning nozzle 21 repeat vertical movements 3 to 4 times to perform cleaning. The washing water after the washing is filtered by the support plate 11 which is a filter and accumulates at the bottom of the housing 12, and is returned to the rinsing water collecting tank T ₄ and the washing water collecting tank T ₅ for reuse.

When the cleaning is completed in this way, the first elevating mechanism L ₁ is operated to lower the air supply unit 14 together with the flexible container C, and the flexible container C attached to the air supply unit 14 is removed from the air outlet 18. The removed flexible container C may be carried separately into a drying room or the like and dried.

The flexible container C washed in this way is
There is no possibility that the adhered powder or the like will adhere again, and since the cleaning is performed in the inflated state, the details are revealed and the foreign matter is almost completely removed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified in various ways.

For example, in the flexible container cleaning method according to the present invention, the cleaning liquid may use not only water but also a chemical liquid,
Alternatively, both may be used. As a result, various stains are removed, and it becomes possible to remove foreign matter more completely.

In addition, the cleaning according to the present invention may be performed by washing with water, washing with a chemical solution and rinsing in a cycle, and if this is performed by the control device, the convenience of the washing operation will be even greater.

This flexible container C not only sprays the cleaning liquid from the internal cleaning nozzle 19 and the external cleaning nozzle 21 at the same time.
The inner and outer surfaces may be separately cleaned.

As described above, in the method for cleaning a flexible container according to the present invention, since the inside of the bag is cleaned by the cleaning nozzle in a state where the flexible container is inflated, the flexible container is less likely to be wrinkled and the details are cleaned. Therefore, the foreign matter can be removed almost completely.

Further, the cleaning device for a flexible container according to the present invention not only makes the removal of foreign matter by cleaning the flexible container substantially complete, but also provides a filter-like support plate at the bottom, so that the expansion of the flexible container The cleaning liquid can be easily separated, and the cleaning liquid and the powder or the like can be easily separated.

In addition, since the housing is provided with the air supply unit, the internal cleaning nozzle, the external cleaning nozzle, and the lifting mechanism, the entire structure becomes compact, which is advantageous in terms of space and facility costs.

Further, if the control device controls the cleaning liquid to be sprayed from the internal cleaning nozzle and the external cleaning nozzle after the flexible container is inflated, the cleaning work can be performed semi-automatically, which is very convenient. Become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a cleaning device for a flexible container according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a general flexible container, FIGS. 3 and 4 are a plan view and a bottom view of the flexible container, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the powder or the like is put into the flexible container, and FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the powder or the like is taken out from the flexible container. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cylindrical body, 2a, 2b ... Opening part, 3a, 3b ... Bundling member, 11
... Support plate, 12 ... Housing, 14 ... Air supply part, 18 ... Air outlet, 19 ... Internal cleaning nozzle, 21 ... External cleaning nozzle, 22
… Control device, C… Flexible container, L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ …
Lifting mechanism.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Openings (2a, 2b) at both ends of a tubular body (1)
Upper end opening (2) of flexible container (C) having
a) is connected to the air supply part (14), the lower end opening (2b) is brought into contact with the support plate (11) in a slightly loosened state, and air is introduced from the air supply part (14) to introduce a flexible container ( A method of cleaning a flexible container, in which the inner surface of the flexible container (C) is cleaned by injecting a cleaning liquid from an internal cleaning nozzle (19) inserted inside the flexible container (C) while inflating the flexible container (C). 2. The method for cleaning a flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid is water and / or a chemical liquid. 3. The method for cleaning a flexible container according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning is performed by cyclically performing water cleaning, chemical solution cleaning, and rinsing cleaning. 4. The flexible container (C) according to claim 1, wherein the flexible container (C) is attached to the air supply portion (14) by a binding member (3a) provided at an upper end of a cylindrical main body (1). How to clean flexible containers. 5. A housing (12) whose lower part is closed by a filter-like support plate (11), and an air outlet provided in the housing (12) for attaching a flexible container (C) to its lower end ( Air supply part (14) with 18)
With respect to the internal cleaning nozzle (19) penetrating through the air outlet (18) and the flexible container (C) inflated by the air blown from the air supply part (14),
A cleaning device for a flexible container, comprising an elevating mechanism (L2) for elevating and lowering the internal cleaning nozzle (19). 6. The lifting mechanism (L2) is configured so that a cleaning liquid is sprayed from the internal cleaning nozzle (19) after the flexible container (C) is inflated by the air blown from the air supply unit (14). The flexible container cleaning device according to claim 5, further comprising a control device (22). 7. The cleaning device for a flexible container according to claim 6, wherein said control device (22) has a control part for performing water washing, chemical washing and rinsing in a cycle.